Friday, April 21, 2006

Open Forum

Well… there’s several things that have been in the news this week. I think the legislature’s bill to curb underage drinking in private residences has received the most press. Not only is it mentioned in the Herald this week, but the town participated in a nationwide alcohol awareness forum last month. Here is the Herald's take on this story. (The NH Register has an article too, but I'm having difficulty adding that link here.)

April 22 is Earth Day. Here’s the Register’s take on (one of my favorite topics...) the juncture of energy and the environment. (And remember… being environmentally friendly does not necessarily cost money!) In Cheshire there are a number of events taking place. For information please contact Suzanne Simone, Cheshire Environmental Planner, at 271-6670 or ssimone@cheshirect.org

There’s a petition going around Cheshire advocating for Senior Tax Relief. Here's a story on it. The petition started several months ago after the Council voted on Senior Tax Relief.

Another topic in the news again are the barite mines.

And finally... yes... the Sox lost to Tampa last night, but... has '04 Schilling returned? 4-0? Red Sox Nation has got to be pretty happy about that.

Anything else going on?

Tim White
Town Council, 4th District
TimWhite98@yahoo.com

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here's a report about potential energy assistance from the state for public schools. Cheshire could receive around 300K.

Anonymous said...

It is good news the State may send 300k our way for help with the energy bills. Based on the projected increase of 22% in January and with about a 1mil expected electrical bill, 22% of 1 mil for 6 months should be covered by the new State assitance. Now we need to watch the Supt to make sure he does not take any of tha balance and use it for something else. I'm sure after removing the 157k for teachers and doing so without the BOE approval, they may be looking for funding to put those postions back in.

Anonymous said...

What is up with the menigitis scare...I don;t think having the TV stations be the first to know makes me comfortable about this

Tim White said...

Regarding the $300k for energy... the story, as I understand it, is this... the legislature has begun drafting their budget, including (I believe) $470k for "energy assistance" to Cheshire schools. This information came to light late in the budget process... sometime in April.

However, since the legislature doesn't finalize its budget until May, the Council chose to assume the town would get 50% of this funding. (For unknowns, such as this, the Council oftens assumes 50% of unknowns... be it additional money or less money.)

So the town budget includes an assumption of $235,000 in "energy assistance" money... that's the history... I still need to read the Rep-Am article though.

Tim White said...

What station had the meningitis report?

Anonymous said...

all of em last night

Anonymous said...

What is up with Bishop's Farm?

Ther store is shuttered, the place looks vacant

Please don;t tell me a beautiful farm will soon be bulldozed so more extravagant yuppies can plant their starter castles on this property?

Anonymous said...

I think the meningitis story refers to a student at Cheshire High School who has contracted bacterial meningitis. Meningitis story.

Tim White said...

Here's the NH Register's article on the bacterial meningitis.

Tim White said...

Another update on the very serious meningitis case.

Anonymous said...

After reading the 3rd article in the past month that the Waterbury Republican has written about the barite mines and the incident on Sheridan Drive, I'm astounded to see such little follow-up and/or acknowledgement from Cheshire. And especially this last article which makes it quite clear that the town residents are more concerned about their property values than the safety of the individuals living within this community. "Sure, feel free to do the research on this, but if it affects my property value, then my support might not be there." That's the impression given. Since when does putting astro turf on the football field become more important than the hazard of small children falling into a 35' foot deep hole!!?? When does Cheshire stop brushing this issue under the carpet and step up to the plate in order to help out their residents and tax payers!? Give me a break...no one wants property values to drop but there's a much larger issue at hand that no one seems to want to acknowledge. Just another "dirty little secret" within the walls of Cheshire?

Anonymous said...

What a coincidence...is this what it will take for someone to act upon the mines here in CT? Follow this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12457889/