The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Dec. 31, 2009

Meriden ended fiscal 2008-09 with a $1,400 surplus, not counting the $6 million rebate from the trash burning operation). That’s pretty remarkable, all things considered. The color-coded pie chart is informative if unsurprising, and kind of pretty also.

Southington: Parks Director Richard Egidio will retire on March 30, after using up all his accumulated vacation time. Best of luck to him and, again, all things considered, it was time.

5th District U.S. Rep. Murphy of Cheshire is making a gesture by sponsoring a bill which would put some more teeth into the “buy American” law. It’s an appreciated move, but one must really ask if it makes sense to require purchase of goods which are more costly than the "imported" alternatives.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Dec. 29, 2009

Meriden: the decision to use the park fund of Clarence Bradley for planning at City and Brookside is sensible, as is the need to include a general plan of improvements for all parks.

State: the arguing over who gets to make spending cuts in the state’s budget is so complicated by different versions of the deficit and by partisan positioning that it’s all becoming kind of a travesty.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Dec. 28, 2009

Wallingford: twitter account opens for members of the Senior Center, which is excellent for those who want it. It’s still good to remember that while there are many seniors who have missed out on the electronic revolution and are excited to learn, there are others who have spent years using it in the workplace and might be happy to give their computers a rest.

Meriden: facing the city is the high school replacement issue. While there are choices about how to proceed most economically and most effectively, there is no choice about whether the process must be undertaken. People should remember that there will not always be a recession afflicting us.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Dec. 27, 2009

The development of the Meriden Children’s Zone in an area of the city not far from the post office. Based on a model used in Harlem, the idea includes a tightly woven safety net for the benefit of neighborhood kids, and building community. Sounds good!

Southington looks forward to 2010 for several needed projects, including development of the former drive-in theater into recreational facilities, the opening of renewed South End School, and other exciting prospects.

Wallingford: mocktail recipes in the sixth edition issued by the Meriden and Wallingford Substance Abuse Council helps those who don’t drink to feel there is an alternative. The booklet is available free by mail and on-line at http://www.mawsac.org/

Upcoming meeting of the Southington Dog Park Association next week as members plan and dream for the future of the facility.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Dec. 26, 2009

The collection of 152 letters from Southington’s Captain Andrew Upson, who died in the Civil War, should be an interesting trove for those who want to understand our forbears better than they do.
It will be interesting to see how many subscribers U-verse develops in the area to watch meetings of local government. Meriden will be followed by Wallingford in this venture.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Dec. 25, 2009

Notepod wishes all readers the best salutations of the day in whatever terms are most welcome to the one who reades them.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Dec. 24, 2009

Meriden/Southington: both towns preparing, with state incentives, to go to a “no transfer system” so that emergency 911 calls do not have to be switched but can mobilize services directly.

Area: It was just great that those who wanted snow for the holiday still have it on the ground today, and that those who don’t want storms aren’t getting one . . . at least in our part of the nation.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Dec. 23, 2009

Local medical opinion on the potential health care reform: a) of course there will be issues; b) the bill hasn’t been enacted yet; c) some improvement is better than nothing and d) anything wrong can be addressed.

Meriden: increases in the fees at the Hunter Memorial Course would seem to be justifiable and sustainable.

The Meriden City Council Finance Committee’s decision rejecting the transfer of funds to create a playscape in City Park. Considering the cost of Noah’s Arc in Hubbard Park, of which a $100,000 state grant was a portion, it’s hard to consider a mere $40,000 as excessive or a reason not to proceed.

Wallingford: the school system’s energy audit is prepared to be incorporated into the budget as it is developed in January.

State: one can’t help but think that when/if the state chooses to avoid tax increases by reducing expenditures on necessary programs it can only mean that municipalities will have to raise their taxes to keep them going . . . or just let them fail. The results seem so indirect.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Dec. 22, 2009

No one should complain overmuch about local water and sewer rates. Connecticut in general and our local area in particular, in spite of the wretched industrial treatment of water supplies and the enormous quantities of chemicals and metals dumped on the ground and into the water over the last century and a half, still has a rich and cheap supply of water for general consumption. And, regardless of an occasional bad smell, thanks to lingering warm weather and an algae bloom, it’s safe and wholesome.

The Democrats’ state budget remedy seems to have rescued any number of non-profits from disaster, which is probably worth postponing the reduction in the inheritance tax to do. We hope it’s enough.

Meriden: council has set a preliminary hearing on the new high schools for next month with tentative vote on setting the option to follow in February. There’s really no choice about the matter, unless the city opts to let the schools remain as they are. The process is set in motion, it has been discussed already for years, and if citizens are surprised, they’ve probably not been paying attention.

Southington: It is of course proper that the PZC members themselves not be involved in inspecting the VIP inventory when the inspection gets underway. That’s not their job, but that of the professional staff of the town.

Meriden: The near collapse of a signal structure has left Pratt Street with fewer than usual lights. Drivers won’t mind, but pedestrians may, and certainly the manually controlled signal at the fire department must be restored. The lights at Cedar and Mill pretty much duplicated each other, since they work in tandem. It would be difficult to pick one or the other.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Dec. 7, 2009

The somewhat less-than-forecast snow over the weekend was probably disappointing to some, including those who may have wished to remain snowed in until Christmas, but to many others, the lighter snowfall in the area was entirely welcome under the “less-is-more” rubric.

Declining rates of foreclosure in the Meriden area, which is good, but an unhappy accompanying effect is a decline in the prices at which houses are sold.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Dec. 20, 2009

Meriden, Cheshire, Southington: school breakfast program. There was a huge conceptual problem with serving breakfast at schools years ago, which we have fortunately overcome at long last, with so many kids, regardless of parental income, choosing to buy breakfast. Who’s at home to make a homemade breakfast, after all? Too bad the schools don’t cook their own stuff.

Wallingford: congratulations to Mike Brodinsky, who has left the town council after eight years of service. His legacy is one of careful analysis and reasoned judgment, and he deserves many thanks from Wallingford citizens.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Dec. 19, 2009

Meriden (and everywhere else, presumably): the stories over the last few years about officials losing laptops while on vacation are not only scary but really annoying. Why should it be necessary to take official business and property along on a vacation? A vacation, whether for holidays or anything else, is a legitimate way to spend one’s time. Leave the laptop in the office. If you don’t have it with you, it cannot get stolen. Don’t be a workaholic.

Southington: seems perfectly reasonable to give stickers out to use the transfer station. Or the person on duty could simply ask to see ID.

State: It won’t seem to many people that state bonding to create jobs is going to have any permanent effect and may just engender expectations and jobs which will have to be met next year.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Dec. 18, 2009

Toys for Tots netted 2,888 toys for needy kids in New Haven County, gathered at Gaetano’s Tavern in Wallingford, Thursday evening. That’s a collection to make Santa proud and remind us all of the “reason for the season.”

Southington: the decision not to fix the West Street/West Center Street intersection will probably matter a good deal to some of those who use it daily, and may wind up meaning more if planned development increases traffic at the awkward place. But those concerned, we guess, will have to make more of a case, since the plan received a cold shoulder from the Town Council.

Region: the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association has a new website. Check it out: <www.qrwa.org> this river basin includes almost all of the Southington, Cheshire, Meriden and Wallingford municipal areas.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Dec. 17, 2009

State: good news on two counts. H1N1 virus fading fast. And now there are 900,000 doses of the vaccine available in the state. Does that add up to bad news? No Merely an unlucky guess, like losing on the snow insurance.

Wallingford: Positive decision reached by Town Council on accepting a grant for the loop of the linear trail. It’s funny how controversial a perfectly good idea can become when money gets tight.

The aroma problem seems to be back in Meriden’s water supply. We hope a way to remedy it is found soon.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Dec. 16, 2009

State: Senator Lieberman’s behavior on health care makes us wonder how he could ever have been considered a Democrat – and yet in 2000 he ran on the national ticket for VP. Amazing conduct.

At Wallingford’s Holy Trinity School, smart boards are replacing chalk boards as teaching tools. While chalk is not without its uses, this seems to be a quantum leap forward, one that all schools should have.

Southington: equipment that handles/cleans 7 million gallons of water a day for customers is about ready for upgrading. It’s only been 50 years. We’d say it’s time

Meriden: Since the neighbors are ok about the expansion of Hunter’s parking lot, it seems to make sense and should reduce congestion too. And, the additional spaces suggest that the ambulance company is doing well enough to undertake the task.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Dec. 15, 2009

Wallingford: Perhaps Thomas Mezzei of the Housing Authority is correct in wanting to place bids for five housing complexes out to bid on a one-fee basis, but his efforts seems to have run afoul of the various union contract. Right or wrong, one needs, on a board, to follow the rules.

Wallingford: The mock trials held this week by Wallingford’s middle schools, Dag and Moran. Knowledge of the actual workings of the legal system, as opposed to the way it works on TV or in novels is a valuable asset for all citizens, many of whom have grossly unrealistic views of the various processes.

