November 13, 2009 7:21 am

Open Thread

Looks like the rain is at bay, but use this thread for whatever is on your mind.

Secondhand Rose

Did anyone watch or read the interview with Charla Nash on Oprah this week? I simply cannot believe the courage of this woman. And to those who think that Oprah went too far by showing Charla’s face on national TV, one has to admit that most people were curious to see what she looked like. I know I was – and she looked a lot better than I thought she would look. Charla Nash has a very long way to go to recover from her injuries, and I hope she makes it. She seems to be a very strong and down-to-earth person. I wish her well with all my heart.
Norwalk recycler

I saw it. I was not planning tolook at her face, I didn’t want to feel like a “voyeur.” But, during the show I thought the reasoning was sound – better for her to show her face on her own terms than to have paparazzi or worse, a hospital employee, get a money shot . I wound up taking a peek as one could mostly see thru the veil anyway, and honestly, she did look better than I expected as well. She clearly has a very strong spirit and I admire her for coming forward. She has survived an incredible ordeal and has much to be proud of.
OLD TIMER

Her family filed a fifty million dollar lawsuit, and the chimp owner’s defense has been “she was an employee, she is limited to what workmen’s comp will pay”.
It will be interesting to see what the workmen’s comp insurance company does with that. Either way, she is certainly entitled to all her medical expenses, whatever it takes to put her life back together, and compensation for the rest of her life. The suit seeks much more than that. and, in my opinion, she should get much more. They should also sue the authorities that did not intervene a long time ago, as the chimp got big enough, and mature enough, to be really dangerous.
I Want Answers

I for one believe that this woman deserves everything she gets and especially in terms of medical care. Sparing no expense! I have spoken with the officer who was first on the scene a number of times and he described it as being horrible. There was a history with Travis as well, he bit a woman and had flipped out in downtown Stamford. Sadly, this was inevitable. The owner should be held fully responsible and these kinds of pets should be outlawed immediately.
I Want Answers

What’s also very troubling is the court findings that were released today regarding the Norwalk Police Officer involved in the sex scandals with minors. What is it with our Police Department? What can be done about ridding it of these miscreants? I want answers!
Secondhand Rose

Oh please. Like every other segment of society, there are bad apples in police departments, same as anywhere else. Where is it written that police officers have to be exempt from the same human foibles as you or the next guy, just because they’re cops? Pinning on a badge and handing a gun to someone isn’t going to negate whatever flaws they already have in their psyche – it only gives them the ability to get away with it more often than the average Joe.

Particularly in the cop “brotherhood”, since they all tend to look out for each other, protect each other and, you know, keep that “blue wall of silence” in operation, whether they agree with what’s going on or not. Case in point: police corruption. Everyone knows it’s there; but cops traditionally close ranks on the subject. I imagine it’s no different for this.
OLD TIMER

That “blue wall of silence” is strictly for the movies and TV. Nobody is tougher on bad cops than other cops. If I were a cop in trouble with the law, I would try very hard to make sure there were no cops or members of cop’s families on the jury. You think the comments here about bad cops are rough, you should hear what the other good cops have to say.
The job requires a level of faith in other cops because they count on one another in life threatening situations. There is a brotherhood that develops, but nobody feels more betrayed when a cop goes bad, than the other cops who thought they could count on him/her.
That is part of ex-Lt Cummings defense. Other ex-cops (honorably retired) said unkind things about him, therefore he can’t get a fair trial and the case against him should be dismissed, or moved to some jurisdiction where sex between grown men and children is not taken so seriously. It is not much, but what other defense does he have ?
I want answers

Oh Rose, no. You can’t defend that! So when your parents tell you: If you have a problem, go to the Police, or another in a like position. That’s what we have always been told, with good reason. They never said go the creepy house on the corner for help, because that’s the one you are supposed to avoid. And so now we as parents should say what? COME ON ROSE! Don’t defend molesters. There is a pattern here, not 1, not 2 but 3 now! Add in that nut who stole the piece of skull fragment and we should all feel safe. Gosh, I hope he gets his pension too.
Secondhand Rose

Hey “Answers”, I’m not “defending” anyone; I’m actually agreeing with you. All I’m saying is that cops are no different from anybody else – you can’t hold them to a higher standard simply because they’re cops. They have the same problems as anybody else does. Just because they become a cop does not make whatever weird inclinations they’ve developed during their formative years evaporate simply because they put on a badge.

I think this Cummings guy is the scum of the earth – but frankly I’ve met far too many cops over the years who act no better than Nazis. Why? Because they CAN.
Barnstorm

Rose agreeing with Mikey. Who’da thunk it?

Now THAT should be on Oprah!
OLD TIMER

Cops are held to a higher standard. It is a vital part of the job. There is supposed to be pretty intensive screening and background investigations that should weed out applicants who have problems. Unfortunately, in a good economy, there are not many applicants. The people responsible for all that screening get lax and try hard to fill ranks with new officers to replace ones leaving the Dept. What we are seeing now is the predictable result of letting down standards. Compensation has not kept pace with the demands of the job. Qualified people easily find better pay in much less stressful jobs. Some of our cops transfer to smaller depts in wealthier communities, for more money and a lot less work. We end up with more bad cops, we don’t fill all authorised slots, and we elect politicians who campaign on a record of holding down taxes. The Norwalk Police dept operating budget($18,661,975) is less than 7% of the total City budget ($278,654,619) and less this year than it was last year. Most of us would happily pay a little more in taxes if we knew it would all go to the police dept. You get what you pay for.
I want answers

Old Timer. You are right on point with your comments and I applaud you for it. It could not have been better worded.
OLD TIMER

Rose:
The best line about cops is; “That’s right lady, we don’t write tickets for nice looking women, sign right here”
We expect cops to be so many things. Brave, aggresive, and tough as nails, risking life and limb, with a violent criminal one minute, and kind and gentle and not ever using strong language the next, dealing with a victim. Remarkably, most cops manage that quick-change act very nicely.
We expect them to stop speeding in our neighborhood, but only if they catch people from somewhere else, not our family or neighbors.
We expect them to stop every suspicious car cruising the streets, without violating our right to go where we please. We expect them to catch all the bad guys, but never bother someone in our family or even our friends. We expect them to know, instinctively, who the bad guys are, but, we refuse to get involved, or give information about bad guys we know. We expect them to know as much about our neighborhoods as life-long residents, but don’t pay enough to attract local residents to apply for the job, or to get them to live in town.

