When the news began to spread about Al Cramer’s death, on September 28, those who knew him sent in their condolences and shared memories of times they had with him.
Clifford W. Smith passed from this life on September 27, 2019, after a long and valiant battle with illness.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Thea; his two sons; and his brother, Gerrish Smith,...
Lucille Yvonne Watson Hartschuh Clay was born on June 4, 1923, and passed away peacefully on September 30, 2019, at Elizabeth House in Hendersonville, N.C., at age 96.
Lucille was born in Fostoria, Oh...
Walter Kopesky, a longtime resident of Newtown, died at home on September 26 after a long illness.
Walter was born in Stamford in 1924 and later moved with his parents to Greenwich, where his father w...
Alvah R. Cramer, who lived a wonderful, interesting, and active life for 90 years, died peacefully on September 28, 2019. He was born in Tuxedo Park, N.Y., on June 30, 1929.
He is survived by his wife...
Sandy Hook resident Elaine Noonan Kelly died September 28, 2019, at age 86.
Elaine was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on January 23, 1933, to Evelyn Hendrickson Noonan and Walter Thomas Noonan. She attended ...
December 25, 1960, to September 22, 2019
Timothy John Frederick Huebenthal, 58, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 22, 2019, in the loving comfort of his family at home.
A Christmas baby, he ...
Lisa Besse Cascone passed away peacefully on September 26 at Yale New Haven Hospital. She was surrounded by “my boys” and other family members.
Lisa was a freelance photographer, avid organic gardener...
Jane E. McGuire (née Lanigan), age 89, a resident of Newtown for 45 years, died September 16, 2019, after a short illness. Jane was the devoted wife of her husband of 56 years, Bob. Jane was the lovin...
The intervenors would rather see more of Newtown's limited open space lost than redevelop sites on a main road, across from the highway, with existing infrastructure? The irony is that the water and sewer was run up Oakview during the High School addition which facilitated Toll Brothers to build their condo development on what was horse pasture where Native American artifacts could be found (Pootatuck camp site.)
I was sorry to learn that Richard has passed. I was surprised to learn that he was a Waterbury native like myself. He was a GREAT teacher and while we did not always agree when it came to things of a political nature he always respected my (and other students opinions). He taught us that it was OK to agree to disagree. RIP Richard.....
William St Arnauld, Charlotte, NC
To be clear, this letter was also from Jordana Bloom. The Bee did not want to put all three names on the letter for space reasons, but all three of us sent this letter as well as our thanks to the voters for trusting us to continue the work.
I’m honestly confused by the objection to “cut-throughs.” Newtown is full of them, and they’re used every day without issue. Some of the more well-known examples are Elm Drive, Oakview, School House Hill, Pearl Street, Head of Meadow, Country Club Road, Point of Rocks, Hall Lane, Tinkerfield - Old Taunton Press, and Samp Road. I’m sure I’m even missing a few.
Given that, it’s hard to understand why this particular development is being singled out. Cut-throughs are a normal and longstanding part of how traffic moves in town. If they’re acceptable everywhere else — including roads that are narrower, steeper, or more heavily used — it seems inconsistent to suddenly treat this one as a crisis.
I want to clarify that the attorney at last week’s Planning & Zoning meeting was not threatening the commission, but explaining how the law works. The reality is that if we do not reach a compromise, 100% there will be lawsuits — it’s not a matter of intimidation, it’s a matter of legal process.
We all want smart growth and a Newtown that welcomes families, but it’s important to approach these conversations with a clear understanding of the legal framework. Recognizing the inevitability of legal challenges when consensus isn’t reached doesn’t undermine local control — it helps ensure that planning decisions are made thoughtfully and proactively.