Southington: the confidence-building program has changed its name from “The Club My Parents Made Me Join” to “Success Cafe.” The first appeals to a certain adult sense of humor, but the new name seems more appropriate to the goals of the club: confidence, character, life solutions for middle schoolers at Kennedy and DePaolo.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Dec. 14, 2009

State: Connecticut is testing criminal cases where someone is imprisoned for rape, murder or manslaughter to make sure there are no DNA anomalies. It sounds like a great nuisance, but if you were in jail wrongly convicted, you would appreciate the effort. It’s justice.

Meriden/Southington: both towns have seen their receipts from property conveyancing decline steeply, naturally enough, given lower prices and fewer sales. Curiously, Cheshire and Wallingford have seen much smaller declines.

State/Local: elementary and middle schools are about to stop using pesticides on the lawns. Pesticides which have prompted administrators to post signs saying “keep off the grass, pesticide.” Why would anyone need to put pesticide on school grass anyway? But it’s good that it’s going.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Dec. 13, 2009

Area: local towns each manage garbage a different way, and this was an interesting summary of the methods. It remains to be seen how the problem of ash disposal will be handled in the long run. It might also be worth noting that a lot of local re cycling is voluntary; there are market forces at work, but in NYC, people who toss recyclable cans into garbage can be and are often fined.

Good tips on how to judge the purchase and reliability of gift cards now that a couple of years have passed since the negative results of companies which were closed or which declared that cards had expiry dates. Businesses in Wallingford and Meriden (and no doubt other communities) are cited for successful use.

State: there’s a suit filed against a store which sold raw milk. It would seem that the decision to buy raw milk and feed it to your children is a sort of personal choice which has to be rather deliberately made.

The photo caption about the Central Connecticut Civic Youth Orchestra says “Noise enjoyed at Meriden Public Library.” We are reminded of a 7th grade Meriden science teacher many years ago who took vociferous issue with a student – a piano-playing student at that – who happened to refer in a report on the senses to the piano as a “good way to make noise.” “A piano,” she wrote, “is music, not noise.” Do you suppose the distinction holds today?

Wallingford: The Campus at Greenhill, intended as a home for Mortgage Lenders, sits as it was when work stopped over two years ago. Taxes are behind, and there are scores of truckloads of earth placed there around the unfinished exterior and abandoned as they were dumped. Finding a buyer seems difficult but there’s no bankruptcy yet. Tough situation.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Dec. 12, 2009

Southington: the aquifer zones are laid out and the process will begin of letting those running businesses within the zones that certain hazardous materials must be controlled and various precautions taken. This is for the benefit, ultimately, of water we all drink.

Meriden: a fast-food outlet – unfamiliar to many – is readying for opening on East Main Street, which is welcome news. The item about Jake’s Hamburgers suggests it aims for an image from the time in the 1920s when burgers were still a new idea – and there are still people who recall such times.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Dec. 11, 2009

Meriden: Brookside and City Parks have been neglected for years. A little attention and focus is more than overdue for both.

Wallingford: is there something which strikes anyone odd about the partisan nature of the Housing Authority? How can it possibly matter whether a Republican or a Democrat runs these meetings? Is there a partisan strategy about making housing policy?

Meriden: Only one proposal was received for the operation of Meriden-Markham Airport, this one from two city residents who want to give the airport a try. The economy is certainly partly to blame for both the trouble the previous manager was in and for the modesty of responses to the ROP.

Southington: anyone can understand the reluctance of a property owner to consent to a sewer line across her yard, but when the line is necessary and of benefit to the community, and when the owner is fairly compensated, it’s hard to hold out against the plan.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Dec. 10, 2009

Cheshire: It’s hard not to be rather unconvinced by the idea of a $3.4 million savings to be found for the state in closing Webster Correctional Institution, since no prisoners are being released and no staff is being reduced. But Cheshire residents long-bothered by the presence of the prisons will probably not complain. Especially since the PILOT program somehow is not affected.

Southington: the new chair of the council has named a number of new committees. While this may surprise some, it is the professional way to do things and that committee of chairs is a really good idea.

Meriden: Well, since the matter was raised, the ACLU will have a look at the implications of naming the Salvation Army as the only group to fund-raise at the Park this year. One suspects that it may be only a look. The SA, for one thing, though a religious organization, has grants which prohibit proselytizing. For another, though no one has said so, the fact that none of the other charities which had participated in 07 and 08 stepped up to help plan suggests that just maybe not enough was given to make the effort worthwhile. It would be interesting to know how much anyone actually made.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Dec. 9, 2009

Southington: police are moving into Facebook and Twitter to provide public information, which is a perfectly good way of getting information out. It will be interesting to observe how this transforms either the medium or those using it.

Meriden: there’s a plan to raise fees at Hunter Course. No one likes to see fees go up, but we’ll assume it’s necessary, and also that if someone can afford $22 for 9 holes, they can probably afford $23, and if they can spring for a $1,140 for a season pass, they can probably cope with $1,240.

Wallingford: much discussion over the possible passage of additional dog-control laws. While the desire to formalize a protocol is understandable, such a step has the earmarks of the mandatory sentences and zero tolerance rules we tend to apply in criminal court and which sound better in theory than in practice.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Dec. 8, 2009

Cheshire: The town “failed to achieve expected yearly progress” on standardized tests with special needs kids, who compose about a tenth of the 5,000 children in the system. Hence it is on the list of schools which need improvements. To respond, and without spending any money, the system has a plan to improve scores. This is evidently a reallocation of resources, which could certainly help special needs students’ scores, but apart from improving scores, how does this help special needs students? How does it help anyone else in the system?

Meriden: The invitation of the Green Party to join forces, or explore possibilities, with We the People, is certainly interesting. It will depend on the match of ideas.

Meriden: The council unanimously rejected the administrators’ contract with the school board. The matter will therefore go to arbitration, and it will be interesting to see if anyone does any better after that is completed.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Dec. 7, 2009

Southington: The town’s public health system would be affected if state officials push for regional health offices. Health Director Motes is wary of such consolidation efforts. Executive order 26, issued last May, is the driving force.

Meriden: The new irrigation system, in the process of installation at the city’s Hunter Golf Course, should help make this publicly-owned facility one of the best.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Dec. 6, 2009

Southington: The senior center, with the help of the Connecticut Center for Healthy Aging, is preparing a mobile kiosk to help convey answers to questions that some of the aging citizens may have. The booth, to be staffed by senior resource case managers, is aimed at those who may have fallen through the cracks in terms of services.

Area: to pay or not to pay elected town and city officials (some do, some don’t). While it is certainly true that service on the area councils is “voluntary,” a major commitment of time is required of each and every one of them, well beyond just showing up for 12 or 24 meetings a year. Pay certainly isn’t an expectation or an inducement, but it is not inappropriate.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Dec. 5, 2009

Meriden: the preparations to disapprove the contract the school board made with the administrators in the school system is an interesting one, follows the path the Wallingford council took not long ago. Regardless of how you might feel about the contract as a contract, it does illustrate the problems of a system in which the Board of Education, which is a party to the union negotiations, is not answerable to taxpayers for the tax rates and does not set them, while the council, which sets rates, doesn’t deal directly with the union. It’s a problem.

Wallingford: without getting technical about it, it is hard to understand why, as a matter of principle, anyone should be surprised that Mayor Dickinson strongly supported efforts to defeat the seven charter proposals which were on the November ballot, some of which were apparently aimed at his own exercise of the powers of his office. Should he have supported them?

Let’s not become too en-mired in pushing numerical proportionality for minority teachers in school systems, particularly in Meriden. The issue, first and foremost, is to provide a welcoming and congenial atmosphere for every student who comes to the door; the numbers remain a goal but cannot be attained until graduates become available, and there is competition for new minority teachers with which the city is not necessarily able to prevail.

Southington: the delay in replacing a bridge on Old Mountain Road causes expensive and time-consuming delay in a number of daily school bus routes. It won’t be only buses which are inconvenienced.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Dec. 4, 2009

Wallingford: a case on appeal involving a murder raises the issue of required recording of all interrogations. Without regard to this case in particular, it is impossible to see why it isn’t a thoroughly sensible idea to mandate such recordings. As everyone knows, people can argue about anything, but without such recordings, there is no way apart from bruises to make a case.

Southington: a green payoff for Apple Valley Woodworks who have landed a substantial loan from the state to help finance the switch to more environmentally friendly processes.

Cheshire: students at the high school respond to efforts to continue awareness of genocide in Darfur. It is so easy to forget the carnage that continues in the world when we focus so intently on internal issues.

Meriden: work that has been done to bring Casa Boricua’s home up to code standards. It’s not a finished job yet, but people have come through for the agency, especially contractor Michael Ranno and builder Joseph Carabetta . . . and Joseph Luca who helped get things organized.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Dec. 3, 2009

Wallingford: for goodness sake, if the state – as it should – is going to regulate the potentially polluting activities and businesses within a watershed area (and what isn’t within some watershed area?) then it has to proceed in a proper way, all the Ts crossed, all the Is dotted.

Southington: since the special taxing district created by the legislature was vetoed last year and the project set back a year, it seems the climate has changed and that the developer of Greenwood Commons will need to find state grants instead of selling municipal bonds. While it’s a project well-worth doing, we are not holding our breath in this economy in the expectation of seeing it occur any time soon.

Wallingford: it will be interesting to see whether the dog ordinance and the zoning fines make it through the ordinance committee next Tuesday.

