Steven M. Bertrand, age 66, of Newtown, died Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at Danbury Hospital.
Mr Bertrand was born May 29, 1953, son of the late Henry “Bert” N. and Althea (Ferry) Bertrand of Danbury.
He...
James W. Parks, Sr, 88, husband of the late Elizabeth P. Parks, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at Laurel Ridge Nursing Home in Ridgefield, Conn., after a long and difficult battle with dementia ...
Charleen S. Swanson, age 84, of Canton, Mass., formerly of Newtown, Conn., passed away March 20, surrounded by her loving family. Born and raised in Danbury, Conn., she attended St Joseph’s Elementary...
William E. Nicholson, age 85, of Newtown died at home peacefully on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Born in Medford, Mass., on September 13, 1934, he was the son of the late Earl and Molly Nicholson.
He gra...
Karen Diane (Kunde) Gardner, 76, beloved wife of Robert W. Gardner, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2020, at her home in Oxford. She was born November 17, 1943, in Waterbury, Conn., daughter of th...
Jennifer Gorham Ober left this beautiful world on March 23, 2020. She was born on October 25, 1960, in Boston, Mass. She is survived by her parents, Barbara and Howard Gorham of Oxford, Conn., and her...
Charles Paul “Chuck” Scheid died in Loleta, Calif., on March 15, 2020, at the age of 49. The cause of death was suicide. Charles dealt with mental health issues for a number of years. As best describe...
Theresa “Terry” B. Curry peacefully passed away surrounded by family in her beloved Newtown home of 61 years at the age of 89 on March 5, 2020, at 11:11 am. She was born on February 25, 1931, in Shena...
Beloved daughter, sister, and friend, Janet Lee Myers passed away Saturday, March 14. Janet was born August 5, 1952, in Danbury, to Norris Harlan and Dorothy Russell Myers.
She attended DATAHR and the...
Ruth B. Warner, 89, beloved wife of the late Wilfred V. Warner, died March 12 at her home in Southbury. She was born January 5, 1931, in Holyoke, Mass., daughter of the late David F. Babson, Sr, and E...
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.
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.
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.
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.
