News

Benefactors Supporting Hook & Ladder Mutual Aid Drive

Published: Apr 21, 2016 12:00 AM

On Monday, April 18, Newtown Hook & Ladder Company #1 gathered at its future headquarters site on Church Hill Road for a check presentation in the amount of $50,000 to President Rick Camejo.donations@...

Judge Sets April 2018 Trial On Gun Lawsuit

Published: Apr 21, 2016 12:00 AM

BRIDGEPORT - The presiding judge in the ongoing lawsuit against the manufacturer of the semiautomatic rifle used in the December 2012 Sandy Hook School shooting has set April 3, 2018, as the trial dat...

Forest Fire Danger Level Very High, No Open Burning Today

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Apr 21, 2016 12:00 AM

The April 21 Forest Fire Danger Level for Connecticut, as posted by the state's Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), is Very High. Connecticut traditionally experiences high fore...

Top Officials Tape Budget Messages Ahead Of April 26 Referendum

By John Voket

Published: Apr 21, 2016 12:00 AM

This report was updated April 24 clarifyingÃÂ language aboutÃÂ 2016 budget ballot advisory questions. Five of Newtown's top officials who played key roles in developing and moving a 2...

Shelton Man Arrested In Fatal Accident

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Apr 19, 2016 12:00 AM

Police said Tuesday they have arrested a 33-year-old Shelton man on a felony charge of misconduct with a motor vehicle following a Sunday night accident in which the pickup truck the man was driving c...

Sponsor Relays For Surviving Loved One, Those Who Lost The Fight

By John Voket

Published: Apr 18, 2016 12:00 AM

Newtown Relay For Life Co-Chair Tracy Broomer holds a special place in her heart for the growing number of event sponsors who are lining up to help support this non sporting, community-wide fund- and ...

P&Z Endorses Grant For Fairfield Hills Streetscape Project

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Apr 18, 2016 12:00 AM

Following discussion at an April 7 Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) session, P&Z members endorsed the town's plans for the use of a $500,000 state grant to be used toward the Fairfield Hills Stree...

Brookfield Man Dies In Two-Vehicle Head-On Accident

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Apr 18, 2016 12:00 AM

A Brookfield man died following a two-vehicle head-on accident at about 8 pm on Sunday, April 17, near 292 South Main Street (State Route 25) in Botsford, south of Kay Lane.(This article was re-posted...

Your Healthy Pet Hosts DAWS Volunteers And Pets For An Afternoon

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Apr 16, 2016 12:00 AM

Two tails wagged as people walked in the doors of Your Healthy Pet on Saturday, April 9. Ozzie, a 2-year-old Blue Heeler mix with a soft speckled coat, and Jaxson, a one-and-half-year-old Lab and houn...

Reminder: Silver Bridge To Close April 18-25

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Apr 16, 2016 12:00 AM

Silver Bridge, which spans the Lake Zoar section of the Housatonic River, linking Glen Road in Sandy Hook to River Road Southbury, is scheduled to be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic for sev...

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

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.

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.

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Benefactors Supporting Hook & Ladder Mutual Aid Drive

Judge Sets April 2018 Trial On Gun Lawsuit

Forest Fire Danger Level Very High, No Open Burning Today

Top Officials Tape Budget Messages Ahead Of April 26 Referendum

Shelton Man Arrested In Fatal Accident

Sponsor Relays For Surviving Loved One, Those Who Lost The Fight

P&Z Endorses Grant For Fairfield Hills Streetscape Project

Brookfield Man Dies In Two-Vehicle Head-On Accident

Your Healthy Pet Hosts DAWS Volunteers And Pets For An Afternoon

Reminder: Silver Bridge To Close April 18-25