WESTON,
CONNECTICUT
U.S.A. Weston Board of Education; Town of Weston. Weston
FY'13 Budget Process HERE.
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION TO DRAFT ITS FINAL VERSION...FADE TO BLACK
Of course, there are other Boards
not on Town TV - for example, not our best cellphone picture ever, but
it shows the Board of Ethics
meeting Thursday - here.
ABOUT WESTON updated
continually...use Google's internal search engine above to locate
topics
and
stories of interest.
ABOUT WESTON TABLE OF
CONTENTS
with links.
"ABOUT WESTON" SITE MAP . Including
quick links to our global
business, climate change and financial melt-down sub-pages.
"ABOUT
WESTON" ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY of site
including external links. Or use Google Search above!
"About
Weston" is all about Weston, Connecticut.
Web-contact,
click
here: margaret@aboutweston.com
"About
Weston"
provides original research on Weston, Connecticut, links to official
sources, and expresses the opinions
of this Weston,
CT website. Original jokes and political comment by "About
Weston" and original art
by
"About
Weston" are also on this website. We attend many town board
and commission meetings. In order to find our reports, please
type in name of board or commission in the search box above..
It is the intention of this unofficial website to follow policies of
the Town of Weston
including the following...
LATEST "ABOUT TOWN" SHOW:
PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!
The Honorable Denise Merrill, Connecticut Secretary of the
State, visits "About Town" to discuss what has gone on since she and
the
administration of Governor Malloy took the helm after the unfortunate
voting travesty in Bridgeport on Election Day 2010. Learn about
how Secretary Merrill has responded with ideas that can make our
democracy here in Connecticut work better!
WATCH NOW!!!
All
Aboard the RV
Wagon Train 2011!!!
Lyn Kimberly and her husband Chris Kimberly founded and run a unique
camp-on-wheels for young people, called American Wanderer.
Prepare to be amazed at the sights of some of the most spectacular
scenery you've ever seen, in the National Parks of our American
West! And for more, visit their website, www.rvcampforkids.com. SPECIAL
EARLY VIEWING OPPORTUNITY - WATCH
NOW!
Vision and design in the built environment.
Distinguished architect Allen
Swerdlowe, AIA (www.d7architects.com)
serves as Chairman of the Building Committee and the School Building
Committee of the Town of Weston, CT. In this very special
interview he presents valuable insights into Weston-specific issues, as
well as into the important role that good architectural and urban
design can play
in both the educational process and in making cities and towns better
places to live. WATCH
NOW!
WESTON TOWN PLAN
The
Town of Weston, Connecticut has recently completed the once per decade
update of its Plan of Conservation and Development, as mandated by
Connecticut state law. We are privileged to present this valuable
interview with Stephan Grozinger, Esq., chairman of Weston's Planning
& Zoning Commission during the update, who tells us all about the
process and its
results! WATCH
NOW!
WHAT'S
UP IN HARTFORD? Read of upcoming Special Session...
Representative Gail
Lavielle of the 143rd District (Wilton and Norwalk) recaps the
completed Spring 2011 legislative "Long Session," providing many
valuable insights. Rep. Lavielle also brings us up to date on the
recently approved labor concessions, and looks forward to the
upcoming Special Session on jobs, proposed by Governor Malloy. WATCH NOW!
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
Dr. Floyd Lapp, F.A.I.C.P., is the Executive Director of the South
Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA). This program provides
an informative overview of regionally relevant data from the U.S.
Census 2010, and how the numbers compare to "snapshots" from previous
years. WATCH NOW!
Public
Safety to the fore!
It has been three years
since we previously spoke with the Chief of Police of the Town of
Weston, John Troxell. How have some important police initiatives
gone since then, what is on deck, and what does the future hold for
traffic, public safety, and community building in this small part of
Connecticut? How about pedestrian circulation initiatives?
Traffic signals? WATCH NOW!
Senator
Toni Boucher tells it like it is!
"About Town" interviews Senator Toni Boucher to learn what is happening
in Hartford as the Legislature and the new Governor together try to put
Connecticut back on its fiscal feet and right the ship of state, it
having been buffeted by
forces in the American economy and the global economy more dangerous
than any this generation has previously seen! WATCH NOW!
Guaranteed to liven up your winter!
Mystery, the drama of reality, PLUS endangered species!
"About
Town" interviews author and journalist Jessica Speart. Part 1
focuses on her career and how she became a writer of
mystery novels. This covers a fascinating journey from theatre
and TV to environmental
journalism to mystery writing! Ms. Speart's
protagonist, a Fish and Wildlife biologist, and essentially an
alter-ego, saves
endangered species. In
Part 2, Ms. Speart describes how her writing evolved to non-fiction
and how her first book in this genre, "Winged Obsession," which will
appear in print in April, not only explores a fascinating criminal
subject as the central figure, but delves into the intrigues of
international derring-do! All of which puts us in the mood to
challenge
a snowy winter with a good read! WATCH
NOW!
Leadership in tough times
How to keep the "ship of state" afloat in these difficult economic
times is perhaps the biggest challenge for Hon. Gayle M. Weinstein,
First Selectman of Weston. Perhaps equally as significant is the
need
to respect and listen to all voices, and permit the greatest possible
number of
Westonites to have a say in government. WATCH NOW!
WE'VE GOT A NEW PLAN! How is implementation going?
The
Town of Weston, Connecticut has just completed the once per decade
update of its Plan of Conservation and Development, as mandated by
Connecticut state law. We are privileged to present this valuable
interview with Stephan Grozinger, Esq., chairman of Weston's Planning
& Zoning Commission, who tells us all about the process and its
results! WATCH
NOW!
GET
TO KNOW THE WESTON WESTPORT HEALTH DISTRICT! As the eighth year of
"About Town" interviews begins, a three-part series on our health gets
underway. The WWHD was one of the first groups we interviewed,
just after September 11, 2001. Eight years on, the role of the
WWHD has expanded, and for some of its functions, the District's
borders have widened! Learn about H1N1 flu, water quality,
environmental health, emergency
management, and many other topics that are fundamental to maintaining
our health, our environment, and even the value of our homes! - GO TO LINKS and watch
now!
"ABOUT TOWN"
INTERVIEWS HON. ROB SIMMONS, CONGRESSMAN 2001-2007 AND CANDIDATE FOR
U.S. SENATE 2010:
The Honorable Rob
Simmons, who represented Connecticut's 2nd Congressional District in
the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007, is a
recent guest. Mr. Simmons is a candidate for the Republican
nomination for United States
Senator, in the 2010 election. Learn more about Mr. Simmons'
distinguished career of service to his state and country - Watch here!
ON
FILE - SEE THESE AGAIN!
The
Honorable Woody Bliss, shown above at the left, served as Weston's
First Selectman from 2001 to
2009, was a member of the Board of Selectmen for ten years, and served
as chairman of Connecticut's South Western Region
Metropolitan Planning Organization. He chose not to seek
re-election in November, 2009. Watch an exceptional
interview with him, in which he reflects on his years of service, and
provides
valuable insight into the issues facing Weston.
Watch
now!
Watch
this two-part interview with Westonite Jim Lomuscio, shown above second
from left, who
draws on his
distinguished career as a non-fiction author, journalist, editor, and
teacher, to provide us with truly unique insights into the field of
writing, and the state of journalism today. Mr. Lomuscio's books
include "Village of the Dammed: The Fight for Open Space and the
Flooding of a Connecticut Town" (finalist for the 2006 Connecticut Book
Award in Nonfiction), and the McGraw Hill college writing textbook
"Writing with Your Head & Your Heart: Balancing Logic and
Emotion to Create Powerful Nonfiction." He currently serves as
Full Time Professor of Writing in the Department of Writing,
Linguistics, and Creative Process, at Western Connecticut State
University. Watch
now!
Keeping educational costs down and standards up isn't easy in
2010! Find out about how Weston's public
school system achieves a balance between continuously improving
educational excellence and fiscal responsibility, from our
Superintendent of Schools and from the school system's Director of
Finance & Operations. Watch
now! And for
their informative rundown on the previous year's budget preparation
process, Watch
now!
