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Town Republicans Endorse Llodra, Incumbent-Heavy Slate For Local Offices

By John Voket

Published: July 23, 2013 12:00 am

Stating “We have a slate of excellent candidates,” Newtown Republican Town Committee Secretary Carey Schierloh released the names of residents seeking local office or reelection following an RTC caucu...

Town Republicans Endorse Llodra, Incumbent-Heavy Slate For Local Offices

By John Voket

Published: July 23, 2013 12:00 am

After Tough 'Recruitment' Period, Local Democrats Field Their Slate For November

By John Voket

Published: July 23, 2013 12:00 am

This story has been modified to include comments by Selectman James Gaston, Sr. Newtown's Democratic Town Committee announced its candidates for November's ballot following a caucus on July 23 at...

Amber Alert Issued For 11-Month Old New Haven Girl

Published: July 22, 2013 12:00 am

UPDATE (5:45 pm): The Amber Alert for Azryrah Rhoden has been cancelled. The case has been reseolved, according to an announcement received by the Connecticut State Police. Child has reportedly be...

Amber Alert Issued For 11-Month Old New Haven Girl

Published: July 22, 2013 12:00 am

UPDATE (5:45 pm): The Amber Alert for Azryrah Rhoden has been cancelled. The case has been reseolved, according to an announcement received by the Connecticut State Police. Child has reportedly be...

Senators Want Newtown Donations Audit

Published: July 20, 2013 12:00 am

UPDATE (Monday, July 22, 2013): The Newtown Bee has been provided with a copy of the letter sent from Senators Blumenthal and Murphy to Dr Charles Herrick and The Newtown Sandy Hook Foundation...

Senators Want Newtown Donations Audit

Published: July 20, 2013 12:00 am

UPDATE (Monday, July 22, 2013): The Newtown Bee has been provided with a copy of the letter sent from Senators Blumenthal and Murphy to Dr Charles Herrick and The Newtown Sandy Hook Foundation...

Town Meeting July 24 To Consider Sandy Hook Design Grant

By John Voket

Published: July 19, 2013 12:00 am

The Board of Selectmen is planning a town meeting July 24 for consideration of $750,000 being offered by the State of Connecticut. According to a release from First Selectman Pat Llodra’s office this ...

Final Collection Of Big Time Rush Tickets To Be Distributed Sat. At Municipal Center

By Shannon Hicks

Published: July 19, 2013 12:00 am

Residents passing by Fairfield Hills in recent days can already see something big is coming to town. Additional fencing and a line of port-a-potties have already been installed for . As of this aftern...

Final Collection Of Big Time Rush Tickets To Be Distributed Sat. At Municipal Center

By Shannon Hicks

Published: July 19, 2013 12:00 am

Fire Reports | April 28-May 4, 2026

Just Over The Border: Southeast Kitchen And Bath’s New Showroom

Police Reports | April 27-May 3, 2026

Silent Auction To Coincide With Garden Club Standard Flower Show

BOE CFF Discusses Itemized Estimates, Summer CIP Projects

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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Town Republicans Endorse Llodra, Incumbent-Heavy Slate For Local Offices

Town Republicans Endorse Llodra, Incumbent-Heavy Slate For Local Offices

After Tough 'Recruitment' Period, Local Democrats Field Their Slate For November

Amber Alert Issued For 11-Month Old New Haven Girl

Amber Alert Issued For 11-Month Old New Haven Girl

Senators Want Newtown Donations Audit

Senators Want Newtown Donations Audit

Town Meeting July 24 To Consider Sandy Hook Design Grant

Final Collection Of Big Time Rush Tickets To Be Distributed Sat. At Municipal Center

Final Collection Of Big Time Rush Tickets To Be Distributed Sat. At Municipal Center