Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert is joining counterparts across the state and country strongly advising against holding or attending Super Bowl parties on game day, February 7.
Every agency providing emergency services locally weighed in on whether COVID-19 could compromise their response - find out what Newtown's local lifesavers had to say.
Hear from Newtown First Selectman Dan Rosenthal and Health official Donna Culbert in The Newtown Bee’s ongoing series of “COVID-19 Clips,” and get the latest local and state COVID transmission stats for this week.
After three cases of the aggressive and potentially more deadly B.1.1.7. variant of the COVID-19 virus were discovered in neighboring Oxford, Governor Ned Lamont announced he will be extending his emergency powers to help control the impact of the pandemic statewide.
Like so many of those who contracted COVID-19, transplanted Newtown native Carl “Chad” Werden was in good health and had never suffered any serious health threat — never mind spending months in hospital and surviving through a virus-related double lung transplant.
Ross Salvo was a kind-hearted, strong-willed 12-year-old who loved karate, complimented people whenever possible, and did what he could to help others have good days.
The number of positive Newtown cases accumulated in town since COVID-19 hit Fairfield County now stands at 1,250, a count that nearly tripled since the week before Thanksgiving — and there is no sign of that rate slowing.
Despite countless prevention reminders and the initiation of COVID-19 vaccines locally - cases accelerated in the past week, blowing through the 1,000 benchmark and taking at least three more residents’ lives.
The voters certainly spoke — and I respect the outcome — but let’s not forget that a “majority” doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Many of us are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living here. Supporting schools and services is important, but so is ensuring that residents can afford to stay in the town they love.
We all want Newtown to be a great place to live, but lately, it’s starting to feel less like “Nicer in Newtown” and more like “More Expensive in Newtown.” That’s not sustainable, and it’s not a criticism of the town itself — it’s a call for responsible budgeting and long-term planning that doesn’t rely on tax increases year after year.
I hope future decisions will reflect not just the desire to maintain services, but also the need to ease the financial burden on residents.
I appreciate the passion behind this message, and I absolutely understand the desire to invest in our town. That said, I voted no — not because I don't care about Newtown, but because I do. Fiscal responsibility is not about ignoring problems, it’s about making sure we address them in a sustainable and transparent way.
It’s frustrating to feel like every year there’s a new “urgent” reason to raise taxes, with little serious effort to curb spending or prioritize needs. I worry this just sets the stage for another round of increases next year. That doesn't mean I’m against education, safety, or our town’s future — it means I believe in accountability and in asking tough questions about how our money is managed.
Voting no wasn't a rejection of Newtown — it was a call for more thoughtful, balanced leadership. I hope future conversations can include all perspectives, not just those willing to write a bigger check.
The voters spoke, loud and clear that they support our schools and municipal services. The majority vote was a mandate to keep delivering well rated education services and keep it" Nicer in Newtown."
Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.
