Google
WWW www.aboutweston.com

This page has "hot links" to subject-areas - updated continually every day...use internal Google search engine above to find 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.



LATEST "ABOUT TOWN" SHOW:


GET THE FULL PICTURE ON THE ECONOMIC CRISIS FROM HON. JOHN E. STRIPP!
Nine-term Connecticut State Representative for the 135th District, representing Weston, Easton, and Redding, the Honorable John E. Stripp draws upon his unique combination of extensive legislative experience and experience as a banking executive to  provide valuable insight into the budgetary and other challenges that Connecticut is faced with.  Watch now!



MEET WESTON'S NEWLY ELECTED FIRST SELECTMAN!
The Honorable Gayle M. Weinstein was elected in November, 2009 as Weston's First Selectman.  She had also been a member of the three-person Board of Selectmen for the previous two years.  In this interview, she provides valuable insight into the issues facing Weston, and the approaches she intends to bring to them.  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!
- 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!


All Aboard the RV Wagon Train!!!  Get in the mood - put on your hiking shoes, your broad-brimmed hat, take lots of water and learn all about the American West - beyond John Ford movies (and see for yourself who's on Mount Rushmore)!  This was an "away" interview for "About Town" - with Lyn Kimberly of American Wanderer - WATCH NOW

                    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!

Weston's Superintendent of Schools, Jerome R. Belair, and Director of Finance & Operations Dr. Jo-Ann Keating, give us a rundown on the FY 2010 budget preparation process, cost containment measures that are being undertaken, and many other matters of importance to all Westonites!   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 ;   Monday latest - explosion levels major parts of  POWER PLANT  under construction in Middletown, CT

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 meeting attended by About Town. 

Town Plan update process  winding down - see survey here;  "About Town" is starting to complete the Existing Land Use map;

Town of Weston Boards and Commissions we watchFY 2010-2011 BUDGET PROCESS SCHEDULE ; final report Capital Advisory Committee. .

Education:   Connecticut Government:  New CLEAR and CT DEP website for maps - http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/

State of Connecticut "Responsible" Planning:

Regional Planning: 

Planning ideas and matters from elsewhere

Environment:
When it rains it pours department - some ideas in run-off detention hereCLIMATE policy link here.

From Washington, D.C.:  Check up on Congress here;  Census Bureau report on income, poverty and health care.  Redistribution of the wealth...

From Across the Pond:


What constitutes an emergency?   Start here

HAZARDS OF ALL KINDS, NATURAL AND MAN-MADE:  Police Department here;  Westport-Weston Health District here"Emergency Management" page here.


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; 
GO DIRECT TO THE UCONN BASKETBALL SCHEDULE HERE

OTHER: 


Watercolors by Hannah Ferenbach

NEW "Foggy Dune"



POWER OUTAGES CENTRAL HERE!!!  SUPER-ACCURATE!
CL&P:  http://www.cl-p.com/home.aspx   

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EMERGENCY:  WEATHER:  background
From the National Weather Service (simple local report),
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - LOCATE DETAILED FORECAST HERE: http://www.weather.gov/
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.

News of Matthew Zachary in concert: http://matthewzachary.com/nyc/
N o w   a   G O O G L E   a d v i s o r . . .

I'M TOO YOUNG FOR THIS: Beginning Monday, January 5, 2009, Matthew has moved to BLOGTALKRADIO:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stupidcancershow

TIME Magazine rates the site...PRACTICE-A-THON '08 A BIG SUCCESS!!!
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1633488_1633530_1633566,00.html




THINK COOL - THAT'S LAST WINTER IN CT (r.)
Click HERE for link to general information about breast cancer...breast cancer survivor Dee Dee Jonrow shown above left, finished fourth in Iditarod 2006!  Cancer survivor Lance Mackey wins both Yukon Quest AND Iditerod in 2007 (not breast cancer, however) and is now, in 2009, a three-peat winner of Iterarod!  Scene of another Cancer walk/Run.


N E W   W E B S I T E
 
Remember this FORUM very special article?



Our favorite daily newspaper in Connecticut - although the Weston FORUM is our local go-to source...read "About Town" column sample here!
TOP STORY TODAY -

Reminds us of "Live Free or Die Hard" in re the part about the natural gas converging on "Middleton, West Virginia..."

A blow to CT energy costs, as major natural gas plant blows up on Sunday morning in Middletown, CT.  Remember the 345kV issue?

Explosion Investigation Focusing On Safety Issues
Josh Kovner, The Hartford Courant
2:29 PM EST, February 8, 2010

MIDDLETOWN —

Possible gaps in safety protocols at the Kleen Energy power plant are at the center of the investigation into Sunday's blast that killed five and injured 12. It occurred during the always-dangerous process of purging, or cleaning, of the underground, high-pressure natural-gas pipeline that runs about 800 to 1,000 feet through the facility.

