Newtown High School’s softball team had a pair of rewarding victories over challenging South-West Conference foes this past week. The Nighthawks came from behind for a 2-1 walk-off win over visiting Notre Dame-Fairfield under the lights at Treadwell Park on April 29.
Newtown High School’s boys’ volleyball team hasn’t had many challenges during its unbeaten start to the spring; the Nighthawks generally make quick work of their opponent, and won nine of their first 11 matches by 3-0 scores.
Newtown High School’s baseball team made it four consecutive games with nine runs, beating a trio of South-West Conference teams handily this past week.
Highlighted by a fast finish from Cory Benson, who was ninth in the 60-64 age group, Newtown/Sandy Hook had quite an impressive showing in the Boston Marathon on April 15. Benson completed the annual race in 3:22.31.
What seemed a few months ago like a destined-to-be-completed ice rink project to be retrofitted into the existing NYA Sports & Fitness building within Fairfield Hills is no longer in the cards.
Newtown High School’s boys’ lacrosse team defeated host Pomperaug of Southbury 18-1 on April 18, and Tucker Garrity’s three assists (to go along with a trio of goals) made him the program’s all-time leader with 134 assists.
Ties in lacrosse are unusual enough — Newtown High School’s girls’ team hadn’t had one in more than a decade, if ever, before a 9-9 deadlock with visiting Pomperaug of Southbury on a damp April 11 night — but the way in which this game ended up a stalemate is all the more unusual.
The second annual Run4Hunger-Newtown, benefiting FAITH Food Pantry, will take place on Saturday, May 11, on the campus of Fairfield Hills. The race starts at 8:30 am.
Newtown High School’s softball team got back into the win column with an offensive outburst — two dozen runs to be exact — against visiting Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport on April 18. The Nighthawks swung heavy bats en route to a 24-2 triumph over the Cougars, putting the skids on a three-game losing streak.
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.
