Good - Bad - Ugly: All comments are welcomed!

It's all about You - it's all about Me - it's about -- "The All of Us." It's about the three thousand or so people that call Jewett City -- Our Home. It's about the obligation of elected leaders to put aside partisan politics and party loyalty to achieve the best result for our community. It's about government officials providing loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Borough as a whole - regardless of the political consequences. It's about demanding that our public servants meet their day-to-day obligation of obtaining the consent of the people; and, not just our vote on election day.

Jewett City Party welcomes you to this Blog and encourages your participation!!

Posted By Ron Ward - Founder of the Jewett City Party on December 31, 2006

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Jewett City business owner plans to support Ron Wa...": WHat a F***ing loser you are. WHy waste the time of the poeple of our town with your promises you can not keep. Posted by Anonymous to Jewett City Party at February 8, 2007 8:04 AM

Donna Ward-Gurling has left a new comment on your post "To turn a blind eye?": Dear Anonymous--Love your accusations. I could make the same towards my family from my home town of Westport, CT 06880. However, I look forward, not backward. PS. Come chew the fat with me at Happy's Steak House on Feb 20th here in Jewett City. I will wear a name tag so as to identify myself. Posted by Donna Ward-Gurling, Jewett City Democrat Registered Voter Posted by Donna Ward-Gurling to Jewett City Party at February 8, 2007 1:05 AM

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Jewett City business owner plans to support Ron Wa...": With all of these choices as anyone thought about a debate so the voters can hear from the candidates concerning the issues that we are interested in. Posted by Anonymous to Jewett City Party at February 7, 2007 10:07 PM

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "To turn a blind eye?": A vote for Ward is a vote against progess for Jewett City---HE IS A CROOK just ask any member of his own family!!They will tell you! HE IS A LYER AND A CHEAT--what happened with the business you had with a family member?? what happend in New London??? Why the hell do you live above a bar? WE ARE NOT STUPID! BROOKS WARDEN!!!! Posted by Anonymous to Jewett City Party at February 7, 2007 8:27 AM

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Comments made by our eBlog! Readers": Ron, why is your phone number registered in Eichelberg, R's name? Posted by Anonymous to Jewett City Party at February 5, 2007 8:00 PM

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "'Chew the Fat' on Feb 20th: Fat Tuesday": how come your phone number is registerd to Eichelberg, R ? Posted by Anonymous to Jewett City Party at February 5, 2007 7:55 PM

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Comments made by our eBlog! Readers": To whom ever said, let the kids walk to school. That would be great if I could. If our town were safer, I would have no problem letting my children walk to school. Now, I can't stand it if they are out of my sight. And the JCP announced at the Jan 24th meeting, "Lets get rid of the police and go to a 0 mil rate." Well, that certainly would not improve our crime rate and make this a safer place for all. Unless Ron is going to stand watch at night? Posted by Anonymous to Jewett City Party at February 2, 2007 9:10 AM

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Ron Ward, candidate for Borough Warden 'Stands Up'...": Is Mr.Ward a borough resident? Why does Mr. Ward flip flop on the consolidation issue? He said he was against but then in the bulletin he said he supports it? What is that all about. Posted by Anonymous to Jewett City Party at February 1, 2007 10:09 PM

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Comments made by our eBlog! Readers": Who is ron ward? Where does he come from? What are his family values? What religion is he? Does he smoke, drink or do drugs? Where did he come from? New London? How long has he lived here? I heard three months? Did he come here just to run for office because he doesn't have a job? Is that true? Does he have a job or is he just plain wealthy? What kind of car does he drive, does he have one? What about a drivers license? Is that why he is worried about the seat bus schedule? Isn't he in the fire department and work as their liason with the town hall? How does he get to fire scenes? Should he be able to drive? He wanted to save the bells but did Ms. Hatfield save the bells? I thought so. Has anybody asked about this individual? These are just a few starter quesitons. Posted by Anonymous to Jewett City Party at February 1, 2007 10:00 PM

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Freedom of Speech for the Community": Jewett City Borough Church Bells I hear that the Dailey show was in the Jewett City Borough today about the church bells that play Patriotic music over a sound system. Some Athiest complained who doesn't even live in the town and the Dailey show comes to town to interview residents and business owners. I was hysterically laughing this evening when I heard they interviewed Ron Ward. I think he has lived here a few months. The guy is not all there and this network intervies him? They are sure to get some Jerry Spring worthy material out of that guy. At least they spoke to well respected Phil Anthony who has been a well respected business many for decades. Speaking as a resident of the borough. WE LOVE THE BELLS, THANK YOU FIRST SELECTWOMAN ANNE HATFIELD FOR KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE. Posted by Anonymous to Jewett City Party at February 1, 2007 7:27 PM



May 7, 2007 is Election Day for Borough residents, taxpayers and community members.

