Woodstock CT Café

Excerpt from article by Vinnee Tong, see the Associated Press article

“The Woodstock, Conn.-based company reported in a court filing that it has debt totaling $10 million to $50 million and assets in the same range. The company is privately held. The company runs 126 retail stores as well as wholesale, export and online businesses.”

Crabtree & Evelyn

PTOtoday appears to be a good reference and source of discussion on important PTO issues.

June 9th, 2009 by Tim Sullivan at PTO Today
 
This heated debate between PTO Mom and Anthony Walker about a PTO’s role in a local education vote from a Connecticut website (the Cafe) is interesting on several levels.

First, it’s a real look into the passions that are so much a part of local politics, especially around schools. I give credits to both sides here for their engagement.  Much better than the opposite (apathy).

But the debate captures very well what almost inevitably happens when the local PTO or PTA gets actively involved on one side or the other of a political issue. Politics by definition are divisive.  And groups that take political stands need to do so expecting acrimony.

The PTO critic Anthony Walker captures the danger:

“I did not know that my children were being used to raise money for an organization that can advocate for anything. I would be happy to have my kids raise money for the WEF, since they have it in their by-laws that they can not advocate for any political issue. Whether we like it or not, and I don’t, this has become a political issue.”

I’ve been saying for a long time that the vast majority of parents/members of local PTOs and PTAs don’t think of the parent group as a political organization. They think of it as a parent involvement and community-building and support organization.  This debate captures that fairly well.

For the record, I don’t have a problem with this Connecticut PTO.  Sounds like they have a very active, successful group and they were above board in their work here.  We’ve worked with many groups (PTAs obviously and also many PTOs) who do feel like politics is part of their function, especially on school issues.

But it’s my observation that political work and “grow community/build involvement at school” goals are often in direct conflict with one another.  Good for PTOs to be fully aware of that before heading down the political path.

WorkInMyRoom.com was featured in the Times today as an example of a successful teenage entrapreneur (see http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/jobs/28teens.html ). Laura Durst created www.WorkInMyRoom.com  in November 2007 and her web-based business was featured at the Cafe in the January of 2008….so I guess this means that the Cafe scooped the Times .

WorkInMyRoom.com changed the Cafe forever when it designed our precious “YOU MORON” cups.
Click the image to read the fine print.

Laura graduated from the Academy in June 2008 and continues to manage WorkInMyRoom.com while away at college.

a quote from the Times article:
“Laura Durst, 18, a recent high school graduate in Woodstock, Conn., in the state’s northeast corner, said that there were so few jobs for teenagers there that two years ago she began setting up a Web-based business, WorkInMyRoom.com. It provides teenagers with information and online resources to find jobs that can be done from home.

Ms. Durst said she was inspired by her mother, who also is an entrepreneur. “Seeing her work from home, where she could be her own boss, I liked the idea of that,” she said.

Ms. Durst’s revenue comes from advertising. She uses Google Ad Sense — which displays relevant Google ads on her site — and earns money when users click on them. She says she is making about $250 a month.”

Yikes! She makes more $ than the Cafe .

by Harry Stefan

The local scene is currently pretty quiet. At the state level, however, there is considerable last minute activity to put together a budget for the coming fiscal year.

What do you all think about the options for balancing the budget?

I think that it’s necessary to add some new sources of revenue (taxes). I find it logical and reasonable that those who are fortunate enough to have larger incomes should pay more taxes. I think that another tax on cigarettes generates income and discourages the continuation of a bad habit.

by Frank Corden

Congratulations to Harrison Schroeder. He represents the commitment to achievement that we hope all our children aspire to. It’s really wonderful to see students throughout our school system excelling at all levels and then when they progress to college or directly to a career. I had the pleasure of attending Woodstock Academy’s 2009 Class Night and then the commencement ceremony on Sunday to honor the accomplishments of my beautiful daughter and her classmates. Hearing the accolades and honors bestowed on many of our students is a poignant reminder, that in Woodstock the education glass is certainly more than half-full.