CT
State Senator Toni Boucher (R-26th) provides
important insight, perspective, and wisdom concerning the major issues facing
Connecticut residents in these challenging times. Watch "About
Town" on YouTube here!
One of
our best interviews yet!!!
Weston's new Police Chief, John Troxell, gives us a rundown on traffic
control planning, safety measures for all forms of vehicles, and the
outlook
for “street life” or pedestrian-friendly improvements for 21st century
Weston, among many other interesting things! - Watch
now!
Director
of Public Works for the Town of Weston, Joe
Lametta, brings us up-to-date on the responsibilities of DPW as we
update the Town Plan!
A wonderful lecture concerning Art
and Painting, by a noted authority
and a really great teacher! See David Dunlop (website www.daviddunlop.com) discussing
"New Materials, New Patterns, New Histories: The Future for
Painting." This lecture was presented on March 1, 2009, at the
Silvermine School of Art, of the Silvermine
Guild Arts Center, New Canaan, CT:
If you are using a cable or dsl
connection, click
here: http://www.aboutweston.com/Silvermine-Dunlop3-1-09CableVersion.wmv (File size is 208 megaBytes; the lecture
comprises 1 hour 39 minutes)
If you are using a dial-up modem
connection, click
here: http://www.aboutweston.com/Silvermine-Dunlop3-1-09ModemVersion.wmv
(File size is 37
megaBytes; the lecture comprises 1 hour 39 minutes)
Nichole
Peyreigne, Mezzo-Soprano,
and Grace Heaphy, Pianist, are two extraordinary
young talents in the field of classical music. Watch them perform
in a very special concert to benefit pediatric brain
tumor research via the Making Headway Foundation, to help support the
research of distinguished neuro-oncologist Dr. Jeffrey Allen of NYU
Medical Center. Watch
now!
"ABOUT TOWN"
interviews Dr. Jeana Wirtenberg, Director of External Relations and
Services at the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise of Fairleigh
Dickinson University: In
this very
special two-part edition of "About Town," a leading authority tells us
all about Enterprise Sustainability, and how corporations can and in
some cases are implementing "win-win-win" strategies that are good for
the environment, for society, and for themselves.--Watch
now!
MAGIC!
So you want to learn to make some? Watch
now! Also, see "Art Through A Poet's
Eye," featuring Adele Kamp, as
well as all
three parts of the Weston High School
tour: click
here!
TABLE OF
CONTENTS:
T
O
P
S T O R Y T O D A Y ;
Introduction and topics
of interest;
Unofficial
notice
of Public Meetings we plan to attend
and our Board of
Selectmen's notes;
ANNOTATED
ACTIONS, Board of Selectmen and other meetings attended by About Town.
Bankrupt
cities,
states and...here.
Town
of Weston: Regional picture for
school budget increases here.
Charter Revision Commission :
Education: Budget Proposal for FY
'13 coming soon; NESDEC enrollment projections here.
Board of Education
Meeting videos posted here on their excellent website!
Connecticut
Government: Weston state Rep.
John Shaban sets local office hours in Weston for Thursday, Feb. 9 in
the Weston Library Community Room from 7-9pm.
Link to
Reapportionment process and
data;
final steps....
State of
Connecticut "Responsible" Planning:
Regional
Planning: U.S. CENSUS 2010
- HERE
Planning ideas and matters from elsewhere
Environment:
When it rains it pours department
- some ideas in run-off detention here.
CLIMATE
policy
link here.
CT Stream
Flow Regs update
here.
From
Washington, D.C.: State of the Union? Check
up on Congress here; Census
Bureau report
on income, poverty and health care. Redistribution of the wealth...
WHAT
CONSTITUTES AN EMERGENCY IN THE UNITED STATES? Start here.
GLOBALLY?
HAZARDS
OF ALL KINDS, NATURAL
AND MAN-MADE:
POLICE DEPARTMENT here;
WWHD here.
Emergency
Management page here.
Icelandic ash
over Europe (remote sensing
map) and frontpage
portrait
of the ash as it moves along high above....
WEST NILE VIRUS IN
THE AREA; HOW ABOUT LYME DISEASE?
NOTES AND
E-SOURCES:
Annotated
bibliography...please remember
that this WEBsite is not official;
it
views events of the day as may impact good planning ...regional
comparisons
or examples provided...and:
A direct link to the newspaper
who's main office is closest to the Legislature - Hartford Courant;
Internal links organized in "biblio" page here!
Link
to "About Town" television
program information;
OTHER:
Watercolors
by Hannah Ferenbach
"Foggy
Dune"
POWER OUTAGES
CENTRAL HERE!!! SUPER-ACCURATE!
CL&P:
http://www.cl-p.com/home.aspx
-------------------------
EMERGENCY:
WEATHER: background
WEATHER REPORT - http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/okx/
From
the National Weather Service (simple local report),
NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE - LOCATE DETAILED FORECAST HERE:
http://www.weather.gov/
DEFINITIONS
FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HERE
How much snow?
Report
on traffic.
Need
a calendar? http://www.timeanddate.com/
Focus
on our neighbor to the south? Read
about Westport now...
Silvermine Guild
and Art School here...
Sound
Cycling.
N o
w a G O O G L E a d v i s o r . . .
News of Matthew Zachary in concert: http://matthewzachary.com/nyc/
I'M
TOO
YOUNG FOR
THIS: TIME
Magazine rates the site...http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stupidcancershow
PRACTICE-A-THON
'08 A BIG SUCCESS!!!
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1633488_1633530_1633566,00.html
Invasive species solution on Whidbey
Island
SP Kennel's leader retires! ChaCha
has a new bunch of pups! Woof!
N
E W W E B S I T E
Remember
this FORUM
very special article?
“The higher the degree of
expectation of knowledge, the greater degree of culpability” is a quote about which issue?
Unless
otherwise
noted,
"top story" from CT MIRROR. Debt Clock
W.E.F.
heading downhill in red ink? LWV of Weston "Speak Up" Feb.
4 at 10:30am
A good bet: There will be about changes to ATBM and budget
process, role of Board of Finance,
elected or appointed Town Clerk and others. Need for more Ethics
oversight as electeds get replaced by appointeds?
We'll be there, and will not bring a
video camera. We trust them. Feb. 1 at 7:30pm in Town Hall
Charter Revision Commission begins drafting, stops televising its
meetings
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Friday, 27 January 2012 00:00
The Charter Revision Commission has finished reviewing the town charter
in its entirety and is moving on to the "drafting" phase.
Ken Edgar, co-chairman of the commission, said the group has "worked
its way through" the 34-page document and has gotten a good sense of
how the members feel about a lot of issues.
"I certainly anticipate there will be issues that may be revisited, but
it's time for us to move to the drafting phase," Mr. Edgar said.
The town charter is the final word on how Westonites govern themselves,
tax themselves, and, in some cases, conduct themselves. For the
past five months, an appointed seven-member commission has been
reviewing the charter, discussing what it says and what it doesn't, and
touching on what works and what doesn't.
As the commission begins to draft a new and improved charter — many of
the changes they will suggest are simply a matter of language and
improving clarity, Mr. Edgar said — its meetings will no longer be
televised on public access, which means they won't be available for
viewing on the town's website, either.
The main reason for that decision, Mr. Edgar said with a laugh, is the
meetings "are going to be pretty boring."
The public is still invited and encouraged to attend, he added. But the
commission members are going to be looking at and discussing draft
documents that won't be distributed to the general public because they
are just working drafts. The commission will quadruple its
regularly scheduled meetings from twice a month to twice a week — on
Wednesdays and Saturdays — through February. Those meeting times and
places will be posted. Mr. Edgar said he anticipates wrapping up by
early March.
A draft of recommendations is due to the Board of Selectmen for review
no later than Aug. 1, but Mr. Edgar said he thinks a draft report will
be completed before then. Once it is, a public hearing will be held and
there will be an extended period when public comment will be accepted
on any proposed changes.
Final recommendations will go to the Board of Selectmen for approval,
and then ultimately to the voters — likely at the same time as the Nov.
8 presidential election, which historically has a very high turnout in
Weston.
