Monthly archives: January 2008

 

 

Natural "Fast Food"

  • By: Cindy

As most of you know, I am doing a consultant job for a major corporation in Hartford and this place has thousands of employees and a cafeteria that is half the size of the main floor of Cheshire High School. It is humongous to say the least.

Now this cafeteria serves fresh food of all sorts daily. They serve breakfast and lunch. They have everything under the sun: a fresh pasta bar; various salads; an international food bar; hot dogs, hamburgers, a deli sandwich bar with all types of sandwiches, popcorn, frozen yogurt, all sorts of desserts; all sorts of coffees, a fresh fruit bar, it goes on and on. And in the morning they serve omelets, fried eggs, about seven different types of bagels, several different types of spreads, you can toast your bagel or toast your toast; they have oatmeal, pancakes with sausage, hash browns, whatever. And that doesn’t even take into account the coffee bar that is located on the main floor which also serves pastries, oatmeal, fruit, yogurts, candy, whatever you want.

God, a person could gain serious weight working at this place.

The other day, I noticed something new in the cafeteria. It was called O’Naturals and what it is–according to some of their literature they had on hand in the cafeteria is the country’s only natural and organic quick service restaurant chain. I guess this O’Naturals, which promotes the use of free-range chicken and organic meats, vegetables and flours, has partnered with the Compass Group, the world’s largest foodservice company.

O’Naturals is based out of Portland, Maine and according to their literature it states that “O’Naturals was the brainchild of organic yogurt maker Stonyfield Farm’s President and Ce-Yo Gary Hirshberg.” I did get a chance to meet him the other day in the cafeteria.

Hirschberg says in his literature that “we started with the simple premise that people are tired of eating the same old food made with mysterious ingredients and served in plastic surroundings.”

“Instead, we offer them delicious food from exceptional natural and organic ingredients served in a comfortable atmosphere.”

Well it seems that ever since the O’Naturals food bar opened in the cafeteria, the demand is great. The lines are long. People are taking to the fact that their food is organic. The other food bars lines have diminshed since O’Naturals opened.

They make and prepare their food right on the spot which is awesome. I know Timberline in New Hampshire was the first company to have O’Naturals food service.

I am hoping to present this idea to the Cheshire Board of Education. Since now many school systems are looking to upgrade the child’s food choices. Many schools are getting away from using a lot of processed foods. This to me, would be a step in the right direction. Organic free range food that looks good, tastes good and is prepared “fast.”

I know this would be popular with our students.

According to their literature, O’Naturals has three company owned locations–Portland and Falmouth, Maine and Acton, Massachusetts. They also have two franchise locations: one in Orlando, Florida and one in Wichita, Kansas. Apparently other franchise locations will be opening soon in North and South Carolina.

Their menu includes flatbread sandwiches, pizzas, soups, tossed salads, Asian noodles, kids’ meals, fresh baked goods, and where permitted, micro brewed beer and wine. Ingredients are natural, organic, local or wild.

I have been getting a good response about the old car commercials, so I will leave this running for a few more days. I expect to have a major story about the Lifestyle Center vote on Wednesday and some commentary on our current tax surplus situation. There is a lot of talk brewing amongst people.

Stay tuned. Because I am really going to crack the whip Wednesday night. I gave in to some of my critics and stayed nice for today.

Here is the link to O’Naturals:

http://www.onaturals.com/

 

Developments

  • By: Cindy

I want to apologize to my readers. I made a mistake!! The Planning and Zoning Commission special meeting on Rt. 10 LLC aka the Lifestyle Center/Housing proposal, will take place WEDNESDAY, Jan 16th NOT Tuesday, Jan. 15th as originally reported.

The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers. Here is the agenda:

