Notes from the Old Noank Jail

“A Quiet Advantage”

by Ed Johnson

When my wife and I lived and worked in New York City, our apartment was on the first floor near St. Vincent’s Hospital in the West Village area of Manhattan. The frequent sound of ambulance sirens going past our window, especially at night, was disruptive and annoying. It was not long before we decided to move to a quieter garden apartment out in New Jersey, but close to New York, and we certainly slept more soundly as a result.

Years later, we moved to Noank and joined the local Fire/EMS Department, which gave us a different perspective on the use of sirens as safety devices. We came to understand how useful and necessary they could be under difficult circumstances in an effort to save someone’s life, especially in medical emergencies. This was also brought home to me first-hand when I was a Board member of Mystic River Homes years ago.

Older people living in facilities such as Mystic River Homes & Congregate Housing frequently require rapid medical attention, especially involving heart and diabetic related issues. This usually results in fast responses by the local rescue truck & responders, plus ambulances, police and paramedics. The primary streets of Route 215 and Elm Street are the most frequently utilized. However, the advantage for the residents living near Mystic River Homes is that once the responders arrive near Harger Drive, sirens are not needed and there is no more noise.

However, recently, there was an article in the DAY concerning a commercial firm wanting to develop the Noank School property as an elderly housing facility, rather than using it as a public garden for the benefit of the entire town, a concept which has already received wide public approval. Among other problems, such a project would require increased water and sewage usage as well as a major increase in local Fire/EMS services. Local Noank Fire District taxes might be affected as a result.

But the major effect would be on the local Prospect Hill area residents. With any elderly housing development will come increased ambulance & EMS response, frequently with sirens being utilized all the way to the Noank School property. It cannot be avoided on urgent calls….and these calls frequently come at night, just like they do in New York City. This results in a major change in an existing, quiet neighborhood, primarily for the benefit of a commercial developer.

And there is another more suitable way to increase housing for the elderly. Please note the following suggestions:

a) If someone wants to build an additional elderly housing facility, they can do it on existing land in a quiet area which is available on the Mystic River Homes Property for just such a purpose. The land has been available for expanded development for the past 40 years. There are existing utilities on the property which can be expanded from the Congregate building.

b) Citizens should now support the concept of the Noank School Community Garden, which is being presented to the Groton Town Council Committee of the Whole on Tuesday May 13th at 6:00 PM.

c) You can help create that support by attending the upcoming Tuesday May 6th Town Council Meeting itself at the Town Hall Annex at the top of Fort Hill and speaking briefly in support of the Garden during “Citizen’s Petitions” at 7:00 PM… IN ADVANCE of the presentation noted above….and is the only time the public can speak BEFORE the presentation.

d) And, in addition, write the Council and/or call Council members directly, or E-mail them directly….RIGHT AWAY….showing your support of the community garden. Time is short.

Mail to the Council – % the Town Clerks Office, Town of Groton, 45 Fort Hill Road, Groton, CT 06340

Council Member Email (add @groton-ct.gov) Phone

Mayor Rita Schmidt rschmidt 860 536 1476
Genevieve Cerf gcerf ” ” 3241
Joe de la Cruz jdelacruz ” 445 8687
Bruce Flax bflax ” 536 3532
Robert Frink rfrink ” ” 6254
Rich Moravsik rmoravsik ” ” 3760
Deb Peruzzotti dperuzzotti ” 446 8394
Heather Somers hsomers ” 910 0045
Harry Watson hwatson ” 705 4551

Thank you for reading this article. There is indeed a “quiet advantage” to having a public garden for ALL Groton citizens and at the same time not having too much noise in our lives. I hope you all agree !