Obituaries

Charles Scott Spath, Sr

Published: April 07, 2015 12:00 am

Charles Scott Spath, Sr, 73, of Holmes Beach, Fla., died April 2. He was the husband of Jeanne Anne Kadric Spath of Trumbull. He was born November 1, 1941, in Bridgeport, Conn. His loving wife; his ch...

Gladys Vivian McLaughlin

Published: April 07, 2015 12:00 am

Gladys Vivian (Garey) McLaughlin, 77, of Sandy Hook, wife of Denny McLaughlin, mother of three, and grandmother of six, celebrated 49 years of happy marriage this past February, before passing away at...

Ian Patrick Albert

Published: April 07, 2015 12:00 am

Ian Patrick Albert, beloved infant son of Margaret (Toomey) and Kevin P. Albert, died peacefully April 5 at his home in New Milford. Ian was born in Danbury Hospital, March 19, 2015. In addition to hi...

Alice Williams

Published: April 06, 2015 12:00 am

Alice Williams, 95, formerly of Newtown, died April 2, at The Summit at Plantsville. She was the wife of the late Cecil Williams. She was born January 22, 1920, in Yonkers, N.Y., and was the daughter ...

Eugene Garriepy

Published: April 06, 2015 12:00 am

Eugene Garriepy, 82, of Sandy Hook, beloved husband of 53 years to Margaret Christine (Panciera) Garriepy, died peacefully at Danbury Hospital, April 3. He was born November 19, 1933, in Brooklyn, N.Y...

Barbara Lee Morris

Published: April 06, 2015 12:00 am

Barbara Lee Morris, 62, of Newtown died March 30, after a short illness. She was born in Bridgeport, September 6, 1953. Owner of Barbara Lee’s Boutique in Monroe for 29 years, Barbara graduated from S...

Elizabeth 'Betty' Christensen

Published: April 03, 2015 12:00 am

Elizabeth “Betty” Christensen died March 30, 12 days before her 100th birthday. She was born in Collingdale, Penn., on April 11, 1915, and had been a resident of Newtown since 1953. She was predecease...

Stephen J. Link

Published: April 03, 2015 12:00 am

Stephen J. Link, 76, of Norfolk, Conn., died March 16. He was born November 9, 1939, and was the son of Irene Koteles Link and John J. Link, Sr. He was married to Regina Thomas Link for 55 years. A gr...

Leon F. Billman

Published: April 02, 2015 12:00 am

Leon F. Billman, 84, of Marstons Mills, Mass., formerly of Sandy Hook, died April 1. Born July 13, 1930, in New Oxford, Penn., he grew up in Bronx, N.Y., and was the son of the late Helen and George B...

Jonathan Lambo

Published: March 31, 2015 12:00 am

Jonathan Lambo, 30, of Sandy Hook died peacefully March 29. Born October 31, 1984, in Staten Island, N.Y., he was the son of Pat and John Lambo of Sandy Hook. Mr Lambo went to Newtown High School and ...

Editorial Ink Drops: Roadside Litter An Unwelcome Spring Tradition

Newtown PD To Participate In Drug Take Back Day, Saturday

Bolinsky & Foncello: State Public Hearing Scheduled for 6 Commerce Road in Newtown

Author Abi Cushman Visits Hawley Elementary School

Anne Murray

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.

Everything Passes: Budgets, Capital Projects Referendum Results In

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

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Charles Scott Spath, Sr

Gladys Vivian McLaughlin

Ian Patrick Albert

Alice Williams

Eugene Garriepy

Barbara Lee Morris

Elizabeth 'Betty' Christensen

Stephen J. Link

Leon F. Billman

Jonathan Lambo