News

Borough Ordinance Enacted:The New Bamboo Taboo

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: July 18, 2014 12:00 am

Running Bamboo is a nuisance, according to an ordinance passed by the Borough Board of Burgesses. On July 8, the borough unanimously approved measures regulating bamboo “so that it does not invade or ...

Gov Malloy Announces Additional $22 Million To Make Schools Safer

Published: July 18, 2014 12:00 am

WETHERSFIELD — Governor Dannel P. Malloy on July 17 announced that the application process will begin next week for the next round of the School Security Grant Program. The Department of Emergency Ser...

Police Planning Sobriety Checkpoint For July 19-20

Published: July 17, 2014 12:00 am

During the evening of Saturday, July 19, and early morning hours of Sunday, July 20, town police plan to conduct a sobriety checkpoint on a local road to check on whether motorists are driving under t...

Suspect In Threatening Calls- Judge Orders Psych Assessment Of Cardenas Hoffman

By Associated Press

Published: July 17, 2014 12:00 am

NEW HAVEN — A federal judge in Connecticut ordered a psychiatric assessment Wednesday of a Venezuelan man charged with making threatening phone calls to Newtown residents in the days following the Dec...

Family Fun Hike Is July 27

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: July 17, 2014 12:00 am

Enjoy the view, take a short hike, fly a kite, or blow bubbles at the Nettleton Preserve at 15-25 Castle Hill Road. Join Newtown Forest Association (NFA) member and hike leader Aaron Coopersmith on Su...

Development Director Departing For Norwalk Job

By John Voket

Published: July 17, 2014 12:00 am

After 24 years working to promote business and community growth in Newtown, Director of Community and Economic Development Elizabeth Stocker has accepted a new position heading up the Norwalk Economic...

Police Reports | June 30-July 15, 2014

Published: July 17, 2014 12:00 am

Streetlamp Vandalism Police report an incident in which several youths used BB-gun weapons to shoot out streetlamps in the area of West Street and Roosevelt Drive at about 10:30 pm on Monday, Jun...

Fire Reports | July 10-16, 2014

Published: July 17, 2014 12:00 am

The radio dispatchers at the Newtown Emergency Communications Center at Town Hall South, 3 Main Street, report the following fire calls and the responders: Thursday, July 10: 9:35 am, motor vehicl...

During Public Info Session: DOT To Explain Plans For Church Hill Road Intersection Improvements

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: July 17, 2014 12:00 am

Residents interested in learning about the state’s plans to make travel safety improvements along one of the most congested and accident-prone sections of roadway in town can attend a meeting on the c...

Hoffman Slated to Face Judge In Telephoned Threats Case

Published: July 15, 2014 12:00 am

NEW HAVEN – The Venezuelan man, whom federal officials allege made a series of telephone calls to Newtown residents, threatening them in the wake of the December 14, 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Schoo...

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

The Way We Were

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.

The ‘Me’ Generation

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 :)

The ‘Me’ Generation

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