Education

NHS Teen Mental Health Advocates Help Train Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs

By Alissa Silber

Published: May 20, 2017 12:00 am

For those who have been affected by mental illness, whether personally or by a family member or friend, openly discussing their feelings can be difficult.The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs and Ther...

NHS Unified Theater To Present Original Play: 'Finding The Power Within'

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: May 19, 2017 12:00 am

Newtown High School's Unified Theater program will stage its original play Finding The Power Within this Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21, in Newtown High School's cafetorium, 12 Berkshire Road. Per...

Hawley Elementary School Art Show

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: May 19, 2017 12:00 am

Hawley Elementary School art teachers Kim Hossler and Donna Perugini greeted students as they arrived at the school's art show the evening of May 11. All of Newtown's elementary schools are set to hos...

'Homeschooling Through Middle And High School: An Evening Of Sharing,' Thursday

Published: May 16, 2017 12:00 am

Pathways Homeschool Learning Cooperative will offer a free evening for both current and potential homeschooling families on Thursday, May 18, from 7 to 9. The event will be presented in The Great Room...

Newtown History Camp Offers Children A Blast From The Past; Registration Open

Published: May 15, 2017 12:00 am

Newtown Historical Society is now accepting applications for its Annual Summer History Camp, to take place this year during the week of July 10-14. Offering children a range of interactive activities ...

School Start Time, Sleep Subject Of Third Community Forum

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: May 15, 2017 12:00 am

At the school district's Community Forum on School Start Time And Sleep, Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, pointed out it was the third community forum on the topic for the Board of Educ...

Doctors And Educators Put A Focus On Friendship

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: May 14, 2017 12:00 am

Ahead of visiting Honduras to provide people with eye screenings, Dr Joseph Young of Village Eye Care met with a group of Hawley Elementary School students on April 27. The entire school has been work...

'Screenagers' Screening, Panel Discussion, May 18 At ETH

Published: May 14, 2017 12:00 am

The Avielle Foundation's Spark ProgramÃÂ and The Resiliency Center of Newtown are organizing a special free event for the evening of Thursday, May 18, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street. A Ã&#x...

Head O' Meadow Students Present Books To Local Seniors

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: May 13, 2017 12:00 am

Members of the Newtown Senior Center returned to Head O' Meadow on April 26 to hear their life stories as written by second graders. It was the second meeting for the seniors and second grade students...

Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Welcomes Spring

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: May 13, 2017 12:00 am

Housatonic Valley Waldorf School students took turns making their way around the maypole set up for the school's annual May Fair, held on May 9 this year. The event was originally scheduled for May 5,...

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

Girls' Golfers Take On Notre Dame, Immaculate, And Masuk

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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NHS Teen Mental Health Advocates Help Train Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs

NHS Unified Theater To Present Original Play: 'Finding The Power Within'

Hawley Elementary School Art Show

'Homeschooling Through Middle And High School: An Evening Of Sharing,' Thursday

Newtown History Camp Offers Children A Blast From The Past; Registration Open

School Start Time, Sleep Subject Of Third Community Forum

Doctors And Educators Put A Focus On Friendship

'Screenagers' Screening, Panel Discussion, May 18 At ETH

Head O' Meadow Students Present Books To Local Seniors

Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Welcomes Spring