Ridgefield Nears Comprehensive Power Restoration [Update]
CL&P hopes to have 100% power restoration in Ridgefield by Monday night.
Photos
Update 10:30am (Monday)
CL&P has made significant progress in restoring power to all its Ridgefield customers over the last 24 hours. On Sunday, 363 customers were without power. That number is down to 54. The utility company hopes to have comprehensive power restoration by late Monday night.
Update 4:30pm (Sunday)
Ridgefield is close to 100% for power restoration. According to CL&P, there are just 363 of its customers in Ridgefield who are without power. That mark represents just 3% of Ridgefield customers who don't have electricity.
Update, Sunday, 11 a.m.
CL&P is now reporting six percent of town is without power.
Update, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
This message from Ridgefield Public Schools (a final update will come through Monday—Patch will have more information as it becomes available):
We are on schedule to open schools for students on Tuesday, September 6.
As of this morning (Sept. 3), power has been restored at all the schools and road conditions are generally good.
Our building systems are being tested and inspected. Any remaining building and road work will be addressed this weekend and we anticipate that conditions will be good for the opening of school.
The school schedule for Tuesday, September 6, remains as planned:
- Full-day of school scheduled;
- Kindergartners, as planned, early dismissal for first 8 days of school;
- RHS ninth graders will come in on regular school day schedule; the first part of the day will be freshman orientation;
- RHS Grades 10-12 will be on a 3-hour delay to allow for freshman orientation.
- Bus transportation will be provided for all grades to and from school.
A free lunch will be provided at all the schools on Tuesday, September 6. It will be a simple bag lunch. Students, of course, may bring their own lunches.
If there are families still without power on Tuesday, buses will be available from schools to take students to the Recreation Center. Programs and staff supervision will be provided until 8 PM. However, Recreation Center permission slips are needed. The forms are available this weekend at the Recreation Center and also will be available at the schools Tuesday morning.
Our priority has been to begin school for students as soon as possible. Therefore, we were not able to schedule the traditional preparation days for teachers and staff. Our teachers are skilled and dedicated and our students are eager to return. Together, with your support and flexibility, the day will be successful.
Our thanks to Town employees, utility crews, school staff, and volunteers who made it possible for schools to open.
Update, Saturday, 9 a.m.
CL&P reports that 23 percent of Ridgefield remains without power Saturday morning.
Ridgefield Library will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday—closed Sunday and Monday for Labor Day weekend. The library has wireless access and functioning wall plugs for those seeking to recharge devices.
Ridgefield Public Schools is planning to announce an update Saturday.
This latest update came through on Friday:
- The Ridgefield Public Schools aim to open school for K-12 students on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.
- School opening will depend on power and water restoration at the schools and safe road conditions for bus routes. As of today (Sept. 1), we are hopeful that necessary utility repair and road work will be completed sufficiently to allow schools to open.
- The school schedule for Tuesday, September 6:
- Full-day of school scheduled;
- Kindergartners, as planned, early dismissal for first 8 days of school;
- RHS ninth graders will come in on regular school day schedule; the first part of the day will be freshman orientation;
- RHS Grades 10-12 will be on a 3-hour delay to allow for freshman orientation.
- Bus transportation will be provided for all grades to and from school.
- If significant power outages still remain for families, free lunches will be provided to all students for the first two days of school.
- All RHS sports practices and activities are cancelled until September 6. The administration will determine if sports exceptions can be made ONLY IF full power and water are restored at RHS, road safety improves from today’s conditions, phone lines are intact, fire/EMS resources allow, and appropriate staff are available.
Also, a reminder of this update from the office of the Superintendent of Schools—a message that will be updated if necessary and definitely confirmed on Monday evening:
School for both students and staff will not open until Tuesday, September 6. This is necessary because of:
- the extent of the work required for power restoration and the uncertainty around the schedule
- the extent of work required for road clean up for our bus routes;
- the concern for student safety during the clean-up process;
- the need for families to plan schedules and child care during the process
The Tuesday, September 6 school schedule, as of now, follows:
- full day of school
- kindergarteners, as planned, early dismissal for first 8 days of school
- RHS ninth graders will come in on regular school day schedule; the first part of the day will be freshman orientation
- RHS grades 10-12 will be on a 3-hour delay to allow for freshman orientation
Update, Friday, 3:30 p.m.
Ken Bowes, Vice President of CL&P energy delivery services, said Friday afternoon that one hundred percent of the state's power is expected to be restored by midnight Wednesday.
While Ridgefield residents may be glad to hear a timeline, those 39 percent of homes without power still trudge through the days with hopes it will happen sooner than that.
Work is getting done rapidly now, though, as over thirty crews hit the streets of town, more than in some areas of the state.
"Having 32 crews in town is a good indication of where we've come in terms of getting a response," First Selectman Rudy Marconi said.
"Fairfield County towns are moving swiftly now," Bowes said from Yanity Gym. "I can appreciate the frustration that people have, but Ridgefield has been very receptive."
Marconi still receives angry calls throughout the day, he said, but for the most part there has been "a tremendous amount of people who are very thankful for the work being done."
He said the school district "has every intention" of opening schools on Tuesday as planned earlier in the week, but there are still people in town without the utilities to make that happen at this time.
Water (non-potable -- don't drink) is available now at the Ridgebury fire station for those who need it.
As for the funding of the cleanup, the town is hoping to receive help.
"We should, in times of stress," Marconi said, "be able to rely on the federal government to come through for us."
As for CL&P's response, Bowes said the company is working on its communication and that, in the future, "we have to adapt."
Emergency Operations Director Dick Aarons summed up a priority of the EOC:
"The real vital part is getting the information to the people."
Update, Thursday, 2:45 p.m.
Thirty line crews, 66 National Guardsmen, hundreds of volunteers -- after Ridgefield's encounter with Irene Sunday, the town has seen one of the best responses in the state.
But the power's still out in 60 percent of homes, and those in outlying areas could still go days without power.
And more details are coming through as to the handling of the situation that day by the Emergency Operations Center via First Selectman Rudy Marconi.
When the outages reached 96 percent, Marconi acted on the advice of Northeast Utilities, he said, to shut the power off for the remaining four percent. This was around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
"Anyone who lost power before then lost it because of the storm," Marconi said, addressing the many residents who have complained about losing power purposefully. "And as the power comes back in sections, it's not because Rudy Marconi said to turn the power on there -- there's still a lot of cleanup work to be done and that's what determines what happens and when."
The bottleneck, he said, is with the number of line crews. National Guardsmen and town workers have made enough progress on the downed trees, but getting the power strung back together is a job for Northeast Utilities, a company Marconi has publicly derided for its lack of preparation.
The number one priority has been, from the beginning, safety, Marconi said, and fielding calls from frustrated homeowners who blame town workers has added stress to a stressful situation.
"If people think that the emergency personnel and leaders of this community don't understand safety, then we're all in a lot of trouble," Marconi said. "They're adding fuel to the fire."
As of now, the EOC still insists it doesn't "have a clue" when power will be fully restored, according to Marconi.
Crews from as far away as Denver, Co., and California traveled days to start work in Ridgefield, helping get the job done faster. But after the devastation in town, days can be a long time to wait.
"There's something wrong with Washington if it takes this long to respond," Marconi said.
He dispelled rumors that the town would be suing Northeast Utilities, but expressed ire with the company's reaction.
"People should be held responsible for the lack of response," Marconi said. "The problem is planning -- we need more crews, and that's a fact."
He blamed "foolish politicians" in Hartford on both sides of the aisle.
Meanwhile, outside the EOC's headquarters at Yanity Gym, cars extended out of the parking lot to receive rations of water and ice. The high school football team started packing them into cars in the afternoon.
Parks and Recreation Director Paul Roche said over four thousand people have made use of the emergency shelter at the Recreation Center, a thousand today alone before 1 p.m.
Fire Chief Heather Burford said the department has gotten many calls for generator fires and carbon monoxide -- a woman delivered a baby girl en route to Danbury Hospital as the fire department rushed through blocked streets to help out.
"We thought maybe they'd name the baby Irene," Burford said. "They called her Wendy."
Update, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
After a brief tour of the devastation wrought upon the town of Ridgefield, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Congressman Jim Himes sat with local town officials at the Ridgefield Emergency Operations Center to discuss some of the plans moving forward.
Seventy percent of town was still without power as they spoke around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday as water, ice and food was distributed outside.
Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Redding Selectwoman Natalie Ketcham, Wilton Selectman Bill Brennan and Weston Selectwoman Gayle Weinstein attended the meeting, as well as Redding Police Chief Doug Fuchs.
Blumenthal said the number one priority after the "statewide phenomenon" is to restore power back to Connecticut and, number two, "to make sure Connecticut is reimbursed" with FEMA funding in the near future, an action he said will likely be fought on the Senate floor due to the economic condition of the country.
"There should be no rhetorical effort to block this funding just because we have a debt and deficit crisis," Blumenthal said.
After thanking the National Guardsmen for their service, he said there would be an investigation into the preparedness of Northeast Utilities.
"The priority right now is to restore electric service without laying blame," Blumenthal said. "But at some point, that's a question I will be asking -- we will be talking about it further."
Himes commended the work of the town leaders in the room who represented some of the hardest-hit towns in the area, saying it will still be "a several-day process to get these communities up and running again."
Both the senator and congressman stressed that the impact is not just about personal convenience but about providing services such as school and healthcare to those who have been without it the last few days.
Neither made any guesses as to when the state would be fully operational, and Blumenthal said he understands the frustration this can cause.
"My home is without power, too," the senator said. "That's one of the frustrations, is not knowing."
Update, Wednesday, 2 p.m.
With 19 crews restoring power to Ridgefield, plus about 10 National Guardsmen clearing roads, power is "slowly but surely" coming back, according to First Selectman Rudy Marconi.
Expecting a visit from both U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Jim Himes this afternoon, Ridgefield is coming back online faster than many towns in the state as Northeast Utilities scrambles from the northwestern corner of Connecticut.
"With the amount of lines down, it's difficult to communicate with the public," Marconi said. "But progress is being made."
The National Guard deployed out of Yanity Gym parking lot this morning to help clear the roads in an effort to get power to the outlying areas still affected by Sunday's storm.
A map in the Emergency Operations Center shows some of the progress as roads marked red for having trees down over power lines are undone.
Marconi said Northeast Utilities is now paying crews overtime, as well, which the company hasn't done in the past.
Water has become a concern, and for the third of town without a supply, it is being offered at Yanity Gym.
According to CL&P, 70 percent of town is still out of power, though, and people aren't happy about it. Line crews that traveled here from Kentucky say they have been receiving verbal abuse from locals, Marconi said, and that some Ridgefielders have been less accommodating than New Orleanians after Hurricane Katrina.
Others have been a little more upbeat.
"Do you have power?" Marconi asked Jesse Lee Church Pastor Bill Pfohl.
Pfohl replied with a smile: "No, but my power comes from a higher place."
Update, Wednesday, 11:20 a.m.
EOC officials say U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal will also be in Ridgefield with Congressman Jim Himes at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, National Guardsmen collect outside Yanity Gym to help clear the roads.
Officer Don McGran of the Ridgefield Police said that in situations such as these, shady characters have made the rounds in the past to take advantage of those in dire circumstances.
"Be very vigilant," McGran said. "Be careful of people coming to your door that you don't know."
Patch will have more updates shortly.
Update, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Correction from earlier update: U.S. Congressman Jim Himes will be in Ridgefield Wednesday, 4 p.m., rather than Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
With about three quarters of Ridgefield still without electricity and many roads still blocked by trees, many entangled in power lines, the National Guard came with chainsaws Tuesday afternoon to help clean up the mess.
Lt. Col. Craig Nowack of the Connecticut National Guard said the teams are doing good work tonight to help clear the roads for the Northeast Utility line crews.
First Selectman (and EOC operator) Rudy Marconi said the town, along with the 10 or so National Guardsmen, are working to make sure the line crews can work as efficiently as possible for the rest of the evening and through tomorrow.
He said Ridgefield expects another Blackhawk helicopter to touch down with guardsmen tomorrow morning, bringing with them more manpower and chainsaws.
"We've obviously been very successful in getting the teams here to help with the cleanup," Marconi said.
The hope, he said, is to get to some neighborhoods by Thursday, the strategy being to move out from the center of town as soon as roadways are clear enough to do so.
