Woodstock CT Café

Monday October 31st – Woodstock Town Hall

The Town Hall is running on generator power and is closed for normal business. At this time 88% of Woodstock is without power but, CL&P has told the First Selectman that most of Woodstock should be restored within 2 days. At this time 13 roads are closed.

The Town Hall is open for flushing water, bottled water, MRE’s, warmth and cell phone charging.Wireless Internet access is available at the Woodstock Middle School cafeteria today until 4 PM, enter through the lobby. (The same services will be available on Tuesday.)

The Hyde School has opened Krebbs Gymnasium to Woodstock residents for showers this evening from 7PM-9PM. Drinking water is available in the maintenance building behind the Gym from 7AM-3PM. Tomorrow (Tuesday), showers will be available from noon-2PM and 7PM-9PM. Please park in the Cultural Center parkiing lot and follow the signs.

Woodstock Academy is open for showers until 10PM tonight. The cafeteria is open for warmth, bathrooms, water and charging stations. Use the back parking lot.

The Town Hall will be opening at 5:30PM this evening as a regional shelter for residents in surrounding towns seeking a swarm place to sleep. HOWEVER, they should bring with them;

Sleeping bags and pillows or linen
Toiletries and face cloths
Medications
Cell phones
Diapers for children
Snacks
Activities

There will be no classes for Woodstock Academy and Woodstock Public Schools on Tuesday, November 1st.

Bringing the Jackson Labs to CT is a huge win in genetic research innovation. Thankyou, Dan, for this. John

State Representative Daniel Rovero (D-Killingly, Putnam, Thompson) hailed passage of a comprehensive jobs bill that will boost Connecticut’s ability to grow and retain jobs. In addition, the legislature approved the state’s commitment to Jackson Laboratory – an investment that unlocks the potential of thousands of jobs in the field of genomic medicine and the biosciences. Both measures were approved during the October 26th special session of the General Assembly. Read the rest of this entry »

Vote to re-elect Jeffrey Gordon, Chair of the Woodstock Planning and Zoning Commission.  It is a difficult job and he does it well.  Chair of any commission in a small community is complicated.  Chair of P&Z, whose primary  objective is “to manage the development in a responsible manner in order to protect the public health and safety of the town’s citizens, as well as the environment, natural resources and character of the Town, and to further the goals of the Woodstock Plan of Conservation and Development” is challenging.  The position requires good leadership skills, attention to immediate detail while simultaneously keeping an eye on long-term goals, diplomacy, a thorough understanding of regulations and community, and a commitment to the mission of the commission.  Jeff Gordon has demonstrated these qualities repeatedly during his four years of service.  He understands and articulates the challenges facing Woodstock and is aware of the critical nature of decisions and actions at this time in our growth.  His articles in the Villager and online are excellent examples of his work to educate Woodstock’s residents about the work of the P&Z and to encourage involvement.  We are well served by Jeffrey Gordon. 

Gail White, Woodstock

Earl Brazeal is an excellent candidate for a position on the Woodstock Planning and Zoning Commission.  He will bring the skills he honed during twenty years as a research and development engineer to the job.  Mr. Brazeal has most recently demonstrated these skills when he contributed an alternative set of measurable lighting regulations that support the Last Green Valley’s national designation (and align with the Dark Sky Assoc. and the Illumination Engineering Soc. of North America’s Model Lighting Ordinance) to the PZC Regulatory Review Subcommittee.  He demonstrates his commitment to Woodstock by his volunteer involvement in many town-initiated meetings and focus and discussion groups that seek community input including the POCD update meetings.  Mr. Brazeal’s  abilities to analyze, problem solve, think creatively, and keep larger goals and objectives in mind are essential qualities for members of this Commission as it works to sustain into the future what we value in Woodstock while answering the needs of our residents. 

Gail White
Woodstock

In this November 8^thelection,  Woodstock voters only get choices on the Board of Education, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Board of Assessment Appeals. All other open seats are uncontested.  Where you have a choice, please take the time to learn about the candidates.

I am actively supporting PZC candidates Earl Brazeal and Jeff Gordon.  Earl brings a deep commitment to thoughtful long range planning for Woodstock’s growth and development. He has been active for several years behind the scenes by diligently researching  and respectfully advocating for regulations which will help ensure that Woodstock’s historic and rural character can be maintained in the face of development. I know him to be thorough and fair. Of the six candidates running for five seats on PZC, Earl is the only new candidate. It is vitally important to bring new ideas and fresh perspectives in order to have an effective board. New membership can  ensure that entrenched processes, approaches  and interests are challenged from time to time, even as institutional memory and expertise are retained through the older members. Earl Brazeal will bring additional energy and diversity of thought to the Commission. Read the rest of this entry »

It has been my profound privilege to serve on the Woodstock Board of Education for 7 years. Over this time I have developed great respect for our district’s highly capable and committed administrators, for our professional and devoted teaching faculty, and for our dedicated, hardworking staff. Woodstock is unusually fortunate to have such effective and caring people on the front lines of educating our children. I have also been lucky to serve on the BOE with some outstanding and deeply dedicated individuals who have set  high standards of integrity, unwavering commitment to our students’ achievement, and respectful discourse on the Board.

In this November’s 8^th election, I believe that two candidates for the Board of Education stand out: John Dlugosz and Cliff Davis.  They each are independent thinkers with no prior biases or agendas, and are driven by their deep belief in community engagement as a powerful l means  to improve education at the local level. Read the rest of this entry »

from Kirsten

As an out-going member of the Woodstock Board of Education, I write to encourage ALL Woodstock voters to vote for CLIFF DAVIS and JOHN DLUGOSZ for the Board of Education. Both of these individuals will work hard to ensure that our community’s public schools continue to educate our children for the 21st century.

John Dlugosz has already demonstrated the powerful impact he can have on the Woodstock schools. It was his brainstorming and enthusiasm that got the after school Spanish program started at WES this year. Faced with the reality of a budget with no money for in-school foreign language instruction, he helped create a unique after school program that combines the power of community members, private grant money, a local daycare and the public schools to start kids on the road to foreign language fluency in elementary school. John’s work at Trinity College in Hartford and his previous involvement with St. Mary’s school give him a solid background in cutting edge education with a focus on community cohesion. And to top it off, John is a down-to-earth guy with a thoughtful approach to problem-solving. He would be an excellent contributor to the Board of Education.

Cliff Davis has been a life-long zealot of public school education. Anyone who meets Cliff is immediately struck by his energy and curiosity. All of his children were educated in public schools and, while they are now grown , Cliff continues to be involved in public education. For the past three years, Cliff has voluntarily taught a class on communication skills at Woodstock Academy. Cliff’s experience in large corporations and in starting his own successful business provides important real life lessons for his students. The same talents Cliff has for tackling and creatively resolving problems as a businessman, will make him a fantastic member of the Woodstock Board of Education.

Please vote for Cliff Davis and John Dlugosz for the Woodstock Board of Education on November 8th.

Interviews With Woodstock Candidates:

Community Partners for Woodstock’s Future (CPWF) Interviews PZC Candidate Earl Brazeal

CPWF will be interviewing several of the candidates for public office in Woodstock over the next few weeks. The purpose of these interviews is to raise awareness of the platforms, positions, and personal stories of some of the candidates. PZC candidate Earl Brazeal responds to questions below.

CPWF: Why are you running for PZC?

• I will add a technical prospective to discussions using skills from my engineering and civic activity background.  My work over the past 20 years involved the invention and design of industrial lighting for imaging systems, which resulted in new technology lighting. On the civic side, I researched and proposed Dark Sky- compliant and energy-star efficient replacement outdoor lighting for a Woodstock church.

• I will champion regulations that are environmentally sound, protective to historic areas, will lessen energy consumption, and will lower enforcement costs. As an example, over the past several years I have worked with a neighborhood group to draft a Village District Act- based proposed overlay zone for one of the Woodstock historic villages.

• I will provide research supporting regulation of particular areas through well-constructed zoning. I researched examples of the use of Connecticut’s Village District Act in nearby towns to gain insight for drafting a similar set of statutes for Woodstock.

• I will bring a new voice to the dialog of the PZC. Most recently, I worked (under the Citizen Comment agenda topic) with the PZC Regulatory Review Subcommittee to propose an alternative set of lighting regulations that were jointly drafted by the Dark Sky Association and the Illumination Engineering Society of North America (Model Light Ordinance). I was able to work cooperatively with the subcommittee to reach an agreeable compromise and achieve a workable set of regulations. Read the rest of this entry »

Interviews With Woodstock Candidates:

Community Partners for Woodstock’s Future (CPWF) Interviews WBOE Candidate John Dlugosz

CPWF will be interviewing several of the candidates for public office in Woodstock over the next few weeks. The purpose of these interviews is to raise awareness of the platforms, positions, and personal stories of some of the candidates. WBOE candidate John Dlugosz responds to questions below.

CPWF: Why are you running for the Board of Education?

After much deliberation, I accepted the Democratic Town Committee’s offer to run for the BOE as a way to serve my community and the students in our school system. When my children attended St. Mary School in Putnam, I was passionate about making the school as strong as it could be, working with the administration, staff, parents and faculty in the areas of communication, technology and marketing. I was devastated when the diocese choose to close the school. Since my children have been in Woodstock Elementary School, I have been delighted with the enthusiasm, caring and commitment shown by educators, parents and community members. I am excited by the opportunity to bring my passion for education to my own community. Although the challenges are great, I feel I can bring a fresh perspective and the experience of working in higher education to the BOE.

