During June I had 372 page visits to this blog, or, approximately 12.7 views per day. This is down significantly from May where there were over 600 page views; I think this is largely contributed to the contentious Whitman rezoning vote and the number of blogs I was writing around this subject.

I wish to thank all of you for visiting this blog and also a special thanks to those of you who share your commentary – I encourgae you to continue and to also encourage your friends and neighbors to read and contribute to this blog. Remember, I wish for this blog to beyour voice as much as it is mine.

I anticipate I will be blogging more frequently through July and into the future. If there are any topics you think I should cover please let me know.

Thanks,
Keith

With all of that said … our schools are in trouble.

Yesterday more than two million dollars in cuts were approved by the Board of Education including the elimination of Student Support Coordinators at the elementary schools.

I personally know of many students at that age who have greatly benefited from the presence of these professionals and their absence will certainly be noticed at the elementary level will certainly be noticed. I am ashamed that I was unable to attend the meeting last night, however, I doubt my words would have made any difference in the eventual decision.

I hope that everyone associated with the schools will continue to find ways to save funds without damaging the level of education our children receive. We must find ways to maintain adequate class sizes, keep as many teachers in the classrooms as possible, and keep our buildings open. That may mean some very difficult decisions have to be made, as we’ve seen in many other industries and public sectors, but with difficult times come difficult decisions.

I encourage everyone to continue voicing your opinions to the Board of Education and the administration in order to achieve the best solutions for our children, our schools, and our community.

For some reason this summer has me more excited than most in the past have. I don’t know if it’s the planned trip back to Hatteras, NC or my new schedule at work that will allow me more time with my kids during the week, or just a general hope that more good things are to come and great accomplishments too.

One of the things I am excited to finally finish this year is the exterior of my home. We bought out house two years ago, a foreclosed home on Middlebury Dr., through the help of my family. We’ve managed to do a majority of the work to the house ourselves (still lots more to do) and it has really come a long way. One area of need I’ve felt bad about neglecting so far is the outside. Landscaping, paint, lawn maintenance – it’s all been very tough as we’ve focused mostly on the living areas.

Well, this is the year I know it’s going to get done (or at least headed in a better direction). I got some flowers planted around the front of the house on Mother’s Day for Mrs. Keith, this weekend we’re making another attempt at filling in the areas where the pine trees once stood with some top soil and grass seed, and hopefully I can get some week killer down on the yard to start getting rid of some weeds and getting some grass in their place!

I want a home I can be proud of and a home that maybe some day my neighbors might say, ‘I hope my yard looks that nice some day.’ Much like I do around the neighborhood now.

So tell me, is your yard a struggle, what kind of work have you done to get it there, is there a house in the township that you’re jealous of how beautiful it is, do you have that house? Let’s discuss.

I can see where my words sometimes were critical of the individuals and I  hope that those people will accept a sincere apology.  I’ve made it abundantly clear that I have a certain level of respect for those a part of Bedford Watch – especially Doug, Judy, and Dennis who seemingly put in a tremendous amount of time and effort into what they believed was right. The amount of time they spent researching, calling others, going to meetings, trials, etc., is beyond what most of us would ever dream of doing. For that I respect them greatly.

My point throughout all of this was to be critical of the approach in battling the referendum. I certainly was not against Bedford Watch for their stance, as we’re all entitled to our opinions and determinations, I was against their method. A method I couldn’t agree with. Stretching truths, using intimidation, and making this about Wal Mart wasn’t something I could stand behind. 

I received a couple of e mails from people who had contacted Bedford Watch that included the, ‘… and we know who you are’ statement – heck, I even got one in commentary on this blog. I heard about absentee ballot requests being left in mailboxes (by those who didn’t intend to absentee vote). I read the stretched truths on the website.  I read about Wal Mart … again, and again, and again.

I wish the path taken to fight this rezoning would have been a bit more honest in nature. Was Wal Mart a possibility, absolutely it was. Was it likely, heck no. Not without parcel 6 being changed to C-2 or C-3. In fact a more likely scenario had the administrative rezoning of parcel 6 gone to PBO (or even if it remained R2-A) is we would have seen something in the likes of a boutique shopping area such as Levis Commons (on a much smaller scale). And why wasn’t it mentioned that a Wal Mart could be built on that property as it stands right now?! 

I have nothing against Bedford Watch and who am I to say they have no right to fight for what they believe in? I do, however, have a right to call out their methods and approaches which I feel I did while maintaining a very civil, honest, and direct approach. If I offended any of the members of Bedford Watch I do sincerely apologize – this wasn’t about you as individuals as it was about the way in which you were presenting your case.

I’m immensely proud of this blog and the work I put into it. I do my homework and I come to my conclusions and share those conclusions. I have made attempts to reach out to every corner of this township in order to share stories and commentary from all around. I will continue to do so. I will also continue to do my homework and speak my mind on issues; whether I be right or wrong. We’re all entitled to our opinions and have a right to share those opinions – I will continue to share mine and I hope that you all will too.

-Keith

After reading the article I penned this response and submitted it to the Editor for consideration to be published in the Letters to the Editor section of The Blade:

I’m disappointed in The Blade’s reporting of the recent referendum vote that took place in Bedford Township. To imply that the measure was resoundingly defeated is disingenuous at best and completely misrepresentative of the truth. The measure was defeated by a mere 289 votes with a very small portion of registered voters actually participating in the vote.

