Stories from the July-August issue of The People's Press

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NATURE AS A MIRROR
By Dorothy Gonick
DRAGONFLIES

Lovely Dragonfly,
Shimmering wings hover and
Glisten in sunshine.

Cool breezes waft over the quiet pond, fragrant lilies blossom among the lily pads, gnats and flies buzz hungrily around our heads interrupting the quiet peacefulness of the hour. A darting dragonfly swiftly enters the scene and we know some of those gnats will never bother us again. We watch the shimmering dragonfly as it gathers its meal while flying around and crisscrossing the pond in dazzling darts of splendor. It is said that a dragonfly can attain speeds up to 50 or 60 miles per hour.

The dragonfly has two pairs of nearly transparent gauzy wings that shimmer iridescently as the sunlight touches them. The long slender body has six spine-covered legs that will fold together, forming a basket for catching bugs during flight. The very large eyes can spot a moving insect 18 feet away. The antennae are short and bristly not like the long antennae we might expect. The female often drops her eggs into the water as she flies along, leaving them to hatch and develop in the water.

The dragonfly’s beauty is in sharp contrast to the ugly, thick bodied, inkless nymph that hatches from her eggs. The nymph’s big head and mouth busily capture and devour water insects and small water animals. After molting several times, it crawls out of the water as a fully formed dragonfly that is lovely, graceful and admired for its beauty and delicacy of movement.

I have friends that arsparklely and have beautifully compassionate souls that tell of earlier times of struggle and drudgery. These hard times have given them compassion and understanding for others less fortunate today. May they continue to give beauty to the world just as the dragonflies delight us with their freewheeling antics.


Friends......you say? By Valerie Hettrich

They mean different things to different people. Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary has a variety of options to choose from, but then again so do we. Webster’s are as follows: 1. A person whom one knows well and is fond of; intimate associate; close acquaintance. 2. A person on the same side in a struggle; ally....just to name a few. We, however, have many choices in life–some good and others not so good.

Have you ever really taken the time to think of what a friend actually means to you? Literally or figuratively? Is it someone to just pass the time with or is it a real companion? Is it an acquaintance, a close friend, perhaps a best friend or is it your ‘rock’, your ‘touch stone’- the one who grounds you? Are you lucky enough to have all of those or any of them for that matter–really have them?

Sometimes friends come to be in many different ways. Perhaps someone you meet and the friendship develops slowly over time. Then there are the kind that show up in your life and make their presence known. Some come in the sharing of good times and others come in the sharing of the most difficult of times. Some come into your life and quickly leave–just passing through leaving little evidence of their even being there. Others come into your life and make their presence felt–be it good or bad. They leave their mark. People come in and out of your life. Some are meant to stay and others simply fulfill their reason for being there and then move on. It’s a fact of life that not all things turn out well. Not everything turns out as we wish–all warm and fuzzy with happy endings abound. This is after all real life. At times, it seems just when you need it, a friend will appear in your life. Friends appear in many different ways; some known to you, others perhaps familiar–with just a smile or a nod. Maybe they are angels sent to you in your time of need - depending on your beliefs. Other times, maybe they are not. Some come disguised as friends - preying on you, taking what they need and then leaving - with you feeling used or foolish.

People leave, friends leave; they are lost to death and sadly even to life. People hurt and people get hurt. Even in the worst of situations no one is perfect. No one is all right or all wrong - we do the best that we can - we are after all only human. Look for the good - even in the worst of things–it is there...somewhere. There is good in all of us–sometimes when emotions run high or tempers flare, through change and just life - maybe we just have to look a little harder.

There is good in all of us. Each of us has gifts that we can share freely and uniquely and at times unknowingly. We listen; we support, lend a hand, a shoulder or perhaps even just a kind word. Sometimes all a person might need is just to know that you are there. The smile or the laugh that you inspire and the warmth that you share is your gift. Give freely, share your gifts. Everyone that means something to you at one time or another enriches your life in some way. Hold onto the good things - if not in hand then in your heart. If you value and care for people in your life let them know. Anything can happen in any given day. It is like a pebble tossed into a pond that creates a ripple and then another and another. You just never know how you affect another person’s life. You can put only your best foot forward. There are no guarantees in life. Carry with you the people who have touched your heart-- in your heart. The gifts you give will come back ten times over.

Friends sometimes come from the most unlikely places; when you least expect it, when you’re not looking for it, or perhaps even open to it. There they are right in front of you letting you know–that they care. "Ladies," thank you for the inspiration.


Dear Readers,
We hope you are enjoying your summer and your Dear Housewives column. You can write us about anything pertaining to: household issues, book or movie reviews, financial, relationships or any question that by asking a neutral third party, you might gain some perspective. Thanks for the questions and keep them coming. They can be sent by mail or e-mail to the Peoples Press.

Dear Housewives, I am 41 years old and I do not know how to swim. Is it too late to learn? I am too embarrassed to ask others. Not even the doggie paddle in Meriden FLORA: Dear future swimmer, you can learn and there are local places that offer swim lesson for adults. Faulkner Physical Therapy's pool in Wallingford offers adult lessons and maybe even the YMCA. It is never too late to learn to swim or to play the piano for that matter. Pursue it and make that call. JUNE: Umm, Flora, how does the piano come into play here? So far, I have not heard of water symphony, although it must be right around the corner. Anyway, I get the gist of your message to no doggie paddle. I can't see how anyone makes it to adulthood without this skill. Didn't you go swimming at all as a kid? Well, regardless of why you never swam you should learn how to for many reasons. One reason is just the safety of learning to swim. If you have kids, you might have to go near water and you should know how to swim. If you ever go to a lake or on a boat, it is very dangerous to not know this. First thing, get over it, there are many more embarrassing things in life. At 41 who gives a flying finn what you can and can't do. Look up swimming in the yellow pages. You can even ask at the Y or high schools if the swim teacher is willing to give private lessons so you don't have to start off with 5 year old. Good luck. See you at the Olympics.

Dear Housewives,I don't like to cook and cannot afford to hire a personal chef so forget that suggestion. The problem is that I have a husband and a few children that look forward to traditional home cooked meals. What do you ladies suggest? Emeril, I am not JUNE: I suggest that you make a meal for your family. If you are looking for me to say, "Oh, no problem have your husband do it," you came to the wrong lady. This is Dear Housewives, it comes with the territory. You are going to have to learn to like it. Get some Betty Crocker books and cook away. You don't have to make Beef Wellington with cranberry mushroom sauce, but they can give you the recipe to many easy-to-make casseroles and side dishes. Maybe you can have a dinner night out once a week and see if your husband wants to cook one night a week. I think you can muddle through for the other nights. I mean, c'mon you have to eat. Right, Flora? FLORA: Oh, I can only suggest that you keep it simple. BBQing is easy and you can do it practically year round. BBQ your pork tenderloin (you can buy it seasoned), BBQ salmon steaks or filets, bake some fish, BBQ your beef, cook a box of pasta or rice and veggies. Salads are easy as the veggie. Once you get in a routine and get some compliments from your family, you will find cooking more enjoyable and easier to manage.

