The reverse alert system which will allow municipal governments to communicate by telephone with residents in the event of an emergency. Meriden, Wallingford, Southington and Cheshire, along with many other towns, have joined, but the key will be convincing residents to sign up with their towns’ alert systems.
Wallingford’s choice for fire marshal withdrew from the job, opting to remain at his present position. So, it’s back to the drawing board for the Wallingford Fire Department.
The Galileo Project Academy at Southern, which brought teachers from high schools and middle schools, including those from Maloney and Washington in Meriden, together with instructors at the University to help clarify for everyone the expectations students will meet when they reach college.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues. June 29, 2010
Southington: Well, there certainly needs to be some policy on computer use, but it is a fair question to wonder how far that policy will extend and how all sorts of things will be defined. It’s a thorny issue.
Wallingford: every time there’s an animal vs. human conflict . . . as with buildings the dept. of Parks and Recreation uses on Fairfield Blvd where birds have gotten inside . . . there’s an issue of fairness to the animals. There’s no automatic way to solve situations.
Meriden: a successfully rehabilitated home o Franklin Street, now bought by a new family, thanks to part of the Neighborhood Stabilization grant. This program, which returns money to the city eventually, has promise.
Wallingford: every time there’s an animal vs. human conflict . . . as with buildings the dept. of Parks and Recreation uses on Fairfield Blvd where birds have gotten inside . . . there’s an issue of fairness to the animals. There’s no automatic way to solve situations.
Meriden: a successfully rehabilitated home o Franklin Street, now bought by a new family, thanks to part of the Neighborhood Stabilization grant. This program, which returns money to the city eventually, has promise.
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., June 28, 2010
Southington: it can’t hurt to be training servers in identifying underage patrons and in recognizing inebriation. You’d think, though, that that would be one of the criteria for hiring someone at a place which serves booze anyway, but some servers at big facilities are pretty young.
Wallingford: It would seem that if the zoning rules were changed to allow multi-family housing in Tracyville, it is a little late, now that people are attempting to have apartment construction approved, to begin worrying about someone actually building or converting to multi-family uses.
Wallingford: It would seem that if the zoning rules were changed to allow multi-family housing in Tracyville, it is a little late, now that people are attempting to have apartment construction approved, to begin worrying about someone actually building or converting to multi-family uses.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sun., June 27, 2010
Meriden: Use of the Neighborhood Assistance Program to provide tax credit eligibility for companies to make donations to non-profits in the city. This sounds like a plan which could be extremely helpful for small programs short of funds if there’s good participation.
It was the First rather than the Last Picture Show at the former Southington Drive In. The lure of the outdoor movie still has some power to draw in the viewers, and on these warm summer evenings, what could be better?
Napier Foundation’s decision to pledge a 50 percent match for Meriden/Wallingford Campership Fund donations, mirroring the Wadsworth Family Foundation’s pledge last week. We’ll get those kids to camp, thanks to people’s generosity.
It was the First rather than the Last Picture Show at the former Southington Drive In. The lure of the outdoor movie still has some power to draw in the viewers, and on these warm summer evenings, what could be better?
Napier Foundation’s decision to pledge a 50 percent match for Meriden/Wallingford Campership Fund donations, mirroring the Wadsworth Family Foundation’s pledge last week. We’ll get those kids to camp, thanks to people’s generosity.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., June 26, 2010
Meriden: traffic studies to evaluate the existing signal system and design issues on three thoroughfares in particular (Preston, Johnson and Allen). “Improvements” in the streets noted will, of course, mean change; we also hope traffic light evaluation will mean removal of some as well as rescheduling of others so repeat and adjacent stops are eliminated.
After Friday’s crashes in Southington on I-84, we are reminded of what dangerous places the interstates can be, and we urge care on everyone as these roads, as useful as they are, are negotiated. Good driving manners by all would probably help, too.
Wallingford: the sidewalk replacement program follows a sensible 13-zone replacement plan, but sidewalk complaints are so ubiquitous, and repairs so expensive, that the town has not completed a full rotation through all zones since John Thompson first became town engineer 10 years ago.
