This Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m., we'll be holding our annual Newcomer's Meeting. There will be refreshments, children's activities and an opportunity to meet the leaders of our town government and civic organizations. We hope you can make it - and please, bring the kids.
What's a "newcomer's meeting?" We've held this for a number of years and it's simply an opportunity for us at CFE to welcome those new to the community.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The Times Weighs in on Easton
In case you missed it, here's the Times write-up of our town a week or so ago. Nice job by the writer, C.J.Hughes.
Living In | Easton, Conn.
Town at One With Country
Wendy Carlson for The New York Times
TRANQUILLITY This 18th-century home on Adams Road is set back from the road, like many Easton historic buildings.
*
By C. J. HUGHES
Published: November 11, 2007
A RURAL, landlocked town in north-central Fairfield County, Easton has well-kept antique homes, high-performing schools and areas with close-knit neighbors.
More often, though, its residents define themselves by what they don’t have.
For instance, they don’t have the types of developments that sprang up in the 1990s next door in Weston, which the 2000 census found to have 169 homes per square mile. Easton, population about 7,000, had 92 homes per mile in that census. Since then, 437 have been added, according to the town clerk’s office; the average is now 107.
Also, density isn’t expected to skyrocket anytime soon. Almost 40 percent of the town’s 28.6 square miles is protected open space, and another 44 percent is watershed land, which has development restrictions.
What Easton also isn’t, residents say, is Fairfield, which has streetlights, highways, strip malls and car-packed business districts. Indeed, Easton’s zoning code, unchanged in 66 years, bans commerce altogether, save for the random cafe or gas station whose lot predates World War II.
Together, these factors result in a community that is strikingly rural, where working farms coexist with suburban tracts, and where quiet is prized.
“After 10 o’clock at night, the cars kind of stop, and you hear nothing but crickets,” said Scott Spurr, a resident. “And because there’s not so much ambient light, you feel like you are out in the country, even though you’re like 50 miles from New York.”
Ranking Easton comes easily to Mr. Spurr, who has lived in Newtown, Westport and, most recently, Fairfield, where he owned a three-bedroom colonial. It had 1,450 square feet and a one-third-acre lot, but with the family growing it felt cramped. Also, he said, it was on a noisy street near Fairfield’s downtown.
A brief search led him across the border to Easton, where he bought a 1932 colonial with three bedrooms, two baths and 2,400 square feet of space. Though the lot is only half an acre, it feels much larger, because the lot next door is empty, said Mr. Spurr, who works for a financial services company.
The house, which he shares with his wife, Liz, and a son and daughter, cost $525,000 in 2004, but the couple invested $50,000 to replace the vinyl siding with cedar, remove old wallpaper and repair the garage doors. The house could sell today for $700,000, Mr. Spurr said, basing his estimate on recent sales nearby.
“I’m not against all development,” he said, “just want to keep the rural character. I’m glad the farmers here resist selling out.”
What You’ll Find
In recent years, however, some properties have changed hands, like Running Brook Farm, a 28-acre patchwork of fields about half a mile north of the Merritt Parkway.
But the zoning board has been resistant, too. Two developers who first offered plans for the farm site, Toll Brothers and AvalonBay Communities, were rejected over concerns about density.
Then, last year, after a local developer, Philip DiGennaro, bought Running Brook from its original owners, the board rejected his proposal as well. He wants to build 72 two-bedroom condominiums on the site, with about a third of them designated as affordable.
Board officials based their rejection on concerns that wastewater could harm the trout in the Mill River, which abuts the property, according to Robert Maquat, the zoning chairman. The developer has appealed, and is taking his case to court next spring, said Matthew Ranelli, his lawyer.
Not that Easton’s agricultural heritage seems threatened. On a recent afternoon, a blue tractor rumbled down Center Road, while across Sport Hill Road, children strolled away from Silverman’s Farm cradling pumpkins. To pick up organic beets from an unsupervised roadside cart, buyers were trusted to put $1 in a metal box.
Farmhouses, too, are numerous, especially 18th- and 19th-century center-chimney colonials, accented by low stone perimeter walls, peak-roofed wells, and a red barn or two. Unlike homes in nearby historic towns, most of these sit a comfortable distance from the curb, whether along Church, Adams or Judd Roads.
age 2 of 2)
Cul-de-sacs that radiate off these streets are laid out with homes built over the last decade, as evidenced by three-car garages, hipped roofs and Palladian-style front windows. The newer houses also often have eye-catching views — for instance, the homes at the end of North Park Avenue overlook Easton Reservoir, one of three sizable reservoirs in town.
People seeking a more close-together community head to Easton’s southern section, south of Beers and Flat Rock Roads, where Capes, split-levels and ranches line neat lawns. Here, extended families can be found settled a short drive apart.
Joan Winter, a freelance writer, lives in a 1950s house with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and 3,000 square feet, on just under an acre. In 1996, the property cost $275,000, but Ms. Winter and her husband, Alpheus, spent $200,000 on an addition, a new roof, an oil tank replacement and a driveway.
Today, the house, which the couple share with their two daughters, could sell for $600,000, Ms. Winter said, based on the fact that “neighbors tell me they will buy it for that much.”
But she wouldn’t sell, because it’s such an ideal place to raise a family, she said. “You have neighbors, so you don’t have to import your kids’ friends.”
What You’ll Pay
The average sales price in Easton from January through October was $856,000, said Jonathan Deak, an associate with Prudential Connecticut Realty, who cited data from the Consolidated Multiple Listings Service. This will buy a four-bedroom colonial built in the 20th century, with three and a half baths and about 3,200 square feet.
