Conversations on Health 11/25

Wednesday, November 25, 4:40 PM on WESU 881. FM.

Post-Turkey Day Fun

Friday November 27:
The 54th Annual Wesleyan Potters Exhibit & Sale begins on this day at 10 a.m. Not sure if this work pictured on the left created by Priscilla Palumbo will be on sale but it's pretty to look out. Works by over 200 artists will be on display and on sale for the next several weeks and the show is truly a highlight of this (or any) Holiday season. To find out more, go online to www.wesleyanpotters.com/events.shtml or give at call at 860-347-5925. Regular hours are Thursday and Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. as well as Saturday through Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Middletown's "Holiday on Main Street" begins this weekend with a slew of events for people of all ages. During the early afternoon on Friday, there will be free Fun Train rides for the young ones while at 4 p.m., you can start taking free hayrides. At 5 p.m., Mayor Sebastian Giuliano heads down to the South Green to dedicate the new gazebo, to light the Christmas tree and to announce the "One Book, One Middletown" selection for 2010 (more on that in a later posting.) Joining him will be Ronald McDonald and Santa Claus with emcee Don DeCesare from WMRD & WLIS. At 6 p.m., there will be a parade heading to the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce office for the lighting of the second tree (atop the building.) That's not all - at 8:15, there's yet another Tree Lighting in front of Eli Cannon's Tap Room in the North End (a perfect time for hot chocolate and mulled cider, though, by this time, Santa and his helpers might prefer a Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome.) All these events are free - for more information, call 860-347-6924.

There are those people who say "If you can't come to Collinsville, Collinsville will come to you!" (I'm not at liberty to say who "those people" are.) The Buttonwood Tree heeds that call and presents a intriguing double bill at 7:30 p.m. Singer-songwriter Jason Krug bring his acoustic folk ensemble Citizen Spy to the performance space. Krug's recent electric endeavor, DayDrug, released a very fine CD last year - his songs are witty, sardonic, and makes one ponder on the foibles of everyday life (really.) Also on the bill is poet-author-essayist David Leff. I have his latest book, "Deep Travel", by my bedside and it's a fascinating true story of the author (and several companions) retracing Henry David Thoreau's trip on the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. The book pictured on the left, "The Last Undiscovered Place", is Leff's loving portrait of his adopted hometown (yes, it's Collinsville.) His book of prose-poems, "The Price of Water", was issued in 2008 by Antrim House Books. For more information about this event, go to www.buttonwood.org. Below is a piece from Leff's book of poems (printed courtesy of Antrim House.)

SPRING IN HELL’S KITCHEN

The dark stone canyon walls of Hell’s Kitchen are fractured horizontally, in cracks that grin and leer at hikers. Laurel clings to life on the precipitous ledges where plump mosses drip alongside the last fading tusks of winter ice. Water seeps invisibly through the jumbled rocks beneath the trail, briefly revealing itself as a sparkling stream and disappearing again. It echoes in rocky chambers, trickling and percolating in multiple voices. I bend and listen to the liquid speech suddenly joined by the melodic weet, weet, weet, weet, tsee, tsee of a flagrantly yellow warbler perched in the leafless brush like a light bulb. Other birdsong and the hum and buzz of insects will soon harmonize in an accidental orchestra prophesizing a season of the migrant, temporary, and intermittent.

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Perhaps the only thing that can rouse you from your turkey leftovers is a healthy dose of "the Dead." You're in luck because Shakedown, "New England's Premier Grateful Dead Cover Band", returns to Boney's Music Lounge for several sets of Garcia/Lesh/Weir/Robert Hunter-inspired rock and soul (the quintet also plays music by The Meters, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and others.) They'll start "rocking the room" at 9 p.m. For more information, call 860-346-6000.

The Weekly Eater: Harbor Park

Today we introduce a new dining review column by a pair of Middletown foodies with experience in the food industry. They shall remain anonymous, known only as The Weekly Eaters, as they share their local dining experiences with us through the Middletown Eye.

