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Comments in reverse chronological order: updated
6/26/08
WATCHMAN, 6/26/08
STILL HERE
[More on a favorite "charity" of Pleasant
Rowland, the Hoffman Institute Quadrinity Process]
Found this recent posting on a cult-awareness forum
de-bunking the Hoffman Institute. More interesting info can be
found here
and here.
QUOTE -- I have
extensively researched the Institute and am astounded at what
I've uncovered. It is not the therapeutic program that I thought it was
and is based on no science and is very much a cult-like experience.
This was the best article I
found on the institute. It specifically
deals with how the Hoffman process developed and on Hoffman's
background. I won't go into much detail only to say that it
really opened my
eyes and debunked the entire process and all those associated with it.
Hoffman was a tailor from Oakland.
He was not a therapist and had no
background in psychology. Rather, he claimed to be a psychic and
actually railed against psychology, therapists and others frequently
and vehemently.
Hoffman died many years ago and now the torch has been passed to
Ingrasci who is a very dubious character. He too has no formal
education in psychology, nor any clinical training. His only degree is
a BA in Theatre Arts! Ingrasci has a bio published on the Hoffman Inst
web site, but it's so obviously lacking key information. For example,
some basic research shows that President/CEO Charles Ingrasci was the
former top aide to another "guru", Werner Erhard, who founded the est
movement. This was another "self help", zen-based program that
"enlightened" folks in hotel ballrooms. Where did Erhard get his
training? He was basically self-taught. In the late 1960s, Erhard
studied Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard became a significant influence.
Scientologists to this day accuse Erhard of having stolen his main
ideas for est from Hubbard. Why doesn't Charles Ingrasci's bio on the
Hoffman Institute's web site mention this experience? I mean this was
his formative experience? Because it is considered "cult-ish" and has
been disregarded as psychobabble by many in the field of psychiatry and
psychology, I believe this experience is not directly listed in his
bio.
Additionally, I have received the "marketing materials" from the
Hoffman Institute and have found them to be very deceptive and
overpromise the benefits of their treatment. The Institute has an
Advisory Council composed for several Ph.Ds and M.D.s however the
courses and mostly taught by "teachers" who have no clinical experience
or certification in therapy. Another interesting detail is that Sonia
Choquette, one of their advisors, is listed as an "intuitive" on the
Hoffman web site. When you research who this woman is, she is actually
a psychic. She describes herself as a third-generation psychic. In my
book, that's marketing speak for GYPSY. The Hoffman marketing materials
all have quotes from Ph.D.s sprinkled throughout the pages. In my
opinion, this is just their attempt to give credibility to a program
that is not based on any science nor developed by someone who had any
practical experience or formal education.
The Hoffman Institute's web site is very vague about the origins of the
process. It says that "Hoffman was renowned for his intuitive
capacities..."
This is a dressed-up way of saying he was a psychic, too. He used
to offer psychic reading out of his tailor shop in Oakland.
It's also interesting to note that the process used to be known as the
Fisher-Hoffman Psyhic Therapy. The name "Fisher" refers to Dr. Siefried
Fisher, an Austrian-born psychiatrist. Hoffman was a patient of his,
not a colleague. His name was removed from the Hoffman brand after the
Fisher widow sued because she felt Hoffman was discrediting her
husband's legacy through this association. That's very telling.
I would also like to point out that the Hoffman Institute points to
published research from the UC Davis as to a benefit for the program.
However, it's purely anecdotal. How could you apply scientific research
to a program that is not based on science? How could you apply science
to evaluate a program designed by someone who completely eschewed
science in favor of "intuition"? -- ENDQUOTE
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TAXPAYER, 5/31/08
AURORA NY
[Land-use and Development Issues Facing Ledyard Township]
The letter below, part of the public record from the May Town Board
meeting, details the concerns shared by many Ledyard Town residents
about proposed zoning changes. But in addition to the proposed new
commercial zone at the corner of Ledyard Rd & Route 90, there is a
zone proposed for the corner of Levanna Rd & Route 90, and one
encompassing a good deal of land surrounding the MacKenzie-Childs
factory/shop.
Portions of the draft Comprehensive Plan may be downloaded here.
The entire draft Comprehensive Plan under consideration can be read in
the Town Hall on Poplar Ridge Road during office hours (Tues - Thurs -
Sat, 9-noon).
[Please note that
Ledyard Town Councillor William Heary appears to a good portion of the
land that the Comprehensive Plan proposes to re-zone as
commercial. Property tax records
show that he owns land at 1127 State Route 90, and 1153, 1171, 1203,
1nd 1208 Ledyard Road.
More information in the press coverage of The
Citizen and the Syracuse
Post-Standard; links added 6/14/08. Public
hearings will be coming up. Please attend, and write/email/fax
the
Town Board and ask that your comments be made part of the public record.]
Rose Marie Belforti, Ledyard Town Clerk
1099 Poplar Ridge Road
Aurora, NY 13026
Phone: (315) 364-5707
Fax: (315) 364-5711
Email: ledyard@ligcomputer.com
SAMPLE LETTER
To: Ledyard Town Board
From: Brad Walp
May 12, 2008
RE: Discussion of Comprehensive Plan – including proposed
Commercial Zone
Dear Members of the Ledyard Town Board:
Firstly, thanks to the Town Planning Board for commissioning its
Comprehensive Plan (CP). The plan includes many creative ideas and does
a good job of summarizing our current demographics.
My specific objection concerns the proposal for a significant
commercial zone to be developed along State Rte. 90 near Ledyard Road.
The CP does not address a rationale for developing such a zone, nor
does it detail the impact of such a development on our community.
No Need for Commercial Development of This Kind in Ledyard:
The CP confirms that there are already significant shopping areas
within a few miles of the Town (p.9-1), that most townsfolk drive to
work (p.4-4) and that we travel a significant distance to work (p.9-2).
As we know, most of our shopping is done on the way home from Auburn,
Ithaca and Union Springs. The CP repeatedly states a need for
convenience stores and gas station (p.7-8 and 9-3), yet it grossly
overlooks that these services already exist in the Town within a mere
2.5 miles of the proposed commercial zone site: the Village Market in
Aurora, and Wilcox grocery and gas on the corner of Ledyard Rd. and
Rte. 34B.
“Pre-permitting” to Encourage Development:
According to the CP, establishing a commercial zone allows the
“pre-permitting” to attract commercial developers. This is a radical
departure from our current and effective special permit process, where
proposed commercial development is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
This commercial zone will significantly reduce regulation and control
on the types of business to develop in the area.
Economic Viability:
Even in relatively more affluent Lansing to the south, commercial
areas along Rte. 34B at Ridge Road and at Rogues Harbor have vacant
store-fronts and support little more than a car wash and self-storage
units. Selfstorage facilities would be an ideal development venture in
our area given relatively lower land values and our proximity to
Ithaca. Thus, Ledyard risks spoiling its scenic rural landscape with
failed or undesirable commercial businesses, like Lansing has done.
The rationale for “high-density housing” (p.7.8 and p.9.3) in the
proposed commercial zone is also unclear. The moderate growth in
Ledyard is fueled by the desire for people to live in our rural
environment – not to be in a townhouse surrounded by retail stores. To
control growth in Ledyard, we ought focus on developing a subdivision
law, as also suggested in the CP.
Assessment Values:
Assessment values will increase on properties within and
surrounding the proposed commercial zone.
Choice of Location:
Even if a commercial zone in Ledyard had economic viability, the
selection of the proposed location on Rte. 90 at the corner of Ledyard
Rd. is unclear. The CP goes to great lengths to talk about the benefits
of the Rte. 90 Scenic Highway Corridor Plan and the Finger Lakes Scenic
Byway Corridor Management Plan. This commercial zone is a radical
departure from agri-tourism businesses like wineries and produce
stands, and will damage rather than enhance our scenic beauty along the
scenic byway.
As mentioned, this particular location already has existing
conveniences within 2.5 miles. Moreover, the CP indicates that within
the Town of Ledyard, this stretch of Rte. 90 has far less traffic than
north of the Village of Aurora.
The proposed area also includes significant agricultural land as well
as environmentally sensitive features. This will require an expensive
Environmental Impact Study to be commissioned by the Town to determine
the adverse impact on our area of this commercial development.
Summary:
I support the growth of agri-businesses and agri-tourism, as well
as the protection of our agricultural economic base here in Ledyard. I
also fully support the idea of a Comprehensive Plan assisting the Town
of Ledyard in its planned growth. However, the proposal for a
commercial zone along State Rte 90 at the corner of Ledyard Rd. has
neither rationale nor promise for positive impact on our community and
I oppose its further consideration....
Sincerely,
Brad Walp
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
THE TEA PARTY ISN'T OVER, 5/23/08
AURORA, NEW YORK
[NYS Department of State]
Division of Corporations
Selected Entity Status Information Current Entity Name: AURORA
FOUNDATION, LLC
Initial DOS Filing Date: APRIL 13, 2001
County: CAYUGA
Jurisdiction: NEW YORK
Entity Type: DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Current Entity Status: ACTIVE
Selected Entity Address Information DOS Process (Address to which DOS
will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)
C/O CATHARINE B. WALLER, PLESANT T. ROWLAND FOUNDATION
453 MAIN STREET
AURORA, NEW YORK, 13026
Registered Agent: NONE
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SYRACUSE POST STANDARD, 5/15/08
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Victoria and Richard are the key to the brand
To the Editor:
Recent articles on the sale of MacKenzie-Childs suggest Pleasant
Rowland "created something new, while building life-long loyalty."
In reality, the original works remain the most-sought-after products of
the business. The imagination and creative genius that broke home-decor
boundaries came from two artists - Victoria and Richard
MacKenzie-Childs. They are and always will be MacKenzie-Childs.
Fortune and power may cloud the truth, but true M-C collectors know
that Victoria and Richard's work cannot be duplicated. Just because you
have enough money to buy a Picasso doesn't mean you can start copying
the work and still call it a Picasso.
Pleasant provided endless dollars from her grand fortune to a thriving
business that had overextended itself financially. Kudos to her for
keeping the company and its talented work force intact. Let's leave it
at that.
I hope the new owners will give credit to Victoria's and Richard's work
and find their own style to grow the business.
Victoria and Richard continue to design, inspire and share their
creative genius with the world. You can still get the real thing, from
the real artists. Their new business, Victoria and Richard Emprise, can
be found online.
The world is a better place with these two amazing souls. God willing,
they will share their visions for years to come. They are truly
remarkable.