Despite nationwide slowdowns, prices in Easton are holding their own; 2006’s average sales price was $834,000, Mr. Deak said. Activity has also been strong, with 72 transactions this year through the end of October, matching that of all of last year. And homes are selling slightly faster, with an average time on the market of 101 days, versus 105 in 2006, he said.
With such high price points, Easton doesn’t offer many starter homes; buyers tend to be trading up from earlier properties, according to brokers. They also tend to work in New Haven or Danbury, though there are New York commuters drawn to houses about 30 percent cheaper in Easton than in lower Fairfield County, they say.
Indeed, a 5,000-square-foot house in New Canaan can cost $3.5 million, Mr. Deak pointed out, while a similar-size one in Easton might go for $1.3 million.
Taxes, though, are slightly higher. Easton’s mill rate, the basis for calculating taxes, is now 21, versus 17.1 for Fairfield. The annual tax bill on a 3,000-square-foot Easton house would most likely be $8,000, while a similar one in Fairfield might be $7,000, brokers said.
The Schools
In 2005, students at the Samuel Staples Elementary School began the year in a new 121,000-square-foot structure with a gambrel roof, rising from the middle of a former corn field.
Last year on the Connecticut Mastery Test, 91 percent of fourth-graders met or exceeded standards on the math exam; 84 percent did so in reading and 81 percent in writing. Statewide, those numbers were 62, 57 and 65 percent.
Grades 6, 7 and 8 are taught at Helen Keller Middle School. (Keller used to live at the house at 163 Redding Road.) Enrollment is 377 this year.
Joel Barlow High School, which serves Redding and Easton, offers 14 Advanced Placement classes, including studio arts, statistics and biology. Ninety-seven percent of graduates go on to college, according to Allen Fossbender, Easton’s school superintendent. On the SAT last year, Barlow students scored an average of 558 on math, 557 on reading and 561 on writing, versus 512, 510 and 511 statewide.
What to Do
Easton is laced with walking trails, many on the 1,017 acres of the Aspetuck Land Trust, which includes Trout Brook Valley. Or you can always drive to the Aspetuck Reservoir by way of a turnoff along the Black Rock Turnpike, to behold a body of water glittering like a jewel in a thickly wooded valley.
Still, Easton residents pay a price for their wilderness: the closest supermarket to southern Easton, Shaw’s, is a 10-minute drive away in Fairfield.
Nights out, too, require trips down the road. One option in Fairfield is Barcelona, a Spanish restaurant located in the Merritt Parkway Motor Inn, also known as the Hi-Ho Motel. It is open year-round, but its heated outdoor terrace stays open late into the fall.
The Commute
Easton does not have a Metro-North Railroad stop. For many residents, the closest one is Fairfield’s, on the New Haven line. Permit parking, which is open to non-Fairfield residents and costs $170 for a six-month pass, is difficult to come by; the waiting list for a spot was 3,377 names long on Oct. 16, said Cindy Placko, manager of the Fairfield Parking Authority.
On weekdays, five trains leave Fairfield between 7 and 8 a.m., with the fastest arriving at Grand Central in 71 minutes. A monthly pass is $308, slightly less if bought online.
There are plans for an additional Fairfield station, to be built closer to Easton by late 2009, Ms. Placko said.
The History
At dawn on Dec. 14, 1807, a fireball tore through the skies over Easton (which was then part of Weston), followed by three explosions. It was North America’s first recorded meteorite strike, according to Benjamin Silliman, a Yale professor who studied the event.
But he had a tough time finding pieces. Residents thinking they contained gold had subjected them to “all the tortures of ancient alchemy,” he told a local paper in 1807.
* 1
* 2
Living In | Easton, Conn.
Town at One With Country
Wendy Carlson for The New York Times
TRANQUILLITY This 18th-century home on Adams Road is set back from the road, like many Easton historic buildings.
*
By C. J. HUGHES
Published: November 11, 2007
A RURAL, landlocked town in north-central Fairfield County, Easton has well-kept antique homes, high-performing schools and areas with close-knit neighbors.
More often, though, its residents define themselves by what they don’t have.
For instance, they don’t have the types of developments that sprang up in the 1990s next door in Weston, which the 2000 census found to have 169 homes per square mile. Easton, population about 7,000, had 92 homes per mile in that census. Since then, 437 have been added, according to the town clerk’s office; the average is now 107.
Also, density isn’t expected to skyrocket anytime soon. Almost 40 percent of the town’s 28.6 square miles is protected open space, and another 44 percent is watershed land, which has development restrictions.
What Easton also isn’t, residents say, is Fairfield, which has streetlights, highways, strip malls and car-packed business districts. Indeed, Easton’s zoning code, unchanged in 66 years, bans commerce altogether, save for the random cafe or gas station whose lot predates World War II.
Together, these factors result in a community that is strikingly rural, where working farms coexist with suburban tracts, and where quiet is prized.
“After 10 o’clock at night, the cars kind of stop, and you hear nothing but crickets,” said Scott Spurr, a resident. “And because there’s not so much ambient light, you feel like you are out in the country, even though you’re like 50 miles from New York.”
Ranking Easton comes easily to Mr. Spurr, who has lived in Newtown, Westport and, most recently, Fairfield, where he owned a three-bedroom colonial. It had 1,450 square feet and a one-third-acre lot, but with the family growing it felt cramped. Also, he said, it was on a noisy street near Fairfield’s downtown.
