Sutherland William Gilmore Denlinger, known as Bill (and Big Bill), died on May 15, 2019, at age 80.
Bill is survived by his wife, Patricia (Boutell) Denlinger; his children, Carley Lee (Harry), James...
Helen Bronk-Akerstrom, 95, of Southbury, previously of Newtown, died peacefully with her family by her side, at home, on Monday, May 6. She was born in Reading, Mass., on August 19, 1923, daughter of ...
Bernardo (Bernie) Rey, of Danbury, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Danbury Hospital, surrounded by his wonderful family and his very special friends of many years. Bernie was born on March 30, ...
Melissa Beth Graves, 53, passed away May 8, 2019. She was born in Bridgeport on December 21, 1965, to Milton and Betty Linderman. She was a nurses’ aid and caregiver for many years.
She is survived by...
Timothy William Bradley, of Canton, passed away at Regional Hospice and Palliative Care in Danbury on May 14, 2019, after a year-long battle with cancer. He was born on April 22, 1947, in his childhoo...
Bernard Nicholas “Bud” Oliger, 86, of Brewster, Mass., husband of Gisela Oliger, died May 8, at Boston Medical Center. Bud was born January 29, 1933, in Bloomfield, N.J., the son of Bernard Nicholas O...
Betty Bernice Stretton, age 99, of Newtown, formerly of Westport, passed away Saturday, May 11, 2019, at Filosa Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Danbury, surrounded by her family. She is the widow...
Vera Emma (Plante) Smith, 84, passed away at her home Saturday, May 11, 2019, after a long battle with vascular dementia. She was born October 22, 1934, in Fall River, Mass.
While working as a home ec...
The voters certainly spoke — and I respect the outcome — but let’s not forget that a “majority” doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Many of us are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living here. Supporting schools and services is important, but so is ensuring that residents can afford to stay in the town they love.
We all want Newtown to be a great place to live, but lately, it’s starting to feel less like “Nicer in Newtown” and more like “More Expensive in Newtown.” That’s not sustainable, and it’s not a criticism of the town itself — it’s a call for responsible budgeting and long-term planning that doesn’t rely on tax increases year after year.
I hope future decisions will reflect not just the desire to maintain services, but also the need to ease the financial burden on residents.
I appreciate the passion behind this message, and I absolutely understand the desire to invest in our town. That said, I voted no — not because I don't care about Newtown, but because I do. Fiscal responsibility is not about ignoring problems, it’s about making sure we address them in a sustainable and transparent way.
It’s frustrating to feel like every year there’s a new “urgent” reason to raise taxes, with little serious effort to curb spending or prioritize needs. I worry this just sets the stage for another round of increases next year. That doesn't mean I’m against education, safety, or our town’s future — it means I believe in accountability and in asking tough questions about how our money is managed.
Voting no wasn't a rejection of Newtown — it was a call for more thoughtful, balanced leadership. I hope future conversations can include all perspectives, not just those willing to write a bigger check.
The voters spoke, loud and clear that they support our schools and municipal services. The majority vote was a mandate to keep delivering well rated education services and keep it" Nicer in Newtown."
Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.
