Letters

Victory Garden Is Community Gem

Published: Apr 17, 2025 4:11 pm

To the Editor:

The Newtown Victory Garden at Fairfield Hills is a gem in our community! Our volunteer gardeners produce fresh vegetables for Newtown food pantries each year; last year the garden contributed 3,000 pounds of fresh produce to Newtown families in need.

The garden is up and running for the 2025 season. We have tested the soil in each of our 46 rows, and are starting to plant! Grateful thanks to Benedict’s Home and Garden in Monroe and Espoma for a generous contribution of soil amendments this year, so our 2025 organic garden can be even more bountiful for Newtown families.

We have a few rows still open for new gardeners to “adopt” for this season. Our volunteer gardeners work solo or in teams. Are you a relatively new organic gardener? Advice and help are always available for gardening, watering, and harvesting, even in summer weeks when folks are on vacation.

To join us, email victgarden17@gmail.com, or call Barbara at 203-240-2358. You can also find an application to “Adopt a Row” on the Town of Newtown Parks & Rec website. Come make a difference in your community!

Barbara Myers

Barbara Richardson

Mark Forstrom

Newtown

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All of the referendums deserve to be pasted. We have a history of deferring needed maintenance and then paying more years later. These are required to keep our town owned building and roads in working condition.

Vote “Yes” To Question #5 On Referendum

Every vote matters and that’s exactly why it’s important to recognize that voting No on a proposed budget is not a vote against Newtown, but rather a vote for accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. Last year, when voters rejected the education budget in its first round, it wasn’t just a symbolic gesture—it resulted in a reduced spending plan that ultimately passed. That outcome showed that our voices can and do make a difference. Voting “No” is one of the few tools residents have to encourage our town leaders to re-evaluate spending, find creative solutions, and prioritize needs over wants. So yes, please vote on April 22—but don’t be afraid to vote “No” if you believe we can do better. Last year’s vote proved that when residents speak up, real changes can follow.

Get Out And Vote

Breaking the tax increase down to a “cost per day” may make it sound more palatable, but it minimizes the real impact these increases have—especially on those already struggling with rising costs across the board. A dollar here and a dollar there adds up, and for many families, it's not just about the price of a cup of coffee—it's about stretching every dollar to cover groceries, fuel, healthcare, and housing. A 6.72% property tax increase is significant, regardless of how it’s framed. Saying “it’s only $1.13 a day” overlooks the fact that for some residents, every expense matters. Just because costs are rising doesn’t mean the burden should automatically fall on taxpayers without exploring real efficiencies, cost savings, or long-term planning. We need to prioritize fiscal responsibility and find smarter ways to manage our town’s needs without assuming residents can or should absorb another round of tax hikes.

Is Our Community Worth $1.67 Per Day?

Let’s have the library present a 20-year, 40-year, and 60-year OPEX/capital investment plan to determine whether this is truly a sustainable investment or just another sunk cost fallacy. Two of the items we’re voting on next week were originally framed as “donations,” yet they continue to cost this town more money over time. It’s time to say no, and force a serious reevaluation of how we approach these decisions.

Quiz Time

Such a loss. A wife, mother and dear friend. Judy and Richard Pesce

Nancy Martin

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