Area/Southington: the growing need for every consumer outlet to have an Internet presence. Sales toted up on Black Friday and Cyber Monday demonstrate this. It’s a challenge for everyone. Ten commandments of on-line shopping should be helpful to tyros.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Dec. 2, 2009

Cheshire: a prison will close to save state money. While we’re always happy to hear of a prison closure, if staff is redeployed rather than laid-off, how will the savings really happen?

Southington: it is to be hoped that the rules are being followed regarding executive sessions of the PZC. With interested parties knocking on the door, as it were, it’s important to follow all the rules.

Southington: the last two topics for charter revision were dismissed by the panel: the length of Board of Ed terms and the control of the Water Department. It’s something of a surprise that so little attention was paid to the two topics.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Dec. 1, 2009

Any group is certainly welcome to pray about the Southington Planning and Zoning Commission’s doings, and they no doubt need all the help they can get. Also, they are at liberty to invoke the Freedom of Information Law and to monitor events and meetings. In return, it would be useful for any group to be specific about how it hopes to change the rules in the middle of the game.

Wallingford: the PZC has eased its sign rules, following a regulation in Cheshire for intermittent signs (and excluding sandwich frames). There are, though, concerns about enforcement.

Wallingford: Carini Bowl arrests justified, and there is some sense to them. Better to try to avert similar arrests in the future.

Meriden’s World War II veterans received thanks for their service to their country, during a ceremony at Maloney High School Monday. It’s a portion of Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz’ statewide recognition program, one she arrived at when she realized how fast the nation is losing the fighters from this terrible war.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Nov. 30, 2009

Southington/Meriden and elsewhere: winter forecasts. Alas that the art of forecasting still remains mostly that. Between El Nino and predictions of blasts in the early part of December, we are all still left “out in the cold” as to what sort of winter to expect – just as human beings have been for the last several thousand years.

Wallingford: the Planning and Zoning Commission tonight reviews the rules on signs, considering both temporary and occasional signage and a particular rule for the downtown area. What do sign rules attempt to do and how many exceptions can be granted before the goal is missed altogether? How much of a role should the ever-varying economy play?

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Nov. 29, 2009

Meriden: Those who participated previously seem satisfied enough that the Salvation Army is the only group collecting at the Festival of Lights this year. At least everyone is being fairly polite about the decision, which is an understandable one, given the economy.

Meriden: the decision on what has been called Miles Place and has been the entryway to East Cemetery and has been treated as a city street for 60 years and which also apparently has a house thereon with an address seems a bit punctilious. It’s one thing to decide that the city doesn’t need to plough the street to save a few bucks; it’s another to remove a residence from what has been a city street to . . . what? An access road? It’s a difficulty.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Nov. 28, 2009

Wallingford: Seems to us this business of ticketing cars for parking on the Sheehan lawn during the cross town rivalry game was done a year or two ago as well. It didn’t receive a very warm welcome then, and we doubt it did this Thanksgiving either.

Meriden: it sounds like a good decision to hire a plumbing inspector back to the city’s inspection force. Given the economic climate, there are enough difficulties facing anyone wanting to spend money on property improvement and it hardly seems necessary to add unreasonable waiting to the list.

Southington: it certainly makes sense to have the issue of the Water Department’s independence opened up for full discussion and explanation. Sometimes, complexities of town governance have perfectly good reasons when fully set forth – and sometimes they do not.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Nov. 27, 2009

Southington: The developer of Greenway Commons has joined the rest of the world and has had to make changes in how it plans to fund the project at old Ideal Forging factory near High Street. Bonding, it seems, is now out and the company is hoping for a state grant.

Cheshire: emails from non-profits now being questioned about support for candidates during the election. Everyone needs to be familiar with all the rules and to obey them.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Nov. 16, 2009

Southington: Here’s an unexpected consequence, whether unintended or not is hard to tell. Automotive recyclers, formerly called junkyards, have wound up buying and processing a whole lot of those Clunkers turned in during “Cash for Clunkers.” It also created work for haulers.

Southington Jaycees annual Thanksgiving Coffee Break out on Interstate 84, featuring a den of local Boy Scouts to help with the service. It was great to have them there Wednesday afternoon, and they’ll be back out there Sunday afternoon as folks head home from the long weekend.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Nov. 25, 2009

Wallingford: It appears that Barbara Kapi, town clerk for the last two years, will be replaced by Barbara Thompson, who was her predecessor; this is the effect of the failure of the charter amendment to change the process for selecting a town clerk. It appears that Kapi and Thompson both accept this process, as do the voters.

Meriden: It’s always a useful exercise to discuss the books that people try to have banned, as the public library will do in the new year. The discussion, of course, is related to the issue of the book on the home invasion in Cheshire.

Southington: there are a number of people in town who will be delighted to have Pat Robertson’s American Center for Law and Justice battling pornographers intent on opening a legal business in town which specializes in sensual or sexual products. It will be interesting to watch the process unfold.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Nov. 24, 2009

Area: Animal control costs more than is received in licensing fees. Per the Yankee Institute. Whoever suggested that license fees were intended to pay for animal control? Consider the point of view of the source of this study: it sets up a false premise and then scores against it with its study.

State: Democratic lawmakers scored much better on the environmental front than Republican. Per the League of Conservation Voters. Why is this not a surprise? And again, consider the point of view of the source.

Meriden: The railroad station area clean-up project is a step in the right direction, even though we object to the erection of a fence which ends a crossing hallowed, well, sort of, by 150 years of use, to Colony Street from State. But if ever a high speed train line comes to be on the Springfield line, such informal crossings will certainly end . . . as will the grade-level crossings in both Meriden and Wallingford.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Nov. 23, 2009

Area: fire departments and ambulance services are among those who need to be most careful to guard against contracting or spreading flu during this season of contagion. It looks as if regular cleaning of equipment and enforcement of the rule that sick employees should stay home are the most effective measures that can be taken.

Southington: the PZC and other officials need to be very careful that they don’t mess around with the VIP store process in an unfair way. The rules were followed, and Southington is just as bound by them as is the store.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Nov. 22, 2009

Wallingford: It rather goes without saying that “greening” the school system wasn’t particularly a part of the last $72 million renovation. That wasn’t the goal . . . perhaps it should have been, but one imagines that $72 was probably enough for most people, anyway.

Area: Don’t miss the opportunity to have your leaves collected. This week it happens in many local districts.

Meriden: sorry, the stuff about Meriden being a “bad” landlord – which, in context, means buying the wrong properties at the wrong time – won’t wash. When the city takes action in these cases, there is usually a reason – such as the inability of a would-be developer to carry through the plan. Without city purchases, most of these properties would just be empty and rotting. Market’s a great idea, but it doesn’t float all boats or buildings.

We add our voice to those hoping to change GM’s mind about Meriden's Alderman Motors. The corporate decision seems badly misguided.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Nov. 21, 2009

Wallingford: The architectural firm has suggested a $20 to 23 million new police station on Wooding-Caplan. Not a surprise, really. At least doing so will solve the problem of what to do with that long disputed parcel.

Meriden: Delinquent taxes on motor vehicle and personal property taxes to be engaged to go after debts to city. Except for a very few, none seem overwhelmingly large.

Cheshire: town moving toward setting up cameras at Bartlem Park to catch graffiti and vandals. The system works in Southington, so it’s probably worth doing if the cash can be found.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Nov. 20, 2009

Members of the smaller parties on the new Meriden council feel snubbed, being left out of committee chairmanships. The council isn’t yet running on a coalition system, and the majority must deal with the possibility of naming someone to a leadership role whose only position will be to block projects or legislation. On the other hand, Democrats may not be a majority forever, and it’s not the best plan to begin a term with bitterness.

It is good that the Aetna and Hartford Healthcare have reached terms on insurance payments. The possibility of a breach, though not particularly likely, was enough to make insured persons in Meriden and lots of other communities need anxiety pills.

Cheshire: the artificial turf program is underway, but backers must raise half the estimated sum by which costs exceed the state grant before the council will appropriate money. We are sure they can meet the challenge: it’s only money.

Southington: the idea that adjacent property owners would be obstructionist to town efforts to remedy a sewer line crossing the Quinnipiac River in an exposed location is amazing. Surely this is a situation where public health necessity would justify prompt action regardless of anyone’s agreement.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Nov. 19, 2009

Meriden: problems with algae bloom in the city water supply. Number one fact: no danger. Number two fact: an increasing problem perhaps due to run-off from development, notably nitrates and fertilizers. This is a serious problem.

Meriden: it seems that the deciding factor in selecting which route to follow for high school updating will not be the cost, since the options appear likely to make very similar impacts on pockets. What is decided, though, is that there will continue to be two high schools in Meriden.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Nov. 18, 2009

Cheshire: So somehow it is becoming a partisan issue over who selects the books at the library? Republicans are planning – or something near to it – to replace the town manager? This was in the campaign? So the town doesn’t want professional management but instead “representation I government”? This should be a good ride.

Meriden: Rohde plans to choose his own caseworker. That’s a shame for the incumbent, but that is the only job within the mayor’s power and it is natural that the mayor would want to choose his own person after winning his own term.

Wallingford: Covanta reaches agreement with DEP on emission error two years ago, since remedied, which involves paying the agency cash sums to finance other pollution control programs, this particular case involving recycling. In a tight economy, this probably puts the levying of fines to good use.

