This will probably be my last entry for this blog, at least for a while. This constitutes the 260th entry in this blog since I started it in December of 2007. That’s a lot of work and a lot of time spent; time I can no longer afford. I could have written a novel in the same amount of time. I also have no idea how many people actually read this blog, so I have no idea if it was ever effective.
Time is the problem. With two children in college next year my main focus should be on making enough money to pay for that. This blog takes up a whole lot of time, but I thought it was important to give readers a perspective of what was really happening at the MVFD, and not what Mr. DeAngelis published on his website. I also thought it was important to allow others to post comments, something Mr. DeAngelis does not allow. To sit here day after day and try to counter Mr. DeAngelis’s posts with the truth seems to be a futile exercise, and I have better things to do, and more positive energy that could be directed elsewhere.
I don’t know what happened with Mr. DeAngelis. In 2005, he and a small group of others tried to turn things around in a positive way for Middlebury. For so many years Middlebury residents sat silently and watched their taxes go through the roof. Although I was not part of Campaign 2005, I respected what they were trying to accomplish. What he is trying to do now, is not positive and I see nothing beneficial about blasting Paul Perrotti and the MVFD on a daily basis.
As stated above this blog was focused on the truth of what was going on at the MVFD. Many of the readers wanted it to expand to what was happening in Middlebury as a whole. I was not in a position to write about any of that, since I don’t know what is happening in Middlebury politics. I am not part of it, nor do I want to become part of it.
For those who want to continue these discussions, you should start your own blog. It is very easy to do. You go to http://www.blogger.com and sign up. Its free, and the interface is very intuitive. You can post the link here for others to see it if you want.
Thank you to those who appreciated what we were trying to do here, and those who contributed thoughtful and articulate comments.
Posts
15 comments:
Farewell Jim. Hopefully another blog will follow this one, because:
An Insidious Cancer is Spreading
The only people who will feel comfortable submitting resumes and bio’s will be those who have sold out to Deangelis.
That list includes Laurie, Kelli, Ken, Eddie, Polly, Elaine, and more.
That’s why it is necessary for this blog to name names.
”Just ignore him, he’ll go away”
Wrong.
He won’t go away.
For one thing, the Republican-American is promoting him regularly, giving him unearned limelight.
For another thing, there seems to be no lack of spineless dishonorable cowards who will use Deangelis to get what they want.
You can spot these spineless dishonorable cowards by their smirking at town meetings.
Do you really want such people in leadership positions in Middlebury?
I don’t.
Cockroaches disappear in the light. Let this blog be the light.
The "elephant in the room" at this week's Republican Town Committee meeting was Pat Deangelis. Nobody mentioned him by name, only by innuendo.
In a discussion between Tom Gormley and members of the committee, several people spoke up about being hesitant to send resumes or any biographical information to the Selectman's office because they would likely be leaked or FOI'd to "that web site" and picked apart and criticized.
There was no disagreement that the First Selectman had a responsibility to know the credentials of appointees. The discussion had to do with good candidates being unwilling to have their personal information in the hands of Deangelis. Without mentioning his name, every person in the room knew what Deangelis might do to any bio or resume he could post on his web site.
I just wanted to mention this so that Jim Redway would be encouraged to keep this blog going.
This blog is the true conscience of Middlebury. The people who leak information to Deangelis are hypocrites. They want Deangelis to do the dirty work while they remain "clean". This blog can expose these hypocrites. They created the beast and they need to be held accountable for the destruction that it is causing.
What destruction? Go back and re-read what I wrote above. Even the Middlebury Republican Town Committee acknowledges that Deangelis is preventing good citizens from participating in voluntary Middlebury government.
This is EXACTLY the opposite of what Deangelis is claiming. Deangelis pontificates that he is helping Middlebury, but the fact is that he is harming Middlebury and adding to the bitterness and corruption.
Go argue that.
January 16, 2009 8:42 AM
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Thank you Jim Redway. I posted this before I saw your good bye. I appreciate what you've done.
Thank You Jim. I'm one of the anonymous ones.
It's funny that the RTC would be concerned about information being leaked to Patty when the two biggest leaks were sitting right there in the room...
Thanks Jim.... I wish you would reconsider but I certainly understand the reasons! Perhaps you could transfer this blog and it's helm to another individual and contribute on an occasional basis.
I thank you for the courage you show in exposing the truth and your dedication to the MVFD and the Town of Middlebury.
Citizens of Middlebury should be heartened by the fact that there ARE those citizens (such as you) that DO stand up for truth and justice in this hypocritical, self serving, egotistical, back stabbing, manipulating, micro-society of ours.
Thank you again and the best to you!
Thank you Jim. This blog has been helpful in exposing the hypocrisy and nastiness that is becoming more common in Middlebury. I have always admired the MVFD and the old time values that it is keeping alive in our town. To me, there is no excuse for the constant crude attacks that are being made. If something is wrong there are better ways to deal with it – but certainly not the way it is being done now.
I’m not sure how much I can help the cause. I’ve saved some of the earlier Deangelis rantings and I’m saving everything now. I’d suggest that other readers save or print anything that they feel can be useful in the future. Eventually there will be a lawsuit and I don’t want Deangelis wiggling out of it.
To anyone who continues this blog I have some requests. Please keep it at the tone that Jim did and don’t permit libelous accusations or flaming. Please encourage people to name those who are helping Deangelis. I want that association to be a stain on their character that will hurt them when they try to have a “political future” in Middlebury. Other people have said it better in this blog, I’ll just agree that people must take a stand on Deangelis and not just sit back and let him do the “dirty work”.
