Features

Lisa Unleashed: Read On! - Connecticut Horse Magazine Is Launched

By Lisa Peterson

Published: Aug 22, 2015 12:00 AM

There’s a new horse magazine in the barn! Connecticut Horse launched this summer with its first bimonthly issue. A sister publication to the 15-year-old Massachusetts Horse, the brainchild of Publishe...

Snapshot: Julie Mack

Published: Aug 21, 2015 12:00 AM

Occupation: I’m a homemaker. I was in accounting before I had children, but I stopped after my second child. Family: I have three children. Daphne is 15 and she’ll be a junior at Newtown High ...

The Way We Were

Published: Aug 21, 2015 12:00 AM

August 24, 1990 As workmen were taking down siding on the front of the Newtown Meeting House, August 17, an artifact of unknown origin was discovered. The wooden piece is formed of three boards h...

The Top of the Mountain

Published: Aug 21, 2015 12:00 AM

Are you ready to stretch your muscles and your mind? The 2015 Newtown Yoga Festival gets underway Saturday, August 22, at 9 am, and runs through 4 pm, at NYA Sports & Fitness Center, at Fairfield Hill...

Field Notes: Navigating The Thicket Of Survival, Quick Like A Bunny

By Curtiss Clark

Published: Aug 20, 2015 12:00 AM

Rabbits showed up at our place for the first time this summer from I don’t know where. We live at an intersection, not just of two roads but of fields, forest, and suburban lawns. We’ve had all kinds ...

Newtown Photographer To Show Her 'Coastal Colors'

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: Aug 18, 2015 12:00 AM

DANBURY — Through Thursday, October 24, The Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut is presenting seven exhibitions in public and private spaces in Danbury and Bethel. Accessible Art is a “year-long,...

Newtown Yoga Festival Headliners Encourage 'Back To Balance'

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: Aug 17, 2015 12:00 AM

Headlining the 2015 Newtown Yoga Festival on Saturday, August 22, will be two award-winning authors and nationally recognized doctors: Dr Patricia Gerbarg and Dr Richard Brown. Partners in work and li...

Get Your Geek On For Nerd Night, And Benefit Women & Children

By Shannon Hicks

Published: Aug 15, 2015 12:00 AM

Laurie and Michael Wright are organizing a special event for Sunday, September 6, at Edmond Town Hall. For the event, “Can’t Stop the Serenity: A Global Charity Screening Event for Equality Now,” the ...

'Loss Angeles' Author Shares His Stories With Newtown Audience

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: Aug 15, 2015 12:00 AM

“If you’re going to grow as an author, you have to reach people you don’t know,” said Newtown author and former book coach Sophfronia Scott. That is one reason she was happy to host a book reading and...

Snapshot: Penny Mudgett

Published: Aug 14, 2015 12:00 AM

Occupation: I’m the assessor for the Town of Newtown. I started this position in January 2014. I’ve been here for 15 years, though. I was deputy assessor, and did data entry, before that. Fami...

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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Lisa Unleashed: Read On! - Connecticut Horse Magazine Is Launched

Snapshot: Julie Mack

The Way We Were

The Top of the Mountain

Field Notes: Navigating The Thicket Of Survival, Quick Like A Bunny

Newtown Photographer To Show Her 'Coastal Colors'

Newtown Yoga Festival Headliners Encourage 'Back To Balance'

Get Your Geek On For Nerd Night, And Benefit Women & Children

'Loss Angeles' Author Shares His Stories With Newtown Audience

Snapshot: Penny Mudgett