Salafia Says Partisan Politics Prevent Prudent Planning

The letter below is opinion/commentary and represents only the opinion of the author, Molly Salafia.
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At the last P&Z meeting, we were informed that the Midlstate Regional Planning Committee which is comprised of various towns was being dissolved and transformed into the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments. Middletown needs to send a representative from the commission and an alternate. Commissioner Michael Johnson (D) has been the representative for the past four years. Yet, attendance to P&Z meetings is rare because of his job as a lobbyist in Hartford. Commissioner Fazzino nominated me to be the new Middletown representative to replace Johnson. He felt my professional background in architecture and planning would serve Middletown well. Again, at the meeting Johnson was not present. The vote was taken, and the Democrats voted along party lines to keep Johnson as the representative, and offered me to be alternate. Johnson has never in my history on P&Z or before my time provided the Commission with any reports about what goes on at these monthly meetings, or comment on his ability to attend. Citizens concerned with Middletown being adequately represented at this important board should direct questions to Johnson.

Molly Salafia
Assoc. AIA, LEED GA
Planning and Zoning Commissioner

Great Jazz Weekend at The Buttonwood Tree

This weekend The Buttonwood Tree will host two great jazz shows that showcase seasoned performers and will surely leave audiences satisfied.
Saturday mornings are packed with classes to strengthen and nourish your soul and body. Qigong at 7:30, yoga at 8:45 and "Aligned with Source" an empowering and enlightening workshop that starts at 10:30. All are free with various suggested donation levels. Buttonwood events are priced based on the concept of "Pay what you can". 

First Church Architecture. The Meeting House and the Gothic Revival.

Second Hour Program this Sunday 11:20 a.m.– 190 Court Street, Middletown

Joseph Siry – First Church Architecture. The Meeting House and the Gothic Revival.

First Church's beautiful building of 1873 follows from a long tradition of both New England meeting houses going back to the seventeenth century, and the Gothic Revival of the nineteenth century. This talk seeks to give historical perspective on how such worship spaces developed.

MCA Grant Opportunities - Deadline Jan. 15

January 15, 2013 is the deadline for all grant category applications. Applications must be in our office by 4:30 p.m. or postmarked with a Jan. 15 date to be considered.

Access the MCA Grant forms and Guidelines directly from the City website or via arts2go.org.

The application forms are in PDF format and may be filled in by computer. The Category 1 applications are for General Operating Support (any level of funding) and for Arts Project Support (greater than $8,000). The Category 2 and 3 applications are for projects and may range from $1 to $8,000.

If, after reviewing the Guidelines and application, you have questions or concerns, please call or email the City Arts Office for more details at 860.343.6620 x201 or arts@middletownct.gov.

Middletown Commission on the Arts
100 Riverview Center - Suite 140

Argentine Tango Series: Ready, Set, