I couldn’t attend the last Inland Wetlands Commission hearing on the proposed Lifestyle Center on Sept. 24. But I can assure you I will be at the next one with a SURPRISE!!!

Now I came across this link to the “Shoppes at Cheshire” I can never figure why people think something is immediately upscale when they start adding letters to the end of words, i.e. e’s or u’s. I guess if it sounds old English it is upscale. Whatever. It is like everytime I watch a movie about the old Roman empire they always have people with English accents playing the parts. Makes it classier, I suppose.

Well the big question I wish W/S Development would answer is: what about the parking; what about the snow removal during the winter i.e., where is all this snow going to end up, in the 10-mile river? You all know salt and sand will be put down to melt the ice and snow that falls along with plowing. What if we have a bad winter? Will they truck the snow away as was promised by Stop and Shop and was never done because it was technically only a “gentleman’s agreement?

My husband remembers going to that P&Z meeting for the new Stop and Shop and he asked about the above issues. He was told the snow would be trucked away, which it is not, and that no heavy equipment would be left in the parking lot—which is.

Now, as far as the parking goes, when you click onto the link below, off to the right there will be a map of the proposed Lifestyle Center. When you click on the picture, two proposed site plans pop up. The bottom one is from Feb. 2007 and the top one from August, 2007. They show a significant difference in the number of parking spaces between the two site plans.

The August plan has less parking and it looks as if they added on a big anchor store. There is a binocular above the site plan that one can click on to enlarge the drawing. One can see there is less parking spaces.

Now, according to Sec.33.17 of the Cheshire Zoning Regulations:

“Retail stores and prefessional offices, fianancial institutions, medical and dental clinics, labs, commercial recreation facilities and the like: ONE SPACE FOR EACH 150 SQUARE FEET OF FLOOR AREA OF FINISHED SPACE and LOCATED ON THE SAME LOT IN THE BUILDING OR ON ANOTHER LOT, ANY PART OF WHICH IS WITHIN 300 FEET IN A DIRECTLINE FROM THE BUILDING.”

How can W/S Development submit a plan to Inland Wetlands with parking that does not conform to the current zoning regulations?

Hopefully, Jeffrey Curley, who has my e-mail address, will respond or if he has lost it, he can contact my pals in the Town Managers office who have the information.

Now, here is the W/S link to the “Shoppes at Cheshire”

http://www.shoppesatcheshire.com/faq.html

Bridgeport lawmaker fined for allegedly driving distracted

Posted Sept. 21, 2007
8:43 AM

Bridgeport (AP) _ A Bridgeport state lawmaker who was among scores of co-sponsors of the ban on use of cell phones in cars has been fined for allegedly driving while distracted on a cell phone.

Bridgeport police say State Representative Robert Keeley has been fined $193 after his car nearly collided with a police officer downtown.

Police say Keeley was apparently talking on his cell phone when his vehicle almost hit a police officer at the intersection of Main and Bank streets on September 12th.

Police say Keeley was fined $93 for failure to stop for a pedestrian in an intersection and $100 for driving a motor vehicle while talking on his cell phone.

Keeley says he will contest both fines.

A 2005 state law bans people from talking on cell phones while driving and carries a $100 fine. Keeley is on the long list of co-sponsors of the bill proposed by a Milford lawmaker.

I just received a press release from Cheshire Police Chief Michael Cruess.

Here is the release.

Press Release

Chief Michael Cruess is announcing that as of October 4, 2007 he will be holding evening hours on the first Thursday of each month. Chief Cruess will be available in his office until 7 pm on those days. Chief Cruess welcomes those citizens of Cheshire who may wish to discuss a particular concern to stop by to discuss those matters. The purpose of this effort is to foster communications between the citizens of Cheshire and the Police Department realizing that many people cannot make it to the Police Department during daytime hours due to work schedules. Any question concerning this press release may be directed to Lt Jay Markella at 203-271-5552 or jmarkella@cheshirect.org.

All I can say is that I am so happy I could just spit!! This is definitely a step in the right direction. But, we still are talking about the police commission. I know Cheshire needs to take baby steps so we will take it day by day. I hope people will take advantage and not be afraid. All of you couch politicians out there that talk snap in your house should get out and reach out. Be open and honest. I will probably show up to the first one on Oct. 4 for a few minutes, but it is hard for me because I work nights.

BUT, if I can make time, so can you. People send the wrong messages when they do not participate in events such as this.

I have known Chief Cruess for a while and honestly, it was like Chief Walberg, when we first met it wasn’t love at first sight, it was fight at first sight!!!

But we opened up a dialogue and we have gotten to know each other. Chief Cruess is an honest man believe me, he is VERY CANDID. You can speak with him an he will always give you a straight answer. He cares about Cheshire and its residents and will listen. We have come to that level now and I am happy. I know Chief Walberg would also be proud of this moment.