After Friday’s crashes in Southington on I-84, we are reminded of what dangerous places the interstates can be, and we urge care on everyone as these roads, as useful as they are, are negotiated. Good driving manners by all would probably help, too.
Wallingford: the sidewalk replacement program follows a sensible 13-zone replacement plan, but sidewalk complaints are so ubiquitous, and repairs so expensive, that the town has not completed a full rotation through all zones since John Thompson first became town engineer 10 years ago.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., June 25, 2010
Southington is opening up the old, and former and now again, Drive-In on the Meriden-Waterbury Road. It has taken six understandable years since it was purchased by Southington after a referendum to get the property ready, but for those who fancy outdoor movies, the 25th anniversary of “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial” is a delicious way to begin.
Meriden suffered a power outage in the area around the post office Thursday, caused by a bird-induced transformer failure. We have sympathy for those who lost power, especially the post office, but we feel sorriest for the bird involved.
Cheshire: given the recent history and the fact that recent chiefs have been promoted from within, it might be a really good idea to pick the next head of the police department from outside. But then, that doesn’t always work either.
Meriden suffered a power outage in the area around the post office Thursday, caused by a bird-induced transformer failure. We have sympathy for those who lost power, especially the post office, but we feel sorriest for the bird involved.
Cheshire: given the recent history and the fact that recent chiefs have been promoted from within, it might be a really good idea to pick the next head of the police department from outside. But then, that doesn’t always work either.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thur., June 24, 2010
Cheshire: the police chief’s decision to retire, apparently un-pushed, leaves the department clear to move forward without having to wrestle any further with the personnel issue. That is, assuming that the whole problem was merely a conflict between styles.
Cheshire: the town is setting residents on the QT that, on some now-unsewered streets residents or owners may expect sewers to expand. Given the eventual pace of development, it makes sense that a greater and greater percentage of the town, along with most other communities of any size, prepare for municipal waste systems.
State: passengers on a flight from London wound up stranded at Bradley for way too long … apparently exempt, as an international flight, from federal restrictions on keeping passengers waiting on the tarmac. That’s a crazy exemption, but it’s also crazy that passengers couldn’t be processed by immigration officials, that they couldn’t be let off the plane, that they weren’t told what the problem was.
State: will a new law requiring all motor cycle license applicants take a course improve safety? We can only hope so.
Wallingford: the final staff reductions have been decided upon and the required notices sent out. Cost cutting remains the only real justification for the reconfiguration.
Cheshire: the town is setting residents on the QT that, on some now-unsewered streets residents or owners may expect sewers to expand. Given the eventual pace of development, it makes sense that a greater and greater percentage of the town, along with most other communities of any size, prepare for municipal waste systems.
State: passengers on a flight from London wound up stranded at Bradley for way too long … apparently exempt, as an international flight, from federal restrictions on keeping passengers waiting on the tarmac. That’s a crazy exemption, but it’s also crazy that passengers couldn’t be processed by immigration officials, that they couldn’t be let off the plane, that they weren’t told what the problem was.
State: will a new law requiring all motor cycle license applicants take a course improve safety? We can only hope so.
Wallingford: the final staff reductions have been decided upon and the required notices sent out. Cost cutting remains the only real justification for the reconfiguration.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., June 23, 2010
Meriden: the idea of a veterans’ housing apartment on the lot along Hanover between South First and Second is most interesting, and it’s good to do something for vets who have done service to the nation. This is something to encourage at this point, especially since efforts to develop the tract have not been successful.
Cheshire: Not really a big surprise that the pool bubble referendum failed overwhelmingly. Given the economy and the long, drawn-out struggle with the pool’s various problems, it’s a wonder the town didn’t just vote to fill the thing in and forget it.
Wallingford’s Economic Development Commission seems to be having issues with the Town Council over its business recruiter position. We hope that this uncertainty can be resolved, since it is not at all a way to accomplish anyone’s goals.
Cheshire: Not really a big surprise that the pool bubble referendum failed overwhelmingly. Given the economy and the long, drawn-out struggle with the pool’s various problems, it’s a wonder the town didn’t just vote to fill the thing in and forget it.
