The Editor's Notepod, Tues. Aug. 31, 2010

Connecticut’s “achievement gap” is cause for concern, but we should not too easily begin pointing fingers at schools. The state is stuck with divisions between rich communities and poor ones based on historical accident and perpetuated by political realities.

Wallingford: Choate Rosemary Hall prepares to move forward with the environmental center plans. We hope this potential community asset will find less choppy waters than it did previously.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Aug. 30, 2010

Wallingford: Linear trail supporters are keeping their eyes on the prize and moving forward with planning for the next phase of the trail which will bring it from the bridge over the Quinnipiac and the tunnel under the Wilbur Cross to the center of Yalesville, an additional 1.25 miles. Construction could begin next summer.

Meriden: gotta love that incident on North Spring Street Sunday afternoon, when a car drove into the front steps of a home. The driver, unknown to his semi-conscious passenger whom he left in the front seat, took off on foot and has yet to be traced, leaving his unregistered, un-plated, uninsured vehicle in the hands of strangers.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Aug. 29, 2010

Southington: Is everyone, in or out of school, ready for “text” books (how quaint that looks) to be replaced by “robust and interactive learning systems with animations, videos, tutorials, embedded assessment and interventions available for teacher/student/parent”? If not, perhaps you should think about stepping out of the speed zone on the information highway!

State: At least one candidate for governor wants to continue with Gov. Rell’s request for the courts to end the 20-year-old federal oversight of the child protection agency, siting costs. Would that mean we could save money by terminating a lot of workers? There’s a fine moral dilemma.

Meriden: Public water remains the single most effective public health measure since Roman aqueducts. Even if it occasionally smells or tastes a little odd, it remains safe and a tremendous bargain, compared to anybody’s bottled water – which, remember, comes mostly from the taps in some other town or city.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Aug. 28, 2010

Wallingford: “We are going to make this work,” said Superintendent Salvatore Menzo, “We have no choice.” Despite the dislocation of feelings, and the assault of the strange which some parents may feel, Menzo is correct, and in a short time, any troubles associated with the reconfiguration will be over and done with.

After Connecticut’s failure to finish in the money in the “Race to the top” for federal money for education, the clerical error in New Jersey (furnishing budget data for 2010-2011 rather than 2009-2010) which cost that state $400 million makes the whole process seem that much more trivial.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Aug. 27, 2010

In Wallingford, efforts are beginning early to prepare to raise the money to light 2011’s fireworks and concert for Independence Day. Much is made of the “oddfellows” alliance of politically different Craig Fishbein and Jason Zandri, but we think their example is one which should be the norm and not the exception.

Connecticut’s child advocates are discussing how best to deal with the fact that some child care workers are too aggressive and some not sufficiently so. It would seem that, given the workers’ humanity, that’s an inevitable and recurring situation, just like the behaviors of the parents which puts their children at risk.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Aug. 26, 2010

The forum titled “Keeping Connecticut Students in School and Out of the Criminal Justice System” held at the New Life Church in Meriden this week and hosted by Congressman Chris Murphy. The statistics on school kids and contact with the law and the functioning of the No Child Left Behind law are eye-opening and require action.

Wallingford Health Department’s plan to acquire and use a skin damage detection machine. It won’t give all the answers but it is a great first step for skin vigilance.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Aug. 25, 2010

Southington: They’re correct. The plans for the North Center School are complicated in terms of renovation, rental, buy-back, land vs. building, and so on. Plenty could go wrong.

Meriden: The decision to shift the process of expulsion, giving the superintendent the job of working out an arrangement with parents (and/or lawyers) first to present for Board of Ed approval makes sense. It’s still too bad these things have become so formalized.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues. Aug. 24, 2010

Meriden: Clean liens; or, more correctly, clean and lien. When houses are being neglected, the city steps in and does the work and then bills/liens the owner for the cost. Obviously not to be done every day, but to move matters along it can act as a spur to bank action, if need be.

Area: Local Legislators scored fairly well on the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters’ scorecard, with Democrats doing “better” than Republicans. Before anyone gets too exercised, recall that there are scorekeeping groups with agendas on which Republicans do “better” than Democrats, and considering voter turnouts, it’s a good thing someone is keeping score.

Southington: the teen survey by STEPS (Southington Townwide Effort to Promote Success) came up with results not unlike state statistics on behavior by teens regarding alcohol, drugs, sex, feelings regarding family, school and community. The question is what to do about them.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Aug. 11, 2010

Meriden: No matter how attractive the Undercliff site is for development, nothing’s going to happen there unless the state wants to dispose of the extra property. The city, which sold the land to the state when it was deemed unneeded many years ago, cannot now avail itself of eminent domain against the sovereign state — unless, of course, the legislative process can be successfully invoked.

Southington: it’s kind of a dilemma how detailed to be in describing wording of proposed charter revisions on the ballot this November. Too much info and there won’t be room and voters will be confused; too little and they’ll have to guess.

Bad news out of the state Bond Commission which was expected to approve bonding for both Factory H demolition in Meriden and funds for the New Haven to Hartford commuter line this week. We hope those who raised annoying but necessary issues will find satisfactory answers to their funding questions.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Aug. 10, 2010

Meriden: completion of the paperwork needed to allow the renovation project for Chamberlain Heights to begin in earnest. With “green” design features, the renovated units should be attractive and efficient.