Sources familiar with the purging operation and the construction and maintenance of the Kleen Energy pipeline reported these concerns to The Courant:

• That welding operations weren't entirely halted and other ignition sources may have been present during the purging Sunday morning;

• That the area wasn't completely cleared of workers and vehicles during the operation;

• Clutter and other safety issues at the site had delayed the purging operation for a short time and caused it to be re-scheduled to Sunday;

• That high-pressure natural gas was used to purge the pipe, as opposed to non-flammable nitrogen, which had been used for other operations at the plant;

• That the fill material covering the pipe was not compacted to a sufficient degree.

Deputy Middletown Fire Marshal Al Santostefano said the investigation -- being conducted by multiple city, state, and federal agencies, including the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board -- will focus in particular on whether there were other ignition sources present during the purging.

"It's going to try to determine whether all electricity was shut down as a precaution, workers moved from the area -- all of those issues,'' Santostefano said. He said he did not yet know what type of gas was used to purge the gas line.

Investigators with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board will be looking closely at whether the purging of natural gas contributed to the explosion.

"Reports indicate that this may have involved gas purging,'' said spokesman Daniel Horowitz said. "This is an issue the board is very concerned about.'' The board recently issued safety recommendations concerning purging after investigating the natural-gas explosion in June 2009 at the ConAgra Slim Jim production facility in Garner, N.C., which caused four deaths, three critical life-threatening burn injuries, and other injuries that sent a total of 67 people to the hospital.

Santostefano said authorities believe many of those on the site at the time of the explosion worked for O&G Industries of Torrington, the general contractor building the plant, which was more than 95 percent complete.

In November, O&G paid a $1,000 fine for not meeting standards for recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses, according to OSHA records. The violation is in the least serious category of violations, an OSHA spokesman said.

The Middletown explosion is the most serious incident of its type in the country in at least a year, Horowitz said.

William Corvo, a principal partner in the Kleen Energy Project, declined this morning to answer questions about safety protocols or provide details of the purging operation.

"We're focused now on the human side,'' said Corvo, who was the face of the project in Middletown and in Connecticut during the seven-year process to win permits, capacity contracts, and about $1 billion in financing. "We have people who were hurt, people who were killed. We're worried about the families.

Kleen Energy's natural-gas line connects to the Algonquin pipeline's meter station at the base of the power-plant site. The Algonquin line is part of a national gas-transmission system. The utility extended its local line about 1.5 miles and constructed the meter station to accommodate the project, said Algonquin spokeswoman Toni Beck.

"We introduced natural gas to the lateral and to the meter station in November,'' said Beck. "Since then, Kleen Energy was taking flows as they commissioned the plant.''

She declined to say how much natural gas the plant was using.

Courant Staff Writers Daniela Altimari and Ken Gosselin contributed to this story.

Copyright © 2010, The Hartford Courant




BOARD OF SELECTMEN "HOT NEWS"/OTHER MEETINGS...


BUILDING COMMITTEE Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - agenda.

FIRST SELECTMAN'S BUDGET AND CAPITAL BUDGET Presentation Feb. 2, 2010 - our notes here.  BOARD OF SELECTMEN REVIEW THE SCHOOL BUDGET Feb. 3, 2010 here.


CEMETERY COMMITTEE to meet with Board of Selectmen soon (perhaps Feb. 25).  Previously...lead story in FORUM!!!  EDITORIAL!!! 

Capital Advisory Committee met Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 7:45am for 2 hours in the Town Hall Meeting Room (related to need for Multi-Board meeting) - report here.


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WANTED:  Entries for SPRING art exhibit...

TOWN OF WESTON: 
Schedule of Selectmen's meetings for 2010;
NOTE AND PREPARE FOR 2010:  Watch LWV of Weston "Speak Up 2009" here.
WHAT WERE THE PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT IN 2009?  See a list of the 18 questions asked as well as  some snapshots...
LWV of Weston SPEAK UP 2009 notes on the link page;  more than 200 in audience at Norfield (the largest crowd yet, we think) and about twice the size of Town Plan "Workshop"

----------------------

Read about Internet posting rules for towns

OPPOSITION TO BUDGET APPEARED AND CARRIED THE DAY:  http://www.westonfiscalresponsibility.com/


BUDGET PROCESS BEGINS AFTER ELECTION 2009 (FOR FY2010-2011) here...and a review of what happened last year!

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.
--------------------
Full steam ahead on Bleachers/Booster Barn and Lyons Plains Firehouse, as Board of Finance votes "yes" on both!  Got OK and input from Building Committee...now what?

Board of Selectmen meeting Sept. 4 OK's modified (only new cars) fuel efficient car tax policy on a Party-line vote.
Lachat property back for another try as "gateway" to Devil's Den - new Ad Hoc Committee to form...not yet, to our knowledge!  And the Cemetery Committee gets new blood, reports, and then nothing doing, as preferred site frowned upon by Aquarion/Macquarie Bank of Sydney, down under.