A brief search led him across the border to Easton, where he bought a 1932 colonial with three bedrooms, two baths and 2,400 square feet of space. Though the lot is only half an acre, it feels much larger, because the lot next door is empty, said Mr. Spurr, who works for a financial services company.
The house, which he shares with his wife, Liz, and a son and daughter, cost $525,000 in 2004, but the couple invested $50,000 to replace the vinyl siding with cedar, remove old wallpaper and repair the garage doors. The house could sell today for $700,000, Mr. Spurr said, basing his estimate on recent sales nearby.
“I’m not against all development,” he said, “just want to keep the rural character. I’m glad the farmers here resist selling out.”
What You’ll Find
In recent years, however, some properties have changed hands, like Running Brook Farm, a 28-acre patchwork of fields about half a mile north of the Merritt Parkway.
But the zoning board has been resistant, too. Two developers who first offered plans for the farm site, Toll Brothers and AvalonBay Communities, were rejected over concerns about density.
Then, last year, after a local developer, Philip DiGennaro, bought Running Brook from its original owners, the board rejected his proposal as well. He wants to build 72 two-bedroom condominiums on the site, with about a third of them designated as affordable.
Board officials based their rejection on concerns that wastewater could harm the trout in the Mill River, which abuts the property, according to Robert Maquat, the zoning chairman. The developer has appealed, and is taking his case to court next spring, said Matthew Ranelli, his lawyer.
Not that Easton’s agricultural heritage seems threatened. On a recent afternoon, a blue tractor rumbled down Center Road, while across Sport Hill Road, children strolled away from Silverman’s Farm cradling pumpkins. To pick up organic beets from an unsupervised roadside cart, buyers were trusted to put $1 in a metal box.
Farmhouses, too, are numerous, especially 18th- and 19th-century center-chimney colonials, accented by low stone perimeter walls, peak-roofed wells, and a red barn or two. Unlike homes in nearby historic towns, most of these sit a comfortable distance from the curb, whether along Church, Adams or Judd Roads.
age 2 of 2)
Cul-de-sacs that radiate off these streets are laid out with homes built over the last decade, as evidenced by three-car garages, hipped roofs and Palladian-style front windows. The newer houses also often have eye-catching views — for instance, the homes at the end of North Park Avenue overlook Easton Reservoir, one of three sizable reservoirs in town.
People seeking a more close-together community head to Easton’s southern section, south of Beers and Flat Rock Roads, where Capes, split-levels and ranches line neat lawns. Here, extended families can be found settled a short drive apart.
Joan Winter, a freelance writer, lives in a 1950s house with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and 3,000 square feet, on just under an acre. In 1996, the property cost $275,000, but Ms. Winter and her husband, Alpheus, spent $200,000 on an addition, a new roof, an oil tank replacement and a driveway.
Today, the house, which the couple share with their two daughters, could sell for $600,000, Ms. Winter said, based on the fact that “neighbors tell me they will buy it for that much.”
But she wouldn’t sell, because it’s such an ideal place to raise a family, she said. “You have neighbors, so you don’t have to import your kids’ friends.”
What You’ll Pay
The average sales price in Easton from January through October was $856,000, said Jonathan Deak, an associate with Prudential Connecticut Realty, who cited data from the Consolidated Multiple Listings Service. This will buy a four-bedroom colonial built in the 20th century, with three and a half baths and about 3,200 square feet.
Despite nationwide slowdowns, prices in Easton are holding their own; 2006’s average sales price was $834,000, Mr. Deak said. Activity has also been strong, with 72 transactions this year through the end of October, matching that of all of last year. And homes are selling slightly faster, with an average time on the market of 101 days, versus 105 in 2006, he said.
With such high price points, Easton doesn’t offer many starter homes; buyers tend to be trading up from earlier properties, according to brokers. They also tend to work in New Haven or Danbury, though there are New York commuters drawn to houses about 30 percent cheaper in Easton than in lower Fairfield County, they say.
Indeed, a 5,000-square-foot house in New Canaan can cost $3.5 million, Mr. Deak pointed out, while a similar-size one in Easton might go for $1.3 million.
Taxes, though, are slightly higher. Easton’s mill rate, the basis for calculating taxes, is now 21, versus 17.1 for Fairfield. The annual tax bill on a 3,000-square-foot Easton house would most likely be $8,000, while a similar one in Fairfield might be $7,000, brokers said.
The Schools
In 2005, students at the Samuel Staples Elementary School began the year in a new 121,000-square-foot structure with a gambrel roof, rising from the middle of a former corn field.
Last year on the Connecticut Mastery Test, 91 percent of fourth-graders met or exceeded standards on the math exam; 84 percent did so in reading and 81 percent in writing. Statewide, those numbers were 62, 57 and 65 percent.
Grades 6, 7 and 8 are taught at Helen Keller Middle School. (Keller used to live at the house at 163 Redding Road.) Enrollment is 377 this year.
Joel Barlow High School, which serves Redding and Easton, offers 14 Advanced Placement classes, including studio arts, statistics and biology. Ninety-seven percent of graduates go on to college, according to Allen Fossbender, Easton’s school superintendent. On the SAT last year, Barlow students scored an average of 558 on math, 557 on reading and 561 on writing, versus 512, 510 and 511 statewide.
What to Do
Easton is laced with walking trails, many on the 1,017 acres of the Aspetuck Land Trust, which includes Trout Brook Valley. Or you can always drive to the Aspetuck Reservoir by way of a turnoff along the Black Rock Turnpike, to behold a body of water glittering like a jewel in a thickly wooded valley.