Answers:
Thanks, it took a while to find the numbers and get the wording right. I believe they even take applicants now with prior arrest records, but not felonies. There was a time applicants had to be registered voters in town with no record of any kind. Police calls to an applicant’s home about fights with a spouse or parent, even if there was no arrest, would get an applicant passed over. Neighbors, teachers, & friends, were interviewed for any signs of problems. Then, an applicant might get accepted as a supernumery cop and work part-time at a lower pay grade than a regular officer. Anything less than glowing reccomendations from the regulars he worked with would get an applicant passed over. Today, they take applicants from anywhere and thorough background investigations are more difficult. Things like the opinions of former classmates were taken seriously. If the kids you went to school with all say you were a bully in school, the investigation usually ended right there.
BLARNEY

Reminds me of a story I heard about a police officer who stopped a driver for rolling through a stop sign. When the officer handed him the ticket, the driver got mad and said, �Hey, I didn�t stop but I slowed down, so what�s the big difference exactly?� The officer said to him,� Let me ask you a question, if I was beating you over the head with my night stick, would you want me to SLOW DOWN or STOP?
Red Flag on Stop & Shop

Question to our government representatives and citizens: How does one report bad food being distributed from a grocery store? There is no information at the health department site in Norwalk and state only has a general email box. Calls to the health dept in Norwalk are circled to no live voice and message are not returned. Just a heads up to all in town, RED FLAG is raised on Stop and Shop meat department. Pass the word. If someone gets sick, sue the hell out of those Netherlanders that own S&S.

turfgrrl

Red Flag on Stop & Shop: Meet your FDA. link: criminal investigations.

Red Flag

T.Y. Turf, think the bell has been rung, late this afernoon.
Chop Chop, Stop & Shop.

Hurting

My ears are hurting from the incessant leaf blowers from the yards where the 12 to 24 year old able-bodied occupants can do the same job with a rake with a 99% reduction in noise.
Won’t happen though because the owners will not impinge on their offspring’s entitlement to DELEGATE all tasks so they are well prepared to deal with real-life after the IVY league and island vacations.

http://donahuefornorwalk.com Chris Donahue

I, personally, look forward to the day when my kids are old enough to help me work in the yard, and will be happy to retire the leaf blower!

Secondhand Rose

What makes you think that Stop & Shop sells “bad” meat? I’ve been buying meat from S&S for more than 20 years and have never *seen* bad meat, much less bought any.

Now if you were making this claim against the A&P you might have an argument…
Red Flag

Nope rose good call, its very dirty in there and no drill sergernts to enrure health codes are strcitly followed. Incident in question, ground beed and pork. The meat apperes to pass but the handling and storage significant dangerous exposure to poulance, big, huge no no’s
They paased an inspection on Oct 5th 2009 but there are labor and safe handling of products issues that demand immediate attention.. Y0u have been warned. The isssue is the cleanliness and the supervisors that are slacking, big time. When your selection reeks of feces, sombody isn’t doing there job.
Stay tuned for an update shortly.
Steamed

Great to see that the reserved parking spots at an elementary school are occupied by a Porsche SUV and another new $$$ import…my bad…I should have selected education as my major 30 years ago and spent my days outside with a frisbee…nice to “work” 180 days a year for a big fat paycheck…2/3 of my taxes are paying for this frivolity.

06855

Steamed: You are so shallow!
I am not a teacher nor am I affiliated with one. I am not rich. However, I am not poor. But there more times that I struggle having a wide spectrum of children to finance, Preschool right through college. Most important, I am not jealous like you! Is this teacher or school employee supposed to be poor? Maybe they married rich, Maybe they are rich and wanted to teach kids. Perhaps you should list the acceptable vehicles that people are to drive based on their occupation so that nobody insults you.

Steamed

What annoys me is that there is always a clamor for MORE taxes to pay for MORE useless administrators and I am SICK ot it. I PAID my OWN tuition at a STATE school and I am sick of subsidizing USELESS administrators. Are your chillden going to NCC?

NorwalkSpectator

Just to clarify a few points here for you, Steamed. The Norwalk Publlic School System is the largest employer in the City, last time I checked (pre-budget June 2009). Most of the administrators that you referred to as “useless” actually do have work responsibilities, like processing purchase orders, working on student transcripts, scheduling various administrative meetings between teachers and support staff, like reading specialists and the parents. Another popular pastime is processing the payroll and the health benefits. Both the State and the Federal Government demand reams of paperwork for every cent they toss our way. The various inspection agencies also demand documentation here and there, along with the Board of Education. Most of them work very, very hard. Yes, I said “most” but not “all”. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out who wasn’t included in that statement.

Steamed

The same functions could be performed by a trained monkey at a huge cost saving.

06855

Steamed: I’ll agree with you on the administrators. There are way too many. And for the taxes, I really can’t even see how this can be fixed. The spending is/was out of control for so long in our school system. If the BOE hasn’t gotten their way they cut the student and parent desired programs to lever the parents against the city to pass budgets. Government should be cutting the fat in recessions just like succesful businesses. It’s a healthy cycle that keeps private business from getting out of control.
Past elementary, my kids are in private schools. I am too afraid to send my kids to Norwalk High. Three quarters of my taxes go to a school system that I don’t really use is what is making me move from Norwalk come spring. Too bad, geographically I really like Norwalk. NCC no. Another private school for close to 40k/year. It’s crazy! The housing bubble may have just ended but the tax bubble is on it’s way. I am not on a fixed income and property tax will govern where I live. Remember what they were just 10 years ago. Looking forward, with the debt and weak dollar policy our government is taking on. We will be going to work just to pay taxes.
I agree with your fustration just not your comment about The type of cars or implied financial stature.

Tired

I see a lot of 40K/year students who do not even attempt to EARN a dollar of their own tuition and the parents pay for EVERYTHING–private college tuition, cars, vacations…must ne nice. These are your lawyera and administrators of the future!

nancy

Charla Nash has certainly been through unimaginable horrorl. I hope she wins a lawsuit which will take care of her and all of her medical needs.Travis should not have been a house pet….. What she has gone through makes my issue here of “gangstalking” appear trivial. On the other hand, gangstalking is NOT a trivial subject and many victims commit suicide or are in car accidents made to look normal, but truly a result of the drivers behind and to the side shoving the victim off of the road mercilessly.

I don’t want to take up too much room so I will just select incidents which give a good picture of gangstalking and of how targetted individuals react.

Wyoming- Cody- My son and I visited Cody and Yellowstone Park. Interestingly, some of the best-dressed cowboys were from “New Canaan” and other CT towns- these folks had retired and now owned ranches….the terrain was so different- red clay mostly. Tufts of grass.

