Your Stories April 2009
To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
Quassy’s 101st Season Opens April 25-26
With Campership Fund Benefit
MIDDLEBURY, Conn. – Imagine taking your family to the amusement park for a day of rides and entertainment for only $30. During these challenging economic times, that may sound like a pipedream.
But it’s reality.
Quassy Amusement Park opens for its 101st season of operation April 25 and 26 with a $30 carload special to benefit the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund. What that means is that you can load up the family vehicle and everyone – up to 10 persons – gets an all-day ride wristband for only 30 bucks. Quassy is so generous on opening weekend that it even throws in the $5 parking fee when guests purchase the carload special.
What’s more, is that you not only get to ride from noon to 6 p.m., but there will also be live entertainment in the park plus meet and greet sessions with “Clifford” the Big Red Dog, courtesy of Scholastic Books.
At 3 p.m., Sunday, April 26, the park will host its annual Egg Hunt For Prizes in the Great Lawn area of the park. Children should bring bags to collect candy and eggs during the hunt. The $30 Carload Campership Weekend is presented by the Waterbury Republican-American, radio station WATR and Price Chopper supermarkets. The Greater Waterbury Campership Fund helps to send underprivileged children to summer camps.
“We Invented Affordable Family Fun” is a slogan you will hear time and again this year at Quassy Amusement Park as the property focuses on families and entertainment value.
Quassy’s famous 25-cent Friday nights return on May 22, when rides, Pepsi and cotton candy are only a quarter after 5 p.m. The Friday evening special also features 50-cent hot dogs, making a family night out an affordable venture.
The park is also holding the line on all-day wristbands and season passes – mirroring 2008 pricing.
“In light of the economic conditions, we felt it was in the best interest of our loyal guests to not increase our pricing this year,” said George Frantzis II, a park co-owner. “Our operational costs will certainly rise, but we hope with the alternating entertainment schedule and strong lineup of special events that families will visit on numerous occasions.”
All-day wristbands will be $17 for those under 45 inches and $21 for 45 inches and taller. Persons 55 years of age and older can pay $17. Wristbands include the traditional amusement rides and “Saturation Station” interactive family water play area. Season passes, which include the rides, beach, waterpark and free parking are: $195 for family of four ($50 for each additional person added to the family pass); $65 for individual.
Since Quassy charges no general admission, guests can pay the parking fee - $5 with $7 charged July 4 - on any given day and walk through the amusement park. A wristband is needed to enter Quassy Beach and “Saturation Station,” or guests may pay $10 each for use of the water activities.
New Ticket Booth
The park will have a new ticket booth, where guests can make daily wristband and ticket purchases. The structure is designed after the former trolley station that was located adjacent to the park in the early 1900s. Quassy is known as a “trolley park” as the former electrified rail line transported guests to and from the property. Today, only 11 “trolley parks” remain in the nation.
In addition, the park’s “Playport” has been refurbished, adding new and exciting play elements for younger children to enjoy. The “Paratrooper” and train rides in the park have also undergone extensive refurbishing during the offseason.
Big Summer Planned
Three top-notch acts will be entertaining at the Vacation Village Resorts Lakeside Theatre stage this summer. Coming July 20 will be “Cirque Equinox,” followed by “The Kent Family Magic Circus” (Aug. 3-16) and “Kenya Safari Acrobats” (Aug. 17-30).
Quassy will also be the site of a statewide One Tank Travel Expo on Sunday, June 14. Guests will have an opportunity to explore a variety of things to do close to home this summer season as travel and tourism booths will line the walkways.
Mixing The Old And The New
The face of Quassy Amusement Park has relatively remained the same over the years, still offering the laid back atmosphere of the traditional facility that was the cornerstone of its foundation.
With the advent of large theme parks over the past few decades – numerous ones within driving distance from western Connecticut – Quassy has managed to maintain its identity as the alternative to the mega facilities.
Rarely are there long lines for any of the rides, nor a crush of humanity streaming down the walkways at this quaint lakeside venue.
Pricing has also been an ally to Quassy as it does not charge a general admission to the property, allowing parents and grandparents alike to be spectators while the children ride classics like the Sellner “Tilt-A-Whirl” and Chance “Trabant.”
Yet Quassy, while preserving its treasured past, has kept up with the times by mixing the old with the new.
A portion of the lower parking lot near the lake has been transformed into a new development for the venue in recent years with the addition of larger rides like the Chance “Music Fest,” Hrubetz “Paratrooper,” “Bumper Cars,” and the classic Herschell “Monster” roller coaster.
Time To Take The Plunge
While other large parks in the region started adding water attractions a number of years ago, Quassy quietly trudged along the path it had forged for itself as an “iron” (ride) park.
But the customer base it had drawn upon for decades was starting to shift to facilities offering the latest in water attractions, leaving Quassy pretty much high and dry on hot summer days.
“Our beach used to be packed, and it got to the point where fewer and fewer people were coming to the lake to swim,” noted John Frantzis, a park co-owner.
With younger members of the family stepping into key management positions, the owners decided in 2003 that it was time to take a plunge by building a new water attraction.
That spring Quassy introduced “Saturation Station,” the first interactive family water play area of its type in the world. With cascading fountains, water cannons, waterslides and a huge tipping bucket as a centerpiece, the multi-tiered attraction was an overnight success.
“I believe it saved the park,” John Frantzis said. He attributes the project’s inception and success to his son-in-law, Eric Anderson, who also heads up the park’s operations.
Use of the state-of-the-art family waterpark is included in the price of an all-day park wristband and season passes. Building off the success of “Saturation Station,” Quassy added two gigantic “Tunnel Twister” waterslides to the attraction in 2006.
Now as the temperatures soar in July and August, so does the attendance at Quassy’s re-born lakefront attractions, proving that the largest gamble and investment in the park’s history has paid dividends.
Schools have also benefited from the park’s array of new educational programs that include guided tours, structured workshops, an annual school music festival and a number of art contests.
Quassy offers season passes, which also include parking with each visit. The park also hosts family reunions, scout outings, corporate picnics, church and gospel days, stags and weddings. For more information about the park visit http://www.quassy.com/ or call 1-800-FOR-PARK.
To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
Spring – And Great Lawns
By Pat Sayward – Meriden Feed and Grain
A 4 step program is the way to achieve a beautiful lawn.
In April start with a crabgrass preventive. Even though you don’t have crabgrass now, this is the time to keep it from surfacing in your lawn later in the season. To obtain expected results, product must be lightly watered into the soil immediately after application.
Late April and into May, use step 2, a weed control plus fertilizer. One application provides 2 months of slow release fertilizer and kills dandelions and other broadleaf weeds. It strengthens and greens your lawn from the roots up. Do not water for at least 24 hours after application and do not apply if rain is expected in the next 24 hours. It kills broadleaf weeds through the leaves downward to root systems. Caution: do not apply to a new lawn until it has been cut at least 4 times.
The third step, which many people skip, but shouldn’t, is an insect control. It should be applied in June, July or August. It controls ants, chiggers, chinch bugs, earwigs, fleas, leafhoppers and sod webworms, along with many other smaller insects not visible to the naked eye. Treat the whole lawn, not just yellowed or brown areas.
Step 4, formulated for the fall, will help develop a strong root system for a thicker and more vigorous lawn. It can be applied anytime during the growing season. August – October application will insure a more healthy beautiful lawn more resilient to winter’s cold.
Grub Control is a very important part of your lawn care project. Pesticides, like Grub Ex, Dialox, and Milky Spore should be applied in early spring to early summer. These products treat the immediate problem white grubs before the pupa stage.
Later in the summer a product called Merit, when applied to your lawn will reach areas where pesticides may have trouble reaching. Merit is a systemic insecticide, which means that material is taken up by the root system of the plant. As grubs feed on the plant, they are ingesting the insecticide. The grubs have a sensation of being full … stop feeding and die. Using this product with systemic action means you do not have to depend on the targeted pest to come in contact with applied products.
Helpful hint – Mark your calendar for the proper time periods for applying your 4 step program and grub control plan. Enjoy a beautiful healthy lawn.
Bobbies Bevy of Beauties
Believe it or not I wrote this first paragraph on November 1, 2008. Maybe I thought it would help push this coming miserable winter season along.
Every time I shoved my periscope up through the frozen ground sleet and snow seemed to be everywhere. And those terrible howling winds along with those very cold temperatures. Would have preferred my return to be in April instead of March. But my hiatus was interrupted by two people and a dog. So here I am again.
I didn’t realize Andy was so anxious for me to begin my articles for The People’s Press until I returned from my annual hibernation. There he was looking down at me after he, Jimmy and LitlBit uncovered me from my bed of peat moss under the park bench at the end of the back yard. He could have said he was happy to see me but instead said “get up and start writing.” Also Jimmy was very glad. His daily chores had come to an end. I was here to begin them once again. LitlBit kept licking my face so thrilled because I returned knowing that now he would have four very long walks daily instead of the short ones with his daddy. Then he would lay on the deck in the sun for awhile. If a very cloudy or cold day instead he would come into the house right away and play with Jimmy and his stuffed toys. When LitlBit was ready for his nap he would jup up into his daddy’s lap in the recliner. He does prefer his to mommies’s because it’s so much bigger. Then the two of them would snooze away a good part of the day.
Well enough of the going ons during my hibernation. Anyone who doesn’t read my monthly articles from April-November would think I have lost it. Could be.
There’s that fun chore of cleaning up the yard from the mess the winter months leave. Of course you could pay someone to help or do it for you instead. Sounds like a good idea. Finally some flowers. The crocus showing a very colorful display. Even a few daffodils in full bloom. Shortly the rest of the spring bulbed flowers will be following suit. Wait until there’s a certainty of no more frost. If the weather cooperates probably toward the end of March or beginning of April. Then cut back your grass plants. And the butterfly bush cut down to two or three feet.
And I’m hoping by the next issue it will be warm enough so my next door neighbor Pam will be able to have her yearly bed of pansies planted. She has such a gorgeous display. It’s too bad they can’t stay in bloom until the fall. Think they are one of the prettiest and most colorful of the annuals. Have a few purple myrtle vine flowers and some Johnny-jump-ups greeting spring.
Well that’s about it from my first article. But I do have a couple of P.S.s.
Flowercerely yours,
Bobbie G. Vosgien
P.S. Happy birthday wishes to our only grandson Kevin Jr. who lives in New Hampshire who will turn 23 on April 17th. Love always, Grammie and Grampie
Grammie Bobbie apologizes to our youngest granddaughter Izzy-Bella for stating in the March issue that she was 5 on January 3rd instead of being 6 years old. My head must have been on backwards when I wrote that. Gump Jimmy and I are very proud of you being only in kindgarten and two days a week she goes to second grade for a reading class. Keep up the good work.
I would also like to mention that Izzy-Bella attends Benjamin Franklin Elementary School. Our son, oldest daughter and youngest daughter, (her mother), were all students there. It’s been an association of 46 years. And a very good one.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
SPOTLIGHT ON SHEEHAN HIGH STUDENTS
SCASA Honors Sheehan Seniors
Sheehan seniors, Kimberly Grzesik and Kevin Gilhuly, were recently selected as recipients of the South Central Area Superintendents Association (SCASA) Award for 2009. This award is presented to students who embody the mission of their school and are deeply committed to community and humanitarian service. Both students will be honored at an awards luncheon this Friday.
Kimberly Grzesik recognizes the value of giving back to her community. Since her freshman year, Kim has accumulated over 200 hours of volunteer work. She is a member of Peer Advocates and serves as a role model to younger children. She also demonstrates leadership through her involvement with Rainbow Girls, an organization affiliated with the Masons, and she has traveled to Australia and Europe as a People to People Student Ambassador. A member of National Honor Society and a CAPT Scholar, Kim is also involved in extracurricular activities at the school. She is an officer for Students Against Destructive Decisions and is President of the Anime Club. In addition, throughout high school Kim has been a member of the Wallingford Girls Softball League.
With over 900 hours of volunteer work, giving back to the community has become a way of life for Kevin Gilhuly. He serves as a “big brother” to an elementary student through Big Brothers Big Sisters and enjoys spending quality time with this youngster. He has also taught CCD at Out Lady of Fatima Church in grades 10 through 12 and has served as a Meriden Police Explorer since his sophomore year. Kevin has been a member of Sheehan’s outdoor and indoor Track Teams throughout high school, and he demonstrates leadership as captain of the outdoor team. His leadership skills have further developed through his roles as President of the Senior Class, Vice President of Key Club and in serving as an officer for Students Against Destructive Decisions. Kevin has also participated on the Tools For Schools Committee as a student representative.
The Sheehan faculty is very proud of these students’ commitment to school and community service.
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Sheehan World Language Department
The Sheehan World Language Department is very proud to select Christina Craig as its Spotlight Student. Christina is a very conscientious and dedicated student. She is currently enrolled in Italian II and her passion for the language is demonstrated in both her enthusiasm and ambition to improve her skills outside of the classroom. Her personal commitment to the study of Italian has allowed her to rapidly increase both her oral and written expression. Christina has recently expressed an interest in assisting other students of Italian with their studies which, once again, exhibits her desire to go above and beyond what is expected of her.
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SCC Honors Sheehan Scholar Leaders
Mark T. Sheehan seniors Lisa Cheung and Stephanie DuBois were presented with the Southern Connecticut Conference Scholar Leader Award at a reception held on March 30. In order to
qualify for this honor, a student must demonstrate academic excellence, be a leader in the community, and more importantly, serve as a model to others.
Lisa is a dynamic young woman who constantly challenges herself academically. This is demonstrated through the enrichment activities in which she participates. These have included the Choate Summer Program; Star Talk: Discover Chinese Summer Academic Program; Yale Saturday Seminar; and Bristol Myers Squibb Summer Science Program. Lisa also has a great desire to give of herself to help others. She is a peer advocate, a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, and a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. In addition, she is involved in school clubs and the athletic program. Lisa plans to attend Brown University where she will major in engineering.
Stephanie is a young woman of intelligence and character. Her compassion toward her fellow students and the community sets her apart from her peers. She volunteers at the Ned Conley Open, the school’s Red Cross Blood Drives, and her church’s Sunday School program. She is also a peer tutor. In addition, Stephanie involves herself in both extracurricular and interscholastic activities, serving in a leadership role for many of the organizations in which she participates. She was named to the CHSCA Academic All-State 2008 Field Hockey Team and is a contributor to Visions, Sheehan’s literary arts magazine. Stephanie is considering a major in psychology, English or medicine.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
Connecticut Outdoors
By Paul Narducci
Thomas Spinning Lures Celebrates 60 Years
As I sit down to write this article I am already wondering off thinking of opening day and the trout I hope to catch. For me trout fishing is completely different and the fish themselves are with out a doubt some of the most beautiful and intriguing fish around. There are fond memories forever etched in my mind of the rainbow that got away and the ones that didn’t. Trout fishing is something I truly love to do and wish I was able to do more of. As we head into April and the opening day of fishing (April 18) I can only think of one thing, Thomas Spinning Lures. I say this because I have caught so many wonderful and exciting fish on these lures. Thomas Spinning Lures was one of my original sponsors and continues to sponsor us today.
Thomas Spinning Lures is celebrating 60 years of being an incredible lure company with an outstanding history. Richard Shubert, the original owner started making lures in 1948. He moved his company in 1958 to Hawley, Pennsylvania and they still occupy the same buildings today. For me I really appreciated the loyalty of the company and the history this creates. In 1985 Mr. Shubert retired and the company was purchased by Peter Ridd. I have worked with Thomas Lures since the beginning of my show in 1994. They have sponsored local fishing derbies we have been involved with and continue to see the importance of getting the youth of today involved in the great outdoors. They are truly a fantastic company with a great understanding of the importance of giving back to the community and the youngsters in it. Peter Ridd employs about ten people and produces nearly half-million lures yearly. He continues to use Mr. Shubert’s original designs and shapes but has added more color patterns and selections to meet today’s fisherman’s needs. For 60 years they have offered American made fishing lures at reasonable prices. I recently spoke to Peter for about 45 minutes and was inspired to write this article after talking with him about his company and the history of it. This is truly a great American story. After sharing some fishing stories it was great to drift back in time and talk about the fish we’ve caught and the lures we used. Some of my favorite lures they make are the e.p.spinn, buoyant, rough rider, Colorado, Double spinn and the Special Spinn. Some lures you may not be familiar with that work great for trout are the Little Tiger, Eel, Fighting Fish and the Speedy Shiner. Whether you spend your day trout fishing from shore or trolling these lures will offer you an excellent opportunity to catch some wonderful trout. Some areas you may want to try this year for trout are Wharton Brook, Black Pond, Quinnipiac River, Salmon River and of course Bashan Lake. Thomas Spinning Lures is a great success story of a small company that continues to thrive even in the harshest of times. They have and will continue to offer all fisherman the opportunity to fish with lures that truly catch fish of all kinds. If you have any questions you can log onto http://www.thomaslures.com/ or email them at info@thomaslures.com
As always Paul, Tony, Frank, Joe and Jonathan would like to wish everyone the best of luck and good fishing !
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Maggie’s CornerBy: Maggie Griffin
Definition of Courage
Cour´age Pronunciation: k?r´ãj; 48 - Webster Dictionary:
n.
1.
The heart; spirit; temper; disposition.
So priketh hem nature in here corages.
- Chaucer.
My lord, cheer up your spirits; our foes are nigh,and this soft courage makes your followers faint.
- Shak.
2.
Heart; inclination; desire; will.
I'd such a courage to do him good.
- Shak.
3.
That quality of mind which enables one to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear, or fainting of heart; valor; boldness; resolution.
The king-becoming graces . . . Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,I have no relish of them.
- Shak.
Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it.
- Addison.
v. t.
.
To inspire with courage; to encourage.
As all of us can see, COURAGE is defined in several ways in the Dictionary. However, depending on circumstances, it takes courage to get through the most hardest times. I myself feel courage is defined as not having fear to face a challenge, but peace of mind to remember that All it takes is a dream and Courage to make it happen.When I look up into the sky, I think about Heaven. When I see tides of the water at a calm, I think about peace. When my feet walk land, I kneel & thank GOD for a new day. After God says to me, through the sound of silence; "You Are Welcome" , I realize through silence, GOD and his Angels can talk to us in their own way. I am given the courage to take 12 more steps along the shore at the beach, where the water tides meet the sand, as far as I can reach. Then when I get my feet wet, I do not mind at all; because It reminds me I am still here standing tall.As I spoke to Dr. William A. Petit, Jr., Dr. Petit touched my heart when he defined the meaning of courage. In his own words; - "I suspect that there are many definitions - like the one that my youngest daughter had on her FaceBook page, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world.- M. Gandhi. I start and then stop and then re-start nearly everyday since July 23, 2007. I hope that courage is not the lack of fear - but the ability to move forward in spite of your fears. In moving forward you then can do as Gandhi suggested and try to be the change." - Dr. William A. Petit, Jr.Through so many humanitarian efforts and beliefs, it takes courage to help one another too. That is where the word ENCOURAGE comes in. If we can Encourage someone, no matter what it is, we are actually giving the gift of Courage, a gift that they know will empower their hearts, minds and souls.We are living in a world of unjustifiable meaning, But how can anything be justified, explained or understood. Many say they "understand", but do they? It takes COURAGE to understand. It takes COURAGE to justify the unjustifiable. It takes COURAGE to explain how we truly feel inside when we are faced with the unexpected.In today's society, we live by routine. But it is ok to break our routine once and a while and take the moment to listen to the words that silence gives to us. If for one day, everyone can take the time and listen to the silence, they will hear that time well spent by their choice, will bring an Attitude of Love. Life presents us with challenges, detours, and stumbling blocks as we live each and every day. Wherever there's an obstacle, that we must rise above, COURAGE helps us overcome it with an Attitude of Love. Sometimes we may feel ourselves misguided and fully "out of sync". But when we have courage; courage makes us think. I myself have come across falls and reasons that make me cry. I've come across people who will make negative remarks to someone about me, where in the end they are sorry while I watch them cry.But Courage brings to us a fresh new day, a chance for a new beginning, better then the day before. Every day is a new experience, but there is one thing to keep in mind. By having the gift of COURAGE, we can make a difference to many, no matter if the trials, trivias and unexpected are Big or Small.*This Column is in Dedication to Dr. William A. Petit, Jr.
Do You Freecycle?
By Tia Kozar
This year for Earth Day (April 22nd), do something different. Help the community, the environment and maybe even yourself by joining the Freecycle Network online.
Freecycle is an online network where people can give away old or unwanted items instead of throwing them away. The Freecycle.org website is similar to shopping or selling on Ebay or Craig’s list, except every item posted is 100% free. The Freecycle website’s mission statement is: “Freecycle is a non-profit organization whose main goal is to reduce waste, save precious resources, and ease burden on landfills.”
It’s easy; all you have to do is sign up, put up a listing for the items you want to give away and if someone in your area is looking for that, they can come pick it up. Almost anything goes: Items can be new or used, working or not. Freecycle members have offered everything from clothing and toys to furniture, dishwashers, plants, and camping gear.
Need parts for a broken appliance? Or maybe props for the school play? Check out the local Freecycle listings or post a request of your own. You never know what you will find. When a CT Girl Scout troop was looking for a tent for a camping trip, they got responses from several Freecycle members offering not only several tents, but rowboats, firewood, camp chairs and sleeping bags!
Recent area Freecycle listings include a Coleman outdoor gas fireplace, a pet carrier, and vegetable steamer and crockpot in Wallingford. And Meriden Freecyclers have offered curtains, children’s toys, books, and a king sized bed and triple dresser. For more information on these listings or to find more in our area, go to the Meriden Freecycle network’s website:
http://www.freecycle.org/group/United%20States/Connecticut/Meriden or visit http://www.freecycle.org/ for other CT area Freecycle networks.
Freecycle is a great way to help others in the community while keeping your items out of landfills. The Freecycle Network Worldwide has reported that its members are keeping 55 tons of goods out of landfills each day! So, before you throw your old things out, make a change and make a difference in community and the environment, and log on to Freecycle.org.
To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to http://www.peoplespressnews.com/ .________________________________________________________________________________
LOST AND FOUND-GOLF BALLS
By Francis W. Lappert
Shortly after I retired in 1978 after working 41 ½ years in a local silver factory in Meriden, my brother Ernie talked me into taking up the game of golf. We started out playing at the “Hunters Golf Course” in Meriden. We made up a foursome of my brother, Fred Crovo, Robert Westfort and I. I knew very little about the game but Ernie coached me, pointing out the mistakes I was making. I had started out with a cheap set of clubs I bought on sale at Caldor’s. I didn’t want to invest too much until I knew how much I like to play golf. I liked the challenge so the following year I bought a much better set.
We were then playing five mornings a week and I was making good scores for a beginner but I managed to slice the ball several times into the woods bordering the fairway. As I searched for my ball I found several others. I got the notion that I would go to the course early in the morning to search different fairways that were fairly narrow with thick woods and bushes along the sides. This was the start of a new hobby hawking golf balls.
On Sunday mornings I began golfing on several different courses not too far from Meriden. Among a few were Timberland in Kensington, Farmingbury in Wolcott, and Indian Springs in Middlefield. Every time I played these courses I paid attention to where most balls were hit out of bounds. I found Indian Springs was the most productive for finding lost balls as I would beat the bushes with a long thin sapling about six feet long also to chase any snakes lurking in the tall grass. One morning while searching along the eighth fairway which had a small pond just in front of the tee I saw a good number of balls in the pond. I saw I would need boots and my ball retriever with the telescope handle to reach some of them. The following week I arrived early before any golfers were out and began to hunt. I started out on the small pond and gathered twenty four from there. That was my best gathering as I would come up with eighty two balls that morning. I would put the balls in my set tub in the cellar with hot water and wash detergent and let them soak for about an hour. I would then take each one out and scrub with a wire brush until they were very clean. I would separate them by mark of the ball such as Top Flite, Titlelist, Wilson, Max-Fli, Pinnacle, and many other brands. At that time I had about fifty dozen in egg boxes set aside, all in number one condition. I sold many of them to my friends at a reasonable price.
I had a good many I couldn’t sell to any golfer as they had small cuts on them or were off color or scraped, I had a large carton full. One day I was playing with my friends at Pine Valley course in Southington and when on the way home I stopped at the driving range on West Street and asked the owner if he could use these marked balls. He asked how many I had and I said several hundred. He told me to bring them over. I counted five hundred out in a large box and took them. He gave me ten cents for each of them and gave me a check for fifty dollars. Now my hobby was on the road to success. I had one bad experience at Indian Springs one visit when I disturbed a yellow jacket bee nest in the ground and wound up with stings on my right hand and arm. I went to the small pond nearby and plastered mud on them.
When I got home I bathed my hand and arm with a solution that was good for bee stings. By noon time my hand and arm were very swollen. I became very alarmed and went to the emergency room at the hospital. I asked the doctor if I was allergic to bee stings and was told if I was and didn’t get help immediately I would not be alive. From that day on I was very alert for bee or wasp nests. I encountered many snakes while searching the brush but I always beat the grass or brush with my long stick.
Several years ago I stopped the search for lost balls but as I look back it was one of my most enjoyable hobbies I had. I still enjoy a round of golf when I can find a partner to play with.
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CREATING A BUTTERFLY GARDEN
By Carmen Buckley-Reynolds
Butterfly gardens are magical places where a thriving ecosystem can be created in your own backyard. Flowers planted to attract and welcome butterflies will also invite hummingbirds, bees, dragonflies and other insects to the garden. They can be inviting spots to view these small wonders of nature and can bring happiness to us as well as the many creatures they attract. In addition, planting a butterfly garden is a great outdoor project to share with children. Being out in nature and working alongside you they will learn a great deal about plants and the world of butterflies.
A butterfly garden can be any size to be effective. A few new plants can be added to an existing garden or flower bed and smaller butterfly gardens can even be grown in containers, hanging baskets and window boxes. Just a few chosen plants will help to preserve these fragile insects and create a habitat for them to live and breed.
To begin your butterfly garden, choose a sunny, sheltered location. The spot should receive at least five to six hours of full sun a day during mid-summer. Butterflies are cold-blooded and spend most of their time in the sunshine. To fly, butterflies feed on flowers and rest on warmed rocks to absorb the sun until their bodies reach a temperature of 86 – 104 degrees. Flowers chosen for your garden should also enjoy full sun. Color is another important consideration in successfully attracting butterflies as they are attracted to particular colors, including purple, pink, yellow and white. Choose an area that will also provide some shelter. On very hot days in the summer butterflies will appreciate a cool shady spot. A sheltered area will offer a safe place for mating butterflies in spring, while protecting their young from predators in the summer. Consider planting alongside a stream, pond or water garden. Small pools of water and sandy wet spots invite butterflies to sip or ‘puddle’.
Butterfly flowers can be classified into two groupings: host or nectar plants. Plants on which a butterfly will lay eggs are called host plants. When the eggs hatch and become caterpillars, the host plant provides food and shelter to ensure their survival. Only two to three of every hundred caterpillars hatched will live long enough to emerge as beautiful butterflies. Nectar plants are those that adult butterflies feed on. They can either be annuals, perennials, herbs or shrubs that are hardy to our region.
Your garden should mix together host plants and nectar flowers, and be planted in colorful masses to increase the number of butterflies visiting your garden. Remember to plant early and late blooming flowers for a continuous food supply of nectar that will reach into the fall to aid with their migration.
Before you begin planting, check the condition of your chosen site. Plants grown in full sun locations will need good moisture, drainage and nutrients to ensure long blooms and healthy plants. Remember to avoid pesticide use in your garden as butterflies are significantly affected by such usage.
Here are some suggestions for flowers to incorporate into your garden. Favorite perennials to consider are Buddleia davidii (butterfly bush), Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed), Aster, Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), Verbena bonariensis (verbena), Coreopsis, Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan), Achillea filipendulina ( fernleaf yarrow), and Daylilies.
Annuals work well planted in groups, some to try are Cosmos bipinnatus (cosmos), Cleome, French marigold, Tithonia rotundifolia (mexican sunflower), Zinnia elegans (zinnia). Some favorite herbs to include are Lavender, Mint, Oregano, Dill and Fennel.
Here are a few ideas for creating small butterfly gardens. A raised bed works well for a garden of Butterfly weed, Coreopsis, Coneflower, Lupine, Poppy and Butterfly bush. Cosmos, Cleome and Butterfly bush are also very colorful and long blooming. Containers and hanging baskets planted with an assortment of herbs can be placed near your house for closer viewing. Other simple gardens to try can be window boxes planted with bright annuals or Morning glories.
Once the work of planting is completed and your flowers begin to bloom, find a special place in the garden with your child to sit quietly and admire the beauty of the butterflies. The wonders you both will experience will be unimaginable.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
Ready for Spring?
By Shirley Bloethe It’s spring.... and there are so many great choices for outdoor fun.....Bike riding, canoeing, walking, rollerblading, kayaking, golf, soccer, baseball, basketball, scuba, waterskiing, swimming, picnics, hiking, fishing, camping, gardening, and more...it’s almost impossible to list ‘em all!!!Safety issues should be addressed initially in making decisions about what type of play to participate in, and if children are included. If the event is centered around children, be sure to address any safety issues before beginning. Some sports require mouth guards, special shoes (cleats), protective headwear and other protective equipment such as wrist, knee & elbow pads and helmets for rollerblading. For all types of water sports and activities, life preservers and flotation devices are always recommended. If an adult or child cannot swim it is very important to purchase a preserver that will keep their head above water should they be rendered unconscious or fall in unexpectedly. There are many choices in life vests and some are specific to particular water sports such as jet ski’s, boating, canoeing or kayaking. When choosing gear or equipment for another sport, be sure the user is familiar with how to wear it and getting the right fit. Ask in the store where you are purchasing the items for guidance on proper fit and size.When purchasing a bike for a child, be sure to get the right size. Don’t buy it so the child can “grow” into it. It will be difficult to learn to balance and you may end up with a child who will never ride if they have a bad experience initially. If you live in a hilly area, get a bike rack for your car, and bring all the bikes and family to level areas, parks or a bike trail made especially for rollerblading, bicycling and walking without cars nearby. There are maps available in towns and the state that show where all the “rails to trails” locations are and many of them are now being connected to each other. Another fairly inexpensive option for many teens and adults of all ages is a kayak or canoe. They can be purchased new for less than $250 and be used for many years. Many people choose kayaks instead of canoes because of ease of use and weight factors. Most recreational kayaks and canoes can be easily handled with almost no instruction. Canoes are typically a bit longer and heavier unless you purchase more expensive lightweight styles.
