Newtown Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 members assisted Reed Intermediate School sixth grade math and science teacher Drew Hall’s students on November 12 by dropping student projects from a ladder truck.
Newtown High School senior Carter Goodrich was selected as a finalist to compete for the $14,000 Barton L. Weller scholarship, named in honor of the late Barton L. Weller, founder of Vitramon Incorporated in Monroe.
Sandy Hook Elementary School hosted a full-school celebration on November 21 to highlight its successful involvement in the annual Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) Thanksgiving Basket Program.
According to Newtown High School Girls Inspiring Girls club president and senior Maya Wadhwa, the group’s recent dress drive was a success ahead of the school’s Homecoming dance on November 5.
A professional development day for educators was hosted by the school district on November 6 at Newtown High School, when schools were closed on Election Day.
The following students made the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll for the first quarter marking period at Newtown High School for the 2018-19 school year. The honor roll listings were recently released by the school for publication.
The voters certainly spoke — and I respect the outcome — but let’s not forget that a “majority” doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Many of us are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living here. Supporting schools and services is important, but so is ensuring that residents can afford to stay in the town they love.
We all want Newtown to be a great place to live, but lately, it’s starting to feel less like “Nicer in Newtown” and more like “More Expensive in Newtown.” That’s not sustainable, and it’s not a criticism of the town itself — it’s a call for responsible budgeting and long-term planning that doesn’t rely on tax increases year after year.
I hope future decisions will reflect not just the desire to maintain services, but also the need to ease the financial burden on residents.
I appreciate the passion behind this message, and I absolutely understand the desire to invest in our town. That said, I voted no — not because I don't care about Newtown, but because I do. Fiscal responsibility is not about ignoring problems, it’s about making sure we address them in a sustainable and transparent way.
It’s frustrating to feel like every year there’s a new “urgent” reason to raise taxes, with little serious effort to curb spending or prioritize needs. I worry this just sets the stage for another round of increases next year. That doesn't mean I’m against education, safety, or our town’s future — it means I believe in accountability and in asking tough questions about how our money is managed.
Voting no wasn't a rejection of Newtown — it was a call for more thoughtful, balanced leadership. I hope future conversations can include all perspectives, not just those willing to write a bigger check.
The voters spoke, loud and clear that they support our schools and municipal services. The majority vote was a mandate to keep delivering well rated education services and keep it" Nicer in Newtown."
Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.
