Your Stories - May 1st 2011

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Patrick M Bremer


‎20 years ago today I lost my Dad, my Father, Albert Bremer.


20 years…half my life has now been spent without the most amazing man to come into my life!


The measure of a man is often times measured by how many lives he touched. Through the South Meriden House restaurant, his Church, WWII buddies, and his family, Albie touched thousands of lives with his indelible spirit, compassion, and kindness towards others. If you remember my Father kindly take a moment to reflect on your favorite memory or image of him today. Feel free to share below.






Miss you Dad. Gone too soon.


“May the road rise up to meet you;


May the wind be always at your back,


the sun shine warm upon your face,


The rain fall soft upon your fields,


And until we meet again


May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.“


Dad behind the bar at the South Meriden House about 1984.


Dad and I on Parent's Weekend 1990. The only one he would make. One of my favorite photos










Quassy celebrates 103 years of affordable family fun in 2011!


History


Quassy, which was once called Lake Quassapaug Amusement Park, sits on a beautiful lake in Middlebury, Connecticut. Quassy was not always the amusement park it is today. Native Americans once populated this large area. The Native Americans translated Lake Quassapaug to mean "Big Pond" or "Big Rock".


In colonial days King George (1690-1770) granted one Abel Wheeler control of the lake. During this time a fisherman could rent a boat and leave his horse in a stall with plenty of hay for as little as 50¢ a day. Fisherman enjoyed the lake because they claimed that they caught fish by the buckets full.


By 1888, a man named Mr. Richards opened a Grove House. Clambakes became his specialty and only non-alcoholic drinks were sold.


In 1905, the sea wall was put in and the Wallace Hotel replaced Mr. Richard's Grove House. By 1908, a trolley line was put through Middlebury and Lake Quassapaug became a summer resort.


In 1937, three Waterbury businessmen, John Frantzis, Mike Leon, and George Terezakis, bought the property and formed Quassy. They soon added a picnic area, paddle boats and a carousel. Within the next few years a hot dog stand, a roller rink and a tearoom were added.


It was after World War II that Quassy established itself as an amusement park. Beginning in the late 1970s, new rides were added every year. The park has also designed its own clambake facilities and caters to business and organizational outings from 100 to 10,000.


Today, Quassy Amusement Park remains a unique family-oriented facility. We offer swimming, picnicking, a catering service, a huge family Redemption Arcade, "Saturation Station," and of course, more than 20 rides. Every year families can count on new attractions, new rides, and most importantly, quality service.










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Good Dog? Bad Dog?


Pit Bulls Are Much Maligned, but Do They Deserve The Bad Rap?


By Susan Israel


Ten-month-old Rusty wagged his tail and mooched dog treats from Meriden Humane Society staff members and was around for quite sometime- six months- to curry favor with them before finally being


adopted. The average wait for him- and other dogs like him- to be adopted is on the average four months longer than the cuddly cocker spaniels and feisty Jack Russell’s and mixed-breeds that toddle out the


door with their new owners. Rusty’s biggest sin was being born a pit bull terrier. Pit bull terriers have scary street cred; a city woman was bitten late last year by a pit bull when she bent to rescue her


small dog, which was injured severely and had to be euthanized. When potential adopters hear ‘pit bull’, many balk. “People want little fluffy dogs and are scared of their rep,” says Marlena DiBianco, director of the Meriden Humane Society.


A lot of the pit bulls that wound up in Meriden Humane Society and in Animal Control were found wandering the streets. “They’re throw-away dogs,” says DiBianco. “People want them, then they neglect


them and leave them.” Some dog owners can’t afford to spay their dogs, so breed them and sell the puppies. One was selling the puppies from three different litters at the same time for $600 apiece.”


Irresponsible breeding kills the breed and most of the puppies end up at Meriden Humane Society or at other rescues when their owners tire of them. One dog was found with cigarette burns all over him. Some can’t afford them during the economic downturn and don’t make emergency provisions so dogs are found abandoned in apartments after owners are evicted. DiBianco recommends people seek help for their pets before they have to leave them behind or let them run loose in the street. Owners don’t factor in the dog’s requirements. A pit bull left in a cramped city apartment while his owner works and then parties will


bounce off the walls. “Pit bulls are working dogs and need a lot of exercise and a job to do. If you let a working dog get bored, he’ll eat the couch,” says DiBianco. “Some people are just not aware of how to control their dogs or don’t care about their dogs. If they treat their dogs that way, how do they treat their kids?”


If it’s a matter of struggling to supply the dogs with food, the Humane Society can help. Once a month on Monday and Tuesday, dog owners who are struggling financially can qualify for a month supply of


dog food. “We put them on a list and verify their IDs,” says DiBianco, stressing that this is for those who really need it. Seniors especially benefit; some will feed their dogs before they feed themselves. Many


are embarrassed, says DiBianco, adding “those we find out about through neighborhood associations and word of mouth and we help them.”


“Most people don’t get pit bulls for the right reasons,” says Mandy Makein of South Meriden who has been a dog trainer for over 13 years and has owned pit bulls. “If not properly trained, they get frustrated and trash the house and drag their owners while walking.


Most people don’t realize the necessity of training until they have their hands full.” Some have come to Makein in tears, afraid they would have to give up their dogs because they couldn’t handle them, and after


the dogs were trained- sometimes in classes as well as one-on-one- they became manageable. Makein also trains dogs at the Meriden Humane Society. Makein’s pit bull, Jack, earned the Canine Good Citizenship


Award from the American Kennel Club and earned therapy dog certification from Therapy Dogs International and served in that capacity for the last eight years of his life. In addition, Jack was the ‘Hanover Hound’, performing at Hanover Elementary School, and visited homes for the handicapped with Makein. “To properly train a dog, start at a young age and socialize him.” Makein recommends diverting strong-willed prey-driven dogs with inanimate objects. “Playing fetch or tug is play and the more you make work seem like play to a dog, the more he’ll want to keep doing it.”


The Humane Society requires an application, in-home check and references and advises which dog will fit best with the applicant’s family and lifestyle, some- thing that doesn’t happen with a curbside sale. All dogs have the potential to bite and all dogs have the potential to become loyal pets. “Every one of the pit bulls here- and all but two who are in Animal Control- I would leave with a baby without a problem,” says DiBianco. “They’re that good.”






SOCIAL SECURITY CELEBRATES EARTH DAY EVERY DAY


By Paul Gilfillan,


Social Security Manager in Meriden Ct


This Earth Day (April 22) and every day, Social Security is committed to conserving energy and reducing waste. Social Security has buildings across the nation that boast high-efficiency lighting, solar hot water heating systems, high-performance windows, solar lighting in parking lots, improved HVAC systems, chilled water system improvements, and much more.


What’s more, Social Security offers many of our popular services online. These services are more than just convenient and easy-to-use. They’re also great for the environment!


You can do most Social Security business from the convenience of your home or on any computer. There’s no paper, printing, postage, or travel needed. Here are a few of our most popular online services:


Use our Retirement Estimator to get a quick and accurate estimate of your future Social Security retirement benefits. www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator


Prepare for your retirement by visiting our Benefits Planner page. You also can go here to use the disability and survivors planners to find out how much you or your family might qualify for if the need arises. www.socialsecurity.gov/planners


Retire online! You can complete and submit your retirement application in as little as 15 minutes. www.socialsecurity.gov/retireonline


Apply for disability benefits. www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability


Apply for Medicare benefits. www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly


So, whether you’re interested in planning your retirement or applying for disability, our online office is the most convenient and “green” one to visit. Social Security’s online services also top customer satisfaction lists. For a complete list of our online services, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.






Lions and Tigers and Teens


Teen Esteem


A pimple used to put a wrench in my entire day. That one little red spot would cause all kinds of insecurities. I would head out to school feeling ugly, even if, just hours earlier, I was feeling like a movie star. It’s funny how your perspective is drastically different during the teen years. Today, I just slap on concealer and call it a day.


However, insecurity regarding physical appearance is not the only esteem downer for teens. There are other issues that can cause your teen to feel less than valuable, and some may have long-term effects. Being cut from the team, a break-up with a significant other or rejection from the college he’s hoped to attend since the second grade can be catalysts to self-loathing.


Your teen’s mood is all over the place to begin with, so what’s a parent to do when her teen’s esteem seemingly plunges into a black hole?


Reflection in the Mirror


Many teens believe that “fitting in” is synonymous with “looking like.” This is why many adolescents try to conform to a desired crowd by physically dressing and acting like those in the group. Others might try to emulate fashion models or movie stars. Both of these scenarios can be destructive if taken too far.


“Wanting to fit in and look like other kids is part of adolescence. However, this desire can lead to stress and to unhealthy behaviors,” warns Wendy Grolnick, Ph.D, author of, Pressured Parents, Stressed- Out Kids (Prometheus Books, 2007) and director of the Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology and Education at Clark University. Parents need to help their teens put appearance in perspective. Grolnick suggests, “Parents can help their teens by stressing and modeling the importance of a healthy lifestyle - healthy eating and exercise.”


Be a good role model. Mothers who constantly complain about their looks or their weight are setting a bad example for their young daughters. Parents with positive self images help their teens learn by example. This is much more powerful than merely telling your teen to feel good about herself.


Building Up


All parents want their children to be the best they can be. However, parental expectations and criticism can be damaging to a teen who is already unsure of himself. Parents should remember to build up, not break down, by focusing on their teen’s accomplishments, not their failures.


Grolnick says, “Given our very competitive environment, teens are under immense pressure to live up to their own and others’ standards. This pressure can lead teens to ultimately question themselves and their adequacy.”


Parents shouldn’t add to the pressure their teen is under by pushing too hard. Instead, Grolnick suggests the following for encouraging a positive self image:


Help your teen formulate realistic expectations – an important life skill


Focus on the process of your teen’s endeavors, rather than the outcome


Teach your teen multiple ways to be successful


Limit activities if overload is causing stress


Facing Failures


It’s inevitable that your teen will experience disappointments and failures. It is how she learns to deal with failure that’s important. Teach her how to put failure in perspective and that learning from failure is a path to becoming a better person.


Constructive criticism is effective if you focus on the action, not the person. You might say, “I know you could have done better on that exam if you had studied more,” instead of, “You have no work ethic.”


