Jesse James Meadows, 80, of Newtown died surrounded by his family on March 4, at Griffin Hospital in Derby. He was born January 31, 1937, in Elgood, W.Va., the son of Gladys (Nelson) and Herbert Meado...
Richard Howell, 73, longtime resident of Sandy Hook and New Rochelle, N.Y, died peacefully March 7, after a long illness. He was born in New York on March 28, 1943, to the late Anna (Windrum) and Rich...
Julia Elisabeth Offer Reis, 59, died February 22, ending her valiant five-year battle with ALS. Born in Detroit, she grew up in Racine, Wis., and spent most of her adult life in Newtown, Ridgefield, a...
Daniel Edward Knopf, 77, of Addison (Rathbone), N.Y., died on February 16, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Bridgeport on February 5, 1940, he was the son of the late Edward and Dora Ward Knop...
Nancy A. O'Neil, 73, of Danbury died on March 4 at Danbury Hospital. She was born in Brooklyn on June 15, 1943, daughter of the late Roger and Mercedes Whiteway Peavy, and grew up in Manhasset, Long I...
John Francis McNulty, 87, of Newtown died peacefully at home on March 5, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Geraldine (Griffin) McNulty for 60 years. He was born in Brookly...
Betty Joan (Smith) Holey, 90, died February 9, in Black Mountain, N.C. Born in Toledo, Ohio, on October 17, 1926, she was the second oldest of five girls born to the late Eunice (Lauer) and Grant Haro...
Cynthia McCann Mooney, 59, of Woodbury, beloved mother and exceptional equestrian, unexpectedly died February 27, in the comfort of her home. She was born on January 2, 1958, to parents Jean and Rober...
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.