Saving Dinner is a good simple cook book that is divided by season (for availability of the produce) and has a menu to follow for the week. It is worth checking out at the library or your local bookstore.
Dear Housewives, What are some ideas for some low-cost summer family fun? Looking for fun in Wallingford FLORA: Some family’s get the seasons pass for the state parks so there is no entry fee through out the season. You can also go to your library and take out museum or park passes and have fun-filled day trip. Pack your cooler with sandwiches, drinks, cups and napkins. You will save a bundle by not eating out. Have a summer bag ready at all times filled with the necessities: sunscreen, bug spray, this way you won't have to spend money on an item that you already have at home.

JUNE: Good ideas from Flora. You can also have friends over your house. Have each person bring a dish and you can have lunch. The kids can play with their friends and you will have adult stimulation as well. If you have a pool, even better. If your kids are older you can book some trips to places like Block Island or Newport. If you don't stay over night you can go pretty inexpensively. There are always "clam shack" type places to eat and many stores to look in and many, many little ice-cream shops for a treat. If you live around here it is a couple hours to get home and you will miss the expense of a hotel or bed and breakfast.

Bobbie’s Bevy of Beauties

While writing my article, my eyes stray every now and then to the window. And of course what do I see but rain again. I’ve been running in and out between the drops to finish up the last of the planting and transplanting. If the spring hadn’t been so cold and rainy, I would have finished a few weeks ago or longer. Can’t believe summer is here. Had almost no spring whatsoever. Years ago by the end of April, usually, finished up just about all of the gardening.

This month was supposed to be the one with showers which brought forth May flowers. Then for the last few years May has been on the chilly and wet side. Now this year we have June to contend with. I certainly prefer the warm months to the cold, but do hate it when the temp gets up to 90 and humidity along with it. Yet how many days have we had this year with 75 to 80 weather, blue skies and white fluffy clouds? Not too many. That’s for sure. Will have to put the pen down for a short while anyway. Rain has stopped, so have to make a run for the outdoors.
The wet stuff has started to come down again, so here I am with pen in hand. Even saw the sun for a minute or two. Almost forgot what it looked like.

My pink simplicity roses are in their first blooming. The rhododendrons were magnificent. So many blossoms. But of course we all know what spoiled the beauty of both these flowers. One of the calla lilies came into bloom. A deep shade of orchid. The dahlias are popping out of the ground. Since they are almost a month late, probably won’t have any flowers until the middle or end of July.

These are the perennials I have in bloom now: salvia, coreopsis, Rose Campion, foxglove, four o’clock, lamb’s ear, sea holly, Knautia, loosestrife, astillbe, campanula, ground-covering sedum, columbine, jack-in-the-pulpit, the wildflower bachelor button and yarrow. Have quite a few annuals, too. The three of my favorite are the brown-leaf begonia, angel mist, and black and blue salvia.

Jimmy’s cukes are doing very well. Besides planting them in the ground, two are in tub containers. All the tomatoes, as last year, are in the containers, too. Most of them have blossoms and a couple has tomatoes. Can’t wait for that first sandwich.

Since I’ve become such an avid gardener, the crawly little creatures I come in contact with don’t faze me anymore. Even if I run into one of the harmless little snakes that reside in one or two of the beds, they don’t send me a running. But you still can’t get me to pick one up. The worms, that’s another story. I had no choice. My 3-1/2-year-old granddaughter Izzy-Bella called my and her mother’s attention to a very small object at the entrance to one of Westfort’s greenhouses. Went over to look at it, thinking it was a small rock. “No, mommy, she said. “It’s a turtle. It must have come up from the pond on their property. Heaven knows how long it took for it to walk that distance. Wasn’t much larger than a quarter. Someone could have stepped on it not knowing it was there because of its size. Right now it resides at her house, but at the end of the summer it will be returned to its natural habitat. Why worms have become such a big part of my life this week is because of Izzy-Bella’s pet, the turtle, whose name is Tuck. Guess who’s baby-sitting for him because her whole family went to Cape Cod? Because he’s so little, he can’t eat the big fat worms, which are much easier to find. Every afternoon with spade in hand I dig until I find the very, very skinny ones. His meal consists of two. Now he is back home with his mistress.

When the next issue comes out, the perennials that are in bloom now will be gone. By then the summer ones will be showing off their flowers. Till then,
Flowercerely yours,
Bobbie G. Vosgien


What’s Your Message in the Bottle?
By Jake Kilroy

I had a dream the other night. Earlier in the evening I had watched Castaway starring Tom Hanks. This movie inspired my dream of both good and bad vibes and sides. I was sitting on the beach with my friend Herman the Coconut. We talk often, Herman and me. He could tell that I was down and asked what was on my mind. I couldn’t put my finger on it for two reasons. One, a barracuda bit that finger off and two, after a couple of years on an island, well you get a little wishy washy.

After going though some of the issues I was feeling with Herman, (he’s such a great listener), and he came up with what was wrong and a solution to this particular problem. As he told me, “Jake, there are many more to deal with. I had to let my loved ones know how sorry I was for all of the things I had done wrong and to let them all know how much I loved them all. Sounded simple but dang, there were a lot of people I had to write to. I wasn’t sure if there was enough bamboo parchment on the island to handle it all. I talked to Earl, who had gone through a similar experience, and he said you have to do what you have to do. I asked “What about Earl?

He explained that even a short note would change the world for the people you had done harm to. I have to admit, I never liked Earl. Ever since he started doing those Geico commercials, boy did he get some attitude. However, he did have a point. So I started the process of trying to open up. I never could share how I felt, let alone write them down on a piece of coconut parchment.

I thought of everyone in my life first. I made a list and went down the list one by one. I started at the beginning and I never realized the amount of emotion that poured out of me. As I went down the list I found it easier and easier to share how I really felt about everyone. I realized that I really didn’t like some of them. I told them so and told them I had no regret for making their lives miserable. I then reconsidered that train of thought as I did not want them to go through life knowing that someone really knew what they were like. Better to let them live in the little illusion they had created for themselves. You have to feel good about someone else, might as well be you. I finally finished the last coconut parchment and Herman, Earl and I went through each one. They made a few corrections to grammar, but overall thought I was going in the right direction.

I found the empty bottles of rum left from long ago and headed to the lagoon to make sure my family members all got the letters. I threw each bottle in the lagoon. A beautiful aqua green paradise. I took good aim, and I’m glad to say that I hit every single person in the head that I had written to. I just love family reunions. I don’t know why that was the last one I was invited to.


Poll of the Month: What's your favorite - Suzi Qs, Devil Dogs, Twinkies, Funny Bones or name one of your own? This poll might contain a lot of calories, but it sure is fun to eat, I mean, read!

