Meriden: the system adds a few minutes and subtracts a few minutes, with, mostly, a net gain in time, but, more important, a chance to bring staff together for data exchange. So long as everyone likes it, the plan sounds wonderful.
Wallingford: Town Council decided, wisely, not to pursue further appeals of arbitration awards to firefighters and paramedics. The costs of the awards are on the minimal side and finding the cash to cover them may well be cheaper than the costs of an appeal – but there will still be the task of finding those funds.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues. Oct. 26, 2010
Southington: while that new section of the linear trail may not be officially “open,” a status which may not arrive until months after a public project is apparently completed, it may look finished. Either put the push on to complete before winter, or make sure that access isn’t possible.
Meriden: the situation of the Nigerian-born man who slaughters animals for his extended family and in so doing offends the neighbors needs to be carefully approached, of course. All facts should be carefully checked, and it there is a reasonable way to reduce cultural conflict it should be adopted.
Meriden: the situation of the Nigerian-born man who slaughters animals for his extended family and in so doing offends the neighbors needs to be carefully approached, of course. All facts should be carefully checked, and it there is a reasonable way to reduce cultural conflict it should be adopted.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thurs., Oct. 21, 2010
Growth of Practical Energy Solutions, founded in Wallingford ten years ago. A firm needing more space is a good thing to happen.
Plans, and cash, to purchase area near Meriden railroad station as a beginning for the transport hub. It really seems that things downtown are finally coming together, but there’s still a long way to go.
Wallingford: unpaid bills to Electric Division, from both homes and businesses reflect a strained economy. It’s far from crisis, but something to be aware of.
A farm animal ordinance in Meriden? That seems likely to open several cans of worms; any move in this regard should be very carefully weighed.
Plans, and cash, to purchase area near Meriden railroad station as a beginning for the transport hub. It really seems that things downtown are finally coming together, but there’s still a long way to go.
Wallingford: unpaid bills to Electric Division, from both homes and businesses reflect a strained economy. It’s far from crisis, but something to be aware of.
A farm animal ordinance in Meriden? That seems likely to open several cans of worms; any move in this regard should be very carefully weighed.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 20, 2010
Wallingford: There seems to be no end to the disagreement among Housing Authority members, and equally no particular reason for all the enmity. They must find a fix.
State: the Connecticut Commission on Educational Achievement may have proposals for closing the academic performance gap between rich and poor, but they seem rather vague. How about passing a law eliminating the differences?
Meriden: What other result could there be to reducing staff and costs but higher classroom numbers? This will probably have to wait for an improved economy.
Southington: the vandalism along a portion of the Linear Trail is unacceptable. If it occurs in a characteristically isolated area, the best option would be to remove whatever the seclusion is by opening things up somewhat.
State: the Connecticut Commission on Educational Achievement may have proposals for closing the academic performance gap between rich and poor, but they seem rather vague. How about passing a law eliminating the differences?
Meriden: What other result could there be to reducing staff and costs but higher classroom numbers? This will probably have to wait for an improved economy.
Southington: the vandalism along a portion of the Linear Trail is unacceptable. If it occurs in a characteristically isolated area, the best option would be to remove whatever the seclusion is by opening things up somewhat.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues. Oct. 19, 2010
Meriden continues to deal with a school lunch deficit, and is controlling the debt by feeding children behind more than five meals cheese sandwiches. It’s an interesting ploy and may work, but it remains a fact that even $60,000 of lunch debt over three years is a tiny fraction of a $100 million school budget, and that feeding high carbohydrate lunches in an effort to reduce debt rather conflicts with efforts to fight obesity.
Somehow, it just doesn’t seem to be the best outcome concerning parking issues for visitors to Wallingford’s successful Trail of Terror (or any other community event) to have improperly parked cars towed away. Clearly, parking is a problem for some nearby property owners, concerned with liability and vandalism, but would it not be possible for police to be involved in warning parkers away or in posting cones or safety tape to prevent parkers?
Meriden is working on plans to save money by early retirement of teaches, which is a common enough plan. But where does this leave the city’s system when it comes to the vaunted longevity of teachers, which was just in a news story?