CPWF: What do you see as the major issues facing the Woodstock Public Schools?

The greatest ongoing challenge seems to be balancing and prioritizing the needs and desires of parents and students with the demands the state puts on faculty and administrators. There simply don’t appear to be enough hours in the day to do all that everyone wants. By searching for common ground among all stakeholders I feel there can be creative ways to address this.

I feel our schools must continue to foster critical thinking skills and curiosity in our students. Such skills and traits will be essential as they face the challenges of jobs and careers that may not even exist yet. With this in mind, I feel it is essential to look beyond our own community and find a way to make language and cultural study a part of the curriculum. Expanding student’s experience beyond the classroom–both with technology and perhaps with trips to other communities–seems a worthwhile goal. Read the rest of this entry »

Interviews With Woodstock Candidates:

Community Partners for Woodstock’s Future (CPWF) Interviews WBOE Candidate Cliff Davis

CPWF will be interviewing several of the candidates for public office in Woodstock in these weeks prior to the election. The purpose of these interviews is to raise awareness of the platforms, positions, and personal stories of some of the candidates. WBOE candidate Cliff Davis responds to questions below.

CPWF: Why are you running for the Board of Education?

I did not come to this decision lightly. After deep conversation with my wife, family and people I respect in the community (and on the BOE) I decided I could make a difference. I have always believed that a strong group is one that contains diversity. Open and respectful disagreement usually yields a better outcome. My children are products of public education and I have been a strong supporter throughout their lives. I moved to Woodstock about 10 years ago largely because the school system was well respected. Having been in large companies and now in my own business, I can bring a “business with a heart” perspective to the board. The board has members with children in the system and those without children in the system. My three have graduated from college, did not attend school in Woodstock and do not live here anymore. Having watched them grow up in another quality school system (Andover, MA) provides me with a knowledge base to share with the group here. New ideas are always worth considering even if they are not always worth implementing. I feel that I can make a difference with objectivity and strong listening skills.

CPWF: What do you see as the major issues facing the Woodstock Public Schools?

The issues that arise are dynamic. They seem to change all the time which is what can be exciting about this challenge. The obvious challenge appears to be the continuing improvement of the already strong education of our children and to identify and find the funds to do so. Class sizes must be controlled as we react to the changes in our population. Read the rest of this entry »

Interviews With Woodstock Candidates:

Community Partners for Woodstock’s Future (CPWF) Interviews PZC Candidate Jeff Gordon. Jeff is currently the Chairman of PZC.

CPWF is interviewing several of the candidates for public office in Woodstock in these weeks prior to the election. The purpose of these interviews is to raise awareness of the platforms, positions, and personal stories of some of the candidates. PZC candidate Jeff Gordon responds to questions below.

CPWF: Why are you running for PZC?

I am seeking re-election to Woodstock’s Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) to continue the work I have been doing these past 4 years for the community in which I live. The PZC has achieved many meaningful successes. An out-of-date land use fee schedule was updated; a multi-year update of Woodstock’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) is well underway; a thorough update of the zoning regulations is nearing completion; new commercial zoning regulations to guide much needed economic development have been drafted; a set of non-residential design guidelines has been proposed; a streamlined, user friendly approach to regulatory processes has been put into place; more opportunities for members of the public to communicate and work with the PZC have been provided; and the administration and enforcement of the regulations has been conducted in a very fair and consistent manner. These things need continued attention to keep them in a current and well-functioning state of affairs.

CPWF: What do you see as the major issues facing Woodstock from a planning and zoning perspective?

There are two major related issues: how to balance the continued inevitable growth of our town and how to preserve the character of Woodstock. There is an important balance that needs to be achieved. We must protect individual property rights while providing for our town’s overall welfare. We must have zoning/subdivision regulations to prevent haphazard growth while not having unnecessarily burdensome rules that befuddle good and needed land uses. We must promote economic development for tax base diversity in order to fund public services and education while maintaining our neighborhoods, villages, agricultural lands, open spaces and recreational areas. We must simultaneously look at the entire town and at each component part of it. It requires a reasonable and responsible approach so we can guide development in Woodstock successfully. We won’t get a second chance to get things right. Read the rest of this entry »

from John

This is a follow-up to Kevin’s query about the importance of “happiness” as a goal in life. Doing things that make you happy is why I was relieved when my daughter, Christina, chose acting and teaching theatre rather than becoming a doctor (she could have pursued either profession; she was second in her high school class of >500).