Encourage “reachable” goals. An average, varsity baseball player who has hopes to make the major leagues will have a difficult time when reality strikes. Be sure your teen understands that there is no such thing as perfection. Instead, communicate that putting in your best effort is a goal worth attaining.


Grolnick says that decreased engagement in pleasurable activities, increased time alone, frequent stomachaches or headaches, and persistent negative self-statements could be signs that your teen’s negative self image has spiraled out of control. Parents who believe this to be the case should seek professional help.


TIPS AND TALES


“This is what I tell my girls: Instead of putting yourself down, think of five things that you like about yourself." - Joan Larkin Bullock


“I give my teenage sons choices and ask for their input so that they are involved in decision-making. The more they are invested, the more they are likely to make a good choice for themselves. I firmly believe that giving them the freedom to make choices gives them confidence in their decision-making ability - a life skill!” - Sherry Hallenbeck


Want to share your ideas? Upcoming topic:


Summertime equals “freedom” for teens. Any special rules for your teen during summer months when things are more lax? Please send your full name, address, and brief comments to:


myrnahaskell@gmail.com Or visit: www.myrnahaskell.com


Myrna Beth Haskell is a feature writer and columnist specializing in parenting issues and child and adolescent development. She is the mother of two teenagers.














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Our Autism Story and Our Mission


It was 2009 and my family was planning a fiftieth birthday party for me. And I thought it would be fun to have a raffle to raise money for Autism .My granddaughter Mia was diagnosed with Autism when she was two. It was a blow to the whole family because you feel helpless knowing there is no cure. You want to help in any way you find with in your means. And having a raffle seemed like a easy enough task. And it was and it was fun. The whole family loved doing this and it was the way we felt we could help people also learn about Autism. This very complex disorder that has entered our family and our beautiful, happy, amazing child ,Mia.


We all love Mia with all our hearts and we want everyone to know the only thing different about a child like Mia is they see the world in a way of their own. Without judgment, without stares. And if we can help educate people about Autism children like Mia will be more understood and easily accepted. As she and children like her do to others "accept" them for what they are and not for how they appear.


Everyone needs to understand Autism comes in to every race, every sex, and every town. For this we have decided to have a fundraiser every year to raise awareness and money for Autism. And this year we are having it as follows.


The Third Annual Understanding Autism Fundraiser


May 5th, Thursday, 5-9 PM Rosie's Café Camp Street Meriden,Conn.


"Understanding Autism "is a fund-raising event to bring about awareness for the most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder Autism.


This night you can help us to change the image of Autism with drinks , food, music, fun and knowledge !


We will be entertained by a Live DJ with one hour of Karaoke !Provided by the one and only Pattys Energized Karaoke


There is a large raffle with great prizes!


Two Steel Guitars, Collectible Harley Davidson Items, Gift Certificates to local restaurants and Many more items to win!


All tips and raffle donations will be donated to "Autism Speaks".


Help us to change the world by bringing about a better understanding of this complicated disorder.


Try to find it in your hectic day to day life to come and meet some wonderful people and enjoy a night out for a cause at hand that needs all the attention it can receive. Please join and you will wonder how you missed out on all this before!


Thank you, Donna Theriault














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Providing Comfort and Coffee to the Troops


HOLY JOE’S CAFÉ


First Congregational Church - Wallingford


Going for coffee these days seems as American as mom, baseball and apple pie. While it might actually involve grabbing a cup of whatever it is that gets us going, its primary purpose may be to strengthen social ties or show support for a friend in need.


Nowhere is this more evident — or more appreciated — than among U.S. military personnel taking part in the initiative known as Holy Joe's Café. Thanks to the First Congregational Church troops don't have to go for coffee; it's coming to them with over 550 chaplains receiving coffee in locations in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan since beginning in 2006.


Holy Joe's provides soldiers a quiet place to talk with friends, converse with chaplains or write a letter home. "Our community coffee bar has become the lifeblood of the camp," writes Chaplain Michael J. Lovett. "Your donations have had a direct impact on our operations. Your act of kindness not only meets a physical need but also strengthens our troops emotionally."


Donations of ground coffee or monetary donations can be dropped off at the church office at 23 South Main St, Wallingford, CT 06492.


For more information, please call [203] 697-1042, www.holyjoescafe.blogspot.com or holyjoescafe@att.net.










The Lion’s Den


By Ralph Riello


Vol. 1.3


Spring is in the air and the Meriden Lions Club is bellowing a welcome roar. I am in my fourth year of Lionism, and am always excited by the emergence of spring, along with crocuses and daffodils. This is also the season where the good works of the Meriden Lions emerge from winter and into the sun-dappled days of April.


Today, I am going to report on a wonderful Palm Sunday Brunch, but first here are some upcoming events you should know about.


Rumbling in the Jungle…Coming Soon from The Meriden Lions!


May 13th Relay For Life…This year we move back to Wallingford. Celebrate with Past President Tom (4 years cancer-free!) and the Meriden Lions as we serve up some good grub into the wee hours. I will not sleep in my truck this year…


May 21st Day The Lions Roar…This rescheduled event has a new date and time, and a new format! This year, we are LIVE at Nest Egg Auctions www.nesteggauctions.com on Research Parkway in Meriden. Doors open at 6pm. You can now come with friends, enjoy refreshments and entertainment while you bid on some great items like a Florida Vacation Package, A Lions Dinner Package (we come to your home and treat you and your friends like kings with everything prepared fresh, from soup to nuts! And of course, lots of wine!) a starter Kayak Package from CT Outdoors, A Guitar and Amp package from Joe’s Music, and much more. WE STILL NEED ITEMS! Donate your item, or gift card as soon as possible by contacting me by e-mail (above) or at 860.681.9639, or Steve Richards at 203.235-5698. We will arrange for pickup, or you can bring the item directly to Nest Egg Auctions Thursdays between 10am and 5pm. Thanks in advance for your generosity and we hope to see you there!


May 22nd Duck Race and Fishing Derby…Start the morning at Baldwin Pond with your favorite fisherman 12 years or younger as they fish for great prizes and fish stories! Then head over to City Park for one of the most popular Lion events, The Duck Race. Get your tickets now by e-mailing me or contact any Lion that you know. One thousand dollars cash to the winner, with many other great prizes. And you can follow your duck downstream and cheer it on to the finish line. While there, enjoy the new addition of a Car Show this year to go along with a beautiful day outside with friends. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be available CHEAP!










Preparing and Sharing a Meal…A Labor of Love


For me, and many other Lions judging by the attendance, the Palm Sunday Brunch is as much a harbinger of spring as daffodils at Hubbard Park. Sunday April 17th was another roaring success (pun intended) judging by what I estimate to have been over a thousand people who came together, family, friends, children, coworkers, to share a meal and catch up after the long cold winter. I’ve learned that most Lions are like me in that, we get a bunch of tickets to sell, and rather than hit the streets and sell them, we write a check for the tickets we have, and give them away to our family, friends, and neighbors. I remember as a kid, and even now as a husband, being fascinated at my mom and my wife whenever I watch them prepare a meal, in awe at the amount of work, care, and pride, and especially, love, that goes into preparing, cooking and serving food to their family. Until I became a Lion, I never truly understood what our moms and our wives get out of that labor. Spending an exhausting six hours on my feet in the kitchen at Platt High School ferrying trays of food from kitchen to warmer to serving station is a labor of love for me. The satisfaction that I get from seeing my family, neighbors, and friends laughing and enjoying the love and laughter that only a shared meal could bring is a direct result of the labor and generosity of all Lions, in Meriden, and around the world, as we do good works in each of our communities.


All year long, Lions appreciate and cherish the generous hearts of those in our communities who give to Lions projects throughout the year. For many of us, especially in our community, the Palm Sunday Brunch is an opportunity for the Lions to give back to you, as a thank you for all you do to help us make Meriden and the surrounding communities a better place to live and give. From our end, the brunch is the event where more Lions come out to lend a hand than any other event we organize. For some Lions, Palm Sunday is the one event they can commit to, and we appreciate seeing them. So for those of you who never get a peek into the kitchen, here is a roll call of the many Lions who work hard so that you can all share a meal, joy, love, and happiness with others. I apologize if I left anybody out…


The “Godfathers” (committee chairs)…Billy, Buck, and Vinny.


Taking tickets and making memories…Dave, Ted, Conrad, Vince


Java Station…Steady Eddie and mystery Lion (I forgot his name)


Flower Power…Al, all the way from NH!


Duck Race salesmen…Paul and Ziggy* (*also “The Gas Man”)


The Omelet King…Jack, with a little help from Joe.


Service with a smile…George “Mr. C.”, Ray, George Jr., Benny, John


“The Ferry Men”…Paul, Jack, Ralph, Tommy, Jimmy


In The Kitchen…


The Swamp…Donnie, “Lord of the Swamp”, Dave, & newbies, Ryan, Joe, Gary


Crackin’ Eggs…Bill, Steve, Brian, Joe


Makin’ Bacon (and sausages)…Steve and Dickie


The Hash n’ Eggs Brigade…Bob, Howie, Tony, Bruce, Jim


The Carb Department…Tom, Norm, Dave L, Dave M., Art F.


In the way…Art C., Ken


Working but not sure where…Mike, Ronnie, Keith, Jimmy B., Frank


Set up crew…Nelson, Mark


Honored Past Pres…David Parke


There in spirit…Mario, Charlie, Willie, Ron


Thanks also to the many wives and children of Lions who helped make this day a success, and special thanks to the Wilcox students, Boy Scouts, and the staff of Platt High School for their help and efforts! We couldn’t have done it without you! Hope to see you at a Lions event soon.


Thanks for listening.






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Roberta Ash Honored


On April 7 2011 Roberta Ash received the Greater New Haven Red Cross Heroes Award for Community Impact for her work with the Brian David Ash Memorial Fire Prevention Fundraiser. Meriden Fire Chief, James Trainor, nominated her for the award. Chief Trainer indicated that he was always inspired by the effort Roberta had taken to promote fire safety, after losing her son Brian in a fire. The event was held at the Omni Hotel in New Haven. Roberta was one of ten recipients to be recognized by The Greater New Haven Red Cross. This September 9, 10 and 11 will be the 25th anniversary of the fundraiser. The fundraiser started at Walbaums as a simple hot dog sale, with a hot dog and soda selling for fifty cents. Over the years, the event has grown significantly, and moved to The Stop and Shop Supermarket on East Main St. We now sell a hot dog, soda and chips for $2.00, we have added raffles, and have tables, which have many give a ways, donated to the fund. Brian died in a house fire on October 14, 1983 in home that did not have smoke detectors, and Roberta and her husband felt the need to do something to keep others from a similar tragedy.