Postcards From Weston.  Speaking of postcards:  check out "About Town" video of additions to Weston High School.  Take a virtual visit  to Morehouse Farm Park's attractions!



Town Hall in the Spring, l,  Town Hall Annex in the "Kinderland" portable buildings, r.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND REGIONAL OR MULTI-TOWN ENTITIES PLUS PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS WE WATCH: 

BOARD OF SELECTMEN;

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 - background

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.


OTHERS:

Next new initiative:  Selectmen finishing the Booster Barn and home-side stands;
Cemetery Committee (most recently revived August 13, 2009);
Arts Commission news;
WestonArts.org:  the folks concerned about the theatrical and arts/music part of a Weston education.
Lachat Building & Maintenance Committee

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:


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.



Bye-Bye-Birdie lead singer in Chita Rivera role here!


W.I.S. CAFETORIUM...Report on Board of Education outreach for FY2011 Budget meeting here.

BOARD OF EDUCATION NEWS...

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: 


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 new Superintendent Jerome Belair; 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, at right.
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).

CMT RESULTS BY TOWN
NATIONAL STUDY:  "Regional Shift Seen in Education Gap" here.  Will this bring on a SHEFF 2?

----------------------

NESDEC

October 2008 enrollments; estimates and projections;  then...check out latest history of K-5 enrollment;
Report to the Weston Public Schools - Oct. 15, 2007 - Enrollment History and Projections

-----------------------------------------
OUR OWN VIEW...MORE EDUCATION PAGE: Bus Routes study and implementation (in time for the budget process FY09-10?) coming soon?  And it all ties together with...
"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.


REGIONAL THINKER GRIEBEL...

"Oz" Griebel addressing regional economics.  In the Short Session coming Feb. 3, look for businesses to fight!

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.


CT State and Southwestern Region's Plans of Conservation and Development 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.  Its latest Plan was adopted in February, 2006.



SWRPA (South Western Regional Planning Agency on the WEB)


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? 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.



Regional Housing Needs and Supply Assessment 2007 (l.) and Regional Legislative Breakfast 2009 (c.) and Regional Watersheds, July 24, 2008.

Interesting story 21 October 2007 explains the housing industry in U.S.A. by Reuters here.

FOR A PREVIEW OF THINGS TO COME (VIRTUAL LAND USE):  http://www.communityviz.com/

SWRPA(South Western Regional Planning Agency on the WEB)
"Responsible Growth" bill sHB7090 passed and this is the section that spoke to Economic Development...

    1. LINK TO U.S. CENSUS BUREAU FOR QUICK NUMBERS!
    2. A different route to data:  how many clicks to get to SDC?
    3. Weston quick Census 2000 link..
    4. Unofficial page regarding land use mapping in the Region;
    5. The official locational map of the Region, 2004;
    6. Average daily traffic counts, capacity, accidents (2001).
Congestion Pricing coming to N.Y.C.?  Not so fast...but CT is going to study alternatives state-wide next year
 M.P.O. takes action opposing Broadwater!

  • PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING:  Pro-con on BROADWATER...Norwalk HOUR report--Governor Rell's action following;


  • Reportsof 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?

    GOVERNOR'S BILL ON REGIONALIZATION:  http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/H/2009HB-06389-R00-HB.htm

    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.



    PLANNING & ZONING:  Please remember that this is not official information, nor does it purport to represent the opinions of anyone but the author of these pages.  A source for basic urban planning education is:  http://www.planning.org/


    BAD NEWS IN 2009 - "Shovel ready" may mean burrying this fine idea...planning process take too long or was it just the ways things work?  There may be some news of a positive sort soon...and that word came from former lead staff who noted at a SWRPA meeting that the scale of any development and the timing, while bad for the project, will create less upset in neighboring communities through constrtuction.
    Weston land use 1999 next. Georgetown Land Development gets "smart growth" award and now funding comes through for green design at Gilbert & Bennett - see CLEAR aerial photo and official UK greenbelt next...for overview of the Weston Plan itself, click HERE.

    PLANNING & ZONING:

    NEWS:  Here is Planimetrics' review of where we're at with the Town Plan - click here for their report.

    CONTENTS: Links to our research!
    E-WESTON TOWN PLAN UPDATE in progress...and the Planning and Zoning Commission is getting started, too!

    The Plan of Development for Weston, CT; change "workshops" - water meeting with NEMO;
    Elements of the Plan to focus on for future impacts:
    Aquifer protection;
    CT towns with designated aquifers;  Weston's mapped aquifer;

    NEMO imperviousness mapping regression analysis coming!
    New NEMO page for do-it-yourself planning!  http://nemo.uconn.edu/tools/cri/index.htm.
    Source of info recommended by DEP -who else--NEMO!
    State of Connecticut's "Aquifer Protection" areas.
    Eminent domain research,,,OLR reports HERE.
    ZONING:  Weston uses "floating zone" concept (with standards and site plan review ) and "special permit" to control other-than purely 2 acre residential and farming use. 
    What do other placesdo (and what are some issues there)?
    Planning & Zoning gets Weston Center to file site plan;  take our Weston "downtown" quiz here..