Everet D. Regal
Phoenix
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ADMIN, 11/24/07
CYBERSPACE
[Worth Repeating]
These anonymous comments were posted in the readers' comments of the
massively cut and hightly slanted version of last month's Associate
Press feature story, just published in today's Ithaca
Journal:
"MY NOTE: The last word is usually the most important.... and the way
it ends in the Journal [which cut tha last 9 paragraphs of the
original article] paints Rowland in a positive light, glosses over
the lasting damage she has done to what was once a wonderful community,
and I believe undermines the impression and conclusion of the fine and
skilled reporter who wrote it.
Pleasant Rowland willfully and arrogantly wrecked the village. All the
money she spent in Aurora went to please her, and no one else. It was
no act of philanthropy, it was an egotistical imposition of will by a
cruel and callous woman. She wanted, and got, every business building
in town, and then dictated who and what would be in them, and how they
should be run. And they are being run to pander to the demographic of a
50+ woman with plenty of disposable income, and no one else. Most of
Aurora's residents don't figure into this.
And despite the malicious yet silly zeal you hear from shallow
sycophants like Randi Zabriskie (who personally profits from Pleasant's
tourists visiting her dress shop) , there are plenty of people living
in Aurora who wish they had never heard of Pleasant Rowland. Wells
president Lisa Ryerson should be ashamed of all the trouble she has
brought to Aurora. In the end, it truly wasn't worth it."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TAXPAYER, 11/5/07
AURORA
[A possible explanation]
My understanding (and I could be be wrong) is that different
municipalities tax at different percentages of full assessed market
value. Aurora / Ledyard only taxes about 69% of full value, so the
difference for the county tax levy has to be made up with a larger
percent increase.
Presumably if every township, city, and village in Cayuga County was
taxed at 100% of full assessed market value, everyone's taxes in the
county would go up the same amount per $1,000 of assessed value.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
QUESTION, 11/2/07
AURORA
[Tax increases on horizon]
If the Cayuga County tax rate rises 2.1% per $1,000 assessed value ...
how can the county tax rate for Union Springs residents be set to go
down 0.1% but set to increase for Aurora residents a big 11.51%?
Look at this article in the newspaper - http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2007/11/02/news/latest_news/latestnews01.txt
- for more figures but no explanation of the inequality of these
increases.
The assessment of my little house hasn't gone up much (yet) because of
Ms. Rowland's overpriced buying spree of village property. But why is
the new rate per $1,000 assessment for our county taxes being set so
high for Aurora? Can anyone help me understand this? Thank you.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LINDA CONLEY BALLARD, 10/15/07
MANHATTAN BEACH, CA
[Heartbreaking...]
My heart is breaking as I write this. I grew up in Seneca Falls, part
of a large extended family that has been in the Cayuga Lake area for
many generations. Once a month, all those years ago, a group of us
(aunts, uncles, cousins) would drive around to the Aurora Inn for
Sunday breakfast. Oh, how the Lazy Susans in the center of the big,
round, tables would spin as we all shared our lives, our hopes and
dreams, and our meal! Then we would walk along outside, sun or snow,
and let our imaginations wander and wonder as we took in the charm and
beauty of Aurora.
In the 1990s, I brought my new husband to visit my hometown, and we of
course stopped in Aurora during our drive around Cayuga Lake. Aurora
has so much HISTORY! He, too, was totally charmed.
What now? I weep. What will be left of our memories, our heritage, if
the "boutiqueification" of lovely historical villages such as yours
continues? I shudder to imagine.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ANON, 10/15/07
AURORA
[The middle aged drama queen]
Having watched Rowland at close range for years, I'd say your analysis
of the strange psychological forces at work here is spot on. Your
characterization of a "middle aged drama queen" nails her behavior as
well as the hysterical devotion she induces in her followers.
I do think the AP
article is excellent, however. The writer tackled a big, 6-year
long story, and overall produced a quite accurate piece full of detail
and color, probably the longest, best written piece to date. After
years of slanted, pro-Pleasant pieces, her impartiality comes as a
welcome relief and restores my faith in the profession. (Reporters
should not take sides but give readers information enabling them to
make up their own minds -- principles more honored in the breach now
days...)
For the first time since our last AP feature back in 2002, a reporter
didn’t simply parrot the old monotonous lies of the "Ban the Coalition"
crowd as though they were truth (e.g., that we are a just a "handful"
of "jealous" hicks opposed to "progress"). Instead of letting it slant
her whole story, she put the bizarre animosity right where it belonged,
pouring out of the mouth of RZ. I think O'Neill spoke with, and
listened to, more people on "our" side than any previous reporter, and
she worked hard at getting reticent, fearful, discouraged people to
talk, and kept her word of providing anonymity to those who needed it.
If the Hoffman Institute sets up shop in town, I hope Helen O'Neill
comes back to do a follow-up story.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
AVM, 10/14/07
CALIFORNIA
[Monument to a monumental ego]
So much to say, so little time! I read the O'Neill
article. I thought it was good, but not as well-written as I had
expected. It was actually like many other similar articles, where the
writer doesn't take sides, stays impartial, and gets a lot of quotes
from the "usual suspects" around town.
What really came through in this article was the fact that PTR did not
rennovate Aurora, or whatever you want to call it, for the common good.
She did it to satisfy a longing within HER. As I have mentioned on the
messageboard, she seems to be obssessed with her own past - trying to
both re-create it and correct it. The Aurora Inn was never as it is now
when she was at Wells, neither were many of the other business, homes,
etc. that she bought and made over.
The ludicrous "cinnamon bun" epsisode highlights her intense need to
have things exactly as she remembers them to have been in her mind, not
as they really ever were. Look at her recent "rescue" of Red Pine Camp
in Wisconsin. If you read that story, you would have recognized many of
the same nostalgic phrases she has used to descibe Aurora, telling
everyone how very important Red Pine was to HER and her own life. So,
in the end, Aurora is really nothing more than than the "momument to
ego" that a PTR supporter claimed it! wasn't. She may be a maverick
business woman, but she sure doesn't have developed interpersonal
skills. You don't come into a tiny, close-knit community like this one,
and remain a mysterious, elusive figure who doesn't take questions from
a bewildered public. She's just a middle-aged drama queen! One last
thing, I obviously don't know Randi Z. but I thought her comment about
people possibly "spitting" on Pleasant if she walked down Main street,
absurd and embarrassing.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JENNIFER, 10/14/07
TORONTO
[Lord of the flies?]
Does Randi Zabriski realise that she called her hometown people
"idiots" and "flies" in your National
newspaper? She also accused people of crude and lewd acts. She
should be the one afraid to walk down the sidewalk. How can she claim
to love her little village, but hate all the people? Does her husband
Steve ever read poems to HER that make her weepy and misty? I wish she
would share the poem he read to Pleasant, it might bring some humor to
the whole sorry mess.
Randi, you should shut your mouth around reporters, you do not help
Pleasant at all! I hope she does not shun you for your remarks about
the town she so dearly loves.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ADMIN, 9/10/07
CYBERSPACE
The account of the August meeting of Aurora's municipally appointed
Community Preservation Panel has been updated with a response from the
C.P.P. Chair here.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WATCHMAN, 9/09/07
AURORA
[Creepy]
Watch all those visitors, mostly female, dressed only in black and/or
white. You'll see groups of them, during the day, on the street, often
entirely in black, even in 90 degree summer heat, all in black. Watch
how strangely they behave. They are the Hoffmanites. (Either that, or a
Johnny Cash fan club which keeps meeting here, over and over and over
again.)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
AVM, 9/08/07
CA
[But... what IS the plan?]
Good observations from Resident about the "feminization" of Aurora...
During my short visit during the summer, it was fairly obvious to me
that there was a lack of men. I think I saw 4 or 5, including my
husband, compared to dozens of women, mainly in groups... It makes
sense, doesn't it? A small, safe, quaint village, gussied up to the
nines,and full of nostalgic sights that trigger the ol' memory banks.
Just the way these women might remember things to have been in their
youth - or perhaps in their fantasies of what life was like in their
parents/grandparents era... It reminds me of the type of people who
like those Thomas Kincade paintings - perhaps these women see Aurora,
with its plethora of lovely old homes, as one of those paintings come
to life? In fact, I would contend that this aspect of present-day
Aurora as a theme park for middle-aged women has been the most
successful result of PTR's gentrification scheme. Unlike other things
in the village, it is working out as planned.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
RESIDENT, 9/08/07
RIGHT HERE
[Aurora as girl getaway]
So why this recent, strange feminization of Aurora?Sure we had a
women's college before, but the village itself still felt nearly normal
in gender balance. (Always more elderly women than men around, of
course, but then the old gals generally live longer.)
Since the Rowland takeover / makeover, we find ourselves invaded by
small swarms of summer tourists in which women seem to outnumber male
visitors by at least 9-to-1. Dozens of women on the street, walking,
talking, gawking, acting like this is just the cutest place ever. The
few guys with them, poor creatures, look sooooo bored, but some of them
are dutifully holding hands with their wives, as if they've been told
that this is a romantic getaway and they had better behave accordingly.
It’s really very strange. What's going on?
Is it just that Rowland's marketing vision is so narrow? Can't she find
a basis for appeal other than her own tiny slice of life experience as
a middle-aged (now older) rich white obsessive narcissistic domineering
female? Certainly her line of dolls & accessories was pitched more
to the mothers and grandmothers than little girls. Just as Dorie's
ain't designed for kids, families, couples or gents. It's obviously
meant for lunching ladies of a certain age who might bring a very
special child from time to time. Is it just lack of imagination coupled
with a monumental ego? Or is something else at work...
In any event, it certainly seems to be the women who are drawn first to
the protest car, who spend the longest time perusing it, some of them
looking truly troubled and disillusioned, and who often come back and
finish reading it after their husbands have wandered away...
Glad the vandalized protest car is still on the street, though I wish
the knifed tires could be brought directly to the attention of the
tourists -- the flats are too easily missed from the sidewalk. They
reveal the dark, ugly reality underlying the totally phony "pleasant"
facade forced upon this village. You know, the knifing of four tires
seems such a decidedly masculine act of violence, one that many of
those lady tourists might find quite disturbing...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CONTRARIAN, 8/29/07
AURORA
[Update - all four tires were knifed, not just deflated]
And now the "protest car" downtown has been effectively vandalized.
It's a bit of a shock to see it come to this, but not really
surprising; after all, we've known all along the low intellectual level
of the pro-Rowland crowd... some of them have demonstrated their lack
of glial capacity on this site from time to time. Most of all, though,
we know how dim these people are from having to contend with their
sophomoric, logic-defying and low-brow brand of polemicism, which
always seems to boil down to "we're right and you anti-Rowland people
are just bitter and mean and stuck in the past." Clearly these folks
never won any debates in school, if any of them ever even joined the
debate team.
