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Police Agencies To Share $2.5 Million In Grants For Sandy Hook Incident; Newtown PD Receiving $600,000

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 28, 2013 12:00 am

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday, August 28, that the Town of Newtown will receive more than $600,000 of an overall $2.5 million grant to be provided to law enforcement agencies ...

Senator Murphy Makes A Lunchtime Visit To Sandy Hook Center

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: August 28, 2013 12:00 am

Stepping across new, pressed concrete sidewalks Monday afternoon, Senator Chris Murphy saw improvements that the streetscape project has brought to Sandy Hook Center. He was also in town for a bite to...

Weather Service Issues Flash Flood Warning, Special Weather Statement

By Shannon Hicks

Published: August 28, 2013 12:00 am

UPDATE (4:45 pm): NWS-NYC has issued a Special Weather Statement for northern Fairfield and northern Westchester counties. “A strong thunderstorm will impact Fairfield and Westchester counties... ...

New Library Director Faces Criticism, Concern At Forum

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 26, 2013 12:00 am

During a sometimes contentious 90-minute forum held on Saturday, August 24, to discuss planning goals for C.H. Booth Library, a number of library patrons, unhappy with changes already made, urged the ...

Review Panel Seeks Shooter's School Records

By John Christoffersen, Associated Press

Published: August 26, 2013 12:00 am

NEW HAVEN — A portrait of a highly isolated young man with disruptions in his education is emerging as a state office investigating the Newtown shooter seeks the release of his school records. Connec...

Order Sought For Sandy Hook Gunman's School Records

By Associated Press

Published: August 25, 2013 12:00 am

Connecticut’s attorney general wants a judge to order Newtown school officials to release the records of the gunman who killed 26 people at an elementary school, including 20 first-grade students. Att...

Dozens Touched By 12/14 Join Officials Signing Coalition Letter To Starbucks

By John Voket

Published: August 24, 2013 12:00 am

The family of Lauren Rousseau, one of the four teachers lost on 12/14 - and a former Starbucks barista - has been joined by other family members of those killed, advocacy groups, local clergy, First S...

Apparent Highway Suicide Resulted in Extended Travel Delays

Published: August 22, 2013 12:00 am

State police report that extended travel delays on Interstate 84 that occurred through the area on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 21, were caused by a police investigation into an apparent suicid...

Preservation Bid May Delay FFH Demolition

By John Voket

Published: August 22, 2013 12:00 am

A July 29 letter from a state historic preservation official suggesting the remaining structures at Fairfield Hills could have historic value is riling local officials and could delay the planned demo...

Selectmen's Update: Several Projects Are 'On Time, Under Budget'

By John Voket

Published: August 22, 2013 12:00 am

“On time and under budget” was the mantra being chanted by several presenters August 19 as the Board of Selectmen heard a report on a group of major projects in town either nearing completion or well ...

‘Color Our World With Hope’ Filled Newtown With Music, Meaning, And Community Impact

Nighthawk Baseball Team Beats Conference Opponents

Late Goal By Ruddy Lifts Nighthawk Lacrosse Team To Victory, Showcases Chemistry In Midfield

Reed Intermediate Presents Sold-Out Performances Of 'Willy Wonka Jr'

Draw Dominance, Transition Game Lift Boys' Lacrosse Team To Lopsided Wins

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Police Agencies To Share $2.5 Million In Grants For Sandy Hook Incident; Newtown PD Receiving $600,000

Senator Murphy Makes A Lunchtime Visit To Sandy Hook Center

Weather Service Issues Flash Flood Warning, Special Weather Statement

New Library Director Faces Criticism, Concern At Forum

Review Panel Seeks Shooter's School Records

Order Sought For Sandy Hook Gunman's School Records

Dozens Touched By 12/14 Join Officials Signing Coalition Letter To Starbucks

Apparent Highway Suicide Resulted in Extended Travel Delays

Preservation Bid May Delay FFH Demolition

Selectmen's Update: Several Projects Are 'On Time, Under Budget'