Comments for Getting involved in Greenwich

Comment on Cell Towers / Torre de Señal Celular by Jake Lynch

Jake Lynch — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:02:58 +0000

T-Mobile wins right to build 120 foot cell tower within 90 feet of residence in Sammamish, WA. “I see no evidence that cell towers will impact property values,” says hearings examiner.
Full story at http://www.sammamish-reporter.com

Comment on Cell Towers / Torre de Señal Celular by John Bowman

John Bowman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:20:19 +0000

Very interesting link. Thanks.

Comment on Cell Towers / Torre de Señal Celular by Michael Finkbeiner

Michael Finkbeiner — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:35:30 +0000

After 28 hours with no power in central Greenwich, I had to update my web site from my cell phone (Thanks Verizon.)

The static IP from Cablevision no longer works in comment 1.

Your Byram cell tower and 24 others in Town are detailed with maps and photos at http://earthimage.net/Greenwich_Cell_Phone_Towers.htm

Comment on Cell Towers / Torre de Señal Celular by John Bowman

John Bowman — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:01:11 +0000

Thanks for your comment Hannah. Good point about bad cell service vs. ugly tower, and that’s really the crux of all the debate. The point of my post is not that the cell tower is per se bad, in fact as I stated I kind of like it. Greater minds than mine, with more at stake than me, seemed to answer the question about whether the tower is a good or bad thing: the property owner gets $3,000/month for a 10′ x 10′ piece of property that he doesn’t have to maintain. That can only be because he thinks, and ATT acknowledges, the tower is a bad thing so he needs to be compensated. I think the adjacent neighbors should also be compensated since we suffer as much as the property owner.

The other way this is handled is through zoning regulations. No one wants a movie theater next door to their residence, but every town and city knows they need supermarkets so they work out zones where it is appropriate to put them. That system has been working fine for years. It’s the same system that prevents your neighbor from building a 10-story apartment and office complex. Cell towers are exempt from that system, and that’s why it isn’t fair.

As for my cell tower, I-95 is 50 feed away, and there’s plenty of State land next to it. Same is true for the proposed new tower on the other side of I-95. Trust me, but for CT’s law exempting cell towers from zoning regulations, the towers would be alongside I-95 on State property.

And you don’t get wifi from cell towers, you get fairly crappy that barely supports my iPhone. Maybe if they did wifi the neighborhood so we could get rid of the ugly phone and cable TV wires, the poles would be more attractive.

Comment on Cell Towers / Torre de Señal Celular by Hannah

Hannah — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:00:08 +0000

I”m not sure what one “does” with a property value, since I imagine most townies plan to live in their homes many years, but having one “lowered” because of an unaesthetic cell tower creates a dilemma: does the home owner endure the hardship of crappy cell reception (might that not lower property values?) or get great reception and have an unsightly tower nearby? I see great potential success for an industry that decorates cell towers so they don’t threaten property values. The bottom line here: I have not seen one post on where to put the new cell tower, just where not to put it. As the debate continues on and on, there goes the wi fied neighborhood.

Comment on Cell Towers / Torre de Señal Celular by Alex

Alex — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:12:55 +0000

Hey John,

I so feel your pain. Check out this article in today’s local paper in the community I live in Washington State and where your article was referenced

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/iss-s/news/87372037.html

BTW: I’m a long time CT resident and I know the area very well, it’s a shame how quick people sell out themselves and others for a buck.

-Alex

Comment on Cell Towers / Torre de Señal Celular by paul

paul — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:51:26 +0000

At least you have 3G coverage….

Comment on Cell Towers / Torre de Señal Celular by Michael Finkbeiner

Michael Finkbeiner — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:59:55 +0000

Researchers caution against using your phone in areas with poor coverage since phones emit more radiation when searching for a signal. Children, which have smaller and thinner skulls, should limit cell phone use, and all users, children and adults, should not sleep with an active phone next to their bedside or under their pillow.

See http://96.56.48.67/cellphone_head.jpg for what it looks like in your kid’s head when the tower is at a greater distance and he holds his max power cell phone to his head.

