This is in response to Carl Moeller's Aug. 12 letter, "Woodbury needs to restore its priorities."
Although I am not a native Woodburian, having lived here only 30 years or so, I have to take exception to a few of his comments. First, it is not a "town dump" but a transfer station. If Mr. Moeller considers it a "dump," he helped make it that way, as they say.
With regard to the new "shopping center" in town, I would venture to guess that out-of-towners came up here, saw an opportunity to purchase a piece of commercial land at lower prices than they were accustomed to paying, and figured they would make a killing. Guess again!
Yes, the "silo" building is very attractive and at a great location. So why is it empty? I would take another guess that with their out-of-town thinking, they thought they could charge out-of-town prices for renting. That's why it stands empty.
As far as the new "mini-mall," as it's been called, all I have to say is why? Another opportunity to cash in? I doubt that will happen. It stands empty and unfinished for a reason: no interest! Dunkin' Donuts tried to move in again, as it tried several years before Mr. Moeller moved here, and was greeted with the same opposition. The thinking is, that if you let one chain like "DD" in the door (gasoline stations exempt), what's to stop McDonald's, Wendy's, Rite-Aid or CVS?
I moved to Woodbury 30 years ago to get away from the hustle and bustle of living in communities like that. Going to work in the early morning, I see people walking and jogging down Main Street. How many towns in Connecticut are still afforded that luxury? Many people don't lock their cars or even close their windows when visiting local businesses.
Mr. Moeller argued the elderly woman at the deli meeting her friends for coffee and a book discussion who told his wife to move away from the group's table should be relegated to the Senior Center because that's what the center is for. That was a presumptuous, discriminatory comment.
I strongly disagree with his statement that Woodbury is no more unique that any other town in Connecticut. It is unique in many ways, from being the Antique Capital of Connecticut to having one of the best Vo-Ag high schools in the state.
There are many reasons I'm still living here. Maybe in time, Mr. Moeller can learn to appreciate them as I have.
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