Obituaries

Harriet Comboni

Published: January 29, 2020 3:25 pm

Harriet Lajoie Comboni, age 88, passed away Monday, January 27, 2020, at the Lutheran Home, Southbury. She was predeceased by her two beloved husbands, Fred Lajoie and Douglas Comboni. Harriet was a l...

Allison Koziol

Updated: January 31, 2020 4:50 pm

Allison Koziol wished for everyone to know she finally bought the farm. Allison, age 56, of Sandy Hook, entered into rest on Monday, January 27, 2020, with her loving family by her side. She was the d...

Joseph Komornik

Published: January 28, 2020 11:55 am

Joseph V. Komornik, 88, of Newtown, passed away Saturday, January 25, in Danbury Hosptial. Joe was born in Bridgeport on July 28, 1931. He was the thirteenth child of the late Henry and Anna (Dest) Ko...

Edmund ‘Stretch’ Forbell, Jr

Published: January 28, 2020 11:55 am

July 20, 1929 to January 25, 2020 Edmund Clifton Forbell, Jr, nicknamed “Stretch,” was born in Willimantic, Conn., the son of Charlotte Lanphear Forbell and Edmund Clifton Forbell, Sr. He was predecea...

Clifford Pomeroy, Jr

Published: January 23, 2020 10:40 am

Clifford Bradley Pomeroy, Jr, known as “Kippy,” passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2020, at Regional Hospice, after bravely fighting a long illness, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born January 2...

Scott Rogers

Published: January 22, 2020 3:10 pm

Scott Jordan Rogers, 62, formerly of Newtown, died suddenly December 20, 2019. He was born April 21, 1957, and grew up in Newtown. He attended Newtown High School, graduating Class of 1975. Mr Rogers ...

In Loving Memory of Randall S. Watkins

Published: January 21, 2020 11:15 am

November 14, 1927 to January 21, 2012 My dear dad, on your eighth year in Heaven. When someone you love becomes a memory, the memories become a treasure, and I’m so very lucky to have so many. I ...

Irving E. Trager

Published: January 16, 2020 8:50 am

Irving Edward Trager, age 61, of Sandy Hook, Conn., passed away on January 2, 2020, at Danbury Hospital. Irving was born in New York City and lived in Sandy Hook for over 20 years. He was the beloved ...

Raymond Baker

Published: January 15, 2020 4:25 pm

Raymond “Ray” Edward Baker died on Sunday, January 12, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer. Ray was born on November 2, 1938, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and lived in Newtown for over 40 years. He was ...

Jean Maday

Published: January 15, 2020 11:30 am

Jean Anne Maday, 47, passed away on January 11, 2020, in Chicago. Jean was born August 3, 1972, in Illinois, moving to Redding, Conn. in the seventh grade. After graduating from Joel Barlow High Schoo...

Families United In Newtown Wraps Up The Season With Celebration At Dickinson Park

Attendees Have Fun At NFA's Third Annual SpringFest

Town & Country Garden Club Of Newtown Celebrates 60 Years Of Commitment To Club & Community

Enjoy A DJ Dance Party, Arts And Crafts, And More At Summer Luau

The Way We Were

The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

Assembly Ordinance?

I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

Calls For Policies To Create Greater Transparency

The bottom line is this: costs are up, and no group—including teachers—is exempt. Ignoring Anthem’s recommended 22% increase last year may have directly caused the $2 million shortfall. Everyone has to share in the fix. That might mean higher premiums and leaner benefits. Complaints alone won’t solve the problem—realistic solutions will. I urge all Newtown Teachers to email their Union leaders and express their support for higher premiums.

Discusses Town Self-Funded Insurance Plan

Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

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