noankjail

Notes from the Old Noank Jail, by Ed Johnson

Book Review: SCUDDING written by George Sherlock Maynard

Note – The nautical use of the term “scud” describes “to run before a gale with little or no sail set.”

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This is an unusual, well written book which describes two interconnected, alternating stories, covering a world cruise by sail along with submarine activity during the Cold War.

In the early 1970’s, when my wife and I moved to Noank, CT, we were introduced to George and Mary Maynard and their children. At that time, George was primarily self-employed as a woodcarver, specializing in decorative eagle and whale carvings, with a fine local reputation. He had a background in carpentry and had served aboard US Navy submarines, although we were unaware of his actual Navy experiences back then. Mary worked as a local feature writer with the New London DAY newspaper and the three children, Molly, Gary and Hudson, all attended local Groton public schools.

The family had been reading Joshua Slocum’s book “Sailing Alone Around the World” which described Slocum’s journeys aboard the broad beamed yawl, “Spray.” George and Mary had long dreampt of world travel and decided to hand-build a replica of “Spray,” using a gaff-rigged-yawl sail plan. They would take the entire family on a long term sailing cruise around the world with no auxiliary engine.

For two years, as partners, Mary supported the family at her job while George built the 37 foot “Scud.” A home economics major, Mary also planned meals in advance by estimating food consumption at home and obtaining educational materials for home schooling on the boat. George received training in celestial navigation and, in 1973, they launched and stocked the boat, sold the house, donated their car, loaded the children and sailed away across the Atlantic from Block Island to the Azores in 18 days. There, they acquired a dog, Leao, who became their security protector for the remaining journey.

After the family spent a year in the Azores, winds and currents took them to Gibralter, Canary Islands, Cape Verdes, Panama Canal, across the Pacific to Marquesas, Tonga, Fiji, Australia, Bali, Mauritius, Capetown and back to Noank in 1978. They found varied employment and repaired the boat en route while the children stayed current with their schoolwork.

The author, George, writes with an engaging style in describing locations, events and people they encountered on this long trip, and is especially effective at narrating conversations. And although we know everyone makes it safely home to Noank, CT, there were times when the family had some close calls which draw the reader’s attention….all part of what makes this book so enjoyable.

In addition, the author relates an in-depth description of his previous life in the US Navy. In 1962, he suffered a delayed mental breakdown as a result of cataclysmic Cold War events while he was serving aboard a submarine. In modern terms, we now refer to this as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. He was placed in a Navy psychiatric hospital for a time and ultimately received an Honorable Discharge in 1964. But the nightmares continued and it took 14 years, including the 5 year cruise, before he finally experienced recovery.

Many of us were unaware of these events until reading this book years later. In describing that difficult part of his life, George is very direct and his sense of humor is refreshing. Older readers will recognize that the Cold War period of the 1960’s was more dangerous than we realized at the time…unless, like the author, we were directly involved….and forced to deal with moral issues and psychological consequences. Many wounds of war are not easily visible but are very deep.

In summary, the book is enjoyable on two levels as an account of the family’s adventures during the voyage, as well as the author’s quest for healing from a crippling psychiatric disorder. He succeeds at both levels with intelligence and good humor.

Ed Johnson

(SCUDDING is currently being sold in Noank Village (CT) at both the Community Market and Carson’s Store. It can also be ordered through Amazon.com)

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Noank Rowing Shell Dedication
Posted by Ed Johnson, June 16, 2013 at 06:26 pm

The Noank Rowing Club, in conjunction with the Groton Parks & Recreation Commission, finally held their formal dedication ceremony for their new Rowing Shell House at Spicer Park on Sunday 6/16/13 at 1:00 PM. The ceremony had been previously postponed due to the recent heavy rain storms. Key speakers included Phil Butta of Groton Parks & Rec, with Paul Chomet and Kristen Negaard Obrien of the Rowing Club.

A large number of volunteers were involved, including George Obrien, who estimated that the construction process of building the shed involved 2,500 hours of volunteer labor.

The rowing program on Beebe Cove was started over 25 years ago and coached by Nancy Steenberg. She was joined by Kristen Obrien, who was a National Champion and a member of the 1980 US Olympic Team that, as it turned out, boycotted the Olympics that year. Kristen has now coached crew for 37 years and is considered to be the central “life blood” of the Noank rowing program. She is noted for her very high level of energy in a wide variety of activities.