  • Unofficial update of Town Plan begun (first things first:  develop an existing land use map...)

    ANYTHING NEW OUT THERE? ENERGY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS - link here and scroll down to sections 21-36 for the official word, or click here to go to this website's version  (Weston's unofficial planning process as well as a look at a few places far away.)  Cool map of "tear-downs" in Westport HERE (thanks to WESTPORTNOW.COM)
    Ideas;  density bonus legislation/special taxing district
    Change agents;
    Action;Facts.
    Related Weston Town Plan 2000 information - unofficial Town Plan illustration.
    Unofficial version of the Town Plan's maps;
    Postcards from Weston.
    CT Plan of Conservation & Development 2004-2009 link HERE;

  • Outdoor Recreation in CT;  go directly to information on "SCORP" HERE;


  • NEMO land cover map for Weston HERE.  CLEAR interactive and explanation of remote sensing data HERE for Weston.
  • Wetlands:  what are they and how many different types can you think of...
  • Out-of-town projects;
  • Nature Center at Lachat news...
  • Regional Planning and data link to U.S. Census Bureau

  • State of Connecticut:  latest CT PLAN OF C&D - easy to read version.
    Special Permit Zoning gives people the last say...latest (things happen slowly in Weston...):

    LACHAT AGAIN!
    At left, concept;  center, the site of P&Z Special Permit public hearing;  at right, ATBM considers cut to funding...and they did;  another Committee formed - "Lachat Advisory Committee."

    LACHAT:  something is up...Committee (not sure which one) is to meet, we think, on June 18, 2009 at Lachat.
    NEW COMMITTEE REVIVED PLAN - Public Hearings September 12 and 25, 2006 came up with modest proposal;
    Juliana Lachat Preserve Master Plan presented first Dec. 4, 2003, then...
    June 17, 2004 Special Town Meeting says "YES" to $1.5 million Town share of funding plan...and then project is withdrawn after first night of Special Permit Public Hearing at Planning and Zoning...ATBM cuts all funding for FY07.;  WHAT NEXT?

    Cultural, historic, architectural and natural preservation...

    Click (l.) above for history of G&B.
    Built environment - click (next) for Whidbey Island, WA news; and our Seattle page.
    Mt. St. Helen's outside Seattle, 2004--nature takes a hand...in other places, too.

    How to start...inside as well as outside (of Weston proper):  check out P.A.05-205;

    Historic Presevation:
    Georgetown, CT:  a work in progress; elsewhere in New England:

  • Site Plan Public Hearing for Georgetown Development at former Gilbert&Bennett Property;
  • Gilbert & Bennett history;  Georgetown Land Development press:  http://www.georgetownland.com/news.asp
  • Georgetown and the Flood of 1955;
  • Georgetown CT New Urbanism?
  • Neighborhood plans/revitalization:

    West Hartford, CT:  Blue Back Square news...
    Seattle, WA: a cool place to emulate?  Maybe not... NEWS here.  Check up on third count of votes in gubernatorial election HERE;
    On Whidbey Island, WA., cultural activity is an accepted way to build community (supporting its
    arts community). Ideas from Whidbey Island HERE.

    Seattle, WA  incorporates urban design into its planning;  check out Whidbey Island research HERE
    R-e-s-p-e-c-t nature's impact:  Mount St. Helen's virtual tour...


    Urban design in Redding:

    We think the Central Part of Weston needs some:  some ideas;
    Any development consequences of Zenon plant use?
    CT SITING COUNCIL...cell towers, 345kV lines regulators;
    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on power to Long Island;  other (not Weston)
    History of School Construction: HOW DID THIS MEGA-PROJECT develop?Army Corps projects;


    Open space planning - both active and passive open space - involving transit:

    Seattle neighborhoods to be linked by bike trail - how does SAFETEA-LU (Federal Highway Bill) relate to this?
    SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF
    Tuesday, June 21, 2005

    The City Council yesterday approved a measure that will allow hikers and bicyclists to travel between Magnolia and Fremont by trail.  The Ship Canal Trail's link at the Ballard Bridge will now connect to the Lake Union waterfront. In 1996, the city acquired property as part of the Lake Union Ship Canal Trail Project, allowing the trail to be extended from near the Fremont Bridge to Sixth Avenue West.  The measure transfers property from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. to the city to complete the trail. The city will extend the trail westward from Sixth Avenue and connect it to the existing bicycle path along West Emerson Street.  Cyclists will be able to travel between Seattle and Redmond almost entirely by trail.  (Redmond=Microsoft)


    High points in Weston open space purchasing (but by no means the whole story)...