UPDATE ON MY WRITE IN CANDIDACY

I did go to the Town Clerk’s office and found the Town Clerk sleeping in her chair!! What is going on in the town hall!! NO ONLY KIDDING ONLY KIDDING!!!

I went to pick up the write in ballot for Town Councilor at large. As I mentioned in the earlier post, I will definitely make a decision over the weekend. I know I am as popular as a pork chop over Palestine with some people in this town, but at least give me a chance.

I will have a few more posts before the end of the night. Stay tuned!!!!

I went down to the Cheshire Herald today, and to paraphrase an old Rolling Stones Song, “to get my fair share of abuse” and I wasn’t disappointed!!!

Every once in a while I place tiny classifield ads promoting my website, (actually it doesn’t really need promoting, but I am such an egotist that my belief is too much is never enough)!! I have placed the ads in several papers, so I thought nothing of going to our local paper and placing the ad.

Well, when I walked through the door and said my name, I might as well have been David Duke at an NAACP convention. The mood changed SUDDENLY.

The woman at the desk seemed nice but cautious. Then I waited for a few minutes for the Herald’s ad rep to come out. She never looked me straight in the eye. She kept turning her head away. I know I don’t smell so that could not have been the reason.

Then all of a sudden, like a bat out of hell, came this woman.

She came storming up to me and said “WHY DO YOU WANT TO PUT AN AD IN OUR PAPER WHEN YOU ARE CONSTANTLY CALLING US THE SOVIET NEWS AGENCY TASS?

Man, she was biting mad. I asked her if she was the same person several months ago when I called the Herald to talk to the editor who said “oh it’s you.”

She said she has confronted me several times, but you know what, I can’t remember things that are insignificant.

Then, the editor Shannon Becker came out and tried to calm things a little. I was really shocked. I started to go into the newsroom, which when I worked for several papers was always open to the public. They all started yelling, “Cynthia, you can’t come in here–this is private.”

I asked them who this woman was that is always so upset over what I have to say on my so-called “insignificant website.” I was told she was the owner and that she cares what is said about her paper and that people call her and tell her everytime I call the Herald the Soviet News Agency Tass.

How many times have I called the Herald the Soviet News Agency Tass? Like three times in four years. If you READ any of my posts I usually say “affectionately called.”

You know I do have a dry sense of humor but some people take offense at that I guess.

Let’s face it, the Herald is getting better at reporting issues in town, especially in regards to the police department. In all honesty, I don’t think you would have seen the story about the police office appearing in court over that alleged sexual harassment issue.

You know, if you have been reading this paper as long as I have, over 20 years, it would NEVER have been mentioned-NEVER. Whether they want to admit it or not, it was my influence that has made the Herald open up. They can be a lot better than they are. It is starting to change, but has a long way to go. If any of you want to see a balanced newspaper than start reading the Connecticut, formerly Bridgeport Post, of which I was a reporter for over 11 years.

After you read that paper, and I don’t mean online, I mean purchase the paper, tell me if the Herald is the same. And don’t say “Oh that is a weekly and the Post is a daily” BALONEY!! I was the editor of a weekly paper and I wrapped circles around the Register every week!!

Now I will be meeting with the owner next Tuesday at 10 a.m. in her office so we can discuss our differences in a calm and professional matter, which I intend on doing.

When I walked into that newsroom, they all got nervous. I wonder why. I am not an animal. I can and do discuss issues with people everyday. That is the real problem with Cheshire and they need to get over it. People are different and they have different opinions. If they cannot take lighthearted banter about themselves at the Herald, then we have problems.

I will keep you posted after the meeting.

Now many of you have contacted me on the “Underground” channels asking me to become a write-in candidate for the Town Council.

Well, as you know, a did attend the GOP caucus in August with the hopes that I would be nominated to run for the Town Council. Unfortunately, that never happened. When I attended the caucus, some people looked at me sort of funny. Actually to be honest, I felt out of place being there because I am a liberal person on many issues.

But one issue I am staunch about is accountability by government to the people and open and honesty. Many people are on the blog-website bandwagon now, but they have me to thank because frankly, I started all of this “awareness” several years ago when I ran shows about town issues on the Cox Public Access.

I called the Registrar of Voters and they told me I had to contact the Town Clerk’s office. But in order to be a write-in candidate, I have to be on the “ballot” so to speak and I believe I have until Oct. 23 to do this.

I will give this serious consideration over the weekend. I hope all of you will support me because as you know, I may speak my mind, but I am honest and fair.

I call it like it is and I discuss ALL issues, but I give praise and criticism when it is deserving. As I have said before on earlier posts, this will be a big undertaking and I am sure a lot of people connected to the town will be talking their mush, but that is how it is. Let’s get people in our Town Government that have a pulse and not act like the Night of the Living Dead please!!!