Guilt, so many trips so little time?


By Caillin Murphy


Guilt, so many trips so little time? Why do we feel guilty for some acts or thoughts and not for others? Why do some people easily feel guilt while others appear not to know it exists? What is it that can cause 2 people in the same act to experience it so differently?! What causes you the most guilt? the least? When you feel guilty, how do you cope with it? Do you beat yourself up? Try to sweep it under the rug? Justify? Rationalize? Point fingers at others to diminish your own guilt? Do selfish desires overshadow others' needs and feelings?


What causes us to feel guilty? Is it nature or nurture? Something you are born bearing the ability for? This would explain the differences in individuals that seem apparent...or is it something you learn...mama just bought you a ticket for the guilt express? Memories of a Catholic school girl...a force of 'habit'? A combination of both? Are the differences as wide as they seem? Or do we just express it differently?


Are we wasting our time and energy feeling guilty? Is there nothing we can do about it? Thus causing ourselves undue stress? Do you just move on? not looking back or around to see the damage? Is it collateral damage...just the course of events? Surely there are some actions that we can not change...outcomes beyond our control? Events that truly had no intent? Is sorry enough? Is there restitution to be made?


Can guilt be a motivator? Do we use the guilt of our actions to improve ourselves? Thus guilt could be a proponent of change and growth? a source of progress? When we neglect our duties, loved ones, selves...does guilt serve to insight change? Are the relationships we have actually serviced by guilt? Do we pay more attention hold on a little tighter or look forward with a more positive outlook?


Unfortunately to some questions there are only more questions...but in there somewhere there are a few answers...some ideas...some peace?






Gina’s Frugal Living in America


By Gina Juliano


How to Save for College or Get Amazon.com Gift Cards/Cash When You Do Your Regularly Weekly Shopping


I have a philosophy about shopping and most everything else that goes something like this:


“If I am going to do something anyway, I might as well get something extra out of it.”


Let’s face it. I go to the grocery store and drug stores at least once every week. Sometimes, I go multiple times if there’s good sale. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could save for college or get cash/gift cards just for doing my normal, everyday shopping? Guess what? There is!


There are two ways you can accrue money while doing your everyday shopping. First is a program called Upromise.com. With UPromise, you register your store courtesy cards (I registered every one I have) and then select the coupons you want. I always select all the coupons because I just don’t know if I will use them. It doesn’t hurt and takes very little time. (After you click on the coupons, make sure you hit “activate my coupons” on the right side of the page.) The coupons automatically get downloaded onto all your store cards and are activated when you shop. When you shop, you earn money for college. For example, say you buy Bounty paper towels. If there is a .50 coupon for Bounty towels at Upromise, download the coupon and then buy paper towels. Fifty cents goes into an account for college. You can still use regular coupons as well, so it’s not like you’re missing out on getting good deals. I don’t have any kids in college right now, but I signed myself up. I don’t have any real plans to go back to school, but I’m thinking my niece or nephews might be able to use this money in a few years. If you don’t want to give the money to someone for college, you also have the option of transferring the money over to a savings account or requesting a check.


The second way you can save is through a new website called SavingStar.com. Like UPromise, you can register all your grocery and drug store courtesy cards and download coupons onto them. The only difference is you can opt to purchase Amazon gift cards with your money in addition of having the money saved to your bank account. This is a fabulous way to pay for some of your holiday shopping. Just buy groceries and request Amazon gift cards from SavingsStar.


Because neither UPromise nor SavingsStar prohibits you from using paper coupons at check out, this is a win-win situation for you and me. Not only are we limiting the money we pay for food and toiletries with paper coupons, we’re saving money for college or earning gift cards. How cool is that?


Gina Juliano is the creator of Gina’s Kokopelli, a blog dedicated to all things coupon, free and cheap. You can get more frugal tips, freebies, coupons, and great deals by visiting her blog at http://ginaskokopelli.com. Gina also teaches couponing classes and would love to be invited to your organization or business to teach a class. For more information or to inquire about a couponing class, please email her at ginaskokopelli@yahoo.com. She’s also happy to answer any couponing question you may have!






















Home Country


Slim Randles


“We were a-doin’ okay ‘til Dewey showed up,” said Steve, behind the sale barn.


Doc and Bert were there to watch the Saturday sale.


“Dewey?” asked Doc. There’s a world of intrigue around here in the pronunciation of those two syllables, although we all love Dewey Decker and wish him well. But when he shows up in his truck, disaster is usually riding shotgun.


“I was helping out with the branding over at the Diamond D,” Steve said, twitching his oversized moustache. “We were about halfway done when we saw the dust of the pickup coming along the road.”


Doc said, “Dewey’s helped out at brandings before this, hasn’t he?”


“Sure,” said Steve. “The last time, he inoculated ol’ Dud for blackleg. ‘Course, Dud hasn’t had blackleg since then, so there you go. Well, you know the problem with Dewey. It’s finding him something to do where he can’t hurt himself, livestock, property, other people, or the federal government. Bob said maybe Dewey could take pictures, but it wasn’t to be …”


“Not good,” said Bert.


“Nope. Ol’ Doo stepped out of the truck with a brand-new nylon catch rope and said he was there to heel the calves and drag them to the fire for us.”


“But that’s usually the boss’s job,” Doc said. Most of us know the corral protocols.


“I know, but ol’ Bob had this gentle horse, and you know how hard it is to say no to Dewey, so he let him. Now Dewey’d been practicing roping buckets and dogs and stuff, so he shook out a loop and …”


“I don’t want to hear this …” said Doc.


“…dabbed it over the head of this 400-pound calf and that calf ran around behind the horse and the rope went under the horse’s tail …”


“Oh no …”


“And the calf ran over Bob and Bob hit me on his way down and I went backwards into the water trough. Dewey got halfway bucked off before we got the rope loose.”


Steve shook his head. “Then ol’ Bob got up slowly, looked at Dewey and said, ‘Son, you are now our official photographer.’”






The Best Easter Bunny Gift Ever.


We spent Easter Sunday 1977, after church services, at my Mother-in-law's place. She lived only a full block away from the church and we live just 1/2 mile from her place. My mother would have my sisters over for dinner and later that day at her place and she knew we wouldn't be coming to her house. After a HUGE dinner prepared by my mother-in-law we would go to my sister Mary's place for dessert. My wife was very much in a "family way" at that time and was due any day. Nonetheless that did not stop us from celebrating the holiday in the fullest. We left my mother-in-laws house and went a few blocks east to my sister's place.


We were having a nice visit and some "coffee and" with my sister and her family when suddenly my wife felt a rather strong "spasm", those of you who are mothers know what I mean! We decided that we best leave for home, "just in case"! Well those contractions started getting closer, we called the Obstetrician and he said when they get X minutes apart, head for the hospital. That we did and eventually drove over to the hospital which is maybe 3 or 4 miles from home, my only concern was that the route we would take meant that I had to cross a busy railroad track but I had a "Plan B" in the event we encountered a train. Well we got to the hospital with no problem, but just as quickly as the contractions started, they subsided for a while so we had a looooong wait in the labor room. But Fate was not to be denied and just after 8:00 AM, Stefanie Marie was formally introduced to her Mommy and Daddy and her Aunt Mary, at whose house we had been just a few hours before, my sister was an L.P.N. in the OB ward and she was able to be in on the delivery. April 11,1977 was a warm sunny spring day, the temperature was 85 degrees that day. Kathryn and I had just received the BEST Easter Gift ever.










MADRID--Spring, 1970


Our first meal in Madrid took place long after we should have dropped dead of starvation. Citisens of Madrid stop at a bar on their way home after work, wisely have a drink and a snack to hold them until dinner.


Dinner is at 9:00 or so, after a nap. We were fortunate that our hotel opened for dinner at 8:00 or 8:30. We were the only patrons there at that early hour, obviously wilting. I think they took pity on us and opened before they regularly would.


If you thought a dining room in Madrid might be a cozy, dimly lit bistro, you couldn't be more wrong. Every inch of ceiling was covered with lights and every one of them on. Ray wondered: "When do they operate?"


We ordered a salad. The waiters brought the ingredients on a portable table and mixed the dressing according to our directions. We didn't know how to make salad dressing either so we didn't get off to a very good start.


We ordered cold cuts and got cold slices of cold meat--some kind of roast beef. Not very appetizing but I was hungry so ate what I could.


Ray ordered a fish and a fish is what he got--head and all! The fish lay there, staring at him, challenging him to figure out how to eat it. Ray bravely stuck his fork into its mid-section and applied his knife to its head. The fish looked at Ray and then spoke to him! "Urgh!" it said. The fish had been cooked in olive oil and urgh was the only thing it knew how to say. Limited vocabulary, but it spoke loud and clear.


We ordered eggs after that. Ray reasoned that they couldn't do much to an egg to ruin it, so although he figured wrong, the eggs were undoubtedly a better choice than whatever else was on their menus.


One Woman's Journal by Audrey C. Linke










Trusted Journalist Ann Nyberg Promotes Sharing The Positive with Network Connecticut!


Shared by Andy Reynolds


For more than 30 years, Ann Nyberg has worked as a television news anchor and reporter. She is an anchor at WTNH and is a trusted and well respected journalist.


She and her husband have three daughters and a Lab named Savannah. They feel very strongly about making a positive impact in the community.


In 1993, Nyberg founded the Toy Closet Program at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Thousands of toys and other items are given to children of all ages upon admittance to the hospital to help ease their trauma.


A lover of the arts, Nyberg is a founding Board of Trustees member of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Theater in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.






Anne Nyberg’s Network Connecticut


Anne says, “Wonderful inspiring ideas rarely happen in a vacuum. It is through the exchange of ideas and conversations that new things come to life. This is the case with “Network Connecticut.” As this site goes live today, it’s going to be a place where all in the Constitution State and beyond can come and see what people are doing to grow small business what they’re doing to reinvent their lives, what they’re doing for fun. You will also see the positive ways in which non-profits are enriching the daily lives of so many. Until now these stories have been shared with you on my blog, AnnieMame.com Annie Mame will be back in the future in a new way, but going forward bookmark this page, the Network, Network Connecticut. You know kind of like Bond, James Bond. (Some of you got that).


