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Author Message   woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 876 Registered: 9-2002 Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 5:18 pm:        I wanted to express my personal thanks to the DPW crew that clears my street (Jessica Way). Every year when we get a big snow, there is a plow out clearing long before the street gets dangerous. They go up and down a few times to make sure things are cleared. Yesterday, while I was shoveling and snow-blowing my driveway, someone from DPW (was that you, parrothead?) came to our cul-de-sac and cleared out hte circle. Then he actually used the plow blade to not only avoid pushing the snow in front of my driveway, but actually cleared my driveway of the snow that the big plow pushed in front of it. That saved me a good half our of digging out the heavy packed snow blocking my driveway. Thanks guys. Too bad I won't likely have that kind if service next year, after we move.   doublea Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 850 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 5:28 pm:        What's this about moving?   Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1397 Registered: 11-2001 Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 5:30 pm:        Where do you plan to move and why? Is the why because of property taxes? You're right about the DPW guys, they did a great job, as usual.   woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 877 Registered: 9-2002 Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 5:44 pm:        Our house is for sale, seriously this time. I just can't justify living in this town any more. I love it, really I do, but the taxes are beyond ridiculous and unfair, and there is little interest in doing much to hold them down (not just by the BOT, but by the residents). But it's more than that. We live on a crazy hill, and we can't really walk anywhere. Our kids can't walk or ride a bike because of the hill. The town doesn't have full day kindergarten, and in a year or two, either my wife will have to stop working at her store, or we'd have to hire a nanny. Neither is an option we relish. Then there's just silly stuff. For example, we get our trash picked up 10% less than 2/3 of the town, but pay the same amount. There are lots of little things, but I won't get too much into it. As I said, I really do love this town - my wife and I both do. When my taxes finally surpassed my mortgage last year (and not because I had paid down my mortgage so much), it was getting tough to justify staying. Some say there's a reval coming. But while that might make things more "fair" (I think some have argued on other threads there are no such things as fair taxes), in the end, my taxes will still go up by $1k a year. On the other hand, if anyone knows anyone looking to move into South Orange, and is coming in with their eyes open, we do have a nice house with a great view (as long as you don't have young kids who want to ride bikes on the street). Our neighbors are really nice and friendly. And we actually do have trees in the backyard, with no neighbors behind us.   doublea Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 851 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 5:54 pm:        Good luck. My wife always asks if Woodstock is still around. And I think you're correct about the feeling about taxes. I'm sure everyone will miss you. And I do agree about the great job DPW does - thanks guys.   woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 878 Registered: 9-2002 Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 5:54 pm:        Pizzaz, We're looking at Livingston, though I'm not 100% thrilled with the ... culture(?) of it. Tough to explain. But we can do an even swap on our house pricewise, and save over ten THOUSAND a year in taxes. Heck, I could spend a ridiculous amount on a house and still not be paying as much as I am (in toto) here in SO. The $10k in savings amounts to almost $150,000 more house. Or I could pocket it and send my kids to college. And Grad School - twice. That's a lot of lattes.   woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 879 Registered: 9-2002 Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 6:02 pm:        doublea, Thanks. We're not gone yet. But thanks for the sentiment. To be honest, I think if the tax situation were better, we'd be moving up to Newstead. That was our original plan. But while looking, we did some soul-searching, and realized we were throwing moeny away on taxes, which will never ever go down. And like raises which are based on percentages, when you start off higher, the increases are higher. A 5% increase on $10k in taxes is $500. On $23000, it's $1,150. But I don't need to tell you all this... BTW, you never did tell me what I owed you for your wife's bumper.   doublea Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 852 Registered: 3-2003 Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 6:04 pm:        I forget.   PARROT HEAD Citizen Username: Island_jack Post Number: 30 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Sunday, February 6, 2005 - 2:11 pm:        Woodstock, that's not my plow route but I'll be sure to pass the word on. Thanks to all. It's nice to hear that our work is appreciated. BTW when my wife and I finally get a house, It wont be in South Orange for the same reason.