News

Team 26 To Ride Again Honoring Gun Victims, Supporting Prevention

By John Voket

Published: February 25, 2014 12:00 am

Sandy Hook resident and world class cyclist Monte Frank will be coordinating a second ride from Sandy Hook to Washington featuring Team 26 — a group of similarly motivated riders looking to honor Newt...

Dispatch Center Now Has Jumbo View of Newtown

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: February 24, 2014 12:00 am

The Newtown Emergency Communications Center’s (NECC) ability to manage emergency calls for service has been enhanced with its use of a large flat-panel monitor that now hangs on the center’s eastern w...

Town Attorney Reviews Prevailing Wage Implications With Council

By John Voket

Published: February 24, 2014 12:00 am

As a means of educating and updating town officials ahead of a period of expanded capital projects including a new Hook & Ladder fire company headquarters, Parent Connection office, and community cent...

Finance Bd Asked To Restore Funds Or Hold The Line On School Budget

By John Voket

Published: February 24, 2014 12:00 am

The majority of the 20 residents who participated in the Board of Finance public hearing ahead of 2014-15 budget deliberations February 20 either asked officials to hold the line on the zero increase ...

DESPP Issues Snow And Ice Accumulation Caution

By Shannon Hicks

Published: February 24, 2014 12:00 am

Connecticut municipal CEOs and Emergency Management Directors received a Snow and Ice Accumulation Caution Notice last week from the CT Dept of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). The To...

Confusion Over Federal 'Recovery' Grant Application Clarified

By JohnVoket

Published: February 22, 2014 12:00 am

Newtown officials hope to receive about $4.3 million from a US Department of Justice grant that is being administered through the Connecticut Judicial Department’s Office of Victim Services (OVS). Th...

Design For Sandy Hook School Continues To Unfold

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: February 21, 2014 12:00 am

A week after presenting the first designs for the new Sandy Hook Elementary School to members of the Public Building and Site Commission and the Board of Education, representatives of Svigals + Partne...

Reminder: CHB Info Desk Available

By Shannon Hicks

Published: February 21, 2014 12:00 am

Residents are reminded that while C.H. Booth Library is undergoing its restoration following water damage last month, an information desk is being offered twice each week at Edmond Town Hall. Library ...

BBB Warning: Online Scam Targeting Military, Families, Vets

Published: February 21, 2014 12:00 am

WALLINGFORD — BBB Military Line is sharing information from the US Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CIC) warning about a new website scam in which criminals are attempting to take advantage of s...

Public Urged To Comment At PURA Hearings On Experiences With Electric Suppliers

Published: February 21, 2014 12:00 am

NEW BRITAIN — Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz is suggesting that members of the public with comments or concerns about their experiences with electric suppliers consider attending one of the remain...

Track And Field Teams Compete At Masuk

‘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'

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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Team 26 To Ride Again Honoring Gun Victims, Supporting Prevention

Dispatch Center Now Has Jumbo View of Newtown

Town Attorney Reviews Prevailing Wage Implications With Council

Finance Bd Asked To Restore Funds Or Hold The Line On School Budget

DESPP Issues Snow And Ice Accumulation Caution

Confusion Over Federal 'Recovery' Grant Application Clarified

Design For Sandy Hook School Continues To Unfold

Reminder: CHB Info Desk Available

BBB Warning: Online Scam Targeting Military, Families, Vets

Public Urged To Comment At PURA Hearings On Experiences With Electric Suppliers