Police this week were continuing their investigation into a possible hate crime involving anti-Semitic graffiti that was painted onto the front and side walls of the Congregation Adath Israel synagogue on Huntingtown Road.
In response to anti-Semitic graffiti found on the exterior walls of Newtown's synagogue last weekend, the Newtown Democratic Town Committee is offering an opportunity for the public to increase a reward being offered by the Anti-Defamation League for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for the hate crime.
Just past 7:30 am on Saturday, August 24, Newtown Police discovered anti-semitic graffiti on the front and side walls of the Adath Israel Synagogue, 115 Huntingtown Road, during routine building checks.
Newtown will hosts its longstanding end-of-summer celebration on Monday, September 2, when most residents participate in or view The 58th Annual Labor Day Parade. The committee that organizes the massive event has announced a few new additions for this year's line of march.
The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) is scheduled to consider a proposed zoning regulation change that would affect the method used in calculating the maximum amount of residential space allowed in mixed-use developments in the Hawleyville Center Design District (HCDD) zone.
The Newtown Community Center staff has announced Welcome Week from August 26 through 30. Open to the entire community, Welcome Week offers free activities each day to include “something for everyone o...
The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) has scheduled a public hearing to receive comments on its regulatory proposal to allow food trucks to become a permanent feature of local farmers’ markets.
Residents have the unique opportunity to own furniture and antiques once housed at the C.H. Booth Library by bidding on designated items for sale through online fundraising auctioneer Fairfield Auction.
Newtown's Board of Selectmen have approved a lease arrangement along with an expansion of the Children’s Adventure Center into most of the vacant adjacent space formerly occupied by the Senior Center.
The Board of Selectmen spent about 40 minutes hearing a presentation from Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee Chair Deborra Zukowski August 19 including a review high points of the panel’s findings.
Michelle Embree Ku raises valid concerns about local property taxes, but ignores a basic political reality: Representative Mitch Bolinsky serves in the minority in a legislature dominated by a single-party supermajority where minority-party proposals are routinely sidelined. Suggesting that a single minority representative could rewrite the state's ECS formula is politically unrealistic and disingenuous to Newtown voters.
Despite those odds, Mitch’s CGA track record speaks for itself. He led the charge to protect special education funding, preserve Drug-Free School Zones, safeguard school safety drills, advance science-based structured literacy, and defend homeschooling choices for families.
If Ms. Ku knows how to fix the ECS formula, what has she done to convince her own party—the same party that controls the House, Senate, and Governor’s office? If the supermajority has the votes to fix ECS today, why hasn’t it happened during the 13 years she cites?
Adding another seat to a supermajority that made Connecticut one of the highest-taxed states won't help Newtown taxpayers. If the current majority hasn't delivered relief with absolute power, expanding that majority won't change the outcome.
Newtown’s interests are best served by keeping Mitch in the House and increasing Republican margins to provide real checks and balances. When one party holds every lever of power, accountability disappears. Strengthening the minority ensures our town’s voice is heard, not drowned out.
The idea that a freshman Democrat would be able to stand up to the special interests and prioritization of urban districts that are the base of that caucus to deliver results for Newtown is laughable - especially someone who could not even build the "relationships, coalitions, and the support necessary" to garner the endorsements of her fellow Democrat Council members ahead of Newtown's local caucus this spring.
More likely Newtown would see something akin to Leeper in Fairfield, performative actions after vote counting, while privately advancing their party's interests over their community's.
Dear Alyssa, Kelela, and Brandon,
We send our sincere sympathy to you and your family. We will also keep you in our prayers asking our Lord to grant you comfort and peace.
With love,
Vince and Sandy Venitelli
Bruce, your advice that voters should “read, listen, and engage” would be much more persuasive if you practiced it yourself.
You campaigned on openness and responsiveness. You declared that “evasive answers or silence are unacceptable in government” and promised to answer constituent inquiries within two days. Yet you never answered my straightforward public question about Main Street demonstrations, traffic disruption, pedestrian safety, and the effects on local businesses.
After taking office, meaningful public engagement has largely been replaced by “Brews with Bruce” at the Senior Center—requiring reservations and, for some residents, a day pass. That is not accessible, townwide engagement. Previous first selectmen held open coffee hours and walk-and-talk sessions that any resident could attend.
Then came the failed storm communications, your apology, and another promise to communicate better—followed shortly afterward by more silence while multiple police agencies conducted a significant search near Saw Mill Road.
You now tell voters to examine what candidates say and “how they say it.” I would suggest going one step further: compare what politicians promise while seeking office with what they actually do after winning.
Your record presents a stark contrast. You told voters exactly what they wanted to hear to get the job, then failed to live by those promises. Whether that is dishonesty or simply indifference, it is the same familiar, two-faced politics you once claimed you would replace.
Nothing says “I care about Newtown homeowners” quite like lining Main Street with plywood campaign billboards—apparently built just inches below the size at which officials say they can take action. At this rate, we’ll need property-tax relief just to offset the loss in curb appeal.
