The organization may dedicate itself to supporting all types of commerce and industry in Newtown, but its leadership often reminds those who are not members that the local Chamber of Commerce is a small business, too.
Even with heavy renovations currently underway, the phrase “what’s old is new again” does not do justice to the amazing renovations that are breathing new life into the former Inn at Newtown.
In the wake of the Tropical Storm Isaias, Better Business Bureau Serving Connecticut is warning homeowners to be aware of shady fly-by-night contractors.
After a 50-year career that started when she was barely 13 years old, Melanie Allen Mattegat is still successfully outfitting bridal parties and brides-to-be at Julie Allen Bridals — although she admits the COVID-19 pandemic has upended virtually everything related to long-planned wedding events. Read all about this local business and its backstory.
Connecticut's utility regulatory authority is temporarily suspending the latest Eversource electricity rate July 31, just hours after the utility began offering assistance to ratepayers who are enraged by or otherwise unable to immediately pay electricity bills that have spiked over the last rate cycle due to a number of factors.
Local social network posts in Newtown — and across Connecticut’s Eversource electrical service sectors — are crackling with complaints as consumers have been opening their latest bills to see their payments increasing. Find out why it is happening.
Bruce’s letter paints a picture of runaway development, but the real story is the collapse of local cooperation — not the rise of §8-30g. That law has been on the books since 1990. For decades, towns and developers worked together to shape projects that made sense: added sidewalks, deeper setbacks, fewer units — genuine compromise.
What’s changed isn’t the law, it’s the politics. A loud social media mob has made any compromise politically toxic. The “no growth” crowd demands nothing be built anywhere, ever, and bullies anyone who suggests otherwise. Planning and zoning boards no longer negotiate; they hunker down, hoping to appease the Facebook comment section.
But here’s the irony — when compromise dies, developers stop compromising too. Once a project triggers §8-30g, the town can fight it, but state law ensures the developer will eventually win. So instead of working out a reasonable design, everyone heads to court. The developer doubles the unit count to pay for the lawyers, and the town burns taxpayer money trying to lose more slowly.
That’s how we end up with the very projects the NIMBY mob fears — because they made reasonable development impossible.
If people truly care about Newtown’s character, they need to stop the performative outrage and start engaging in real planning again. Screaming “no” to everything isn’t preservation — it’s self-sabotage.
I’m honestly surprised Bruce had to look up what an “agreement in principle” means. After years of business experience and managing 200 people, I would have expected that term to be familiar by now. Hard to believe it’s a new concept at this stage in his career. Although rest assured Newtown, vote row A and when times get tough, we have Google to help the selectman.
I asked AI what does agreement in principle mean
An "agreement in principle" is a preliminary, non-binding understanding reached between two or more parties that outlines the fundamental terms of a future contract. It is considered a stepping stone toward a formal, legally enforceable agreement.
This type of agreement is used to establish mutual intent and a basic framework for negotiations before the parties commit to a detailed, final contract.
