Woodstock CT Café

Canterbury’s new website can be found at HERE.
The site states: “Canterbury has room to grow for families and businesses alike. Small home-based businesses thrive in the conducive environment and there is still plenty of affordable land for larger businesses to establish and grow. Building costs are more affordable than other parts of the state.

While primarily an agricultural community, Canterbury is in close proximity to major markets; Boston and New York are within easy driving distances. Highway access is convenient and access to primary interstates is available through Routes 395, 169 and 14. Rail and air transportation is also conveniently located close by.”

also

“Canterbury also boasts a diversified workforce from agriculture, construction, plumbing and electric, welding, drafting and machining, professional services, to ready and able hi tech expertise such as computers, website design and maintenance, technical writing skills, to name just a few!

Employers will find a wide array of local training resources to assist them with their future workforce needs. There are also numerous economic development resources available to assist businesses located within the town.”

NEVER MIND. Romney said he MISSPOKE.

from John

You can argue about where the poverty line lies, but if you have a mortgage or rent and require health insurance, my guess is that financial trouble will be had by households making $46,000 or less a year. That would be 48% of the households in America. There are some households in Woodstock that do just fine with less than $46,000 because they are frugal and own their property which is very respectable.

Romney stated today that he doesn’t care about the rich or the poor. He believes that the rich of maybe 500,000 households can take care of themselves and the poor of 54,500,000 households are taken care of by the government. Is this really true???

Taylor Wentworth’s Story in the Bull.

Community members are invited to visit the gymnasium at Woodstock Academy Jan. 31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to sign up for the marrow registry. People ages 18 to 60 are eligible.

The testing, which involves a cheek swab, is covered by most insurance carriers, and people are asked to bring insurance cards. A private fund will cover the cost for people who either do not have insurance or whose insurance does not cover the testing.

For more information, call (401) 248-5720 or email marrow@ribc.org.

We wish we had more opportunities to talk about the directions and accomplishments of Academy graduates after leaving Woodstock. Admin

See the article in the Villager on page 3 – an interview with Ernie Wetzel Jr who joined the Marines after graduating from the Academy in 2008. Ernie and brother, Zack, were on the first WA football team in the fall of 2005. Our daughter, Mariah, was the team manager at the time. Father Ernie Wetzel (right) was elected Woodstock First Selectman in November 1999 and served two terms from 1999 to 2003.

The following article was published in August 2006 in anticipation of the first Varsity Football season at the Academy. In the first season in the fall of 2005, only Junior Varsity Football was played.

‘All the players were stars on this day…’

On Monday evening, September 26th, 2005, Woodstock Academy Centaurs launched its first football team in 80 years kicking off the season against football stronghold, Fitch Falcons of Robert E. Fitch Senior High School from Groton CT. This was a junior varsity game composed of Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior student players. The inauguration of our football program was made possible, in part, by the fundraising activities of the WA Booster Club. Through their tireless efforts, $30,000 was raised to purchase the necessary equipment for the football team.

Becki and I, both avid college football fans, attended the game uncertain of what kind of football we would see. For the last three years we have attended nearly all of the UConn home football games at Rentschler Field to watch UConn quickly emerge as a top-notch college football team. Over the years we have also attended many football games at other high-powered colleges like Stanford, Air Force, and Pittsburgh to name a few. So we braced ourselves primarily out of concern for our untested players.

Our team kicked off to Fitch to start the game. Within a few minutes Fitch had moved the ball 70-yards down the field by completing three long passes to score the first touchdown. Then Fitch kicked off to Woodstock. We then proceeded to move the ball back up the field grinding out yardage in a long sustained drive that reached the Fitch 30-yardline before stalling. This pattern more or less set the tone for the night in a game that ended with Fitch winning by 45-13.

This score did not reflect the quality of the game played by the Centaurs. Fitch was obviously a solid, seasoned team with a top-notch quarterback who could pass like a varsity starter. But Woodstock matched up well in grit against Fitch for most of the game. My impression throughout the game was that we were seeing high quality play. Our quarterback John Norman (#4) and tailback Adam Gumula (#20) impressed all with a solid ground game through the center of a much larger opposing line. Adam also punted and kicked field goals/extra points. The sound of players colliding on each play was impressive yet no player on our team struggled to get off the ground play after play. Defensive high points came when Zach Berquist (#56) single-handedly downed the larger fullback at the line; then Ernie Wetzel (#57) sacked the quarterback in similar fashion and intercepted a pass; and then Zack Wetzel (#30) wrapped himself around the legs of the Fitch halfback in a flying tackle to force a fumble right in front of us. Martha Wetzel jumped up and down in sheer joy as the Wetzel boys impressed us all with their outstanding play. Many other parents were also watching their sons intently as they performed on the field. In spite of the fact that we were losing throughout the game, the prevailing attitude along the sidelines by the team and the 50 or so fans was that this was a win for Woodstock. All the players were stars on this day and their satisfaction and joy in their accomplishments was obvious to all.