Wallingford’s Economic Development Commission seems to be having issues with the Town Council over its business recruiter position. We hope that this uncertainty can be resolved, since it is not at all a way to accomplish anyone’s goals.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues. June 22, 2010
Meriden: The zoning change for the Hall Farm was approved and the crowd was angry. It’s a delicate process.
Connecticut’s General Assembly overrode six vetoes but not the one regarding elections of tenants to housing Authorities, which we had advocated. This was not a forward step for democracy.
Connecticut’s General Assembly overrode six vetoes but not the one regarding elections of tenants to housing Authorities, which we had advocated. This was not a forward step for democracy.
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., June 21, 2010
Southington/Wallingford/Meriden: Social networking websites and schools. It is hardly surprising to discover that schools want to create policies for use by students and teachers, but the trick will be to find proper balances between mayhem and straightjacket.
Hamden: lawsuits underway over gender equality in sports programs at Quinnipiac U., with the arguments over how the rosters are or are not being manipulated and how many athletes you can get for a budget buck. It seems kind of silly, but lawsuits are largely how progress is achieved in the US.
Hamden: lawsuits underway over gender equality in sports programs at Quinnipiac U., with the arguments over how the rosters are or are not being manipulated and how many athletes you can get for a budget buck. It seems kind of silly, but lawsuits are largely how progress is achieved in the US.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sun., June 20, 2010
Meriden: as with Wallingford, residents and owners are not in agreement as to the desirability of various kinds of development, in Meriden’s case, the Hall Farm. As noted before, it is hard to find the correct balance between commerce which brings in useful tax revenues and homes which tend to preserve qualities of life as they have been.
Congratulations to the Friends of Falcon Field, the small group of volunteers who have taken the lead in efforts to promote and maintain the Meriden facility. They win this year’s Spirit of Meriden Award, presented by Mayor Rohde.
Congratulations to the Friends of Falcon Field, the small group of volunteers who have taken the lead in efforts to promote and maintain the Meriden facility. They win this year’s Spirit of Meriden Award, presented by Mayor Rohde.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., June 19, 2010
Southington: a budget change – was it a mistake or a deliberate step? – has reduced the police department’s overtime budget and left the department unable to cover costs of the Apple Festival public safety component. Was this an oversight, or is it a move on the political board?
The conviction of Hartford mayor Perez on bribery and attempted extortion charges which could win him up to 60 years in the clink. Our sympathies to the city, but our congratulations to the prosecution for presenting a credible and convincing case.
New Metro-North station at 153rd Street in the Bronx which, among other good things, allows folks from around here to take the “Yankee Clipper” almost direct to Yankee Stadium and for a reasonable price.
The conviction of Hartford mayor Perez on bribery and attempted extortion charges which could win him up to 60 years in the clink. Our sympathies to the city, but our congratulations to the prosecution for presenting a credible and convincing case.
New Metro-North station at 153rd Street in the Bronx which, among other good things, allows folks from around here to take the “Yankee Clipper” almost direct to Yankee Stadium and for a reasonable price.
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., June 18, 2010
Wallingford: some residents or landowners (not the same thing, necessarily) want the zoning around Rt 68/I-91 interchange loosened up for more kinds of development. Others in the area, notably Leigus Rd. residents and those near the proposed new North Farms Vol. Fire Dept., would like to see zoning restricted. It’s a balancing process.
Meriden’s Mayor Rohde and Southington’s Town Manager Weichsel are both now on the board of directors of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. While the scope of legislative or even joint action is limited to common interests, it’s a worthwhile group to be involved with, as it also collects and disseminates much common municipal experience.
Southington: economics students at the high school participated and made a highly competitive showing at a Harvard University Pre-Collegiate Economics Challenge. There’s no reason at all why more public schools should not pick up this particular gauntlet along with the private schools which have the freedom to choose such options.