Southington: oops! Bids for the asphalting of the expanding Public Library came in above what was budgeted. This project has been in the works for so many years it seems a shame that someone can’t figure out how the upgrade, long needed, could be accomplished at once.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Aug. 9, 2010

Sorry, in spite of what security experts say in reaction to the killings in Manchester, there’s no real fool-proof way to avoid the possibility of violence in the work place, especially at moments when people are losing their employment, which is a naturally upsetting circumstance. The more effective route is, of course, the reduction in the number of loose firearms in the possession of people with no reason whatever to have them except for their inclination to use them when and if they become sufficiently irritated or irrational.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Aug. 8, 2010

The Summer Youth Work Program in Wallingford, a collaborative effort between the Workforce Alliance and the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce. It has revived an old program and helped 32 young people find work during this warm summer of opportunity Southington folks do seem to have their ideas in place as to what direction is best for the town’s middle schools as a major investment in the program looms. Ultimately, we guess, the voters in town will have a crack at the plans though referendum.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Aug. 7, 2010

Meriden: the city has noted a significant decrease in several kinds of crime, for which the strengthening of the Neighborhood Initiative Unit and Crime Suppression Unit over the last five years or so. This is news which should strongly help the city’s position in selling itself as a place to live and work.

Wallingford: so it’s come to a lawsuit in the matter of the Housing Authority. When is someone going to step in and bring a little civility to the discussion there?

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Aug. 6, 2010

Middletown: $16.6 million in fines against the companies involved in that explosion. It all seems to have something to do with a gas blow, cleansing by natural gas under pressure — which does sound like a recipe for an explosion.

State: It appears that the state restrictions on teen drivers are a) reducing the numbers of accidents among the age group and also reducing the number of youngsters who get licensed right away. This is good and elected officials, while always needing to be sensitive to constituent requests, shouldn’t give in to parents’; needs to have older siblings drive younger ones about as soon as they can legally drive: restrictions make sense.

Wallingford has demonstrated once again that strict adherence to a principle, in this case refusal to grant any wage increase, can wind up costing more than the implementation of a reasonable negotiated contract with a minimal wage adjustment. A better principle might be that unless a board of education makes an egregiously deviant contract, the Town Council’s role is to rubber stamp the accord and get on with business.

Indications that there may be funding from the federal government for redesign of the Columbus Avenue bridge as a part of Meriden’s flood control program. Candidate comments remind us that a grant which is one person’s long-awaited dream can easily be another’s detested earmark.

Meriden takes a reasonable stand on graffiti (read, record and remove) and the problem, while an irritant, seems under control. And readers of the story about graffiti will have learned a new term which describes what many graffiti-artists are doing: “expressive tagging.”

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Aug. 5, 2010

Meriden Early Childhood Council and Children First “Summer at Sherman Enrichment Camp.” It’s a good demonstration of how learning can creep up on you and enrich you while you’re in an informal setting doing other interesting things.

A new pump station site is being purchased on Meriden’s east side to help with water pressure issues. Seems like a good plan and it addresses a long-term problem.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Aug. 4, 2010

Meriden: prospects for $300,000 to begin razing Factory H and remediating the pollutants in the vicinity are good, as the money is on the state Bond Commission’s list next week. It will be an exciting process to see this site emerge from a long shadow of industrial abuse.

Meriden’s National Night Out Tuesday evening in City Park had the best sort of a problem to have: there were so many folks out having a good time that no one could count them. IT was a fine community-builder.

Manchester: here’s a demonstration, which cost nine lives, of how necessary it is for people to be able to walk around with firearms for their “self defense.” Supposing that this shooter, who took his own life so we will never know, had been the target of the worst sort of racial abuse, there is no justification for shooting people at random.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues. Aug. 3, 2010

Southington: renovating the two middle schools, or doing something else with them to provide more space in the over-crowded schools, has long been needed. Renovation is a perfectly good choice, so long as everyone, school board, council, citizens, is on board with the plan, and so long as it doesn’t make middle school into a pure construction experience for hundreds and hundreds of kids.

Bears are nothing new in Southington or anywhere else: almost every town in Connecticut reports sightings annually. The thing is how to manage these inevitable contacts so that no one – not people, not bears, not pets – is hurt.

The Chamberlain Heights project in Meriden is now set to go forward, with a technical change to conditions approved by the City Council. This project should make a difference in many lives.

A study by the University of Connecticut Health Center, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Protection which finds no chemical danger in artificial turf compounded of crushed rubber. This is a finding long-awaited, as several towns, including Cheshire, have been holding up projects pending its release.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Aug. 2, 2010

The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival last weekend at Four Points Sheraton in Meriden seems to have been a great spot for great music. Long may this tradition continue!

The Southington Townwide Effort to Promote Success – STEPS – seems to be a worthwhile activity and a bright light in the community. People should not miss the Community Day at Camp Sloper in September.

The Blast Off of the Meriden Public Library’s rocket program, last Saturday as participants and families gathered at the Dunn Softball Complex for the big launches. Tip of the hat to Kevin and Kathie Matsil, who ran the program.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Aug. 1, 2010

State: will the GOP Campaign for governor and its primary (and the Democrats for that matter) boil down to who’s got the most money? That’s an unhappy sign for American democracy.

State/Cheshire: the death penalty situation. Rep. Esty has it right in noting the tremendous burden a capital murder prosecution places on the judicial system. Many people find it odd or repellant that it’s been three years and a trial hasn’t started yet in the home invasion murders, but, were you a defendant, would you want your attorney to expedite your way to the scaffold?

Two improbable crimes: one where a Wallingford man in a neck brace robbed a bank; the brace made him easily identifiable and he was soon arrested. The other was a West Haven man who managed to involve himself in two accidents along I-91 in Meriden and North Haven in 20 minutes.

The Wallingford Foundation grants for 2010 were announced recently. Twenty-four of the 28 applicants received $24,911 of the $100,000 originally requested, and the job of choosing and whittling the many applications down to what is doable has to be one of the toughest going.