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Thu Aug 11 13:38:29 2005		It is definitely far from a done deal. Many environemtal groups are very interested in this, and the school could definitely do nothing, and so do the right thing by this land and their campus, get millions of dollars, and get a lot of positive national press.
Thu Aug 11 23:45:36 2005	Aric Bernier.	I was woundering If only simsbury VOTERS could sign the petition. Im 15 and i'll be a freshman at the highschool this year and if I could help out in anyway I would be glad to. I was woundering if I could get any non-voters to sign the petition, and if not, why do they have to be voters or order for thier opinion to matter? -Aric Bernier Nbernier@sbcglobal.net Please respond.
Tue Aug 16 09:27:00 2005		Yale Farm Golf Course in Litchfield stopped --- http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-yalefarm0816.artaug16,0,496835.story?coll=hc-headlines-local ----
Fri Aug 26 19:58:05 2005		More press --- http://hartfordadvocate.com/gbase/News/content?oid=oid:123413
Sat Aug 27 16:00:20 2005		While the woods are wonderful, they do belong to Ethel Walker School. I have always believed that a person or group has the right to do with their land whatever they want to as long as it within the ordinances of the law. To the best of my knowledge, building homes on property falls into that category. As a taxpaying landowner in Simsbury for the past 25 years, I believe that adding million dollar homes would increase the tax base without creating an urban blight.
Sun Aug 28 14:03:39 2005	Susan	I'm glad you brought up these points, as they are important! They do have the right - no one is disputing that. But the school itself prefers to preserve the land. They don't want a subdivision on their campus, they need money for their endowment. The town has already made an offer to purchase the land, and the Trust for Public Land is willing to help negotiate and get grant monies. With this support we can preserve our water quality (the land is 100% on top of our drinking water aquifer), a major recreational asset, and valuable connected open space and wildlife habitats for the long term benefit of Simsbury, the school and future generations. Other land in town is appropriate for development. Right now everything is moving towards the goal of preserving this land - a win-win situation for everyone. Business is what we need to help the tax base in town. In the long run, residential development does not help a town. The cost of their services, especially with our schools so crowded, exceeds the taxes they bring in over the long run. Overcapacity students need additional teachers, modular classrooms, etc. Also, any cost to treat our drinking water is something we each will pay for forever, and still never enjoy the same pristine quality we have now. Thanks for your comment - would appreciate any response.
Sun Aug 28 14:18:33 2005	Susan	sorry - web comment format took out paragraph breaks in previous post!!
Mon Aug 29 16:20:49 2005	Diane	Susan, I'm so glad you commented about Ethel Walker's right to develop. It's that very right that is their fall back position if preservation fails. As the previous writer indicated, the right to build is subjugated to other rights as health/safety and zoning and set aside requirements so EW will not realize the financial windfall some of their advisors had probably hoped they would. By going through this process I belive it has helped both EW and the town to realize the real cost/benefit of preservation. All of the efforts of the KeeptheWoods org. has been to focus on the benefits of preservation while balancing the potential financial benefit to EW of development. We clearly need to share these findings with a broader group. Hopefully the Trust for Public Land will be engaged very soon and can disseminate these facts.
Tue Aug 30 22:01:28 2005		This would not be urban blight - it would be suburban sprawl. We are using up land an astonishing rate.
Wed Sep 14 07:42:53 2005		I sympathize with your cause. I too enjoy walking and skiing on the Ethel Walker Horse trails. But why did you not protest the decimation of the Powder Forest ??!!! That too is valuable land--now instead of the cooling effect of the flora and a large home for the fauna we will be subjected to more heat generating asphalt, brick and cement. Lets be fair--if you protest one business developing their property, protest all!!!
Wed Sep 14 11:18:01 2005	John	In response to the individual who asked why the "decimation of Powder Forest" wasn't protested. As I said in an earlier message, that land has been zoned for development for many years. At one time there was discussion that Ensign Bickford would one day dedicate the remainder of their parcel to the town for passive recreation use. Every day I drive through the Powder Forest on the way to work and I lament the loss of this land that has teemed with wildlife. Many times I have had to slow the car for the crossing of a flock of turkeys or a small herd of whitetail deer. The turkeys have moved south and have been seen darting in traffic on Hopmeadow. I think it is imperative that we work assiduously to maintain what is left of Simsbury wildlife habitat and that is why I support Keep the Woods!
Fri Sep 16 09:46:26 2005	Mary	This is in response to anyone who asks this particular group why we did not protest the development of the Powder Forest. First, this group is not protesting the development we are trying to educate people that the Town and Ethel Walker are in talks to preserve the land. The Powder Forest had many, many public hearings that all residents of Simbsury were more than welcome to attend and voice their concerns. The fact of the matter is, Powder Forest was zoned industrial, this meant Ensign Bickford could have put a plant there and just followed the town regulations for construction. They chose instead to put an active adult community. I view this as a lesser of two evils. Now, the Ethel Walker property is zoned residential, if an agreement can not be reached with the town. Then we would make sure the all regulations for construction over a drinking water aquifer are adhered to. The prime message is to protect the drinking water! Preservation is the ultimate means to this end.
Mon Sep 19 08:30:14 2005	townie	just reviewing a section of this web page under the drinking water quality section and early on there is this statement......It provides 100% of the water for much of the town of .....is it much of the town? or 100% of the town? typo? also have other homes been built near this aquifer without poluting the area in the past? thanks
Tue Sep 20 09:56:43 2005	Mary	Thank you for showing some interest in this subject. The Stratton Brook Aquifer provides the approximately 73% of the Town of Simsbury with drinking water. This percentage only includes what Aquarion pumps, this does not include homeowners that have wells on this groundwater system, nor the Towns of Granby and East Granby. We have some water quality test reports from Aquarion, anyone on their water supply will receive the same reports, they do show an increase in contaminants when there is increase in home construction. For example, the Powder Forest development is also over this same aquifer. There are town regulations in place for policing development before, during, and after construction. I will not discuss here as the list is long. However, the Ethel Walker woods not only sits 100% over the aquifer they are also 100% over the recharge area, as well. Any questions that you have, I would be happy answer them privately off this message board if you like.
Fri Sep 23 09:02:50 2005	Alumna	I am so glad to learn that EWS has slowed the process and is considering ways to work with the trust for public land. So many of my expereinces at the school have made me the person I am - strong willed about the right nd wrong way to do things - and I really have beleived that developing this land would be a dreadfully wrong thing to do. First, for the land and second for the students watching in the wings - what a fantastic message for them and an honor for the school to deliver true stewards to the citizenry of our nation.
Sun Sep 25 11:12:37 2005		FABULOUS EVENT AT AVON OLD FARMS, FRIDAY NIGHT !!
Tue Sep 27 20:31:46 2005	Angela	I would just like to say that i am really tired of all this beutiful land being thrown away for some "million dollar homes". Nature is being pushed out of its home as well.I come from a place where people preserve what land they have and enjoy it without having it destroyed so people and busineses can be put up. I think we have enough of this across the country. This is just my opinion and i know that there are people out there that do feel the same way and they should be heard!