Canoes offer storage and moving about space in them. Most recently, manufacturers are making fishing kayaks for anglers that offer all the advantages of a lightweight boat with storage without the disadvantages of larger heavier canoes or boats. All these things can be done by a recreational canoe/ kayaker with a little planning and information about the location they will be paddling in. There are many options for kayaks that make even the beginner look like a regular user. There are kayaks that are for all types of general recreational use in both a sit-in style and sit-on-top design.They each have advantages and drawbacks depending on your intended use.A sit-on-top kayak is a wonderful choice if you do not need storage on your boat. They can be used in rivers, oceans, back bays, lakes, and most bodies of water except very fast white water conditions (of which there is very little in Connecticut).
Many elderly persons who have never kayaked before are choosing this style for exercise and recreational use, and teens like them because they can play around with them in the water and they can’t sink it even if it is used like a surfboard.
Some of the advantages of a Sit-On-Top Kayak:
*ease of entry (no cockpit to wiggle into)*cannot sink, (they are self bailing) * should you want to take a swim while in transit, you can easily climb back into your kayak again and continue paddling.*adjustable lay down option on seatback--sunbathe for a while*built in foot braces*built in flotation*very stable for beginners-difficult to tip over*lightweight-easy to transport smaller units especially (34lbs)Disadvantages are:*no storage compartments*no protection from elements (cold weather, rain, sun, etc)While sit-in style kayaks can be used in rivers, oceans, back bays, lakes, and most bodies of water except very fast white water conditions as well,sometimes storage capacity is desired.The advantages of sit-in kayaks are:*storage capacity (one or two compartments)*some have dry storage compartments*protection from cold weather, rain, or sun*ability to use year round with a skirt (optional accessories)*lightweight-easy to transport smaller units (34lbs)*drain plug to empty water in hull*comfortable seating*built in adjustable foot braces on most models*built in flota
tion
Disadvantages are:* no ability to exit and enter easily unless on shore-will fill up with water and have to be brought to land to empty boat out (it will usually not sink)*heavy to move about if left upright and it rains (cockpit covers are available)*less stable than wider modelsThe kayak information in this article are specific to the Pelican models I am most familiar with and are general in nature to most kayaks by other manufacturers, however there are features that vary greatly depending on the company. If you have not considered kayaks because of the old shows on TV that depict an Eskimo roll and white water styles, you might want to check out the new styles that don’t tip over easily and can be used everywhere---recreational Kayaks !!! If you are thinking of trying golf, many people start with a lesson at a golf resort or club to see if they enjoy it. You can then purchase a starter set appropriate for your sex and size. There are children’s, junior, ladies and men’s sets. A used starter set with a bag can cost anywhere from $50- $150. If you fall in love with the sport, a full set new, will cost from $125 to hundreds of dollars. A used full set will usually run under $200 with a golf bag. I would suggest a reasonably priced set initially and in a couple of years you can then upgrade if you want something in the higher end market. The starter set consists of four irons (3,5,7,9) and a putter along with a driver (the “1” wood ). A full set includes the irons (3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and a PW--pitching wedge) and the putter and three “woods” ( the “1” wood commonly called the driver, a “3” wood and a “5” wood).Golf shoes, balls and other accessories can all be bought used and new. So, think outdoors, and think of all the interesting activities and fun you can have with the whole family and/or with your friends.
Whatever your choices for recreation, remember to think safety first and enjoy the spring and summer....See you soon. _______________________________________________________________________________
-Dhammapada
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Come To the Writing Table
Written by Carol Carbutti of Comfort Keepers of Wallingford
A writing group had invited me to their weekly writing session at an assisted living facility and I found myself excited about the possibilities. I had no idea what to expect but I hoped the experience would challenge my creative juices. My numerous journals and collections of creative pieces that I’ve laboriously saved through the years were in boxes and bags everywhere. I attempted to rummage through them to choose what I might bring to the group to share. As I drove up to this well appointed comfortable looking building, I fantasized about meeting a small group of elderly people who may not be too happy about an outsider attending their inner circle. I knew that a writing group sets up a trust within their fellow members and I wondered how I would fit in. The large group comfortably encircled a table in a library sitting room. They were just beginning the process of passing a copy of their latest writing around the table to each writer. When everyone had the paper in hand , the writer happily shared the idea or muse that prompted the creation of their piece. I was introduced and kindly accepted by being handed the latest presenter’s paper. As the soft spoken elderly woman read her beautiful poem on the arrival of autumn, I was inspired by the powerful and colorful image her concise well appointed words had created in my mind. She was asked to read it again and many of us listened the second time with our eyes closed and smiles slowly curling our lips. We responded to the images , thoughts, and feelings the poem elicited from us and that sharing extended a magical band around us. We compared those images to each others and found a common ground. The writing wand passed gently to each member of the group, who were given great respect for their writing attempts Our creative fancy was tickled that day and when we all had completed our journey around the table, we were assured we would be welcomed by this group of comrads next week.
Seniors need to exercise their minds and spirit often in order to participate in the healthy aging process. Search your senior resources such as libraries, senior centers, assisted living facilities, adult education , community colleges, on-line, and friends for writing groups to join. Another possibility would be to organize a writing group of your own. Whatever creative venture you seek to participate in , it will help to keep you young, thinking and interacting.
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We’re Getting Older…
Is Our Country Ready For It ???
Submitted by Carol Carbutti, Owner of Comfort Keepers of Wallingford
Today in the US, 6,000 people turn 65 everyday! In 10 years, the number will rise to 10,000 people per day! By year 2030 older Americans will double in number from 35 million to 70 million. The Alliance for Aging Research has written a report entitled, “Ten Reasons Why America is Not Ready for the Coming Age Boom”, in which they call out 10 fundamental cultural challenges and deficiencies in our health care and educational system:
1.
2. Age Denial – The US is a youth oriented culture; and Baby Boomers continue to fight aging !! We need to adapt cultural age perceptions and care options.
3.
4. Prevention Disparities – Prevention programs tend to be youth oriented and offer few preventative treatments for older patients.
5.
6. Geriatric Gap – Health care providers are not well-trained but developing in the care of the elderly.
7.
8. Few Academic Leaders – Academia has been slow to take a leadership role in training students in the care of the aged, nor have they proactively promoted the need for training.
9.
10. Lack of Geriatric Curriculum – Over half of all medical schools are not teaching geriatric medicine
11.
12. Lack of Geriatricians – There is a distinct lack of investment in geriatrics education. Less than one half of 1% of Medicare education funds are aimed at treating older Americans.
13.
14. Inadequate Reimbursement – Medicare and other health care insurers provide higher reimbursement for care that is NOT core to geriatric care.
15.
16. Lack of Coordination within Medicine – Older patients often have multiple chronic conditions requiring more than one doctor. Coordinating the information flow between health care providers is under-managed.
17.
18. Clinical Trials Often Do Not Include the Aged – The lack of inclusion in research complicates the creation of safe standards for the aged.
19.
20. Lack of Research on Aging – Less than 1% of the budget at the National Institutes for Aging is dedicated to studying aging.
The perceptions around aging and the resources dedicated to understanding aging MUST change…. because we are all getting older . See the Alliance for Aging Research website www.allianceforaging.org/ for more information about aging and the cultural, political and financial effects it will have.
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Veterans Pension Benefit Program Offers Aid for In-Home Care
Submitted by Carol Carbutti, Owner of Comfort Keepers of Wallingford
Too many times seniors will forego recommended care because the expense is more than the senior can manage. For some, though, there may be an untapped funding source that can create the resources needed to fund in-home care. If you or family member is a veteran, or the surviving spouse of a veteran, you or they may be eligible for funding through the Aid & Attendance special pension. If the veteran served 90 consecutive days of active military duty with at least one day during a U.S. declared war, the veteran or spouse is already partially qualified for the program if they are 65 years or older.
The Aid & Attendance special pension is an often-over-looked VA pension benefit. This pension addresses the needs of veterans or their surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of someone to assist them with eating, bathing, dressing or other needs (activities of daily living). Often another member of the family is providing this care giving and their daily and hourly efforts can be paid for by this benefit.
Encourage your friends and family members who meet the initial criteria to contact the nearest county Veterans Administration office or my Comfort Keepers Office at 203-697-1030 for more information on this program. Once all paperwork is submitted, approved, and the veteran or spouse begins receiving benefits, Comfort Keepers can provide the level of in-home care that has allowed so many to live comfortably in the privacy of their own homes. This process is time consuming and may take months to complete but a retroactive check will be sent if you are approved. Determining if you or a loved one is eligible for this added monthly income for the rest of your life is a very worthwhile effort on your part.
_To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com
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Exercise Tips for Seniors Starting Anew
Babies today have it better than those that came before them. That's because, according to a 2007 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, a baby born today has a lot more life to look forward to than one born 50 years ago. A child born today can expect to be around for the next 78 years, whereas one born half a century ago had a projected life span of nine fewer years.
While some might suggest this longer life expectancy is a product of people taking better care of themselves, others might say it's due in large part to advances in medicine.
Whatever the reason, it's obvious more and more seniors are living longer lives, and many are hoping to add even more miles to their odometers. One way to do just that is through exercise. But for seniors who haven't hit the gym in a while, starting an exercise regimen can be an intimidating, if not confusing, experience. Seniors looking to make exercise a regular part of their lives should consider the following tips along the way.
* Seek medical advice: The first thing you should do, even before lacing up your first sneaker, is visit a doctor. Each individual is different, and a doctor will let you know what you, personally, should and should not be doing as you begin a new exercise regimen. In addition, a checkup could reveal problems you might not be aware of.
* Recognize limitations: If you have not lifted a weight or run a step in 20 years, you're not going to be able to simply pick up where you left off. Recognizing your physical limitations is paramount to the success of your new program. For seniors, the point of exercise is not to become a pinup guy or girl, but to get healthy or maintain existing health. Set realistic goals and acknowledge what you can and cannot do.
* Choose an enjoyable program: Choose an exercise program you know you will enjoy. An enjoyable program will encourage participation and increase the likelihood that you'll stick with it. Whether it's a daily walk with friends or a structured workout at the local gym with a trainer, the program you choose should be one you look forward to, and not one you see as a necessary evil.
* Take it easy: Whenever a new program is started, be it by a teenager, professional athlete or senior citizen, the temptation to overdo it is omnipresent. However, flying out of the gates is a great way to get hurt, particularly if you do not yet know your physical limitations. Take it slow as you begin a workout, and make a daily journal of what you do at the beginning. That way, should you encounter any aches or pains, you can always look at the journal or share it with your physician or trainer to determine what might be the root of the problem. As you grow accustomed to physical activity, you can then make adjustments to your routine accordingly.
* Do your homework on facilities: You may, especially if you are retired, prefer to workout during the mid-morning hours when kids are in school and working professionals are at the office. That can make choosing a gym easier for you than it is for students or professionals.
However, when looking for the right facility, do your homework and find a gym that has all that you want. Some gyms, for example, heavily emphasize weight training, and don't offer other amenities such as racquetball courts or a swimming pool. Find a gym that best fits your needs. Many gyms offer free passes for up to a week so prospective customers can get a better grasp of what the gym has to offer. Take advantage of this common practice when choosing a facility.
* Make stretching a regular part of your regimen: Young or old, stretching is an integral part of any successful workout routine. For seniors, however, stretching becomes especially important, as you are more susceptible to injury than you were in your more youthful days. Stretching helps prevent muscle pulls and other injuries, and should be done both before and after a workout.
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Theme Is ‘Focus On School: What’s Shaping Our Lives’
Digital Cameras Offered As Prizes In
Third Annual Photo Essay Contest for Students
MIDDLEBURY, Conn. - Aspiring student photographers will have the opportunity to focus in on their classrooms as they click away in hopes of winning digital cameras for their school and having their work displayed.
Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Conn., and Olympus Imaging America Inc. are teaming up to present the Third Annual Photo Essay Contest For Students with divisions for elementary, middle and high schools.
The theme of this year’s essay is “Focus On School: What’s Shaping Our Lives.” There is no fee to participate.
Prizes For All Divisions
Olympus Imaging America Inc. will provide digital cameras to the first place entry in all three divisions. First place entries will also receive 20 Quassy Amusement Park passes that may be used for school fundraisers or student awards. Second place entries will receive 10 park passes and third place entries five park passes. Distinguished Excellence Awards will be presented in all three divisions, provided by Quassy Amusement Park.
The award-winning photo essays will be displayed at the park at the conclusion of the contest.
Contest Rules
Photos must be shot by student teams (up to four students on a team) or individual students at their school. Film or digital cameras may be used. Up to 12 essays may be entered from each school (teams and individual).
Essays must consist of at least eight photos with prints not larger than 5 by 7 inches. Photos must be mounted on a single piece of poster board with the entry form, signed by a faculty member at the participating school, attached to the back. Essays may be dropped off at the park office or mailed to: Photo Essay Contest, Quassy Amusement Park, Route 64, PO Box 1107, Middlebury, CT 06762.
All entries must be received by May 1, 2009. Finalists will be invited to the awards ceremony to be held at Quassy Amusement Park on May 30, 2009.
Judging will be conducted by Debra Aleksinas, features editor at the Republican-American newspaper in Waterbury, Conn., and Ron Gustafson, director of educational programs and photographer for Quassy Amusement Park. The decision of judges will be final.
Official entry forms are available at http://www.quassy.com/ on the Press Room page.
About Olympus
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering award-winning products for consumer and professional markets. Olympus Imaging America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and its ultimate parent company, Olympus Corporation, to develop breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality that enhances peoples' lives every day.
These include:
· Digital and film cameras as well as related underwater products and accessories
· Professional digital SLR imaging systems as well as related underwater products and
accessories
· Digital and microcassette recorders
· Digital media
· Binoculars
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is responsible for sales in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. For more information visit http://www.olympusamerica.com/.
About Quassy Amusement Park
Quassy Amusement Park opens its 101st season of operation April 25. The park features more than two-dozen rides and attractions, “Saturation Station” water play area, redemption arcade, beach, restaurant and entertainment.
The park sponsors a number of educational programs each year, including a physics tour, “Wacky Science” stage presentation, history tour, photography workshop and a journalism workshop.
Schools interested in participating in the programs may call 203-758-2913 ext. 105 to reserve times.
Quassy charges no general admission. All-day wristbands or individual ride tickets are available. Visit the park’s Web site for more information.
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Photo Essay Contest
Elementary, middle and high schools have the opportunity to win digital cameras in the Third Annual Photo Essay Contest presented by Quassy Amusement Park and Olympus Imaging America Inc. The theme of this year’s essay is “Focus On School: What’s Shaping Our Lives.” Shown above is a youngster soaring on the “Yo-Yo” Super Swing at Quassy Amusement Park during the 2008 season. (Quassy Photo)
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Home Country
Slim Randles
It’s Tuesday afternoon at two, which means Clarice Devon is on her way to the Curl Up ‘N Dye beauty salon. It’s like the sun coming up or the price of bread increasing. Tuesday. Two. Clarice.
“Clarice!” yells Fran. “Ready to be beautiful?”
“Sure,” she said. “I like attempting the impossible.”
Clarice Devon is one of our angels. She’s one of the few people in town who will tolerate old people and shut ins, and she not only takes care of them, but seems to relish it as well.
During the rinse, Fran asks her if she’s the one taking care of Mr. Gavin since his stroke. Clarice nods.
“So what’s he like to work with these days?”
“It’s a now-and-then situation,” Clarice says. “You know … now and then?”
“I don’t understand. You mean it’s part time?”
“Nope. Full time. But it’s now and then.”
Fran looked puzzled.
Clarice laughed. “It’s like this,” she said, imitating old Mr. Gavin’s voice. “Now, when you finish getting me my tea, I’d like a custard, but I’d like it in a glass bowl. A small glass bowl. Then I want you to call and see if my pills are ready. Now if they are, could you pick them up? Then, while you’re there, I want to try that toothpaste they talk about on television.”
Fran laughed. “Now and then, huh?”
“Now and then,” Clarice said, smiling as she was attacked by curlers.
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Brought to you by Bass Pro Shops. Visit them at http://www.basspro.com/.
Home Country
Slim Randles
The garden catalogs start coming when the snow is too deep to even find dirt. But we don’t care.
This is a catalog time of year, a time for making plans and figuring out how to do something even better than we did last year.
There in the fishing catalog is that new fly-tying vise. I know I’ll be able to tie flies faster and better with that, which will give me more time to cruise up and down Lewis Creek with the fly rod. Well … at least that’s the plan.
And the housewares catalog has all kinds of things in it to help us peel potatoes, boil things, slice things, and clean things. A few well-spent dollars on their 800 phone line and before you know it, our lives will be easier and our food tastier.
With the truck catalogs, we can get a little coffee maker that plugs right in to the cigarette lighter. Or we can get a little oven that plugs right in to the cigarette lighter, or a fan that plugs right in to the cigarette lighter. Let’s hope the car makers continue to make cigarette lighters even after cigarettes themselves disappear. We’d miss out on a lot of fun without that plug-in.
The mule needs his catalog, too. I’ll do the reading for him, and the ordering. But I think he’d appreciate one of those nice white fleece cinches. They seem so soft on an old mule’s belly. And a matching saddle pad would be good, too. He’s too old to rope on any more, but a guy can still appreciate comfort in semi-retirement.
The land catalogs are the most fun. In these, there are always lakes with wooded margins, begging for a little cabin. A small place where a guy can hole up and think literary thoughts and type quietly. Well, it’s a thought, anyway. And that’s what catalogs do, stimulate our thinking.
Spring catalogs are the novels of optimistic lives.
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Brought to you by Bass Pro Shops. Visit them at http://www.basspro.com/.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
31st Annual Meriden Daffodil Festival
by Ernie Larsen
I’m starting to write this on the first day of spring, well let me tell you, I hope the weather gets a lot warmer before Meriden’s premier event, the Meriden Daffodil Festival. It’s about 30F outside right now and could go as low as 20F or less tonight, brrrrr……..well, it did get pretty chilly last night but yesterday, Saturday the 21st was really nice, sunny, but still only in the 40’s; what I call the New Englander’s bible, well some of us anyway, the Old Farmer’s Almanac, pegged it right when it predicted cloudy and cool weather for today. I thought I’d just check ahead – for April 25-30 (the Festival is on April 25 and 26th) the fabled yellow covered tome is predicting sunny and warm weather. Sure hope so, it’ll be a good thing for everyone, the 30 plus non-profit food vendors from the area many who use the Silver Fork Food tent as their major fundraiser for the year, the talented crafters from all over the eastern seaboard displaying their unique creations, be it a hand made Adirondack chair or some local honey or a pair of knitted baby booties, maybe a clever sign for the front lawn or a new mirror for the bathroom, well whatever it is these crafter never cease to amaze me with their cleverness. Then their the thousands who come to either participate or just enjoy watching Daffodils on Parade the annual marching extravaganza through the park; and of course those who make it a yearly pilgrimage for the music, three stages of continuous entertainment with an entree to please every musical palate. And I’d be remiss not mentioning the Business Expo on the tennis courts sponsored by Meriden’s exuberant Chamber of Commerce, highlighting local companies and firms starting on Friday and wrapping up on Sunday. And, oh yes, the children, Theater of the Trees, kid’s free entertainment Saturday and Sunday and the ever popular amusement rides. All this among the 600,001 blooming daffodils in historic Hubbard Park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic places. All of these events benefit from good weather and if the O.F.A. prediction holds, this years event will be second to none based on what the Daffodil Committee has been planning for long before the beginning of the New Year.
And this year especially, people deserve some good times, with all that’s been going on with the economy, financial firm hi-jinks, along with being held hostage almost every week with a snowstorm, it’s time for a break; the Daffodil Festival offers just that, a respite from the real world, if only for a few hours and for the most part it offers many free events. The entertainment, parade, Business Expo have no admission and there is free parking and shuttle service directly to the heart of Hubbard Park so you can start having fun as soon as you arrive; when you disembark from the shuttle and start walking into the Festival proper you’ll be serenaded by one of the talented bands playing their hearts out on the Jeff Crooms Welcome Stage and there’s plenty more from where that came from. Remember for complete listings of entertainment head for your computer and http://www.daffodilfest.com/ for the most up to date information on the Festival, this interactive site has tons of information and is updated continuously to keep everyone abreast of latest Daffodil Festival – no computer, give the Department of Recreation a call, (203) 630-4259.
So let’s review where and when, in less than 30 days the first events of “Daffodil Week” commence. On Saturday April 18 the Daffodil Festival committee hosts Connecticut’s Largest Tag Sale under the Festival tent: over 100 vendors displaying and offering their treasures for sale. The same day, the 18th, a fishing derby for children takes place at Mirror Lake, tentatively scheduled from 10: AM until noon – youngsters are encouraged to bring their own tackle, although a very limited number of rods will be available as well as
bait – there is no charge to participate and prizes will be awarded, you don’t even have to catch a fish to win a prize. For sports fans, the weekend of Saturday and Sunday April 18 and 19 is designated ‘Sports Weekend’ in Hubbard Park. Meriden’s own Beat the Street boxing club hosts a series of amateur boxing matches; there is a nominal admission fee for this event with all proceeds turned back to the club to encourage the sport. On Sunday the action kicks off with the 8th Annual Meriden Rotary Club 5K Road Race. And maintaining tradition, the Festival reverts back to its roots hosting the selection of Little Miss Daffodil and her Honor Escort, Wednesday evening April 22nd. The Business Expo begins with a business to business opening on Friday the 24th and the annual springtime extravaganza, the 31st annual Meriden Daffodil Festival, a party so big it takes two weekends to make it all happen, opens at 10:00 AM on April 25th. Shuttle buses begin at 9:00 AM from all locations.
This year, the Festival is truly a Meriden and Connecticut homegrown event; all the musical entertainment has either a Meriden or Connecticut connection, from Meriden’s own inimitable troubadour Frank Critelli to local talent gone nationwide, the Alternate Routes; The Bad Reps, a trio of politicos featuring Speaker of the Ct. House of Representatives, Chris Donovan, looking to enhance their image through music, with three stages of continuous music it will be difficult to choose which group to enjoy; the ever popular Manchurians on the band shell stage or the crowd pleasing Zydeco Hogs in the food tent or one of the newcomers, Bird and Boys on the Welcome Stage. For you salsa lovers, Jesus Pagan will rock the house in the Silver Fork Food tent while one of my favorites, with their loyal following, The River Street Band takes the band shell stage. This year the festival is getting greener; a troop of local Boy Scouts will collect all recyclable cans and bottles and maintain the cleaning of tables in the Silver Fork Food Tent – the troop will realize the profits of turning in the cans/bottles for their deposit value and importantly receive a lesson in community involvement through this major volunteer effort. And again this year, food vendors are encouraged to use biodegradable food service items – with one of the major food suppliers expanding the availability of same to make this a truly environmentally friendly event.
And that’s not all on Saturday evening when the sun sets over East peak, a spectacular fireworks display lights the sky over Castle Craig. This exhibit draws ooohs and aaahs from those in the park and other spots in Meriden. For those in the surrounding towns, this display is visible from Southington, Cheshire, and Berlin. And on Sunday, the Festival continues, a fun-filled weekend in historic Hubbard Park.
So, are you ready to party? This winter was really a doozy – get out to the Festival, check out the crafts, enjoy some of that great fair food and just relax and listen to the music amidst the 600,001 daffodils in historic Hubbard Park. Come on out, join your family, friends and neighbors; enjoy a day having fun, forget about what’s been going on for a few hours.
The Committee has planned activities that will entertain, sustain and amaze. A weekend filled with food, flowers, fireworks and fun. Hope to see you at Meriden’s premier event, the Meriden Daffodil Festival, April 25 and 26th 2009, in historic Hubbard Park. Saturday, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
For more information http://www.daffodilfest.com/ or the Meriden Parks and Recreation (203) 630-4259.
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22ND ANNUAL “DAFFODILS ON PARADE”
The 22nd Annual “Daffodils on Parade” will take place on Saturday, April 25th at 11:30AM. The parade is one of the main features of the 31st Annual Meriden Daffodil Festival, which takes place on Saturday, April 25th (10:00AM-9:00PM) and Sunday, April 26th(10:00AM-5:00PM) at beautiful Hubbard Park. The theme of this year’s parade is “The Music in Me,” and participants will be singing & dancing from the start at Castle Drive, down West Main Street, into Hubbard Park and around Mirror Lake.
“Daffodils on Parade” has been very fortunate over the years to have the creative participation of the central Connecticut community, and this year will be no exception. Numerous local businesses, civic groups, and community organizations will be ready to go. Marching bands, highlighted by representative units from the four Meriden secondary schools, will be tuned up and looking to entertain. Dignitaries such as Little Miss Daffodil & Honor Escort, veterans’ groups, honor guards, beauty queens, and many local politicians will be decked out in spiffy attire. The usual parade notables like jugglers & clowns will also be in attendance, as well as special appearances from Spiderman, Captain America, and Ronald McDonald.
What really makes the parade unique are the many floats gracing the route and the tremendous enthusiasm displayed by the hundreds of student marchers. Floats require a great deal of effort to design, build, and utilize, but they truly are sights to behold. The festival committee is extremely grateful to the schools & community groups that will invest the time necessary to create them. The committee is equally grateful to our public & parochial school administrators, teachers, parents, and students who inject such liveliness into the event. There will be plenty of both floats & school groups to see this year.
As exciting as the parade will be, there is still one thing missing – YOU! The thousands of spectators lining the route are the final piece of the parade puzzle. If you have ever watched a previous one, thank you. Your presence provides an appreciation to the participants. If you have never seen one, why not make 2009 the year to do it? You will not only understand “why everybody loves a parade,” but also how fortunate it is to live in such a community-minded place.
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Earth Day
This year for Earth Day (April 22nd), do something different. Help the community, the environment and maybe even yourself by joining the Freecycle Network online.
Freecycle is an online network where people can give away old or unwanted items instead of throwing them away. The Freecycle.org website is similar to shopping or selling on Ebay or Craig’s list, except every item posted is 100% free. The Freecycle website’s mission statement is: “Freecycle is a non-profit organization whose main goal is to reduce waste, save precious resources, and ease burden on landfills.”
It’s easy; all you have to do is sign up, put up a listing for the items you want to give away and if someone in your area is looking for that, they can come pick it up. Almost anything goes: Items can be new or used, working or not. Freecycle members have offered everything from clothing and toys to furniture, dishwashers, plants, and camping gear.
Need parts for a broken appliance? Or maybe props for the school play? Check out the local Freecycle listings or post a request of your own. You never know what you will find. When a CT Girl Scout troop was looking for a tent for a camping trip, they got responses from several Freecycle members offering not only several tents, but rowboats, firewood, camp chairs and sleeping bags!
Recent area Freecycle listings include a Coleman outdoor gas fireplace, a pet carrier, and vegetable steamer and crockpot in Wallingford. And Meriden Freecyclers have offered curtains, children’s toys, books, and a king sized bed and triple dresser. For more information on these listings or to find more in our area, go to the Meriden Freecycle network’s website: http://www.freecycle.org/group/United%20States/Connecticut/Meriden or visit http://www.freecycle.org/ for other CT area Freecycle networks.
Freecycle is a great way to help others in the community while keeping your items out of landfills. The Freecycle Network Worldwide has reported that its members are keeping 55 tons of goods out of landfills each day! So, before you throw your old things out, make a change and make a difference in community and the environment, and log on to Freecycle.org.
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Gettysburg - A history lover's dream!!
By Matt Reynolds
In this historic year in United States history ( inauguration of Barack Obama ) I can think of no better way to celebrate it than a visit to Gettysburg, PA..
I recently had the pleasure of accompanying my brother and his family on a weekend trip there. The place absolutely oozes history everywhere you go and has so many battlefield memorials that you can't get to everything in one long weekend. The Gettysburg National Military Park is one of the best of it's kind in the world and includes the restored Cyclorama. The Cyclorama is a panoramic painting exquisitely and painstakingly restored to more than it's original glory. It shows in all it's glory Pickett's historic charge and " The high water mark of the Confederacy. " Never again would the South threaten the North on it's own soil. This was the brilliant General Robert E. Lee's last real offensive against the Northern Army of the Potomac led by the newly christened General George Meade.
We hired a Gettysburg National Park Battlefield Guide to drive us around the battlefields and convey his extensive knowledge to us. It was well worth the time and effort.
He showed us where the Connecticut soldiers fought and their memorial monuments. We also visited the grand opening of "The David Will's House and Museum" where Abraham Lincoln slept the night before his famous "Gettysburg Address" and also put the finishing touches on it!
The highlight of our trip was a post breakfast walk of the route that the Confederate General Pickett's division took during their historic charge!! We saw where the most intensive fighting took place. Our trip was complete when we visited the Union memorials on top of "Little Round Top" and "Big Round Top".
If you love history do yourself a favor and VISIT THIS PLACE!!!!!
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Meriden Junior Girl Scout Troop 66070 proudly announces the winners of the City of Meriden Photo Contest that benefited 1711 Solomon Goffe House and the Meriden Humane Society.