Still, Easton residents pay a price for their wilderness: the closest supermarket to southern Easton, Shaw’s, is a 10-minute drive away in Fairfield.
Nights out, too, require trips down the road. One option in Fairfield is Barcelona, a Spanish restaurant located in the Merritt Parkway Motor Inn, also known as the Hi-Ho Motel. It is open year-round, but its heated outdoor terrace stays open late into the fall.
The Commute
Easton does not have a Metro-North Railroad stop. For many residents, the closest one is Fairfield’s, on the New Haven line. Permit parking, which is open to non-Fairfield residents and costs $170 for a six-month pass, is difficult to come by; the waiting list for a spot was 3,377 names long on Oct. 16, said Cindy Placko, manager of the Fairfield Parking Authority.
On weekdays, five trains leave Fairfield between 7 and 8 a.m., with the fastest arriving at Grand Central in 71 minutes. A monthly pass is $308, slightly less if bought online.
There are plans for an additional Fairfield station, to be built closer to Easton by late 2009, Ms. Placko said.
The History
At dawn on Dec. 14, 1807, a fireball tore through the skies over Easton (which was then part of Weston), followed by three explosions. It was North America’s first recorded meteorite strike, according to Benjamin Silliman, a Yale professor who studied the event.
But he had a tough time finding pieces. Residents thinking they contained gold had subjected them to “all the tortures of ancient alchemy,” he told a local paper in 1807.
* 1
* 2
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Tom Herrmann wins
Candidate Vote Count Vote Percent Winner
TOWN OF EASTON -- 1 of 1 precincts reporting (100%)
First Selectman
Thomas Herrmann (GOP) 1,083 42% (X)
Elaine Spicer (D) 816 32%
Lee Hanson (RC) 604 23%
Paul Skrtich (PC) 78 3%
Courtesy: News 12
TOWN OF EASTON -- 1 of 1 precincts reporting (100%)
First Selectman
Thomas Herrmann (GOP) 1,083 42% (X)
Elaine Spicer (D) 816 32%
Lee Hanson (RC) 604 23%
Paul Skrtich (PC) 78 3%
Courtesy: News 12
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The Final Debate: Connecticut Post Write-Up
EASTON — Candidates for local office made a stop on the campaign trail Tuesday night to outline their platforms and explain their visions.
The debate at the Helen Keller Middle School media center came exactly one week from Election Day. By this time next week, First Selectman William Kupinse should know who is replacing him as the Republican steps down after 10 years at the helm.
It is the first four-way race anyone can remember, and one where the ranks of the unaffiliated are key because there are 2,225 unaffiliated voters, compared to 1,056 Democrats and 1,699 Republicans.
"Next week there will be someone new elected," Kupinse said Monday, before the event. He sat in the audience of 75 people Tuesday.
Rosy was the color of Easton's future as painted by Republican Tom Herrmann, Democrat Elaine Spicer, Real Choice Party candidate Lee Hanson and unaffiliated candidate Paul Skrtich.
"If we do all the things you all have said tonight, we'll have to change the name from Easton to Eden," quipped Dave Sylvestro, moderator of the event for the Citizens for Easton, the town-based action group involved in preservation of natural and agricultural resources.
Several of the candidates talked about how Kupinse has described Easton as the jewel of Fairfield County, and how they would amplify on that statement.
"Our town would be a shining example of people who are stewards of the land that has been entrusted to us," said Hanson.
It is a town where people work hard to live, said Herrmann, showing "we need to be frugal with our tax dollars."
Skrtich promised a revision in the way taxes are spent. "I believe in user fees. Taxes should only cover emergency services and public works. That's it," Skrtich said of his vision for reducing the mill rate.
Time on task is what Spicer offered, reiterating her vow to be a full-time first selectman. Kupinse has worked as an attorney while holding the office. "I will make Easton my priority," Spicer said.
The debate was the last in a series of head-on meetings before Election Day. Those participating included Republican Scott Centrella for Board of Selectmen; Democrat Robert Lessler for Board of Selectmen and Real Choice Party candidate Peter Graupner for Board of Selectmen.
In addition, Board of Finance candidates in attendance included Andrew Kachele, Salvatore Tartaglione, Claire Gold and Wiley Mullins.
Tony Spinelli, who covers Monroe and Easton, can be reached at 330-6361.
The debate at the Helen Keller Middle School media center came exactly one week from Election Day. By this time next week, First Selectman William Kupinse should know who is replacing him as the Republican steps down after 10 years at the helm.
It is the first four-way race anyone can remember, and one where the ranks of the unaffiliated are key because there are 2,225 unaffiliated voters, compared to 1,056 Democrats and 1,699 Republicans.
"Next week there will be someone new elected," Kupinse said Monday, before the event. He sat in the audience of 75 people Tuesday.
Rosy was the color of Easton's future as painted by Republican Tom Herrmann, Democrat Elaine Spicer, Real Choice Party candidate Lee Hanson and unaffiliated candidate Paul Skrtich.
"If we do all the things you all have said tonight, we'll have to change the name from Easton to Eden," quipped Dave Sylvestro, moderator of the event for the Citizens for Easton, the town-based action group involved in preservation of natural and agricultural resources.
Several of the candidates talked about how Kupinse has described Easton as the jewel of Fairfield County, and how they would amplify on that statement.
