Woodstock CT Café

We need to be nastier!

Looking back at the articles of the last six years, it becomes clear that we have lost the knack of insulting people … that is, without profanity. We need to strive to do better. Maybe I need to take ‘LoadStar’ seriously although it’s not easy. If Loadstar would say something intelligent maybe I could respond, but I find his probing BORING! Yawn. Let’s try and do better next year. Let’s insult some people and maybe we will add some Clingons. HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY!

Cafe Admin

Definition of “nastier” according to and un-identified Internet source:

adj. nas·ti·er, nas·ti·est
1.
a. Disgustingly dirty.
b. Physically repellent.
2. Morally offensive; indecent. See Synonyms at offensive.
3. Malicious; spiteful: “Will he say nasty things at my funeral?” (Ezra Pound).
4. Very unpleasant or annoying: nasty weather; a nasty trick.
5. Painful or dangerous; grave: a nasty accident.

Author unknown. Sent to us by a dear friend from an email forwarded to her by someone else… probably several generations. We edited it for a bit of ‘language’. I was laughing so hard at the end I couldn’t see the screen through the tears!

     
December 8 - 6:00 PM – It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic, we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
       
December 9 – We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a lovelier place in the whole world?
Moving here was the best idea I’ve ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!
       
December 12 - The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry- we’ll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we’ll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I’ll never want to see snow again I don’t think that’s possible. Bob is such a nice man, I’m glad he’s our neighbor.
       
December 14 - Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn’t realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I’ll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish l wouldn’t huff and puff so.
       
December 15 - 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4×4 Blazer…Bought snow tires for the wife’s car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out.. I think that’s silly. We aren’t in Alaska, after all.
       
December 16 - Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.
       
December 17 - Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should’ve bought a wood stove, but won’t admit it to her. God I hate it when she’s right. I can’t believe I’m freezing to death in my own living room.
       
December 20 - Electricity’s back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they’re too busy playing hockey. I think they’re lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they’re out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they’re lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he’s lying.
       
December 22 - Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it’s so cold, it probably won’t melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he’s too busy. I think he’s lying.
       
December 23 - Only 2 inches of snow today and it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn’t she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she’s lying.
       
December 24 - 6 inches – Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel…Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snow plow, I’ll drag him through the snow by his heels and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I’ve just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.
       
December 25 - Merry freaking Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight -Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she’s an idiot. If I have to watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” one more time, I’m going to stuff her into the microwave…
       
December 26 - Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She’s really getting on my nerves.
       
December 27 - Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.
       
December 28 - Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The WITCH is driving me crazy!!!
       
December 29 - 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That’s the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?
       
December 30 - Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his butt. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.
       
December 31 - I set fire to what’s left of the house. No more shoveling.
       
January 8 - Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

by Snuffy 

The Academy Trustees have followed a consistent path for many, many years. Their goal has been to make the school politically and financially independent – predominant – over Woodstock’s public education system, its fiscal system, its land use regulation, indeed its entire political system. The Trustees have filtered their political minions into both town’s political parties and the key town boards – BOS, BOF, BOE. Most disgusting, they have supported and aligned themselves for years with the anti-public education propagandists of the CPS/Truth/Coalition, the Academy’s political “fifth column”, which hammers away relentlessly at the BOE with invariably false allegations of financial waste, fraud and abuse.

At this point, the Academy has achieved such complete political hegemony over the town as to make the relationship quite comparable to the status of an empire with its colony. The colony’s resources are usurped by the empire at will (i.e., the bond/guarantee to reconstruct the school; the sewer financing; the annual tuition) and on terms dictated unilaterally by the empire. When the relationship with the colony is no longer of use to the empire, the empire simply abandons the colony, as has been suggested by two former Trustee chairmen (Kaeding and Mussamecci) in reference to the school’s obligation to continue serving Woodstock’s students for ten years after the payoff of the bonds, without regard to the school’s role thereafter.

If the BOF is asking the BOE to develop a 0% overall budget increase, after normal inflation of 3%, this amounts to a 3% reduction in K-8 costs in inflation-adjusted dollars. If the Academy budget projects a 3% increase, and the Academy budget represents 1/3 of the overall BOE budget, then the BOE is being asked to reduce its K-8 costs by 4% in inflation-adjusted dollars. In this economy, this trend will likely continue for a period of years.

