Letters to the editor March 10

Spelling bee success

On behalf of the Junior Women's Club of Fairfield, we'd like to thank the Fairfield Citizen for its outstanding coverage of the 29th annual Townwide Spelling Bee, one of Fairfield's most anticipated academic events of the year ... at least for fifth graders! Your reporter, Tim Loh, and staff photographer, Autumn Driscoll, truly captured all the excitement and nervous energy of this edge-of-your-seat event. Your article was indeed "Letter Perfect!" Thanks also to your managing editor, Gary Jeanfaivre, for volunteering his time as a competition judge.

Thanks is also extended to four local banks -- Chase, Patriot National, People's United and TD Bank -- each of which contributed a savings bond or cash card for the top finishers. Patrick Salts of Riverfield School took first place, followed by Geoffrey Gaugler of Burr School in second place. Ryan Cimmino of St. Thomas Aquinas took the bronze. Patrick and Geoffrey will be heading to the Connecticut Junior Women Inc. State Spelling Bee, to be held May 15 in Portland, Conn. Congratulations, boys!

The spelling bee is just one of many community events sponsored by the JWC (others include the "Touch-a-Truck" in September and "A Visit to Santa's House" in December). On Wednesday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m., the club will be holding a "Get Crafty" membership drive/community service event at the Burr Homestead. We'll be making fleece blankets for our charitable partner, Fairfield-based Brady's Smile Inc., to be distributed to critically ill children at Bridgeport Hospital. To learn more, visit www.jwcfairfield.com. We hope your readers will consider joining us for this worthy ladies' night out.

Cheryl Eustace,

JWC President;

Cathy Wyman,

Spelling Bee Coordinator;

Fairfield

Blatant disregard for the Fourth Amendment

A visit to Bow Tie Cinemas, Royale 6, on Westport Avenue in Norwalk was once a fun time for all; however, that was before the "new policy" was instituted, making a mockery of the Fourth Amendment. (The Fourth Amendment: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the person or things to be seized.")

This past Saturday night, employees of Bow Tie Cinemas targeted women with pocketbooks demanding that its contents be shown -- to guarantee outside food and drink was not being brought into the theatre. The employees did not ask people with bulky coats or jackets -- only women bearing purses and we did not see a single man with a purse.

The manager and employee citing the new policy insisted it was posted in the lobby. We had seen no such posting, albeit one for cell phones and cell phone usage and one small sign that informed people "No outside food beyond this point." No mention of searching women's belongings.

While we thoroughly enjoy going to the movies, we revere the Constitution and are deeply concerned about Bow Tie Cinema's policy and ask that they stop the unreasonable searches and targeting of women.

Devon Pfeifer, Fairfield;

Barbara Reynolds, Weston;

Harriette Heller, Weston

DeSanctis: Integrity and strong character

If one were to imagine an ideal political environment, not many of us would envision what we have today in Hartford: uncontrolled spending and a continued display of fiscal legislative irresponsibility. However, it is reassuring to know that Chris DeSanctis is running in the May 18 Republican primary so that he can help restore some common sense to our state's legislative practices. DeSanctis just signed the Americans for Tax Reform Pledge, promising to never vote to increase our taxes if he becomes a Connecticut state legislator. This is a clear distinction from the policies of the Democratic super-majority in Hartford, which advocates raising our taxes to deal with the current budget deficit. I believe DeSanctis when he says he'll do all he can to lower our cost of living and generate new jobs. He's a man of integrity and strong character and will fight hard for Fairfield and the state of Connecticut.

Joseph DeMartino

RTM, District 4,

Fairfield

`Another falsehood'

I have written a few letters recently about false statements and distortions contained in letters by DeeDee Brandt and others among the "Concerned Citizens" group, regarding the train station project. Well, a recent published letter by Brandt contained a really interesting falsehood that struck close to home for me. She asserted, flatly as if it were fact, that my last letter was actually written by "the Flatto administration" and merely signed by me. Her actual words were that she was writing "in response to the steady stream of articles by the Flatto administration, including the most recent signed by Alan Smith."