"The strategy is to get out from the center of town, and the more crews we have, the sooner we can do that," Marconi said. "The extent of the damage is so devastating that we're looking at a whole lot of work."
Highway Director Pete Hill said the damage has not only occurred to many lines, but to poles up and down neighborhoods' streets, necessitating a number of crews and hours of manpower.
For now, both Marconi and Hill said it's about working switch to switch, that is, getting small segments cleared and fixed at a time incrementally.
Marconi spoke to both Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and U.S. Congressman Jim Himes about the devastation in Ridgefield and the need for more road and line crews.
Congressman Himes is planning to tour the area tomorrow at 4 p.m.
Some information provided by the EOC for safety and informational purposes is as follows:
If you have a radio, listen to WLAD (AM 800) and WCBS (AM 880).
The EOC can be reached at (203) 431-2351 or 431-2352. Call these numbers also if you're looking for ways to volunteer.
And, as always, stay away from downed wires. As power is restored, they may be live and deadly.
Update, Tuesday, 4:20 p.m.
Officials from within the EOC have reported that the Connecticut National Guard has arrived in Ridgefield to help clear trees.
Patch will have more on this as official updates come from the EOC.
Update, Tuesday, 2 p.m.
CL&P is reporting now that the percentage of people without power is now down to 77 percent, or about 8,200 homes.
Update, Tuesday, 12:30 p.m.
An unhappy -- one might say irate -- First Selectman Rudy Marconi said around noon on Tuesday that Northeast Utilities may be too big to handle the services it claims to provide.
With 82 percent of town still without power according to CL&P's outage map, parts of downtown around Rte. 35 have come back to life, but the fringes of town could still go a long time without power.
Marconi blames the upper management at Northeast Utilities, saying the company was "completely unprepared to handle the situation."
"I think it's time for some of the leaders of Northeast Utilities to come out of the office and into the field to meet with local officials," Marconi said. "We need tree crews and line crews, and they're nonexistent."
Northeast Utilities had rallied around 500 crews statewide before the storm, but Ridgefield, having been hit the worst in its region, has only six crews at this time, enough to handle some downtown areas but not to get to outlying areas for some time.
"They were definitely not prepared to handle the type of devastation we've seen here," he said. "It's B.S. -- unacceptable."
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has confirmed he will be in Ridgefield tomorrow at 4 p.m. to tour the area and meet with elected officials.
Northeast Utilities refuses to pay overtime, Marconi said, leaving Ridgefield without any work done after 9 p.m. the last two nights -- this morning, crews did not arrive until 10:30 a.m. and will probably leave around 10 p.m., he said.
"If we have 500 crews, they should be rotating," Marconi said. "But that's not the case."
A transformer fire on Prospect St. slowed things down in getting more circuits open, but Rte. 7 and Ballard Green remain the priorities for today as the town begins to take the initiative Northeast Utilities has neglected, Marconi said.
But even as downtown areas are cleared and powered up, people in other areas are unable to access them, and the Emergency Operations Center is seeing the frustration.
"People who are trapped need to get out, only elevating their frustration," Marconi said.
He said the EOC is identifying these areas as quickly as possible.
The question remains whether Northeast Utilities is set up to not only handle the big-business side of its operations, but the service side, as well, when it comes to emergencies such as this.
"We're not getting any information from management at Northeast," Marconi said. "It's a joke."
It's not the first time -- Marconi has said his experience with Northeast Utilities has been similar throughout his 12 years of working with the company. He said it should be broken into smaller companies that are more capable of handling the situation.
"Right now the town is taking care of it," Marconi said. "We're no longer waiting for Northeast Utilities to make assessments."
Meanwhile, the Recreation Center is open for people to take shelter, with fields, gyms, showers and other facilities open to the public. The pool is under maintenance at this time and will not be open.
Ice and water are coming into town, as well, and Yanity will remain open for the charging station.
Besides those establishments listed in this morning's update, Ancona's market is "open and cooking," according to Joe Ancona. If you know of other businesses open at this time, please call Patch at 203.444.2575.
Marconi added: "The novelty of the situation is gone, and now people are expecting results -- for that, it comes down to their elected officials."
Update, Tuesday, 10:15 a.m.
As power begins to bring people elsewhere for food and water, Yanity Gym's shelter will be closed by about 4 p.m. today, according to Peter Keeler of Parks and Recreation and town health inspector Ed Briggs.
The Recreation Center will be opened as the new shelter by that time for people without power to shower and sleep if needed.
At Yanity, the hose outside the front door will still be available, though without volunteers.
Patch will have an update a little after noon from the EOC. For now, the same circuits are opened from last night, but they have become more consistent, serving much of Rte. 35 and parts of town here and there.
Some food establishments that are open (and crowded) include Tony's Deli, the Early Bird, Starbucks, the Corner Pub and more.
Update, Monday, 9 p.m.
First Selectman Rudy Marconi said Monday evening after meeting with Northeast Utilities assessors that the town has partially opened several circuits in town.
CL&P reports that 82 percent in town are still without power.
Most of Rte. 35 power is back on from the library all the way to Rte. 7, although coverage may still be spotty in the beginning due to some lingering problems. Parks & Recreation will be open Tuesday.
Northeast Utilities and the town also opened the circuit that takes care of Casagmo and North Street, but only up until Titicus -- he explained that they can only go up to where there's a switch and that there is still extensive work to be done above that neighborhood.
Homes on N. Salem Road also have an open circuit, as well as the area of Prospect St. and Bailey Ave. -- all of these circuits are spotty, he said, while lines are still being cleared.
The priority for tomorrow is still the area of Rte. 7 where there are nursing homes that need power still, and for the Ballard Green elderly housing on Gilbert St.
"There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done, and we have no estimates as to when everything will be back," Marconi said. "But I want to thank Northeast Utilities for making this push."
Update, Monday, 4:30 p.m.
In a late afternoon press conference, Ridgefield School Superintendent Deborah Low announced the first day of school will be postponed to Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Originally slated to open Wednesday, Aug. 31, Low pushed the date back in what she called a "somewhat drastic measure" to allow the town enough time to restore power and road access after Sunday's storm.
"We've never had to delay the first day of school," Low said. "But I've only been doing this 30 years."
Because of the uncertainty surrounding the schedule, the extent of the work required for cleanup, the concern for student safety and the need for families to plan schedules and child care, Low wrote in a press release that the postponement was necessary.
Tuesday, Sept. 6, will be the first full day of school with kindergarteners will be on an early dismissal for the first eight days as planned. Also, ninth graders will have a three-hour orientation at the high school, with grades 10 through 12 on a three-hour delay.
This is to be confirmed Monday morning, Low wrote. At this time, it is expected that the days will be added onto the tail end of the school year.
First Selectman Rudy Marconi said that the priority is still to open the Rtes. 35 and 7 corridors for businesses in those areas to operate, including Stop & Shop grocery store.
With about six crew crews on the roads and more coming in, Northeast Utilities is working with the town with a relative timeline -- with the extensive damage sustained throughout Ridgefield, leaving nine- to ten-thousand homes without power, "we cannot underestimate the amount of time it will take to correct this," Marconi said.
Circuits will be turned on one at a time, he said, based on assessments by CL&P, the first of which takes place tonight.
He commended the decision made by the superintendent and said trees are still coming down, weakened during the storm.
Patch will update the story after tonight's meeting with the assessors.
Meanwhile, more than 500 people have stopped by the Yanity Gym shelter for water, food, shower or to charge electrical devices, according to the sign-in sheet.
"We realize this is a big step," Low said. "But we're taking the guesswork out of it."
Update, Monday, noon
First Selectman (and interim Emergency Operations Director) Rudy Marconi held a press conference Monday at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the lingering effects of Sunday's storm on Ridgefield.
"When people come to survey the damage, only then do they begin to notice how serious an issue this is," Marconi said. "There was truly incredible damage in town."
As the town remains entirely without power, the EOC and Northeast Utilities are working together to clear roads and bring power back online.
When the percentage of town's power outages exceeded 90 percent Sunday afternoon, officials made the decision to shut the power down completely "in order to expedite the cleanup," Marconi said.
The main reason for shutting down the power was for safety, he said, both for town residents and utilities workers after an overall assessment of the town's power status.
One very important notice, however, is that downed wires may still be live due to generators and other feedback. Under no circumstances should anyone touch a wire to move it, Marconi said.
Shortly after the storm, people were walking outside, riding bicycles, jogging, sometimes through a foot and a half of water amongst fallen power lines.
"People were just not paying attention to the seriousness of the situation," Marconi said. The risks included "anything you can think of."
The main priority at this time, he said, is to bring power back to Rte. 7 to bring the Stop & Shop grocery store, nursing homes, pharmacies, doctor offices, gas stations and businesses back online.
Although no official estimates exist, Marconi said the town hoped to conclude the project by this evening as a large tree down at the Haviland Rd. intersection has been mostly removed.
Tree crews succeeded in clearing the state-owned Branchville Rd. last night, stopping at 9 p.m. -- the power remained off in town, however, for safety reasons and because "it's not like flipping a switch on and off in a room," according to Marconi.
As for estimates around town, some officials claim power could be out as long as a week.
A large percentage of the older trees in town fell during the height of the storm with sustained winds of 40 mph, much lighter than was forecasted.
Towns nearby that also shut down their power were Redding, Wilton, Weston and Easton, Marconi said.
Yanity Gym remains the official Red Cross shelter in Ridgefield, offering food, water, showers and cots for sleeping. It is also the headquarters for the EOC.
Scotts Ridge Middle School was originally the shelter, but was moved around 4 p.m. Sunday because of the severity of the storm, Marconi said.
For those with listed numbers (that are still operating) the central messaging system is still in place for updates from the EOC.
Some homes have experienced extensive damage, including one on N. Salem Rd. where a tree sent the chimney down two floors. Others had limbs come through the roof, but no injuries have been reported.
As for the start of school on Wednesday, another press conference will be held at 4 p.m. Monday after Superintendent Deborah Low meets with the EOC.
"Common sense says it's going to be tough," Marconi said of staying on schedule with the schools. "It's going to take a lot of time."
The First Selectman is the only official making statements to the press at this time so as to not confuse messages.
"This is really such a tentative thing that nothing is a positive right now," Marconi said. "But we've got our priorities set."
Update, Monday, 11 a.m.
The EOC reports that four large trees blocked in Middle Brook neighborhood. Three have been cut away, so it is passable in an emergency, but one is still too big to remove.
An official update from the EOC is still forthcoming.
Original story (Aug. 28)
With 100 percent of Ridgefield out of power after Sunday morning's storm, the Emergency Operations Center is working overtime from Yanity Gym, where the new shelter is located.
Several families took advantage of the previous location at Scotts Ridge Middle School, said organizer Peter Keeler, some spending the night and others stopping by for a snack or to snag a (cold) shower.
Because of problems with the generator, though, the operations have moved to Yanity Gym where any Ridgefielder is welcome to do the same.
First Selectman Rudy Marconi is in charge of emergency operations at this time from Yanity Gym, where State Rep. John Frey and selectwomen Di Masters and Maureen Kozlark are helping answer the phones.
"We're getting there," Marconi said. "Restoration is beginning, and that's the important thing."
Clearing roads is important at this time to make sure emergency vehicles can be where they need to be, Marconi said.
The primary focus at this point is clearing Branchville Rd., then Rte. 35 and Ridgebury Rd. Northeast Utilities has two crews on the roads at this time.
The town has shut down power because of the extensiveness of the damage, Marconi said, as Northeast Utilities scrambles to get back online.
"It's very important that people stay safe -- don't touch any downed wires and stay clear of trees," Marconi said. "It's much more than just stringing things together at this time, and we don't know how long it will be."
"It's going to take time," Marconi said. "People need to have some understanding and realize we're working as hard as we can to get things back to normal."
Davey jones
10:19 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011
Nice job Rudy, have cl&p cut the power to those who did not lose it, then after the tree crews leave at 9pm, you didn't think to have the power restored to those who you turned the switch off to. Nice planning by the "part time E.OC."
John Symon
11:04 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2011
I agree. WTF?
Eric Stegman
10:48 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
I think it may have been more dangerous to leave the power going through lines that have trees hanging on them. Rudy does not have an easy job. I hope we're back up soon.
Dave Ridgefield
10:57 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
Give the crews a break! Thousands and thousands of people lost power and some people may have lost more than that, including loved ones, houses and cars. Stop complaining for a second and be thankful that all you lost is power.