Well, my son was getting a bit tired of ole Mom and wanted to meet with a young lady he had met at one of the “cowboy” restaurants in town. So he headed down the hill from the motel and into the party. By around 2 :30 AM I heard a scraping noise at the motel window, followed by the sounds of heavy feet pounding down the walkway when I turned on the light. We had been told that this was one of the very safest Motels in Cody- no managers stayed on at night. Well, I went outside and noted that someone had been trying to pry the window frame up- probably with a screwdriver. The screen was torn. Outside, my son’s truck was missing.

I was getting anxious, but then figured at his age he probably was still out partying with the girl, or might have ended up elsewhere.
nancy

I could no longer sleep. I looked outside again around 4 and my son was slumped over in his truck. He was alwas meticulous about closing his windows and locking his vehicles. When I ran down to the truck, all windows were completely open and my son had on only his boxers. There was no sign of his clothing- even his shoes. There was an odor in the vehicle- not marijuana or alcohol- something more “medicinal.”

I could barely wake him up. He appeared confused and exhausted. I got him upstairs. He told me someone had stuck him in the thumb with a needle; a man had reached through the driver’s side window and grabbed his right hand; they had struggled, then he recalled being pricked in the thumb, and then passing out.
nancy

The next day he remained somewhat “whoosy” and confused. I wondered if someone had slipped him a “date rape” drug as he had minimal memory of the night before….
His car was in Casper Wyoming and was now ready to be picked up. As we drove there, my son asked me to take over as he was too tired. When we got to the motel we had selected for our second stop in this town, my son asked me to carry in everything as his arm hurt. Another guy helped hoist everything in- including our 40 pound cat from Westport shelter.
nancy

Early in the morning, around 4 AM, my son woke up screaming in pain. His right hand and lower arm looked inflamed. The area around the thumb had taken on an odd shade. I took him to the ER, thankfully it was nearby.
At first, the nurses and other staff suspected methampetamine (very popular in Wyoming). However, blood tests proved otherwise. A Gulf War I vet who was a nurse strongly urged the doctor to admit my son ASAP.

The doctor drew a line around the growing infection. They measured the diameter of his arms. HIS RIGHT ARM WAS NINETEEN INCHES MORE IN DIAMETER THAN THE LEFT. The entry/portal of infection appeared to be the thumb pad. He was immediately admitted and put on IV antibiotics and other medications for pain.

The next morning, I arrived to visit my son early. They had cultured the wound. It was NOT flesh eating bacteria disease.

He was already prepped for surgery. The doctors informed me that they were going to have to slice his entire arm open to save his life. They told me that the alternatives were that his arm would have to be amputated, or the poisons would literally “explode” and cause generally fatal septicemia……
Secondhand Rose

I’m utterly astounded at the news that Spinnaker Co. has been given the go-ahead by the City to build those condos and apartments on the Norden property – especially astounded to see this when it has been completely obvious for YEARS that the neighborhood did not want it; the community at-large did not want it; and the residents of Westport who will be directly impacted by it and many of whom attended the multiple public hearings held by the various commissions and committees also did not want it!

Where does the Zoning Commission get off by completely ignoring and thumbing their collective noses at the will of the PEOPLE whose daily lives are now going to be irrevocably damaged by this development? And what is it that former Mayor Zullo has bribed them all with? Because they must be getting some sort of kickback in order to so blatantly ignore the fact that NOBODY wants this development to be built!
turfgrrl

Second Hand Rose: The approved site plan preserved approx 13 acres of open space in perpetuity, the concerns of the neighbors were accommodated from the initial 2005 plan, and the 240 units is rental housing, increasing housing that corporations and businesses cite as lacking in Fairfield County. Lastly, Attorney and former Mayor Zullo had not role in this application. You can disagree with the vote, which was unanimous, but at least attempt to get a fact right.
http://www.need-money.co.uk BaidayTilijak

This may be a bit off subject…

Is anyone claiming back mis-sold PPI from their financial institution? If so how far have you gone?
Did your bank even reply? Mine wrote back saying I have no case
Secondhand Rose

Um, excuse me but at every public hearing I attended, former Mayor Zullo was front and center and very publicly so. He was at the Conservation Commission hearings; he was at the Planning Committee hearings; he was at the Zoning Commission hearings – including the ones back in 2006 that went until 1am and were carried over to another day and went until almost midnight. He even gave a presentation at at least one of those hearings. It’s Zullo’s law firm that is working with Spinnaker on this development, and has been since the beginning. Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes; I was there and was sitting not 10 feet away from him the whole time, at every meeting.
turfgrrl

Secondhand Rose: Why do you persist in lying? You could verify for yourself the zoning minutes from the public hearing. Or the conservation or the planning commission.

Thusly, you have officially libeled not only the zoning commission but Attorney Zullo by making a bribe and kickback accusation. Not such a wise thing to do considering…
Secondhand Rose

Turrfie, exactly WHOM do you think TOOK those minutes from 2006 and 2007???

Uh-huh.

I did, when I was working for Cheryl Telesco.

In fact, at one of those meetings that Zullo was in attendance at, I was sitting right next to YOU – on the stage in the City Hall Concert Hall.

Care to publicly call me a liar again?

turfgrrl

Secondhand Rose: This is easy the minutes are from 2009. Liar, liar pants on fire.

Secondhand Rose

Where did I say we were talking SPECIFICALLY about 2009? This development has been in the works since 2006 – probably even earlier than that. And Zullo and his law firm have been there every single step of the way.

turfgrrl

Secondhand Rose: Really? You want to now claim you meant 2006 in your libelous statement that the Norwalk Zoning Commission took bribes and kickbacks from Frank Zullo? Puh-lease. Keep digging the hole here, Insanity, btw, is not a valid defense, nor is “I don’t know.”

Secondhand Rose

Let me quote myself: “Because they must be getting some sort of kickback in order to so blatantly ignore the fact that NOBODY wants this development to be built!”

Does that statement say “they ARE”???
Does that statement say “they HAVE”???
Hmmm, sounds like speculation to me. Do you consider speculation “libel”? You’ve been pretty darn speculative in quite a few of your own posts, Turffie; as have dozens of people on this board in dozens of other forums. And there have been dozens of other posters making far more scurrilous assumptions about other City officials both past and present that you have let slide and never bothered to defend or refute. Why not go back and re-read some of the recent posts about Moccia’s campaign, for example – or what has been written here in past threads about Susan Gunn or Fred Bondi.

Methinks you doth protest too much – considering you sit on the Zoning Commission…..gee, I must have struck a nerve.

turfgrrl

Secondhand Rose: It’s a given that I carefully police comments for legal problems, and I have officially declared that your original comment is one. Rather than correct your inaccurate information, you seem to persist in clinging to this idea that you did not libel anyone. Further, you have chosen to make such comments on a blog run by a member of the very commission you allege took “bribes or kickbacks” leaving no doubt as to the intent and purpose of your comment. What you have struck is the very real possibility that I will have zero qualms about providing these comments to an attorney. Your move.

