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8 • Friday, November 19, 2010
WOODSTOCK VILLAGER
OPINION
P.O. Box 196, Woodstock, CT 06281
TELEPHONE: (860) 928-1818
FAX: (860) 928-5946
WWW.VILLAGERNEWSPAPERS.COM
EDITORIAL
Giving
thanks
While many of us eat our turkey,
stuffing and mashed potatoes,
watch football (Patriots vs.
Lions!) and joke around with
family members this Thanksgiving, take a
moment to think about those who may not
be as fortunate. Be thankful for everything
you have, because, as many of us know, it
can all be taken away at
any moment.
THE MINOR
DETAILS
ADAM
MINOR
FRANK G. CHILINSKI
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
ADAM MINOR
EDITOR
This week, the week
before Thanksgiving, we
opened up the paper to you,
our readers, telling us what
you are thankful for. The
answers were as many as
they were varied. We are
encouraged by you, and in
turn, we began to think
about all we are thankful
for.
To our columnists and
submitters — thank you for
providing our newspaper
with quality content week after week. Your
views, opinions and updates give the readers an
honest perspective into the jobs and lives of the
Quiet Corner’s most unique personalities.
Whether it’s stories about nature, financial
endeavors, saving money, the local churches, or
even normal, everyday life — this community
is full of diverse people — something we all
should be thankful for.
To our advertisers — thank you for investing
your hard-earned money into our publications.
Your investments literally make this paper run,
and we would be nothing without you.
Hopefully, having your ads in our paper helps
all of you out in return.
To the schools — thank you for allowing us to
document the accomplishments of some of the
most talented students, teachers and athletes in
the area. It is truly encouraging to see such talented
people doing such great things. We look
forward to the tremendous feats your children
will accomplish in the future.
To the local governments — thank you for
granting us access to Town Hall with open
arms and being open to discuss some of the
area’s hottest issues. Your cooperation gives the
readers a great insight into what it takes to run
a town.
And last but not least — to all of you, the readers,
you who so faithfully pick up this newspaper
and read it (or look at all the pretty pictures),
and for those of you who actively get
involved with it, sending us submissions, photos,
calendar items, briefs and stories.
We are thankful for the compliments as well
as the criticisms. It is the healthy balance of
both that makes this newspaper what it is.
So, on the eve of this year’s Thanksgiving,
and in the spirit of gratefulness that defines
this holiday, we say those two words that we
should say more often to all of you.
Thank you.
SUBMITTING
LETTERS
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
We think you’re important enough to tell
all our readers to turn to the Opinion pages
and read your Letters to the Editor.
Mail your letters to Villager Newspapers
P.O. Box 196, Woodstock, CT 06281. Or e-mail
your letters to the editor at aminor@villagernewspapers.com.
Please give your
name, place of residence
and a phone number
so we can verify
the letter is yours. We
don’t have a set limit,
but if you keep it
around 600 words or
so, you’ll have a better
chance at seeing your
words in print.
To write a bit longer about a particular
issue, maybe a guest Your Turn column is
your cup of tea. If you do that, try to keep it
between 700 and 800 words.
Remember, libelous remarks, insults
and/or personal attacks are a no-no and
could lead to your letter not being published.
So, what are you waiting for? Start writing!
Opinion and commentary from the Quiet Corner
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
‘A veteran is always a veteran’
To the Editor:
I’m thanking all people who made all our
[Veterans Day] programs a success in Thompson.
We had three, and we did lots of work preparing
for each. So many individuals put in countless
hours to get a program together. I look forward to
others.
To the Editor:
The third annual running of the Thompson
Turkey Trot, a 5K cross country race at the West
Thompson Dam, occurred Sunday, Nov. 14.
I’ve had the pleasure of running all three incarnations
of this race and watching it grow from a
foundling 50-person race in 2008 to a well-oiled 150
person race in 2010.
The race was co-sponsored by Thompson
Recreation and the Thompson Trails Committee
and put together by the race coordinator, Mike
Lajuenesse. It’s evident that a lot of planning and
hard work go into making this race a success. Signup
and race packet pick-up were seamless. The trail
portions of the course were freshly raked and
signed. There were volunteers (thanks!) at the nonobvious
turning points, ensuring that racers stayed
on course. All in all, this race is run with a high
level of efficiency and reflects very well on our
community.
Speaking of community, on top of being wellorganized,
this race is simply teeming with community
spirit. One just need look around to see and
feel the community. It is truly palpable.