A Ship Sans Rudder

The collective consciousness of the Middletown cognescenti has long dreamed of a restaurant at the river’s edge that would provide fine foods, beverages, and a warm place for a romantic interlude to complement its superb location at the bend in the river.

Let us imagine such a restaurant. It would be large enough to host a celebration, like a wedding, yet designed to provide nooks and alcoves where couples could dine in privacy. There would also be open, gregarious spaces where thirty-somethings could see and be seen. Maybe even a small dance floor. Lighting would be indirect so as not to cause reflections or glare that would obstruct the nighttime view from expansive windows looking up river towards a picturesquely illuminated bridge, or down river towards the dabs of light along River Road. Music would be live and soothing or piped in gently to the alcoves and booths. Tabletops would be dressed in white linens while stemware and silverware would be elegant and worthy of its patrons. Fully leaded crystal wine glasses, flatware of substance, napkins of cloth. Do we need every plate to match? Do we need every knife to brother-up with every spoon? No, we do not. As long as they are quality, bought even at a second-hand store if necessary, they will provide their own unique character to the setting.

And what about the food? Of course we want good value. We want the same for the wine and beer list. Do we dream of $30 entrees and $100 bottles? No, we do not. We dream of something chosen with care by someone who has put his or her heart and passion into the choosing. We want a menu that reflects someone’s good taste, experienced palate and a chef’s consummate skill. Do we want an extensive menu of frozen and reheated foods? No, we do not. Let’s have a small menu with freshness as its key ingredient. We want a wine list of favorites that are consumed by someone who actually drinks wine and actually eats from the menu in order to pair the beverages with the flavors of the food. Let that wine list be populated with the honest produce of family-owned wineries, not that stuff squeezed through a lab coat in Modesto, Parma, Adelaide or Lyon. We want beer - of course we want beer - but please make it varied and not simply different brands of “light” beer. Is that too much to ask in this golden age of the micro-brew? I think not. Let’s have beer that a man or woman would be proud to pound.

And what about the general appearance of this imaginary restaurant? Should it have the smell of lavatory cleanser upon entering? When you pass the live lobster tank, should it have more than two tired looking miniature lobsters in it? When you trudge up the stairs to the Dining Hall should it shine with bare, lacquered wood tables while above it, on the third floor, as if in heaven itself, you can wistfully see through the glass the white linen almost waving from a dark dining room? Should the lights be draped with a month’s worth of cobwebs? Should you have to be seated by the chef because the hostess is en absentia? Do we really need to have our chair pulled out for us? No, we do not. But it would be nice. Do we have to listen to the commercial radio station blaring from the open kitchen? Apparently we do. Do we need a fire in the gorgeous fireplace? Apparently we do not. Do we need food with flavor? Yes. Please. That is our dream.

As for Harbor Park, dream on Middletown, dream on.

Just the facts:

Two appetizers, one entrée, one beer, one bottle of wine = $68.04

Our waitress was excellent.

People in Our City

In the last few years of my father's life, I became his designated driver. We had to take his keys away, it peeved him greatly, so the one who held the keys was the person who drove him to the market, to the barber, and, of course, to the doctor.

I also was his companion at funerals. One by one, his brother passed, then his best friends and old acquaintances and people who he knew from his many years of business. At first, he would joke a bit, saying "At least, I'm here to say goodbye and we can go eat afterwards." Later, his refrain changed, became darker as he began to wish out loud for his own demise. Despite a loving family, his children were always busy and he hated to bother us.

I have come to an age where the funerals have become more frequent. Since September of this year, the Middletown community has said farewell to such fine people as Matilda "Tillye" Itkin (long-time owner of the home decor store that bears the family name, educator and reading advocate Susan Rubel, the joyful voice and spirit of Shirley Stern, William "Bill" Simpson (who did so many things to help young people) and, just this week, the long-time Latin teacher at Middletown High School, Ruth Montgomery.