Mr. Edgar said the commission has not yet decided whether voters will
be asked to approve the revised charter in its entirety or if there
will be individual questions on the ballot.
OCTOBER 2011 GRAND LIST - do you think
the increase in FY'13 budgets will be kept to this
number?
Budget Process timing for FY'13: actual dates and Charter reference.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING said "yes" again on
Lachat Leases Jan.19, 2012.
BOARD OF FINANCE: Soup to
nuts on this agenda! NEWS:
Revson Field out of service for a season
SELECTMEN: Lachat discussion and comment from public Jan. 5, 2012
reveals the Nature Conservancy wants a change re: interest
rate. P&Z there to comment.
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
continuing
interviews...getting down to ATBM.
BUILDING COMMITTEE votes
Dec.19, 2011 to move ahead with windows
and doors projects using WWHD, fire department, building inspector and
EPA instead of going thru the SFU. WMS this summer...
----------------------------------
ELECTION
2011 PAGE here. All over
now...or is it?
Postcards From
Weston. Take a virtual visit
to Morehouse Farm Park! Link
to Town Plan here
Weston,
CT. Town Hall, Norfield Road...Election Day Nov. 8 (6am-8pm, WMS)
FY'12 tax bill in pink (hopefully not in red like FY'11); Town
Hall Annex portable building
on School Road. The
Plan. History of
school/field project, population projection here.
TOWN
OF WESTON: On Google:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weston,_Connecticut
Schedule
of Selectmen's meetings for 2012; Read
about Internet posting rules for towns.
Charter
Revision Commission interviews...
Public Hearings required by statute out of the way, Commission
gets down to interviewingb present and past office holder. Many
Boards and Commissions appear.
CONNECTICUT
MUNICIPAL FISCAL INDICATORS (FYE 2008)
From the horses
mouth...click link above. Overall, of the Connecticut 169
municipalities, the average per capita
debt was $2139; the median debt per capita was $1547. Guess
who is #1 in debt per capita? Weston ($7124). And
following are Easton ($6135) and Westport ($5811). Greenwich,
which used to have no debt, now has $751 per capita.And who has the
lowest number? Putnam ($39). Followed by
Winchester ($110), Hampton ($149) and Pomfret ($188).
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND
REGIONAL OR MULTI-TOWN ENTITIES PLUS
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS WE TRY TO WATCH:
BOARD
OF SELECTMEN;
MOST
RECENT:
CHARTER REVISION "COMMITTEE" ESTABLISHED BY SELECTMEN JUNE 2, 2011.
BUILDING COMMITTEE;
Going solar, fuel cells, anything
else that works GREEN: its now disbanded Alternative Energy
subcommittee;
BOARD OF
FINANCE and its role in the the budget
process;
WESTON
PLANNING AND ZONING - more background here. TOWN PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
LOOK FOR NEW STREAM FLOW
REGS SOON! Second
draft story here.
Aquifer Protection zone
location and regulations
approved
by Planning and Zoning May 6, 2008, after Public Hearing, effective
date - AUGUST 15th, 2008 - Surely a building block in the
new Town Plan!
Aerial photos of Weston
(fly over town and find YOUR HOUSE) and the rest of Connecticut online
at CLEAR!
Population Projections from UCONN:http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/
Town
Att'y's 2005
letter...the story of when, why
and how the Town of
Weston exempted itself from its
own Zoning
Regulations and...research topics;
The Center of Town has special
features of note.
Another
townwide big YES for Lachat! Lease swap OK'd by Town
Meeting but still needs P&Z blessing.
MOST RECENTLY CREATED...
"FACILITY
COMMITTEE" formed by Selectmen to evaluate public land and
buildings in light of future needs - a precursor to perhaps a larger
Committee (Hal Shupack, Glenn Major and Joe Fitzpatrick); first
meeting conflicts with Board of Selectmen Thursday, October 7,
2010; seond meeting Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 8pm in the
Weston Library Community Room.
----------------------------
Selectmen
finished building but not determining how to be repaid (presentation at
Board of Finance, but we missed this meeting) by sports groups
for their share of the Booster
Barn and
home-side stands;
Cemetery Committee (most
recently revived August 13, 2009) completed survey, assessment - what's
next in 2010? Planning and
Zoning weighs in...
Arts Commission news;
WestonArts.org:
the folks concerned about the theatrical and arts/music part of a
Weston education.
Lachat
Building & Maintenance Committee
LWV of Weston
Speak Up 2011 - The Town's Business Is Your Business: Direction From
the People to Their Government
Total
time: 1 hr 33 mins 50 secs
For
Cable & DSL Users (245 MB): http://www.lwvweston.org/LWVSpeakup3-12-11CableVersion.wmv
For
Dial-up Modem
Users (36 MB): http://www.lwvweston.org/LWVSpeakup3-12-11ModemVersion.wmv
NEW
land
sale/mapping link on Town Website: http://www.westonct.gov/townhall/27652/28144/28210
Older reports:
Select
Committee on
Legal Review reports to Selectmen in June; time extended
until after the summer for submission of final report, which was
submitted and thanks given all around.
See news of
upcoming claim on fund balance in this
FORUM story.
Veterans'
Tax Relief
(well explained in this FORUM article) approved Jan. 17,
'08;
Elderly
Tax Relief
changes had comment at PUBLIC
HEARING,
Thurday, April 3 at 7pm in Town Hall - no negatives,
Board of Selectmen approves! Post-employment Benefits ordinance
approved by Selectmen April 24, 2008.
What
to do for
intellectual exercise...
Chief
Troxell
favored unanimously by Police Commission; officially
selected January 2008 at a public meeting and now to be signed to a
contract.
Kaestle
Boos study in
draft form Friday, December 7, 2007 - reviewed by Facilities
Committee of the Board of Education - items appear in Town Capital
Budget partially funded (eg. $250,000 for Library Roof;
questions asked at ATBM re: school projects).
New
stop signs OK'd by Police
Commission.
Taxation
STIMULUS
FOR VALLEY FORGE?
Cartbridge
replacement open. Story here.
TRIBAL
RECOGNITION ACTIONS: Board of Selectmen voted to join Att'y
General
Blumenthal in opposing more tribal casino/recognition.
New info on line - real property sales data:
FOR
"ABOUT TOWN" RESEARCH PAGE ON RE-EVALUATIONS, CLICK HERE.
REVAL
COMPANY WEBSITE (ASSESSMENT
APPEALS BOARD MEETINGS OVER); and
if you want to go to the web page
for Weston: http://data.visionappraisal.com/WestonCT/DEFAULT.asp
At
the Board of Selectmen Thursday, March 5, 2009, Town Assessor explained
the reval process as it took place in Weston in these difficult times,
and some highlights.
The
2008 revaluation...notices...online at www.visionappraisal.com
by clicking the "Online Database Access" button, then "Connecticut",
and finally, "Weston, CT". Click here for more information. Not sure
yet? click Here for revaluation chart showing
value trends from 2003 - 2008.
Special
Town Meetings notice and ATBM PAGE
Environment
Read
the final draft of the Morehouse Farm Park "Drinking Water Quality
Management Plan."
Where
the DWQMP began...Consent
Agreement with CTDPH.
PUBLIC
HEARING held Tuesday, May 23rd for two hours (approx.)...Pro and Con
heard, many out-of-towners spoke. Read proposed "deer management"
Committee
report and recommendations here.
Price
of gasoline over the top? Check out
the issue here: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
Greenhouse
gas inventory;
People
Sister
City;
Click
here to go to the CT Register and Manual for names of elected and
appointed
Town Officials and staff (it is slightly out of date since it is
published
annually).
Freedom
of Information Commission:
Interesting decision in 2005 (i.e. definition of public
body). Greenwich opinion re:
Boards of Ethics.
EDUCATION
(our view): How are
neighboring towns and boards of education doing with FY'13 budget?
FY'13
Proposed: Westport 2.5%, New Canaan 2.52%, Greenwich
2.6%
Fairfield in at 2.6%, Redding 3.16%,
Ridgefield 3.26%, Easton 4.13%, Darien 5.6%, Norwalk 8%;
(r)
CHAIR.PHIL SCHAEFER, VICE CHAIR. ELLEN UZENOFF, DICK BOCHINSKI,
SEC'Y/TREASURER REELECTED 2001-2013; W.I.S.