Meriden’s Mayor Rohde and Southington’s Town Manager Weichsel are both now on the board of directors of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. While the scope of legislative or even joint action is limited to common interests, it’s a worthwhile group to be involved with, as it also collects and disseminates much common municipal experience.
Southington: economics students at the high school participated and made a highly competitive showing at a Harvard University Pre-Collegiate Economics Challenge. There’s no reason at all why more public schools should not pick up this particular gauntlet along with the private schools which have the freedom to choose such options.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thur., June 17, 2010
Wallingford: New North Farms Fire Station, delayed by domestic dispute, may need to be renegotiated or dropped. That property does seem to be a good one for the town to secure, even if restricted to a firehouse, and neighbors who are opposed might well consider whether they’d rather have a firehouse or see the whole parcel developed into homes.
Cheshire: end of the grant to fight underage drinking finds adults both discouraged and encouraged by the big party broken up last Saturday evening. Perhaps the answer is not to work on kids but on their parents by busting them when kids are found drinking.
State: shift in approach by the state Department of Transportation from billion dollar highway expansions to improvements in mass transit. Not only is there a change in the climate of federal funding but there’s also a sea change among state residents.
Cheshire: end of the grant to fight underage drinking finds adults both discouraged and encouraged by the big party broken up last Saturday evening. Perhaps the answer is not to work on kids but on their parents by busting them when kids are found drinking.
State: shift in approach by the state Department of Transportation from billion dollar highway expansions to improvements in mass transit. Not only is there a change in the climate of federal funding but there’s also a sea change among state residents.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., June 16, 2010
Wallingford: the Quinnipiac River Linear Trail of course will need maintenance from time to time. If a “Friends” group can be established, that would be great, but one would expect the town to supervise that task, just as happens at a park or any other public facility, a fairly minor account in keeping the amenities of a modern town up to date.
The prospect of the end of Project Discover in Southington, as parents visit to see the final display for the school year. It’s a shame that the Gifted and Talented Program in Southington and everywhere else is so easy to cut to meet a budget.
The Wadsworth Family Foundation’s decision to match 50 percent of donations to the Meriden-Wallingford Summer Campership Fund, beginning today, up to $5,000. With a boost like this, we are all reminded that there’s a way to go yet to reach this year’s goal and send those kids to summer camp.
Volunteers are needed for Thursday’s Project Graduation Party in Meriden. It’s a great idea and we hope those volunteers will step forward.
Wallingford: we hope the second time around the agreement between the school system and cafeteria workers has less difficulty winning approval from the Town Council. Sending the matter off to arbitration is hardly guaranteed to save any money.
Southington-Cheshire: it sounds as if it might be a tough race in the primary election for the GOP nomination for Probate Judge. It’s a hard year, since the two former districts have been combined.
The prospect of the end of Project Discover in Southington, as parents visit to see the final display for the school year. It’s a shame that the Gifted and Talented Program in Southington and everywhere else is so easy to cut to meet a budget.
The Wadsworth Family Foundation’s decision to match 50 percent of donations to the Meriden-Wallingford Summer Campership Fund, beginning today, up to $5,000. With a boost like this, we are all reminded that there’s a way to go yet to reach this year’s goal and send those kids to summer camp.
Volunteers are needed for Thursday’s Project Graduation Party in Meriden. It’s a great idea and we hope those volunteers will step forward.
Wallingford: we hope the second time around the agreement between the school system and cafeteria workers has less difficulty winning approval from the Town Council. Sending the matter off to arbitration is hardly guaranteed to save any money.
Southington-Cheshire: it sounds as if it might be a tough race in the primary election for the GOP nomination for Probate Judge. It’s a hard year, since the two former districts have been combined.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues. June 15, 2010
Meriden: The City Council is attempting to make the Hall Farm acreage attractive/possible to developers with tools which they hope will produce a mixed environment. The incomplete interchanges on both I-691 and I-91 remain a drawback, but of course if the exits were finished the additional space would use up a lot of developable land. Maybe this plan will work.
Wallingford: There’s a lot of work to be done to accomplish the reconfiguration in a timely manner, from lay-off notices to bus routes. We hope it is accomplished gently and efficiently.