1st Place Michelle Hansen, Maloney High School Student
2nd Place Christian Adamik, Maloney High School Student
3rd Place Katie Filippides, Ben Franklin Student
A traveling exhibit featuring the beautiful photographs of all entries will be held
at the Sandman Gallery, 39 West Main Street, Meriden. Dates to be determined and publicized.. .
Traveling next to Gallery 53, 53 Colony Street, Meriden. Dates to be determined and publicized.
A reception honoring the photographers will be held at the Meriden Public Library (date to be determined and announced- all entrants will be notified by phone and email). There will be a collection for donations to the 1711 Solomon Goffe House and the Meriden Humane Society during that event.
The Junior Girl Scouts had a fun time judging the photographs. Emily, a 5th grader at Israel Putnam said: “It was fun to put together the photo contest and to help out the Solomon Goffe House and the Meriden Humane Society.” Jessica, a 4th grader at the school agreed by adding: “helping out the Solomon Goffe House and the Humane Society was an important part of it.” Destiny, a 5th grader at Putnam shared that “the photos we so beautiful and outstanding”! The Troop agreed that they would like to do this again next year.
The Girl Scout Troop would like to thank Mrs. Jessica Sperry, Fine Arts Department Chair of Maloney High School for encouraging some of her talented photography students to partake in the contest. The entries were amazingly beautiful. Maloney High School has some very creative and talented students. You will see proof of that if you visit the Traveling Exhibit or the Reception, which all citizens are invited to.
The Girls Scouts also want to thank Lisa Nosal of Frame and Art in Wallingford for her generous donation of time and talent in matting a few of the photo submissions.
The donation box along with the Wish Lists is still up at the Meriden Public Library if you are interested in donating to either organization. We appreciate your generosity.
Lufberry Park in the Spring
By Priscilla Reynolds
This year, 2009, is very reluctant to show any signs of spring. Lufberry Park is located on the west side of Wallingford off Cheshire Road. Chipper and I love to climb the hill there and look over Ashlar Village and take in the hills of Meriden. The date is March 25, 2009: we are alone; no other dogs, no other hikers, no cars parked near the fenced in base ball field.
Broken down trees and briar bushes bar our way on the west trail but Chipper, joyously, runs in and around the prickers and devastation. I concentrate on finding new life on this fifth day of spring after a long frigid winter. And yes, there is! The wonderful warmth of the SUN is sufficient: more light, less wind, finally the promise of Spring.
We pass under three bridges of large broken trees. The beginning of the red trail has three trees bending low and together--one more catastrophe of Nature about to happen but I can't believe that we are in danger on such a beautiful day. There were darker days when I viewed the standing bare trunks of trees with some trepidation. Huge monsters seemed to reach out for us, as they did in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz" when Dorothy, the tin man, the scarecrow and the Lion (and Toto) escaped from the terrifying trees marching across the screen. My eyesight fails me at times and I can imagine many exciting things. Looking up from the newly constructed kiosk, I turned to Chipper, "Is that a bear?" It turned out to be a form of fungus or tumor on the tree.
Back to the red trail: we approach two lovely evergreens, Holly bushes with pointed strong leaves, a pleasant sight against the snows of the past winter, and a contrast now against the stubborn browns and broken limbs. Three ornaments hang off one of these trees, a perpetual "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. One of these ornaments has been hanging there at least six years.
We start climbing the steep part of our journey. Jagged igneous rocks are scattered on the slope. We turn off the trail to a plateau, another lookout toward the west. Someone has made a fireplace made of huge rocks and evidence of camping out surrounds the area. At one time the view encompassed more woods--now, new homes toward the west detract from the solitude, but the ever-changing sunset on a fair day never disappoints you.
We follow the path again toward the summit. We pass two giant pine trees with silver-white bark and bristles of green brush against the sky. I look down and see a trunk of a tree caught in another pine tree perpendicular to the ground. I walk under it--a broom handle away. We have reached the fence that separates the park from land belonging to the Masonic Home, and from the summit we look East and Southeast over Ashlar Village and the lovely Meriden Mountains.
Throughout the woods in the distance we spot small trees with golden coins attached. (I remember my Mom reading me stories about golden leaved trees.) These are the Blessed Beech trees. When closer to them the leaves appear pale and oblong, strongly attached to irregular branches The Blue jays, often dubbed troublemakers in the bird world, are credited with carrying the seeds of these lovely trees throughout the woods. One full-grown beech tree stands at the edge of the white trail overlooking a field. Its smooth, gray bark makes it much more huggable than other trees. Its thin bark also makes this tree vulnerable to disease. On our beloved Beech tree are engravings from many ignorant humans. We humans must learn to count our blessings, not destroy them.
Many years ago some group labeled several of the trees on the white path. The labels are difficult to read now; the devastation has claimed trees with labels too. But it was remarkable that these? boys (now, men) could distinguish a red Oak from a white Oak, a red Maple from a white Maple. Pignut hickory trees, black and white Birch, Witchhazel, white Ash, Tulip tree and black Cherry are also labeled trees. This endeavor as well as the recent building of the kiosk, the wooden bench near the beech tree and the marked paths are commendable and a real gift to me and other outdoor lovers.
The warmth and light from the sun on March 25, 2009 is a promise of New Growth and Hope for the Future.
(More research is needed to honor those who have gifted Lufberry Park and also to give an accurate history of the Lufberry family. I hope to do this in the future.)
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
AT THE HEART OF IT ALL!
By: Staci M. Roy, Executive Director of the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center (ACCC)
In these tough economic times we are trying to offer many programs and events at the Center that are affordable or even free and that may help to take you away from it all for a just a bit right in your own community. In April we will be hosting a multitude of events for all ages to enjoy:
Valerie Bubon, a teacher of Opera will be presenting “Mozart’s Magic Flute” for ages 8 to 80 on Wednesday, April 15th at 1:30, admission is $5.00 and children under 12 are free. This is a video presentation and will be a wonderful way to get some culture with your child during their school vacation.
The Augusta Curtis Concert Band (ACCB) will be doing a benefit concert for the Center on Sunday, April 19th in Hubbard Park on the tennis courts under a large tent at 3:30pm. Admission will be $5.00 and all proceeds go to benefit the Center and the Band. The band is made up of about 42 musicians ranging in age from 13 to 80 and at all skill levels of playing. Most of the band members come from Meriden, but other communities are represented as well. ACCB will be playing many familiar concert band tunes to entertain audiences of all ages. We are also looking for a sponsor for this event, if interested please call 203-639-2856 or e-mail us accc@ci.meriden.ct.us.
Monday, April 20th at 7:00pm we will be featuring the Hartt School of Music’s Classical Guitar Department. These guitarists are some of the best to have ever played before our audiences. These students have master the guitar and are bringing a new level of entertainment to the Meriden area. This program is also donation of choice and worth so much more.
The Hartt School of Music is to Connecticut what Julliard is to New York and how lucky we are to have them performing at our Center not only once but twice this month. On Sunday, April 26th at 3pm the 20/20 Performance group will be doing a classical performance that will feature the best string players of the school. These students have to try out not only to get into Hartt, but also to get into the 20/20/ program. Admission is donation of choice.
Meriden’s Arts & Cultural Center is At the Heart of it all and we are hoping you will attend on of our many events. The Center is also hosting events call Nits Out at the Augusta usually on a Friday or Saturday evening at 8pm featuring live entertainment and cabaret style. We provide ice, mixers, and water and good fun. Bring your food, friends, and drinks and enjoy an inexpensive evening out, tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The next Niter Out will be Friday, May 8th featuring Daniel Taylor, a young musician from Maine. Daniel sold out the last time he was with us, so get you tickets soon!
The Center is here for everyone to enjoy and use. Please help us to serve you by attending an event, becoming a member, making a donation becoming a volunteer, or using us for your next special events. For more information or to see what is coming up At the Augusta go to http://www.curtiscutluralcenter.org/. Keep your hearts in the arts and The Augusta Curtis Cultural Center at the Heart of it all!!
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HARBINGERS OF SPRING
FOLLOW LONG HARD WINTER
By Phyllis S. Donovan
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t greet the arrival of spring with a huge sigh of relief after surviving yet another long hard winter.
The downside of having winter snows finally melt away, however, is the revelation of all the damage and detritus that has lain, up to now, buried and thankfully unobserved, beneath snowbanks along the sides of the roads.
We have never seen such absolute destruction in our neighborhood as was wreaked throughout our neighborhood by snowplows this year. I’m not talking about an occasional curb dug into when a driver misjudged the side of a road. I’m talking about nearly every other property sporting great chunks of curb ripped up and tossed onto front lawns as well as wide muddy swaths cut into the lawns themselves. Most of the damage happened during one storm near the end of the season. It looked like a demolition derby had rampaged through the neighborhood! Luckily, my husband had the foresight to place a row of flexible red driveway markers all along the front edge of our property to warn the plows away. Our curb, as a result, stayed intact but the widow lady next door suffered great damage to her front yard and who’s going to fix that?
Recently we read in the newspaper that plow drivers (at least in Southington) are assigned to specific routes and those same drivers, when winter ends, are charged with going back along those routes, accessing any damage they caused and repairing that damage. If that’s how things operate in Meriden, it looks like the guy (or guys) assigned to our neighborhood have assured themselves an entire summer of repair work.
Another revelation each spring is the trash that has accumulated along our streets and highways. In neighborhoods, people are pretty good about picking up stuff dropped or tossed in front of their houses. But have you driven along Research Parkway recently? We drive that route often bringing outgoing mail down to the big district Post Office just over the Wallingford line. (Letters mailed in the outdoor boxes there are delivered anywhere in Connecticut the very next day which is super service.)
All along the length of this largely commercial but still rural strip, the bushes and grassy areas are festooned with discarded plastic, paper and assorted fast food junk tossed from cars and blown to the edges of the road. Right now, with everything flattened by winter, the trash is most noticeable. We always wish a scout troop or other youth group would adopt that stretch of highway and devote a weekend to cleaning it up. Eventually, the reeds, grasses and brush along the way will grow up around the mess and it won’t be so noticeable as it molders there. Meanwhile, we despair at the slovenliness of people who drive by there and just toss out debris to desecrate this otherwise attractive strip.
Happily, we’ve noticed that the pair of swan who frequent a small pond along our daily route have once again set up housekeeping in the reeds at the far side of the water. Every spring Mama Swan returns to the same spot to sit faithfully on her nest over there. Last year she hatched three little brown cygnets which she and her mate guarded faithfully all summer, swimming in rank on both sides of the babies until the little ones grew big, turned white and moved on. Now the parents are back, hopefully to start another family for us to watch grow.
On the same morning in mid-March that the drifts of purple crocuses blossomed in front of our house, I witnessed a ritual which was clearly a certain sign of the arrival of spring.
I was having breakfast at the time and looking out at the usual birdie comings and going on our back deck. It was still a little early for the arrival of the little birds -- the goldfinches, titmice and chickadees -- paying their morning visit. The only ones out there were two mourning doves sitting complacently side by side on the deck railing.
As I watched, the larger of the two started pecking at his feathers, transforming his usual sleek appearance into a messy mass of spiky tufts that made him look at least half again his usual size. While he was doing this, his partner turned her back on him and pretended she was unaware of his transformation.
When she finally took a peek at him, she obviously liked what she saw and started snuggling up to him. She moved over right next to him on the railing and he would indifferently back away a little. She’d try to snuggle again and he’d move away. After three or four of these snuggle moves, she reached over and pecked his chest a couple of times, wagging her tail up and down in agitation. Eventually they touched beaks together and she turned her back to him, ruffling her tail feathers as she went. Overcome by desire, he pounced on her back, wings spread and had his way with her.
Thus sated, he backed off and sat in stunned silence while she coolly gazed off in the opposite direction from where he sat. I figured that brief encounter was the end of it, but no, as soon as his ruffled feathers sleeked back down into place, he started plucking them up again and repeated the whole process. Better than National Geographic!
After the second go-around, the little lady flew off, soon followed by her smitten suitor. So yes, in spring, birds do it, I imagine bees do it, and lately squirrels have been chasing each other in pairs through our back woods and round and round the trunk of the huge old maple tree that grows in our neighbor’s yard just across the fence from our bird feeders which they love.
Spring is especially welcome this year. I’ve been just about supporting Greenbackers with my purchases of huge bags of sunflower seeds, cakes of suet and bags of the thistle seed the finches love. Those finches can empty a large cylinder feeder in less than a week with the entire flock perched all at once at every opening of the feeder. My payback for that comes within a month or so when they start turning yellow. It’s like having a backyard of canaries flying around.
I know that some robins stay north all winter, our grandchildren in Ridgefield counted a flock of 14 on their lawn not long ago. But I never see them. So when I spy the first robin in our neighborhood each spring, I’m always thrilled. Of course, it would help if this year he hadn’t chosen to risk life and limb by slowly flying low right in the path of my car as I was driving up our hill as if to say “Look at me! Look at me!”
We had hoped to get down to Florida this past winter to visit our numerous friends who have relocated there, but there was always some reason we couldn’t get together on a two-week period in our busy lives when neither of us had a commitment.
So here it is spring, we never went to Florida and now it is too late to even consider it. Why would we want to go south now anyways when it’s starting to warm up around here and things are happening? Spring is always my favorite time of year and I’d hate to miss a single day of it.
Not that we could really complain about the winter we’ve just come through. I think it was probably one of the prettiest winters we’ve had in years. With the snow remaining on the ground for most of the entire season, we had more than our share of bright sunny days with blue skies that made us feel happy to be New Englanders. My Canadian grandfather always said that winters were healthier when the ground was covered (with snow, that is.) I believe he was right. We survived this past winter without even a head cold (after last year being really floored by an awful flu that petered off into violent vertigo attacks.)
So here we are going into a lovely stretch of warm spring days and loving every moment of it. Spring is its own reward and we’ll never forget it!
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Your Future is Now©
I hear people saying it’s a very bad time
And some complain that they don’t have a dime
But in reality this is a period of gold
A time to be active, a time to be bold
It’s a time to work hard some don’t know what that means
It’s now peanut butter, hotdogs and beans
It’s a time of transition, a time to invent
A time for connecting to the glories God sent
There are three things we all have that are the same
It’s time, money and creativity - so let’s start the game
If you have time, use it wisely each and every day
Help someone else in a spiritual way
Give of your money to those whose fortune is less
But still pay some bills and clean up your mess
It costs nothing to walk and enjoy the outdoors
Or use a row boat… with those great big oars
Remember without valleys, there are no mountains to climb
So enjoy the river, the scenery and every church chime
Know that in history this has happened before
In every town and city and in every war
Watch what comes out of your mouth - keep it positive talk
Spend time watching others, watch them like a hawk
For negatives will not help you but hustling will
And soon things will change and you’ll pay every bill
So pull the plug on the computer the TV and all
And spend time with your children, breathe fresh air and play ball
Many jobs that will be available in fifteen years
Have not yet been created, so wipe away your tears
We have all been a part of the change we now see
Forget about saying “oh goodness, poor me”
Get going right now, and do your part
Do what you know is your passion, it’s straight from your heart
Have we been mindless and is “worry” your theme?
Forget it for now for it’s time to daydream
We must clean up the environment and regain our health
Think of each other and not just our wealth
It’s time to sparkle and laugh every day
And enjoy one another and what loved ones say
So walk in the rain and enjoy the sunshine too
Love and have faith in all that you do
You’re starting to climb, this you believe and know
For your future is now - you are starting to grow
Carolyn Finch
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UNICOONAROO
By Dorothy Adair Gonick
At the edge of a wide spreading meadow, in the shelter of the Catalpa grove, mother Raccoon busily stitched the big catalpa leaves into party hats. Above, catalpa beans hung like fringe from the branches. She had a pile of the beans nearby, ready for juicy snacking. Her two baby raccoons were playing hide-and-seek with their friend Joey, while Joey’s mother, Roo Kangaroo, kept watch to see that none strayed. The breezes ruffled their fur as they leaped and played around the meadow. Jumping in and out of Mama Roo’s pouch playing peek-a-boo was a new game for the baby raccoons, and they loved it.
The wind was blowing the wispy clouds into a big swirly mass, known as ‘mare’s tails’, which blew down around their heads and dropped Eunice the unicorn down among them. She pranced gracefully all around the group. Excited cries from everyone welcomed her to their party. Mother raccoon gave each a party hat to wear, and Eunice’s fitted right over her special horn and began glowing a bright blue, much to their amazement.
As they were munching the Catalpa beans, the breezes suddenly became strong and grew into an angry wind—black and furious and whirled upon the party. Mamma Roo quickly tucked the little ones into her pouch; Eunice ordered Mother Raccoon and Mama Roo to climb on her back and to hold on tightly to her mane as she was afraid the wind would blow them away. The wind swirled around the group, picking them up and twirling them high in the air, faster and faster as it spun higher and higher into the sky. The friends huddled tightly together, clinging fast, hearts pounding with fright, the babies crying for their mothers. Suddenly, the wind ceased, dropping them in a tangled heap back into the catalpa grove.
They lay sprawled in that tangled heap and tried to get free of one another, but it was impossible. They had clung together so tightly that each was squashed into the others, and finally when able to stand, they saw that they had melded into one new creature. A Unicoonaroo!
Mother raccoon looked all around, calling for her babies. The three youngsters pushed their way up in Mama Roo’s pouch and peeked out, calling, “Mama! Mama!” There on their heads were pointy unicorn horns where the party hats had been. Mother Raccoon’s party hat had also become a horn, but what had happened to Joey’s mama? Her pouch was still around them, but where was the rest of Mama Roo? And their friend Eunice was not all there either, and her tail had raccoon stripes all along it. They had truly become a magical animal. Today, if you look carefully, and are very quiet, you might find Unicoonaroo in that special catalpa grove, munching catalpa beans. You might even be invited to come and party.
July 2007
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CAMP SAFETY
When you send your children to camp, you expect them to swim, play tennis, do arts and crafts and make plenty of new friends. You expect them to have an experience they can remember their whole lives.
Most of all, you expect them to be safe.
More than 10 million children go to camp each year. There are about 12,000 camps in the U.S.; 7,000 are overnight and 5,000 are day camps. Unfortunately, only about 25 percent are accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA), which provides accreditation to camps for meeting certain industry standards.
So how safe are camps?
We know children are injured and several children die each year while spending time away from home at camp. But the real statistics are a mystery, because camps aren't required by federal law to report injuries and deaths. The ACA will report deaths, but there is no information available from the other 75 percent of non-accredited camps, which don't report to the organization.
To help protect your children, use the following checklist when deciding on a camp program:
ACA Accreditation: These camps have a higher safety standard than non-accredited camps. But remember, even if you find an accredited camp, you still need to investigate its safety standards.
Staff-to-camper ratio: How many campers are assigned to each counselor or staff member? Ratios differ by age groups, so you need to use your judgment when evaluating the camp's ratio. High school aged children may need fewer councilors than a camp designed for elementary school aged children. In general, at resident camps, the ACA recommends the following staff to camper ratios:
1:6 for ages 7 and 8
1:8 for ages 9 to 14
1:10 for ages 15 to 17
At day camps, recommendations are 1:8 for children 6 to 8, 1:10 for ages 9 to 14, and 1:12 for campers ages 15 to 17.
Staff training: What kinds of training do the counselors and other staff members have to go through? Who provides the training – the camp, or an outside agency? Outside agencies are always preferred, and counselors should always be trained in basic first aid.
Background checks: Do the counselors and other camp staff have to undergo background checks? The ACA requires staff screening, which can include criminal background checks where permitted by law. Even camps that are not ACA-accredited should investigate the background of anyone who is going to be in close contact with children.
Medical care: Are there trained medical staff on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? There should also be first aid equipment to handle every potential situation, from bug bites and cuts and scrapes, to more serious injuries.
Emergency transportation: How long would it take an ambulance to reach the camp in case of emergency? Are there vehicles at the camp that could transport your child to a hospital? These questions are especially important if the camp is off the beaten path, far from a medical facility.
Skills test: Does the camp require campers to take a skills test before swimming, diving, boating, rock climbing, rappelling, or horseback riding? Campers should never be allowed to participate in an activity for which they're not ready or properly trained.
Buddy system: Are children paired up by the "buddy" system before swimming or participating in other water activities? A buddy can alert counselors if his or her partner gets into trouble in the water.
Don Keenan, the founder of Keenan’s Kids Foundation, is the author of the child safety book 365 Ways to Keep Kids Safe, which is available at http://www.balloonpress.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/. All proceeds benefit the Keenan’s Kids Foundation, http://www.keenanskidsfoundation.com/ or www.myspace.com/365waystokeepkidssafe.com.
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ORPHAN LANDS
Prescription drug remedies without a substantial market are often ignored by major drug companies leaving a gap of neglect for those with rare diseases. Likewise, in many cases, big environmental groups tend to ignore focusing on the positive but less popular end of environment and land use work: fighting to preserve existing industrial and commercial land for these designated purposes. This is particularly true when the land has natural or legal characteristics that support such uses.
“Keeping land available for coastal and other industrial uses, including rail yards, rail rights-of-way, ports, shipyards, and other suitable activities is in everyone’s interest and deserves the focused attention of environmental groups,” said Bill Urban, Executive Director of the Connecticut Conservation Association (“CCA”).
CCA is best known as the Great Meadows. This stretch of land is now part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and is about to get a major addition of protected land when Stratford and Bridgeport complete the sale and transfer of Pleasure Beach properties to the Federal Government.
Less known is CCA’s battle to preserve the former Carpenter Technology site from real estate developers that somehow thought this deep water site on the East End of Bridgeport Harbor is best suited for a retail development; in this case, a Price Club. The developers claimed that a public walkway along the waterfront was sufficient to satisfy the Coastal Area Management Act’s requirement that such sites must be used for appropriate water related activities. CCA disagreed emphatically and filed suit in Bridgeport’s Superior Court.
CCA argued that a natural deep water area with a water related industrial history should be preserved only for such activities; and not be used as scenic viewing stands for condo dwellers or shoppers. CCA’s case claimed that such land is very limited, serves an industrial economic purpose, customarily provides jobs with wages well above retail and can support national security in times of war. Further, CCA offered evidence of toxic pollutants on the site that were highly likely to disqualify it for any use other than industrial.
The Developers, The Bridgeport Regional Business Council, the City of Bridgeport and other interested parties joined the fray showing up in court as a line of 1,500 dollar suits touting big name firms. CCA fielded just one underpaid attorney with a tweed jacket, a professorial looking sweater, and enough paper to block-out any sign of a table top on the Plaintiff’s side of the court.
Urban said, “We had hoped to save the site for a deepwater related use and establish case law that differentiated deep water areas with industrial histories from properties that simply have a water view and are unlikely to provide deepwater uses. However, although we failed to make any case law, the suit ended with a hardy “CCA Mission Accomplished” when we introduced evidence of the site’s industrial contamination and the Price Club promptly abandoned the project.”
Today the site is occupied by the Connecticut Derector Shipyard. It employs over 200 well paid (As opposed to low wage retail jobs) workers, builds ferries, tug boats, yachts and other commercial vessels and sells them to the world at large bringing millions of dollars into Connecticut economy and the families of Bridgeport area workers. The Derector Shipyard is now building what is believed to be the world’s largest yacht, two 130 foot tug boats for Boston Harbor operations, and recently completed construction of a major ferry for the Alaska Ferry system.
Urban concluded, “I call that a win-win for all. The more we see of this kind of conservation the more we will see reductions in the pressures for sprawl and unnecessary road traffic.”
Eds Note: The Connecticut Conservation Association is a non profit, tax exempt, membership group with an office in Bridgeport. CCA can be reached at 203-384-2000. Memberships and donations greatly appreciated. CCA is a founding member of Earthshare New England.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
SPRING
By: Brandon DiMichele
The sun beating down making flowers come up. Showers falling down to cure the thirst of those flowers. The birds returning from the south to create nests. This is what spring is all about. Spring is nestled between the two seasons’ winter (with the brutally cold snow) and summer (with the brutal sun temperatures). Spring is where the bees go on a hunting spree for pollen. It is where caterpillars come out from the cocoons to live a life as a butterfly. That is what happens when you wake up on the first day of spring.
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We’re all in this Together: Surviving Job Loss during these Tough Economic Times
By Jennifer Jenkins
An idea for an article popped into my head yesterday (March 24, 2009) – “We’re all in this together: Surviving job loss during these tough economic times.” It’s funny that others, including the President stated the same phrase: “We’re all in this together,” hours later, in his televised address to the nation. I guess what the metaphysicians say is true, that we are all connected on some cosmic level and that what affects one person ultimately affects another.
If you watch or hear the news these days, you realize that a number of people have been let go from their jobs and are feeling anxious about their current situation. I want to say first and foremost: You are not alone and that you will survive. I know from my own personal experiences that tough times do make you stronger and that when you are feeling extremely low that that is the time to tell yourself: “I must not quit. This situation is only temporary. By the grace of God, I will survive this, be better off for it, and appreciate all the blessings I have.”
From personal experience and wisdom, I can also stress the importance of keeping yourself busy after losing a job. It’s one thing to give your self a few days to nurture yourself; it’s another to give up and become a permanent couch potato. A wise thing to do is to keep a routine. Get up early, as if you were going to work. Shower, dress and have breakfast. And, then hit the road. Go to the library or some other productive place where you can work on your job search. I have discovered that there are a number of libraries in this beautiful State of Connecticut that are rich in resources, from computers and free access to the internet to job hunting and computer training workshops. Of course, among other things, nearly all of them have career resource books to loan out. All you need is a library card.
Keeping yourself up to date on the latest job and career trends is also important. I learn quite a lot from listening to Tory Johnson, the employment specialist featured on ABC’s Good Morning America. One of the things she often stresses is doing productive things while unemployed, such as volunteer work, which impresses potential employers. You never know unless you try. Perhaps, the volunteer work, as she indicated this past week, can lead to a job.
A positive attitude is also important. You would be amazed by how others will judge you when you change your demeanor. When one exhibits a positive attitude, one tends to walk and speak with confidence. Put yourself in an employer’s shoes. Would you want to hire someone with a glum demeanor? I think not. Remember, they want to hire someone who is going to make a positive contribution to their company.
Ok. Perhaps, you’re not feeling very positive right now. Fake it. Say positive affirmations to yourself until you feel and exude positive vibes. By changing your thoughts, you do change your life. It may take time, but with discipline and attention to your thoughts, you will create a positive change in your life. Think of this process as maintaining a healthy garden. You never want to let weeds take control. Consider negative thoughts as weeds and your mind as the space where you grow your garden. Remember -- To have any healthy vibrant garden you must nurture and tend to it in order to reap a fruitful harvest. Do the same with your thoughts and you will ultimately reap abundant blessings as well.
Take time to nurture yourself. You don’t have visit a spa and spend a lot of money. Whatever gives your soul peace, from taking a bubble bath to a lovely walk in the park, is fine. Remember taking time to take care of yourself is ultimately going to help you stay centered, which is extremely important in terms of your job search. You want to walk into an interview feeling calm and centered, not anxious and scattered.
Also, stay connected to people in your life. For all you know, they are probably in need of someone like you for support as well. Speaking of support, how about starting a support group of people you know who are also out of work. Uniting during these difficult times helps people become more empowered. And, remember, “We are all in this together,” and together we will muster through these challenging times and be the better off for it.
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One lucky kitty and a gutsy young lady!
(Submitted by Barbara Sherburne on behalf of Mama Gin)
I have your email in front of me, and just have to laugh at those big fat cats having fun like little kittens. When we had cats on the farm or in Brookfield some years later, a friend gave us two tigers, and they played like that as kittens. They slept curled up together on the lawn tractor seat. One day one of them disappeared. Quite a long time later, probably a month, he came home, but he had been in a fight and had an infection on his chest.
I went to a large discount store we had in Brookfield, Ohio, at that time, and asked them for ether, an anesthetic. Of course they wanted to know what I wanted it for, and I told them. I think I had to sign a paper, but they let me have a small amount.
When I got home, I put the cat on a long counter surface in our bathroom and cleaned him up, especially the area which was infected, and cut the hair as close as possible around the injury. Ready with fine fishing line filament and a sewing needle and lots of alcohol to disinfect, I then used a tea strainer covered by a 3x3 gauze pad and dripped the ether onto the tea strainer, which I held over the kitty's nose. When he was asleep, I sewed him up, being careful to just keep him only slightly under. When he would begin to move, I would just drip enough ether to keep him relaxed. Anyway, it was successful.
I made him a jacket out of one of Don's socks to keep him from licking or scratching at the wound. Just before this all happened, I had graduated from the Licensed Practical Nursing School in Salem, Ohio, and had been present when a child was having a tonsillectomy, and that is the way they put the little boy to sleep.
Well yesterday we had a program here which was a married couple who played harmonicas. They were just fantastic and played for more than an hour, with talking and joking in between. They are call the "Hot Shots."[Virginia Althouse lives at Copeland Oaks in Sebring, Ohio, and will turn 93 on June 12th. She is affectionately called Mama Gin as she is the adoptive mother of my biological brother Ed, who was given up for adoption not long after my sister and I were.]
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Dear Housewives – Central Connecticut’s Know It All Gals
Dear Readers, Do you have a question regarding family life, budgeting, customer service issues, DVD or book reviews, or home organization? We will give you our candid advise from a family perspective. Contact The Peoples Press by e-mail or phone with your confidential question and we will answer it in the next issue. June and Flora
Dear Housewives,I recently went into a chain coffee/donut establishment and the server was not rude but was not friendly. She was young and stood there staring off into the distance while we were making our decision. No, smile, no small talk. I will not go back there But how does this happen? Why are clerks not giving the customer service we deserve?Meriden
JUNE: Customer service is at an all time low these days when it matters most. Stores are closing their doors everyday and the employees are not helping to keep them open by using good customer service. Managers need to train them in good customer service, hire only people with people skills and monitor them. People should do a service to the owner by letting them know before boycotting the store.
FLORA: By not going back, you are standing by your principles but writing or calling the manager/owner would be more pro-active.
Dear Housewives,
Should you take a child to a funeral? If they are young they won't really know what is going on and older kids may learn to deal with death by seeing the process. What do you think?
Meriden
JUNE: I think it depends on the situation. I think kids should not go unless it is an immediate family member. Many kids, especially little ones, will not have the etiquette or patience to sit through the service. They can disrupt the mourning. If your child is over the age of ten they may be able to be respectful and quiet.FLORA: When my grandmother died six years ago, I had 4 and a almost 3 year old; they did not go to the wake or the funeral. But, their distant cousins werethere and they were 5 years old. At first I thought it strange. But their mother quietly explained the process. They even went up to my Grandmother's casket. I was impressed with the way their mother handled it.I would think it's easier for a child to attend a church funeral than a wake. But if you start them young and explain the death process on their level, they will have a better understanding. But, there is always the but.... But, if your child has behavioral issues and is not disciplined, leave them home with a sitter.
A great movie to watch is "My Girl" with Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroid. This film deals with death from a child's perspective and is very well done.If you do take your child to a wake, you must prepare them for what they will see there ahead of time.
JUNE: Hi Flora, Spring is finally here. I am reading a few good books so I will review them next month. Time to start cleaning out the flower beds. FLORA: Hi June, yes, spring is here and it feels terrific. I am reading "The Shack" by Wm. Paul Young. A review will follow next month.
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FOR LEXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS): Read Carefully
1. A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.2. A will is a dead giveaway. 3. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.4. A backward poet writes inverse.5. In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.6. A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion. 7. If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.8. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.9. Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.10. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds. 11. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.12. A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France, resulting in Linoleum Blownapart.13. You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.14. Local Area Network in Australia: The LAN down under.15. He would often have to break into song because he couldn't find the key.16. A calendar's days are numbered.17. A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.18. A boiled egg is hard to beat. 19. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.20. A plateau is a high form of flattery.21. A short fortuneteller who escaped from prison: a small medium at large.22. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.23. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.24. If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.25. When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye !!!26. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.27. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.28. Acupuncture: a jab well done.
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LENTEN THOUGHTS
Lent is often thought of as a time of darkness. Perhaps we should see it as a period where God’s Light shines on our dark ways—letting it illuminate those habits that need reforming and letting His light and Love help us to re-form our thoughts, deeds and desires. A time to resist telling God what we want Him to do and ask Him to shine His light and love to re-form our hearts and clear away the dark areas.
1 Corinthians 2: 11…16
Often God uses nature to speak to us and we can take inspiration from qualities of the world around us. An example is the rose:
The rose rises above its thorny branch to bloom in splendor of beauty and fragrance and has become the symbol of love. Just as Christ poured forth divine Love while crowned with thorns, may we rise above the thorny times in our lives with a heart of love and be thankful that thorn bushes can bear roses.
Dorothy Gonick
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“Sheltering an Animal’s Perspective”
by
Gregory M. Simpson
The voiceless need your voice. Have you ever considered becoming an advocate for animals? Perhaps you never thought that as one person you could make a difference. Find your inspiration. Years ago, I was inspired by the words of a ten-year-old girl which were stenciled on the Earth Pavilion’s wall at Florida’s EPCOT Center. They read, “I may be only one person but I can be one person who makes a difference.”
Radio personality, Paul Harvey, queried, “Ever occur to you why some of us can be this much concerned with animal suffering? Because government is not. Why not? Animals don’t vote.” Since people are the ones who vote, you need to be a voice for the voiceless.
There are exceptions, of course, of those people in government who do care about animals. One man said in the 1800s, “I am in favour of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.” His name was Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately, today’s typical politician is no Abraham Lincoln, so you need to be the voice for the voiceless.
Animal advocates before you have included luminaries like humanitarian, Albert Schweitzer, who reasoned, “Ethics in our Western world has hitherto been largely limited to the relations of man to man. But that is a limited ethics. We need a boundless ethics which will include the animals also.”
So, what can one person do? Plenty. Start by being well-informed. Read. Resources come in many forms - newspapers, magazines, books, web-sites. One recommended newspaper is Animal People. Great books abound and include The Extended Circle: A Common Place Book of Animal Rights, edited by Jon Wynne-Tyson. Two classics are Animal Liberation by Peter Singer and The Case for Animal Rights by Tom Regan. Other superb books include: Man Kind? by Cleveland Amory, In the Company of Animals by James Serpell, Dominion by Matthew Scully, Animal Rights & Human Morality by Bernard Rollin and Rattling the Cage by Steven Wise.
Once you have explored areas of possible animal advocacy, choose one that interests you and join an advocacy group. For example, if protection of feral cats is your interest, there are local groups in Connecticut which specialize in helping feral cats, such as Catales (Middletown), Animal Alliance Welfare League (New Britain), MEOW (Litchfield), and Greater New Haven Cat Project (New Haven). On the national level, there is Alley Cat Allies.
To be more widespread in your advocacy, consider joining the statewide Animal Welfare Federation of Connecticut (AWFCT). On a national level, you may want to explore membership in such organizations as the American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Rights Network, or Friends of Animals, to name just a few. Many organizations have e-mail lists to alert you when to make contact with legislators about pending legislation.
Be prolific. Write letters to the editor. Editors especially like to print letters which take issue with something on the editorial page, i.e., another letter, an editorial, or an op. ed. piece. Second best are responses to news columns. Although animal issues can be emotional topics, don’t be overemotional in your writing. Animal advocates are already frequently viewed as being all emotion and no logic. Present new and factual data. Provide sources. Reinforce a professional demeanor by citing your credentials, if relevant. If you have a related advanced degree, list it. If you have a pertinent title, use it. If you have an animal group affiliation, mention it. Lacking expert status, consider using supporting quotations.
Know the list of your local, state and federal legislators. Contact them about animal issues. The best method of contact is in person, followed by letter or post card, then e-mails and phone calls. These contacts are critical and your legislator views each contact as representing a wider constituency. Learn which legislators or candidates are pro-animal and vote accordingly. The good news is that the current Connecticut federal congressional delegation is staunchly pro-animal. Their voting record is published regularly by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). When there is a matter before city hall or the state legislature that affects animals, be there to provide testimony. If that is too intimidating, then be there to support those who do.
Donate your time and money. Organizations need both volunteers and funds to do animal advocacy work. Many run on shoestring budgets. Research which groups pay exorbitant executive salaries as opposed to those that pay modest salaries or operate with volunteers. This information can be obtained through the publication Animal People. Join protest marches. Get involved. As anthropologist, Margaret Mead, said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Above all, stay focused on the words of one of the greatest change agents of all time, Gandhi, who said, “Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is most important that you do it.” Let this be your inspiration. Be a voice for the voiceless.
For the animals,
Gregory M. Simpson
Gregory Simpson’s animal welfare involvement spans over 25 years, having provided leadership for several Connecticut organizations, as well as having served as state advisor to the national Friends of Animals. Currently a Board member of Protectors of Animals, Inc., he was chosen by CAT FANCY magazine as one of the ultimate cat lovers in the U.S. He is also a member of the Cat Writers’ Association.
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One Woman's Journal
By Audrey C. Linke
Mike was a relative of a relative, maybe still a teen-ager when the tragedy occurred. I knew him slightly and I knew his mother from conversations shared at family gatherings. Mike was a boy to be proud of, and his family was, of course.
As he drove along in the town where he lived, a little girl suddenly stepped off the sidewalk in front of his car. With not so much as a split second to react, Mike had no choice but to hit her.
When we heard about the terrible untimely death of a small child, we were, like everyone else, horrified. The bereaved family of the little girl would be comforted by an entire community, but what of the other family?
I don't remember how much time went by before I decided to write to Mike. I don't even know if it was my decision, but the thought kept nagging at me until I knew I had to do something. I found a note card and with pen in hand sat down at my kitchen table with the thought that I must write something sympathetic to this fine young man whose life had been interrupted as surely as was the life of the little girl
who died. Mike was young, would have a long time to live with the inevitable guilt.
I didn't know what to write, but out of nowhere the Serenity Prayer came to me and I began with that. Then I remembered that I had a small key chain with the Serenity Prayer on it. I tucked it in with the note and sent it on its way.
I didn't know what I expected to accomplish with that simple prayer: "God grant me the courage to change the things I can, accept the things I can't change, and the wisdom to know the difference." But this is what I learned later from Jean, Mike's mom.
When the note came, Mike immediately put his car keys on the key chain. Up until then, he had been unable to get behind the wheel of his car and did not plan to ever drive again. Jean took the note and drove over to her church and showed it to her priest. She, too, was lifted from her sadness.
"You'd be surprised," she said, "At how few people expressed concern for us, the family that had to live with the tragedy from the other side of the accident."
I don't know what triggered this memory, but it is a reminder that when we are led to do something in the name of Love, we should do it, for Love heals. Love is a valuable gift, a blessing to both the giver and the receiver.
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MOTHERS Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it. Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox. Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids. Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets. Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up. Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.' Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother... The Images of Mother 4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything! 8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot! 12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything. 14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either. 16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned. 18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date! 25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it! 35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion. 45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it? 65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom. The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows! Please send this to 5 Mom's today. If you don't, nothing bad will happen, but if you do, something good will: You will boost a Mother spirits. _________________________________________________________________________________
Home Country
Slim Randles
The Bahdziewicz clan trooped into the Mule Barn for lunch the other day, happily and noisily as only eight Americans totally in love with spring can do. The patriarch of the clan, Abraham Lincoln Bahdziewicz, led the way to a large round table and seated his wife, Sally, before pointing to which chairs the kids should use. Some people can make a celebration out of sitting down to eat, and Abe’s gang knows how to do it.
The children, clockwise, were Woodrow Wilson Bahdziewicz, Betsy Ross Bahdziewicz, Neal Armstrong Bahdziewicz, John Kennedy Bahdziewicz, and Franklin Delano Bahdziewicz. Sally got a high chair for the youngest family member, Laura Bush Bahdziewicz.
We watched them order four meals for the seven of them, along with some empty plates for divvying things up. Then we took bets on whether or not they would have to ask for a “to go” box or two to take home with them. They didn’t. Laura Bush Bahdziewicz had to have chocolate cream pie wiped from her face twice during dessert, too.
Before they packed up to go, Abe came over to shake hands with the members of the World Dilemma Think Tank here at the Philosophy Counter. He always looks as though he’s just headed home to open Christmas presents, and we envied him that wonderful zest for life.
“Abe,” said Doc, when it was his turn to shake hands, “we’ve been wondering. You’re named after a president, and all your kids are named for famous Americans.”
“That’s right,” Abe said. “My brothers and sister, too. All of us but my wife, Sally, and I call her Sally Ride Bahdziewicz sometimes, just for fun.”
“How did all that naming come about?”
“Well,” Abe said, “my dad came from Poland as a kid, and the other kids at school teased him about not being a real American, you know? So he decided his kids would never have that problem. They may have some trouble pronouncing the last name, but at least they know we’re Americans.”
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to http://www.peoplespressnews.com/ .
Home Country
Slim Randles
April mornings are like Christmas. Each day we get up and go out into the yard, or walk along the creek or visit the horses in the pasture. And each day, each morning, we find something new the sun has brought us.
Pinfeather leaves of an unbelievable green now start showing on cottonwoods that have stood like stark ghostly frames all through the cold winter. Hopeful blades of grass peek through clumps of brown left over from last summer’s verdant pasture. Everywhere we look there is something new and different.
A lot of this Christmas-in-spring is kept just among us, because we might be accused of being ... well ... poetic if we told people why we were really carrying that coffee cup out into the yard. So we say lame things like “I think I’ll get some of that fresh air this morning.” What we really mean, of course, is “I want to see if Richardson’s bay mare has had that foal yet.”
Some of us worked very hard last fall and winter to prepare for this spring. By grafting. OK, we have a Granny Smith apple tree. Let’s see if we can’t get a branch of Rome Beauties or Jonagolds to grow on it, too. And we understand completely that where we live no olive tree can survive the winter. That isn’t supposed to stop us from trying, is it?
Nature pitches us a boatload of challenges each day that we’re alive. This plant needs more water than falls naturally here. That tree can’t take the temperatures we get. This little tree needs soil with more organic matter in it.
And those challenges are the stuff winter dreams are made of. We do the best we can to cure the lack, the freeze, the drought, and then we wait for April. We wait impatiently until we can come out of the house some morning and check the grafts on the apple tree and see tiny green leaves coming on the grafted branch. We search the bare ground where we planted that new kind of seed that won’t grow here - to see if it’ll grow here.
It is a continuing feast of green, a triumph of anticipation. An April morning can make us want to sing.
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
Home Country
Slim Randles
By the time we sat and flipped our cups to the upright and fillable positions at the Mule Barn truck stop, Dewey was already there and having breakfast. It’s always such a treat to see Dewey, because that means he’s still alive and hasn’t had another wreck and gone the way of the passenger pigeon.
“Hi guys!” he said.
“Hey, Dewey,” said Doc. “How’s it going with the business?”
“Never better, Doc. I can’t thank you enough for getting me started in it.”
Doc had once suggested that what this accident-prone good guy needed was a job that dealt in a product that was worth exactly nothing in case it got Dewey’d by mistake. So Dewey began shoveling cow manure at the dairy and selling it as fertilizer to folks who have gardens in town.
“I hear you’ve gone into worms, too,” Steve said.
“Oh yeah. I got some from Bert’s worm bin and started my own at home. The worm castings sell for more than the fertilizer, and I’ve started selling worms to the kids for a buck a quart to use for fishing.”
We looked at each other and nodded.
“Then I talked them into paying me something each month to shovel manure out at the dairy, so not only is it free, I get paid a little something to go get it. In fact, I made enough money I put a dump bed on the pickup truck.”
“No kidding?”
“Saves me having to shovel the truck out. Works really good, too. Not counting the accident.”
Doc looked alarmed. “Accident?”
“Yeah. Just dumped a load and set my lunch box down behind the cab. When I lowered the bed, it crushed right through two tuna sandwiches and a new Thermos bottle.”
In a way, it’s comforting to know there are things you can count on in this world.
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
Home Country
Slim Randles
Steve, the tall cowboy of us philosophy types, was riding a young horse through town the other day to get him used to “boogers.”
To gentle a horse, he explained, you give them something to booger at, and then talk them out of it. You keep coming up with new boogers and calming the horse until screaming fire engines and jet exhaust are no problem at all.
He rode up to the Campbell house and saw Anita, Dud’s wife, shaking out a throw rug. The young horse began blowing nuclear snot all over the front yard and his eyes bugged out.
“Anita,” Steve said, “would you mind coming over here with that rug for a minute?”
She walked slowly up to the young horse, who was crouched in the starting blocks preparing for an elliptical orbit around the sun.
“I don’t want to frighten him,” Anita said.
“That’s why I’m here, actually,” Steve said. “Would you let him smell the rug?”
She carefully and slowly held the rug up to where the colt could sniff it. He sniffed and snorted, sniffed and snorted … then sniffed, and sniffed. Then he eyed it carefully and touched it with his nose.
“If you wouldn’t mind,” Steve said, running his hand along the horse’s neck, “could you back up about three steps and then start wiggling it?”
She backed up and gently wiggled the rug. Snort, snort, legs in starting blocks. Ready to booger.
“That’s it,” Steve said, calmly, rubbing the horse’s neck. “Now shake it a little harder.”
More snorts. More rubbing.
“Now shake it really hard.”
It took the best part of a minute before the horse calmed down and just watched Anita with curiosity instead of fear.
“Thanks, Anita,” Steve said. “You’ve helped a lot.”
She looked up at him. “But why did you want me to shake a rug at him, Steve?”
“I’m thinking about getting him a job in a carpet cleaning business and want him to learn the ropes.”
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
Home Country
Slim Randles
"Amazing," Dud said out at the corrals the other day.
Bill and I looked at him a bit strangely, because there were just two horses in the corral and neither one of them had been amazing since Ronald Reagan moved to Washington.
"What's amazing, Dud?"
"Kids. What they're doing today is just amazing, compared to what we did as kids."
"Like those computer game deals?"
"No ... not that. I mean ... well you just take that nephew of mine ... my sister's boy. He does five hours of homework every night. In high school. Did you ever do five hours of homework in high school?"
"Sure," I said, "but it took me the best part of a month."
"That's what I mean. These kids today are just smarter than we were and they work harder, and you know, they seem to know what they want to do."
Dud whistled in appreciation of his own words as he shook his head in wonder.
"My grandson's like that," Bill said. "Smart as a whip. He's only seven, you know. He and I went for a walk the other day to appreciate springtime. I asked him what he was studying these days and he said he knew all about birds. Told me he knew the name of every bird in the forest. Every one.
"Well, I thought I'd test him, so I pointed to a grackle and said, 'Tell me the name of that bird right there.'
He looked at it carefully and then brightened up. Then he said, 'Why, sure, Grandpa, that's Fred. Hi Fred... how you doing?'”
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
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Dear EarthTalk:
I’m looking for projects for my son’s elementary school to do for Earth Day this year. Do you know of any that can teach children about taking care of our environment?
-- Meryl Greenfield, Williston Park, NY
Earth Day is April 22 this year and there’s no time like the present to start preparing activities that will teach young people about the importance of protecting the planet. The Seattle-based Earth Day Network, founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, offers a wide range of resources to help parents and teachers plan events and direct appropriate discussions on current topics. This year, the organization is focusing efforts on raising awareness about environmental problems associated with global warming.
Parents and teachers can register with Earth Day Network and receive free materials including lesson plans, information on how to get students engaged in local environmental activities, suggestions for hands-on and outdoor activities--even an environmentally-themed “Jeopardy” game.
Some other free resources offered by Earth Day Network include: an “Ecological Footprint Quiz,” whereby kids can find out how much impact they personally have on the environment as determined by how they eat, live and travel; a series of informative fact sheets on climate change and alternative energy sources; and links on their website to other reputable information sources online. And if you’re looking for Earth Day events to attend in your area, Earth Day Network’s website allows you to simply type in your locale and get a continuously updated calendar of events local to you.
Meanwhile, Kaboose.com, an educational website for kids and families, features Earth Day pages with green-themed online games, suggestions for recycling everyday items into Earth-friendly crafts, and kid-oriented eco-discussion topics. And Education World offers lesson plans and activities covering a wide range of topics including here-and-now issues like in-school recycling and minimizing lunchroom wastes.
Another interesting way to educate kids and the public alike is the Earth Day Groceries Project: Parents or teachers borrow grocery bags from local supermarkets to be decorated with environmental messages and artwork by students. The bags are then returned to the store and used for bagging groceries on April 22.
For those looking to get real local, the Heartland All Species Project offers a free, web-based “Earth Day in Your Neighborhood” guide outlining ways kids can bring neighbors together to celebrate the Earth and commit to greener living. The concise and illustrated guide details ways to get composting, tree planting, energy efficiency and recycling projects going on a street-by-street basis.
For additional ideas, consider perusing the posts on the Earth Day/Ecology Projects Chatboard on Teachers.net. Several teachers have posted ideas for Earth Day projects and activities, from putting on a play based on Dr. Seuss’ Lorax, to raising money for school by recycling inkjet cartridges.
CONTACTS: Earth Day Network, http://www.earthday.net/; Kaboose.com, www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/earthday; Earth Day Groceries Project, http://www.earthdaybags.org/; Heartland All Species Project, www.allspecies.org/neigh/blocka.htm; Education World, www.education-world.com/holidays/archives/earthday.shtml; Teachers.net, www.teachers.net/projects/earthday.
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SOCIAL SECURITY’S 2009 RESOLUTIONS TO YOU
The New Year is a time for many people, companies and organizations to make resolutions for the year ahead.
In past years, Social Security has suggested resolutions to readers, such as to plan ahead for your retirement, check your Social Security Statement and safeguard your Social Security card and number.
This year, we’d like to turn the tables and pledge to you our own resolutions as an agency. So, in 2009 Social Security resolves to …
Make it easy to plan your retirement online. Our online Retirement Estimator is rated the best online service in government. You just answer a few identifying questions and it will use your earnings record to automatically give you an accurate estimate of your future retirement benefits. You can play around with variables (such as when you’d like to retire and how much you expect to earn in the future) to see different retirement amounts. This should be the first step and a regular check point for planning a comfortable retirement.
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator
Make it easier than ever before to apply for retirement benefits online. This year, improvements to our online retirement application make it easier than ever before to apply for retirement benefits. Because the improved application is streamlined and only shows questions applicable to you, it can take as little as 15 minutes to complete the entire application from start to finish. And in many cases, once you hit the “sign now” button, all you have to do is wait for the payments to begin arriving every month.
www.socialsecurity.gov/r&m2.htm
Make it easier to keep up on the latest news about Social Security. Staying in the know about news, events, changes and important information at Social Security is now easier than ever. We have two great ways for you to have the news come to you automatically. Receive an email alert each time new information is added to our website by subscribing to updates. Just click on the red envelope at the top of the page. Whether you want to subscribe to everything or a specific topic on the web page, the choice is yours at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/. You also can subscribe to our award-winning electronic newsletter, Social Security eNews, to receive news as it happens. Subscribe by going to www.socialsecurity.gov/enews and selecting the “subscribe” link at the right of the page.
Make it easier for you to do your business with us the way you’d like to do it. Social Security provides you with a variety of ways to take care of your business. Social Security now offers many of its most popular services online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/. You can also call us toll free at 1-800-772-1213 and use our automated services or talk to a representative. And you can always stop in at your local Social Security office.
In 2009, and for many years to come, Social Security resolves to help you. Learn more about Social Security at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.
Robert G. Rodriguez is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. You can write him c/o Social Security, 233 Main St. 2nd Flr. New Britain, CT 06051.
Social Security Column
GETTING READY FOR TAX SEASON
The holidays have passed us by, the New Year has begun, and tax season is right around the corner. The earlier you prepare for the looming April 15 tax deadline, the easier it will be to file your taxes. Here are some helpful hints as you begin getting ready for tax season.
Make sure your information matches ours. Soon you will be receiving your W-2s from your employer(s) and tax information from the IRS. Carefully check your name, Social Security number and all of the data on your W-2s and on your Social Security Statement or card to make sure they match up. If you can’t find your card or Statement but know your Social Security number, make sure the number and information is correct on your W-2s. A mismatch could delay your tax refund and cause problems with your Social Security benefits in the future. Such errors are easy to fix now.
A name change is the main change. If you’ve legally changed your name due to marriage, divorce, court order or for any other reason, make sure you change your name with Social Security by applying for a new Social Security card. Make sure you change your name with your employer as well. If you change with one source but not the other, it could cause your earnings to be improperly recorded. A minor detail could cause a major mix-up. You can learn more about Social Security numbers and cards at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
Don’t forget the kids. If you are the parent of a newborn, you want to make sure that the newest family member has a Social Security number too. Most people apply for their baby’s Social Security card while they’re still in the hospital at the same time they apply for the birth certificate. But if you didn’t, you’ll need to apply for your child’s Social Security number in order to claim the child as a dependent on your tax return. You’ll also need it if you ever apply for government benefits on behalf of the child or your family.
Go online if you can’t find your 1099. Social Security Benefit Statements (Form SSA-1099) for tax year 2008 are automatically mailed to beneficiaries and should be received by January 31, 2009. If you receive Social Security and haven’t received your 1099 in the mail by the end of January, but need it to file a tax return, just go online. Beginning in February, you can request a replacement 1099 online at https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/i1099/main.html.
For more information about Social Security, visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.
Robert G. Rodriguez is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. You can write him c/o Social Security, 233 Main St. 2nd Flr. New Britain, CT 06051.
SOCIAL SECURITY: THE NUMBERS MAY SURPRISE YOU
Social Security touches the lives of virtually every American. Whether it’s after the loss of a loved one, the onset of disability or during the transition from work to retirement, our employees and programs offer support to the people of this country, often during difficult times. We run one of the nation’s largest entitlement programs — the Old Age, Survivors and Disability program. We also administer the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. It provides financial support to aged, blind or disabled adults and children with limited income and resources.
You have a concept of what we do at Social Security, but how well do you really know what we do? Here’s a quiz to find out how much you know about our work day in and day out.
How many phone calls come into Social Security’s toll free number -- 1-800-772-1213 --each year?
2.5 million
57 million
95 million
How many disability applications are processed each year?
2.5 million
75 thousand
200 thousand
How many earnings items are posted to workers’ records?
2 million
100,000
270 million
How many Social Security Statements do we send out each year?
200 million
147 million
100 million
How many Medicare extra help applications for the prescription program do we process each year?
530,000
1.2 million
4.2 million
How many appeal hearings do we hold each year?
22,000
548,000
1.2 million
How many SSI applications for people 65 or older do we take each year?
101,000
90,000
289,000
How many retirement, survivor and Medicare applications do we take each year?
253,000
839,000
3.9 million
As you can see, the Social Security is more than just retirement payments and Social Security cards. The volume can be surprising, but one thing is not a surprise: Social Security has a long history of providing the best public service government has to offer.
Learn more interesting facts about Social Security by visiting our history page at www.socialsecurity.gov/history.
Answers: 1. b; 2. a; 3. c; 4. b; 5. b; 6. b; 7. c; 8. c.
Robert G. Rodriguez is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. You can write him c/o Social Security, 233 Main St. 2nd Flr. New Britain, CT 06051.
JOIN THE ONLINE WORLD — A MESSAGE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
There is an old business rule that says “No job is finished until the paperwork is done.” If you are one of the millions of small business owners in this country, you undoubtedly know the truth of this statement. But did you know that Social Security can lighten your paperwork filing burden with free, fast and secure online business services?
For example, you can stop doing all your wage reports on paper and start doing them online. That includes Forms W-2 for your employees and Forms W-2 and W-3 for Uncle Sam. All you need are two things you probably already have: a computer and an Internet connection.
From our employer homepage, www.socialsecurity.gov/employer, simply visit the “Business Services Online” link, and then select the “Register” option. You register for a User ID Number only once, not every year. You can register at any time, with the best time being now, before the tax-filing season.
When you’re ready to prepare your W-2s, go back to www.socialsecurity.gov/employer and log in with the User ID Number you received at registration and the password you chose. After you log in, select the option for creating wage reports online. The first form you will be asked to fill out tells Social Security who the employer is. Just follow the simple instructions on the screen.
Another big advantage to electronic wage reporting is the ease of making corrections. If you find a mistake before you have actually submitted your report, you simply log in and make the changes, then print new W-2s for the employees involved. And even if you need to make corrections after you have submitted your wage reports to Social Security you can file the correction forms (W-2c and W-3c) online, too.
So save yourself some time and effort. And save a few trees in the process. Turn your entire wage reporting paperwork into just a few key strokes.
If you are still skeptical, just ask some fellow small business owners who have already made the switch to the online wage-reporting world. They will undoubtedly tell you that they would never go back to paper again.
Visit Social Security’s Business Services Online at www.socialsecurity.gov/employer.
Robert G. Rodriguez is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. You can write him c/o Social Security, 233 Main St. 2nd Flr. New Britain, CT 06051. # # #
Social Security Column
To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
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What to Do? Tips for Time Management
Submitted by Carol Carbutti Comfort Keepers of Wallingford
In-home Care Specialists Can Help
Even though you’re older now and you may have fewer demands on your time, you’ve probably still got a lot going on – perhaps more than you realize! By getting yourself a home care companion, you’ve taken an important first step towards freeing up some of your time because you’ll have someone helping with daily chores, meal preparation, errands, grooming, and other tasks. So now that you’ve freed up some time, what are you going to do with it?
You could sit back and react to all of life’s circumstances, but without some sense of routine, you could end up increasing the amount of stress you’re placing on your body. Stress is unhealthy and it’s definitely something to avoid. That’s why you may need to take steps towards managing your time.
Besides keeping stress under control, there are other benefits of time management. For one, managing your time is a way to ensure you’re doing the activities that mean the most to you. It’ll keep you from over-scheduling your time, too. (Yes, this can happen!) Managing your time helps you maintain balance in your life and will probably end up saving you time, too.
If all of that sound good, here are some tips that can help you manage your time.
Make a list of your activities.
You want to put everything on this list, including exercise and rest. If you can’t think of everything all at once, spend a few days putting this list together, jotting each activity down as you prepare for it. Also make note of whether the activity is a regularly scheduled one or whether it occurs only occasionally.
Prioritize the list.
Look at the items on your list and determine which are the most important. If you’re unsure which items are important and which aren’t, move on to the next tip.
Understand your personal goals.
Knowing what you want to accomplish during this stage of your life is just as important as it’s always been. Goals keep you focused and on track and will give you a sense of accomplishment.
Put your schedule in writing.
Putting your schedule in writing is the easiest way to ensure you’re doing those activities you enjoy and that will help you meet your goals. You can use a planner, a wall calendar or even an online calendar. The point is to write down what you’re doing and when. As each new opportunity presents itself, glance at your calendar to see if there’s time to include it. If necessary, take time to think how the activity fits into your personal goals. If you don’t have time for it and it doesn’t advance or enrich your goals, consider passing!
Be flexible
The days of living by a rigid schedule are over! Never be afraid to change plans when the mood strikes.
Creative ways to spend your free time:
Pricing items for local rummage sales
Preparing and serving meals at homeless shelters
Washing dogs awaiting adoption
Volunteering to read at kindergarten classes
Making baked goods for fundraisers
Stuffing envelopes
Going back to school
Giving online dating a try!
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
Quassy’s 101st Season Opens April 25-26
With Campership Fund Benefit
MIDDLEBURY, Conn. – Imagine taking your family to the amusement park for a day of rides and entertainment for only $30. During these challenging economic times, that may sound like a pipedream.