Somehow, it just doesn’t seem to be the best outcome concerning parking issues for visitors to Wallingford’s successful Trail of Terror (or any other community event) to have improperly parked cars towed away. Clearly, parking is a problem for some nearby property owners, concerned with liability and vandalism, but would it not be possible for police to be involved in warning parkers away or in posting cones or safety tape to prevent parkers?
Meriden is working on plans to save money by early retirement of teaches, which is a common enough plan. But where does this leave the city’s system when it comes to the vaunted longevity of teachers, which was just in a news story?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thurs., Oct. 14, 2010
Southington will erect netting to prevent foul balls from the baseball field at Recreation Park from escaping and landing on heads in the adjacent athletic fields. Good decision, and the sooner it can be done, the better.
The Wallingford Housing Authority members have made a visit to the Town Council, which has been likened to sending unruly students to the principal’s office. The simile is apt, but we are concerned that it may take more than this to straighten things out at the WHA.
The rescue of those 33 Chilean miners, trapped underground for 69 days, is one of the most exciting events of the year, surely. The patience, endurance and determination all around are an inspiration.
Choate Rosemary Hall’s decision to shut off student access to Facebook on the Wallingford prep school’s official network (though students may still access through their own smart phones). It’s a chance to focus on the need to be a community in a technological age.
The Wallingford Housing Authority members have made a visit to the Town Council, which has been likened to sending unruly students to the principal’s office. The simile is apt, but we are concerned that it may take more than this to straighten things out at the WHA.
The rescue of those 33 Chilean miners, trapped underground for 69 days, is one of the most exciting events of the year, surely. The patience, endurance and determination all around are an inspiration.
Choate Rosemary Hall’s decision to shut off student access to Facebook on the Wallingford prep school’s official network (though students may still access through their own smart phones). It’s a chance to focus on the need to be a community in a technological age.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues. Oct. 12, 2010
DEP proposes water regulations which could cost Wallingford and most other local water customers cash over the next years. But is the alternative NOT making the changes and allowing rivers, lakes, water tables to dry up so all the wild life (plants as well as animals) die preferable?
Quinnipiac University in North Haven and Hamden is ambitious to establish its medical school and to choose a focus of study on a neglected area in medicine. We are glad to hear of a newer player willing to step forward in the area of education.
The Connecticut DOT has placed that squeezed part of I-84 east of Waterbury on the less urgent list. Does that mean there’s a worse area of state roads somewhere?
Quinnipiac University in North Haven and Hamden is ambitious to establish its medical school and to choose a focus of study on a neglected area in medicine. We are glad to hear of a newer player willing to step forward in the area of education.
The Connecticut DOT has placed that squeezed part of I-84 east of Waterbury on the less urgent list. Does that mean there’s a worse area of state roads somewhere?
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 11, 2010
Wallingford and other towns: As school numbers decline, we needn’t talk school closure, since at least in places there are portable classrooms or similar isolated areas. But if the trend continues (and in this economy and Connecticut’s relation in the national economy) it will be appropriate to have a plan.
It is fantastic that so many people are willing to go and wait in line at the Trail of Terror in Wallingford to be scared. It’s even better that the revenue goes to support local good works.
It is fantastic that so many people are willing to go and wait in line at the Trail of Terror in Wallingford to be scared. It’s even better that the revenue goes to support local good works.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct.10, 2010
Census statistics on marriages can be interpreted like ballyhoo here in Connecticut or elsewhere just as anyone wants, but there probably is something to the notion that, for a change, those at the higher end of the education spectrum may be marrying more quickly than others – possibly since they have, or think they have, more chance for employment. But if wedding costs are keeping people away from weddings, why not get hitched for less money?
Another weekend at Southington Apple Harvest Festival – this time, no rain – gave at least some to test their ability to consume. Thank goodness we don’t need to eat an 8-inch pie in 6 minutes every day, or even every weekend.
Wallingford: Folks should prepare for the annual Senior Fair, a Record-Journal sponsored event which offers workshops and seminars dealing with retirement topics and includes exhibitors, vendors and activities – all free to the public. It takes place next Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 10 to 3 at the Center.