CAFETORIUM...NOVEMBER
15, 2011, FROM 9 TILL 10:45AM, BOARD OF EDUCATION Q&A. COST
REDUCTION PROGRAM A SUCCESS
BOARD
OF EDUCATION NEWS...FROM THE BOARD WEBSITE
WELCOME DR. PALMER! Link
to comment - search
backgrounder.
Board of Education
Meeting videos posted here on their excellent website! Check
out "public comment" question from February 2011 meeting on class size
here.
Weston
numbers on CMT & CAPT 2010 tests: link to comparison
with Westport.
LAST YEAR...AND NO CONTESTS IN 2011
BOARD
OF ED BUDGET
FY2010-2011, WESTON LIBRARY: Bd of Ed votes a
1.64% increase Jan. 19th ($44,697,023). At the
first of
three
meetings Education staff had requested a 1.57%
increase. Please
note that the entire proposed budget including detail now online!!!
Phil Schaefer new Chairman; School Road is the grand
boulevard in Weston - all
non-governmental
community life centers here... and since the Town Hall
Annex is now sharing the portable next to the Administration building,
"town and gown" are even closer! Summer project at Weston High
School Science wing - on a grant from WestonArts produces 100-foot long
mural: read all about it here.
SUPER-GREAT Board
of Ed
website: http://www.westonk12-ct.org/
EDUCATION (our view):
BULLYING:
Not
just for kids.
All around us...here an example in the
schools of
Missoula,
Montana.
FY12 budget news here.
READ
IT AGAIN ON LINE HERE
"WHS
COMPANY" STARTING TONIGHTAT 8PM, DOES
OSCAR WILDE'S THE
IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST SATURDAY AT 8PM AND SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 13,2011
AT
3PM.
If
you have ever read "The Importance of Being Earnest" you
know how funny it is! Do read it! The classic film wasn't
bad, either,
because it made "the handbag" such a joke. Mr. Worthing had been
found in a handbag in Victoria Station's lost and found. My
favorite quote from the play is
"LADY BRACKNEL: To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded
as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."
News:
NESDEC
Board
of Education meeting August 15, 2011 promises update from October
2010 enrollments, estimates and projections (those older ones here).
NESDEC Enrollment Projections 2011
here.
October
2008 enrollments; estimates and projections.
Then...check
out history of K-5 enrollment;
Report
to the Weston Public Schools - Oct. 15, 2007 - Enrollment
History and
Projections
BIRTH
RATES STATE BY STATE: At
this link
---------------------------
NO LONGER NEW NEWS BUT STILL IMPORTANT
MILESTONES...
AUDITORIUM
OPEN...Camera Photo
Oct. 29, 2008...and so, the show went on!!! Remember the
W.I.S. in 2004?
Referendum project...The Plan and Dr.Pierson and her successor
Superintendent Jerome
Belair;
latest on turf issue; Booster Barn
design gets green light from Building
Committee - more details and $$ required for original finishes,
especially after WWHD review; School
Bus Study public review; and new Superintendent, at Board of Finance, at right, for
regular confab re: budget spending.
LINK
TO WESTON
SCHOOL BUS ROUTES 2008-2009 (will have produced digitized map - maybe
the P&Z can use this in the update for the Plan?)
FAIRFIELD
COUNTY'S
GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: a class project at Weston High School 2008.
Turf fields - are they a good
investment? Are
they safe? "Fields" article from 2007 New London
DAY. In
Weston, a report on the history of some fields in
Weston;
See World
Bank
report on Arab Education (Dr. Pierson, in photo second from left,
now resigned from Weston
post, in Abu Dhabi).
Town-By-Town SAT Scores
By GRACE E. MERRITT, gmerritt@courant.com
2:08 PM EDT, September 27, 2010
Students in Connecticut's wealthy southwestern towns, particularly
Weston, had the best scores overall on the 2010 SAT test while some of
the state's larger cities fared the worst, according to town-by-town
results released by the state Department of Education.
Weston High School had two of the highest mean scores in the state, 587
on the reading portion of the test and 610 on the writing portion.
Darien High School had a mean score of 611 on the mathematics test. A
perfect score on the individual subject tests is 800...full story here.
CMT RESULTS BY TOWN
NATIONAL
STUDY: "Regional Shift Seen in Education Gap" here.
Will
this bring on a SHEFF 2?
----------------------
"One Mile
of Safety" - Board of
Education develops traffic plan for School Road,
including maps: click here.
-----------------------------
On the
Internet - 2005-2006 Data
from the "Strategic
School Profile":
Weston
Strategic School Profile: http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/der/ssp/dist0506/dist106.pdf
Link to individual schools here: http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/der/ssp/SCH0506/dist108.htm
Special Education: http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/der/ssp/dist0506/dist106.pdf
Articles
from
elsewhere in CT...oldies but goodies...what makes Weston Weston:
"Bullying"in
Weston raises its head at the School
Bus tier meeting; Greenwich fields of dreams and other
matters - lighted
fields...again...and
"racial
imbalance"
in Norwalk.Football, farm animals
(no
more free lunch for cows), school bus and lots of 4th graders
listen
to Olympian Leah O'Brien-Amico (guest of Parent Corps)...on being
yourself
and trying new things!A
tool for Weston schools?Good
source for
children to take part in construction-project-like play: http://www.kindertrains.com/plan-city.html
Read of new
State Education classification
system!
RESPONSIBLE PLANNING
C O M M U N I T Y
R E S O U R C E
I N V E N T O R Y :
Above,
Hubble Telescope link. All
the
data - left- and the "how-to" directions, right, for studying Weston's
natural characteristics. Governor's
thinking: "clear" need for responsible development in CT. CSDC the
source for data in Connecticut.
WE HEARD THAT THERE
WAS TO BE A 2 YEAR DELAY IN NEW CT PLAN. CT State
and thus Southwestern Region's Plans of
Conservation and
Development - old maps...above: State
Plan of Conservation & Development 2005-2010, (Weston shown at
left), and as it applies to SWRPA. The South Western Regional
Planning Agency is an eight-town Region from Greenwich, Stamford,
Darien, Norwalk and Westport and north of the Merritt Parkway including
New Canaan, Wilton and Weston. SWR
latest Plan was
adopted in February, 2006.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Another
great story...
The Connecticut
Department of Transportation - A PAGE ALL TO ITS OWN!
"...On
June 28, 1983, a section of I-95 highway bridge over the Mianus
River in Greenwich collapsed, killing three people and seriously
injuring three more. The tangle of bodies and mangled vehicles that
fell 70 feet to the peaceful little river sent a horrific message that
Connecticut's transportation system was in dire need of
repair..." Read full, seven page story here.
Plan to give first responders
access to highway cameras fades to black
Martin B. Cassidy, Stamford ADVOCATE Staff Writer
Published: 10:21 p.m., Wednesday, May 5, 2010
A long running, intermittent effort to give police and
firefighters
direct access to images from a state highway camera system on
Interstate 95 is dormant again as state transportation officials say
they lack both permission and funding for a Web-based system for first
responders. Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said access
is long overdue and area leaders will urge the state Department of
Transportation to find a way to fund the work.
The lack of access leaves area public safety workers at a
disadvantage
in planning how to deploy first responders to locations of car crashes
and other emergencies, Joseloff said.
"Here we are in 2010 and we are dealing with 1995 technology,"
Joseloff
said. "We should have long ago had access to the images to better
respond to accidents and other problems." Full story here.
REGIONAL
THINKERS...PLANNING
REGIONS IN CT...AND "BANG FOR THE BUCK" CONCEPT IN DIFFICULT ECONOMIC
TIMES.
