The issue raised the other night was NOT about whether to install this field, it was about the money that the State allocated in a grant for the turf field. This was the topic some 18 months agao, when there was over a 3 hour discussion about whether or not to accept the grant, which was asked for by the Town. At that time it was argued that this money was "slush" fund money and we should not accept it, although that same Council member then decided it was a good idea to accept the money, as long as it could be used for the pool. We were informed at that time that if you ask for the grant to be re-written that the State would, in all likelihood, keep the money and allocate it to another town. Nothing has changed on that in the last 18 months, nothing. The Town Council and BOE charged an ad-hoc committee with the task of investigating all of the issues surrounding the turf field. Their work is near completion and will be presented in the very near future. Why not let them finish their task and then we can decide if it is worth pursuing or if it is deemed not viable, then we can ask the State for a redirection of these funds.

If anyone in town is that concerned over the health issues of a turf field, then I would strongly suggest that you not allow your children to participate in any event in any other town that involves a turf field, unless the potential turf field in Cheshire is the ONLY one that poses potential health risks.

I would also suggest that the folks in town make a mental note, if not a written log, everytime there is an event, big or small, that is held on the high school field. The potential use of the turf field, if it is deemed a viable and safe option, is much more than 5 football games a year. It potentially would be the home field, as I understand it, to the high school football team, high school field hockey, high school lacrosse, high school soccer, Cheshire Junior Football games,Cheshire Lacrosse Club, Music in Motion,CIAC State championship games (which includes a revenue stream for the event), Relay for Life, Graduation, etc. The current conditions allow for a little over 100 events per year, unfortunately once a couple of the bigger ones are held, the field becomes delapitated, which could cause both minor and major injuries to users. The proposed turf field would create the opportunity to host well over 200 events per year, with many of them producing revenue that could be utilized for the long term maintenance of the field.

So, we don't need it because when you and I were kids we got muddy and that was okay? That's a sound reason. We don't need it because it will cost too much? Well, there are organizations in town that have earmarked and continue to earmark monies towards the field, which will greatly reduce or eliminate the need for the town to have any initial outlay when you combine with the State grant money. We don't need it because it is potentially harmful to the kids health? Have you been in some of the bathrooms and locker rooms lately? They are a bredding ground, even when cleaned on a regular basis, for all sorts of infections and illnesses, so make sure your kids don't use any of those facilities either.

The bottom line from the other night's proposal for the turf grant money is that to even propose changing it at tis point is political grandstanding on a candidates part, disrespectful to the members of the ad-hoc committee, and an insult to every taxpayer, parent and student in the town.

Take a good hard look at the conditions of our school systems facilities and see what we, as a Town, subject the children of our Town to on a daily basis. If you really take a look I am sure you would be embarrassed and taken aback. Our Town, which we all arrogantly think provides such a great school system, and the very reason that a good majority of people moved to or stayed in the town for, has allowed many of the facilities within the system to deteriorate over the years, by not allocating proper funding to using a "bandaid" approach towards repairs.

The high school athletic facility is where the majority of major events occur in our town, just drive by on any day. Shouldn't the facility be something that we can be proud of? Shouldn't we, as a town, ensure that the kids that enter our school buildings each and every day are entering a healthy, safe, and well maintained facility? Don't they deserve that? Shouldn't they expect that? At the end of the day, their education, which encompasses much more than the classroom activity (which is the backbone and most important part), is the primary goal of our school system.

If a brief Google search on the safety of artificial turf reveals the following, then why would anyone want to support the construction of a field that is potentially dangerous to those we're building it for to begin with????

The two artificial turf fields in Ridegfield, CT, now come with warning labels. They include washing hands thoroughly and watching the temperature on hot days, when the artificial turf, filled in with black rubber crumbs, can absorb and release heat, jacking up the temperature on playing fields.

A nylon artificial turf field was closed in Hoboken, N.J., in 2008 when tests found elevated lead dust. http://bit.ly/5VrPS

Over the past year, federal and state agencies have launched their own studies, and issued conflicting findings. School and municipal officials have reopened most of the fields, although safety questions have lingered.

Though children can touch the surfaces and ingest lead dust, the amounts are not dangerous, the commission found. Inhalation of significant dust is not likely, the commission said.

But at the same time, the Centers for Disease Control issued advisories to parents and field managers to take precautions to reduce exposure. Lead can cause brain and neurological ailments.

When I was a kid ,I played on natural grass just like millions of others in their youth. When it rained, guess what?, it got muddy !! We got over it. Sometimes a little adversity in your life is a good thing. Add some drainage work, cut the grass and let's get on with more important things.