My message is keep it here, buy local, connect and network. I think we can accomplish a lot of things that other state’s will follow if we really, really work at this.”


Nyberg's website about all things brilliant and wonderful in the state of Connecticut as she shared above and is POSITVELY WONDERFUL and People’s Press Approved! You can check it out at http://www.networkconnecticut.com/. You can subscribe on the site so you don’t miss the good news she shares.


Not only can you find Ann at her website but you can like Ann Nyberg’s Network Connecticut on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NetworkConnecticut. She is also on Twitter at @AnnNyberg. Her email is ann.nyberg@gmail.com.


More About Ann


“I happen to believe the glass is half full, that there is magic in everything if you’re open to it. I believe in doing good for others, in enlightening people’s lives and in showing them the way.


In Connecticut there are wonderful people and places I will introduce you to. This is a state rich in personality and in talent. I will share it all here with you. Think of me as kind of a one-woman living breathing CT Chamber of Commerce.


On the air as a TV News anchor, I have covered the Nutmeg state for 25 years and it’s a wonderful place to call home.


Life IS a party, and you will find it here in many ways.


Favorite movies: “Auntie Mame” starring Waterbury’s own, Rosalind Russell and “Desk Set” starring Hartford’s own Katharine Hepburn.


Talent, talent everywhere and you’re going to find it here in so many ways, oh and expect a lot of humor too.”


I am very humbled and honored to share this information about Ann. She is truly a wonderful and caring person that also was one of the few journalists that actually cared during a family trauma when I had the chance to first meet her. She was uniquely special as a journalist then and still is. Check out Ann Nyberg’s Network Connecticut – it is worth the click.


















Still a Silver Lining in the Silver City


By Joshua P. Davenport


Although Meriden may not be the oldest, richest, or most famous city in Connecticut, its charm and natural beauty make up for the areas in which it lacks. Those unfamiliar with the city’s delightful qualities just do not know what they are missing.


Meriden resident William Passarelli, 21, is a lifeguard at the local YMCA and has lived in Meriden all his life. When asked why he enjoys living there, Passarelli was quick to respond. “I love Meriden because of Hubbard Park, the old cemeteries, and the [historical] architecture downtown,” he said.


Twenty-one year old Melissa Neville, also born and bred in Meriden, had no trouble conveying her fondness for the city either. “I love to go hiking in Giuffrida Park, because it has beautiful views,” she said, “and I love that Meriden has its own chocolate factory.”


Indeed, even though Meriden encompasses only 24.1 sq. miles, the city has a lot to offer its more than 59,000 residents. In all, Meriden has 26 public parks which combined equal 17.6% of its total land area, more than any other city in New England.


Of course, like any city, Meriden does have its drawbacks. Neville, a salesperson at a toy store in the Meriden mall, said that [despite the variety of activities the city offers] “Meriden can seem a bit small sometimes, which makes me want to get out and travel.” William Passarelli, however, voiced concerns of a different nature saying he dislikes “getting caught downtown after dark due to the unsavory crowds that hang out at night.”


Still, taking everything into account, Passarelli declared that he would eventually like to settle down in Meriden. “I might not work in Meriden,” Passarelli stated, “but I couldn’t stand to be alone and away from my friends and family.” After college, Melissa Neville said she “would like to travel to Nova Scotia and Europe,” but made it clear that Meriden would always be her home.


In addition to the plentiful amount of public park space, the city is home to Hunter’s Golf Course, which is one of the best courses in New England as well as the aforementioned Thompson Candy shop. Furthermore, one cannot talk about Meriden without mentioning the annual Daffodil Festival, which draws people from all over New England. Over 600,000 daffodils are in bloom during the month of April. Visitors come to view the daffodils, enjoy the concerts, eat at the food tent, buy crafts, and have fun on the carnival rides.


Known as “The Silver City of the World,” Meriden did not gain its nickname until the manufacturing boom of the 1800s, when the city manufactured cutlery and various other products.


Settled by colonists in the mid-1600s, Meriden was originally a part of the town of Wallingford but became an independent town in 1806. It was not until 1867, however, that Meriden was officially established as a city.


http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3188&q=392434


2 http://www.cityofmeriden.org/CMS/default.asp?CMS_PageID=425


3 http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3188&q=392434


3 http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3188&q=392434


4 http://www.cityofmeriden.org/CMS/default.asp?CMS_PageID=151


5 http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3188&q=392434










In the Shade of the Old Oak Tree


Sweat, and lots of it was oozing from my pores. It was hot enough to fry an egg in the palm of my hand. There seems to always be things needing attention and on this day I was replacing a few rotted posts for an elderly neighbor. I had been at it for a couple of hours under the hot sun maybe pushing myself a bit too much. It was definitely time for a break. At the back of the house I found a plastic cup and headed for the water spigot. My cup now full to the rim it was time to find a shady spot to cool off for a spell. I reckon it was a hundred yards or so away that I noticed a solitary oak tree just out on the edge of the corn fields. That, I decided, would be my spot to find comfort. By the time I reached the tree I was feeling just a might woozy and glad to finally plant my butt in amongst some roots at its base. Slowly I eased my head back into the firm bark of the tree and closed my eyes.


Moments later my eyes opened, staring up into the many branches and leaves. A slight glimpse of sunlight glittering through was now welcomed as I was enjoying the magnificence of a tree that had obviously been around for many generations. It was strong but even this fine oak was showing signs of the ages. My eyes slowly drifted back down to earth as I reached for a cool sip of my water. Then I began to twittle. Twittle, a strange word I reckon that means you get just a tad busy doing nothing at all and in this case my I found my fingers rummaging through a pile of leaves. Even my mouth twittles on occasion and this held true as I placed a stick of straw into my teeth and held it there. As my hands continued I noticed a slightly larger pile of leaves and ran my fingers underneath feeling a slightly cooler temperature. My fingers then found what I thought was just a small stick but upon further twittling realized that it was a small oak, only protruding a few inches from the soil. It had been bent over and had been starving for fresh air and sunshine. Gently I pulled the leaves back and restored this little one to its natural position. The soil was dry and it had been quite some time since we had received any much needed rain. I crawled just a few feet away and grasped my cup of water. I knew this little oak could use it as much as I had only moments earlier. The soil actually made faint crackling sounds as the moisture was absorbed. As I poured what I knew would be the gift of life a warm feeling came over me. Then once again I drifted myself back into my own comfort leaning against the strength of the large oak. I would close my eyes for a moment or so.


Then, like a strong jolt of an earthquake I was startled. I had only fallen a mere two inches from a root but darned if it didn't smart a bit on my rear end. I had been jolted by the voice of a stranger. Never had I felt this much from a kind greeting such as "Howdy". He gave a slight chuckle as I tried now to wriggle my way into a sitting position amongst the roots of the tree. Upon finally gaining my composure I gave him a reply of "Howdy, back atcha". This response in these parts is kinda customary just meaning that we both recognize each other's presence in a kindly fashion.


My eyes were still getting focused from my snooze as I looked up at him. He was tall in stature and maybe just a bit on the thin side. The clothes he wore were a bit raggedy to look at but not too bad for someone who might have limited means. Besides, ain't nothing wrong with a hard working gent having a few holes ifn's they are all in appropriate places. I could tell he had some age behind him even through the thick beard of grey that he wore. What I saw next was his shoes which seemed a bit odd. The shoes were in good enough shape but they were mismatched. One shoe was showing its natural light grey coloring while the other was a solid pitch black and riding much higher up his leg. In a much softer voice now than the one that had awakened me he asked politely "Have you got a cool drink for a stranger?" Instinctively I reached for my cup of water but before I could turn completely I remembered that I had drank about half and poured the rest on the little oak tree. My hand continued towards the cup and my eyes finally caught up. To my astonishment this same cup, that I'm sure was empty moments before, was now slightly more than half full. I only paused for a second or two, figuring that the heat of the day had somehow played a trick on me, and handed the gentleman my cup of water. In a few short gulps his thirst was quenched and a response of being much obliged was given. He then asked if he could have a seat at the tree to rest his tired old feet. I let him know quickly that he was more than welcome to join me. As he sat down I looked towards the gate at the front of the yard that I was still planning on tending to. I thought to myself that I would get to it soon enough. It was still time to sit for a short spell. As I eased my way to my comfy root to sit something caught my attention. Dang if I didn't almost sit down on a beautiful green grasshopper. With cupped hands I reached out and gently gathered it into my hands. The words came out of my mouth to the little grasshopper in my own apologies of disturbing him as I placed it on a lower branch of the tree. Such a wonderful little creature and they always make me take the special time to watch and appreciate.


A moment later I turned back towards the stranger and sat down. There was a strange look on his face now as he looked me in the eyes. I had seen that look before and half expected the question that was coming. He glanced towards the little oak and then nodded with a slight rising of his brow in the direction of the grasshopper and the question came. "Are you one of them animal nature nuts?" My normal response to such a thing would be very short but something startling happened before I could begin my reply. The last ten years of my life flashed before me freezing my mouth even from twittling. I was remembering every creature, from the largest to the smallest that had entered into my life. Vivid images came to me of when I had nourished plants and relived my anger of watching some of our breathtaking surroundings destroyed for development. So many little ones have entered my life. The flashback that I was encountering was intense and very difficult to handle. It only lasted for a brief moment but left me drained.


My head once again found the comfort of the proud tree that was supporting me. In a soft voice I gave the gentleman my reply. "Yes Sir, some might would classify me as one of those animal nature nuts that you hear about." Still drained from my flashback I reached for my cup of water to cleanse a dry throat and drank. After only a sip, water embarrassingly came spitting from my mouth. I apologized to the stranger for my behavior but I knew, I just knew that this cup had been emptied moments earlier. Gotta be the heat and that weird flashback thing that just happened was all that I could figure. My eyes once again turned to the stranger and I saw those same questioning eyes. "What makes you into such a person, this animal and nature lover that you have become" he asked. My reply to this would not come easy. It's that same question that I have asked my own self for years. Some answers are so difficult to put into words and this has always been most difficult. I'm not sure why but I felt a comfort sitting with this stranger. He reminded me of my father who passed on only a few years back. It was something in his eyes that made me decide to come up with an answer to his question. I stated to him that it might take a while with my explanation of why my feelings are so strong. I asked if he had time to listen. Seemingly in the voice of a father to a son he said "Son, I have all the time in the world to spend with you". His eyes changed now and the look told me that he was ready to listen and intent on hearing the answer. With a deep exhale I searched for the words.