The program itself encourages rowing in all age groups, including Juniors under age 18 through senior and masters levels, in addition to working with the Fitch High School Rowing Club. Classes include winter season conditioning, followed by spring & summer introduction to rowing, novice and experienced racing, introduction and intermediate sculling, novice and experienced sweep rowing.

The club has produced a large number of athletes who have gone on to row at college and in national events. Currently, Kelsey Butta of Mystic, a previous member of the Fitch High School club, recently competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Associations Division 1 Rowing Championships in Indianapolis.

The Club presently owns sweep 8-oar and 4 oar with coxwain shells, plus double sculling and quad sculling shells, along with a large number of single sculling shells. Members can also keep their personal single and double sculling shells on the property. The larger shells are being kept in the new boathouse along with a large storage locker for the oars themselves. A nearby barn is used for winter storage of the smaller craft.

Over the years, the membership and sponsorship of the club has grown considerably and the protected waters of Beebe Cove are very suitable for this activity. On a chart, the longest straight run in Beebe Cove is over 1/2 mile, perfect for training and shorter races. Naturally, on a calm day, much longer runs are made on the Mystic River itself.

Annual membership costs are quite reasonable, ranging from $50 for HS & College Students, $100 for adults and $175 for family households. Contact Info is at P.O. Box 296 Mystic, CT 06355, noankrowing.org, noankrowing@gmail.com and Facebook – Noank Rowing Club.

Why all the fuss with the IRS?
Posted by Ed Johnson, May 21, 2013 at 02:09 pm
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Why is there such a fuss with the IRS? Were they not simply doing their job in their investigation of ultra conservative Tea Party organizations that were attempting to endorse political agenda while, at the same time, trying to claim tax exempt status?

I’m a registered Republican myself and have been for quite a while. For that matter, I’ve been a Life Member of the NRA since the ’60’s. But the Tea Party agenda certainly doesn’t represent my views as a Republican, nor do I feel that the “1%” has my best middle class interests at heart.

Here is a short sample of the many examples I found, just on Google alone:

To wit…. “In order to maintain tax-exempt status, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations cannot engage in political campaigning. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status should be ever vigilant about this prohibition — a violation could result in severe consequences.”

And…”The federal tax law is very strict on the issue of political campaigning. A 501(c)(3) organization is absolutely forbidden to directly or indirectly participate in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Violation of this prohibition could lead the IRS to completely revoke (the) organization’s tax-exempt status or impose excise taxes on (the) organization.”

So, under those conditions, it would seem that the IRS was justified in researching Tea Party groups. And they certainly are not the first investigating organization to utilize “key word” recognition in order to investigate or clarify in more depth.

And so the current IRS witch hunt, being avidly pursued by our obstructionist anti-Obama congressional representatives, simply reminds me of the old saying “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Noank Memorial Day Parade and Picnic
Posted by Ed Johnson, May 16, 2013 at 07:20 pm
Notes from the Old Noank Jail

There will be a Memorial Day Parade in Noank Village on Monday morning, May 27th, 2013 which will be followed by a picnic lunch and band music in the Noank Park near the Firehouse. This is one of the oldest parades in the United States.

Participants and vehicles will start lining up at 9:30 AM on Church Street and the Noank Baptist Church parking lot. These will include the Town Police Color Guard, fire and rescue apparatus, military and scouting representation, assorted antique vehicles, floats and the Grand Marshall. The parade will then start at 10:00 AM and operate for about an hour.

The parade route will include the village streets of Main, Pearl, Chester, High, Sylvan, Ward Avenue, and Mosher. The procession will pause at the Noank Cemetery and then proceed North on Elm Street to the Memorial Triangle at Brook Street.

Following the Parade at 11:00 AM an informal picnic, free to the public, will be sponsored and served by American Legion Veterans, which will include hot dogs, hamburgers, chips & doritos, ice cold water and drinks. Music will be provided by the Noank-Mystic Community Band. Donations are accepted to benefit the Legion Charities. Children are welcome if supervised.

As usual, during the period between 9:30 to 11:00 AM, there will be some traffic delays on the above streets. Residents and businesses should plan accordingly.

Notes from the Old Noank Jail
Noank Community Market – Annual Meeting
by Ed Johnson

On Saturday, May 4th, 2013, at 10:00 AM, the first annual meeting of the Board, Stockholders, Members and Staff of the Noank Community Market, was held at the Noank Baptist Church with over 75 people attending. The date marked the 1st anniversary of this Community Co-op Market opening in 2012, after a year that was difficult for many local businesses due to the economy.

