Woodstock CT Café

from Ron

There are very limited revenue streams for the town based on this town being largely farm based. The Fair is a unique event for Woodstock.

Ken’s math is a little weak – 250,000 is the attendance for the entire weekend on good years. There have been declines in the total attendance numbers when the fair has raised prices. Even if we did find a way to sure-charge $1 or maybe $2 dollars a head, that would put $250k to $500k into the town’s coffers every year. I have problems when money at this level is put into a general fund and is not obligated to something in particular.

The fair has spent what I think is a large amount money to improve it’s property in the last few years. The costs of building those new barns is not trivial and I am thinking that they have a mortgage to pay for these new additions. Also if you watch closely there is always some kind of movement of large amounts of soil/sand and gravel within the boundaries of the fair to make it better.

One comment that I want folks to think about is that within your travels around the rural regions of New England – have you seen any farmer put up new barns in last 15 years? Unless that farmer came up with some large money (think sale of land, or inheritance ) I have not seen any farmers build barns. These are large expenses to someone who is mostly loosing money on their sales of Milk and other produce. We have two farms that are besides the fair grounds that have put up new large buildings in that time frame. My thinking is that these folks raised the money needed to perform this work via their ability to park cars for a fee during the fair. I have no direct knowledge but this is my simple minded conclusion. Read the rest of this entry »

This article was published on June 22, 2006. It addresses some of the issues raised by Con, Ron and Ken. See the comments from 5 years ago.

Spam Contest Loser said “If half the population of Woodstock goes to the fair just once, this means that 98.5% of the attendees are from somewhere else. Is this good for Woodstock? Remember, the Fair toilets flush in Woodstock.”

“The Town of Woodstock receives nothing for this lost weekend of ‘fun’.”

We are about two months away from the annual Woodstock Fair. I have to say that there is something intangibly nice about having a fair in town. As a kid I would live for the late summer day when my hometown fair would open for a few days. That was a small fair to help fund the local church. Nevertheless, it was a magical event for a kid. When we lived in the South, I would take my kids to the county fair which was about a tenth the size of the Woodstock Fair and we always enjoyed spending a few days there seeing the animals, using the rides, and having meals. These were easily affordable fairs and the emphasis was on community gathering and the farmers’ contributions, but, of course, the kids were dazzled by the carnival atmosphere.

As a family we attended the Woodstock Fair for two years after moving to Woodstock. After those first two years, we had had enough. It was like eating too much of one thing and then getting sick. When this happens, it takes a long time before you recover and want the same thing again. Last year after many years of disinterest, I returned to the Fair with some guests. With some degree of embarrassment I was quickly reminded about what I did not like about the Woodstock Fair - that bad taste came back after perhaps about an hour of strolling around with my friends. It hits you rather quickly because of the densely packed tents and stores crammed with cheap carnie ware and not-so-cheap trinkets. Yes, the animals and their events are fun, but there is little space to stand comfortably and watch the animal contests especially if you are short in stature. The farm animals seem to be viewed by the managers of the Fair as just a side-light of the whole party taking up a very low percentage of the ground space compared to the uncountable vendor booths and food stands, and of course the rides and carnie booths to the east.

The worst part of all of this is the cost. After paying between $15 and $30 just to park the car and enter the fairgrounds as a couple, it is difficult to avoid spending another $20 to $40 on food, drinks and a few trinkets for two in one day. This is probably a gross underestimate of the average spending for most who enter the fairgrounds, especially for the kids who enjoy going on all the rides. For those who return for 3 more days, the total bill is likely to be in the neighborhood of $100 to $200 per individual, or much more.

In 2004, the number of people attending the Fair for all four days was 260,000. If 250,000 attendees averaged $40 in costs per day, then gross revenues for the Fair and all of the vendors including those selling parking outside of the fairgrounds would be about $10,000,000. Of course, I could be off in this estimate, but the order of magnitude is probably correct.

A few days ago a comment was left by ‘Prudent Spender’ (but not one of them, e.g. CPS’ers) who identified an Internet source of the tax returns for all non-profit organizations around the country ( www.Guidestar.org The Woodstock Agricultural Society). I was able to download the 2004 tax return for the Woodstock Agricultural Society (WAS), the non-profit company that sponsors the Woodstock Fair. The total revenues declared for the WAS in 2004 was $1,495,535 and total expenses were $1,261,625 leaving a profit for the year of $233,910. This net income was added to other fund balances and assets of $2,265,292 to give total net assests or fund balances of $2,499,202 at the end of 2004. Of these assets, $1,052,288 represents $142,628 in cash and $909,660 in savings and cash investments. If the estimate of total revenues based upon $40 per visitor is a good estimate, then $8.5 million must have gone to vendors. I could be off - maybe there was only $4 million left in the hands of vendors – or maybe $12 million. Whatever this number might be, it is very large compared to the revenues declared by the WAS.

