Richard Stacy Smith, 85, of Warren, Vt., and formerly of Newtown, died September 24 at Wilton Meadows Health Care Center, with his loving family by his side. He was born on November 27, 1931, in Walth...
Jay Accashian, 45, of Denver, Colo., died peacefully September 13 at Denver Hospice, from pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by his wife Kristin, family, and friends. He was born January 17, 1972, a...
Per Viking Nordman, 85, of Weston died September 18 at Norwalk Hospital. Born in Rangsby, Narpes, Finland, he was a self-employed carpenter and a resident of Weston for 55 years. He was the son of the...
Marlene Garofalo Evans, 79, of Ridgefield, formerly of Norwalk, wife of the late Walter Evans, died September 23 at her home. She was born in Astoria, N.Y., August 9, 1938, a daughter of the late Lorr...
Dante Bonetti, 100, of Fairfield, died peacefully September 15 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. He was born May 5, 1917.spearmillerfuneralhome.com.
His children and their spouses, Nancy and Philip ...
Elizabeth "Betty" (Vanech) Zielinski, 87, of Danbury, wife of the late Joseph Zielinski, died September 22 at her home. She was born in Norwalk on March 18, 1930, a daughter of Georgia (Sarantos) and ...
Shirley Nezvesky Beresin, 92, of Trumbull, died September 22 at St Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport. She was born and raised in Newtown, a daughter of the late Yetta and Abraham Nezvesky, and wa...
Elmer L. "Al" Fedor, 92, of Newtown, formerly of Trumbull, died peacefully September 14 at the Veterans Hospital in West Haven. Born in Mallory, West Va., on February 6, 1925, he was the son of the la...
Norman Edward Gage, 86, formerly of Camp Hill, Penn., and longtime resident of Ridgefield, died peacefully September 17 at Maplewood in Bethel. He was born April 22, 1931, in New Cumberland, Penn., a ...
Michelle Vanasse
May 14, 1964 to September 29, 2003
As all grow up, the feeling doesn't,
Forever young, forever loving.
Thinking of the days we had
We miss you more, a kiss and laugh.
With w...
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?
