Weeds, Weeds, Weeds!

Weeds, Weeds, Weeds!

By Judy Pavlak, Winsted

When most of us ride or walk around Winsted, we look but don't really see what is there. How many times have you heard the selectmen call Highland Lake the "Jewel of Winsted" or the town's greatest asset? If the selectmen and the town manager really believe this, why are they closing their eyes to the conditions on Lake Street, which some of them call "the gateway to the lake"? Even the approach to our regional refuse center off Route 44 is more attractive.

Let's start our study with the selectmen's most recent buck bargain, Winsted's Taj Mahal, the Lambert-Kay building on Lake Street. Since this proposed bargain acquisition was approved, our leaders have found there is no money in the budget to fix it up, nor has anything been done to beautify the area outside the building. Selectmen, there is the most festive growth of weeds along the fence and sidewalk that only adds to the ugliness of this dump you have bought.

Next, turn your eyes across the street to the foot of the Historical Society's wall. You behold weeds and more weeds. All along the sidewalks on both sides of Lake Street, Winsted has a fantastic crop of Queen Anne's lace flowers and a varied selection of—yes, you guessed it—more weeds.

Doesn't the town own some land along the walk near the old Waring plant? What's to be done? We could cut the brush and plant some laurel or decorative shrubs and trees. We could fairly easily and cheaply make an attractive gateway to guide and welcome people to Winsted's "Jewel" at the top of the hill.

Probably my biggest aggravation is with the landscape at Pearson and Hinsdale Schools. With the large salaries paid the principals and superintendent, it is disgusting that no one seems to be doing much about the upkeep and appearance of the outside of the schools. These administrators need to get out of their air-conditioned offices and take a walk around their school grounds. After all, this is the face the average citizen sees.

When I was on the school board, there was poison bittersweet growing out of the bushes in front of Hinsdale. After weeks of battling the superintendent and bringing in a horticulturist from UConn to check the situation, the superintendent finally agreed the bittersweet should be pulled out. Well, it’s back! The vines are popping through the Hinsdale bushes once again and I wouldn't be surprised if they are growing up the fences again, too.

Have you happened to look at the bushes on the grassy knoll in front of Pearson? Morning glories, small trees, bushes and weeds are interspersed with the yew bushes. On my board there were a number of us who felt appearance was important. The superintendent gave us a tale of woe—there just weren't enough custodians to keep the grounds in shape. So board members Kelly Babbin, Marsha Hamm, Ginny Dethy and I spent two Saturdays cleaning up. We were grateful for the help given by John Forest and my husband. Rather than feuding, the current school board and superintendent should look after the little things that are being neglected.

But does our town hall, a vintage Victorian building and one of the locations a visitor is likely to see, present a nobler sight than anything else I have described? Sadly, no. I ask the town manager and selectmen to please take a look at the weeds along the sidewalks. Sloppy! Sloppy!