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

SPECIAL MEETING

Wednesday – January 16, 2008 – 7:30 p.m. – Town Hall – Council Chambers

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. ROLL CALL

III. DETERMINATION OF QUORUM

  1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  1. BUSINESS

1. Petition for a Zone Map Change      P.H. 09/24/07

Cheshire Route 10 LLC       F.T. 10/13/07

1953 and 2037 Highland Avenue,     P.H. 10/22/07

I-691 and Dickerman Road     P.H. 11/14/07

Change from Interchange Zone to Interchange     P.H. 11/26/07

Special Development District     MAD 01/30/08

2. Combined Application for Zone Change To and   P.H. 09/24/07

Approval As, An Interchange Special Development   F.T. 10/13/07

District and Approval of Interchange Special    P.H. 10/22/07

Development Project       P.H.  11/14/07

Cheshire Route 10 LLC       P.H. 11/26/07

1953 and 2037 Highland Avenue,    MAD 01/30/08 

I-691 and Dickerman Road

Mixed Use Development

            3. Aquifer Protection Application     P.H. 09/24/07

      Cheshire Route 10 LLC       F.T. 10/13/07

      1953 and 2037 Highland Avenue,     P.H. 10/22/07

      I-691 and Dickerman Road     P.H. 11/14/07

   Per Section 47.6 – Mixed Use Development    P.H. 11/26/07

                     MAD 01/30/08

  1. ADJOURNMENT

Now I received some information from a resident on three new proposed mall/shopping centers to be constructed in nearby towns. I know TWO will be in North Haven and one right around the corner in Southington near Cheshires proposed Lifestyle Center .

Here is the info I receivedfrom a local resident:

Soon we’ll have malls wall to wall where you can shop, shop, shop until you drop and eat, eat, eat until you can’t walk or talk. Who needs anything more in life?  

 

(1) Southington Commons – 280,000 sq ft Mall

Average traffic passing daily 24,000 cars

 

This will be just 2.6 miles from the W/S mall to the intersection of  84 and W Main St . For Southington residents it will be closer than the W/S mall.

 

http://www.northstarcenters.com/southington_ct.htm

 

Checkout the map

http://www.northstarcenters.com/southington_map.htm

 

(2)  North Haven – Eclipse Development Group has started a 200,000 sq ft mall across from Home Depot and near BJ’s.

 

(3)  North Haven – Rabina  Properties will transform the 170 acre Pratt and Whitney site into a $500,000,000 mall with upscale shops,  a hotel and housing. It will be on rt 5 near the Big Y.  For Cheshire residents this will close, from the start of Cook Hill it will be 7.4 miles away  and 7.0 miles to the W/S mall.  

 

Oh this is great news, especially for Cheshire. I mean come on, North Haven and Southington at least have an up on Cheshire because they know how to deal with hordes of people from their town and other towns without going hysterical (and you all know what I am talking about). I predict within 10 years, probably sooner, the Shoppes at Cheshire will be closed if some people don’t start changing their behavior. I keep mentioning it, because I know what people say about Cheshire; most of it is good but for people who have to drive through this town on a daily basis: it isn’t good. Cheshire has the ticket ticket ticket reputation. North Haven and Southington don’t. So guess who will make out?

If you wanted to go to a restaurant or a bar, have a few drinks and drive home around midnight or 1 a.m., what town would you rather be in if you were to engage in this practice? Southington, Cheshire or North Haven? Answer this honestly!!

Speaking of tickets, the Cheshire Police Department would be out of business in Manchester, New Hampshire. They all drive like Ms. Daisy, SLOW. They actually drive the speed limits in that town. I have seen a few speeders, like 35 mph but that is rare.

But guess what happens, the traffic is constantly backed up. There is gridlock all over the place. Ask my son who lives up there. I was just up there this past weekend. It is slow.

Again, I am not talking about doing 60 or reckless driving, but the fact is  many of the surfact street speed limits like the 25 mph was put into effect in the early years of automobiles. Number one, cars did not go that fast and number two, there were not that many cars or trucks in the first place. It was a luxury item. In fact, there were many people that predicted that cars were a “fad” and would DIE OUT!!

Now there are over 200 million motor vehicles in the United States. Traffic is snarled. Speed limits need to reflect this. People need to flow along at a smooth rate–not a high rate of speed, but a rate of speed that will keep vehicles from snarling. Case closed.

Now to touch on another pet peeve of mine: snowplowing. I am not blaming the crews of the Public Works, I blame the administration.

 On Monday, I got up and went outside with my husband to start the snowblowing. There must have been at least a foot of snow piled at the end of my driveway and others in the area. Why! Why is this happening?

It is happening because the plow does not come out in our area often enough I am sorry to say. Our area is sort of isolated now because our original street is cut off. It was cut off when the street was extended 10 to 12 years ago when the rest of the development was finished. One cannot get a foot of snow piled up in large chunks at the end of ones driveway if the street was being plowed every two to three hours. No, it is getting piled up because the street was not plowed until 6 or 7 a.m. this morning that is why!!