"Our town would be a shining example of people who are stewards of the land that has been entrusted to us," said Hanson.
It is a town where people work hard to live, said Herrmann, showing "we need to be frugal with our tax dollars."
Skrtich promised a revision in the way taxes are spent. "I believe in user fees. Taxes should only cover emergency services and public works. That's it," Skrtich said of his vision for reducing the mill rate.
Time on task is what Spicer offered, reiterating her vow to be a full-time first selectman. Kupinse has worked as an attorney while holding the office. "I will make Easton my priority," Spicer said.
The debate was the last in a series of head-on meetings before Election Day. Those participating included Republican Scott Centrella for Board of Selectmen; Democrat Robert Lessler for Board of Selectmen and Real Choice Party candidate Peter Graupner for Board of Selectmen.
In addition, Board of Finance candidates in attendance included Andrew Kachele, Salvatore Tartaglione, Claire Gold and Wiley Mullins.
Tony Spinelli, who covers Monroe and Easton, can be reached at 330-6361.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Come to Our Debate! October 30's the Date
Citizens for Eaton, the Easton-based community action group involved in preservation of the town’s natural and agricultural resources, will sponsor a debate between candidates for Selectmen and Board of Finance on Tuesday, October 30 at 7:30.
The debate - the last in a series between the town's political candidates before election - will be held at the Media Center at Helen Keller Middle School in Easton, on Sport Hill Road.
Those participating are Tom Herrmann and Scott Centrella on the Republican ticket; Elaine Spicer and Robert Lessler on the Democratic ticket; and Lee Hanson and Peter Graupner, who are running as independents. In addition, Board of Finance candidates in attendance will include Andrew Kaechele, Salvatore Tartaglione, Claire Gold and Wiley Mullins.
CFE, one of Easton's leading civic organizations, has sponsored political debates in town for over thirty years, and while CFE does not endorse candidates, we attempt to focus these events on topics relating to open space, historic preservation, agriculture, and our town's zoning practices. As such, the CFE debates often revolve around pivotal issues relating to the election, and this year, areas of focus will include commercial development, defining and preserving Easton's character, allocation of town funds, and whether Easton's long-standing efforts to preserve its rural character remain consistent with our town's financial goals.
Media coverage is invited, and for additional information, please contact, Verne Gay, president, Citizens for Easton, at 261-1288, or Vernegay@aol.com
The debate - the last in a series between the town's political candidates before election - will be held at the Media Center at Helen Keller Middle School in Easton, on Sport Hill Road.
Those participating are Tom Herrmann and Scott Centrella on the Republican ticket; Elaine Spicer and Robert Lessler on the Democratic ticket; and Lee Hanson and Peter Graupner, who are running as independents. In addition, Board of Finance candidates in attendance will include Andrew Kaechele, Salvatore Tartaglione, Claire Gold and Wiley Mullins.
CFE, one of Easton's leading civic organizations, has sponsored political debates in town for over thirty years, and while CFE does not endorse candidates, we attempt to focus these events on topics relating to open space, historic preservation, agriculture, and our town's zoning practices. As such, the CFE debates often revolve around pivotal issues relating to the election, and this year, areas of focus will include commercial development, defining and preserving Easton's character, allocation of town funds, and whether Easton's long-standing efforts to preserve its rural character remain consistent with our town's financial goals.
Media coverage is invited, and for additional information, please contact, Verne Gay, president, Citizens for Easton, at 261-1288, or Vernegay@aol.com
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Bill Kupinse: Signing Off
We at CFE have been proud to call Bill Kupinse a friend and colleague for much of our history. He was instrumental in the success of CFE, while his dedication to our town and our mission is without parallel. This question-and-answer piece appeared in the Connecticut Post last weekend. You will note - as we did - that Bill is characteristically modest. The simple fact is that Easton owes Bill Kupinse an enormous debt of gratitude.
Winding Down 10 Years in Office
TONY SPINELLI
Article Last Updated: 10/07/2007 11:49:21 PM EDT
After a decade, William Kupinse is packing it in as the top elected official in Easton, saying he feels it's time for someone else to manage this small town with a big sense of community.
"Ten years is enough," Kupinse said earlier this year when announcing his decision to step down after serving five two-year terms as first selectman.
The 68-year-old Republican was born in New Haven and practices law at the Bridgeport firm, Goldstein and Peck.
He is a 1961 Dartmouth College graduate and also attended Cornell University Law School. He has been a member of the Connecticut Bar since 1964.
His hobbies include gardening, growing tomatoes and basil. He and his wife, Pat, are the parents of three grown children and one granddaughter.
Kupinse has called the town of nearly 8,000 residents, who are vigilant to any threats to its largely rural character, the jewel of Fairfield County. He elaborated on that in a recent interview.
Q: You have called Easton the jewel of Fairfield County. What exactly do you mean by that?
A: "Easton is an unusual town in Fairfield County, in that it doesn't have any real commercial activity. It has a lot of open space that used to be property of the Aquarion Water Co. About 45 percent of Easton will remain open space forever. In my opinion that makes it a jewel."
Q: What are your best memories of serving the town?
A: "I think probably, when I first got in, we worked very hard to make sure the state did buy the Aquarion property when control was sold to an English company. We were very concerned the English company might sell off the land and develop it, so we had many meetings with state officials and were successful in having the state approve the purchase.
"So a significant amount of land, called the Centennial Forest, will be preserved forever. I think I left the town pretty much as it was delivered to me. It continues to remain a jewel. There were attempts to change the character and we've been successful."
