What is the "Borough" of Jewett City??

The following are excerpts from a New York Times article published on March 21, 2004 written by Georgina Gustin.

Boroughs. Wardens. Burgesses. The terms, leftovers from Connecticut's past, are not tossed around regularly these days when discussing state governance. Yet despite their shrinking numbers -- and their irrelevance, some say -- boroughs and the people who run them keep hanging on as little reminders of the state's quirky municipal evolution.

There are nine boroughs left, down from 15 in 1950 and 23 in 1900, according to state records, though the number could dwindle even more. Every now and then, a faction of anti-borough residents will gain momentum and try to dissolve or consolidate their borough status. But for the most part, borough residents are proud of their political distinction and are determined to maintain it.

The state's boroughs were incorporated, with the approval of the State Legislature, between 1800 and 1915; they usually came into being when a group of town residents decided their more densely populated area of town needed municipal services, and therefore taxation, their rural neighbors didn't require.

''I think they felt they needed their own government, because on the outskirts people lived three miles apart,'' said Joan G. Crick, the warden of the Newtown borough, which was incorporated in 1824 as a separate entity within the larger town of Newtown. ''They needed services.'' Boroughs were the heart of sprawling agricultural towns and they had little-city needs: streetlights, sidewalks, night watchmen and fire departments.

Of the states' nine boroughs, eight are within towns, and one, Naugatuck, has gobbled up the whole town. The town of Litchfield has two boroughs within its borders: the boroughs of Litchfield and Bantam. The first borough to form was called Newfield, in present-day Bridgeport, which was set apart from the town of Stratford because residents wanted oil-lamp streetlights and fire protection.

There is also a kind of familiarity that comes with living in a borough that goes beyond the practical: collective pride.

''We have a sense of taking care of our own,'' said Elaine Lippke, president of the borough of Danielson, in the town of Killingly. ''The problems of the borough don't seem to connect with the town. We've become self-protective.''

Though relations between towns and boroughs are generally good, there is a visible distinction between them that sets them apart. Anyone leaving the borough of Newtown, with its preserved historic architecture, will pass into the less stringently zoned town at large, with its newer homes, and notice the striking change.

''When the borough ends and the town begins, there's a difference,'' said Ms. Crick, the Newtown borough warden.

Jewett City Party announces Goals for May elections

The Jewett City Party (JCP) is holding a public meeting at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at the Griswold Town hall located at 28 Main Street, Jewett City, CT.

All members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend. The Jewett City Party looks forward to meeting residents and answering their questions.

Ron Ward, JCP candidate for Warden, has announced goals and objectives for the upcoming election campaign:

1. Create new "Consumer Board of Utility Control" to oversee rate increases and management of Jewett City Department of Public Utilities. The JCDPU is owned by the residents of Jewett City.
   
2. Initiate road and sidewalk improvements.
   
3. SEAT Bus service: Prevent any future cut-backs in service. Improve scheduling and route.
   
4. Triangle Wire property: Advocate use of property to create higher paying skilled manufacturing jobs.
   
5. 1994 National Main Street study: Review and implement recommendations to promote economic development for the Jewett City central business district.
   
6. New Boards and Commissions: Provide opportunities for residents to have direct participation in decision making that improves the quality of life in Jewett City.

Jewett City Party encourages residents, tax payers and community members to attend the upcoming meeting to ask questions and get answers. The agenda for the meeting will also include:

• Opening Remarks by Ron Ward, JCP Candidate for Jewett City Borough Warden
• Introduction of Jewett City Party organizing committee members
• Endorsement of candidates for the elected Borough Offices of Burgess, Clerk, Treasurer, Tax Collector and Bailiff
• Jewett City Party Presentation of Goals and Objectives
• Open Community Forum for Questions and Answers

Should residents, taxpayers or community members have questions prior to meeting, please contact:

Ron Ward, JCP Founder
37 Main Street, Unit 6
Jewett City, CT 06351

860-376-3530 home
email: founder@jewettcityparty.com

Jewett City Party - website

www.jewettcityparty.com

Major Parties Endorse Candidates for Borough Elections

Democrats, Republicans Endorse Slates For Borough Elections
By Megan Bard – published by The Day - January 19, 2007

For the first time in several years there will be competition for seats on the Board of Warden and Burgesses.

On Wednesday, the Democratic Town Committee endorsed a slate of incumbents and Leona Sharkey, who will seek the borough treasurer position. The Republican Town Committee endorsed its slate Thursday night.

The Jewett City Party, a new party being formed in the borough, has scheduled its caucus for 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at Town Hall.

Democrats endorsed incumbents Cynthia Kata for warden and Alan Geer, Patrick Sullivan and Stanley A. Drobiak for
burgesses. Incumbents Valerie Pudvah, Linda Cote and William P.L. Maynard were endorsed for the positions of clerk, treasurer and bailiff, respectively.

Republicans also endorsed Pudvah and Cote.

Borough Realtor and businesswoman Melinda Brooks is the Republican candidate for warden, while Timothy Sharkey, Alan Aho and Joe Lobe will run for a burgess position. Benjamin Hull was endorsed as the GOP candidate for bailiff.

Jewett City Party founder Ron Ward has said he intends to seek his party's endorsement for warden. He said that if he is unsuccessful in establishing the party in time, he intends to petition to be on the May 7 ballot.