Legislators
mull transportation fixes in Malloy budget
Martin B. Cassidy, Greenwich TIME Staff Writer
Published 09:05 p.m., Sunday, February 20, 2011
STAMFORD -- Echoing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's call to create more jobs as
part of his recent state budget address, state Rep. Gerald Fox III,
D-Stamford, said obtaining funding for transportation projects will
help attract business...State
Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-143rd District, and state Sen. Toni Boucher, who
both represent Wilton and Norwalk, said they supported Malloy's pledge
to block legislators from raiding the state's Special Transportation
Fund away from transit projects to cover general government expenses.
"We need to protect that money for transportation purposes because we
need it to maintain what we have," Lavielle said.
Lavielle said that she supported work on the project, but felt that
investments to electrify the Metro-North Danbury Branch and upgrade the
New Canaan Branch would be prioritized.
"If you are looking for the bang for the buck for the least amount of
investment having the greatest impact, I think the New Haven Line and
its branches really have to be a priority," Lavielle said.
Boucher said that it was likely that Malloy's plan to raise the state's
gasoline tax from 25 to 28 cents a gallon to raise money for
transportation projects would likely cause an outcry.
"I saw a lot of good things in his transportation plan, but the gas tax
won't be very popular with the public because we already have one of
the highest gas taxes in the country," Boucher said. Full story here.
----------------------------
"CivicHealth"
index. Recommendations.
Some arguments here for smaller is better? Click on it to enlarge
graphic. "Oz" Griebel, recently
endorsed by
Senator McKinney, for Republican nomination for Governor, which he did
not receive, addressing
the topic of regional
economics. The Short Session
over, businesses lose ground - part of the same discussion?
MUTUALLY SHARED SERVICES
FORUM: CT Regional Economic Development
Thursday, January 15, 2010 at CCSU, discussions among municipal
officials, planners (APACT), OPM, CARPO, ACIR and more organizations,
we suspect (we saw CCM there). CT-N videotaped the keynote and
the opening session on affordable housing.
OPM Secretary Bob Genuario gave that keynote address; it was
noted that the "Rainy Day" fund was appropriately emptied out ($1.4
billion) in October, similarly to the $600,000 spent in one night at a
previous crisis point some years back. The next 2-year budget
will be written without any "Rainy Day" or Federal "Stimulous" money to
fall back upon. The good news is that we are in better shape than
California, Michigan, Massachusetts and a host of other states - we
should benefit if and when any new programs from DC come along...
"Oz" Griebel addresses planners and business persons regarding regional
economic development "break-out" session panel. "Over the next
four years" Mr. Griebel suggests that policies change to encourage
business; Joint Development the only way to go, with
overbearing COG not the answer, says another presenter. Old
mills, small town revitalization also discussed. It is pointed
out that "CEDS" are in 8 areas in CT covering 138 towns, but that 30
plus other communities are not so organized. This makes
for a fragmented-looking state and less likely, thus, to attract
Federal $$ - that's the way we heard it!
CRISIS: many hands in the pot...
-------
"Responsible
Growth" - bill signing story. Further
improvements to
"Responsible Growth" in 2008 "short session" fail..but so does a bad
bill (from the LWVCT website description): however, 2009 is
seeing a big push for change...but dollars speak louder than change
this session. LINK TO
OPM OFFICE OF RESPONSIBLE GROWTH HERE.
"SMART GROWTH PASSES IN 2009!
IN
CONNECTICUT, THE PLACE TO GO FOR DATA: http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/
The
information about Weston provided at the NEMO link below is not
detailed or accurate enough, but that is why "About Town" recommends an
independent "windshield survey" approach when doing a Town Plan.
On-line environmental, virtual course
of study for the University of Connecticut...NEMO!!!
For those who follow the
Legislature...for the record...passed House then the Senate, at 11:40pm
June 6,
2007 "An
Act Concerning Responsible Growth" H.B. 7090
It was amended at the end - bi-partisan
amendment here.
SWRPA(South
Western Regional Planning Agency on the WEB)
HOME RULE v. CONSOLIDATION June 16, 2011 at
the Weston Board of Selectmen. Regional forms of governance the
topic...FORUM article.
How was this discussion different from the most recent one? Read about last time this came up here.
This time the change is being fostered by state leadership to save
money, perhaps? Fifteen (or fourteen) regions merge into 5 or 8
in the name of efficiency? Or as Selectman Gilbert quoted from
the CT Plan of C&D, poor cities grouped with rich suburbs and
regional sharing of assets taxation in the mix, perhaps. Weston's
big asset is private and semi-public open space - The Nature
Conservancy - and Trout Brook Valley. What about the Saugatuck
Reservoir, which supplies the towns further east with water?
MAPS OF CENSUS 2010
INCLUDING OTHER USES FOR REAPPORTIONMENT DATA; "PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION" REPORTS HERE.
THREE
AREAS SWRPA WATCHES:
H O U S I N G A N
D J O B S :
PARTNERSHIP FOR
STRONG COMMUNITIES
Southwestern Region Planning Agency (SWRPA)
September 21, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Norwalk City Hall, Community Room
And more...Regional
Housing Needs and Supply Assessment 2007 (long download, l.) plus
even older...Interesting
story 21 November 2007
explains the housing industry in U.S.A. by I-BBC here.
J O U R N E Y T O W O R
K & T R A N S I T
Auto, bus and truck traffic data, grants for special
transportation services
Congestion
Pricing coming
to N.Y.C.? Not so fast...but CT is going to study
alternatives state-wide next year - they did, and nothing happened. PUBLIC INFORMATION
MEETING: Pro-con on BROADWATER...Norwalk HOUR report--Governor Rell's action following; M.P.O.
takes action opposing Broadwater!
Reports of
special meeting April 20, 2005 (Wednesday evening) at 7:30 p.m. in the
Senior Center Auditorium, Stamford Government Center (2nd floor): discussion
among Mayors, First Selectmen, P&Z Commissioners.
A
fight between I-95 and Metro-North for $$?
Regionalism:
some recent developments...
letter from
Norwalk Transit District;
REGIONAL
PLAN ASSOCIATION ("RPA") - read their tax-land use
proposals for New Jersey; Fairfield County projects...
Latest
in intersection/traffic calming? How about alternative
fuels?
L A N D U S E C H A N G E
& W A T E R S H E D S
GO TO REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY WEBSITE: http://www.swrpa.org/
OLD NEWS: GOVERNOR
RELL''S BILL ON
REGIONALIZATION:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/H/2009HB-06389-R00-HB.htm
SWRPA (South
Western Regional Planning Agency and the Metropolitan Planning
Organization, on the WEB)
FOR
A PREVIEW
OF THINGS TO COME (VIRTUAL LAND USE): http://www.communityviz.com/
"Responsible
Growth" bill
sHB7090 passed and this is the section that spoke to Economic
Development...watch for DEEP legislation in C.G.A.Long Session 2011
Regionalism:
See SWRPA Sewer Service Map 2009
HERE.
Here
it is Election
2008 and the Courant is still at it...2005
thought
piece-editorial by Hartford
Courant
Regional
Maps of SWRPA eight-town area: 1995 SWR Plan (l.) and
from 2005-2010
State of CT Plan
of C&D next, from an early draft of the on-going Housing Study
(follow-up to
Regional Plan 2006-2015 of SWRPA)--a map of where there is sewer or water service; Latest CTDOT train/bus
data. Down to
the see in ships a thing of the past? Will there ever be
intra-state rail commuting--and when
will we see new cars on Metro-North?
ATTENTION
RAIL USERS, COMMUTERS:
Remember this scene (r)? It is all happening all over
again!!! Looks as if it will turn out OK after Wednesday,
February 16th, 2011 at 7 pm in Stamford
Government Center. Good result!
Interesting
article Nov. 2011 on housing and the larger economy here
Older info...
Read all about the
Westport public meeting on housing opportunities and concepts, pictured
at left.
Read all about
SWRPA 2009 Housing Summit...
SWRPA
Housing Needs and Supply Assessment (August 2007): how it may fit into
Weston's planning...