Secondhand Rose

Since my comment is speculation and speculation is reasoning based on inconclusive evidence, conjecture and/or supposition, it appears that you’ll find it difficult if not impossible to show that any such speculation was directed at any Zoning Commissioner specifically and with the sole purpose and intent of harming a reputation (taking into consideration that the comment was generalized and named no one on the Zoning Commission).

Furthermore, you have no comment from me stating plainly that “YOU TOOK”, “YOU RECEIVED”, “YOU WERE GIVEN” which implies difinitive explicit proof. There is only my comment that “THEY MUST BE GETTING” which is, as anyone can see, a surmising, a speculation, conjecture – a hazarding of a guess.

However, there is the very real statement made by you, more than once, calling me a liar. I suppose we could grapple over that while we’re at it.

I suggest you smooth your feathers down. Life’s too short to make mountains out of anthills.
turfgrrl

Secondhand Rose: I’m surprised you’re persisting at this, but whatever. For the record, the Norden Place application was represented by the attorney of a Stamford law firm. I provided a link to the minutes, you persist in claiming accuracy. Game over. You are a liar, you are wrong and your interpretation of legal issues concerning will and intent are laughable. You don’t want to retract, fine. Let the chips fall where they are going to.

OLD TIMER

Can somebody explain how the City is able to allow residential development in an industrial zone at Nordens without allowing it in every industrial zone, but cannot allow the shelter to use a building it owns, in an industrial zone, for a homeless shelter facility without changing the rules for allowed uses in all industrial zones, raising the specter of shelters all over town ? I am neither for nor against this project, but confused by the process. I think the specter of more homeless shelters springing up all over town is kind of silly, as it is hardly a profitable business.
For the record, the attorney for the developerwas Liz Suchy, until recently an associate at Zullo’s office. She has moved to a Stamford firm and still represents the developer.

turfgrrl

Old Timer: Simple, an application comes before zoning that requests a text amendment to make a use change. The applicant shows a plan and promises to do stuff. When the head of the organization cannot answer simple questions about operations directly related to the impact of traffic and quality of life, then the commission has a difficult time determining if the plan is worthy of approval. See September 24th, Just The Facts Please …

Naramake Parent

Does anyone know FOR SURE which elementary school resident children of the proposed Norden development would go to? I certainly hope its not Naramake. We are already overcrowded there. I have not attended any meetings and honestly am just starting to get interested in this but was school overcrowding even discussed during all these meetings?

turfgrrl

Naramake Parent: For 17 years the enrollment of Norwalk Public Schools has been flat or declining despite the addition of over 4000 new units of housing. Since 2005 there has been approximately a 5-point-something overall % decline. In the 1998-99 school year the enrollment at Naramake was 388. In 2007-08, 392.

David Waters

I don’t have any interest (other than a passing one) in this application. I can say, however, that as part of the Merritt River Residential development and as part of the Pepperidge Farm development, the applicants were requested to provide estimates of school children that would be generated by such developments. We obtained statistics from the Board of Ed for most of the larger multi-family projects in Norwalk, and they were submitted to Zoning. The result of that exercise is that there are surprisingly few school aged children at this type of residential project. If I recall correctly, only Clocktower Close had a noticeable child population, which seemed odd because most of the units are one-bedroom, until we discovered that the building manager had her kids dropped off after school there and it was assumed that they must live there. P&Z would be able to dig out the exact statistics from those files if anyone cares to delve further.

in the know

in the know
�I don�t have any interest other than a passing one (in this application)�.

Too bad you cant smell the low tide from Wilton, its smells bad down here.

David, as an employee of Carls you have direct interests.

�If I recall correctly, only Clocktower Close had a noticeable child population, which seemed odd because most of the units are one-bedroom, until we discovered that the building manager had her kids dropped off after school there and it was assumed that they must live there.

(noticable child population).

David what is your perception of noticable?

What the lady have a bus load of kids dropped off?

We can use that book and slam it over some heads.

Bribes? Kickbacks? Favours? New Norwalk Order?

Perhaps, the paper trail will be a challenge but not one that cannot be

met. We have some empty jail cells awaiting new

occupants. Madoff and Standford need company.

Need a business model for a human shelter?

How about letting us know your thoughts when you get 10-20 in a labor camp.

The enormus wealth of minds and power are helpless over such a trivial issue as a permit to bring dignity to human beings but isnt even a speed bump in personal greed.

Nancy you want help, stroll down Wilson Avenue a mile find the biggest mansion on Valley Road and ask for Carl. And please post his response to you, to all of us.

Hey Carl , you ready for a couple busloads of angry folks to drop by the house for tea and crumpets. better stock up on crumpets.

The crowd is hungry and mighty ornery for getting the short stick for so long, they be coming to your homes and headquaters for accountability.

Take that and deposit that in your offshore accounts.

Your gonna slip and when you do it will be right into a nice new set of bling wrist and leg cuffs.

wineshine

While I understand, and, respect the Commission�s motivation in granting the Norden permit and rezoning the tract, it should be abundantly apparent to the Commission that their very ignorance to the magnitude of negative public sentiment regarding this project is reason enough for the public to suspect, rightly or wrongly, inside influence. I do believe that the hundreds of people, who signed petitions against this project, and others, are incredulous, and looking for answers.
I can�t help but feel that had the Commission recognized this negative feeling as the plea for help that it was, it would have been more dutiful by voting against rezoning, instead of plowing ahead with the further development of the city, which at one point, past, present, or future, will become unsustainable
At some point, our city legislators and appointees have to realize that there are just so many resources in Norwalk to go around. Jacksonville, Florida, the largest U.S. city, area-wise, got that way from annexation of surrounding towns. That is obviously not possible here. Unless those officials understand that it�s more important to consider quality of life, instead of self-serving legacies, they will continue to come under scrutiny of this nature.
Norwalk was voted one of the �Best Places to Live� a couple of decades ago. I wouldn�t brush up on the acceptance speech for the next award just yet.

Nancy

Can anyone please relate what questions were asked about the (potential) new shelter? Turfgirl, you wrote: “simple questions about operations directly related to the impact of traffic and quality of life”

What did the committee want to know? I live at the shelter for now.I probably cannot quantify answers, but I really would like to know what the concerns wre- can obvious guess at most of them.
There are people- not shelter residents- speeding down Chestnut Street with bass blaring. There are a large group of almost/teenagers who routinely leave the housing area near the magnet school to walk to the Spanish store…and they choose to walk up Merritt Street to get there. Where the concerns different than what takes place there on a regular basis? Or was it a matter of simply MORE of the same. Just curious.

in the know

“I don�t have any interest other than a passing one (in this application)”.

