July 20, 1929 to January 25, 2020
Edmund Clifton Forbell, Jr, nicknamed “Stretch,” was born in Willimantic, Conn., the son of Charlotte Lanphear Forbell and Edmund Clifton Forbell, Sr. He was predecea...
Clifford Bradley Pomeroy, Jr, known as “Kippy,” passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2020, at Regional Hospice, after bravely fighting a long illness, surrounded by his loved ones.
He was born January 2...
Scott Jordan Rogers, 62, formerly of Newtown, died suddenly December 20, 2019. He was born April 21, 1957, and grew up in Newtown. He attended Newtown High School, graduating Class of 1975.
Mr Rogers ...
November 14, 1927 to January 21, 2012
My dear dad, on your eighth year in Heaven.
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memories become a treasure, and I’m so very lucky to have so many. I ...
Irving Edward Trager, age 61, of Sandy Hook, Conn., passed away on January 2, 2020, at Danbury Hospital. Irving was born in New York City and lived in Sandy Hook for over 20 years. He was the beloved ...
Raymond “Ray” Edward Baker died on Sunday, January 12, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Ray was born on November 2, 1938, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and lived in Newtown for over 40 years. He was ...
Jean Anne Maday, 47, passed away on January 11, 2020, in Chicago. Jean was born August 3, 1972, in Illinois, moving to Redding, Conn. in the seventh grade. After graduating from Joel Barlow High Schoo...
In Loving Memory of
Our Little Angel
Christopher Daniel Fiorilla
July 14, 1993 to January 17, 1996
On clear and silent nights,
when we are gazing at the stars,
one always shines t...
Bruce C. Hoag, beloved husband of Barbara (Van Horne) Hoag of Sherman, passed peacefully in Norwalk Hospital after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke.
He was born August 3, 1946, in Chicago, son of the la...
Toby Kuhlmann Spector, 61 years of age, passed peacefully on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at his home in Bridgewater, surrounded by family. Toby was born on October 10, 1958, in Bridgeport, to Stella Ku...
I agree with your point, Tom.
However, the sheer volume of Trump's false statements and claims -- vs. anyone else -- is astonishing and noteworthy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_or_misleading_statements_by_Donald_Trump
President Biden, too, has claimed “inflation was 0%,” when in fact prices remained elevated. He told us his Afghanistan withdrawal was a “success,” even though Americans and allies were left behind and 13 service members lost their lives. He promised not to build another foot of border wall, but later quietly restarted construction. These examples matter just as much as Trump’s because they show that political dishonesty isn’t unique to one side.
The point is not to excuse Trump or Biden—it’s to recognize that truth matters, and voters deserve accountability from all leaders. Singling out one politician while giving others a free pass only fuels division.
It’s important to put the 8-30g application into context. The reason developers in our town resort to Connecticut’s 8-30g affordable housing statute is precisely because obstructionist voices, led by Mr. Ackert, have repeatedly opposed reasonable housing proposals through local zoning channels. When projects are delayed or denied outright under the guise of “protecting character,” developers have little choice but to pursue the state-level remedy.
Mr. Ackert portrays 8-30g as a loophole being abused, when in fact it exists because communities that resist creating diverse housing options need accountability. If our town had a stronger record of working collaboratively to meet housing needs, developers wouldn’t feel compelled to bypass local boards in the first place.
Regarding wetlands and Inland Wetlands Commission review, it’s worth remembering that these processes are not ignored or hidden from the public. Applications that impact wetlands must comply with environmental regulations, and developers are subject to oversight. Suggesting otherwise unfairly discredits both the staff and the commission, who follow established procedures.
The public certainly deserves transparency, but it is misleading to imply that this project was pushed through in secret. The broader issue is that continued “Not In My Back Yard” obstructionism drives applicants to use 8-30g, ensuring that local zoning boards lose the very control residents claim to want preserved.
If we truly want more local say in how projects are shaped, then we need to stop reflexively opposing housing and start working constructively with applicants. Mr. Ackert’s campaign of resistance has only created the exact conditions he now complains about.
It's certainly good news that a temporary patch to rationed water in Newtown is in effect. But taking a year to come up with a patch is concerning. Where is the sense of urgency to get this permanently fixed?