Q: What did you like least about being the chief elected official?
A: "I'm not a very negative person and I can't say there was anything I didn't like. I do like the variety. You walk in your office and never know exactly what you're going to be doing. I enjoyed serving the people of the town of Easton.
"If there's anything I enjoyed the least, I would say going through the budget seasons was pretty intense."
Q: What advice would you give to the person who replaces you?
A: "I would suggest that the person remember they indeed are a servant of the people of the town. That person should really listen to what the townspeople have to say and do their best to satisfy the people."
Q: What do you think Easton will be like in 10 years?
A: "I hope it will be about the same as it is now in 10 years. There are continuing attempts to change the character in one way or another, but because a lot of the land is already preserved, I don't think there will be significant change. There are a couple of big farms we'll have to deal with when they come on the market."
Q: Is the town any different today than when you came to the helm? How?
A: "The town itself is not, but the office of first selectman has changed. It was a more relaxed office, and many of the state requirements and items we have to watch out for really weren't in play. The paperwork has become more intense."
Q: What is the town's most under-rated asset?
A: "Its people, probably. We have a wonderful group of citizens. Without volunteers, we wouldn't be able to do the things we do in town."
Q: In your travels, do you find Easton compares favorably with towns in northern New England like Vermont?
A: "Comparable towns to Easton really don't exist in Vermont. They're more city type towns like Burlington or really small towns. I don't think you have a rural atmosphere town surrounded by a lot of Fairfield County-type business, commercial and industrial development. You don't have that."
Q: How big can the town grow, residentially speaking, in the next 10 years?
A: "I think there are 1,100 acres left undeveloped, and most of that is in three-acre zones. So it's probably 300 more houses if everything were developed."
Q: Will there always be a farming element?
A: "I hope so. I know that Silverman's plans on going as long as he can, Snow's son is taking over the operation, and Edwards is being taken over by children, so I think, yes, we'll still have a farming presence for a long time."
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Winding Down 10 Years in Office
TONY SPINELLI
Article Last Updated: 10/07/2007 11:49:21 PM EDT
After a decade, William Kupinse is packing it in as the top elected official in Easton, saying he feels it's time for someone else to manage this small town with a big sense of community.
"Ten years is enough," Kupinse said earlier this year when announcing his decision to step down after serving five two-year terms as first selectman.
The 68-year-old Republican was born in New Haven and practices law at the Bridgeport firm, Goldstein and Peck.
He is a 1961 Dartmouth College graduate and also attended Cornell University Law School. He has been a member of the Connecticut Bar since 1964.
His hobbies include gardening, growing tomatoes and basil. He and his wife, Pat, are the parents of three grown children and one granddaughter.
Kupinse has called the town of nearly 8,000 residents, who are vigilant to any threats to its largely rural character, the jewel of Fairfield County. He elaborated on that in a recent interview.
Q: You have called Easton the jewel of Fairfield County. What exactly do you mean by that?
A: "Easton is an unusual town in Fairfield County, in that it doesn't have any real commercial activity. It has a lot of open space that used to be property of the Aquarion Water Co. About 45 percent of Easton will remain open space forever. In my opinion that makes it a jewel."
Q: What are your best memories of serving the town?
A: "I think probably, when I first got in, we worked very hard to make sure the state did buy the Aquarion property when control was sold to an English company. We were very concerned the English company might sell off the land and develop it, so we had many meetings with state officials and were successful in having the state approve the purchase.
"So a significant amount of land, called the Centennial Forest, will be preserved forever. I think I left the town pretty much as it was delivered to me. It continues to remain a jewel. There were attempts to change the character and we've been successful."
Q: What did you like least about being the chief elected official?
A: "I'm not a very negative person and I can't say there was anything I didn't like. I do like the variety. You walk in your office and never know exactly what you're going to be doing. I enjoyed serving the people of the town of Easton.
"If there's anything I enjoyed the least, I would say going through the budget seasons was pretty intense."
Q: What advice would you give to the person who replaces you?
A: "I would suggest that the person remember they indeed are a servant of the people of the town. That person should really listen to what the townspeople have to say and do their best to satisfy the people."
Q: What do you think Easton will be like in 10 years?
A: "I hope it will be about the same as it is now in 10 years. There are continuing attempts to change the character in one way or another, but because a lot of the land is already preserved, I don't think there will be significant change. There are a couple of big farms we'll have to deal with when they come on the market."
Q: Is the town any different today than when you came to the helm? How?
A: "The town itself is not, but the office of first selectman has changed. It was a more relaxed office, and many of the state requirements and items we have to watch out for really weren't in play. The paperwork has become more intense."
Q: What is the town's most under-rated asset?
A: "Its people, probably. We have a wonderful group of citizens. Without volunteers, we wouldn't be able to do the things we do in town."
Q: In your travels, do you find Easton compares favorably with towns in northern New England like Vermont?
A: "Comparable towns to Easton really don't exist in Vermont. They're more city type towns like Burlington or really small towns. I don't think you have a rural atmosphere town surrounded by a lot of Fairfield County-type business, commercial and industrial development. You don't have that."
Q: How big can the town grow, residentially speaking, in the next 10 years?
A: "I think there are 1,100 acres left undeveloped, and most of that is in three-acre zones. So it's probably 300 more houses if everything were developed."
Q: Will there always be a farming element?
A: "I hope so. I know that Silverman's plans on going as long as he can, Snow's son is taking over the operation, and Edwards is being taken over by children, so I think, yes, we'll still have a farming presence for a long time."
