Susan Wrabel Tompkins, of Newtown, passed away February 9 at the age of 77. Born in Bridgeport to the late Rudolph and Edna Wrabel.
She was predeceased by her brothers Rudy, John, and Robert; and her ...
Gene Bobel, 69, of Sandy Hook, Conn., entered eternal life on February 10th after a courageous year-long battle with brain cancer. He was born on August 16, 1951, in Danbury, Conn., son of the late Ed...
Mr Albert J. Bibeau, Jr, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 3.
Albert was born on June 16, 1947, the son of the late Albert J. Bibeau, Sr, and Theresa A. (Montano) Bibeau. He attended Qui...
1927-2021. Dates with a dash. Summarizing a life of places and names, but fails to convey the joy in life and innate kindness that was embodied by Ian Isdale of North Branford, formerly of Orange, Con...
Joyce (Shefkind) Neri, a long-time resident of Sandy Hook, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and close friends on Wednesday, February at Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut in Danbur...
Marcus A. Amaral, of Newtown, passed away on January 24, at the age of 82.
Those who will miss him most are his lovely wife, Carol; his son, Neal; his brother, Daniel, and wife, Carol, and their daugh...
Thomas Castellani, 74, of Sandy Hook, a longtime resident of Ridgefield, passed away peacefully on February 1. He was the loving husband of Georgiana (Pawlyk) Castellani. Mr Castellani was born on Oct...
James “Jim” Kelly, 85, of Newtown, formerly of Ridgefield, passed away peacefully on February 1 after a long illness.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on November 19, 1935; a son of the late James Neil and Ann...
John Lorenze Krause, Jr, passed away on Saturday, January 30, at the age of 64. He was born January 25, 1957, in Norwalk, Conn., to Shirley Hoyt and John Lorenze Krause, Sr. He grew up in Westport, Co...
Gladys Kanarek Lerman passed away Saturday, January 30, in Venice, Florida. She was 99, just three months short of her 100th birthday. The daughter of the late Louis B. and Bertha Kanarek, she was pre...
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?