Wallingford: American Cancer Society reacts to change in national guidelines for mammography and breast exams for cancer. It is very difficult to tell whether the change in recommended screening is a cost saving measure or a reaction to statistical results and reasonable under scientific measure. Similar reaction occurred to the change in the prostate recommendations. Everything becomes politicized.

Cheshire: the decision on an artificial turf field seems to stick in someone’s throat. While we certainly urged caution until safety results were received, that seems to have happened with no real results. The decision was all but made then. Will it now be subject to new debate?

Southington: PZC should proceed with extreme care in attempting to alter or delay the VIP permit. Rules are rules, and the rule of law is the rule of law. You can’t just alter the law because the subject matter is offensive to someone.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Nov. 17, 2009

Cheshire: it is good to read that the Cheshire Library Advisory board voted explicitly to support their librarian’s decision on the dreadful book – even though they did not have to do so. Not only does the choice follow regular procedure, and not only did numerous residents ask for the book, but also the situation is clear from any legal entanglement. Not only did the court’s gag order not apply to the library, it is highly doubtful it could apply: the library is not within the court’s jurisdiction. For heaven’s sake, anyone who feels inclined to read this repellant work should do so by borrowing the library copy rather than buying another copy.

Meriden: the City Council did the right thing to buy those two sites adjacent to Factory H. To gain control of the whole area makes a future possible, if not this year or next then ten years hence.

Southington: allegations in Milford about former superintendent Polanski, given his experience locally, would seem somewhat unlikely, but you never know. We certainly hope to see him cleared thoroughly.

Wallingford: Superintendent Menzo has made a good point in asking business to help facilitate parent/teacher conferences for their employees.

State: with Pfizer pulling out of New London, that whole ruckus over the Fort Trumbull neighborhood eminent domain case is rendered pointless. Company says its decision has nothing to do with the court case, but had there not been the hold up and the out-and-out hostility, the whole thing might have been developed by now. Then again, Pfizer’s purchase by Wyeth might have happened anyway.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Nov. 16, 2009

Southington High School’s new Diversity Club, which should prove a vehicle for promoting
many sorts of understanding. Thanks go to a motivating teacher, Antoinette Delfino.

Wallingford: energy study. The remarkable discovery that the school system apparently spends more than a dollar a square foot on energy costs during a year. Savings would be appreciated.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Nov. 15, 2009

Meriden: The Dutch visitors to Benjamin Franklin School must certainly have learned a number of interesting facts by way of comparison with our school. Very different cultural issues, as well as similar ones, face their system. Each can learn from the other.

Wallingford: the plan to replace the current projector at the Sheehan planetarium with a new one after 40 years is admirable. The capacities of an up-to-date planetarium are almost without limit.

Area: if the stimulus funds are actually retaining existing jobs and maintaining existing programs, through a bit of twisting of the intention, we don’t have a real problem with that. But there will be a problem when it comes time to fund the next budget year.

State: Allegations concerning doctor in Greenwich certainly make entertaining, if horrifying reading. Imagine becoming an artificial insemination doctor so one could spread one’s own seed across the galaxy.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Nov. 14, 2009

State: this is the season for deer strikes on the highways. Between 15,000 and 18,000 die in Connecticut annually, a truly horrifying number. This is the mating season for the animals and they tend to move more than at other times, making them particularly susceptible to accidents on the highway – and, of course, drivers are at peril almost as much as the animals. Drive slower after dusk and be alert.

Southington: good news on the goat situation. There may be a way to grandfather in the keeping of goats under the zoning laws.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Nov. 13, 2009

Wallingford: while it often seems appropriate to pass an ordinance, the council should make sure that enacting another law about dogs would actually have any utility.

Southington, Wallingford, Meriden: it seems to be a good idea to public works departments to use magnesium chloride rather than sand as the basic tool for de-icing during the winter. It’s cheaper too, but one hopes it is also less harmful to the environment.

Wallingford: an unfortunate choice of jokes that was selected for the Trail of Terror — but not, apparently, intended to be anti-Semitic, though perceived that way, since the speaker herself was Jewish and had actually discussed the matter with close relatives.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Nov. 12, 2009

Wallingford: While we can respect any councilor’s right to take a contrary opinion on any subject, it seems rather late in the game for anyone to be voicing a general objection to expansion of the Quinnipiac River Linear Trail. The plan has been studied, approved and sent off to accompany grants, which have now arrived. A single negative vote nearly sank the project due to council absentees.

Area: fine presentations at Veterans’ Day ceremonies. The Antique Veterans are especially appreciated by many in the community for their fine tradition of honoring those who served in our armed forces.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Nov. 11, 2009

Southington: redesign in the planning at the dangerous intersection of West Street and West Center Street in an attempt to end the peril of vehicles which slide on into the roadway and onto a family’s front lawn. It might be cheaper to teach drivers safer winter habits, but that would be unlikely to have a broad effect on patterns.

Meriden: regarding the proposed purchase of parcels near Factory H, it is safe to say that this is not the most propitious moment to incur a major expense of this kind, regardless of ultimate effect or one’s views on public projects. On the other hand, there is money in the works for Factory H which needs to be demolished, and it makes sense to do all the work and secure the property as a whole. The city should go for it.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Nov. 10, 2009

State: Rell’s decision can only be lauded. Way too many officials hold on till a bitter end and then quit under pressure, leaving followers unprepared for any eventuality. Also, the decision frees her up to exert her considerable good will for the benefit of the state without a lot of the re-election baggage.

Wallingford: While we recognize the difficulties that the Oakdale now faces, needing new sponsorship at that large and no doubt expensive facility, there are certainly residents of the area who were very fond of the place when known as Oakdale and who felt some displacement when it became the rather grandiose and certainly commercial Chevrolet Theatre, who will be glad to see a resumption of the old label. We certainly wish good things for the venue, regardless of name.

Cheshire: it will be informative not only for the public but probably for the police department to see the reaction of the soon-to-be-seated town council to the possibility of mediation in the disenchantment between chief and union.

Meriden: watch out for scams, particularly persons posing as utility workers. Insist on positive identification at all times. Just common sense.

Wallingford: PZC interested in having authority to enforce regulations through signs. As noted, this may turn out to be a hard sell.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Nov. 9, 2009

Wallingford: Holiday for Giving steps up to meet this year’s challenges. But organizers and local businesses and employees already have taken steps to help get out word concerning this year’s need. We all hope residents will respond generously.

Southington: members of the board of education express reservations, at least, concerning the present term lengths, only two years. Members feel the two-year term tends to steepen the learning curve for new members and keep everyone worrying about re-election for a greater percentage of the time, which is undeniable. Charter revisers: how about returning to the four-year term?

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Nov. 8, 2009

Southington: teachers’ contract follows a modest path: 2.5 and 3.5 salary hikes and contributions to medical care rising from 15 to 17.5 and then 19 percent. This is movement in pretty much the right direction.

Wallingford: a new aerial fire truck is in the works as the department has a request for $900,000 working its way through the council. Chief Struble will replace the older of the two existing vehicles, part of the plan for about a decade. Fire trucks, while expensive, last many years but not forever: the one to be retired was bought in 1974.

Wallingford: the GOP, while fairly temperate in its public commentary, can only be rubbing its hands in anticipatory glee, now that it is equipped with a 6-3 council majority and the charter revision movement laid to rest. Residents should expect them to act with restraint despite their high spirits.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Nov. 7, 2009

Meriden: Deal to buy the land and buildings next to Factory H. This is a good idea, but of course may run into opposition over the price. But the place has been idle for years now, and nothing good can happen to factory H without this being a part of it. It’s a fine location for a riverine development, some garden apartments, some greenery, some light commerce, along the beautified river banks. Take a look at what West Haven has done with the area which used to be Savin Park.

Wallingford: Reliving History, specifically, the Berlin Wall’s un-building 20 years ago. One might also remember the beginning of the wall, the Berlin Airlift, and President Kennedy’s famous speech on his visit there, identifying himself with the people of that city.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Nov. 6, 2009

State: It is hard to restrain the general enthusiasm over the impending arrival of two new area codes for the telephone system and the mandatory usage of the ten-digit phone number. This is not a simplification of life.

Meriden: The Thomas Hooker School celebrated its blue ribbon Thursday, the result of lots and lots of hard work and dedication. It isn’t every day the governor shows up to congratulate a school.

Wallingford: It is too bad that the Trail of Terror brought in somewhat less this year. Blame it on the weather, the economy, and perhaps also some disheartening effect in the change in focus. But we are confident the visitors will return next season: the campaign is too good not to succeed.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Nov. 5, 2009

Meriden: AMENDED: construction crews are out resurfacing roads. It was good to note today that the north end of Bradley Avenue, prepared with new sidewalks and new esplanade two months ago, has been resurfaced with an excellent smoothness.

State: the chimpanzee case, bizarre already, is assuming ever more magnified aspects. It’s a horrible attack, and certainly the victim merits compensation. But $50 million from the chimp’s owner (her former friend) and another $150 million from the state, thank you very much?

