David R. Semosky, 81, of Stratford, beloved husband for 59 years of Mary Ann (Kubic) Semosky, died on May 22 at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford. He was born in Bridgeport, a son of Mary (Donovan) and ...
Dr John Thomas Culotta, 86, died peacefully surrounded by his family on May 22, at Danbury Hospital. He was the devoted husband of Marie (Pizzano) Culotta. Dr Culotta, born on October 21, 1929, in Wat...
Charlotte M. Walrath, 94, of Kerrville, Texas, died May 20. She was born June 16, 1921, in Aberdeen, Scotland, to Charlotte (Small) and James Anderson. In 1947, she married Glen Walrath. He preceded h...
Robert J. Hickson, 52, of Bethel died May 18. Mr Hickson was born September 30, 1963, in Danbury, and was the son of the late Beverly (Pavelec) and Albert Hickson.A poem written by the family:
Desp...
Ann Neustrand, 72, of Sandy Hook died May 16 at Danbury Hospital.
She was born in Danbury August 17, 1943, a daughter of the late Mary (Felcovic) and Nils Neustrand.
Ms Neustrand was a resident of San...
Carol Ann (Butler) Novella, 61 of Waterbury, and a Newtown native, died May 16 at Waterbury Hospital, after a brief illness. She was born in Bridgeport, January 1, 1955, and was the daughter of the la...
James "Jim" A. Arkell, 61, of Weeki Wachee, Fla., died May 12. A native of Newtown, he was born October 16, 1954, to Norma (Miller) and Alfred E. Arkell, one of three children.
Mr Arkell moved to Citr...
Stanley Joseph McKenney of Newtown died peacefully May 13, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of E. Patricia (Oldfield) McKenney.
Mr McKenney was born in Danbury on February 19, 1935,...
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.