But how does one acheive happiness? Not by making lots of money, I say. I believe there are three main contributors to achieving happiness. The first might be taking advantage of serendipidy which cannot be avoided in life; the second might be feeling a sense of accomplishment (emphasis on feeling); and the third might be finding your soulmate. Each of these are not mutually exclusive and all of these can add up to fulfillment, and thus happiness. Each of these contributors to fulfillment might differ for any or all individuals because there is no single definition for each. But I do not need to be philosophical about this because I have my own unique experience to draw from. I think happiness will come if one takes advantage of serendipity, acquires a sense of accomplishment, and finds a soulmate. I say be happy . This is what I have told my kids and what my father told me. I think this should not be forgotten when educating our kids to compete in a global society.

As Drover said in Australia “In the end the only thing you really own is your story …”

I can recall a summer night at dusk in the late 50s when my best friend, Paul, and I were sitting on the stone wall that bordered my parents’ property and the Fosters’ property (Meg Foster is the blue-eyed actress who found fulfillment in acting). Paul and I were having a conversation about what we were going to become. I can’t remember what Paul said but I do remember what I said. I said that I thought that I might become an astronomer.

My father had purchased a 6” reflecting telescope. I would spend chilly nights in our back yard staring at the heavens. With this telescope I could see the rings of Saturn, Jupiter’s moons, Mars and Venus. The best sight was almost standing on the terrain of the moon. This was an era of space fantasy. Did anyone doubt that Sputnik’s beeps were coming from outer space? One Sunday in the early mid-50s, Paul and I took in a fabulous science fiction double feature at the South Norwalk Theater, “War of the Worlds” and “Worlds Collide” (I still enjoy watching these old films today). I was also hooked on the TV serials “Flash Gordon”, “Buck Rodgers”, “Tim Tyler’s Luck”, and Gene Autry’s “The Phantom (Underground) Empire”. And I read many Landmark books about famous explorers like Captain John Smith and Lewis and Clark. I always wanted to explore some frontier; but frontiers are hard to find in our modern society. Read the rest of this entry »

These rules were first published on July 13, 2007. Admin

The Cafe would like to publish any campaign statements that official candidates wish to make using the rules below, and extend these rules for the benefit of currently elected Town and State officials who also wish to make statements. The following are a set of rules for presentation of statements by candidates and currently elected officials:

1. All statements by candidates will be published as presented without corrections or modification (however, the candidate can request corrections);

2. Comments will be limited to only those in support of the candidate, and only one comment per commentor;

3. Comments for each statement by a candidate will be limited to no more than ten;

4. All articles in support of candidates will be NON-anonymous but anonymous comments will be accepted if they are in support of the candidate;

5. Commentors can pose questions to the candidate in a comment as long as the comment is respectful and without innuendo; the candidate’s response in the form of a comment will not count against the limit of 10 comments;

6. If a commentor or another candidate wishes to rebut a candidate’s statement, the commentor or candidate can do this by submitting a rebuttal statement separately; however, rebuttal statements will only be accepted if supported by facts or substantial rationale and are devoid of personal attacks;

7. Campaign statements and rebuttals will not be accepted if they contain scurrilous attacks on other candidates or unsubstantiated facts;

8. After a candidate’s statement falls off the front page it will be placed in a separate linked sub-file labeled by the candidate’s name under Republicans, Democrats and Independents listed and linked on the right; and

9. Candidates’ campaign statements and rebuttles can be submitted to the Cafe by emailing the Cafe at woodstockctcafe@gmail.com of our personal home email address.

from Kevin

I saw this at Hyde tonight. We liked it very much and spent some time talking to Hyde parents afterwards at our B&B. It has some great points not just about homework levels and pressure in the school system but what constitutes success in our society.

The admin here raised that same question recently about Herman Cain. The idea that money is the only measure of success has been something I have also been thinking a lot about. Is money the Holy Grail? Should we be pushing all our kids to be above average (an unobtainable goal on its face) on a quest to get into the top schools to make the most money possible? Could happiness itself be a measure of success and if it is how are we measuring up?

(added from a secon comment by Kevin) It wasn’t the film on NCLB that I was expecting but once I got beyond that it was an interesting commentary on pushing kids to achieve and the toll that takes on the children (not necessarily directly applicable to many children in Woodstock). It was almost an anti “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” if you will.

One of the Hyde parents commented (ironically some might say) that he thought it was a discussion about “rich white people” problems and to some extent he had a point. It was definitely an opinion piece and only dealt with the issue of some students feeling pushed (by whomever) to overachieve. If you were expecting a film on NCLB or even a balanced film then you were likely disappointed. However, if you can put those things aside and just go for a film that wants you to take a look at a particular issue then it was pretty good. I think that’s exactly why they want it shown with a discussion afterwards.

Anyway, it was a good film and I recommend it.

Thanks,

Kevin

This post represents my personal opinions and in no way should be considered an official act of the BoE or that I am speaking on behalf of the BoE in any way.