More so than the poor choice in verbiage in the article I was aghast at the headline implying that this vote somehow turned down the development of a Wal Mart store. This vote was never about Wal Mart; the will of a small minority made this vote about something it was not. This vote was about appropriate land use and nothing more.  The scare tactics and fear mongering of some made this vote about the possibility of a Wal Mart. Let us not forget the fact that as the property is zoned presently a Wal Mart could be developed without a rezoning request.

I’m disappointed in the outcome of the referendum vote – not because I desire a Wal Mart in Bedford Township but because the fears of a few petrified a township of people away from possibly seeing a long time vacant piece of land being developed into something useful.

Second piece of housecleaning is this – this blog is fully maintained and supported by me, Keith Godfrey. It is not maintained, created by, or have any creative control from any employee at The Monroe Evening News, Bedford Now, or any other individual. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Ok.

So big vote tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5, 2009. On the ballot will be decision on the school Sinking Fund Millage as well as the referendum vote for the rezoning on the land commonly referred to as the Whitman Property located at the northwest corner of Lewis and Sterns.

I encourage everyone to get out and vote on these very important issues. I encourage your vote even if it is not in agreement with mine.

For the record I encourage a yes vote on both issues.

Our schools are the cornerstone of our community. If you think property values have taken a hit recently you’ll be stunned what happens to them when our schools begin to deteriorate. Say what you will about needed cuts and things of that nature, I tend to agree there are cuts to be made, but this millage will bring in monies needed for repairs to our schools – not operating budget, not preventative maintenance, etc. This money will be used exclusively to replace old boilers, leaky roofs, and major issues of that nature.  A ‘YES’ vote is mandatory for the continued survival of our schools.

A yes vote on the referendum should also be heavily considered. Individually we must vote with our heads and our hearts and not be distracted by the continued fear tactics that have been employed by a small vocal minority who is against the rezoning of the land presently owned by Jon Whitman.  Just very recently, on this blog, a comment was left with the typical ‘we know who you are’ mantra that has been employed by Bedford Watch. I’ve been informed by several other individuals that they’ve received these same type of emails/comments when they’ve been in direct disagreement with this group.

Well, Bedford Watch, we know who you are too. A completely biased, angry group, hell bent at ensuring that this rezoning does not go through at nearly any cost. Fear mongering, intimidation, placing absentee ballot requests in people’s mailboxes, blatantly publishing mistruths and lies on your website.

If your organization is truly the community watchdog you claim it to be then how come there is no commentary on the Sinking Fund millage for the schools, cutbacks at township hall, the Taco Bell being built right next to residential land, the need for monies for our parks, or any other issues that effect this township. In fact, since the inception of your group you’ve had one issue you’ve dealt with and been focused on. Listen, that is fine by me, however, don’t pretend to be something you’re not – which is a community watch dog group. Honestly, if the rezoning of this land (which presently has no purchaser or developer) is the biggest issue facing this township then we’re in deeper trouble that I thought.

Your vote on the referendum should not be influenced by the fear mongering perpetrated by some. Your vote should be influenced by your conscience and what you think is the best potential land use for the property in question. Is a Wal Mart a possibility, sure it is. However, so are other countless possible commercial businesses and developments that could go into that property.

I plan to vote yes on both issues and I hope that you will too.

A NO vote means NO Wal Mart

So this means:

A YES vote means YES to Wal Mart

Again, no. More propoganda from the highly biased Bedford Watch group. Their continued use of scare tactics should be noted by all citizens of this township.

This vote on May 5th, in terms of the refeendum, should be about land use and not the potential for what the development could possibly be. Is a Wal Mart a possibility, sure … one would have to believe that. However, if one could believe that then I suppose the list of possibilities that are not Wal Mart would also have to be looked at – and that list is much longer.

People of Bedford and those who plan to vote on May 5th … there is absolutely, 100%, no factual proof that if this land is rezoned that a Wal Mart is going to be developed and placed on that land right now. None. Ziltch, zero, nada. Bedford Watch’s continued fear mongering is the only reason the big W is of any concern.

Please vote your conscience, whatever it may be, and do not succumb to the continued fear mongering of what is obviously a very biased group.

A yes vote means the new zoning classifications for the five parcel portions of the Whitman property approved on December 2, 2008, will be in effect. A no vote means the five parcel portions of the Whitman property will return to their original zoning classifications in effect prior to the rezonings

To clarify, a yes vote indicates your desire to approve of the rezoning as voted on by our township board on December 2, 2008. A no vote indicates your desire to have the zoning return to it’s orginal usage prior to the rezoning vote.

For his heroic efforts Mr. Lambert has been given many commendations and is now up for another award from America’s Most Wanted for his heroism.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Ken for about two years now and he is more than deserving of this award. I truly believe the best part of this story (aside from the children being safe) is that Mr. Lambert has never acted like he did anything other than what he was supposed to.

So, congrats Ken! It’s a great comfort to know that we have qualified and heroic people serving our township in the capacity that you do. And furthermore, thanks to all the volunteer firemen for their time and efforts to help protect and serve us on a daily basis.

I will post more content in regards to this in the upcoming days.