Woodstock CT Café

It was refreshing to read Jim Rivers’ article in the November Pomfret Times, thanks for posting it here. I appreciate Pomfret’s First Selectman’s plain-speaking expression of his feelings about municipal matters and dissent. And, I think he accurately characterizes the attacks on people in Pomfret, especially in the anonymous ‘Sound Offs’ in the Woodstock Villager.

“The common denominator of negativity for our two towns appears to be griping by small cadres who relentlessly attack volunteer Board and Commission members.” Unfortunately, because of the cow chip colored glasses some folks refuse to remove, they can see no good. They only see, hear, and speak evil. Before long, their wailing and moaning becomes repetitive, meaningless ‘white noise’ as their efforts to strike fear in the hearts of citizens fall on deaf ears and never come to fruition. The false accusations and claims of wrong doing have gone unproven and unrealized. Could we ever hope that those who made false statements might feel the need to recant their claims?

I think there is a higher standard of dissent that may be out of reach for Woodstock/Pomfret malcontents. I believe that the effect of the anonymous “Villager’ letters has brought out the dark side of citizens in northeastern Connecticut by allowing the expression of ideas without responsibility. If no one is watching, and there are to be no consequences for your actions, what would you do? What would you say? Apparently, our neighbors will behave badly, with malice and misinformation. And, to go a step further, even the signed personal public attacks in the ‘news’ paper in an effort to publicly intimidate and discredit people is not very sophisticated either. Isn’t there a better way?

Disgusted Watcher echoes my feelings and I am sure many others’ as well. Owl’s perspective is only one view of the Pomfret issue. He spins and distorts facts and events to fit his arguments. It did not all start when Jim Rivers got involved. It really started when neighbors wanted to use zoning to beat up one another. Instead of settling differences in an amicable manner, neighbors became hostile, and next thing you know, there was a mob mentality. Winning became the primary goal. A Republican blog started by Tom Emilio became the anonymous nasty clearing house for this issue. Read the rest of this entry »

The Woodstock Middle School Public Speaking team is proud to announce a victory in this year’s first competition held at Woodstock Middle School on October 28, 2008. The students competed in all 6 categories. There were 34 participants in grades 5-8. These students have been practicing diligently twice a week since September and will continue through May. The next competition, hosted by Tyl Middle School in Montville, CT, will be held on Dec. 17, 2008.

The following students participated in the competition:
(For those who placed in their event, it is so noted in parenthesis.)

Impromptu: Hannah Guilani (1st), Brook Cheney (3rd), Alli Swan (4th), Jason Bertrand

Storytelling: Liam Adams (1st), K.C. O’Hara (2nd), Dylan O’Hara (3rd), Michael Audet

Poetry: Emily Audet & Ashley Bressette (1st), Megan Houlihan & Erin McDowell (2nd), Katherine Hatch & Cassie Reyes (4th), Katie Houlihan & Caroline Lussier

Expository: Rhone O’Hara & Deanna Guilani (1st), Galina Gruder (2nd), Christian Adams (3rd), Brooklynn Saracina

Persuasive: Danielle Nowak (3rd), Tristan Menard (4th), Alex Whitehead, Allie Hill

Dramatic & Humorous: Maguire Crouse (1st), Will Smith & Nick Wootton (3rd), Eric Moberg (4th), Erika Phillips

Congratulations to the entire team for their hard work and effort! Read the rest of this entry »

A logger moved in with his girlfriend who lives at the end of a cul-de-sac with four other homes on an unapproved street. The logger begins to expand his business on the property. A neighbor goes to the first selectman, Jim Rivers, instead of filing a written complaint to the proper commission. The first selectman gets himself personally involved and takes a position in favor of the logger. The logger gets in trouble with the Wetlands and Planning and Zoning Commission. The first selectman acting in his ex officio capacity on both commissions lobbies in favor of the actions of the logger over the enforcement of the regulations. The zoning enforcement officer made a ruling in favor of the logger and two neighbors appeal to the zoning board of appeals. The zoning board of appeals reverses the decision of the ZEO. The logger brings a lawsuit against the zoning board of appeals. The logger applies for a harvest activity on the property of his girlfriends parents some 60 acres behind the two plus acres where he is living with his girlfriend. The Wetlands Commission places 14 conditions on the permit. The logger and the property owners bring a lawsuit against the Wetlands Commission.