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Thursday, September 27, 2007
More Flak on the Wells Hill Bridge Plan
Neighbors leery of Easton's bridge plans
TONY SPINELLI tspinelli@ctpost.com
Article Launched: 09/25/2007 11:00:54 PM EDT
EASTON — A revised plan to replace the Wells Hill Road bridge with a single-lane structure got a bumpy reception when it was unveiled Monday night.
Town officials showed the alternate plan to members of the Planning and Zoning Commission at Staples Elementary School.
Though scaled down from a proposed two-lane span that neighbors earlier opposed because they feared it would attract too much traffic and harm the area's rural character, the new design still didn't sit well with neighbors.
The span over the Aspetuck River has been closed since being damaged in an April 2006 rainstorm.
Some in the crowd of about 25 people were displeased the alternate plan includes a bicycle and pedestrian lane.
"I do believe this bridge could be converted to two lanes in the future," neighbor Dorothy Stacum said of the revised plan.
She asked the P&Z to keep the neighborhood's history in mind.
Wells Hill Road is designated a scenic road under a town ordinance designed to preserve aspects of the town's scenic appeal.
"It was a cow path. Let's not make it into a commuter highway," Stacum said.
Neighbors expressed surprise by the addition of a pedestrian and bicycle path, even if the roadway is only a single lane.
The pedestrian lane would give the span a total width of 22 feet, with 14 feet for the single lane for vehicles, according to Ed Nagy, the town's public works director.
Nagy said the lane is needed for pedestrians because the span is used by people
But neighbors were wary.
"We're afraid we're going to be back in three years with a request to have two lanes on it," said Karen Kingsley.
"My fear is there will be a head-on collision," said Erica Andrews, another neighbor.
Another alternative to the wider bridge would be to redirect some traffic so the bridge is not used as much, First Selectman William Kupinse said at the hearing.
Replacing the damaged bridge could cost $450,000. The state Department of Transportation offered funding of roughly $86,000 toward that price for a two-lane span.
The P&Z must weigh in on the bridge proposal because it is on a scenic road and warrants special consideration, said Rob Maquat, the panel chairman.
A decision could be made as soon as Oct. 18, depending on how quickly the Conservation Commission issues an opinion.
"The sentiment from the audience was very clear," Maquat said Tuesday.
Tony Spinelli, who covers Monroe and Easton, can be reached at 330-6361.
TONY SPINELLI tspinelli@ctpost.com
Article Launched: 09/25/2007 11:00:54 PM EDT
EASTON — A revised plan to replace the Wells Hill Road bridge with a single-lane structure got a bumpy reception when it was unveiled Monday night.
Town officials showed the alternate plan to members of the Planning and Zoning Commission at Staples Elementary School.
Though scaled down from a proposed two-lane span that neighbors earlier opposed because they feared it would attract too much traffic and harm the area's rural character, the new design still didn't sit well with neighbors.
The span over the Aspetuck River has been closed since being damaged in an April 2006 rainstorm.
Some in the crowd of about 25 people were displeased the alternate plan includes a bicycle and pedestrian lane.
"I do believe this bridge could be converted to two lanes in the future," neighbor Dorothy Stacum said of the revised plan.
She asked the P&Z to keep the neighborhood's history in mind.
Wells Hill Road is designated a scenic road under a town ordinance designed to preserve aspects of the town's scenic appeal.
"It was a cow path. Let's not make it into a commuter highway," Stacum said.
Neighbors expressed surprise by the addition of a pedestrian and bicycle path, even if the roadway is only a single lane.
The pedestrian lane would give the span a total width of 22 feet, with 14 feet for the single lane for vehicles, according to Ed Nagy, the town's public works director.
Nagy said the lane is needed for pedestrians because the span is used by people
But neighbors were wary.
"We're afraid we're going to be back in three years with a request to have two lanes on it," said Karen Kingsley.
"My fear is there will be a head-on collision," said Erica Andrews, another neighbor.
Another alternative to the wider bridge would be to redirect some traffic so the bridge is not used as much, First Selectman William Kupinse said at the hearing.
Replacing the damaged bridge could cost $450,000. The state Department of Transportation offered funding of roughly $86,000 toward that price for a two-lane span.
The P&Z must weigh in on the bridge proposal because it is on a scenic road and warrants special consideration, said Rob Maquat, the panel chairman.
A decision could be made as soon as Oct. 18, depending on how quickly the Conservation Commission issues an opinion.
"The sentiment from the audience was very clear," Maquat said Tuesday.
Tony Spinelli, who covers Monroe and Easton, can be reached at 330-6361.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Al Barney
At 89, Easton man is alive and picking
TONY SPINELLI tspinelli@ctpost.com
Article Last Updated: 09/25/2007 11:16:49 PM EDT
Al Barney stands atop a cart in the middle of Lakeview Orchards and talks about apples with a real fondness.
"Apples have good fiber, and vitamins," he says. "They're the best thing for you. They have a lot of juices that are good for your stomach." At nearly 89 years old, Barney knows his apples. His muscular, tanned hands have been working these orchards off Route 59 in Easton since his father bought them in the 1920s.
He is a living legend in this town rich in agricultural history, some say, because he continues to buck the trend of turning farmland into subdivisions.
"He's amazing. And he does it all himself," says Dolly Curtis, a town resident and cable television public access program host who regularly buys fruit from
APPLE PICKING VIDEO
Al Barney picks apples from his Lakeview Farm in Easton!