Too bad you cant smell the low tide from Wilton, its smells bad down here.

David, as an employee of Carls you have direct interests.

“If I recall correctly, only Clocktower Close had a noticeable child population, which seemed odd because most of the units are one-bedroom, until we discovered that the building manager had her kids dropped off after school there and it was assumed that they must live there.

(noticable child population).

David what is your perception of noticable?

What the lady have a bus load of kids dropped off?

We can use that book and slam it over some heads.

Bribes? Kickbacks? Favours? New Norwalk Order?

Perhaps, the paper trail will be a challenge but not one that cannot be

met. We have some empty jail cells awaiting new

occupants. Madoff and Standford need company.

Need a business model for a human shelter?

How about letting us know your thoughts when you get 10-20 in a labor camp.

The enormus wealth of minds and power are helpless over such a trivial issue as a permit to bring dignity to human beings but isnt even a speed bump in personal greed.

Nancy you want help, stroll down Wilson Avenue a mile find the biggest mansion on Valley Road and ask for Carl. And please post his response to you, to all of us.

Hey Carl , you ready for a couple busloads of angry folks to drop by the house for tea and crumpets. better stock up on crumpets.

The crowd is hungry and mighty ornery for getting the short stick for so long, they be coming to your homes and headquaters for accountability.

Take that and deposit that in your offshore accounts.

Your gonna slip and when you do it will be right into a nice new set of bling wrist and leg cuffs.
Holly Cow, homeless with car payments

Nancy, from what the zoning folks say is that they had reservations about managements competency, security and client service plans. Traffic was also tossed in the heap. Traffic is going to change in 400 feet? Suddenly we may need to construct a city revenue producing parking garage for the homeless? How many clients in a year own vehicles? Managements competency, security and support services, yes now is the time to address those concerns. when some throw out completely hysteric delusional illustrations that shelters will replace the banks on every corner or that homeless folks will have no where to park their Lexus and 33 foot motor homes, well, kinda does appear there are ulterior motivations at play. Traffic study? C’mon. at least try and appear professional, how about asbestos or brownsfield, inhabital without remediation? But concerns about caravans of homless folks clogging the streets when school lets out? Put down that shot glass, think this out.

Nancy

Note- if this is inappropriate please delete.
I hate to ask this, but I am in a real bind and need help if possible. I have been over to the Norwalk Probate office and I urgently need some of my father’s will and other pages copied. They charge $5.00 a PAGE.
dear people:
I need help getting copies of my late father’s probate records. I have been
over there a few times and found some real doozies in the reports, but lack the funds to copy the pages I need.
Why?
THEY CHARGE FIVE DOLLARS A DAY! Heck, I barely eked out money for a bus token…..
Awhile back I asked for help from Legal Services in Norwalk but they refused me. Apparently the attorney is one of their mentors or supervisors. They told me to go to Hartford….
heck, I can’t even get over to Stamford and back!
If anyone would be willing to help, maybe some of my late parents’ friends, I would be grateful for even the smallest financial help.
My name is Nancy (Colwell) Pittman
The address is: Open Door Shelter
4 Merritt Street South Norwalk CT 06854
If you call 866-1057 please ask to leave a message with Bob. He is a wonderful guy who donates alot of his time to the Shelter, and he always gets messages right.
OLD TIMER

Don’t either of you guys read ? The attorney is Liz Suchy. She worked on this project for years, as an associate in Zullo’s office, and then she joined a Stamford firm, Sandak, Hennesey & Greco, the same firm where Peter Nolin, Moccia’s corporation counsel in his first term, is an associate. She apparently took the client, Spinnaker, with her when she moved. Zullo was very active early on in this project and gradually turned it over to Suchy. Frank Zullo is at the age where he delegates most of the heavy lifting in his office. (he’s older than me, but not much)
TG is right about it being a Stamford law firm recently, when it went before Zoning, and Rose is right about Zullo’s office being involved for years. Same lawyer, different law firms. Now, stop calling each other names, neither of you is still in 2nd grade, play nice.
A lot of people would not have voted for this project, but that is no evidence that there was anything legally improper about how it was sheperded through the various regulatory steps.

turfgrrl

Old Timer: Don’t get caught up in the the misconstruing of facts. In the previous application it was indeed Frank Zullo who represented the applicant. In the 2009 application it was not. That is an irrefutable fact. The allegation that the Zoning Commission, any member of the ZOning Commission, would take a “bribe or a kickback” is a direct violation of state law and ethics ordinances of the City of Norwalk.

For anyone, to come here, and make such an allegation knowing full well that the publisher of this site is in fact the Chair of the Zoning Commission is willfully engaging in libelous behavior. Short order for a good IP or Contract lawyer to make a case of. There are 9 other members of the Zoning Commission who aren’t here to defend themselves, but I am and will fully pursue any incidence by any person who engages in such defaming behavior. There were plenty of opportunities for the record to be corrected. I haven’t seen it. Your demonstration of clicking the links and investigating the claims proves beyond a reasonable doubt that there can be any error in not knowing the truth and facts.

OLD TIMER

TG:
I never supported any statement about anyone having done anything improper in this and I agree it is poor judgement, at least, for anyone to say something like that without proof. I understand the frustration that leads people to that kind of speculation, but I do not support it. Even Rose is now backing away from her original corruption statement.
The fact that there was more than one application is news to me, I, like many others, assumed it was one long process with the original application considerably modified. The same lawyer, Liz Suchy, handled it from the start, I believe. Both she and Peter Nolin are now partners at the same Stamford Law firm. Liz only went there a short while ago and may well have still been with Zullo when the 2009 application was prepared and started through the regulatory process.
Thanks for the response to my question about the shelter relocating to another property in an industrial zone. Is it fair to say they might have gotten a different result if they had been better prepared and better represented ? Is it possible for them to regroup and re-apply ?
Naramake Parent

So…I guess no one knows for sure which elementary school then for Norden? Also, I find it hard to believe that a complex of that size would not have that many children. Even if its only 10. 10 here and 10 there and all of a sudden we need another modular classroom at Naramake. To Turfgrrl; those figures you post may have been then but this is now…Naramake has become the elementary school of choice in Norwalk, its scores far exceeed all others…if the numbers are flat or declining then why did we need a modular classroom there at a great expense to the city? Why did they have to add another kindergarten class this year? why does it now take 10 minutes just to get into the parking lot at morning dropoff? Its obvious to anyone who has children there…enrollment is growing and rapidly too. Like I said 10 here and 10 there and then what? There is not even a place to put another modular. Don’t poo poo this subject. If its Naramake….ANY additional housing that will cause even 1 new student there needs to be thought out. The resources at Naramake are being stretched to the limit as it is.

turfgrrl

Naramake Parent: The short answer to your question is no, only the BOE knows what it will do when the building gets built. But if past history is a guide, if you look at real estate listings for new apartment/condo buildings, they say determined by BOE, or something like that.

