Fast Today, For Tomorrow We Feast

Throw your Adkins/Paleo/Raw Food dietary guidelines to the wind tomorrow and come out to unWillington's Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction.

Dinner starts at 6pm, at the Willington Hill Fire Department.  Tickets are $8/adults, $5/children.  Tickets are not necessary if you only wish to take part in the Silent Auction.

If you have signed up to help, or if you would like to lend a hand, we need help with the following activities:

Setup: TONIGHT starting at 6pm, Willington Hill FD
Help prepare food or serve: TOMORROW from 4-7pm, Willington Hill FD
Help clean up: TOMORROW from 8-8:30pm, Willington Hill FD

Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendar for the following events:

August 29th- Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction @ Willington Hill Fire Department
Tickets available at the door: $8/adults, $5/children
No tickets are needed for the silent auction (which, I've heard, has got some really amazing items)
Want to help volunteer?  Have a donation for the Silent Auction?  Call Maureen @(860)429-5239

August 30th- Bottle Painting Fundraiser @ Wilderness Lake Campground
$35/person, includes all supplies
Must pre-register (774)241-3444

Share This Movie!

Have you tried to explain this whole State Police issue with friends and family but realized the whole mess was too complicated to shrink into a short, tidy speech?

Well fret no longer.  We here at unWillington are putting together a series of short, very sharable videos exploring different aspects of this problematic situation.  The first one is here:


And if you're here for the first time after having seen the video, please get started by clicking "The Story" in the above tab.

If our story has moved you to help, please consider donating to our legal fund by clicking the PayPal button in the sidebar.

Also, please click "The Actions" tab to write to the people who can put a stop to this.  Don't live in Connecticut?  No problem!  If our lawmakers start realizing that the eyes of the nation are on them, maybe common sense will prevail.

Finally, please come join us tonight at Wilderness Lake Campground from 6:30-8:00 as we meet, brainstorm, and keep working together to save Willington.

Daily Action and Meeting Reminder

If you haven't already, make room on your calendar for tomorrow's resident meeting:

Tomorrow, from 6:30-8:00- all are welcome.

Secondly, with all the referendum prep, our daily actions have fallen to the wayside.  Time to fix that.

Today's daily action is write a letter to the Editor day.
Email address for local papers will follow.  Some topics to consider are:

1. location of the proposed training compound and its proximity to houses, churches, and an elementary school.  With parents gearing up to send their children back to school, this last point is important- the children at Center Elementary have the very real possibility of having to be dropped off at school amidst the sound of gunfire.  Of playing on the playground amidst the sound of gunfire.  Of trying to learn amidst the sound of gunfire.  It is unacceptable to ask the children of Willington to endure this, yet that's exactly what the State Police are proposing.

2. cost to the taxpayer.  Considering the fact that the state's deficit has ballooned to $173 million, and GE is threatening to join the stream of businesses fleeing Connecticut's taxes, a brand new, state of the art, laughably massive training complex for the State Police isn't just puzzling- it's reckless.  Particularly when Senator Guglielmo has outlined eight other viable options that would cost the taxpayer far less, the State Police's insistence in continuing this project, and Governor Malloy's refusal to put a stop to it become shockingly counter to the best interests of Connecticut.

3. why has the Simsbury site been completely abandoned?  Why has there never been any talk of making the Simsbury site work?  Yes, as is, the seasonal flooding is damaging and expensive.  Yes, the current layout of the gun ranges prevents simultaneous use.  But these are not insurmountable problems.  Why has there been no exploration of taking the land that is already owned and engineering the buildings and gun ranges to be protected from the Farmington River?  Is this an issue of an affluent town muscling the State Police out, so they need to seek a less wealthy community?  Is this an issue of the land somehow being so contaminated by the current gun range that it's unusable?  Is this an issue of the State Police simply wanting something newer, bigger, and shinier?

Keep your letter brief, and focused.  Avoid personal attacks.  Urge readers of your editorial to delve deeper. 

Click here to send a letter to the Courant.  Or copy and paste this address: http://www.courant.com/opinion/hc-send-us-a-letter-20140911-htmlstory.html

Click here to send a letter to the Chronicle.  Or copy and paste this address: letters@thechronicle.com

Click here to send a letter to the Connecticut Post.  Or copy and paste this address: http://www.ctpost.com/faq/#letterToEditor

Click here to send a letter to the New Haven Register.  Or copy and paste this address: letters@nhregister.com

Click here to send a letter to the Journal Inquirer.  Or copy and paste this address:  letters@journalinquirer.com

Click here to send a letter to the Stamford Advocate.  Or copy and paste this address: john.breunig@scni.com

When you write your letter, send a copy to unwillington@gmail.com and it will be posted on the Facebook page.