Also the town must understand that we are at a higher elevation here and we actually get more snow, so this area must be plowed more often. It was horrible this morning, having to spend nearly an hour hand shoveling the big chunks off to the side. You could not snowblow it. The chunks were frozen. And why were they frozen? Because that snow laid on the street all night that is why!!

I thought my spouse was going to have a heart attack shoveling it. Let’s face it, he isn’t getting any younger and neither am I. Besides, I don’t have power of attorney on him so everytime he starts shoveling I panic. I have a feeling this commentary will fall on deaf ears once again, so I better call up Baillie Hall and Hirshman and get that POA form ASAP!!

I want to finalize my thoughts on this subject with a message for Ms Dispatcher at the Police Department. I don’t care how angry someone is, you don’t hang up on people. Do you know why you are even at the CPD? It is because of people like myself that kept hammering the town to hire more women and minorities at the CPD that is why!!

Ok, that is enough of that.

Now I have gotten correspondence from several people who have told me that I need to stop bitching about Cheshire. I don’t always bitch about Cheshire! But they claim I do it too much, so I am going to tone Undergroundtownhall down a bit (at least for a while).

I try to offer positive solutions to some of our issues here and I try to say what is on my mind. And I do try to cover a variety of topics.

I am going to speak some more about my feelings on the Town Government (not the people who work for the town) after Wednesdays meeting.  I promise I will try to tone it down. But you know you all love it!!

As most of you know, I have been working in Hartford at a major corporation doing a consulting project. I did manage to dig up a few facts about the city which is quite interesting.

Hartford is ranked the SECOND POOREST CITY IN AMERICA.  The first is Brownsville, Texas.

Approximately 56 percent of Hartford families have incomes LESS that $25,000 per year. Twenty-nine percent of households in Hartford are headed by a single female.

The per capita income in Hartford is $13,428 per year. The per capita income for Connecticut is $28,766.

Approximately 23.4 percent of Hartford families make LESS than $10,000 a year. Twenty-two percent of the population in Hartford does not have a high school diploma. The state average is 10 percent.

Demographics in Hartford: over 41 percent Hispanic (any race); 38 percent Black; 28 percent White and two percent Asian.

 

The Home Stretch

  • By: Cindy

We are nearing the day of reckoning for the people of Cheshire. Will our Planning and Zoning permit the building of this Lifestyle Center? We will see this coming Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall. Don’t forget to stay home and use all sorts of excuses about why you couldn’t show up: “I’m tired from work” “It snowed last night” “I’ll watch it on TV” “I don’t care because by the time they actually build this thing, if they ever build it, I will be long gone from Cheshire anyway” and so on.

I wonder how many Commission members will vote for it? Will it be unanimous? I don’t think so. I believe there will be at least five votes for the project. But that is just speculation of course.

I found yet another article on Lifestyle Centers, this one is a little different. I am trying to post as many different angles to this Lifestyle Center issue as possible. Now in our local paper on Thursday, I noticed yet another full page ad focusing on the proposed W/S Lifestyle Center proposal, but this ad was pro Lifestyle Center.

As many of you know, there have been several full page ads posted by an “unnamed” business person in Cheshire who is dead set against the Lifestyle Center being built in the North End of town. This recent ad had photos of W/S Developments Lifestyle Centers in other communities and a photo of the library and Cheshire High School taken by Justin J Adinolfi Jr.

The ad says something to the effect that it is sponsored by “Citizens of Cheshire.” and that the Shoppes at Cheshire will have a positive impact on the town and bring in much needed economic revenue.

That is all fine and good. I have no problem with people supporting this Lifestyle Center if that is how they really feel. But, as I have stated in past posts, and have shown you in articles that I have posted from various sources, most of these Lifestyle Centers were built or are being built in the center of the town or city they are being put in. Then the community can grow out or revitalize out from that starting point.

The ad also stated that most of the people in town support the Lifestyle Center and it is proven by the approximate 600 plus signatures. I disagree with that. Up until November, the Planning and Zoning Commission was Democrat ruled. The Democrat majority passed the Zone Text Change. After the November election, the Planning and Zoning switched to a Republican majority. Hello? What does that say?

