The “new and improved” Chamberlain Heights in Meriden is well-appointed and attractive, while the overall management plan marks off new territories on the public/private boundaries. We have great hopes for the new system and we hope it works well for tenants and managers.
“Be the Change” program at Meriden’s Boys and Girls Clubs helps high school students, many of whom may be the first in their families to attend college, to achieve their goals. This includes advice on high school courses to take, what sorts of things to expect, and how the college application process works.
Congratulations are in order for Southington Recreation Director William Masci, retiring after an incredible 40 years on the job. He has played an important role in building town programs and facilities, changing enormously over the decades.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., May 28, 2011
Clearly, the peril of asking Southington voters to consider an artificial turf field at the same time they are considering middle school funding has occurred to others. We need say no more.
Congratulations to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund, which has managed to raise the cash needed (and just in the nick of time) to fund the annual celebration. Supporters are to be credited with grit and determination.
This year’s graduating class is a tribute to the need for and effectiveness of Alta, the alternative high school for kids who fit in in a different way and are finding regular high school impermeable. Southington and especially the 60 young people in this program are lucky to have this option.
Connecticut may have experienced a retiree health care windfall, but, as Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo says, that does not mean we can afford to short next year’s allocations.
The Meriden Humane Society will be the beneficiary of some Roger Sherman students who decided to hold a charity dinner to raise money to support the non-profit agency which is always short of cash. This sort of generous impulse is great to see in kids and we hope the community will support in kind.
Congratulations to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund, which has managed to raise the cash needed (and just in the nick of time) to fund the annual celebration. Supporters are to be credited with grit and determination.
This year’s graduating class is a tribute to the need for and effectiveness of Alta, the alternative high school for kids who fit in in a different way and are finding regular high school impermeable. Southington and especially the 60 young people in this program are lucky to have this option.
Connecticut may have experienced a retiree health care windfall, but, as Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo says, that does not mean we can afford to short next year’s allocations.
The Meriden Humane Society will be the beneficiary of some Roger Sherman students who decided to hold a charity dinner to raise money to support the non-profit agency which is always short of cash. This sort of generous impulse is great to see in kids and we hope the community will support in kind.
Friday, May 27, 2011
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., May 27, 2011
Wallingford schools are reforming the academic calendar by eliminating the February vacation and substituting a 3½ day weekend instead. There seem to be several reasons, some bad some good.
Cheshire experiments with privatizing the bulky waste transfer station. We’ll see how the public reaction progresses and how it reacts to the different fee schedule.
The Meriden Boys and Girls Club has an indoor, ceiling-suspended retractable batting cage and baseball and golfing equipment, thanks to a grant from the LeBron James Family Foundation. The cage was installed in February and includes a pitching machine for both baseball and softball, a one-of athletic asset for the benefit of kids in town.
Congratulations to all those Meriden students honored at the Scholars’ Banquet last week. The surprise thanks offered by students was a fine gesture to those who had helped them along the way.
Southington’s Board of Education is considering adding an artificial turf playing field as part of the middle school renovation project. Given today’s economy, members might want to proceed cautiously with the marriage of these two projects.
The Connecticut legislature seems on the way to approving a bill creating a quasi-public authority to run Bradley Field and other state-owned airports. While there are undoubtedly better ways of running any airport, it is by no means clear that a business model would run it better than a public model, while a quasi-public agency lacks accountability of a fully public operation and the responsiveness of a fully private one (see Amtrak and the USPS).
The discussion over a proposed Connecticut law preventing employers from requiring employee attendance at meetings and discussions seems so unnecessary. Why would any employer really want to force attendance at any meeting? Why should not an employee be permitted to proceed in blissful ignorance (or not) by staying away from a meeting at which information is to be dispensed?
One of the reasons for open spaces in Southington and anywhere else is that memories many folks cherish of outdoor recreation took place on private properties which owners today would not permit because of liability fears. When the town buys such properties, they remain open.
Cheshire experiments with privatizing the bulky waste transfer station. We’ll see how the public reaction progresses and how it reacts to the different fee schedule.
The Meriden Boys and Girls Club has an indoor, ceiling-suspended retractable batting cage and baseball and golfing equipment, thanks to a grant from the LeBron James Family Foundation. The cage was installed in February and includes a pitching machine for both baseball and softball, a one-of athletic asset for the benefit of kids in town.