There had been changes at the Market itself as the directors and staff adjusted to going from a busy summer to a quiet winter and then back now to a busy Spring season. These adjustments included evaluating the movement of merchandise that included organic, natural and conventional produce and food products.

There are now specific additions to the meat department to provide more variety and a concentration of both catered and prepared food, including “grab and go” sandwiches for local workers in a hurry. Other improvements are in process, including an inventory control of over 2000 products, local advertising, and an updated web site for members.

Special emphasis is being placed on quality of counter service and an improved product layout. Considerable effort has been made by Store Manager Rick Lunt and his staff to listen to customer suggestions regarding new products.

By my own observations, as a Co-op that has only been open one year, there is more variety in this store than I have seen elsewhere…and at decent prices….which means I really don’t have to drive to the Big Box stores…a Godsend. No more canned Muzak, either, or overly loud public address announcements…and no more coupons to drive me nuts. Smaller and quieter is better….

Ten Board members were voted in at the meeting, led by President Robin Leeds. These include Timothy Bates, Mel Romani, Valerie Grimm, Nancy Hillery, Marsha Thompson, Jyl Warn, Sandy Van Zandt, John Sutherland and Daphne Vayos. The combined business experience of this group is very impressive and speaks well for the stability and imagination that is evident with the Market. And, not surprisingly, the old-fashioned chess board and new-fashioned Wifi area continue to be very popular!

Following the meeting, there was a collection of vendors and a delicious taste-testing at the store itself which drew a large crowd. I tried to make a point of being inconspicuous as I sneaked more than one round of the vendors wares, but at 6’6″ tall, I probably wasn’t too successful…..

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Solar Power in Noank
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 5:56 pm

Notes from the Old Noank Jail

Solar Power in Noank

by Ed Johnson

For many years, the Noank Fire District Executive Committee has been noted for providing local services in a very competent, efficient manner for both residential and business taxpayers. My wife and I have lived in other areas of the USA where this is not always the case so we consider ourselves fortunate to live here.

Small solar power installations first appeared in Noank several years ago but there are now larger residential systems providing much of the electrical demand for their owners. Then, two years ago, largely through the efforts of E. Zell Steever of Noank and his Environmental Committee, Federal Grant money became available to the Town of Groton for the installation of several systems on municipal buildings. Noank was also offered a system and the Executive Committee acted immediately to proceed with the contract. Installation on the firehouse flat roof occurred a few months later and has been in operation for over a year.

The system is mounted so as to receive maximum energy from the sun during almost the entire span of daytime hours as sunlight shifts from East to West. The installation utilizes receptors that resemble fluorescent lighting tubes which are mounted in North-South reflective panels and are designed to receive solar energy from multiple directions. The receptor panels themselves are mounted flat on the roof, not normally disturbed by high winds, as opposed to other systems which are frequently mounted on angles and basically aimed south.

The installation is designed to work in conjunction with normal utility power as provided by CL& P, in addition to emergency power provided by a propane fueled generator, since the firehouse also serves as a 24 hour multi-purpose emergency center. Power is routed to the proper power source automatically, depending upon the need and conditions.

Savings at the Firehouse are impressive. In a recent review with Chairman Frank Socha, he provided the following annual comparison data from Noank’s utility bills for the building: From 2/1/11 to 1/31/12, they used 35,434 kWh at $6,365, as provided by the CL & P utility, during which time the solar system was installed and after which the system was activated. Then, from 2/1/12 to 1/31/13, they only used 20,862 kWh at $4,179. Noank had therefore saved 14,572 kWh, or 41.12% of energy use, also saving $2,186 during that period, which is an impressive figure.

For reasons unknown, the Town itself was unable unable to participate in the program with any of their other scheduled buildings.

Other Noank operations reflect the success of using efficient, local control for municipal services. This includes the 120 year old Volunteer Fire Department which presently operates with two first-class pumper engines and one EMS response truck, normally covering Noank, Mumford Cove plus assisting at Groton Long Point. With the shift in the economy where fathers and mothers both have jobs, Noank adapted by placing qualified Firefighter/EMT’s on duty during daytime hours seven days per week. This results in a quick initial apparatus response, while other personnel respond directly to the scene, and contributes to an excellent fire insurance rating for the area.

