Justin Halmose won another race, and a neck-and-neck battle produced a close finish among the top women in the 5K, as Lyndsey Fregoe was the top female in the Rooster Run race on June 15.
The game of balls and strikes, America’s Pastime, has predominately been a boys’ and man’s game. But while the underhand pitch game of softball is the route most girls take for competition, there are some who prefer throwing fastballs overhand style.
The CH Booth Library’s 10th Anniversary Turkey Trot Celebration Committee has announced a new layout for this year’s racecourse. The milestone event will take place on Thanksgiving morning, November 28.
The Nighthawks Summer Baseball Camp, led by Ian Thoesen, coach of the Newtown High School baseball team, and other instructors, has several sessions in June, July, and August.
Bobby Pattison, coach of the Newtown High School football team, invites youth football players who will enter into grades 2-8 in the fall, to attend the Second Annual Nighthawk Football Camp.
The Newtown Open tennis tournament will be held the weekend of June 22 and 23, at Dickinson Park check-in and main site) as well as Treadwell Park and Newtown High School.
The 45th Annual Rooster Run, to benefit Newtown Scholarship Association, will take place on Saturday, June 15, beginning at 8 am, on the campus of Fairfield Hills.
They zig-zagged back and forth along the trails, up and down the hilly Holcombe Hill Wildlife Preserve property at 65 Great Hill Road, on June 9. Competitors — 47 in total — put their endurance and off-road running capabilities to the test in the Holcombe Hill 5K.
What a run it was for Newtown High School’s boys’ volleyball team. Undefeated in the regular season, the Nighthawks looked to follow up their second consecutive SWC championship with a state banner. Newtown’s hopes were dashed by Darien.
The Newtown Scholarship Association Inc (NSA) invites the public to join them for the 27th Annual Jack Friel Memorial Golf Scramble, Monday, June 17, at Newtown Country Club and Rock Ridge Country Club.
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.