Regarding the enrollment figures, they have consistently shown– and not just for Norwalk– that the student population is heading downwards. It’s not a surprise, housing in Fairfield County and Connecticut overall is costly, and the number of employers in the state is also declining. I can’t speak to the operations of Naramake specifically, but let’s start with the fact that the BOE hasn’t redistricted causing some school populations to experience increases and some to experience decreases in population. For the baby boom generation, classroom sizes of plus 30 was the norm. It is a fairly recent phenomena that modern administrators can’t figure out what to do with larger than average grade cohorts. It happens. Does it make sense for some schools to have modular classrooms while other schools have vacant classrooms? Does it make sense to have a modular classroom for one grade level?

You also seem to have a mistaken understanding of where the school children population for Naramake is coming from. The big yellow school buses might be a good tip off that they come from other parts of Norwalk too. And btw, Naramake scores “don’t far exceed all others.” I applaud you for your school pride, but there are some other outstanding schools in Norwalk.

Naramake Parent

I seem to have struck a nerve with some here on this board…

My understanding is that Naramake does not bus in from other districts. there are only 2 buses there and I know familes on both buses that are in district. If there are any its few…very few. Re-districting is a bad idea. I’ve seen it decimate towns in lower westchester where I am originally from. As far as Naramake goes…It is not pride I speak from but facts…One I’ll point to is on the much touted Cambridge Report, Naramake is the ONLY school out of all 19 public schools in Norwalk, whose in its “Overall Evaluation” “Exceeds minimum requirements”. Is that not worthy of mention? Am I elitist because I mention this?I think all the elementary schools do a good job considering the size of this city and what they have to work with. There are no doubt other excellent schools too. I’m pointing out that school overcrowding should be visited as a topic when talking about new developments. Is that not smart? Is it short sighted to just write it off? Ask a realtor which schol district people look for when looking to buy a home in Norwalk. I know more than a few families that moved from one area of Norwalk to another specifically to insure their kids went to Naramake. Sorry if all this sounds “elitist”…its not. Just the facts. I am there at that school every day…its overcrowded and getting more so for a variety of factors…its reputation and new housing are just 2. When you go from approx. 65 to 85 kindergarteners in one year, thats a lot. I have to say – and I dont mean this in a derogatory way…the latino population at Naramake has exploded and they are obviously non-english speaking first generation immigrants. I just asked a simple question and didnt mean to insult. It seems there is a lot of politically motivated chatter here and thats OK, but I am not a politician. Nuff said.

east norwalk against children

What an elitist attitude from Naramake parents! Why stop there, with your best school so it’s overcrowded? Please make sure you pass out condoms to all the current Naramake parents, you wouldn’t want any more children in your precious school. And then anyone planning on moving into East Norwalk better make an oath of safe sex, and no more children. In fact, if you have more than one child, better plan on putting up extra tax dollars or giving away your children for adoption. What is this China?

Naramake Parent

your remarks are ignorant. Do you blame me for trying to protect our school? we have a lot of issues at Naramake and district wide that are changing the landscape. Our family income has to be in the top 25% of income earners in Norwalk and my spouse and I have both earned advanced degrees. Would you rather we pick up and leave for a smaller town somewhere? You’ll make some ignorant remark and say yes, but that�s not what you really think IS IT? We chose Norwalk because we liked its diversity and didn�t want to live in the sticks. But that can change and that big sucking sound you’ll hear will be the wind that�s left behind when people like us get disgusted and leave the city…then good luck to you from there. I’ve seen the result of this already in my earlier life and its disaster for the city. There are many of our peers/ parents that feel as we do. We finally got rid of those race-baiting ignoramuses that were on the school board. Maybe the new board and superintendant will take us in the right direction….we’ll see. There is too much violence in certain areas of this city to raise small children. So don�t blame us when we get concerned about low income housing being built and other areas of Norwalk encroaching on our neighborhood and school. Call me elitist…I don�t care….I’ve earned the right to feel as I do. You can reply if you want but I am not going to continue this beyond this. I think I�ve made my point.

NorwalkSpectator

Part of the increases that the District is seeing may be because there are parents pulling their children out of private school and sending them to public school because of the economic situation. Also there are fluxations in the number of children born in particular years, which results in sudden increases in given grades, such a school suddenly having four classes of Kindergarten students or going from two fifth grade classes to three. These actually aren’t “population increases”, but more like “concentrations” of pupils in a particular age range. As the concentration moves through the system, the classes will expand and contract as needed, which could result in the flat or declining population Turfie mentioned earlier, and also include the need for portables that you mentioned.

Regarding the comment that if Norden had 10 new children move into area that Naramake would have to absorb these new students, well, there’s a little more to it than that. First, all are 10 new residents the same age? And will they all be attending public school? If so, Naramake may have some problems. However, it is more likely that they won’t all be the same age, they’ll probably be a scattered population. In that hypothetical group of 10 children, there could be one or two teens, a few preschoolers, a few grade schoolers and some middle schoolers. You might even have a home schooler in the bunch. Mix it up however you like. At this stage of the game, it’s simply impossible to tell.
Nancy

Thank you to those who answered my questions about the proposed “new” shelter….I wonder what will be done with that property now….one of the residents suggested a potato chip factory, not sure why. The building does NOT look very inviting….I imagine it would take a great deal of work to clean up the interior and make it livable space….
kathleen

Walgreens in Norwalk

A FEMALE FRIEND OF MINE VISITED THE STORE TWICE WITH A DISABLED MALE FRIEND.
SHE TOLD ME THAT A STORE EMPLOYEE STOOD AT ONE END OF THE AISLE AND THE MANAGER AT THE OTHER. SHE WAS MOBBED AND UNCOMFORTABLE AND LEFT.(SHE DOES NOT SHOPLIFT AND HAD A GOOD AMOUNT OF CASH ON HER.)

AS SHE DECIDED TO LEAVE, THE MANAGER DEMANDED THAT SHE OPEN HER PURSE, BEFORE SHE WENT THROUGH THE SECURITY DOORS. SHE DID SO COMPLIANTLY.

ON A SECOND VISIT TO WALGREENS, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. SHE WAS CROWDED AND ASKED TO OPEN HER PURSE BEFORE LEAVING.