Cheshire: It seems there was a party for the high school boys’ lacrosse team and when police raided, 30 youths were cited for alcohol violations. There’s a message here, and it isn’t the first time. Both teens and parents should pay attention.
Enfield: the flap over high school graduation in a church raises the question of why can neither school use its auditorium. Were they not constructed large enough?
Wallingford: There’s a lot of work to be done to accomplish the reconfiguration in a timely manner, from lay-off notices to bus routes. We hope it is accomplished gently and efficiently.
Cheshire: It seems there was a party for the high school boys’ lacrosse team and when police raided, 30 youths were cited for alcohol violations. There’s a message here, and it isn’t the first time. Both teens and parents should pay attention.
Enfield: the flap over high school graduation in a church raises the question of why can neither school use its auditorium. Were they not constructed large enough?
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., June 14, 2010
Area: Kids need to go to summer camp, and the campership funds – that is, the Campership Fund in Meriden and Wallingford and the Strong Kids Campaign in Southington – are both in need of contributions to reach toward their goals. It’s a grass roots thing, so everyone can help.
Meriden: a strange and sad story of the young woman who was raped and killed a century ago in Millbrook, NY. It was a loving effort by her relatives, in cooperation with today’s Millbrook folks, to right a long forgotten wrong.
Meriden: a strange and sad story of the young woman who was raped and killed a century ago in Millbrook, NY. It was a loving effort by her relatives, in cooperation with today’s Millbrook folks, to right a long forgotten wrong.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sun., June 13, 2010
Southington: The expansion of the Alta program is a good move, and we hope it is a route to success which is well-utilized.
Wallingford’s superintendent has assembled a remarkably new set of faces for his administrative team. We hope his goals meet with approval and a warm reception all over.
Wallingford’s superintendent has assembled a remarkably new set of faces for his administrative team. We hope his goals meet with approval and a warm reception all over.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., June 12, 2010
State and local towns: we let Wall Street dictate to us on the interest rates municipal corporations and state governments receive on bond rates. It’s an interesting cession of control, considering Wall Street’s own record in recent years, isn’t it?
Cheshire: Signs that the artificial turf project does seem to be moving forward. There is money raised and money granted, and it looks as if the proper steps are going to be taken fairly soon.
Wallingford family which responded to a mother duck’s quacks for help and rescued ducklings from a storm drain. It was a case of “Make Way for Ducklings”!
Cheshire: Signs that the artificial turf project does seem to be moving forward. There is money raised and money granted, and it looks as if the proper steps are going to be taken fairly soon.
Wallingford family which responded to a mother duck’s quacks for help and rescued ducklings from a storm drain. It was a case of “Make Way for Ducklings”!
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., June 11, 2010
State: The new law “incentivizing” new school buses to be equipped with seat belts is of really marginal safety value. There are probably kids who ride a bus who should be in reverse-facing car seats and others whose bulk needs specially-sized straps. Who will enforce wearing them? Correctly?
Wallingford: it’s great that PTOs and principals are making lemonade and accepting the fact of change. There’s still been no even mildly persuasive explanation of why this is a better educational system to divide k-2 from 3-5.
Wallingford will gain jobs from Holo-Krome’s move to town and lose them from Respironics’ (formerly Novametrix) layoffs. As the mayor said, “the other side of the coin.”
Cheshire’s Strawberry Festival on Saturday reminds us of the advent of the strawberry season in our part of Connecticut. Take advantage of them whenever you can – that is assuming you are not allergic to the berries as some folks are – and enjoy a local delicacy.
Wallingford: it’s great that PTOs and principals are making lemonade and accepting the fact of change. There’s still been no even mildly persuasive explanation of why this is a better educational system to divide k-2 from 3-5.
Wallingford will gain jobs from Holo-Krome’s move to town and lose them from Respironics’ (formerly Novametrix) layoffs. As the mayor said, “the other side of the coin.”