On this tax return the expenses for many individual line items (mostly Fair expenses) are neatly itemized. But these expenses pale next to the realization that the WAS earns several hundred thousand dollars each year, floats over a million dollars in cash assets each year, and the vendors (mostly for-profit vendors) walk away with between $4 and $12 million each year. Read the rest of this entry »

Southgate KY – On the night of May 28 1977, the Beverly Hill Supper Club burned killing 165 patrons. This video is intended to encurage firefighters to read about these historical fires and learn how fire codes have been improved over the years.

http://firerescuetv.com/page.asp?cs=31&catid=630&id=1587

Mariah Leavitt is in the credits at the end for doing the research for this video. She is selling FireRescueTV to firehouses in North America, especially in Canada.

What FireRescueTV offers:

http://firerescuetv.com/page.asp?cs=31&catid=644&id=1322

from Ken Rapoport

Pardon me- but I thought this article (What is Fair) was going to be about THE FAIR- the Woodstock Fair! While I certainly agree that PA-490 abuse should not be tolerated, and discussion surrounding its use is certainly fair game- but I do believe its legitimate application provides the town true benefits.

For example, after we purchased the Douglas Development Property in 2005- prior to our notorious IWWC and PZC groups nearly approving an 8 lot subdivision, with a proposed 50ft wide paved town road entering a 12 foot wide dirt section of pulpit rock road, with an existing 15% incline and NO traffic site line requirements by the developer’s engineers (CME)?! {Funny how they ignore safety issues when looking to approve more building, but constantly reference “safety and fire” access to justify future road improvements on scenic dirt roads??} Why not deny an application because a road is a designated scenic road- and lacks modern safety and fire access- particularly when the developer bought the land KNOWING it was already a designated scenic road?

Anyway- I am digressing.

We placed this land into PA-490- which significantly reduced the taxes (based on development rights/value) – and subsequently donated 100% to Wyndham Land Trust. We have done the same thing for over 120 acres- for the preservation of historic and scenic lands for all of our town’s people to enjoy. I would argue it also has an appreciable value to the entire town- as people come to enjoy the natural beauty- and shop or eat at the many small businesses in Woodstock. Plus no costly houses, kids, services, pollution, etc.

Now back to my original reason for reading this article. If the Town wants to truly solve its financial situation- reforming PA-490 may not be the ultimate “silver bullet”- particularly if it forces people to sell land for development (more kids, more school taxes, more services (road, fire, police). WHAT ABOUT A SURCHARGE FOR THE 250,000 ATTENDEES TO THE ANNUAL WOODSTOCK FAIR?? Seriously, most of the “out-of-town’ people believe Woodstock is leading a charmed life. Would if be too much to institute a DOLLAR A DAY surcharge on ticket prices for putting up with the inconvenience of this annual event? Road, fire, EMT, traffic, general business interruption?? I understand the Agricultural society is a non-profit- but communities all over this country are looking for creative ways to receive funding from private schools, churches, Fairs, that USE RESOURCES- but don’t contribute their FAIR share. I mean- look at the poor deal negotiated by our prior selectmen- who negotiated complete free sewage rights/connection for the FAIR- in exchange for a small piece of land – so a pumping station could be built?! What do you think the REAL VALUE of flush toilets are over PIT Toilets are to 250,000 people? And the Fair organizers?

MFATF had suggestions about the FAIR? (As well as PA-490) Nothing ever happened. I am POSITIVE that our selectmen COULD institute something to take advantage to make a FAIR Situation!! But unfortunately, out current (and most prior) selectmen- have close ties with the beneficiaries of the Woodstock Fair. “Those (HE) who must not be named” (to steal from the Harry Potter series) always work hard to protect the interests of the Woodstock Fair- but actively making sure the elected officials protect their “Golden Goose”. Sure – reform of PA-490 could provide some benefits. But my math says- 250,000 multiplied by $4 is $1,000,000 (one million) annually! This seems to be a much better deal fighting for. This would be a huge WIN for the ENTIRE TOWN- even better- paid for primarily by foreigners!

Okay- so because this article was titled “WHAT IS FAIR”- I assume my deviation into another related tax, cost and fairness issue- is grounds for a legitimate comment.

Regardless of the discourse- what everyone should be thinking- is WHY haven’t our elected officials ever seriously considered a surcharge (or similar) on the FAIR. I am positive some smart attorney could find a strategy to do this. Few people could argue that Woodstock citizens are not already paying (indirectly) for the annual FAIR- we should be compensated. Now that folks- would be VERY FAIR.

from teachref09

For folks unfamiliar with the PA-490, a Public Act that delineates taxation of Farm, Forest and Open Space Land In Connecticut, I suggest reading the short article published in the New England Real Estate Journal, August 2008 by Richard P. Roberts. It can be found at

 http://www.halloran-sage.com/Knowledge/articleDetail.aspx?storyid=4265

from Nary

Many of us are long suffering in trying to discern costs in town surrounding maintenance or improvement costs for Scenic Roads. I wonder why we only hear about Pulpit Rock? Are other Scenic roads getting the same treatment. I don’t know.

What I question in your post is progress vs history as a means (i think you imply) to boil the issue down to something simple thus oppositional to the other.

History is a subject that those of us who care – hope to learn from. Progress is a word that requires definition. I don’t view those two words, “history” and “progress” as oppositional although I know that some see these in that dim light.

The hard spot is in the definition of “progress” because “history” is safely dead so we needn’t worry about it too much. Can we all or mostly all agree on what is “progress” so we can begin the debate?

History says this will never happen.

So the battle over second-rate asphalt thrown on some but not all bucolic back roads in Woodstock continues . .

If the town can prove that it is too high an expense to maintain these roads – why not then impose a tax surcharge to those who live on scenic roads? If they want to remain quiet with NO trucks, no undue riff-raf on their road – they could pay for their peace.

Of course, this will beg the bigger question re: all those with land in PA – 490.

What’s fair is fair, after-all?

This article was first published on November 9, 2007.

Year 2005

October – The Villager and the Cafe begin to chronicle events in Woodstock from two very different perspectives and begin developing a love-hate relationship.

November – Margaret Wholean ran because she “did not want Delpha to run unopposed” and was elected First Selectman. All Democratic candidates win in a landslide all Democrat election but Dave Hosmer, not Joe Breen, is seated on the Board of Finance because of the minority quota rule. CPS’ers abuse voters at the polls.

December – The town was saddened by Judi Nilan’s murder.

2006

January - ‘Debunker’ tries to debunk the Cafe. Delpha receives a grant from the State to renovate New Roxbury Village and states in the Villager that she would even like to “put up some bird feeders.” John Leavitt expresses interest in the job of maintaining the bird feeders because of the success of his own bird feeders. A far off place, Woodstockistan, is described at the Cafe.

February - Mitch Eaffy floats his idea about having a local trooper in Woodstock. Margaret Wholean places a 4% raise for herself in the draft of the Town budget. The application of PA 490 in Woodstock is questioned at the Cafe.

March - Ernie Wetzel (RIP) hears about the Cafe and quickly learns how to use a computer. Wetzel petitions to repeal Prop 46. Wholean accepts his 25-signature petition. Both speak tepidly in the Villager about the need to repeal Prop 46  as a ploy to hoodwink the voters that they were in favor of repealing Prop 46. The referendum is defeated with a YES 499 and No 1329 vote. The budget debate grows. Read the rest of this entry »

A Public Hearing will take place on Thursday evening, May 19, 2011, 8pm at Woodstock Town Hall for members of the public to speak up on issues related to the Town’s maintenance of scenic roads. You are urged to attend. 

Woodstock’s Scenic Roads are offered protection from improvements that could alter their rural character by the Scenic Road Ordinance.  However, the scenic value of several of these roads is in jeopardy because of currently used maintenance techniques. These modifications, called “improvements,” in the guise of maintenance, continue to have an adverse impact on the town’s dirt roads, affecting the Town’s rural, historical, and aesthetic character. The scenic value of Woodstock’s historic roads are in danger.

Please support maintenance practices that preserve the scenic characteristics of these roads while insuring public safety.

If you care about Woodstock’s natural beauty — if you enjoy, walking, biking and driving these roads — you need to voice your support for preserving the rural character of our town.

