Kenneth S. "Ken" Josselyn, 70, of New Milford died March 23. Born on January 12, 1948, he was the eldest son of Margaret "Peg" and Carlton "Kyper" Josselyn of Westport.
His siblings, Cynthia Landin of...
Richard James Selleck, 65, of Bethel died March 26, at Danbury Hospital. He was the husband of Donna (Clark) Selleck. He was born in Norwalk, on July 31, 1952, and was the son of Alice (Wenzel) Sellec...
Michael J. "Mike" Walsh, 61, of Roxbury, died March 26. He was born January 8, 1957, in Albany, N.Y., and was the treasured husband of 34 years to Nina Bonacci Walsh and the son of Margaret (Bement) W...
Lawrence A. "Larry" Cavanaugh, 80, of Newtown died March 23, at Danbury Hospital. He was born in Waterbury on September 6, 1937, son of the late Frances (Pettit) and John Cavanaugh.
His lovin...
Mary Jane Anderson, 84, of Woodbury died March 16. She was born on September 15, 1933. She wrote a column called "A Dog's Life" in The Newtown Bee for more than 20 years.
Three children, seven grandch...
Robert Michael "Bob" DeCarlo, 51, of Sandy Hook, beloved husband of Wendy (Johnson) DeCarlo, died March 20. Born September 13, 1966, in Stamford, he was the son of the late Theresa (Luberto) and John ...
Cynthia Proulx "Cindy" Hedrick, 59, of Newtown died unexpectedly March 21, at her home. She died peacefully in her sleep with family members nearby. She was born in Fitchburg, Mass., on August 14, 195...
Edite "Edie" Mei, 82, of Newtown, formerly of Bethel, died peacefully March 22 at the Lutheran Home in Southbury, after a courageous battle with melanoma. She was born in Riga, Latvia, on March 17, 19...
Ronald John "Ron" Calderone, 66, of Newtown, died March 24 after a courageous battle with a long illness. He was at home and peacefully surrounded by his family for his last hours. He will always be k...
Anna Marie Scheie Schwartz, 71, of Trumbull, died February 8. Born to Anna (Frøystein) and Harald Scheie on November 17, 1946, in Staten Island, N.Y., she grew up the eldest of five children a...
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.