It was ten years ago that my own story began. Although I had a fondness for some animals by no sense of the word could I have been called an animal or nature lover. Sure, I had pets in my life at times but they were easy to care for. We bonded just as any other people who would own pets would do. I gave to them at my convenience and enjoyed having them. I also grieved with any loss of a pet that I "owned". Any animal other than a pet had little purpose for me to care deeply about. I was busy, wrapped up in my own world. I enjoyed many pleasures in life, most being selfish and materialistic but I was content, or so I fooled myself into believing. I had no idea that there was another side of life or the deep emotions that could come with it. I do feel that I was a giving person but sometimes I wonder if even in those times that it was done at my own convenience. I enjoyed attention such as when showing off a new car or a new boat or anything that would draw special attention. In a way, that's what may have brought me into the wonderful world that I now live in. A new pet, something exotic, something unique would be really exciting and different. A little skunk entered my life.


This is when my eyes looked up at the stranger. The mention of having a skunk as a pet usually catches folks off guard which is continued by a crazed look on their faces. What I had said to him had no effect, only a slight lean forward to listen further so I continued. My first thoughts were how cool it was to have such a different type of animal for a pet. But, nobody told me beforehand just how different it could be. The little skunk was downright cute! His antics were totally different than anything I could have ever imagined. I showed him off every chance I got to everyone, so proud to have something so different. But through all of this I was learning about a different type of care that I must give. The little skunk was not as easy to care for as a dog or a cat. It required special diets. Preparing its meal wasn't as easy as sitting down a bowl of cat food or dog food. I quickly learned too about the attention my little skunk required. This was no animal that liked to be left alone and it would require much time to mold its personality. I too, was realizing that this was a different type of animal that what I had been accustomed to and plenty of patience was required. This would require sacrifices like I had never before given to anyone or anything else in my life. These things I gave and I noticed with each little bit I could sense a closeness forming between us. There was a training happening and not only was the skunk being trained but I was being trained as well. I look back on this now and know how love is formed. Each day I learned more about giving and learned that by doing so another can give back freely in return. We all long for that feeling of loving warmth and acceptance. It's an unconditional love that can more easily be found in animals. Animals live their lives striving for warmth and security and we as humans are the same way.


The truest feelings of love had crept up on me and this was realized a short time later. At this point a tear came to my eyes in remembering my little skunk. There was a time in my life that my tears were hidden but I had grown to be proud of them, never again feeling a need to hold them back. I was reliving the most difficult day of my life. A hand from the stranger found my shoulder which brought me great comfort. Somehow he knew the tremendous amount of sorrow that I felt and live with each day. With his hand still resting upon my shoulder I continued. My life had been changed by, of all things, a little skunk. Through this little one I had learned the value of life and how precious each breath we take can be. Love is a teaching experience that I feel every day. Through many years now, I’ve learned it from other animals, large and small, each being unique in its own special ways. I've nurtured through injury and sickness and I've felt unsurpassable joy in releasing many others back to where God intended. Each of these little ones have left an impression in my life, a warmth that is indescribable.


My head now once again leaned back and found the strength of the great oak tree that held me secure and my eyes closed only for a brief second. I had found in myself the meaning of love. The words that I speak could never describe the emotions in my heart. I opened my eyes and glanced over to the young sapling of the oak tree and thought of the wee little grasshopper. All aspects of nature have given meaning to my life. My eyes then turned towards the stranger, the one who had been so intent on listening. In complete silence he had left me. My eyes searched the yard and even out into the corn fields but he was not to be seen. I had enjoyed my chat with him, although I was the one who seemed to have done most of the talking. He had left me without so much as a simple goodbye. One last swallow of water I thought and I would head back to my task at the gate. I reached down amongst the roots to retrieve the cup and was flabbergasted. Sitting with a balance that only a little one such as this could muster, a chittery little fella rested on the brim of the cup. It was a grey squirrel taking one drink after another.


By now seeing this cup each time filled slightly over halfway with water, I was not surprised. I would think heavily about it later for sure. After a moment or so the little squirrel seemed to have his fill, turned his back to me, and after a few twitches of the tail he scurried up the oak tree. I would remember this little one throughout my entire life for he had a distinct feature about him. His front paw held a marking that brought those tiny little bumps to my skin, something unique that will always have a special place in my memories. One little black paw riding high on a leg. I lost sight of the little fella high up in the leaves but it wasn't due to a lack of trying to keep up with him.


Howdy! I danged near jumped from my skin as I heard the voice behind me. It was my neighbor and although pleased to hear his voice it was getting a bit late in the day and I knew his gate still needed attention. "Thank you, thank you, thank you" rang out in his voice. He hurriedly pulled me by the arm and we headed towards his gate. Just before I could spit out my apologies for being so lax I saw it. To my knees I went staring in disbelief. My neighbor swung the gate open and closed it back and forth, over and over again. A fresh coat of grey paint covered its exterior along with, you guessed it, one lone picket on the end painted black. "How can I ever repay you for such kindness" he asked me. Under normal circumstances my reply would have been nothing, nothing at all, but I gave thought for a quick second or two. I did have one thing that I desired.


On the mantle above my fireplace rests something of a reminder of a day that I'll never forget. To some it may look out of place, just a dirty old cup, but to me it's a symbol of all of the wonderful things in our world to appreciate. There's a love surrounding that cup, one that I can never quite find the right words in describing.


To this day, my cup is always slightly more than half full. It's been I reckon about twenty years since that day under the oak and I still stroll past from time to time especially in those hot days of summer. The mighty oak tree is still lending its shade to those who would venture underneath. A somewhat younger tree rests too, seemingly cradled in its branches, and there's an old tire hanging from a rope beneath it. I kinda reckon we've got some new neighbors with kids. And danged if I don't see an old gate needing just a wee bit of attention.


Unkie Milt






Home Country


Slim Randles






We got a spring morning visit from the local art teacher, Janice Thompson. She’s the one who couldn’t get accepted into the regional art shows with her own work until she loaded a twelve gauge shotgun with paint pellets and blasted a sheet of plywood. She says she invented the “ballistic” school of art.


So in she came the other day, sauntering up to the philosophy counter at the Mule Barn truck stop and ordering coffee. She brought her own mouthwash-flavored cream stuff for it. We who regularly meet for summit conferences here at the world dilemma think tank are always grateful for these visits from Janice, because we like to see whether our ideas run in double harness with avant garde thinking. Avant garde, of course, is French for “putting on airs.”


“Boys,” she said, “it is an overwhelming pleasure to see you gathered here again within these hallowed halls to welcome the onset of spring. We haven’t seen this much philosophical talent gathered here since … yesterday?”


“That’d be about right, Janice,” said Doc. Doc is our unofficial leader because he has lots of initials after his name and he can cut people open and fix them.


“Yep,” she said. “Today I rake my leaves.”


“Little late on that, aren’t you?” Dud asked.


“Nope,” she said. “Just right.”


She took a sip and turned to us, focusing her avant gardity on us like a laser.


“Most of us rake leaves in the fall, right?”


A general nodding.


“And then we go out and buy mulch to put around the tender shoots coming up from below to protect them from snow, right? And then in the spring we rake away some of the mulch to allow sunshine in, right?”


More nodding.


“Well, I let the fall leaves do the mulching and only rake once a year. The way everyone else does it is like that silly woman I met who paid $30 to get her poodle clipped and then bought him a $40 sweater to keep him warm.”


I guess there’s a reason we have artists in this world.


Brought to you by Slim Randles’s outdoor memoirs, Sweetgrass Mornings, available at www.slimrandles.com.










SNOW DAZE...


by Sandy Naumenko






January 12, 2011 Snow Day #1






6:00am: check TV, school closed, YAY!, back to bed


8:00am: kids wake up, school closed, YAY!!


8:30am: breakfast in pj's, cartoons on TV


11:00am: put on snow clothes, outside to shovel and play


12:30pm: lunch


1:00pm: first fight between kids over what video to watch


4:00pm: back outside to play


6:00pm: dinner


7:00pm: second fight between kids over which video to watch


9:00pm: bedtime






January 13, 2011 Snow Day #2






6:00am: check TV, school closed, oh no! back to bed


6:30am: kids up


6:45am: first fight between kids over which cartoon to watch


7:00am: breakfast


7:15am: second fight between kids over rest of cereal


7:30am: kids sent to rooms over fight about cereal


9:30am: kids take out all old blocks from containers, can't see living room floor


10:30am: "Mom, I want lunch!"


10:31am: kids sent outside to play in snow


12:00pm: lunch


4:00pm: mom watching Oprah with barricaded bedroom door


5:00pm: "did you do your homework?"


6:30pm: dinner


7:00pm: "Go practice your saxophone!"


7:10pm: "Go practice your saxophone!"


7:20pm: "GO PRACTICE YOUR SAXOPHONE!"


7:30pm: mom watching "Access Hollywood" with barricaded bedroom door


8:00pm: bedtime






January 21, 2011 Snow Day #3






6:00am: check TV, no school, Oh God, NOOOOO!


7:00am: mom watching "Today," all 4 hours, with barricaded bedroom door


11:00am: kids still in pj's, haven't eaten, don't know where bowls are


12:00pm: kids sent to shovel driveway


12:17pm: shoveling too difficult, back in to watch 7 hours of Nickelodeon


7:00pm: dinner


7:30pm: bedtime






January 27, 2011 Snow Day #4






6:00am: NOT AGAIN!!!!!


7:15am: breakfast


7:30am: mom on computer checking real estate in The Bahamas


9:00am: mom shovels driveway, sidewalk,


12:00pm: mom collapses in exhaustion


12:05pm: "Mom, can you bake those cookies?"


12:06pm: kids sent outside to play, mom barricades door


2:00pm: kids knocking on door, mom hiding under blankets


3:00pm: mom relents, lets kids in, but they must be silent


6:30pm: dinner


6:45pm: bedtime






February 1, 2011 Snow Day #5






6:00am: HELP!!


7:00am: Legos overtake downstairs


8:00am: Barbie army fights WWE wrestlers on new couch


9:00am: Mom goes to get firewood, falls through 4 feet of snow


10:00am: "Mom? Where are you?"