We do have issues in our education system, as do all school systems and we have many opportunities to improve on the education received by all our young citizens. But we are fortunate. We have a good foundation to build on. A key ingredient is engaged and committed parents, and that is a great advantage for Woodstock. Many parents have chosen to live in our beautiful town with the intent of sending their children to Woodstock Public Schools and Woodstock Academy. Our faculty and staff are skilled professionals who are doing a commendable job of developing the inherent talents of our students. The dedicated volunteers including the PTO, the Booster clubs at both the WPS and WA and the Woodstock Education Foundation as well as other volunteer contributors who are too numerous to list, do an incredible job of supporting the programs led by our faculty, classroom volunteers and coaches at all three schools. Read the rest of this entry »

When I read about Harrison’s success and heard about his mature character from others, he reminded me of my closest childhood friend, Paul. Paul and I grew up in Rowayton on Long Island Sound between Darien and Norwalk. All I had to do to get to Paul’s house on an adjacent street was to walk across our neighbor’s yard. We were very close from the age of 5 (he was Gene Autry and I was Roy Rogers; later he was a Dodger fan and I was a devout Yankee) through to the end of summer after high school graduation before we departed for college, and very different lives and career paths.

The thing about Paul was that he was the best at everything (except tennis). I recall that when we tried out for Biddy Basketball at the Norwalk YMCA (6th and 7th grade), Paul was the tallest allowed in the league and I was a relative shrimp. While Paul became the leading scorer in the league, I had to sit out the first year because of a bone spur in my right heal. Everthing we did together became a competition from playing marbles, to shooting baskets in his back yard, to the 1100+ ping-pong games we played one year; Paul kept score and won about 700 of those games. I was great for his ego and he was great for challenging me at every turn. And Paul’s parents were great for me as well because they showed me an alternative approach to life and beliefs that contrasted with my own parents. Paul’s dad was always out there playing catch with us or driving us to the movies or to the YMCA for basketball, swimming., etc. I’ll never forget Paul’s mom’s answer to Paul when she thoughtfully explained why I was not as good at ‘things’ as he was … she said something to the effect that I was growing up a little slower and that eventually I would catch up to him (I’m sure this was an ominous thought for Paul ).

I remember 8th grade as a strange year for me. On the last day of school in seventh grade, my home room teacher, Mr. Nartoff, actually got on my bus to congratulate me personally for getting high honors. I’ll never forget his thoughtful interest in me.

In 8th grade, I was more shy. Paul was already carrying Playboy magazines in his saxophone case, while I was too embarassed to accept a smart girl classmate’s invitation to accompany her to a party. In 8th grade everything changed and I became less smart and less accomplished, and this continued for some years. I was hanging on by my fingernails while Paul was number one at everything. His example gave me hope, though.
Read the rest of this entry »

News Release from Pomfret School
Debby Thurston, Communications

Pomfret, CT – Harrison Schroder, an eighth grade student at Woodstock Middle School in Woodstock, CT, was recently honored as the 2009 recipient of the Pomfret School Patrick D. Wood ‘01 Memorial Prize. The prize, given by Patrick Wood’s parents, Robert Wood and Lisette Rimer of Pomfret Center, CT, was established in memory of Patrick, a member of the Pomfret School Class of 2001, who was a top scholar, accomplished musician and outstanding member of the Pomfret School community. Patrick passed away in early 2006 at the young age of twenty-three. Annually, the prize will be awarded to the top eighth grade day student from Windham County who will matriculate at Pomfret School.

Ms. Rimer commented, “More important than rewarding ability alone, we wanted to encourage Pat’s humanity. It was Pat’s imperfection, his ability to laugh at mistakes, and his ability to take risks that made him the endearing person that he was. [Harrison] has that same level of ability and endearing qualities. He has that greatness that enables him to see concepts and grasp them quickly. And like Pat, he is a doer and a risk taker.”

Schroder, of Woodstock, is a top scholar of his grade and a member of the Math Olympiads team and chorus at Woodstock Middle School. He was elected student council President this year and was the class representative in both sixth and seventh grades. He was also captain of both the soccer and basketball teams for his school. He is a United States Soccer Federation referee for local soccer games in Woodstock, Pomfret, Thompson, and Putnam.

From Left to Right: Robert Wood, Lisette Rimer, Harrison Schroder, and Mr. Gamache (Middle School Principal)

by Becki 

Mr. Rosendahl, please sit down and be quiet! You are an elected member of the Board of Education of Woodstock and as such you need to supervise your behavior so that it adheres to the oath you have sworn to uphold and the code of ethics your membership entails.

