Monthly archives: June 2009

 

 

More Mixville Input

  • By: Cindy

Well, this is the last post by me on the Mixville Park issue-I think Mixville is nice-In a few minutes I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT  A “DUMP” looks like AND IT IS NOT MIXVILLE!

When you look at the photos I am going to show you of another park-and I HAVE SHOWN THIS BEFORE-you will see Mixville in a different light-if many people in Cheshire do not appreciate this park-THAT IS SAD!!

It’s funny, when I went to the park this past Sunday-I did not see any GEESE!!

Amazing!! I know why the geese were not there-they got scared off by loud peopl e like me who know how to have a good time!! YEP, my loud mouth coupled with several of my friends who tell me they have been going to Mixville from BRIDGEPORT-HAVE SCARED OFF ALL THE GEESE!!

Speaking of good time-I did go to the Strawberry Festival at the Congregational Church in Cheshire-it was nice-they had a great band playing the old Beatles song-I was really surprised at how vibrant people were-man, they were really getting into it-dancing, and what not. Boy, I was surprised the cops were not called to calm things down!!

I did film some of the action at the Strawberry Festival-it is under FEATURED VIDEO on the right hand side of the blog. It is in four parts-so I am running part one now and will run the rest of the videos this week.

Double click on the video to see a “special message.”

The video I have been running shows a Bristol resident who frequents the park, but I have news for you-PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE HAVE BEEN GOING TO MIXVILLE-because it is NICE!!

If Cheshire residents will not use it-or use it sparingly because they would rather go to the pool, or get upset when they see people that don’t fit their bill-well, whom can we blame but ourselves!!

If this park was filled up with Cheshire residents every weekend, then there would be no room for anyone else. I am to blame also-I have not gone as much as I used to and I admit it.

As far as the fields go-it could be the inordinate amount of rain that is causing the flooding-but I remember well back into the 80′s, with those fields having a water retention problem.

The bottom line-the Town Government started giving up on Mixville and putting it down (practically discouraging its use) when the pool opened. Blaming geese is ridiculous-in fact, I happened upon an interesting video from 2008 where the Town of Cheshire is poo pooing Mixville because of the Geese.

Click here for video-P.S. the park looks nice in this video-what is wrong??

I have geese on my beach in New Hampshire-SO WHAT??  They even go and poop on the raft.

WHEN I WENT TO MIXVILLE IN THE 80′s and 90′s there were geese-BELIEVE ME-THE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT THEIR DOGS TO THE PARK AND ALLOWED THEM TO CRAP ALL OVER THE PLACE-MADE MIXVILLE UNDESIRABLE. IT IS FUNNY-NO ONE WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT OR CALLING THE PARK DIRTY THEN!!

AT LEAST LAST SUNDAY, I DID NOT HAVE TO STEP AROUND DOG CRAP!!

Now sadly-and this is beyond sad-what was once and still is-Connecticut’s ONLY NATURAL BEACH-not man made-has been left to rot-WHY?? BECAUSE PEOPLE DON’T CARE!! THE POWERS THAT BE ABANDONED IT-THE THREW IT TO THE WIND-

LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS-AND THEN LOOK AT MIXVILLE:

Click here

 

Beach Boyz

  • By: Cindy

UPDATE: I DID GO OUT TO MIXVILLE ON SUNDAY, JUNE 14th TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.

I WENT AROUND 2 p.m., IT WAS PARTLY CLOUDY BUT WARM. I DID SEE ABOUT 40 PEOPLE IN THE PARK-ONLY A HANDFUL WERE FROM CHESHIRE.

THE PARK LOOKED NEAT AND CLEAN AND I DID SEE A PERSON SITTING IN A TOWN OF CHESHIRE TRUCK-I ASSUMED THIS WAS THE RANGER-I DON’T KNOW FOR SURE.

SO, I DID HAPPEN UPON A GROUP OF PEOPLE PICKNICKING-I APPROACHED THEM TO ASK THEM ABOUT THE PARK. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WHERE THEY ARE FROM:

THE VIDEO FROM MIXVILLE IS UNDER “FEATURED VIDEO” ON THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE BLOG.

TO SEE A LARGER VIEW-YOU CAN DOUBLE CLICK  ON THE VIDEO AND YOU WILL GO RIGHT TO MY YOUTUBE SITE.