Luca Duff Cruz
11:26 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
Dave....
That's awfully nice of you. But, I drove through ridgefield, pound ridge, new Canaan both yesterday and today. Nc and pr had crews out en masse yesterday at 2pm. Not a single one in ridgefield. I saw one crew around 630pm. Also with all the downed power lines and trees littering our roads, there were 4 police cars at stop and shop at 10 am getting coffee at dunkin doughnuts. 4. I'm not making absolute conclusions here, but we are 100 pct out.....and the other towns with less out appear to be more prepared and getting things accomplished. Being critical sometimes is justified.
JPridgefield
3:53 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Hmmmm Luca, I was at Dunkin Donuts in Stop & Shop at 10 am today, trying to get a cup of hot water, but guess what? They were closed. No water & no coffee. Any more fictional accounts? I also saw CLP trucks on 116, 35 & West Mountain Rd today. Police cars on Barrack Hill as well, checking on the wires down on that street. (Did you see the picture in newstimes online of that situation?).
emmy1
10:31 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
People are not taking into account one of the reasons the cleanup is taking so long is because of layoffs and downsizing. You do not have the same number of civil service workers out there doing the job. Your DPW and CLP are all union members who have been downsized to save money. Those were the people that were out in the blizzards and storms making sure the roads were open and safe for travel. It is funny how much the people we never thought about and who had it "so easy" made our lives continue with little to no interuption. Remember the union memebers people were so quickly to demand they give up there pay and benefits and jobs are the same people we are now depending on to get our lives back to normal.
i applaud all the Police, Fire, Emergency, DPW, and CLP crews for working in conditions most of us would not even think about going out in.
anon ridgefield
11:38 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
no argument that many more have suffered but that shouldn't excuse the subpar response. there are tragedies around the world every day, but my boss will never buy that as an excuse for my poor performance.
i'm sure the crews are fine, but they are mismanaged and uncoordinated. not blaming them, but their bosses.
Dave Ridgefield
11:43 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
I will agree that I have not seen even one utility truck around Ridgefield since the storm. One would think that there would at least be a few service folks out trying to restore the power...Hopefully they'll get busy with the repairs today.
P.S. - Didn't mean to sound so harsh in my original post :)
David Marceau
12:00 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
When crews are done for the night power should be turned back on for everyone who can get it. I'm happy to do my part and sacrifice during the day so crews can be safe while my neighbors get restored. But when the day is done, hook us back up so we can cool off baby formula and bathe our children over night when the crews are home with their own families.
Mike06877
12:28 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
So they cut my power off manually without any notice? So, who pays for my spoiled food? I would think CL&P is responsible since they power was avaiable ... if I didn't pay my bill they shut me off and I am responsible. This was horrible planning to shut off without notice. When will those already "hooked up" have the switch thrown ?
JPridgefield
3:59 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Who would have paid for your spoiled food if you were among the 90% of the town who already lost power? Why did you have so much spoilable food if you had 4 days warning Irene was coming? Did you not buy ice? Talk about not planning....Go buy some ice, stick it in a large pan on the top shelf of your fridge. It will keep everything cold enough. (Your fridge is giant cooler, you know.)
RHS Parent
12:35 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Have some cheese and crackers with that whine. Better yet, quit yer bitchin' and go help your elderly neighbors clean up their yards. We're lucky to have gotten off as 'badly' as this. Grow up and set a better example for your kids!
Mike06877
12:49 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Nice RHS parent ... how about the elderly in the condos in Town that had their power shut off - do you think helping elderly people pick up their yards is a priority? My Mom lives in one of the condos that was turned off and could get seriously hurt trying to move about in the dark. As a "kid", I'm trying to help her.
I guess they're out of your thoughts since you have your house - hope your generator is pumping along.
Cal
1:01 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Constructive criticism about a clearly sub-par response is a reasonable response to what we've seen so far, not a whine, Accountability and transparency is something that we should all respect and cherish, and it seems to be diminishing in Ridgefield lately. We all pay fairly high taxes for the privilege of living in a town that has great public schools and pays its civil servants well -- it is therefore not unrealistic or in bad taste to expect a more energetic response than we have seen thus far regarding tree removal and power restoration.
emmy1
11:51 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
People are not taking into account one of the reasons the cleanup is taking so long is because of layoffs and downsizing. You do not have the same number of civil service workers out there doing the job. Your DPW and CLP are all union members who have been downsized to save money. Those were the people that were out in the blizzards and storms making sure the roads were open and safe for travel. It is funny how much the people we never thought about and who had it "so easy" made our lives continue with little to no interuption. Remember the union memebers people were so quickly to demand they give up there pay and benefits and jobs are the same people we are now depending on to get our lives back to normal.
i applaud all the Police, Fire, Emergency, DPW, and CLP crews for working in conditions most of us would not even think about going out in.
RHS Parent
1:05 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
You were complaining about spoiled food, not your mom.
Mike06877
1:14 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I was making a comment that it was irresponsible and not well thought out to shut off power to those that had it without notice. We have reverse phone alert - did one go out? Did they turn it back on when the crews went home?
Take another "helper" RHS - you need to chill as you have your generator. You told me to go pick up sticks in an elderly person's yard. Priorities are helping my Mom, not landscaping.
NicenNeat
1:25 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I believe that shutting the power off was a wise decision. I saw a father with four young children right walking down the middle of a side road and they all STEP through the downed power lines! And this was BEFORE it was shut off. One mis-step by his toddler and that might have been it. Obviously some people in this town need some help in staying safe. I can just imagine what people were doing on some of the other roads. It's not everyone, but there's enough nutty people here that cause the disruption for many.
Joseph
1:52 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I see the true spirit of Ridgefield showing up in these comments. Well to do people concerned about the minor inconvenience they are experiencing, while there are thousands of people in Vermont facing raging flood waters. No doubt when your power gets put back on, you'll go back to your lives of comfort and complain about the cost of an espresso at Starbucks.
Phyllis Palumbo Deegan
2:01 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
The question at hand is "What's next after Rte 7?" - i.e. What's the plan to get the town back on the grid? Identify the affected roads, clear the roads of debris, then we clean up he trees, then we restore the power, make sense.. ok - ? And which areas are planned for cleanup and in what time frame. Now communicate time plan and progress, which ones are being worked and what will be completed today, tomorrow, etc.? What is the the roll out of re-connection to the grid - today/tomorrow/next week? . So, give us an idea 1) You have a plan, 2) You're tracking to the plan and 3) Let us know if you are ahead / behind schedule. Give a us sense that you know what you're doing and we can also plan accordingly.
lynn
2:06 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Chill out...I am sure Rudy is doing the best he can. This is a big job. ! Stop sniping at each other with the Starbucks and generator comments. It's petty.
Tom
2:54 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
So we turned off power because some people in town did not know better then to touch potentially live wires...so we follow stupid with more stupid! If you don't better then go touch the wire. At least turn the power back on at the end of the day or declare a curfew. No matter what it is time for Rudy to go!
Four Jacks
2:58 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Wow, I don't live in Ridgefield, but I'm shocked at the nastiness of these comments.
Sunny
7:15 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Welcome to Ridgefield! Like this most of the time!
Natasha Kowatch
4:56 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
I read somewhere that Ridgefield is now nicknamed "bitchfield". Pretty sad...
Tom
2:59 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
So we turned off power because some people in town did not know better then to touch potentially live wires...so we follow stupid with more stupid! If you don't know better then go touch the wires. At least turn the power back on at the end of the day or declare a curfew. No matter what it is time for Rudy to go!
NicenNeat
3:07 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Ahhh, I see, it's bash Rudy! I guess he can't win with some people! He turns it off so people don't get hurt, or a house burns down because of an unknown live wire sparking, or he gets bashed if someone was injured or a house burned down because he should have been smart enough to have thought of it.
James Boehme
3:07 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
The whole world new about this storm. I have yet to see one CLP or one Comcast truck working in town. We need better planing in Ridgefield. We pay a lot of taxes. Where are they.......
Jim Boehme
Luca Duff Cruz
3:26 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Actually nicenneat, I dont think I remember him ever getting blamed for a house burning down. And, I wasnt aware that rudy was the authority on electrical management issues.
I think that thus far, when we see all the police on duty at stop and shop , because they had coffee there---and no one claims to be seeing many crews repairing things, that maybe some measure of criticism is warranted.
If you think the job, that has accomplished (wait there while I get my calculator) ZERO should be commended--then suit yourself. Other towns are making progress .
No one blames anyone for weather. But the response seems to be disorganized and dissapointing.
J kennedy
3:40 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
No power means no means of communication, no alarms, no telephones for a grat number of residents. How this translates into greater public safety is, well, it doesn't. In fact it endangers the general public more than it protects them. It minimizes the sense of urgency to cl&p, and I would hope that any litigation arising out of this decision is laid more squarely at their feet rather than the town.
NicenNeat
3:48 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Just like a parent, you make the best decisions that you can, with the information at hand. We all knew this storm was coming and were all told in advance to prepare for three days without power. So 9% of people in town got lucky this time and might have had power, but if a tree took their wires down, did they have a cooler with ice ready? A generator? A plan? I just drove through many of the areas hit and there are so many worse off and the crews are there. We really didn't get it that bad, so as far as I'm concerned, they'll get to it when they can. And yes, I bought a generator on Wednesday in anticipation of the worst storm we were going to get in years... I'm sharing it with my neighbors too!
NicenNeat
3:50 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Luca, he hasn't been blamed for a house fire because he's made intelligent decisions regardless of the bashing he would receive.
goldie
4:21 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
I was one of the lucky 10% that did not loose power and I do understand the safety concerns being the reason with the turning off the power but to have no sourse of communications because the cell phone coverage was dismal at best is horrific. Didn't we learn anything after 911, we need to be able to communicate with the outside world. God forbid my family had an emergency I could not even dial 911 on my cell and we had no land line. We live in a remote area and it was quite scary to be without power or cell phone coverage.
NicenNeat
4:50 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Goldie, you have no power, yet you are posting on the interent? 911 happened in a split second, we had plenty of warning for this situation that we most likely would be without services for days. When I was young, we didn't have cell phones, cable or internet, we had neighbors...
goldie
4:56 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
we had to leave town so we could stay safe
NicenNeat
5:28 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Great idea! We were thinking of going to Vegas to see if we were any luckier there... but decided to get the generator instead as our weather around here keeps getting worse in each season. Maybe next time when the savings account gets replenished! Were did you go?
JoeZ
7:15 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
Where are all these cleanup crews i'm hearing about? Or NU trucks? No power lines down in town or on 7. I had to drive to Danbury to buy gas and find a working outlet, where the power situation seems much better. Actually it seems everywhere the power situation is better, even in coastal towns that got truly slammed.
The thing I find most confusing is why crews stopped working at 9pm. On Long Island they have crews working around the clock.
anon ridgefield
11:00 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
at least a part of the town from casagmo to foxhill is lit. good start and thanks, whoever plugged it in. now let's get the rest of the town hooked up too.
Ryan From Ridgefield
1:04 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I am very fortunate to have lights, best luck to everyone with getting back power ASAP. Just wondering, not much has been mentioned about the RPD during this storm. I called to mention a tree blocking a road and was greeted with the same "couldn't care less attitude" as usual. They are so lucky to work in a safe town as Ridgefield. Where were they blocking off roads with downed power lines or trees and what were doing that they were too busy doing today that they couldn't direct traffic on 35 or Rt. 7.
Luca Duff Cruz
1:32 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Ryan....I'm with you on that. There may be good reason though.....I heard someone may have driven in town without a seatbelt. Rpd is big on enforcing that type stuff. But if they have no chance to harass, they are less interested.
With respect to the rest... I'll give high marks to Deborah low for telegraphing the school closing. This gives many people some mobility in terms of going to places with power. Not kudos to Marconi, who could do a much better job communicating time lines and managing expectations. Should those of us without power, make plans to leave? Which sections of town can reasonably expect service tomorrow and which can only hope for Saturday? Bad news may be something politicians are afraid to communicate, but it's responsible to be forthright, so as to allow for people to make plans. "branchville...rte 35 , ridgebury". Tells us more. A reasonable timeframe is what everyone I talk to is wondering.
Jeff Swiatowicz
4:56 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Fyi- I called cl&p to check on the power status at 9:30 last night and was told my power had been restored. It hadn't. Keep calling!
