Fundraiser for Lights

[1]

Fundraiser for Lights.

Cinco de Mayo Fiest
Friday, May 7th 7-11
Open Bar, Silent Auction, Music and Food
$100.00/person

Contact Lou Sanzaro: 563.6901 8-4PM?

[oldetowne]

where is it?

[LouS]

Wethersfield Country Club

Ticket Purchase prior to event is appreciated.

[johnytaxpayer]

Hey OldTowne - just curious but why do you care where the fundraiser is? You're against the lights. WHat are you going to do go and taunt the attendees? Perhaps you'll take license plate numbers down and find out where they live and then taunt them at home too.

Pathetic!

[oldetowne]

1. I was curious.

2. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't remember saying that I opposed the lights. I think I said I was concerned about the process, was concerned about the costs and whether the figures and plans were really accurate and complete, and that I favored having a referendum. Maybe you concluded that having questions in my mind or being concerned about violating the town charter meant that I was opposed. Get me some real figures, show me that the lights won't adversely affect the neighbors, show me the private support, and I will be there. In the meantime, don't attribute positions to me solely because I am not yet a "true believer".

3. Nope, I don't plan to waste my time stalking people or harassing anyone in town for supporting a cause they care about. I will leave that to you.

[LouS]

oldetowne, wait a bit and we'll try to turn you into a true believer.

[johnytaxpayer]

Dear OldeTowne:

You say you favored a referendum. That's your democratic right. I wonder though if you favor the way the WTXA are going about getting one. Attending AARP meetings and scaring our seniors, going to Mediplex and harassing people on their death bed or recovering from major surgery, or better yet having seniors stand in front of grocery stores telling people if they don't sign this petition their taxes are going to go up 15%! It's all true and it's all documented. In fact your friends at the WTXA are fighting for a referendum that will prohibit lights anywhere in Wethersfield and in fact will force the town to remove the ones at Mill Woods (Tennis COurts and Softball field). But of course you probably feel they adversely effect the neighbors over there anyway so you'll be happy to see them go! As for your real figures they were publically released weeks ago when bids were opened. They were millions of dollars less then a number the WTXA were telling people to get them to sign the petition. And as for Private Funding we have been told the dollars have been pledged and will be made available when they are needed. If they are not then no lights period. So to sit there and say you don't have the facts is just not true. You have the facts, you just don't want to listen to them.

I have never seen a more unethical approach to getting a referendum to occur. It's disgusting and uncalled for. But then again I guess if you get what you want who cares how unethical you have to be to get there!

The voters already spoke when they elected the top 7 candidates who publically spoke out in favor of Cottone Field and campaigned on doing it. Let them do what we elected them to do and stop trying to prevent them from doing their job. If you don't like what they did, don't vote for them again!

As for harasiing or stalking people, I've never stood in front of a grocery store threating people, I've never tried to push a clip board under someone on a death bed and I've never lied to anyone about their taxes. Unfortunately for all of us, the people who are doing that are the sames ones who are pushing for a referendum.

That's company I try not to keep.

[oldetowne]

JT - I said what I meant and I meant what I said - I favor a referendum on Cottone Field. Not some hypothetical referendum on lights and turf at Millwoods or Cove Park. And again, please stop telling me who you assume my friends are, what you assume my ethical shortcomings are, and how ignorant of the facts I am, simply because I think a project which will permanently alter a significant town asset, at a total cost in excess of $1M (some of which is coming from the state and generous people of the town) should be carefully considered and put to a vote as is contemplated by the town charter (see section 311).

[hodiddly]

oldetown, I have read many of your postings and find that you are insightful and level headed - I will not assume to know who your friends are or what your political affiliations are. I personally am in favor of the enhancements at Cottone Field, whether it is lights and turf or just turf. I will say this, the petition being circulated by the WTXA does call for banning lights & turf at all parks in town including Millwoods - this is not hypothetical - I do think the way they have gone about acquiring signatures has been documented and is a bit sleazy (Dan O'Connor does also have a petition circulating in favor of field reparations, that has nothing to do with lighting). In my opinion, the town needs to move forward not backward, and removing lighting from Millwoods and hindering field reparations to Cottone is backward thinking.

[oldetowne]

Thanks - I try to be reasonable, even when I disagree with what people are posting, and try to explain my thought process. And there are obviously a bunch of other people who are thoughtful and articulate and dedicated whose opinions differ completely from mine and I respect that.

I guess I was unclear earlier and I apologize. I don't think the WTXA petitions are aimed at the right target. They are too broad, as many people have said here, and could have detrimental effects on both existing facilities and ones which may be created in the future. Bear in mind that if the ordinances which are proposed in their petitions pass by referendum, that only another referendum can modify or eliminate them.

I have heard a lot of stories about incomplete, incorrect and inflammatory statements being made on both sides of the issue but don't have any first hand knowledge about it.

That is another reason why I favor a referendum on Cottone - it will allow both sides to make their arguments in the light of day (no pun intended) in a public arena and with the ability to challenge and scrutinize the arguments of the other side. Right now there's just too much bluster and misinformation out there for most people to be able to feel comfortable making a decision. In addition, if after all is said and done, the project is approved by the voters, especially if it's by a wide margin, there can be no further quibbling about what "the people" want or what mandate exists for what.

[LouS]

I have to tell you, Cottone Field has been a continuous problem. It is a maintenance problem. The most effect way to deal with the wrongful way the renovation of the field was done is to correct it.

Our town staff does its best to work with this horrible product. They spend upwards of 25-30,000 per year in labor and material and the return on investment (if a corporation) would be negative and would be jetisoned.

The project is coming in between 600,000 and 900,000 and with the 250,000 that lessens the costs. The time and effort that the town staff has been using on the field can be directed elsewhere, and the return on investment would be astronomical. This should be a no brainer.

It is and has been on my radar screen, as has the lighting issue for over eight years. It is not something that has just emerged.

The town (Mike Turner) had even developed additional plans, which never made it.

I am excited and I am sure when residents see the final product they will be pleased.

[oldetowne]

I know - I've been around for a while too, although not as long as you. I recall the controversy during the HS renovations, with the bags of rocks, etc.