Roughly 26 years after Wesley Learning Center opened at Newtown United Methodist Church for the 1993-94 school year, a new director, Diane Fuchs, has taken its helm.
Newtown Middle School’s annual Eighth Grade Scarecrow Contest, which raises donations for local charities, will return to the front lawn of the school, 11 Queen Street, October 19 and 20.
The Newtown Marching Band & Guard hosted nine Connecticut marching band and guard ensembles at its Annual Joseph P. Grasso Marching Band Festival on Saturday, October 5, at Newtown High School’s Blue & Gold Stadium.
As leaves drifted in the day’s warm breeze, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School’s “dragons,” “trees,” and “angels” participated in a game on September 27 for its annual Michaelmas festival.
After roughly a three-year process and a two-year evaluation, the Board of Education heard results and plans from an English language arts (ELA) study at its meeting on October 1.
Newtown High School (NHS) students who earned Commended Student recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program were celebrated at the school on September 26.
The Newtown Marching Band & Guard performed its 2019 show “Life Sentence” at the September 28 USBands Marine Corps Invitational at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Md.
Newtown High School students Milan Chand and Hannah Jojo began serving as the new student representatives to the Board of Education at its meeting on September 17.
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.