Barney.
In an era in which pick-your-own dominates, Lakeview Orchards is a throwback. You won't be carrying a bag and stretching on tiptoes for apples here.
"This is me picking them," Barney says as he twists a big Ida Red from its stem and drops it into a metal bucket hanging from his neck. When he's filled the container, Barney empties it into a wooden bin on his apple-picking cart, which he created himself. The apples drop with a thud, not unlike the sound of little bowling balls hitting the floor.
This day the air is rich with the scent of ripe apples.
"I don't even notice the smell of the apples any more because I'm around it all the time," Barney says. "But I guess it does smell pretty good."
He points to an old Ford
Advertisement
Model A pickup truck and talks about how he used it for trips to Bridgeport to deliver apples to grocery stores until the 1950s.
That's when he opened his own farm market at Lakeview Orchards.
"My prices are cheaper than a grocery store, pound for pound," Barney says, explaining he doesn't sell by the pound, like a store does.
Rather, he sells apples in 8-quart, 16-quart and larger containers.
"It works out to about 99 cents a pound," Barney says. "That's cheaper than the store. And my apples are fresh."
Lakeview also features peaches and pears, in their seasons, not to mention vegetables and melons, all for sale in his farm store on Stepney Road in Monroe, just over the line from Easton. People look forward to visiting local orchards and fruit stands during the appropriate seasons, says Derek Buckley, Easton's town clerk. "It's nice to bring the kids and enjoy yourself."
In Barney's orchard, many of the trees are 16 feet tall, which is the genesis for his apple-picking contraption: a special wagon he built that is equipped with a lift. It's gasoline-powered and rolls up and down the rows of neatly spaced trees.
"That's why I don't hire anyone to help me. I don't want anyone falling off of here and getting hurt," Barney says.
He does, however, get a hand from his son, David, and daughter, Joan.
His wife, Dorothy, helped until an injury forced her to stop. Barney, himself, has had a bump in the road of health, as well, surviving a heart operation that he says extended his life.
What keeps Barney going, he says, is just that the orchards give him something to do. And he's one of those people who's always doing something.
"In the winter, I like to build machines," he says, pointing out that his apple picker is one of them. "I'm not the type to enjoy a vacation trip." While Lakeview Orchards is in Easton, its farm store is at 76 Stepney Road in Monroe.
Courtesy: The Connecticut Post
TONY SPINELLI tspinelli@ctpost.com
Article Last Updated: 09/25/2007 11:16:49 PM EDT
Al Barney stands atop a cart in the middle of Lakeview Orchards and talks about apples with a real fondness.
"Apples have good fiber, and vitamins," he says. "They're the best thing for you. They have a lot of juices that are good for your stomach." At nearly 89 years old, Barney knows his apples. His muscular, tanned hands have been working these orchards off Route 59 in Easton since his father bought them in the 1920s.
He is a living legend in this town rich in agricultural history, some say, because he continues to buck the trend of turning farmland into subdivisions.
"He's amazing. And he does it all himself," says Dolly Curtis, a town resident and cable television public access program host who regularly buys fruit from
APPLE PICKING VIDEO
Al Barney picks apples from his Lakeview Farm in Easton!
Barney.
In an era in which pick-your-own dominates, Lakeview Orchards is a throwback. You won't be carrying a bag and stretching on tiptoes for apples here.
"This is me picking them," Barney says as he twists a big Ida Red from its stem and drops it into a metal bucket hanging from his neck. When he's filled the container, Barney empties it into a wooden bin on his apple-picking cart, which he created himself. The apples drop with a thud, not unlike the sound of little bowling balls hitting the floor.
This day the air is rich with the scent of ripe apples.
"I don't even notice the smell of the apples any more because I'm around it all the time," Barney says. "But I guess it does smell pretty good."
He points to an old Ford
Advertisement
Model A pickup truck and talks about how he used it for trips to Bridgeport to deliver apples to grocery stores until the 1950s.
That's when he opened his own farm market at Lakeview Orchards.
"My prices are cheaper than a grocery store, pound for pound," Barney says, explaining he doesn't sell by the pound, like a store does.
Rather, he sells apples in 8-quart, 16-quart and larger containers.
"It works out to about 99 cents a pound," Barney says. "That's cheaper than the store. And my apples are fresh."
Lakeview also features peaches and pears, in their seasons, not to mention vegetables and melons, all for sale in his farm store on Stepney Road in Monroe, just over the line from Easton. People look forward to visiting local orchards and fruit stands during the appropriate seasons, says Derek Buckley, Easton's town clerk. "It's nice to bring the kids and enjoy yourself."
In Barney's orchard, many of the trees are 16 feet tall, which is the genesis for his apple-picking contraption: a special wagon he built that is equipped with a lift. It's gasoline-powered and rolls up and down the rows of neatly spaced trees.
"That's why I don't hire anyone to help me. I don't want anyone falling off of here and getting hurt," Barney says.
He does, however, get a hand from his son, David, and daughter, Joan.
His wife, Dorothy, helped until an injury forced her to stop. Barney, himself, has had a bump in the road of health, as well, surviving a heart operation that he says extended his life.
What keeps Barney going, he says, is just that the orchards give him something to do. And he's one of those people who's always doing something.
"In the winter, I like to build machines," he says, pointing out that his apple picker is one of them. "I'm not the type to enjoy a vacation trip." While Lakeview Orchards is in Easton, its farm store is at 76 Stepney Road in Monroe.
Courtesy: The Connecticut Post
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