Mrs. Montgomery, wife of librarian and composer Chris Montgomery, loved to teach, loved languages, really appreciated students who took the time to study classical languages, the building blocks of modern grammar and speech. When our younger daughter Rachel attended MHS, Mrs. Montgomery helped her in many ways. Rachel has a natural aptitude for languages, loves Latin and, in her junior and senior years, created independent study courses in the language supervised by her teacher. Mrs. Montgomery kept her on task, allowed great breadth in her subject matter and was thrilled by the results.

Besides our personal relationship, Ruth Montgomery helped to create the Elizabeth Swaim Memorial Strings Program in the Middletown Public Schools. Many fine young violinists and cellists have developed under the watchful and caring eyes of this program. Ruth and Chris attended many concerts and plays in and out of town - she was generous in her praise and overjoyed when her former students excelled.

I did not know her well so her obituary (which you can read here) was very revealing, especially the early years. She will be remembered for her activism in support of language arts, for her love of teaching and the positive effect she had on so many young lives. Ruth Montgomery may not produced hundreds of Latin scholars but she very successfully passed on her curiosity for learning, for going beyond the printed page and for making an ancient language relevant to younger minds.

As we gather for Thanksgiving, the table seems a bit emptier with the loss of such fine people.

Governor's Budget Cuts Will Impact City

As reported Tuesday afternoon on CT News Junkie, Governor Jodi Rell has released a Deficit Mitigation Package that cuts $337 million from the $37.6 billion passed by the legislature three months ago. Some of these cuts must be approved by the legislature.

Among the cuts are $84 million in municipal aid.

"It's kind of a 'I told you so' moment," said Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, referring to the pleas of several Connecticut mayors during the budget process to spare the cities. "They didn't solve the problems at the state level. They just kicked them down the road. If they had addressed the issues at the state level, we wouldn't be faced with this now."

The budget cuts were the subject of a conference call among Connecticut mayor's this morning.

"The general consensus, among the mayors is that we hope that the state doesn't attempt to solve their problems on our backs," Giuliano said.

If promised funding is not available in some areas, the city will have to turn to the General Fund to meet shortfalls.

"We're already in the hole by half a million dollars," Giuliano explained. "Our budget was based on funding that the legislature and the governor cut after our budget was passed. Now that budget is going to get hit again, and for more than we planned.

"At the city level the projections made in our budget are already being adjusted, and we don't normally see that kind of adjustment until late Winter, early Spring," Giuliano explained, citing and adjustment in projected energy costs, for which the city has to dip into the General Fund to cover.

"We are going to have to have each city director take a good hard look at their budgets, in conjunction with the city's Finance Director," said Democratic Common Council member Vinnie Loffredo. "It would be my suggestion to the mayor and my fellow councilors that we consider budget not expended, and positions that have been financed but not yet filled. We need to look for places where we can afford to make savings.

"It's going to be a tough year," Loffredo admitted. "And it's going to be a tougher budgeting year next year. Tougher than the one we just faced."

In addition, Giuliano noted that some of the other cuts to services in health, senior services, mental health services and other areas, while not directly affecting the city budget will have an indirect effect.

"If people can't get services that they normally get from the state, who are they going to turn to?" asked Guiliano. "They're going to turn to us."

Rave at Laser Tag Business Ends in Arrests

Based on a tip from State Police, Middletown Police raided a Sunday-night rave being held at A New World Laser Tag, on Main Street, and arrested three individuals with possession of a hallucinogenic drug, sale of those drugs, or intent to sell.

The rave was not sponsored by New World Laser Tag. The space was leased to independent producers who hired DJ's, and managed the event as an independent event.

The rave, a kind of dance event which typically draws participants by invitation only - often over the web, drew hundreds to Main Street on Sunday night.

At 11:00 PM, detectives who were conducting surveillance at the event, observed that there "were numereous narcotics being used and sold at the party."

