Armando Tomaino, 99, of Bethel, died peacefully May 16, at his home. He was the husband of the late Mary (Corona) Tomaino. Born August 18, 1918, in Italy, he was the son of the late Raffaele and Rosin...
Gary Reginald Walker, 71, of Red Oak, Texas, died May 17, in Dallas, Texas. He was born on September 28, 1946, the son of Thomas R. and Tannis Walker.
Mr Walker grew up and attended school in Sandy Ho...
Joseph Michael Mahoney, 71, of Hancock, Mass., formerly of Newtown, died May 15, in Pittsfield, Mass.
The memorial service will be from noon to 2 pm on Saturday, May 19, at Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 Nor...
Arthur L. Torrence, 90, formerly of Newtown, died peacefully May 13, at home, in the company of his family. He was born December 12, 1927, in Port Chester, N.Y., the son of the late Arthur L. and Flor...
Laura B. Santos, 97, of Newtown and Trumbull, died May 12, in Ludlowe Center, Fairfield, with her loving family by her side. Born in New Bedford, Mass., on November 10, 1920, she was the daughter of t...
Shelton Eugene Beardsley, 89, formerly of Sandy Hook; Rotonda West, Fla.; and Livermore, Maine died May 6. He was born November 1, 1928, in Derby. He was son of the late Alice Shelton and Edward Beard...
Theresa "Terry" Koczy Komornik, 85, a longtime Newtown resident, died peacefully May 9, at home. She was born October 2, 1932, the daughter of Paul and Madeline Koczy of Fairfield.
Mrs Komorni...
Vera G. Grieve, 75, of Danbury, died peacefully May 8, after a valiant fight with colon cancer, at the Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Center for Comfort Care and Healing, Danbury. Born in Poughk...
It’s important to clarify that while public process matters, so does the right of a property owner to reasonably develop land they legally own—especially when they follow the rules and engage with the town in good faith. The Board of Selectmen (BOS), whether one agrees with their decision or not, did not “give away” anything. The land in question was part of a road that had been unused and undeveloped for generations. There was no public access, no signage, and no infrastructure—just an overgrown path most residents never knew existed.
Mr. Ackert calls the discontinuance “illegal,” but state law grants municipalities the authority to discontinue roads, subject to procedural requirements. The fact that this matter is in litigation shows that questions of law are being properly addressed in court—not in letters to the editor. If the court finds procedural flaws, they’ll be corrected. That’s how the legal system works. Real solutions are found through public process and the courts, not through social media outrage.
What’s missing from this conversation is a recognition that towns need to balance many interests: history, environment, public access, private property rights, and economic development. And while the newly championed Revolutionary War heritage is important, there are also pressing modern realities: towns need housing, economic vitality, and responsible development. These things don’t happen in a vacuum—they require compromise, planning, and often, yes, change.
If residents truly wish to preserve this trail as public space, the appropriate path is through purchase, conservation easement, or formal designation—not by expecting private landowners to bear the burden of public sentiment. If the writer believes so strongly in its value, perhaps they might consider investing in its preservation themselves.
We can honor our history without freezing our town in time. Development and preservation aren’t mutually exclusive—but vilifying one side of the conversation only deepens division. Let’s focus on solutions that balance respect for the past with the rights and needs of those who live here now.
Dan was a real gentleman. I had the honor of knowing him for about 10 years from high school and into early adulthood. He was always upbeat and amiable. His love of golf was boundless. I remember him droning on about the type of wedge this or that professional golfer was playing at any given time. He loved to play also. Dan made the winning putt that clinched a championship for NHS men’s golf in 1984. It was a snaking, downhill putt that few people would have had the nerve or imagination to have holed at such a critical moment. It was magic!! You are a true gem, Dan. May your eternal reward be endless days of long, straight drives and the sound of difficult putts finding the bottom of the hole.
Congratulations John! This is quite a feat & shows a lot of perseverance, endurance, & commitment while becoming more healthy & having fun! The ultimate achievement! Wishing u a long healthy life!
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The 1st Amendment does NOT say "except when there's a budget problem, or when some people wish things would quiet down." There is no way a proposed ordinance can be construed as other than singling out RockthisDemocracy, and also no way the town does not get expensively buried in court should it be foolish enough to go down this path.