SUZI Qs. Every day at lunch during high school. Oh the good ole days. - Dean

Dark chocolate and Praline's Oreo Bomb ice cream. These are my two major temptations. - Joan

I think Twinkies are the best, but Funny Bones aren't too bad. Try this; put your Twinkies the freezer. That's a special treat. Funny Bones and Devil Dogs are also great that way!! - Ed Marcantonio
Wallingford

Funny Bones are my favorite, right next to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! - Emma

Yodels. First, you gently peel off and eat the chocolate covering. Then, you unroll the cake & filling and eat each section as it breaks away! Definitely Yodels…at least once a year. - Ellen

Hostess Cupcakes (the chocolate ones) are my favorite. They even provided amusement for me and my coworkers one April Fools Day when we put a package of them in the Supervisor's candy egg box & put the egg in his briefcase. Without checking the egg, he gave it to his mother-in-law for Easter (a long & very funny story)! Imagine giving an in-law, who didn't like him in the 1st place a fancy box with a package of cupcakes in them, instead of a special chocolate egg!
- Shari

Whoopee Pies - homemade - Irene

Definitely DEVIL DOGS with a big glass of milk. Somehow they seemed to be larger when I was a kid, but then so did the Ring Dings that were individually wrapped in their own little foil wraps with purple writing on them. Ohhhhh the good ole days!!!! - Jackie

Hands down! It’s Devil Dogs – Jody

Funny Bones - all day - Katrina

What about frozen Yodels, especially at 2 a.m. with cold milk? Delicious creamy center wrapped smothered with chocolate. Yummee! - Lori at Mayor's Office

I say Devil Dogs but the best there is - homemade Whoopee Pies... Can't beat that!!! - Marge

Devil Dogs, but they have to be refrigerated; I love it when the white filling thick is and firm on my teeth. - Mike B

Devil Dog!! – Nancy H

Hostess Cupcakes (the ones with the white twirl of frosting on top of chocolate) - Ron

Twinkies!!!! - Lora

Devil Dogs by far. - Larry

Hostess Cupcakes - chocolate- Sue

No doubt...Suzi Q's! Although....Mike and Ikes rank way up there also - Dan Daddio

Hostess Snowballs - Lauren Rizzuto

Funny bones cold from the refrigerator are the best! They get my vote. - Melody Lovely

Ring Dings, baby! - V.H.

What were those round ones - big wheels? I went to my friend's house when I was a kid and she pulled some out of the freezer - boy were those good. Of course, it was chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting, and cream in the middle, what's not to like? - Joan Goodman

Devil Dogs - Peggy

Any time I would sleep over my grandmother’s, my grandfather and I would each have 2 Devil Dogs and a glass of milk for breakfast. I know now that wasn’t so healthy, but it was delicious!
- Debbie

Suzi Q's. They're not too sweet, very generous portions and have the most whipped cream in the middle. Now I have to buy some... - Christine

Devil Dogs - Gina

My husband’s favorites were always Funny Bones. When we got married, I had secretly bought boxes and boxes of them. When they brought the cake out, I also the weight staff bring out an enormous serving try filled with Funny Bones for him. - Bonnie

Funny Bones! - Ellen P

My favorite is Twinkies -Amy

And Twinkies, again. - Heather

Devil Dogs of course anything chocolate - Eileen

Funny Bones! (Or Chocodiles - if you can find them!) - Lea Crown


Always Room to Grow – Thank you Nancy
Nancy and I met many years ago when my middle age life seemed to be crumbling right in front of my own eyes. My Mother stricken with a series of strokes , my husband recently retired from the service and so depressed by failed dreams of life and his expectations that he fell into a well of loneliness that would allow no intruders, including myself. I was lost and alone and felt totally helpless amid the family tragedies that surrounded me.

Then this bright and shinning star strolled into my life and brought with her a multitude of reasons for me to keep on! The Thanksgiving Community Dinner, the Christmas Community Dinner, Adopt A Family, the Easter Community Dinner, the bringing of the Names Project, AIDS Memorial Quilt to Wallingford, the Hometown Hero Olympic Torch Carrying celebration, Parents and Kids Foundation, Rainbow Ridge School and Art Gallery, support groups for Families, Friends and Caregivers of people with AIDS, and the Juice Plus+ regimen of whole food supplements.

I grabbed ahold of her shirt tail and jumped on for the ride of my life. When I did, I left my sadness in a heap and headed for an opportunity to be all that I could be in the doing and caring community I had grown to love. I involved myself in each and every one of the above mentioned projects and in so doing, grew myself, in heart and spirit.


There never seems to be an end to all the energy my friend has, to the encouragement she brings with her when she enters a space, to the genuine caring and sharing nature she possesses, to the endless love, hope and joy she spreads to each and every life she touches. Circles of like-minded individuals are naturally drawn to this "spirit" we refer to as Nancy. She and her troops bring Christmas into my heart, all year long.

And that's why I'm so blessed to have Nancy Freyberg as my very best friend. God bless her and all she does for all of us.

Sincerely,
Audrey Dibbern

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls butterfly."- Richard Bach, American Author


People’s Hearing
By Maura K. Ammenheuser
My grandmothers are blessed with longevity. But they’re cursed with poor hearing. Or perhaps that’s a blessing, too.

Grandma O’Brien, my paternal grandmother, turned 93 this month. Tiny and shrinking further, she no longer drives or even writes letters as often as she used to. Her memory is failing. She’s afraid to venture down the concrete steps from the porch to the back yard, lest she fall. My uncle and his wife live with her and it seems Grandma is relieved for their company and help, after three decades of independence since my grandfather passed away. But nobody’s writing her off yet.

My parents went to see Grandma for her birthday. She prepared for the occasion by installing fresh batteries in her hearing aid. Over pork roast and mashed potatoes, my uncle casually mentioned to my father that he’d like to sell the house and move himself, his wife and Grandma elsewhere. My grandparents bought that house in the 1930s and raised my dad and uncle there. It’s a well kept row house on a picturesque Georgetown street in Washington D.C., and worth a considerable fortune.

Grandma O’Brien, who has trouble with phone conversations even wearing the hearing aid, caught every syllable of this discussion. Behind my uncle’s back, she mouthed to my dad, “I’m not going anywhere! I’m sure she’s not.

Grandma Peggy, my maternal grandmother, just turned 90. After several years of declining health, she’s no longer the person I knew growing up. She doesn’t flit through the house in a bustle of nervous energy. She no longer sings the chirpy children’s songs she spouted on any occasion after years of work as a grade-school teacher. Grandma needs help walking, dressing and bathing. She’s housebound, senile and mostly deaf. Poppa bought her a hearing aid at least 10 years ago but she refused to wear it. I’m not sure if it was a matter of vanity, comfort or some combination of the two, but Grandma Peggy chose increasing silence over battery-equipped conversation long ago. When Poppa, who has shared her meals for 62 years, repeatedly asks her if she’s going to finish her dinner, Grandma doesn’t react. When their home health aide maneuvers Grandma’s legs to stretch them, “OK, Peggy, raise. Now bend. Come on, now, she stiffens in resistance, a blank look on her face. If Poppa’s got a football game or the news on TV, Grandma quietly nods off in her chair.

But when I show up for a visit with my toddler in tow, Grandma perks up. Ryan, almost 2, is her first great- grandchild. And he inspires her to communicate.

Every babble Ryan makes, Grandma echoes back, syllable for syllable, dead accurate. When he pulls off his socks, Grandma launches into “This little piggy goes to market and when Ryan agrees – “piggies! - she giggles and tickles his toes. They play a gentle game of catch, with Ryan on the sofa and Grandma in her wheelchair, tossing a soft ball between then. If it lands on the floor, Grandma leans forward and retrieves it with flexibility I haven’t seen in years. “Catch! Ryan says. “Catch! Grandma Peggy responds. The phone rang in the middle of one of these games. She made no sign of hearing it.

At 34, I am already losing my hearing. Either that or my husband is more soft-spoken than he was when we married. Maybe I played my Walkman too loud as teenager, or maybe it’s genetic. Regardless of the reason, I respond to half of what my husband says with, “What? Several times a week he’ll insist he told me something - that he needs new razor blades from the store, or to please mail this bill ASAP – that I know I never heard.