Comment on ConnPACE Prescription Drug Program Decimated – Sustinet Democrats Sit Silent by John Bowman

John Bowman — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:16:39 +0000

As I said in my post, that particular new provision, that you have to use one of the really cheap plans or you get NOTHING, is really unfair to the people that need it most. I would suggest you contact the Greenwich Commission on Aging – see the comment above – there are ways to switch plans mid-year. Not always, but it is possible under certain conditions. They should be able to walk you through it.

Comment on ConnPACE Prescription Drug Program Decimated – Sustinet Democrats Sit Silent by Denise

Denise — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:36:14 +0000

My mother-in-law did not understand what ConnPace sent out in November, and failed to ask for any help too. She has been with a Medicare perscription plan for several years, and everything was going ok with the help of ConnPace. Now we find out in Janauary that her plan is not on the approved list of plans with ConnPace, plus she has received a payment book for $43.00 per month to continue a plan, ConnPace is not coordinating with. I tried making several phone calls yesterday to see what if anything can be done to help her, and all I got was recordings and music in the background, without a clue as to which buttons to press, to ask a human being some basic questions. What is an 88 year old woman suppose to do with this new generation of, press this button, if this, press this button if that, personal assistance has gone by the way side. OH, and you can look that up on the computer. NICE…..I have spent 1/2 a day reading info, legislation and blurps….not knowing if what I am reading has been updated, etc. ConnPace Plus??? did that pass or not. I will try the phones again tomorrow, but it appears her time table has lapsed to change plans, and no one seems to be able to direct us appropriately (or I can’t speak with anyone, unless I stay on hold for an hour or so.)

Comment on ConnPACE Prescription Drug Program Decimated – Sustinet Democrats Sit Silent by John Bowman

John Bowman — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:59:07 +0000

Thanks for your comment. You are exactly the person ConnPACE was touted to help and likely to be most hurt by these cuts. It definitely isn’t fair because if wouldn’t cost much to restore this program, which keeps people like yourself living at home and not on Medicaid. I must say that in the case of your particular drug situation, it sounds like a problem that can be solved by asking your doctor to work with the pharmacy and your prescription drug plan to correct the situation. Another good contact is the Greenwich Commission on Aging, located at the Senior Center:

Director: Samuel E. Deibler
Telephone: (203) 862-6710 (office)
Fax: (203) 862-6701
Location: Senior Center, 299 Greenwich Avenue
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Administrative Clerical Assistant: Chicky Krois

Best of luck to you and thanks for your comment.

- John

Comment on ConnPACE Prescription Drug Program Decimated – Sustinet Democrats Sit Silent by Name Withheld

Name Withheld — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:36:32 +0000

I am one of those individuals dependent on ConPace to allow me to afford my drugs during the hole in part D RX insurance. I am totally dependent on Social Security. I meet the criteria by having a income of $15,000 annually. This past month when my son went to pick up a perscription at Walgreens I was charged $85 because Walgreens had changed the supplier and ConnPace did not cover this supplier. I was not notified of this in advance and only because my son picked up my perscription and paid the amount was I able to continue these pills for the month. My perscription will be running out shortly and I cannot not afford the $85.00 when it was my understanding that I would not have to pay more then $16.25 by being enrolled in this program. My son has expenses that are mind boggling with a disabled wife and a daughter in college. In no way will I allow him to have this added expense even if it is for an additional month. This medication I can not do without but will have to. HELP get this heath care system changed so we all can have the same care available.
That is my Xmas wish.

Comment on Byram Park Pool / La Piscina de Byram Park by John Bowman

John Bowman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:20:14 +0000

Good point and I probably over-simplified the story. The pool was officially open, there were certainly lifeguards there. The only kindness someone showed us was to let us drive through the side entrance near the pool because my mother’s disability. This is not unlike what Parks & Rec. did for my mother at Greenwich Point, when they granted us a pass to drive past the second concession to get to the picnic area. My brother, Jeff Bowman, arranged for someone to let us drive through the other gate, so frankly I don’t know who arranged for that. I hope I didn’t give the wrong impression about rule-bending at Byram Park, but you can take comfort from the fact that only 3 other people (my wife, my father and my sister) read this blog.
Thanks,
John

Comment on Byram Park Pool / La Piscina de Byram Park by anthony chiappetta

anthony chiappetta — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:33:21 +0000

I read your article and disagree with your comment that I let your mother into pool before it was open to the public. It is possible that someone from the beach crew let you in early without my knowledge. I don’t want to set a president where the public feels they can set thier own rules on operation of the Byram Park pool. Sincerely, Anthony Chiappetta Byram Park Foreman.

