William John Kovack, husband of Vera “Be” “Bebe,” passed away Sunday evening, March 3, at Danbury Hospital. Bill was born on April 28, 1925, in Gloversville, N.Y., the son of Ethel Shear Kovack and St...
Gloria C. Ryan passed away on Monday, March 11, 2019, at Maplewood at Newtown after a long illness. A lifelong New Englander, she was born in Waterville, Maine, on October 28, 1925, to William Chasse ...
Jeanette Canfield (Lewis) Perry, 90, a resident of Bethel and Englewood, Fla., passed from this life on March 6, 2019, at The Cascades Assisted Living, surrounded by her loving family. Born January 2,...
Kenneth C. Della Corte, 56, of Monroe, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2019, at Bridgeport Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. The beloved son of the late Joseph and Gloria Della Corte, he w...
Dolores Arlene Bobowick died peacefully Wednesday, March 6, with her family around her. Born November 29, 1945, in Bridgeport, to mother Camille Massaro and father Andrew D’Aiuto, Dolores had one olde...
Nigel John Anthony Harrison died suddenly on February 20, at the age of 51, while on vacation on Petit Saint Vincent, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with his wife, Marleen De Grande.
A resident of ...
UPDATE: The time for the funeral Mass has been updated to reflect a time change. It will take place at 10:30 am, not 11 am. The Newtown Bee received this information after the print edition had gone t...
Dr. Peter Wenzel Pratt “Doc,” died peacefully at his home in Bridgewater on February 2, 2019. Peter was 85 years young. He was preceded in death by his brother, Roger, and sister, Vera Pratt.
Peter wa...
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.