Here's where the stupidity in this recent stunt lies: A) it would, one
presumes, make the owner of the car only more determined to keep it
there. If they haven't given up by now, this kind of intimidation is
like throwing a gauntlet down. B) it shows up the pro-Rowland bunch as
a crowd of thugs.
Let's say you're Joe Tourist (or in the "new" Aurora you're more likely
to be Josephine Tourist -- since the village seems geared almost
exclusively, now, to attracting well-heeled, late-middle-age/elderly
bourgois women). You come along the "protest car," the windows of which
are emblazoned with anti-Rowland statements and such. Clearly the car
was driven there and parked. But it now had four flat tires. Obviously
the owner didn't do this to his own car. It wouldn't take many brains
to see that it was done by those who don't like what the car says. I
think most people (even a tourist) would find such a thing appalling.
It'd certainly lower my opinion of the Rowland crowd...
But then of course this stunt wasn't meant for the tourists. It was
meant as a signal to the owner. An intimidatory signal. I hope he/she
doesn't bow to it. I hope the car stays right where it is. And I hope
the person that did this thing gets caught.
More than anything, it shows how petty and small-minded some of the
people in Aurora are, or have become. Whoever was responsible, you can
bet that the "Rowland mafia" are crowing about it. The sad thing is,
they probably won't stop to think how insecure and frightened it makes
them look -- that they can't take a little criticism, a little honest
protest. They have to shout down and intimidate those who disagree with
them. This is just another example. We've seen it in other forms at
village meetings, where the Rowland circle acts out and speaks out
inappropriately, carrying on like children, or worse, making actual
threats. This is the level to which community relations has sunk in
Aurora. The catalyst was Pleasant Rowland... but you can lay the blame
at the feet of those who willingly support her and can't stand to be
opposed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
KARIN W, 8/26/07
AURORA-ish
[Maybe it's legal, but is it moral?]
Forced resignations are business as usual at Wells College. Sometimes
you get a nice little story as a send-off, like "moving on to better
things" or "family issues" -- I was given the additional slap in the
face of absolutely no notice given to the community at all -- I had
people coming up to me as much as a year later not realizing I didn't
still work at Wells! That after 17 years of service at a pittance wage
and covering up for my boss' lack of work for years.
My resignation was forced, and no different really from the story told
by so many others: I was told I wasn't doing enough work, and two
sentences later I was told I did too much work above and beyond my job
description and it made the other employees "uncomfortable." (Remember
being the bright kid in high school and how your peers resented you for
making them look bad because they were slackers but you had your work
done? -- Some adults are no different.) Imagine then after pointing out
this contradiction being told "Don't twist my words!" Well, I'd say
they were already pretty twisted because the quality and volume of work
had nothing to do with it -- it was more a case of jealousies and fears
that didn't exist before I got my degree and was no threat (real or
perceived) to anyone else's position. Certainly the State believed my
resignation was coerced and upon my petition forced Wells to pay my
Unemployment benefits.
Just don't be thinking this is something new in the past year -- there
are plenty of employees before and since who have been forced to leave
Wells because somebody didn't like them -- nothing to do with their job
performance - including quite a few who have had gag orders in one form
or another. Almost all employees anywhere in this country are "at-will"
employees who can indeed be legally fired at any time for no reason at
all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ANNMARIE, 8/24/07
AURORA
[This recent post quotes an earlier
submission from 12/05]
[QUOTE] We had an employees meeting,
and we were told that everyone there was staying, after hearing rumors
that everyone would be fired. Later, when I called to get my schedule,
the manager began by telling me than she did not schedule me because I
wasn't a "good fit". She then claimed that "every employee there has
complained about me", which I find impossible to believe. When she
continued to tell me that I was discourtious to my customers, I became
not-so-nice. I loved so many of my customers, and never treated any of
them with less than respect. ...When I asked for what grounds she was
firing me, she said she didn't even need a reason...
The way she went about this entire thing was unprofessional, and
personally insulting. Never mind the fact that firing a single mother
of 5 children 3 weeks before the holidays, for no legitimate reason
what so ever, shows this foundation's lack of care for its employees.
I was a good employee ...honest, hard working, prompt, dependable, and
experienced ...My customers loved my bubbly personality, and my sense
of humor. I really did want to be let go from that job because of the
misery that the management brought me for the entire time I worked
there...So, even though part of me was relieved to hear I didn't have
to go back there, the kick in the head was still just that; a kick in
the head. [ENDQUOTE]
PTR is not the only person who does this kind
of thing in Aurora. Look around at Wells College. Check to see how many
faculty and staff have been fired "resigned" or forced to
"resign"(because that is the word used when people are let go) from
Wells in the last twelve months. Reason given by Wells..."they have
resigned", "moved on to better or other things", "because of family
commitment". What is it about power and women in Aurora? My friend told
me she resigned because she did not want to be told to resign or she
did not want to be fired. Speak up against injustice, point out the
faults/shortcoming, or shortsightedness of these women and out you go.
DO NOT ROCK THE BOAT. Ask no questions. Answer "Yes ma'am" and you are
all right.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
AVM, 8/14/07
CA
[Thanks for your interest... prayers are welcome, too]
It seems that PTR is rather like a Martha Stewart run amok. You know,
into the "Good Things" in life, and very interested in how everything
should look, obssessively controlling and detailed-oriented. I would
also say interested in historic homes/architecture but after what she
did to the Aurora Inn, I dare not!
Actually, I became aware of Aurora's plight after reading an article
about successful American women entreprenuers, and Stewart was
mentioned, as was Rowland. I read about her contributions to Wells in
the form of improvements to the college's public spaces and the
partnership she set up with them. I also read about her rescuing
Mac-Childs from bankruptcy court, so the business could carry on and
hundreds of local jobs could be saved. But I also read about the
opposition to her schemes and projects, and her careless violation of
the public trust when she "restored" the Aurora Inn.
I have more than just a casual interest in all of this. Although I now
live in California, I'm originally from Auburn, and remember visitng
Aurora when I was a child. My parents often attended various cultural
functions at the college and in the village, and my uncle was friends
with the then-president of the college (in the 60's). For some
reason,and I'm not quite sure why myself, the situation with PTR
infuriated me. Although I don't know anyone in Aurora, I felt empathy
for its residents, as they watched in helpless frustration as one
person basically bought and then changed their village. The whole thing
seemed so undemocratic to me, and the political and social dynamic
seemed almost feudal!
Last month, my family and I visited Auburn and the surrounding area. My
eldest daughter had an appointment to meet with a dept. chair at
Cornell, and so we found ourselves traveling through Aurora. I was
already very familiar with the whole PTR situation, had read and posted
on this forum for over a year. I wasn't sure how I would feel to
actually be in Aurora, and needless to say, the whole experience was
rather surreal. It was a weekday afternoon,and both the Aurora Inn and
Dorie's were busy with the lunch crowd, which seemed comprised mainly
of women. The big white house which houses (Jane Morgan's?) the
expensive dress shop was also pretty busy. But the market was empty, as
was the business next door, Bet the Farm, I think it's called. I saw
the infamous Fargo and Pizzaurora, but since it was afternoon, I didn't
expect anyone to be patronizing it. I saw some of the controversial
houses - Webb, Lyon, French, etc. but didn't get a close look as I was
just driving by. I als! o mailed a letter at the P.O. - it's
mid-century facade didn't blend well with the rest of the architecture
on Main street, and I imagine that is another reason PTR wants it torn
down, besides for parking.
Two things struck me about the village: one, that it is a truly lovely
place and setting; very peaceful and serene (except for the trucks
rumbling through!) And two, that you can immediately tell that
"something has been done to it". It seemed too nice, too gentrified. If
I didn't know better, I would think everyone in the town was very
wealthy. It was sort of like a mini-Skaneateles. But it didn't seem
authentic. It was so different from all the other small, rural hamlets
and villages like it around Cayuga lake, and for that matter the entire
Finger Lakes region. Maybe PTR would nod and beam with pride at these
words. Perhaps this is what she wants, and has sought to achieve.
Anyway, we left in the middle of a thunderstorm, and came back a
different route, so that was the end of my Aurora encounter.
I enjoyed my brief visit to Aurora and hope to return in the near
future. Until then, I will keep following the progress of events,
mainly through the words and thoughts found on this web site/forum.
Keep fighting the good fight!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
THOURGHTS FOR AVM, 8/14/07
?
[No, not quite all...]
I speculate there may be a couple of reasons:First, as mentioned here
often, the faculty value their livelihoods. It is very reasonable to
assume that if any prof publicly advocated against Rowland and Ryerson,
that their work life would be jeopardized, or at least made to be very
uncomfortable. In her role as president, Ryerson has shown herself to
be a cold and self serving bitch.Second, I think there also may be a
kind of circling of the wagons mentality among some of the Wells
employees, including some of the faculty. They realize so many others
in Aurora are disgusted about what has happened, and may feel
embarrassed about their own impotence in helping it to happen by not
objecting ( see above paragraph). This guilt leads to defensiveness
towards those who do object to Rowland, and before you know it, they
find they are on the same team as Ryerson. Not all, of course, but I
have observed it in some. It's another example of the type of social
disruption Rowland has created in Aurora.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LOCAL, 8/14/07
AURORA
[Bricks, not brains]
It's often been noted that PTR flatly refused to put any money into any
form of academic support, but rather insisted on putting money only
into physical improvements at the college. Not only do quite a lot of
the faculty resent that (though, as you say, one has to be careful what
one says in public if you value your employment), but it has given rise
to much speculation as to WHY she is only interested in the physical
space of Wells College. Just what ARE her plans for Wells and Aurora?
They don't sound very benevolent to many of us....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
AVM, 8/13/07
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA>
[Again, the answers are pretty obvious...]
...Another question for you all: If what you say is true, and most of
PTR's benevolence is in the form of physical improvements to the
college and village (her version of gentrification) why would Wells
faculty support her? Wouldn't they rather have her money go towards
educatonal improvements or salary increases rather than just cosmetic
changes? It seems so blatantly superficial and I'm surprised that these
academics wouldn't be more resentful and critical of her. But perhaps
they fear for their positions at the college.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TAXPAYER, 8/4/07
AURORA
[Bad as it seems, it could have been worse]
The philanthropic practices of the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation can
be observed through its 990-PF filings with the Internal Revenue
Service. These are online at GuideStar.Org and make for interesting
reading, especially if you check out who gets what and when. This
foundation primarily supports educational causes and performing arts
organizations. Generally, donations are given on a regular basis, noted
as quarterly or annual contributions. Many are approved for future
payment up to six years in advance, giving recipients the security of
knowing that the foundationï¿1⁄2s support will continue.
That is never the case with the contributions to Wells College. Those
contributions, robust in some years and lean in others, are erratic in
timing, unpredictable in amount, and are -- unlike those for any other
educational institution -- always listed as being for "buildings" or
for "maintenance of public spaces."
The Overture Center in Madison, Wisconsin, is not a focus of the PTR
Foundation (although Rowland did give a pipe organ for the new concert
hall). Overture is the creature of Rowlandï¿1⁄2s husband,
Jerome "Gerry" Frautschi. The project occasioned significant
controversy and opposition.
Here are just a few of the points I remember from the press coverage at
the time: 1) a thriving "college-town" community of shops, restaurants
and bars would be destroyed in favor of a single new, enormous
"attraction," 2) a project funded by private money somehow acquired the
governmental power of condemnation, so that business owners who refused
to sell were forced off their property by eminent domain, 3) the
existing performance spaces of small local arts organizations were
destroyed in favor of construction of a huge space that could only be
filled by national touring companies of mega-hits, 4) Frautschi's
donation was held at his direction wholly in stocks, and a market
downturn eroded the capital before construction payments were due so
that taxpayers got stuck with the bill for all future upkeep, 5)
nevertheless Frautschi retained control of the property and governance
of the Overture Foundation, even though city employees and taxes were
keeping it afloat after the center's construction, 6) and Frautschi's
friends were quick to try to capitalize on the Overture cachet by
building luxury condominiums in the neighborhood, 8) etc.
Residents of Madison described Frautschi as exceedingly generous and
totally ruthless in getting what he wanted for this project. And he
rolled right over the experienced government and activist citizenry of
Madison, Wisconsin. (Note: Madison is the state capitol and home to a
state university.) I've always thought Pleasant learned a lot from
Gerry, and tried to apply it here.
But in her monomaniacal effort to realize her vision for our village,
Rowland did not get as far in Aurora as her husband did in Madison. He
pretty much buried the opposition and is now publicly hailed by all as
a hero; not so here. You can keep calling us ignorant rubes,
middle-class snobs, or weak-willed academics, but together a hardy
handful of us acted early-on to at least partially block her scheme.
She did not succeed in establishing herself as resident queen
of whatever it was she so desperately wanted to plant here. For that, I
am grateful.
The Overture opposition websites seem to have disappeared, but here are
a few random links from an old set of bookmarks I saved with press
coverage on the Madison Overture Center Development:
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/madison.com/html/archive_files/wsj/2000/08/22/0008220003.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2000/08/24/0008240345.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2001/01/06/0101060232.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/1999/05/01/9905020198.php
www.badgerherald.com/oped/2005/10/13/setbacks_plague_over.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2007/01/17/0701160374.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2001/05/22/0105220171.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2005/05/13/0505130237.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2005/10/19/0510190055.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2006/04/30/0605010147.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2004/09/14/0409140096.php
www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2000/09/27/0009270294.php
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CONTRARIAN, 8/3/07
AURORA
[Yes, very suspicious all around]
AVM: ...It should be clear as to why Pleasant Rowland chose Aurora, and
you in part answered that question yourself a year ago: it's a smaller,
far more provincial town than Mt. Kisko...
I feel there's an important point that needs to be made... namely that
we who oppose Rowland are often accused, by her supporters, of being
people who merely "hate change." What they fail to consider is that in
a very real sense it is Rowland who "hates change"---her agenda was to
roll back time and return Aurora to some fanciful, idyllic, 1950s
existence. At least that's what one is led to believe by listening to
her own words. Of course it's only partly true; in reality it might be
more accurate to say that what Rowland was trying to do was reconstruct
Aurora to match her vision of a sort of faux Victorian theme park
similar to her "American Girls vision" of reality. At any rate the fact
is that she has shown what can best be described as contempt for the
village as a community and for any construction, old or new, that
didnï¿1⁄2t match her
ï¿1⁄2vision.ï¿1⁄2 Aurora had moved on from what
she remembered, and she didn't like it...
I don't know what actual charity work Rowland has done elsewhere
besides the Overture Center ... she certainly has done none in Aurora.
She hasn't given a dime to local schools or the local library or any
other community organizations; the "philanthropy" she's conducted in
the village has been limited solely to donating money to re-do
furnishings and decor (to the demands of her taste) in some of the
buildings at Wells College and to giving money to renovate buildings
and businesses in Aurora--most notably the Aurora Inn, which was an
intact late-Federalist era structure which she gutted and remade,
spoiling both the original interior as well as the facade. To my
knowledge she has given no money whatsoever to Wells College for things
like faculty retention and/or recruiting, upgrade of equipment or
infrastructure, or scholarships--the very things any college most
desperately needs money for. ... So her status as a "philanthropist,"
to my thinking, is very much in question....
As to CJ Koepp, the link provided by the webmaster tells you who she
is. Your questions about Webb House are tougher and we can only guess
at the answers. Koepp is clearly in league with the Rowland clique.
They all strongly support her. It's also known that Rowland was
determined that Webb House was going to go where she wanted it... and
this meant that one of two old, unique buildings was going to be torn
down so that Rowland got her way. This is, finally, what happened. For
all appearances it SEEMS that Koepp was brought into this as a beard,
yes, so that Rowland could make her desires re: Webb House come to pass
without it seeming to involve herself directly. Koepp is adept at
garnering sympathy from people....I've watched her closely and I don't
believe her act---an act which a lot of people fall for... who see this
as a victory for the poor, put-upon professor against the wealthy
Holland family. Never mind that Rowland was almost certainly behind
things all along and that ... there were more sensible alternatives for
Koepp than buying Webb House, demolishing Lake House, moving Webb House
in its place, (on top of a creek, yet) and raising it an additional
story into the air. Far more sensible. And yet she "had" to have Webb
House. It's very suspicious.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
AVM, 8/2/07
CALIFORNIA
[Same author answered some of these same questions last summer: scroll
to very bottom of this page]
Who is CJ
Koepp? Is he/she a resident of Aurora? Was it PTR's intention to
always sell Webb House to another party? Or is Koepp a beard for PTR
and the LLC? In other words,
when PTR saw the difficulties Webb House was having, perhaps because of
who owned it, did she decide to sell it to get her goals accomplished
another way?
I'm trying to piece all of this together because, to an outsider, it is
rather like a mystery novel, full of intrigue and drama. I don't mean
to trivialize these very real problems in any way, so I hope no one is
offended by those remarks.
I often wondered why PTR chose Aurora as her "victim" instead of some
place closer to home, say, a small town in Wisconsin or Illinois. There
are, undoubtedly, many lovely towns there in need of some TLC and a
wealthy benefactoress. I know she and her husband have already given
much to several charitable causes in WI, namely the Overture Center,
which is laudable. But why come all the way to NY to manipulate this
village? Do you think she intended to live in Aurora permanently, at
some point? Perhaps before things got too hot?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HANNAH, 8/4/07
"AURORA"
[Then give your full name and get a local IP!]
Laura, I live in Aurora. I know you. You know me. This is a small
village (under a 1000 with Wells students) and one does not have to
turn over stones to know what happens here.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
L. HOLLAND, 8/3/07
AURORA
[Sloppy is one word for it]
Hannah: I don't know you. We have never met. Yet you remind me of
someone else whom I have never met. A woman named Robin Driscoll.Like
you, she didn't let not knowing me stand in the way of judging me. Like
you, she embarrassed herself by publicly disparaging me, my family, and
my home. She did this at a village meeting, without ever meeting us.
Also like you, she does not live in Aurora and clearly had no idea what
was going on here, but she did not let that stop her from babbling a
speech of malicious lies, inane gossip and gratuitous insults.
Funny, just a few months later, when she wanted something from us, a
sale of lakefront property behind Lyon House, our new house went from
being likened to a "big ugly office building" to "your lovely
home".Hannah, I have never met you. You have based your opinions of me
on hearsay. Thatï¿1⁄2s a sloppy way to go through life.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
INTERLOPER, 8/1/07
AURORA
Thank you, Contrarian, for your insightful rendering of the vexing
situation that Aurora finds itself in after the deluge that is and was
PR. Because of you and your fellow contrarians, the world will be safe
for democracy, decency and all that is good and right in this world. Or
at least in a few square miles of southern Cayuga County.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CONTRARIAN, 8/1/07
AURORA
[She divided and hurt Mt. Kisco, too, but it didn't last as long...]
Wrong, "Interloper." Yes, there's some town & gown aspect to the
complaints you'll read on this site, but they largely relate to the
current president of Wells College rather than the college itself. And
in fact I could say very nice things about the contributions of other
colleges in the area to their respective communities, so for myself, at
least, this has never been about simple Wells-bashing.
In fact, very little of what is said here by anyone has anything to do
with the college per se. It's about Pleasant Rowland. Wells College
needn't even exist; PR could still have come into our village and done
what she's done regardless. The college merely gave her an excuse; she
used it as a wedge to drive herself into Aurora, because she was
looking for a village to make over in her twisted image. Mt. Kisko, NY
had the sense and the strength of will to push her out before she could
do real damage; Aurora was far easier pickings and PR knew it. It's
undoubtedly the real reason she came here. Aurora was her second
choice, the village that was less likely to put up a strong fight,
because it was smaller and weaker, and populated largely by rubes whom
she knew would bow down to her wealth.
The note above your entry says it all: show us another college town
controlled by a megalomaniacal billionaire. You clearly haven't been
reading through this site well enough or have only chose to hear what
you want to hear.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
INTERLOPER, 7/31/07
AURORA
[Sure: show us anther college town controlled by a megalomaniacal
billionaire!]
This is classic town-gown stuff. Aurora is no diferrent than any other
college town because, afterall, no matter where you go, there you are.
The complainers complain alot about goiings-on but can't list any
community accomplishments or contributions & the college looks out
for its own interests, apparently without consulting the townfolk. Same
as it ever was.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CONCERNED AURORAN, 7/31/07
AURORA
[Stupid plans, inept boards, or both?]
To Hannah: I had to respond to your smug, self-righteous note even
though it was directed at someone else. To begin with, what could Laura
Holland possibly be envious about, in regards to CJ or anything CJ has?
Nothing. I'd suggest you think before you toss your rhetoric around,
"Hannah." You only sound petty and ill-mannered.
As for complaints about the Holland's new house, I've heard them too,
and they're nonsense. Take a look around, "Hannah" ...Aurora has
several houses just as big (if not bigger!) than the Holland's new
house. No, the main reason most people complain about the Holland house
is because of what you tried to pin Laura Holland with yourself: Envy...
As for the Hollands having broken any building codes, it's a simple
matter of record, "Hannah." Go back and look. The Hollands submitted
detailed and professional plans from the start to the village boards.
(Which CJ did NOT do, by the way). Moreover, it's a matter of fact that
the Hollands did not have to secure one single variance for their
project. Again, this little rumor against the Hollands...is absurd, and
is motivated, again, by apparent envy. The Hollands got to build this
enormous house--therefore they must have accomplished such a thing
illegally and backhandedly. No, it couldn't possibly be that the
Hollands were within their rights to construct that house, could it?
