Yearly Archives: 2005

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/letters/hc-lets1224.artdec24,0,2787290.story?page=3 The Stuff Legends Are Made Of December 24 2005The Dec. 18 editorial "One Whale Of A Tale," explaining the characteristics of the tusk of the narwhal, brought to mind Bill Faude's reopening of the famous Steward Museum at the Old State House a few years ago.Mr. Faude was quoted in The Courant as having acquired almost all of the exhibits and curiosities necessary except for a two-headed pig and the horn of a unicorn. I immediately called him and told him I had such an object mounted in my den and I would be happy to donate it…

http://www.courant.com/news/local/mr/hc-crmmorat1219.artdec19,0,5378754.story Planners Want Some Breathing Room Moratorium Proposed For Zone Changes, Larger Subdivisions By GARY LIBOW Courant Staff Writer December 19 2005 CROMWELL --The planning and zoning commission in early January will consider enacting a moratorium on applications for zone changes and subdivisions of more than 5 acres.Town Planner Craig Minor said a moratorium would give the panel several months of breathing room while an advisory panel works to update Cromwell's plan of conservation and development.The planning panel has scheduled a public hearing Jan. 3 in town hall for comment on the moratorium plan. The commission likely will vote…

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-water1218.artdec19,0,1967262.story Taking Stock Of Water Woes By STEPHANIE SUMMERS Courant Staff Writer December 19 2005Your neighbor just built a pond and filled it with his well water. It dried up your artesian, but guess what? Under Connecticut common law, you have almost no recourse.On the other hand, you'd better not draw too much water from the stream near your land because it's not OK to undercut its viability downstream.Experts say Connecticut's water wars are just going to get worse.There is no overarching water court to decide between the golf course that wants to keep its greens green and the…

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-plccondon1218.artdec18,0,2596464.column Treasures Quietly Slipping Away Tom Condon December 18 2005Westland Street in the North End of Hartford and Route 44 on the east side of Avon Mountain are separated by a few miles of land and the divide of wealth. What they have in common is the shortsighted loss of open space.In both instances, the loss might have been prevented if the public was aware of the status of the land.Westland Street is the home, for the moment, of Brackett Park. The 7.39-acre parcel - a lovely piece of land, if not always perfectly maintained - was the site…

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-plckuykendal1218.artdec18,0,7528934.story An Overdose Of Stores By JIM KUYKENDALL December 18 2005I'm aquiver with excitement.Less than a five-minute drive to the north of my house, they're building a new Walgreens.This is great, because now I won't have to suffer through that pesky five-minute drive to the south to go to that other Walgreens. It was so out of my way.Of course, Walgreens isn't my only choice. Within that same five-minute drive from my house I also have at my disposal two CVS pharmacies. And if those drug stores don't suit me, there also are two Stop & Shops, a Big…

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-plcadammoore1218.artdec18,0,5122487.story Developer, Spare This Vital Industry By ADAM MOORE December 18 2005The diesel engine heralds its approach. I sip my steaming coffee, peer over the crescent of frost on the windowpane and watch as traffic passes on Route 77 below. A moment later, there it is, a log truck with its load piled high, rolling toward a North Guilford sawmill. It rumbles past, leaving December's dusting of snow swirling about in its wake. This morning, every morning, and several times a day on my road, a loaded log truck passes by. Timber does not readily come to mind when…

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-plcforestmain1218.artdec18,0,3287497.story If You Love Our Forests, Let Them Stand By DON SMITH December 18 2005 People in Connecticut tend to believe that the land where they live, work and play has lots of trees - always has, as far as they know, and therefore, always will. Not necessarily. Things are changing for the worse and we are in danger of losing large portions of our forests unless we take strong action now. For more than two centuries after Europeans first arrived in Connecticut, they labored to clear the forest for agriculture. By 1860, more than 70 percent of the…

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-whitaker17dec01,0,1377736.story?coll=hc-headlines-editorials Investing In Land That Lasts December 1 2005 SOMERS & NEIGHBORS -- More of Connecticut's fields and forests may be saved from development, thanks to $6.8 million in recent state Department of Environmental Protection grants for open space. This money is a significant step toward the state's goal of preserving 21 percent of its open space by 2023. That's 673,210 acres. We're 70 percent of the way there. One of the largest awards - $450,000 - will go toward purchasing the 286-acre Whitaker property in Somers at an estimated cost of $1.2 million. The town and the local…

http://www.courant.com/news/local/fv/hc-simethel0916.artsep16,0,2429649.story Group May Help Town Preserve Tract By KATIE MELONE Courant Staff Writer September 16 2005 SIMSBURY -- A national land preservation group says its ability to assist the town in preserving a 450-acre parcel on the Ethel Walker School campus will hinge on whether it can raise sufficient donations. It will take at least a few weeks - and possibly longer - before the Trust for Public Land can say whether it can enter into an agreement to help the town buy the land, or the development rights to the land, said Tim Northrop, the trust's state director.…

http://www.courant.com/news/local/fv/hc-simethel0913.artsep13,0,266955.story Citizens' Group To Withdraw Appeal Would Encourage Talks Over Preserving Ethel Walker School Property By KATIE MELONE Courant Staff Writer September 13 2005 SIMSBURY -- A citizens' group has promised to withdraw a legal appeal it hoped could stall the Ethel Walker School's plans to build a large development of luxury homes on its wooded campus. Keep the Woods group felt emboldened by recent talks between the town, school and a land preservation group, said Susan Masino, a member. Instead of focusing on litigation, the group decided to encourage the three to enter into an agreement for the…