CT State Statutes – Oath of Office for Electors
and CT Code of Ethics for Boards of Education

As an elected official representing the citizens of Woodstock – which includes me – I am incensed at your bad behavior and purposeful disregard for your elected position as a member of the Board of Education. You need to button up and figure out what the sam-hell you are putting this community through before you utter another word, let alone another unsoundly composed malicious screed to be published in the local weekly.

malicious – characterized by malice; intended or intending to do harm
screed – a long speech or piece of writing, typically one considered as tedious

You, sir, are under the misplaced understanding that you are on the Board of Education to fulfill some agenda you remember having pledged while you were campaigning. The oath you took, as an elector, supersedes your personal feelings and the rambling campaign promises that you keep referring to. You are now a ‘member’ of a board and responsible to act like one. That requires you to put away your ego, your agenda and your preconceived notions of what you think is going on.

member – an individual belonging to a group such as a society or team
understanding – the ability to understand something; comprehension

The act of considering whatever comes before the Board of Education requires one to really process the information presented. More importantly, you are supposed to have an actual, I mean very real, understanding of the structure, operational process and realm of authority of the body of which you are a member. You aren’t supposed to sit there and throw up your arm, nearly stumbling over yourself, spewing out opinion as a way of sidetracking discussions. Apoplectically hurling anything across the table at anyone, let alone a subordinate, is inexcusable! You should be sanctioned for such deplorable behavior.

consider – think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision
apoplectic – overcome with anger; extremely indignant
hurl – throw (an object) with great force
deplorable – deserving strong condemnation

Read the rest of this entry »

What Mr. Powers, Mr. Rosendahl, and Mr. Shultz lacked for the June 9th referendum was Ahmadinejad’s approach. Simply deny the ballots and declare victory by a 2/3rds margin. Those days are over in Woodstock just like they are in Iran. Never again will things be the same in Woodstock.

Why do I say this?  The Democratic Town Committee played their hand and lost. I don’t mean the Woodstock Democrats lost (that includes me), it was the DTC that lost. DTC Chairman, James Kaeding, played his hand with a last minute Letter to the Editor in the Villager advocating repeal of the Board of Education while Mr. Powers, the instigator of the petition, and Ms. Wholean (DTC Secretary) soon to be DTC candidate for First Selectman signed the petition together, possibly while holding hands.

Mr. Kaeding decided not to sign the petition because it looked bad as he is Chairman of the DTC. How disingenuous.

The contrast between Allan Walker and Ms. Wholean is remarkable. For example, Mr. Walker turned back a raise this year while Ms. Wholean awarded herself a 9% raise in her final last 7 months as First Selectman. She went on to lie on WINY saying that the purpose of this raise was to guarantee that ‘there would be enough money in  the budget to support hiring of a Town Manager’ (gag me with a spoon ). Ms. Wholean handed over FOI information that she requested from the BOE, while she was First Selectman, to CPS litigator, Mr. Shultz, so that he could pursue his FOI litigation at the FOIA Commission on behalf of the Citizens for Prudent Spending, forcing the BOE to defend themselves incuring more lawyer costs.

On the other hand, Mr. Walker has been careful to show no bias as First Selectman to any party although he is a Republican. This is perhaps the exemplary role that a First Selectman should play. He has stabilized Town management while Ms. Wholean commanded in her last six months in office that no communications would be sent from the Town Hall without her approval (Yuk!). Read the rest of this entry »

The current 36 members of the RTC are listed on the RTC page in the left sidebar.

by Bill Sowka

The Woodstock Republicans are actively working on a new platform for 2009 that builds off their 2007 platform.

Like you, perhaps (to Newcomer), I found ‘Justa Simple Person’s comments quite interesting but oversimplified, particularly when he states “that the local RTC is not willing to embrace the “Big Tent” philosophy.” Not only am I wondering how he/she came to that conclusion, but also whether the RTC should embrace a “big tent” philosophy is something currently up for debate within all levels of the Republican party as they seek to define for themselves what it is this ‘big tent” philosophy actually means and what is at stake with embracing it.

Cliff Springs, author and blogger of “Dang Write”, wrote recently of the big tent philosophy and I think you’ll find his quote quite telling.

He writes: “For those of you who may not be clear on the meaning of the “big tent” philosophy, it’s basically this: our party is so big and so diverse that we welcome all who will come. In my mind, that’s the generous definition. “Big tent” is another way of saying, “We stand for nothing, so you can join us without fear of being offended.”

So while the Republicans may want to reach to a broad and diverse community, the point Spring’s is making is that we shouldn’t compromise our values just to do that. This is of course is where the debate lies.

It is my belief that the Republican party at all levels is a very diverse group. However, at their core they all share a commonality of certain values. I think that these shared values are the worthiest components of any platform because they DO appeal to a diverse group of people. It is important to uphold these values not only in order to reach this broad constituency, but also to maintain the integrity of our party as one that actually stands for something.

And actually standing for something in this day and age is something so widely needed so desperately desired.