But the difference is much greater. The Academy has for many years padded its budget with expense contingencies and capital reserves, so they have a large buffer to get through a lean year or two without impacting services. The K-8 system, on the other hand, under the relentlesss pressure of the Academy-supported CPS/Truth/Coalition, has cleaned every crumb out of its cupboard, peeled off the paint for its nutritional value, then disassembled and burned the cupboard itself for heat. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s face it! Nine months from now there will be only two true candidates for the Presidency. Right now there are seemingly three viable Republican candidates – McCain, Romney, and Huckabee – and three viable Democrat candidates – Clinton, Obama, and Edwards. Whoever is elected as the next President of the United States will likely win because of votes from the opposite party and by swaying a significant majority of independent voters, more so than in past elections. This is likely because the positions of the two finalists will be easily distinguished in a divided and polarized country. In the last 5 Presidential elections the candidates were distinguished more by their personalities and later differentiated as Presidents by their personality flaws.

In November we will get a President who is totally different from Presidents of the past 20 years even though we have no choice but to select from only two … and what a refreshing thought. I have the same feeling about our new leadership in Woodstock. I suspect and hope that Allan Walker will gain the respect of all citizens of the Town without regard to party as he moves forward. I sense no subterfuge for the first time in our 12 years in Woodstock. By demonstrating fairness to all, rational support for our schools, and protection of our town infrastructure, Allan should be able to hold office for many years. Hopefully, this is his mission as well.

Months ago, someone with anti-old guard sentiments pointed out that Mr. Walker had been laid off from his previous job and suggested that this reflected badly on him. From the perspective of having weathered 42 years of continuous employment, I would be the first to say that Woodstock was fortunate to have Mr. Walker available. The electorate chose the right person from the three vying for the position … hands down. Read the rest of this entry »

The Cafe would like to thank this anonymous individual for the free advertising in the “Sound Off ” section of the Villager today. Surely this article will finally win a Pewlitzer for the Villager… And for all of the new visitors coming to the Cafe as a result of this article, WELCOME! Please file to the right as you enter and read the Key Article (on the right sidebar) entitled “Internet Hanky-Panky” for background on this prize winner and his attacks on the Board of Education. The following is the article from the Villager with a few appropriate annotations.

Title: “Disagrees with Andrzeick’s (sic) letter”

“This is in response to the letter by Mr.William E. Andrzeick (sic) about the internet Cafe.

I have been a reader/blogger at the Woodstock Cafe Web site for more than two years (every day ), and I strongly disagree with the position that the town should associate itself with the Cafe just to gain access to Woodstock citizens. It does not take one (literally one ) much time to realize that the Cafe is most certainly not an open and democratic (small d) forum for political/social debate. The Cafe and its administration are brazenly biased, spiteful and hypocritical (we’re only human ), but most of all, the Cafe is a sham of allegedly open debate (not an unbiased opinion ).

The administrators of the Cafe wave the banner of open debate when nothing could be further from the truth ( from the world’s leading expert on the truth ). The administrator of the Cafe clearly backs up his ideological lackeys (Taxpayer and Wetzel??? ) and dismisses fundamentally opposing views from the site (falsehood ). I have been unofficially banned (it’s not unofficial ) from the site with no reason or explanation (falsehood; see “Internet Hanky Panky” in the Key Articles ), and even the archives have been cleaned of my posts (falsehood except for one ). I have never used vulgarity (falsehood ) or arguments from intimidation as is the practice of many liberal bloggers there (falsehood ). And yet I have been deemed non-suitable for the open debate at the Web site (true ). I am not alone in the banned category (true ) for expressing opposing ideas other than those held by the administrator (profanities and threats ). There is a large group of banished individuals (falsehood; two is a large group? ) who argue ideas contrary to the Cafe administrator and the Cafe majority.

The Cafe loves to defend its anonymous policy with ardor (true ), yet lambasts anonymous letters in this newspaper as squeaky mice (falsehood; we never uttered “skeaky mice” except this one time; opps ) for daring to criticize the intellectual phoniness of the Web site (falsehood ). That is a common, consistent example of what the Cafe primarily does “slandering and ridiculing an opposing idea rather than argue against its merits (falsehood ). It is rampant anti-intellectual emotionalism and blatant hypocrisy (what a mouthful ). It is a shame the Cafe cannot have its cake and eat it, too (then would you like a ‘banned from the Cafe T-shirt? … or perhaps you would like a “YOU MORON” coffee mug ; we try to please) .

