Monthly archives: January 2008

 

 

Hit The Target

  • By: Cindy

Let’s go to WTNH for the latest news on the Madison Police Department “Dwindling Police Force” Scandal.

Some people are talking about open government. Well we have to have open government on ALL issues. Not just the ones that suit us or try to play it “safe” by avoiding. Why do you think this issue came to light in Madison, as painful as it is? Because they have a POLICE COMMISSION and one person is NOT making all the decisions. Stop talking out of your A– and demand open government on all fronts!!

I did receive a comment last night from Leslie Marinaro of Planning and Zoning. I spoke briefly with her on the phone to verify the comment was actually from her which I always try to do. That goes back to my newspaper days. If I could not verify someone wrote something, it just would not get printed PERIOD.

Leslie e-mailed me her opinion speech she read into the record at Monday’s Planning and Zoning decision meeting. As she emphasized to me over the phone, this is HER OPINION which she is entitled to. It is below:

Click Here

Now I am having trouble with my software so I will not be able to post that much until after the weekend unfortunately. I am going to post the note that was left in my mailbox that accompanied the LEAKED draft. The note was typewritten, but a name was on it. I will upload it early next week.

But with all this rhetoric going around, I am reminded once again of this old song I ran a few months ago after the election.

I am telling you, this old video is getting a workout in this town!!

The Castaways–LIAR LIAR (Your Nose is Longer than a Telephone Wire)!!

 

Preview of Coming Attractions?

  • By: Cindy

 

For Better or Worse?

  • By: Cindy

[slideshow=21]

Renditions of the proposed housing and stores from the Information Packet in the Library.

I just returned from the Planning and Zoning Commission where by a 7-2 vote, the petition by W/S Development of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts for a map change from the Interchange Zone in the North End of Town to a Special Development District was approved.

Now W/S can go ahead and submit their site plan. As you know, things became quite heated over the past few weeks, with the “leaked” draft findings document, which to me, were not really a draft at all, because I did not hear any diversion from the so called draft Monday night.

In fact, things were not really discussed in detail at all. The Commissioners all gave speeches basically stating their feelings about the project, but nothing in detail. The biggest project in town, and little discussion. Thank God I had that “draft.”

I will be running the “letter” I received that came with the draft SOON!! Stay Tuned!!

So, we had Andre Maye and Leslie Marinaro, voting against the petition, and Woody Dawson, Sean Strollo, Earl Kurtz Jr. Patty Flynn-Harris, Marty Coburn, John Kardaris and Louis Todisco voting in favor.

The biggest reason for allowing the zone change was basically because it “was in the best interest of the town.” And, that the applicant had a right to develop his property.

“Oh, and the property has already been compromised throughout the years by ATV use, dumping and partying.” Ok, since year one, the minute man set foot on the earth it was trashed!!

I remember years ago there was a local radio celebrity in Bridgeport, Tiny Markle. He broad casted on WNAB. He always made the analogy, why bother making your bed, you are just going to mess it up again at night to sleep in it or whatever; or why bother washing the dishes, you are just going to eat off them again!! RIGHT!!

I did agree with an statement made by Marty Coburn about Rt. 10. I stated several posts ago, that Cheshire had many years ago, a chance to widen Rt. 10 or create alternate routes in conjunction with other towns but never did so. He is right. The Republicans who were in power all these years in Cheshire along with a Republican Governor that we still have, could have easily gotten this done. The reason–”oh we don’t want our town to turn into Queen Street. Well what happened? Why the change in heart with this project!!

It is true, 20 years ago the town had under consideration an application for Apple Valley Mall, but as Patty Flynn Harris stated, the developer did not have all his financial ducks in line, so it fell through. I know this developer was going to build something in Bridgeport so that was a wise move at the time on the part of Cheshire, BUT, I believe it would have been better to have had the mall 20 to 25 years ago when there was no Meriden Square or Brass Mill Center. Cheshire would have been at the forefront. But whatever.

I used to say when I first moved here, why doesn’t this town have any commercial development? Now I see it differently. Cheshire for years did not really want a lot of people coming to its town. If this Lifestyle Center is to succeed, Cheshire needs to have a SERIOUS CHANGE OF HEART AND ATTITUDE. I still hear it. I heard it Monday from one of the Commissioners stating he would rather his kids go to the north end development in Cheshire instead of Meriden or Waterbury because it will be safer.

COME ON!!

All of the Commissioners did say they were concerned about traffic. Ms. Marinaro made a good point stating quite emphatically that “what good is it to have shopping in town if a resident can’t back out of their driveway.”

All of the Commissioners stated that they weighed all the material presented and the comments made with the utmost seriousness. Remember the public hearing that really wasn’t. I don’t believe making people wait until midnight or 1 or 2 a.m. was right, I really don’t. As I stated before, how many times did we have to hear the same rhetoric from W/S and Westfield.

There were the old regulars in attendance for the pro people and the anti people. However, one of the anti W/S people told me after the meeting that the housing part of the zone text change was supposed to require a need for the housing, which based on all the “For Sale” signs I see around town makes one wonder.

Oh and before the “decision” The Council of Governments gave a presentation and guess what they said. From 2000 to 2006, Cheshire had the SLOWEST growth in the region.

So this is such a great time to have MORE retail and more housing, when the housing market is practically dead in the water!!

Now if you read my last post, you read about the proposed Renaissance Place in Naugatuck that will have shopping and housing–in fact 1,800 condo’s. BUT the difference is this project will be placed in the downtown area which needs revitalization, just as our West Main Street area does. That is the purpose of a lifestyle center to revitalize a depressed area like our West Main Street which will become even more depressed I believe. But we will have to wait and see.

Now I did receive an e-mail from an old time resident. This is supposedly an answer to the “draft” by an anonymous person. I usually do not run anonymous but I know the source. I mean it is sort of a moot point now but what the hell!!

Answer to the W/S Finding Draft

 

Winter

  • By: Cindy

Here are some winter photos I took around Cheshire

Winter in Cheshire

 

Wiretapping and the Echelon System

  • By: Cindy

Now I told you all, that I would NOT be making any statements on the upcoming vote on the Lifestyle Center by Planning and Zoning including whose names are on certain LLC’s, the publishing of the “note” I received in the mailbox along with the leaked draft, until after everything is said and done on Monday.

But, I have moved my information into position and I am ready!!!

In the meantime: here is an interesting piece on a proposed development in Naugatuck that looks sort of familiar.

http://www.naugatuckrenaissanceplace.com/


I did hear from a local resident over the weekend that a proposed Price Chopper in Durham I believe, drew over 500 people and had to be canceled!!

Read about it here:

http://www.towntimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19208371


Boy, we are lucky if we get 20 people to show up in Cheshire–to any sort of meeting. Besides Planning and Zoning on Monday at 7:30p.m. in Town Council Chambers, the Board of Education will be meeting to discuss their budget at the same time in Humiston School. Hopefully I can attend both meetings. So should you, but you won’t.

My husband and I did go to the library this past Saturday to look at the plans. I did not see any reference to this underground parking garage. We did see this booklet that listed “site plan” in the reference, but we did not see a “site plan.” So let us ponder that while I raise another issue.

Do you ever hear “clicks” on your phone (like I do from time to time) while you are talking on it? Do you feel like you are speaking into a “can” when you are using your home phone? Is your cell phone more private than your home phone? Let’s see what some of the experts have to say on this matter.

Telephone tapping – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here is the link to the Echelon System:

http://mediafilter.org/caq/echelon/