Features

Hubbard Foundation Helps Children Fill Hearts With Art

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: Feb 17, 2016 12:00 AM

With paper cut-out hearts scattered around her, Kaylee Aros-Truhe used a folded white paper, red hearts, and a pencil and glue to make a valentine. Seated at a table of roughly 20 children, Allison Ho...

Lisa Unleashed: Westminster Week Kicks Off

By Lisa Peterson

Published: Feb 13, 2016 12:00 AM

More than 3,000 dogs are descending on Manhattan Saturday through Tuesday as The Westminster Kennel Club kicks off three events that culminate in the 140th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on M...

Free Movie At Edmond Town Hall Saturday Night

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Feb 13, 2016 12:00 AM

The next film to be offered free of charge thanks to Ingersoll Auto of Danbury will be The Peanuts Movie. In this animated feature released in November, Snoopy embarks upon his greatest mission as he ...

Robert Cray Promises Concertgoers Unique Blues Experience

By John Voket

Published: Feb 12, 2016 12:00 AM

RIDGEFIELD - There are arguably two kinds of blues players: the ones like BB King and Buddy Guy, who delivered virtually the same loyal note-by-note renditions of blues standards every show for virtua...

Nourishments: Tiny Bubbles Invite Celebration

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: Feb 12, 2016 12:00 AM

My mother used to hum or whistle along with the radio as Don Ho crooned, "Tiny bubbles, in the wine; make me happy; make me feel fine." We heard the song often, whether she was mopping the floor, vacu...

The Way We Were for the week ending Februay 12, 2016

By Newtown Bee

Published: Feb 12, 2016 12:00 AM

February 15, 1991 Newtown is one of seven towns along the Iroquois pipeline route targeted to receive thousands of dollars for open space preservation through a first-time ever land enhancement p...

Snapshot: Fran Wong

By Newtown Bee

Published: Feb 12, 2016 12:00 AM

Occupation: I am the administrative assistant for St Rose of Lima School. I've been here since September 2014. I love working at St Rose. It's such a nice place to work. Before this, I was working...

The Top of the Mountain

By Newtown Bee

Published: Feb 12, 2016 12:00 AM

I can't count past the toes on my paws, but for those who are counting, Tuesday, February 2, marked the 100th day of school for the 2015-16 school year. Middle Gate Elementary School uploaded photos o...

Embroidery Exhibit On View At The Library

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Feb 06, 2016 12:00 AM

The Friends of Counted Embroidery (FCE) Laurel Chapter President Beverly Regan, and Vice Presidents Marge Gingolaski and Beverly Robertson, who is in charge of programs, assembled an exhibit of works ...

The Top of the Mountain

By Newtown Bee

Published: Feb 05, 2016 12:00 AM

Congratulations to Newtown resident Nora Murphy, author and designer of the NM Connecticut Country House blog. CCH has been nominated for the 2016 Design Bloggers Hall of Fame for Best Overall Blog. T...

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

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