Three individuals were arrested. According to a press release from the Middletown Police Department they are:

Kevin Boyd, age 24, of #105 Spring Trail Drive in Coventry CT, was arrested and charged with Possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of a hallucinogenic drug with intent to sell, and interfering with an officer.

Alexander Schroeder, age 19, of #415 Mohegan Avenue in Quaker Hill CT, was arrested and charged with Possession of a hallucinogenic drug, and sale of a hallucinogenic drug.

Michael McDonough Jr., age 30, of #1 Harned Road in Somerdale NJ, was arrested and charged with Possession of a hallucinogenic drug, and possession of a hallucinogenic drug with intent to sell.

All individuals were released on $5000 dollar bonds and issued court dates of 12/4/09.

In total Street Crime Detectives seized 23.1 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, 3 dosage units of Ecstasy (MDMA), and 0.3 grams of Ketamine; all 3 narcotics are powerful hallucinogenic substances.

Russo Clarifies Sewer Rate Increase

"The proposed rate increases have nothing to do with our current delinquencies," Water and Sewer Commissioner Guy Russo said in an interview yesterday. Russo indicated that the department is planning to take care of that problem with budget cuts, a revolving loan from the Water Fund Balance.

"We've already cut $550,000 out of this year's budget," Russo said. "And in preparing next year's budget, increases in spending will only be nominal. It will essentially be a flat budget."

The $30,000 loan from the Water Fund Balance to handle expected foreclosures is expected to be fully repaid through the foreclosure process.

The proposed 3% mid-term increase in sewer rates is required to cover an expected drop in usage going forward, according to Russo.

A public hearing on the proposed rate increase will be held Monday, November 30, 5:15 PM at the Water and Sewer Department.

Substance Abuse Action Council Hosts Youth Seminar

From the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce

The Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council (MCSAAC) held its tenth annual Youth Conference on November 18, 2009 at Middlesex Community College in Middletown. A crowd of 150 student leaders and their advisors from across the county attended leadership workshops that focused on preventing substance abuse and risky behaviors. High school students learned about heroin and prescription drug abuse, internet safety, getting involved with MADD, and media literacy and advocacy. Adult advisors participated in a special session on mental illness and drug abuse.

Presenters included Detective Brian Hubbs from the Middletown Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Sergeant James Smith from the Connecticut State Police Forensic Laboratory, Catherine LeVasseur from the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, Lauren Iannucci from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Dr. Stephen Wyatt from Middlesex Hospital Behavioral Health. Presenters donated their services and the Middlesex County Community College donated facilities.

Participants enjoyed a special performance by the improbable PLAYERS, a professional acting troupe based in Boston, which consists solely of actors in recovery. The young, former drug abusers and alcoholics delivered riveting and authentic stories and answered audience questions immediately after the performance.

Anyone interested in becoming involved with MCSAAC is welcome to contact the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council at (860) 347-5959 or to visit info@mcsaac.org.

Kiwanis and Salvation Army Distribute Thanksgiving Baskets

"It says a lot to me about love and the people of Middletown," Pat Britton said in a muted Southern drawl, as she accepted a turkey and basket at the Salvation Army Monday morning. "I just lot my husband. He was an MP in the service."

Members of the the local Kiwanis, assembled and delivered turkeys and food baskets to the Salvation Army on Main Street Monday morning where 33 families gathered to accept the holiday food.

Kiwanis members, and other individuals and organizations delivered the baskets and they were distributed immediately to families who had signed up.

Mike Dipiro and Christopher Conley of the accounting firm Gilmartin, Dipiro and Sokowloski carried in a large basket from their offices a few doors away from Salvation Army headquarters, and immediately helped a woman who said that she'd be feeding a family of six on Thanksgiving day.

It's a busy season for the Salvation Army, according to Salvation Army Rick Starkey who manages the bell-ringer holiday collections outside of area grocery and department stores, and is gearing up for the annual holiday toy drive for families in need.

