John Edward Matz of Newtown died peacefully at Danbury Hospital on March 3, surrounded by his family. He was born in Los Angeles on July 18, 1927, son of Anna (Hinsch) and Adolph Matz.
A memorial serv...
Dorothy M. "Dot" Cavanaugh, 91, former longtime resident of Newtown, died June 28 at Bedford Hills Center in New Hampshire. She was born March 20, 1926, in Bridgeport, daughter of Jessie and Hugh Quin...
Jeannette Subik Jurman, 81, of Monroe, devoted wife to the late Rudolf Jurman, Jr, died peacefully in her home on July 23.
She will be remembered by her children and their spouses, David Jurman of San...
Pamela J. "Pam" (Huebner) Mitchell, 72, of Brookfield, died peacefully in her home on July 23, surrounded by family. She was born to the late Ruth and Frank Huebner on July 13, 1945.
Her daughter, Aud...
Joseph A. "Joe" Novella, Sr, 86, of Newtown and formerly of New Fairfield, died unexpectedly on July 19. He was born in September of 1930, in Danbury, son of Jenny (Petrizzo) and Michael Nove...
Laura Lee Kulp Trester, 59, of Danbury died July 15 at Danbury Hospital, surrounded by her family. She was the widow of Mark David Trester. She was born March 30, 1958, in Danbury.
Her sister, Susan M...
Rose Madaffari Raymond, 82, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, died peacefully July 16, after a long illness. She was born on January 30, 1935, in Norwalk, daughter of the lat...
Lucille L. (Curti) Penna, 95, formerly of New Fairfield, died in Palm Harbor, Fla., July 1. She was born in Danbury on December 15, 1921. She graduated from Danbury High School in 1940, then moved to ...
Dominick R. "Dick" Virgilio, 95, of Newtown died July 16. He was born in New York City and lived on Long Island until his retirement when he came to reside in Newtown with his wife of 70 years, Mary V...
John "Jack" Metcalf, 58, of Newtown died unexpectedly on the evening of July 12 at Danbury Hospital, with his son, daughter, and son-in-law by his side. He was born December 10, 1958, in Danbury.
Mr M...
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?