Cheshire’s Strawberry Festival on Saturday reminds us of the advent of the strawberry season in our part of Connecticut. Take advantage of them whenever you can – that is assuming you are not allergic to the berries as some folks are – and enjoy a local delicacy.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thur., June 10, 2010
Wallingford: the objectionable comments in the Sheehan Year Book are now available to all, and although it is not nice to single anyone out, the issue seems at least to be in part one that you “had to be there” to appreciate fully.
Meriden: it is to be hoped that the changes restricting types of development in the Hall farm, which the family has been trying to sell for some time, will make development possible and allay the fears of those who worry about large-scale commercial growth.
Southington: the Town Council’s Sewer Committee should move forward with the ordinance to restrict and punish illegal sump pump connections, considering the problems on Stonegate Road. It would be good to have them in place, since you never know when the next big rainstorm may come along and create new problems.
Meriden: it is to be hoped that the changes restricting types of development in the Hall farm, which the family has been trying to sell for some time, will make development possible and allay the fears of those who worry about large-scale commercial growth.
Southington: the Town Council’s Sewer Committee should move forward with the ordinance to restrict and punish illegal sump pump connections, considering the problems on Stonegate Road. It would be good to have them in place, since you never know when the next big rainstorm may come along and create new problems.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., June 9, 2010
Southington: Well, the petition to put the two additional charter items on the ballot seems to have failed. It’s always fair to look at the result and reasons, but this isn’t really the moment to challenge the rules.
Meriden: Nick Macri is right to be supporting concessions from the Federation of Teachers, and the majority is shortsighted. Unions are great at winning points, but there is a time when unions need to be about preserving jobs, even if everyone gets a little less cash, and this is it.
State: End of life suit rejected. Judge says it’s a legislative question, which is probably right. But the question, as always, is how to get a legislature to move.
State: Enfield will appeal the graduation-in-a-church issue. Is this a fight between the ACLU and the FIC, both of which are fairly extreme in their positions? Chances are most people don’t care a rat’s patootie.
Wallingford: another major adjustment in the way things are done in the school system now alters the roles of the athletic directors at the high schools over the “pay to play” fee structure. Perhaps a slower pace of change might be advisable to avoid backlash?
Meriden: Nick Macri is right to be supporting concessions from the Federation of Teachers, and the majority is shortsighted. Unions are great at winning points, but there is a time when unions need to be about preserving jobs, even if everyone gets a little less cash, and this is it.
State: End of life suit rejected. Judge says it’s a legislative question, which is probably right. But the question, as always, is how to get a legislature to move.
State: Enfield will appeal the graduation-in-a-church issue. Is this a fight between the ACLU and the FIC, both of which are fairly extreme in their positions? Chances are most people don’t care a rat’s patootie.
Wallingford: another major adjustment in the way things are done in the school system now alters the roles of the athletic directors at the high schools over the “pay to play” fee structure. Perhaps a slower pace of change might be advisable to avoid backlash?
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues. June 8, 2010
Wallingford: It was the right choice to do nothing about the Chichowski property at this point. Eminent domain is a tool when necessity requires it, which is not now in this case.
Meriden: Approval of a new operator of Meriden-Markham Airport is a good move, even if it amounts to only a “Bird in the hand” – and for the same reasons. The economy will improve, and the airport can move with it.
A multi-year plan appears to be in the works for the Wallingford school system. We hope the committee which works on the program with the consultants (ACES) proves to be the right people and will work creatively and effectively.
Cheshire: it’s too bad that the discussion over the artificial turf field, after a couple of years of debate and investigation with a resolution establishing a plan, seems again to be caught up in partisan feeling. Plenty of school systems, including ones less affluent than Cheshire, have decided that artificial turf is the way to go; there’s a plan in place, so let it proceed.
Meriden: Approval of a new operator of Meriden-Markham Airport is a good move, even if it amounts to only a “Bird in the hand” – and for the same reasons. The economy will improve, and the airport can move with it.
A multi-year plan appears to be in the works for the Wallingford school system. We hope the committee which works on the program with the consultants (ACES) proves to be the right people and will work creatively and effectively.