While there are few things about my grandmothers’ elderly lifestyles that seem better than my own, selective hearing is one of them.

If I were 90, I’d have a good excuse for not mailing that bill on time. I wouldn’t have to argue about whose fault it is that there are no sharp razors in the house; you can’t expect a partially deaf nonagenarian to faithfully attend to such a detail. I’d never have to answer the phone while engrossed in a good talk show.

I could literally hear only what I want to hear, avoiding unpleasant conversations about selling the homestead, shipping me off to a nursing home or anything else I don’t want to think about, much less discuss. After all, if I live as long as my grandmothers, I will, like them, arrive at a time when I’m conserving my energy for only the best, happiest, most important things remaining in m very long, mostly past life.

Like birthday parties, good meals and of course, the cherished company of my great-grandchildren.



Seeking Parent Leaders in Meriden
By Ritza Policard

What is the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI)?

PLTI is a 20-week program, created by the Connecticut Commission on Children, which empowers parents to become leading advocates for children.

The purpose of PLTI is to enable parents to become leading advocates for children. Parents may lack advocacy skills, but not the motivation or will to change their children's lives. The cornerstones of the program are respect, validation and a belief that when the tools of democracy are understood, the public will actively engage in civic life. Parents help bridge the gap between the private sector and the governing structures. Parents learn that their voices are influential and that they can produce positive change within their communities.

What are the Goals of PLTI?

Help parents become the leaders they would like to be for children and families.
Expand the capacity of parents as change agents for children and families.
Develop communities of parents within regions of the state that will support one another in skills development and successful parent action for children.
Facilitate systems change for parental involvement with increased utilization of parents in policy and process decisions.
Increase parent-child interactions and improve child outcomes through parent involvement.

PLTI is sponsored, promoted and nurtured by Meriden Children First Initiative.


How did I learn about PLTI? Almost 2 years ago, when I had just moved to Meriden I was looking to meet people in my new town and I saw their flyer at the Meriden Public Library. I am Haitian and a mother of two children under eighteen (18). It is not always easy to understand a new culture. Being a foreigner and an immigrant, I have decided to learn more about the government and the policies especially regarding children.


PLTI was an enlightening, endearing and memorable experience, as we had to do some hands-on and/or effectively had live experience with the material being discussed. We had guest speakers, with the appropriate background on the week-topic to reinforce the class process.

Those topics included:

Political Science (Public Policy, Mass Media), Ethics, Economics and Statistics (How to prepare a budget, how to read a budget-chart), Public Speaking, Cultural Anthropology (Diversity, Ethnic, Class and Race), Sociology (Culture, Society, Social Interaction, Groups and Organizations, Social Class in US, Family, Social Change), Psychology (Sensation and Perception, Consciousness, Learning, Communicating; Motivation and Emotion), Psychology of Child Development (stages of child development).


Guest Speakers included:

Mark Benigni, Mayor of Meriden, CT
Cathy Abercrombie, State Representative (PLTI Alumni)
Barbara Sokol, BOE member (BOE: Board of Education)
Geri Kogut, PLTI Alumni
Maria Gonzalez, PLTI Alumni
Mary Cortright, Meriden Superintendent of Schools
Ralph Tomaselli, Managing Editor, Record Journal
Mary Mushinsky, State Representative, Assistant Leader, Wallingford, CT
Stephen Zerio, City Council member, Majority Leader
Ann Pratt, Connecticut Parent Power

I would like to thank the excellent PLTI class Facilitators whose expertise sharing and diverse approaches and teaching styles have made PLTI classes so worthwhile that one night, even with a 102.4°F fever, I came in a blur and attended class anyway because I did not want to miss one single class.

Now that I am a graduate, is it over? No, the journey has just begun with all the future calls for action unanswered as yet. I have gained an extended family at PLTI.

And all of us, graduates of 2006, have entered a new community that has benefited from the PLTI one way or another. The results will be seen when we will start implementing our newfound knowledge and applying to the benefit of Meriden and beyond.


PLTI is open to all parents and caregivers. The class is free to participate. Child-care and family dinner night of class is also provided. Transportation available. Parents meet once a week for 20 weeks. The next class will start in January 2007. Applications are available at Children First in the Meriden Public Library or online at http://www.meridenchildrenfirst.org. The application deadline is October 31, 2006.

I think that all concerned parents regardless of age and ethnicity should attend those classes and learn how to better serve their children and their community.

Ritza is a graduate, 2006 class of the Meriden Parent Leadership Training Institute


Saying Goodbye
By Laura Clementsen
Leave-taking, saying goodbye, can be hard to do. A friend of mine just sold the house she and her family have lived in for more than twenty-five years. It’s the house where her children have grown up. It’s where three generations have gathered for most of the holidays over the years. It is a house full of memories. But it has become a burden so she is leaving it for a smaller place, a condo across town. Saying goodbye to her house is so bittersweet.

Actually we learn to say goodbye early in life. Usually soon after a child has learned to say “Mama? and “Dada, he is encouraged to wave and say “Bye-bye? To anyone leaving his field of vision.

We often make light of departure by saying “See you later, alligator and expecting the response “After while, crocodile. Or even, “Haste la vista, baby.

Parents have plenty of memorable moments to say goodbye to their kids-as the five-year old gets on the bus the first day of school, as the teen drives off alone in the family car for the first time or as the newlyweds fly off to honeymoon on a romantic island.

I hear, without actively eavesdropping, many phone conversations end with “Bye, love ya, blending the sounds into a single mega-word. As a matter of fact, I think goodbye itself was once a longer phrase “God be with ye. Brevity can be seen in the computer acronym “bfn, meaning bye for now. On the other hand, it can take a dying diva ten or more minutes to sing goodbye to her lover in many an opera.

For a while, it has been popular to say “Have a nice day instead of goodbye, even if it’s raining cats and dogs outside or even if the speaker knows the hearer is headed to some dreadfully unpleasant task.

I have sometimes wondered if it is any easier to part if one uses a foreign language to say goodbye. “Tata?, which may not be really foreign (it often shows up in crossword puzzles), seems very affected. “Adios and “Adieu sound so final. “Auf wiedersehen and “Sayonara suggest that the time apart will be short. So do “Ciao and “Arrivederci. Scandinavians have given up on the formal “Paa gjensyn or “Farvel in favor of terms like “Hei,hei and “Morn da which really are words of greeting.

Once in a great while, leave taking means throwing out that troublesome appliance that never worked right anyway. Then you’ll hear “Goodbye and good riddance.
One of my favorite good byes is the song the adventurer sings in the little-known musical White Horse Inn:
My heart is broken but what care I!
Such pride inside may be woken
When the final farewells must be spoken.
I’ll join the legion! That’s what I’ll do
And in some far distant region
Where human hearts are staunch and true
I’ll start my life anew.
Goodbye! It’s time I sought a foreign clime
Where the desert sand is nice and handy.
I’ll be full of grit. You won’t see my heels for the dust.
…Goodbye, goodbye! I wish you all a last goodbye.


Peoples Press article from Keith Gordon

South Meriden Volunteer Fire Department is celebrating its 98 year of service to the Village of South Meriden and the City of Meriden. Last year the department responded to 738 calls of service to the community. Approximately 61 % of the calls responded to where medicals and Motor Vehicle Accidents.