12:00pm: kids make lunch, kitchen destroyed


3:00pm: "Did you do your homework?"


4:00pm: Mom recovers, hacks away at ice for 2 hours


5:00pm: dinner


5:30pm: bedtime






February 2, 2011 Snow Day #6






6:00am: we'll be in school until July


7:00am: kids pull out farm and animals, construction trucks, puzzles, Bingo,


bouncy balls, and all Happy Meal Toys from the last 6 years


7:15am: mom goes to car to read


12:00pm: mom comes back in, hungry; lunch


3:00pm: fight over toys


3:30pm: fight over markers


3:45pm: fight over blankets


4:00pm: fight over breathing


4:15pm: dinner


4:30pm: bedtime














“FM” - A Mystery


By Sara E. Booker


“Turn the radio off!” Connor demanded.


“Since when do you not want music on?” asked his girlfriend Amanda. “I thought you were the biggest music fan on the planet.”


“I am the biggest music fan on the planet. But I’m sick of all the chit chat.”


It was Halloween at Amanda’s house. Orange and black streamers twisted and dipped across the ceiling. The kitchen counter was lined with steaming entrees and themed side dishes.


Connor had fallen at a Halloween party the night before while doing the limbo and his ankle was wrapped in a tight bandage. It didn’t look broken, so the party hostess did the best job she could of keeping his leg from wobbling. He was hobbling from the kitchen to the living room on crutches to Amanda’s couch.


“Somebody on the radio knows about my MyZone web page. They are playing all the songs that I shared with my friends and talking about my interests. It all started last night.”


“That’s called coincidence my dear.” Amanda was spooning her Blackened Chicken dish into an orange bowl.


“This is no coincidence. Don’t you think I’m smart enough to know the difference? People know about me now somehow. I never gave any strangers permission to look at my page. I thought I had it set to private. But apparently it got out there. Now I feel like I’m famous. Locally anyway. Or infamous. It’s hard to tell. But all I know is that I don’t like it.”


“Are you sure you didn’t bump your head when you fell?” Amanda was in another room at the party last night piling her plate with appetizers when Connor took the tumble.


“No, I just sprained my ankle. Don’t patronize me.”


“Well, you have to imagine yourself in my shoes. This sounds ridiculous, like some kind of conspiracy theory…”


“Ouch! Ice my ankle!” Connor interrupted, jerking his leg. “And then do the heating pad thing!” Amanda went to grab an ice pack. “And I need a plate of food, STAT! I want that Burnt Chicken or whatever you call it. Just make sure you put enough onions and green peppers in it. And sauce. A lot of flavor to cover up what’s burnt.”


“It’s not Burnt Chicken. It’s Blackened Chicken. There is a difference. What are you trying to imply about my cooking skills?”


“Nothing. Just give it here. And don’t go easy on the salt and pepper. Oh and get me some orange juice. And a piece of that Italian bread. Don’t skimp on the butter. Real butter, not margarine. And then can you dim the lights in here? The lights are really annoying. Halloween’s supposed to be spooky anyway.”


“Who do you think you are?” Amanda snapped, throwing a pot holder down on the counter. “Just because you have a bandage on your ankle and need to be waited on doesn’t give you the right to act like a spoiled celebrity. Next you’ll be telling me to pick the green M&M’s out of the bag and hand feed them to you.”


“Maybe somebody will come and interview me today,” Connor said looking out the window.


“I have no idea what you are talking about.”


“Oh really? I find that hard to believe.” Connor slowly hobbled down the steps of Amanda’s raised ranch with his crutches, sighing all the while, and then slammed the front door. He was having a cigarette on Amanda’s front steps when he started to wonder if he was going mad. Could all the stuff the DJs were saying on the radio be just a coincidence? Or had he officially gone off the deep end? Was he delusional?


After the cigarette he returned. “The least you could do is tell me the truth. I know you listen to the same station that I do and you were always on my MyZone page. I don’t understand how you could hear what I hear and not make a connection. I’m not saying all this stuff because I need attention. As a matter of fact, I don’t want fame or infamy, especially if I can’t tell if it’s real or in my head.”


Amanda shook her head. “I am telling the truth. You’re scaring me. I’ve never seen you act like this before. Until I am provided with some evidence of this radio phenomenon that you speak of I am going to have to keep telling myself that you must have hit your head but you don’t remember.”


“On the drive over here they were playing a ton of songs that I put on my MyZone page. “


“Big deal. You deleted your MyZone page. Are you saying some radio station made a list of all your favorite songs that you put on your web page? Where do you think you first heard those songs? Why, on the radio, of course. I make realistic connections. You connect dots that aren’t there.”


Connor shook his head in frustration and wolfed down a Reese Peanut Buttercup that he had grabbed out of a plastic orange grinning pumpkin that sat on the coffee table. “That’s it. I’m leaving. I can’t sit in a house where the occupant thinks I’m crazy. Take me home.”


“I’m not leaving you alone tonight,” said Amanda. “If you want to go back to your place I will hang out with you. I’ll just turn the lights off here and we’ll pass out the candy at your house.”


On the drive home more songs from his webpage were playing. He pointed them out to Amanda.


“Those songs always were on that station and always will be on that station.”


“But five in a row?”


“Not strange at all,” said Amanda. “Especially considering the fact that you played about five hundred on your page.”


“And this one goes out to Connor,” said the DJ as they pulled into his driveway.


“Did you just hear what she said?” Connor shrieked.


“Yes. Big deal. You aren’t the only Connor in the world.”


“My name is not that common. And this is a song I played on my page.”


“Who cares about your stupid defunct web page? It’s your head I’m worried about!” Amanda screamed. She pounded her fists on the dashboard.


“So you really think all these things I’ve heard are the products of paranoia? Well then fine. I’m officially paranoid and delusional. And I’m officially done with technology. I feel like my headspace has been pirated. I’m never going on a social website again. I’m unsubscribing from the internet and cable as soon as I get in the door. To save whatever sanity I have left. And no more radio. I’m going to live like a Transcendentalist like it’s the 1800s for now on. I’ll go live in a forest or near a pond or something like Whitman or Thoreau or one of those guys did. I don’t need technology. I don’t need society. And I don’t need you.” He got his crutches out of the car, slowly stood up and slammed the car door. Too slowly for it to be the dramatic departure he wanted. Heather drove away.


Connor turned the lights off that night. He didn’t want to hobble down the stairs to give out candy.


A day later the internet and cable were disconnected. Connor’s world was quiet. He began to notice things that he hadn’t noticed in years, like the way the sun lit up the bark on the oak tree outside. The way shadows on the carpet got bigger and smaller depending on which way he moved. But mostly he noticed how lonely he was without Amanda.


He couldn’t call her. He broke up with her. It would wound his ego to go cowering back. After all, Amanda implied that she thought something was wrong with his mind.


In the past when he would break up with a girl he would turn on the radio for comfort. Depending on where he was in his grieving process happy or sad songs could comfort him. But he didn’t want to turn on the radio because it was all that chit chat about him that caused this whole problem in the first place. He didn’t want to remove the radio from his car because he had no idea how to do that. So he fought turning on the tunes like a dieter fights to abstain from extra calories.


About two days later Connor was curious. He went out to smoke a cigarette in his car which sat in his driveway.


“This one goes out to Connor.” It was another song that he had put on his social networking page. The next song was also dedicated to Connor. And then the next song. And then the one after that.


Connor tried to remain calm. He could not believe that this was happening. He looked around the street and up in the sky, not sure what he was looking for. He felt like he was being watched, or stalked or spied on. He felt violated.


He pulled another cigarette out of his pack and then another. He was chain smoking even though he was trying to quit. “All Connor all the time”, the radio jingle sang.


“This next song is going out to Connor,” the DJ said after the commercial. “What a big surprise! Like that doesn’t happen all day long here at WKRQ!”


This was beyond surreal. Connor grabbed his cell phone. Who should he call? The police? No. What would he say? That a radio station is stalking his brain? They’d put him away. Should he call Amanda? No. She already thought he was nutty enough. She probably won’t even want to talk to him. He scared and hurt her too much.


But he had to talk to Amanda. She was all he had in the world. He called her. It rang and rang. He forgot about caller ID. He should have blocked his number. He placed a second call with his number blocked. No answer. He placed four more calls both with and without his number blocked. He got nothing but her voice on her voicemail. He never realized how nice her voice sounded until now.


When the next song ended the DJ said that she was taking requests and gave the station’s number. Connor thought about confronting the DJ and asking who she was and how she knew all his favorite songs and how she knew his name. How did she get a hold of his MyZone page? He had no friends that were DJs.


The station phone rang. At the last second he decided not to be confrontational. That’s all he needed…to exacerbate this real or surreal problem.


“What can I play for you tonight?” asked the DJ.


“Play the song Amanda.”


“Who is this?” the DJ asked.


“This is Anonymous.”


“Okay, Anonymous. Maybe we will play that song maybe we won’t. Depends on what we have in our inventory. Tell us….what’s the radio station that plays all your favorite songs?”


“WKRQ,” Connor said, listlessly. He hoped that they would play the song and that Amanda would be listening. Maybe then she’d answer her phone.


Connor stayed in his car for another two hours. But the song was never played. Freezing, he decided to go in the house.


He couldn’t sleep. It was too early to sleep anyway. It was only five o’clock in the afternoon. He kept dialing Amanda. No answer.


He decided to request the song on Amanda’s other favorite radio station. This time he gave his name. The song played within ten minutes. Within fifteen minutes his phone rang.


“That was sweet,” she said when he picked up.


“Amanda!” Connor yelled into the phone. “I’m so sorry about everything. Please turn on WKRQ.”


“What?”


“Wait until the song ends. It’s almost at the end. You’ll see what I’m talking about. They will dedicate the next song to me. They’ve been doing it all day.”


“What are you talking about?” Amanda asked. “The song just started.”


“Huh? It’s at the last chorus,” said Connor.


“They’re playing Spirit of the Radio by Rush,” said Amanda. “It just started.”


“No. They’re playing FM by Steely Dan. You must have the wrong station.” Connor bit his lip and felt his heart palpitate more forcefully.


“No , you must have the wrong station,” said Amanda.


“WKRQ,” his radio said. “All Connor all the time.”


“Did you just hear them say my name?”


“The song is still playing. You’re not making sense.”


“Help me,” Connor whispered into the phone in a low voice. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t tell anybody else about this. They won’t understand. Something is seriously wrong. If you ever loved me then help me through this. I was wrong to break up with you.”