Meriden: One thing Meriden really doesn’t need to worry too much about is those falling SAT scores. First, SATs aren’t universally required. Second, they play no part in the mandatory No Child Left Behind law. Third, as noted, few local kids will take SAT prep courses, now commonplace in wealthy communities.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Nov. 4, 2009

Meriden: election. Interesting showing by WTP party in several areas and now will have an appreciable presence on the council. There will be a fairly large change of faces on the Board of Education.

Wallingford: election. In case anyone needed a demonstration, voters pretty substantially rejected the idea of remedying the fact that Democrats have been unable to best the mayor by reducing his power. The downfall of the charter revision, plus the loss of the council majority spells it out pretty clearly.

Southington: election. Republicans win almost everywhere. Does this reflect malaise of some kind or merely reaction against Democrats in local government? There are a number of new faces, and it will be interesting to watch their features become clear over the next months.

Cheshire: election. Oddly, voters chose Republicans for council and school board, which might reflect annoyance with Democratic plans . . . but they also approved the bonding issues, which suggests that the issue is not spending.

State: it’s hard to find too much reason to insist that court documents about the Le killing be released prior to trial. There is a privacy issue, but sadly, when someone is killed, privacy is not the prime concern. The real issue is getting a good trial. So long as the paperwork is released after the trial, regardless of plea or outcome, it can wait.

Southington: goats. While the 3-acre rule for livestock makes a certain amount of sense, it is fair to note that no neighbor has complained during the decade or more the goats have been on this site (quite the reverse) and that the goat pen is on a corner lot which has some buyer interest. Then, there’s a lot of anti-animal activity going around.

Cheshire: facing a number of burglaries from cars and homes, police are asking for citizen vigilance. Without becoming paranoid about things, it’s good to keep your eyes open.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Nov. 3, 2009

Meriden and everywhere: the insurance payment fight or contractual negotiations between insurer Aetna and Hartford Healthcare, hospital giant. Nothing could demonstrate better the need for health care reform top to bottom when an essentially business difference between any insurer and any provider can result in letters being sent out to the insured workers or whomever, warning them of impending catastrophe – which a) will probably not happen and which b) gets everyone needlessly riled up.

Area: The restriction on visitors, given the H1N1 epidemic, which MidState has imposed make sense under the circumstances. The patients, regardless of their disease, need protection from whatever visitors might bring in, although limitations may impose some heartache on some families.

Wallingford: Repairs planned for the fire training facility on Masonic Avenue. Firefighters, both full-time and volunteer, use the building constantly, and the repairs should return it to tip-top condition.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Nov. 2, 2009

Area: on the job stealing these days concerns the theft of ideas from co-workers, an obnoxious practice in the workplace.

Southington: practical and realistic approach to outbreak of H1N1 flu, which, according to the observers, is often fairly modest in terms of its effects on an individual child – a 2 on a scale of 5 – though of course there will be exceptions. Keep washing hands, stay home when you’re sick and treat it mildly still seem to be the best responses. If it had been called H1N1 to begin with, instead of by the piggy name (which has caused an estimated $900 million loss to pig farmers), one wonders how much people would be worrying.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Nov. 1, 2009

Meriden: the city’s police department is about to receive a million-dollar new computer system – at a small fraction of market cost – which should help improve response time, officer safety, record taking, and other helpful bells and whistles.

Wallingford: the trash-to-energy plant has upgrades, and is one of a surprisingly dwindling number of such facilities in the nation – only 90 remain and 6 are in Connecticut, the first state soon to have no municipal landfills in use. This is a good thing, not a bad thing, since not only can the plants produce electricity, but also much of the toxins can be removed before the smoke leaves the plant.

Area: it is an anomaly that more people vote in presidential elections, which often have scant impact on localities – as much as 80 percent of the registered voters – and least on local elections – maybe 30 percent – where the outcome can directly affect people and where you can go and holler at a councilor you don’t like. Could television money have anything to do with it?

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 31, 2009

Cheshire: Looks like the powder puff game is out for the high school this year, which we guess is really too bad, since a lot of kids really liked it. But what should have been harmless fun became taken too seriously, from the sound of things, and that has ruined it for others.

Southington: the weather and the economy both set back Lake Compounce last summer, and that project for the state to bond a move of Mount Vernon Road was never approved. Well, let’s hope things improve. The park is a great place and good for local teens during the summer as an employer as well.

Southington: town decides to go to in-house bulky waste removal and hauling as a cost saving measure. Interesting that the move has been made in reverse but for the same reason in other communities. Vive la difference!

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 30, 2009

Cheshire: an interesting look at the librarian’s craft, taking as a starting point the controversial book about the murder.

Southington: bids for the extension of the linear trail have come in low and the process will be moving forward with vigor. There’s stimulus money involved.

Meriden/Wallingford: there are probably analyses to be made of campaign spending and even comparisons to be achieved about the efficacy of campaign efforts. However, no one, candidate or pundit, is too likely to completing such efforts until after Tuesday’s election results are known.

Wallingford/Southington: YMCA and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have issued grant to Ys to work out some sort of program to tackle obesity. We look forward to seeing what they come up with.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 29, 2009

Wallingford: it’s too bad that something could not be worked out with the people planning the path of the linear trail and the folks in the condo area near the river. It would seem to be a plus for any neighborhood.

Meriden: pawn shops under pressure. One of the things any good pawn dealer should develop a sense for is the legitimacy of his customers. If the customer doesn’t really match the goods being pawned, there’s a fair chance that they’re ill-gotten.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 28, 2009

Area (Meriden, Southington): while there seem to be sufficient HIN1 flu vaccine doses for those looking for them, the seasonal flu vaccine is in short supply. It’s tough to guess how people will react to warnings about the illnesses, and tough as well to predict how the manufacturers will proceed.

Southington: High rates of absence at middle schools suggests a wave of unhealthy kids, but it's not a cause for alarm. Parents are urged to follow routines to avoid spread of disease and to keep kids at home a day longer than symptoms.

Meriden (and other police departments): Taser warning to law enforcement departments isn’t the result of any new information, apparently, just relates to efficient use of these tools. There are some concerns about their use, but they do seem to stop "situations," as do firearms of course, but even if serious injury or death is a possibility with the Taser, isn’t that still preferable to shooting someone, who, if hit, is guaranteed serious injury or death, and who is not incapacitated quickly?

Wallingford: A move which will make town meetings more easily accessed by residents will be appreciated by those interested and concerned. Everyone will then have a chance to discover just how mind-bogglingly tedious a substantial portion of every public meeting is by nature. All the same, it’s good to be able to watch.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Oct. 27, 2009

Meriden: the Hub project reviewed. It seems a deal of money on this and that and planning and engineering, but anyone interested can check how the cost of any public school is put together. It’s a pretty safe bet that engineering and admin and planning costs make up a substantial part of the total . . . . which runs to tens of millions. Public contracts, with their multitude of requirements, protections, guarantees, and all the rest, cost a lot.

Southington: Two new Parks board members were named by the council; it's an awkward situation, given the suspension of the director. It would seem that his legal situation could be moved along more rapidly; limbo is a miserable place to be.

Wallingford: what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. If the mayor should be barred from using public funds to fight the charter revision questions, then it would seem that everyone else should be as well.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 26, 2009

Wallingford: It seems a little odd for either the Republican or the Democratic town chairs, or former chairs, to be serving on the Housing Authority board, since it’s not really a political job. Or it shouldn’t be. One task the new commission, whatever its composition, might do is to try to set up some skill sets needed for future commissioners.

Southington’s PZC should stop stalling on the VIP store. Extra months to carry out an examination of inventory . . . that’s really just delaying tactics. Under the rules, the store’s got a permit. How come no one was out protesting VIP’s competition, which has just closed up shop?

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct. 25, 2009

Meriden, Wallingford, Southington, Cheshire: It’s hoped that voters in our communities will take advantage of the Voters Guide published in today’s Record-Journal. It is said that “all politics are local,” and this is the local campaign season, a time to figure out who the candidates are, which ones you like, and to plan to get to the polls and vote.

Meriden: The remainder of the money the city didn’t spend on demolition of the Hub, in the middle of downtown, is expected to be granted this week at the state bond commission. The grant should enable Meriden to get started on the future of this 14.4 acre parcel.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 24, 2009

Meriden: plans for the census raise counting issues involving demographics and a failure to respond rate. Efforts should be made to get people to respond, but it’s like voting and jury duty: if people feel uninvolved with the system, it’s going to be tough to stir them to participation.

State: the guy trying to sell T-shirts with the face of the UConn player stabbed to death recently is now in trouble for using state logos. Although the attorney general calls it shameless exploitation, the seller says it’s charitable intent to raise money for the player’s unborn child. Since no money has yet been raised and no shirts sold, it may instead be a tempest in a teapot. Why not help the guy comply with the rules?

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 23, 2009

Southington: the “good” overtime, “bad” overtime description of police costs for the Apple Harvest Festival is kind of intriguing, but there’s no question that officers need to be on hand during the event, and it costs what it costs, like electricity or running water. A defense of the spending shouldn’t really be necessary.

Southington: The teachers contract, which holds a freeze for the first year and sees contributions for health insurance rise significantly, should be a model for other districts. It seems to be a workable pattern.