Register to vote at the Griswold Town Clerks office. Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible. Renters and property owners can vote.

Voter registration is FREE ... every vote counts: you can make a difference here in Jewett City.

Jewett City business owner plans to support Ron Ward's candidacy for Borough Warden

Turnout has been tiny in Jewett City elections
by Julie A. Varughese - published by the Norwich Bulletin on February 7, 2007

JEWETT CITY -- In May 2005, the highest number of votes any candidate received in the borough elections was 53.

That means only 3.73 percent of the 1,422 registered voters cast ballots for the people who make decisions such as who sets utility prices and how many state police troopers to hire.

Residents attribute the lack of voter participation to apathy or simply that people aren't aware there's an election, since it is held in May rather than November.

But this year's May 7 borough election may be different because, for the first time in years, the Democratic borough warden has opponents.

Republican Melinda Brooks and Ron Ward, founder of the Jewett City Party, are running against incumbent Democrat Cynthia Kata.

Kata, who has been in office since 1999, said there still may be low voter turnout because residents are satisfied with the status quo.

"I think it's because they're content with what they've got, I'm hoping. I mean, why else would you (not vote)? If you have a problem, you show up," she said.

Helmi Robillard said she plans to register to vote in the borough election for the first time since moving to Jewett City five years ago.

"I think part of the reason there aren't that many people voting is, for the most part, from what I can observe, meetings are held when the average person can't go," she said. "So people have an apathy about what's going on. So they feel there's nothing they can do, nothing's ever going to change."

Brooks said the high number of tenant-occupied units in the borough also might be the reason.

"People who rent don't always think about going to vote, because they're not paying property taxes," she said.

Laurie Soulor, owner of Second Chance Consignments and the building where it is housed, said most people probably don't know there is an election. She plans to support Ward's bid for office.

Jewett City Voters to have a choice of Candidates for first time in years

Jewett City Party Files Paperwork with State
by Megan Bard - published by The Day 02-06-2007

The Jewett City Party is officially a party.

Party founder Ron Ward hand-delivered the required paperwork to the secretary of the state's elections division Monday, establishing the independent political party.

Ward also submitted petitions necessary for the party's candidates to appear on the ballot for the May 7 borough elections.

Ward is running for warden while Katrease Gerace and Angela Adams are seeking election as burgesses. Gayle Renaud had accepted the party's nomination to run for a third burgess seat but withdrew from the race this week because of time constraints.

James Couillard, a former chief of the Jewett City fire department, is running as the party's candidate for bailiff.

John Fox Slater - a Jewett City native receives Congressional Gold Medal

Monday, 5 February 1883: Joint resolution presenting the thanks of Congress to John F. Slater, and for other purposes.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of the Congress be, and they hereby are, presented to John F. Slater, of Connecticut, for his great beneficence in giving the large sum of one million dollars for the purpose of "uplifting the lately emancipated population of the Southern States and their posterity, by conferring on them the blessings of Christian education."
SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of the President to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable devices and inscription, which, together with a copy of this resolution, shall be presented to Mr. Slater in the name of the people of the United States.

John Fox Slater was the son of John and Ruth Slater and nephew of Samuel Slater who brought the cotton-spinning industry to America.

While still a young man, John Fox Slater was put in charge of the former Jewett City Cotton Company mill which had been bought by his Uncle, Samuel Slater, in 1823. When the Hopeville mill was bought in 1825, John Fox ran that mill as well. Much of the Jewett City Cotton mill complex remains standing and in use today as the Slater Mill Mall on Slater Avenue, Jewett City, CT.

As the years went on, John Fox Slater became one of the leading industrialists in the United States. John Fox Slater died in 1884 and is buried in the Yantic Cemetery in Norwich, CT.