    "Village of the Dammed" a great history of why Weston is the way it is!!!
    Special Town Meeting Jan. 9, 2003 votes "yes" twice and takes well-established open space purchase policy one step further--begins landbanking program.
    Check out location of Fromson-Strassler and Elizabeth Luce Moore "land bank" properties;  link to Aspectuck Land Trust.
    The power of www.aboutweston.com - 2002 bike map from the State of Connecticut (lower Fairfield County) now uploaded!


    T H E   M A P
    Below (l) is an unofficial land use map of Weston, Connecticut @1996 by "About Town" (prior to website).  Land Use Maps:  Legend for 1996 here;  2008 (r) colors here

    Our unofficial version: e-Town Plan of Conservation and Development Update 2010 (our "Existing Land Use Map"at the right)...

    "Filling in the blanks" exercise almost complete...from the last time we did an existing land use map (2008):

    OK, we'll started the ball rolling: 
    If the GOALS of the new Plan are to both maintain the relatively rural nature of Weston while both making the schools even more of a focus, while not bankrupting the taxpayers, then...

    POLICIES of the PLAN should enhance them...including
            sewer avoidance,
            heavyily enforced and creative environmental protection policies,
            consistent Town spending on and maintenance of "education village"and education programs, buildings and infrastructure improvements.

    Results of the SURVEY taken by P&Z at the end of 2009;  looks as if we are in step with the responding population! 

    SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION: Census of Children
    What has been done in this area in the past:  http://www.aboutweston.com/towncen00.htm
    And even longer ago:  http://www.aboutweston.com/TWN00.htm


    Please remember that this website is unofficial...

    Planimetrics' analysis of the process undertaken by the P&Z...

    SWRPA Study of Saugatuck coming soon...
    At the top, Planimetrics conducts Feb. 26, 2009 meeting to determine what people consider important to emphasize in the Town Plan revision (r.).  Natural Resources discussion March 25th at the Library very thoughtful and input from DEP as well as citizens knowledgeable about environment.  The new Lunch Box decor, the old Revson Field an opportunity area - how about new thoughts???  And NEMO/CLEAR State of Connecticut advisor...now retired.

    PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT...GOING THE EXTRA STEP...LATEST ON SURVEY RESULTS HERE!

    Public nixes idea of expanded village district in Weston
    Weston FORUM
    Written by Patricia Gay
    Thursday, 23 July 2009 00:00

    A large majority of residents attending a town plan workshop were against the concept of forming a village district in the center of Weston.

    Harold Halpin, a 16-year resident of Weston and member of the Weston Village District Coalition, appeared before the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night, July 20, to discuss a multi-zoned, village district plan that would allow for a mix of residential, municipal, religious, and business uses in the town center.

    The town is currently zoned residential, with one exception — the Neighborhood Shopping District, which houses Weston Center.

    Mr. Halpin asked P&Z to consider incorporating a village district into the town’s 10-year Plan of Conservation and Development, which the commission is in the midst of reviewing and updating.

    He said the district would be a good thing for Weston and give the town flexibility to add things like medical offices, sidewalks and cafes.

    “The idea is not to turn the center into a commercial district, but to protect the distinct character of the town while adding some more services,” Mr. Halpin said.

    Another benefit he said was that land values within the district would increase — if and when residents decided to sell.

    P&Z member Don Saltzman did not care for the idea. “It’s too broad a concept. It’s difficult to encumber people’s houses and I don’t understand why churches are included,” he said.

    Several residents with homes within the proposed contours of the district said they did not want to risk someone next to them putting up a commercial structure.

    Others who spoke against the idea said it was unfair that houses within the district could benefit and profit by selling their homes for commercial development.

    And several other others said they wanted Weston to stay as it was, without more development.

    Workshop

    Mr. Halpin explained that business and commercial development was a major topic of discussion by the public at a planning workshop in February.  At that workshop, approximately two-thirds of the 100 participants said they would like to see more goods and services in town.

    Christine Lomuscio, who attended the February workshop and spoke in favor of more businesses, had a change of heart Monday night. “I know I said I was in favor of more services back then, but that was at budget time and when the economy was really bad,” she said.

    Mr. Saltzman polled the audience to find out how many favored the proposal. There were seven votes in favor, and approximately 35 against.

    P&Z member Katie Gregory said to keep in mind that the village district was only a concept and there was no application pending for it. “What you are bringing to us is an idea,” she said.

    “Yes, this is a just tool for Planning and Zoning to consider as they review the town plan,” Mr. Halpin said.

    --------------------------------------

    AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY:  read all about the section devoted to ENERGY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS in Public Act 07-242!

    SAMPLE QUESTION:  How can Revson Field (shown above in a photo BEFORE the Referendum) be the key to developing a more coordinated, centralized approach to energy policy for the Town of Weston?  ANSWER:  By making it part of an Energy Improvement District! 

