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Fire Reports October 24 - 30, 2013

Published: Oct 31, 2013 12:00 AM

The dispatchers at the Newtown Emergency Communications Center at 3 Main Street report the following fire calls and the responders: Thursday, October 24: 8:41 am, alarm, 60 Elm Drive, Hook & Ladde...

Police News October 21 - 28, 2013

Published: Oct 31, 2013 12:00 AM

Reckless Burning Police said they went to Oakview Road, near Newtown High School, about 1:45 pm on October 23 after receiving a report about a ground fire in the area. Police said they charged ea...

Police Uncover Nighttime Burglary At Fairfield Hills

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Oct 29, 2013 12:00 AM

Police report they arrested two alleged burglars inside Cochran House at Fairfield Hills early on the morning of Monday, October 28, after receiving a call informing them that light and noise were ema...

Mental Health Services Fund For Newtown Responders Falls Short

By Susan Haigh, Associated Press

Published: Oct 29, 2013 12:00 AM

HARTFORD — A private charitable fund created to help pay for the mental health care of first responders, teachers and other workers affected by the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school fal...

Municipal Election Ballots Available To View Online

Published: Oct 28, 2013 12:00 AM

HARTFORD (AP) — Connecticut voters can go online and view the ballots for every city and town holding municipal elections on November 5. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill is urging the more than t...

The Great Pumpkin Challenge Collection

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Oct 28, 2013 12:00 AM

A couple hours into the weekend collection hours for this year’s Great Pumpkin Challenge, pumpkins were already arriving at 14 Main Street, where the entire collection will be displayed on Halloween. ...

Sherman Woods Gains Wetlands Approval

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Oct 28, 2013 12:00 AM

Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) members last week unanimously approved the wetlands/watercourses protection aspects of a proposed 42-lot cluster-style residential subdivision on a 158-acre site in Sa...

Newtown VFW Announces Outreach For Teacher's Family In Nevada

Published: Oct 26, 2013 12:00 AM

As many have heard, another school shooting took place on October 21, this time at a middle school in Sparks, Nev. A 12-year old student wounded two fellow students and killed a teacher before taking ...

Town Attorney Says 'Bare Majority' Stipulation For BOE Race Excludes Two-Year Candidate

By John Voket

Published: Oct 25, 2013 12:00 AM

Town Attorney David Grogins has released his formal opinion on a relatively recent charter revision stirring up controversy a few days ahead of local elections. And two Democratic Board of Education c...

School Demolition Brings The Media Back To Town

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Oct 25, 2013 12:00 AM

News media arrived in Newtown on Friday, October 25, seeking to cover the demolition of Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dickinson Drive. At least three satellite video trucks had arrived in town by ea...

‘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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Fire Reports October 24 - 30, 2013

Police News October 21 - 28, 2013

Police Uncover Nighttime Burglary At Fairfield Hills

Mental Health Services Fund For Newtown Responders Falls Short

Municipal Election Ballots Available To View Online

The Great Pumpkin Challenge Collection

Sherman Woods Gains Wetlands Approval

Newtown VFW Announces Outreach For Teacher's Family In Nevada

Town Attorney Says 'Bare Majority' Stipulation For BOE Race Excludes Two-Year Candidate

School Demolition Brings The Media Back To Town