Particularly striking this year was the number of
families that had more than one member running
the race. A quick glance at the race results reveals
Remember, a veteran is always a veteran, not just
on Veterans Day. We served so others did not have
to.
Turkey Trot a success (again)
NORM BABBITT
THOMPSON
the same surnames over and over again. One
Thompson family was had its entire six-person
nuclear family running! What a great way to spend
a day with the kids, embrace strong social values
and get some exercise at the same time.
This year’s race enjoyed a significant representation
from area cross country teams. Making the
race more interesting, an award was presented to
the team with the best five combined times. The
laurels went home with the Woodstock Wildcats.
Another way the race keeps community at the
core is through its use of the race proceeds. These
proceeds are split between the TEEG food bank and
the Thompson Trails Committee; both very worthwhile
causes.
As a Thompson resident and avid runner, I would
just like to take a moment to thank all of those
involved in continuing to make this race a reality.
The Thompson Trails Committee, Thompson
Recreation, Mike Lajuenesse and all of the sponsors
and volunteers did a bang up job and deserve a
huge pat on the back. It’s events like this that make
me proud to be a citizen of Thompson. Thank you!
The new American Dream
ROBERT PATON
THOMPSON
To the Editor:
In light of this past election in Connecticut, I
have come to realize what the new American
Dream is.
It is to live in debt and dream that the government
will never run out of money and that they
will take care of you. This view is shared by the
majority of the voting public. These people love
grant money and believe it is not funded from
income tax, paid by the middle class. The dream is
turning into a nightmare.
Connecticut is deep in debt. Who will pay the tab?
Will it be the people who spent the money and got
re-elected? I think not. Maybe we should raise the
bottle bill to $1 per container and say it is to keep
Connecticut green. All the unclaimed deposits go to
the Department of Revenue and they need all the
green they can get. I am sure we will have more hidden
taxes so the incumbents can get re-elected.
To all the candidates who won, I congratulate
you. I believe you want what is best for
Connecticut. But remember that the magic is for
Foxwoods. We sometimes have champagne taste on
a beer wallet. I still have the means to raise a glass
of beer to you. With hopes of lower taxes, it will be
champagne.
I would like to say to the minority of voters —
keep on doing what you do best. Set an example for
your children and co-workers daily by your good
character, moral values, sound money management
and living within your means. Our numbers
will grow and because of you we will all prosper.
Get out your pens and pencils
To the Editor:
I have no idea what happened to all the zoning
experts in Brooklyn who have been rebuffed by different
judges and courts on several occasions so far.
I said from day one this great 24-hour endeavor
would soon be in business in your great town. I
guess the small minority has either run out of pens
or pencils and possibly money as well, as I see no
responses to my letters the past several months.
After all the legal fees being wasted, perhaps they
now realize that this “out-of-town zoning guru”
does know something about how local municipal
government works.
It appears to me the little next door neighbor will
not have to pursue a law degree after all, as the
judges and the courts are taking care of this matter
rather nicely. And besides, by the time I get my law
degree, there will be no more money to pay me or
anyone else who hates this company and now has
run out of any argument to defend what they
believe.
I guess without pens, pencils, money and one
chance in a zillion of being victorious, it is time to
accept the inevitable before these aristocrats go by
the way of Wall Street and finally concede that
THOMAS POPLAWSKI
NORTH GROSVENORDALE
money can’t buy everything like the last recent election
proved.
I am not surprised that there has been no
response — simply like I tried over and over again
to these wealthy people after blowing all that money
— they never had a valid point or argument in the
first place. They still don’t and have paid for a very
expensive zoning lesson to no avail!
Get out your pens and pencils if you can afford
them and let’s hear from the “well-organized minority”
who have fallen by the wayside, and perhaps
out of ideas, money or other impediment.
Again, my favorite quotation bears repeating —
“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool
than to speak (and write) and remove all doubt.”
It is too bad it costs many thousand wasted dollars
to learn this simple lesson.
See you all at the front door at the grand opening
if you can afford to be there!
Your very involved zoning guru and your nextdoor
neighbor …
Allow full voting for selectmen
To the Editor:
What is wrong with allowing full voting for all the
members on the Board of Selectmen?
Doing the right thing is the right thing to do. If
you only want to vote for one or two, you can, but it
would also allow those who would like to vote for all
three their right to vote for all three.
It’s a win-win for all. A political party can continue
to put two candidates on the ballot if they chose,
the voters can continue to vote for two if they wish
but it also allows a political party to put up to three
SOUND OFFS
Where’s the common sense?
