LET'S TURN THE LIGHTS ON

[Bulldog]

As we prepare for our upcoming referendum on May 24th, I hope our town can continue to march forward.

Look how well Cottone Field has worked out with classic New England weather. Other towns look at what we have achieved with hopes of bringing this to their community.

Let's complete the pass and get lights on Cottone Field and enjoy Friday night games with our family and friends.

Let's not let a very tiny organization such as the WTXA dictate to the rest us, not to support our youth sports programs, whether it is High School sports or youth soccer to the band. The dinosaur park is in Rocky Hill for those 500 or so (or as little as 5) just remember they are closed on Mondays.

Remember, Just say NO to 1 and YES to 2

[standish]

Referendum Questions, MAY 24th
One is bad policy;
The other bad government;
Both reach too far:

VOTE NO on #1; NO on #2[/center][/size][/b]

[oldetowne]

With you 100% Leigh

[morganika]

Other towns look at what we have achieved and are slapping their knees hysterically at how people can allow their taxes to mount uncontrollably.

I also resent all the name calling, the NIMBY remarks, the dinasaur remarks, how old are you people, 12?

[tooold]

No Question 1 NO

We agree, but in addition most lights in Wethersfield are outside of current zoning regulations and the field is in Which is why we need...

Yes Question 2 Yes...giving the town's elected officials control of school and town property, especially due to the lack of up-to-date zoning regulations revolving around pole height (only 14') and lack of specific sports lighting guidelines.


Vote NO NO NO to Question 1

Vote YES YES YES to Question 2

[WayneDalton]

If this referendum fails, how will the WTXA respond. Will Rocco, George and Bob start cutting down light poles on Town property, because the poles are over 14 feet.

Maybe Bonnie can add night vision goggles in the town budget, because most light poles are higher than 14 feet on town property and it will get awful dark.

Second thought George always has a bulb above his head, we could use that as light. ;D

[BobD]

I have seen Cottone Field. I have been on it. It is a beautiful field, but what has happened to the surrounding neighborhoods and woodland/wetland areas is fundamentally wrong.

Great field, wrong location. The focus should have been on Mill Woods or your interchange zone, not the middle of a neighborhood.

I would hope that the refs fail. I cannot believe that people actually think that Cottone is a success! I'm baffled.

Good Luck Wethersfield you are going to need it. Don't be fooled by these guys.

[2much2do]

BobD, you better start adjusting your medication cause i think your a little confused. The field looks great and it actually enhances the surrounding neighborhoods. As for the woodland/wetland area, nothing has changed.

I think your just trying to throw a bunch of BS out there and see what sticks. Everything the pro-light people promised, they delivered on and then some. The majority of this town wants lights and it will be a great world class facility once completed.

[BobD]

All I am saying is use caution. This has the potential of being a Pandora's Box.

Your comments regarding medication are typical of the pro-light people from what I have seen and heard. Classless and lacking in empathy for what you and your legion of sports terrorists are up to.

That field has done absolutely nothing to enhance the neighborhood that it has overrun. Maybe you should think about removing the rose colored glasses and look at this with clear eyes and mind (my jab in retaliagion to your meds comment).

You have forced many residents out of that neighborhood from what I have heard and observed and significantly lowered the quality of life in what appeared to be a once beautiful neighborhood.

The noice is constant and unbearable for many people surrounding the field. The parking is not sufficient to support the field and there is a constant flow of traffic and the usual poor parking within the neighborhood and a total disregard for the laws and the residents.

I (we) have observed this project closely from the outside. I don't believe that the town has acted in the best interest of the residents/taxpayers. There are many unanswered questions, hidden costs, as well as the ethical and professional breaches and on the part of most of the pro-sports people.

I have spoken with many people on both sides of this issue and most would agree that the way this project was handled was very questionable. I was also told by the pro-sports people that the project had no impact what-so-ever on the neighborhoods. Glossing over the truth of the whole situation with flowery BS. This project has ruined the lives of many.

As I have said use caution. This is a good project for the town, but in the wrong location. But what about the residents? I think that this project was done so under cover and it was thought that this project would just fly thru, unnoticed, but most people against this project are not stupid by any means and have played by the rules without finger pointing, name calling and all the other pro-sport rhetoric or telling them to take their meds.

I know that there are many sports venues in Wethersfield. Many more than most larger towns. If this light ref passes then that really means that not one resident in Wethersfield is safe from this juggernaut.