While all this is happening, the first selectman and second selectmen, Tim McNally, have publicly taken a position that favors the logger over the opposition of neighbors, a few commission members, and the regulations. Text amendments to change the zoning regulations are introduced by a democratic commission member. One commission member is not endorsed for reelection by the democratic committee of which Tim McNally is chairman. Two members from the Wetlands Commission resign because of pressure from the first and second selectmen actions. Some democratic members on the P&Z Commission are extremely unhappy with the decision of the Z.B.A. against the logger. There is bedlam in Pomfret. Read the rest of this entry »

(The salutation of this letter was left off by Admin.)

The Little River Protection Plan can be found in pdf format by searching the  phrase in quotes in Google. “Connecticut requires municipalities to develop a stormwater management plan however Woodstock has obtained a waiver due to the low level of development.” This discussion of “Waiver” is a short sentence on page 15. Here is the Hen House.

Our phone conversation earlier today concerning the Woodstock Academy expansion application to Woodstock PZC was cut off by a practice fire drill at our offices.  I did try to return the call at your cell phone number that you provided earlier to me.

I have reviewed a portion of the Academy’s PZC application, as well as reviewed the IWWA hearing minutes.  I held a discussion with some town staff (the Inland Wetlands Agent was on vacation), a town Conservation Commission member, and later corresponded with the Putnam WPCA Superintendent.  I did not submit any written comments to the Woodstock PZC hearing, in part because it opened and closed the evening before I arrived at Woodstock Town Hall to review the file.  On that day I also traveled by car through the local watershed of Woodstock Academy to observe the receiving watercourses that eventually discharge to Roseland Lake.

You may be interested in reviewing the latest CEQ report on inland wetlands regulation by State and local authorities.  It is entitled “SWAMPED”.  I believe some of the issues you had raised, with respect to the Woodstock Academy applications to the Woodstock IWWA, can be better framed and appreciated with the information contained in this statewide report.  I encourage that Agency  and assigned town staff to continually promote participation in the DEP Inland Wetland Training opportunities.
Go to  http://www.ct.gov/ceq/lib/ceq/swamped_with_links.pdf

Additionally, Woodstock WPCA (of which you are a member) was a participating entity that assisted in the development of the Little River Sourcewater Protection Plan. 

Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve just learned that Woodstock requested and was granted a special waiver from CT’s Dept. of Environmental Protection. This means that Woodstock (CME) does not need to prepare any Stormwater Pollution plans on ANY development. The reason given is that Woodstock has a low level of development. Anyone who lives next to a sub-division or coming sub-division may not agree with that reasoning. Wetland is being compromised and encroached upon all the time with no halts or regulation.
 
My point supports Jim Rivers plea that good people need to serve on town boards and commissions. The Academy, CPSers and some town officials do a good job of bullying but this can not stop board volunteers who care about the good of all in the community. If good people do not serve, Woodstock will continue to realize development that is outside compliance, ill-planned and serves only the few.

Attacks are painful but if we don’t speak up, serve on boards and manage our town responsibly and intelligently, what is great about Woodstock . . . will be gone.

If you care about these issues, sign up to serve on a board now. The Hill area is now lost but other areas can still be saved. Work toward reversing this waiver. Work toward strengthening zoning. Work toward greater equality in budgeting for ALL grade levels. It is important and there is little time left.

Hill Resident

Jim Rivers’ statement in the Pomfret Times is also relevant to Woodstock. 