This park IS A NICE PARK!! IT IS TOO BAD THE TOWN OF CHESHIRE ABANDONED IT. THE FIELDS SURROUNDING THE PICNIC AREA WHERE WE SPOKE TO THIS GENTLEMAN FROM BRISTOL, WAS COMPLETELY SATURATED WITH WATER!!

AS YOU COULD SEE FROM THE VIDEO-SO WAS THE PLAY AREA. CAN YOU IMAGINE MOSQUITO PROBLEM?? ALSO, YOU WANT TO CHARGE PEOPLE?? THAN THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED RIGHT AWAY!!

I have a suggestion: why doesn’t the town of Cheshire take some of the dirt they took from Cheshire Park to put into Bartlem Park and PUT IT OVER IN MIXVILLE FOR FILL!!

The gentleman who wrote the letter to the editor in the Herald and in Tim’s blog was right-IF THIS WERE BARTLEM PARK IT WOULD BE IN PRISTINE CONDITION!!

We people in the third district are getting tired of being the “bridesmaid” so to speak, of Cheshire!! First this town started to complete the Lock Park off of Jarvis Street-but decided there is no money-NOW MIXVILLE HAS BEEN THROWN TO THE WIND!!

This is disgraceful!! But par for the course of a town that INSISTS ON KOWTOWING TO CERTAIN GROUPS AND TELLING EVERYONE ELSE TO GO TO HELL!!

I just wanted to post some information I finally was able to get from the Internet on what other communities in Connecticut charge (if they even do) to access their local beaches to tie in to this Mixville issue.

Now I admit-I DON’T like to see people charged to use beaches and parks, but unfortunately, the few spoil it for the many-AT LEAST Mixville, as a poster alluded to on Tim’s blog, SHOULD HAVE A GATE.

The beach association I belong to in New Hampshire is doing just that-putting up a gate at the entrance to the beach. This eliminates the need for a person to check the beach passes (which are $50 a year) and keep out unwanted vehicles-YES WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ALSO!!

I heard there is a delay with the gate because of electrical problems.

But, in all fairness to these residents in the Mixville area-AT LEAST PUT UP THE GATE!! IF WE CAN MANAGE IT IN GILFORD-AND THIS IS A PRIVATE BEACH ASSOCIATION WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE-THEN THE TOWN OF CHESHIRE CAN ALSO ACCOMODATE THESE RESIDENTS REQUESTS!!

Now this does not stop people from walking in-but it is a lot harder to start serious trouble if a motor vehicle is not available. You can drive away a lot faster than you can run!!

So, with that said, here is the link to this website: CozyBeach that lists all of the beaches in Ct and Rhode Island and any fees they charge.

P.S. There are some serious misspellings on the Seaside Park post-they have “Dupes” Drugstore instead of “Lupes” and “Turmoil” instead of “Trumbull”–where incidentally, the Bridgeport Park and Rec Dept IS LOCATED!!

GO FIGURE!!

Click here for CozyBeach.com

I found a comment on Tim’s blog about the town keeping files on people they don’t like very interesting-IF THIS IS TRUE CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW THICK THE FILE MUST BE ON ME!

I do think some of that statement might be true-I know this town is pre-occupied with their “image” and will keep tabs on people whom they think are out to blemish it!!

Goodbye for now!!

 

More Updates

  • By: Cindy

UPDATE TO THE UPDATES!!

Here is the email response I received on Friday afternoon from Cheshire Public Works Director Joe Michaelangelo regarding the “Wesson” property-AKA-the field next to Seven-Eleven with the Barrels STILL on them!!

Hello Cindy:

After our phone conversation yesterday, I placed a call to the engineering firm, Lenard Engineering of Storrs CT, that is handling the work at the above property, located at 266 South Main Street.  I relayed the question that you asked me regarding the two black 55 gallon barrels on the property.  According to Mr. Bob Poole of Lenard, when they obtain the samples for quarterly testing that is performed at the numerous observation wells, they have to “purge” the wells which yields a several gallons of “wasted water” per sample.  Although this is not hazardous, it is regulated. Lenard cannot remove this water and they have an environmental firm empty the barrels periodically.  Although he said this is how this is done everywhere, I explained to him the concerns and perceptions regarding having these barrels located on this very prominent location, and he will see if they can change the operations to accommodate this concern.