The Cafe web site has every right to screen its open debate forum (couldn’t have said it better ), present whatever positions it supports and use it as a launching pad for aspiring political ambitions and negative attacks upon other candidates, as it is privately owned. But for the town to associate itself with a phony free debate site merely for greater access to citizens (we reached you, didn’t we? ) is a precedent that any legitimate organization should seriously reconsider. It is the equivalent of using the National Enquirer to access a greater audience (what’s wrong with the National Inquirer? ). But unlike the National Enquirer, the biggest black mark against the Cafe is not its hypocrisy, cynicism or left wing mudslinging, but its utter sophomoric nature (true; thanks for the compliment ).”

A mysterious but apparently harmless ‘gas-like odor’ spread across Woodstock this morning, leaving people holding their noses and scratching their heads. Based upon air quality tests, “It’s not dangerous,” First Selectman, Margaret Wholean said. “It may be just an unpleasant smell. At this point we don’t know any more than that.” Ms. Wholean added “Our town Department of Homeland Security, headed by Gus Derriere is monitoring the situation.” Just to be safe though, Selectmen Very and Eaffy, Town Clerk Judy Alberts, and Town Treasure Barbara Rich demanded that City Hall be closed down for the day with pay.

Gus Derriere stated “There’s no indication at this time that terrorism is connected. Nor is there any credible intelligence to suggest an imminent threat to Woodstock at this time. At City Hall, Mitch Eaffy Police commissioner for emergency affairs said “If we had a town cop this probably would not have happened.” He said that the Town’s Emergency Medical Service had received hundreds of health complaints but only 20 residents had to be taken to Day Kimball Hospital.

The smell also caused commuting problems. Motorists were seen swerving wildly on Route 171 near the Miller Farm, and the Dial-a-Ride bus actually drove off the road near Foskett’s. Fire trucks from Putnam, Thompson, Dudley, Eastford, Union and Southbridge began blocking all roads leading into and out of Woodstock in an attempt to quarantine the situation until the stench could be identified.

“City Hall and the fire departments began getting calls about the bad odour around 9 AM” spokesman Russell Dowd said from the Muddy Brook strategic command center. Dowd added, “It’s like a bad fart, after a night of drinking and eating a lot of wieners and fresh sauerkraut, …only worse.” “The smell is very strong. It was very scary” noted Petey Racine, a long time resident of North Woodstock.

The elderly residents of New Roxbury Village also asked to be evacuated after seeing several ‘scent canaries’ fall from the bird feeders recently hung by Delpha Very. New Roxbury resident Cooch Tuberosum said “While watching the birds with such pleasure as I do every morning from my kitchen window, I noticed that the bright yellow canaries at the bird feeders started spiting out the seed rather than swallowing it. Then the poor birds started to sway noticeably on their perches before falling to the ground. It was a horrible scene.”

Finally at about noon Gus Derriere announced on WINY “No need to panic, people of Woodstock! Some light has now been shed on the real cause of the foul waft.” It appears that the Miller Farm introduced a new form of experimental feed to their cattle this morning - primarily a mixture of cabbage, kohlrabi, lentils, and mussels  at the recommendation of a group of venture capitalist investors in a local start-up Biotech company recently spun off by the Woodstock Agricultural Society.

Residents of Woodstock are being asked to shut down all furnaces and to curtail use of matches, wood burning stoves, and gas ranges until the prevailing winds can evacuate the plume de la derriere to Thompson and Putnam.

“Is Margaret Wholean abdicating her role as First Selectman to Delpha Very? “

In the January 6th issue (2006) of the Woodstock Villager there is an article on page 6 about Woodstock receiving a small cities bloc(k) grant for “as much as $700,000″ to pay for renovation of the New Roxbury Village, a senior housing complex of 24 apartments on Butts Road in South Woodstock. It was a very, very positive article about the accomplishment of Delpha Very in securing this grant for the town. These grants are routinely available for towns that apply for them – so securing grants where available should be at the top of the list on the First Selectman’s job description or that of the First Selectman’s Executive Assistant.

I am curious as to who actually filled out the application for the grant. I once filled out a community educational grant application. It may have taken me all of 2 hours to put the application together and I was very, very surprised when I received the grant awarded by the federal government. Ernie Wetzel also secured income for the town of Woodstock by recruiting a cell phone tower but during Ernie’s tenure, use of the tower and its income was blocked by the Board of Finance until Delpha took office and, albeit, credit for the new found income.