But it’s reality.
Quassy Amusement Park opens for its 101st season of operation April 25 and 26 with a $30 carload special to benefit the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund. What that means is that you can load up the family vehicle and everyone – up to 10 persons – gets an all-day ride wristband for only 30 bucks. Quassy is so generous on opening weekend that it even throws in the $5 parking fee when guests purchase the carload special.
What’s more, is that you not only get to ride from noon to 6 p.m., but there will also be live entertainment in the park plus meet and greet sessions with “Clifford” the Big Red Dog, courtesy of Scholastic Books.
At 3 p.m., Sunday, April 26, the park will host its annual Egg Hunt For Prizes in the Great Lawn area of the park. Children should bring bags to collect candy and eggs during the hunt. The $30 Carload Campership Weekend is presented by the Waterbury Republican-American, radio station WATR and Price Chopper supermarkets. The Greater Waterbury Campership Fund helps to send underprivileged children to summer camps.
“We Invented Affordable Family Fun” is a slogan you will hear time and again this year at Quassy Amusement Park as the property focuses on families and entertainment value.
Quassy’s famous 25-cent Friday nights return on May 22, when rides, Pepsi and cotton candy are only a quarter after 5 p.m. The Friday evening special also features 50-cent hot dogs, making a family night out an affordable venture.
The park is also holding the line on all-day wristbands and season passes – mirroring 2008 pricing.
“In light of the economic conditions, we felt it was in the best interest of our loyal guests to not increase our pricing this year,” said George Frantzis II, a park co-owner. “Our operational costs will certainly rise, but we hope with the alternating entertainment schedule and strong lineup of special events that families will visit on numerous occasions.”
All-day wristbands will be $17 for those under 45 inches and $21 for 45 inches and taller. Persons 55 years of age and older can pay $17. Wristbands include the traditional amusement rides and “Saturation Station” interactive family water play area. Season passes, which include the rides, beach, waterpark and free parking are: $195 for family of four ($50 for each additional person added to the family pass); $65 for individual.
Since Quassy charges no general admission, guests can pay the parking fee - $5 with $7 charged July 4 - on any given day and walk through the amusement park. A wristband is needed to enter Quassy Beach and “Saturation Station,” or guests may pay $10 each for use of the water activities.
New Ticket Booth
The park will have a new ticket booth, where guests can make daily wristband and ticket purchases. The structure is designed after the former trolley station that was located adjacent to the park in the early 1900s. Quassy is known as a “trolley park” as the former electrified rail line transported guests to and from the property. Today, only 11 “trolley parks” remain in the nation.
In addition, the park’s “Playport” has been refurbished, adding new and exciting play elements for younger children to enjoy. The “Paratrooper” and train rides in the park have also undergone extensive refurbishing during the offseason.
Big Summer Planned
Three top-notch acts will be entertaining at the Vacation Village Resorts Lakeside Theatre stage this summer. Coming July 20 will be “Cirque Equinox,” followed by “The Kent Family Magic Circus” (Aug. 3-16) and “Kenya Safari Acrobats” (Aug. 17-30).
Quassy will also be the site of a statewide One Tank Travel Expo on Sunday, June 14. Guests will have an opportunity to explore a variety of things to do close to home this summer season as travel and tourism booths will line the walkways.
Mixing The Old And The New
The face of Quassy Amusement Park has relatively remained the same over the years, still offering the laid back atmosphere of the traditional facility that was the cornerstone of its foundation.
With the advent of large theme parks over the past few decades – numerous ones within driving distance from western Connecticut – Quassy has managed to maintain its identity as the alternative to the mega facilities.
Rarely are there long lines for any of the rides, nor a crush of humanity streaming down the walkways at this quaint lakeside venue.
Pricing has also been an ally to Quassy as it does not charge a general admission to the property, allowing parents and grandparents alike to be spectators while the children ride classics like the Sellner “Tilt-A-Whirl” and Chance “Trabant.”
Yet Quassy, while preserving its treasured past, has kept up with the times by mixing the old with the new.
A portion of the lower parking lot near the lake has been transformed into a new development for the venue in recent years with the addition of larger rides like the Chance “Music Fest,” Hrubetz “Paratrooper,” “Bumper Cars,” and the classic Herschell “Monster” roller coaster.
Time To Take The Plunge
While other large parks in the region started adding water attractions a number of years ago, Quassy quietly trudged along the path it had forged for itself as an “iron” (ride) park.
But the customer base it had drawn upon for decades was starting to shift to facilities offering the latest in water attractions, leaving Quassy pretty much high and dry on hot summer days.
“Our beach used to be packed, and it got to the point where fewer and fewer people were coming to the lake to swim,” noted John Frantzis, a park co-owner.
With younger members of the family stepping into key management positions, the owners decided in 2003 that it was time to take a plunge by building a new water attraction.
That spring Quassy introduced “Saturation Station,” the first interactive family water play area of its type in the world. With cascading fountains, water cannons, waterslides and a huge tipping bucket as a centerpiece, the multi-tiered attraction was an overnight success.
“I believe it saved the park,” John Frantzis said. He attributes the project’s inception and success to his son-in-law, Eric Anderson, who also heads up the park’s operations.
Use of the state-of-the-art family waterpark is included in the price of an all-day park wristband and season passes. Building off the success of “Saturation Station,” Quassy added two gigantic “Tunnel Twister” waterslides to the attraction in 2006.
Now as the temperatures soar in July and August, so does the attendance at Quassy’s re-born lakefront attractions, proving that the largest gamble and investment in the park’s history has paid dividends.
Schools have also benefited from the park’s array of new educational programs that include guided tours, structured workshops, an annual school music festival and a number of art contests.
Quassy offers season passes, which also include parking with each visit. The park also hosts family reunions, scout outings, corporate picnics, church and gospel days, stags and weddings. For more information about the park visit http://www.quassy.com/ or call 1-800-FOR-PARK.
To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
Spring – And Great Lawns
By Pat Sayward – Meriden Feed and Grain
A 4 step program is the way to achieve a beautiful lawn.
In April start with a crabgrass preventive. Even though you don’t have crabgrass now, this is the time to keep it from surfacing in your lawn later in the season. To obtain expected results, product must be lightly watered into the soil immediately after application.
Late April and into May, use step 2, a weed control plus fertilizer. One application provides 2 months of slow release fertilizer and kills dandelions and other broadleaf weeds. It strengthens and greens your lawn from the roots up. Do not water for at least 24 hours after application and do not apply if rain is expected in the next 24 hours. It kills broadleaf weeds through the leaves downward to root systems. Caution: do not apply to a new lawn until it has been cut at least 4 times.
The third step, which many people skip, but shouldn’t, is an insect control. It should be applied in June, July or August. It controls ants, chiggers, chinch bugs, earwigs, fleas, leafhoppers and sod webworms, along with many other smaller insects not visible to the naked eye. Treat the whole lawn, not just yellowed or brown areas.
Step 4, formulated for the fall, will help develop a strong root system for a thicker and more vigorous lawn. It can be applied anytime during the growing season. August – October application will insure a more healthy beautiful lawn more resilient to winter’s cold.
Grub Control is a very important part of your lawn care project. Pesticides, like Grub Ex, Dialox, and Milky Spore should be applied in early spring to early summer. These products treat the immediate problem white grubs before the pupa stage.
Later in the summer a product called Merit, when applied to your lawn will reach areas where pesticides may have trouble reaching. Merit is a systemic insecticide, which means that material is taken up by the root system of the plant. As grubs feed on the plant, they are ingesting the insecticide. The grubs have a sensation of being full … stop feeding and die. Using this product with systemic action means you do not have to depend on the targeted pest to come in contact with applied products.
Helpful hint – Mark your calendar for the proper time periods for applying your 4 step program and grub control plan. Enjoy a beautiful healthy lawn.
Bobbies Bevy of Beauties
Believe it or not I wrote this first paragraph on November 1, 2008. Maybe I thought it would help push this coming miserable winter season along.
Every time I shoved my periscope up through the frozen ground sleet and snow seemed to be everywhere. And those terrible howling winds along with those very cold temperatures. Would have preferred my return to be in April instead of March. But my hiatus was interrupted by two people and a dog. So here I am again.
I didn’t realize Andy was so anxious for me to begin my articles for The People’s Press until I returned from my annual hibernation. There he was looking down at me after he, Jimmy and LitlBit uncovered me from my bed of peat moss under the park bench at the end of the back yard. He could have said he was happy to see me but instead said “get up and start writing.” Also Jimmy was very glad. His daily chores had come to an end. I was here to begin them once again. LitlBit kept licking my face so thrilled because I returned knowing that now he would have four very long walks daily instead of the short ones with his daddy. Then he would lay on the deck in the sun for awhile. If a very cloudy or cold day instead he would come into the house right away and play with Jimmy and his stuffed toys. When LitlBit was ready for his nap he would jup up into his daddy’s lap in the recliner. He does prefer his to mommies’s because it’s so much bigger. Then the two of them would snooze away a good part of the day.
Well enough of the going ons during my hibernation. Anyone who doesn’t read my monthly articles from April-November would think I have lost it. Could be.
There’s that fun chore of cleaning up the yard from the mess the winter months leave. Of course you could pay someone to help or do it for you instead. Sounds like a good idea. Finally some flowers. The crocus showing a very colorful display. Even a few daffodils in full bloom. Shortly the rest of the spring bulbed flowers will be following suit. Wait until there’s a certainty of no more frost. If the weather cooperates probably toward the end of March or beginning of April. Then cut back your grass plants. And the butterfly bush cut down to two or three feet.
And I’m hoping by the next issue it will be warm enough so my next door neighbor Pam will be able to have her yearly bed of pansies planted. She has such a gorgeous display. It’s too bad they can’t stay in bloom until the fall. Think they are one of the prettiest and most colorful of the annuals. Have a few purple myrtle vine flowers and some Johnny-jump-ups greeting spring.
Well that’s about it from my first article. But I do have a couple of P.S.s.
Flowercerely yours,
Bobbie G. Vosgien
P.S. Happy birthday wishes to our only grandson Kevin Jr. who lives in New Hampshire who will turn 23 on April 17th. Love always, Grammie and Grampie
Grammie Bobbie apologizes to our youngest granddaughter Izzy-Bella for stating in the March issue that she was 5 on January 3rd instead of being 6 years old. My head must have been on backwards when I wrote that. Gump Jimmy and I are very proud of you being only in kindgarten and two days a week she goes to second grade for a reading class. Keep up the good work.
I would also like to mention that Izzy-Bella attends Benjamin Franklin Elementary School. Our son, oldest daughter and youngest daughter, (her mother), were all students there. It’s been an association of 46 years. And a very good one.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
SPOTLIGHT ON SHEEHAN HIGH STUDENTS
SCASA Honors Sheehan Seniors
Sheehan seniors, Kimberly Grzesik and Kevin Gilhuly, were recently selected as recipients of the South Central Area Superintendents Association (SCASA) Award for 2009. This award is presented to students who embody the mission of their school and are deeply committed to community and humanitarian service. Both students will be honored at an awards luncheon this Friday.
Kimberly Grzesik recognizes the value of giving back to her community. Since her freshman year, Kim has accumulated over 200 hours of volunteer work. She is a member of Peer Advocates and serves as a role model to younger children. She also demonstrates leadership through her involvement with Rainbow Girls, an organization affiliated with the Masons, and she has traveled to Australia and Europe as a People to People Student Ambassador. A member of National Honor Society and a CAPT Scholar, Kim is also involved in extracurricular activities at the school. She is an officer for Students Against Destructive Decisions and is President of the Anime Club. In addition, throughout high school Kim has been a member of the Wallingford Girls Softball League.
With over 900 hours of volunteer work, giving back to the community has become a way of life for Kevin Gilhuly. He serves as a “big brother” to an elementary student through Big Brothers Big Sisters and enjoys spending quality time with this youngster. He has also taught CCD at Out Lady of Fatima Church in grades 10 through 12 and has served as a Meriden Police Explorer since his sophomore year. Kevin has been a member of Sheehan’s outdoor and indoor Track Teams throughout high school, and he demonstrates leadership as captain of the outdoor team. His leadership skills have further developed through his roles as President of the Senior Class, Vice President of Key Club and in serving as an officer for Students Against Destructive Decisions. Kevin has also participated on the Tools For Schools Committee as a student representative.
The Sheehan faculty is very proud of these students’ commitment to school and community service.
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Sheehan World Language Department
The Sheehan World Language Department is very proud to select Christina Craig as its Spotlight Student. Christina is a very conscientious and dedicated student. She is currently enrolled in Italian II and her passion for the language is demonstrated in both her enthusiasm and ambition to improve her skills outside of the classroom. Her personal commitment to the study of Italian has allowed her to rapidly increase both her oral and written expression. Christina has recently expressed an interest in assisting other students of Italian with their studies which, once again, exhibits her desire to go above and beyond what is expected of her.
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SCC Honors Sheehan Scholar Leaders
Mark T. Sheehan seniors Lisa Cheung and Stephanie DuBois were presented with the Southern Connecticut Conference Scholar Leader Award at a reception held on March 30. In order to
qualify for this honor, a student must demonstrate academic excellence, be a leader in the community, and more importantly, serve as a model to others.Lisa is a dynamic young woman who constantly challenges herself academically. This is demonstrated through the enrichment activities in which she participates. These have included the Choate Summer Program; Star Talk: Discover Chinese Summer Academic Program; Yale Saturday Seminar; and Bristol Myers Squibb Summer Science Program. Lisa also has a great desire to give of herself to help others. She is a peer advocate, a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, and a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. In addition, she is involved in school clubs and the athletic program. Lisa plans to attend Brown University where she will major in engineering.
Stephanie is a young woman of intelligence and character. Her compassion toward her fellow students and the community sets her apart from her peers. She volunteers at the Ned Conley Open, the school’s Red Cross Blood Drives, and her church’s Sunday School program. She is also a peer tutor. In addition, Stephanie involves herself in both extracurricular and interscholastic activities, serving in a leadership role for many of the organizations in which she participates. She was named to the CHSCA Academic All-State 2008 Field Hockey Team and is a contributor to Visions, Sheehan’s literary arts magazine. Stephanie is considering a major in psychology, English or medicine.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
Connecticut Outdoors
By Paul Narducci
Thomas Spinning Lures Celebrates 60 Years
As I sit down to write this article I am already wondering off thinking of opening day and the trout I hope to catch. For me trout fishing is completely different and the fish themselves are with out a doubt some of the most beautiful and intriguing fish around. There are fond memories forever etched in my mind of the rainbow that got away and the ones that didn’t. Trout fishing is something I truly love to do and wish I was able to do more of. As we head into April and the opening day of fishing (April 18) I can only think of one thing, Thomas Spinning Lures. I say this because I have caught so many wonderful and exciting fish on these lures. Thomas Spinning Lures was one of my original sponsors and continues to sponsor us today.
Thomas Spinning Lures is celebrating 60 years of being an incredible lure company with an outstanding history. Richard Shubert, the original owner started making lures in 1948. He moved his company in 1958 to Hawley, Pennsylvania and they still occupy the same buildings today. For me I really appreciated the loyalty of the company and the history this creates. In 1985 Mr. Shubert retired and the company was purchased by Peter Ridd. I have worked with Thomas Lures since the beginning of my show in 1994. They have sponsored local fishing derbies we have been involved with and continue to see the importance of getting the youth of today involved in the great outdoors. They are truly a fantastic company with a great understanding of the importance of giving back to the community and the youngsters in it. Peter Ridd employs about ten people and produces nearly half-million lures yearly. He continues to use Mr. Shubert’s original designs and shapes but has added more color patterns and selections to meet today’s fisherman’s needs. For 60 years they have offered American made fishing lures at reasonable prices. I recently spoke to Peter for about 45 minutes and was inspired to write this article after talking with him about his company and the history of it. This is truly a great American story. After sharing some fishing stories it was great to drift back in time and talk about the fish we’ve caught and the lures we used. Some of my favorite lures they make are the e.p.spinn, buoyant, rough rider, Colorado, Double spinn and the Special Spinn. Some lures you may not be familiar with that work great for trout are the Little Tiger, Eel, Fighting Fish and the Speedy Shiner. Whether you spend your day trout fishing from shore or trolling these lures will offer you an excellent opportunity to catch some wonderful trout. Some areas you may want to try this year for trout are Wharton Brook, Black Pond, Quinnipiac River, Salmon River and of course Bashan Lake. Thomas Spinning Lures is a great success story of a small company that continues to thrive even in the harshest of times. They have and will continue to offer all fisherman the opportunity to fish with lures that truly catch fish of all kinds. If you have any questions you can log onto http://www.thomaslures.com/ or email them at info@thomaslures.com
As always Paul, Tony, Frank, Joe and Jonathan would like to wish everyone the best of luck and good fishing !
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Maggie’s CornerBy: Maggie Griffin
Definition of Courage
Cour´age Pronunciation: k?r´ãj; 48 - Webster Dictionary:
n.
1.
The heart; spirit; temper; disposition.
So priketh hem nature in here corages.
- Chaucer.
My lord, cheer up your spirits; our foes are nigh,and this soft courage makes your followers faint.
- Shak.
2.
Heart; inclination; desire; will.
I'd such a courage to do him good.
- Shak.
3.
That quality of mind which enables one to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear, or fainting of heart; valor; boldness; resolution.
The king-becoming graces . . . Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,I have no relish of them.
- Shak.
Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it.
- Addison.
v. t.
.
To inspire with courage; to encourage.
As all of us can see, COURAGE is defined in several ways in the Dictionary. However, depending on circumstances, it takes courage to get through the most hardest times. I myself feel courage is defined as not having fear to face a challenge, but peace of mind to remember that All it takes is a dream and Courage to make it happen.When I look up into the sky, I think about Heaven. When I see tides of the water at a calm, I think about peace. When my feet walk land, I kneel & thank GOD for a new day. After God says to me, through the sound of silence; "You Are Welcome" , I realize through silence, GOD and his Angels can talk to us in their own way. I am given the courage to take 12 more steps along the shore at the beach, where the water tides meet the sand, as far as I can reach. Then when I get my feet wet, I do not mind at all; because It reminds me I am still here standing tall.As I spoke to Dr. William A. Petit, Jr., Dr. Petit touched my heart when he defined the meaning of courage. In his own words; - "I suspect that there are many definitions - like the one that my youngest daughter had on her FaceBook page, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world.- M. Gandhi. I start and then stop and then re-start nearly everyday since July 23, 2007. I hope that courage is not the lack of fear - but the ability to move forward in spite of your fears. In moving forward you then can do as Gandhi suggested and try to be the change." - Dr. William A. Petit, Jr.Through so many humanitarian efforts and beliefs, it takes courage to help one another too. That is where the word ENCOURAGE comes in. If we can Encourage someone, no matter what it is, we are actually giving the gift of Courage, a gift that they know will empower their hearts, minds and souls.We are living in a world of unjustifiable meaning, But how can anything be justified, explained or understood. Many say they "understand", but do they? It takes COURAGE to understand. It takes COURAGE to justify the unjustifiable. It takes COURAGE to explain how we truly feel inside when we are faced with the unexpected.In today's society, we live by routine. But it is ok to break our routine once and a while and take the moment to listen to the words that silence gives to us. If for one day, everyone can take the time and listen to the silence, they will hear that time well spent by their choice, will bring an Attitude of Love. Life presents us with challenges, detours, and stumbling blocks as we live each and every day. Wherever there's an obstacle, that we must rise above, COURAGE helps us overcome it with an Attitude of Love. Sometimes we may feel ourselves misguided and fully "out of sync". But when we have courage; courage makes us think. I myself have come across falls and reasons that make me cry. I've come across people who will make negative remarks to someone about me, where in the end they are sorry while I watch them cry.But Courage brings to us a fresh new day, a chance for a new beginning, better then the day before. Every day is a new experience, but there is one thing to keep in mind. By having the gift of COURAGE, we can make a difference to many, no matter if the trials, trivias and unexpected are Big or Small.*This Column is in Dedication to Dr. William A. Petit, Jr.
Do You Freecycle?
By Tia Kozar
This year for Earth Day (April 22nd), do something different. Help the community, the environment and maybe even yourself by joining the Freecycle Network online.
Freecycle is an online network where people can give away old or unwanted items instead of throwing them away. The Freecycle.org website is similar to shopping or selling on Ebay or Craig’s list, except every item posted is 100% free. The Freecycle website’s mission statement is: “Freecycle is a non-profit organization whose main goal is to reduce waste, save precious resources, and ease burden on landfills.”
It’s easy; all you have to do is sign up, put up a listing for the items you want to give away and if someone in your area is looking for that, they can come pick it up. Almost anything goes: Items can be new or used, working or not. Freecycle members have offered everything from clothing and toys to furniture, dishwashers, plants, and camping gear.
Need parts for a broken appliance? Or maybe props for the school play? Check out the local Freecycle listings or post a request of your own. You never know what you will find. When a CT Girl Scout troop was looking for a tent for a camping trip, they got responses from several Freecycle members offering not only several tents, but rowboats, firewood, camp chairs and sleeping bags!
Recent area Freecycle listings include a Coleman outdoor gas fireplace, a pet carrier, and vegetable steamer and crockpot in Wallingford. And Meriden Freecyclers have offered curtains, children’s toys, books, and a king sized bed and triple dresser. For more information on these listings or to find more in our area, go to the Meriden Freecycle network’s website:
http://www.freecycle.org/group/United%20States/Connecticut/Meriden or visit http://www.freecycle.org/ for other CT area Freecycle networks.
Freecycle is a great way to help others in the community while keeping your items out of landfills. The Freecycle Network Worldwide has reported that its members are keeping 55 tons of goods out of landfills each day! So, before you throw your old things out, make a change and make a difference in community and the environment, and log on to Freecycle.org.
To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to http://www.peoplespressnews.com/ .________________________________________________________________________________
LOST AND FOUND-GOLF BALLS
By Francis W. Lappert
Shortly after I retired in 1978 after working 41 ½ years in a local silver factory in Meriden, my brother Ernie talked me into taking up the game of golf. We started out playing at the “Hunters Golf Course” in Meriden. We made up a foursome of my brother, Fred Crovo, Robert Westfort and I. I knew very little about the game but Ernie coached me, pointing out the mistakes I was making. I had started out with a cheap set of clubs I bought on sale at Caldor’s. I didn’t want to invest too much until I knew how much I like to play golf. I liked the challenge so the following year I bought a much better set.
We were then playing five mornings a week and I was making good scores for a beginner but I managed to slice the ball several times into the woods bordering the fairway. As I searched for my ball I found several others. I got the notion that I would go to the course early in the morning to search different fairways that were fairly narrow with thick woods and bushes along the sides. This was the start of a new hobby hawking golf balls.
On Sunday mornings I began golfing on several different courses not too far from Meriden. Among a few were Timberland in Kensington, Farmingbury in Wolcott, and Indian Springs in Middlefield. Every time I played these courses I paid attention to where most balls were hit out of bounds. I found Indian Springs was the most productive for finding lost balls as I would beat the bushes with a long thin sapling about six feet long also to chase any snakes lurking in the tall grass. One morning while searching along the eighth fairway which had a small pond just in front of the tee I saw a good number of balls in the pond. I saw I would need boots and my ball retriever with the telescope handle to reach some of them. The following week I arrived early before any golfers were out and began to hunt. I started out on the small pond and gathered twenty four from there. That was my best gathering as I would come up with eighty two balls that morning. I would put the balls in my set tub in the cellar with hot water and wash detergent and let them soak for about an hour. I would then take each one out and scrub with a wire brush until they were very clean. I would separate them by mark of the ball such as Top Flite, Titlelist, Wilson, Max-Fli, Pinnacle, and many other brands. At that time I had about fifty dozen in egg boxes set aside, all in number one condition. I sold many of them to my friends at a reasonable price.
I had a good many I couldn’t sell to any golfer as they had small cuts on them or were off color or scraped, I had a large carton full. One day I was playing with my friends at Pine Valley course in Southington and when on the way home I stopped at the driving range on West Street and asked the owner if he could use these marked balls. He asked how many I had and I said several hundred. He told me to bring them over. I counted five hundred out in a large box and took them. He gave me ten cents for each of them and gave me a check for fifty dollars. Now my hobby was on the road to success. I had one bad experience at Indian Springs one visit when I disturbed a yellow jacket bee nest in the ground and wound up with stings on my right hand and arm. I went to the small pond nearby and plastered mud on them.
When I got home I bathed my hand and arm with a solution that was good for bee stings. By noon time my hand and arm were very swollen. I became very alarmed and went to the emergency room at the hospital. I asked the doctor if I was allergic to bee stings and was told if I was and didn’t get help immediately I would not be alive. From that day on I was very alert for bee or wasp nests. I encountered many snakes while searching the brush but I always beat the grass or brush with my long stick.
Several years ago I stopped the search for lost balls but as I look back it was one of my most enjoyable hobbies I had. I still enjoy a round of golf when I can find a partner to play with.
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CREATING A BUTTERFLY GARDEN
By Carmen Buckley-Reynolds
Butterfly gardens are magical places where a thriving ecosystem can be created in your own backyard. Flowers planted to attract and welcome butterflies will also invite hummingbirds, bees, dragonflies and other insects to the garden. They can be inviting spots to view these small wonders of nature and can bring happiness to us as well as the many creatures they attract. In addition, planting a butterfly garden is a great outdoor project to share with children. Being out in nature and working alongside you they will learn a great deal about plants and the world of butterflies.
A butterfly garden can be any size to be effective. A few new plants can be added to an existing garden or flower bed and smaller butterfly gardens can even be grown in containers, hanging baskets and window boxes. Just a few chosen plants will help to preserve these fragile insects and create a habitat for them to live and breed.
To begin your butterfly garden, choose a sunny, sheltered location. The spot should receive at least five to six hours of full sun a day during mid-summer. Butterflies are cold-blooded and spend most of their time in the sunshine. To fly, butterflies feed on flowers and rest on warmed rocks to absorb the sun until their bodies reach a temperature of 86 – 104 degrees. Flowers chosen for your garden should also enjoy full sun. Color is another important consideration in successfully attracting butterflies as they are attracted to particular colors, including purple, pink, yellow and white. Choose an area that will also provide some shelter. On very hot days in the summer butterflies will appreciate a cool shady spot. A sheltered area will offer a safe place for mating butterflies in spring, while protecting their young from predators in the summer. Consider planting alongside a stream, pond or water garden. Small pools of water and sandy wet spots invite butterflies to sip or ‘puddle’.
Butterfly flowers can be classified into two groupings: host or nectar plants. Plants on which a butterfly will lay eggs are called host plants. When the eggs hatch and become caterpillars, the host plant provides food and shelter to ensure their survival. Only two to three of every hundred caterpillars hatched will live long enough to emerge as beautiful butterflies. Nectar plants are those that adult butterflies feed on. They can either be annuals, perennials, herbs or shrubs that are hardy to our region.
Your garden should mix together host plants and nectar flowers, and be planted in colorful masses to increase the number of butterflies visiting your garden. Remember to plant early and late blooming flowers for a continuous food supply of nectar that will reach into the fall to aid with their migration.
Before you begin planting, check the condition of your chosen site. Plants grown in full sun locations will need good moisture, drainage and nutrients to ensure long blooms and healthy plants. Remember to avoid pesticide use in your garden as butterflies are significantly affected by such usage.
Here are some suggestions for flowers to incorporate into your garden. Favorite perennials to consider are Buddleia davidii (butterfly bush), Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed), Aster, Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), Verbena bonariensis (verbena), Coreopsis, Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan), Achillea filipendulina ( fernleaf yarrow), and Daylilies.
Annuals work well planted in groups, some to try are Cosmos bipinnatus (cosmos), Cleome, French marigold, Tithonia rotundifolia (mexican sunflower), Zinnia elegans (zinnia). Some favorite herbs to include are Lavender, Mint, Oregano, Dill and Fennel.
Here are a few ideas for creating small butterfly gardens. A raised bed works well for a garden of Butterfly weed, Coreopsis, Coneflower, Lupine, Poppy and Butterfly bush. Cosmos, Cleome and Butterfly bush are also very colorful and long blooming. Containers and hanging baskets planted with an assortment of herbs can be placed near your house for closer viewing. Other simple gardens to try can be window boxes planted with bright annuals or Morning glories.
Once the work of planting is completed and your flowers begin to bloom, find a special place in the garden with your child to sit quietly and admire the beauty of the butterflies. The wonders you both will experience will be unimaginable.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
Ready for Spring?
By Shirley Bloethe It’s spring.... and there are so many great choices for outdoor fun.....Bike riding, canoeing, walking, rollerblading, kayaking, golf, soccer, baseball, basketball, scuba, waterskiing, swimming, picnics, hiking, fishing, camping, gardening, and more...it’s almost impossible to list ‘em all!!!Safety issues should be addressed initially in making decisions about what type of play to participate in, and if children are included. If the event is centered around children, be sure to address any safety issues before beginning. Some sports require mouth guards, special shoes (cleats), protective headwear and other protective equipment such as wrist, knee & elbow pads and helmets for rollerblading. For all types of water sports and activities, life preservers and flotation devices are always recommended. If an adult or child cannot swim it is very important to purchase a preserver that will keep their head above water should they be rendered unconscious or fall in unexpectedly. There are many choices in life vests and some are specific to particular water sports such as jet ski’s, boating, canoeing or kayaking. When choosing gear or equipment for another sport, be sure the user is familiar with how to wear it and getting the right fit. Ask in the store where you are purchasing the items for guidance on proper fit and size.When purchasing a bike for a child, be sure to get the right size. Don’t buy it so the child can “grow” into it. It will be difficult to learn to balance and you may end up with a child who will never ride if they have a bad experience initially. If you live in a hilly area, get a bike rack for your car, and bring all the bikes and family to level areas, parks or a bike trail made especially for rollerblading, bicycling and walking without cars nearby. There are maps available in towns and the state that show where all the “rails to trails” locations are and many of them are now being connected to each other. Another fairly inexpensive option for many teens and adults of all ages is a kayak or canoe. They can be purchased new for less than $250 and be used for many years. Many people choose kayaks instead of canoes because of ease of use and weight factors. Most recreational kayaks and canoes can be easily handled with almost no instruction. Canoes are typically a bit longer and heavier unless you purchase more expensive lightweight styles.