Revelation 3:15-16 says; “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold not hot. I wish you were either one of the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth”
Thank you Jim.
I agree with the comments written above.
This blog is the real conscience of Middlebury.
It sickens me to think about the cancer that is spreading. So many people are taking the low road when they could instead be helping. How can they live with themselves? What do their families think? God help us.
Thank you Jim!
Please do not delete this blog until another one takes its place. That may take a while.
I waited a couple of days before commenting. I don't disagree with anything that has been posted above. The truth is that many people are enjoying the attacks being made by Deangelis so long as they themselves are not being attacked. Their tune would change quickly if they saw their name day after day.
Maybe they should think about that. Today Deangelis is attacking the MVFD. Who is he going to attack tomorrow. You? Me? You never know.
Personally I'd like to see the MVFD sue Deangelis for harassment. I think there is a very strong case. I'd chip in a big donation for that lawsuit!
All the best to you!
Sad to see this blog go away while Pattie is writing stuff like this:
All the while J. Dayton was spreading rumors about a "conspiracy". The "conspiracy" didn't exist, instead it proved to be just another act of incompetence on the part of the sole agent of the town, Tom Gormley.
I hope Time Machine keeps saving this crap for the law suit that is long overdue.
The blog will stay live. It is a good history of what has happened over the last year. I just will not be contributing to it. I would like to see someone else continue by starting a new blog at blogger.com. As I said, its free and easy to set up.
Comments will still be allowed here as long as they stay somewhat civil and intelligent. Otherwise the comments feature will be turned off.
I think it is important for Middlebury to have some sort of forum in order to express opinions on what is happening in Town.
From last year....
Middlebury taxpayers unite.
New group to keep an eye on expenditures
BY MATTHEW O’ROURKE
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
MIDDLEBURY — Two residents are forming their own watchdog group to keep an eye on how the town’s tax dollars are spent.
The group, dubbed the Middlebury Taxpayer Alliance, was created by Keli-Ann Bollard, a former candidate for first selectman, and resident blogger Patrick DeAngelis in response to what they called “rising town expenditures.”
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There is nothing wrong with forming a taxpayer's alliance if the purpose is to help the town by finding ways to save money and cut expenses.
It is the way in which this is being done that is at issue.
Mrs. Bollard must publicly disassociate herself from Pat Deangelis. Otherwise she is just as nasty and childish as he is. The same goes for those others who have been working with Deangelis. There is no reason to take the "low road" as has been done by Deangelis. If Mrs. Bollard takes the "high road" and acts in the best interests of the town then she may have a "political future" in Middlebury. Otherwise she remains part of the cancer and is hurting rather than helping Middlebury.
Middlebury history is being written every day folks. How do you want to be remembered? Forever associated with Pat Deangelis? Think about it.
This blog serves a very useful purpose for people who use GOOGLE to find out about politics in Middlebury.
Try it sometime. Go to GOOGLE and type in a few key words - and see what happens. Yes - many times you are pointed to this blog.
I don't know if Jim is aware of the blog being useful that way. Even if there isn't much new material it doesn't matter that much. Surfers will still find these reactions to the distortions that are flying around.
That is a "good thing"!
REPLACEMENT FOR MIDDLEBURYSTAYINFORMED BLOG
Okay guys, I had an idea. The biggest problem with Pat's blog is the lack of feedback, which is what makes this blog great - I love the dialogs. That is why I have created a replacement for the blog since Jim needs to concentrate on other things.
The format that I have chosen is that of a message board or forum. That way, it's COMPLETELY driven by you - the readers and community. When something happens that you want to discuss, create a new posting. People will be able to comment on it. I will do it as often as I can as well.
The rules are simple: I will try to be fair, but will delete anything that is too obscene, insulting, or inappropriate.
The message board is located at:
middlebury.proboards.com
Back in September 2008, just before the fourth budget referendum, Raymond Pietrorazio wrote this letter to the editor of the Republican American. Ray is one of Middlebury's most respected citizens and I'm sure his letter helped.
Here is an excerpt:
"Some voters are bent on doing whatever they can to see Tom Gormley fail, and that includes not voting or voting 'no' on the budget"
"Tom Gormley is an honest, dedicated first selectman and public servant who does his level best to deal with the many problems that confront the town at this time. His administration literally walked into a beehive of political and financial issues, none of which are of Tom's doing. Yet, there are those who are doing their best to try and trip him up, embarrass him or just get under his skin"
I clipped this letter and kept it on my desk to remind myself that there are decent people in Middlebury who know the score. I am hoping that there are many people out there who feel like Ray does.
Thanks for keeping this blog alive.
Glad you remembered the prime rule:
Family first,
Job second,
Fire Department third.
You have been a fierce but civil apologist for MVFD. As such your conduct serves as a credit to your family, your beloved department, and the fire service in general.
Hopefully the Town of Middlebury will someday come to appreciate the service you and your long-suffering compatriots have provided.
The Master said, " You will know the tree by its fruit". Your tree bears the fruit of saved lives, reunited families, comfort where there is pain, and hope where there is dispair.
The Deangelis fruit is sour and lies on the ground rotting, fouling the air and polluting the groundwater.
Maybe someday Emerson's Law of Compensation will will find you responding to a MVI or a medical call where Mr. Deangelis is the patient. And as you approach with the spreaders or the jump kit, Pat recognizes you and recoils in fear.
But you will have the satifaction of touching him on the arm and reassuringly saying " I got you buddy...nothing's going to happen to you on my watch".
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