Congratulations to all those Meriden students honored at the Scholars’ Banquet last week. The surprise thanks offered by students was a fine gesture to those who had helped them along the way.
Southington’s Board of Education is considering adding an artificial turf playing field as part of the middle school renovation project. Given today’s economy, members might want to proceed cautiously with the marriage of these two projects.
The Connecticut legislature seems on the way to approving a bill creating a quasi-public authority to run Bradley Field and other state-owned airports. While there are undoubtedly better ways of running any airport, it is by no means clear that a business model would run it better than a public model, while a quasi-public agency lacks accountability of a fully public operation and the responsiveness of a fully private one (see Amtrak and the USPS).
The discussion over a proposed Connecticut law preventing employers from requiring employee attendance at meetings and discussions seems so unnecessary. Why would any employer really want to force attendance at any meeting? Why should not an employee be permitted to proceed in blissful ignorance (or not) by staying away from a meeting at which information is to be dispensed?
One of the reasons for open spaces in Southington and anywhere else is that memories many folks cherish of outdoor recreation took place on private properties which owners today would not permit because of liability fears. When the town buys such properties, they remain open.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Editor's Notepod, Thur., May 26, 2011
Southington officials are applying for a “Safe Routes to School” grant which could both create more sidewalk connections with parks and destinations and improve existing walkways. This should be a fine and healthy addition to the town.
Notions of including the Coe property and mansion in plans for Platt are extremely interesting but there won’t be too many ready to jump on this Meriden horse until it’s been weighed and measured a good deal more.
There were apparently around twenty African-Americans from Wallingford (of which Meriden was then a part) who fought in the Revolutionary War. It would be fine to support the project to honor their memory on a national basis.
A bill is now on its way to the governor’s office prohibiting first responders from taking photos at accident scenes in Connecticut and distributing them informally. While such a practice is extremely distasteful, passing a law of this kind seems to brim with unforeseen consequences for public information.
One more step has been taken in Middlefield to revive prospects for the former Powder Ridge ski area. We are happy to see this project moving forward.
New Life Church and Pastor Rev. Will Marotti deserve a fine round of thanks for offering a matching grant for Wallingford fireworks display on Independence Day weekend. The deadline for a rather large sum is tomorrow, and we hope they make it.
Notions of including the Coe property and mansion in plans for Platt are extremely interesting but there won’t be too many ready to jump on this Meriden horse until it’s been weighed and measured a good deal more.
There were apparently around twenty African-Americans from Wallingford (of which Meriden was then a part) who fought in the Revolutionary War. It would be fine to support the project to honor their memory on a national basis.
A bill is now on its way to the governor’s office prohibiting first responders from taking photos at accident scenes in Connecticut and distributing them informally. While such a practice is extremely distasteful, passing a law of this kind seems to brim with unforeseen consequences for public information.
One more step has been taken in Middlefield to revive prospects for the former Powder Ridge ski area. We are happy to see this project moving forward.
New Life Church and Pastor Rev. Will Marotti deserve a fine round of thanks for offering a matching grant for Wallingford fireworks display on Independence Day weekend. The deadline for a rather large sum is tomorrow, and we hope they make it.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., May 25, 2011
The former president of F&S Oil Co. Inc., pled guilty to bank fraud charges, which will give many former customers of his defunct oil company and his biodiesel plant in Cheshire at least as much satisfaction as it gives the bank he defrauded.
Connecticut legislators approved a bill calling on the Connecticut Siting Council to adopt rules for construction of wind power projects. If you’ve had a chance to compare aesthetics of a wind power field with those of a large coal or nuclear power plant, you’ll appreciate why many believe Connecticut to be extremely tardy in moving in this direction.
Meriden will be “on the hook” for the legal fees related to City Councilor George McGoldrick’s defense against an ethics complaint. Don’t blame the lawyer: it’s in the City Code.
Demolition of two unfinished duplex houses along Meriden Avenue in Southington, necessitated by two years exposure to the elements after a developer ran out of cash. Too bad it took so long to bring the matter to a conclusion, as we hate to see work wasted.
