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"ABOUT WESTON" SITE MAP .

"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.

LATEST "ABOUT TOWN" SHOW: Norfield Congregational Church, founded in 1757, is an important part of Weston's history, and of its present and its future. Watch a very special show commemorating the Church's 250th anniversary! Watch now!

ON FILE - SEE THESE AGAIN!

Director of Public Works for the Town of Weston, Joe Lametta, brings us up-to-date on the responsibilities of DPW in the 21st century! Watch now!

What are the issues facing the seven towns in the 26th State Senatorial District? Rep. Toni Boucher of Wilton and retiring State Senator Judith G. Freedman of Westport answer our questions.Watch now!

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!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

T O P S T O R Y T O D A Y ; Weston High School Auditorium new page here!

Introduction and topics of interest;

Unofficial notice of Public Meetings we plan to attend and our Board of Selectmen's notes;

Town Plan update process ...Unofficial online draft version (by "About Town");

Town of Weston: Public Hearing on Fuel Efficient Vehicle Ordinance August 7, 2008 garnered a dozen speakers - action to come at next Board of Selectmen's meeting (a Special, on Tuesday, August 19th at 7:30pm, Town Hall Meeting Room WAS CANCELLED) - read ordinance as proposed here.

ELECTION 2008:

Connecticut Government: We keep 2 C.G.A. pages--one for general info and links, and the other for during the Session (the bills themselves and their progress).

State of Connecticut "Responsible" Planning:

Regional Planning:

Planning ideas and matters from elsewhere;

Education: Check out latest enrollment projection here.

Environment:
Thought piece on Global Warming, by Tom Friedman, here...

From Across the Pond:

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

"Two Waves"

See a map of CL&P service here.
In the event of outages, this is the link to numerical version of map...
EMERGENCY: WEATHER: background and current power news!
From the National Weather Service (local),
From the National Weather Service (home page): 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 M A T T H E W Z A C H A R Y :
N o w   a   G O O G L E a d v i s o r . . .

I'M TOO YOUNG FOR THIS: latest news! 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
Remember, the music is in your head - a new website for cancer survivors under 40 here!

Click HERE for link to general information about breast cancer...breast cancer survivor finishes fourth in Iditarod 2006! Cancer survivor wins both Yukon Quest AND Iditerod in 2007 (not breast cancer, however)!

N E W   W E B S I T E

Remember this FORUM very special article?
Please join us for the next ADAP (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program of Weston) meeting...in the Weston Public Library Community Room at NOON. Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch.   Please note that meetings will be held regularly at noon on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.

CONNECTICUT AT A GLANCE - OUR FAVORITE NEWSPAPER IN CT

TOP STORY & PICTURES:
U.S. Announces Takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
NYTIMES
Article Tools Sponsored By
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 7, 2008

Filed at 11:34 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration, acting to avert the potential for major financial turmoil, announced Sunday that the federal government was taking control of mortgage giants Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac. (NYSE:FRE)

Officials announced that the executives of both institutions had been replaced. Herb Allison, a former vice chairman of Merrill Lynch (NYSE:MER) (OOTC:MERIZ) , was selected to head Fannie Mae, and David Moffett, a former vice chairman of US Bancorp (NYSE:USB) , was picked to head Freddie Mac.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the actions were being taken because "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are so large and so interwoven in our financial system that a failure of either of them would cause great turmoil in our financial markets here at home and around the globe."

The huge potential liabilities facing each company, as a result of soaring mortgage defaults, could cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars, but Paulson stressed that the financial impacts if the two companies had been allowed to fail would be far more serious.

"A failure would affect the ability of Americans to get home loans, auto loans and other consumer credit and business finance," Paulson said.

Both companies were placed into a government conservatorship that will be run by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the new agency created by Congress this summer to regulate Fannie and Freddie.

The Federal Reserve and other federal banking regulators said in a joint statement Sunday that "a limited number of smaller institutions" have significant holdings of common or preferred stock shares in Fannie and Freddie, and that regulators were "prepared to work with these institutions to develop capital-restoration plans."

The two companies had nearly $36 billion in preferred shares outstanding as of June 30, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

EMERGENCY: GO TO Emergency Management page of this website;

Weather Link we use as well as...National Weather Service for Weston, CT (out of Danbury Airport) report and long range forecast here!

NEWS...

Any news on the Cartbridge Road Bridge?
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Southwest Emergency Response Team story

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Indian Point story...
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Board of Selectmen, adding item to agenda on April 24, 2008, approves application for "STOCS box" grant. This stands for "statewide tactical on-scene communication system." MOA (memorandum of agreement) between Town of Weston and DEMHS approved.

"Citizen of the Year 2008" Police Commission award to long-time Town volunteer EMT and Communications Center worker - award given at ATBM April 21, 2008.