Third Thursday in Willimantic

Looking for something to do tonight?  Head out to Third Thursday in Willimantic.
There will be an unWillington booth in the "Way Downtown" section (by the Frog Bridge), with unWillington t-shirts, bracelets, and tickets for the Spaghetti Dinner.

Here's the festival's website.  Hope to see you there.

WE DID IT!!

We did it!  The appropriation of $100,000 to help fund our fight against the state's massive training complex passed in a landslide!
Final numbers: 878 YES 194 NO

Thank you to everyone who voted, volunteered, and helped educate neighbors about this referendum.

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent

-Thomas Jefferson

I know it seems like we're fighting an uphill battle- because we are.  But we can do hard things and we can come together as a town and show Hartford that we are not a bunch of powerless nobodies from the backwoods of Connecticut.

So go and vote today.  Vote YES to appropriate $100,000 to help fund the legal battle.

See you at the polls.

Sample Referendum Ballot- VOTE TOMORROW

Today is the deadline to return absentee ballots!

Those going to the polls tomorrow (that's YOU, right?) can expect the ballot to look like this:

Please vote YES for Willington.

Don't forget to send in your referendum day pictures for a chance to win a "Clean, Green, & Serene" unWillington t-shirt.

YES WILLINGTON!

Stand With Our Elected Officials- Vote YES

On May 28th, the Connecticut State Police dropped a bombshell on our laps in the form of their proposed weapons complex.

One week later, our Board of Selectmen had drafted and sent a letter of protest to all the pertinent parties- standing with us from the very beginning.

You can read the letter here.

On Tuesday, stand with our elected officials and vote YES on the referendum.

Referendum Day Contest

Are you following unWillington on Instagram yet?  On Tuesday, we'll be featuring pictures from the referendum, and we want YOUR shots.

Send your picture of Referendum Day, and you could not only be featured on the account, but you'll be entered for the drawing for one of Hickster Tees' amazing "Clean, Green, Serene" unWillington t-shirts.

email pictures to unwillington@gmail.com or use hashtag #yeswillington

See you at the polls!

Daily Action: Tell A Friend

Today's daily action is this:

Tell as many friends and neighbors about Tuesday's referendum as possible.  Remind them that absentee ballots must be dropped off at the Town Office by Monday.  Ask elderly friends if they need a ride to the polls.  Basically, just spread the word about this vote to as many people as possible.

FAQ files about the referendum to help friends understand what's going on and what's at stake:

Referendum FAQ
A Tale of Two Lawyers

And as always, if you have any questions about the upcoming referendum, please send them to unwillingotn@gmail.com. 

A Tale of Two Laywers

As we get closer to the August 18th referendum date, a number of people have wondered why two lawyers are being retained for this fight.

Stephanie Summers, president of unWillington, Inc., put together this FAQ file to help answer those important questions.

As always, any further questions can be directed to unwillington@gmail.com

********

The town referendum on Aug. 18 seeks approval of $100,000 to spend on legal, environmental and other expertise to evaluate the risks of the state proposal to site a paramilitary police training compound in the center of our town. UnWillington also has a fundraising goal of $100,000 to work side by side with the town in this effort and on its own strategies.

The town has chosen Mark Branse, a long-time expert land use attorney who consults with Willington and many other towns. UnWillington has retained Tim Hollister of Shipman & Goodwin, a highly successful litigator in land use, environmental and civil rights conflicts at the state and federal levels.

Readers may wonder why we need two lawyers to assist us. Here is a Q&A addressing those questions.

Q. Why do both the town and unWillington need their own attorneys in the struggle against the state police paramilitary compound? Isn’t this duplicating efforts?

A. No. UnWillington is working in close collaboration with the town. While the attorney for unWillington and the town's attorney are both highly experienced, each has some specific strengths and contacts that are complementary. UnWillington's attorney, Tim Hollister, has an overall strategy that he thinks will prevail. He and the town’s attorney, Mark Branse, are in direct consultation to avoid duplicating work and to pursue our common goals. Mr. Hollister also has connections to the best environmental and scientific experts and to decision makers at high levels in the state. UnWillington also needed legal help to incorporate as a non-profit entity in order to collect donations and pursue our mission formally.

Q. What if the referendum to allow the town to spend up to $100,000 to study the site and weigh the state's proposal doesn't pass?