Davey Jones
6:38 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Rudy and only Rudy decided to cut power to the 25% of the town that had it. That decision has not cleared anymore roads nor has it done anything to return the power to others. It's time for a new EOC boss !
NicenNeat
8:10 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Actually Davey, only 9% of the town had power when he cut it. We were notified at 1:50 on Sunday by CL&P that 9700 customers were offline then. And since it's been restored in a few areas, there has been a furnace that had electrical problems and burning wires on the ground. It was a smart move.
Noodle
8:36 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Yesterday I was driving on 35 (whee the road was narrowed to a single lane) and I counted 15 cl&p workers mingling around smoking, talking and enjoying the sun. Meanwhile one person was in the bucket fixing the wires. Can someone explain how it takes 15 people to to the task of maybe 5 or even 10? The extra people could have been used much more efficiently elsewhere....this ultimately comes down to Rudy managing which areas of town need the most help. Rt 35 needing 15 people? I don't know about that one
guy
8:42 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Anyone else feeling the frustration of never having lost power to the storm, having lost power to a decision of the town (right or wrong) and now still without power while parts of the town seem have regained power?
Davey Jones
10:05 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
NicenNeat,, it was greater than 9%, our EOC was under the impression that if they cut power to the entire town then any tree company to include our public works dept could cut up trees that are in contact with wires. After the power was cut to the town, they were told that down lines could have power in them from generators and only cl&p crews should cut those trees and remove the power lines. Therefore cutting power did the town no good. This is Rudy's Katrina!
NicenNeat
11:55 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
It was also cut because of the numerous people walking and bike riding on streets with downed wires. As I mentioned before, I saw a father with four young children walk right through the downed wires on my road, not around, tip toed through them. If they were still live wires, one wrong step and bye bye! So, IMHO, he did the right thing to prevent stupid people from themselves.
Tina
10:15 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
So why didn't they just restore power to those that originally had power? I hope they drum Rudy out of town.
NicenNeat
12:01 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
It's possible that while the power was off, there was damage to the wires or a transformer from the high winds we got late afternoon. One of the trees on our road was uprooted at 7 p.m.
John Palermo
10:22 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Take a look at the map. The damage thruout town is extensive. The red is where there are major problems. First the trees need to come off the lines, and its easier and faster to take them off while the power is off. Once they are off, they can go thru the process of re poling and re stringing the lines and once each power grid is complete, turn it back on. We are lucky that the storm that hit is was downgraded to a tropical storm, and not a cat 1 or cat 2 storm, as the damage would be much more extensive.
NicenNeat
12:05 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I agree John, the damage to this town is extensive! With all the damage to poles and lines right on our road, I'm sure we'll be out until next week sometime! If it comes on before that, I'll be impressed! Now to stock up on all the free wood for the wood stove!
Powerless
12:52 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I have been all over town and have only seen one crew. They were neatly stacking up branches on the Venus lawn. Look for yourself. Why is the Venus lawn a priority when many streets are still impassible because of trees dangling on wires?
Also, if Ridgefield turns off power and cancels school for the entire week, wouldn't the power company make us a lower priority than other towns that have live wires and schools opening? Doesn't seem like the best plan to get the power on.
Odd that the stated reason for the schools closing was so parents could better sort out their day care?? That's the cited reason to cancel school, to help out the parents and their nannies? This town never fails to amaze me.
James Boehme
1:41 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Help..........get this power back on. Stop the BS excuses. Were in the H.... Are these dame CLP crews
John Palermo
1:50 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The main reason for moving the opening of school is:
The extent of the work required for power restoration, and the uncertainty around the schedule, the extent of the work required for road clean-up for our bus routes, the concern around student safety during the clean up process, and the need for families to plan schedules and child care during the process.
The days will have to be made up, so we would rather have school start on time. Its a good decision given the current status of repairing damage related to the storm.
Tom
1:53 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I hope everyone gets power soon so that people can get back to their normal lives and not spend their time online taking political swipes at those who are trying to fix the problems as best they can. It's easy to criticize but not always so easy to lead.
Natasha Kowatch
5:02 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
hear hear
Mike06877
2:02 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thank you Rudy for steppiing up to CL&P !
Waiting until Irene hits and the saying "crews we ordered didn't show up" is totally unacceptable for a utility company. Rudy gets the brunt of it -, but the truth is CL&P didn't prepare.
I appreciate Rudy's candor. Thank you for your work during the tough week.
Cal
2:18 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
"Heckuva job, Brownie!" comes to mind... But seriously, this town needs to quit squabbling along internal political lines (pro-Rudy, anti-Rudy, ad nauseum) and join together in reasonably holding the utility companies accountable for not being able to respond to what was truly NOT a hurricane but rather a large tropical storm. NU/CLP failed to marshall adequate forces to handle the predictable aftermath even with several days of doomsday level warnings. But lest we forget, oh yes, their 5% to 6% dividend payouts must be protected at all costs, so you figure out whether there is any incentive for a true 24/7 effort to put things right.
Marc
2:20 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
We shouldn't be surprised about CL&P's response in Ridgefield. I was in Stamford in March 2010 when the nor'easter blew through town. 5-6 days to restore power to the entire city. Same issues: refusal to pay for overtime and nighttime work; lack of communication and coordination. No accountability then, none now...
Fourwinns
2:24 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Rudy you must be kidding. I called the EOC on Sunday a little after 8pm and received a recorded messaging from you that the EOC was closed and will re open on Monday at 8am. Closing the town's emergency operation center on the night of the hurricane "that is unacceptable"
Jeff Tompkins
2:58 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Rudy, It's absolutely mind-nubbing that you turned off the rest of the power to those who had it. Not only had I brought my food over to my friend's house that had power when I did not, but I was halfway moved in with my belongings. Then THEIR power went out. So my food went junk and I had to move to Bethel with another friend. How in HECK could you make such an idiotic decision?? And don't give public safety as the answer. Everyone knows the rules about power lines. "Don't touch this" is the CL&P catch phrase. The way I see it now, I'm going to have to submit a bill to the Town of Ridgefield for my spoiled food, and unnecessary, added commutation expenses from and from Bethel. Who should I send my bill to? What's your address Rudy?
NicenNeat
3:49 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Jeff, give it a rest. YOU are responsible for your food spoilage. YOU had four days at least to prepare. Knowing that the warnings were to PLAN for 3 days without power as they expected it to hit us worse, YOU should have had a cooler with ice or bought a generator. If a tree feel on your neighbor's line, you'd be in the same situation but without anyone to blame but yourself.
I wonder why, if everyone knows to stay away from wires, there are still senseless deaths every year from touching them?
Jim
3:56 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Certainly an unfortunate response on the utility side - but kudos to Deborah Low and the Schools for stepping up and not leaving us hanging...this is happening in other towns.....at least some can escape town while the mess is cleared up.
PO'd
4:02 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Mr. Marconi, the issues with NE Utilities didn't just start last Sun. You've had 12 years to work with NEU to find a workable solution for the citizens of Ridgefield and you haven't been able to do that. I don't doubt that NEU management is incompetent and I can understand how frustrating that is for you. But good leaders find a way to fix the problem, not just fix the blame.
Suzanne
4:26 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I don't expect to get power back to my neighborhood before the weekend and am just trying to make the best of it. Have any of you people seen the devistation in Vermont? We should all be counting our blessings instead of complaining and looking to point the finger at someone. Does anyone really think the decision to completely cut off power was made for any reason other than public safety??
Luca Duff Cruz
4:40 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
niceneat...
you never were on here before. each comment that takes issue with the way things are being handled, you respond that its their own fault. rudy is a genius. We get it. YOu obviously are a relative of rudy, or one of his cronies.
The choice to turn off power was only done by rudy marconi out of 150 towns.
The guy is a drama queen. Talking like a big shot for the cameras, yet it took him 48 hours to actually 'take matters into his own hands." Weird-- the other towns all seemed to have their road crews out trimming trees and clearing roads . Rudy decided to kick back, turn off some peoples power and then have a drink? 48 hours later the light goes on (not really because we have no power) and he (duh) orders out our own road crews to (duh) cut down trees. I mean if that isnt the height of stupidity then I dont know what is.
patch: Marconi said. "We're no longer waiting for Northeast Utilities to make assessments."
Thanks el genius----thanks for waiting for a while while other towns went from 85% to 35% we went from 100 (artificial 100 since our dunce selectman made the number go higher) to 77 (but really from 80 to 77 if you dont count the brainless move by rudy).
Now tell me nice how great a job rudy is doing again. And how you were so smart to get a generator and letting neighbors use it. Can I come by and use it for 1 hour? Let me know how to gain access. I simply dont believe you. YOu "hear" about wires etc. Really where?
NicenNeat
6:18 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Luca, I have lurked on this site for a long time. I have seen your posts on every other Patch site in Fairfield County. If you don't like it here, move, it's your right! Or better yet, since you have a solution for everything, run for office!
Margaret McKitty
4:51 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Damage is damage whether it be from a "hurricane"or a tropical storm or a TORNADO which happend in Redding and possibly some parts of Ridgefield. DOES IT MATTER! Thanks Suzanne I was writing this7 saw your comment..Ask the people in Vermont.ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT A HURRICANE,IT WAS THE WORST STORM FOR THEM IN 100 YEARS. I have been here for almost 30 years during ice storms out for 4 DAYS, hurriances out for 3 and a weird unexpected snow storm (5 inches) in OCt 1987.. power lines came down ..days before power was restored.
THis is what day 2 and the whining and political posturing is sickening. I have friends over in Redding. GET THIS FOLKS Redding has a Emergency Center ONLY open from 7am to 3pm We even had the Transfer Station opened extra hours at no charge to take spoiled foods.OPEN tonight till 8pm
How prepared were the people in this town? Did they have batteries, extra emergency water. A PLAN? I believe there is a word called Responsible.
Or an old rotary phone( in reserve) that works when there is NO ELECTRIC? I do and so I RECEIVED all 3 OF THOSE CALLS AND IN THEM RUDY ADDRESSED THE FACT PEOPLE MAY NOT BE GETTING THE MESSAGE FOR THEIR PHONES WERE NOT WORKING. Is that Rudy's fault too? COme on.
How many people in this area have BEEN in a hurricane before? I have here as well as in NY. POWER GOES OUT. It's a fact. Get over it.
So quit the name calling, the whining, the bickering Is this Washington DC? Or is Special Town for Special People.
Margaret McKitty
5:16 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Do people realize that when you ONLY use cell phones Robo calls (That I received because I ALWAYS have an old rotary phone for back up It's called RESPONSIBLE? ) don't come through because you are not a listed number. Ct Emergency dials LISTed numbers. Guess that's RUDY 'S fault too. If your land line required electric.. same thing. HELLO Anyone home?
And as for the EOC being closed. Do ya think maybe you got a recording? Maybe the roads got so bad they had to ...oh I did say common sensse somewhere in here right? The storm damaged the roads so much that Scotland had to be changed to Yanity Gym , See I heard that because I received the ROBO call. I guess Rudy is at fault for not checking WITH GOD on the hurricane conditions. Ask someone in Redding about what they think of their town's pitiful Emergency Center. And the hours it is open. Great for people who go to work and can't be there between 7 and 3pm. Some people like to nitpick and find fault. It was already well said. Planning ahead of time is your responsibility not the politicians. I worked for Con Edison in New York. No utility is ever responisble for your lost food. Anyone familiar with risk management ( insurance)will tell you ... a hurricane is an act of God.. no insurance you ain't covered.. "Sorry Charlie" Cardinal rule of power outages.. Keep the refrigerator closed and wow.. it stays cold.. for a few days. Mine has. Wonder why? Experience, preparedness and common sense.
NicenNeat
6:12 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Margaret, I am laughing my butt off! You said it so perfectly! I recently moved here from a smaller town, where we knew our neighbors and depended on our 'community family' when something unexpected happened. I brought teens into this town and they summed it up nicely when they said "b*tchfield". So many people in this town expect more because what? They have money and believe that it buys a higher level of comfort and happiness? It does! Just buy the things that you would need in an emergency! Like you said, be responsible for yourself and stop trying to put the blame elsewhere.
Still smiling at your post Margaret!
hoco
6:45 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Remember, this is the same Rudy who thought he was qualified to be governor of CT. Imagine if he had won, he would have turned off the power in the entire state and then sat around waiting for NU to cut the trees. Kind of a scary thought...