We are looking for some eager and hard working volunteer recruits to join our department. South Meriden Vol. Fire Dept now is accepting applications. We are recruiting citizens from Meriden over the age of 18 who are High School Graduates in good physical health. No fire fighting experience is necessary; we will train you and send you for training.

We are also recruiting people who are already certified as CT Firefighters/EMT who either live in Meriden or another Town who wish to become volunteer firefighters in South Meriden.

Information about our application process: We administer a written entrance exam in order to determine if applicants will be able to take and pass the required State of CT Fire Fighter I course and CT Emergency Medical Technician or Medical Response Technician courses which are also mandatory over the first 18 months of membership. We also administer an agility test that helps us determine if the applicants can perform the physical duties of a fire fighter. We also administer an oral interview and perform police and other background checks to ensure that the character and integrity of our prospective members meets our highest standards.

South Meriden Vol. Fire is also a drug free environment and we test for drug use.

Interested parties can pick up an application at 31 Camp Street, South Meriden on Monday evenings.

Join A Fine American Tradition of Honor, Bravery & Community Service.

We have over night crews that sleep in our station so we can provide a quicker response in case of an emergency. We are one of the only Volunteer fire departments in the State that presently man our station at night with sleep-in duty crews. We presently have some openings and we are hopeful to be able to man some additional evening hours to better serve our community.


Our Annual Fund Drive Is In Progress
The Fund Raising Campaign has been conducted annually for the last fourteen years and does not utilize an outside fund raising/ marketing company or use telephone solicitors. Since the fundraising campaign is conducted solely by the SMVFD, 100% of your donations go directly to the SMVFD. Funds collected are used to help purchase or maintain fire department equipment and fund special fire department related activities including fire education.

This year we are looking to purchase a specialty build 4x4 ATV to be used for rescue work. We anticipate with the up coming liner trail to open in South Meriden that we will have the need for this vehicle to help transport people that get injured on the trail. The trail will not be opened to regular vehicles and our rescue ATV will be a great asset to this new recreation destination.

Recently, there has been a fund raising/marketing company soliciting South Meriden residents via telephone stating they represent our department during another organization’s fund raising campaign. The SMVFD does not endorse this telephone fund raising campaign and we are not affiliated with it in any way. We will not call you or come to your door seeking donations, our flyers are mailed to your home or business address. If you have recently made a donation to an organization purporting to represent the SMVFD or have been contacted about making such a donation, please contact Chief James Cournoyer or Deputy Chief Keith Gordon at 203-630-4499.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone that has donated to the SMVFD in the past. We will be seeking your help again during our 2006 Fund Raising Campaign now in progress. Should you wish to make a donation in advance of that time, please contact the SMVFD directly at 203-630-4499 or mail your donation to SMVFD, P.O. Box 3030, South Meriden, CT 06451.

Now For Home Fire Prevention Tips:
More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and approximately 25,000 are injured, and a number of those fires occur in the home. There are ways to help prevent and survive a fire. The Fire Administration offers tips to help safeguard your family and your valuables from winter fire hazards.

Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test it monthly, keep it free of dust and replace the battery at least once a year. Smoke alarms themselves should be replaced after 10 years of service, or as recommended by the manufacturer.

Prevent electrical fires by never overloading circuits or extension cords. Do not place cords and wires under rugs, over nails or in high-traffic areas.

When using appliances, follow the manufacturer's safety precautions. Unplug appliances when not in use and use safety caps to cover all unused outlets.

Use fire screens and have your chimney cleaned annually.

Consider installing home fire safety sprinklers.

Practice an escape plan from every room in your house. Caution everyone to stay low to the ground when escaping from a fire and never open doors that are hot.

Many children are curious about fire. Take the mystery out of fire by teaching your children that fire is a tool, not a toy.

Keep in mind the senior citizens who live in your area and how they can be helped in the event of a fire.

When cooking with a gas grill or any other grill please keep the grill when in operation away from structures such as your house, garage or shed.

Heat and flames can radiate and spread to the structure and catch it on fire.

Please do not allow young children to be unsupervised when swimming, thousands of children die each year by drowning.

Also do not allow diving into pools that are not made for diving. The injuries caused by these kinds of diving are very serious and/or life threatening injuries.

If there is a fire hydrant on or near your property please keep it clear of weeds and overgrown vegetation. Keeping fire hydrants visible and clear of obstacles allows for quick access by firefighters in times of emergency.

Well that’s all for this article, please enjoy the summer with your loved ones, stay safe and let the force be with you.

Keith Gordon
Deputy Chief of Operations

THE COMPUTER SWALLOWED GRANDMA The computer swallowed grandma Yes, honestly it’s true she pressed 'control' and 'enter' and disappeared from view. It devoured her completely; the thought just makes me squirm. She must have caught a virus or been eaten by a worm. I've searched through the recycle bin and files of every kind; I've even used the Internet, But nothing did I find. In desperation, I asked Jeeves My searches to refine. The reply from him was negative, not a thing was found 'online.' So, if inside your 'Inbox,' My Grandma you should see, Please 'Copy', 'Scan' and 'Paste' her And send her back to me! Author Unknown

The Education of Dr. Isaac Ira Hough
By Kenneth Cowing
He was born in 1781, the son of Dr. Insign Hough and the grandson of a blacksmith, Daniel Hough. He weighed 10 pounds at birth, and at maturity he weighed over 350 pounds.

His education must have begun at home at an early age. His father, Dr. Insign Hough, had an extensive medical practice that included Meriden, Wallingford, and Cheshire. He had investments in property, and was very active in many community affairs.

On a list of students dated 1791, Isaac was included as a student in Meriden, September 3rd, 1791. After 42 days, he attended a school in Berlin. Apparently there was no school building, so classes were held in different homes in the area. Dr. Insign Hough’s home in Meriden was frequently used. His library was one of the most complete in the area. Every book published at that time was acquired by him.

Isaac was, as a teenager, beginning to learn the skills of an innkeeper. He obviously loved people, and was a complete extrovert. He traveled with his father when he visited patients, and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps as a physician.

To become a physician in the 18th century, the training was much less formal than the present system. Except for basic literacy, no other formal academic background was called for. It was a complete apprenticeship to an established physician, and the length of time needed to complete the arrangement depended on the apprentice. When the physician felt that the apprentice was ready to take the responsibility of a physician, he applied for an examination by the State of Connecticut. If he passed the examination, he received his license to practice medicine. Another source of income was required since a medical practice alone would not be an adequate source of income at that time.

Isaac was 11 when his father purchased a large farmhouse and converted it into “Hough’s Tavern.? He was exposed to the activities and lifestyle of a tavern keeper, as well as a country physician.

His father owned over 50 acres, which was, in fact, part of a large farm once owned by a deputy governor of Connecticut, William Jones. This property was actually a separate community within the little parish of Meriden. The acreage included orchards that produced apples, pears, and cherries for the tavern. Cider was a popular drink, and cherries were used, combined with rum, to make a specialty of the tavern. The barns on the property were large enough to shelter the cattle and the teams of horses used by the stagecoach lines.

