"Ratfox" prowling North End neighborhoods

There were sighting this weekend of a strange looking "wild" creature that appears to live close to the Coginchaug River as it passes through North End Middletown neighborhoods.

Four adults relaxing on a back porch noticed the strange-looking creature as it stalked away down a bank toward the river.  One adult took the picture attached to this article.  The "ratfox" can be seen stalking away in the center of the photo.

Another family spotted the "ratfox" prowling near the landfill at the end of Johnson Street.  In this case the animal peered at the family warily and than ran away.

"It was scrawny, and thin and had visible teats," one witness said, perhaps indicating that this female creature is raising a nest full of baby "ratfoxes."

"My daughter was so scared of the animal that she wanted to be sure that the ratfox was not going to come into her bedroom that night to get her," the witness said.

Described as looking like a small dog with a rat-like tail, witnesses speculated that the creature was the product of interbreeding.

"A grey fox, or a coyote that interbred with a dog?  A bobcat that mated with a house cat?" one witness wondered.  Whatever its source, it appears that the Coginchaug has its own mythical beast, neither chupacabra nor sasquatch, but a Coginchaug ratfox.

Riverbend Residents Riled By Habitat For Humanity

The public hearing over a proposal to build two homes in Westfield will continue tomorrow evening at the monthly Inland Wetlands Agency meeting. The proposal is by Habitat for Humanity, which owns the land. Habitat for Humanity is a Christian ministry whose volunteers build houses that are offered to qualified low-income families for purchase. The neighboring homeowners have expressed outrage over the proposed two houses.

Summer Sounds on the South Green - Middletown Symphonic Band, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.

FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE SERIES
The Middletown Symphonic Band completes our Summer Sounds 2012 concert series on the South Green with popular tunes performed by the 50+ member band.

The Middletown Commission on the Arts presents their annual Summer Sounds concert series on the City's South Green (Union Park) on Tuesday evenings throughout the summer. (rain location is the sanctuary of South Congregational Church, directly across the street from the Green on the corner of Main & Pleasant Streets).

The concerts are free and you are encouraged to bring lawn chairs/blankets. Food and beverages (no alcohol is permitted on public lawns) are allowed and the United Methodist Church and South Congregational Church adjacent to the Green both sell food/beverage items.

Concert begins at 7 p.m.

Middletown Symphonic Band (popular tunes)

For more information, call the City Arts Office at 860.343.6620 x201

House Concert Series Continues

                                       THE MIDDLETOWN HOUSE CONCERT SERIES presents:
                Paddy Keenan

Saturday, Sept. 15 at 8pm

145 Margarite Rd. Ext., Middletown CT

Suggested donation: $25 general, $12 students, $7 children 12 & under
For reservations and directions, please call Jody Cormack 860-983-7963 
or email jcormack@wesleyan.edu

Some have called Paddy Keenan “Johnny Doran incarnate”, to others he’s known as the pipers’ piper while, in [the words] of one reviewer, he’s the Jimi Hendrix of the uilleann pipes”. Together with his trademark wide-brimmed hats, Paddy Keenan’s piping is instantly recognizable, a consummate blend of fast-paced, tight fingering on the chanter in the Doran “open” style with a sublimely skilled – and often understated – harmonic accompaniment on the regulators. Added to this, his matchless skill as an improviser and the sheer soul of his performances have made Paddy Keenan one of the most exciting players of the last 50 years – in Irish music and in any genre. 

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“Paddy Keenan has few peers in the world of traditional Irish music. For over thirty years he has focused on a simple but rarely attained goal: to present the music in its purest essence. Transcending the technical challenges of the uilleann pipes, flute and tin whistle, Paddy has consistently mined the rough ore of jigs, reels and airs, and worked and reworked their presentation until we, his audience, get to hear the real, pure, life-affirming beauty of them. If the end result is like water from a holy well, Paddy Keenan is surely one of the world’s best water witches!”—Tim O’Brien, 2001

 “Paddy Keenan is the piper’s piper, the best of the best.”—Zina Lee, Celtic Café, 2001

Out and About in Middletown

During a leisurely afternoon out and about, Madam Nirvana (another Eye writer) and I had lunch at Tandoor Indian on Main Street, always a quick and delicious go-to lunch for me, as well as reasonably priced. We couldn't check out the new Frozen Yogurt place after our meal, because several blocks of Main Street were closed due to a gas leak. The Patch website is reporting that the gas leak occurred in Ramani's Clothiers. When we walked by, the police officer stationed at the intersection of College Street was diligently manning his post and prevented us from walking inside the cordoned off area. (Yes, being dedicated volunteer reporters, we are people who will sometimes gladly walk under some caution tape and go find out what's happening).  The officer said that the incident would likely be cleared in 30 minutes or so. Incidentally, Ramani's is going out of business and was having an excellent sale the last time I walked past. 

