This past Tuesday, there was meeting of the Inland/Wetlands Commission to discuss the possible impact on the environment the proposed Lifestyle Center could have, especially if there is heavy rains as was the case last April.

Wetlands serve a purpose. They act as natures “sponge” so to speak. The plants and assorted flora that grow in wetlands, absorb water that runs off dry land. When the wetlands are disturbed, there could be flooding problems. Man has tried to build its own”wetlands” i.e. dams, culverts, causeways, etc. Some are successful, some are not. Our history is filled with dams that have collapsed because of poor construction. A wetlands never collapses, think about it. A wetlands is natures natural buffer between dry and wet land–period.

I found an article that goes into a little more detail about what a wetlands is.

“Wetlands are unique environments in which the soil is saturated with water for all or most of the year. Often, wetlands include pools of standing water for much of the year, and all wetlands host a multitude of plant and animal species that have adapted to their unique conditions. Wetlands are an extremely valuable natural resource: in addition to offering habitat for plants and animals, they also help protect neighboring land, and reduce soil erosion. For this reason, many countries around the world have embarked on wetlands conservation programs, so that wetlands will be around for future generations.

There are several types of wetlands, depending on where they are located and the chemical makeup of the water in them. In most cases, wetlands form a intermediate area between a large body of water such as an ocean or lake and dry land, although some inland wetlands form in areas isolated from bodies of water. Wetlands tend to form in areas of low ground, which accumulates water readily, and if allowed to thrive without disruption, they have numerous positive affects on the natural environment.

When asked to visualize wetlands, most people think of marshes. Marshes are characterized by low growing plants and reeds and a sense of open space: coastal marshes are salty, thanks to the salt water which floods them. Other types of wetland include bogs, which have a highly acidic chemical balance, and fens, which are very alkaline. Swamps are wetlands which support trees and other large plants, often with limited visibility, and due to their soil saturation and pools of standing water, they are classified as wetlands.

One of the most important functions of a wetland is to act as a buffer zone between a body of water and dry land. Wetlands protect land from flooding and storm damage by absorbing the brunt of it.

 Wetlands protect land from flooding and storm damage by absorbing the brunt of it. In addition, wetlands help to prevent soil erosion, because the plants and trees that live in them form dense networks of roots that hold the soil in, preventing it from washing away. Many wetlands actually create accumulations of rich, nutritious soil upon which plants, animals, and birds can thrive.

Wetlands provide habitat for numerous animals including dragonflies, crayfish, catfish, sculpins, snakes, turtles, geese, herons, frogs, flamingos, and many others. Most of these animals have adapted specifically to living in wetlands. Long legged birds, for example, use their long legs to keep their torsos out of the water, and have long necks and beaks to reach into the water for food such as aquatic plants and insects. Loss of habitat for wetlands animals could be devastating, as they are ideally suited to life in wetlands conditions, and many of them would face dangerous predators and unfavorable living conditions outside of wetland areas. In addition, wetlands play host to numerous plants, not all of which have been categorized and studied.

In addition, wetlands help to prevent soil erosion, because the plants and trees that live in them form dense networks of roots that hold the soil in, preventing it from washing away. Many wetlands actually create accumulations of rich, nutritious soil upon which plants, animals, and birds can thrive.”

Now, I am running a petition given to me by a local resident against the housing part of the W/S plan. There is also a petition against the entire project which will run later.

As far as I am concerned, I am open to all sides. Anyone is welcome to comment on the project and submit their side pro or con. I will try to promote all sides. I have done this in the past. This is what I believe in. I was fired from a newspaper that I was the editor of for doing just that. Promoting all opinions and all sides. This Lifestyle Center is not bad. I just don’t like where it is located RIGHT NOW. I think it is too big a step for Cheshire. I hope to present my alternative at the Nov. 26th meeting.

I am not saying do not build the Lifestyle Center, just take smaller steps. Remember, this is a town that does not even have a sign letting people know where our Community Pool is, as I stated in the recent Candidates Debate. And we are going to welcome people from all over into this Lifestyle Center.? I hope so.

Cheshire’s track record has not been so welcoming, and the people who run this town know what I mean, as I have stated before. Read the old police logs, in plain English–Meriden, Waterbury, Meriden, Waterbury, etc etc. Who do you think will man most of the retail positions at this mall Cheshire Town Government? Sure, there will be many Cheshire High School students, but not all. We will see people from the surrounding towns trying to secure jobs at the Lifestyle Center. It will be another opportunity economically for many. How will we welcome them? Ticket Ticket Ticket? Cop Cop Cop car at the side of the road every 500 feet?

It is not pleasant to think about, but for many, that is the reputation of this town. I already told you what was said to me a few weeks ago in a restaurant when I was speaking to a prominent attorneys niece. I was told to go back to New York where I came from and I am not even from New York. I am from Bridgeport and my family for this persons information ,lived in the Cheshire/Wallingford area since the early 1920’s. Some of my family lived on Church Street off the present Rt. 68, which is Yalesville.

Is that the attitude this town is going to extend to the people who come to our Lifestyle Center? I hope not. If the Center is built I hope it will a success. How will it be successful? Lose the “attitude” and lose the welcoming “committee”for starters.

If any of you watch Chriss Angel’s “Mindfreak” at the opening of the show he shouts “Are You Ready? Are You Cheshire? Do some serious soul searching.