Exactly when Isaac became a licensed physician is not known, but one can assume that he must have been about 20 years of age. The apprentice’s life was a very busy one. When the physician made house calls (the average fee was 25 cents!), the apprentice traveled with him. His duties were varied, and included many activities that had little or nothing to do with a physician’s job. Taking care of the doctor’s horse and carriage and cleaning his office were only a few such duties. The medicines were usually prepared by the apprentice. He learned where he could find the plants and herbs and harvest and process them. Often some herbs were obtained from a local farmer. After he prepared and packaged them, an inventory was maintained. In rural New England there were very few pharmacies available. The larger cities, such as New Haven or Hartford, usually had at least one source for drugs. The only drug not available to local physicians was laudanum (a weak solution of opium). It was the painkiller used most often by physicians. They were aware of the problem of addiction, and were usually successful by using the placebo method. If a patient asked for laudanum continually, the physician suspected the request was the beginning of an addiction, so he would give the patient pills that were harmless and of a neutral substance. He assured the patient that this was part of the healing process. It was a ploy used to give the patient peace of mind and confidence in the future. It was usually a withdrawal of the desire for laudanum by using the power of suggestion. The country physician did not have a university degree, but he was an expert on the subject of human nature. This placebo treatment is still being used today.

The country physician’s practice did not include infant delivery, prenatal care or postnatal care. That care was given by a midwife or a woman in the new mother’s family. The surgery performed was basic, and complex surgery was performed by a surgeon in one of the larger cities who had more specialized training. Broken limbs and serious cuts from farm tools were regular injuries that required the attention of a country doctor.

Dr. Hough has little physical exercise during his life. He would stand when he occasionally tended bar in the tavern’s taproom. He seldom walked, but made use of his favorite pair of horses and his well-known carriage. This was his favorite pastime.

He never married because his father asked him to take care of his large family. His physical appearance perhaps did not present that of a romantic figure. He was well loved and respected by everyone. His concern for everyone, his skill as a country doctor, and his genuine regard for his community were quite evident. In fact, the whole community of nearly 1,200 inhabitants was his family.

In 1825 he sold Hough’s Tavern to Patrick Lewis, and it became known as the Central Tavern. The tavern and buildings on six acres were sold for $6,000. The acreage had decreased many times since the day his father, Dr. Insign Hough, had purchased the property in 1792.

Dr. Isaac Ira Hough missed the contact with the people he saw daily at the tavern. He acted as a consultant with other physicians in the region and functioned as an advisor to the various apprentices in his field. His physical efforts began to become less frequent, and his favorite activity of reading was a greater effort for him. His education never ceased but continued for most of his life.

This gradual decline in activity was a definite factor that led to his death. It was called ennui (a feeling of weariness and boredom). It was his heart that finally was the cause of his death. It just was worn out, and the obesity only hastened the date of his death on February 26, 1852.
The tavern itself has a dramatic story since it was an important site that was very much a part of the story of Meriden. Its story will appear in this paper in the near future.
Bibliography for both stories by Kenneth Cowing:
Breckenridge, Frances A., Recollections of a New England Town, Journal Publishing Company, 1899, Meriden, Connecticut.
Curtis, George Munson, A Century of Meriden, Journal Publishing Company, 1906, Meriden, Connecticut.
Davis, Charles Henry, History of Wallingford, Connecticut, including Meriden and Cheshire, published by the author, 1870.
Meriden Historical Society, Inc., Scholar List, Meriden, Berlin, 1791.
New Haven Historical Society Papers, Vol. II, 1908.


The Event That Was To Foretell the Future
By Kenneth Cowing
It was a dull morning in September. The year was 1938. I was a sophomore in Meriden High School, and I attended the afternoon session. Homework was done in the morning as usual, or at least I thought so that morning. I was about to open my German grammar when I noticed the weather gauge on the wall. It was a glass container filled with colored water. The teapot-shaped spout on the glass container was full, right to the top. In fact, it was overflowing, and there was water on the floor under it. The water level of the spout indicated weather change. It was bad. I thought the weather gauge was broken.

I finished my assignment, ate lunch, and walked the usual two miles to school.
During that afternoon, the rain was heavy, and the wet green leaves on the trees resisted the strong wind, with the result that the trees were bending to the ground. I had never seen anything like that before.

After my classes, I went to Room 8 that was used as a study hall. The room was on the corner of the building facing City Hall. Norman Burdorf was the teacher acting as the monitor.

Suddenly the wind increased, and the windows in the corner began to shake and rattle. At that instant, thank God, Mr. Burdorf shouted, “Everybody, down on the floor! The windows burst shards of glass into the room, over our heads and across the room. When we looked up, the shards of glass were embedded in the wall. This was the first but not the last time we heard that command.

School closed early, and I started walking the usual two miles home to Linsley Avenue. Within minutes I was soaked. The flag at City Hall was gone, and the flags at the Elk’s building disappeared in a strong gust of wind. The walk down East Main Street hill was a struggle against the wind. The worst part of the walk was when I approached the corner of Linsley Avenue and West Main Street. I lived on Linsley Avenue. It was often called “The Avenue of Trees. Giant maple trees lined both sides of the avenue. In the summer and fall the trees on both sides of the avenue formed an umbrella of shade that covered the street. In the days before air conditioning, it was welcome.

When I walked down the street, there were several trees lying in the road. I heard the warning sound of the large branches cracking and got out of the way. The sound and impact of these giant limbs and trees cracking is still in my memory. As I moved away from a large branch, it fell. I noticed a metal roof cover being hurled in the air toward West Main Street.

I got home, and all the trees around the house were down. None of them hit the house.
It was quite an afternoon!

When we returned to school a few days later, we all exchanged experiences. Little did we know at that time what our future would be. The hurricane we had just had an experience that could be described today as an example of what we would experience a few years later – a sort of foreshadowing.

What would it be? When could it happen?

The answer is evident when you consider what happened three years later!
We were members of the Class of 1941, and we graduated into the Second World War!


Wallingford History and Description
On October 10, 1667, the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the “making of a village on the east river to 38 planters and freemen. The “long highway ocated on the ridge of the hill above the sandy plain along the Quinnipiac River is the present Main Street in Wallingford. On May 12, 1670, the bounds were set in the settlement and about 126 people settled in the Town in temporary housing. Six-acre lots were set out and by the year 1675, 40 houses stretched along the street.

During the nineteenth century, Wallingford industry expanded with a considerable concentration of small pewter and Britannia ware manufacturers. By mid-century, Robert Wallace acquired the formula for nickel silver and established with Samuel Simpson, R. Wallace & Company the forerunner of Wallace Silversmiths. It was also during this period that many of the small silver and Britannia plants were combined to form the International Silver Company with its headquarters in Meriden and several plants in Wallingford.

The Town of Wallingford covers an area of 39.8 square miles astride the Quinnipiac River in northern New Haven County. It is five miles south of Meriden and about thirteen miles north of New Haven. Situated in the Hartford-New Haven corridor, Wallingford is traversed by U.S. Highway Route 5, Interstate 91, State Highways Route 15 (Wilbur Cross Parkway), Route 68, Route 71 and Route 150.

Wallingford was incorporated in 1670. A separate Borough of Wallingford was incorporated in 1853 but on June 3, 1957, the Borough and the Town voted to consolidate effective January 1, 1958. The present Town Charter created a Mayor-Council form of government in 1962.
Passenger transportation is provided by Amtrak and by local buses. Freight service is furnished by Conrail and various motor common carriers. Air service is available at Tweed New Haven Airport about thirteen miles away and at Bradley International Airport, which is approximately 40 miles north of Wallingford off Interstate 91. The Meriden Airport on the Wallingford/Meriden town line is actively used for private, executive and corporate aircraft.