ON HER LAST VISIT TO WALGREENS (AND SHE IS WRITING TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU) A STORE EMPLOYEE WAS ONCE AGAIN STARING AT HER AS SHE LOOKED AT VARIOUS PRODUCTS.
THE MANAGER ONCE AGAIN CAME OVER TO HER. THIS TIME HE ASKED HER IF SHE WAS BUYING ANYTHING. SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS COMPARISON SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS.

HE TOLD HER IF SHE WAS NOT PLANNING TO PURCHASE SOMETHING FROM THE STORE HE WOULD CALL THE POLICE.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, SHE LEFT.
OLD TIMER

There are three Walgreen stores in Norwalk. I wonder which one she had a problem with. As long as she is writing, write a very carefully written letter, and send a copy to Walgreens Corporate Hqs, social responsibilty dept,102 Wilmot Road MS # 1220, Deerfield, IL 60015. Get that “manager’s” name and make sure to include it.
I have no idea why she was treated that way, but I would have told that idiot to go ahead, make the call, I have nothing to hide. I would have refused to let him search a pocketbook or anything else. You could probably sue him and Walgreens. It might be smart to have a lawyer write that letter.
http://YourCT.com Double D

What school do the children in the other Norden Place condos go to? I was under the impression anything to the left facing toward downtown Norwalk of 95 (sorry – I can find my way across country without a map but don’t know North from South) went to Marvin. And I don’t think the children who live in the existing Norden condos cause any trouble in Marvin (while I don’t have children there – or anywhere in Norwalk – I do have friends who do and I’m sure they’d have mentioned).

kathleen

The Walgreens was the new one on West Avenue S. Norwalk.
kathleen

The Walgreens was the new one on West Avenue S. Norwalk.

nancy

I was told last night by clients that the Norwalk Emergency Shelter aka Open Door Shelter did win the building at the end of Merritt Street.

This building is surrounded by wire and razorwire it appears. It is rumored that once clients enter at 4, they will have to remain in the penned in area. I doubt this is legal- it is probably just a rumor, but it makes things sound like a correctional facility.
Nancy

Major correction re: Open Door Shelter. Staff report that they did NOT get the approval. This is contrary to what clients were telling me. I am very sorry for the incorrect post.
kathleen

IF YOU WERE FRIENDS OF THE LATE RIT AND JEAN COLWELL, PLEASE READ THIS AND PASS IT ON. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC CASES WE HAVE HEARD IN A LONG TIME. THIS SWEET LADY DOES NOT DESERVE WHAT WAS DONE TO HER BY HER PARENTS’ “EXECUTOR”-
PAUL h BURNHAM OF dARIEN.

If you were friends of the late Rit and Jean Colwell of Possum Lane, members of Roton Point and the Rowayton Arts Association, please think of their daughter Nancy Colwell Pittman at this time of year.

She has been living in the Norwalk Emergency Shelter since returning from a trip out West. Her late father’s executor Paul H. Burnham of Darien milked Mr. Colwell’s estate for every possible penny, even billing Nancy for time he spent on the phone with a staff member in the Probate Office who was reminding Paul to do his work. Rit died in September of 2005; Burnham was still pussyfooting around Spring of 2006.

Burnham billed Nancy for supposedly meeting with her son Walter December 2005 and issuing him several checks. In fact, Walter was in Gettysburg PA at the time.

Burnham and another attorney Larry Ginsberg, Stamford,(sadly, hired by Nancy to obtain relief and help with Burnham’s alleged corruption including the illegal sale of the home left to her son and her to 2 of Burnham’s building maintenance men- Alex and Ivan Skobrev….) did everything they could to prevent Nancy from attending her father’s final meeting or appeal.

Nancy was jailed in Gettysburg, charges were dropped (for missing probation to care for her parents) but she could not leave until she paid Court Costs. The attorneys made sure she did not receive these funds until there was no possibility of Nancy being involved in her father’s final meeting.

On their “trip” gangstalkers from all states attempted to kill Nancy and her son Walter. They were tracked with a gps monitor hidden under the right wheel when Walter went to purchase the car in PA….On the first trip the Bank of America refused to wire down the money for the car though Walter had all necessary documents and ID’s…..later Walt and Mom learned that the delay was due to Burnham wanting his “minions of evil” in place at the right time.

Burnham or his henchmen would send 2-3 well-dressed FBI-looking types to each motel Nan and Walt planned to stay at. The men showed a phony dossier regarding the mother and son, indicating that they were under surveillance for heinious crimes……it differed each state.

Mom was poisoned. Walt was stabbed in the thumb with a toxin and almost had to have his right arm amputated…..

So they went through the trip from hell.

Nancy has not seen her son in 3 years. Her daughter did not even bother to visit when she was in New York and her grandfather had just died. She also neglected to visit when Mrs (Jean) Colwell abruptly passed away…

The home she and Walt inherited was stolen from them. The sham buyers actually burglarized the home with Nan and Walter present, and the attorney- Burnham- never bothered with them, but ran around the neighborhood telling everyone it was a simple civil matter…..he did not even bother to talk to Nancy or Walter- his clients.

Nancy has been through tremendous stress. The goal of gangstalking is that the victim ends up homeless, unemployed, with no family or friends. The latter are told the victim is “schizophrenic.”

Nancy is NOT schizophrenic. She deserves to have her home returned to her. She deserves to have money returned to her- as per the probate office records she is owed $13,000.Many victims commit suicide. Nancy is determined to work and to retain a home. She is determined that the corruption the attorney brought down on this family to be punished in a court of law.

PLEASE HELP THIS KIND DAUGHTER OF THE COLWELL’S.How would you feel if corrupt, amoral attorneys did this to your adult children who came to your home only to help you with your daily needs?Thank you.
kathleen

Back to the situation of Nancy Colwell and her son Walter Pittman- where can she turn to get help? Legal Services refused as the attorney in question is on their “mentor” or supervisory list….they were clearly deeply troubled by Nancy’s request for legal assistance. She certainly qualifies, financially. She was told to try Hartford, for what it’s worth. She does not have the funds to get there and, being in the Shelter, must return and sign in by 7.00PM

AG Blumenthal wrote to Nancy long ago and told her that the crime (gangstalking) was TOO CRIMINAL FOR HIM TO HANDLE. Now, who should she contact? Several people said the “States Attorney”….who is that? (I am not from here nor is Nancy.)

Who and where is the States’ Attorney?
Blumenthal recommended Nancy fill out some grievances. She did but lost, as the attorneys lied in their rebuttal and Nancy had no recourse to confront them and point out the lies they wrote.

Now she has been told to make an appointment with the Feds as the crime took place across country…..she has written to an officer in the Bridgeport branch – Christopher Weishaupt- over the past year and has received no response of any kind.