    MOVING AHEAD!!!  citizens' call for "sports complex" heard by Selectmen;  movement gaining steam to build Booster Barn/home stands/press box (never accomplished with the $80 million from the Nov. 15, 2001 Referendum).  Keep your fingers crossed and hope for Booster Barn by Sept. 30th!



    "About Town" Original Town Plan 2010 - 2020 includes:  link to "Village District" map proposed - compare to our Central Part of Town "hub" map.



    Town Planning not done locally across the pond.  "Knock downs,"  UK definition of "brownfield" and UK discussion of planning: http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7190000/newsid_7197500/7197538.stm?bw=nb&mp=rm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1



    RESEARCH SOURCES and ideas on related challenges for Weston: map above left links to "land use change" page...at right, a previous NEMO map of the State by Census Tracts (1990). NOTE:  top two-thirds of Weston in the low development category--and much of that is the Nature Conservancy and the Reservoir.
    Ideas and topics from out there (including "visual issues" ):  how do do a Plan...



    Wildlife in crisis...in Weston! 

    CAN WESTON MAKE THE TOWN-SCHOOL SUPERBLOCK INTO AN ENERGY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT?

    How does "Responsible Growth" implementation, now the law, apply in Weston? Perhaps the new Town Plan can address this?
    Research to date (what has happened since Year 2000);
    GIS system for Weston coming (not before Town Plan is due for update, tho');  can SWRPA help?
    Long-range population projections from UCONN:  go to CT Data Center here:  http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/; and enrollment projections here:  NESDEC10-15007.pdf
    What relationship is there between the State of Connecticut Long-Range Transportation Plan and Weston's Town Plan? 
    Where do bicycles fit in...Energy Options  to the forefront?
    New use for high school roof?  GLOBAL WARMING - National Conversation came to Weston H.S. cafeteria Oct. 4 - click here for pix. 
    Global Warming before the Supreme Court!   How is Weston affected by this decision? And for Connecticut especially, "green policy" wins the case!
    Should the new Plan include any other ideas, such as the ones in red Italic here?
    From across the pond...always a good place to check for new ideas.


    MAKING CHANGE

    The economy:  Very much in the news, don't you think?
    Scramble for water?
    What was that you said?  I couldn't hear you over the noise of low flying jumbo jets...FAA issue;
    Power issues: New England Governors and Canadian Premiers Conference;report #2 is about day 2 of that conference, re: region's prospects.  So how does the U.S.A.plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
    Growth enablers:  power supply, generation and delivery systems.
    Long Island Sound:  Liquified Natural Gas ("LNG") facilities- where are they in the U.S.A.?
    Utopia Studios and the further redevelopment of South Eastern CT;  base-closing in Groton...didn't happen...what is the Plan for Southeastern CT economy now?
    Investment by outside "agencies" - for example, art in Everett, WA;
    University of Connecticut/NEMO; here you will find maps for Weston (of land cover and basins) - COOL MAPS!C.L.E.A.R.
    "Smart Growth/Property Tax Commission" - link to CCM summary; download full report from there;  civil rights lawsuits reviving.
    How about global warming and the Kyoto Protocol?  I-BBC article here.

    TAKING ACTION ("so how do we do anything about solving problems?")

    CTDOT reform panel website;
    Bridgeport newspaper's editorialson housing policies...
    Check out equivalent of "village district"in another part of CT.
    BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION REPORT;  local control of zoning...METROPATTERNS.
    Affordable Housing History... news reports;  Norwalk HOUR series HERE;
    ANTI-BIG HOUSES REPORT:  latest article;  old article HERE;  later report HERE;
    Some LAND USE LEGAL DECISIONS...Legislature passes "Poirier" relief bill. Substitute Senate Bill 448 history...signed by Governor June 1, 2004.


    KNOW THE FACTS

    TERRASERVA:  Aerial photographs and U.S.G.S. maps;
    CLEAR maps from University of Connecticut;
    Center for Population Studies at UCONN: http://popcenter.uconn.edu/
    U.S. CENSUS 2000 WEBPAGE NewEstimate for 2004...regional Census link;
    Hartford Courant/U.S. Census 2000 selected data for the State of Connecticut.
    ...AND SOME MORE FACTS

    Weston's block group ("neighborhood") maps from U.S.Census 2000...Profile of selected economic characteristics, U.S. Census 2000 for Weston, CT -
    The major CT source on the Internet and the latest report of interest: http://www.ct.gov/
    http://www.conndot.ct.gov/pttrans/index.html

    HOW DOES WESTON RELATE TO EVENTS AND TOPICS OUTSIDE ITS BORDERS?

    Eminent domain:    U.S. Supreme Court Kelo v. City of New London--click here for commentary;  eminent domain ruling in New London sets up CT Legislative debate in Special Session - CT POST editorial;  new proposal in legislature never saw the light in '04.  DAY editorial on New London urban renewal...CT Legislature asked to empower Zoning Boards re: site plan powers - didn't pass 2005...