A. Even without the town's help, our attorney has arranged for experts to represent us. We have been able to mobilize more quickly and it’s a legal strategy to act now in anticipation of what will come in the state’s Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) because we will have only 45 days to respond. We are raising money to prepare for it, keep on top of things and maintain momentum.

Q. But, if the referendum passes, why would unWillington need to come up with $100,000 in addition to the town money?

A. It is very possible that the $100,000 the town raises may not be enough, especially if this goes out for many more months. We also will need to share costs for outside experts we are using. In addition, there may be strategies that are specific to residents that we would need to pursue on our own.

Q. How do we know we won't have out-of-control legal bills for this struggle?

A. First, our attorney is sensitive to our circumstances, being thrust into a public dispute without warning or much recourse. So, we are getting the firm’s public sector billing rates, and our attorney is having lower-cost partners and associates help on certain tasks to keep billing down. Our group’s legal liaison also is streamlining our consultations to keep billable hours at a minimum. 

Q. Is all the money for paying the lawyer?

A. No. We are spending some money now and getting results, such as the state's having to prepare a more in-depth EIE to address our residents’ concerns. And we have spent money to raise awareness of our issue (state Capitol rally, young adult event, wings cook-off, tabling events, brochures and referendum cards). UnWillington is a fully volunteer organization that relies on, not only monetary donations, but generous in-kind services.

Q. What happens to the money if we raise more than we need?

A. If we [unWillington] have any excess funds at the end, they will go to a cause that donors agree to. [If the town has any of the $100,000 unspent at the end, it will revert back to the General Fund.]

Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction

One of the best things about the flaming monkey of chaos that the State Police dropped in Willington's lap is that fact that all this grassroots activism has helped us get to know our neighbors.

And there's nothing like sharing a meal with someone to help foster those relationships.  So mark your calendar for unWillington's spaghetti dinner and silent auction:

Please call Maureen Parizek 860-429-5239 for tickets, silent auction donations, or to help volunteer.

Resident Meeting Tonight: Wilderness Lake Campground

Don't forget tonight's resident meeting at Wilderness Lake.  6:30-8:00 p.m.

Come and see how you can help with the referendum, the upcoming spaghetti dinner fundraiser, and more.

Click here to download your copy of the agenda.

Referendum FAQ

This weekend, flyers about the August 18th referendum were posted on every mailbox in Willington.  Since space was limited, there are a couple Frequently Asked Questions about the issue that need to be addressed here:

Q: Where is this $100,000 coming from?  Is it pulling from other budgets?

A: No.  This money is unbudgeted.  School funds, road funds, etc. will not be affected at all by this appropriation.  This is money that has already been collected, is not budgeted, and is sitting in the town's reserves- The General Fund.

Q: Will we see a tax increase due to this appropriation of funds?

A: No.  Since this money is already collected, there will be no tax increase to raise the funds.  

Q: This training complex is a done deal.  Why are we spending money on something the state is going to do anyway?

A: As Governor Malloy himself said, the final location of this project has not yet been decided.  While this is truly a David vs. Goliath moment, it is by no means a lost cause.  With good legal representation and excellent experts to help pull apart the Environmental Impact Evaluation when it is published, we have a fighting chance.  

Further questions about the August 18th referendum?  Please email them to unwillington@gmail.com

Daily Action: Let's Keep the Media on Us

If you've been following unWillington's struggle in the media, you may have noticed an interesting, and hugely positive thing: the tone the news outlets are taking in covering our story has shifted. 

Where we were once painted as an ignorant group of NIMBYs,  without an intelligent leg to stand on, reporters are now realizing that this story goes so much deeper than a bunch of hicks doing their best Chicken Little impersonation.

Now that we have the unbiased, investigative attention of the media on us, it is so important to cultivate it and keep it here.  The more news stories we can get about this little town in the Quiet Corner doing battle with the Goliath of state overreach, the better it is for us.

After all, we here in Willington know that this proposed training complex wouldn't just effect us.  We know that the fiscal and environmental ramifications would effect ALL of Connecticut, and we need to do our part to help get that word out.

So, today's Daily Action will help nurture the relationship we're fostering with the media.  One of the biggest things news outlets use to determine what stories to cover is social media engagement.  They look at which stories got the most comments online, the most shares on Facebook, and the most mentions on Twitter.  They look at those metrics, and plan their stories around them.

The following links are to recent media coverage of Willington.  If you could take a moment to do the following for each link, it would be hugely helpful:

1.  Leave a comment.  It doesn't have to be any more in depth than, "Thank you for covering this important story".  If you're reading this from somewhere outside of Willington, making mention of that would be enormous- "We here in Waterbury are rooting for you, Willington", that type of thing.