This statement by Brandt is yet another of her falsehoods. I alone compose my letters and op-ed pieces, and make every decision about what points and facts to include, what to leave out, the sequence of points, and how to phrase them. I seek information from others if necessary to be sure of the accuracy of what I say. What would be appropriate from Brandt now would be a letter by her in the papers that retracts her reckless charge and apologizes for it.

Secondly, I have never written an "article" in a newspaper. Reporters write articles. I write letters to the editor, and occasionally an "op-ed" opinion piece.

Thirdly, a mischaracterization continues to appear in Brandt's letters, despite her having been called out on it already by myself and others: her idea that the development agreement was a contract that should have spelled out a way to compel the developer to build the road to join the bridge to the station parking lot.

Dating from the time when the tripartite agreement was originally approved in 2003 (when I was a member of the RTM and voted for the project), it was clear that the state was taking responsibility for the cost of this road work. Hence the language in the agreement about the state grant that was to pay for it, as an explicit condition of the requirement that the developer build the road.

The developer was only going to manage that road work. I didn't know for sure, but I always thought that this arrangement was probably just a convenience to the developer, due to the interrelationships between the road and other work the developer was to do on the train depot building and the rest of the project.

But the development agreement gave the state flexibility. If the state decided later that it needed to manage the road work itself for some reason, it could simply decline to provide the grant, and proceed to take over responsibility for the management as well as the cost. My understanding is that in any case, these development agreements are not meant to be ironclad contracts. There are too many unforeseen circumstances that can intervene to change the road map, and one of them sure did: the recent national credit freeze-up that deprived the developer of the option of rolling over his credit after all the earlier town conservation department procedural delays in site work.

Alan G. Smith

Fairfield

`Half-baked proposal'

Two of Fairfield's self-proclaimed financial geniuses, Democratic Board of Finance Members Bob Stone and Ken Brachfeld, have been making headlines lately. First, they erroneously supported Ken Flatto's half baked proposal to do a half-loaf renovation at Fairfield Woods Middle School. In rejecting Faltto's half-baked, half loaf, Democratic Board of Finance Member Michael Tetreau rightly stated that Fairfield needed to achieve facility "parity" among the three middle schools and Flatto's half-baked proposal didn't accomplish that.

Now, Brachfield and Stone are coming up with their own half-baked proposal. The two financial geniuses want the town to institute a defined contribution retirement plan for new town workers in the form of a 401(k) plan when such a plan (named after the governing section in the federal tax code) can only be offered by nongovernmental employers, Native American tribes and the federal government. If Brachfeld and Stone had done just the least amount of grade school level homework before grandstanding in the press, they would know that if the town wants to institute a defined contribution plan it would have to be in the form of a 457 plan, which are available for state and local governments. While the rules for 457 plans are similar to 401(k) plans, the rules are not the same. If you want to know the difference you can search the world wide web or ask your favorite financial genius. Just don't ask Brachfeld and Stone.

As the two Democratic financial geniuses point out, the Board of Finance is not involved in negotiating with the various town bargaining units and does not have a role in the approval of any labor agreements. That is a good thing!

Jim Brown

Fairfield

Spoonful of sugar lets the medicine

go down

Why do liberals admire Canada's government-run, universal health care? According to the left, health care is better in every other country. Is anyone else tired of listening to progressives who bash this great country at every turn? America is a center right nation, and we are being governed by a left administration. President Barack Obama has stated he is a fellow progressive who favors a public option but he knows he does not have the votes. Obama won on "change" but no one really knew what he meant. Our country was founded on the basis of limited government and by every credible poll, including the youth who surged to elect Obama, now known as the "Millenials," reject the expansion of government because they believe the government's negligence helped cause this severe economic crisis.

Obama said "Americans are owed an up or down vote on health care" standing in front of human "props" to give credibility to his empty rhetoric. Americans have taken an up or down vote in poll after poll and it is a resounding "no."

Constitutionally, the government cannot force you to buy a product (insurance). Where will it end? Will Cap and Trade force us to buy electric cars? Will the EPA regulate how we can control heat in our homes? Will the end obesity campaign forbid drinking soda because it drives health care costs? Silly right? Once you open the door, the government will regulate your life pretending it knows what is best for you. Liberal media has called Americans "dodos" for opposing Obamacare. Funny how these were smart people only one year ago when they elected Obama.