Hangin' Around the Observatory

On this weekend before Thanksgiving, Middletown was particularly inviting. Another unseasonable warm weekend inspired a neighbor and me, simultaneously to take our kids on a hike. She suggested Wadsworth Falls. I told her I had the "Leatherman cave" in Maromas in mind.

We settled on the cave, and drove out to the twin reservoirs East of Connecticut Valley Hospital, and walked out the state road into the rocky hills dotted with oak, mountain laurel, and large outcroppings sparkling with quartz, mica and feldspar.

I had called former Common Council member Earle Roberts to pinpoint the location of the cave, and he called back as we were within quarter of a mile of the cave. He came over to direct us, and feted us with tales of his battles with the mining company who were leasing the feldspar quarry, and how he eventually prevented them from encroaching on the outcropping which forms the "cave," but not before blowing a significant chunk of it down in a blast that was apparently set for spite.

The cave is not a cave, but a rock shelter like many in the hills of Connecticut, caused by erosion and tumbling boulders and slabs. For decades, perhaps centuries, it was likely used as a shelter by the native Americans who lived by the river. In the mid-nineteenth century it became a well-known shelter for the locally infamous wanderer known as the Leatherman.

Indeed, the shelter has been re-shaped by the blast. I filmed there in 1984 when I was helping produce a short documentary about the Leatherman, and the blast dropped boulders on either end of what was once a spacious rock room, and is now less so.

Roberts directed us to a trail which lead to an outlook above the cave from which we could look Northeast over the old quarry, and West, over the trees of Maromas. Another ridge side trail took us back to the state gravel road and the reservoirs.

In the evening, a pot luck with neighbors who live near Wesleyan was capped by a walk to the Van Vleck Observatory which was open and celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo's telescopic study of the sky. We waited in lines to view Jupiter and its two moons, which hung between branches in the Western skies, and to see a blur of stars in a cluster that is millions of light years away.

Today, I walked to the theaters downtown to take in Planet 51 with my kids, and while there I spotted Councilman Phil Pessina.

Joking, I asked him if he was there to see the new vampire movie.

I was surprised when he said he was.

Turns out that Pessina is a big fan of the Twilight series of novels about teen vampires, and is equally appreciative of the movie versions.

"It's another side of me," Pessina confided.

From 1974: Main Street Project Wins Council Favor

The following article is from 35 years ago today, published in the Hartford Courant on November 22, 1974.

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A narrower Main Street between Washington and Union streets, to be beautified with trees and shrubs, has won tentative approval from a majority of city councilmen.

The beautification plan would cover the entire length of the street, including the section north from Washington Street owned by the state.

The city now has one of the widest main streets in the country, but, under the new plan, it would be narrowed to two lanes, with parking restricted to coves set in the narrowed sides. Chamber of Commerce officials want to make certain the proposed loop roads of Broad Street and DeKoven Drive would carry the added traffic that probably would be eliminated from Main Street. The new proposal was seen as a compromise of other plans which had included closing the portion of Main Street and also for creating half moon curves to slow the traffic in another plan.

The plan is seen as improving the streets appearance, officials said, and creating greater pedestrian areas.

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According to articles in the Courant, the idea of reducing automobile traffic on Main Street (including some proposals to make it a pedestrian only mall) was quite vigorously debated for many years. In a September, 1976 article about the new president of the Chamber of Commerce ("CofC Leader Has Eye on Main Street"), the Courant reported that the narrowing of Main Street was still under consideration, but it had "met with substantial opposition..." Interestingly, the new president in 1976 was Robert G. Comstock, who had been executive vice president of the Greater Keene (NH) Chamber of Commerce. Keene had been the one town with a wider Main Street than Middletown, and Comstock told the Courant that one of his accomplishments in Keene was to narrow Main Street to form a semi-mall situation. He was apparently unable to accomplish the same thing in our city.

Two-wheel Turkey Delivery

Hundreds of motorcycles and their riders crowded Broad Street as turkeys were unloaded for the annual turkey run for the Red Cross sponsored by the Renegade Pigs motorcycle club Saturday around noon.