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LEAGUE of WOMEN VOTERS of WESTON :
CONTACT OUR WEBSITE

Online Know Your Town Directory.  2014 Election news from LWVUS.  Voter Service page HERE.  BUDGET PROCESS FY16;

2014 Betty Hill Forum, Comptroller Kevin Lembo - CT open portal!
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Table of Contents
Election 2014:  How many people have ever been at the polls to hear Election results called out?

Mark your calendar for ...2015 version coming Feb. 7!!!

Remember Speak Up 2014?
 LWV of Weston "SPEAK UP 2015" - will it be the weather, the budget or something else that's hot???
ChaCha, pictured above, wants to know more about the increase in Animal Control budget proposed.
Coming Saturday, February 7, 2015, 10:30am to 12 noon at Weston Library!


Check out the First Selectman's Budget FY'16 here;  LWV of Weston process graphic blow-up here;

We watched the "streaming" Board of Ed Thurs. Jan 29th...Thanks for the "Speak Up" plug!!!

Some other matters to ask about at Speak Up...remember this issue?
 

Lights Committee 'walk', Dec. 3, 2014.  New planning Region?  Anything new on the Town Website?
With permission, enters private property, measure if "zero" light achieved;  WCCOG?  Anything new with h2o?
Legislature in Long Session:  What's hot?  News on school enrollment? 
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What happened over the summer of 2014? Lots of work inside and out on School Road!


  • Nothing new to the public on drainage study, involving Onion Barn, perhaps.
  • Lights up/on at the football field see above, Board of Education's Facilities Committee discussed the matter.
  • Senior Center South House project underway, not pictured.
  • Weston Library internal changes in line for grant after planning process, no picture.
  • Nothing coming out of the "land swap" between Town and bank properties.
  • PROPOSAL NOW WITHDRAWN BY BANK  after July 23, 2014

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Link to LWVCT CONVENTION 2014
Saturday, June 14 - in a special LWV of Weston "picture story"... 
Videos of major speakers as well as a sampler of the Convention business reports here: 

 

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ANNUAL MEETING (LWV of WESTON) 2014:
Annual Meeting approved new bylaws that formalize the "Steering Committee" as an alternative way to
conduct League business (approved in concept by LWVCT), among other items on the agenda. 

The LWV of Weston  “Betty Hill Forum” and luncheon May 30, 2014began at noon at the Red Barn featured CT
Comptroller Kevin Lembo.
 
Our guest speaker will address the topic:
“The State of the State, Transparency, and the Future of Connecticut’s Economy.”

"Picture story" here.

WATCH COMPTROLLER LEMBO'S TALK & Q&A ON THIS TOPIC...LINKS BELOW.


The video is 52 minutes 20 seconds long, and is presented in two formats:


Windows Media Player format (best viewed on Windows computers via Internet Explorer, which will open
Windows Media Player and begin playback without waiting for the entire file to download; other browsers may not
begin playback until the entire file has downloaded, which may take several minutes or more.  Can be viewed on
Apple computers if Windows Media Player has been installed):

www.lwvweston.org/LWVAnnualMtg5-30-14.wmv

(139 MegaBytes)

 

MP4 format (viewable on most Windows and Apple computers, but playback may not start until the entire file has
downloaded, which may take several minutes or more):

www.lwvweston.org/LWVAnnualMtg5-30-14.mp4

(232 MegaBytes)



SPEAKER:  Hon. Kevin Lembo, CT Comptroller,  15th Betty Hill Forum Friday, May 30, 2014
Excellent turnout!  Answer re: "future?"  Moving slowly forward toward GAAP.  Commented on 50-state bidding
wars for jobs.  Questioned state commitment to infrastructure improvements and repairs (we think we heard that,
but we'll check the tape later).

Please join the League of Women Voters of Weston, CT - not just for lunch!  Online membership info here.

BACKGROUND READING about topics covered.
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SPECIAL LWV of Weston meeting Friday Feb. 22nd  the day before rescheduled Speak Up...

