With some minor bumps and bruises piling up, Newtown High School’s girls’ soccer team has not been at full strength early on this season, leaving the Nighthawks to battle not just tough opponents, but...
Newtown High School’s field hockey team showed off its offensive prowess in a 6-2 win over Simsbury in the September 11 season opener. The Nighthawks outdid themselves with an 8-1 toppling of visiting...
Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team earned a 6-0 triumph over visiting Stratford at Treadwell Park on September 13, the team’s first win of the season, to improve to 1-1. It was not all of the goa...
Newtown High School’s girls’ volleyball team went the full five sets in two of its first three matches of the campaign, defeating visiting Darien on September 6, and falling to St Joseph of Trumbull o...
Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team opened the season with a 91-60 triumph at Stratford on September 7. Newtown sealed the team win after the eighth event and exhibitioned the final ...
Newtown High School's girls' and boys' cross country team began the season with a visit to Weston to take on the host Trojans, along with New Milford and Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport, on September 11...
It was a goal-scoring barrage for Newtown High School's field hockey team in its season opener.
The Nighthawks, after surrendering the first cage-finder of the contest, got six of the next seven en ro...
Newtown High School’s girls’ soccer team defeated nonconference team Amity of Woodbridge, 2-0, at Blue & Gold Stadium, on September 8. Karsen Pirone scored a goal and assisted Keeley Kortze on the oth...
Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision at nonconference opponent Hamden on September 8.
Despite the outcome, there were some encouraging signs for Coach Charley Amblo, whose te...
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.
