Features

Theater Review: Polished, Subtle Humor Found In New Milford Production

By Elizabeth Young

Published: Dec 10, 2015 12:00 AM

NEW MILFORD — Theatreworks New Milford’s current production of John Van Druten’s Bell, Book and Candle is utterly charming in every way. This polished piece of old school theater, with its subtle humo...

Theater Review: Sherman's Production Of "Alice" Is All Sweetness

By Elizabeth Young

Published: Dec 09, 2015 12:00 AM

SHERMAN — A sweet confection of the enduring story of Alice’s adventures down the rabbit hole, set to music, is being offered by the Sherman Players. Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, ...

Resident, Renown Theater Organist, Honored At Thomaston Opera House

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Dec 09, 2015 12:00 AM

THOMASTON — Landmark Community Theater 2015 season final spotlight volunteer Juan Cardona Jr, a renowned theater organist who has played in numerous venues across the county, was honored recently with...

Tree Lightings Illuminate Local Holiday Celebrations

By Eliza Hallabeck and Kendra Bobowick and John Voket

Published: Dec 08, 2015 12:00 AM

Three evenings of celebration illuminated the holiday season’s start in Newtown, as families, friends, and loved ones gathered for a trio of Christmas/holiday tree lightings this past weekend. A crowd...

'Nutcracker Suite' Returning To Center Stage During Holiday Festival

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: Dec 05, 2015 12:00 AM

Gingerbread soldiers and sugarplum fairies fill Clara’s dreams in The Nutcracker Suite, where she is surrounded by dancing snowflakes and a handsome prince. Student dancers with Newtown Centre of Clas...

Giving Santa A Leg Up On Christmas

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: Dec 05, 2015 12:00 AM

His black boots clung to aluminum ladder rungs; one mittened hand grasped a second floor window sill. Santa has climbed toward the roof of 11 Washington Avenue with a sack of gifts slung over one shou...

Ringing In The Holidays

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: Dec 05, 2015 12:00 AM

The holidays were underway in Newtown, Saturday morning, with shoppers clustered outside the doors of the Newtown Meeting House on Main Street, eagerly awaiting the start of the Garden Club of Newtow...

An Annual Display Of Beauty And Warmth

Published: Dec 05, 2015 12:00 AM

Snapshot: Kyle Lyddy

Published: Dec 04, 2015 12:00 AM

Occupation: I’m the marketing supervisor of Brand Experiences at Amplitude Marketing Group, Inc., in Newtown. Family: I’m the youngest of five children, with two brothers and two sisters. I al...

Additional Toys For Tots Locations Announced, Special PD Collection Saturday

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Dec 04, 2015 12:00 AM

Toys For Tots-Ridgefield, the local chapter of the national campaign, has added three new locations in Newtown for this year’s Toys For Tots collection. Toys can now be dropped off at Edward Jones Fin...

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.

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.

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Theater Review: Polished, Subtle Humor Found In New Milford Production

Theater Review: Sherman's Production Of "Alice" Is All Sweetness

Resident, Renown Theater Organist, Honored At Thomaston Opera House

Tree Lightings Illuminate Local Holiday Celebrations

'Nutcracker Suite' Returning To Center Stage During Holiday Festival

Giving Santa A Leg Up On Christmas

Ringing In The Holidays

An Annual Display Of Beauty And Warmth

Snapshot: Kyle Lyddy

Additional Toys For Tots Locations Announced, Special PD Collection Saturday