Daily Five: An End, A Beginning For The Schools

1. Another sunny day, with a high of 70, according to the National Weather Service. It could get foggier tonight, although it should clear up by Friday morning, according to the service.

2. There is an important board of education meeting tonight at 7 in the Waterford Town Hall Auditorium. First, the board will choose a new principal for Clark Lane Middle School, somebody who will replace the in the next school year.

Second, the board will finalize the budget for the next year. This will include adopting a pay-to-participate program to potentially save all town sports and possibly reinstating some sort of science program at the middle school. This will be the final action on the budget for next year, so anybody concerned about proposed cuts has one last chance to voice an opinion.

3. As mentioned on Patch several times already, Mark Steiner is proposing to change several zoning regulations to the Seaside property, which he is about to buy. Debby Green, Kathleen Jacques and others, many of whom have fought this new development for as long as Steiner has wanted to buy it, are aggressively pushing the town to reject Steiner’s zone changes. Green recently sent an email to several government officials, as well as the Patch. The entire letter is posted at the bottom of the page.

4. Do you know of a veteran from Waterford or has ties to Waterford, and want to honor them? The Waterford VFW is selling bricks at the Path of Honor, which stands right in front of town hall. All veterans will have their name and rank engraved on a brick in front of the memorial. The cost is $50 per brick, all of which goes toward engraving the name. Anybody interested can see the receptionist at town hall or contact the VFW at 860-443-0442 after 4 p.m.

5. First off, Coca Cola has opened up on Parkway South. It is pictured in case you haven’t seen it. Anyway, on this date in 2004, United States Army veteran Terry Nichols is convicted of 161 murders for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing. And on this date in 1897, “Dracula,” a novel by Irish author Bram Stoker, is first published.

Quote of the Day

“Most human beings today waste some 25 to 30 years of their lives before they break through the actual and conventional lies which surround them.”

-Isadora Duncan

Trivia of the Day

Who was the first participant in the O.J. Simpson trial to be featured in “Playgirl”?

Yesterday’s Answer: The Millennium Falcon is the name of Han Solo’s spacecraft.

Green’s Email Opposing Zoning Amendments To The Seaside District:

Since the state is selling the Seaside Regional property to Mr. Steiner“as is” with the concurrence of the Department of Public Works (see state meeting of OPM on April 11, 2011), it is now left to the town to watch over the plans for this property.

The development group has put in an application for zoning change (see attachment). I have several concerns: 1) The demolition of the historical buildings and ‘rebuild’; 2) the 25% changes without going back to town planning and zoning committee (so if the town approves 20 duplexes, 25 can be built without going back); and 3) eliminating the 55 and older condition (this possibly could add more than 100 families with 2 children each - adding 200 students to Great Neck School costing more tax dollars which is one of the reasons the town liked the developer’s plan in the first place). I have other concerns, but those are probably the top three.

The local residents and neighbors are not against development; what we/they want is for the development to keep with the same density in the neighborhood, not increase traffic tremendously, and to be informed before actions are taken rather than not at all.

I believe this was Mr. Steiner's intentions all along, but let’s not debate his character. In letters sent to me on December 10, 2002, and April 2, 2003,  Mr. Steiner wrote that he would continue to inform us and update  the Seaside Neighbors. Those were the only two communications I have received from him.

I would be interested to hear your views on this topic. I thought government was suppose to be for the people not for individuals?

Respectfully Submitted,

Debby Green

My backyard is literally Seaside Regional Center