Seen and heard in Norwalk

By Nancy Guenther Chapman

NORWALK, Conn. – Here are some interesting, cute or funny things that were “seen or heard” recently in Norwalk:

Potted plants?

A person speculating about what could be done if the golf course at Oak Hills Park were closed:

“We could do what we did with Fodor Farm, turn it into a community garden. I know a little bit about raising plants – those rolling hills would be great for marijuana.”

Hot trends

A Tweet: Final stats for 2012… Norwalk Firefighters responded to 6,507 incidents!

A wrinkle in time

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Common Councilman David McCarthy (R-District E), talking about transit-oriented development:

“I feel it’s extremely important to the long term development and changes in the South Norwalk neighborhood. It will allow for housing which is affordable for both young people just starting out in their lives as well as old people who might be allowed to age in place in the city of Norwalk, allowing them to live close to the train station and transit options.”

Mayor Richard Moccia: “We old people prefer ‘senior citizens’ rather than old.”

McCarthy: “Older.”

Here’s that rainy day

At the District A Democrats meeting, Common Councilman Matt Miklave (D-District A):

“We’ve got to set the budget cap in less than four weeks. It’s going to be a very difficult year. Fortunately the year is going to be a little easier because of the arbitration award for the teachers’ contract, but that’s only going to go so far. We still have that $1.8 million hole in the Board of Education budget that we have to fill. This administration has no desire to take money out of the rainy day funds to do what we think they should do or to cut back on the amount of money they are dedicating to OPEB (other post-employment benefits).”