    Legal issue other than eminent domain:

    Farmland tax breaks in court;  a victory for farm preservation (Falls Village).
    Farmland de-classification elsewhere in CT (importance of Board of Assessment Appeals);
    How Lyme does land preservation.
    When is a gift of open space not forever?  (Answer:  when you don't follow the tax rules closely?);
    Wetlands litigation.
    Sprawl as a health issue?

    "...study found no link between suburban sprawl and a greater incidence of mental health problems.  Regions considered to have the worst suburban sprawl included Atlanta; Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.; Winston-Salem, N.C.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Bridgeport-Danbury-Stamford, Conn., the report said. Regions with the least amount of sprawl included New York City, San Francisco, Boston and Portland, Ore...

    Property Tax and taxes in general department:

    Discussions in CT
    Tax Study by Program Review and Investigation
    Latest NJ PRESS RELEASE:
    How New Jersey study PART THREE reads;
    PART TWO by R.P.A. came out...


    Review part one here (issued during the recent election campaign for Governor of New Jersey);  please note that the victorious candidate, now Governor, over the July 4th weekend, closed down the State of New Jersey in a battle with the Legislature over increasing the sales tax to pay for his budget.


    Other:  Could Weston learn anything from Missoula, Montana?  From Seattle?The Citizen-Planner info source, horses mouth variety: http://www.plannersweb.com/.    Intersection and highways design thoughts...roundabouts on Whidbey Island (Oak Harbor)?  How about visiting ANWR and learning to be a musher?


    Planning ideas from...across the pond.
    In Weston's next Plan?  Examples of greenbelt, roundabout and parking gargage...just below!


    "LOOK LIKE..." (but these are across the pond):  North of the Merritt, roundabout in the news on the Greenwich-Stamford border and the Stamford parking garage, perhaps?

    Outreach by About Town:  we can learn from other places (classic English ideas above)!

    IN CONNECTICUT:  looking east along Long Island Sound and generally in an easterly direction:
    Utopia - the project, as it was; related to Utopia. Casino expansion...
    East Norwalk Neighborhood Association (ENNA);
    FROM THE COURTS...  LATEST WORD ON URBAN RENEWAL LAW!  Photographic essays from Brooklyn by talented artist/urbanist.  Latest:  http://www.brooklynfootprints.com/home.html
    I-BBC take on urbanization:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/world/2006/urbanisation/
    Architecture can make a difference:  http://www.newhampshire.com/article.cfm?ArticleID=1839
    Arvada, CO - a place we did long-distance consulting about street-closings for a mall (many years ago) news;
    Scottsdale, Arizona our newest e-place to visit!  We're a bit behind on this one...
    Missoula, Montana a recent e-place for research (related to WILD THINGS farm team)!
    Weston, CT sometimes might be mistaken for...Palo Alto, CA!
    Seattle, plus tourism and "visioning" on Whidbey IslandE-Land Use Planning on Whidbey Island, WA;  open space and preserving history important on Whidbey Island;  compare South Whidbey Schools to Weston's (U.S. Census 2000) - click here to read about their school construction issues.
    American Planning Association (APA) in China - pre-earthquake: urbanization:  create communities of lasting value.






    CT GENERAL ELECTION COMING 2010:  GOVERNOR RELL NOT RUNNING, SENATOR DODD NOT RUNNING...

    How are all the other states doing?  http://www.rockinst.org/pdf/government_finance/state_revenue_report/2009-07-17-SRR_76.pdf 
    CONNECTICUT GOVERNMENT(our view)



    www.ct.gov, website for CT government; Governor Rell; legislature C.G.A.; transportation T.S.B.; analysis: O.L.R. & O.F.A.; CT Government TV CT-N.
    Conn. governor's TV speech to focus on budget woes  - her budget address here.  Her budget here.  And hereGovernor's Regionalizing idea, Friday the 13th: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/H/2009HB-06389-R00-HB.htm

    News...
    Timeline Of The Kleen Energy Power Plant
    The Hartford Courant
    Feb. 8, 2010

    Feb. 7, 2010
    11 a.m. explosion kills at least five and injures 12 Middletown Deputy Fire Marshal Al Santostefano said the explosion appears to have occurred when operators attempted a "blow down" of natural gas pipelines, a procedure that involves the purging of gas pipelines.

    Feb. 4, 2010
    The U.S. Chemical Safety Board announced it was considering what it called urgent recommendations to change national fuel gas codes to improve safety when gas pipes are being purged, or cleared of air during maintenance or installation of new piping. The recommendations grew from the board's ongoing federal investigation into the June 9, 2009, natural gas explosion at the ConAgra Slim Jim production plant in Garner, N. C., which caused four deaths and other injuries that sent 67 people to the hospital.

    2008
    Energy Investors Funds, with a multibillion-dollar power-generation portfolio stretching across the country, acquired 80 percent of Kleen Energy by pulling together $985 million in construction financing. The project was underwritten by Goldman Sachs, and ProjectFinance magazine named it "The Deal of the Year'' in 2008.