State: the campaign finance law was ruled unconstitutional on the ubequal burden placed on minor party candidates. Interesting question. But the case is on appeal, and the ruling could well be amended. Better to wait and see what the final ruling is, and perhaps, with judicial permission, go ahead with the 2010 election as the law stands.

Meriden: issue of sign removal by city crews. There clearly needs to be some well-enunciated rules on the matter and these need to be well-explained to crews.

Wallingford/Cheshire: Interesting discussion between towns over designation of land use policy for adjacent properties with differing uses and the relation to home rule. At what point would it be appropriate for the state to step in to deal with a zoning issue or conflict between neighbors?

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 22, 2009

Tedious progress in the house invasion murder case which happened in Cheshire. We know due process is due process, but sometimes one wishes judges in this country ruled on motions from the bench as they do in Britain, so that the case can move forward.

Wallingford: Dickinson, with no opponent, is campaigning anyway, and focusing on the Charter Revision questions. No surprise. Democrats find it unfair that he’s doing so. What do they expect?

The Board of Education candidate forum in Meriden seems to have provoked some interesting give and take on a variety of issues Wednesday night.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 21, 2009

Southington: the PZC definitely made the right choice in deciding not to try to revoke the permit legally and correctly issued to VIP. It isn’t right to try and revoke a permit just because the permit is unpopular. That is not the rule of law. It violates civil rights as well.

MidState Medical Center celebrated the opening of its Outpatient Services Center at the site of the former theater complex off or Pomeroy Avenue, in Meriden this week. As noted, another move to bring services into the community occurred earlier in the month in Wallingford, as the hospital opened its walk-in center near the Stop & Shop Plaza in Wallingford.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Oct. 20, 2009

Meriden: sympathy from many quarters will be offered for the sad death of Police Officer Dan Jakiela III. It hurts a lot when such events happen.

Southington: Better bond rating means better bond rates. That’s good for a municipality which sometimes must bond willy-nilly.

Cheshire: the library we hope will stand firm behind its professional librarians and uphold the decision to stock that unpleasant and unwelcome book. Many people disagree with all sorts of books (from "The Wizard of Oz" to the "Chocolate War" and "In Cold Blood"), but that doesn’t mean a library should fail to stock them.

Meriden: Council’s decision not to leave the post of director of accounting open is a proper one, even in this economy.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 19, 2009

Southington: It’s pretty hard to object to a school building project which comes in ahead of schedule and under budget, two phrases people really appreciate hearing.

Wallingford: “Life Begins at 50” is the theme of a Senior Fair at the Senior Center on Friday, which only asks a donation of a single can of food for Master’s Manna, the food kitchen. Please note that you don’t need to be a senior to attend.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct. 18, 2009

Meriden: Gallery 53 may sell some of its collection to raise a little cash. That’s understandable, but we hope tat the need does not drive them so far they sell items which are of particular local significance. All galleries and museums make occasional acquisitions and, as they say, de-acquisitions.

Area: on-line reviews of restaurants and other businesses. The idea, as it was a few years ago with newspaper restaurant reviews, to be “in-your-face,” and that’s one thing if a review is signed and quite another if it is anonymous. Naturally, owners fight back if needed with reviews inspired by themselves.

Wallingford: Choate and the town. The whole business of Old Durham Road, whatever else it may have been, was a disaster for the relationship between the school and the town administration.

Meriden’s school breakfast program, which was such an issue of conscience a few years ago, has now been extended to the entire system, including, at last, the high schools. How strange that something which caused so much political heat at one time can, after a few tweaks of history, seem ordinary and usual.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 17, 2009

Southington: Director of Parks asked to resign over the business of the paving stones. One might think so public an embarrassment might so motivate the incumbent, but at this point, matters are still in negotiation. The value involved is trivial, but the head of a department must be an example.

Wallingford: A freeze – super or otherwise – for the school system suggests, at least, that people are taking expense control seriously. But since neither board nor administrators can alter the basic sum received by the system or refuse to pay contractual obligations, what this sounds like is a chance to pinch pennies in the few existing optional items in the school system. So, chairs break, they’re not replaced; electronic equipment goes on the fritz, they remain broken. etc.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 16, 2009

Legal tangle Department: White firefighters in New Haven sued over the promotion exam and won a major decision in the Supreme Court saying their test should not have been scrapped. Now a black firefighter has sued over the same test saying it was discriminatory and should never have been administered.

Meriden: New Life Church on Bee Street will host this year’s mayoral and council candidate forum, while Meriden Children First will be holding a forum at John Barry School. We are happy this election opportunity will not be missed.

Southington: two veterans are leaving the Board of Finance through their own decision not to seek reelection. The board will miss Phil Pomposi and Robert Triano who collectively had 32 years experience.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 15, 2009

Wallingford: Choate Rosemary is going to go and find another way to proceed, since the Town Council won’t consider an offer. It’s the town’s loss. Too bad.

The decision of all four local libraries to stock the reprehensible book about the home invasion murders in Cheshire is unpopular but correct. The book, by description only, seems both exploitative and violative of court orders, but that’s not a reason for censorship. Libraries carry Marx and Hitler, even though much therein is rejected by people.

Southington: youths congregating behind Derynoski. If they’re not doing anything illegal, beyond littering and smoking, is it worthwhile trying to chase them away?

Southington: Ethics complaints dismissed. Seem that most people would consider that there is something wrong with divulging the nature of an ethics complaint before it is heard; ultimately, what’s the point of secrecy?

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 14, 2009

Meriden: cancellation of the political forum, leaving citizens with no likely chance of seeing the candidates in action before the election. It’s getting down to the wire at this point, but surely something ought to be able to be worked out. The city needs a bona fide non-partisan “above-it-all” group which everyone respects and which can set up this sort of program.

Meriden: a three-cornered race for school board seats with four, five and two candidates from the three parties. Between the uneven numbers, the parties, and the minority party representation rules, which prohibit any party from holding more than six of nine seats, it’s a complex set-up this year.

State: it’s no use crying over spilled milk, that is, the taxpayer files stolen in a laptop two years ago from a car on a family weekend in Long Island. While the information was available to the thief, it’s fairly likely that said thief was more interested in signing on to Internet porn than in the trove of information on the computer. But procedures need to be in place. We suspect they are and that today's attitudes are far from "cavalier."

Wallingford: No powder puff football movie this year, even though the town’s is the oldest continuously running program. Policies have to be observed regarding all sorts of things – which is no reason they cannot all be dealt with by next year. These things take time.
the possibility of the closure of Old Durham Road. This should get matters off of a dead standstill, and that’s progress.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Oct. 13, 2009

Quinnipiac River: Mary Mushinsky is looking for Fiends of the River – that’s the Q River, of course – to adopt “best practices” along the banks. Allowing vegetation, cleaning basins, containing garbage: these are all among the steps the Executive Director urges businesses to take to help improve the river’s life.

Southington: the T3, a competitor for the Segway, a single-person vehicle for police use, was tried out at both weekends of the festival. It’s pricey, at $12,000, but the officer has the advantage of height, which can be useful in crowd situations. It’s hard to think, though, that either the Segway or the T3 would provide much stability in a dense crowd, and the need for hands to control it would limit some uses.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 12, 2009

Area: expansion of WIC food options to include produce items and others. This should help improve the diets of many youngsters in the region. It’s fascinating to realize how much information gets processed at the grocery check-out counter.
Congratulations to the winner of the Southington Icon, the singing contest at the Apple Harvest Festival.

We have nothing but admiration for our reporter Andrew Perlot for participating and finishing the Hartford Marathon last weekend. And we have nothing but gratitude for the reality that we are not required to run shod or unshod anything like 17 miles through Hartford or Meriden or anywhere else. Ever.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct. 11, 2009

Southington: the closing or relocation of The Hartford’s offices will have a deleterious effect upon the town, unavoidably . . . but the town is resilient.

Cheshire, Southington, Meriden: Chiefs of police and no-confidence votes. The issue of reining in a chief, whether by a town manager or mayor or by union membership is kind of interesting. Present protections no doubt stem from practice of firing a chief every time there was a change of administration – a municipal “spoils” system.

Elementary and middle schools are institutionalizing good behavior through the Positive Behavior Support Program, with posters shown at Nathan Hale. This is what “civility” in public life has to do with, and Meriden is doing its part in encouraging its return.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 10, 2009

Cheshire/Southington: bitterness over the conduct of the 2008 Powder Puff game between the two towns’ high schools has apparently led to a scheduling change: Southington will play in New Britain, while Cheshire will play in-house. Too bad a tradition had to end in such a way.

Meriden: It would be good, if unlikely, that parties will stick to issues. Democrats should not boycott, even if people are a little upset with process, unless something of substance. Meriden Democrats are up to the verbal challenges.

Southington: the substance of the issues about that football fund seems as ephemeral as the original allegations. Sorry, while people may not much like old-fashioned and informal bookkeeping (which includes a surprising sum of cash) it’s not yet illegal. Move on.

National: it is something of an indictment of the fierce partisanship which has beleaguered American presidential politics that the award to the president of the United States of the Nobel Prize for Peace should be seen by so many fellow citizens as a negative achievement.