It was refreshing to read Jim Rivers’ article in the November Pomfret Times (below). Mr. Rivers is Pomfret’s First Selectman. It’s rare in Woodstock to have a plain-speaking leader address the town and express his/her feelings about municipal matters and dissent frankly.  

The practice in Woodstock is to say as little as possible from the Town Hall to avoid dissent. Even when Ms. Wholean spoke in her short-lived column, The Hotseat, in the Villager, she said practically nothing informative. I know that Mr. Rivers doesn’t care for blogs and the Cafe accepts this. This doesn’t prevent me from appreciating his candor about the volunteer boards and the “attacks” that he and Tim McNally and now these volunteers have had to endure.

I’m not talking about legitimate dissent such as the movement by a group to save the Historical District from unnecessary and expensive development by the Academy. This group of people (I include myself) presented their complaints regarding the development of the new athletic fields in an intelligent and civil manner. Unfortunately their pleas were undermined by the lack of reasonable zoning constraints in Woodstock and the bullying tactics of the Academy.

Although Pomfret lacks the complication of Woodstock Academy’s agressive attempts to take everything it needs from the town of Woodstock, Pomfret apparently has other controversies. Unfortunately Pomfret (like Brooklyn, Eastford, and Canterbury) considers the Academy as only Woodstock’s problem even though the Academy is their public high school as well. The common denominator of negativity for our two towns appears to be griping by small cadres who relentously attack volunteer Board and Commission members. This nasty problem also exists in Canterbury for Brian Sear who by all (other) accounts is trying to do a top-notch job in spite of adversity from a small few (read “Canterbury’s Lidoggery“). Read the rest of this entry »

Kelly and Mark Hamill’s Thimble Cottage Barn is a new retail establishment located at 815 Route 169 (just south of the Reynolds’ Christmas Barn) that opened six months ago.

The shop hours for the Thimble Cottage Barn will be 10 AM – 5 PM Tuesdays through Saturdays. Sundays’ hours are slightly reduced – 11 AM – 4 PM. The store’s phone number is (860) 928-9898. The Barn can be reserved for private parties at night.

I stopped in to get a peek at the inventory and was startled by the dazzling density of unique merchandise. When you walk into the store, you get the feeling that Christmas has arrived. Most of the inventory is sold on consignment primarily by local artists. Below shows you some of what you will see when you enter the store.
Read the rest of this entry »

A few months ago we featured Ray’s property on Perrin Road as an example of the “Future of Woodstock” without zoning.

We are happy to report that things have improved greatly thanks to a neighborly act by Ray. You may recall that Ray parked his semi trailer a few feet from his neighbor’s white picket fence so the neighbors would see 

“Robbins Beef Co. … Western Boxed Beef”

in big red letters when they looked out their windows on the north side of their house.

However, Ray has rectified the situation by painting the trailer sky blue.  No longer do the neighbors have to read about BOXED BEEF every day of their lives because now they have blue sky every day rain or shine. This will do a lot to avoid seasonal affected disorder no doubt. The only thing that Ray might add to this picture is a few birds preferably Canada Geese … but perhaps not Seagulls!

The Joe the Plumber/socialism doubts began on the right but gained enough media attention due to both McCain and Palin stumping about it that it became a topic of debate. This elevates it beyond mere gossip. The same applies to Ayers. For whatever reason, McCain chose to make an issue of Obama’s associations with Ayers but let the Rev. Wright go. I have no idea why he made this decision but again, the McCain campaign made it into a topic for debate with their campaign ads and stump speeches. You may view it as gossip but when it becomes part of one side’s campaign, it becomes a legitimate topic to discuss. Unless you feel that as voters, we should stifle any reactions we may have when we see these campaign ads. No thoughts or discussions about them permitted.

Conversely, the Obama camp did not make an issue of the McCain/Keating association, nor whatever you’re talking about happening at Sarah Palin’s church. One could say they took the high road in not targeting these as issues. The flipside to that argument could be that there wasn’t enough there worth discussing. I’m not taking either side; only citing that Obama didn’t make a big deal of it for whatever reason. But he certainly could have.

