A long-awaited project that will place sidewalks along some state roads in central Newtown is slated to start work sometime in June, according to Rob Sibley, town deputy planning director.
Representatives of the two dozen participating causes and nonprofits greeted nearly 100 prospects who dropped in to a Volunteer Fair at the C.H. Booth Library May 10.
Logging in at 200 miles longer and twice as topographically challenging, while battling problematic weather for much of their six days on the road, Newtown’s Team 26 took on their 2019 ride like they were on a mission from a higher power.
Two obsolete bridges in Sandy Hook have been replaced with new wider town spans, both of which are carrying two-way traffic, simplifying motorists’ travel across Curtis Brook and across the Pootatuck River.
After decades of service to the Borough of Newtown, within the space of a couple of hoursMay 14, Jay Maher saw the borough budget proposal narrowly defeated 30-26 and then took the oath of office as the community’s newly elected top official — Borough Warden.
A national health controversy over exemptions from childhood vaccinations that lost traction with state lawmakers this session has also cast focus on a local private school has prompted comments from Newtown’s top local health official.
The idea that a freshman Democrat would be able to stand up to the special interests and prioritization of urban districts that are the base of that caucus to deliver results for Newtown is laughable - especially someone who could not even build the "relationships, coalitions, and the support necessary" to garner the endorsements of her fellow Democrat Council members ahead of Newtown's local caucus this spring.
More likely Newtown would see something akin to Leeper in Fairfield, performative actions after vote counting, while privately advancing their party's interests over their community's.
Dear Alyssa, Kelela, and Brandon,
We send our sincere sympathy to you and your family. We will also keep you in our prayers asking our Lord to grant you comfort and peace.
With love,
Vince and Sandy Venitelli
Bruce, your advice that voters should “read, listen, and engage” would be much more persuasive if you practiced it yourself.
You campaigned on openness and responsiveness. You declared that “evasive answers or silence are unacceptable in government” and promised to answer constituent inquiries within two days. Yet you never answered my straightforward public question about Main Street demonstrations, traffic disruption, pedestrian safety, and the effects on local businesses.
After taking office, meaningful public engagement has largely been replaced by “Brews with Bruce” at the Senior Center—requiring reservations and, for some residents, a day pass. That is not accessible, townwide engagement. Previous first selectmen held open coffee hours and walk-and-talk sessions that any resident could attend.
Then came the failed storm communications, your apology, and another promise to communicate better—followed shortly afterward by more silence while multiple police agencies conducted a significant search near Saw Mill Road.
You now tell voters to examine what candidates say and “how they say it.” I would suggest going one step further: compare what politicians promise while seeking office with what they actually do after winning.
Your record presents a stark contrast. You told voters exactly what they wanted to hear to get the job, then failed to live by those promises. Whether that is dishonesty or simply indifference, it is the same familiar, two-faced politics you once claimed you would replace.
Nothing says “I care about Newtown homeowners” quite like lining Main Street with plywood campaign billboards—apparently built just inches below the size at which officials say they can take action. At this rate, we’ll need property-tax relief just to offset the loss in curb appeal.
