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Police Reports | January 15-30, 2014

Published: Jan 30, 2014 12:00 AM

Interstate Accident State police report that motorist Alvaro Alberto, 22, of New Milford was driving a 2006 Nissan Sentra eastward on Interstate 84 in the area between the Exit 10 off-ramp and on...

A Two Hour Delay For Newtown Public Schools Wednesday

Published: Jan 29, 2014 12:00 AM

The Newtown Public Schools will have a two hour delay on Wednesday,January 29, and there will be no morning pre-kindergarten, due to the weather.

BOE Begins Reviewing Superintendent's Budget

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Jan 29, 2014 12:00 AM

Following Interim Superintendent of Schools John Reed’s presentation of his proposed budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year on Thursday, January 23, the Board of Education began hearing from advocates for...

Guided Hike February 1 At Brunot Preserve

Published: Jan 29, 2014 12:00 AM

Join Newtown Forest Association (NFA) member Aaron Coopersmith on a guided hike through the Brunot Preserve off Taunton Hill Road on Saturday, February 1, at noon. All are welcome on the two-mile walk...

February 8 At NHS: Judges Needed For 14th Annual Southern Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair

Published: Jan 28, 2014 12:00 AM

Over 300 high school students from a dozen schools in southwestern Connecticut will be participating in the 14th Annual Southern Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair. The fair, sponsored by the Sout...

12/14 Commemorative Lapel Pins Available

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Jan 28, 2014 12:00 AM

People interested in obtaining copies of a lapel pin which commemorates the 12/14/12 shooting incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School may do so by contacting David Rohner, the Central Connecticut Sta...

Gov Malloy Unveils Proposals To Improve State's Mental Health System

Published: Jan 27, 2014 12:00 AM

HARTFORD — Joined by State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Commissioner Patricia Rehmer and state and local law enforcement officials at Capitol Region Mental Health Center,...

Student Fundraiser Donates To Newtown Police Union

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Jan 26, 2014 12:00 AM

The Newtown Police Union has become the beneficiary of a private fundraising drive initiated by a student majoring in criminal justice at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in New Britain. In...

Town Officials Remind Residents Of Snow & Ice Control Rules

Published: Jan 25, 2014 12:00 AM

George Benson, town director of planning and land use, said this week that property owners should follow the provisions of the town ordinance requiring that sidewalks in front of individual properties...

Intersection Realignment: Church Hill Road Project In Early Design Stage

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Jan 25, 2014 12:00 AM

The state Department of Transportation (DOT) is in the preliminary design stage of a traffic safety project that will create a conventional four-way signalized intersection of Church Hill Road, Commer...

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

The Way We Were

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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Police Reports | January 15-30, 2014

A Two Hour Delay For Newtown Public Schools Wednesday

BOE Begins Reviewing Superintendent's Budget

Guided Hike February 1 At Brunot Preserve

February 8 At NHS: Judges Needed For 14th Annual Southern Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair

12/14 Commemorative Lapel Pins Available

Gov Malloy Unveils Proposals To Improve State's Mental Health System

Student Fundraiser Donates To Newtown Police Union

Town Officials Remind Residents Of Snow & Ice Control Rules

Intersection Realignment: Church Hill Road Project In Early Design Stage