His many accomplishments include:

• Financial backer of Ponemah Mill in the Taftville section of Norwich
• Director of the Norwich and New London Steamboat Company
• Director three railroads: Norwich & Worcester; Joliet & Chicago; and, Chicago & Alton
• Corporator of Norwich Free Academy
• Director of Washington and Moel Manufacturing Company of Worcester
• Director of Norwich Fire Insurance Company

John Fox Slater bequeathed funds to complete the Slater Library of Jewett City and established an endowment fund for its operation, as well as, endowed funds for the Slater Museum of Norwich, CT.

One of his greatest gifts was the $1,000,000 endowment for the Slater Fund for the purposes of providing education to the recently emancipated slaves in the Southern States.

On February 5, 1883, John Fox Slater was presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor in gratitude of his generous and philanthropic bequest to provide the opportunity of an education to the freed slaves at the end of the Civil War.

*Special thanks and appreciation given to Mary Deveau, Griswold Municipal Historian, for her contribution to this article.

Elections are key to building our future

Our view: Towns can't thrive without able leadership
Opinion of the Norwich Bulletin published on February 4, 2007

As Eastern Connecticut advances into the 21st century, communities will face increasingly complicated circumstances in running their towns, many of which are in transition.

Some towns have faced up to the need for change, while others have not.

Rejecting change is a mistake. This region is in the midst -- maybe even the infancy -- of enormous growth. How it is managed, especially at the grassroots level of town offices, is possibly the single biggest denominator in whether a town will flourish or perish, thrive or be taken advantage of.

Some communities have able leaders, and for that they should be grateful. But sometimes local elections are little more than popularity contests, whose outcomes fail to best serve constituents.

The day is past when the first selectman drives the snow plow and occasionally checks state statutes or the town charter to stay on top of things.

Eastern Connecticut is the fastest growing region of the state and smart leadership is a must in dealing with the next Lisbon Landing, domed racetrack or Utopia.

In short, take a hard look at who you want to deal with your multi-million dollar deal. Is it a boon for the town, or only the developer? Will lower taxes offset the increased traffic? Who will defend your rights and interests when someone comes calling with big promises?

Are you satisfied with the people running your town? No longer is simple tenure good enough to secure another term leading a town. Common sense, due diligence and a plan for the future are needed to make sure there are more towns like Preston and Colchester and fewer like Canterbury and Montville. Plainfield and Griswold seem to be turning the corner into the 21st century, and kudos to the new leadership for bringing it. To the others from another generation of elected officials, hop on board the bandwagon to the future, or get out of the way.

Is there a template for a quality leader? Not really.

When Bob Congdon was elected first selectman of Preston, he was the owner of a trucking company and the town was known for its beauty and its slow pace.

Jenny Contois was an office manager when she took over in Colchester 15 years ago, the town was a quiet commuter hub. They steered their towns into the future, knowing which decisions to make -- and not to make -- to improve the quality of their citizenry.

Plainfield's first selectman, Kevin Cunningham, was in computer technology. Griswold's first selectman, Anne Hatfield, is a lawyer. Both, in the first year in office, are turning their towns upside down in an effort to provide quality, responsible and accountable public service. That they have seen resistance to change -- and in Hatfield's case even vandalism -- only shows that while they have made strong initial steps, there is more work to change Town Hall and the mindsets of those who live in the past.

Quality leadership isn't limited to these four. Keith Robbins, a salesman and Bozrah's first selectman, is becoming a force in the regional and state stage. Joe Jaskiewicz, who is retired, is trying to fix the Rand Whitney mess started by his predecessors.

There are more: Dennison Allen in Sprague, Richard Matters in Franklin.

A trucking company owner, a computer technician, a retiree, a lawyer, a salesman, an office manager, and others. It's hard to find the common thread. Different types of towns, from very rural to one in the shadow of casino towers. Party affiliations split just about evenly.

There is no absolute right answer. What there is, however, is making sure there is a choice and an informed voter. What are your town's major needs and goals? What strategies does the candidate have for dealing with it? If already in office, what progress has been made in this area?

In short, do you trust this person to make decisions that will affect the quality of life and cost of living for you and your family?

Find the person you can say yes to. Many towns in Eastern Connecticut have, and they are poised to thrive in this boom time, to manage the growth, to choose the development. Can the people of your town say that?

If not, throw the bums out. Start over. The boom is here. Make sure you do it right.