And even if we were to agree, for the sake of argument, that their
house was too big--it couldn't possibly be that your village boards are
inept, could it? That they couldn't read simple architectural plans and
make an informed judgement based on them? Oh, of course not--because
admitting such a thing might mean that those same boards ignorantly
okayed the outrageously stupid plan to move Webb House (the Holland's
old house) on top of an existing creek while also agreeing to allow the
raising of that house by another story.
Your remark about CJ's house being "prettier" than the Holland's house
is so childish it shows you up for what you really are, "Hannah." And
don't lecture people about "hate," Hannah. The fact is you are
ignorantly (and hatefully) attacking Laura Holland when thisisn't your
fight -- unless you're CJ hiding behind a false name, which I doubt.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HANNAH, 7/29/07
BATON ROUGE
[She's writing from Louisiana!?]
One ought not to be vindictive and envious Laura. I have heard
complaints about your "too big house" and citizens of Aurora wondering
if you have not broken the building code. Why are you so against CJ?
Get over it! She bought the house you never wanted. It has been placed
next door to you and it is going to be prettier than yours. Pity you
did not have the vision to make changes to it rather than building a
new house. DO NOT HATE!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TAXPAYER, 7/27/07
RIGHT HERE
[Questions about the amazing expanding house...]
Those new plans for
CJs proposed open ditch to replace the buried storm drain -- don't they
also show a new 12-foot deck on the back of Webb House? Was that
addition ever approved by the Planning Board or the Community
Preservation Panel? Or, like the new enclosed mud-room just
added to the north, can no one remember this deck ever being approved?
Meanwhile... is that a Stop Work Order on
Webb House? The orange sheet taped to the
door of the new addition? Has the unapproved expansion been halted?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
L. HOLLAND, 7/23/07
AURORA
[New plans: an open drain ditch?!]
Subject: Formal Request
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007
To: 'aayers'; 'Attillio'; 'bonnie bennett'; 'cpatella'; 'Chris
MacCormick'; 'Derwood Crocker'; 'dstaley'; 'gbates'; 'Janet Murphy';
'jimc'; 'kzabrisk'; 'Mayor'; 'MacCormickC'; 'Nancy Gil'; 'pbianconi';
'Tom Gunderson'; 'steve taylor'; 'Nancy Yann'; 'VillageClerk';
'Email2geo@aol.com'
July 23, 2007
Dear Members of the Aurora Village Government,
With this letter I am formally requesting that the Village of Aurora
have a Stop Work Order issued immediately for the CJ Koepp and John
Place project at 327 Main Street, in Aurora.
I request this Stop Work Order based on the following:
1. The terms of the height
variance granted to Koepp and Place have been violated.
2. There has been construction
on the site that has been neither submitted to nor approved by the
appropriate village governing boards.
3. Koepp and Place misrepresented the status of their drainage plans to
the Aurora Planning Board in November 2006. They declared they had DOT
approval when they had not.
4. They have only now formulated plans with the Department of
Transportation. These plans grossly deviate from those that were
approved by the Aurora Planning Board on November 8, 2006. These altered plans dramatically and adversely affect
the neighboring property, and because the plans include an open ditch they also affect the aesthetics of
the entire neighborhood. These plans have not been submitted or
approved by any Aurora village board.
As construction on this project
is ongoing, I request immediate action on this formal complaint.
This is a matter the Village of Aurora must address, as these are
blatant violations of village law.
Sincerely,
Laura Holland
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TO DR. TAD, 6/13/07
IN THE HERE AND NOW
Aurora is a company town & and the company (Wells) has done
just as they please w/o regard to laws more serious than building
permits as far back as any can remember. As in other company towns....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
L. HOLLAND, 6/12/07
AURORA
[Productive venting]
Venting can be beneficial to oneï¿1⁄2s health esp when
complaining in a meaningful manner results in those village officials
responsible attempting to avoid/stall/defer/ignore/delay/pass the
buck/refuse to answer/stonewall. I have attended many village meetings,
read the village law book, written letters, emails, made formal
complaints and had conversations, and so far, have nothing to show for
the efforts but lost time. Maybe I should have merely
ï¿1⁄2ventedï¿1⁄2.
Not all ï¿1⁄2folksï¿1⁄2 feel free to complain
in a responsible manner ï¿1⁄2 there are dominant forces at
work in this village ï¿1⁄2 forces that can upend
someoneï¿1⁄2s life.
ï¿1⁄2Ventingï¿1⁄2 isnï¿1⁄2t doing
ï¿1⁄2nothingï¿1⁄2. It is keeping the topic out
in the open, keeping it alive, and reminding those responsible that as
much as they wish it would, it is not going to fade away, and that they
havenï¿1⁄2t fooled or cowed everyone.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DR. TAD, 6/12/07
IN THE HERE AND NOW
[Illegal...ongoing]
If the new Fargo construction has not been properly permitted, it must
be illegal. Wells College LLC gets away with it because they hold all
the cards ï¿1⁄2 and all the jobs ï¿1⁄2 in the
village. It is shameful, it is abusive, it is a poor reflection on
Aurora, but it is a fact of life, so given that degree of power, it is
understandable. Unfortunately, that is the way the real world sometimes
works. But if that is what is really going on, it shows a real breach
of ethics and integrity on the part those in charge (Pres. Ryerson and
Pleasant Rowland). At this point though, most likely that revelation
comes as a surprise to no one.
If what I have gleaned from this website is true, and the Webb house
owners are also building unapproved additions (and getting away with
it), it makes me wonder if they are also tied into to same power
structure. From the newspaper coverage I have read, they have been
quoted more than once about being motivated by their desire to
ï¿1⁄2preserve the houseï¿1⁄2. So by that line
of thinking, it is acceptable to ignore the rules because it is for the
sake of a supposedly noble goal. The owners certainly are not about to
refuse any behind the scenes assistance from Rowland/Wells, because
they want their house. But they cloak that desire in loftier terms, in
order to look good before the public, get their way, and satisfy their
own interests.
It is an ugly realization, and it is sad to see it being played out in
Aurora. But I have seen this kind dynamic at work before in other
university/college towns.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SENT TO ALL FACULTY, 5/26/07
AT WELLS COLLEGE
[An invitation]
"Dear friends and colleagues,
Everywhere we go people ask us about Webb House and how our project
isgoing. Here is a chance to see for yourselves. Now that thestructure
is safely attached to its new foundation and one can enterthrough the
front door (instead of using a ladder), John and I havedecided to have
an Open House, this Monday, May 28th, 3:00-5:30p.m.This will be the
last chance to view the house BEFORE we start paintingand restoration. Please
pass on this information to others in thecommunity whom you know
might be curious to see the Webb House "upclose" in its new location.
Happy Graduation Day and Memorial Day Holiday to all. -- CJ" [Emphasis
added.]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
READER, 5/21/07
STILL HERE
[Senk, definitely. But remember Moncrief...?]
The June 2007 issue of Esquire has a little list entitled "People You
Can't Bribe". First on that list? "Employees of the United States
Postal Service."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SIA, 5/21/07
AURORA
"Crazy inhumane being - or - obese self-loathing tyrant: you decide!"
--- can't it be both? I would like to vote for both. I'm greedy that
way.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WE ARE NOT ALONE, 5/18/07
AURORA
[Crazy inhumane being - or - obese self-loathing tyrant: you decide!]
Look at this description of PTR a friend sent me from a 12/05 blog
about her activities in Madison.
"You should not feel sorry for a crazy inhumane being such as Rowland
who is an obese self-loathing tyrant who will go to any means to
destroy hard working honest people's lives (too long of a list to
mention) just to feed her own ego. I say great job to those who gave it
back to Rowland. You know the old saying 'What goes around comes
around.' Sent this to Pleasant Rowland & let her guess who's life
she tried to ruin but failed to. Like I stated before the list is too
long and she has a short memory and a small mind (the only part on her
body that is small). If you disagree with this too damn bad. Maybe you
should take a trip to Aurora, NY and talk to the citizens there and see
if they feel sorry for Rowland & Frautchi. Rowland has destroyed
that town."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
THE INSIDER, 5/17/07
WOW
[Ah, that "company culture..."]
ï¿1⁄2Hospitality executive Sue Edinger has been named
director of The Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for
Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Cornell Universityï¿1⁄2s
School of Hotel Administration, effective June 18. ...'Sue is a proven
leader and innovator in the hospitality industry, and we are delighted
to have her join our team,' said Cathy Enz, associate dean for Industry
Research and Affairs at the school... 'We believe she has the ideal
background to build the Institute into the leading center of its kind
in hospitality management education.'
Edinger was selected in 2003 by philanthropist and entrepreneur
Pleasant Rowland to launch the re-opening and start up operations of
Wells Collegeï¿1⁄2s commercial properties, including the
historic Aurora Inn, E.B. Morgan House, Fargo Bar & Grill,
Pizzaurora, Village Market and Dorieï¿1⁄2s Sweets and
Treats. In her role as founding general manager for the Aurora
Foundation, she built the hospitality management team and company
culture that have won the properties the coveted AAA four diamond
lodging award, featured articles in national publications such as the
New York Times, and a spot in Select Registry. In June 2006, Wells
College resumed direct management of the commercial properties and
Edinger became general manager and director of Aurora Inn, Inc., the
hospitality management subsidiary of Wells College. ...The Pillsbury
Institute was formed through a gift from Leland
ï¿1⁄2Leeï¿1⁄2 Pillsbury ï¿1⁄269 and
his wife, Mary. The Pillsburys announced plans last fall to donate $15
million to the Cornell Hotel School in what will be the largest single
gift ever made to the school and one of the largest ever in hospitality
education.ï¿1⁄2
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SIA, 5/14/07
AURORA
[Links added]
Will, the fact that you can write (apparently) straight-faced
recommendations for some ridiculous
"process", and make claims for it having improved your marriage,
health, golf game, etc., is in itself proof that the sort of people who
go in for these quasi-cultish"self-actualization"
and self-improvement systems are simply the most weak-minded,
weak-willed types walking the earth. Have you ever heard of simple will
power, Will? If your life has problems and stresses, then simply
recognize them and make alterations. Done.
Of course it's not easy --- if it was easy we'd all be sitting pretty.
But the typical reaction of a certain kind of person is to find that
easy (or easier) way out --- to fall back on some "process" or some
conditioning that they think will make all their little problems go
away. Some people resort to chemicals, some people resort to clique-ish
group "processess" like Quadrinity. Thirty years ago it was EST , gestalt therapy, primal
scream, blah blah blah, ad nauseum. And guess what, Will? They
never *really* work, not any of them. But lots of people delude
themselves, and the peddlers of this crap get rich. Yay for them, I
guess. And yay for the deluded.
