News

Selectmen Add Funds For FFH Demolition, Move CIP To BOF

By John Voket

Published: Oct 01, 2016 12:00 AM

On the request of Selectman Herb Rosenthal, the Board of Selectmen September 19 deliberated and agreed to add a half-million more dollars in year two of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to further f...

Multi-Form Dance Takes Stage At Edmond Town Hall

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: Oct 01, 2016 12:00 AM

Fluid muscles froze to hold a pose as ballerinas paused, spun, and resumed their dance on stage at Edmond Town Hall on Sunday, September 25. Quickly they dashed off the stage as music and lighting cha...

NHS Schedules Drug Dog Searches

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Sep 30, 2016 12:00 AM

Newtown High School parents were notified by Principal Lorrie Rodrigue by e-mail on September 27 that a drill will be conducted in the near future involving drug dog searches. The drill is typically c...

Finance Board Input Sought On Senior Tax Relief Program

By John Voket

Published: Sep 30, 2016 12:00 AM

Legislative Council Ordinance Committee Chair Ryan Knapp appeared before the Board of Finance on September 22, reaching out for ideas and input on the local senior tax relief program. The Ordinance Co...

Effort To Reduce Taxation Highlights Resident's Assessment Appeals Process

By John Voket

Published: Sep 30, 2016 12:00 AM

Newtown resident Shawn Kasak pays very close attention when he receives his annual property tax bills. And on a number of occasions he has taken the time to argue local valuations, particularly on his...

First Community Forum Focused On School Start Times

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Sep 30, 2016 12:00 AM

Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, hosted the first community forum of the 2016-17 academic year September 28, with a goal of hearing input from attendees on school start times and sleep....

Policy Changes For NHS Athletic Events

By Alissa Silber

Published: Sep 30, 2016 12:00 AM

Following an incident of misconduct on Friday, September 9, during a home game hosted by the Newtown High School football team, the school has implemented new policies for students attending any NHS a...

Last Call For Participants To Quiz Newtown Bee Forum Candidates

Published: Sep 30, 2016 12:00 AM

The Newtown Bee is putting out a final call to residents or readers to send any questions they may want to ask state legislative contenders participating in the newspaper's free annual Candidates ...

Youth Assaulted In Borough Parking Lot

Published: Sep 29, 2016 12:00 AM

Police said that at about 5:25 pm on September 26, they received a report informing them that an assault had occurred on the northern end of the parking lot at Newtown Shopping Village, a shopping cen...

Flags To Be Lowered To Honor Former Israeli President Peres

Published: Sep 29, 2016 12:00 AM

Governor Dannel P. Malloy has announced that, in accordance with a proclamation from President Barack Obama directing flags to be lowered to honor the memory of former President and Prime Minister o...

The Way We Were

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

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