Canoes offer storage and moving about space in them. Most recently, manufacturers are making fishing kayaks for anglers that offer all the advantages of a lightweight boat with storage without the disadvantages of larger heavier canoes or boats. All these things can be done by a recreational canoe/ kayaker with a little planning and information about the location they will be paddling in. There are many options for kayaks that make even the beginner look like a regular user. There are kayaks that are for all types of general recreational use in both a sit-in style and sit-on-top design.They each have advantages and drawbacks depending on your intended use.A sit-on-top kayak is a wonderful choice if you do not need storage on your boat. They can be used in rivers, oceans, back bays, lakes, and most bodies of water except very fast white water conditions (of which there is very little in Connecticut).
Many elderly persons who have never kayaked before are choosing this style for exercise and recreational use, and teens like them because they can play around with them in the water and they can’t sink it even if it is used like a surfboard.
Some of the advantages of a Sit-On-Top Kayak:
*ease of entry (no cockpit to wiggle into)*cannot sink, (they are self bailing) * should you want to take a swim while in transit, you can easily climb back into your kayak again and continue paddling.*adjustable lay down option on seatback--sunbathe for a while*built in foot braces*built in flotation*very stable for beginners-difficult to tip over*lightweight-easy to transport smaller units especially (34lbs)Disadvantages are:*no storage compartments*no protection from elements (cold weather, rain, sun, etc)While sit-in style kayaks can be used in rivers, oceans, back bays, lakes, and most bodies of water except very fast white water conditions as well,sometimes storage capacity is desired.The advantages of sit-in kayaks are:*storage capacity (one or two compartments)*some have dry storage compartments*protection from cold weather, rain, or sun*ability to use year round with a skirt (optional accessories)*lightweight-easy to transport smaller units (34lbs)*drain plug to empty water in hull*comfortable seating*built in adjustable foot braces on most models*built in flota
tionDisadvantages are:* no ability to exit and enter easily unless on shore-will fill up with water and have to be brought to land to empty boat out (it will usually not sink)*heavy to move about if left upright and it rains (cockpit covers are available)*less stable than wider modelsThe kayak information in this article are specific to the Pelican models I am most familiar with and are general in nature to most kayaks by other manufacturers, however there are features that vary greatly depending on the company. If you have not considered kayaks because of the old shows on TV that depict an Eskimo roll and white water styles, you might want to check out the new styles that don’t tip over easily and can be used everywhere---recreational Kayaks !!! If you are thinking of trying golf, many people start with a lesson at a golf resort or club to see if they enjoy it. You can then purchase a starter set appropriate for your sex and size. There are children’s, junior, ladies and men’s sets. A used starter set with a bag can cost anywhere from $50- $150. If you fall in love with the sport, a full set new, will cost from $125 to hundreds of dollars. A used full set will usually run under $200 with a golf bag. I would suggest a reasonably priced set initially and in a couple of years you can then upgrade if you want something in the higher end market. The starter set consists of four irons (3,5,7,9) and a putter along with a driver (the “1” wood ). A full set includes the irons (3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and a PW--pitching wedge) and the putter and three “woods” ( the “1” wood commonly called the driver, a “3” wood and a “5” wood).Golf shoes, balls and other accessories can all be bought used and new. So, think outdoors, and think of all the interesting activities and fun you can have with the whole family and/or with your friends.
Whatever your choices for recreation, remember to think safety first and enjoy the spring and summer....See you soon. _______________________________________________________________________________
-Dhammapada
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Come To the Writing Table
Written by Carol Carbutti of Comfort Keepers of Wallingford
A writing group had invited me to their weekly writing session at an assisted living facility and I found myself excited about the possibilities. I had no idea what to expect but I hoped the experience would challenge my creative juices. My numerous journals and collections of creative pieces that I’ve laboriously saved through the years were in boxes and bags everywhere. I attempted to rummage through them to choose what I might bring to the group to share. As I drove up to this well appointed comfortable looking building, I fantasized about meeting a small group of elderly people who may not be too happy about an outsider attending their inner circle. I knew that a writing group sets up a trust within their fellow members and I wondered how I would fit in. The large group comfortably encircled a table in a library sitting room. They were just beginning the process of passing a copy of their latest writing around the table to each writer. When everyone had the paper in hand , the writer happily shared the idea or muse that prompted the creation of their piece. I was introduced and kindly accepted by being handed the latest presenter’s paper. As the soft spoken elderly woman read her beautiful poem on the arrival of autumn, I was inspired by the powerful and colorful image her concise well appointed words had created in my mind. She was asked to read it again and many of us listened the second time with our eyes closed and smiles slowly curling our lips. We responded to the images , thoughts, and feelings the poem elicited from us and that sharing extended a magical band around us. We compared those images to each others and found a common ground. The writing wand passed gently to each member of the group, who were given great respect for their writing attempts Our creative fancy was tickled that day and when we all had completed our journey around the table, we were assured we would be welcomed by this group of comrads next week.
Seniors need to exercise their minds and spirit often in order to participate in the healthy aging process. Search your senior resources such as libraries, senior centers, assisted living facilities, adult education , community colleges, on-line, and friends for writing groups to join. Another possibility would be to organize a writing group of your own. Whatever creative venture you seek to participate in , it will help to keep you young, thinking and interacting.
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We’re Getting Older…
Is Our Country Ready For It ???
Submitted by Carol Carbutti, Owner of Comfort Keepers of Wallingford
Today in the US, 6,000 people turn 65 everyday! In 10 years, the number will rise to 10,000 people per day! By year 2030 older Americans will double in number from 35 million to 70 million. The Alliance for Aging Research has written a report entitled, “Ten Reasons Why America is Not Ready for the Coming Age Boom”, in which they call out 10 fundamental cultural challenges and deficiencies in our health care and educational system:
1.
2. Age Denial – The US is a youth oriented culture; and Baby Boomers continue to fight aging !! We need to adapt cultural age perceptions and care options.
3.
4. Prevention Disparities – Prevention programs tend to be youth oriented and offer few preventative treatments for older patients.
5.
6. Geriatric Gap – Health care providers are not well-trained but developing in the care of the elderly.
7.
8. Few Academic Leaders – Academia has been slow to take a leadership role in training students in the care of the aged, nor have they proactively promoted the need for training.
9.
10. Lack of Geriatric Curriculum – Over half of all medical schools are not teaching geriatric medicine
11.
12. Lack of Geriatricians – There is a distinct lack of investment in geriatrics education. Less than one half of 1% of Medicare education funds are aimed at treating older Americans.
13.
14. Inadequate Reimbursement – Medicare and other health care insurers provide higher reimbursement for care that is NOT core to geriatric care.
15.
16. Lack of Coordination within Medicine – Older patients often have multiple chronic conditions requiring more than one doctor. Coordinating the information flow between health care providers is under-managed.
17.
18. Clinical Trials Often Do Not Include the Aged – The lack of inclusion in research complicates the creation of safe standards for the aged.
19.
20. Lack of Research on Aging – Less than 1% of the budget at the National Institutes for Aging is dedicated to studying aging.
The perceptions around aging and the resources dedicated to understanding aging MUST change…. because we are all getting older . See the Alliance for Aging Research website www.allianceforaging.org/ for more information about aging and the cultural, political and financial effects it will have.
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Veterans Pension Benefit Program Offers Aid for In-Home Care
Submitted by Carol Carbutti, Owner of Comfort Keepers of Wallingford
Too many times seniors will forego recommended care because the expense is more than the senior can manage. For some, though, there may be an untapped funding source that can create the resources needed to fund in-home care. If you or family member is a veteran, or the surviving spouse of a veteran, you or they may be eligible for funding through the Aid & Attendance special pension. If the veteran served 90 consecutive days of active military duty with at least one day during a U.S. declared war, the veteran or spouse is already partially qualified for the program if they are 65 years or older.
The Aid & Attendance special pension is an often-over-looked VA pension benefit. This pension addresses the needs of veterans or their surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of someone to assist them with eating, bathing, dressing or other needs (activities of daily living). Often another member of the family is providing this care giving and their daily and hourly efforts can be paid for by this benefit.
Encourage your friends and family members who meet the initial criteria to contact the nearest county Veterans Administration office or my Comfort Keepers Office at 203-697-1030 for more information on this program. Once all paperwork is submitted, approved, and the veteran or spouse begins receiving benefits, Comfort Keepers can provide the level of in-home care that has allowed so many to live comfortably in the privacy of their own homes. This process is time consuming and may take months to complete but a retroactive check will be sent if you are approved. Determining if you or a loved one is eligible for this added monthly income for the rest of your life is a very worthwhile effort on your part.
_To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com
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Exercise Tips for Seniors Starting Anew
Babies today have it better than those that came before them. That's because, according to a 2007 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, a baby born today has a lot more life to look forward to than one born 50 years ago. A child born today can expect to be around for the next 78 years, whereas one born half a century ago had a projected life span of nine fewer years.
While some might suggest this longer life expectancy is a product of people taking better care of themselves, others might say it's due in large part to advances in medicine.
Whatever the reason, it's obvious more and more seniors are living longer lives, and many are hoping to add even more miles to their odometers. One way to do just that is through exercise. But for seniors who haven't hit the gym in a while, starting an exercise regimen can be an intimidating, if not confusing, experience. Seniors looking to make exercise a regular part of their lives should consider the following tips along the way.
* Seek medical advice: The first thing you should do, even before lacing up your first sneaker, is visit a doctor. Each individual is different, and a doctor will let you know what you, personally, should and should not be doing as you begin a new exercise regimen. In addition, a checkup could reveal problems you might not be aware of.
* Recognize limitations: If you have not lifted a weight or run a step in 20 years, you're not going to be able to simply pick up where you left off. Recognizing your physical limitations is paramount to the success of your new program. For seniors, the point of exercise is not to become a pinup guy or girl, but to get healthy or maintain existing health. Set realistic goals and acknowledge what you can and cannot do.
* Choose an enjoyable program: Choose an exercise program you know you will enjoy. An enjoyable program will encourage participation and increase the likelihood that you'll stick with it. Whether it's a daily walk with friends or a structured workout at the local gym with a trainer, the program you choose should be one you look forward to, and not one you see as a necessary evil.
* Take it easy: Whenever a new program is started, be it by a teenager, professional athlete or senior citizen, the temptation to overdo it is omnipresent. However, flying out of the gates is a great way to get hurt, particularly if you do not yet know your physical limitations. Take it slow as you begin a workout, and make a daily journal of what you do at the beginning. That way, should you encounter any aches or pains, you can always look at the journal or share it with your physician or trainer to determine what might be the root of the problem. As you grow accustomed to physical activity, you can then make adjustments to your routine accordingly.
* Do your homework on facilities: You may, especially if you are retired, prefer to workout during the mid-morning hours when kids are in school and working professionals are at the office. That can make choosing a gym easier for you than it is for students or professionals.
However, when looking for the right facility, do your homework and find a gym that has all that you want. Some gyms, for example, heavily emphasize weight training, and don't offer other amenities such as racquetball courts or a swimming pool. Find a gym that best fits your needs. Many gyms offer free passes for up to a week so prospective customers can get a better grasp of what the gym has to offer. Take advantage of this common practice when choosing a facility.
* Make stretching a regular part of your regimen: Young or old, stretching is an integral part of any successful workout routine. For seniors, however, stretching becomes especially important, as you are more susceptible to injury than you were in your more youthful days. Stretching helps prevent muscle pulls and other injuries, and should be done both before and after a workout.
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Theme Is ‘Focus On School: What’s Shaping Our Lives’
Digital Cameras Offered As Prizes In
Third Annual Photo Essay Contest for Students
MIDDLEBURY, Conn. - Aspiring student photographers will have the opportunity to focus in on their classrooms as they click away in hopes of winning digital cameras for their school and having their work displayed.
Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Conn., and Olympus Imaging America Inc. are teaming up to present the Third Annual Photo Essay Contest For Students with divisions for elementary, middle and high schools.
The theme of this year’s essay is “Focus On School: What’s Shaping Our Lives.” There is no fee to participate.
Prizes For All Divisions
Olympus Imaging America Inc. will provide digital cameras to the first place entry in all three divisions. First place entries will also receive 20 Quassy Amusement Park passes that may be used for school fundraisers or student awards. Second place entries will receive 10 park passes and third place entries five park passes. Distinguished Excellence Awards will be presented in all three divisions, provided by Quassy Amusement Park.
The award-winning photo essays will be displayed at the park at the conclusion of the contest.
Contest Rules
Photos must be shot by student teams (up to four students on a team) or individual students at their school. Film or digital cameras may be used. Up to 12 essays may be entered from each school (teams and individual).
Essays must consist of at least eight photos with prints not larger than 5 by 7 inches. Photos must be mounted on a single piece of poster board with the entry form, signed by a faculty member at the participating school, attached to the back. Essays may be dropped off at the park office or mailed to: Photo Essay Contest, Quassy Amusement Park, Route 64, PO Box 1107, Middlebury, CT 06762.
All entries must be received by May 1, 2009. Finalists will be invited to the awards ceremony to be held at Quassy Amusement Park on May 30, 2009.
Judging will be conducted by Debra Aleksinas, features editor at the Republican-American newspaper in Waterbury, Conn., and Ron Gustafson, director of educational programs and photographer for Quassy Amusement Park. The decision of judges will be final.
Official entry forms are available at http://www.quassy.com/ on the Press Room page.
About Olympus
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering award-winning products for consumer and professional markets. Olympus Imaging America Inc. works collaboratively with its customers and its ultimate parent company, Olympus Corporation, to develop breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality that enhances peoples' lives every day.
These include:
· Digital and film cameras as well as related underwater products and accessories
· Professional digital SLR imaging systems as well as related underwater products and
accessories· Digital and microcassette recorders
· Digital media
· Binoculars
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is responsible for sales in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. For more information visit http://www.olympusamerica.com/.
About Quassy Amusement Park
Quassy Amusement Park opens its 101st season of operation April 25. The park features more than two-dozen rides and attractions, “Saturation Station” water play area, redemption arcade, beach, restaurant and entertainment.
The park sponsors a number of educational programs each year, including a physics tour, “Wacky Science” stage presentation, history tour, photography workshop and a journalism workshop.
Schools interested in participating in the programs may call 203-758-2913 ext. 105 to reserve times.
Quassy charges no general admission. All-day wristbands or individual ride tickets are available. Visit the park’s Web site for more information.
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Photo Essay Contest
Elementary, middle and high schools have the opportunity to win digital cameras in the Third Annual Photo Essay Contest presented by Quassy Amusement Park and Olympus Imaging America Inc. The theme of this year’s essay is “Focus On School: What’s Shaping Our Lives.” Shown above is a youngster soaring on the “Yo-Yo” Super Swing at Quassy Amusement Park during the 2008 season. (Quassy Photo)
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Home Country
Slim Randles
It’s Tuesday afternoon at two, which means Clarice Devon is on her way to the Curl Up ‘N Dye beauty salon. It’s like the sun coming up or the price of bread increasing. Tuesday. Two. Clarice.
“Clarice!” yells Fran. “Ready to be beautiful?”
“Sure,” she said. “I like attempting the impossible.”
Clarice Devon is one of our angels. She’s one of the few people in town who will tolerate old people and shut ins, and she not only takes care of them, but seems to relish it as well.
During the rinse, Fran asks her if she’s the one taking care of Mr. Gavin since his stroke. Clarice nods.
“So what’s he like to work with these days?”
“It’s a now-and-then situation,” Clarice says. “You know … now and then?”
“I don’t understand. You mean it’s part time?”
“Nope. Full time. But it’s now and then.”
Fran looked puzzled.
Clarice laughed. “It’s like this,” she said, imitating old Mr. Gavin’s voice. “Now, when you finish getting me my tea, I’d like a custard, but I’d like it in a glass bowl. A small glass bowl. Then I want you to call and see if my pills are ready. Now if they are, could you pick them up? Then, while you’re there, I want to try that toothpaste they talk about on television.”
Fran laughed. “Now and then, huh?”
“Now and then,” Clarice said, smiling as she was attacked by curlers.
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Brought to you by Bass Pro Shops. Visit them at http://www.basspro.com/.
Home Country
Slim Randles
The garden catalogs start coming when the snow is too deep to even find dirt. But we don’t care.
This is a catalog time of year, a time for making plans and figuring out how to do something even better than we did last year.
There in the fishing catalog is that new fly-tying vise. I know I’ll be able to tie flies faster and better with that, which will give me more time to cruise up and down Lewis Creek with the fly rod. Well … at least that’s the plan.
And the housewares catalog has all kinds of things in it to help us peel potatoes, boil things, slice things, and clean things. A few well-spent dollars on their 800 phone line and before you know it, our lives will be easier and our food tastier.
With the truck catalogs, we can get a little coffee maker that plugs right in to the cigarette lighter. Or we can get a little oven that plugs right in to the cigarette lighter, or a fan that plugs right in to the cigarette lighter. Let’s hope the car makers continue to make cigarette lighters even after cigarettes themselves disappear. We’d miss out on a lot of fun without that plug-in.
The mule needs his catalog, too. I’ll do the reading for him, and the ordering. But I think he’d appreciate one of those nice white fleece cinches. They seem so soft on an old mule’s belly. And a matching saddle pad would be good, too. He’s too old to rope on any more, but a guy can still appreciate comfort in semi-retirement.
The land catalogs are the most fun. In these, there are always lakes with wooded margins, begging for a little cabin. A small place where a guy can hole up and think literary thoughts and type quietly. Well, it’s a thought, anyway. And that’s what catalogs do, stimulate our thinking.
Spring catalogs are the novels of optimistic lives.
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Brought to you by Bass Pro Shops. Visit them at http://www.basspro.com/.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
31st Annual Meriden Daffodil Festival
by Ernie Larsen
I’m starting to write this on the first day of spring, well let me tell you, I hope the weather gets a lot warmer before Meriden’s premier event, the Meriden Daffodil Festival. It’s about 30F outside right now and could go as low as 20F or less tonight, brrrrr……..well, it did get pretty chilly last night but yesterday, Saturday the 21st was really nice, sunny, but still only in the 40’s; what I call the New Englander’s bible, well some of us anyway, the Old Farmer’s Almanac, pegged it right when it predicted cloudy and cool weather for today. I thought I’d just check ahead – for April 25-30 (the Festival is on April 25 and 26th) the fabled yellow covered tome is predicting sunny and warm weather. Sure hope so, it’ll be a good thing for everyone, the 30 plus non-profit food vendors from the area many who use the Silver Fork Food tent as their major fundraiser for the year, the talented crafters from all over the eastern seaboard displaying their unique creations, be it a hand made Adirondack chair or some local honey or a pair of knitted baby booties, maybe a clever sign for the front lawn or a new mirror for the bathroom, well whatever it is these crafter never cease to amaze me with their cleverness. Then their the thousands who come to either participate or just enjoy watching Daffodils on Parade the annual marching extravaganza through the park; and of course those who make it a yearly pilgrimage for the music, three stages of continuous entertainment with an entree to please every musical palate. And I’d be remiss not mentioning the Business Expo on the tennis courts sponsored by Meriden’s exuberant Chamber of Commerce, highlighting local companies and firms starting on Friday and wrapping up on Sunday. And, oh yes, the children, Theater of the Trees, kid’s free entertainment Saturday and Sunday and the ever popular amusement rides. All this among the 600,001 blooming daffodils in historic Hubbard Park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic places. All of these events benefit from good weather and if the O.F.A. prediction holds, this years event will be second to none based on what the Daffodil Committee has been planning for long before the beginning of the New Year.
And this year especially, people deserve some good times, with all that’s been going on with the economy, financial firm hi-jinks, along with being held hostage almost every week with a snowstorm, it’s time for a break; the Daffodil Festival offers just that, a respite from the real world, if only for a few hours and for the most part it offers many free events. The entertainment, parade, Business Expo have no admission and there is free parking and shuttle service directly to the heart of Hubbard Park so you can start having fun as soon as you arrive; when you disembark from the shuttle and start walking into the Festival proper you’ll be serenaded by one of the talented bands playing their hearts out on the Jeff Crooms Welcome Stage and there’s plenty more from where that came from. Remember for complete listings of entertainment head for your computer and http://www.daffodilfest.com/ for the most up to date information on the Festival, this interactive site has tons of information and is updated continuously to keep everyone abreast of latest Daffodil Festival – no computer, give the Department of Recreation a call, (203) 630-4259.
So let’s review where and when, in less than 30 days the first events of “Daffodil Week” commence. On Saturday April 18 the Daffodil Festival committee hosts Connecticut’s Largest Tag Sale under the Festival tent: over 100 vendors displaying and offering their treasures for sale. The same day, the 18th, a fishing derby for children takes place at Mirror Lake, tentatively scheduled from 10: AM until noon – youngsters are encouraged to bring their own tackle, although a very limited number of rods will be available as well as
bait – there is no charge to participate and prizes will be awarded, you don’t even have to catch a fish to win a prize. For sports fans, the weekend of Saturday and Sunday April 18 and 19 is designated ‘Sports Weekend’ in Hubbard Park. Meriden’s own Beat the Street boxing club hosts a series of amateur boxing matches; there is a nominal admission fee for this event with all proceeds turned back to the club to encourage the sport. On Sunday the action kicks off with the 8th Annual Meriden Rotary Club 5K Road Race. And maintaining tradition, the Festival reverts back to its roots hosting the selection of Little Miss Daffodil and her Honor Escort, Wednesday evening April 22nd. The Business Expo begins with a business to business opening on Friday the 24th and the annual springtime extravaganza, the 31st annual Meriden Daffodil Festival, a party so big it takes two weekends to make it all happen, opens at 10:00 AM on April 25th. Shuttle buses begin at 9:00 AM from all locations.This year, the Festival is truly a Meriden and Connecticut homegrown event; all the musical entertainment has either a Meriden or Connecticut connection, from Meriden’s own inimitable troubadour Frank Critelli to local talent gone nationwide, the Alternate Routes; The Bad Reps, a trio of politicos featuring Speaker of the Ct. House of Representatives, Chris Donovan, looking to enhance their image through music, with three stages of continuous music it will be difficult to choose which group to enjoy; the ever popular Manchurians on the band shell stage or the crowd pleasing Zydeco Hogs in the food tent or one of the newcomers, Bird and Boys on the Welcome Stage. For you salsa lovers, Jesus Pagan will rock the house in the Silver Fork Food tent while one of my favorites, with their loyal following, The River Street Band takes the band shell stage. This year the festival is getting greener; a troop of local Boy Scouts will collect all recyclable cans and bottles and maintain the cleaning of tables in the Silver Fork Food Tent – the troop will realize the profits of turning in the cans/bottles for their deposit value and importantly receive a lesson in community involvement through this major volunteer effort. And again this year, food vendors are encouraged to use biodegradable food service items – with one of the major food suppliers expanding the availability of same to make this a truly environmentally friendly event.
And that’s not all on Saturday evening when the sun sets over East peak, a spectacular fireworks display lights the sky over Castle Craig. This exhibit draws ooohs and aaahs from those in the park and other spots in Meriden. For those in the surrounding towns, this display is visible from Southington, Cheshire, and Berlin. And on Sunday, the Festival continues, a fun-filled weekend in historic Hubbard Park.
So, are you ready to party? This winter was really a doozy – get out to the Festival, check out the crafts, enjoy some of that great fair food and just relax and listen to the music amidst the 600,001 daffodils in historic Hubbard Park. Come on out, join your family, friends and neighbors; enjoy a day having fun, forget about what’s been going on for a few hours.
The Committee has planned activities that will entertain, sustain and amaze. A weekend filled with food, flowers, fireworks and fun. Hope to see you at Meriden’s premier event, the Meriden Daffodil Festival, April 25 and 26th 2009, in historic Hubbard Park. Saturday, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
For more information http://www.daffodilfest.com/ or the Meriden Parks and Recreation (203) 630-4259.
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22ND ANNUAL “DAFFODILS ON PARADE”
The 22nd Annual “Daffodils on Parade” will take place on Saturday, April 25th at 11:30AM. The parade is one of the main features of the 31st Annual Meriden Daffodil Festival, which takes place on Saturday, April 25th (10:00AM-9:00PM) and Sunday, April 26th(10:00AM-5:00PM) at beautiful Hubbard Park. The theme of this year’s parade is “The Music in Me,” and participants will be singing & dancing from the start at Castle Drive, down West Main Street, into Hubbard Park and around Mirror Lake.
“Daffodils on Parade” has been very fortunate over the years to have the creative participation of the central Connecticut community, and this year will be no exception. Numerous local businesses, civic groups, and community organizations will be ready to go. Marching bands, highlighted by representative units from the four Meriden secondary schools, will be tuned up and looking to entertain. Dignitaries such as Little Miss Daffodil & Honor Escort, veterans’ groups, honor guards, beauty queens, and many local politicians will be decked out in spiffy attire. The usual parade notables like jugglers & clowns will also be in attendance, as well as special appearances from Spiderman, Captain America, and Ronald McDonald.
What really makes the parade unique are the many floats gracing the route and the tremendous enthusiasm displayed by the hundreds of student marchers. Floats require a great deal of effort to design, build, and utilize, but they truly are sights to behold. The festival committee is extremely grateful to the schools & community groups that will invest the time necessary to create them. The committee is equally grateful to our public & parochial school administrators, teachers, parents, and students who inject such liveliness into the event. There will be plenty of both floats & school groups to see this year.
As exciting as the parade will be, there is still one thing missing – YOU! The thousands of spectators lining the route are the final piece of the parade puzzle. If you have ever watched a previous one, thank you. Your presence provides an appreciation to the participants. If you have never seen one, why not make 2009 the year to do it? You will not only understand “why everybody loves a parade,” but also how fortunate it is to live in such a community-minded place.
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Earth Day
This year for Earth Day (April 22nd), do something different. Help the community, the environment and maybe even yourself by joining the Freecycle Network online.
Freecycle is an online network where people can give away old or unwanted items instead of throwing them away. The Freecycle.org website is similar to shopping or selling on Ebay or Craig’s list, except every item posted is 100% free. The Freecycle website’s mission statement is: “Freecycle is a non-profit organization whose main goal is to reduce waste, save precious resources, and ease burden on landfills.”
It’s easy; all you have to do is sign up, put up a listing for the items you want to give away and if someone in your area is looking for that, they can come pick it up. Almost anything goes: Items can be new or used, working or not. Freecycle members have offered everything from clothing and toys to furniture, dishwashers, plants, and camping gear.
Need parts for a broken appliance? Or maybe props for the school play? Check out the local Freecycle listings or post a request of your own. You never know what you will find. When a CT Girl Scout troop was looking for a tent for a camping trip, they got responses from several Freecycle members offering not only several tents, but rowboats, firewood, camp chairs and sleeping bags!
Recent area Freecycle listings include a Coleman outdoor gas fireplace, a pet carrier, and vegetable steamer and crockpot in Wallingford. And Meriden Freecyclers have offered curtains, children’s toys, books, and a king sized bed and triple dresser. For more information on these listings or to find more in our area, go to the Meriden Freecycle network’s website: http://www.freecycle.org/group/United%20States/Connecticut/Meriden or visit http://www.freecycle.org/ for other CT area Freecycle networks.
Freecycle is a great way to help others in the community while keeping your items out of landfills. The Freecycle Network Worldwide has reported that its members are keeping 55 tons of goods out of landfills each day! So, before you throw your old things out, make a change and make a difference in community and the environment, and log on to Freecycle.org.
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Gettysburg - A history lover's dream!!
By Matt Reynolds
In this historic year in United States history ( inauguration of Barack Obama ) I can think of no better way to celebrate it than a visit to Gettysburg, PA..
I recently had the pleasure of accompanying my brother and his family on a weekend trip there. The place absolutely oozes history everywhere you go and has so many battlefield memorials that you can't get to everything in one long weekend. The Gettysburg National Military Park is one of the best of it's kind in the world and includes the restored Cyclorama. The Cyclorama is a panoramic painting exquisitely and painstakingly restored to more than it's original glory. It shows in all it's glory Pickett's historic charge and " The high water mark of the Confederacy. " Never again would the South threaten the North on it's own soil. This was the brilliant General Robert E. Lee's last real offensive against the Northern Army of the Potomac led by the newly christened General George Meade.
We hired a Gettysburg National Park Battlefield Guide to drive us around the battlefields and convey his extensive knowledge to us. It was well worth the time and effort.
He showed us where the Connecticut soldiers fought and their memorial monuments. We also visited the grand opening of "The David Will's House and Museum" where Abraham Lincoln slept the night before his famous "Gettysburg Address" and also put the finishing touches on it!
The highlight of our trip was a post breakfast walk of the route that the Confederate General Pickett's division took during their historic charge!! We saw where the most intensive fighting took place. Our trip was complete when we visited the Union memorials on top of "Little Round Top" and "Big Round Top".
If you love history do yourself a favor and VISIT THIS PLACE!!!!!
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Meriden Junior Girl Scout Troop 66070 proudly announces the winners of the City of Meriden Photo Contest that benefited 1711 Solomon Goffe House and the Meriden Humane Society.
