Letter of the week, 12/8/08: Christmas and thieves

[David]

Moderator's note: Every year at this time, we receive numerous letters from writers lamenting the fact that their outdoor Christmas/holiday decorations have been stolen. It would be interesting if readers would reply to this letter, letting us know if this has happened to them, as well. Is there anything to be done?

Snowman gone
Editor:

Our snowman disappeared from our front yard and we know it didn't melt or walk away. The snowman is painted on a 2 1/2 x 5-foot piece of plywood and is mounted on a metal pole. It has the number 276 painted on it with reflectors for the eyes, nose and buttons.

We've been putting it up every winter for the last ten years or so to protect our mailbox when the snowplows come speeding down our street. We have received many compliments over the years about it and people will miss seeing it this winter. We hope the Grinch who took it has the decency to return it (with no questions asked).

We would appreciate it if anyone who has seen it, or knows where it may be located, would report it. Thanks!
Albert Sattler, Meriden

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

you are in meriden....nothing is safe.......be happy they didn't take the mailbox also

[jma]

you are in meriden....nothing is safe.......be happy they didn't take the mailbox also


If Wallyworld is so great, why do you want it better? There are sections of Meriden that make Wallingford look like a dump. Don't generalize.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

Wallingford can be better....that's why i don't live in meriden anymore....i was able to escape and upgrade....pick a spot in meriden other than a park that make wallingford look like a dump.. unless you are talking about the wallingford dump then in that case i might have to agree...might

[alwaysright]

put a bag of unmarked bills at the orsini property and you canngetbthat back

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

can you post a picture of the missing snowman...that way the eyes of wallingford can be on the lookout....

[jma]

Wallingford can be better....that's why i don't live in meriden anymore....i was able to escape and upgrade....pick a spot in meriden other than a park that make wallingford look like a dump.. unless you are talking about the wallingford dump then in that case i might have to agree...might


Ever been on Collindale Drive? Royal Oak Circle? Westfort Drive? I can keep going. Feel free to compare those streets to anything around Cytec. Stop dumping on Meriden!

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

Ever been on Collindale Drive? Royal Oak Circle? Westfort Drive? I can keep going. Feel free to compare those streets to anything around Cytec. Stop dumping on Meriden!

what, are you kidding, royal oak, collindale,, you want to compare those areas with those little houses to Wallingford.....They call them starter homes...then you make the leap to Wallingford

[jma]

If you really think those neighborhoods aren't better than anything on Cherry Street, you're just another Wallyworld snob. Do they pass out rose-colored glasses in the welcome package there?

[gunderstone]

Please do not color the whole town one way based on one person's viewpoint.

"just another Wallyworld snob" paints a picture that the whole town is like this and that couldn't be farther from the truth.

Additionally, I grew up on South Cherry Street with a lot of fine families. Some still live there and new ones have moved in there since I moved away - they are just as much first class citizens as anyone else in town.

iwantwallingfordbetter is entitled to his freedom of expression (as is everyone else here) but he speaks for himself - not the town as a whole.

Neither do I but I try to be the best netizen I can; because I am from Wallingford I feel like I somewhat represent that when I write in a public forum.

Please do not judge an entire citizenry on the mannerisms of one individual or you end up not being any different than that one individual.

[David]

The original letter discusses a stolen snowman and is asking for help.

My initial request was for contributors to this column to comment on situations known to them where similar deeds happened at this time of year and what, if anything, can be done about it.

If you wish to continue feuding over Wallingford vs. Meriden, fine. But please ... could we at least discuss Christmas thefts and how this can be really hurtful to families and individuals doing their best to display some holiday cheer?

Thank you.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

gunderstone.......lighten up,,,,have some fun.....wallingford is better.............:)

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

i had set up xmass displays for years while I lived in Meriden and in Wallingford, every year 2 or 3 things would be taken, never to be seen again.....so back in 2005 i stopped , now the stuff just sits on my basement.....so the town does not matter......people will steal things just to do it...they have no usefullness other then at xmass time....it's like when they had the large outdors lights that would popped when you broke them in the street...how many of them did kids back when steal...i know i did....but they were just bulbs....not the whole string or any displays....but that was then and this is now.....

[jma]

Please do not color the whole town one way based on one person's viewpoint.

"just another Wallyworld snob" paints a picture that the whole town is like this and that couldn't be farther from the truth.

Additionally, I grew up on South Cherry Street with a lot of fine families. Some still live there and new ones have moved in there since I moved away - they are just as much first class citizens as anyone else in town.

iwantwallingfordbetter is entitled to his freedom of expression (as is everyone else here) but he speaks for himself - not the town as a whole.

Neither do I but I try to be the best netizen I can; because I am from Wallingford I feel like I somewhat represent that when I write in a public forum.

Please do not judge an entire citizenry on the mannerisms of one individual or you end up not being any different than that one individual.

You're right, and I apologize. I get a little peeved when people dump on Meriden, so I had no right to do the same to Wallingford residents. Now, back to the initial discussion before I'm spanked again by the moderator.

[gocart]

Meriden has many nice areas in it, however the school system is horrible!That's why we moved out of Meriden.
As for Christmas decorations getting stolen, I'm not surprised. You really have to bolt, lock and have a taser ready if you put things out in that town. My own experience taught me that.

[alwaysright]

Meriden has many nice areas in it, however the school system is horrible!That's why we moved out of Meriden.
As for Christmas decorations getting stolen, I'm not surprised. You really have to bolt, lock and have a taser ready if you put things out in that town. My own experience taught me that.

this is rich. I'm usually the last person to praise much about murdin- but if your kids are smart and work hard, they can do very well in the school system. Both of my kids excelled there (maloney for high school) and attend(ed) terriffic colleges and recieved multiple scholarships. All due to their performance in the murdin school system. Are there holes? absolutely. Not enough offered for gifted and talented. Real lousy students certainly get lost in the shuffle. Some of the teachers and administrators are morons. But all that said- it's kind of up to the kid. Check the list of college acceptances from 2000-to today and you'll see Harvard, yale, Columbia, Tufts, MIT, Barnard oh, so many more. and all this from probably the biggest complainer about murdin (the way it's run and it's downtown) on these boards. And although MY neighborhood isn't tony- it's quiet, tree lined and comfortable.

to stay on topic so I won't get yelled at- My wife's xmas crap never has been stolen- although I'd welcome that.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

put the crap closer to the street....good luck

[jma]

I live on a street that gets a lot of kids walking home from school. When I moved in, my elderly neighbors warned me about all the trouble they caused. Rather than sit in my yard, glaring at the kids like some people do, I waved every time they walked by. After a while, they started waving back. I made a point of being outside right around the time school gets out. I made eye contact and smiled. Were there some troublemakers? Sure! But the majority of the kids were friendly and respectful. I stopped a large group one year, and asked them if they would PLEASE take all my leftover Halloween candy, because my butt was big enough. They cracked up, and it's been a yearly ritual. I've gotten to know them, their younger siblings, and it's been good for the whole neighborhood. Decorations aren't stolen from me or my neighbors, and nothing is vandalized around Halloween.

No need for locks or a taser. Just some kindness and mutual respect.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

its 2008 forget the kindness, go with tasers..........

[alwaysright]

I can't understand the complexity of this world at this moment. Jim AND i AGREE ON ANOTHER SUBJECT!!!!

[alwaysright]

I'm assuming that no letters qualify- thus this old, boring stream goes on and on......