EDITORIAL: Email

Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 11:40

The town's boards and commissions need to stop using email to conduct public business. Information gathering, sharing of ideas, discussions and decisions must be made at public meetings, not done out of the public eye, electronically or otherwise.

Recent events leading up to a kerfuffle about the questionable acquisition of Humvees by the police chief illustrate the importance of this point. Much ado has been made — in public and behind the scenes — about the accuracy and necessity of reports regarding email communications between the police chief, police commissioners, the first selectman, and the town administrator, among others.

ABOUT TOWN: Charter

Written by Margaret Wirtenberg
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 11:38

If I had to give a prize for the best answer to a question I am continually thinking about, it would go to the Charter Revision Commission.

They will be presenting a proposed streamlined charter to public hearing sometime before April. It will be explained in clear wording, not legalese.

EDITORIAL: Step up

Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 25 January 2012 13:08

The Weston Community Service Coalition is asking for help. The coalition has come up with a simple plan to help the town cope with future emergencies and possible disasters — preparation.

The coalition took a look at what happened in Weston in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene and the Halloween weekend snowstorm and decided much could be learned from the experiences. The town and townspeople did a lot of things right during those crises: comfort stations were set up, food and water was distributed, charging stations and showers were made available.

ABOUT TOWN: Budgets

Written by Margaret Wirtenberg
Wednesday, 25 January 2012 13:06

We're number one! Weston is number one among nearby towns for lowest percentage increase in education budget requests for next year.

I was delighted to see the Weston superintendent's budget request for Fiscal Year 2013. I was able to watch her presentation from home, on TV, and as I did I was able to read the amounts in the charts that were displayed. Bravo, Channel 79!

EDITORIAL: Degrees

Written by Jeannette Ross
Thursday, 19 January 2012 15:06

At first glance, the story on graduation rates on page one might produce an OMG moment. Only 72% of students in the class of 2004 have graduated from college? From a school that sent 97.7% of that class to college?

Not exactly. The true numbers, as the story reports, are probably higher, although how much higher no one knows. The Weston school district doesn't track graduates, and not all students and colleges submit information to the National Student Clearinghouse, which assembled the data.

ABOUT TOWN: Encore

Written by Margaret Wirtenberg
Thursday, 19 January 2012 15:02

Tonight's the night! Again!

Before the Board of Selectmen's meeting, come to Weston Town Hall by 7:15 p.m. and take the opportunity to say "yes" another time to preserving the special beauty of Weston's farm heritage. And the Juliana Lachat Preserve in particular.

SERENDIPITY: Cobb’s Mill Inn closing leads to new discoveries

Written by Nancy Doniger, Hersam Acorn Newspapers
Thursday, 19 January 2012 14:58

For 30 years my husband Paul and I celebrated our anniversary at Cobb's Mill Inn in Weston, after having our wedding reception there on Dec. 23, 1979.

We expected to continue the tradition indefinitely. Then, in July 2010, my co-worker John Kovach, who also had his wedding reception at Cobb's Mill Inn, delivered sad news: The Cobb's Mill Inn had gone out of business.

BY DESIGN: Small budget, big changes

Written by Sam Allen
Thursday, 19 January 2012 14:56

Decorating is expensive, there is no doubt about that. My mother always says, "Decorating is a luxury."

But that doesn't stop most of us from still wanting to plow straight ahead and get going — and it shouldn't stop the rest of us who can't afford to do what our imaginations conjure up.

Thinking creatively helps. Replacing throw pillows can help enormously by adding a jolt of color or pattern into a room.

EDITORIAL: Vote Yes

Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Thursday, 12 January 2012 11:51

Westonites should vote a resounding Yes next Thursday when asked to approve new and improved Lachat property lease agreements between the town and the Nature Conservancy.

Town Meeting gave unanimous approval to the concept of the cooperative agreements back in October. Under the agreements, the town leases approximately half the property — the meadow area along Godfrey Road West, including the farmhouse and other buildings — from the conservancy, and the conservancy leases the rest of the property — the portion adjacent to its Devil's Den Nature Preserve — from the town. No money will change hands.

COMMENTARY: Weston schools seek feedback for future strategic planning

Written by Colleen Palmer, Weston Schools Superintendent
Thursday, 12 January 2012 11:48

The Weston school district is seeking public input on several strategic planning questions.

The schools began their second phase of district strategic planning in the fall of 2010 with the assistance of a consultant, Dr. John Starr, who has successfully facilitated this process for other districts in this region.