Interesting comment, Tim. Are you thinking of returning to Norwalk politics anytime soon? View Comment

Tim T: It is obvious to most readers of the NDV that you do not approve of Norwalk's current mayor or its police department as it now stands. If you were to develop a mayoral candidate platform promoting improvements where necessary, what positive changes would you make and how would you implement them? View Comment

I apologize for what was a duplicate post. View Comment

Hey Broad River, Thanks so much for your feedback. It could very well have been porous, unsealed brick that was used in our walkway since we decided to lay it ourselves with recycled bricks. It was our first home, so I am not sure if the walkway is still there. Now that you mention it, the logistics would be thoroughly weighed before using brick as an alternative. I've been to Montreal, too, and those cobblestone streets are charming, indeed. Interesting about the use of burlap bags vs. salt or sand. Still, the visual of Grandma's frozen laundry hanging on the line comes to mind. I guess "black" ice is gonna git ya, no matter what the material. View Comment

What an amazing machine! Watching those wayward bricks conform to one continuous sheet of geometric trapestry is jaw-dropping. I applaud Jackie for bringing her unconventional ideas to the forefront and educating us as to what is out there. Without a doubt, brick roads provide quaint and charm. I loved the idea so much that we once had a long inlaid brick walkway installed to our front door. Charming? Oh, yes. Until winter, that is. Little did we know that the brick held moisture and became coated with a slick sheet of ice. The hazardous condition of the walkway was also misleading because the brick's rough surface somehow hid the ice from view. Needless to say, those slippery conditions outweighed the charm of our beautiful brick walkway. Does anyone know if Montreal has similar problems with its brick roads in frigid weather? View Comment

Councilman Kimmel, Thank you for an exceptionally insightful letter. All things considered, these negative antics will serve to limit council "careers." In the end, voters link negative press with specific name(s.) In the meantime, it would be a travesty to lose quality council members who decide it is no longer meaningful to remain there. The attacks on you, following your recent letter in NDV, are truly disconcerting. What is even more disturbing is the possibility that a council peer may be using the Internet as a vehicle for road rage. As Glinda, the good witch advised Dorothy: "Keep tight inside those the ruby slippers. Their magic must be very powerful or she wouldn't want them so badly." Who would ever think that intelligence, decency, common sense, and a reputation as an effective district representative would pose a threat? Your shoes must be very powerful or he/she would not try to take them from you. Wear those shoes and stay the course. Norwalk needs level-headed individuals, now more than ever, who can work in the spirit of consensus to get things moving. Thank you for volunteering your time. View Comment

To the Norwalk Daily Voice: At this point I am compelled to say that the comments in your online newspaper have reached an all-time low. Obviously, there are patterns that link comments with political motives. While one can appreciate this genre of response, it simply is not appropriate to provide an open door to unfounded attacks on one’s credibility. The attacks on Bruce Kimmel, following his letter in your opinion section, deserve scrutiny. Dark humor and the misalignment between fact and fantasy is not credible text for news-searching readers. What is credible, however, is the possibility that consistently damaging and libelous comments are actually made by individuals who hold public office. This, in and of itself, is headline news. I would suggest weighing this out, regardless of your privacy policy, before you may be asked to reveal these individuals legally. View Comment

Drew, Go to ctreports.com to break down districts, schools, and grade levels. Certain info is available to the public; individual students are secure. View Comment

At a time when those elected to public office (state and local) are unnecessarily viewed through a negative lens, it is good to see Gail Lavielle recognized for her work. She is as personable and accessible as she is effective in Hartford. We, in Norwalk, are fortunate to have her work for us. Thank you for this article. View Comment

Well said, Bruce. It is puzzling why others remain in a negative, bullying-dominant caucus environment as you describe. Surely, one does not find Democratic principles thriving without respect for diversified thought. All one has to do is attend, or view, a recent council meeting to see the spillage of “fighting, name-calling, and political theater" from the Democratic caucus to the council floor. Your reference to the initial Democratic support for a budget that was $2.5 million less than the mayor's recommendation and how it conflicts with the current partisan blame of the mayor for creating the $4 million BOE shortfall by "underfunding education” can be easily explained. “Political theater” would appear to justify how the sum of the whole does not align with the sum of its parts, particularly when provided with several opportunities to play to a large and trusting audience. Moving on, as you've so aptly stated in the past, there is much to derive from honest and respectful debate with your council peers. Thank you for representing your district as an effective communicator with a focus on working with others, regardless of party, to move Norwalk forward. View Comment

Thank you, Councilwoman Duleep, for working together in tripartisan fashion for the betterment of Norwalk and its citizens. Those attending the ECS Task Force meeting are to be commended for uniting behind this very worthwhile cause. View Comment

Drew, I so agree with you. Most classrooms are not physically able to accommodate more desks and chairs, and an increase of another ten students would also create a need to limit student movement during certain instructional activities that otherwise require independent movement. The retro model of seating students (for hours on end) in straight rows is no longer functional for student learning. Unfortunately, this model would, however, be the most feasible setup to accommodate a large number of students in one room. There has to be a better way of prioritizing the funds received. Thank you for supporting the schools with regard to classroom size and for your part in rallying for more ESC funding. View Comment