All I did was discuss what the McCain/Palin campaign raised as issues. That’s not gossip.

You can say that I called Obama names all that you would like but it won’t make it true. I didn’t call him a terrorist, nor a socialist. Discussing these labels in the context of what was raised by the opposing campaign does not automatically mean I subscribe to the view I’m discussing, so don’t ssume so. And discussing it doesn’t mean one is further spreading the notions of an opposing campaign. Read the rest of this entry »

Massachusetts teachers want longitudinal tracking of scores also. See the comment below.

      No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is a school reform law, enacted by the Bush administration, that changes the federal government’s role in kindergarten through grade twelve education by asking America’s schools to describe their success in terms of what each student accomplishes.  NCLB mandates that each state is responsible for implementing measurable academic standards for every child in the areas of reading, math, and science for elementary through high schools.  In accordance with the requirements of NCLB, Connecticut administers the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) in Math and Reading to grades three through eight and began administering a science CMT in 2008 in grades five and eight.   Tenth graders take the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT).   

      Under NCLB, the Woodstock Public Schools are expected to make adequate yearly progress toward meeting the state standards.  This progress is measured for all students.  Additionally, students are subdivided by economic disadvantage, racial or ethnic minority, disabilities, or limited English proficiency.  Woodstock has consistently made adequate yearly progress.  However, we are currently in “safe harbor,” essentially a warning zone, for the subdivisions of students with economic disadvantages and with disabilities.  Failing to make adequate yearly progress would lead to increasing intervention from the state level in the local school administration and education of Woodstock’s students.  NCLB mandates that schools increase the percentage of students demonstrating proficiency in each subject year over year with the end goal of 100% proficiency by 2014.   

      In 2008, the Woodstock Public Schools performed better than the state proficiency averages in every grade and in every subject.  Depending on the subject, Woodstock’s students performed anywhere from 3 percentage points to 16 percentage points better than the state wide average.  Over the last three years, Woodstock has outperformed the state averages in every subject, and for the first administration of the science CMT, 98% of Woodstock’s fifth graders and 95% of Woodstock’s eighth graders were proficient compared to 81 and 75 for the state averages respectively.  And in math, Woodstock’s students are at least 98% proficient at every grade level.  However, there is still work to be done.  In particular, there were significant drops in the number of third and fourth graders performing at proficient or higher in reading when compared to the 2007 results.  In addition, in writing, students in the fifth, sixth and eighth grades had lower percentages when compared to results from 2007.  Read the rest of this entry »

The Woodstock Elementary School celebrated CHINA WEEK in October, a variation of the International Week (IW) we have celebrated for five continuous years.  This year the school focused on just one country, China, school-wide.

First, we established a website with resources and links for teachers to access information and incorporate ideas about China into their lessons in the weeks leading up to and during IW. For example, in some fourth grade classrooms, students did China research projects, and in first grade, tai chi was taught as part of “music and movement.”

During IW, Mary Jane Fulco, the Enrichment Teacher, and Michelle Foronda, the School Counselor, set up a VISIT CHINA area with over twelve activities and displays for students and adults to rotate through.  These included solving tangrams (Chinese puzzles), using an abacus, eating rice with chopsticks, identifying Chinese games and inventions, brush writing of Chinese characters, using shadow puppets, and playing ping-pong. Community volunteers helped run these activities and each class in the school spent forty-five minutes in the VISIT CHINA area with their teachers. Read the rest of this entry »

Spoon River Anthology will be performed in Woodstock Academy’s auditorium next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings (the 13th, 14th, and 15th of November) at 7PM.
The performance is a stage adaptation by the director of the performance, Gillian Zieger, based off of Edgar Lee Masters’s Spoon River Anthology.

 Obama 364 electoral votes (+ NC) & McCain 174 (+ MO)

“Hello, Chicago.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It’s the answer that led those who’ve been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.

A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain.

Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he’s fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.

I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they’ve achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden. Read the rest of this entry »

I too am disappointed in Vogt’s loss. I have two friends who worked with Vogt on her campaign. Both of them spent many hours knocking on doors and talking to members of the community. Neither are members of the Democratic Party, but both became very strong supporters of Sherri Vogt.

Albert’s attempt to write off being a lazy representative by citing the importance of small government in his letter to the editor is insulting. Small government is something I advocate for as well, but strong, dedicated representation does not in itself cause government to grow.

Jefferson Davis (prior to his conviction and aside from all activities related to his conviction) should have been a model for Alberts once in office. Davis had support from his constituents and respect from his peers. He was able to get things done for our community because the representative body knew that he would put up a fight for what we wanted. I don’t think Alberts can attain this level of respect after two years of relative silence.

It is interesting to note that more votes were cast for Vogt in Brooklyn, Hampton and Pomfret.

Pomfretite

On Election Day the Cafe had 525 visitors and 1191 page turns.

Obama takes key states PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO, IOWA, VIRGINIA, FLORIDA, INDIANA, NEVADA, and NEW MEXICO in addition to the west coast. McCain concedes.
Senator Elizabeth Dole (R) loses in North Carolina.

The vote in Woodstock (Final Vote)

State Representative

Sherri Vogt (D) – 1688 (40.6%), district-wide vote 5654
Mike Alberts (R) – 2466 (59.4%), district-wide vote 5901

Vote in Woodstock in 2006
Alberts – 1752 (57.8%), district-wide vote 4,444
Vogt – 1277 (42.2%), district-wide vote 4218

2nd Congressional District

Joe Courtney (D) – 2359
Sean Sullivan (R) – 1672

President of the United States

Barack Obama/Biden (D) – 2167
John McCain/Palin (R) – 2123
Ralph Nader (I) – 77

Question 1.) – Yes 1327         No 2574

Question 2.) – Yes 2574          No 1575

The total votes cast so far – 4367 (full result) out of 5105 registered voters – 84.6% of registered voters.

Yesterday Monday, the Cafe had 498 visitors and 1139 page turns.

At 6AM, there was a long line of cars stopped on Route 169 trying to turn into the Town Hall parking lot, there were no empty parking places in the parking lot, and there was a long line of voters standing outside the back entrance of the Town Hall.

At 7:15AM nothing has changed. Cars are parked on the grass along route 169. You can only enter the Town Hall parking lot traveling north on 169. If you are traveling south on 169, you have to keep going and then turn around and come back.

At 8AM traffic into the polls has lightened up – but there is still steady traffic entering the polls. There is no backup on 169 but you can still only enter the parking lot from the south.

At 9:40AM Becki voted. Only one machine is counting the ballots but 22 voters can fill out their ballots at the same time. Her vote was 1121. One car is being allowed to enter the parking lot as another car leaves. After parking she was in line for about 15 minutes. In last years election there were about 4600 registered voters, a number that may have increased for this election. Thus if there are 5000 registered voters in Woodstock, 23% had already voted by 9:50AM.

11 AM – Just in… a voter reports hearing one of the registrars telling someone that there have been 600 new voter registrations. This puts our registered voter number in the neighborhood of 5200 – 5300. If we have a 90% turnout as expected by media sources that would be 4650 – 4700 ballots cast! … right here in Woodstock! The CT SOS Bysiewicz is reporting that many Connecticut communities reported 30-35% turn out by 10 AM.

At 11:50AM, I (John) voted. My vote was 1891. Same voting situation that existed at 9:40AM when Becki voted. Very civil ambiance. I didn’t see Joe the Plumber anywhere.

At 1:15PM the vote count was 2265. A registrar has told us that there are 5105 registered voters in Woodstock. So 44.4% of registered voters have already voted.

At 4:50PM traffic was backed up 1/4 of a mile heading north to enter the Town Hall parking lot. Voting is heaviest now (5PM).