To
download the various sections (text, maps and related documents) of
this report for yourself, please visit the SWRPA website, and go to the
Housing Committee page:
http://www.swrpa.org/swrpa/housing_cmte.htm
May 2009 - David Fink reports to SWRPA on
affordable housing event at two locations including Housatonic
Community College: http://bridgeportvisden.eventbrite.com/
Rell: Towns Will Receive Help Planning
Affordable Housing
By LORETTA
WALDMAN | The Hartford Courant
11:35 AM EST,
November 11, 2008
The Capitol Region
Council of Governments, a regional planning agency
representing Hartford-area municipalities, has been awarded federal
assistance to develop responsible growth strategies for affordable
housing, Gov. M. Jodi Rell has announced.
CRCOG will receive
direct technical assistance valued at approximately
$45,000 from a team of national experts organized by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Rell said. The largest of the state's 15
regional planning agencies, CRCOG has long been a proponent of the
environment, social, and economic benefits of smart growth and will use
the funds to enact "incentive housing zones" that encourage affordable
housing development. CRCOG requested EPA assistance with technical
policy analysis and public participation processes to develop and
promote model smart growth regulations that include provisions for
incentive housing zones in rural, suburban, and urban areas in the
Capitol region.
"This assistance
will help Hartford area towns promote a regional
approach for combating sprawl," Rell said. "By developing zoning
regulations based on responsible growth, we will be able to promote
more affordable housing options in the greater Hartford area."
Other communities
receiving the funding are Miami-Dade, Florida and New
York City. Connecticut Communities represented by CRCOG are: Andover,
Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor,
Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Hebron,
Manchester, Marlborough, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, Somers, South
Windsor, Suffield, Tolland, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield,
Windsor and Windsor Locks.
One of the
recommendations to come out of Rell's Responsible Growth
Task Force last year was to develop models of smart grown zoning
regulations that could be used by Connecticut's municipalities and
regional planning organizations.
"If left
unchecked, sprawl will continue to chop up the landscape and
impair our ability to remain economically competitive," she said.
"Responsible development ensures that we protect valuable natural
resources at the same time we take important steps to grow and
strengthen our economy."
More information
about the communities receiving EPA smart growth
technical assistance: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia2008.htm
.
Other sources:
LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND USE
POLICY link to "Visualizing Density" abstract: http://www.lincolninst.edu/pubs/pubdetail.aspx?pubid=1178
Good ideas here!
HOUSING
CRISIS IN
U.S.A.? Read I-BBC
report here.
Think tank link: http://www.ctpartnershiphousing.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181&Itemid=62
"About Weston" ideas and
research (unofficial) here.
"Think piece" on the
subject here: http://www.businessfairfield.com/affordablehousing.htm
Island County, WA recent
history on the subject: http://www.islandcounty.net/planning/docket.htm
"As the world
turns..." on
the Federal Level...to
the cabinet" and other links...any new developments in open beach
policies?
U.S.
CENSUS BUREAU ON-LINE:
U.S.
Census Bureau WEBsite: Fairfield County Data
AMERICAN
FACTFINDER an official place for tabular data, GEOGRAPHIC link
American
Factfinder
tabular data link to Weston
U.S. Census 2000
NEW - Annual Capital
Expenditures
Survey:
http://www.census.gov/csd/ace/
Estimates of the
Population for
Minor Civil Divisions in CT, lisited alphabetically within
County, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005: http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-05-09.xls
Pyramid
of population projections 2000-2010 for Connecticut from the
U.S. Census Bureau (0-5 age cohort down statewide):
http://www.census.gov/population/projections/07PyrmdCT1.pdf
Map
of Weston
down to Block
Level - some sample data for
Weston.
U.S. Census page on
estimates and methodology: http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php
Estimates
of population.
Obama declares
emergency in Connecticut
Mark Pazniokas, CT MIRROR
August 27, 2011
President Obama declared a state of emergency in Connecticut today,
giving the federal government authority to coordinate disaster relief
in anticipation of Hurricane Irene sweeping across Long Island and into
Fairfield County on Sunday morning as a Category 1 storm.
A hurricane warning was issued for the southern New England
coast, and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced that public transportation
in Connecticut would be suspended today, beginning with Metro-North
train service at noon and bus and Shoreline East train service at 8 p.m.
"You have the rest of today, all day tomorrow to take the steps
necessary to prepare yourselves," Malloy said Friday in a briefing at
the State Armory. "This storm is starting to move more quickly."
Landfall in Connecticut is expected between Greenwich and Bridgeport,
bring winds of more than 74 miles per hour and a storm surge...
LWV OF WESTON'S LEGISLATIVE WRAP
UP - LINK HERE!
Discussion of the Stamford UBS news and impact of tax increases on
donations to community...and more!
CONNECTICUT
GOVERNMENT (our view)
G.A.S.B.
Story...
HOW BAD $TATE$' $ITUATION$ ARE,
FROM NYTIME$ .
FROM STATE SENATOR BOUCHRR TODAY - WE'VE HAD THIS INFORMATIVE LINK UP
FOR A WHIE ELSEWHERE
ON THIS WEBSITE, BUT THIS BELOW TELLS YOU THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS
AWARE!
http://www.senaterepublicans.ct.gov/press/boucher/2010/122210_pew_report.pdf
Check
this out:
http://www.ctpost.com/databases/article/Database-Retired-state-employee-monthly-pensions-878619.php
On the same subject:
Next
Governor
of CT problem: unfunded pension liabilities?
National problem here too:
"Connecticut
ranks among eight states in which at least one-third of the
liability remains unfunded. Illinois is in last place, with 54 percent
of its pension system funded, followed by Kansas at 59 percent. Rhode
Island and Oklahoma are tied at 61 percent, and Connecticut is next at
62 percent."
--------------------------------
How
are all the other states doing? http://www.rockinst.org/pdf/government_finance/state_revenue_report/2009-07-17-SRR_76.pdf
www.ct.gov,
website for CT
government: Incoming Governor Malloy; Governor Rell;
legislature C.G.A.;
transportation T.S.B.;
analysis: O.L.R. &
O.F.A.; CT
Government TV CT-N.
IRENE 4 days in...
Conn.
governor's TV speech to focus on
budget woes - her
budget address here. Her budget here.
And here.
Governor's
Regionalizing idea, Friday the 13th: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/H/2009HB-06389-R00-HB.htm
News...
Did sub-prime problem hit CT
investments?
Click
here for Treasurer's message; click
here for Manchester Journal Inquirer report.
Relationship
between poverty
and health care...we're number 3, after New Hampshire ("Live Free
or Die") and Utah.
--------
T R
A N S I T O R I E N T E D D E V E L O P M
E N T :
Weston
T.O.D.? The best example
of this might be: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/ACT/PA/2007PA-00242-R00HB-07432-PA.htm
Connecticut
Department of
Transportation (CTDOT) - "...the highwayman came riding, riding,"
riding...
Reprise of problems
with "Big Dig" in Boston.
Sub-page on TRUCK TRAFFIC
& SAFETY here...
Or as we say across the pond, "transport."
Property tax going to get a re-do in 2009, 2008
Sessions? And last Session before that...and the one even before
that...
OPM
PRESENTATION - The
Appropriations Committee held a briefing on the Governor's
proposed budget Thursday, February 8, 2007 LOB. OPM Secretary Robert
Genuario made the presentation
to the Committee. Was anybody listening? Governor
Rell's budget - link
here.
WARNING:
main page to Legislative Branch should now read (as prefix to specific
locations with CGA) http://www.cga.ct.gov
http://www.ct.gov/deep/site/default.asp
PRESERVING
THE ENVIRONMENT: what
about "supply and demand" cycles here? Life and death?
Money matters more in '09?
THE OIL-SPILL HISTORY: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/10/us/20100510_OIL_TIMELINE.html?ref=earth
WATER
SUPPLY NEWS;
POWER;
ENERGY;
OIL;
NEW
FORMS of energy or improved
ones (that may reduce air pollution, for example); biodiesel? WIND? Read
answers to fuel
cell questions re: health here.
SOLAR
POWER DEFINED
FOR MAN-IN-THE-STREET.
I-BBC
ON CLIMATE CHANGE...
I-BBC link to climate change
post Copenhagen: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8394886.stm
Climate
change latest
news breaks from I-BBC;
NEW:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/7075560.stm
Graphic: climate
change around the world (I-BBC): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/629/629/6528979.stm
I-BBC
indepth:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2004/climate_change/default.stm.
