By Andy Hutchison
Newtown High School’s football team continued its dominance with a 42-0 shellacking of visiting Pomperaug of Southbury at Blue & Gold Stadium on October 19.
The Nighthawks will put t...
Newtown High School's field hockey team carried a six-game winning streak into the South-West Conference tournament opener on Thursday, October 25. The third-seeded Nighthawks are scheduled to host No...
REDDING — Newtown High School's boys' soccer team lost its rematch to host Joel Barlow of Redding, 1-0, on a late second half goal on October 22.
Throughout the entirety of the game, Joel Barlow had a...
Newtown High School’s girls’ soccer team is the top seed going into the South-West Conference. Heading into the Wednesday, October 24, regular-season finale between the Nighthawks and host New Fairfi...
Newtown High School’s girls’ volleyball team carries a ten-match winning streak (14-3 overall record and 12-1 South-West Conference mark) into its final two regular-season competitions, tough ones wit...
Newtown High School’s football team continued its dominance with a 42-0 shellacking of visiting Pomperaug of Southbury, at Blue & Gold Stadium, on October 19.
The Newtown Turkey Trot 5K, an annual race to benefit C.H. Booth Library, will take place in the center of town on Thanksgiving morning, November 22, starting at 7:45 am.
Sparked by a second-place Nick Jacobs finish at Bethel High School October 16, the Newtown High School boys' cross country team paced its way to fourth place in the South-West Conference championship meet.
Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team continued its winning ways and improved to 7-1-1 this campaign with a trio of victories this past week.
The Nighthawks defeated Joel Barlow of Red...
Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team defeated visiting Bunnell of Stratford 3-0 on Senior Night at Blue & Gold Stadium, on October 12.
Rilind Limani scored twice and had an assist, Owen Baillargeon...
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.