While our left leaning mainstream media helps defend and promote a government-run system, British papers are exposing the terrible threatening conditions of their hospitals, insufficient quantities of medical equipment and patients having to suffer and wait months for surgeries. The majority of Americans, more than 85 percent, are satisfied with the health care they receive and are asking the government deal with crushing insurance costs. However, insurance premiums only rise when cost of medicine and procedures rise. Not paying doctors for their services or capping insurance premiums does not solve the problem of why one aspirin is billed $10.

The left's argument always begins with comparing the greedy profit driven health care system of the U.S. verses the taxpayer funded "free" humane system of Canada. The New York Times editorial pages stated, "Contrary to what one hears in political discourse, the bulk of the research comparing the U.S. and Canada found a higher quality of care in our northern neighbor."

Recently, Danny Williams, premier of the Canadian province of Newfoundland, left his country to undergo heart surgery in our "second-rate" health care system in America. The procedure Williams desperately needed is not available at any price in Canada. Moreover, it is illegal to pay for jumping the long waiting lines for life-saving procedures. The system works for the Canadians because they know there are guides who can arrange travel and accommodations to the U.S. for groups of Canadians needing medical treatments that are being denied them due to rationing. If The New York Times is truthful in presenting all the facts, it would include in its comparison the availability of quality care which in most instances is life threatening in itself. Politicians can profess the benefits of universal health care for all, just as long as they can pay their way out of the system when their own lives are at stake. In case of a health emergency, America will never fail you.

Eat your veggies, ride a bike, stop smoking, limit drinking, do yoga and start taking personal responsibility for your health. Doctor visits, unnecessary testing, over-medicated patients will not improve your health and are the reason for cost of care not the insurance companies.

Julie Criscuolo

Fairfield

Man of genius?

When Barack Obama made his analogy of auto insurance to health care insurance I knew that this man had no clue want he was talking about and that his college professors did him a disservice allowing him to graduate. The liberals touted him as a genius, a man of great knowledge; so, how can he be so dumb not to understand auto insurance?

At the health care summit President Obama made this analogy: "When I was young, just got out of college, I had to buy auto insurance. I had a beat-up old car. And I won't name the name of the insurance company, but there was a company -- let's call it Acme Insurance in ... Illinois. And I was paying my premiums every month. After about six months I got rear-ended and I called up Acme and said, `I'd like to see if I can get my car repaired,' and they laughed at me over the phone because really this was set up not to actually provide insurance; what it was set up was to meet the legal requirements. But it really wasn't serious insurance. Now, it's one thing if you've got an old beat-up car that you can't get fixed. It's another thing if your kid is sick, or you've got breast cancer."

First, Obama did not buy full coverage auto insurance, he bought liability insurance that only covered his liability if he had damaged someone's property or caused bodily injury or death. Second, he was rear-ended by someone else so, the person that caused the accident was responsible (through their auto insurance) to fix Obama's beat-up old car. Third, auto insurance companies can be prosecuted by the state attorney general's office for not providing proper insurance coverage after an accident, when purchased by the claimant. And finally, Obama showed his ignorance when he blamed the auto insurance company for not providing him full coverage insurance after he failed to purchase full coverage insurance, and then stated that; "it wasn't serious insurance" And you thought Bush was dumb?

Ssg. Wynn S. Allen, USA (Ret.)

Fairfield

Highlight healthier options

Consumers are looking for more detailed information about the food they eat and the time is right for restaurants of all sizes to start providing nutrition information. As obesity rates rise and more consumers are seeking a healthier lifestyle, food-service establishments that provide nutrition information will not only comply with pending national legislation, but will appeal to health-conscious customers.

According to the National Restaurant Association, a uniform national nutrition standard will allow consumers access to detailed nutrition information that meets their needs while providing clarity, consistency and flexibility for restaurants in how that information is provided. They are urging members of Congress to co-sponsor the Labeling Education and Nutrition Act (LEAN Act) which will provide a national nutrition labeling standard for foodservice establishments with 20 or more locations.

By highlighting healthier options, restaurants can distinguish themselves by meeting the growing demand for nutrition information, establish a competitive edge over their competitors and, most importantly, provide an important service to their customers.

Laura Walsh, R.D., L.D.N.,

President and Founder,

Walsh Nutrition Group,

Illinois