Jane Maher Wheeler, 65, of Newtown died peacefully at home on October 14, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Jane Patricia Maher, April 19, 1951, in Flushing, N.Y., and was a daughter of th...
Ruth Anderson Turney, 87, died at home in Lawrence, Kan., October 9. She was born in New Bedford, Mass., November 27, 1928, the daughter of Clara Polson Anderson and Charles W. Anderson.
She graduated...
John Joseph Farrell, Sr, 90, of Newtown died October 8 at Rocky Hill Veterans Hospital. He was born in Queens, N.Y., November 25, 1925, son of the late Ann (Walsh) and Peter Farrell. He was the husban...
Sylvia Louise Van Gieson, 77, of Newtown died on September 29 in Danbury. She was born in Boston, to the late Mayellis and Elsworth Madan on July 13, 1939.
Mrs Van Gieson graduated from Jerse...
Kathi "Dee" F. Beck, 59, of Watertown died peacefully October 7, in the care of Vitas Hospice at St Mary's Hospital. She was born on April 26, 1957, in Bridgeport, daughter of the late Lois (Waehler) ...
Jeanne E. Sands, 75, died October 8 at St Francis Hospital in Hartford. She was born in Bridgeport on November 27, 1940, daughter of the late Jennie (Choka) and Ferdinand DeClement, and had b...
Raymond Blaise Renzoni, 88, of Trumbull died peacefully on October 7, surrounded by his loving family in his home. Born in Bridgeport on February 24, 1928, he was one of nine children born to Italian ...
Thomas David Estabrook, 61, of Newtown died at his home on October 5. He was born on March 29, 1955, in Bridgeport, to the late Mae L.(Gray) and Donald F. Estabrook. He was the youngest of three child...
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.