“I’ll be right over,” said Amanda. “In the meantime just calm down. Turn the radio off.”


“Okay.” Connor fumbled to get his keys out of the ignition. He then hobbled on his crutches to the front steps and stared at the oak tree. He saw Amanda’s car after about twenty minutes.


“I just realized something,” she said as she got out of her car. She grabbed Connor’s keys out of his jacket pocket.


“What?”


“That you’re not the one who’s acting nutty.” She unlocked his car and turned his ignition.


“This one goes out to Connor,” Connor’s radio said.


“What is going on?” asked Connor. “I am freaking out.”


“Let me see your cell phone,” said Amanda. “The song changed right in the middle when I got closer to your house.”


Later that day Connor and Amanda spotted a couple of vans with antennas driving by.


“I get the feeling that my radio show is coming to a close,” said the DJ. “I see the vans with antennas acting like they don’t sense me. I’m sure they can hear me right now. Pretty good for an amateur, eh? No static baby. None at all. In case you are listening Connor and wondering who I am, I’m one of your MyZone friends. I never commented on your page because you never commented on mine. You probably didn’t even notice I was there. I requested that we be friends on the website and you accepted me, even though I was just a friend of a friend. I met you in passing at a party once years ago. But I got to know you very, very well by checking out your MyZone page. And well, I like you. Or maybe like isn’t the appropriate word.”


“I’m sorry I thought that you were the one who had lost it,” said Amanda, nodding at the radio. “She must have turned the signal down so that her broadcast did not stretch that far from your house.”


“I don’t know who this person is,” said Connor.


“I bet you still don’t know who this is,” said the DJ, as if she really could read his mind. “Maybe if you had ever visited my profile you would have learned that I was a ham radio operator. But you never cared to visit my profile. I thought we were friends? I guess I was wrong.”


“Well, I’m glad I didn’t get to know her better,” said Connor. “She’s literally intrusive.”


“Then why did you accept her as a friend?” asked Amanda.


“Probably because she asked? I didn’t think people I hardly knew would care about my page since they don’t know me.”


“I think you need to be more careful. With decisions in general. I think your mind needs to tune in better. Too much static.” Amanda looked down at the bandage on his ankle.


“Maybe so. Needless to say I feel sorry for her. She’s obviously got major issues.”


“Surprisingly I feel bad for her too,” said Amanda. “But that doesn’t mean that justice shouldn’t be served. Let’s keep this in perspective. She was making you think you were losing it.”


“I guess you could say that I became obsessed with you Connor,” the DJ continued. “But then you just pulled the plug on your MyZone page. What did you expect me to do but want to get back in touch with you?”


“A simple phone call would have been much more practical,” said Amanda.


“And now I might be fined. Or go to jail. Or both. I was wrong to commit radio piracy. But you were wrong to let me think I was your friend when I wasn’t.”


“She’s right you know. For now on, I will only have friends that I know. He put his hand on Amanda’s forearm. She smiled at him.


That evening the mystery DJ’s show faded out. The real WKRQ came back in.


“Alright we’re taking requests here,” said the real DJ. “What can I play for you tonight?”


“Can you please play I Need You for Amanda from Connor?”






SOCIAL SECURITY’S FINAL FOUR


By Paul Gilfillan


Social Security Manager, Meriden Ct


This time of year basketball fans are gearing up for March Madness -- a time when the final four teams in the NCAA fight for the title of national champion. While basketball fans are excited about March Madness, Social Security already has a winning “final four” of online services to cheer about: the Retirement Estimator, Benefit Application, online Extra Help application, and Business Services Online.


The Retirement Estimator is an easy way to get an instant, personalized estimate of your future Social Security benefits. Just key in some basic information and the Estimator will use information on your Social Security record, along with what you input, to give you a benefit estimate on the spot. You even can experiment with different scenarios, such as changing your future earnings and retirement date. Check it out in English at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator or in Spanish at www.segurosocial.gov/calculador.


The Benefit Application is the most convenient way to apply for Social Security retirement benefits. You can apply from the comfort of your home — it’s fast, easy, and secure. It’s so easy, in fact, that it can take you as little as 15 minutes to apply online. In most cases, once your application is submitted electronically, you’re done. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if any further information is needed. Try it out when you’re ready to retire at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.


The online Extra Help application is an easy way to save about $4,000 a year on your prescription drug costs. To qualify for the Extra Help, you must be on Medicare, have limited income and resources, and live in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Learn more about it at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp.


Business Services Online is our one-stop shop for small businesses. The site allows organizations and authorized individuals to conduct business with and submit confidential information to Social Security. You even can use it to file your W-2s the fast, convenient, and paperless way — online. Visit Business Services Online at www.socialsecurity.gov/bso.


In the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Social Security received the highest ratings in both the public and private sectors.


To learn more about our winning services, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. Or, read our publication What You Can Do Online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10121.html.


Get to know our final four, and all of our online services. When you do, you will be the winner.










LIONS and TIGERS and TEENS


When teens are home alone


So your kids have reached their teen years and there is no longer a need for babysitters. You are thinking that you can finally go out on a worry-free “date” with your spouse. There is no babysitter to drive home and you can actually linger over coffee.


Think again! Are you really relaxing with your teen home alone? Teens are unpredictable and don’t always think things through. Even for those who don’t have bad intentions, things can go awry. I’ll never forget the time my neighbor invited a couple of friends over when her parents were away. Before she knew it, three friends turned into sixty teens bound and determined to have a good time. Things got out of hand – no surprise.


With teens the issue is not “can” they be home alone, but “should” they be home alone. This depends on your teen’s level of maturity and history with following rules and making good choices.


Gray Areas


What is an appropriate length of time to leave a teen home alone and does this depend on age? Steven L. Pastyrnak, Ph.D., division chief, Pediatric Psychology at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI, says, “It depends on their maturity level and their previous track record more so than their age. A teen who has a history of not listening and making impulsive decisions may not do well with being home alone for more than an hour or two, if they can handle that time alone at all. The best way to predict future behavior is by considering past behavior.”


For concerned parents who are not sure how their teen will handle alone time, it’s good to start slowly. Dr. Pastyrnak suggests, “Sometimes teens can benefit from several dry runs in which parents leave them home alone for short periods and then gradually work up to longer time periods as trust is developed.”


The Rules


Be sure you’ve gone over all rules associated with this responsibility. Don’t assume he knows what is expected. Be honest with your teen about “why” your rules are important. Teens might be skeptical about the “Because I said so” reason.


Pastyrnak advises, “When home alone, it is important for teens to learn to be safe, to learn to be independent and to take advantage of the opportunity to build their parent’s trust. It’s also important for teens to continue to follow household rules. These might include computer use, telephone access, and having friends over past a certain time.”


Should teens be able to have a friend of the opposite sex over? Pastyrnak cautions, “This depends on the values of both sets of parents as well as the previous history of the teens. If you feel that the teens can handle this time without supervision, it is still important to discuss your expectations of them and to clear this with the other parents in order to avoid any potential hard feelings.”


Be sure you can reach your teen at all times. “With today’s technology, teens can check in with their parents with a quick text or phone call,” Pastyrnak says.


Checking Up


If your teenager has consistently demonstrated mature decision making, trust that she will make the right choices if she is left alone. Pastyrnak believes that in order to develop a sense of trust within the household, parents should assume that their kids are innocent until proven guilty. He explains, “Part of growing up is learning how to be independent and to take care of oneself, even when nobody is watching.” However, teens should also be aware that there will be strict consequences if they break the rules. Consequences might include losing driving privileges or restrictions on cell phone use.


For parents seeking extra insurance, especially with younger teens, consider asking a close friend or neighbor to check in if you plan to be away for several hours. However, resorting to setting up hidden cameras might be going overboard. If you feel the need to set up a camera, maybe she shouldn’t be left alone.


Pastyrnak agrees. “Although teens may have a tendency to test limits and rebel, they need opportunities to prove themselves and to learn important life skills. If they were to find out about a hidden camera, it might damage their trust of their parents.” Pastyrnak believes that the tangled road to independence has its benefits. “The more teens develop a sense of healthy independence, the more likely they will take ownership of their decisions.”


TIPS AND TALES


“Keep them busy with organized activities and sports. Idle time for teens is a bad recipe.” - Al Glaeser


“I checked in frequently and continue to do so. Try to raise a "trustworthy" kid. That's half the battle.” - Lee Ann Fatizzi


Want to share your ideas? Upcoming topic:


Ideas for summer internships for teens Please send your full name, address, and brief comments to: myrnahaskell@gmail.com or visit: www.myrnahaskell.com


Author Bio: Myrna Beth Haskell is a feature writer and columnist specializing in parenting issues and children’s and adolescents’ development. Her work appears in publications across the United States and Canada. She is the mother of two teenagers.














2011 is the Year of the Turtle


Life along the Q River… An Update from the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association


By JoAnne Grabinski


Turtles are in trouble. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes that 47% of all living turtle species as threatened. That’s why the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is working in conjunction with Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) who has proclaimed 2011 as the “Year of the Turtle”.


Humans cause the largest harm to turtle populations, but we have the power to make positive changes toward turtle survival. The largest threats to turtle populations include: habitat loss and degradation; overharvest of wild turtles for food, traditional medicines, and pets; mortality from roads, agricultural machinery, fishing bycatch, and predators; exotic invasive species and diseases; loss of unique genetic make-up due to hybridization; and climate change.


Currently, 328 species of turtles are known worldwide -- 57 (20% of the world's turtle species) are found in the United States and Canada. The United States has more native turtle species than any other country; and it is a turtle biodiversity hotspot. Connecticut is host to twelve turtle species including 4 sea turtles. Seven of these turtles are currently on the state's List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species.


Careful stewardship and conservation action can successfully slow or reduce the declining trend of turtles. Because turtles can respond well to population management and conservation, it is not too late to preserve our turtle heritage. Three basic approaches for species conservation include: 1) protecting rare species and their habitats; 2) managing common turtle species and their habitats so that they remain common; and 3) managing crisis situations, such as species in peril from acute hazards, such as oil spills.