Cheshire: it’s too bad that the discussion over the artificial turf field, after a couple of years of debate and investigation with a resolution establishing a plan, seems again to be caught up in partisan feeling. Plenty of school systems, including ones less affluent than Cheshire, have decided that artificial turf is the way to go; there’s a plan in place, so let it proceed.
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., June 7, 2010
If only it were no longer necessary to hold Cheshire’s Relay for Life, either because the expenses of cancer therapy no longer reduced families to penury or – so much better – the scientists and doctors finally found a way to halt or reverse this disease.
It is good to learn that the Wallingford VNA continues to operate and to bring services to people in the community. We are happy to see the organization seizing the chance to make an opportunity out of a loss of a long-time contract.
It is good to learn that the Wallingford VNA continues to operate and to bring services to people in the community. We are happy to see the organization seizing the chance to make an opportunity out of a loss of a long-time contract.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sun., June 6, 2010
The urban history regarding the Meriden Horse Association and its track and park site in the north end of town near Leonard Road is a fascinating story. Many thanks to history buff Dan DeLuca for assembling the information on this nearly vanished piece of the city’s past.
Dale Plummer and David Oat are examining as many of the city of Norwich’s bells – fire, church, other – as can still be found. It would be great if someone could do the same for Meriden.
Anyone who wanted to know what a tintype camera was had the opportunity recently at Southington’s Barnes Museum. It was a fundraiser for the museum and the Brooklyn-based David Sokosh who specializes in historic cameras was on hand to do tintypes with his somewhat reconstructed apparatus.
Dale Plummer and David Oat are examining as many of the city of Norwich’s bells – fire, church, other – as can still be found. It would be great if someone could do the same for Meriden.
Anyone who wanted to know what a tintype camera was had the opportunity recently at Southington’s Barnes Museum. It was a fundraiser for the museum and the Brooklyn-based David Sokosh who specializes in historic cameras was on hand to do tintypes with his somewhat reconstructed apparatus.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., June 5, 2010
Meriden: Mounting costs in the ZBA suit. It sounds kind of silly for the city to be suing itself, but it was fairly and powerfully voted (and not for the first time) and there are important issues at stake.
State: a for-profit emergency room approaches an abomination. Since all but one of the general hospitals in the state are not-for profit operations, for profit clinics like the one described can cherry pick among wealthy customers, leaving the non-profits in a worsening situation with more and more non-paying customers. Then again, what that doctor in Stony Creek is doing is what doctors in offices used to do.
State: a for-profit emergency room approaches an abomination. Since all but one of the general hospitals in the state are not-for profit operations, for profit clinics like the one described can cherry pick among wealthy customers, leaving the non-profits in a worsening situation with more and more non-paying customers. Then again, what that doctor in Stony Creek is doing is what doctors in offices used to do.
Friday, June 4, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., June 4, 2010
Wallingford: evidently, being in the I-5 Zone near I-91 is no guarantee of successful development, no matter how desirable such development is deemed. Besides, as builders of the Hilton Garden Inn are finding out, the state as well as the town has rules and bonds when it comes to structures which will impact traffic, safety and utilities.
Southington: the two commercial rights of way across the next phase of the linear trail must be accounted for (though it seems too bad that an easement was only granted in 1999, but that’s how things go). Presumably, both are used infrequently enough so that the lock-in posts may be put in place to protect trail users.
State: we have the notion that the regulators and the legislators could pass any number of rules, but that none will guarantee safety at electric generating plants operating or under construction. What is needed is a climate of safety on the sites, and that will mean it will have to be in the clear best interests of the builders and owners to foster such attitudes.
Southington: A lot rests on the probate decision on the Smoron case in probate court, particularly the interests of the would-be developer who hopes to consummate a plan to purchase property with possible winners of the court case for entrance to the sports complex approved this week.
Southington: the two commercial rights of way across the next phase of the linear trail must be accounted for (though it seems too bad that an easement was only granted in 1999, but that’s how things go). Presumably, both are used infrequently enough so that the lock-in posts may be put in place to protect trail users.
