Civic Engagement --update

12 years ago

Hi Everyone!

Some of you may recall that in Jan 2011 a major fast-food outfit decided they wanted to build on a parcel of land in my town. I was on GW asking people if they had experience opposing unwanted development. I just wanted to tell you that in the last year we've won the support of our local leaders and many others in town. We have one last round -- the fast-food place is appealing for a variance that was already turned down once. We are all keeping our fingers crossed and hoping their appeal is denied.

Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that if something happens in your neighborhood that you don't like, try doing something about it! Although I've been on the receiving end of unpleasant comments and have also been discouraged at times, I wouldn't have done it any differently.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

maire_cate
12 years ago
I wish you luck. We thought we had survived our first go around three years ago when the Electric Company wanted to run high power lines on huge towers across our property. Now the National Park Service is refusing to let them upgrade the line that already runs across the Delaware River so we may be back in the fight again. No one in our area wants it but you know what it's like to fight the Federal government.

I hope your battle ends quickly and with success.
dedtired
12 years ago
There have been a number of battles in our community, but the developers often have the upper hand. Fortunately this is an historic area and the center of our town was declared a historic preservation zone. Any changes proposed must meet certain standards and maintain the historic feel. There have been some major battles over that and it was enormously helpful to have those rules in pace. One jerk of a developer wanted to knock down a historic Victorian home and build three McMansions on the lot. He was required to restore the Vicky, but still found a way to build the other two houses. They all have been for sale for at least two years. Ha.

I agree -- fight back!
Related Discussions
Vintage silverplate engagement gift
Q
Comments (26)
fori, Lindac was right about you! ;) sheilajoyce, the more the merrier. :) Thank you, EmmaR, but the gift was given and graciously accepted--I thought I'd updated after posting the pic of the lemon fork. I found another gravy ladle and a casserole spoon in great shape, to replace the pitted pieces. My future DIL is artistic, so maybe she can use the pitted pieces in a craft. Update: I ended up collecting service for 24+ (over 260 pieces), including individual butter spreaders, 12 fruit spoons, 10 cocktail forks, and serving pieces including an 11" oyster/soup ladle, sauce ladle, olive spoon, 2 pie servers, a large 3pc carving set, and 2 wooden chests. The soup ladle and carving set were given as Christmas stocking stuffers. The average cost per piece was $1.30!
...See More
How to get Acer recovery disk to engage
Q
Comments (13)
Thanks, Zep!!! WMP is BACK! ;-) My pc just finished restoring to factory settings. I did as you said, but "Repair Your Computer" then gave me a list of options from which to choose!!! Rather shakily, I selected the one to restore to default settings. It never asked for my recovery disks! Why did Acer ever have me make them??? It used the recovery partition of my laptop. Anyway, I'm thrilled and thankful. I desperately needed this pc with WMP for an upcoming retreat... Owbist, I didn't see your post until I was finished. The screen I was given in bios was an advanced bios settings screen with options listed. I may have done something wrong... Question: (I'm using my desktop for this post...) Will Win 7 Service Pack 1 save me from installing any updates? Should I just go to Windows update and see what it tells me? Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
...See More
I've fallen for a man who's engaged...
Q
Comments (41)
Here's are some interesting questions for you to think about: What do you think gave him the idea that he could flirt with you like that and get away with it? What does that say about him and his perception of you? He's taking a very big risk with his behavior, so why would he jeopardize his job and fiance over someone he barely knows? You are new to this company and you know he's engaged. Why are you taking these kinds of risks? Negative first impressions are nearly impossible to change. You have now defined yourself as a flirt and potentially much more. I'm sure that most of the rumors have you more involved with your boss than you really are. That's how office gossip generally works. Your boss probably established his reputation as a player a long time ago. Try keeping things professional with him, and always steer the conversation back to work quickly. Have work related questions or items ready in your mind or on a notepad every day when you have to meet with him. Then get busy with work. Working hard and doing your job well is the best recourse right now if you are going to try and stay there. Avoid the coffee and other outside of the office get togethers that he suggests. Tell him you're busy or have other plans. He'll get the picture. If you think it's going to be weird for you, it will be worse if you continue this much longer. If you sleep with him, your problems will multiply and it will be difficult for you to effectively do your work there. Save your self respect first and then your job until you can find another one. Your boss isn't going to be paying your bills if he ends up firing you or if you both are terminated.
...See More
Before I engage a Realtor to market a unique property
Q
Comments (8)
The conditions that you listed are not that unusual. I would interview at least three realtors. Have them work up a free brokers analysis of recent, similar closed sales. Get an idea of what the market price range will be. There is no charge and no obligation for this service. Plus, you will get a good idea of who you want to use as a realtor when you decide to market the property to the public. Once you have an idea of potential price range, you can approach the two potentially interested parties. Make a phone call, send an email or letter advising them that the property will be going on the market. Ask them to contact you if they are still interested. Give them a time frame to get in touch with you. If they don't contact you, move forward with the realtor. There is a way to do this simultaneously. When you sign the listing agreement with your realtor, you can exclude these individuals from the listing. Your realtor will know how to do this. This would keep you from having to pay the realtor's commission if they made an offer. Let me caution you to remind yourself that this property is no longer your parent's home. It's a real estate transaction. It may be a potential teardown. Keep it business. It will make it easier on you and your siblings. As a retired appraiser, you may need an appraisal for estate purposes. It will be based on appraised valuation at a date in the past. What you need right now is a marketing valuation range. There is no reason to pay for this when a realtor can provide this with a reasonable degree of price range.
...See More
hhireno
12 years ago
Good for you judithn. I second maire cate that your battle ends quickly and successfully.
polly929
12 years ago
That's great news.

In my town we were able to stop a Domino's pizza from relocating to a more residential part of town, it would have been right next door to a home, and the woman that lived in that house started the petition and went door to door. Instead a chef bought the building and put a charming little french bistro there and it is Zagat rated and wildly successful and a wonderful asset to our neighborhood.

Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in fighting developers from putting 3 separate multi-unit buildings in parts of town that are flood prone and where schools are already past capacity. It is going to be such a drain on our school system, and in turn I'm sure our taxes which are the highest in the country will go up.

Civic Engagement --update

Comments (4)

maire_cate

dedtired

Related Discussions

hhireno

polly929

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US