Comment on GHS Auditorium? Auditorio en la Escuela de Greenwich? by John Bowman

John Bowman — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:00:11 +0000

To be honest, I felt the same about the pricetag on this upgrade. I’ll bet if someone said “we’ll spend $5 million” you’d get a number of designs that could help the acoustics and add seating. Does everything we do in this town have to start at $25 million?

Comment on GHS Auditorium? Auditorio en la Escuela de Greenwich? by Lincoln Millstein

Lincoln Millstein — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:39:26 +0000

The suggestion that GHS students might suffer hearing loss because of bad acoustics in the auditorium is laughable and suggests just how zealous some proponents of this project have become. I am in support of a new performing arts center. But it only detracts from the credibility of the proposal when people start to make up silly reasons. The earbuds these kids have permanently attached to their ears will do more damage than any high school auditorium. I have sat in that space way too many times than I would like to recall. The acoustics are not great. It isn’t Carnegie Hall. But you can make the acoustics better by spending a couple of million – not $25 million. GHS deserves a better performance space for many worthy reasons. We don’t need to gild the argument with over-the-top exaggerations.

Comment on GHS Auditorium? Auditorio en la Escuela de Greenwich? by John Bowman

John Bowman — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:40:05 +0000

I guess you just did get that into the local media. A very interesting story, I’d like to follow up on it.

Comment on GHS Auditorium? Auditorio en la Escuela de Greenwich? by Gravy Train

Gravy Train — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:08:33 +0000

“[T]he acoustics are so bad that at least two music teachers there are reported to have suffered significant hearing loss.”

These must be two of the more than 750 workers compensation claims that have been filed by Board of Ed. employees over the past five years! Where is the outrage when perhaps the cushiest jobs in Town are generating multimillion dollar payouts — on top of their already generous salaries? Who would have thought that teachers have more workers comp claims –by far — than workers in Public Works, Police Fire, etc.

Can our local media shed some light on this scandal/fraud please?

Comment on GHS Auditorium? Auditorio en la Escuela de Greenwich? by Sean

Sean — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:51:58 +0000

For one reason, the acoustics are so bad that at least two music teachers there are reported to have suffered significant hearing loss. Though the size of the student body is comparable, the number of students participating in the music program, including band, orchestra and chorus, is far higher than it was. The practice rooms are cramped, and the acoustics dangerously bad, and the auditorium is too small for the groups and the audiences.

Take a look at auditoriums at wilton, North Haven, and elsewhere, and you will see that GHS’s facility stinks. Why is it that the wealthiest community of its size in the entire country can’t afford to build a decent auditorium that can handle the community’s gatherings and won’t damage the hearing of students and teachers?

Comment on About John Bowman by online-maris

online-maris — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:21:15 +0000

BUEN COMIENZO

Comment on Western Greenwich Town All-Stars / Las Estrellas de el Pueblo Oeste de Greenwich by kathy derene

kathy derene — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:02:10 +0000

Thanks for remembering my Dad, he truly was a “towner” and loved working for the Town..thanks “Short Change”…

Comment on Connecticut’s Budget Delays: A Teachable Moment/Retardos del Presupuesto de Connecticut: Un Momento Enseñable by bowman

bowman — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:50:56 +0000

Connecticut has already had a history of these fluctuations, causing 3rd party insurance providers to raise rates. Why they think that the State can anticipate and plan for those fluctuations better than insurance professionals is beyond me. This point was much debated by Republicans in the House and Senate, and was ignored by Democrats who didn’t have any answer. At least the Federal government can print more money in a crisis, states have to balance their budgets every year.

Comment on Connecticut’s Budget Delays: A Teachable Moment/Retardos del Presupuesto de Connecticut: Un Momento Enseñable by Tom Karbowski

Tom Karbowski — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:01:04 +0000

good information John. Good point about the government having no reserves. Health care spending could fluctuate quite a bit from year to year based on the needs of other areas. That would be pretty hard for families budget around.