On our way back to our neighborhood, we walked through McCarthy Park, where the basketball courts have had nonstop action the entire summer. The large groups seem to be dwindling since all the kids went back to school, but today there was a small group of diehards still playing. The field was in use with a football game going on, and four kids were playing on the swings.  On our way out of the park and back up to High Street, we noticed what looked like a mini-Occupy protest (Occupy Middletown?). But as you might have guessed, this backyard was not the site of the latest uprising, it was just a group of friends airing out their camping tents.

What have you seen when out and about in Middletown? 
Send us your photos or stories - middletowneye@gmail.com

Varissa Kohl wins pageant title

Middletown resident Varissa Kohl and her family were spotted frolicking at Spear park on Main Street at the corner of William Street. Varissa was reveling in her recent win of the 2012 National American Miss Juinor Pre Teen Miss Connecticut. Winning the title gave her automatic entry to the national competition which is held every year in Anaheim California. For the Kohl's, that's exciting, but expensive. They'd like to go together as a family and make a fun trip out of it. So to help make that happen, they are having a fundraiser on September 23^rd from 1pm to 6pm at the Westfield Fire Department. There will be food there from many different restaurants.

Last fall, the Middletown Press wrote a profile of Varissa in which her mom talks about the difference between the glitz pageants and the natural pageants, and her preference for the latter. It can be read here.

Here is a mini-interview that I did on the spot. The Spear Park fountain is the roaring background noise. 

Large Subsidy To Developer To Be Considered By Council Tomorrow

The Common Council will vote at its meeting Tuesday (7PM) on a resolution granting fee waivers and property tax relief to a developer, Waterhouse Development Company, for a proposed luxury apartment project on River Road. The resolution was endorsed by the Economic Development Commission at its August meeting (The Hartford Courant covered the EDC meeting HERE). The proposed subsidy is between $3M and $4M.

The Economic Development Commission based its endorsement in part on a presentation on the "upscale residential" River Road Apartments from Martin Smith, who is one of the founders of Waterhouse and in charge of land acquisition. According to the draft minutes of EDC, there would be "176-200 units depending on bedroom mix", and the project will cost $36M with a value of $25M in buildings. The developers will also be applying for State and Federal subsidies for environmentally responsible building.

The resolution, if passed, would provide two forms of city subsidy to the Waterhouse Company: an immediate reduction in construction costs of perhaps $500,000, and 7 year tax subsidy of at least $3.2M.

Pretty Wings Celebrates 2012: The Year of the Goddess 3-Day Event to Raise Awareness of Domestic Violence

Pretty Wings, a Middletown-based nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and helping victims of domestic violence, is hosting a three-day celebration of art, music, fashion, poetry, education, and more. Events will take place from Friday, September 7 – Sunday, September 9, 2012 at the MAC 650 Gallery and Artist Co-op, 650 Main Street in Middetown.

“The Year of the Goddess is about empowering all people to explore and celebrate their inner goddess,” says Jessica Bauer, Pretty Wings Board of Directors. “Everyone attending these exciting and inspiring events is sure to have a wonderful time. We also hope to both raise awareness and resources for the issues surrounding domestic violence and its victims.”

Food Not Bombs

FNB Volunteers and folks mingle as they enjoy a meal prepared by Food Not Bombs.

I volunteered with Food Not Bombs to serve up a free meal to those who wanted it. Food Not Bombs meets every Sunday at First Church, 190 Court Street at 11:30AM to prepare the food. The food is then served at the Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main Street at around 1PM. It was a great experience be a part of – And food came out pretty good too!

If you're interested in Food Not Bombs, here's the info: www.foodnotbombs.net

Popcorn by The Colonel #7

Over Men & Horses, Hoops and Garters, and 

Lastly Through a Hogshead OF REAL FIRE!

“Honor thy Niebuhr as thyself.” --motto of Reinhold Niebuhr Fan Club.

“Basic research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing.” --Werner von Braun, author of “I Aim for the Stars” [suggested subtitle: “But Sometimes I Hit London”]

Schtroumpf  and White is the style book The Colonel  uses when he doesn’t know what style book he’s using.

From 1937: Middletown Bicyclist In Midnight Accident

The following article is from about 75 years ago, published on August 28th, 1937.
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First Annual Town Wide Tag Sale Coming Soon!