Public Hearing
Thursday evening, May 19, 2011  8pm  
Woodstock Town Hall

Dr. Jeffrey Gordon                                                                
Chair, Woodstock Planning and Zoning Commission
Woodstock Town Hall
Woodstock, CT 06281                                                                           May 19, 2011

Re: Public Hearing Regarding Pulpit Rock Road Maintenance

Dear Dr. Gordon and members of the Planning and Zoning Commission,

Thank you for holding a Public Hearing on this issue and allowing all citizens of Woodstock to express their thoughts. I am sorry not to be able to be in attendance tonight but would like to voice my concern about recent and proposed “improvements” to Pulpit Rock Road.

I have reviewed our Scenic Road Ordinance and read prior PZC meetings’ minutes and related correspondence and attachments. I have walked and driven the road in many different seasonal conditions. I do not have professional expertise in current “best practices” for dirt and scenic road maintenance and preservation. However, I do have a profound respect for the natural beauty, the ecological significance, and the historical and cultural distinctiveness of Pulpit Rock Road to Woodstock.  Pulpit Rock Road is a defining space to Woodstock’s heritage and to our rural character. It demonstrates that historic, scenic places can exist and remain functional even as our town grows.

I urge you to give the highest priority to retaining Pulpit Rock’s unique character and choose carefully the methods and means in its maintenance. Certainly safety for residents and all Woodstock citizens is a priority. However this is not in any way inconsistent with methods which would preserve the essential look and feel of Pulpit Rock Road. Specifically, I urge PZC to:

• Investigate and employ Best Management Practices for maintenance and preservation of Pulpit Rock (and all of Woodstock’s unpaved and scenic roads), including raising the road profile with appropriate material;
• Remove asphalt millings deposited last fall;
• Avoid widening the road, which changes its historic look and feel and creates environmental consequences;
• Avoid paving the road, which would ensure its demise and create significant safety issues for residents and drivers as it would become a higher speed thoroughfare and shortcut between Rt. 169 and Rt 171

Last week, my youngest child walked along Pulpit Rock Road along with all of the third graders at Woodstock Elementary School as part of their “Grand Tour of Woodstock’s Historic Places.”  Pulpit Rock Road has a special place in our town’s heritage. I hope we can keep it looking as distinctive as its history is.

Thank you for your consideration, and for your service.

Sincerely, Lindsay B. Paul

Read the rest of this entry »

This is the deal. PV System will include USA made solar products including:

• USA made solar panels
• Solectria Renewables PVI-4000 Inverter with Wattmetrics website (5yr)
• IronRidge Racks & Rails
• 5 year parts and labor warranty on equipment failures

I read the contract to say you pay $5000 down and then $5 a month and then after 5 years you pay $1 to aquire the system. The inverter is included but after 5 years, you have to buy one (I think).  Correction: The inverter has a 5-year warrantee but it will probably last longer. It’s estimated that you save on your electric bill on average about $90 a month which might add up to $5400 over 5 years.

from John

Judy Walberg, our Town Clerk, provided this link to DCS Solar Energy Solutions. It seems too good to be true.

from Joe Klusek

It is sad that the number of voters was so low. I suspect that most people don’t care that we’ve got a half mil increase to our tax rate….higher than many other towns that found a way to hold theirs from going up. Already there are people complaining that it wasn’t enough. I think those that are complaining should keep their disappointment to themselves for now instead of irritating taxpayers like me who are not in favor of unnecessary tax hikes. I’m making this promise to the complainers: There will be more voters at the next budget vote!!

The budget includes the $15.69 million education budget and the $5.45 million general government budget. Voters also approved the town’s five-year capital improvement plan of $11.1 million. This budget computes to a 0.5-mill tax hike. A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property value, so property owners with $150,000 assessments will see a $75 increases in their tax bills.

This is the earliest approved budget we can recall. There was no Town meeting. The Town Meeting was held on May 10th. (Thanks for the correction, T! – Admin)

YES votes = 352

NO votes = 286

12.6% voter turnout

Read the rest of this entry »

Read the rest of this entry »

from A Student

For all who are interested, the Academy’s spring musical, Music Man, will be on Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm and on Sunday at 2:00pm. It was also this (Thursday) evening, but I didn’t think to mention it here beforehand. It’s very well-done, worth going to! Tickets are $10 and I believe they’re available at the door, but it’s liable to sell out on Saturday!

From the school bulletin:

It’s the story of a con man, Harold Hill, that comes to a small town in Iowa to start a band. Only problem is, he knows nothing about music. The town librarian and piano teacher, Marian Paroo sees through his scheme but not before she falls in love with him. Will she tell him she loves him or expose him for the fraud that he is? Lucas Duncan stars as Harold Hill and Jessica Mauro as Marian Paroo.