Currently, Wallingford is the twenty-third most populous community of Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns, ranks 21st in terms of 2001 Equalized Net Taxable Grand List ($3,723,201,280) and is 97th in the state in terms of estimated 2002 nominal income per capita ($29,788) of its residents.

Wallingford has diversified its commercial and industrial base over the past decade attracting high technology industries as compared to traditional heavy manufacturing. It is the home of a large variety of industries and major corporations spanning the spectrum of the medical, health care, service, hi-tech specialty metal manufacturing and research development. The development of the Barnes Industrial Park, Casimir Pulaski Industrial Park, Wharton Brook Industrial Park, and the South Turnpike Road area has greatly contributed to this transition.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, the Town’s largest taxpayer, has established a research and development facility in Wallingford’s MedWay Industrial Park. An Interchange Zone which permits very restrictive commercial development of office parks, research and development centers and hotels has been created at the intersection of Interstate 91 and Route 68.

Points of Interest

George Washington made two trips through Town, one in 1775 gathering provisions for his troops and the other in 1789 as President. His route to Durham, known as the George Washington Trail, runs from the center of Town through East Wallingford. Cement markers can be found along the trail.

• Johanna Manfreda Fishbein Park - In 1987 the Park was completely restored. The Park boasts our popular gazebo built in 1986, a popular site for weddings, photographs, and many Town gatherings. Adjacent to the park is the historic Railroad Station, built in 1871 for the Hartford New Haven Railroad. It is an excellent example of Second Empire architecture. Today, rail service is provided by Amtrak.

• Hall Elton Building; Hall Avenue - Built in 1847 this edifice is done in the Second Empire style. It was the home of a number of small silver companies. The building was restored in 1988 and now houses offices.

• Wallace Hose House - 9 S. Cherry Street; Erected in 1895 on land donated by local silverware industrialist Robert Wallace, this firehouse offered the growing urban neighborhood professional fire fighting. The tower in which the hoses were hung to dry is a distinctive feature of the building. Since having been vacated by firefighters, it has been converted to offices.

• Center Street Cemetery - Located east of the Johanna Manfreda Fishbein Park - This burial ground may help you understand Wallingford’s heritage. Many of our early settlers are buried here, dating as early as 1673.

Simpson Court Area - This area along with several blocks of North and South Main Streets has undergone a major reconstruction plan. Period lights, wrought iron benches of Victorian design, trees, plantings and unique brick walkways grace the streetscape. Engraved bricks with special messages are interesting to read.

• Town Hall - Built in the Beaux-Arts style as the Town high school in 1916, the building was named after Lyman Hall, a Wallingford native who signed the Declaration of Independence. It was rededicated as our Town Hall in the fall of 1988.

• Judd Carriage House - Located on the Town Hall property to the rear - it is a reminder of the lovely H.L.Judd mansion which was demolished in the 1930s. Its carriage house remains as a reminder of the mansion’s Victorian style.

• Choate Rosemary Hall - This magnificent campus situated along Christian and North Elm Streets has many fine examples of architecture. It’s Georgian and Modern academic buildings are the work of three famous architects: Robert Polshek, Ralph Adams Cram, and I.M. Pei. This school, founded in 1890, has produced leaders and government, industry and the arts.

• Paul Mellon Arts Center - Christian Street - is the home of many fine theater productions and art exhibitions. Wallingford is particularly proud of having its own symphony orchestra, which performs throughout the year. The Orchestra is in residence here.

• Lyman Hall’s Birthplace - Located next to 355 South Elm Street - Lyman Hall was a prominent citizen of eighteenth century Wallingford. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, representing Georgia. The tablet from his Georgia grave is displayed in our
Center Street Cemetery.

• Masonic Geriatric Heallthcare Center - Located on Masonic Avenue - A multi-licensed geriatric facility founded in 1895. It is situated on a 200-acre hillside overlooking Community Lake Park. The lovely grounds and fountains provide a wonderful setting for the only life-size statue in New England of George Washington in his Masonic garb.

• Gaylord Hospital - Located on Gaylord Farms Road - It was founded in 1902 and is set on 500 acres of land overlooking the Quinnipiac River Valley. The hospital has an international reputation for its long-term rehabilitation facilities; including a transitional living center for traumatically brain injured individuals.

• Britannia Spoon Company Building - Intersections of Routes 68 and 150 - It is the site of the original Yale Brothers Mill where Britannia ware was manufactured. The original mill wheel is located on the first level.

• Yalesville Underpass - A 30 degree skew arch at the intersections of Routes 150 and 71 - Built in 1838 for the railroad by William MacKenzie, it is reported to be the first skew arch underpass in America. The central arch allowed tall hay wagons to pass through. Today a traffic light coordinates one- way traffic.

• Yankee Silversmith Inn - North on Route 5 - At this restaurant, a restored 1894 wooden railroad coach can be seen. Original fixtures, inlaid woods and fancy ceiling have been preserved. The Inn was originally the site of the Hiram Silas Yale families, famous for their pewter and silver making and later the Hough Family homestead.

Notable Historic and Architecturally Significant Homes All of the homes listed below are privately owned, with the exception of the Samuel Parsons - House, which is open to the public.
• Reverend James Dana House - 100 South Main Street, circa 1760 - Dana served as pastor of the First Congregational Church during the Revolutionary War period and played an important role in the politics of the day.

• Samuel Parsons’ House - 180 South Main Street, circa 1759 - Once served as a tavern and stage coach stopping point during the late 18th century; it now serves as the home of the Wallingford Historical Society.

• Reverend Samuel Street Home - 238 South Main Street, circa 1673 - It was constructed as the residence of Reverend Samuel Street, the first minister of Wallingford’s Congregational Church.

• Nehemiah Royce House - 538 North Main Street, built in 1672 - It is the oldest house in town and one of the most notable examples of saltbox construction in Connecticut. A nearby ground marker records its history. The house is owned by the Historic Preservation Trust.

• Nathaniel Hall Homestead - 338 Williams Road, circa 1833 - According to local legend this home’s Yankee owner was against his mason’s gambling. As a retaliatory measure, the masons set stones in the shape of a heart, a spade, a diamond and a club into the south wall of the house.
• Samuel Simpson House - 1370 Scard Road - Home to 19th century industrialist Samuel Simpson, this structure was designed by nationally known architect Henry Austin.

• John Barker House - 900 Clintonville Road, built in 1756 - It is reported to be the oldest brick house in Connecticut. This house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Old Gungywamp - 892 Clintonville Road, circa 1670 - It was originally located in Groton and moved to its present site in the 1920s by a local antiquarian. The style of this house is an added on, center chimney with lean-to.

• The Octagon House - 37 New Place Street, Yalesville, circa 1855 - This interesting and unusual structure is one of two built in Yalesville around 1850-60 when the octagon plan enjoyed a sporadic popularity. The rooms fan out from a central staircase, passage, and chimney.



Beyond the Bird Feeder
Building a haven for wild birds on properties large and small
Many kinds of birds are disappearing from our world. Loss of habitat is usually to blame. The good news is that private landowners and public land managers can help restore the natural order, one piece of property at a time.