Margaret McKitty
3:24 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
No..actually far more scary is that some people on here shall/do vote and have/ shall have progeny. Now that's scary. Possiby a scarier scenario..they may operate moving vehicles either on or off medication!! Following that thought , I suppose there is hope yet .....some might not have mastered childproof tops! Blame Rudy when they can't take their medicine. Hmmm now here's a possible thread idea..I wonder was he born during WWII(for the not so informed that is World War 2 which took place during 1939 -1945...ahh in Europe.. Britain
entered in 39after Hitler invaded Poland. We entered it following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor..not a jewelry store nor any affiliation with either HSN or QVC btw..just to clarify that for the culturally and historically misinformed) I would bet anything there are those in this very chic,
upscale, trendy town who might blame him
for that as well.
Ray D.
7:02 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
I have read on this website over and over again about PERSONAL responsibility and I agree we had plenty of notice from our elected officials " to prepare for 3 days without power".. Mr. Marconi, if you cut the power to save homes from burning down you did the right thing.. If you cut the power to save stupid idiots and fools from playing with down power lines you did the wrong thing IMO. Many of us who had power could have helped those who acted RESPONSIBLE and local businesses would have benefited as well...I do not have enough information as to why the decision was made to cut off the towns power so it is unfair for me to criticize until all the facts come out.. But my opinion stands.. NE Utilities use to charge us the highest rates in the country right behing ALASKA and HAWAII think about that..until competition was allowed in the state competition that NE Utilites lobbied HEAVILY against and lost.. to not pay overtime during a MAJOR crisis like this is just a ploy to try and get those rates established again.. IMO..
AnneMarie Surfaro-Boehme
7:58 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The State of Connecticut has the power to force Northeast Utilities to do their job!
James Boehme
8:38 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
I hit the comment section in error
James Boehme
8:05 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
This is now day four. No power, no cable and no Internet. I have yet to see any of these NU,CLP trucks. All I see are Ridgefield town workers waiting for the Utilities to do their job so they can do theirs. BTW, where is John Frey in all of this. He is supposed to be representing us. It would be nice to hear and see him.
John Symon
8:38 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
John Frey has been posting many frequent posts on the Ridgefield Facebook page. He seems fully engaged, and has been a lifeline in communicating what is going on. If you're on Facebook, search Ridgefield CT and the group should come up. I have been to Yanity twice and saw him both times.
Ellen
8:09 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Why can't the power that was turned off be turned back on now? It does not make sense at all! Turn ON the power!
Cooper
10:29 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Yes, please turn it on so we can offer help (meals, water, showers, toilets) to our friends and families that are suffering actual power outages.
BetsyL
11:50 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
I don't like to complain, especially since so many heroic people are working so hard. But two observations:
1. My street is blocked by a tree. So are many streets. Why were town employees mowing the sports fields at the schools yesterday? Shouldn't the blocked streets be a higher priority?
2. There are about 20 utility trucks parked at east ridge middle school. I spoke to the workmen. They have been there since about 9 am. They said they are waiting for the town to tell them where to go. This makes me very mad. Hasn't the town had many days to figure out where the problems are? Hello, come on over to my street! I can't believe the trucks are just sitting there waiting for instructions! This isn't right. When this is over I think we need to take a serious look at who is running this show!
Ben Dover
12:14 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Betsyl, I agree our town Emergency Operations Center has had days to plan for this and to see trucks parked there waiting for orders is unacceptable. Clearly this town needs a complete overall of it's EOC. Rudy should stand up and accept the blame for a lack of response by the EOC
Ben Dover
12:36 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The way I understand it, Rudy cut the power on Sunday with no warning to residents or business. He asked CL&P to cut the power and was under the impression that if power was off then roads could be cleared by public works. After he made that decision he was informed by CL&P that only the power company can work on those trees with wires due to the potential back feeds from generators. Rudy's decision had nothing to due with safety of people walking around down wires. He made a poor decision, he will never admit to that. Once CL&P takes the town off line it's not that easy to bring back on line.
Cooper
2:30 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
"Line crews that traveled here from Kentucky say they have been receiving verbal abuse from locals, Marconi said, and that some Ridgefielders have been less accommodating than New Orleanians after Hurricane Katrina."
To the folks from Kentucky that are helping us ...THANK YOU !
Its disturbing to hear of the verbal abuse. Please know that they are not representative of Ridgefielders.
TheRidge
2:42 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Here is a link to all CT town's out and the % out. PS, embrace no power, talk to your family instead of watching TV, make it a make shift camping trip. You will all survive. Its not a Ridgefield issue, it's a CT issue. http://outage.cl-p.com/outage/outagemap.aspx
CB
4:02 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thanks TheRidge...... Your point was simple and eloquent. We all are without power. We should be happy it was not worse!
Chris Nicolella
7:20 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
All - charming dialogue. Please see my posting under the Frey column. Niceneat - why do you hide with anonymity? Post your real name - and maybe - someone may take your comments seriousky... In other words refrain from commenting unless you have pride in your comments. It's easy to throw stones behind a fortified fence.
NicenNeat
6:19 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
I understand Chris and there are two reasons for anonymity. I have seen the attacks that go on between people in this town when someone says something that another disagrees with and I prefer to not have it come back and affect my kids because some parent judges me and therefore judges them. Second, since Luca (real name?) owns so many businesses in Fairfield County, I would be worried now if one of them was a restaurant and what I would be served if I was a known customer.
John Symon
8:33 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Awww, Blumenthal doesn't have power at his house. Think he has a generator, or roughing it? Just named the 6th wealthiest senator, worth $250 million, we have a lot on common. Not.
KD
9:24 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Just curious - can you still get food from the emergency center if you have power? Stopped at Walgreen's and not much in the way of food (no milk, no juice, no refrigerated products) - just wondering.
Michael Gibney
9:33 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Hi, KD. The emergency center is there for those who need it -- even if you have power but feel you need something you can't get elsewhere, that's what it's there for. That said, milk and refrigerated products aren't really in the inventory (as far as I can tell). Hope that helps. Hang in there! -MG
NicenNeat
6:11 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Walgreens told me yesterday that their dairy/frozen supply truck is 'expected' in today if that helps!
Ed Tyrrell
10:04 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Using the hurricane as a political photo op is deplorable.
John Symon
6:14 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Yes, embarassing! Where is the Governor?!!
guy
10:13 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
cl&p indicates that Ridgefield (part of the Newtown Work Area" will not be restored until 9/7.
Cooper
11:52 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011
I was told this was the anticipated date for "entire restoration" and more homes will be going back on line every day, as they have been.
Scully
12:28 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thank goodness the old high school lawn has been cleared of branches. Me, I have no power, no water, no phone and nothing but rotting food in the refrigerator. But at least the town has found time to clear that old high school lawn. Looks are everything...
John Symon
6:16 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
I noticed that too!!! I had power until Rudy turned it off.... still steamed over that.
Went to the old high school today to get some ice, and they were mowing the field. Is that the best use of town employees?? We have the national guard helping us and we are mowing ball fields?? Seriously?????
CTPati
1:55 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Looking at the photo, Himes and Blumenthal yuk it up, forgetting that incompetent/career politicians in D.C. (and Hartford) wasted TRILLIONS of our earnings, so now there is nothing left for FEMA--except borrowed/printed money--to help repair the damage done to "infrastructure" by the flooding here, in VT and NY, such as Ulster County.
Ironically, Gov. Cuomo took part as HUD secretary in causing the *mortgage collapse/Financial DISASTER* our nation is in now. Does he even realize his own role in creating the Recession his state and the nation are in?
I had an e-mail from Jim Himes Tuesday, in which he started with "offer[ing] some assistance to help keep you safe"....and finished with:
"Again, my office is happy to help in any way possible. Please do not hesitate to call at 866-453-0028 or stop into either my Bridgeport or Stamford offices, listed below. Sincerely,
Jim"
Too bad he and the other professional (?) politicians wasted over 820 Billion $$ of Americans' BORROWED money on *failed* "Stimulus" that was supposed to create jobs and build "infrastructure."
marge heminway
3:41 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Gotta say it's VERY disheartening to hear so many complaints and negative comments! Yes the town has been without power for 5 days now and quite possibly for yet another 5. Yes, it's an inconvenience to not have electricity...no lights, no easy computer access, no TV, no refrigeration and no easy access to water.... but seems we've lost site of the fact that there are people in this world where those things are never available or at least, not without significant sacrifice??!!
If you have your health, family, friends, a job, food, a home and freedom (even freedom to complain, if you must) you have it pretty darn well.
We should be far more thankful for what we have in our privileged lives, living in this town, despite the temporary inconveniences caused by mother nature. We should be thankful we haven't experienced the natural disasters that commonly occur in other parts of this country.
We should also be extremely grateful and thankful for ALL the people who have stepped up to help make the necessary repairs and provide some relief. For many, they are dealing with the same inconveniences that we are... some agreeing to being away from their families so as to help us. Is this griping the best we can show them in the way of gratitude?
The power will eventually be restored and things will be back to normal. Let's make the best of it until then.
NicenNeat
7:32 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Awesome post Marge!!
Mike06877
4:12 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thank you Rudy and John ...
Hey, the high school football team was loading supplies at Yanity. We should continuing being a supportive community and make our priority safety and getting the power back.
Instead of pointing fingers, I'm helping out.
Jeff B
4:21 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
I too had my power shut off by the town after spending the day helping pumping out basements and giving away my generator thinking I did not have power issues. I was mad but understanding to the extent there was a real safety issue. What I can't accept is that for those that did not lose power why they can't turn us back on given the minimal effort to do so. A line truck told us it was a fifteen minute job. The real issue is the lack of coordination and preparedness. Right now if you drive by East Ridge school, the lot is full of trucks - doing nothing. If you stop and ask they will tell you they are waiting for someone to provide instructions - seriously ?- this is not day one, it is day 4. Apparently, this is a classic case of a big situation being managed by smaller people. How much of the execution issue is attributable to the town vs. the utility . . . I don't know. In addition, I have been told (including the guys on the trucks) that they are not being paid overtime by CL&P so their days are limited - if true that is outrageous. I have been told today that CL&P is considering not having crews work the weekend because of the holiday - again, if true that is outrageous. In any event, we should all be thanking these crews for coming to help. I have met guys from Missouri, Ohio and Louisiana. They came a long way and the lack of coordination/direction and (possibly) the overtime issue is not their fault. We should be grateful !
Dave Sigworth
5:22 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
On a lighter note, how many times have YOU walked into a room or closet and tried to turn the light on? I think I'm up to 86 times.
Peter
5:30 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Funny Rudy continues to bash CL&P but has yet stand up and say what a fool he was for turning off the power to the entire town. Many more would have power today if it wasn't for his foolish move. Our leader can't admit fault but has no problem throwing the blame around.
marge heminway
9:59 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Seems as if the majority of these postings, including yours, is throwing blame around! Who is without fault?!
John Symon
6:11 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Rudy is so full of crap.
'As of now, the EOC still insists it doesn't "have a clue" when power will be fully restored, according to Marconi.' Rudy is the EOC Director for crying out loud -- and admits he has no clue!?
And this gem...
'He blamed "foolish politicians" in Hartford on both sides of the aisle.' Sure, push it to someone else. Seems like everyone in charge is a member of one party, Rudy.... besides that, throw the hot potato out of town, nice.
You have demonstrated that you are way over your head.
Sam
6:34 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
We need tough days like this to find out who will last and who will go down the drain. Mr Marconi and our library are the clear losers, still playing the blame game.
Kudos to Starbucks. I hope their manager becomes a candidate for the First Selectman. He/she has my vote.
And thanks to our community with the good old neighbor spirit.
marge heminway
9:54 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
The library has nothing to do with the issues at hand. In contrast they have always, and continue to be, a vital resource to this community and clearly that benefit was experienced by the volume of people that have visited the library these last few days.
Noodle
12:18 am on Friday, September 2, 2011
The library is not a vital resource at all. If we really see it's necessity in freak occurrences like this that happen once a decade or so, then how is it vital. I absolutely believe that the library is a great place to learn but come on how many of you really go to the library on a regular basis....
