News

Hawleyville Man Sentenced To 23 Years For Child Pornography

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 01, 2013 12:00 AM

HARTFORD — Edward F. Wilson, 29, of Hawleyville on Wednesday, May 1, received a sentence of more than 23 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of probation, for producing, trading, and possess...

Council Trims Budget By $900,000 For Second Referendum

By John Voket

Published: May 01, 2013 12:00 AM

After several suggested but failed attempts to amend main motions, the Legislative Council voted to send a second round budget request to taxpayers with a $900,000 reduction. That will make the bottom...

Council Trims Budget By $900,000 For Second Referendum

By John Voket

Published: May 01, 2013 12:00 AM

Branches Of Healing: New Trees Replace Those Cut At Treadwell

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: Apr 30, 2013 12:00 AM

Trees cut down at Treadwell Park in mid-April were quickly replaced thanks to a donation. The story started with a letter in December, and ended with donors and volunteers who are “forever changed,” a...

Branches Of Healing: New Trees Replace Those Cut At Treadwell

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: Apr 30, 2013 12:00 AM

Nashville Security Conference Invites Newtown Police Chief

Published: Apr 30, 2013 12:00 AM

NASHVILLE, TENN. — A June 18 national Electronic Security Expo (ESX) will be featuring Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe as the featured speaker of its Industry IceBreaker Luncheon. In times of trage...

Nashville Security Conference Invites Newtown Police Chief

Published: Apr 30, 2013 12:00 AM

A Banner For Boston

By Nancy Crevier

Published: Apr 29, 2013 12:00 AM

Residents who stopped by the Office of the First Selectman during the early part of last week had the opportunity to sign a 4 x 6-foot banner to be sent to the mayor’s office in Boston. Municipal Cent...

NUSAR Acquires Aluminum Boat For Better Diving Platform

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Apr 29, 2013 12:00 AM

When Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR) members respond to aquatic emergency calls, they soon will be doing so in a new custom-built dive boat designed to maximize the volunteer organization...

Town Presses Owner On His Plans For Condemned House

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: Apr 29, 2013 12:00 AM

The town’s building official has sent the owner of a decaying Berkshire Road house a letter informing him that the vacant, rundown building has been condemned by the town due to its deterioration, and...

Fire Reports | April 28-May 4, 2026

Just Over The Border: Southeast Kitchen And Bath’s New Showroom

Police Reports | April 27-May 3, 2026

Silent Auction To Coincide With Garden Club Standard Flower Show

BOE CFF Discusses Itemized Estimates, Summer CIP Projects

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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Hawleyville Man Sentenced To 23 Years For Child Pornography

Council Trims Budget By $900,000 For Second Referendum

Council Trims Budget By $900,000 For Second Referendum

Branches Of Healing: New Trees Replace Those Cut At Treadwell

Branches Of Healing: New Trees Replace Those Cut At Treadwell

Nashville Security Conference Invites Newtown Police Chief

Nashville Security Conference Invites Newtown Police Chief

A Banner For Boston

NUSAR Acquires Aluminum Boat For Better Diving Platform

Town Presses Owner On His Plans For Condemned House