Robert James Mandulak
January 29, 1947 to February 5, 2017
It has been one year since you have been gone.
It was so unexpected. We had so many plans.
I still wait to hear your contagious laugh...
Kathleen Rose Benedetto of Newtown died January 16, in the comfort of her daughter's home surrounded by her loving family.
She was the wife of Thomas Ronald Benedetto; beloved and devoted mother to Ki...
Phyllis (Vecchiarelli) Hackett, 70, of Beacon Falls died January 16 in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of Michael F. Hackett of 32 years. She was born in Bro...
Mark E. Modzelewski, 67, of Brookfield died unexpectedly January 15, at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Karin M. (Fredericks) Modzelewski. He was born in Danbury, son of the late John C. Modze...
Mary Samoskevich Palo, 79, of Bridgeport, beloved wife of the late Andrew Palo, died January 15 in Bridgeport Hospital. She was born in Bridgeport on June 30, 1938, daughter of the late Veronica (Pale...
Lois H. Simpson Hallas of Sandy Hook, formerly of Milford, beloved wife of 32 years to Charles Hallas, Esq, died peacefully January 12. Born in Milford, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Hel...
Randall S. Watkins
November 14, 1927 to January 21, 2012
My dearest dad, on your sixth year in Heaven.
As the years pass it seems so long ago, but also feels like yesterday that you were cal...
Louise "Lorraine" (Delia) Mularcik, 97, of Cape Coral, Fla., previously of Newtown, died January 12 at her home following a long illness. Mrs Mularcik was the wife of the late Thomas Mularcik. She was...
Edward W. Knapp, 79, of Sheffield, Mass., formerly of Newtown, died peacefully January 12, surrounded by his family. He was born in Bridgeport on August 26, 1938, the first son of Eleanore and Alson K...
Robert Cosgrove Tanner, 89, of Newtown, died peacefully in his sleep January 12, at his home. He was born on May 28, 1928, son of late Eva (Beach) and John Tanner.
An avid outdoorsman, painter, and cr...
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.
The recent infighting within the Democratic Party says it all — they can’t even hold their own coalition together. Their failure to get the ACA supplements passed and the embarrassing way they handled the shutdown prove that their so-called “unity” is just for show.
Republicans don’t need to reinvent the wheel here — we just have to stand firm and stay together. When we do, Democrats eventually cave, every time. They talk about democracy, but their party is eating itself from the inside out.
Last week’s elections (blue ripple) might have given them a short-term headline, but that doesn’t change the bigger picture: Americans are tired of chaos, hypocrisy, and performative outrage. Strength and stability win in the long run — and that’s exactly what we bring when we stand united.