Use caution. Remove the glasses and look at this situation in an objective and intelligent manner and I think you will realize the true damage that this ref, if passed, can do to a suffering town like Wethersfield.

I know that there is a problem with the sports people facing the truth and I am sorry for being a little rough here, but this project does not benefit the majority of the town. Sorry boys.

My town has learned many lessons from the Wethersfield project and we are making sure that we do not displace residents, force them from their homes due to constant noise and threats, name calling and finger pointing in public forums, etc, etc.

Gotta go take those meds!

[nvone]

BobD,

Saying that the neighborhood is overrun and that the school has forced many people to move is extremely naive and shortsighted. I guess your answer is to move the school too, right? As rediculous as that sounds, it is the only way to rebut your comment. Stupid is as stupid does, wouldn't you agree?

Another comment, that the school lacks sufficient parking for the field and that the traffic is constant, is absurd. Yet since you have no idea what you are talking about, let me help you. Drive by Cottone field on a Saturday and how many cars do you see there that are not either Police cars or town vehicles or EMS? ZERO!!!! There are parking bans on both streets that run into Cottone field.

So, although your thoughts are welcome on the board at anytime, please make sure that you are not just talking to be heard. Carry some substantiated facts with your garble.

[BobD]

My observations are on the mark. I don't wear classes, especially the rose colored ones. I think the biggest problem is that Wethersfield is trying too hard to do something with the field and that there has been a real disregard for the residents.

My observations were of traffic, people climbing fences, parked in the intersection at the bottom of West Way making it impassable, litter, loitering, rude behavior towards the residents, trespassing and threats and all the things that go with a sports complex and people of low standards, but the biggest part is the noise. It is unrelenting. I recently spent 4 hours on the field and in and around the neighborhood and I could not believe how loud it was. The neighborhood is unliveable and was a major annoyance. You could hear the noise on Pine Lane on the other side of the wetland. Many are starting to complain on that side as well.

As for the HS. Yes it is there and most of the residents both current and former had no problem with that, but there was not a sports complex there or proposed until days before the last TC election and it was done behind closed doors (John Rowland anyone??). With the lights there will be noise all day everyday. I know that this has been denied, but most can see what will happen. I am not talking about a little noise for a short time. It is all day long on the weekend and it is happening in what appeared to be a very quiet neighborhood. Again no thought or consideration for the residents. Check with the people who live around Maxwell Park or Newington's HS facility. There are major complaints, but of course this never comes to the forefront.

All I am stressing is caution. The town of Wethersfield has accomplished nothing in the last 2 years other than fighting the residents and others opposed to the field. I think the town should have thought this project out in great detail it is very obvious that this was a knee-jerk project. Fix the roads. They have better roads in the third world.

If your football field is to be a success it has to be able to co-exist with the residents. As far as most can see there has been no effort to work with the neighbors. They are essentially berated, told to move, close there windows, blinds, go into the basement or to shut up. (The noise and lights cannot be avoided unless you leave or move from the surrounding area) This I have observed in person, during TC meetings, in writings in this forum. Cottone is not a success as far as I can see. You rolled over a neighborhood with total disregard.

USE CAUTION guys. Think this thru.

Sorry again, the truth can hurt sometimes. Gotta go take those meds!!!!!!!

[standish]

Dear WayneDalton (Is that your real name?),

I admonish you to stop your childish, ad hominem attacks. You diminish your position. I know you're new to this board and hope you adhere to higher standards in the future.

[BuckWheat]

Dear standish (is that your real name?), I think what that whack-job BobD had to say is worse than WayneDalton. I'm sure Mr. Dalton was making his point like you make yours and BobD makes his.

Like a famous drill instructor once said, "Lighten up Francis".

[JoeSixpack]

morganika, I think the other towns are slapping their knees hysterically, not at Cottone Field, but the bogus obsolete radio system that we paid over $3,000,000 for and needs replacing.

Let's put this issue to rest and put the lights on and move on to the next subject.

NO to #1 and YES to #2

[standish]

Dear Buckwheat (I KNOW that's not YOUR real name... ),

Yes, standish is my real name. I choose to stand behind what I say and put my name on the line.

I did not hear BobD attack anyone personally. I may not agree with all of his arguments, but, they were at least arguments about the issues, not ad hominem attacks against others, as I remember (I confess that I did not re-read his posts, but, do not recall any personal vendettas with names named).