The award-winning Water Company, now over 50 years in service, is managed by a superintendent and assistant who supervise a water distribution system containing over 730 residential and 31 business connections, 86 Fire Hydrants, 282 isolation gate valves and 15 miles of underground pipe. The service is well maintained with water rates competitive to those in nearby fire districts.

Zoning is managed by a five member Commission which employs a local Enforcement Officer for routine applications and inspections. The Commission periodically reviews and revises the zoning regulations, which allows for technology changes while still maintaining a New England atmosphere. The Village section itself is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1999, the Executive Committee established a fee based trash collection system which was successful right from the start. It is totally supported by the residential taxpayers and provides competitively low trash collection rates in the area. Many of us had been previously frustrated by other trash programs that were either too expensive, not well organized, or both.

In short, it is comforting to live in a close-knit community such as Noank, where competent people use imagination and execute direct control over services to the taxpayers at a very low fire district mil rate.

Bigger is not better…small and efficient is good.

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Comments or questions on this article may be directed to: edwardr.johnson@gmail.com
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NOTES FROM THE OLD NOANK JAIL

Summary of Poquonnock Bridge Fire District Problems

by Ed Johnson

Lately, as most of us living in Groton are aware, there have been a series of issues pertaining to the method utilized by some of the PBF District board members in supervising the operations of their Fire Department itself. Here is a summary of what we have all observed for the past several months, some of which seems to involve the actions of Mr. Alan Ackley, a PB resident and local business owner.

1) There is an ongoing problem with PBFD Ladder Truck #35 having been placed out of service for the past 16 months with major maintenance problems. Apparently, no decision has yet been made to repair or replace this apparatus. Instead, the PBFD has been utilizing the services and manpower of the Groton City FD and their ladder truck for many calls in PBFD territory. Yet, up until now, no retroactive compensation for this usage has been made to Groton City, despite their requests to the PBF District, which had gone unanswered as late as last week. This has forced GCFD to restrict access to their ladder truck except for bona fide mutual aid responses.

2) The above action has placed the residents and businesses of PB where they could be negatively affected by the loss of a ladder truck because of a rating downgrade by the Insurance Services Office. In short, local insurance rates might go up. In addition, there is a safety factor, as ladder trucks help to fight fires and rescue people trapped in multi-story buildings. And a delay because of a wait for a ladder truck to drive over from another fire district creates more of a safety issue, in addition to depriving the GCFD of a valuable apparatus for their own use.

3) In addition, PBFD Pumper # 33 has received a great deal of use and has now become prone to frequent breakdowns. Thus far, this unit is apparently not yet scheduled for replacement.

4) Over the years, when Mr. Ackley was Chairman of the PBF District, his relationship with the PBFD Union had deteriorated. This came to a head last year when Mr. Ackley was publicly voted off the Board, during which time he also approached the Groton Town Council, pressing for the consolidation of all Groton area fire departments. It appeared that he was trying to turn over PBFD operations directly to the Town. The PBF District pays a higher fire district tax than any other Groton fire district. However the basic Town tax rate itself is lower for PB than for other districts.

5) Subsequently, Mr. Ackley managed to effect a PBF District Bylaw change which then made it possible get himself and some loyal followers voted onto the board. Since that time he has apparently been trying to cut costs wherever possible. This process has also contributed to poor relations…again… with the Fireman’s labor union, and there is already a union grievance being reviewed on March 14th by the Board, according to the agenda.

6) Meanwhile, per a media report, the Board has attempted to eliminate all public education programs in the PB district’s schools. So, no more “stop, drop and roll” lifesaving techniques would be available for the kids, among other things. This is apparently going to be discussed with the Groton BOE before further action is taken.

7) There is another item on the district “chopping block” which directly affects life safety and communications. For many years, the PBFD has maintained the Groton Fire Alarm notification system in the entire town and has been paid for this service by other fire districts. This system reports supervised signals over a dedicated alarm circuit directly to Groton Dispatch Center and is connected to the manual pull boxes that many of us observe in our schools, libraries, neighborhoods, public buildings and larger structures. It is the most reliable backup system we have because it is electrically supervised, notifies the dispatch center directly and can usually operate when normal telephone and cell phone service ceases to function. The concept is that If you need help, and yank a manual pull box, you will quickly receive the police, an ambulance and a fire truck. By comparison, companies and residences utilizing out-of-state “central station” remote monitoring of alarms may be subject to delays or no service during storms.