Another weekend at Southington Apple Harvest Festival – this time, no rain – gave at least some to test their ability to consume. Thank goodness we don’t need to eat an 8-inch pie in 6 minutes every day, or even every weekend.
Wallingford: Folks should prepare for the annual Senior Fair, a Record-Journal sponsored event which offers workshops and seminars dealing with retirement topics and includes exhibitors, vendors and activities – all free to the public. It takes place next Wednesday, Oct. 20, from 10 to 3 at the Center.
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 9, 2010
Wallingford: whatever the problem, the Town Hall needs to have its front fixed so that bits and pieces don’t fall down on passersby. On the other hand, there’s no need to run about like Chicken Little either; just get the job done.
Meriden: plans by United Oil Recovery to create a railroad siding near its Gracey Avenue site to enable transfer of hazardous wastes onto railroad transport for removal. This strikes us as a wise move since it removes dangerous trucks from streets and highways.
Southington: with disposal costs for recycling and trash at the Bristol facility dropping, one might think that trash collectors might have passed some reduction on to their customers. But none of the customers seem to have seen such a thing, and at least some of the trash haulers seem to have missed the reduction memo from the facility.
Meriden: plans by United Oil Recovery to create a railroad siding near its Gracey Avenue site to enable transfer of hazardous wastes onto railroad transport for removal. This strikes us as a wise move since it removes dangerous trucks from streets and highways.
Southington: with disposal costs for recycling and trash at the Bristol facility dropping, one might think that trash collectors might have passed some reduction on to their customers. But none of the customers seem to have seen such a thing, and at least some of the trash haulers seem to have missed the reduction memo from the facility.
Friday, October 8, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 8, 2010
Cheshire/New Haven: the home invasion murder case now moves to the sentencing phase, where the issue will be aggravating factors vs. mitigating factors. There may be all sorts of emotional testimony, so we should be prepared.
Southington: the plan for old North Center School seem to be proceeding, with bids submitted for buying the property, renovating the building for school administration and other town offices, then lease the place back to the town for 10 years with an option to buy. While this does seem a somewhat complicated way of proceeding, it may be a way to satisfy votes who have turned down more direct plans to replace the Gura building.
Meriden’s Clean and Green program, designed to help build awareness of the need for controlling litter and of how to prevent the mess which it causes. Over a score of businesses have signed on to participate and there are young people and folks from the city’s Youth Services Bureau and other agencies involved as well.
Wallingford: Choate Rosemary Hall’s Kohler Environmental Center will be powered by an array of photovoltaic solar cells which, it is hoped, will allow the place to be a net-zero user of the power grid. The plan seems a good one and we hope it will pass through the permitting process successfully.
Southington: the plan for old North Center School seem to be proceeding, with bids submitted for buying the property, renovating the building for school administration and other town offices, then lease the place back to the town for 10 years with an option to buy. While this does seem a somewhat complicated way of proceeding, it may be a way to satisfy votes who have turned down more direct plans to replace the Gura building.
Meriden’s Clean and Green program, designed to help build awareness of the need for controlling litter and of how to prevent the mess which it causes. Over a score of businesses have signed on to participate and there are young people and folks from the city’s Youth Services Bureau and other agencies involved as well.
Wallingford: Choate Rosemary Hall’s Kohler Environmental Center will be powered by an array of photovoltaic solar cells which, it is hoped, will allow the place to be a net-zero user of the power grid. The plan seems a good one and we hope it will pass through the permitting process successfully.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thurs., Oct. 7, 2010
Southington: those Stonegate Road residents certainly have a point with their sewers in a mess while a new one – now not dependent on the sports complex – is built. But heavens, the Spring Street line is only a quarter million; surely sewer repairs can be financed as well.
Meriden: what to do with the Coe mansion must certainly be an issue for developers. One hates to subdivide or destroy an 8,000 square foot home with deep historic roots, nor does one want to build all over the lawn which is one of a large home’s distinctions, and yet one must have practicality in mind as well.
Wallingford: perhaps an appearance by housing commissioners or the executive director before the Town Council would be productive, perhaps it would be a donnybrook. If it would shed some light on any substantive dispute, it would be good.
