Lane/Tommy: People have a negative perception about change affecting their lives. It usually causes apprehension and fear that their way of life as they know it will be destroyed forever. However, when change is controlled it can benefit everyone in a community. A recent example is the three new town councilors elected in Windham. This is something that doesn’t happen often. Although they have had the impression of upsetting the apple cart, they are, in fact, asking those challenging questions which should be asked about the status quo.

Tommy: The homestead I own has been in continuous operation as a farm since 1832. At one time or another owners have raised cows, pigs, horses, chickens, goats and turkeys. I presently raise pigs and hundreds of egg-laying chickens. I have planted a number of fruit trees to include peaches, apples, pears and plums. I plant a garden which includes pumpkins and garlic besides the normal vegetables one would expect to find in a garden. Why do I state this? First it’s what I always wanted to do. It’s also my wife’s dream to have land to farm. Being from New York City that type of lifestyle was limited for us. We love Windham because of its rural charm which includes farming.

My concern is about some members of the Windham Priority Task Force stating during a meeting that farms stink and if a farmer is not selling to a huge supermarket chain, then the farm shouldn’t be there. As an operator of a small family farm, I find these statements insulting and to be totally out of line for Windham. Other farmers that I have spoken with feel the same. A change in ordinances to limit farming would be disastrous for Windham. I say goodbye to the Priority Task Force.

Lane: What bothers me most is the probable direction that the Windham Priority Task Force is going in regards to personal property rights. When I hear anyone on any board or commission state that personal property rights will have to be nudged to fit their own agenda, it’s time for the pitchforks to come out and run them out of Dodge, or Windham in this case. My wife and I moved to Windham because we found the home and land we wanted in a farm zone. If some cockamamie board wants to force their ideas on me, I say let the fight begin.

Tommy: It appears there are some members of the Windham Planning Board and Priority Task Force who feel their thoughts on development supercedes the rights of present property owners. Shouldn’t a buyer of property be informed of the current allowed uses of abutting property such as farming rather than forcing changes to suit their personal preferences?

Lane/Tommy: Do all changes have to have a negative impact? The answer is absolutely no! People in Windham voted last June for a change in the status quo to bring back financial accountability. When people vote for a change, they want swift action resulting in a positive and prompt transformation. The discussion regarding the overpriced bus parts and the continuance of the Priority Task Force is presumably the tip of the iceberg. The winds of change are blowing in Windham, which certainly is a good thing.

Lane and Tommy of Windham have developed a new top-secret source of fuel involving peanut oil and cold fusion. They are testing a prototype of the engine in the Mojave Desert just in case of a run-a-way nuclear chain reaction. In case of a severe shortage of peanuts in the future due to the expected popularity of this new engine, they hope to be on the next space shuttle flight for their own safety.

Copy the Story Link