Peg Hogenauer, 95 years young, passed away on December 4. She was born on July 31, 1925, to the late Francis and Elizabeth (Fitzmaurice) Scholan in Waterbury.
She lived in Newtown for 57 years before ...
Hannah Y. Cyr, 18, unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, December 1 in West Greenwich, R.I. On April 2, 2002, in Danbury this world became a brighter place when Hannah Yubal Cyr was born, the daughter ...
Jean (Pearlman) Elias, 93, of Newtown, gently passed away on Monday, November 30, at her residence at Maplewood at Newtown in Newtown. She was the beloved wife of Hyman J. Elias, whom she married on V...
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Lynn Nespoli Lewis, age 48, passed away unexpectedly on December 1, at Yale University Hospital. Lynn was the beloved wife of Allan for 24 years, and mother to Derrick, Gina, and Victoria, who were he...
Valerie C. Ide passed away peacefully on Monday, November 23, from natural causes. She was born on March 9, 1936, in Teddington, England.
She is survived by her three daughters, Lynne Solaski, Jill Ro...
Lenox, Mass., resident Jean Mary Peters (Sturges, Sheldon) Stempel passed away on Tuesday, November 24, at 94 years old. She was an example of tenacity and independence to all of us who loved her.
Jea...
Kimberly Martin Smith, of Sandy Hook, passed away on November 18. Kim was born on January 14, 1974, in Bridgeport, to Ron and Rani (Nazzaro) Martin of Oxford.
She attended Jonathan Law High School in ...
Geraldine C. Griffith passed away on Wednesday, November 25, at her residence in Newtown. She was 86 years old. The daughter of the late Alfred and Frances Dorn Conklin, she was born on October 3, 193...
Longtime Newtown resident William R. Thomas IV passed away on November 22, at his home, surrounded by his family and love. He was 89. “Dick,” as he was known to all, was born in Allentown, Penn., on J...
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?