Putting the Lifestyle Center in the far off reaches of Cheshire will have negative effects I believe on the rest of the town. Oh I know there will be different stores there at the Lifestyle Center, but let’s face it, the traffic is an issue here. If people cannot get to something fast or with a minimum of trouble, they just won’t go there–period. Human beings love fast and convenience, that is why we do not use our feet as the main mode of transportation anymore.

If the Town of Cheshire’s application to the state Department of Transporation to widen Rt 10 was put in and passed TODAY, it would take at least 10 years for the state to even START the project.

So what will we have, 10 years of congestion and backups. Probably.

I for one am not against the Lifestyle Center or the housing per say, I am against where IT IS BEING LOCATED!! Please drive down Rt. 10 at 7 a.m. 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. during the week and see what I am talking about. The traffic is horrible because it moves at a snails pace. Why? You all know why. We have GOT to STOP sitting our police cars on Rt. 10!! It is slowing up the traffic. Case in point the other night I was coming down Rt. 10, and it must have been around 5:45 p.m. The traffic usually moves slow, but this night it was really bad. People were not even doing the speed limit of 35-40. When I got to the old “Stone Works” site across from Highland School I saw why. COP!!

The next night, the traffic seemed to be moving a little faster because there were no cop cars. I know many of you don’t want to hear it, but I believe people who travel in Cheshiire are conditioned to slow down when they get into town.. I mean, look, this is not a bad thing, because we don’t want people going 60 down Rt. 10, but we do have to let this traffic flow a little faster to keep it from backing up. And I believe the town should get the state to take down some of these traffic lights on Rt. 10. There are too many of them in a row, especially where Stop and Shop is. there must be four in a row from the Town Hall up. Also, that pseudo two lanes in front of Cheshire Academy needs to be straightened out. People try to go into that left lane which is supposed to be used to turn down Wallingford Road. Well, people see the traffic backing up in the right lane, try to scoot ahead by going into that left lane–it ends abruptly, then they try to cut in front of your car which now causes traffic to slow even more.

My solution, get the state to paint a “LEFT TURN ONLY” with an arrow in that left lane. This should cut down on some of this nonsense. It will take years for people to lose the Pavlov’s Dog reflex when they come to Cheshire as far as traffic “flow” is concerned. The Town does not plow Rt. 10; does not pave Rt. 10, so stay off patrolling Rt. 10!! Leave it to the State Police.

Oh well, enough of that. Here is the article.

P.S. I am here in my pad in Manchester New Hampshire for the weekend visiting my son. Regular unleaded gas–$2.95 a gallon. Whats up Connecticut???

http://www.icsc.org/srch/sct/sct0607/centerStage.php

 

Breaking Bad

  • By: Cindy

Unfortunately, with my heavy work schedule over the next few weeks, I won’t be able to post everyday but I will try.

 Now I told you all in the last post that I would elaborate a bit on the Town Council meeting I attended Tuesday night to make sure the Senior Tax Freeze went to a public hearing which it will. I did not hear the date of this public hearing but I will find out.

While I was at the meeting, the Police and Fire Chiefs were going over their monthly reports which they should be doing because we do not have a Police or Fire Commission. I am  still pushing for an expansion of powers of our Public Safety Commissioners whom are quite up to the job I believe. Even if we had one or two members of that Commission sit in on the making up of the police and fire budgets that would be a good step forward.

While I was at the meeting, I received the packet that the Town Council members are privy to. At that meeting the Town Council talked about the easement aquisition by the town of .50 acres of property abutting Marion Road and Currier Woods Association  Inc. “for the purpose of relocating and improving Marion Road. ” It was determined by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 14th that this acquistion was not in conflict with the Plan of Conservation and Development.

The purpose of this aquisition is for the Town of Cheshire to be able to “relocate improve and maintain the public highway known as Marion Road.”

The purchase price for the sale and transfer of this property is $10,000. The town of Cheshire is also paying Currier Woods’ costs and a reasonable attorney fee for negotiating the agreement and for conveyance of the easment.

Now my husband attended the Public Safety Commission meeting Wednesday night and brought this issue up. He told the Commissioners that if the town is going to slightly straighten out the curvy part of Marion Road they need to put in sidewalks because let’s face it, you cannot walk or bike ride over there without taking your life in your hands. Besides, the curve is meant to slow down vehicle traffic, but it also creates a vision barrier of sorts if you do walk over there.

