Features

The Top of the Mountain

Published: Dec 04, 2015 12:00 AM

There will be books galore at the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library book sale this Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, in new and like-new condition. But the Friends also receive many new gift item...

Newtown Native Is Co-Producer For
'Ten Days In A Madhouse'

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: Dec 04, 2015 12:00 AM

In 1887, The New York World’s “girl correspondent,” Nellie Bly, committed herself to Blackwell Island Mental Institution (now Roosevelt Island) in order to investigate, first hand, and report on the c...

The Way We Were

Published: Dec 04, 2015 12:00 AM

The Way We Were December 7, 1990 State Crown For Newtown! Cap Zito has seen a lot of football in his time. He estimates that he’s missed only a handful of his son Bob’s games sin...

Special Kittens Seek Special Homes

By Nancy Crevier

Published: Dec 03, 2015 12:00 AM

They were three little kittens that had lost more than their mittens. Jojo, Skye and Domino, three black, domestic short-haired kittens arrived at the Newtown Animal Control Center in October, all of ...

Open House & Community Benefit, Sunday At Avancé Day Spa

Published: Dec 03, 2015 12:00 AM

Three Tree Lightings This Weekend

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Dec 02, 2015 12:00 AM

The town’s three Christmas/holiday trees will be formally lit for the holidays, December 4-6. Newtown’s oldest tree lighting celebration will open the weekend. The 31st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony a...

The Way We Were

Published: Nov 29, 2015 12:00 AM

November 30, 1990 Three Dodgingtown firemen were arrested on superior court warrants for conspiracy to commit arson, following an investigation by police and fire officials into the fire which cl...

Colorful Work On Black Friday

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Nov 28, 2015 12:00 AM

Tag-A-Gift Program Makes Wishes Come True

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: Nov 28, 2015 12:00 AM

The 2015 Tag-A-Gift program kicked off Monday, November 23, with the decorating of a tree in the lobby of Edmond Town Hall. Tag-A-Gift is a collaboration of the Newtown Junior Women’s Club (NWJC) and ...

Snapshot: Denise Rodriguez

Published: Nov 27, 2015 12:00 AM

Occupation: I’m a paraeducator at Middle Gate School. This January I’ll have been there for ten years. I started out in the reading department, for two or three years, and then there was an openin...

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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The Top of the Mountain

Newtown Native Is Co-Producer For 'Ten Days In A Madhouse'

The Way We Were

Special Kittens Seek Special Homes

Open House & Community Benefit, Sunday At Avancé Day Spa

Three Tree Lightings This Weekend

The Way We Were

Colorful Work On Black Friday

Tag-A-Gift Program Makes Wishes Come True

Snapshot: Denise Rodriguez

Newtown Native Is Co-Producer For
'Ten Days In A Madhouse'