Michael Gibney
12:26 am on Friday, September 2, 2011
Hi, 'Noodle.' The library is very well visited. There are many programs for seniors and children and it's a place around which the community rallies. It's as vital a resource as any. -MG
marge heminway
11:36 am on Friday, September 2, 2011
Noodle: always best to do ones homework before making a public statement, particularly a derogatory one.
Bodeur claims the library is a "clear loser" because in some way he feels they should have performed differently during the course of these last few days. The point is, the library in no way has ANYTHING to do with anything regarding Irene and/or the power being restored to Ridgefield. They are at the mercy of the utility companies just as much as anyone else! The comment regarding the library is unnecessary as it's irrelevant to the main issue.
In regards to the debate as to the library being a vital source....the Library is the most visited facility in town on a daily basis ...way more than Starbucks ....and with a tremendous amount more to offer beyond coffee and trinkets. And that's looking at usage over a period of time far greater than these last 6 days. The day to day use of the library is consistently increasing...not decreasing. And that's a fact.
Sam
4:37 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Which place do you suggest to play a better role of a refuge or a community center on dark days? Should people go to police department or fire department to connect with the rest of the world or at least charge their cell phones? Having the most central location in town and a nice budget, I would expect our library to be more active than Starbucks to connect with the world. It is easy to be vital in good sunny days but it takes more to deliver in tough times. I don't trust Mr Marconi or our library for such days anymore. That is how I will vote when asked.
guy
6:50 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Can anyone explain why Ridgefield and surrounding towns are going to be last at 11:00 pm on 9/7 and this is the latest of any date that CL&P is indicating restoration.
Sam
7:36 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Don't worry. Mr Marconi can finish it by 9/6 with his power over CL&P.
marge heminway
9:56 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Because someone has to be.
James Boehme
7:43 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
I just went past East Ridge School. At lest 30 trucks were park. It's 6:45 pm. What the hell is going on here. Is any one running this mess...........this is getting very old.
John Symon
9:50 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
No trucks there now, I saw some on 116 and ledges road.
NicenNeat
8:54 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
James, according to the Ridgefield Press twitter releases, those are the new crews that just arrived from places like Colorado and North Carolina!! That is their staging location.
KD
10:03 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2011
Does anyone know where the NBC Nightly News was located for their segment? and was the police officer there to protect the utility workers from angry residents? I would hope that my fellow neighbors would not threaten workers who were there to restore power - let them do their job.
Noodle
12:09 am on Friday, September 2, 2011
Got to love how John Frey and Rudy pointing the finger at cl&p. What does cl&p have to loose? Classic politicians pushing the mess onto someone else's plate to deal with. Anyways, it really shows Rudy's true colors when in a moment of chaos and shows to my fellow members of Ridgefield that enough is enough with this loser in charge. It's time for a change!!
Wool
8:02 am on Friday, September 2, 2011
The lights went on last night realized that we did ok without the TV, computer, hot water and such. The need to improvise is a good thing to have happen once in while. It also showed us the best this town has to offer, and some of the worst. Many thanks and appreciation for the town and volunteers supplying water, ice, ready to eat meals and shelter from the storm. I want to thank the tree workers and the national guard for coming to help, our police department and town workers. NO THANKS to CL&P for waiting days to send the services we needed days ago. It took a public spanking by Rudy and Frey to get them to put us, there customers before profits and shareholder dividends. No thanks to my neighbor who ran there generator day and night next to my bedroom window and never once offered to at least charge my phone. How many of us have forgotten to care for one another?
So please stop with the politics and take care of one another as most have done already.
Chris Nicolella
9:30 am on Friday, September 2, 2011
I am just as frustrated as everyone in Ridgefield about CL&P. Since I can't restore power myself I had three choices: sit around and complain, work around the house (completed the To Do List) - or - do something to help our town. Full disclosure: we have a generator but no phone. Anyway... I decided to volunteer. I drove to Yannity and was asked to post updates around town (Starbucks, Chase, Walgreens, Ancona's, Stop & Shop, etc...). Much better than complaining...
I would ask anyone posting and have time - go to Yannity and join up.
As far as Ancona's - even though they have no commercial power - they have generators and the grocery store and wine store are open for business. They also have set up a cooking station outside for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since this is a local family owned business I ask all Ridgefielders to visit / shop - you will enjoy the experience.
FINALLY - VOLUNTEER IF YOU CAN - A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE!
NYC_bound
1:16 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Marge said:
"always best to do ones homework before making a public statement, particularly a derogatory one....In regards to the debate as to the library being a vital source....the Library is the most visited facility in town on a daily basis."
I really dislike obnoxious know-it-alls. The library has 1100 visitors per day. The high school has about 2,000. Please get your facts rights before you rudely spread misinformation.
marge heminway
1:38 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
LOL...comical response. Whose the obnoxious know it all?! Since you claim to know more of the facts yourself, perhaps you also know that all of the public schools are not open to the general public. All of the doors are locked so as to prevent people from simply entering at will. These facilities are allow kids, parents and staff to pass thru those doors...the schools are not open to the entire town for general use. Not quite the same for the public library which is open to anyone and is the facility that is in question as to it's validity as a town wide resource. Lets stick to the subject.
NYC_bound
2:28 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
What do you want form me? You said "the Library is the most visited facility in town on a daily basis " It's not. You can try to make out that you said something different, but you didn't. You are wrong. The high school is the most visited facility. If you don't like to be called out on your error, then check your facts before you say them.
By the way, you sound a lot like Luca. Hmmmmm.
Peter
3:43 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
KD, I believe NBC shot that at east ridge school. It's sad that the police have to follow the crews and protect them from angry residents, thanks to Rudy and his negative campaign in the media about CL&P. Rudy leads from behind closed doors of his emergency center that closes at 8pm. I would like to say thank you to all the power crews for doing a great job during this disaster.
Dave
3:55 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
STORM READY! Has anyone seen the sign on RT 7 near BMW. It says Ridgefield is a Storm ready town. It was put up by Rudy and I believe Fire Cheif Buford. I think they should try again and maybe with a new leader next time.
Looking
4:18 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Ridgefield is all talk. If we put up a sign, then it must be true. Facts don't matter, signage matters.
It puts me in mind of that post a few weeks ago where someone was saying how we are the best at taking care of our children and teaching them about driving laws. "Ridgefield's defining characteristic." But it was in response to that horrific accident. People just want to hear that we are the best. It doesn't matter if it is true or not. They just want to hear it. Same is true with the STORM READY sign..
Sad.
lynn
5:15 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Reality check... Did anyone lose a house, or a life as a result of Irene in Ridgefield? The answer is thankfully- no. BUT, i see a lot of loss of dignity on this thread of conversation. Sniping at each other and trying to out wit the person before is comical to read ( albeit it with a flashlight at times) but is frankly embarrassing as a fellow Ridgefielder. When you all get your power back will you get your real power back?
Walmock
6:17 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
So lynn, someone can come over to you, punch you in the nose, steal your wallet... but as long as you didn't loose your house or a life, then everything is okay?
That's the other problem with Ridgefield, people always make excuses. That's what we are really good at, making excuses. Well I for one have had enough. Don't like me speaking up about it, then lynn, you can pay my taxes and I'll gladly shut up. But until then, I suggest you take off the blinders and look around. Other towns have the same challenges we do, but they get through it. We don't.
Noodle
9:33 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Walmcock, it seems as if you (and many others) have a cognitive bias, which if you never took psyc 101 is An effect on the human mind that creates inaccurate judgements. To say that ridgefield is the only town that makes excuses and not a single other town doesn't and solves all their problems perfectly is ridiculous. Every other town has their own sort of problems and ridgefield isn't the only one. Trust me I am as frustrated as you but to say all other towns are better off than us is pure ignorance.
Wool
7:10 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Stop it! Stop now all of you. This entire thread has been about snipping at one another, proving who's wrong and who's right - condemning one another for our opinions and slamming the politics and politicians. Get off your fat ass's, get to know your neighbors and offer a helping hand. nothing is going to be accomplished on this web site that you can't do by offering you support!
Sunny
7:21 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
It's always this was on here Wool. Hardly never a nice thing to say and doing nothing to help the situation Sure we all got inconvienced. But we as a family got to hang out together a little more. Rebonded and didn't have to run to all the sports and things we usually do on a regular basis. Some good came out of it.We were out for 6 days!
FedUp
8:33 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Sunny, I love how you point out people are rude then you tell everyone they have a "fat ass". LOL!
Let's face it, as soon as the lights come back on it will be time for the ostriches to stick their heads back in the sand.
"Oh Ridgefield is such a wonderful place and we are best at everything."
Except for the part where we suck at everything.
Wool
9:37 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Ok- I had a momentary lapse of discussion board politeness -and yes I was a bit hypocritical. My apologies but both the delete and backspace keys are missing on my keyboard.
What I meant to say was "BFDWB" ( big fat double wide behinds)
Dave
9:34 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Who is Dick Aarons? is that the same person who photographs for the volunteer Fire Dept. This town moves under the direction of a photographer and that qualifies him as a director of the town EOC. Please tell me in post 9-11 this is not true.
xbot
10:14 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
I appreciate the sentiment of free lunches at the schools, but is that really necessary? The hurricane took away electricity, but it didn't make everyone poor. Could the children without power simply buy lunch for $2.50 instead of the administration giving free lunch to 5,000 students for two days. I'd rather see the money being used in the classrooms than the lunchroom. That's $25,000, which is more than enough to reinstate cut programs like german.
Slmnrc
11:27 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
After dealing with CL&P i have come to realize what a well run organization Motor Vehicle is. I think we should all sue them for the cost of a generator to provide the gap service provided by them
RHS Parent
5:44 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
You'd have better success suing Mother Nature. CL&P is a monopoly still and that's what we got. Some of us tried to change it with the Committee for Reliable Electric Service (CRES) 16 years ago and made some headway with upgrading the system and some kind of DPUC oversight...but they know they are the only real game in town and it is what it is. Hope everyone is back on by Monday. Don't feel too badly for the guys traveling from afar...I've heard they get quadruple overtime thanks to the union.
RHS Parent
6:03 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
journeymen linemen overtime $86.12/hour. Dangerous work, yes; but think they can pay for their own coffee...
renzo
9:11 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Listen BOZO i did that job for 38 years and would you like to do it for a week. No bathrooms no breaks bad weather and 4-66THOUSAND VOLTS. Do you think i sat in an airconditioned office with a coffee machine and a rest room 5 feet away. Anytime you want to work the primary's let me know. You are a JERK
Wordsmith
6:58 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
$86 per hour? Nothing against the linemen. But all the more reason the town should have been more organized and not had these lineman sitting in a parking lot each morning waiting for instructions.
renzo
9:36 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Totally correct. That is what happens when a bunch of idiots are running this town. Remember the out of town linemen travel with their trucks and equipment. Which means they did some long distance driving even before repairing the AERIALS. So just driving the trucks is a job in itself.Then once they got here they were expected to put in a 16 HR day.
renzo
9:15 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Well maybe the grass should not have been cut at the high school tuesday morning either. This guy RUDY does not have a CLUE. Why were those workers not cleaning up the ROADS and side streets. RHS Parent i bet you are one of those TAX THE HELL OUT OF RESIDENTS FOR THE SCHOOLS!!!!
RHS Parent
11:13 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Renzo, enlighten me please. How could my pointing out what linemen are getting in just overtime, not to mention triple or quadruple overtime have any leap or correlation whatsoever to how I stand on the school issues or taxes? Where is your logic here as it is oblivious to me.
renzo
9:18 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
As far as telling people that the power was shut down for walkers and joggers thats BS. Once the primaries are on the ground they trip out. Their are breakers along the aerial that automatically shut down the power. And if it does not shut down the sparks and fire work show is amazing. I fins a lot of these posts very humerous. Keep them coming i can use the entertainment.
renzo
9:35 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Primaries provide power at one of a wide range of standard voltages from 4 to 33 kilovolts, but the most widely used are 7,200 or 14,400 volts. They are fused to protect people and property. during bad weather or an accident where the primary contacts the ground surface of the earth the fuse blows and shuts down the power to that grid.
renzo
9:54 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
A hot stick is an insulated pole, usually made of fiberglass, used by electric utility workers they are used to replace fuses in the primarys on telephone poles.
Luca Duff Cruz
1:45 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Nice job renzo on the definitions. I just googled them....word for word from wikipedia.
Other things you could copy and paste, if you so desire, are if a primary neutral wire is available , A wye, or phase to neutral transformer can be used.