LWV of Greenwich held this meeting Tuesday...not Simpson-Bowles, but sequester question to the fore.
"HARD CHOICES AHEAD - SIMPSON-BOWLES (A Framework for Change)"
Picture story here.
Videotaped by LWV for online here:

Best viewed with Internet Explorer, which will automatically open Windows Media Player and start playback
without waiting for the download to complete.

1 hour 20 minutes 34 seconds
For cable and dsl users:

http://www.lwvweston.org/Himes2-22-13CableVersion.wmv
(208 Megabytes)

For dial-up modem users:
http://www.lwvweston.org/Himes2-22-13ModemVersion.wmv
(30 Megabytes)
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PUBLIC HEARING ON WESTON ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS COMING MARCH  21ST AT 7PM IN TOWN HALL
WESTON SELECTMEN SERVE UP GUN REG DISCUSSION!

 

Held November 10, 2012, before Sandy Hook School tragedy in Newtown.

LWV Town Affairs Update:  Public discussion of space needs needed?

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FALL CONFERENCE 2014 ON COMMON CORE AND CONNECTICUT:  WHAT'S NEXT?
Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven
Woodbridge, Connecticut
Saturday, October 25, 2014, 9am - 12:30pm


2013 Fall Conference was awesome!!!  See our "picture story" here...



Best viewed with Internet Explorer, which will automatically open Windows Media Player
and start playback 
without waiting for the download to complete.

FALL CONFERENCE VIDEO:
SHINING A LIGHT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CONNECTICUT
http://www.lwvweston.org/LWVCT10-26-13.wmv
(378 megaBytes; 2 hours 31 minutes 11 seconds)

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LWVCT was at the Graduate Club  for Convention 2014, too!

At LWVCT Convention, in front of the National President, our state stood fast in support of freedom...
now that the Governor signed it, this "Corrupticut" nickname, much bruited about regarding John
Rowland's offenses, now might apply to present leadership of the Legislature...


Picture story for  LWVCT 2013 Convention here.  VIDEO ONLINE NOW!
As it happens, LWVCT Convention comes at the same time as the end of the Long Session - action
proposed to counter last minute undermining of Campaign Finance Reform laws - unsuccessfully, as it turned out.

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League of Women Voters of Connecticut Education Fund 2013

Symposium on International Relations 2013 "Water, Water Everywhere, But Not a Drop..."

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MILLSTONE

Millstone acts on Fukushima failures...
Full 2014 story here
Millstone for 2013 here.  Potassium iodide pills.  Safety from terrorists at Millstone report...


Thyroid pills headed to residents near Millstone
DAY
Sep 10, 9:30 AM EDT
WATERFORD >> Emergency preparedness officials are preparing to distribute more than 1 million potassium
 iodide tablets in the 10-mile emergency planning zone around the Millstone Power Station.

The pills reduce the likelihood of developing thyroid cancer by protecting the thyroid from radioactive iodine
isotopes that can be released after a severe nuclear power plant accident. They’re distributed periodically in the
nine-town area around the Waterford plant.

The Day of New London reports (http://bit.ly/14HURg7 ) that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will send
1.28 million 65-mg tablets to the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection in the coming
months.

Adults would take two pills and children weighing less than 100 pounds would take one.

Emergency management directors will distribute the pills in East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, Lyme, Montville,
New London, Old Lyme, Waterford and Fishers Island, N.Y.
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INDIAN POINT

NY reactor shut down after pumps fail
Greenwich TIME
Updated 8:01 pm, Wednesday, February 13, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — A nuclear reactor in the New York suburbs has been shut down because two pumps that
send water from a drain tank to the steam generators stopped working.

The plant's owner said Wednesday the shutdown of Indian Point 2 went safely. They said there were no injuries
and no release of radioactivity.

The pumps are located on the non-nuclear side of the plant. Officials say they are investigating why the pumps
stopped operating

Plant owner Entergy Nuclear said Indian Point 3, the other reactor at the plant in Buchanan, is currently operating
at full power.

Entergy is seeking new 20-year licenses for the reactors, which the state and some environmental groups oppose.


LWV of Greenwich program - YouTubed:  http://www.lwvg.org/
Read here a report from reliable group, 2011, received from LWV of Greenwich.
More informational links - from the present Att'yGeneral and the previous one.