7) Yet another PBFD service that might be affected is the response by Firefighter/EMTs on a fire apparatus to local medical calls in the PB district. This directly affects life safety and needs much more discussion, in view of the 1989-1990 evaluation survey of Emergency Medical Services conducted by the Town. The final report from the survey included a strong recommendation that a proper and efficient “first responder” program was a key factor in saving lives, prior to the arrival of an ambulance and paramedic at the scene.

8) In reviewing all of the above, one might get the impression that the PBF District is practically bankrupt and/or perhaps wallowing in debt. However, this does not appear to be the case at all, as there is apparently a sum in excess of $750,000 held in reserve by the District for purchasing new apparatus and equipment. In addition, in February, the PBFDistrict Board voted to purchase a $49,000 vehicle in Torrington, CT and is finally making a payment of $50,000 to Groton Utilities for Hydrant system Maintenance.

To eliminate vital services outright would seem to indicate a philosophy of “money over safety” on the part of the Board and especially Alan Ackley, which should be cause for concern. A review of the minutes and recording of the PBFDistrict Board meeting of 02/14/13 reinforces this observation. PB has a well trained, well respected and well qualified firefighting service. It would be shame to see the department deteriorate because someone decided to cut budgets with a chain saw.

Under the circumstances, the residents and businesses in the PB fire district need to attend the District meeting on Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM EDT at the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Station and voice their opinions.

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Groton Town Referendums – the need to rectify Taxation Without Representation
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:04 pm

Notes from the Old Noank Jail by Ed Johnson

Recently, we have been reading that the Groton Town Council is approaching the subject of making changes to the Town Charter. One change would allow Groton Taxpayers who own property in the Town but who reside out of the area to vote on Referendums. The right to do so was taken away, as reported, as of 2009; it needs to be reinstated.

People who rent in Groton have the right to vote on budget matters, such as Phase II, and send their children to our schools…yet they pay no property taxes. People who may own those properties, such as a house they are renting to a tenant, have no say in the budget process. This is an unfair arrangement.

So for the record, if a tenant lives in a house and is allowed to vote, the taxpayer- landlord should also be allowed to vote, even if the landlord lives elsewhere. Otherwise, the tenant can vote for an expensive school program and the landlord has to pick up the tab with no representation.

But there is another issue that is important to the Groton Taxpayer, and it needs to be corrected as well .We need to have a referendum annually, or at least provision for same, so that the Groton Taxpayers can vote directly on the Town Budget. We have needed this for a very long time because, in the past, the current form of government has allowed taxes to rise at a dramatic rate.

A Charter Revision Committee would have to be formed by the Council. At that committee, input can be made by petition. The present RTM & Council form of Government was supposed to eliminate the necessity and expense of having referendums. Let’s look at what happened. The Council and RTM, despite best efforts by many people, have still not been able to contain the constant increases.

But…Stonington HAS stopped them. They use a referendum system and the taxpayers have direct input.

The previous Groton commission turned down a very reasonable proposal whereby if the forthcoming Groton Town Budget from the Council & RTM exceeded a certain percentage above the Cost of Living Index, it would trigger a Town Referendum. Otherwise, there would be no need to spend the money for a referendum.

This latest development of looking at an old subject gives us a new opportunity here. Let me stress something. Several local taxpayers were members of the FFAE PAC and fought hard to publicize the problems with Phase II of the Groton School system. And both the Council and the RTM didn’t want to restrict the public from voting on this issue.

Look what happened. The public voted down Phase II in a landslide 3 to 1 margin. Part of that was due to the efforts of the FFAE PAC. But I believe the major reason was the public opinion on the issue….and by voting, the Taxpayers got to express their feelings directly.

We need to give Groton Taxpayers the right to vote on the Town Budgets directly. We have needed this for a very long time. And I speak as one who has publicly spoken in favor of increasing police presence in our schools which, if approved, is going to cost money. The taxpayers have a right to vote on this, too.

A Public letter to: The Honorable Mayor Somers, Members of the Groton Town Council, Town Manager and Town Clerk

Subject: 2013-2014 Budget

As I am unable to attend the public section of the Council meeting on Feb. 5th to provide my input in person and delivered onto the Town TV channel, please note the following:

1) I am aware that this will be a very difficult year for finances in Groton. There are several projects needing attention and the BOE is faced with major issues, to say nothing of the legal process involving Mr. Kadri.

2) In the past, I have complained about the rising costs in Groton and that, given the choice, I would rather cut back on services and not have property taxes raised. With some long-time families near me now being forced to sell their homes that they have lived in for generations, because of the unfair taxing of unrealized gains, I still feel this way.