Wallingford: while there might be something interesting in the ordinance line to be done regarding vicious dogs, it would seem that the animal control officer has sufficient power. There are, sadly, always going to be situations where something unfortunate occurs. Another law enforcement power won’t remedy the situation which already occurred.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 9, 2009

Congratulations to Shelley Chordas of Meriden’s Lincoln Middle School, named Teacher of the Year.

East Cemetery in Meriden poses a bit of a problem for the city. No one wants to ignore the graveyard, which has been the city’s since 1845, but no one wants to spend any money either. Then there’s the fence which is (or is not) on David Went’s property: since there are no markers, apparently, on the dubious ground, if no written proof can be found of burial, and nothing shows up with a judicious use of modern instrumentation, the city should have the decency to forget about it. Or, pick up the fence and move it back to where the property line really is.

Everyone is looking forward – but not too much – to the next Town Council meeting in Wallingford in the hope that something will happen in the impasse over Old Durham Road. Talk about making a throughway out of a country lane!

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 8, 2009

Southington: It would seem to be the case that any attempt, as reported, to close the Bristol Court would be as ridiculous as closing the operation in Meriden. Respectable cities need court facilities. If it costs something to rent a court house, or build one, or whatever, it needs to be done.

Meriden: The Center Congregational Church is going forward with a Parish Nurse Health Center. What a good idea for approaching health issues of people with modest service needs.

Southington: Seems that nothing criminal occurred in the football coach’s management of the Blue Knights checking account. Several things going on here: management practices, central control, and possibly disaffection between coach and assistants. Close the book, for goodness sake.

Cheshire: so the police no-confidence vote turns out to be about management style. There ought to be a better way of dealing with such situations.

State: the suit about potential enforcement of the law against assisting a suicide – call it what you will. Is the climate right for such a case? Very doubtful: it pokes a stick into Roman Catholic theology or teaching, which is already exercised over the same-sex marriage issue not to mention the bill filed earlier this year which would have required all hierarchical clergy to set up local corporations to manage their church’s cash.

Although anyone would deplore the accident last week which involved Wallingford’s Fire Department Rescue Truck, the two firefighters of that damaged vehicle, suffering themselves, showed their mettle by tending first to the others injured in the three-vehicle smash.


Don’t argue about the name on the shirts, folks, just focus on the mayor’s clean-up. Since many Meriden volunteers are repeaters, it’s not unlikely that some will have Mark Benigni’s name on them

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 7, 2009

Southington: Hearing on the moratorium regarding adult specialty stores. How come no one asks whether the Planning and Zoning Commission is prepared to close down existing adult stores?

Area: school systems prepare for flu and for swine flu. It seems that for the most part the disease, although it focuses on younger people, is not often serious unless there is an existing medical issue. Therefore the focus on not spreading the disease would seem to be sensible.
While it is possible to be critical of some of the decisions of the Wallingford Housing Authority over the last few years, it is questionable if it makes any sense at all to transform a decision to appoint someone to a new term into a competition.

Cheshire: Let’s see now: the letter expressing no confidence in the chief was signed by every officer and reflects long-standing grievances. There have been talks, but no one can talk about them because they are personnel issues and privacy prevents discussion. Isn’t there something vaguely inconsistent about going public with complaints which cannot be discussed?

State: The bridges – of many entertaining and fascinating styles – along the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut are now on the endangered architecture list. We’ve noticed over recent years that some of these notables have indeed been refurbished, but probably more do, and it’s also likely that with today’s traffic and patterns, some of them, however beautiful, are less useful than they might be and built in a style which would be prohibitively expensive today.

Meriden: The grievance filed over the hiring of crossing guards during the summer to fill other jobs for the city illustrates how difficult it is to maneuver within union contracts. It often ties the hands of city managers, and it also obligates unions to object to perfectly reasonable labor decisions because of the need to protect their contract positions.

Meriden: Of course it makes sense to bring a new accounting director on board before the present person retires. That’s called advance planning, and for jobs which involve specialized knowledge, not planning for transition almost guarantees confusion, annoyance and perhaps worse. Leaving a job like this empty for 90 days is being penny wise and pound foolish.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Oct. 6, 2009

Cheshire: the unanimous police union vote of no confidence It’s a pretty tough stance, and there seems to be little or nothing in the files to suggest such a situation developing. We await further details as they come to light.

Southington: the Republican boycott of the first candidates’ forum is hard to understand. Was there a thought that Concerned Citizens are out to get Republicans more than Democrats?

Wallingford: there’s no reason that a group should not form to oppose the Charter Revision Package. The push from the beginning has been – at least in some eyes – to blunt the power of the mayoral veto. Since so many voters on Election Day ignore any and all questions on the ballot, it’s good to bring focus on the issue. The more people who wind up voting, win or lose, the more the result will reflect public opinion.

Meriden: the vote to spend all $50,000 on the Lincoln library is not only simple fairness and a wise move, but the notion that busy councilors will reliably appropriate $10,000 for each of the next four years to finish the job is kind theoretical – and while no one should ignore a sum of $50,000, it’s really a tiny portion of the total city budget.

Area: Police dealing with jaywalking issues, which is fair enough. Notice, though, that not all zebra crosswalks are the same. Where there is no light, a pedestrian has priority and vehicles must yield. Where there are traffic signals, both pedestrians and motorists must obey the signal.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 5, 2009

Southington: family resource center at the First Years First, now celebrating its first year of operation, has a grant to expand. It’s a key factor in efforts to prepare youngsters for school.

Wallingford: the opportunity to honor firefighters in a public way at a service at SS Peter and Paul Church Sunday was one enthusiastically accepted by grateful and appreciative residents.

Fine weather which helped everyone on Sunday to live up to the hopes for the local festivities.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct. 4, 2009

State: new laws regarding young drivers now in effect. One is inclined to agree with the folks who are tired of coping with all the rules and suggest making the driving age 18. On the other hand, just as the difference between being 20 years, 11 months and 30 days old and being 21 years old doesn’t train a person to use alcohol wisely, neither does giving them a license at age 18, give or take a few seconds, make them a better driver than they were the day before, aged 17.

Meriden: The question about when a non-profit organization becomes a lobbying organization is an interesting one, philosophically. At the moment, groups advocating reform of health care rules are at issue: how much may they spend in furtherance of a legislative cause. The rules are in place. All sorts of organizations have had, at one time or another, to separate their general advocacy activities from their specific lobbying activities, and most everyone figures out how to live with it. There’s always the chance that people who oppose the sort of goals a non-profit espouses may call a group out, in which case it is good to be prepared.

State: some of the measures passed Friday as being “budget related” are slight eyebrow-raisers. For instance: raising the age at which kids may drop out of high school by a year (it’s a good idea in theory, but was there discussion? What is the cost? Who will enforce?); allow food banks to give away food not prepared in an unlicensed kitchen (this idea would provoke reactions from local health directors, one would think?); bar approvals of state funding for new magnet schools (sort of pulling the rug out from under the idea, isn’t it?); allow substitute teachers for up to 10 days who do not have bachelor’s degrees (there aren’t enough unemployed college graduates?)

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 3, 2009

Wallingford: reservoir silt, from MacKenzie Reservoir or elsewhere, is hard to dispose of. It isn’t something everyone wants in his or her front yard, although there appears to be nothing particularly offensive about it.

Meriden: It is good that residents will have another chance to ascend to Castle Craig in the dark. The view is to be enjoyed. Let’s hope for clear weather.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 2, 2009

Southington: A study committee for land use along West Street for “proper” use, since the land is not being used “properly.” The aim is to change zoning to allow more light industrial sites along what is now mainly a residential zone. Patterns have changed, and this is a far more heavily travelled road than formerly . . . but what do current residential owners think? Better to ask now than after the zoning is changed.

Cheshire: Having trimmed staff in the school budget, the concern now is over class size. It does stand to reason that the two have some relationship to each other.

Wallingford: changes in Story time at the Public Library to help reflect modern attention and concerns. The public library, not only in Wallingford but in every community, offers about the best governmental bang for the buck.

Wallingford: paying extra to print the charter revision questions on the ballot. There shouldn’t be any whining about the cost, but it was the same in Meriden over the primary. If the logic of the objectors is accepted, the nominees should be limited to those which short names to reduce the cost of printing.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 1, 2009

Cheshire: To name or not to name, that is the question when it comes to identifying kids arrested for illegal under-age possession of alcohol. There are several considerations, including shaming, punishing, disciplining evoked in school, conviction vs. accusation, comparison with other transgressions.

Meriden: Atty Mazzariello does justice in the streets. Students of legal history may recall (or may not) that it was by offering better justice that the early English kings established the common law and displaced the tyrannies of baronial courts. Will it now be the case that suppliants at Judge Mazz’s “street court” will draw people because of the chance to proceed informally, cheaply, and without the centuries of encrusted legal precedents and rules?

State: water bottles, as in bottled water, now subject to deposit. It’s a good thing, since at very least it provides a way for a number of down and out folks to survive – by collecting and returning empties other people are too careless to bother with.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Sept. 30, 2009

Meriden: The Gift of Lester Dequaine to the Arts & Crafts Association and Gallery 53 is a significant donation which should go a long way to help secure the organization’s future.

Wallingford: A pressure reducing station on Tower Drive near the Parks and Rec. HQ. Since the drawdown by the recently-opened Lowe’s has evidently caused the pressure problems, the store will bear the cost, just as its competitor did in a similar situation.