This case is extremely serious. Nancy and her son inherited her parents’ home, and Burnham sold it out from under them, even when they made it clear they wanted to retain the home. He presented them as “tenants” to the “sham buyers” (Ivan and Alex Skobrev- maintenance men in Burnham’s office Building. Nancy called the Skobrev’s attorney and told him the truth of the matter- she and Walter were not tenants but heirs. The attorney immediately pulled out of the case, citing its illegality to Nancy. Burnham was furious.

Anyone who wanted to see the home was prevented in doing so. Burnham had preselected the Skobrevs (fix up the home and sell it) and anyone else who asked Nancy who to call about seeing the home had to go through Burnham. The interested parties told her that Burnham never returned any of their phone calls to them. He effectively took over control, despite THREE realtors being put on the case at the same time- a female attorney from the rucciburnham firm, and a realtor Doug Werner from Southeby’s. The attorneys appeared to be paid for their services, which they DID NOT PROVIDE.

In the Probate office, Nancy and a friend recently checked her late parents’ records. Nancy is due $13,000. The son was overpaid and Mom was underpaid.

The attorneys claimed they could not locate her or her son for the distribution of the funds. This is patently ridiculous. Nancy always made certain the attorneys’ knew her address, even when she was illegally placed in jail in PA so she would miss an opportunity to attend her father’s meeting or to ask for a delay….Nancy’s public defender in PA- Kristin Rice- made it clear to nancy that the 2nd attorney she and her son had hired for help with Burnham- Larry Ginsberg of Stamford- appeared to have switched alliances and now was working for Burnham. He gave the roundabout to the PA attorney. The object was to PREVENT NANCY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO TELL THE TRUTH. The attorneys knew that they had acted illegally so had to prevent her from the opportunity of speaking. The son was terrorized by the gangstalkers that Burnham “allegedly- ahem” hired- the ones who had tracked Nancy and her son cross country – an evil gangstalking group telling vicious lies about Nancy and her son,

There were multiple attempts to kill Nancy and her son. Most attempts were vehicular- run them off the road and make it look like an accident…it took Walt and Nancy some time to discover the GPS monitor which had been placed up under the rear wheel well, while Walter had been filling out the paperwork. There were other attempts as well. Poisonings. Being victims in a motel room on the 11th floor in Denver of hordes of persons in the motel directly across from them shining lasers and green rays at them an entire night. Walter was stabbed in the thumb while drugged up with what appeared to be GHB…..a toxin was inserted into his thumb. By the next day his life was in danger and there was a high chance that his entire arm would have to be amputated…….luckily the doctor’s were able to open his entire arm and drain the infection before it killed him (septicimia).

Oh- Burnham called Walter at the hospital pretending to be Walter’s father.
He sent some of the 3-pieced suit types in to try to gather information The medical staff had to kick these individuals out, who kept on coming day after day…..Walter was in isolation. The docs had to be diligent in keeping the “visitors” away.

Burnham claimed he never had any contact with Nancy or Walter after they left Connecticut. Nothing could be further than the truth.
He paid an associate of his- Neil Schaefer of Danbury- to go to Wyoming and befriend Nancy and Walter. Neil pretended to be staying in a homeless shelter. He was not very good about playing homeless. He was seen driving an elegant car and staying in a lovely motel……homeless, no way. Said he had not been back to his home town of Darien in 15 years- yet could describe buildings recently built there…..

Anyway- Nancy and son need some direction in what to do at this point. If Blumenthal says the case is “too criminal” for him to handle, then who should take the case?

In the meantime, it “appears” that Burnham is unrelenting in trying to bring trouble into Nancy’s life at the Shelter. He had all her legal papers stolen a year ago, and has set her back for quite some time. He has placed her in a state of terror- that he might have her shot by proxy- just give some druggie money for crack and ask that Nancy be “hit.” Walter had a $50,000 hit on him (he found that out from a guy in Spokane.) Now Nancy has a hit.

The reason why a wealthy attorney would put a hit out on a homeless 57 year old woman who owns nothing?……She knows too much. Her doctor knows too much. She is not a “mental case”. She has remained strong despite the numerous losses in her life….Oh- it was also arranged that her beloved cat be picked up by animal control in NC and most probably killed. After all, before they left on their trip-kitty had a “chip” inserted. The car they were driving- the Nissan- was also just “Taken” from Walter in PA. Reason? “The Big Man asked us to take the vehicle.” True reason? Make life miserable, make the family lose even more money to getting another car and….most probably- remove all evidence of the tampering done to the vehicle. Get that GPS monitor and audio monitor out of there…….

This is long, but it needs to be. Nancy is in dire straits. It is not safe for her to be here in Norwalk. She needs protection, both legal and personal. PLEASE offer any suggestions you feel might be beneficial. God Bless.
OLD TIMER

Kathleen:
The State’s attorney, is the lawyer, employed by the State, to work in the court as the prosecutor. The court on Belden ave has several lawyers working in the State’s attorney’s office. They present the state’s case against people accused of various crimes and motor vehicle offense. For major crimes, like murder and other very serious felonies, cases are transferred from the court in Norwalk to a higher level court in Stamford. Generally, in Connecticut, they do not supervise investigations, but deal with investigations brought to them by law enforcement. In Nancy’s case, the law enforcement agency would be the Norwalk Police, for anything stolen from her in Norwalk. The problem will be getting them to believe that crimes were committed meriting criminal investigation and prosecution. The lawyer(s) involved will argue she is not a crime victim, but a disgruntled client. It might pay for her to go to Belden Ave and make an appointment to talk to a State’s attorney. If she gets one of them to believe her story, they have the authority to make an investigation happen. It won’t be easy, the attorney being accused has enormous resources, compared to Nancy’s. If the police get involved, and do a thorough investigation, and the results confirm her story, then they(the police) will probably confer with other agencies for crimes that may have happened outside Norwalk. Parts of her story are, literally, incredibal.
Secondhand Rose

Once again the Setti family have put up their Christmas light extravaganza on Midrocks Road, and OMG it is better than ever. Be sure to view it on Christmas Eve before midnight when Mr. & Mrs. Setti appear dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus and hand out candy canes to the tykes. And don’t forget to bring several children with you to help you enjoy the stroll through the lighted woods!

I’m always amazed at the size of this light display, which seems to get bigger every year. And how wonderful it is that even in this time of economic downturn, the Settis can still continue to bring joy to the hearts of children of all ages during the Christmas season. It just isn’t “the holidays” without at least one visit to this magical wonderland.
nancy

There were 2 deaths at the Shelter within this week. An older gentleman Larry passed away in his sleep at the Shelter. A lovely woman, Paula, died midnight last evening at Norwalk Hospital.