Incidentally, the DEP is involved in this project, and here is a link to the specific office:  http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2717&depNav_GID=1652&q=325322

Joe

I was not able to get in touch with the FOI attorney on Thursday, because of a tight schedule, but I am linking you to a few articles from actual Ct Freedom of Information hearings that do deal with emails between municipal officials WHICH ARE PUBLIC INFORMATION and must be released to the public upon request.

Now as far as storing emails, well I don’t see how a municipality cannot store emails or any type of correspondence if all of this has to be readily available to the public if they so desire.

On the subject of emails to Town Council representatives from a constituent-I still do not have the FOI attorney opinion, but it looks to me like any contact-email or letter with a Town Official or representative discussion town business-is PUBLIC!!

I did speak with Cheshire Town Attorney Dwight Johnson on Wednesday and he did agree with me about the emails and letters being public information.

I found a good article on how other states and municipalities across the nation are handling this type of situation with emails.

Click here

And here is an FOI “Advisory” I know it is old but the subject is still timely: what happens when a Board, Commission or Council-meets “informally” to discuss an issue-no minutes are taken-and THEN following this informal meeting-FORMAL CONVENES THE MEETING.

Is the “informal” meeting public information?

Click here to find out

Here is a 2006 FOI decision regarding a constituent’s request for ALL emails between a Board of Education and a local municipal official:

Click here

Here is a 2009 case where the complainant asked for emails and all “telephone messages” between a Police Department and a municipal official:

Click here

On another ongoing issue: Yes, I did contact Joe Michaelangelo, director of Public Works in Cheshire, and did alert him to the barrel on the old Huxley Garage property adjacent to the Seven-Eleven on Rt 10.

You CAN see the barrel or barrels, I only made out one-it is located in the extreme right hand corner slightly hidden by a tree branch on the property.

I told Mr. Michaelangelo that I hoped this was not a barrel or barrels that I had photos of last year when I saw them on the old Huxley property, but nearer to Rt. 10.

Mr. Michaelangelo told me the DEP is overseeing this project which is some sort of soil reclamation-He told me he would be “poking around” and contacting the DEP.

I thanked him and asked him to contact me when he got an answer-You know, we do have people who CARE about Cheshire like Sue Zentek, she contacted me and told me about the barrels in the corner of the old Huxley lot.

I am grateful to her and to any citizen of this town or any town that is willing to step to the plate and not leave it up to someone else to take action.

I will be keeping you updated on this situation.

And, as far as Arby’s goes, the SIGNS I saw on Wednesday were GONE on Thursday-I also will be following that.

Lastly, I know many of you saw the gentleman from Avon Boulevard that addressed the Town Council on a ongoing noise situation in his neighborhood involving dirt bikes on some sort of private dirt bike track.

Well on Wednesday, my spouse and I drove down Avon Boulevard. I had my digital camera WHICH NOW WORKS!! and I was hoping to be able to either tape the dirt bike action and/or record the noise.

Unfortunately, I did not hear anything-it was pretty quiet but that probably because IT IS ALWAYS RAINING NOW!!

WHAT IS IT WITH THIS RAIN?? AND THEN TO ADD SALT TO THE WOUNDS-THESE BRAIN DEAD WEATHER FORECASTERS ACTUALLY SAID WE WERE STILL IN  A DROUGHT!!

Yes, we are in a drought–A SUN DROUGHT!! NO SUN!! DID THE SUN IMPLODE?? IS THE GOVERNMENT JUST NOT TELLING US?? WHAT GIVES JEFF FOXX??

If the sun doesn’t come out soon-I fear we will all get rickets!!

So to get back to the noise story-I did speak to the gentleman who went to the podium to address the Town Council-I noticed while this nice man was speaking-SOMEONE WASN’T TOO INTERESTED!!

You KNOW WHO YOU ARE–SHAME ON YOU!!

But, the town of Cheshire does not have a noise ordinance-if they did-that would be the end of me-I AM NOISY, ESPECIALLY MY BIG MOUTH-they probably will enact a noise ordinance now to keep me quiet!!

Of course, we all had to hear how “well several years ago the subject of a noise ordinance came up but was not passed”

Come on-work together on this Town Council and forget the petty stuff-this man and his family and the other families on that street deserve some sort of peace and quiet.

I know it can’t be quiet all the time-but noise from a dirt bike or dirt bikes can be extremely loud-I know-I used to live in back of the Grateful Dead motorcycle club in Bridgeport years ago-They made A LOT OF NOISE-but I DIDN’T COMPLAIN!! YOU CAN GUESS WHY!!

