On May 25, 2011 Newington, yet again, demonstrated what it's made of, an eloquent, passionate and informed electorate and one that will not let this proposition pass.

No fewer than 48 people spoke. Here's what I saw:

The next-to-impossible-to-see map of the development plan of May 17, 2011 was replaced by a very visible big screen slideshow. But when we were told how little the view of the ridge would change via a before / after simulation, nobody swallowed it. One speaker reminded us that Toll Bros. gave us the Hartford Drive In "beautification project" and their PhotoShopped can-hardly-see-a-difference after shot sure didn't look like what's actually there to me.

One speaker walked up to the microphone and held up a colored poster which had an image of what Cedar Mountain currently looks like and said "This is our plan." The crowd burst into applause.

Then a kindergartner told us her action plan: make Save Cedar Mountain posters and distribute them to the people. After this, a second grade teacher spoke about a Dr. Seuss book, "The Lorax," linked under "Friends," about a mean person who chops down chocolate trees and how it reminded her of what just took place on Fenn Road across from Stop & Shop.

And then there was the fellow who told us about the coyote he met at the ridge just the other day who "said" to him "I belong here, you don't."

Again and again the message was clear. "What are we doing here? Nobody wants this!!!"

An architect spoke. "Irresponsible and a poor design." This is a person whose livelihood depends on selling houses. And she's against it.

Michael J. Fox was especially memorable. He spoke of growing up in Brooklyn, NY and going to the "Jewish Alps" (the Catskills) where he could enjoy the open spaces during the summer. He'd even go there after he moved out of the city to Newington. But one year he went back and "it was all gone." He does not want to lose Newington's equivalent.

A lady from Poland, after apologizing for her "bad English," said she moved to Newington precisely because it had a Cedar Mountain and that losing it would be a terrible thing. The audience was this close to standing up and cheered loudly as she walked back to her seat. It was very moving.

Robert Kelly almost lost it when he spoke of how important it is for him to take his nephew up top the Mountain.

I wish I could tell you every name and every speech. But I think you get the point.

Lee Bradley