Not even sure why you are writing all these technical terms...but it's disheartening to see they are just copy and paste jobs.
Wasnt sure if that guy "Dan" was real. Nicenneat who said she was 50. But that her father must have been born , like me, in the late 40's to go to Vietnam....which would mean he had her when he was 12 years old. Strange stuff. I'm just sure what is what on this site. Seems like a lot of people pretend. Hoping you are real, renzo, because some of your comments make sense....but when you need wikipedia to help you with terms after 38 years....I'm a bit skeptical. Sorry.
renzo
9:26 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
I did that so the definition would be factual. Guess you think i am BS ING you. Well lets see how would you like to do an aerial replacement with gaffs. Today all the companies have buckets. Or maybe you would like to shave a half dozen poles in a day. Or maybe you would like to work a drop with gaffs and cut out. Then we can spend the day in the emergency room. Yes the old poles were Creosote. When you were working the poles the splinters you got infected big time. Of how about working the man holes. We should do that together some day. That is if you successfully remove the seals and it does not BLOW. Then we can go in and pray their is no gases built up in them. Yes they make 70 BUCKS AN HOUR and we have free medical. We well deserve it and i earned it. Also years ago the hot sticks were WOOD and not fiberglass. We had to make sure they would not conduct. So they were constantly sanded and coated so they would not soak up moisture. And the gaffs i had had to be sharp and the belts inspected regularly so you would not cut out. Now if you think i am sketchy join me in a trip to my old line gang and go for a demonstration . I have a GOLD watch and burns on my body to prove it, Now insult someone else from your air conditioned house office and all the appliances and conveniences you have. Then thank all the people that provide this plush world in which you live. That would be me and all the other linemen that provide you with ELECTRICITY. Typical spoiled YUPPIE.
ridgefielder
2:06 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
We returned home Tuesday from a frantic trip to Vermont trying to find relatives we had been unable to reach, help them deal with the massive destruction to their communities, and bring 2 elderly grandparents, 3 semi-elderly cousins, and 4 small children back with us to Ridgefield. Power was out and we had no running water-- but the minute we walked into our house, we were all ecstatic to be safe, dryand able to easily locate efficient, sustainable ways to compensate for minimal limitations. Our powerless, waterless Ridgefield home was like a palace to what we had just come from. (Also, the weather was much colder up north.)
We saw optimism and camaraderie in Vermont residents who have lost everything. Not once, not twice, but maybe 5 to 10 times I heard people describe themselves as "lucky" in comparison to Japan or Haiti earthquake victims. Nobody complained that the energy company was taking too long to restore power or that government officials had let them down. I'll never forget the horrific destruction I witnessed to what were welcoming homes just 8 days ago.
Having lived my entire life in Ridgefield, I am embarrassed and ashamed reading these posts. For one thing, power came back for almost everyone quite a few days ahead of what people were expecting. Yet the complaining continues. I'm amazed folks even had access to this site after the storm. Irene was a brutal hurricane altering countless lives. Which towns it destroyed was the luck of the draw.
Chiming_in
10:33 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Noodle comment:
"but to say all other towns are better off than us is pure ignorance."
I hopefully am not saying this meanly like some of the other comments above, but Noodle, our property taxes are higher than other DRG towns. Couple that with our school test scores being lower than all other DRG towns. I understand the wishful thinking that Ridgefield is just as good as other DRG towns, but we are not.
Two things we can do about it:
1) Continue walking around saying we are the best and if anyone disagrees, call them ignorant.
Or
2) We can honest with ourselves and admit where we stand, then put in the legwork to make the situation better.
Luca Duff Cruz
12:49 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
renzo
haha
Just because i noticed you copy and pasted your intimate knowledge you react like a weirdo.
A spoiled yuppie? Dude, Im 62 years old. I have dealt with heartache , and suffering that is beyond your imagination. Im not one to get on here and tell people how great I am (like you), but when I hear cops tell me they risk their lives (in Ridgefield no less) or that a guy like you that thinks he is the hero ---you are out of your mind.
Go to war my man, and then laugh at your visions of what it is to live in fear, and discomfort. As far as burns, I can talk to the guy who helps me with my yard, or a short order cook in a restaurant, that earns no where near what you claim to do about burns or injuries. Or weather.
I am not disparaging, --but your defintions look shady. If you dont get that--then you are simply out of it. In the meantime, I suggest you check your 'woe is me' attitude at the stop and shop check out. No one in this world, that I know , has a painless life. We all suffer with things. Tone it down....and everytime someone questions you (me or 'parent') you dont need to explode into a rageful diatribe about how heroic you are, or how there are dangers to your job. As I say, join the army,---see combat, and then talk to me about that weather conditions or the telephone pole you climbed.
renzo
2:53 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
You see how DUMB YOU ARE i was in the service and i was in Vietnam. If you would like to compare those wounds LETS GO. Survived the TET offensive in 68. Want to elaborate more you are a TOOL for sure.You see open foot insert in mouth. Have you had the pleasure of a having a sweet in the VA hospital for a couple of MONTHS. Then we will talk.
Eileen
1:48 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Well, got my power back last night, Saturday, 09/03/11. Glad to have it, but still not happy with what has transpired. Not blaming the crews. They can only go where their boss tells them to. Actually, I wholeheartedly thank them...CL&P and out of state crews that came to help. Of course, my frustration lies with CL&P management.
Now starts the "mess" of cleaning out the fridge, etc. Ugh. SO gross.
To those still without power, you have my sympathies and I hope you get your power back VERY soon!
Luca Duff Cruz
4:31 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
renzo---
Id like to compare. How old are you? Thanks, man. Its starting to get confusing with you.
But, thanks for letting me know how old you are.
Im was never looking for a fight with you. I pointed out that you wikipedia-ed your definitions.
Next you told me how heroic you are for working on the lines. Now-, you were wounded so severely in the TET offensive, that it required months in a VA hospital. YOu retired a few years ago from being a lineman. That was after 38 years.
I dont happen to be familiar with what a sweet is at the VA hospital.
I was a simple private. I am no hero. Im not claiming to be a purple heart receipient. I was just a kid. And I got lucky to leave relatively unscathed. But, when I hear about people who 'risk their lives" (like Ridgefield cops) I always shake my head. Im very surprised that you talk so much about the dangers of being an electric worker, after such drama occured prior to that. I know that since I have returned, my view is that things can always be worse, but that people are allowed to object to poor decisions. I was uninjured physically, yet I would never think that you would speak first about your perils on the line.
And, yeah I read alot of these posts on Patch with skepticism. Ridgfielder, for example went to Vermont looking for relatives, and managed to bring back 9 people...several kids. But where were the parents of the young kids? And how do you fit 9 extra people into your car?
renzo
8:00 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
DUDE it is clear to me that either you just want to stir the pot or you are terribly BORED. I am old enough to not only have 38 years in a line gang i served from 1966. to 1970. If you dont know what a sweet is thank the LORD EVERY DAY. With that said i do respect you for your military service. So i will close with saying we all fought together as one in NAM. I only recently was able to speak about my military service. And only mentioned it because of your POST. By the way when was the last time a RFPD COP went on combat or was in a FIRE FIGHT. ???? You have me totally confused. And the person that went to Vermont was just checking on his family. Who cares how he got their and how he did it. I took the man at his word. Why would he make up such a story. Ridgefielder is correct . He is seeing the type of people that now reside in this town and messed it up to a feathery well.
ridgefielder
6:17 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
My wife said to read some of these comments to see why she's become disheartened w/our town. I don't even know what to say. Many comments have nothing to do with the story and people are arguing about their pasts with neighbors they don't even know. Yes, we're the ones who went to VT to make sure our relatives there were safe. I know I shouldn't reply to such cynical comments - but my wife, brother & his sons took our three SUV's up there with supplies. We didn't know what we would find and are beyond thrilled that everyone is alive and only one relative was seriously injured who is now receiving good medical care. My brother-in-law came down from NH to meet us up there with some of his buddies. My wife's sisters, their husbands and many other relatives are still up in VT trying to reckon with the damage. We brought back my in-laws, mother-in-law's cousins and some of our nieces and nephews. They were very scared. The older kids are still there. My brother-in-law took other relatives back to NH, although he has a small place so we're not sure how long they can stay there. People have been uprooted all over the state with no place to go, but need to think about rebuilding and salvaging what's left. We're trying to figure out who will stay where, who will go back and work out a schedule. My brother went back up on Fri. and I am heading back up tomorrow. We are hopeful things will turn out okay over time.
ridgefielder
6:59 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Looking at CL&P's outage map, residents w/o power in other CT towns were probably saying the same things Ridgefield residents were saying (they were not a priority, were being ignored, etc.) But now, almost every CT town has power back to nearly 100% (except Little Haddam). So despite all the complaints, power is restored to a state that was mostly w/o electricity with downed trees and power lines everywhere.
Besides the fact that many of the people posting here would be lost in a real emergency, my point is that somebody must have done something right because power was back to most of CT by Friday. Were there any electrocutions in Ridgefield? (In Westchester County there were.) Any drownings? (In NJ there were.) Any major car crashes/medical fatalities due to inadequate care, downed trees or unlit roads? If there were, then I stand to be corrected.
I'm not saying we should accept poor services because people in other places had it worse. I'm saying the decisions made & service provided did manage to keep Ridgefield residents safe, & inconveniences limited to a finite period of time during which the entire state was dealing w/ similar circumstances.
This was no ordinary storm. It was an unpredictable coast-wide disaster leaving a wake of damage w/ differing conditions everywhere in its path. We were lucky the hurricane spared our town of serious damage, but also lucky that inconveniences suffered were reversible and, in fact, most have been remedied.
Luca Duff Cruz
3:50 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
renzo
I just think that a lot of people want to admonish people for complaining, and make up elaborate stories of how heroic they are, and-- its odd they are annonymous.
Ridgefielder--I think the Ridgefield Press, would love to interview you, and find out more about your heroic exploits, and find out how the young ones are doing, and perhaps if they need schooling, Ridgefield, can help assuage your embarrassment, and watch how the whole town, can come together and help your nieces and nephews--and maybe help in their safe transport back to Vermont? It would be an opportunity for the town to win back your faith. What say you?
Renzo, I asked how old you are, only because a guy I served with , worked for OGE--the Power company in Oklahoma. He told me the retirement age is 59. So, if you worked for 38 years and you also served in the miliatary for 5 years, that would be tough. But I dont know the retirement age in Connecticut... but Im not stiring any pot. I just dont want to be lectured to, by people who turn out to be pretenders. Ridgefielder, for example can tell us he thinks there is too much complaining, without telling us how great he is. But he chose to opt for the 'im better than you' approach, and it seems a bit odd (in my book) to have 3 SUVs. So, I just point that out. He says Im cynical--so be it--i feel as though ridgefielder is the cynic, telling me as well as everyone else how embarrassing we all are. Im not embarrassed to want better.
Luca Duff Cruz
3:55 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
And renzo--
I know of no RFPD officer to have ever needed to unholster his gun. Thats my point. when these guys justify their salaries, and pensions they tell us they risk their lives. I was in combat. The guys serving in the Middle East at my pay grade in todays army make about 20,000. Ridgefield cops make I think about 3-4 times that. If risking your life means a lot more money, then either servicemen make way too little, or cops make way too much. But I shake my head, when these guys tell me they earn their pay, because they risk their lives. In terms of how hard you work, or how at risk you are, there is no comparison. That is all Im saying, renzo.
Whattt
9:00 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
Luca, we've been through this. You complain other posters don't use their real name,
'its odd they are anonymous.'
Yet you yourself aren't using your real name now are you? I find that very odd.
Wool
10:34 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
Hope every one's Audi and BMW made it through the storm ok! Personally I'm very disappointed that I have to have the Range Rover washed almost every day from driving through the leaves the tree companies failed to sweep up. I'll be calling my lawyer, then my therapist to get through this.
renzo
11:12 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
Could not have said it BETTER. I owe you a BEER SIR
MovingOut
10:51 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
I'm disgusted reading these forums. You guys need a new hobby. Scares me that you are my neighbors. In the end, Rudy did a fine job. He returned the town to its former working order. The power is back on. The roads are clear. No one died. And Rudy accomplished this with dignity.