The people who have the dirt bikes have a right to use their property and enjoy themselves also-I hope there can be some sort of compromise-if not-then I STRONGLY URGE the Town Council to consider a noise ordinance-not just for the people on Avon Boulevard-but for all people in this town.

So to help out our Town Government-here is an article on:

“Guidelines For Drafting A Municipal Noise Ordinance”

 

Petty Nonsense

  • By: Cindy

strawberry

Yes, the title of this post says it all-and what is this post about-SIGNS AGAIN!!!

Now, as I have stated time and time again-I DON’T CARE what signs people put up-or WHERE they put them up-but the Town of Cheshire DOES!!

They keep doing it-WHEN WILL THEY LEARN TO STOP CENSORING-STOP FAVORING SOME OVER OTHERS-STOP TURNING THE CHEEK FOR ONE GROUP AND HARPING ON ANOTHER??

Case in point: the sign above.

This is the Town of Cheshire billboard-it is supposed to be promoting TOWN EVENTS.  The sign is blurry but you can clearly see two high school sporting events being promoted as is the Park and Rec Summer Camp, all town events.

Then WHY IS THE SIGN FOR THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL UP THERE??

The Congregational Church is SEPARATE from the Town. This event DOES NOT BENEFIT THE TOWN.

So, my spouse, who as you all know by now, called the Park and Rec and asked them-what if a private citizen or another church or organization had an event-WOULD THE TOWN PROMOTE THAT ON THEIR TOWN BILLBOARD??

Answer: Probably not!!

So around 9:30 a.m on Wednesday as I was on my way to a meeting, I snapped this photo from my crummy cell phone camera. By 10 a.m, the sign was GONE!!

Now look, I did not call the Park and Rec-MY SPOUSE DID.

I DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT HE DID-even though I CAN see his point. WHAT IS GOOD FOR SOME IN THIS TOWN IS NOT GOOD FOR OTHERS AND IT HAS GOT TO STOP!!

THE ONLY WAY CHESHIRE TOWN GOVERNMENT WILL LEARN TO STOP CENSORING-STOP TELLING SOME PEOPLE THEY CAN HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OTHERS CANNOT-IS FOR THEM TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING UNFORTUNATELY.

I have NOTHING against the Congregational Church. In fact, we do go to the Strawberry Festival-EVERY YEAR and SPEND MONEY THERE!! We go to their outdoor concert event they have-EVERY YEAR.

I could care less what they do-in fact-they could put the sign on my lawn advertising the Strawberry Festival or their Outdoor Concert-FINE WITH ME!!

I don’t care WHAT SIGN ANYONE PUTS UP-but as was stated before-THE TOWN OF CHESHIRE OBVIOUSLY DOES.

When you get a call from the cops telling you your spouse practically committed a crime-by supposedly putting up a “no mall” sign on a telephone poll and that the sign had better be removed-when a tag sale sign was left up for WEEKS ON END BECAUSE THE BIG C REAL ESTATE COMPANY DID NOT LIKE THE NO MALL SIGN SO THEY DECIDED WHAT IS FREE SPEECH AND WHAT ISN’T THEN AS I HAVE STATED BEFORE AND WILL CONTINUE TO STATE-WE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT PROBLEM.

Just like the B of A-they did not like something-they did not like people questioning so they called the POLICE to enforce THEIR IDEA OF WHAT FREE SPEECH SHOULD BE!!

You bet your ASS-that if I called the town of Cheshire and said Underground Town Hall was sponsoring a public charity event-and asked for the info to be put on the Town of Cheshire billboard-DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THEY WOULD DO IT??

HELL NO!!

Then on top of it-some spineless dickless bastard wrote an anonymous comment on another blog telling people to find out where my spouse worked and have him fired!!

I don’t always agree with what my spouse does-he does like to grandstand a bit-but trying to get a man who is supporting four children fired because some dickhead did not like the WORDING ON THE SIGN-is beyond SICK!!

There is an old saying: What is Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander-NOT IN CHESHIRE!!

Do they like it NOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TAKE SOMETHING DOWN-NO!!

This really really sad-and petty-I don’t subscribe to it-but several years ago, when I tried to get my Undergroundtownhall videos on Cox Public Access-I RAN INTO THE SAME CENSORSHIP PROBLEM.

