Treasures of Weston’s Past

 Treasures of Weston’s Past

 As we continue to celebrate the Towns 300th let us take a look back to what we as citizens of the town have learned from our forebears. It is time for EVERYONE to take a deep breath and truly enjoy those things that we are so lucky to be able to enjoy. First, I would like to commend those students and adults at the Weston Middle school who took part in “Treasures of Weston’s Past” what better than a play that was based on the History of Weston’s 300 years but not necessarily in the same terms as the way that the Towns 300th celebration committee has celebrated those same 300 years this year. I so wish I had known abut this fine play that was put on that equaled any Agatha Christie performance of the Mouse Trap that I watched in London or any play that I have seen in New York or Boston.  I was able to invite a few dear friends to see this fine performance, but wished that they had played to full audiences. After interviewing several different long time town residents and visiting different areas of the town, these students and teachers put on a show that covered the Towns 300 years from stories that were passed on from one generation to another generation. In performing this show these students took part in the continuation of these stories to continue for many generations into the future.  How wise these students are and will become in the future, I feel after watching this type of performance we will be in good hands in the future.  

 As to the 300 committee which continues with events as the year progresses they have also brought forward great things from the kick off Celebration back in January at the High School then a reception at Historic Town Hall, with a Day in June which included music and a fireworks display that rivaled anything that has ever been shown on the esplanade to a parade celebrating the 300 years to many other fine activities with more to come.  Included in this was a fine Exhibit of the 300 years of Weston’s past which still does not have a permanent home- oh how I wish the old library or the Jones House which was given to the Historical Preservation Society by the Jones sisters and then sold to the town for $49,000 would be made into a cultural history center as so many other New England towns have done before these historical properties are sold to a private developer $22,000 for both buildings for personal gain with taxpayer assistance in the form of $4.1 million of CPA money “your taxpayer money” . Oh yes I have received as other Citizens have a Private survey sponsored by Weston Voices, Inc a new non profit corporation that was sent last month to all Weston residential addresses 4200 according to the US Post Office asking residents what they would like done with the OL and JST, and how much taxpayer funds should be spent under three different ownership options, (private/non-profit and private/for-profit) as well as whether the Selectmen should issue a new RFP or extend their exclusive deal with Urbanica/Weston 358 buildings. Yes at the same time, finally the BOS has hired at a cost of $16,000 of taxpayer money to do a random survey of 1000 households out of the same 4200 mailing addresses.  Postcards were sent on the 7th of this month.  According to Ed Coburn the first surveys are in the mail, and will be remailed again in one week.  Maybe I am incorrect in this but to me this means that many people that were randomly selected will receive this survey from the BOS to possibly mail back with postage provided.  Is this truly an objective survey?  I do understand that the BOS is trying very hard to get information as to what the citizens of Weston wish but maybe they could in the future put non binding questions on the spring town wide election ballot, I believe that we had over 2000 voters come out to the polls in this past election- Maybe this is a way to encourage people to come out to vote and to get involved in the process.  As the special town meeting is coming up on Dec 2 please read your warrant and be informed.  There are several items included on this warrant including several citizen petitions, items that required those people to get over 100 signatures.  

 If you believe that these buildings should be used for Non Profit Town Use then please vote No on The Zoning bylaw Article 4 that does not create a level playing field and yes on Articles 5 and 6.  This will again send the message we wish these buildings to stay as Weston or nonprofit owned. This will be the last chance that we as Citizens of Weston get to actually preserve these buildings for community use.  So please Protect the Treasures of Weston’s Past  and make them Treasures of Weston’s Future and come to the Dec 2 Town Meeting.

 Thank You Henry Viles

300 Conant Road