Cultural Events

Historical Society To Host ‘Coming To America’ Presentation, Monday Evening At Library

Published: Sep 06, 2018 07:00 AM

Immigration, walls, and intense vetting all are hot button topics in today’s America. On Monday, September 10, at 7:30 pm, Newtown Historical Society will host “Coming To America” in the community roo...

SCAN Announces Fall Schedule Of Art Classes

Published: Sep 01, 2018 08:00 AM

The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown will be hosting three classes in the fall. All will meet in the lower level of Newtown Meeting House.

Navigate The Challenges Of Being A Teenage Girl

Updated: Sep 20, 2018 12:23 PM

The Resiliency Center of Newtown is offering a new eight-week series for girls in grades 6-8.

Woman's Club 2018 Ornament To Debut At Parade

Published: Aug 31, 2018 11:30 AM

Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC Inc, continues its 50th anniversary celebration with the introduction of its 31st annual pewter Christmas ornament. This year, the club has chosen to honor “Newtown’s Five F...

‘Cooking, Baking And Garnishing With Herbs And Edible Flowers’

Published: Aug 31, 2018 11:30 AM

For those who wonder what to do with edible flowers in their garden, or even wonder if flowers they think are edible are truly safe to eat, Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown’s first program of the...

Pancakes, Parking, The Parade... And Perhaps A Cruise, Monday

Updated: Aug 31, 2018 11:14 AM

Newtown Congregational Church is adding something new this year to its annual Labor Day Pancakes & Parking event.

Larry Ayce Band Farewell To Summer Concert, September 5 At Commons

Updated: Aug 31, 2018 10:52 AM

On Wednesday, September 5, The Commons of Newtown (formerly Masonicare at Newtown) will host a farewell to summer outdoor concert. The Larry Ayce Band will be performing at 6:30 pm; rain date is Thurs...

'The Ten Best Free Genealogy Websites,' September 12 At Library

Updated: Aug 31, 2018 11:11 AM

Penelope Hartzell will offer a presentation on some of her favorite genealogy research websites during the first meeting of The Genealogy Club of Newtown's 2018-19 season.

Someday Cinema To Continue With Tracy-Hepburn Comedy With Very Local Ties

Published: Aug 31, 2018 10:25 AM

The Someday Cinema Series will screen the classic comedy Adam’s Rib (1949), starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, at 2 and 7 pm on Thursday, September 6, at Edmond Town Hall Theater, 45 Main S...

18th CT United Ride Is Sunday, September 9

Published: Aug 28, 2018 06:00 AM

The 2018 CT United Ride, the 18th annual 9/11 tribute, is being held on Sunday, September 9, organizers announce. Connecticut’s largest 9/11 tribute, the CT United Ride is the largest single ride in N...

‘Color Our World With Hope’ Filled Newtown With Music, Meaning, And Community Impact

Nighthawk Baseball Team Beats Conference Opponents

Late Goal By Ruddy Lifts Nighthawk Lacrosse Team To Victory, Showcases Chemistry In Midfield

Reed Intermediate Presents Sold-Out Performances Of 'Willy Wonka Jr'

Draw Dominance, Transition Game Lift Boys' Lacrosse Team To Lopsided Wins

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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