    2007
    After Enron collapsed and banks stopped financing power plants, advocates of the plant talked up "capacity contracts" -- 15-year agreements that pay plants just to exist and act as incentives to developers to build them. The state Department of Public Utility Control issued four of these contracts in 2007 in a fiercely competitive bid that drew some of the largest operators in the country. Kleen Energy bagged the biggest share of the capacity payments.

    2006
    As of 2006, the company was petitioning the Siting Council to be able to produce 620 megawatts. A megawatt is enough to serve 700 to 1,000 homes.

    2002
    Kleen Energy Systems received approval to generate 520 megawatts -- enough electricity for 364,000 to 520,000 households -- in November 2002 from the Connecticut Siting Council.

    2001
    Kleen Energy Systems LLC first proposed building the plant in 2001 in Middletown's Maromas section, bordered on the north by the Connecticut River. Just west of the plant is vacant residential land, to the south is Bow Lane and to the east is land owned by Connecticut Light & Power for a 345 kilowatt transmission line, according to a 2006 report by the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research
                             
                                                                             
                                   
    -------------------------------------------

    Sub-prime problem to 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




    PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT: what about "supply and demand" cycles here?  Life and death?  Money matters more in '09?
    CLEAN AIR COOL PLANET report for Obama administration-to-be: http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/cpc/documents/CA-CP_Early_Climate_Actions_for_44th_President_Exec_Summ.pdf
    WATER SUPPLY NEWS;
    POWER;
    ENERGY;
    OIL;
    NEW FORMS of energy or improved ones (that may reduce air pollution, for example);  biodieselWINDRead 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:

    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:

    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:


    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?

    map showing underground lake

    Remote Sensing to the rescue?

    World graphic (click on it for blow up) above shows growth; from NYTIMES - grey water (treated) used in Israeli farming.


    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:



    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 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.

    SO WHAT IS A FUEL CELL?  Could one work in Weston?  U.T.C. supplies animation 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, from Cool ACC...

    ENERGY:

    ENERGY (other than powerlines):

    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?
    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 2007-2008unanimous 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



    At the Building Committee (click above for details):  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:
    ...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 pixhow about the Titanic the present story:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6377633.stm


    From across the pond:
    Page last updated at 23:19 GMT, Sunday, 7 February 2010

    Connecticut power plant gas explosion kills five people
    Aerial view of Kleen Energy plant in Middletown (7 February 2010)
    The 620MW Kleen Energy plant was due to come online in the summer 

    A huge explosion has rocked a power plant in the US state of Connecticut, killing at least five people and injuring 12, the local mayor has said.

    Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said it was caused by a gas explosion.

    People living up to 50km (30 miles) away reported that their homes were shaken by the blast at the Kleen Energy plant, being built outside Middletown.

    There are reports of people trapped under the remains of a plant building, and a rescue operation is under way.

    Search experts and specialist dog teams were at the site combing through the wreckage, the mayor said.

    It really shook the house and everybody was scared and the kids started to cry
    Lynn Townsend

    Speaking at a news conference on Sunday evening, Mr Giuliano said that the identities of the dead had not yet been released as some of the victim's families had not yet been informed.

    Mr Giuliano said the plant, which was only 95% complete and due to open fully in the summer, was undergoing a series of gas tests when the explosion occurred.

    He said between 100 and 200 people worked on the massive site, and were employed by multiple contracting companies.

    "How many people were here today - that's the number they can't really nail down. They were purging gas lines all night long, most people were evacuated from the building when they ran the tests," Mr Giuliano said.

    The plant is located to the south of the town, on the Connecticut River.

    Earlier, deputy fire marshall Al Santostefano said there were some 50 construction workers on the site at the time of the explosion.

    At least 100 firefighters were sent to the scene and it had taken them an hour to contain the fire caused by the blast, he said.

    Officials say there is no further danger to the public, and have not evacuated the area. The plant, however, remains cordoned off.

    The nearby Middlesex Hospital told the Associated Press it had received 11 victims, while the hospital in the state capital, Hartford, has treated three others.

    'Gas line test'

    Mr Santostefano said a natural gas pipeline running near the plant had exploded at 1117 (1617 GMT) sending a shockwave that one local resident compared to an earthquake.

    Map

    "We heard such a loud explosion and the dog was outside and I heard her bark. And then when we went outside we saw a very big explosion of bright orange flame between the two smoke stacks," Lynn Townsend told the Associated Press.

    "It really shook the house and everybody was scared and the kids started to cry because they did not know if the house was going to catch fire."

    Fighting through tears, plant worker Paul Venti said: "It's just horrible. All I know is I lost some union brothers. They are some close close personal friends. It's horrible. They were working. They were testing."

    "I just heard there was a gas explosion and I'm getting all kinds of phone calls from union brothers. We got some people up there they got little kids that are at home and we lost them."



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