Features

Longtime Residents Of Newtown: The Brown/Osborne Family

By Alissa Silber

Published: February 02, 2019 7:00 am

In this series, that originated in 2018, The Newtown Bee is tracing longtime Newtown residents' family trees and asking its current generation what makes the town such a special place to call home.

Concert Preview: Playhouse Hosting Multifaceted Demetri Martin

By John Voket

Updated: February 01, 2019 5:56 pm

Comedian Demetri Martin called in for a a wide-ranging chat with The Newtown Bee ahead of his February 16 show at The Ridgefield Playhouse.

Way We Were for the week ending February 1, 2019

Published: February 01, 2019 4:00 pm

News published in The Newtown Bee 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.

Snapshot: Maggie Gotterer

Published: February 01, 2019 8:00 am

Occupation: I’ve been the Executive Director of Two Coyotes Wilderness School since July 2018. It’s a dream job. Right now, there are a lot of exciting opportunities to grow our programs. We’d lov...

Top of the Mountain

Updated: February 01, 2019 9:58 am

Newtown, from a cat's point of view.

Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation Hosts Pets & Vets 101

By Alissa Silber

Published: February 01, 2019 7:00 am

The Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation welcomed 130 people to its latest Sunday at the Sanctuary event, called “Pets & Vets 101,” at Fraser Woods Montessori School on January 27.

A Year Of Miracles: Twins Struggle, Thrive After Birth At Less Than Two Pounds

Published: January 27, 2019 8:00 am

Preterm twins overcome medical hurdles during their first year after very low birth weight in December 2017.

Horses & Hounds: The Horses Of Arlington National Cemetery

By Dr Margaret Reed PhD

Updated: January 28, 2019 11:47 am

Arlington. The mere mention of the word conjures up images of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, the Challenger and Columbia Shuttle accidents — the list goes on.

Newtown-Based Music Label Helps Keep CDs Alive

By Alissa Silber

Published: January 26, 2019 6:00 am

Newtown resident Robert LaPorta, owner/director of MSR Classics, shares why his music label continues to produce CDs when so many consumers turn to MP3s and streaming services.

Way We Were, for the week ending January 25, 2019

Published: January 25, 2019 2:00 pm

News published in the Newtown Bee 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.

‘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'

Draw Dominance, Transition Game Lift Boys' Lacrosse Team To Lopsided Wins

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 :)

<< May 2026 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
26	27	28	29	30	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	1	2	3	4	5	6

Log In

Longtime Residents Of Newtown: The Brown/Osborne Family

Concert Preview: Playhouse Hosting Multifaceted Demetri Martin

Way We Were for the week ending February 1, 2019

Snapshot: Maggie Gotterer

Top of the Mountain

Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation Hosts Pets & Vets 101

A Year Of Miracles: Twins Struggle, Thrive After Birth At Less Than Two Pounds

Horses & Hounds: The Horses Of Arlington National Cemetery

Newtown-Based Music Label Helps Keep CDs Alive

Way We Were, for the week ending January 25, 2019