Sell Plum Island at the end of Long Island for some glitzy developer? Preposterous; it should be a public place.
Meriden: what to do with the Coe mansion must certainly be an issue for developers. One hates to subdivide or destroy an 8,000 square foot home with deep historic roots, nor does one want to build all over the lawn which is one of a large home’s distinctions, and yet one must have practicality in mind as well.
Wallingford: perhaps an appearance by housing commissioners or the executive director before the Town Council would be productive, perhaps it would be a donnybrook. If it would shed some light on any substantive dispute, it would be good.
Sell Plum Island at the end of Long Island for some glitzy developer? Preposterous; it should be a public place.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 6, 2010
Cheshire: If the town removes or wipes out its historic area, some property owners will be happy, but the town itself, in five years, will see a difference as people go ahead, as they’ve always done, and made changes not in accord with the “look” of the area. What is needed is a district which protects but does not oppress, and surely that is possible here as it is elsewhere.
Meriden: here’s where the canker gnaws on the “green” cleaner plan. Teachers and students in this lean year have been enlisted to bring in supplies but now they’re to be discouraged, since they probably won’t bring in the varieties recommended by the green plan.
Connecticut’s community college system is under pressure from its long-standing open application process, where everyone is taken. The state’s funding has been level while students have flocked to these schools because their tuition ($3,400 annually) is greatly less than, say, UConn ($10,416), and there are space issues, but state costs are mainly paying teachers. It’s discouraging to see the Commissioner of Education urging the schools to limit applicants.
Meriden: here’s where the canker gnaws on the “green” cleaner plan. Teachers and students in this lean year have been enlisted to bring in supplies but now they’re to be discouraged, since they probably won’t bring in the varieties recommended by the green plan.
Connecticut’s community college system is under pressure from its long-standing open application process, where everyone is taken. The state’s funding has been level while students have flocked to these schools because their tuition ($3,400 annually) is greatly less than, say, UConn ($10,416), and there are space issues, but state costs are mainly paying teachers. It’s discouraging to see the Commissioner of Education urging the schools to limit applicants.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues. Oct. 5, 2010
b: it’s nice that schools are attempting to try to close the achievement gap between high and low achieving students (remembering, of course, that some students will always do better than others). But one must guard against regarding the Connecticut Mastery test scores as an end in themselves.
State: we endorse the Connecticut Supreme Court’s comments in favor of recording all interrogations of suspects. In a system which relies on confessions, it is crucial to maintain the integrity of those statements, and simple recording is within the reach, as Justice Palmer said, of every teenager.
Wallingford: the choice of site for a new North Farms Fire Station doesn’t seem particularly clear cut. But then, there’s no particular rush, either, aside from the fact that folks are kind of touching elbows at the present station; there’s time for careful consideration.
The business of public comment is a touchy one in Meriden as elsewhere. The stand Meriden has adopted seems possibly workable, but citizens should examine the motivation for public comment sessions.
State: we endorse the Connecticut Supreme Court’s comments in favor of recording all interrogations of suspects. In a system which relies on confessions, it is crucial to maintain the integrity of those statements, and simple recording is within the reach, as Justice Palmer said, of every teenager.
Wallingford: the choice of site for a new North Farms Fire Station doesn’t seem particularly clear cut. But then, there’s no particular rush, either, aside from the fact that folks are kind of touching elbows at the present station; there’s time for careful consideration.
The business of public comment is a touchy one in Meriden as elsewhere. The stand Meriden has adopted seems possibly workable, but citizens should examine the motivation for public comment sessions.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 4, 2010
What could be wrong with a portable ice rink on Meriden’s Hub site? It would add to the uses of the area, following up on some successes earlier this year, and a rink could actually be purchased for under $10,000, of which about half has already been donated.
A state senator from a prison-rich area – not local – is urging a purge of prison libraries to ban graphically violent volumes. While one cringes at the thought of prisoners reading novels and non-fiction accounts of horrendous crimes in hopes of becoming better criminals, the notion is more fanciful than real.