Wish I could say the same about my fellow neighbors. But I can't. I saw rude and selfish behavior everywhere. Drivers cursing at me for going slowly past downed power lines.. I witnessed people screaming at the linemen. People pushing children out of the way to get ahead at the showers. A Porsche pulling up to Yanity to get a free case of bottled water (LOL!). And the nastiness note in my mailbox (lock your doors people, lock your doors!).
All in, I give Rudy an A+ and I give some of the residents an F. Unfortunately Rudy isn't my neighbor, the rest of you are which is why we family has decided to move away from Ridgefield. Enjoy your hatred.
Sam
1:39 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
I don't drive Porsche. Never used Yanity this past week. Would not yell at the linemen knowing that their managers would be to blame. But I still give Rudy an F and you a D.
renzo
10:57 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
DAM i am going to the danbury car wash with my 02 OLDS. Man i cant stand the dirt this storm kicked up on her. But then the faded paint shine out like an eye saw. Actually BIG BERTHA is my BABY and she is 31 years old now. Plowed hundreds of inches of snow and pulled a couple dozen trees of the roads and my driveway. I actually drove around what ever roads i couds and helped my neighbors cut the downed trees. But i hate having my everyday car look like it went through a HURRICANE before IRENE STRUCK. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wool
12:38 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Like OMG - I totally understand. I came up to a branch on Ridgbury and I had to totally go off road with my Porche SUV. It was a total nighmare going throughthe mud to get to my Adam Broderick appointment. Can I sue the town for all the emotional upset, I want someone to pay to have the Porche detailed. I can't be seen
it until its clean. and if you drive your "02 Olds" down my streeet I'll call the police and report you as a "suspicious person"
renzo
11:10 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
Luca Abelino
Listen UP and listen with your ears OPEN. My military time counted as being on the job. And it is against the law to force a retirement in certain jobs. One such job that has mandatory retirement is the commercial air lines. But linemen are not force retired. So i started with the company then got drafted so my military time counted. Either way their seems to be a big void in your life that i personally cant fill. so with that said list all your complaints and then and only then can we figure out where you are coming from. Basically the line gangs did a great job. Have you ever had the pleasure of replacing a POLE then do the transfer?? Or have you ever worked the GRID HOT. My problem with this town and especially Rudy is he and others in this town have NO BRAINS. Plenty of fancy cars and most of them are SPOILED BRATS. Now have a good DAY
Luca Duff Cruz
11:39 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
renzo you wont tell us your age---because you know you got caught. you started work pre 1964? but doesnt matter...you told everyone you were working up there for 38 years. not that you qualified for 38 years. and then oh yeah you got injured in vietnam, and spent time in a VA hospital...but that the real heroics in your life were working on someone's pole. But you forgot . Come on man..you are nabbed.... give it up..and you can talk as aggressively on here as you want... they are words . real soldiers dont cower at words man. no go back to the counter at kfc--im sure your manager is not happy with you blogging as often as you do. Your so worried about if someone is a yuppie or has money---
Luca Duff Cruz
12:21 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
whattt
you miss my point. Im not asking you to clarify your name. When did I do that?
Im saying that if its surprising that such heros want to remain anonymous.
For people to preach about taking responsibility, its paradoxical to then not even take responsibility for your comments.
And if Ridgefielder wants to tell me that people have it worse out there--thats fine. I agree. And if that was the context, then Id totally agree. But ridgefielder says the town of ridgefield embarrasses him, and then proceeds to tell us how great a person he is, for rescuing a signficant portion of the state of vermont's residents. Therefore, claiming to have some corner on the market with respect to what is right and wrong.
Nicenneat, who may be ridgefielder-(-who knows), also claims to be lugging generators, baking cookies, and offering up nearly everything she has for free to her neighbors. Thereby, establishing that she is a really good person (whenver injustice peeks its ugly head, Ill be there --wasnt her grapes of wrath speech moving as she 'left " ?)
I think people can say I think things are not bad. Or they can say things are bad. But if they want to say their opinion should be listened to more intently, because they are heros--renzo criticized dan--then he became a lineman-when someone said cut the crap----I just wish people wouldnt tell a bunch of lies on here. and how everyone should follow in their footsteps.
CallingMike
1:05 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Mike Gibney, I think it is high time you started banning people from this forum. Read those last few posts. That is disgusting. The good people or RIdgefield shouldn't have to deal with such filth. You need to ban people or I will quickly conclude the Patch is not a friend to Ridegfield.
Christine T
3:36 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
CallingMike....absolutely agreed!
RHS Senior Parent
5:28 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Great idea! What kind of example are the "adults" in this community sending to our children? The last time I commented, it was about the exams at the High School that were being questioned as to whether to hold them because of the weather. They were so much more respectful in their approach than a few on here. I was proud of the way they approached a difficult situation. This is also a disgrace for other Patch readers from other towns to see our community behave like this. Are you looking for our property values to decrease any more?
renzo
6:06 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
All in, I give Rudy an A+ and I give some of the residents an F. Unfortunately Rudy isn't my neighbor, the rest of you are which is why we family has decided to move away from Ridgefield. Enjoy your hatred.
WOW i did not see him on any poles???? OH that right he was to busy shutting off peoples POWER. The man does not have a CLUE. Please HUMER me with what he did that was so spectacular. His every decision was a disaster. Hope he gets voted OUT. WE NEED A CHANGE
RHS Senior Parent
6:59 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Renzo, here, you said that no one would get hurt if the electricity was shut off by our town, aren't you glad this didn't happen here?
http://quitenormal.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/rabbi-electrocuted-to-death-trying-to-save-young-boy-during-hurricane/
And, if you, or Luca make one BS post about the news that was just released about the 16 year old here in Ridgefield, I will go as far as I can to shut you and Luca down from the ability to make insensitive comments, especially when parents are facing tragedies like this.
Yes, freedom of speech is one thing, and to hide your identify because the Patch offers it is another. Go say your horrible comments to the grieving family tonight... Or are you fearful that someone would see you for who you are as a person from this community and maybe... judge you???
CallingMike
7:04 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
renzo, we were standing up for you. The offensive post has been deleted. It was sexual in nature and involved you with other men.
Thanks Mike Gibney for deleting. I know it's not your fault, but I do hope you will consider banning that poster. You put school sports on here which means you intentionally attract kids to this website. If you then allow someone to continue posting sexual filth, knowing that you have kids presents, well... I don't think Ridgefielders nor local businesses nor the Attorney General will look favorably on the business practices of The Patch.
Wool
7:23 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Ban these posts- are you kidding - this is Ridgefields answer to Jerry Springer - House wives of New Jersey and Jersey Shore all rolled up into one - Now back to my Ranger Rover - who do I call for the all the dirt I collected on my SUV from driving these messy roads.
Wool
7:33 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Just for a moment I want to be serious about those who helped us. I was on I-84 and saw a fleet of trucks heading back to Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. I wish them well on there return trip home. They deserve every penny they earned. Thank you to the volunteers that handed out ice, water and those delicious REM's and most of all Thank you to Irene for humbling me and reminding me that all of the "stuff" that was so highly valued meant so little. In truth, I realized that those I had to check on were the ones most important to me. Lord save us from a real disaster - I hope we can look after our brothers and sisters a bit better next time around.
Christine T
8:16 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
AMEN! I am so grateful to all of these people that came here from near and far to help out. They were so hard working, nice, and down to earth. My children and I made sure to thank any of them that we came across, and we made home made goodies for them! This whole situation was eye opening for sure
renzo
7:41 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
WOW i did not know that?? Well thanks that is totally unacceptable. And the DUDE was talking about ME. WOW i did not see it. Well once again thanks for the Heads up on that. That should never happen on a blog or for that matter never at all.
Ok it is a crime that the person got killed. But when the secondaries are down they are only dangerous if the wires are bare and in need of repair. I am assuming they were the wires on the house that got knocked down. That is a problem. But i have been on calls where painters actually fell on the house drop and pulled it off the building. They actually do not get hurt. As long as the wires are not BARE. It is common to have this happen and not in a storm. Bottom line electricity is dangerous. Weather in your kitchen or any where else. So if you inspect your drop and the wires are BARE or the tape is peeling back .Have it checked. Having secondaries on the ground are normally not an issue. But be fore warned all wires are DANGEROUS Period. Once again thanks for the heads up on that BAD POST. Thank You
renzo
7:54 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
RHS Senior Pare
DUDE do you think i would say anything about a child that got killed. Clearly you dont know me but in my life i saw things that were HORRIFIC. And i would never do such a thing. As the matter of fact i never commented on any issue where people died or were injures. Do you really think that BADLY OF ME. Dont worry i had my fill of death in NAM during the TET offensive. I am really hurt that you would say such a thing to me!!!!
renzo
7:58 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
And what 16 year old are you talking ABOUT ANY WAY. I have no clue of what you are talking about. And i really do not want to know any way. When a child dies or gets killed that is personal family BUSINESS and i would never do such a thing. Shame on you for even going their.
RHS Senior Parent
8:35 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
You are actually so damn clueless to what is actually going on around you... PIR Zack.
RHS Senior Parent
8:39 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Sorry, still tearing. RIP Zack! And I wish there is something we can do for you.
renzo
8:01 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
RHS Senior Parent
Just for the record my name actually is RENZO. SO THEIR again you are miss informed as usual.
Roger Sherman
8:40 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
As much as your name is Z28 or whatever you go by on the Press boards Tom.
renzo
8:11 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
MovingOut
SO you gave Rudy an A+. Well how about me for example and others that helped our neighbors. I went to diamond electric and hooked up a few of my neighbors generators. I also cleared back some trees that were blocking roads. I cut them with wires on them because i have a hot stick. Then i pulled the limbs clear of the road. I did this for most of the day on Monday and Tuesday. Some of the trees were on Phone lines and pole cables that are not electrified. I did not have to do that. And just for the record. Last year i pulled a BMW out of a ditch on the road during a snow storm. She was driving to fast and ran off the road. She did not even thank me. But her insurance company contacted me for the damage she claimed i did to her CAR. They paid the claim. Well now i see people off the road and i DRIVE BY and could care less. So you are moving GOOD who cares .
Luca Duff Cruz
8:20 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
rhs senior parent.
First--The word you used bee ess. Thats naughty. Do you want kids reading that?
2nd --you all mistake the whole thing. Im sticking up for ridgefielders from all these pretenders who claim they are wonderful, and if you express frustration or dissapointment with the response from either clp or the town, then you are 'an embarrassment' or a jerk .
Our own first selectman told us he is totally upset with clp. Clp all but admitted they could have done better, after they donate 1mio bucks. But if anyone on here, says it--then we are embarrassments.
Renzo berates a guy named "dan" who claimed to be a linesman, and said that he was not happy with town folks. Renzo berates the guy, and then when someone told him to pipe down, he suddenly was 'a lineman for 38 years."
He called me --well less than smart, and less than a man, since I never worked the primaries. I toold him, that its true i never worked the lines, but fighting for our country in vietnam, in my opinion , allowed me to claim some measure of knowing what its like to be in danger. He then remembered, he not only fought in vietnam, but was there for the great tet offensive, and then landed for months in a va hospital 'sweet'.
In previous posts, he debated anti -deer people, and remembered that he never wounded an animal whilst hunting. He singal shot killed them (no suffering) for the past 30 years. Not one miss.
I think the guy needs to be reigned in.
RHS Senior Parent
8:37 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Luca, get a life. I so hope you are banded from 'free speech' on the patch like other communities ban trouble makers from commenting.
RHS Parent
8:41 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
You should be banned too, how completely inappropriate of you to post this before the news is even public. Shame on you!!!
RHS Senior Parent
9:35 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
RHS Parent, I hope to GOD that the press won't take this any further than the post they already made. It's been public to family and friends and the press needs to drop it here and allow family and close friends to grieve by themselves without stupid comments. I only posted a first name out of love and respect. The call caught me off guard after I made my first post. If you are part of close family, you already know and don't need more information. The hurtful and fighting posts from Luca and Renzo need to be shut down NOW!
CallingMike
8:44 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Mike Gibney, I see you didn't ban the poster. If Patch wants to be a valued part of Ridgefield, then show it. I'm contacting AOL in the morning as well as your advertisers.
Roger Sherman
8:50 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Do you really think they are going to ban these people? All they are looking at is all the page views to show their advertisers how busy their web site has become. These guys are gold and probably the same two that sit on the Press Forums and hijack every thread over there.
Michael Dinan
10:13 am on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Thank you all for your comments. This thread is now closed.