1st Place Michelle Hansen, Maloney High School Student
2nd Place Christian Adamik, Maloney High School Student
3rd Place Katie Filippides, Ben Franklin Student
A traveling exhibit featuring the beautiful photographs of all entries will be held
at the Sandman Gallery, 39 West Main Street, Meriden. Dates to be determined and publicized.. .
Traveling next to Gallery 53, 53 Colony Street, Meriden. Dates to be determined and publicized.
A reception honoring the photographers will be held at the Meriden Public Library (date to be determined and announced- all entrants will be notified by phone and email). There will be a collection for donations to the 1711 Solomon Goffe House and the Meriden Humane Society during that event.
The Junior Girl Scouts had a fun time judging the photographs. Emily, a 5th grader at Israel Putnam said: “It was fun to put together the photo contest and to help out the Solomon Goffe House and the Meriden Humane Society.” Jessica, a 4th grader at the school agreed by adding: “helping out the Solomon Goffe House and the Humane Society was an important part of it.” Destiny, a 5th grader at Putnam shared that “the photos we so beautiful and outstanding”! The Troop agreed that they would like to do this again next year.
The Girl Scout Troop would like to thank Mrs. Jessica Sperry, Fine Arts Department Chair of Maloney High School for encouraging some of her talented photography students to partake in the contest. The entries were amazingly beautiful. Maloney High School has some very creative and talented students. You will see proof of that if you visit the Traveling Exhibit or the Reception, which all citizens are invited to.
The Girls Scouts also want to thank Lisa Nosal of Frame and Art in Wallingford for her generous donation of time and talent in matting a few of the photo submissions.
The donation box along with the Wish Lists is still up at the Meriden Public Library if you are interested in donating to either organization. We appreciate your generosity.
Lufberry Park in the Spring
By Priscilla Reynolds
This year, 2009, is very reluctant to show any signs of spring. Lufberry Park is located on the west side of Wallingford off Cheshire Road. Chipper and I love to climb the hill there and look over Ashlar Village and take in the hills of Meriden. The date is March 25, 2009: we are alone; no other dogs, no other hikers, no cars parked near the fenced in base ball field.
Broken down trees and briar bushes bar our way on the west trail but Chipper, joyously, runs in and around the prickers and devastation. I concentrate on finding new life on this fifth day of spring after a long frigid winter. And yes, there is! The wonderful warmth of the SUN is sufficient: more light, less wind, finally the promise of Spring.
We pass under three bridges of large broken trees. The beginning of the red trail has three trees bending low and together--one more catastrophe of Nature about to happen but I can't believe that we are in danger on such a beautiful day. There were darker days when I viewed the standing bare trunks of trees with some trepidation. Huge monsters seemed to reach out for us, as they did in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz" when Dorothy, the tin man, the scarecrow and the Lion (and Toto) escaped from the terrifying trees marching across the screen. My eyesight fails me at times and I can imagine many exciting things. Looking up from the newly constructed kiosk, I turned to Chipper, "Is that a bear?" It turned out to be a form of fungus or tumor on the tree.
Back to the red trail: we approach two lovely evergreens, Holly bushes with pointed strong leaves, a pleasant sight against the snows of the past winter, and a contrast now against the stubborn browns and broken limbs. Three ornaments hang off one of these trees, a perpetual "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. One of these ornaments has been hanging there at least six years.
We start climbing the steep part of our journey. Jagged igneous rocks are scattered on the slope. We turn off the trail to a plateau, another lookout toward the west. Someone has made a fireplace made of huge rocks and evidence of camping out surrounds the area. At one time the view encompassed more woods--now, new homes toward the west detract from the solitude, but the ever-changing sunset on a fair day never disappoints you.
We follow the path again toward the summit. We pass two giant pine trees with silver-white bark and bristles of green brush against the sky. I look down and see a trunk of a tree caught in another pine tree perpendicular to the ground. I walk under it--a broom handle away. We have reached the fence that separates the park from land belonging to the Masonic Home, and from the summit we look East and Southeast over Ashlar Village and the lovely Meriden Mountains.
Throughout the woods in the distance we spot small trees with golden coins attached. (I remember my Mom reading me stories about golden leaved trees.) These are the Blessed Beech trees. When closer to them the leaves appear pale and oblong, strongly attached to irregular branches The Blue jays, often dubbed troublemakers in the bird world, are credited with carrying the seeds of these lovely trees throughout the woods. One full-grown beech tree stands at the edge of the white trail overlooking a field. Its smooth, gray bark makes it much more huggable than other trees. Its thin bark also makes this tree vulnerable to disease. On our beloved Beech tree are engravings from many ignorant humans. We humans must learn to count our blessings, not destroy them.
Many years ago some group labeled several of the trees on the white path. The labels are difficult to read now; the devastation has claimed trees with labels too. But it was remarkable that these? boys (now, men) could distinguish a red Oak from a white Oak, a red Maple from a white Maple. Pignut hickory trees, black and white Birch, Witchhazel, white Ash, Tulip tree and black Cherry are also labeled trees. This endeavor as well as the recent building of the kiosk, the wooden bench near the beech tree and the marked paths are commendable and a real gift to me and other outdoor lovers.
The warmth and light from the sun on March 25, 2009 is a promise of New Growth and Hope for the Future.
(More research is needed to honor those who have gifted Lufberry Park and also to give an accurate history of the Lufberry family. I hope to do this in the future.)
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
AT THE HEART OF IT ALL!
By: Staci M. Roy, Executive Director of the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center (ACCC)
In these tough economic times we are trying to offer many programs and events at the Center that are affordable or even free and that may help to take you away from it all for a just a bit right in your own community. In April we will be hosting a multitude of events for all ages to enjoy:
Valerie Bubon, a teacher of Opera will be presenting “Mozart’s Magic Flute” for ages 8 to 80 on Wednesday, April 15th at 1:30, admission is $5.00 and children under 12 are free. This is a video presentation and will be a wonderful way to get some culture with your child during their school vacation.
The Augusta Curtis Concert Band (ACCB) will be doing a benefit concert for the Center on Sunday, April 19th in Hubbard Park on the tennis courts under a large tent at 3:30pm. Admission will be $5.00 and all proceeds go to benefit the Center and the Band. The band is made up of about 42 musicians ranging in age from 13 to 80 and at all skill levels of playing. Most of the band members come from Meriden, but other communities are represented as well. ACCB will be playing many familiar concert band tunes to entertain audiences of all ages. We are also looking for a sponsor for this event, if interested please call 203-639-2856 or e-mail us accc@ci.meriden.ct.us.
Monday, April 20th at 7:00pm we will be featuring the Hartt School of Music’s Classical Guitar Department. These guitarists are some of the best to have ever played before our audiences. These students have master the guitar and are bringing a new level of entertainment to the Meriden area. This program is also donation of choice and worth so much more.
The Hartt School of Music is to Connecticut what Julliard is to New York and how lucky we are to have them performing at our Center not only once but twice this month. On Sunday, April 26th at 3pm the 20/20 Performance group will be doing a classical performance that will feature the best string players of the school. These students have to try out not only to get into Hartt, but also to get into the 20/20/ program. Admission is donation of choice.
Meriden’s Arts & Cultural Center is At the Heart of it all and we are hoping you will attend on of our many events. The Center is also hosting events call Nits Out at the Augusta usually on a Friday or Saturday evening at 8pm featuring live entertainment and cabaret style. We provide ice, mixers, and water and good fun. Bring your food, friends, and drinks and enjoy an inexpensive evening out, tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The next Niter Out will be Friday, May 8th featuring Daniel Taylor, a young musician from Maine. Daniel sold out the last time he was with us, so get you tickets soon!
The Center is here for everyone to enjoy and use. Please help us to serve you by attending an event, becoming a member, making a donation becoming a volunteer, or using us for your next special events. For more information or to see what is coming up At the Augusta go to http://www.curtiscutluralcenter.org/. Keep your hearts in the arts and The Augusta Curtis Cultural Center at the Heart of it all!!
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HARBINGERS OF SPRING
FOLLOW LONG HARD WINTER
By Phyllis S. Donovan
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t greet the arrival of spring with a huge sigh of relief after surviving yet another long hard winter.
The downside of having winter snows finally melt away, however, is the revelation of all the damage and detritus that has lain, up to now, buried and thankfully unobserved, beneath snowbanks along the sides of the roads.
We have never seen such absolute destruction in our neighborhood as was wreaked throughout our neighborhood by snowplows this year. I’m not talking about an occasional curb dug into when a driver misjudged the side of a road. I’m talking about nearly every other property sporting great chunks of curb ripped up and tossed onto front lawns as well as wide muddy swaths cut into the lawns themselves. Most of the damage happened during one storm near the end of the season. It looked like a demolition derby had rampaged through the neighborhood! Luckily, my husband had the foresight to place a row of flexible red driveway markers all along the front edge of our property to warn the plows away. Our curb, as a result, stayed intact but the widow lady next door suffered great damage to her front yard and who’s going to fix that?
Recently we read in the newspaper that plow drivers (at least in Southington) are assigned to specific routes and those same drivers, when winter ends, are charged with going back along those routes, accessing any damage they caused and repairing that damage. If that’s how things operate in Meriden, it looks like the guy (or guys) assigned to our neighborhood have assured themselves an entire summer of repair work.
Another revelation each spring is the trash that has accumulated along our streets and highways. In neighborhoods, people are pretty good about picking up stuff dropped or tossed in front of their houses. But have you driven along Research Parkway recently? We drive that route often bringing outgoing mail down to the big district Post Office just over the Wallingford line. (Letters mailed in the outdoor boxes there are delivered anywhere in Connecticut the very next day which is super service.)
All along the length of this largely commercial but still rural strip, the bushes and grassy areas are festooned with discarded plastic, paper and assorted fast food junk tossed from cars and blown to the edges of the road. Right now, with everything flattened by winter, the trash is most noticeable. We always wish a scout troop or other youth group would adopt that stretch of highway and devote a weekend to cleaning it up. Eventually, the reeds, grasses and brush along the way will grow up around the mess and it won’t be so noticeable as it molders there. Meanwhile, we despair at the slovenliness of people who drive by there and just toss out debris to desecrate this otherwise attractive strip.
Happily, we’ve noticed that the pair of swan who frequent a small pond along our daily route have once again set up housekeeping in the reeds at the far side of the water. Every spring Mama Swan returns to the same spot to sit faithfully on her nest over there. Last year she hatched three little brown cygnets which she and her mate guarded faithfully all summer, swimming in rank on both sides of the babies until the little ones grew big, turned white and moved on. Now the parents are back, hopefully to start another family for us to watch grow.
On the same morning in mid-March that the drifts of purple crocuses blossomed in front of our house, I witnessed a ritual which was clearly a certain sign of the arrival of spring.
I was having breakfast at the time and looking out at the usual birdie comings and going on our back deck. It was still a little early for the arrival of the little birds -- the goldfinches, titmice and chickadees -- paying their morning visit. The only ones out there were two mourning doves sitting complacently side by side on the deck railing.
As I watched, the larger of the two started pecking at his feathers, transforming his usual sleek appearance into a messy mass of spiky tufts that made him look at least half again his usual size. While he was doing this, his partner turned her back on him and pretended she was unaware of his transformation.
When she finally took a peek at him, she obviously liked what she saw and started snuggling up to him. She moved over right next to him on the railing and he would indifferently back away a little. She’d try to snuggle again and he’d move away. After three or four of these snuggle moves, she reached over and pecked his chest a couple of times, wagging her tail up and down in agitation. Eventually they touched beaks together and she turned her back to him, ruffling her tail feathers as she went. Overcome by desire, he pounced on her back, wings spread and had his way with her.
Thus sated, he backed off and sat in stunned silence while she coolly gazed off in the opposite direction from where he sat. I figured that brief encounter was the end of it, but no, as soon as his ruffled feathers sleeked back down into place, he started plucking them up again and repeated the whole process. Better than National Geographic!
After the second go-around, the little lady flew off, soon followed by her smitten suitor. So yes, in spring, birds do it, I imagine bees do it, and lately squirrels have been chasing each other in pairs through our back woods and round and round the trunk of the huge old maple tree that grows in our neighbor’s yard just across the fence from our bird feeders which they love.
Spring is especially welcome this year. I’ve been just about supporting Greenbackers with my purchases of huge bags of sunflower seeds, cakes of suet and bags of the thistle seed the finches love. Those finches can empty a large cylinder feeder in less than a week with the entire flock perched all at once at every opening of the feeder. My payback for that comes within a month or so when they start turning yellow. It’s like having a backyard of canaries flying around.
I know that some robins stay north all winter, our grandchildren in Ridgefield counted a flock of 14 on their lawn not long ago. But I never see them. So when I spy the first robin in our neighborhood each spring, I’m always thrilled. Of course, it would help if this year he hadn’t chosen to risk life and limb by slowly flying low right in the path of my car as I was driving up our hill as if to say “Look at me! Look at me!”
We had hoped to get down to Florida this past winter to visit our numerous friends who have relocated there, but there was always some reason we couldn’t get together on a two-week period in our busy lives when neither of us had a commitment.
So here it is spring, we never went to Florida and now it is too late to even consider it. Why would we want to go south now anyways when it’s starting to warm up around here and things are happening? Spring is always my favorite time of year and I’d hate to miss a single day of it.
Not that we could really complain about the winter we’ve just come through. I think it was probably one of the prettiest winters we’ve had in years. With the snow remaining on the ground for most of the entire season, we had more than our share of bright sunny days with blue skies that made us feel happy to be New Englanders. My Canadian grandfather always said that winters were healthier when the ground was covered (with snow, that is.) I believe he was right. We survived this past winter without even a head cold (after last year being really floored by an awful flu that petered off into violent vertigo attacks.)
So here we are going into a lovely stretch of warm spring days and loving every moment of it. Spring is its own reward and we’ll never forget it!
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Your Future is Now©
I hear people saying it’s a very bad time
And some complain that they don’t have a dime
But in reality this is a period of gold
A time to be active, a time to be bold
It’s a time to work hard some don’t know what that means
It’s now peanut butter, hotdogs and beans
It’s a time of transition, a time to invent
A time for connecting to the glories God sent
There are three things we all have that are the same
It’s time, money and creativity - so let’s start the game
If you have time, use it wisely each and every day
Help someone else in a spiritual way
Give of your money to those whose fortune is less
But still pay some bills and clean up your mess
It costs nothing to walk and enjoy the outdoors
Or use a row boat… with those great big oars
Remember without valleys, there are no mountains to climb
So enjoy the river, the scenery and every church chime
Know that in history this has happened before
In every town and city and in every war
Watch what comes out of your mouth - keep it positive talk
Spend time watching others, watch them like a hawk
For negatives will not help you but hustling will
And soon things will change and you’ll pay every bill
So pull the plug on the computer the TV and all
And spend time with your children, breathe fresh air and play ball
Many jobs that will be available in fifteen years
Have not yet been created, so wipe away your tears
We have all been a part of the change we now see
Forget about saying “oh goodness, poor me”
Get going right now, and do your part
Do what you know is your passion, it’s straight from your heart
Have we been mindless and is “worry” your theme?
Forget it for now for it’s time to daydream
We must clean up the environment and regain our health
Think of each other and not just our wealth
It’s time to sparkle and laugh every day
And enjoy one another and what loved ones say
So walk in the rain and enjoy the sunshine too
Love and have faith in all that you do
You’re starting to climb, this you believe and know
For your future is now - you are starting to grow
Carolyn Finch
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UNICOONAROO
By Dorothy Adair Gonick
At the edge of a wide spreading meadow, in the shelter of the Catalpa grove, mother Raccoon busily stitched the big catalpa leaves into party hats. Above, catalpa beans hung like fringe from the branches. She had a pile of the beans nearby, ready for juicy snacking. Her two baby raccoons were playing hide-and-seek with their friend Joey, while Joey’s mother, Roo Kangaroo, kept watch to see that none strayed. The breezes ruffled their fur as they leaped and played around the meadow. Jumping in and out of Mama Roo’s pouch playing peek-a-boo was a new game for the baby raccoons, and they loved it.
The wind was blowing the wispy clouds into a big swirly mass, known as ‘mare’s tails’, which blew down around their heads and dropped Eunice the unicorn down among them. She pranced gracefully all around the group. Excited cries from everyone welcomed her to their party. Mother raccoon gave each a party hat to wear, and Eunice’s fitted right over her special horn and began glowing a bright blue, much to their amazement.
As they were munching the Catalpa beans, the breezes suddenly became strong and grew into an angry wind—black and furious and whirled upon the party. Mamma Roo quickly tucked the little ones into her pouch; Eunice ordered Mother Raccoon and Mama Roo to climb on her back and to hold on tightly to her mane as she was afraid the wind would blow them away. The wind swirled around the group, picking them up and twirling them high in the air, faster and faster as it spun higher and higher into the sky. The friends huddled tightly together, clinging fast, hearts pounding with fright, the babies crying for their mothers. Suddenly, the wind ceased, dropping them in a tangled heap back into the catalpa grove.
They lay sprawled in that tangled heap and tried to get free of one another, but it was impossible. They had clung together so tightly that each was squashed into the others, and finally when able to stand, they saw that they had melded into one new creature. A Unicoonaroo!
Mother raccoon looked all around, calling for her babies. The three youngsters pushed their way up in Mama Roo’s pouch and peeked out, calling, “Mama! Mama!” There on their heads were pointy unicorn horns where the party hats had been. Mother Raccoon’s party hat had also become a horn, but what had happened to Joey’s mama? Her pouch was still around them, but where was the rest of Mama Roo? And their friend Eunice was not all there either, and her tail had raccoon stripes all along it. They had truly become a magical animal. Today, if you look carefully, and are very quiet, you might find Unicoonaroo in that special catalpa grove, munching catalpa beans. You might even be invited to come and party.
July 2007
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CAMP SAFETY
When you send your children to camp, you expect them to swim, play tennis, do arts and crafts and make plenty of new friends. You expect them to have an experience they can remember their whole lives.
Most of all, you expect them to be safe.
More than 10 million children go to camp each year. There are about 12,000 camps in the U.S.; 7,000 are overnight and 5,000 are day camps. Unfortunately, only about 25 percent are accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA), which provides accreditation to camps for meeting certain industry standards.
So how safe are camps?
We know children are injured and several children die each year while spending time away from home at camp. But the real statistics are a mystery, because camps aren't required by federal law to report injuries and deaths. The ACA will report deaths, but there is no information available from the other 75 percent of non-accredited camps, which don't report to the organization.
To help protect your children, use the following checklist when deciding on a camp program:
ACA Accreditation: These camps have a higher safety standard than non-accredited camps. But remember, even if you find an accredited camp, you still need to investigate its safety standards.
Staff-to-camper ratio: How many campers are assigned to each counselor or staff member? Ratios differ by age groups, so you need to use your judgment when evaluating the camp's ratio. High school aged children may need fewer councilors than a camp designed for elementary school aged children. In general, at resident camps, the ACA recommends the following staff to camper ratios:
1:6 for ages 7 and 8
1:8 for ages 9 to 14
1:10 for ages 15 to 17
At day camps, recommendations are 1:8 for children 6 to 8, 1:10 for ages 9 to 14, and 1:12 for campers ages 15 to 17.
Staff training: What kinds of training do the counselors and other staff members have to go through? Who provides the training – the camp, or an outside agency? Outside agencies are always preferred, and counselors should always be trained in basic first aid.
Background checks: Do the counselors and other camp staff have to undergo background checks? The ACA requires staff screening, which can include criminal background checks where permitted by law. Even camps that are not ACA-accredited should investigate the background of anyone who is going to be in close contact with children.
Medical care: Are there trained medical staff on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? There should also be first aid equipment to handle every potential situation, from bug bites and cuts and scrapes, to more serious injuries.
Emergency transportation: How long would it take an ambulance to reach the camp in case of emergency? Are there vehicles at the camp that could transport your child to a hospital? These questions are especially important if the camp is off the beaten path, far from a medical facility.
Skills test: Does the camp require campers to take a skills test before swimming, diving, boating, rock climbing, rappelling, or horseback riding? Campers should never be allowed to participate in an activity for which they're not ready or properly trained.
Buddy system: Are children paired up by the "buddy" system before swimming or participating in other water activities? A buddy can alert counselors if his or her partner gets into trouble in the water.
Don Keenan, the founder of Keenan’s Kids Foundation, is the author of the child safety book 365 Ways to Keep Kids Safe, which is available at http://www.balloonpress.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/. All proceeds benefit the Keenan’s Kids Foundation, http://www.keenanskidsfoundation.com/ or www.myspace.com/365waystokeepkidssafe.com.
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ORPHAN LANDS
Prescription drug remedies without a substantial market are often ignored by major drug companies leaving a gap of neglect for those with rare diseases. Likewise, in many cases, big environmental groups tend to ignore focusing on the positive but less popular end of environment and land use work: fighting to preserve existing industrial and commercial land for these designated purposes. This is particularly true when the land has natural or legal characteristics that support such uses.
“Keeping land available for coastal and other industrial uses, including rail yards, rail rights-of-way, ports, shipyards, and other suitable activities is in everyone’s interest and deserves the focused attention of environmental groups,” said Bill Urban, Executive Director of the Connecticut Conservation Association (“CCA”).
CCA is best known as the Great Meadows. This stretch of land is now part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and is about to get a major addition of protected land when Stratford and Bridgeport complete the sale and transfer of Pleasure Beach properties to the Federal Government.
Less known is CCA’s battle to preserve the former Carpenter Technology site from real estate developers that somehow thought this deep water site on the East End of Bridgeport Harbor is best suited for a retail development; in this case, a Price Club. The developers claimed that a public walkway along the waterfront was sufficient to satisfy the Coastal Area Management Act’s requirement that such sites must be used for appropriate water related activities. CCA disagreed emphatically and filed suit in Bridgeport’s Superior Court.
CCA argued that a natural deep water area with a water related industrial history should be preserved only for such activities; and not be used as scenic viewing stands for condo dwellers or shoppers. CCA’s case claimed that such land is very limited, serves an industrial economic purpose, customarily provides jobs with wages well above retail and can support national security in times of war. Further, CCA offered evidence of toxic pollutants on the site that were highly likely to disqualify it for any use other than industrial.
The Developers, The Bridgeport Regional Business Council, the City of Bridgeport and other interested parties joined the fray showing up in court as a line of 1,500 dollar suits touting big name firms. CCA fielded just one underpaid attorney with a tweed jacket, a professorial looking sweater, and enough paper to block-out any sign of a table top on the Plaintiff’s side of the court.
Urban said, “We had hoped to save the site for a deepwater related use and establish case law that differentiated deep water areas with industrial histories from properties that simply have a water view and are unlikely to provide deepwater uses. However, although we failed to make any case law, the suit ended with a hardy “CCA Mission Accomplished” when we introduced evidence of the site’s industrial contamination and the Price Club promptly abandoned the project.”
Today the site is occupied by the Connecticut Derector Shipyard. It employs over 200 well paid (As opposed to low wage retail jobs) workers, builds ferries, tug boats, yachts and other commercial vessels and sells them to the world at large bringing millions of dollars into Connecticut economy and the families of Bridgeport area workers. The Derector Shipyard is now building what is believed to be the world’s largest yacht, two 130 foot tug boats for Boston Harbor operations, and recently completed construction of a major ferry for the Alaska Ferry system.
Urban concluded, “I call that a win-win for all. The more we see of this kind of conservation the more we will see reductions in the pressures for sprawl and unnecessary road traffic.”
Eds Note: The Connecticut Conservation Association is a non profit, tax exempt, membership group with an office in Bridgeport. CCA can be reached at 203-384-2000. Memberships and donations greatly appreciated. CCA is a founding member of Earthshare New England.
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
SPRING
By: Brandon DiMichele
The sun beating down making flowers come up. Showers falling down to cure the thirst of those flowers. The birds returning from the south to create nests. This is what spring is all about. Spring is nestled between the two seasons’ winter (with the brutally cold snow) and summer (with the brutal sun temperatures). Spring is where the bees go on a hunting spree for pollen. It is where caterpillars come out from the cocoons to live a life as a butterfly. That is what happens when you wake up on the first day of spring.
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We’re all in this Together: Surviving Job Loss during these Tough Economic Times
By Jennifer Jenkins
An idea for an article popped into my head yesterday (March 24, 2009) – “We’re all in this together: Surviving job loss during these tough economic times.” It’s funny that others, including the President stated the same phrase: “We’re all in this together,” hours later, in his televised address to the nation. I guess what the metaphysicians say is true, that we are all connected on some cosmic level and that what affects one person ultimately affects another.
If you watch or hear the news these days, you realize that a number of people have been let go from their jobs and are feeling anxious about their current situation. I want to say first and foremost: You are not alone and that you will survive. I know from my own personal experiences that tough times do make you stronger and that when you are feeling extremely low that that is the time to tell yourself: “I must not quit. This situation is only temporary. By the grace of God, I will survive this, be better off for it, and appreciate all the blessings I have.”
From personal experience and wisdom, I can also stress the importance of keeping yourself busy after losing a job. It’s one thing to give your self a few days to nurture yourself; it’s another to give up and become a permanent couch potato. A wise thing to do is to keep a routine. Get up early, as if you were going to work. Shower, dress and have breakfast. And, then hit the road. Go to the library or some other productive place where you can work on your job search. I have discovered that there are a number of libraries in this beautiful State of Connecticut that are rich in resources, from computers and free access to the internet to job hunting and computer training workshops. Of course, among other things, nearly all of them have career resource books to loan out. All you need is a library card.
Keeping yourself up to date on the latest job and career trends is also important. I learn quite a lot from listening to Tory Johnson, the employment specialist featured on ABC’s Good Morning America. One of the things she often stresses is doing productive things while unemployed, such as volunteer work, which impresses potential employers. You never know unless you try. Perhaps, the volunteer work, as she indicated this past week, can lead to a job.
A positive attitude is also important. You would be amazed by how others will judge you when you change your demeanor. When one exhibits a positive attitude, one tends to walk and speak with confidence. Put yourself in an employer’s shoes. Would you want to hire someone with a glum demeanor? I think not. Remember, they want to hire someone who is going to make a positive contribution to their company.
Ok. Perhaps, you’re not feeling very positive right now. Fake it. Say positive affirmations to yourself until you feel and exude positive vibes. By changing your thoughts, you do change your life. It may take time, but with discipline and attention to your thoughts, you will create a positive change in your life. Think of this process as maintaining a healthy garden. You never want to let weeds take control. Consider negative thoughts as weeds and your mind as the space where you grow your garden. Remember -- To have any healthy vibrant garden you must nurture and tend to it in order to reap a fruitful harvest. Do the same with your thoughts and you will ultimately reap abundant blessings as well.
Take time to nurture yourself. You don’t have visit a spa and spend a lot of money. Whatever gives your soul peace, from taking a bubble bath to a lovely walk in the park, is fine. Remember taking time to take care of yourself is ultimately going to help you stay centered, which is extremely important in terms of your job search. You want to walk into an interview feeling calm and centered, not anxious and scattered.
Also, stay connected to people in your life. For all you know, they are probably in need of someone like you for support as well. Speaking of support, how about starting a support group of people you know who are also out of work. Uniting during these difficult times helps people become more empowered. And, remember, “We are all in this together,” and together we will muster through these challenging times and be the better off for it.
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One lucky kitty and a gutsy young lady!
(Submitted by Barbara Sherburne on behalf of Mama Gin)
I have your email in front of me, and just have to laugh at those big fat cats having fun like little kittens. When we had cats on the farm or in Brookfield some years later, a friend gave us two tigers, and they played like that as kittens. They slept curled up together on the lawn tractor seat. One day one of them disappeared. Quite a long time later, probably a month, he came home, but he had been in a fight and had an infection on his chest.
I went to a large discount store we had in Brookfield, Ohio, at that time, and asked them for ether, an anesthetic. Of course they wanted to know what I wanted it for, and I told them. I think I had to sign a paper, but they let me have a small amount.
When I got home, I put the cat on a long counter surface in our bathroom and cleaned him up, especially the area which was infected, and cut the hair as close as possible around the injury. Ready with fine fishing line filament and a sewing needle and lots of alcohol to disinfect, I then used a tea strainer covered by a 3x3 gauze pad and dripped the ether onto the tea strainer, which I held over the kitty's nose. When he was asleep, I sewed him up, being careful to just keep him only slightly under. When he would begin to move, I would just drip enough ether to keep him relaxed. Anyway, it was successful.
I made him a jacket out of one of Don's socks to keep him from licking or scratching at the wound. Just before this all happened, I had graduated from the Licensed Practical Nursing School in Salem, Ohio, and had been present when a child was having a tonsillectomy, and that is the way they put the little boy to sleep.
Well yesterday we had a program here which was a married couple who played harmonicas. They were just fantastic and played for more than an hour, with talking and joking in between. They are call the "Hot Shots."[Virginia Althouse lives at Copeland Oaks in Sebring, Ohio, and will turn 93 on June 12th. She is affectionately called Mama Gin as she is the adoptive mother of my biological brother Ed, who was given up for adoption not long after my sister and I were.]
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Dear Housewives – Central Connecticut’s Know It All Gals
Dear Readers, Do you have a question regarding family life, budgeting, customer service issues, DVD or book reviews, or home organization? We will give you our candid advise from a family perspective. Contact The Peoples Press by e-mail or phone with your confidential question and we will answer it in the next issue. June and Flora
Dear Housewives,I recently went into a chain coffee/donut establishment and the server was not rude but was not friendly. She was young and stood there staring off into the distance while we were making our decision. No, smile, no small talk. I will not go back there But how does this happen? Why are clerks not giving the customer service we deserve?Meriden
JUNE: Customer service is at an all time low these days when it matters most. Stores are closing their doors everyday and the employees are not helping to keep them open by using good customer service. Managers need to train them in good customer service, hire only people with people skills and monitor them. People should do a service to the owner by letting them know before boycotting the store.
