Features

Snapshot: Sandi Stockwell

Published: July 26, 2013 12:00 am

Occupation: I’m a CPA, and a partner in Stockwell & Bates, LLC. My partner Linda and I started the first all-women’s CPA firm in the state in 1992. We’ve always been here in Newtown. I’m also a CD...

Great Newtown Reunion Inspired Former Student And Teacher To Reconnect

By Colleen Francke

Published: July 26, 2013 12:00 am

Efforts to share stories about inspiring teachers in the early stages of planning Saturday’s Great Newtown Reunion reunited one former Newtown student with a teacher who had deeply impacted her life. ...

The Top of The Mountain

Published: July 26, 2013 12:00 am

A post on The Bee Facebook page this week confirms our faith in humanity. On Friday, July 12, Nicole Capener lost her paycheck. The following Monday, it was sitting on her desk — “Clearly rained on, r...

Theater Review: Marvelous Performances In Theater Barn's 'Oleanna'

By Julie Stern

Published: July 24, 2013 12:00 am

RIDGEFIELD — When four people see a play and then spend the 45-minute ride home arguing about it, and then the next day continue the discussion with family and friends who didn’t get to see it, well t...

Reminder: Summer Jam Concert This Afternoon

By Shannon Hicks

Published: July 24, 2013 12:00 am

Attendance was down last week, no doubt in large part due to the heatwave, but organizers would like to remind residents that there will be a Summer Jam Concert at Dickinson Park this afternoon. “The ...

Thirsting For Assistance

By Nancy Crevier

Published: July 24, 2013 12:00 am

The Town & Country Garden Club supports three of the floral islands that beautify intersections in the Borough: one at the intersection of Queen Street and Church Hill Road; one at the intersection of...

Theater Review: Marvelous Performances In Theater Barn's 'Oleanna'

By Julie Stern

Published: July 24, 2013 12:00 am

RIDGEFIELD — When four people see a play and then spend the 45-minute ride home arguing about it, and then the next day continue the discussion with family and friends who didn’t get to see it, well t...

Reminder: Summer Jam Concert This Afternoon

By Shannon Hicks

Published: July 24, 2013 12:00 am

Attendance was down last week, no doubt in large part due to the heatwave, but organizers would like to remind residents that there will be a Summer Jam Concert at Dickinson Park this afternoon. “The ...

PeaceJam Planning: NJAA Online Survey Open For NHS, NMS Students

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: July 24, 2013 12:00 am

The Newtown Junior Action Alliance (NJAA) group has created an online survey for Newtown High School and Newtown Middle School students to fill out. The survey asks three questions, and will help NJAA...

Newtown On 2013 National Tour: BarkAID Will Offer Cuts For Cats

By Nancy Crevier

Published: July 23, 2013 12:00 am

Patrick Lomantini, owner of Lomantini the Salon in Wichita, Kan., and founder of BarkAID, will visit Newtown with his team of two other stylists, Alexis Longworth from Ohio and Zachery DiBella from Id...

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

Girls' Golfers Take On Notre Dame, Immaculate, And Masuk

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

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