Cheshire: incredibly, one of the defendants in the home invasion murder case has been permitted to write letters to an author, who has now assembled a book. While the statements, both inculpatory and exculpatory, might be of interest to a social historian or a legal study of the case, and while they may make little difference to the progress of the case, it is repugnant to decency for such a work to appear before the trial. It is, naturally, entirely self-serving by definition: how could it be anything else. It also appeals to a prurient interest in the violence of the horrible crime.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Sept. 29, 2009

Wallingford: Linear Trail’s Phase III seems to run up against a serious road block, as designed: a condominium development on Main Street, Yalesville. The trail would go through the complex – allowed to be constructed in 2003 as apartments, when surely the intended extension of the trail was no secret, and parking lot access is through the development’s driveway. It seems like an idea that may not have many takers, no matter how good a package the town is offering in return for permission.

Meriden: the challenge to the Ridgeline Protection Zone has been rejected by the courts. This is good news, as the Ridgeline zoning rules are an important link in the preservation of the natural assets of Central Connecticut.

Southington: evidently, the issues identified, or rather unidentified, in the town Parks and Recreation Department, are not yet thoroughly plumbed, as witness the seizure of the office computers last week.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Sept. 28, 2009

Wallingford: The North Farms Volunteer Fire Department, one of the town’s active centers of community involvement, is always interested in new members. It’s a matter of public safety and of good comradeship, and it’s a little hard to see why this sort of organization should be thought of as a negative in any neighborhood.

Meriden: Beisbol y Biblioteca, otherwise known as Baseball and Library (the phrase isn’t as catchy in English, but no matter). The idea of psychotherapist Charles Kaplan, its plan is to capitalize on the interest in sports and translate that into an interest in reading.

Wallingford: although the rules which seem to determine which football games show up on the television screen are complicated, we suppose someone has to figure out a protocol for making decisions. If mistakes leave fans dissatisfied too often, the people making the choices need to have another look at the system.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Sept. 27, 2009

State: Tobacco tax to go up and smokers feel somewhat discriminated against. It’s certainly a regressive tax, but as long as people continue to buy tobacco, they’re a sitting target.

State: meanwhile, as the state taxes smokers to support other programs, we’re getting $11.5 million for anti-alcohol programs aimed at the under-aged.

State: New London’s big anti-eminent domain case, which raised so many hackles, has wound up with no one having anything they wanted. The woman eventually sold her house for an outrageous price, the whole redevelopment plan fell apart with the economy, and some local preservationist bought the home and moved it and refurbished it.

Southington: The industrial sites along the Canal line where the linear trail will go are of considerable historic importance, and a study has now identified them. They will make this section of the longer trail be somewhat different from others, and very interesting, too.

Meriden: Two co-generating units to be placed at the Housing Authority’s Community Towers housing facility. Electricity, heat and cooling will all be provided by this project, funded by the stimulus money from the Federal government.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Sept. 26, 2009

State: no doubt there is good legal theory, both pro and con, about why defendants in the capital murder case should be tried together, and we all want to see justice done. But we are betting that it will not be cheaper two try the two men at the same time.

Wallingford: the encouragement and training for young journalists at Moran Middle School. The equipment is both awesome and exciting, and probably fun as well.

Southington: The investigation launched last may into high school football checking accounts is expected to be completed next week. The results should help clear up or define any clouds.

The Meriden Children Zone Project planned for a number of downtown residential streets in Meriden, for which stimulus money has provided grants. It’s a good plan and we hope it meets with success.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Sept. 25, 2009

Area: there are undoubtedly a few people, not all of them students, who are not comfortable with the use of Internet portals at schools for both parents and students where either can check grades and attendance as well as what’s for lunch. This is just another demonstration of the potential of managing the educational process in an electronic and harried world. The system in use at Lincoln Middle School in Meriden, for example, is extremely helpful.

Area: police report an increase in shop-lifting. We hadn’t known of a crime, until now, of “possession of a shoplifting device” though its existence as a parallel to “possession of burglary tools” is perfectly logical.

Southington/Cheshire: judges coming to terms with the consolidation plans in the works for probate court system. On the whole the changes will make sense, and it is somewhat ironic that, especially with the establishment of the children’s courts in the probate system, this court arrangement produces a dedicated court for children’s custody and welfare issue matters, demonstrating that the consolidation, a number of years ago, of the Juvenile Court into Superior Court in the state may have been too hasty.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Sept. 24, 2009

Wallingford: how will the land for the firehouse be restricted to that use? Well, the answer is, “ask the lawyer.”

Southington: The person who withdrew the appeal about VIP was the prospective neighbor of the shop, who evidently came to terms with the situation. It remains to be seen whether the community can pull together enough resources to mount a challenge.

Area: the over six million dollars to area school systems for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from the federal government seems wonderful, and it is good that such students are going to get funding; but for the system as a whole, obliged to spend on “new” programs, when good existing programs face cuts, has to be a serious frustration.

Police in Meriden have been stopping cars exceeding the speed limit on residential streets. With any luck, people will no longer need to mutter, as some speeder’s wake stirs up the dust and threatens the pets and children “where’s a cop when you need one?” Everyone should watch the speedometer.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Sept. 23, 2009

Wallingford: The American Legion Building. It’s a little hard to see what sort of negotiation can lead anywhere. It’s a matter of the town wanting to demolish the building it bought for the purpose of doing so in 1994 and of the state (and preservationists) wanting to salvage it. How can it be compromised? There’s probably a good reason lawyers don’t want to try such a case: there’s no money and no purpose, only principles and emotions.

Meriden: Falcon Field. The music and loud cheering issues are kind of a challenge: that’s what happens at athletic contests. Curfews are questionable. As for balls heaved over the fences, it’s pretty impossible to retrieve them without trespassing. What other solution is there? The ultimate possibility is a sound barrier (and also a physical block) between the neighbors and the field, but we’d guess that would be ugly enough to discourage the idea. It’s hard to see how this can be fixed.

Southington: the school board adopted, 5-4, a policy which would subject out-of-school behavior to in-school policies and punishments. Now they’re going to study the question. It’s a policy which has some civil liberties issues and some concerns over the role of the schools in enforcing socially unacceptable behavior.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Sept. 22, 2009

Cheshire: Pratt to close plant in town, which is kind of a nightmare situation. In spite of earnest dealing by union and state, company made up its mind. Now there are lawsuits threatened: barring union contracts, what basis is there for either a state or a union to challenge a business-based corporate decision?

Wallingford: potential purchase of farm on North Farms Road is not popular, not surprisingly, with the neighbors. Apparently, it isn’t the fire house so much as the possibility of a future police HQ that worries them. Given the way that towns develop, when one buys a home in the semi-rural countryside, how much can one expect the surrounding countryside to remain the same?

Meriden: if the city gets into the billboard business, will it have to pay taxes, like any private corporation or any charity, on non-related business interest? There’s probably a simple answer, but it’s one which should be answered.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Sept. 21, 2009

Area: Economic climate demonstrates the need for libraries, even if it isn’t necessarily books for which people are searching. When you’re out of work and the computer breaks or you can’t make the payments to maintain the access, where else but the public library?

Wallingford: So it turns not to have been an invasion of the Body Snatchers at North Farms Reservoirs after all, but merely native species which are turning the shallow pond into an impenetrable aquatic jungle.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Sept. 20, 2009

Southington: is the Water Department a town department or not? While the issue of
sharing rental revenue from leased cell phone/radio equipment on water department structures
isn’t really a big deal, it does raise the interesting issue.

The continued health of the 13 community neighborhood associations is good for the city of Meriden. Active residents, involved in what goes on in the streets surrounding their homes is a way to build strength and fight crime, all by itself. It would also appear that the presence of police officers gives a certain panache or blessing, perhaps, to help energize the groups.

Meriden: Democratic Town Chairman Mildred Torres-Ferguson has it right when she says that any “deal” which might have been made to avoid the Rohde/Zerio primary would have been worse than the primary. Primaries, given two determined candidates, are the only way to resolve a choice, and it’s a lot better than pistols at dawn . . . or roving gangs of political goons beating each other up. This is democracy, and the cost, $35,000 or so, is only a thousandth of the cost, roughly, of running the city for a year.

Wallingford: Town budgeting habits nettle both those who think taxes are too high and don’t want to spend, and those who think the town shouldn’t hold on to so much cash in reserves and should budget more accurately. But Wallingford is one of 8 towns with the Aa1 rating, and it saves money on borrowing. It works for us: we’d much rather operate our own budget from a position of fiscal strength than from a position of hanging on by our nails.

Wallingford is to receive a grant for an additional loop of the linear trail, which will be in addition to the phase, expected to get underway, of expansion on the west side of the Wilbur Cross.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Sept. 19, 2009

Southington: it just cannot be said too often. The most necessary ingredient for a hike is a cell phone, thanks to technology. Hikers around these parts aren’t crossing frozen wastes, trackless forests, or arid plains: these are New England woods, where the greatest danger is losing oneself among the turning paths and sharp declivities. Just bring the phone.

Cheshire: gifts to town government are a significant part of life, despite the belief that towns fund their operations through taxes.