I am left wondering, however, what the actual amount of the grant is as the Villager article said “could receive as much as $700,000″ without further explanation. The article states that the cost for the upgrade of New Roxbury Village is estimated to cost $646,000 and there is the added cost of the designer’s services and the fact that the Town under Very has hired RFQ, a community consultant, to facilitate the grant process. Why isn’t Very administering the grant with the same savvy that she used to obtain the grant? Does this mean that there might be a short fall if Woodstock does not receive “as much as $700,000″ from the grant?

Much was made of the size of the Roxbury apartments the largest of which is 400 square feet. I lived for 4 years in an apartment that was 6 by 10 feet with four closets- one for the toilet, one for the frig, one for my clothes and one for the sink and shower which added up to about 117 square feet – so I question the statement, Delpha’s quote, “putting your lifelong belongings (in) is very, very difficult. But, what do you expect for “$90 a month” rent? Read the rest of this entry »

This classic was first published April 4, 2007.

The prequel to this story is here.

The rest of the story

On November 16th an email was sent to the superintendent of Woodstock Schools and copied to members of the Board of Education from a character calling himself ‘Web Police’ with the email address ‘webpolice’ (email deleted) stating as follows:

“RE: The Cafe
Mr. Superintendent:
I find it appalling that you would submit official business statements to a website with no accountability that is not a legitimate news source. What exactly is your agenda in doing this? Is it politically motivated? Whatever the reason, it is irresponsible. How dare you add legitimacy to this abberation (sic).
Have you checked into the operator/owner of the site? If not, here is some information for you-
This is the registered owner of the site: (address deleted) and a little background on this individual: (address deleted) Nice, huh? Are you so desperate for approval that you would associate the school system with the likes of this? What is his motivation for being involved in our town? What is the motivation of the unidentified ‘Administration’ of this site? WAKE UP! This goes for other officials of this two bit town as well. Read the rest of this entry »

from Kevin

The following Officers were elected at the December 15th, 2011 BOE meeting:

Chair of the Commission: Anthony Walker – for a second term.
Vice-Chair: Stephen Rosendahl
Secretary: Sara Harkness

Julie Woodland was elected to fill Scott Sincerbeaux’s seat.

from Jeff

The following Commissioners were elected at the December 15th, 2011 PZC meeting:

Chair of the Commission: Jeff Gordon, MD – for a second term.
Vice-Chair: Dave Fortin
Secretary: Dotti Durst
Regulation Review Subcommittee Chair: Dave Fortin

From John Dlugosz: “Congratulations to Julie Woodland for being appointed to serve on the Woodstock’s Board of Education. Much thanks to Wendy Bradley, Melita Monahan and Lisa Veach for also stepping up to fill the vacancy on the board.”

PLACE: WMS Music Room

Add Lisa Veach to the list of candidates.

From the Norwich Bull: See the Article.

“The town clerk received notification from the state Nov. 16 that Sincerbeaux registered to vote in California in September.

Town Clerk Judy Walberg said the town was aware Sincerbeaux had sold his home, but he did not respond to requests for a resignation letter.

Walberg notified the school board of the vacancy on Nov. 17 and informed them that after the new school board members (elected Nov. 8 ) took office Nov. 22, they should fill the vacancy.

Walberg said the board members have 30 days from the day they were notified of the vacancy to fill the spot.”

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) – Heat your water this way with mirrors. No solar panels.

from USAToday.

In his first extensive interview since taking office last month, Penn State President Rodney Erickson said Tuesday that he seeks to transform the university’s public face from a football factory to a “world class research institution.” (replace “research” with “academic“)

“We want that to be the front face of the university,” said Erickson, who succeeded President Graham Spanier, who was ousted along with Paterno. Erickson said the …charges involving eight victims should supply “urgency for discussions about the role of big-time athletics and where they interact with higher education.”

It would make sense to elect Independent, John Dlugosz, to fill this slot on the BOE. See his statement on video tape below at the CPWF candidates’ forum. Let’s turn out to support John. JohnL

It was announced at the most recent Woodstock Board of Education meeting that member Scott Sincerbeaux registered to vote in California, thereby effectively resigning his position on the BOE. At the next BOE meeting on December 15 the Board will appoint someone to fill the remainder of his term (2 years). The requirement that candidates for this position must be put forward by the Democratic or Republican Town Committees has been waived. Thus, Independent candidates are welcome.  Anyone wishing to volunteer to fill this position should send the BOE and Superintendent a letter and resume identifying qualifications and a willingness to serve. Interested candidates should attend the December 15 meeting and be prepared to answer questions. Hopefully there will be time for pubic comment prior to the Board’s vote. Please spread the word on the importance of attending the next meeting and voice your support for candidates who step forward.