Rita L. Klees, 68, of Newtown, died peacefully March 29, at Danbury Hospital, after a courageous four-year battle with ALS. She was born on December 15, 1949, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
She will be lovingly re...
Thomas Joseph Keegan, Sr, 89, of Fairfield, beloved husband of the late Arlene R. Keegan, died peacefully March 30, at home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Bridgeport, the son of the late Rut...
Kenneth S. "Ken" Josselyn, 70, of New Milford died March 23. Born on January 12, 1948, he was the eldest son of Margaret "Peg" and Carlton "Kyper" Josselyn of Westport.
His siblings, Cynthia Landin of...
Richard James Selleck, 65, of Bethel died March 26, at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Donna (Clark) Selleck. He was born in Norwalk, on July 31, 1952, and was the son of Alice (Wenzel) Sellec...
Michael J. "Mike" Walsh, 61, of Roxbury, died March 26. He was born January 8, 1957, in Albany, N.Y., and was the treasured husband of 34 years to Nina Bonacci Walsh and the son of Margaret (Bement) W...
Lawrence A. "Larry" Cavanaugh, 80, of Newtown died March 23, at Danbury Hospital. He was born in Waterbury on September 6, 1937, son of the late Frances (Pettit) and John Cavanaugh.
His lovin...
Mary Jane Anderson, 84, of Woodbury died March 16. She was born on September 15, 1933. She wrote a column called "A Dog's Life" in The Newtown Bee for more than 20 years.
Three children, seven grandch...
Robert Michael "Bob" DeCarlo, 51, of Sandy Hook, beloved husband of Wendy (Johnson) DeCarlo, died March 20. Born September 13, 1966, in Stamford, he was the son of the late Theresa (Luberto) and John ...
Cynthia Proulx "Cindy" Hedrick, 59, of Newtown died unexpectedly March 21, at her home. She died peacefully in her sleep with family members nearby. She was born in Fitchburg, Mass., on August 14, 195...
Edite "Edie" Mei, 82, of Newtown, formerly of Bethel, died peacefully March 22 at the Lutheran Home in Southbury, after a courageous battle with melanoma. She was born in Riga, Latvia, on March 17, 19...
I agree with your point, Tom.
However, the sheer volume of Trump's false statements and claims -- vs. anyone else -- is astonishing and noteworthy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_or_misleading_statements_by_Donald_Trump
President Biden, too, has claimed “inflation was 0%,” when in fact prices remained elevated. He told us his Afghanistan withdrawal was a “success,” even though Americans and allies were left behind and 13 service members lost their lives. He promised not to build another foot of border wall, but later quietly restarted construction. These examples matter just as much as Trump’s because they show that political dishonesty isn’t unique to one side.
The point is not to excuse Trump or Biden—it’s to recognize that truth matters, and voters deserve accountability from all leaders. Singling out one politician while giving others a free pass only fuels division.
It’s important to put the 8-30g application into context. The reason developers in our town resort to Connecticut’s 8-30g affordable housing statute is precisely because obstructionist voices, led by Mr. Ackert, have repeatedly opposed reasonable housing proposals through local zoning channels. When projects are delayed or denied outright under the guise of “protecting character,” developers have little choice but to pursue the state-level remedy.
Mr. Ackert portrays 8-30g as a loophole being abused, when in fact it exists because communities that resist creating diverse housing options need accountability. If our town had a stronger record of working collaboratively to meet housing needs, developers wouldn’t feel compelled to bypass local boards in the first place.
Regarding wetlands and Inland Wetlands Commission review, it’s worth remembering that these processes are not ignored or hidden from the public. Applications that impact wetlands must comply with environmental regulations, and developers are subject to oversight. Suggesting otherwise unfairly discredits both the staff and the commission, who follow established procedures.
The public certainly deserves transparency, but it is misleading to imply that this project was pushed through in secret. The broader issue is that continued “Not In My Back Yard” obstructionism drives applicants to use 8-30g, ensuring that local zoning boards lose the very control residents claim to want preserved.
If we truly want more local say in how projects are shaped, then we need to stop reflexively opposing housing and start working constructively with applicants. Mr. Ackert’s campaign of resistance has only created the exact conditions he now complains about.
It's certainly good news that a temporary patch to rationed water in Newtown is in effect. But taking a year to come up with a patch is concerning. Where is the sense of urgency to get this permanently fixed?