I personally prefer to handle my problems using my own strength and my
own resources. One last thing--it doesn't surprise me that you're from
California, Will... where people parrot and pursue the latest fads that
will bring them a better, happier life. Of course these fads never
work---but it's always sweeter to stick to the honey, false as it may
be, than to face the bitter that life is, along with the good.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WILL, 5/14/07
CALIFORNIA
[I'll bring the marshmallows!]
By the way, I am not in any way defending what Ms. Rowland is doing in
Aurora. If she's being a jerk, then I'm on your side and you have my
sympathies. I just disagree with the witch-hunt-by-association that you
are doing on the Hoffman programs and the people who have done them.
Just because a jerk likes something does not make that something
inherently evil. Apparently Ms. Rowland made her fortune on dolls, but
I don't see you suggesting a Barbie bonfire. [Nonsense: we roast
her American Girl
Dolls whenever we can.]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CONCERNED CITIZEN, 5/14/07
AURORA
[More on school budget]
I agree with Karin that the new buses should be voted for, but I
disagree with the addition of funding in the maintenance section of the
regular budget when we are getting new buses. Wasn't the whole idea to
buy new buses was to eliminate maintenance?? That increase should be
put into the 5 o'clock bus runs for the students so they can have
transportation not walking home.
The new communications system was voted on in March 2007, so that
should help with better input to parents and students during difficult
situations, if the money really gets directed to that project and not
moved to something non essential like in the past.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TAXPAYER, 5/13/07
AURORA
[Back to the post office]
What a mess Rowland has made for us. The USPS was perfectly happy with
our PO facility and location. Their officials expressed surprise when
contacted about a proposed move by our mayor on behalf of
Rowlandï¿1⁄2s LLC. The USPS made it clear that they would
not initiate a move to meet any needs of theirs.
But... because the VB initiated a relocation discussion, once
Rowlandï¿1⁄2s move was under consideration it set in motion
a federal process whereby everything about our PO had to be re-examined
in terms of the latest USPS standards.
And so then it was decided that we need a new arrangement for our mail
delivery trucks -- even though the USPS itself designed the system
currently in use here. And then it turned out that our present facility
is too large at 1400 square feet, and we deserve one only 2/3 of that
space.
And it seems that this new downsizing determination translates into a
severely reduced staff. So now, without any mail sorter on duty,
weï¿1⁄2ll be lucky to find mail in our boxes anytime before
noon on weekdays, or before closing on Saturdays.
Lets hope in her upcoming closed-door meetings that Rowland decides, at
long last, to leave us alone before still more jobs and services are
lost in this village.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
KARIN W, 5/13/07
SOUTHERN CAYUGA
[Other issues: school budget]
On the subject of busses: our school busses have been at the bottom of
the list in the whole state for passing their inspections for a few
years now -- if we want our children to get to and from school safely,
we need safe busses. Ours are old and very well-worn. Also, as a
working parent who can't be here to put my kid on the bus or pick him
up late after after-school activities, it has been more than just an
inconvenience that the school has cut the late bus -- I have a kid
walking 5 miles home from school some nights. No, I don't think those
aides should be cut either -- a lot of kids at the school could use a
bit of extra help (and that includes extra bright kids at the other end
of the spectrum who also get short-changed), but getting our kids back
and forth safely cannot be set aside either. The school did a fine job
the day of the white-outs, and should be commended, but they need to
get better communication in place desperately -- and a lot of that
communication centers around transportation. Just my view on the issue
as a parent in the school district.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WILL, 5/13/07
CALIFORNIA
[And now heï¿1⁄2s better looking, more popular, and can
play the piano - without those tiresome lessons!]
Thanks "Happy to Hear That" and "How Absurd" for intervening re: my
brainwashing. Gee, I guess you're right - I must be brainwashed because
I've been brainwashed into thinking I'm not brainwashed. Of course you
could say that about anyone who expresses an opinion about anything,
including everything you see on this forum, i.e. you've all been
brainwashed into thinking those strong opinions you write and you're in
denial about being brainwashed.
But in my case it's true - the reason I'm much happier, my marriage is
rejeuvenated, my work relationships have improved, my health is
markedly better, I've effortlessly given up three life-long bad habits
-- all that is just an illusion because those ghouls at the Hoffman
Institute have brainwashed me and stolen my money. Thanks for setting
me straight. Just in time or I might have spread my evil to somebody
else.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CONCERNED CITIZEN, 5/12/07
AURORA
[Other developments]
Two items: 1] Heard today at the Aurora PO that the person who sorts
our mail has been cut. No more will we see our mail sorted on time;
especially if the window has customers. So much for the stamp rate
increase helping us out here in Aurora! By the way, if we can't support
the size of the staff (3) how come there is the need for a new
location? Can't they make do with what we have with some moderate
upgrade to looks?
2] Also, heard today that SCCS Budget has a 4.9% cost of living
increase in it. How come we have to eliminate so many of the aides who
actually help our students and yet vote in an increase to the school
board and bus garage maintenance area. (By the way, the new bus
proposition is a separate vote item.) I for one will vote "NO" for this
budget, as I didn't get an increase in pay and those with slower
reading and math skills need those aides to help them achieve passing
grades. Make the SCCS School Board take another serious look at their
figures.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HAPPY TO HEAR THAT!, 5/12/07
NOWHERE
[Hang that brain out to dry]
Nice for you, Will - or should we say No Will Now, since you've been
"processed"! It's good to know that googling "Hoffman Qaudrinity"
brings information seekers to this site.
Because the outrage expressed here shows that a devoted practitioner of
that cult has not been able to convince a tiny village in rural NY that
she is the "generous" benefactress that she'd like to think she is.
And, let me get this straight. Really? REALLY? You are comparing the
posh get away mind surrendering Hoffman Institute to the work being
done by the American Cancer Society? And you say you aren't
brainwashed? Better think again! But...Whoops. Now you've been there,
you can't.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HOW ABSURD, 5/12/07
RIGHT HERE
Brainwashed people dont FEEL brainwashed, now do they? Wouldn't be
much of a brainwashing if they were aware of it. Hardly a compelling
defense of these sickos - which I say having met some of them. Whew!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WILL, 5/11/07
CALIFORNIA
[We would probably trash any LGAT
coming to our tiny town]
I happened onto your site when I Googled Hoffman Quadrinity. I recently
did their eight-day program and it was a wonderful, fantastic
experience -- the best thing I ever did for myself in my entire life
and it has changed me for the better permanently. I find, so far
without exception, that of the dozens of other people who did the
Quadrinity Process, none feel brainwashed, ripped off, or abused and
virtually all agree with me that it is a wonderful thing.
I don't know anything about Ms. Pleasant except that she donated the
site where the Hoffman Institute holds most of its programs in the
United States and that was an extremely generous donation for an an
exceptionally worthy cause.So whatever mud you may want to sling at
her, that does not justify a witchhunt for others who endorse an
organization she has been associated with. If she donated money to the
American Cancer Society would you start calling that evil and
trash-talk its contributors?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A SOURCE, 5/8/07
NY
[Edinger gone; where's Waller?]
Didnt see it anywhere on here so this may be new news, but Sue Edinger
is leaving the Aurora Inn as General Manager she has accepted a job
with a college in the area that is not Wells. Glad to hear she is
moving on, and getting out of Pleasants grasp!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
COALITION SUPPORTER, 5/5/07
AURORA
Well, folks from PA, we certainly could use a few more civic-minded
preservationists who are willing to do more than complain after the
fact. I suggest your explore the website, although it is a bit organic
in development and inconsistent in content and it may be hard sometimes
to tell the tell the players without a score card. Good background may
be found in some of the early national press coverage. The summary of
the lawsuit indicates what we have been up against. The heartbreaking
photo pages give your a true picture of Rowland's attitude towards our
historic heritage as well clear insight into the mentality of our
village boards.
http://www.aurorany.org/Publicity.html
http://www.aurorany.org/Suit.html
http://www.aurorany.org/Photos.html
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SIA, 5/2/07
AURORA
To Pennsylvania: Thanks for writing, it's nice to hear from
"outsiders" who don't jump on us for being ingrateful yokels who should
praise heaven for having a "benefactor" like Pleasant Rowland. I think
what I can tell you is this: Aurora will remain forever a more-or-less
quiet little village--simply by virtue of the fact that there is
nothing here to really draw people beyond the pretty scenery; nor are
there enough basic amenities nearby (or attractions) to make it viable
as a major tourist draw. The nearest cities of any appreciable size are
Syracuse and Rochester, both about an hour or so away -- not really a
convenient distance for tourists. So in that sense Aurora will always
be just a lakeside village with picturesque views and some small-ish
businesses (the Inn, Mackenzie-Childs).
The characterof Aurora is another matter. This has been severely
damaged, in the opinion of many of us, by the actions of Pleasant
Rowland and her supporters. Certainly the village community now has a
wedge driven through it; we no longer trust each other, and old
friendships have been dashed to bits (hard to believe, but very true).
We have an arrogant rich woman from the Midwest (Rowland) who has tried
to remake our quiet little village into her inappropriate idea of some
kind of phony, upscale attraction. It would be silly to deny the impact
this has had on the community.
Housing values may be (falsely) inflated, but that just makes it more
difficult for middle-income folks to live here or move here. ...Whether
Wells College is a going concern is an impossible question to answer.
Currently Wells is headed by a president with totally inadequate
professional credentials who also appears to be wholly ! in league with
Pleasant Rowland. She and her husband (a village trustee) are clearly
rabid wanna-bes, and their activities haven't, in the opinion of many,
been a good thing for the village or Wells College. Here I am being
diplomatic to say the least... At any rate, the question as to whether
Wells is headed towards better financial times is not yet resolved....
Lastly -- Aurora has been designated an Historic District for quite
some time now--this is not something that is going to happen but has in
fact already happened. Sadly it has done little to protect the
character of the village. It certainly did not stop Rowland from
devastating the intact interior of our 150+ year old Inn, turning i! t
into a cookie-cutter Ramada....
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WHERE DO I START?, 5/1/07
PENSYLVANIA
[A request for feedback...tho many answers are already on this site]
Dear Folks,
My wife and I spent part of this past weekend in your village. A
delightful place. We were smitten by its isolation, size, and our
perception that it would not suffer a huge growth spurt but that nice
properties would be desirable. I was pleased to see that the village is
a registered historic district. We enjoyed it so much that we drove
around looking for real estate in the village. Please understand. We
are not developers. We live outside a small town in Central PA. Our
first home was an old brick farm house built in 1826, with two smaller
brick buildings. We restored that home true to its original character.
