Richard L. Madden, 86, died peacefully surrounded by his family on August 18, 2019.
He is predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Mary Jane “Bunny” (Davidson) Madden; their son, George B. Madden; his bro...
Rosa Grieco, 82, of Sandy Hook, died unexpectedly Thursday, August 15, 2019, in Danbury Hospital. Mrs Grieco was the wife of Paolo Grieco. She was born in Corato, Bari, Italy, on June 7, 1937, a daugh...
Mary Elizabeth Keyte Moore, 87, of South Bend, Ind., formerly of Newtown, Conn., and Las Vegas, Nev., passed away on June 26, 2019, at Munson Hospice House in Traverse City, Mich.
Mary “Bibi” was born...
Kennedy “Guy” Cullen, 79, passed away on August 8, 2019, in Middletown. He leaves his wife of 60 years, Joan (Stevens) Cullen. He was born on July 9, 1940, in Island Park, N.Y. His parents were Willia...
Lyman Douglas "Doug" Rogers, 90, former resident of Newtown, died July 25, 2019, in hospice at the St John Paul II Center in Danbury from dementia and congestive heart failure. He was born October 11,...
Colin Julius Powell, age 87, of Fairfield entered into rest on Saturday, August 10, 2019, at Cambridge Health and Rehabilitation Center in Fairfield. He was the devoted husband of 63 years to Julia “C...
Lois Bray Heyde, 82, died peacefully on Saturday, August 3, 2019, with family by her side. Lois was born January 6, 1937, in Nashville, Tenn. She spent part of her childhood living in Germany and Japa...
Ginny Reichardt Moseley, 59, of Ninety Six, S.C., wife of Hugh D. Moseley, Jr, died Saturday, August 3, 2019.
Born in Newtown, she was a daughter of Gail Hickman Gregory and the late Chuck Reichardt. ...
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.