State: we have the notion that the regulators and the legislators could pass any number of rules, but that none will guarantee safety at electric generating plants operating or under construction. What is needed is a climate of safety on the sites, and that will mean it will have to be in the clear best interests of the builders and owners to foster such attitudes.
Southington: A lot rests on the probate decision on the Smoron case in probate court, particularly the interests of the would-be developer who hopes to consummate a plan to purchase property with possible winners of the court case for entrance to the sports complex approved this week.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thur., June 3, 2010
Meriden: It would seem that the water filtration or water treatment plant is in need of replacement, not really surprising, since the plant is reportedly 83 years old. This is a really important aspect of the $12 million plan, which may only incidentally improve the taste or smell of the water, is justifiable on those grounds.
The jury selection process in the Cheshire home invasion murders case is finished for one defendant. People should not expect this to be quick, since the death penalty is involved: considering the expense and the care with which each step of the process will be watched, it must be done right with all possibilities to be examined – or face the strong possibility of having to do it all over again.
Southington: having to stop paving projects that are 90 or 98 percent completed because of the need to take some action on the cost overruns is a kind of awkward way of handling such problems. Surely, there is no possibility of leaving things just as they are, “almost finished”?
The jury selection process in the Cheshire home invasion murders case is finished for one defendant. People should not expect this to be quick, since the death penalty is involved: considering the expense and the care with which each step of the process will be watched, it must be done right with all possibilities to be examined – or face the strong possibility of having to do it all over again.
Southington: having to stop paving projects that are 90 or 98 percent completed because of the need to take some action on the cost overruns is a kind of awkward way of handling such problems. Surely, there is no possibility of leaving things just as they are, “almost finished”?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., June 2, 2010
Southington: a new sports complex is great, but it looks like there are a couple of hurdle beyond the PZC approval received. Namely, the state approval of road modifications and clarification of title issues on the Smoron property.
Meriden: roundtable scheduled this coming week for a brainstorming session on how to market the city. It’s a good time to get to work.
Southington is to have a Best Pizza fest this week, with entries from all the restaurants which prepare this staple of the American diet. One sure thing: a lot of pizza will disappear during the event!
Meriden: roundtable scheduled this coming week for a brainstorming session on how to market the city. It’s a good time to get to work.
Southington is to have a Best Pizza fest this week, with entries from all the restaurants which prepare this staple of the American diet. One sure thing: a lot of pizza will disappear during the event!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tue., June 1, 2010
Wallingford: in search of non-chlorine solutions to pool care. It seems there are alternatives, but one needs a certain amount of commitment.
Sounds as if there were the usual number of state motor vehicle misdeeds over Memorial Day weekend – but not, perhaps, as many accidents as have been feared. Speeding tickets, seat belt tickets – not the way to enjoy a fine weekend.
Primaries in Connecticut: Looks like a possibility for a whole mess of contests on both sides of the aisle, thanks to the opening of so many jobs through retirement or otherwise. It’s not necessarily either a bad or a good thing but depends on how it plays out and how much damage all the party rivals do to each other.
The Quinnipiac River which flows through all local towns remains “impaired” as an official matter, but over the years, its condition has improved quite significantly. This year, the garbage extracted during the spring cleanup seemed to be of an older variety, suggesting that the volunteers were getting down into the backlog of discarded junk. Someday, perhaps, we will all learn not to use the river as a dump.
Sounds as if there were the usual number of state motor vehicle misdeeds over Memorial Day weekend – but not, perhaps, as many accidents as have been feared. Speeding tickets, seat belt tickets – not the way to enjoy a fine weekend.
Primaries in Connecticut: Looks like a possibility for a whole mess of contests on both sides of the aisle, thanks to the opening of so many jobs through retirement or otherwise. It’s not necessarily either a bad or a good thing but depends on how it plays out and how much damage all the party rivals do to each other.
The Quinnipiac River which flows through all local towns remains “impaired” as an official matter, but over the years, its condition has improved quite significantly. This year, the garbage extracted during the spring cleanup seemed to be of an older variety, suggesting that the volunteers were getting down into the backlog of discarded junk. Someday, perhaps, we will all learn not to use the river as a dump.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)