There are signs of life in the campaigns at last. I got two press releases today about the White Barn Property. Almost two years ago I remember Governor Jodi Rell handing over a big, as in large format-wise check to the Norwalk Land Trust, for purchasing this property. Saturday, will be the political flunkie update on the progress.

Compare and contrast:

District D Councilmen Douglas E. Hempstead and Kelly L. Straniti are urging the citizens of the Cranbury area and throughout the City of Norwalk to join us and Council President, Mike Coffey for a press conference and walking tour of the White Barn property this Saturday at 9:30 AM in celebration of what we hope will be a $250,000.00 grant to the Norwalk Land Trust for the purchase of open space and wetlands on the White Barn Property.

“This certainly has been a group effort between the Save Cranbury Association, Norwalk Land Trust, Connecticut Friends School as well as Mayor Moccia and state officials”, said Hempstead.

“It has been a pleasure working with everyone involved over the past four years and it has certainly been a top priority of our term on the Common Council. This exemplifies what good things can happen when government, private property owners and preservation groups put their minds and energy together into making something like this happen”, said Straniti.

We appreciate the support and cooperation that our fellow Council Members, Mayor Moccia, Governor Rell, the DEP and our State Representatives and Senator have given to this project.

And …

On Saturday October 6, 2007, Norwalk Common Council President Michael W. Coffey will be holding a press conference and walking tour of the White Barn Property at 9:30 am, at the White Barn Property in Norwalk Connecticut.

Mr. Coffey and the Common Council are recommending that $250,000 of the City of Norwalk’s Open Space fund be expended to combine with State of Connecticut funds to purchase a 5 acre conservation easement on the White Barn Property.

“It is important that we preserve this property with a conservation easement that will put 5 more acres into the city’s open inventory”, added Mike Coffey.

A tour of the property will be conducted with many other area elected officials and community leaders.

I only wonder if this will be like a scene from West Side Story … council flunkies versus state legislator flunkies versus neighborhood associations, or something like that.