The Newtown Marching Band & Guard hosted nine Connecticut marching band and guard ensembles at its Annual Joseph P. Grasso Marching Band Festival on Saturday, October 5, at Newtown High School’s Blue & Gold Stadium.
As leaves drifted in the day’s warm breeze, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School’s “dragons,” “trees,” and “angels” participated in a game on September 27 for its annual Michaelmas festival.
After roughly a three-year process and a two-year evaluation, the Board of Education heard results and plans from an English language arts (ELA) study at its meeting on October 1.
Newtown High School (NHS) students who earned Commended Student recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program were celebrated at the school on September 26.
The Newtown Marching Band & Guard performed its 2019 show “Life Sentence” at the September 28 USBands Marine Corps Invitational at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Md.
Newtown High School students Milan Chand and Hannah Jojo began serving as the new student representatives to the Board of Education at its meeting on September 17.
Housatonic Valley Waldorf School (HVWS) students, staff, and invited guests gathered in a circle outside the school on September 19 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of international Waldorf schools.
After gathering outside Fraser Woods Montessori School on September 20, students and faculty sang “Light A Candle For Peace” in honor of International Day of Peace.
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.