3) At the same time, the State of CT is not in good financial condition and will undoubtedly continue to be a problem on the subject of unfunded mandates. This will also affect both the BOE and Town budgets.

4) Meanwhile, the Groton Town Police Station needs upgrades and this especially applies to the shooting range. We are at a stage where the Police need to keep their firearms training as effective as possible….which leads me to our biggest problem…school safety.

5) You know the details of the Newtown massacre and related issues regarding assault weapons and the management of CT mental health. Actions can be taken to control some of those problems, but that still leaves us to actively protect our children. We have to take the necessary steps directly in Groton, regardless of how much financial help we receive…or don’t receive…from the State or Federal Government. We also have to recognize that, despite all efforts with gun control and mental health, some of the “bad guys” might get through.

6) I’m aware that the Groton BOE is already taking steps to improve building security, restricting access and (hopefully) using metal detectors. Communications with Groton PD are also being improved for a quicker response in the event of a problem. All of these things should be done. And….I’m also aware that the BOE and current Superintendent are not anxious to turn the schools into expensive armed fortresses.

7) But…we really don’t have a choice. What we learned from Newtown is that bad things can happen very quickly and major damage can occur just in the first few minutes of an event. There is no substitute for having trained, armed police right at the schools during the time they are in session who can take immediate action. This needs to occur at all our Groton public schools. We already have at least one youth officer assigned to Fitch Senior HS, but will need additional manpower for such a large facility.

8) I have some knowledge of these things from previous employment working for a firearms manufacturer, running a central station (armed guard response) security facility, providing security systems for prisons, working in the mental health field and clinical day programs for students. I am aware that the type of police security I am recommending is expensive….probably close to $1 million annually. And, as mentioned above, there is no guarantee that Groton will get extra help from outside sources.

9) The answer is to raise taxes in Groton for this specific need. Naturally, the public needs to be informed and “weigh in” with their opinion. That process will take time. Meanwhile, I recommend that existing encumbered funds being held in reserve for other projects be instead used to immediately beef up police presence at all the schools. Previously, we provided funding for downtown Mystic Parking by making adjustments. This time, of course, will require much more effort.

10) Lastly, because of the “copycat crime” condition that can exist after a tragedy such as Newtown, I recommend that the existing safety committee meet with the Groton Police Chief and put a plan together right away.

Thank you, as always, for your time.

Ed Johnson

Ed Johnson
Part-Time Journalist
Noank School Re-use Committee Finalizing Plan
Posted on January 20, 2013 at 4:26 pm
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Recently, the Noank School Re-use Committee (NSRC) has been meeting, obtaining cost estimates and formulating a plan of action for future use of the former school building by the local Groton community. This plan will soon be presented to the Groton Town Council in order to obtain a lease and begin the process of renovation and refurbishment.

The overall vision of the NSRC is for public use of the building and passive use of the grounds during daylight hours. The exterior grounds are considered in reasonable condition with no hazards. The building itself will be approached as a 3-phase section project commencing with the South, followed by Middle and then North.

The South contains 13,000 square feet which includes the auditorium/gymnasium/stage, kitchen, bathrooms, nine separate former classrooms, 2 small offices and storage rooms. Repairs for this area will include exterior and interior painting, brickwork, windows, roof, HVAC and water system upgrades.

Key projects will involve a projected overlay of liquid-spray rubber membrane over the Middle and South roof areas, a split-line heat (and hot water) pump system for individual classroom control, plus upgrades as needed with the electrical system, depending upon type of use.

The South section will be isolated from both Middle and North Sections, which would remain inactive during initial startup. Services will be added to those areas, Middle and then North, along with roof refurbishment, during future expansion. One large classroom area, as example, might be utilized for winter crew training and storage of rowing shells

Usage of the overall facility will also be handled in phases, with primary focus on non-profit community organizations. The South section offers the most flexibility for large meetings and public events, with offices and classrooms that can be immediately utilized for the expansion of local organizations that have outgrown their present shared spaces.

Costs will be staggered while using the phase-in system, with estimated construction totals ranging between $300 to $400K over time. The object of this method, combined with funding programs, is to minimize the financial impact on the local Noank and surrounding community, while at the same time providing valuable facilities for enhancing local community life in Groton.

The local committee members participating in the NSRC should be commended for their dedication and common sense in approaching this project, which has already received strong approval by local citizens. We look forward to approval of the lease by the Groton Town