Stanley W. Karcheski, 102, of Brookfield, died peacefully July 10, at his home. He was the husband of the late Helen Washenko Karcheski, to whom he was married to for 73 years until her death in 2008....
Frank George Masi, 78, of Roxbury, died July 4, in his home, following a brief illness. Born February 29, 1940, in Bridgeport, he was the son of the late Frank A. and Susan Mandulak Masi. He was a res...
The family of Frederick William "Bill" Zimmermann IV, 62, was recently notified of his death from brain cancer November 27. He was the son of the late Frederick Roller Zimmermann and Lois Pulfer Zimme...
Michael Scott Hensel, 47, of Florida, died July 6, following a battle with subcutaneous melanoma.
A native of Newtown and a 1990 graduate of Newtown High School, Mr Hensel had been living in recent ye...
Pasquale A. "Pat" Pepe, 94, of Shelton, former longtime resident of Ansonia, died July 4. He was born in Derby, January 27, 1924, son of Pasquale M. Pepe and Giovanna F. Savarese.
His six children and...
Constance L. (Howe) Jennings, 80, of Danbury, died July 5, in Danbury, of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. She was the widow of Richard D. Jennings III. Born May 23, 1938, in Jamaica, N...
Martha Wright, 78, of Newtown, died June 25, at Yale Hospital, following a decade-long fight with scleroderma induced pulmonary arterial hypertension. She was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and attended sc...
Ann Walsh Bove, 93, of Bridgeport, died July 2. She was born in Huntington, August 12, 1924, and was the daughter of John Walsh and Ann Crinock Walsh.
Her two sisters, Dorothy Pelletier of Newtown and...
Donald Richard "Don" Cole, 74, of Sandy Hook, died July 2, at his home, surrounded by loving family. He was born in Danbury, March 19, 1944, son of Reuben John Cole, Jr, and Ethel Emeline (Barrett) Co...
Belle Tolor, 88, of Danbury, died June 28, at the Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Danbury. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., March 24, 1930, daughter of William and Gertrude Simon.
She wo...
Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.
While I respect the outcome of the referendum, I’m disappointed by the way this budget was presented and passed. A 6.72% tax increase and a mill rate jump to 28.78 may have been framed as “just a few dollars a day,” but for many families in town — especially those already stretched thin — those “few dollars” add up quickly.
It’s frustrating to see large increases minimized in this way, and I worry that next year we’ll hear, “It’s only a little more than last year,” as if that justifies an ongoing trend of rising taxes. This year’s combined municipal and education budgets total over $141 million — that’s a significant sum.
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.