This town TRIED EVERYTHING TO PREVENT MY SHOWS FROM GOING ON THE AIR-”oh the equipment broke-so we can’t edit it-one time they even put the wrong air time-so people tuned in at the incorrect time to watch the show.

I HAD TO GO AROUND WITH MY OWN FLYERS AND PUT THEM UP OR SEND THEM OUT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN MY SHOWS WOULD AIR.

The schedule WAS NEVER UP TO DATE ON COX PUBLIC ACCESS-IT IS FUNNY-IT IS NOW.

I wonder what would happen if I started producing shows again and tried to get them on Cox Public Access??

That is one of the reasons I started this blog-to be able to run my shows without a major league hassle. And I really felt sorry for my at the time 15 year old son  who did all the filming and editing-he got to see first hand-what censorship is like!!

As I said before-this is SAD-WHO CARES WHO PUTS UP WHAT SIGN?? IT SHOULD NOT MATTER!!

And speaking of signs-the ARBYS is at it again!! There are a slew of new signs in front of their business. I called the manager and she said-she will put up the signs again until she is told to take them down.

Now, again, I don’t care WHAT ARBYS DOES!! But is THIS FAIR TO THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE OBEYING THE ZONING REGULATIONS IN THIS TOWN!!

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN!! SAD SAD SAD!! AND THE TOWN OF CHESHIRE CREATED THIS MONSTER.

Now, as far as this Freedom of Information situation goes with the Town requiring all correspondence: i.e. letters, e-mails to town officials or town representatives being made available to the public-that is correct-I called FOI and they said-ALL correspondence-including EMAILS between public officials and citizens is public information if it is occuring at a public building or meeting.

HOWEVER-I did ask what if I or any constituent e-mail or wrote a letter to a town councilor at their private address or emailed them something through their private email. IS THAT TO BE MADE PUBLIC??

I am waiting for a response from the FOI ATTORNEY.

Personally, I do not believe a private conversation between a constituent and a public official is public knowledge-I don’t know for sure. It may be-but HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE ENFORCED??

If I send a letter to the Police Chief or an Email to the Town Manager-AT THEIR PLACE OF WORK-THAT CAN BE DISCLOSED-BUT WHAT IF I CALL THE TM OR THE CHIEF AT HOME??

IS THAT ANOTHER ABRIDGEMENT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH???

Here is an interesting FOI case on this matter:

Click here

Elected Officials Elude Public with Private E-Mails

E-Mail Guidelines for Public Officials

Hopefully, I will get an answer soon.

I will keep you posted.

Also: Someone wanted to know what is happening with the old Home Fabric Mills building:

And Sue, as far as those barrels at the old Huxley lot near the Seven-Eleven-YES I DID SEE THEM ON WEDNESDAY MORNING-THEY ARE TUCKED AWAY ON THE EXTREME RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE LOT!

HOPEFULLY, THE TOWN OF CHESHIRE WILL GET THESE BARRELS MOVED OFF OF THE LOT NOW-NOT PUT SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY THOUGHT NO ONE COULD SEE THEM!!

And the sign said: “Everybody Welcome, Come-in Kneel Down and Pray.

But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all-I didn’t have a penny to pay:

So I got me a pen and a paper-and I made up my own fuckin’ sign

It said “Thank You Lord For Thinkin About Me: I’m Alive AND DOING FINE!!

from “Signs”  Uncensored by Tesla (Cover).

 

This Looks Familiar

  • By: Cindy

Click HERE to read more

Believe it or not, I DID get a link to this great blog reporting about a town in a neighboring state that was more paranoid than Cheshire, that they actually taped constituents conversations when they would come into their town hall!!

OMG!! I HOPE I did not give anyone ANY IDEAS!!

Town Taping? Who’s Listening?

Now I did promise to fill you in on the ongoing issue with a local Bank and the letter that is to be sent to the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union.  The decision has been made to hold up on this letter until I can speak to the Police Chief over the phone IN PRIVATE and discuss my feelings.

When this incident happened, the Chief was away on business, so I want to fill him in on details before we go any further.

To close: I know a lot of you are bummed out over our economy: ME INCLUDED!!

Car sales are down-everything is slow-BUT GUESS WHAT?? THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA MISSED THIS STORY!!

There is ONE CAR COMPANY IN THE U.S. THAT OUTSOLD EVERY MAJOR CAR COMPANY IN 2008!!

CAN YOU GUESS WHICH ONE??

Click HERE to find out!!