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School Board Approves Unexpended Education Funds Account

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Jan 10, 2014 12:00 AM

After being presented by Business Director Ronald Bienkowski, the Board of Education unanimously approved during its meeting on Tuesday, January 7, a request for the Board of Finance to establish an u...

Change Of Venue For Library Board Meeting

Published: Jan 10, 2014 12:00 AM

Due to ongoing water damage remediation at the C.H. Booth Library, the regular monthly meeting of the C.H. Booth Library Board of Trustees will take place in the Community Room of the Newtown Savings ...

Resident Guarantees $200,000 To Complete Main Street Sidewalk Connection

By John Voket

Published: Jan 10, 2014 12:00 AM

Newtown resident Joseph Draper announced to a group of Newtown officials January 7 his plan to guarantee at least $200,000 to fortify a nominal memorial fund and serve as a challenge to others to dona...

Latest Offer On SHS Parcel Rejected; Access Options Weighed

By John Voket

Published: Jan 10, 2014 12:00 AM

The Legislative Council was informed January 8 that the town’s last, best offer on two Riverside Road parcels officials hoped would provide an optimal and alternative entryway for the new Sandy Hook S...

School Board OKs New NHS Graduation Requirements

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Jan 10, 2014 12:00 AM

After Assistant Superintendent of Schools Linda Gejda recommended a course of dealing with upcoming state high school graduation requirements, the Board of Education unanimously voted on Tuesday, Janu...

Clothing No Longer Needed, Ladies Auxiliary Still Collecting For Shelton Fire Victims

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Jan 10, 2014 12:00 AM

The Ladies Auxiliary of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Co., has for years been called upon to offer aid to the members of their host company during emergencies. This week the women have stepped fo...

School Board Communications Panel To Offer Budget Newsletters

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Jan 10, 2014 12:00 AM

Following a report by Board of Education Vice Chair Laura Roche, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday, January 7, to allow its Communications Committee to send budget newsletters on behalf of...

First Snow Of The New Year

Published: Jan 10, 2014 12:00 AM

Two Hour Delay For Newtown Public Schools Friday

Published: Jan 10, 2014 12:00 AM

The Newtown Public Schools will have a two hour delay and there will be no morning pre-kindergarten on Friday, January 10, due to the weather.

Police Reports | December 31, 2013-January 5, 2014

Published: Jan 09, 2014 12:00 AM

Four Violations Police report they stopped motorist Patricia Mathison-Benvenuti, 42, of Monroe about 9:23 pm on December 23 near 12 Berkshire Road because they saw her driving a vehicle which had...

‘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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School Board Approves Unexpended Education Funds Account

Change Of Venue For Library Board Meeting

Resident Guarantees $200,000 To Complete Main Street Sidewalk Connection

Latest Offer On SHS Parcel Rejected; Access Options Weighed

School Board OKs New NHS Graduation Requirements

Clothing No Longer Needed, Ladies Auxiliary Still Collecting For Shelton Fire Victims

School Board Communications Panel To Offer Budget Newsletters

First Snow Of The New Year

Two Hour Delay For Newtown Public Schools Friday

Police Reports | December 31, 2013-January 5, 2014