Pam Sloane stopped short on a wooded path towards the western shore of Calf Island to pick a wild raspberry from a bush.
Fairfield County towns reflect on strong ties to foreign partners
Meeting an exploding demand for rail service will be the chief challenge facing the incoming president of Metro-North Railroad, commuter advocates say.
Are you one of the lucky ticket holders for Billy Joel's soldout "The Last Play at Shea," concerts, to be performed Wednesday and Friday at Shea Stadium?
Most Saturdays in the summer months are reserved for rest and relaxation, but for those at Greenwich Point in the hot and hazy early morning sun yesterday, it was far from a lazy weekend spent sleeping in.
It doesn't take much of a voltage charge to ignite a recollection in my mind of some incident in the past
Public kept in the dark too often
It's pretty common for citizens to complain that their government operates behind the scenes, that they don't find out about decisions that affect their lives until it's too late to do anything about them, or that when they are given the chance to speak up, it merely provides the appearance of open, responsive government, not the real thing.
But even with that as a given, it seems there have been more complaints than usual lately from people who feel local government has pulled the wool over their eyes.
Therefore, it's important from time to time for everyone - citizens and government officials alike - to take a step back and remind themselves who is in charge. All those offices in city or town hall might be occupied by this person or that for a given time, but they belong to the people. So do the schools, parks, police station and so on.
Law gives elected and appointed officials decision-making power, but it's the people who are boss. It's too easy too often to forget that, particularly given our post-9/11 mindset, which is overly deferential to government on all levels.....
....Just like the political axiom that says it's not the scandal, but the attempted cover-up that causes the real damage, the perception that government is acting behind closed doors can provoke outrage even if the actual issue at hand is relatively benign.In every case, it's clear the process would have worked out much better had it been open initially. Secrecy creates not only suspicion but outright cynicism. A wary and watchful public is essential to a democracy. A cynical one only hurts it....
Wiffle ball field neighbors not being consideredTo the Greenwich Time editor:
The Wiffle ball field's unfortunate neighbors who poured their life savings into their homes have seen the value of their nest egg disappear overnight. God forbid one of these villainized neighbors falls on hard times and has to sell his or her home right now. There's no market for a house with 40 strangers hanging out in the back yard, yelling, swearing, littering and loitering.
Since the town property is not visible from the street, police cannot properly patrol the area for criminal activity.
Some teens were witnessed stealing gardening and construction supplies, and cutting down town trees and bushes to build their stadium. These victimized neighbors, who believed town officials would protect them, were foolish for not immediately calling the police because this would have resolved their problem long before the public harassment began.
These teenagers and their parents are trying to bully the town into getting what they want. When denied a permit and instead were instructed to immediately remove all structures previously installed, these residents ignored town officials and in turn called the local media and politicians.
The property is designated as a drainage detention area to ensure the surrounding homes do not flood. The foot traffic, construction and clearing out of trees and underbrush that has occurred will ensure these poor neighbors homes will flood with the next rainy season.
Last, and most incredibly, the North Mianus Elementary School field is wide open for use, and it's within walking distance! Since only two teenagers live near the "field," and all other patrons drive to or are dropped off at the site, they should be dropped off at the elementary school field, and the two neighborhood teens can walk on our newly installed sidewalks to meet them!
The town should defend these poor neighbors and their dwindling nest eggs!
Eileen Tweddle
Cos Cob
Ball field is in the tradition of Rene Anselmo
To the Greenwich Time editor:
Despite having Tuesday's paper in my hand after my early morning walk through Bruce Park, I didn't read "Squeeze play: Neighbors cry foul over Wiffle ball park" until late in the day. It was after a colleague in Rockland County mentioned the story and was effusive in her praise of the kids involved.
When I got home and finally read Neil Vigdor's story, my first thought was daja vu all over again. We have the spirit of the late Rene Anselmo at work. Residents may remember his love of beauty from the fence and plantings in front of North Street School to the thousands of daffodils he and his workers planted up and down the length of lower North Street. We enjoy his legacy and take joy in driving that way every spring.
You might also remember his deciding to remove an ugly chain-link fence in Bruce Park and replace it with what stands in its place to this day, a beautiful white picket fence surrounding the croquet field. Like today's teens, he did not follow rules or process. He simply started to remove the old fence and begin the new. The project was stopped in its tracks and languished for about six months, then town officials went through the process and accepted his marvelous, generous, lasting gift.
This is a tempest in a teapot. It is great to see teens doing something positive. It is highly likely something else will come along to gain their attention.
Brouhaha it is, but perhaps also a learning experience for the teens and for our town officials.
Peter J. Flierl
Greenwich
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