News

Longtime Lieutenant Leaves Police Department

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 21, 2014 12:00 am

Police Chief Michael Kehoe said May 16 that Lieutenant George Sinko, 49, who served as a town police officer for nearly 25 years, had submitted his letter of retirement from the police department, eff...

Malloy Re-Nominated, Won't Let GOP 'Short-Change Connecticut'

By Keith M. Phaneuf ©The Connecticut Mirror

Published: May 20, 2014 12:00 am

Connecticut Democrats poured into their state convention Friday, May 16 pledging that whatever it lacked in drama it would make up for in passion. The more than 1,800 delegates at the Connecticut Conv...

NFA Call For Anniversary Event Volunteers, May 22

Published: May 20, 2014 12:00 am

Approaching its 90th year as Newtown’s private land trust, the Newtown Forest Association (NFA) is seeking volunteers for an anniversary committee. In an email appeal sent to supporters, the NFA asked...

Residents Sought For Commission Posts

Published: May 20, 2014 12:00 am

First Selectman Pat Llodra is seeking residents to fill several opening on local appointed boards and commissions. In some cases the appointments are required to be affiliated with a specific politica...

Foley Wins Big On First GOP Roll Call, But Faces August Primary

By Mark Paznoikas and Keith M. Phaneuf ©The Connecticut Mirror

Published: May 20, 2014 12:00 am

UNCASVILLE — Tom Foley, who lost a historically close election for governor in 2010, was overwhelmingly endorsed Saturday by the Republican State Convention for a second try at defeating Democrat Dann...

Hawleyville Sewer Grant Expected To Reduce Assessments, Hasten New Development

By John Voket

Published: May 20, 2014 12:00 am

The ripple effects of a half-million dollar grant Newtown received May 19 will have immediate and positive implications for property owners waiting to hook up to a new Hawleyville sewer line extension...

Local Delegation Hosting Post-Session Update

Published: May 20, 2014 12:00 am

State Senator John McKinney (R-28), along with State Representaves Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) and Dan Carter (R-2), are inviting any interested Newtown residents to a legislative wrap-up on the just concl...

Latest Copper Pipe Theft Leaves A Basement Flooded

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 19, 2014 12:00 am

Police have added to their expanding list of local copper pipe thefts two incidents that occurred at vacant houses near the intersection of Sugar Street, West Street, and Boggs Hill Road. In one case,...

Officials Ramping Up Focus On New Businesses, Economic Development

By John Voket

Published: May 17, 2014 12:00 am

With deliberations and the authorization by voters of the 2014-15 budget behind them, local officials are focusing intensely on the best way they see for keeping residential taxation in check — growin...

Application Period For Armed School Security Officers Closing At Month's End

By John Voket

Published: May 17, 2014 12:00 am

The period for retired and certified Connecticut police officers to apply to become one of nine Newtown school security officers (SSOs) is closing at month’s end. Police Chief Michael Kehoe told The N...

CVH Animal Sanctuary To Celebrate America250 With Red, White & Blueberry Community Harvest

Flagpole Photographers & Cultural Commission Join To Celebrate 1776

Newtown Celebrates USA 250th Anniversary

Town Historian To Present 'Newtown In The American Revolution'

Local Semiquincentennial Events Planned

This should have been printed as XXVII in case you would like to redo your calculations.

Elections Have Consequences XXVI

It is actually XXVII - 27. There was a misprint in the title.

Elections Have Consequences XXVI

With the publication of installment No. 26, Trump’s Triumphs has now consumed enough broadsheet paper—approximately 3.6 miles—to stretch from the center of Newtown, past the dump, and nearly to Sand Hill Plaza. That is the amount of paper used to print these 26 installments alone. Do you think they will stop before we get to Monroe? If Trump becomes 48 in 28 then we would make the sound for sure!

Elections Have Consequences XXVI

Dave, you are right that only those in the Borough signed onto the law suits, as it was made clear during the Borough meetings that signers had to be residents of the Borough. However, as you know, there was a concerted effort by the Newtown Conservation Coalition to organize people (throughout town) and to orchestrate actions intended to foil the overall development. If one searches the Bee for “Newtown Conservation Coalition” one will find many articles and editorials that cite the coalition. More that 18 of those articles and editorials, from March 2024 through February 2025, are about the Castle Hill Development and include direct quotes from the NCC head/founder including, e.g.,: 1) Newtown Conservation Coalition founder Dave Ackert has sagely urged his fellow NCC members to “stick to the relevant regulations issues and concerns in your testimony,” as “general opinions and concerns will not be considered when making their decision." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing] 2) “We’re being sold a lot of things,” said Ackert. “The developer said he is going above and beyond in preserving open space, but the only part [of the plan] that doesn’t have houses are the steep slopes. He’s not avoiding buildable land, he’s using every buildable inch.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/09272024/borough-zoning-hears-perspectives-on-castle-hill-development] In addition to the articles and editorials, you (Dave) also wrote over 8 letters related to the development, in essence speaking for the residents, e.g., saying “On behalf of hundreds of concerned residents living within 500 feet who signed protest petitions, and residents downstream who’s property and finances could also be negatively impacted, I ask the BOS to rescind the discontinuance decision now.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/07102025/discusses-rochambeau-trail-and-6-commerce-road] The main tools for the Newtown Conservation Coalition are FOI complaints and legal action. These actions have increased the amount both the Town and the Borough have had to pay for legal counsel over the last few years. The cost is shared by all households and businesses for Town actions. Unfortunately, it is shared by very few, relatively speaking, for Borough actions. This year’s Borough costs are $58,000 to date. There were FOIA/legal actions in 2024 and 2025 too. Eventually, we will all see if that was money well spent. My sense is that the answer is no.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

my concern is not limited to this single FOIA request or this one case. It is the broader pattern of obstructionism, fear-mongering, and personal nastiness reflected in your Facebook page and other public commentary. You routinely call people to action by presenting only one side of complicated issues, assigning the worst possible motives to those who disagree with you, and giving little consideration to the legitimate concerns or perspectives on the other side. That may generate outrage and attention, but it does not make you a constructive participant in Newtown’s civic affairs. You are entitled to question public officials and pursue whatever legal remedies are available to you. But you should not pretend that your own conduct, rhetoric, and repeated escalation of disputes have played no role in the hostility and expense surrounding these matters. Newtown would be a nicer and more productive community with less of this kind of divisive behavior.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

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