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Link to continuing privately funded efforts; legislation approved by both houses of Congress and President Bush, December 17, 2004 - read summary HERE... September 11, 2001 Commission intelligence reforms as recommended;

Link to Westport Weston Health District emergency planning;

Homeland Security related matters: i.e. on the issues re: PORTS.

Link to report on how Homeland Security identifies individuals incoming: http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_cbp_ats.pdf

Storm Center links (from CL&P) HERE...

Local weather forecasting link.

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Watch the video here...

TOWN OF WESTON:

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES (l. to r.): roof project at Town Hall set to start rolling this autumn; Cartbridge and Weston High School auditorium.
and Lyons Plains Fire House (ready to go).

Board of Selectmen meeting Sept. 4 OK's modified (only new cars) fuel efficient car tax policy on a Party-line vote.

We know the Auditorium renovation is going to happen (seen above before completion of construction of additions), thanks to Special Town Meeting June 11, 2008! CHECK OUT NEW PAGE!

Lachat property back for another try as "gateway" to Devil's Den.

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 Plan revision: one of its Basic GOALS set -- thanks to Election 2007. We now know that Westonites approve of the direction taken over the last six years by the Selectmen - emphasis on the importance of longer-term Capital Planning. This important feature should be incorporated into the new Town Plan. Comment about this suggestion or on other matters here:
Town Plan of Conservation and Development 2010 FORUM

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

Board of Selectmen;
Board of Finance and its role in the the budget process; link to reports leading up to ATBM April 21, 2008;
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/

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.

Building Committee/school building committee;

OTHERS:

Next new initiative: Selectmen need to discuss finishing the Booster Barn and home-side stands;

Cemetery Committee notes;

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:

Going solar and anything else that works GREEN is a new Alternative Energy subcommittee of the Building Committee;

Select Committee on Legal Review reports to Selectmen in June; time extended until after the summer for submission of final report.

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

What are implications on budget of Cartbridge replacement? Maybe none?

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:

PRIOR ISSUES: Board of Selectmen held Special Meeting Wednesday, July 30, 2003, awarding bid for the $35 million General Obligation Bond at 4.396%. (Last year...Town of Weston $12 million in bonding for School projects...got lowest rate EVER (4.146245%).

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.

TOWN OFFICES - DIRECT LINK TO TELEPHONE NUMBERS...

Freedom of Information Commission gives seminars on F.O.I. act in Weston Library - videotaped by Town TV for later broadcast. The law itself has not changed--but court cases in the last decade have muddied more the already muddy water regarding what is public information and what is not.

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COMMUNITY RESOURCE INVENTORY:
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 - where it all began...

"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):

Conservation Zone Development: HB 5641 “AAC Conservation Development.” Key Feature: This bill would have essentially set state standards for conservation development overlays and for conservation subdivisions that may very likely “tie the hands” of municipalities to set their own standards, particularly for conservation developments. Outcome: LWVCT opposed. Died on House calendar due to strong opposition.
 
Responsible Growth: SB 39 “AAC Responsible Growth.” Key Features: Included a new section that defined “responsible growth” as the use of land and resources in ways that enhance the long-term quality of life for current citizens of the state and future generations; stressed comprehensive long-range planning for conservation and development; and stated that not less than 2% of the cost of development would be used to develop pedestrian and other non-motorized transportation improvements. Outcome: Passed the Senate. Several amendments added and bill not voted on in the House.

LINK TO OPM OFFICE OF RESPONSIBLE GROWTH HERE.

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...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.

Unofficial version of CT State and SWRPA Regional Plans of Conservation and Development maps...

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.

Regionalism:

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 - OUR NEWEST PAGE
"...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 2008 (r.)

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/

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

PUBLIC HEARING ON ADDENDA TO THE REGIONAL PLAN JUNE 18, 2008 receives input from Office of Policy and Management - which gave its blessing to addenda!

Adoption by SWRPA of "Plan of Conservation and Development 2006-2015" took place Feb. 6, 2006.

SWRPA Housing Summit report here;

SWRPA/MPO LEGISLATION BREAKFAST '08 streaming here;

Hartford Courant editorial about connection between jobs and accessibility.

Route 7 issue made alive yet again - read HOUR story here!

Special Committee on the Environment;

Executive Director of SWRPA background;

Regional Plan of Conservation and Development 2006-2015

LINK TO U.S. CENSUS BUREAU FOR QUICK NUMBERS!

A different route to data: how many clicks to get to SDC?

Weston quick Census 2000 link..

Unofficial page regarding land use mapping in the Region;

The official locational map of the Region, 2004;

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?

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

Other sources:

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

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"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.

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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/

Weston land use 1999 at left; 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:

CONTENTS

E-WESTON TOWN PLAN UPDATE in progress...and the Planning and Zoning Commission is due to get started, having finished interviewing consultants.

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 to-be-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 places do (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