Connecticut legislators approved a bill calling on the Connecticut Siting Council to adopt rules for construction of wind power projects. If you’ve had a chance to compare aesthetics of a wind power field with those of a large coal or nuclear power plant, you’ll appreciate why many believe Connecticut to be extremely tardy in moving in this direction.
Meriden will be “on the hook” for the legal fees related to City Councilor George McGoldrick’s defense against an ethics complaint. Don’t blame the lawyer: it’s in the City Code.
Demolition of two unfinished duplex houses along Meriden Avenue in Southington, necessitated by two years exposure to the elements after a developer ran out of cash. Too bad it took so long to bring the matter to a conclusion, as we hate to see work wasted.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Editor's Notepod, Tues., May 24, 2011
Wallingford’s Ordinance Committee is considering adding a provision which would allow local bidders to reduce their bids to match low bidders on local contracts if they were within 5 percent originally. This change would add Wallingford to the list of towns (which includes Southington and Meriden) where this “leg-up for locals” has been allowed.
Gov. Dannel Malloy is going to push forward with completion of CT Route 11 from the middle of Salem on to its original destination, an intersection with I-95 and I-395. Billed as a connection necessary for growth of Southeast Connecticut, we can only hope the estimated $1 billion total cost returns its investment.
Meriden police, carrying out a “Click It or Ticket “campaign this week, are finding that compliance rates for seat belt use in the city is 90.5 percent. A $92 fine is evidently proving an incentive, at least for those drivers and passengers for whom remaining alive is not sufficient reason.
Loss of the Southington Chamber of Commerce as a sponsor of the Italian-American Festival coming up in July. They’ll be missed, for sure, but the festival has plenty of support.
The Meriden Housing Authority is pleased with units of the Chamberlain Heights public housing development which have been finished, 16 of which are now occupied. We hope remaining phases of this renovation project continue on track.
Gov. Dannel Malloy is going to push forward with completion of CT Route 11 from the middle of Salem on to its original destination, an intersection with I-95 and I-395. Billed as a connection necessary for growth of Southeast Connecticut, we can only hope the estimated $1 billion total cost returns its investment.
Meriden police, carrying out a “Click It or Ticket “campaign this week, are finding that compliance rates for seat belt use in the city is 90.5 percent. A $92 fine is evidently proving an incentive, at least for those drivers and passengers for whom remaining alive is not sufficient reason.
Loss of the Southington Chamber of Commerce as a sponsor of the Italian-American Festival coming up in July. They’ll be missed, for sure, but the festival has plenty of support.
The Meriden Housing Authority is pleased with units of the Chamberlain Heights public housing development which have been finished, 16 of which are now occupied. We hope remaining phases of this renovation project continue on track.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Editor's Notepod, Sun., May 15, 2011
Meriden’s high school projects really need to move forward. There’s consensus on the necessity for renovations despite the terrifying expense and it’s important to agree on that; details can be adjusted later.
The headmaster of Shelton High School has found a way to allow that senior who stuck his information on the high school wall to go the prom with his date. We are glad the subtleties of the administrative mind were equal to the challenge.
Fourteen out of 15 of Connecticut’s public employee unions and 80 percent of the voting members must ratify the health and retirement changes worked out with Gov. Malloy. Each of the 34 bargaining units must approve any wage changes
Cheshire’s Senior Center featured a Safety Fashion Show with police, firefighters and government workers along with employees of utilities and communication companies. It can’t hurt and it sounds as if everyone had some fun.
Southington’s Youth Services department is reaching out to teenagers to provide them with fun and entertaining activities, beginning with “Cardone the Ultimate Vaudeville Magician” who will present a classic magic show on June 3.
The headmaster of Shelton High School has found a way to allow that senior who stuck his information on the high school wall to go the prom with his date. We are glad the subtleties of the administrative mind were equal to the challenge.
Fourteen out of 15 of Connecticut’s public employee unions and 80 percent of the voting members must ratify the health and retirement changes worked out with Gov. Malloy. Each of the 34 bargaining units must approve any wage changes
Cheshire’s Senior Center featured a Safety Fashion Show with police, firefighters and government workers along with employees of utilities and communication companies. It can’t hurt and it sounds as if everyone had some fun.
Southington’s Youth Services department is reaching out to teenagers to provide them with fun and entertaining activities, beginning with “Cardone the Ultimate Vaudeville Magician” who will present a classic magic show on June 3.
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