Hats off to Head Coach, Jemal Davis and his coaching staff, Bernie Norman, Jonathan Knowles, and Greg Smith, for putting together a solid team that will grow into a strong varsity program in its second year. John

Other football stories.

We took these pictures today (Saturday Jan. 7th).
1. From the west end of the field on the south side. Note the terraces for seats that are unfinished. The field has been covered with synthetic turf with lines for all of the possible sports.
2. The center of the field with the WA logo.
3. The west end of the field.
4. The stone barrier on the edge of the woods at the west end.
5. Looking to the west end of the field from the east end.
Read the rest of this entry »

from Newcomer

And from where did the dearly departed Mr. Hitchens obtain his 44% statistic? If he felt that the majority of Christians believe that Jesus will return to end the world within the next 50 years, I believe he was mistaken. I have heard of fringe groups of fundamentalist Christians who predict the end of the world, only to be later proven wrong when we’re all still here. Anyone who claims to know when the Second Coming will take place is a pure, unadulterated idiot, if not a delusional one.

Why do people like Mr. Harris and Mr. Hitchens sound surprised and dismayed that religion plays a role in U.S. politics? This is a nation that was formed by men who were fed up with religious persecution. But their answer was not to disavow organized religion and form a secular nation. Their answer was to form a nation wherein people were free to worship their God however they saw fit, free from governmental persecution. The U.S. is a nation founded on the basis of Judeo-Christian principles. This modern push to turn us into a secular, Godless nation is nothing new and therefore does not represent “progress” by any means. Throughout history, Religion comes into and goes out of fashion among intellecutal elites who fancy themselves too evolved to be taken in by the likes of organized religion. Some of the founding fathers were intellectuals too, well aware of the intricacies of balancing intrusive government vs. intrusive religions. Students of the Enlightenment, they chose a prudent path and developed a system of government that while far from perfect, is still better than any other out there and they chose to give the “Creator” a shout-out in the process. We don’t have minds like Franklin and Jefferson around today. If we do, I haven’t seen them yet. Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

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.

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 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.

Please welcome Deac and Maegan Manning to Woodstock. They have purchased the entire estate located at 220 Barber Road in Woodstock Valley. Becki and I are so please that the property will remain intact and that such a fine family has been added to the community.

Also, see the retrospective on Peter Leavitt and some history about this property here.

This 18th century house sits on 166 acres.

Pictures below can be expanded by clicking them (left to right and top to bottom):

1. Barber Road at center of the property – a scenic road.
2. House from the southeast corner showing front and main entrance on the east side.
3. Terrace garden behind house (good place for a swimming pool if you don’t like gardens ).
4. View of the south fields across the road from the front of the house.
5. Estuary next to the south fields in front of the house west of the filed of dreams.
5. View of the fields looking north toward Barber Road and standing on ‘the field of dreams’.
9. View of the east side of the field of dreams.
10. Stream on the east side of the field of dreams.

I passed this scene on my way home from work at 4:45 PM. Looked pretty bad. John

Hey Mrs. Leavitt,

I just got a message from my friend who told me a flat-nosed Woodstock bus with a woman driver got rear-ended on 171 a half hour ago… sounds like the SUV got pretty beaten up and bus just has a fender-bender but that the people are OK. Have you heard about it?

Hey Buddy!
I just got in from the yard…. I waited around for Mrs. Paradise to get back. No injuries on the Bus #2. The car was apparently totalled. People from the car were transported to the hospital. Mrs. Paradise is just really exhausted by the whole event. Didn’t get any info on the condition of the bus, but didn’t get the impression that there was too much damage. I’m pretty sure it was ‘drivable’… but it’ll still need to be gone over with a fine-toothed comb. All in all, it was okay for us (WPS- students, staff and property). Hoping that the injuries to the people in the car are minor and that they are doing well.

Becki