The Public Safety Commission voted unanimously to refer this idea to the Town Council.

I did note that the Town of Cheshire was being represented by Murtha Collins LLP in Hartford. That is the dopist law firm in Connecticut outside of Jacobs Grudberg Belt and Dow in New Haven. What I mean is for all you squares out there, this law firm is TOP NOTCH. Nothing but the best for our Cheshire!!

I did want to touch on what the Police Chief spoke about at the Town Council meeting regarding the Gift Account money provided Elim Park.

 As you know from reading the last post, the gift to the Police Department was $165,000 and the same amount was given to the Fire Department. The Fire Department is very open, breaks down all their expenditures, lists all their calls, so I have no problem with them.

Now, the Police Chief  stated “I believe that we at the Cheshire Police Department have shown over the years  that we use the gift account in a very prudent and effective manner to supplement the operating budget. That in using the gift account as we do, we have substantially reduced the taxpayer burden of financing operational requirements.”

I do have to agree with that statement to an extent, because at least last year when the Cops bought the 12 flat screen TV’s for the Police Station, they did go to WalMart instead of Best Buy. WAY TO GO!!

I am only kidding!!

Anyway, the Chief did break down some of the ways the monies would be used although I sort of wished he would have been a little more specific in certain areas i.e.

Personnel Expenses:

“$20,000 to subsidize the departmental quartermaster system for the purchase and upgrade of uniforms, personnel gear, bullet proof vests and Special Response Team ATV Squad, Bicycle Squad and Traffic Safety clothing and a specially designed muzzle to put over Ms. Kleists’ mouth.” 

Ok, good, but how many bullet proof vests will they purchase? How much Personnel Gear and what is Personnel Gear?

 I wished the Town Councilors would have asked more specific questions. I would have  asked more questions that night, but I did not get a copy of this until I was ready to leave.

Under Training Expenses:

“$25,00 for various training expenses to inlcude schools, training materials and costs assoicated with the continuation and expansion of the departments in-house and outside training program. The cost of out of area schools an SRT training has increased significantly. With all of the promotions over the past few years and re-assignments, additional training will be required and necessary to keep the department up to date and moving forward. Outside of our statutory required training to maintain our certification additional training, especially at the management level, is extremely advantageous to the department and citizens of Cheshire.”

Ok, fine but what type of additional training are we talking about here?

Special Response Team Equipment:

$10,000 for the purchase and upgrade of SRT equipment which has become outdated or has deteriorated because of age.”

Fine, how old is this deteriorating equipment and what exactly do we need to purchase for the SRT?

Program Materials:

“$25,000 to be utilized in support of the daily operation of the police department such as expenditures on ammunition, SRT supplies, cruiser equipment, bicycle patrol, ATV patrol and motorcycle patrol. Additionally, upgrades of current equipment, expenses for special events such as the Fall Festival, Relay for Life, college fairs and other public safety events. Replacement and new purchases of office equipment and storage. There is also the unexpected replacement of damaged or worn equipment.”

Equipment:

“15,000 to assist in the upgrade of the fleet assisting with the purchase of vehicles and associated equipment.”

$35,000 for new equipment and or the replacement of existing equipment resulting from mandatory upgrades, equipment which has deteriorated because of age, the continuation of department upgrades and the implementation of new programs. “

Ok, finally we get specific!!

“Some examples would be the upgrade of the office furniture, file cabinets, old chairs, cruiser light bars, fintess center reapir and maintenance, the towns’ share of co-payments towards grants, traffic signs, speed monitors, AED’s office supplies and software upgrades.”

Building Maintenance:

$15,000 to continue the upgrades to the physical plant and surrounding grounds. This will increase officer morale (no Chief, officer morale will increase when I move out of town and you know it)!!

“In some areas, purchases will increase the efficiency of the department.”

SRT (Special Response Team) Vehicle:

$20,000 this would be used to repair, replace and upgrade equipment within our SRT/Communication Vehicle. Items considered would be radios, computers, storage space and power upgrades.”

So there you have it in a nutshell. I tired of typing because I have been doing it all day so Iam calling it quits for now.

Oh, and “Breaking Bad” besides being the title of that new movie I have got to see, means someone who “defies authority” “a hell-raiser.” Hmm!!