Saved it from being turned into apartments. A few years ago we moved to
a "much more modern home", built in 1839. When we bought it an
architect told us to tear it down and start over. We threw him out,
found a sympathetic contractor, and worked with him to rehab the
original structure so that it looks and feels like what it is: an old
farmhouse.
I've spent part of the morning reading about the controversy connected
with the Aurora Foundation LLC. And at real estate in Aurora. We would
be looking for a weekend getaway, but it also hope it would be an
investment. We do not have gobs of money. To do it would be a major
stretch.
I'm not sure why I'm writing to you, other than my wife and I are
typically sympathetic to organizations such as yours and the issues you
have raised. Is Aurora a viable situation as a quiet village on the
lake? Or is the remuddling, which on the surface looks quite nice, and
the other endeavors of Ms. Rowland going to doom it? Will registration
as a historic district be a boon in preserving the character of your
village? Is Wells a going concern, likely to remain in existence? We're
on the outside looking in, looking for information. Knowing what you
know, would you want to buy a home in Aurora? Thanks.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
JAY O'HEARN, 4/24/07
AURORA
[Audacity is one word for it...]
This morning, a local person taped blank sheets of white paper to the
car I park downtown to protest Pleasant Rowland. In so doing, this
person covered up all the car windows that are facing the sidewalk,
blocking out everything I had put up there.
As some of you may recall, a similiar incident occurred once before
last fall. At that time, I wrote a letter to the person who was doing
it, and asked that person to stop it. That individual complied with my
request, and has given me no further trouble.
This time out, someone else is involved. I have written a similar
letter to today's taper, and have every expectation that my request to
keep their hands off my private property will be honored.
But in the event this kind of behavior persists, I am asking anyone on
this forum who may agree with my car protest to please remove anything
that has been taped to the outside of my car. My material is all on the
inside.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help out with this. I continue to
be astonished at the audacity of some of Pleasant's supporters.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
INDEPENDENT, 4/16/07
AURORA
[Keep dreaming, Georgie...]
Aurora Trustee god-help-us George Farenthold
set himself up back in the Howard Dean days as the organizer of
“Democracy for America” in Aurora, which continues to meet monthly at
the Fargo -- even when no one comes, as was the case for his April 2007
meeting [ http://dfa.meetup.com/516/
].
You’ll note that of this writing there are all of five “active” members
listed, and George is the only one who actually lives in Aurora [ http://dfa.meetup.com/516/members/
].
Nevertheless, he tries to promote his personal agenda for Aurora (on
which he has been forbidden to vote as trustee because of his blatant
conflict of interest) into a local Democratic Party Platform. Quote:
“My
Activist Friends: PLEASE GET INVOLVED! Our government has still been
failing us (and the world) because we let a guys like Rove, Bush,
Cheney, Libby, Abramoff, Delay and their cronies control our
Government. Their reign is now almost officially OVER! We, YOU and me
have been helping fix that miserable situation. Now we have a solid
voice in Congress in the Hon. Michael Arcuri. He now needs to hear from
us. By the way, so do Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Charles Schumer.
They ARE listening. Make your voice heard!...We have started taking
back New York, the Congress and the country... Aurora remains the
center of our local reform universe. With a little more support from
the citizenry we will have a new Village Public Post Office, a new lake
path, new Village parking and A NEW VILLAGE PARK... “ [
http://dfa.meetup.com/516/calendar/5531236/ ].
~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ANOTHER CONTRIBUTION, 4/12/07
ALSO REFUSED BY THE
CITIZEN
[Two wrongs just make it worse]
Yep, this is America. And to the contrary, folks: Rowland has not
stayed within the law. Repeatedly, our local officials allowed her to
ignore statues that exist to protect community interests, public
safety, and the environment. Maybe they thought they were
ï¿1⁄2helpingï¿1⁄2 the village by making it
ï¿1⁄2easyï¿1⁄2 for her because they believed
her claims of altruism. But by failing treat her like any other
individual wanting to develop property here and by failing to hold her
to account for improper actions, they made a terrible mistake. And we
ALL have paid the price.
Now more projects are underway, with the possibility of more to come.
Do we want to see the mistake compounded? Some of us would prefer to
see the process righted so that all applicable laws are followed in
both letter and spirit. That requires calling community attention to
the problems that have been created here, and working to promote
consistent, fully reviewed development practices. This is not
ï¿1⁄2angry / victim mode,ï¿1⁄2 it is activist
mode -- a basic American right -- the attempt to effect change, improve
conditions, and prevent what we see as further harm to the community.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
AURORAN 4/5/07
AURORA
[We've heard all these, but doubt the Citizen has..]
As suggested by "Hey FYI!" -- here is what I have been trying to
get posted in The
Citizen online:
I have known Pleasant in many roles for quite some years. I have seen
her with fawning yes-men sucking up to her and eating it up. I have
seen her demanding that workmen break the law and do dangerous things
because she couldn't make up her mind about the placement of trees
while following safety rules. And I have seen her, first hand, be rude
and insulting to me, when she didn't even know who I was, for no reason
at all. I have seen her force Her Will on a community against its best
interests. I have seen her demean and terrify people who work for her
because a pillow was literally inches out of alignment on a couch in a
public area. I have seen her make deals with students to not move the
furniture in the dorm in which they lived because she just had to
control every tiny little thing. I have seen her flatly refuse to fund
educational programs in favor of cosmetics at Wells College when they
were sinking fast.I have seen her ignore the very real concerns and
desires of people who live in Aurora because it didn't fit with her
vision. I have read her very words in a college publication in which
she states quite clearly that she is better qualified to dictate to the
Village what's good for them than they are. (Check back issues of the
Wells Express for confirmation) I have seen her set policies as well as
making other changes to long-standing local establishment deliberatly
to discourage locals to patronise them because she doesn't feel they
look the part to attract her wealthy tourist friends...
You cannot say to me that this woman is capable of compromise, much
less willing to consider it. The people of Aurora have suffered
precisely because so many of us were willing to give her a chance, to
give her the benefit of the doubt, to trust her to do as she promised
at the beginning. We lived -- and we learned, the very hard way. Don't
bust our chops now that we have had the scales fall from our eyes, now
that she has shown her true colors and we know what she is, if we fight
tooth and nail and get her out of our town. That said, the Morgan Opera
House is a lovely establishment, perfect as it is aside from needing
some repairs. I hope the controversy of the fear of Pleasant sticking
her nose in, through the various of her lackeys who keep cropping up in
association with the project, does not stop people from donating --
take this project into our own hands so we can prove we don't NEED
Pleasant T Rowland in our community. Support the opera house and the
library as two of the last few operations in Aurora NOT controlled by
PTR/Wells/Aurora Foundation.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WATCHMAN 3/30/07
AURORA
[Yes, and they are dangerous]
A while ago, the Hoffman org sold womenï¿1⁄2s jewelry
with their distinctive symbol or logo. (Now you can get it on a mug or
bag; check their website.) Back in 2001 several of us saw people of
prominence in this village wearing that symbol. At the time, I
didnï¿1⁄2t know what it meant; but a visiting alumna
pointed it out and explained its significance to us. Since the alumnae
were on to them, these gals soon stopped wearing their identifying
necklaces, but I believe that they are still devoted Hoffman Disciples
and that they have encouraged the spread of the
instituteï¿1⁄2s influence here. I know
youï¿1⁄2d like me to name names on this forum, but I am not
going to do that -- sorry. Trust your instincts.
Severe personality flaws don't necessarily account for all HQP
recruits. Well-balanced people can be drawn into such systems at the
insistence of a boss, mentor, teacher, spouse, sibling or parent, and
then get subjected to sleep-deprivation, extreme isolation,
psychological abuse, hypnotism and drugs leaving them quite transformed
and possibly brainwashed. I recommend reading some writings of Margaret
Thaler Singer, including "Cults in Our Midst" and "The 'Not Me' Myth."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WONDERING 3/25/07
ABOUT THE WEIRDOS
[Are they among us?]
I agree with the recent critical posts in this forum concerning the
Hoffman Institute and its Quadrinity Process. The more one reads about
the HQP, the stranger, weirder, and more alarming it becomes. My
opinion is that is must be weak-willed or otherwise mentally flawed
people who feel they need to introduce something like the HQP into
their minds and lives. It is upsetting to think that Pleasant, the
dictator of Aurora, is one of its most passionate advocates and
supporters.
But several times I have read on this site of a suspicion that
Pleasant's supporters in Aurora have similarly been processed by the
Hoffman Institute. Given some of the behavior we have witnessed from
this group, I can see how those suspicions might arise. But does anyone
know for certain? The prime suspect would of course be Ryerson, and
perhaps her doltish husband, or the upper administration people at
Wells. But that is only speculation, and I don't like basing my beliefs
on speculation.
Can anyone reading this shed some light on this question? Do we really
have some of the Hoffman robots walking in our midst?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LIKE WHO CARES, 3/17/07
AURORA INN
[Or not]
To occasional visitor - If you don't like it, you could leave the
village.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
OCCASIONAL VISITOR, 3/15/07
CAMPUS
[I could have danced all night...]
If this forum is any indication of "local life" then tango lessons
sounds like a decent alternative to riding the high horse in town. I
participated in the ballroom dancing several nights in Feb which had a
turn out of almost 50 people! I am glad to have something else to do in
this town!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ANOTHER LINK, 3/9/07
VILLAGE OF AURORA
[Incredible origins of HQP]
Very informative first-hand account
of origins of Hoffman Institute Quadrinity Process. Some highlights:
Founder Bob Hoffman was a tailor. He began his career as a "healer"
giving psychic readings in basement of a clothing store in Oakland, CA.
He claimed "spirit-guide" of deceased Austrian shrink Siegfried Fisher
co-created the HQP. Yes: a doctor's ghost "revealed" process to him, so
it was OK he had no psychological training. (Fischerï¿1⁄2s
widow threatened suit over this claim.)
More insights into original and current process:
"His style was to evaluate and attack people,
then point to their emotional reactions as example of negative
programming, almost always violating the boundaries of professional
behavior... In every session Hoffman lectured, shouted, cajoled,
confronted, intimidated, humiliated, bullied, abused us. He called us
ass holes and negative love buyers. This behavior perhaps forced some
people to examine themselves, but it far exceeded professional
boundaries appropriate for therapist/teacher, student/patient
relationship. Hoffman justified his behavior by claiming that his basic
message was so simple that it was hard to grasp without his unyielding
confrontation...The bitch session, which replaced the "anger letter,"
was an experiential expression of anger, directed at a parent, using
explicit language, physical motion, beating pillows, and screaming...
