I got through watching the public hearing on Monday night regarding this affordable housing proposal on Rumberg Road in front of the existing Beachport elderly housing development.

The proposal put forward by To Design of New Britain would have 20 units on approximately 2.7 acres of land. A waiver is needed because this proposal is technically in violation of Cheshire density regulations.

Now I have run videos of Beachport and the property the proposed affordable housing would be located on, and have written a few posts about it. A few days ago, I got to thinking about Easton, where I used to live many years ago. I wondered how they would handle or have handled affordable housing-because they have little or none of it.

Well apparently last year, a developer, Running Brook Farm, LLC, filed THREE lawsuits against the town of Easton when they denied approval of a 72 unit high density affordable housing proposal on 30 acres of land.

Easton is one of the few remaining towns that still has to decide issues by Town Meeting. Easton is really smart-I want to you read HOW THEY GOT OUT OF THIS LAWSUIT—NICE MOVE EASTON!!

Click here for story

I am going to make a short post tonight because I am on my way to Kansas-but I did want to comment on the Coach Calhoun situation.

As most of you know, freelance journalist Ken Krayeske caused quite a stir the other night when he questioned Jim Calhoun’s million dollar salary as head Basketball coach of University of Connecticut. Krayeske, who got in trouble a few years ago, when he literally threw himself in front of Gov. Jodi Rell during her inaugural parade to get a photo (ever hear of a telephoto lens), visibly agitated Coach Calhoun with his insinuations that the Coach should be giving back some of his salary or should be ashamed of it given the current several billion dollar budget deficit facing the state.

Now, I really like sports-I like football, baseball basketball and hockey. I know many of these sports people are overpaid, but unfortunately with most major colleges-having a successful sports team, be it football, or basketball is almost a requirement.

Successful, high profile college sports teams, namely a football or basketball team, brings in a lot of needed revenue and recognition to colleges and universities these days.

Gone are the days when most big league schools, especially state schools, could rely on straight academics to increase enrollment and recognition.

For many years, Kansas State University relied solely on academics-it still does. This school is ranked sixth in the nation. It is and always has prided itself on academic excellence. I am proud to be affiliated with such a grand learning institution.

But, in the mid to late seventies and early eighties, K-State was losing enrollment and professors, its sports teams, especially our football team, the “Wildcats” had lost 500 games. So much was our sports image tarnished that people called K-State the “Mildcats”

Then in 1988, a miracle happened-Bill Snyder. He took a team that had gone 0-21 for the past two years in a row and was in danger of not being able to be a part of the Big 12 Conference, to a team that was on everyones lips-Darren Sproles-yes you know who he is!! And a team that for the 10 years consecutively, played in Bowl Games!!

I remember one particular game day, K-State beat the Oklahoma Sooners. OMG-I called up a friend of mine who lives in Oklahoma City and she said she was so upset that she was throwing up!! I will tell you all, I have NEVER seen a football team like the Oklahoma SOONERS!!!

I want to say to all my friends in Oklahoma-You were sooner born and sooner bred, and when you die, you’ll be SOONER DEAD!!

I remember approximately four years ago, walking into a supermarket in a neighboring town wearing my Kansas State Wildcat hat-TWO people came up to me and said-”Wow, did you go to Kansas State”?? Of course I was proud and said yes-but then I thought-this is really sad that this school is now recognized for its athletic prowess and not it academic excellence.

Of course, Snyder, who is treated as a God out at K-State, as he should be, retired a few years ago, and the magic seemed to slip away.

Well in 2008, Bill Snyder, at age 69, was rehired as head football coach!! His salary: $1.8 million over the next three years.

Read story here

In 2004, Coach Snyder received half the money K-State collected for his salary and football equipment-HALF OF THE MONEY THE UNIVERSITY COLLECTED!! His annual salary THEN was $1.58 million!!

And keep in mind, Kansas is not as socio-economically wealthy as Connecticut!! And this Kreyeske dude is questioning Coach Calhoun who has had a winning record for years on end!??  I do think though, that Coach Calhoun should have not been so agitated. He could have just quietly refused to answer the question or answered it in a lower tone of voice-This man DOES bring millions to UCONN!! He has made a difference in peoples perception of that school-people do want to go to UCONN because of Calhoun. I do believe people should want to go to a school for academics only-but that is a fantasy world nowadays let’s face it.

More on Coach Bill Snyder of K-State

OK, well now I did want to touch on a touchy subject-apparently there are a few people in the north end of town near a major distributor of perishable items, that have been complaining over the years of soot accumulating on the windows of their homes from what they perceive to be from diesel fumes. These people claim the town was contacted, but little or nothing has been done.

I CANNOT AND WILL NOT name the business establishment these people claim is causing this, because I HAVE NO SOLID PROOF.

Diesel fumes from idling buses or trucks can be a health hazard. I have a few articles that address this very situation:

“Diesel Fumes Mean Cancer for Thousands of Americans”

“Smoking in the Schoolyard”

Finally-are you on the lost or forgotten property list? Click here to find out.

Oh and before I forget-there sure must be a log of gullible people out there!! The Featured Video on Apple’s new MacBook Wheel, IS A FAKE!! YOU didn’t really fall for that DID YOU??