3/5/2012

We received this letter from resident Eric Howell that expresses his concern on, what I think is, a very significant issue. He brings up very important points concerning the safety of our children and everyone that lives on the Lycette Road. Thank you, Eric, for taking the time out of your busy day to express your concerns, Amity Matters is very pleased to publish your letter.

Hi Everyone,

I just want to take this time to ask all the people who travel our roads, whatever happened to being aware of other people's lives? I say this because since when do people need to drive so fast on our roads. Why, do we need to go 10 to 15 mph faster than the designated speed limit? What is the difference between 2 to 3 minutes? Because, 2 or 3 minutes is all the time that we are making up by going that fast. Is it going to take one of our children (my daughter is down here on occasion) to get killed or injured? Do we need to lose our pets, before we slow down?

I work at home across from my dad's place on the Lycette Rd. On more than a regular basis, people are flying by my home. On one end of the straightaway you have the hill peek, on the other you have a turn that my neighbor lives on and in the middle you have "School Buses" coming with children to view the animals and learn something about our wild world. Do these children need to be part of an accident waiting to happen? When are we going to learn?

Please, for the sake of all living things, drivers included. Let's spread the word and at least make our little town of Amity a safer place to live. Our lives are crazy (even mine), but why not leave a little earlier? Go to bed a little earlier so you get your rest. This way you don't need to fly. Flying is for planes not our little ole back roads. Our lives are short enough, please slow down...

Thank you for taking the time to read my views,

Sincerely,

Eric Howell

Note from the Webmaster:

Please look at the August Selectmen's minutes, there is a reference to this problem and it was voted 3-0 to allow a reduced speed zone in this area. Town Manager, Darrell Williams clarified that the Selectmen voted to allow a reduced speed limit of 25 mph past the Spruce Acres Refuge and Education Center. The Selectmen offered to provide the signs and Mr. Howell wanted to purchase them himself saving the taxpayers money. The Selectmen agreed to this. I apologize for any confusion from the previous posting.

I do know that the State Police have been patrolling this area. I stopped beside the road in Cary one morning on my way to school to see if I had forgotten some papers I needed for my class, sure enough I had. A State Police Officer went by going south on the Calais Road. I turned around to retrieve the work I had forgotten at home. When I started down the hill on the Lycette Road, the Officer was turning around in Eric's driveway. Since I was driving the posted speed limit, 40 miles per hour, it was not a problem. So we know the area is patrolled at times and I'm sure if you are speeding, you will be ticketed for it.

Larry Hamilton