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Sandy Hook Shooting

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Newton to Install Buzzer Entry Systems at Elementary, Middle Schools

With the new system, the front doors of the K-8 schools to be locked during the school day, through dismissal.

In the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, Newton school and city officials have assessed the district's safety measures and decided to install buzzer and camera entry systems at all Newton elementary and middle schools.  The new buzzer systems will allow the K-8 schools to remain locked during the day through dismissal, according to a letter sent to the school community Friday afternoon by Superintendent David Fleishman. "We must continue to improve our safety practices and procedures in a thoughtful manner," Fleishman said in the letter. "There are sensible security measures that we can implement while preserving the sense of community that is a hallmark of the Newton Public Schools." As explained in an …

Choo Choo

9:42 pm on Friday, January 11, 2013

I am a gun owner (single shot, target, rifle). I do not own a machete (as the Chinese incident showed). On the bright side, at least we will all know when the maintenance staff enters the buildings to fix the leaky roofs!   more ›

Friday, December 21, 2012

PHOTO/VIDEO: Newton Pauses to Remember, Mourn Sandy Hook Victims

Hundreds of Newton community members gathered at Newton City Hall Wednesday to hold a vigil for the victims of the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

PHOTOS: Newton Pauses to Remember, Mourn Sandy Hook Victims

Hundreds of Newton community members gathered at Newton City Hall Wednesday to hold a vigil for the victims of the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

U.S. Postal Services Sets Up Newtown PO Box

A special post office box has been established for those wishing to send condolences to Newtown, CT.

The following text was provided by the U.S. Postal Service. NEWTOWN, CT—The U.S. Postal Service has established a unique Post Office Box to allow the public to send condolences to those affected by the tragedy in Newtown CT last week. Those who wish to send expressions of comfort should address them to: Messages of Condolence for Newtown PO Box 3700 Newtown, CT 06470  “We understand that there is an outpouring of support for everyone in the Newtown area and we hope to make it easier for those who wish to send encouragement and messages of compassion to those affected,” said Kimberly J. Peters, Connecticut Valley District Manager for the U.S. Postal Service, adding, “Through letters and cards, families will be able to hold that friendship …

Is Now the Time to Talk Gun Control?

Does the massacre at Newtown, CT, signal the need for a political debate on gun regulations?

  Before officials had even held their first press conference Friday, Facebook was abuzz with status updates about the Newtown, CT, massacre. The statuses were split between those sending their condolences and those asking if the country would finally deal with the issue of gun control. Some fought back, asking for respect and mourning before political debate began. Others remained fierce in their belief that stricter gun control regulations would have prevented such a mass killing, saying the victims were shot multiple times and with semi-automatic weapons, according to Fox News. The guns were not illegal and were, in fact, owned by the shooter's mother. Among them were a semi-automatic .223 caliber bushmaster rifle and two handguns. …

Adam Maleson

11:34 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

In this age of the internet, the iphones, Google satellite maps and all the technological marvels we have, there is NO excuse for the existence of guns except in museums. We have the technological ability to invent instruments of self-defense that are non-lethal. We have already available pepper-sprays, and other non-lethal defenses. We can do better. If 1% of the energy and money that goes into …   more ›

Officials to Review Newton School Safety Procedures, Emergency Plans

In the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., Newton Superintendent David Fleishman issued a statement Monday assuring parents that school safety will be a focus.

In the days following the horrifying news out of Newtown, Conn., school districts across the country are looking at safety plans and procedures to make sure tragedies like the Sandy Hook shooting never happen again. Here in Newton, several city departments are coming together to review school emergency protocol and building security to ensure Newton students' safety.  In a message posted on the district's website Monday evening, Superintendent David Fleishman explained that both the Newton Police Department and District Safety Team will spend the next few weeks reviewing all school emergency plans and safety measures. Fleishman also reminded community members that that all elementary and middle schools have a keyless entry system as well …

Robert L. Cerra

8:28 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012

I remember the last time the Superintendent talked about forming a committee to "review" how background investigations of teachers was being condicted after a teacher was arrestred for child pornogtraphy. Now he is going to "review" the safety procedures for the schools. Reviews are a good idea, but it will be interesting to see of the police department is willing to endorse the safety plan the …   more ›

Monday, December 17, 2012

Vigil for Newtown to be Held Wednesday in Newton

Community members will gather in the War Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday to remember the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, Conn.

The city of Newton will come together Wednesday night to remember and mourn the victims of the tragic Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.  A vigil will be held Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. in the War Memorial Auditorium at Newton City Hall, according to a press release issued this afternoon by the mayor's office.  Wednesday's vigil will include remarks from Mayor Setti Warren, Superintendent David Fleishman, readings from an interfaith representation of Newton clergy members and musical performances. Members of the community are encouraged to bring cards or letters for the Newtown community. The notes, which should be placed in unsealed envelopes, will be collected and sent to Newtown at the end of this week, the …

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