It seems that folks had a great time at the festivals this week end: Celebrate Wallingford and Southington’s Apple Harvest Festival. While there was rain Friday, Saturday’s weather couldn’t have been lovelier, and Sunday, though a little chilly, was pretty fine also.
A state senator from a prison-rich area – not local – is urging a purge of prison libraries to ban graphically violent volumes. While one cringes at the thought of prisoners reading novels and non-fiction accounts of horrendous crimes in hopes of becoming better criminals, the notion is more fanciful than real.
It seems that folks had a great time at the festivals this week end: Celebrate Wallingford and Southington’s Apple Harvest Festival. While there was rain Friday, Saturday’s weather couldn’t have been lovelier, and Sunday, though a little chilly, was pretty fine also.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct. 3, 2010
With Celebrate Wallingford in one direction and The Southington Apple Harvest Festival in another, local residents have had plenty to occupy themselves this weekend.
We wouldn’t go so far as to suggest that Cheshire’s Historic Districts constitute a dark cloud over property, but there are clearly communication problems and there’s a disconnect. The commission should see to it that the issues are addressed fairly.
Sounds like some Connecticut attorney-general action on those Robo-Signers who approved thousands of documents and disclosure statements for banks without any sign of reading them is appropriate. It’s amazing what sloppy work allowed mortgages to be written.
We wouldn’t go so far as to suggest that Cheshire’s Historic Districts constitute a dark cloud over property, but there are clearly communication problems and there’s a disconnect. The commission should see to it that the issues are addressed fairly.
Sounds like some Connecticut attorney-general action on those Robo-Signers who approved thousands of documents and disclosure statements for banks without any sign of reading them is appropriate. It’s amazing what sloppy work allowed mortgages to be written.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 2, 2010
Meriden: the job statistics – the unemployment rate – is pretty gruesome. But there are signs of hope in the holiday season.
Southington: chance that a 25-acre parcel, the Primus Trust, along the Quinnipiac, remains undeveloped. This is good news for the river.
Wallingford’s Sheehan High School German students celebrated the 20th anniversary of German reunification with a raft of positive studies. Great idea, but it really will be hard for some folks to realize that so much time has passed and harder for young people to realize how impossible reunification seemed even as shortly before as 1985.
Southington: chance that a 25-acre parcel, the Primus Trust, along the Quinnipiac, remains undeveloped. This is good news for the river.
Wallingford’s Sheehan High School German students celebrated the 20th anniversary of German reunification with a raft of positive studies. Great idea, but it really will be hard for some folks to realize that so much time has passed and harder for young people to realize how impossible reunification seemed even as shortly before as 1985.
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 1, 2010
Celebrate Wallingford is on this weekend, with lots to see and do. Don’t miss the fun of seeing what’s what in your local community.
The contract discussions continuing between Hartford Healthcare and Anthem are pretty typical, and, we predict, will be settled, since it is in everyone’s interest to do so. It is very difficult for patients, or anyone else, to properly assess the impact of various contingencies, particularly when one is in need of the services under discussion.
State: a new law with tougher rules on cell phone use by drivers takes effect today: no loophole for first-time offenders, and penalties are raised. The real question though is whether police will have the time to enforce this law or whether folks can continue to ignore it and endanger the public.
Cheshire: it’s an interesting notion to be able to switch back and forth between different fueling systems for heating public schools, but the costs of hook ups to gas lines are not insignificant. It’s an idea best worked into the original school planning.
The contract discussions continuing between Hartford Healthcare and Anthem are pretty typical, and, we predict, will be settled, since it is in everyone’s interest to do so. It is very difficult for patients, or anyone else, to properly assess the impact of various contingencies, particularly when one is in need of the services under discussion.
State: a new law with tougher rules on cell phone use by drivers takes effect today: no loophole for first-time offenders, and penalties are raised. The real question though is whether police will have the time to enforce this law or whether folks can continue to ignore it and endanger the public.
Cheshire: it’s an interesting notion to be able to switch back and forth between different fueling systems for heating public schools, but the costs of hook ups to gas lines are not insignificant. It’s an idea best worked into the original school planning.
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