More I-BBC direct to an issue: Fuelling
the future.
LINKS:
"Links" also can mean communication links world-wide
ONE
DEVELOPMENT CONSEQUENCE
Beach
report in CT;
"Climate change"
page inspired by
economists - yet another sensational British
government report;
Broadwater proposal and the Coast
Guard decision...
New
in Weston:Geothermal
house!
Energy
supplies:
NUCLEAR POWER BILL PROPOSED
Alternative
power (other than oil) available;
Long
Island Sound bi-state bill now
CT law! "Cross-Sound" natural gas idea dead in 2009.
H20;
U.S.G.S. stream flow in CT; how
about global
warming
- and what about floods or drought?
Air
pollution;
Power
lines.
Natural
Disasters: hurricane (i.e. New Orleans); tsunami (Indian Ocean); earthquake and volcano, and Chernobyl
- not a natural, but plenty disastrous (20 year anniversary April 26,
1986)!
WATER SUPPLY
BACKGROUND/NEWS:
A wrinkle in the municipal bond
market and particularly for California (reminds us of "Chinatown" plot):
http://www.ceres.org/Document.Doc?id=625
GLOBAL
PICTURE:
UN Report: Nature Best
Controls Climate Gases
NYTIMES
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 9:23 a.m. ETJune
5, 2009
AMSTERDAM (AP) -- The U.N. Environment Program says nature's way
is
best for controlling the gases responsible for climate change.
A UNEP report says better management of forests, more careful
agricultural practices and the restoration of peatlands could soak up
significant amounts of carbon dioxide, the most common gas blamed for
global warming.
It says millions of dollars are being invested in research on
capturing
and burying carbon emitted from power stations, but investing in
ecosystems could achieve cheaper results. It also would have the added
effects of preserving biodiversity, improving water supplies and
boosting livelihoods.
The U.N. agency released the report Friday at U.N. climate talks
in
Bonn, Germany. The event was Web cast worldwide.
---------------
FROM
THE WORLD
ECONOMIC FORUM, January 29, 2008:
DAVOS, Switzerland (AFP) —
Warnings of a water and food crisis seemed
incongruous among the lavish hospitality of Davos this year, but the
danger was stressed repeatedly to the assembled world elite. Scarcity of water was named
by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as a
top priority at the World Economic Forum and he warned that conflicts
lay ahead if the provision of the vital resource could not be assured.
"Population growth will
make the problem worse. So will climate change.
As the global economy grows, so will its thirst. Many more conflicts
lie just over the horizon," he said in a speech on Thursday.
Ban reminded the gathering
of the world's wealthy powerbrokers in Davos
that the conflict in Darfur in Sudan was touched off by a drought. "Too
often where we need water, we find guns," he said.
Rising food prices are also
causing problems in emerging countries,
with demonstrations and violence witnessed in a host of countries
including Mexico and African nations Mauritania, Morocco,
Senegal. Indian Trade Minister Kamal Nath warned earlier in the
week that prices of some foodstuffs had doubled in his country at a
time when 25 million people in India were estimated to have moved from
taking one to two meals a day.
"What does 25 million
people moving from one to two meals a day do for
prices?" he asked a room of corporate bigwigs and policymakers who pay
thousands of dollars to attend the exclusive get-together here.
Referring to the challenge
of providing food at affordable prices, he
said: "Next year in Davos we'll be discussing this..."
Link
to Hartford Courant S-P-R-A-W-L page...how about
thinking "out of the box" but downward?
AQUARION:
Drought dought
2007:
Greenwich story worse than in some other parts of CT?
Down under? Macquarie Bank Limited of Australia
must go to DPUC...
Aquarion goes for a rate
hike in '07;
DPUC
says "no"
to Aquarion request for rate increase Oct. '04 - story HERE (despite
what Greenwich TIME article says, this not
as big an issue for Weston as in some other towns--private wells for
most of town - see SWRPA water/sewer
service
map);
Rate
hike for
Aquarion customers coming: full
story.
News from
U.S.G.S. study in Greenwich (CONCLUSION:
water use too high
on large lots);
Check
out latest
Aquarion CT map HERE...
"SMART
GROWTH"...(according to OLR researcher in CT):
I-BBC
climate change scenario map;
GLOBAL
WARMING on the front burner. Read BBC article HERE.
General
Electric
gets into the H2O
game...
Take
a water use
test HERE;
Is
there H2Oenough
for all?
"Where
will we be in 2015?" Explore development issues with I-BBC.
"Planet
Under Pressure" - another I-BBC series...
Local
Government
Sustainability link...
Sierra
Club "Thirst" link...
WHERE
GOVERNMENT
FITS IN:
U.S.G.S. site: http://water.usgs.gov/data.html
At the State level, DPH looks
over DEP's shoulder on
Erskine Road in North Stamford (Greenwich gets water supply from Mianus
River, we think);
Town
of Weston
UNSIGNED COPY of the consent order in the matter of "Morehouse Farm
Park
Development" HERE;
Island
County,
WA story on remediating arsenic in groundwater HERE.
Water
battles
an old Western tradition - new;
Whidbey
Island, WA is active here!
Thoughtful
article from the New London DAY...and some editorial thinking on Southeastern
region water planning...
Water
Supply Around CT...last drought story. NOW A NEW ONE?
CT
DEP web site: http://dep.state.ct.us/
WATER
POLLUTION: Latest...in
Norwalk, at former Norden site - here
How about Stamford, CT
issue for "close to home" in 2009?
HOW
ABOUT
URANIUM IN
CT WELLS? Story here.
India
has problem with arsenic pollution
in groundwater...
Next article down, read of China report on pollution
there;
Sewage
Treatment, State of Washington style;
Article
from the Whidbey News-Times (State of Washington) - reminds me of
the
Weston Water Study (booklet published in 1993 - testing @1989).
GLOBAL PICTURE
- War caused
by drought?
HOW ABOUT FLOODS? HOW ABOUT WAVE POWER?
I-BBC describes the problem in England here;
IS IT TIME FOR A NEW
APPROACH TO FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT?
POWER:
SO WHAT IS A FUEL CELL? Could one work
in
Weston?
U.T.C. supplies
animation here...
NEWS: CL&P
charges are big factor in Weston's fuel cell project
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 08 December 2010 11:39
The town is still plugging along in its quest to install a fuel cell to
power Weston Middle School and Weston High School. But excessive
charges for transmission and distribution (T&D) from Connecticut
Light and Power (CL&P) are holding up the process.
Weston has asked United Technologies Company (UTC) to build and install
a 400-kW fuel cell at the middle school. The fuel cell, which will be
paid for entirely with a state grant, is an electrochemical device that
combines hydrogen fuel with oxygen from the air to produce electricity,
heat and hot water.
Since the fuel is converted directly to electricity, a fuel cell can
operate at much higher efficiencies than internal combustion engines,
extracting more electricity from the same amount of fuel. It also would
eliminate about 900 tons of carbon dioxide being released into the air
each year.
It is estimated the fuel cell would provide 95% of the electricity
needed for both Weston High School and Weston Middle School, all of the
heat for the pool at the middle school, a significant amount of the
heat and hot water for the middle school, and all of the air
conditioning for the middle school.
At a recent Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Don Gary, a member of the
town’s Building Committee who has been shepherding the fuel cell
project for several years, said no matter what, the town will save
money using the fuel cell...full
story here.
Powerline news (bottom right, via
Woodlands Coalition); latest
link to relate to Westonites and/or are E-general info
sources. (Some no longer in service)
Gas pipeline under
L.I.Sound; gas pipelines
in Europe news;
A new
related area of involvement...BROADWATER application
at FERC...latest!
One way to
get out your environmental message - do good P.R. (i.e.
know what you are talking about)
A
long story...one-year cost reprieve and an older story...SHARED COST;
Read
of CT
Siting Council decision on Phase II HERE...
"Nano-technology" is getting attention: http://www.batteriesdigest.com/lithium_air.htm
DEEP
(NO PUN INTENDED ON CT D-E-E-P)
BACKGROUND:
CLICK HERE FOR
NEWS:
Ben Franklin would have loved this photo on left!