Weston LWV looking into significance for Weston of Indian Point repermitting - news story below:.

Indian Point: Still safe
NYPOST
Last Updated: 11:11 PM, May 17, 2012
Posted: 10:35 PM, May 17, 2012

Another year, another Nuclear Regulatory Commission safety inspection passed with flying colors by Indian Point.

So will this finally silence the “shut it down” crowd — starting with Gov. Cuomo, who says his mantra “has always
been ‘safety first’?”

Don’t hold your breath.  The NRC’s annual report card on the safety of nuclear plants around the country gave
 Indian Point yet another thumbs up.  Yes, some 25 issues need attention.

But the NRC’s regional administrator, Bill Dean, said they were all deemed “very low risk” or of “very low safety
significance.”

Indian Point’s 2,062 megawatts provide 12 percent of New York state’s power — 30 percent for the city and
Westchester.  There is no way to replace that juice — itself barely sufficient — either quickly or affordably. And
certainly not both.  Not to mention the 1,300 jobs and $800 million for the local economy the plant provides.

But safety first, as the governor says.  And the verdict is in: Indian Point is safe.

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 FALL CONFERENCE 2012 SELL-OUT CROWD!!!  For more pictures, click here...

SHEEP AND COMING HURRICANE SANDY...
Lots of people and animals at the Trumbull Ag School Oct. 27!  Fall Conference shows LWV not chicken, either.
- - - - - - - -


ONLINE SPECIAL EVENT STILL PHOTOS AND STORY
Before the voting by unions (rejecting give-back deal), but after Long Session ended, the LWV of Weston
held its VIDEOTAPED Legislative Wrap Up 2011;


Center, Connecticut logo from previous era.
AT LEFT...SPECIAL SESSION OVER NOW:  "What happened?"  League asks legislators
Cities and towns winners, unions losers;  Senate votes to curtail benefits in future;  but wait...
SEBAC (unions) changes rules for a re-vote - simple majority only now required.

HOUSE BILL PASSES IN BOTH CHAMBERS:
AN ACT CONCERNING THE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2013.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=6701&which_year=2011

SENATE BILL ON CURTAILING BENEFITS PASSES, NOT TAKEN UP BY THE HOUSE
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=1301&which_year=2011

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"WHEN WOMEN RUN, WE CHANGE THE WORLD"

Go direct to watch Patricia Russo's address (Women's Campaign School at Yale):
http://www.lwvweston.org/LWVAnnualMtg5-11-12.wmv

2012 Betty Hill Forum XIII picture story here


Annual Meeting, Weston LWV 10AM, The Red Barn, Friday, May 11, 2012

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Friday May 6 - LWV of Weston Annual Meeting at Red Barn; Betty Hill International
Forum 2011 REPORT

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REFERENDUM STORY HERE

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Most recent Speak Up 2014 breaks new ground!

SPEAK UP GAVE A VOICE TO AN ISSUE
As a result of outcry, in 2014 for the first time the Board of Finance chose to make an increase to the Town side of the budget!
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Bravo LWVCT - it was a was a great event!!! Click here for more.

THE BIG FINALE!  VIDEO ONLINE HERE
A rousing performance and sing along to "Pride and the Passion" in honor of the League of Women Voters

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LWVCT COUNCIL 2012  REPORT HERE
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Hamden Clarion Hotel and Suites

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LWVCT CONVENTION 2011 REPORT HERE
Saturday May 21, 2011 LWVCT Convention
At the Graduate Club, in New Haven

LWVCT CONVENTION:  Luncheon at left;  afternoon Plenary Session at right

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Video now online here

FALL CONFERENCE 2010 LOCATION
South Congregational Church not a sponsor.

LWVCT FALL CONFERENCE 2010
One Year Later:  Health Care in Our Country and Our State
Interesting sidelight: health care issue in today's news: http://www.ctmirror.org/print/14673

A SUMMARY OF THE FALL CONFERENCE 2010: 

The presenters were Jacob S. Hacker, the Stanley B. Resor  Professor of Political Science at Yale University and
Kevin Lembo, Comptroller-Elect, who had held the position of state Health  Care Advocate and was co-chair of
the SustiNet Health Partnership Board of Directors.  Kay Maxwell, Former LWVUS president, moderated. 



