Obituaries

Lisa Denton Bruno (April 20, 1959-May 24, 2026)

Published: Jun 04, 2026 12:40 PM

Lisa D. Bruno, 67, passed away on May 24, 2026, after a sudden but brief illness.

Julia Starkweather

Published: Jun 02, 2026 06:00 AM

Julia Barbara Starkweather, 83, of Sandy Hook, passed away at her home on May 24, 2026.

Sharon Ann Cordova

Published: May 28, 2026 12:00 PM

Former longtime Sandy Hook resident Sharon Ann Cordova, 78, passed away peacefully on May 24, with her husband of 52 years, Andrew, by her side.

David McDonald

Published: May 28, 2026 09:06 AM

David Sean McDonald, who grew up in Sandy Hook, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2026, at the age of 65, in Tampa, Florida, surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with heart disease.

James Cornwall Rikhoff Sr (May 8, 1931-May 2, 2026)

Published: May 26, 2026 11:51 AM

James “Jim” Cornwall Rikhoff Sr, a celebrated American publisher, author, pioneering conservationist, and decorated veteran, passed away on May 2, 2026, following a lifetime of profound contributions to literature, wildlife preservation, and the sporting world.

John T. Marshall

Updated: May 22, 2026 11:22 AM

Former Newtown resident John T. Marshall passed away peacefully on May 19, 2026.

Tony Berry Celebration Of Life

Published: May 21, 2026 12:00 AM

Friends are invited to celebrate the life of the late Tony Berry on Saturday, May 30.

Richard 'Rick' Medve

Published: May 19, 2026 06:30 AM

Former longtime Newtown resident Richard “Rick” Bertram Medve, 87, passed away on May 11, 2026, in Portland, Me.

Judith Pesce

Updated: May 18, 2026 12:54 PM

Former longtime Newtown resident Judith Pesce passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 22, 2026, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.

Thomas Benedetto

Published: May 14, 2026 07:00 AM

Thomas Ronald Benedetto of Newtown peacefully passed away on May 8, 2026, surrounded by his loving family and friends at his daughter’s home in Newtown.

Collaborative Newtown 250 Events 'Coming Together'

Newtown Lions Bring Another Blood Drive To Town

Newtown World Champion Taekwondo Brought Back Tons Of Medals From Georgia Tournament

HOM Students Honored For Completing Nutmeg Challenge

Financial Foundations: Time For A Mid-Year Financial Wellness Check-Up

Mr. Ackert’s letter leaves out an important point: many of the legal expenses he references exist because of the legal challenges and complaints he and his facebook group has chosen to pursue. It is not fair to blame the Borough Zoning Commission Chair for costs that were driven, in large part, by Mr. Ackert’s own actions. Taxpayers should understand that litigation and FOIA complaints do not appear out of nowhere. They are initiated by individuals who decide to take those matters forward. Public officials should absolutely be held accountable, and the Borough should follow proper procedures at all times. But accountability should run both ways. If someone repeatedly challenges the Borough through legal channels, then points to the resulting legal bills as proof of poor leadership, the public deserves that context. Reasonable people can disagree about zoning decisions, development, and procedure. However, turning every disagreement into a legal fight has consequences, and those consequences are paid for by Borough taxpayers. Before assigning blame for legal expenses, Mr. Ackert should acknowledge his own role in creating them.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

And Chris Gardner, if anybody is Mr. Newtown, it’s you! Not only do I deeply appreciate all the support you gave me throughout this campaign, but I look forward to joining you in the Lions Club. I know it sounds silly, but truly one of my highlights this year was helping to raise the summer flag on the flagpole alongside you! I know we’re going to be great friends well into the future.

Leading By Example, For Unity And For Newtown

I didn’t have enough word count to thank my full team the way they deserve, so I’m doing that here! My debt of gratitude is enormous and I’ll never be able to repay it fully. Laura Miller and Peter Schwartz, you two were my incredible sounding boards through this entire campaign. And Laura, you kicked off my campaign launch with a speech so full of energy and humor that it set exactly the right tone from Day 1. I cannot thank you both enough for being with me from the very beginning. Jordana Bloom, this town is so, so lucky to have you! You know absolutely everyone, which honestly is a testament to how much people around Newtown adore you. And you’re one heck of a fighter! Thank you for being such a wonderful friend, such a selfless person, and for sharing your heart so generously with us. Arnie Berman, you were basically my campaign consigliere lol. Having you as a core part of this team made us so much better, no question about it. You’re doing great things on the Legislative Council, but I think we need you in Congress one day! Aidan Music, it was so great to have not just another young guy on the campaign, but someone so fired up about winning and willing to put in the work to make it happen. I lost count of how many times you rushed home from work just to make a campaign meeting. I owe you a drink, or a few, anytime you’d like! Michelle Assante, thank you so much for being so devoted to our mission and for being willing to give so much insight and feedback on the best way to accomplish our goals. Not only do I have you to thank, but I have Violet and Willow to thank too! They brought so much energy to the campaign and I am so indescribably appreciative of everything you've all done. Beth Young, you are so deeply valued, not just on our campaign but in our town and on the Board of Finance. Thank you for letting me plant that giant, gaudy sign in your front yard lol, for all your help making calls, and for being committed from the very start. And a huge thank you to your daughter for starring in one of our very first campaign videos! You both are the absolute best.

I’m not sure I would call this a victory lap. The contentious relationship between the NIMBY crowd and local builders has not served Newtown well. In fact, this kind of obstructionist approach is part of what leaves us with worse outcomes. We have already seen projects like the cinder block row housing on Oakview pushed through in ways many residents were unhappy with, and it is only a matter of time before a company like Vessel Technologies decides to block up an area like Castle Hill if we continue down this path. We need to learn how to work with builders, not meet every proposal with lawsuits, angry Facebook groups, and organized opposition. That does not mean residents should stay silent or accept every plan as presented. It means we should engage constructively, negotiate for better outcomes, and work toward development that fits Newtown rather than spending everyone’s money fighting until there are no good options left. Let’s learn to work together.

Castle Hill Victory Lap Costs Borough Residents 13% More

"Think about women seeking reproductive healthcare." In which state does Brandon think he's running for office? If that's your moral imperative to run for office, move to Texas and insert yourself in their culture wars. Campaigns like this one choose the very odd "but Trump" angle because they have no other leg to stand on. Mitch has represented Newtown with integrity in Hartford, and it is evidenced by the complete lack of criticism of his record in the statements above.

Democrats To Choose Candidate For 106th District

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