Another Editor for Easton Courier supports Parks Name change

Here is a another editor for Easton Courier agreeing with the bad example that The Easton Town Officials have given to the children of the future.






Rename Toth Park
Editorial Board
August 10, 2006

We were saddened to recount the latest news of Michael Powel's life effort to change the name of Toth Park last week.
The former Easton resident is one of at least five individuals who allege Stephen "Skipper" Toth, now deceased, molested them in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Toth was known to be a philanthropist in town - that's why former town leaders changed the name of Easton Park to Toth Park when he died in 1985. It must have seemed like an obvious move, considering Toth's volunteer work with the Boy Scouts, Little League, Notre Dame Catholic Church and the Parks and Recreation Department.Two years ago, after hearing testimony from Powel and others, the Board of Selectmen and Parks and Recreation Department officials agreed at a joint meeting to leave the name as it is. We disagreed with that decision then, and our opposition is just as strong today.First Selectman William Kupinse said a major reason he didn't feel comfortable changing the park's name was that Toth wasn't alive to defend himself. In addition, Kupinse said town officials also heard positive things about Toth from his supporters.Nevertheless, those five who say they suffered humiliation and pain at Toth's hands have been very convincing, and their accounts share similarities even though they come from diverse backgrounds. Since they now live all over the country, we doubt they corroborated their stories before going through the further humiliation and emotional pain of telling the selectmen about their alleged abuse. And what possible motive could they have for making up such a terrible thing?Toth is long dead; he can't experience pain or embarrassment. Since he never married and had no children, there is no one still in town who could be hurt if the park's name is changed. Yet these five people who allege he abused them are still alive and still feeling the pain. The Board of Selectmen should consider their circumstances and once again name the place Easton Park.
©Easton Courier 2008