Free Open Access Community Calendar

A new community calendar is now available on-line:

www.jewettcityparty.com/post_event

Use of the calendar is FREE!!!

Open Access means that anyone can post to the calendar.

Posted events can only be deleted or altered by the calendar administrator.

The Community Calendar is intended to showcase Griswold Community events.

Contact the calendar administrator: calendar@jewettcityparty.com

"Lay my glory in the dust. Selah"

Psalm 7:5 - "Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; And let him trample my life down to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968

Michael Schwerner
November 6, 1939 - June 21, 1964

Andrew Goodman
November 23, 1943 - June 21, 1964

James Chaney
May 30, 1943- June 21, 1964

Three civil rights workers, Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Chaney, were murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan on June 21, 1964. These men worked to support the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project. Their deaths spurred the United States Congress to pass the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This law was intended to make it easier for minorities and poor people to vote. The Voting Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on August 6, 1965.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was murdered by an assassin.

Jewett City Party Seeks Candidates

Party aims to provide choices in Jewett City
by Julie A. Varughesse - Norwich Bulletin 01-15-2007

JEWETT CITY --A new political party is being welcomed by some residents who are tired of the current administration and say they want more choices.

Ron Ward, founder of the Jewett City Party, is looking for candidates for the May 7 election and will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 in the first-floor meeting room of Town Hall to endorse candidates for each elected office.

Ward wants to run against Borough Warden Cynthia Kata, a Democrat. But first he has to fill out paperwork with the Secretary of the State's office and file petitions for each candidate, including himself.

The deadline for filing petitions is 4 p.m. Feb. 6. March 13 is the last day to file a statement of endorsement for a minor party candidate with the secretary of the state.

Ward said he wants to give voters a choice not only in May when the borough election is conducted, but also in November for the Griswold election.

Borough resident Donna Ward-Gurling, who moved to Jewett City a year ago, said she didn't even know there was a borough warden until Ward told her. She is not related to Ward. "I think it'll give people an opportunity. It isn't really an election if it's just one candidate --it's a shoe-in," she said.

Resident Leo Bordeleau said a new party is a good idea because the same people have been in office for years and don't take constituents' concerns seriously. "I've even seen borough officials laugh and giggle under their breath when borough constituents are talking," he said. "I think it's time we get some new, fresh people in there. I say, go for it."

At least 1 percent of the number of people who voted for the same office in the last borough election must sign the petitions for each candidacy. That means each petition only needs two signatures, Ward said, because the highest number of people that voted for an office in 2005 was 75.

To form the party, Ward must collect 25 signatures and file a statement of endorsement with the Secretary of the State. He already has eight signatures and expects to meet that goal by the end of this week.

Dan Tapper, spokesman for the Secretary of the State's office, said the Griswold Independent Party was the last third party in the town. It was most recently recognized in 2003 and did not have any affiliated members at that time.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Richard Duda said he was confident in the success of his party. "The success is dependent on your candidate, it depends on your position on issues and your organization," he said. The Democrats will endorse candidates at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Town Hall.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Ed Wilds said the group will endorse candidates at 7 p.m. Thursday in Town Hall, including a candidate for Kata's position.

Kata said she was not ready to retire from the position she has held since 1999. She started working for the borough as treasurer in 1983. "Right now we have things to do," she said, referring to using new grant money for facade improvements on Main Street.

Reach Julie A. Varughese at 425-4217 or jvarughese@norwichbulletin.com

First Winter Weather Advisory of 2007

Winter Weather Advisory:

Issued at: 10:16 PM EST 1/14/07, expires at: 6:00 AM EST 1/15/07
Winter weather advisory remains in effect until 10:00 am est Monday.

Freezing rain and sleet will overspread the Connecticut valley late tonight, and should reach northeast Connecticut, northwest Rhode island and the southwest suburbs of Boston before daybreak. It will slowly change to rain Monday morning as temperatures climb above freezing. This will produce around one tenth of an inch of icing.

Those with travel plans should be aware of the potential for icy spots on roadways tonight and Monday morning, especially on bridges and overpasses where slippery spots can easily develop. Stay tuned to NOAA all hazards weather radio or your local media for more information on this winter weather situation.


Triple AAA Winter driving Tips:

If you will be driving in winter conditions, prepare your vehicle for the demands of the weather and brush up on driving techniques that will keep you safely on the go, despite ice and snow.

Perform a thorough check of your electrical system, lights, brakes, exhaust system, heating and cooling system, and windshield wipers. Make any repairs or replacements well before bad weather hits.

As weather grows colder, more people fall victim to carbon monoxide poisoning. Never warm up your vehicle in an enclosed space (such as a garage) or leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.

Put together an emergency kit for winter driving. Include these items: Cellular phone; Bag of abrasive material (sand, salt or cat litter); Small snow shovel; Snow brush; Traction mats; Flashlight; Window-washing solvent; Ice scraper; Cloth or paper towels; Booster cables; Blanket; Warning flares or triangles; Gloves or mittens.

When driving on the highway after a snowfall: Keep your speed low and headlights on low beam; Do not use cruise control in wet, icy, snowy conditions; Choose the lane that was most recently cleared; Avoid changing lanes to minimize your risk of losing control when driving over built-up snow between lanes; On an icy road, allow the greatest margin of safety by focusing your attention as far ahead as possible (at least 20 to 30 seconds).

For more information on winter driving, visit the Triple AAA website: www.aaa.com