With detailed pictures and instructions, the new second edition of The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds leads the way. Author Stephen W. Kress goes well beyond the backyard bird feeder, showing stewards of the land how to create an entire habitat around the things wild birds need to survive. Kress points out, “That means a lot more than just food and water.

It means places to hide from predators, places to perch and sing, and places to build nests. The emphasis is on using all sorts of grasses, flowers, trees, and shrubs that are native to a particular region, blending them into a well-planned habitat that will enhance the property and bring in more birds.

The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds contains information on habitat-building that applies to all regions of North America. Chapters are devoted to creating and preserving wetlands, grasslands, prairie, forest, and backyard habitats. With 80 percent of wildlife habitat now in private hands, it falls to owners of all-sized properties to take the lead in conserving the diversity of both birds and plants. Otherwise these numbers will increase:
* 25% of North America’s 800 bird species are on the Audubon Watchlist
* 29% of North American plant species are facing extinction

Whether urban yard, county park, highway median, or country estate, the reader will find a wide range of techniques available to design landscapes that will benefit wild birds. The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds arrives in stores in mid-April. It is published by Cornell University Press in association with the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Stephen W. Kress is Vice-President for Bird Conservation for the National Audubon Society. He also directs the Audubon Seabird Restoration Program, teaches field ornithology at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and has authored many books and papers about birds and habitat.

Ten Spring Projects for Attracting More Songbirds to Properties Large and Small
Compiled from Stephen W Kress's New Book, The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds

* CREATE A SONGBIRD BORDER along your property edge by planting trees and shrubs that meet the needs of birds throughout the year. Select native plants adapted to the weather extremes of your local climate. The border can take the form of a hedge or windbreak, depending on your property size.

Plant several of each species adjacent to each other, selecting a mix of plants, with the tallest planted at the edges of the property, and shorter species tiered toward your home. Include at least one species of thorny tree, such as hawthorn or raspberry, for nesting. Also include evergreens, such as spruce, holly, or juniper, for cover. Plant berry-producing shrubs & shy; such as dogwood, serviceberry, and viburnum & shy; that will provide fruit throughout the seasons.

* PLANT LONG-LIVED NATIVE TREES like oaks and maples, where space permits. Such trees can provide food, shelter, and singing perches for birds for centuries to come. Planting a long-lived tree is a gift to future generations of birds and people.

* CREATE A BRUSH PILE in a corner of your property. Each time a storm drops limbs, heap them up. During spring clean-up, save those downed branches and tree trunks from the community wood chipper. Layer the larger logs as a foundation, and then build up the pile in successive layers. In large fields that are growing into young forest, create living brush piles by cutting neighboring saplings most of the way through the trunks, then pulling them into a collective heap. Songbirds will find shelter from extreme weather in such cover throughout the year.

* RAKE LEAVES UNDER SHRUBS to create mulch and natural feeding areas for ground-feeding birds such as sparrows, towhees, and thrashers.
Earthworms, pill bugs, insects, and spiders will thrive in the decomposing leaf mulch, and will in turn be readily eaten by many songbirds. In general, overly tidy gardeners are poor bird gardeners!

* REMOVE INVASIVE PLANTS from your property. Learn which species are native, and which are not. Most invasive species hail from other continents. Because they have no natural predators here, they often form monocultures and crowd out native species. In contrast, native trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers typically provide a mix of foods that ripen just in time for migrating birds, and offer better nesting sites.

* REDUCE YOUR LAWN BY AT LEAST 25% to favor meadow plants and taller grasses. Tall grasses provide seeds and nesting places for birds. Cut this meadow just once each year, and let the remainder of the lawn grow 3 to 4 inches tall before cutting. Take the “healthy yard pledge? to avoid lawn pesticides and wasteful sprinklers www.audubonathome.org/pledge.
Currently, 50 percent of U.S. households treat their lawns with chemicals that kill about 7 million birds each year. These chemicals also leach into our groundwater where they move to wells, streams, lakes, and oceans. Learn more about healthy habitats at:
http://www.audubonathome.org
* CLEAN OUT OLD BIRD AND MOUSE NESTS from nest boxes in early spring.
When setting out new nest boxes, consider the preferred habitat for different species, as well as the size of the entrance hole, and its distance above the ground. Face boxes to the east in northern latitudes to provide extra warmth. In forests, play “woodpecker? by using a power drill to create 1 ¼-inch holes into dead snags 4 to 5 feet off the ground. These holes will serve as nest cavity starts for chickadees and titmice.

* CREATE A BATHING AND DRINKING POOL FOR BIRDS by setting out a shallow bird bath or upside-down garbage can lid. If cats visit your yard, be sure to place the pool on a pedestal. Clean it frequently with a stiff brush to prevent algae growth, and replace the water every few days to eliminate mosquito larvae. For greater success, add a dripping device.

* CLEAN TUBE FEEDERS with a bottle brush and a 10% solution of non-chlorine bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly and dry in the sun before refilling. Rake up soggy seed from under feeders that could grow deadly mold. Move feeders close to the house to avoid window strikes. Collisions with windows may kill as many as a billion birds in the United States each year. Birds at feeders that are spooked by a hawk or other predator will scatter in all directions. Move feeders within three feet of a window. At such close distances, birds are less likely to gather lethal momentum when startled. The birds will be safer, and you’ll get a better view!

* KEEP YOUR CAT INDOORS for the safety of both the birds and your cat.
There are about 100 million pet and stray cats in the United States. They kill hundreds of millions of birds each year & shy; especially in the spring when young songbirds are fledging, often on or near the ground. And cats themselves are safer from collisions with cars, predators, diseases, and parasites when kept indoors.



Always Room to Grow – Thank you Nancy
Nancy and I met many years ago when my middle age life seemed to be crumbling right in front of my own eyes. My Mother stricken with a series of strokes, my son involved up to his ears in drugs, alcohol and the law and my husband, recently retired from the service and so depressed by failed dreams of life and his expectations that he fell into a well of loneliness that would allow no intruders, including myself. I was lost and alone and felt totally helpless amid the family tragedies that surrounded me.

Then this bright and shinning star strolled into my life and brought with her a multitude of reasons for me to keep on! The Thanksgiving Community Dinner, the Christmas Community Dinner, Adopt A Family, the Easter Community Dinner, the bringing of the Names Project, AIDS Memorial Quilt to Wallingford, the Hometown Hero Olympic Torch Carrying celebration, Parents and Kids Foundation, Rainbow Ridge School and Art Gallery, support groups for Families, Friends and Caregivers of people with AIDS, and the Juice Plus+ regimen of whole food supplements. I grabbed ahold of her shirt tail and jumped on for the ride of my life.

When I did, I left my sadness in a heap and headed for an opportunity to be all that I could be in the doing and caring community I had grown to love. I involved myself in each and every one of the above mentioned projects and in so doing, grew myself, in heart and spirit.

There never seems to be an end to all the energy my friend has, to the encouragement she brings with her when she enters a space, to the genuine caring and sharing nature she possesses, to the endless love, hope and joy she spreads to each and every life she touches. Circles of like-minded individuals are naturally drawn to this "spirit" we refer to as Nancy. She and her troops bring Christmas into my heart, all year long.

And that's why I'm so blessed to have Nancy Freyberg as my very best friend. God bless her and all she does for all of us.

Sincerely,
Audrey Dibbern

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly."- Richard Bach, American Author