Shirley Jean Presti passed away peacefully on March 12, surrounded by her loving family. Shirley was born on June 9, 1944, in Richmond, Indiana, to the late Audrey (Sperling) and George Ganger.
Shirle...
Catherine (“Cate” or “Cathy”) Cooke Lux of Philadelphia, Penn., died peacefully on Monday morning, March 22. Raised by a World War II Marine mother, she was a true fighter and lived long enough with g...
Kazim Bayus sadly passed away on Thursday, March 25, 2021. Kazim was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 28, 1959, son of Guluzar Bayus and the late Ali Bayus. Kazim was the youngest of his siblings, E...
Susan A. Campbell, 72, of Sandy Hook, passed away peacefully at her home, with her granddaughter at her side, on March 27.
Born in Bridgeport to the late Raymond and Anne Cullen Campbell, Susan was a ...
Elizabeth F. Smith, age 84, died peacefully surrounded by her daughter, Cynthia, grandchild Chloe, and her ever-present companion Izzy the pug on Tuesday, March 2. She was born in Hyannis, Cape Cod, M...
On March 16, Marion Virginia Keenan, known as Ginny (Virginia) to her friends, passed away at the age of 90, in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Ginny was born in Danbury on February 11, 1931, and graduated from...
Robert E. Schmidle, Sr, age 94, of Newtown, died peacefully in his home on Echo Valley Road on March 23. Bob was born in Springfield in 1927 to the late Walter and Beatrice (Tellier) Schmidle.
He met ...
Marybeth Patterson, 74, of Sandy Hook, passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside on March 18.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Newell and Irene Finnerty, and sister in-law, Pat Fi...
Wallace C. Thomas, age 97, of Newtown, died peacefully in Danbury Hospital on March 20. Wally was born in Bridgeport in 1923 to the late Irvin F. Thomas and Mildred (Howe) Thomas.
He was a World War I...
Mary Wemett-Adams (neé Baumer) passed peacefully in her sleep on February 27 at Maplewood of Newtown; she was 93 years young. Born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, Mary moved to Middletown and to...
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?
Getting an endorsement from Jinm Gaston is one of the biggest compliments any candidate can get, and Chris certainly deserves the high marks. He has served us well and will in the future.