SOUND OFF:
Infant bus, or school bus?
As a taxpayer in the town of Killingly, I am
appalled at the recent decision by the superintendent,
transportation supervisor and the Board of
Education to allow a 2-month-old infant to ride on
an 89 passenger school bus.
Where’s the common sense in this?
A bus driver has enough responsibilities to worry
about — the lives and safety of the school children
— nevermind putting an infant on a school bus. The
superintendent, the transportation supervisor and
the Board of Education should use some common
sense when thinking about the safety of this infant.
God forbid, a school bus gets into an accident and
ALBERT F. BRUNO
KILLINGLY
candidates on the ballot and everyone the right to
vote for all three.
Why would anyone want to prevent the “popular
vote” of all three on the Board of Selectmen? I
invite public comment to understand why this is
not a good thing.
It just makes good common sense and its time is
due.
FORD FAY
POMFRET
this infant gets seriously hurt. Who’s going to be
liable when that bus driver (who’s being allowed to
take the infant on the school bus) sues the town?
The answer — taxpayers will have to pay this
burden.
Over the past couple years, the Board of
Education and the Superintendent have shoved
enough stuff down the people’s throat in the town of
Killingly by forcing us the get a new high school —
where does this nonsense end?
I encourage taxpayers to call the superintendent’s
office and the transportation supervisor to voice
their displeasure in allowing this 2-month-old
infant to ride on an 89-passenger school bus.
Winter
in the
waiting
room
Early one morning,
when the sharp sound
of wind driven ice
scratched me into consciousness
from a deep sleep, I
faced the fact that winter is
here.
At least for a day or so.
One of the
most chall
e n g i n g
aspects of living
in New
England is
the fickle
nature of
weather. It
makes us feel
a bit insecure,
even on
NANCY WEISS edge. We wait
on the cusp of
one season
moving into another.
I made an appointment to get
my husband’s car serviced.
Making preparations for
impending challenges gives me
a sense of control. If I get
everything organized, I believe,
no disasters will befall us. Of
course, this attitude is naïve.
Fate, luck, and chance play a
big role in life, but as humans,
we have to look toward the
future or nothing meaningful
would ever get done.
Soon, I found myself with
several other people in the
waiting room at the service station.
Time to fill the cars with
vital juices and think about
snow tires and ice scrapers. In
the sudden camaraderie that
springs up among strangers
standing in line or sitting for
an indeterminate time together,
conversation moved from
the general to the personal.
We agreed that winter had
snuck up on us, but we were
making up for lost time. An elderly
woman described the trip
she was planning to spend the
holidays in Vermont with relatives.
She was going to drive, as
she always did, and had
mapped out many different
routes to take.
While I could not imagine
her barreling up I-91, she had a
clear idea of her capabilities. If
the car and the weather cooperated,
she was equal to the drive.
She would combat the vagaries
of chance with good tread on
her tires and adequate washer
fluid.
Thanksgiving is next week.
Christmas decorations, and the
incredibly annoying sound
tracks that accompany the holiday
have been wafting through
stores since Halloween. We roll
from one holiday to the other in
a wave of cheesy images
designed to make us feel that
with enough preparation, the
holidays will be perfect. Time
is needed for list making and
contemplation before we are
swept up in the whirl.
Waiting rooms are good
places to think. There is little
to do, but welcome a space
where nothing is going to happen
until a process, we can’t
control, is complete. It is a fine
time to talk to strangers, look
at old magazines or watch the
world go by outside the window.
Busyness stops because it
must. There is no rushing in a
waiting room.
We feel ambushed by the
relentless pace of life, because
there are so many distractions.
My new cell phone holds my e-
mail messages. I am never
away from multiple reminders
of what else I could be doing
and whom else I could be
answering.
As the holidays approach, we
may find more joy in planning
and anticipation than in feeling
we are behind before we
even begin. When I got up to
leave the service station, I gathered
up my belongings. I felt a
bit more rested and relaxed
than when I first sat down.
A little waiting gives us time
to sense the true pace of life
and nature. Winter will come
whether I answer my e-mails or
not. The weather will change in
its eternally unpredictable way.
The holidays will fill with the
annual mixture of nostalgia,
pleasure, disappointment and
surprise.
Meanwhile we check the
antifreeze in our vehicles, stuff
the cracks and crannies with
some insulation, and anticipate
a season that offers moments
for creativity, reflection and
adventures.