FLORA: By not going back, you are standing by your principles but writing or calling the manager/owner would be more pro-active.
Dear Housewives,
Should you take a child to a funeral? If they are young they won't really know what is going on and older kids may learn to deal with death by seeing the process. What do you think?
Meriden
JUNE: I think it depends on the situation. I think kids should not go unless it is an immediate family member. Many kids, especially little ones, will not have the etiquette or patience to sit through the service. They can disrupt the mourning. If your child is over the age of ten they may be able to be respectful and quiet.FLORA: When my grandmother died six years ago, I had 4 and a almost 3 year old; they did not go to the wake or the funeral. But, their distant cousins werethere and they were 5 years old. At first I thought it strange. But their mother quietly explained the process. They even went up to my Grandmother's casket. I was impressed with the way their mother handled it.I would think it's easier for a child to attend a church funeral than a wake. But if you start them young and explain the death process on their level, they will have a better understanding. But, there is always the but.... But, if your child has behavioral issues and is not disciplined, leave them home with a sitter.
A great movie to watch is "My Girl" with Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroid. This film deals with death from a child's perspective and is very well done.If you do take your child to a wake, you must prepare them for what they will see there ahead of time.
JUNE: Hi Flora, Spring is finally here. I am reading a few good books so I will review them next month. Time to start cleaning out the flower beds. FLORA: Hi June, yes, spring is here and it feels terrific. I am reading "The Shack" by Wm. Paul Young. A review will follow next month.
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FOR LEXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS): Read Carefully
1. A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.2. A will is a dead giveaway. 3. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.4. A backward poet writes inverse.5. In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.6. A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion. 7. If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.8. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.9. Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.10. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds. 11. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.12. A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France, resulting in Linoleum Blownapart.13. You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.14. Local Area Network in Australia: The LAN down under.15. He would often have to break into song because he couldn't find the key.16. A calendar's days are numbered.17. A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.18. A boiled egg is hard to beat. 19. He had a photographic memory which was never developed.20. A plateau is a high form of flattery.21. A short fortuneteller who escaped from prison: a small medium at large.22. Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.23. When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.24. If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.25. When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye !!!26. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.27. Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.28. Acupuncture: a jab well done.
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LENTEN THOUGHTS
Lent is often thought of as a time of darkness. Perhaps we should see it as a period where God’s Light shines on our dark ways—letting it illuminate those habits that need reforming and letting His light and Love help us to re-form our thoughts, deeds and desires. A time to resist telling God what we want Him to do and ask Him to shine His light and love to re-form our hearts and clear away the dark areas.
1 Corinthians 2: 11…16
Often God uses nature to speak to us and we can take inspiration from qualities of the world around us. An example is the rose:
The rose rises above its thorny branch to bloom in splendor of beauty and fragrance and has become the symbol of love. Just as Christ poured forth divine Love while crowned with thorns, may we rise above the thorny times in our lives with a heart of love and be thankful that thorn bushes can bear roses.
Dorothy Gonick
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“Sheltering an Animal’s Perspective”
by
Gregory M. Simpson
The voiceless need your voice. Have you ever considered becoming an advocate for animals? Perhaps you never thought that as one person you could make a difference. Find your inspiration. Years ago, I was inspired by the words of a ten-year-old girl which were stenciled on the Earth Pavilion’s wall at Florida’s EPCOT Center. They read, “I may be only one person but I can be one person who makes a difference.”
Radio personality, Paul Harvey, queried, “Ever occur to you why some of us can be this much concerned with animal suffering? Because government is not. Why not? Animals don’t vote.” Since people are the ones who vote, you need to be a voice for the voiceless.
There are exceptions, of course, of those people in government who do care about animals. One man said in the 1800s, “I am in favour of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.” His name was Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately, today’s typical politician is no Abraham Lincoln, so you need to be the voice for the voiceless.
Animal advocates before you have included luminaries like humanitarian, Albert Schweitzer, who reasoned, “Ethics in our Western world has hitherto been largely limited to the relations of man to man. But that is a limited ethics. We need a boundless ethics which will include the animals also.”
So, what can one person do? Plenty. Start by being well-informed. Read. Resources come in many forms - newspapers, magazines, books, web-sites. One recommended newspaper is Animal People. Great books abound and include The Extended Circle: A Common Place Book of Animal Rights, edited by Jon Wynne-Tyson. Two classics are Animal Liberation by Peter Singer and The Case for Animal Rights by Tom Regan. Other superb books include: Man Kind? by Cleveland Amory, In the Company of Animals by James Serpell, Dominion by Matthew Scully, Animal Rights & Human Morality by Bernard Rollin and Rattling the Cage by Steven Wise.
Once you have explored areas of possible animal advocacy, choose one that interests you and join an advocacy group. For example, if protection of feral cats is your interest, there are local groups in Connecticut which specialize in helping feral cats, such as Catales (Middletown), Animal Alliance Welfare League (New Britain), MEOW (Litchfield), and Greater New Haven Cat Project (New Haven). On the national level, there is Alley Cat Allies.
To be more widespread in your advocacy, consider joining the statewide Animal Welfare Federation of Connecticut (AWFCT). On a national level, you may want to explore membership in such organizations as the American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Rights Network, or Friends of Animals, to name just a few. Many organizations have e-mail lists to alert you when to make contact with legislators about pending legislation.
Be prolific. Write letters to the editor. Editors especially like to print letters which take issue with something on the editorial page, i.e., another letter, an editorial, or an op. ed. piece. Second best are responses to news columns. Although animal issues can be emotional topics, don’t be overemotional in your writing. Animal advocates are already frequently viewed as being all emotion and no logic. Present new and factual data. Provide sources. Reinforce a professional demeanor by citing your credentials, if relevant. If you have a related advanced degree, list it. If you have a pertinent title, use it. If you have an animal group affiliation, mention it. Lacking expert status, consider using supporting quotations.
Know the list of your local, state and federal legislators. Contact them about animal issues. The best method of contact is in person, followed by letter or post card, then e-mails and phone calls. These contacts are critical and your legislator views each contact as representing a wider constituency. Learn which legislators or candidates are pro-animal and vote accordingly. The good news is that the current Connecticut federal congressional delegation is staunchly pro-animal. Their voting record is published regularly by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). When there is a matter before city hall or the state legislature that affects animals, be there to provide testimony. If that is too intimidating, then be there to support those who do.
Donate your time and money. Organizations need both volunteers and funds to do animal advocacy work. Many run on shoestring budgets. Research which groups pay exorbitant executive salaries as opposed to those that pay modest salaries or operate with volunteers. This information can be obtained through the publication Animal People. Join protest marches. Get involved. As anthropologist, Margaret Mead, said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Above all, stay focused on the words of one of the greatest change agents of all time, Gandhi, who said, “Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is most important that you do it.” Let this be your inspiration. Be a voice for the voiceless.
For the animals,
Gregory M. Simpson
Gregory Simpson’s animal welfare involvement spans over 25 years, having provided leadership for several Connecticut organizations, as well as having served as state advisor to the national Friends of Animals. Currently a Board member of Protectors of Animals, Inc., he was chosen by CAT FANCY magazine as one of the ultimate cat lovers in the U.S. He is also a member of the Cat Writers’ Association.
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One Woman's Journal
By Audrey C. Linke
Mike was a relative of a relative, maybe still a teen-ager when the tragedy occurred. I knew him slightly and I knew his mother from conversations shared at family gatherings. Mike was a boy to be proud of, and his family was, of course.
As he drove along in the town where he lived, a little girl suddenly stepped off the sidewalk in front of his car. With not so much as a split second to react, Mike had no choice but to hit her.
When we heard about the terrible untimely death of a small child, we were, like everyone else, horrified. The bereaved family of the little girl would be comforted by an entire community, but what of the other family?
I don't remember how much time went by before I decided to write to Mike. I don't even know if it was my decision, but the thought kept nagging at me until I knew I had to do something. I found a note card and with pen in hand sat down at my kitchen table with the thought that I must write something sympathetic to this fine young man whose life had been interrupted as surely as was the life of the little girl
who died. Mike was young, would have a long time to live with the inevitable guilt.
I didn't know what to write, but out of nowhere the Serenity Prayer came to me and I began with that. Then I remembered that I had a small key chain with the Serenity Prayer on it. I tucked it in with the note and sent it on its way.
I didn't know what I expected to accomplish with that simple prayer: "God grant me the courage to change the things I can, accept the things I can't change, and the wisdom to know the difference." But this is what I learned later from Jean, Mike's mom.
When the note came, Mike immediately put his car keys on the key chain. Up until then, he had been unable to get behind the wheel of his car and did not plan to ever drive again. Jean took the note and drove over to her church and showed it to her priest. She, too, was lifted from her sadness.
"You'd be surprised," she said, "At how few people expressed concern for us, the family that had to live with the tragedy from the other side of the accident."
I don't know what triggered this memory, but it is a reminder that when we are led to do something in the name of Love, we should do it, for Love heals. Love is a valuable gift, a blessing to both the giver and the receiver.
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MOTHERS Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it. Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox. Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids. Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets. Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up. Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.' Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother... The Images of Mother 4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything! 8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot! 12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything. 14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either. 16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned. 18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date! 25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it! 35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion. 45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it? 65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom. The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows! Please send this to 5 Mom's today. If you don't, nothing bad will happen, but if you do, something good will: You will boost a Mother spirits. _________________________________________________________________________________
Home Country
Slim Randles
The Bahdziewicz clan trooped into the Mule Barn for lunch the other day, happily and noisily as only eight Americans totally in love with spring can do. The patriarch of the clan, Abraham Lincoln Bahdziewicz, led the way to a large round table and seated his wife, Sally, before pointing to which chairs the kids should use. Some people can make a celebration out of sitting down to eat, and Abe’s gang knows how to do it.
The children, clockwise, were Woodrow Wilson Bahdziewicz, Betsy Ross Bahdziewicz, Neal Armstrong Bahdziewicz, John Kennedy Bahdziewicz, and Franklin Delano Bahdziewicz. Sally got a high chair for the youngest family member, Laura Bush Bahdziewicz.
We watched them order four meals for the seven of them, along with some empty plates for divvying things up. Then we took bets on whether or not they would have to ask for a “to go” box or two to take home with them. They didn’t. Laura Bush Bahdziewicz had to have chocolate cream pie wiped from her face twice during dessert, too.
Before they packed up to go, Abe came over to shake hands with the members of the World Dilemma Think Tank here at the Philosophy Counter. He always looks as though he’s just headed home to open Christmas presents, and we envied him that wonderful zest for life.
“Abe,” said Doc, when it was his turn to shake hands, “we’ve been wondering. You’re named after a president, and all your kids are named for famous Americans.”
“That’s right,” Abe said. “My brothers and sister, too. All of us but my wife, Sally, and I call her Sally Ride Bahdziewicz sometimes, just for fun.”
“How did all that naming come about?”
“Well,” Abe said, “my dad came from Poland as a kid, and the other kids at school teased him about not being a real American, you know? So he decided his kids would never have that problem. They may have some trouble pronouncing the last name, but at least they know we’re Americans.”
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to http://www.peoplespressnews.com/ .
Home Country
Slim Randles
April mornings are like Christmas. Each day we get up and go out into the yard, or walk along the creek or visit the horses in the pasture. And each day, each morning, we find something new the sun has brought us.
Pinfeather leaves of an unbelievable green now start showing on cottonwoods that have stood like stark ghostly frames all through the cold winter. Hopeful blades of grass peek through clumps of brown left over from last summer’s verdant pasture. Everywhere we look there is something new and different.
A lot of this Christmas-in-spring is kept just among us, because we might be accused of being ... well ... poetic if we told people why we were really carrying that coffee cup out into the yard. So we say lame things like “I think I’ll get some of that fresh air this morning.” What we really mean, of course, is “I want to see if Richardson’s bay mare has had that foal yet.”
Some of us worked very hard last fall and winter to prepare for this spring. By grafting. OK, we have a Granny Smith apple tree. Let’s see if we can’t get a branch of Rome Beauties or Jonagolds to grow on it, too. And we understand completely that where we live no olive tree can survive the winter. That isn’t supposed to stop us from trying, is it?
Nature pitches us a boatload of challenges each day that we’re alive. This plant needs more water than falls naturally here. That tree can’t take the temperatures we get. This little tree needs soil with more organic matter in it.
And those challenges are the stuff winter dreams are made of. We do the best we can to cure the lack, the freeze, the drought, and then we wait for April. We wait impatiently until we can come out of the house some morning and check the grafts on the apple tree and see tiny green leaves coming on the grafted branch. We search the bare ground where we planted that new kind of seed that won’t grow here - to see if it’ll grow here.
It is a continuing feast of green, a triumph of anticipation. An April morning can make us want to sing.
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
Home Country
Slim Randles
By the time we sat and flipped our cups to the upright and fillable positions at the Mule Barn truck stop, Dewey was already there and having breakfast. It’s always such a treat to see Dewey, because that means he’s still alive and hasn’t had another wreck and gone the way of the passenger pigeon.
“Hi guys!” he said.
“Hey, Dewey,” said Doc. “How’s it going with the business?”
“Never better, Doc. I can’t thank you enough for getting me started in it.”
Doc had once suggested that what this accident-prone good guy needed was a job that dealt in a product that was worth exactly nothing in case it got Dewey’d by mistake. So Dewey began shoveling cow manure at the dairy and selling it as fertilizer to folks who have gardens in town.
“I hear you’ve gone into worms, too,” Steve said.
“Oh yeah. I got some from Bert’s worm bin and started my own at home. The worm castings sell for more than the fertilizer, and I’ve started selling worms to the kids for a buck a quart to use for fishing.”
We looked at each other and nodded.
“Then I talked them into paying me something each month to shovel manure out at the dairy, so not only is it free, I get paid a little something to go get it. In fact, I made enough money I put a dump bed on the pickup truck.”
“No kidding?”
“Saves me having to shovel the truck out. Works really good, too. Not counting the accident.”
Doc looked alarmed. “Accident?”
“Yeah. Just dumped a load and set my lunch box down behind the cab. When I lowered the bed, it crushed right through two tuna sandwiches and a new Thermos bottle.”
In a way, it’s comforting to know there are things you can count on in this world.
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
Home Country
Slim Randles
Steve, the tall cowboy of us philosophy types, was riding a young horse through town the other day to get him used to “boogers.”
To gentle a horse, he explained, you give them something to booger at, and then talk them out of it. You keep coming up with new boogers and calming the horse until screaming fire engines and jet exhaust are no problem at all.
He rode up to the Campbell house and saw Anita, Dud’s wife, shaking out a throw rug. The young horse began blowing nuclear snot all over the front yard and his eyes bugged out.
“Anita,” Steve said, “would you mind coming over here with that rug for a minute?”
She walked slowly up to the young horse, who was crouched in the starting blocks preparing for an elliptical orbit around the sun.
“I don’t want to frighten him,” Anita said.
“That’s why I’m here, actually,” Steve said. “Would you let him smell the rug?”
She carefully and slowly held the rug up to where the colt could sniff it. He sniffed and snorted, sniffed and snorted … then sniffed, and sniffed. Then he eyed it carefully and touched it with his nose.
“If you wouldn’t mind,” Steve said, running his hand along the horse’s neck, “could you back up about three steps and then start wiggling it?”
She backed up and gently wiggled the rug. Snort, snort, legs in starting blocks. Ready to booger.
“That’s it,” Steve said, calmly, rubbing the horse’s neck. “Now shake it a little harder.”
More snorts. More rubbing.
“Now shake it really hard.”
It took the best part of a minute before the horse calmed down and just watched Anita with curiosity instead of fear.
“Thanks, Anita,” Steve said. “You’ve helped a lot.”
She looked up at him. “But why did you want me to shake a rug at him, Steve?”
“I’m thinking about getting him a job in a carpet cleaning business and want him to learn the ropes.”
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
Home Country
Slim Randles
"Amazing," Dud said out at the corrals the other day.
Bill and I looked at him a bit strangely, because there were just two horses in the corral and neither one of them had been amazing since Ronald Reagan moved to Washington.
"What's amazing, Dud?"
"Kids. What they're doing today is just amazing, compared to what we did as kids."
"Like those computer game deals?"
"No ... not that. I mean ... well you just take that nephew of mine ... my sister's boy. He does five hours of homework every night. In high school. Did you ever do five hours of homework in high school?"
"Sure," I said, "but it took me the best part of a month."
"That's what I mean. These kids today are just smarter than we were and they work harder, and you know, they seem to know what they want to do."
Dud whistled in appreciation of his own words as he shook his head in wonder.
"My grandson's like that," Bill said. "Smart as a whip. He's only seven, you know. He and I went for a walk the other day to appreciate springtime. I asked him what he was studying these days and he said he knew all about birds. Told me he knew the name of every bird in the forest. Every one.
"Well, I thought I'd test him, so I pointed to a grackle and said, 'Tell me the name of that bird right there.'
He looked at it carefully and then brightened up. Then he said, 'Why, sure, Grandpa, that's Fred. Hi Fred... how you doing?'”
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Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, for the traditional archer in all of us. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com.
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Dear EarthTalk:
I’m looking for projects for my son’s elementary school to do for Earth Day this year. Do you know of any that can teach children about taking care of our environment?
-- Meryl Greenfield, Williston Park, NY
Earth Day is April 22 this year and there’s no time like the present to start preparing activities that will teach young people about the importance of protecting the planet. The Seattle-based Earth Day Network, founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, offers a wide range of resources to help parents and teachers plan events and direct appropriate discussions on current topics. This year, the organization is focusing efforts on raising awareness about environmental problems associated with global warming.
Parents and teachers can register with Earth Day Network and receive free materials including lesson plans, information on how to get students engaged in local environmental activities, suggestions for hands-on and outdoor activities--even an environmentally-themed “Jeopardy” game.
Some other free resources offered by Earth Day Network include: an “Ecological Footprint Quiz,” whereby kids can find out how much impact they personally have on the environment as determined by how they eat, live and travel; a series of informative fact sheets on climate change and alternative energy sources; and links on their website to other reputable information sources online. And if you’re looking for Earth Day events to attend in your area, Earth Day Network’s website allows you to simply type in your locale and get a continuously updated calendar of events local to you.
Meanwhile, Kaboose.com, an educational website for kids and families, features Earth Day pages with green-themed online games, suggestions for recycling everyday items into Earth-friendly crafts, and kid-oriented eco-discussion topics. And Education World offers lesson plans and activities covering a wide range of topics including here-and-now issues like in-school recycling and minimizing lunchroom wastes.
Another interesting way to educate kids and the public alike is the Earth Day Groceries Project: Parents or teachers borrow grocery bags from local supermarkets to be decorated with environmental messages and artwork by students. The bags are then returned to the store and used for bagging groceries on April 22.
For those looking to get real local, the Heartland All Species Project offers a free, web-based “Earth Day in Your Neighborhood” guide outlining ways kids can bring neighbors together to celebrate the Earth and commit to greener living. The concise and illustrated guide details ways to get composting, tree planting, energy efficiency and recycling projects going on a street-by-street basis.
For additional ideas, consider perusing the posts on the Earth Day/Ecology Projects Chatboard on Teachers.net. Several teachers have posted ideas for Earth Day projects and activities, from putting on a play based on Dr. Seuss’ Lorax, to raising money for school by recycling inkjet cartridges.
CONTACTS: Earth Day Network, http://www.earthday.net/; Kaboose.com, www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/earthday; Earth Day Groceries Project, http://www.earthdaybags.org/; Heartland All Species Project, www.allspecies.org/neigh/blocka.htm; Education World, www.education-world.com/holidays/archives/earthday.shtml; Teachers.net, www.teachers.net/projects/earthday.
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SOCIAL SECURITY’S 2009 RESOLUTIONS TO YOU
The New Year is a time for many people, companies and organizations to make resolutions for the year ahead.
In past years, Social Security has suggested resolutions to readers, such as to plan ahead for your retirement, check your Social Security Statement and safeguard your Social Security card and number.
This year, we’d like to turn the tables and pledge to you our own resolutions as an agency. So, in 2009 Social Security resolves to …
Make it easy to plan your retirement online. Our online Retirement Estimator is rated the best online service in government. You just answer a few identifying questions and it will use your earnings record to automatically give you an accurate estimate of your future retirement benefits. You can play around with variables (such as when you’d like to retire and how much you expect to earn in the future) to see different retirement amounts. This should be the first step and a regular check point for planning a comfortable retirement.
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator
Make it easier than ever before to apply for retirement benefits online. This year, improvements to our online retirement application make it easier than ever before to apply for retirement benefits. Because the improved application is streamlined and only shows questions applicable to you, it can take as little as 15 minutes to complete the entire application from start to finish. And in many cases, once you hit the “sign now” button, all you have to do is wait for the payments to begin arriving every month.
www.socialsecurity.gov/r&m2.htm
Make it easier to keep up on the latest news about Social Security. Staying in the know about news, events, changes and important information at Social Security is now easier than ever. We have two great ways for you to have the news come to you automatically. Receive an email alert each time new information is added to our website by subscribing to updates. Just click on the red envelope at the top of the page. Whether you want to subscribe to everything or a specific topic on the web page, the choice is yours at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/. You also can subscribe to our award-winning electronic newsletter, Social Security eNews, to receive news as it happens. Subscribe by going to www.socialsecurity.gov/enews and selecting the “subscribe” link at the right of the page.
Make it easier for you to do your business with us the way you’d like to do it. Social Security provides you with a variety of ways to take care of your business. Social Security now offers many of its most popular services online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/. You can also call us toll free at 1-800-772-1213 and use our automated services or talk to a representative. And you can always stop in at your local Social Security office.
In 2009, and for many years to come, Social Security resolves to help you. Learn more about Social Security at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.
Robert G. Rodriguez is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. You can write him c/o Social Security, 233 Main St. 2nd Flr. New Britain, CT 06051.
Social Security Column
GETTING READY FOR TAX SEASON
The holidays have passed us by, the New Year has begun, and tax season is right around the corner. The earlier you prepare for the looming April 15 tax deadline, the easier it will be to file your taxes. Here are some helpful hints as you begin getting ready for tax season.
Make sure your information matches ours. Soon you will be receiving your W-2s from your employer(s) and tax information from the IRS. Carefully check your name, Social Security number and all of the data on your W-2s and on your Social Security Statement or card to make sure they match up. If you can’t find your card or Statement but know your Social Security number, make sure the number and information is correct on your W-2s. A mismatch could delay your tax refund and cause problems with your Social Security benefits in the future. Such errors are easy to fix now.
A name change is the main change. If you’ve legally changed your name due to marriage, divorce, court order or for any other reason, make sure you change your name with Social Security by applying for a new Social Security card. Make sure you change your name with your employer as well. If you change with one source but not the other, it could cause your earnings to be improperly recorded. A minor detail could cause a major mix-up. You can learn more about Social Security numbers and cards at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
Don’t forget the kids. If you are the parent of a newborn, you want to make sure that the newest family member has a Social Security number too. Most people apply for their baby’s Social Security card while they’re still in the hospital at the same time they apply for the birth certificate. But if you didn’t, you’ll need to apply for your child’s Social Security number in order to claim the child as a dependent on your tax return. You’ll also need it if you ever apply for government benefits on behalf of the child or your family.
Go online if you can’t find your 1099. Social Security Benefit Statements (Form SSA-1099) for tax year 2008 are automatically mailed to beneficiaries and should be received by January 31, 2009. If you receive Social Security and haven’t received your 1099 in the mail by the end of January, but need it to file a tax return, just go online. Beginning in February, you can request a replacement 1099 online at https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/i1099/main.html.
For more information about Social Security, visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.
Robert G. Rodriguez is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. You can write him c/o Social Security, 233 Main St. 2nd Flr. New Britain, CT 06051.
SOCIAL SECURITY: THE NUMBERS MAY SURPRISE YOU
Social Security touches the lives of virtually every American. Whether it’s after the loss of a loved one, the onset of disability or during the transition from work to retirement, our employees and programs offer support to the people of this country, often during difficult times. We run one of the nation’s largest entitlement programs — the Old Age, Survivors and Disability program. We also administer the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. It provides financial support to aged, blind or disabled adults and children with limited income and resources.
You have a concept of what we do at Social Security, but how well do you really know what we do? Here’s a quiz to find out how much you know about our work day in and day out.
How many phone calls come into Social Security’s toll free number -- 1-800-772-1213 --each year?
2.5 million
57 million
95 million
How many disability applications are processed each year?
2.5 million
75 thousand
200 thousand
How many earnings items are posted to workers’ records?
2 million
100,000
270 million
How many Social Security Statements do we send out each year?
200 million
147 million
100 million
How many Medicare extra help applications for the prescription program do we process each year?
530,000
1.2 million
4.2 million
How many appeal hearings do we hold each year?
22,000
548,000
1.2 million
How many SSI applications for people 65 or older do we take each year?
101,000
90,000
289,000
How many retirement, survivor and Medicare applications do we take each year?
253,000
839,000
3.9 million
As you can see, the Social Security is more than just retirement payments and Social Security cards. The volume can be surprising, but one thing is not a surprise: Social Security has a long history of providing the best public service government has to offer.
Learn more interesting facts about Social Security by visiting our history page at www.socialsecurity.gov/history.
Answers: 1. b; 2. a; 3. c; 4. b; 5. b; 6. b; 7. c; 8. c.
Robert G. Rodriguez is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. You can write him c/o Social Security, 233 Main St. 2nd Flr. New Britain, CT 06051.
JOIN THE ONLINE WORLD — A MESSAGE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
There is an old business rule that says “No job is finished until the paperwork is done.” If you are one of the millions of small business owners in this country, you undoubtedly know the truth of this statement. But did you know that Social Security can lighten your paperwork filing burden with free, fast and secure online business services?
For example, you can stop doing all your wage reports on paper and start doing them online. That includes Forms W-2 for your employees and Forms W-2 and W-3 for Uncle Sam. All you need are two things you probably already have: a computer and an Internet connection.
From our employer homepage, www.socialsecurity.gov/employer, simply visit the “Business Services Online” link, and then select the “Register” option. You register for a User ID Number only once, not every year. You can register at any time, with the best time being now, before the tax-filing season.
When you’re ready to prepare your W-2s, go back to www.socialsecurity.gov/employer and log in with the User ID Number you received at registration and the password you chose. After you log in, select the option for creating wage reports online. The first form you will be asked to fill out tells Social Security who the employer is. Just follow the simple instructions on the screen.
Another big advantage to electronic wage reporting is the ease of making corrections. If you find a mistake before you have actually submitted your report, you simply log in and make the changes, then print new W-2s for the employees involved. And even if you need to make corrections after you have submitted your wage reports to Social Security you can file the correction forms (W-2c and W-3c) online, too.
So save yourself some time and effort. And save a few trees in the process. Turn your entire wage reporting paperwork into just a few key strokes.
If you are still skeptical, just ask some fellow small business owners who have already made the switch to the online wage-reporting world. They will undoubtedly tell you that they would never go back to paper again.
Visit Social Security’s Business Services Online at www.socialsecurity.gov/employer.
Robert G. Rodriguez is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. You can write him c/o Social Security, 233 Main St. 2nd Flr. New Britain, CT 06051. # # #
Social Security Column
To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
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What to Do? Tips for Time Management
Submitted by Carol Carbutti Comfort Keepers of Wallingford
In-home Care Specialists Can Help
Even though you’re older now and you may have fewer demands on your time, you’ve probably still got a lot going on – perhaps more than you realize! By getting yourself a home care companion, you’ve taken an important first step towards freeing up some of your time because you’ll have someone helping with daily chores, meal preparation, errands, grooming, and other tasks. So now that you’ve freed up some time, what are you going to do with it?
You could sit back and react to all of life’s circumstances, but without some sense of routine, you could end up increasing the amount of stress you’re placing on your body. Stress is unhealthy and it’s definitely something to avoid. That’s why you may need to take steps towards managing your time.
Besides keeping stress under control, there are other benefits of time management. For one, managing your time is a way to ensure you’re doing the activities that mean the most to you. It’ll keep you from over-scheduling your time, too. (Yes, this can happen!) Managing your time helps you maintain balance in your life and will probably end up saving you time, too.
If all of that sound good, here are some tips that can help you manage your time.
Make a list of your activities.
You want to put everything on this list, including exercise and rest. If you can’t think of everything all at once, spend a few days putting this list together, jotting each activity down as you prepare for it. Also make note of whether the activity is a regularly scheduled one or whether it occurs only occasionally.
Prioritize the list.
Look at the items on your list and determine which are the most important. If you’re unsure which items are important and which aren’t, move on to the next tip.
Understand your personal goals.
Knowing what you want to accomplish during this stage of your life is just as important as it’s always been. Goals keep you focused and on track and will give you a sense of accomplishment.
Put your schedule in writing.
Putting your schedule in writing is the easiest way to ensure you’re doing those activities you enjoy and that will help you meet your goals. You can use a planner, a wall calendar or even an online calendar. The point is to write down what you’re doing and when. As each new opportunity presents itself, glance at your calendar to see if there’s time to include it. If necessary, take time to think how the activity fits into your personal goals. If you don’t have time for it and it doesn’t advance or enrich your goals, consider passing!
Be flexible
The days of living by a rigid schedule are over! Never be afraid to change plans when the mood strikes.
Creative ways to spend your free time:
Pricing items for local rummage sales
Preparing and serving meals at homeless shelters
Washing dogs awaiting adoption
Volunteering to read at kindergarten classes
Making baked goods for fundraisers
Stuffing envelopes
Going back to school
Giving online dating a try!
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To read The People's Press - Wallingford and Meriden's Connecticuts community newspaper in image or pdf form go to www.peoplespressnews.com .
Labels: meriden wallingford newspaper, meriden wallingford newspaper news connecticut, the peoples press
posted by The People's Press at
11:00 AM
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