Professor Hacker discussed the future of  health care reform on the federal level and what that would mean for
Connecticut.  He has written an excellent book about all of this, which was available.



Mr. Lembo, Comptroller-elect, described SustiNet and informed the audience about the specifics of the SustiNet
Board’s upcoming recommendations to the General Assembly for implementation. 



The responders were Stephen Glick of the Chamber Insurance Trust and Frances Padilla, the VP Program, Policy
and Administration for  the Universal Health Care Foundation of CT (the organization that helped design SustiNet).



Written questions were collected from the audience during the presentations and submitted to Kay Maxwell.  The
entire conference was video recorded;  DVDs will be distributed to local leagues.

Link here to more background info and a video of the event                   
Want a DVD?  Click here for news of how to obtain one!!!   
    
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS - full story here.

“The league has fought for 90 years to improve our system of representative government and impact public policies
through citizen education and advocacy,” said Helen Z. Pearl, president of the New Britain area League of Women
Voters and a founding commissioner of the PCSW.
NEW TOWN PLAN NEWS HERE
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FALLCONF09healthcare.html#watchnow

For cable and dsl users: http://www.lwvweston.org/LWVCT12-5-09CableVersion.wmv

Watch this important discussion from 2009!

Who's Who at the LWVCT:  http://www.lwvct.org

LWVCT FALL CONFERENCE DECEMBER 5, 2009

This year’s LWVCTEF Fall Conference was held at a new venue: South Congregational Church,
277 Main Street, Hartford. 

The topic, “Health Care in Connecticut: What’s Next?” brought out more than 70 members of the public to
hear from 3 speakers:  The Weston LWV offers it for your information here online!


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OBSERVER CORPS:

HOT NEWS FROM FORUM

AGENDA FOR SELECTMEN'S MEETING COMING UP HERE

NOW THE LAW TO POST THESE MEETINGS
Town of Weston website for official notice of meetings (televised and otherwise).

"Know Your Town ON-LINE."

Not-exactly-a-blog 

Link here to non-League website with FORUM report on WfFR meeting.

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B A C K G R O U N D   O N    L E A G U E  :



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LWV OF WESTON, CONNECTICUT -  PUBLICATIONS:  NEW CHARTER DOCUMENT SOON?

NEW for 2012 is Know Your Town Directory, available at online here or on the Town of Weston Website...


WESTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Numbered prints by Mary O'Reilly Sowinski for sale (some still left!) depict Weston in 1979!

Notecards commissioned by LWV of Weston available from the League;
  • Test your knowledge of Weston...what is depicted in the print above? 
  • Is this scene still there?
  • Why is this view of particular importance for Westonites?





With the economy turnng down, this was a very important forum:
"MUNICIPAL SHARED SERVICE:  THE ROAD AHEAD"
A Symposium Presented by:
  • The Connecticut Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
  • The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management
  • The League of Women Voters of Connecticut
October 30, 2007, 7:45am-12:30pm
Central Connecticut State University, Student Center, Alumni Complex

Watch the condensed version here:

    http://www.lwvweston.org/ACIR10-30-07ExcerptsCableDSLVersion.wmv
 
    http://www.lwvweston.org/ACIR10-30-07ExcerptsDialupModemVersion.wmv


 

Take a tour of the Capitol with official League Guides--"Capitol and Information Tours" (C.I.T.)
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 Video of LWVCT Convention 2007 (long and short versions)...
L W V C T    C O N V E N T I O N    R E P O R T  - E-AWARD to Weston!


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By others:

LWVCT PUBLIC ISSUES TEAM: 
Background on water supply, other sustainability issues, seen though land use lens...

SUSTAINABILITY
From a non-League source.



READ ARTICLE;  WHAT DOES THE CIRCLE OF SUSTAINABILITY LOOK LIKE?

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 Previous speakers at LWV of Weston event held at Weston Library, on Patriot Act.


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CONTACT  WEBMASTER FOR LWV OF WESTON.

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