Natural electric power (great storm photo taken in Norwalk by
the Stamford ADVOCATE, July 19, 2006). "Czech" and balance in EU
carbon trading story
here.
How
about vegetable auto
power?
Summertime
CT POST article summarizes
status for ordinary citizens...read official CT Siting Council
announcement: http://www.woodlandscoalition.com/
NOTE: the
photo above
(l.) does not indicate the opinion of "About Town" - but it is a
great and actual visual! ANOTHER USE FOR
THE
SOUND. The rain in Spain apparently does not stay on the plain -
see "solar thermal energy" set up there (r.)! A wind farm in
U.S.A. And more hot air, perhaps (CAP & TRADE)? The
word and their link to an Aspin Institute 2011 report,
from Cool
CACP...
ENERGY: Latest link page
focus - how can CT be a
leader?
CT ELECTRIC DEREGULATION SINCE
1998...power companies broken up into those that
distributed it and those who ran the plants. More basics here.
ENERGY
(other than powerlines in CT):
CNN
(please consider the source) report below:
http://www.greenfudge.org/2010/03/14/solar-powered-spain/
Earlier
CNN
report here.
Spain Reportedly To Cut Solar
Subsidy 30% For Existing Plants
By
Eric Savitz, BARRONS
Wednesday, June 16,
2010 ET
Spain is proposing
to cut the subsidies it pays solar plants by 30% for
existing plants, 45% for future ground-mounted units, 25% for large
future roof-mounted sites and 5% for smaller roofs, according to
various wire service reports, citing comments from industry lobbyists.
Reuters notes that
Tomas Diaz, a spokesman for the Spanish solar lobby
ASIF, said that the proposal would “destroy the government’s
renewables-friendly policy and kill us all off.”
The government wants
to close the big gap between the real cost of
producing power and the subsidized price consumers pay for it.
Copyright
2010 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Biodiesel
in the new
administration?
McCain idea
for
making a big dent in the fuel crisis;
Domestic gas across the pond
story.
Gasoline?
Wind? I-BBC
reports that proposal is coming ("White Cliffs of Dover" to be
obscured?); read about Texas-sized project;
Solar
thermal power in Spain; modified version for
Weston? And how about latest
glider technology (like a Swiss watch)?
New
in Weston: geothermal
heating for residences.
LATEST BROADWATER
NEWS:
BREAKING NEWS:
April 13, 2009, U.S. Department of Commerce upheld N.Y.State on
appeal!!!
Governor Paterson
of New York joins Governor Rell
in saying "no way" to BROADWATER (which appealed)!!!
From Save the Sound and CFE - it is
now up to Governor Spitzer of New
York...oops!
Older report - FERC 3-1 OK given to Weavers
Cove
proposal in Fall River, Massachusetts July 15, 2005...new news there;
(Answer:
bad news - OK'd; discussed at SWRPA meeting
August 1, 2005.)
Coast
Guard hearings
pre-report;
"LNG" - what
is it?
Watch industry
videos HERE;
Safety
concerns: http://www.lngfacts.org/About-LNG/Safety.asp
-------------------------------------------------
GLOBAL
WARMING, ON AN EXPLOSIVE PLANET, HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID - HUGE
ICEBERG, SIZE OF
MANHATTAN FOUND IN
CANADIAN ARCTIC; July 2008 VIDEO.
Bad news for bears - who are now, in 2008,
an endangered species...I-BBC
report.
AIR POLLUTION,
ECONOMY,
BIODIVERSITY, ETC. AND THE
LATEST;
Click
above to get the New York TIMES page on the U.S. Supreme Court
OUR LINKS:
U.S.
Supreme
Court: previous to last terms; 2006-2007 term; and 2007-2008: unanimous Duke
Energy; bigger one - Massachusetts
decision...
"What me worry" department...oil, global warming
and now nuclear warfare - "who's on first/" "No more fish"
story here.
Plainfield
Proposal Raises Concerns For Environment; Opposition To Power Plant Is
'Overblown,' Company Official Says
DAY
By Ted Mann
Published on 10/25/2007
A coalition of state environmental groups urged regulators to
block a
proposed power plant in Plainfield that would burn construction and
demolition debris to generate electricity...for full story, click here.
Hartford Courant articles:
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-global-sg,0,2341101.storygallery?coll=hc-headlines-home
I-BBC indepth on
Fuelling the Future: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2006/energy/default.stm.
Check
out current air pollution
here; Clean
Air, Cool
Planet:
http://cleanair-coolplanet.org/
I-BBC
on
biodiversity;
OIL: Pipeline woes in Alaska
(August 2006 - Republican Gubernatorial Primary turns out incumbent); new sources of oil in or offshore America? I-BBC report on Caspian
development here...
How about nuclear testing under and/or over the
ground?
I-BBC backgrounder here.
Newest
notes from above; melting matters here.
Related topics: on the global
economy; how is China doing?
A thoughtful report on world oil supply, from 2004, we have saved it here; or go
to it directly on the net: World
Oil Supply.
I-BBC video on oil
and its relationship
will modern life.
BUILDING
COMMITTEE page
REPLACEMENT OF MIDDLE
SCHOOL ROOF OVER AND TOTALLY SUCCESSFUL AND UNDER BUDGET
HISTORY...At
the
Building Committee: the Auditorium
project...in August 2008...
Clerk of the works for High School Auditorium project
on board.
Multi-Year Capital Plan:
Kaestle Boos to
evaluate Town and School buildings for long-range capital planning
purposes; on-going work on Town and School facilities with Town
and School staff in addition to study.
Revson Field in meeting
notes;
Refresh
your memory of what happened when in the School Construction saga,
which isn't quite over...and latest Town
projects.
SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE (r.i.p.) /
BUILDING
COMMITTEE:
Auditorium opens for winter concert - seats, alterations
for sound, replacement of worn-out rigging and other elements (i.e.
hand-made "thrust" stage from 40 years ago) - air conditioning
operational we think;
"Fields"
issue elsewhere. And in
Weston, a report (considering
that we may be asked to
participate in building homefield stands, press box and booster barn
with changing areas) - in Selectmen's hands.
At
right, the new and old parts of Weston High School - different but the
same--both as modern and functional - with post-Referendum work
replacing roof on old section (done) and renovating auditorium and
stage
spaces (underway summer '08 into the winter term);
MASTER
PLAN FOR SCHOOLS & FIELDS (l.):
COMPLETED...just a few ends to tidy up (Booster Barn and home field
stands)!
Tertiary
treatment
plant now working properly (no overflows). Intermediate
School open for business.
Revson
Field was undergoing repair; see history here.
How about reliving those early days of the school project?
Click here: http://www.aboutweston.com/hurlbutt.html
THE
SCHOOLS
& FIELDS PROJECTS: QUICK
LINK
to unofficial
meeting notices/notes. HISTORY
LESSON:
how we got to where we are...the Referendum of November 15, 2001 for
$79 million and change is just about over...last claim in the
works. REMEMBER THIS ONE? ON
A REALLY HOT NIGHT AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR 2008, THE
AUDITORIUM GOT
A BIG YES VOTE (THE FIRST WORK TO BE DONE ON THE SPACE
IN 40 YEARS)...congrats to all who worked to make this a successful
conclusion to the project approval.
OUR
FAVORITES FROM I-BBC:
A NEW PAGE - OIL AND WATER:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/americas/2010/oil_disaster/default.stm
History of earthquakes here.
...ONE SMALL STEP FOR
MAN,
ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8133835.stm
G-20
news: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/business/2009/g20/7897719.stm
MAKING
CHANGE IN U.S. LESS
FUZZY: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7657473.stm
GLOBAL CREDIT CRUNCH TIMELINE:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7521250.stm
THE 'BIG
BANG' SUPERCOLLIDER
STORY IN
FULL
HERE
Global warming sidelight: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7494305.stm
GREEN: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/documentary_archive/7075560.stm
Confused
over the names of
countries? Changing
world here.
Big ships: the
pix; how about the
Titanic? the present story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6377633.stm
From across the pond:
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