Weathersfield News, Week of March 10, 2014

Oh, Winter, I am so over you... There are 10 more days until spring and you are predicted to dump another 6 to 12 inches of snow on us Wednesday. The retail outlets have already moved on... I saw bathing suits for display this weekend. This weekend was a nice tease... I saw the sky described by Melissa as "hurt your eyes blue" :)

Voting results are in. The total votes in some articles were very close. I'm glad that the 1879 Perkinsville School will remain with the Town. I'm looking forward to what exciting things might be happening there.

Town Meeting was very well attended, the best we have had in the past few years. However, I have a few sobering numbers.

According to the Town Clerks Office, we have 2052 registered Voters in the Town of Weathersfield out of approximately 2800 residents.

Approximately 184 registered voters attended Town Meeting. There were 669 voters who decided on the direction of the Town for the next fiscal year at the polls on Tuesday.  That means that 32.6% of the Voters decided the 2015 fiscal year budget for everyone.

I saw a quote from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)  the other day: "One of the greatest tragedies that we face today politically is that most people have given up on the political process. They understand the political deck is stacked against them.They think there is no particular reason for them to come out and vote - and they don't."

One of my daughters isn't registered to vote and doesn't plan on doing it because she truly feels that her single vote won't make a difference. It's such a shame that people feel that way.

On June 4, 1920, women and minorities were finally allowed to vote. Alice Paul and Lucy Burns were the first to picket outside the White House for that right. They were subjected to arrest, jail and force-feedings after they went on hunger strikes in jail. Alice Paul was jailed for 7 months for her role in insisting that women have the right to vote.

One person at Town Meeting said 'I don't know what the Town is doing. I read the newspapers and I'm never know that is going on.'

My response to that is what I have been saying for a while now: YOU, each and every individual, needs to get up, go out and attend Select Board meetings, Commission meetings, Board meetings.

The Select Board, at minimum, meets Twice a Month, every month. You have 24 opportunities to hear what is going on, voice your opinion, be informed. There are very few, other than those that are required to be there, that come to Select Board meetings to keep up on Town events and decisions.

The Weathersfield Select Board meets the First and Third Monday of the month at Martin Memorial Hall in Ascutney at 7 pm.

There are open appointments in many positions available for citizens who wish to become part of the change they want to see in their Town.

Okay. Sorry. (Climbing down off my soap box now... ) Whew. Got carried away. I'm passionate about this because each and every individual can make a difference in their Town if they choose to.

Winter, winter, you are so last season (almost!)!!  Enjoy your last few great shows of snow and cold... you are on your way out!!!