What GREAT news!! View Comment

Thank you, Rep. Lavielle, for your thoughtful, informative, and supportive response. As IWitherspoon stated so well in this comment section I, too, am still reeling from Chairman Fleischmann's outrageous behavior in response to the chairman of Norwalk's Board of Education. How grossly insulting to Norwalk! This, particularly after Fleischmann, himself, set the tone for the hearing by stating that the committee will not assume an adversarial role with those testifying. What followed was a dysfunctional devaluation of Jack at a highly personal level. This was totally uncalled for. You, along with several other “adults” on the committee, dignified Jack’s understandably passionate plea by validating his frustration and Norwalk's need. Thank you for that. You are a class act! View Comment

Thank you, Mr. Lyons, for clarifying the facts surrounding the principal's letter, as published in the Norwalk Daily Voice. Frankly, I was surprised to read a letter from a principal questioning communication between Superintendent Marks and her principals. This communication is internal, is it not? Would this "complaint" be better served if made to Dr. Marks directly? In my opinion, Norwalk's school system needs support right now and it would benefit our students, as well as Norwalk residents, to lessen unnecessary negative publicity at this particular time. View Comment

IWitherspoon: Excellent point! And... as evidenced by Councilman Miklave's letter, he has already exchanged barbs with one of his council colleagues openly in the media. Running several letters in different news sources will only serve to put up barriers and prevent effective collaboration. The majority of Norwalk voters choose candidates, not party. That said, the Common Council should ideally be comprised of individuals dedicated to working together as a team – Team Norwalk - for the betterment of our city, without the constraints of partisan ties. Once elected, all candidates need to drop their campaigning at the door. It's done; you're elected to do a job. Healthy teamwork involves convincing others to understand your point of view in the spirit of consensus and frankly, is the key to good business. Grandstanding, whipping the trusting public into a frenzy, blaming others, and resorting to partisan antics all serve to lessen respect and breed distrust among peers and create a model that impedes productivity. How can one serve his district without being effective in his role as council member? View Comment

After watching the video, I am shocked that Chairman Fleishman would feel the need to reverse the tone that he, himself, set for this public forum. He even went so far as to state at 3:10 that it is not the committee's role to become adversarial with speakers. That said, what possessed him to respond in an obvious condescending and adversarial tone to the chairman of Norwalk’s Board of Education? I'm certain passionate speakers and tearful pleas are not unfamiliar to the committee members. In fact, I would think the committee would find it refreshing to hear someone speak rather than read concerns from a staged, written monologue. As is no surprise, Jack chose not to be biased about the committee’s forum and temper his emotion. However, at no point did he appear disrespectful to the committee, although it was obvious he was emotionally charged and frustrated with the current NPS budgetary constraints. Most of us tend to think Norwalk is slighted in terms of ECS funding, and as such, I feel Jack stated Norwalk’s current need very well. It is a comfort to know there are intelligible members on the committee, unlike Rep. Fleishman, who honor passion and the multifaceted appearance of true concern and who do not take public comments personally. Both Rep. Gail Lavielle and Rep. Patricia Miller found it easy to validate Jack's emotional plea with a simple thank you for your "passion" and "commitment." Additionally, Lauren Rosato of NEF delivered excellent testimony from Mayor Moccia re: ECS funding. Hopefully, the committee has heard Norwalk’s concerns and the stage for Thursday’s ECS rally has been set. View Comment

I fail to understand why Councilman Miklave feels the need to attack his council colleagues in the media rather then engage them in conversation about his concerns. After all, isn't this how civility conducts itself? Besides, isn't this the second - if not third - time we've seen this letter? View Comment

Hi Margo, To answer your question, yes, I agree; it bothers me greatly. I recently thought about this very thing when I watched a bulldog try to pick up a tennis ball with her mouth. Her underbite prevented her from doing so. (She now compensates by pushing a ball around with her nose.) The underbite, combined with the bulldog's habit of "snuffling" a sort of sneezing-sniffling habit, made her an instant concern. PBS has run two documentaries called Dogs that Changed the World and And Man Created Dog. Both relate controversial genetic studies aimed to show how certain breeds were bred over time to do specific jobs. Hence, the variety of dogs we see today which scientists claim to have evolved from the wolf. Unfortunately, with interbreeding comes breed-specific health problems and what may even appear to be oddities of nature. We can only hope these "domesticated" dogs, currently living, are given the attention and love they require to live healthy and happy lives. View Comment

I know a couple who have raised their bulldog from a pup. This breed is very sensitive and needs a great deal of TLC due to breed-specific health issues. As part of the normal adoption process, the "buyer" of this dog would, I believe, have been educated by Puppies of Westport about how to care for this special breed of dog. Unfortunately, the pup will suffer if not given the proper care it needs. This is a horrific situation and I pray the poor animal is found and returned so it has a chance of securing a responsible and loving home. View Comment