2. "Like", or "up arrow" other people's favorable comments.  It looks like this:

or

3.  DO NOT ENGAGE THE CRAZIES.  It will be tempting.  But don't do it.  Right now, we're cultivating a relationship with the media, not correcting those less informed about the issue.

If you could take 15 minutes and do item 1 and 2 (while making sure to follow 3), you would be doing a tremendous service to our fight.

Recent Articles About unWillington:

WNPR's piece
NBC CT's coverage of our recent Town Meeting
CT Mirror's coverage of the rally
The Harford Courant's comment section on the article covering the rally.  This piece particularly needs favorable comments.  The registration process to be able to comment is cumbersome, but if we could show the Courant that there is huge opposition to this project, it would help us greatly.  (The original story is here)
CT News Junkie's coverage of the rally.  This one also needs an account to comment.  It's a couple more minutes, but helpful.

BONUS ROUND:

If you have a Facebook account, the following are links to the news media reports about unWillington on their Facebook pages.  The same protocol as above: leave a quick comment, "like" favorable comments, and ignore the crazies.

NBC CT's Facebook page- a quick, "Thanks for covering Willington's fight against fiscal and environmental disaster" would work here.
Fox CT's Facebook page- same as above.  A quick note, thanking them for coverage.
Hartford Courant's Facebook page- same as above.

As more news stories are written about us, this action will be repeated, but for now, if you could take a part of your weekend for some social media warrior-ing, it'll put us in a good spot.

And don't forget to hit up the Stafford Springs Blues Fest tomorrow!

Weekend Plans!

It is supposed to be GORGEOUS this weekend.  Like, the kind of weekend that you just know is a reward for surviving that stint of days and days in the 90s.

So if you're looking for a great way to spend some of this beautiful weekend, look no further than the Stafford Springs Blues Fest.

We here in Willington know about singing the blues lately, don't we?  In fact, unWillington, Inc. will be there, slinging Hosmer Mountain root beer and selling some of those wildly popular unWillington t-shirts.

Also, please note that a PayPal button is now over there on the right hand side of the page.  Donations to unWillington, Inc. can be made securely online.  Please share this with your friends and family, so they can help us fund our fight to save Willington.

Town Meeting Tonight- Please Attend

Just a handy reminder that there is no residents' meeting at Wilderness Lake tonight.  Instead, please make plans to attend the Town Meeting tonight, at the HMS gymnasium, starting at 6:30.  

There will be time for public comments before the Board of Selectmen set the official date for the referendum.  Outside the building, representatives from unWillington, Inc. will be manning a booth to sell fundraising t-shirts, provide information about the referendum, and answer questions.

See you there.

Get Ready for the Long Haul & Pats on the Back When They Are Due

In a grassroots, long-haul fight like ours, it's important to remember to celebrate victories, lest we burn out and let the state just steamroll over our ashes.

And we've got some victories to celebrate!

Pat yourself on the back.  Just like a professional wrestler.

After our successful rally on the capitol, Scott Devico (yes, the same Scott Devico who falsely told Senator Guglielmo "We [the State Police's training complex] won't go where we're not wanted"), felt it necessary to do a little damage control in the form of new documents about the proposed training complex.

Those documents are listed HERE and HERE.  Please note that the highlighted points and commentary was done by Stephanie Summers of unWillington, Inc.

Also, please note a couple of things- and get ready to pat yourself on the back:

1. The helipad, which was never part of the official presentation, and only existed in off-the-record comments, has been addressed, and soundly removed.
This means that yes, there are plans for this site that exist beyond the official records, and that through our efforts, one of those plans have been scrapped.

2.  The specter of unnamed, mysterious "international" agencies using the proposed training complex has been dropped from the language.  
To be sure, we still have federal, state, and local agencies on the docket for off-hours (read: weekend) use of the facility, but at least we no longer have to wonder what international groups will be firing weapons one mile from our children's schools.

Add these two points to the rumors that the Environmental Impact Evaluation has been pushed back from an October release to a late winter 2016 release, due entirely to our pressure to fully catalog the unique flora and fauna of the Ruby Road site, and we've got cause to celebrate.  Our voice is being heard in Hartford.

However, we can't rest now.  Indeed, the two new documents from Devico contain a number of troubling aspects that we as a town, no--as a state--need to demand answers for.  So in the upcoming weeks, the Daily Actions will focus on getting the folks in Hartford to be true servants of the people, and give us answers for their actions.  Gird your loins, folks, we're in for a long, bumpy ride.

But for today, give yourself that pat on the back.