I admit it. I thought Utopia just might happen. No, I didn't think Joe Gentile had the money to build the proposed 1.6 billion dollar entertainment complex at the former Norwich State Hospital in Preston. But I was convinced he was the front man for some rich corporation like Universal Studios. Remember back in the 60's when Walt Disney quietly bought up properties in Orlando by using different front men, properties that later became part of Walt Disney World? That's what I thought was happening in Preston. I really believed, when the 56 million dollars was due, we would find out who was pulling the strings. That didn't happen and Utopia Studios didn't show Preston the money. Now they won't go away quietly, or at all. The attempt at mediation failed when the folks from Utopia rejected the proposed mediators. Preston is a rural town with a population of less than 5000. It is very sad to see neighbor fighting neighbor over the whole Utopia mess. Many residents of Preston have lived in town all their lives. Like many small towns, politics plays a part, but Utopia doesn't seem to be dividing the town along the typical political lines. On May 8th, residents will vote on the question: Did the Board of Selectmen make the right decision terminating a development agreement with Utopia Studios? That vote is non-binding but should show the rest of us what our good neighbors in Preston are thinking. If the vote supports the Board of Selection, as I suspect, will Utopia Studios get the message and go away? I hope so. I doubt it. | 
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