Turtles (which include tortoises) occur in fresh water, salt water, and on land. Their shells make them some of the most distinctive animals on Earth. Turtles are typically slow creatures. This isn’t limited to their speed; they also grow slowly. It may take 10-15 years before individuals of some species can reproduce. A thriving turtle population relies on turtles surviving many years, if not decades. But if a population loses adults and begins to decline, a slow recovery can be expected. Because of these “slow” characteristics, the primary threats to turtles are intensified.


The QRWA has an ongoing Turtle Crossing Project spearheaded by board member Deb Mason. She and her volunteers actively assist turtles in crossing the road during their mating season of May and June, which can be a time of high mortality for these one-of-a-kind creatures. Deb also works with local authorities and experts in the rehabilitation of turtles and releases them in their native habitats. If you want to help Deb in the 19 towns of the watershed with Eastern Box and Wood turtles, please contact her at 203-494-7610 or 203-237-2237 or turtlecrossingproject@yahoo.com. Deb is actively investigating how the QRWA can partner with local agencies to aid in the efforts of these turtles.


To learn more about turtles during the “Year of the Turtle” is to subscribe to the DEP’s Connecticut Wildlife magazine (www.ct.gov/dep/wildlifemagazine). You also can visit PARC’s web site at www.yearoftheturtle.org, as well as the Year of the Turtle page on the DEP’s web site (www.ct.gov/dep/yearofturtle). And don’t forget to check out your most local resource, www.qrwa.org.


Upcoming QRWA Events: Sunday, March 13, 1:30 pm – Winter Wildlife Hike. Meet at Quinnipiac River State Park at the end of Banton Street in North Haven, dress for the outdoors.


Saturday, April 23, Annual River Clean Up – contact David James at 203-237-2845 for staging area and times.


Saturday, May 1, 1:30 p.m. –Eagle Watch on Hanover Pond led by certified canoe instructor Dan Pelletier and Wildlife Biologist Peter Picone. Watch through binoculars or cruise around Hanover Pond. This event is for experienced paddlers only.


Sunday, May 15, 11:00 am – 31st Annual Canoe/Kayak Race, Down River Classic. Launch at DOT Lot, Route 322, Southington, CT.


QRWA provides water activities, events in education, outreach, advocacy, scientific monitoring, conservation, restoration, recreation and public access to the watershed area. To learn more about the QRWA and to confirm information, dates and times for upcoming events, please visit our website at: www.qrwa.org.


The Quinnipiac River Watershed Association (QRWA) is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization whose mission is to restore the Quinnipiac for the health and enjoyment of all citizens and communities along its reach and to educate all students, families, individuals, businesses and governments to be informed stewards of the river. Thank you for your support and remember your donations are tax deductable.






Circus Elephant Dies After Performance Here


My friend Kathy Marotta knows this fellow Billy Applegate, who has known her since she was a child. She ran into him in town in November and told him about the story I had written about Miss India. She had phoned before my story went to press, but he must not have gotten her message. He used to work in the Pierce Station Power Plant, and Kathy was positive he would remember about the elephant dying in Wallingford. Anyway, he told her that a front-page story was in the Record-Journal about the elephant when Miss India died. A front-page story? I had not seen one in my earlier research. So I went to the library and asked, "If such a story existed, why wouldn't it have been in the 'Circus' file in the Connecticut Room?" Amy really didn't know why, but she said searching through microfiche without having a specific date would be a very long and arduous process.


Today, several days later, November 22nd, I was talking to Kathy about this again, and I asked her, "Did he say it was right after it happened?" And all of a sudden she remembered he did say it was right after. So that basically narrowed it down to July 1st or 2nd of 1953. As I was talking to her, a light bulb came on in my mind, and why I did not think of it before, I don't know. Remember that photographer Ziggy who told me he was there and took photos? So I said to Kathy, "If he was taking photos, Billy Applegate is probably right: There had to be a story."


So off to the library I went on November 23rd, and Amy helped me with the microfiche machine. Well, the paper back in those days always began with front-page news from Meriden and pages that followed about Meriden news, and then the front-page news for Wallingford, and on July 1st, 1953, there was the front-page article. Unfortunately, no photos. I went as far as July 9th and found nothing more. I then checked the microfiche of the weekly paper, and all I found was an ad for Kaplan's Market with something about the Mills Bros. Circus is coming, and this and that. So Amy added the article and the ad to the library's circus folder in the Connecticut room. I feel good about that.


Here's the thing, it's got some new information in it, and that gal Jean Regnier who called Andy (after my story was published, "An Elephant's Buried In Wallingford. What ???!!!," July 2010) about how we had the burial location wrong, she was right about where she showed me and Kathy she believed Miss India was buried, and it's not right in front of the hangars that are still there. Jean also claimed to hear the elephant kind of howling in agony, and she had part of that right. The elephant simply died of a heart attack, but after that, all the other elephants were trumpeting, as they called it. Jean took us to the corner of Clifton Street and John Street, and that is precisely where India is. What I was not thinking about, for whatever reason, is the hangar that was originally located in that section is no longer there. I was concentrating on the two hangars that are still there, just dismissing what was not there anymore. Dumb error on my part. Here is the front-page story from July 1, 1953. It's kind of a shame that the Peabody Museum did not have the staff to deal with Miss India.






Circus Elephant Dies After Performance Here - July 1, 1953


(Front page of the Wallingford section of the paper.)


(No author's name given. He probably wrote this on June 30th because the dates are off by one day.)






The Mills Brothers Circus moved out of Wallingford at 5 a.m. yesterday, but "Miss India," 2,600 pound cow elephant, didn't know it. She died several hours earlier.


The youngest and reportedly most-pleasant-tempered of the 40 tons of elephants in the show she is believed to have died of a heart attack about 2:30 a.m.


Trumpeting Heard


Residents of South Cherry Street near the circus grounds, reported a great trumpeting about that time, in which all the elephants seem to have joined in.


She was young for an elephant. These animals have been known to live 100 years, but the average age is about 50 or 60 years.


She had made her last performance the night before, and acted normally, except that she lay down in the afternoon show. Some 60 people, mostly children, gathered to see her buried on the circus grounds yesterday, several standing on the carcass to be photographed.


Posed Disposal Problem


She posed somewhat of a disposal problem. A circus attendant who stayed behind to make arrangements had police here call rendering plants in New Haven and Bridgeport to see if the carcass could be turned into tallow.


When these proved unenthusiastic, the Peabody Museum at Yale University was called, and although interest was expressed, it reported that the staff there were inadequate to deal with "India."


Finally it was decided to bury her where she fell, just east of the hangars on the old airport property, about 25 feet from South Cherry Street. [This is incorrect. The author must have meant Clifton Street. South Cherry Street is too far away. It's kind of funny, because even Ziggy said something to me about east of the hangars months ago.]


The Audisio Excavating Company was called, and a gasoline operated shovel and diesel bulldozer were brought to the scene.


Buried 18-Feet Deep


A hole 480 cubic yards in volume was dug, and the shovel operated by Fred Audisio was used to roll the elephant into the grave. The animal was buried 18 feet deep at the direction of Edward W. Ferry, sanitary inspector. John Nolan, superintendent of the Borough Street Department, directed the operation.


The Mills Brothers Circus gave two performances here yesterday, under sponsorship of the Wallingford Lions Club. The next stand will be New Britain.


The entire operation took several hours, beginning before noon and lasting until after 4 p.m. when the bulldozer finally completed backfilling. It was necessary to cut a trench for the gasoline shovel so that it could dig down to the required 18-foot depth.


Among the notables present, beside Mr. Ferry and Mr. Nolan, were First Selectman Edward H. Leonard and Fire Chief John J. Czine.


Mr. Leonard quipped that the death might be an omen of the coming election. "Even the elephants are dying in Wallingford," he said.






I am still hoping there is an interest in erecting something in Miss India's memory, a plaque or some kind of marker. Wallingford sure has some interesting history, part of which is Lyman Hall, one of 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, so Wallingford is one of 56 towns in the entire United States that can say it has a signer of the Declaration. Pretty special, indeed. But we also have an elephant buried here. Should Miss India be forgotten, or be a part of our family?






Barbara Sherburne


barndt49@yahoo.com










A TALE OF THE QUINNIPIAC RIVER


by Francis W. Lappert


According to Connecticut maps of the river systems of Connecticut, the Quinnipiac River originates in the north reaches of Plainville and empties into the Sound in East Haven Harbor. It has many feeder streams that empty into it, and keeps a well-balanced, level running water. Beginning with Southington, I know of Eight-Mile River and also Misery Brook. Then comes Ten-Mile River that originates in west Cheshire and joins the Quinnipiac in Mildale. Also Honey Pot Brook from Cheshire. Farther downstream is Ives Brook that begins above Johnson Avenue in Meriden. Also the overflow from Broad Brook Reservoir feeds the river. As the river flows through Meriden, it is joined by Harbor Brook, which flows into Hanover Pond, which is part of the river. I know of only one from Wallingford, Meeting House Brook. There are others I do not know about.


Since I was a young lad, I fished many of these smaller streams and caught many native brook trout. At this time the


Quinnipiac River was not known as having any trout in it. That came much later. The river then was clean enough to swim in. Our favorite spot was call Charlie's Rock, and we went there often. I remember when the river froze over in the winter, there was a group of men that would cut a large hole in the ice by Red Bridge and jump in the cold water.


They called themselves the Polar Bears. They enjoyed showing off to the crowd who watched them.


In later years the State Board of Fisheries decided to stock trout in the river from Carpenter's Dam down to Red Bridge. The fishermen in our area were quite happy about this. Shortly after, several fishermen from Meriden got together and formed the Quinnipiac River Water Association. I was invited to join the organization and was elected to represent Meriden on the commission. We had members from Southington, Cheshire, Meriden, Wallingford, and also North Haven. Our goal was to clean up as much of the river as we could and to improve the quality of the water.


Mike Roberts was also one of the group representing Meriden and was responsible for getting donations from all the towns to keep the organization going, and also getting new members to join. The State Board of Fisheries now stocks the river with a good many rainbow, brown, and brook trout.


The Meriden Rod and Gun Club also helps by putting many large sized trout in the river, and tags them so that when someone catches one, he will get a prize from one of the bait stores. When the fishing starts in April, it is hard to find a likable place to fish as some of the fishermen set up camp the night before in their favorite spot. I do not go there on opening day, as it is too crowded.


I have been informed that the State is now stocking trout in the river from Yalesville to Wallingford, and a few fishermen have caught some nice trout from here. I hope some day in the future the quality of the water in the river is mad


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