In a "mind trip," the client yanked out the umbilical cord that
connected his or her emotional child to their parents and allowed them
to grow up to their chronological age... He conducted other portions of
his course through "mind trips" and I will mention two of them, the
parents' funeral and the birthday party, because together with the
other exercises already mentioned, these fill out nearly every
essential element (except "Vindictiveness," "Play Day," and "Dark
Side") of present HQP. After the prosecution and defense of both
parents, we were asked to close our eyes and imagine that we were
awakened in the dead of night by a phone call: our parents had been
involved in a car crash and were near death. We were asked to follow
the course of events from the emergency room to the graveside....
There was another mind trip when we were asked to visualize the
birthday party that we never had, where we were celebrated and feted
for who we were and not who we had to pretend to be in order to
experience our parentsï¿1⁄2 love... Both remain today in
the HQP as elaborately produced events, with music, props, food. When
combined with suggested visual images, they can and do induce the
powerful emotional states Hoffman sought...the controlled emotional
rollercoaster of the current HQP."
Hope you are wrong about this weirdness coming
to Aurora. Hard to believe anyone could be suckered in by it. But
according to their website, it seems to be spreading.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ALUMNA, 3/2/07
CNY
[HQP in Aurora?]
Finally getting back to Anonymous from Nowhere way back on 11/19:
No, "nefarious" doesnï¿1⁄2t sound silly applied to
whatï¿1⁄2s happening in Aurora. Not at all. Destruction of
real community life in the village may be just the first step. Perhaps
so something else can be planted in the village.
Some alums share concerns expressed here about
Rowlandï¿1⁄2s association with the Hoffman Institute
Quadrinity Process. This organization -- which some might describe as
nefarious -- seems intent on expanding. Theyï¿1⁄2ve just
devoted a resort
in California to running HQP sessions year-round.
(Thatï¿1⁄2s the property Rowland bought for them back in
2000.) Maybe access to a quiet village and nice college campus in
upstate NY would increase the HQPs intake?
Rowland is a "graduate" and advocate of this secretive 8-day
ï¿1⁄2personal transformationï¿1⁄2 process.
(Itï¿1⁄2s said she made all Americal Girl execs take the
HQP treatment. It is known she gives
ï¿1⁄2scholarshipsï¿1⁄2 for individuals to take
the HQP.) The HQPs current president emerged from the leadership of the
long-discredited and out-right dangerous EST and Lifespring
organizations.
It's hard to unearth on-line information about the group. (Participants
must sign a confidentiality agreement. Those who ask questions are
dismissed early in the process.) But the more we know about it the
better. Here are some interesting links. Please add to the list!
Some
History of the HQP
HQP
Impact on a Marriage
Influence
of HQP in Kennedy School
Account
of a HQP Drop-Out
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
VILLAGER, 2/28/07
AURORA
[Maybe she's moving in already...]
Just noticed the big box trailer in the Post Office parking lot.
Boxes of stuff -- lots of stuff -- were being unloaded and taken into
the Heary Bldg. Does anyone know what's happening?
And, any news about Lyon House? I have heard that at the open house
five parties expressed an interest in offering bids.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
RESPONSE FROM PAUL SENK, 2/7/07
WINDSOR, CT
[Answer to residents who asked what "developments" would be presented
at hearing]
Subject: RE: Aurora Public Meeting 2/21/06
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 1
From: Senk, Paul J - Windsor, CT
"The primary information item I have to share may not be news to many.
The only offer we received in response to our solicitations was for the
Heary Building. So it has been tentatively selected for the site of the
Aurora post office, subject to many things. The space and site will
need to be designed to meet our accessibility standards, the historic
preservation review must be successfully completed, an acceptable lease
contract needs to be negotiated, local building approvals must be
obtained, environmental reviews must be performed, etc. So while this
is a milestone of sorts, there is still much work to be done, including
listening to comments from the customers of the Aurora post office."
(Note: Is he really coming from Connecticut to tell us what we
already know? Hasn't Rowland submitted modified plans for her project
yet? Will new plans be presented for comment at the meeting without a
chance for prior review by the public?
Here are links for an over-view
of the project and a full chronology with
documentation.)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
COPIED FROM PAUL SENK, 2/7/07
WINDSOR, CT
[Notice of USPS Hearing]
Many of you are aware of the possible relocation of the Aurora
Post Office. We have worked on this project for some time and have
developments of interest to the Aurora Community.
There will be a public meeting on Wednesday, February 21st at
6:30 PM at the Aurora Fire Station. At this time, we will
provide updates on our efforts to date on this project and will be
available for your comments.
As always, your attendance and participation are welcomed!
Paul Senk
Manager, Real Estate
860/285-7006
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
VILLAGER, 2/6/07
AURORA
[Post Office - Heads Up!]
The USPS has asked the Village to set up a public meeting with Paul
Senk for Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 6:30 PM in the Meeting Room of
the Firehouse.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
K.A.Hindenlang, 1/19/07
AURORA
[Village Board Public Hearing on Proposed Laws]
Attendance was small at the 1/17 meeting: 4 of 5 VB members
(Farenthold absent), chairs of CPP and ZBA, deputy chair of Planning
Board, and 6 other village residents. Nevertheless, the hearing lasted
about an hour. The tone was informal and rather neighborly.
It seemed clear that the VB members present shared many of the major
concerns expressed and questions raised in the hearing about main
provisions in the two proposed laws (re building & fire code
enforcement and unsafe buildings). But apparently the VB presented
these flawed laws to the public anyway, thinking they had to pass such
laws this month by state mandate. Some of the trustees had done some
research, and determined that such haste was neither necessary nor
desirable.
The VB seemed receptive to concrete suggestions for improving these
proposed laws. Prior to the meeting, I had provided some trustees and
chairs with a number of internet resources for comparing these proposed
laws to statutes in other NYS villages and towns. They read and
circulated the material, and I was thanked for my help. (I encourage
anyone else who unearths information which might be useful or relevant
to the VBs discussion of this matter to share it with them. Their email
addresses are on the village website.)
Near the end of the hearing, the mayor stated the board's intention now
to "go slow," presumably to revise the proposed laws to meet the needs
of our community and conform to our own municipal code. My
understanding is that the VB will meet with the village attorney, and
then another public hearing will need to be held to receive comment on
the proposed laws as revised.
Looking ahead, I remain concerned about what will happen once village
attorney Fusco and code enforcement officer Staley re-enter the
discussion. (Neither attended the meeting, although I believe some
trustees had wanted Fusco present to answer questions.)
I have communicated with a respected and experienced ZBA Chair in
another community about our proposed Unsafe Buildings Law. He was
distainful and very suspicious of the provision to demolish all
buildings unoccupied for 2 years, and wondered if our code officer was
simply trying to generate additional fees for himself via this
outrageous provision. I think the fact that Staley proposed a law with
this provision, and Fusco apparently supported it, gives us some reason
to question whether these men are acting in the best interests of our
community.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HEAR, HEAR!, 1/3/07
ON THE CITIZEN
WEBSITE
[Georgie defeated 11-2]
Not Surprised by a snake wrote on January 03, 2007 3:38 PM: "Mr
Fearon may have issues of his own to answer for, but look who tried to
slither into his seat in a blatant back-door manuver. Given the smarmy
Mr. Farenthold's naked ambition and thirst for political influence, it
should come as no surprise. Still, I am bemused by this need in someone
so unqualifed to be dealt into the game. But Mr Farnenthold lacks both
the appeal and the smarts to get himself elected to such a postion (he
does, howeve, suffer from no shortage of chutzpah) so he tried to seize
the seat in whatever underhanded manner that he could. Deplorable."
Another anti-GF comment in the Citizen's coverage of county politics
here
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LAURA HOLLAND, 1/3/07
AURORA
"Well....." - Wrong! Diane Hutchinson made it very clear to me that
offers from me, or my family, would not be considered. "I wouldn't plan
on being able to purchase either of these properties."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
WELL... 1/2/07
LYON HOUSE SALE
Now you have the info. Go down and look the place over. If you may
want the house. I am sure they will not turn a bidder away.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DOT, 1/2/07
AURORA
It's open to the public. Must be, because the sale and open house
are being advertised in the village office.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
THE ONLY WAY, 12/31/06
TO BUY LYON HOUSE
[More info below...]
It is by bid only. There will be an open house I think it is on Jan
7 2007 from 10 AM - 2PM. Then you send your bid to: Diane Hutchinson,
VP Wells CollegeAurora, NY 13026.I am not sure of a close date on the
bids.
[Bids are to be in by January 22. Not sure if tour is open to
public or just to Wells employees who may have first opportunity to
buy. Call and ask Hutchinson at 315/364-3370 or 315/364-3295.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
G DE, 12/30/06
UPSTATE NY
[Potential buyer for Lyon House]
Being a small animal Veterinarian I would love the house to live in
and to put a small animal office in, but I am sure I will not hear from
the college, even though they said they would give me a call if
anything with the house ever changed.
I agree with X with all of the changes that have happened around the
house it may not seem like the best purchase in the world, but it could
still be a VERY workable and magnificant home with the right
applications. I will see if I ever hear from anyone at the college.
Maybe I should call my real estate agent.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LYON HOUSE, 12/22/06
X
[Sorry this is late getting up...]
Wells can't expect much $ from selling Lyon house It is rotting
would take a ton of money to salvage, has a new public sidewalk right
next to it on one side. And as I hear, there are plans to squeeze
another driveway right next to it on the other side.
Plus it has zero lake front and almost zero back yard. sounds like
anyone's dream house, huh. Whose gonna pay much for that? they may have
to pretty much give it away just to get rid of it. What faculty member
can afford to fix it?
With all that is wrong with the building and lot, Can you imagine being
the agent trying to show that house? Ha. they need to find some fan of
old houses with big bucks, who only cares about the building and not
the land it sits on. If they can't find someone like that, Lyon house
will just sit there and rot some more.
PS, why isn't Pleasant interested?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LAURA HOLLAND, 12/21/06
AURORA
[Neighborly relations...]
Dear Casual Observer (and, Neighbor, it seems):
Last spring I received a lengthy letter from CJ Koepp which touched on
numerous personal interests. While ostensibly an attempt at friendly
overture, it was (considering the situation )overly so . The letter was
quite presumptuous as well, both in terms of whether or not our old
house would be moved there, and whether or not the Hollands' opposition
to it would disappear once it had. I saw it as an effort to ingratiate
herself with me in a one-on-one fashion.
At that time, I sent her a hand-written response. I am posting that
response here now, verbatim:
Dear CJ,
This matter has never been about who is next door.Our objection is to
what is next door.We do not want that house in the lot next door.It
does not belong there.
We were told it would not remain there.
We would not object if someone wished to build an appropriate sized
house on the lot.We would never try to control who our neighbors are.
Sincerely,Laura Holland
