Sunday, August 24, 2008

Look What Happened to Barton Mountain

Photo taken in front of my house on Rt. 16 on Sunday, August 24, 2008

On Tuesday, August 19, 2008, there was an Act 250 hearing in Barton on the cell towers that Verizon wants to install in Barton. Vince Illuzi (R State Senator of Essex / Orleans counties) wants the antennas put on his land (he bought the land that the Unicel tower on Barton Mountain is on in 2007). Illuzi was granted party status on this issue, so now he can appeal the Commission's ruling if they decide to allow the Verizon plan.

In order for Verizon to use the Unicel tower on Barton Mountain, Verizon says they would need to dismantle the Unicel tower and construct one up to 150 feet high. The present Unicel tower is only 55 feet high and was nearly completely hidden by trees. You had to look really hard to see it when foliage is out.

It was evident to me listening to Mr. Illuzi's testimony at the hearing, that he has little understanding of the importance of this ridge line. The cliffs under the Unicel tower are where I have frequently heard bobcats. My daughter and I have seen and photographed peregrine falcons. In fact, Amelia saw a falcon hunt and grab a bird in the air. Do the falcons nest on the cliffs? No study has been made.

Two days ago, two days after the hearing, on Thursday, August 21, I came home from school to see this awful mess on Barton Mountain. The land around the Unicel tower, Illuzi's land, was clearcut. It was, in fact, slashed, as can be seen more dramatically from I-91 near Glover.

In the over twenty years that I have watched this mountain and the six years that I have lived here, I have never seen such destruction.

What's up, Mr. Illuzi? Why did this happen?? After listening to you on Tuesday night, I am sure you will have some sort of explanation.

Click on the Barton Mountain tag in my tag cloud to see how this ridge looked before Thursday.

4 comments:

  1. It looks like someone's taken a chunk out of the mountain. Progress has no use for nature...I've seen that for myself in our neck of the woods. Trees chopped down to make way for road widening...leaving a mob of about 40 kangaroos looking totally lost and bewildered about the destruction of their habitat. Protests against this destruction were ignored.

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  2. Good grief, Andree. What a greedy little man.

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  3. That's too bad about your ridge.

    I've been visiting your blog. I haven't been by in a while. The horse race pictures are fabulous. I love the chickens. I've always loves the chickens at county fairs, and your new car looks great, and I love your wire kitty.

    I'll try not to stay away so long.

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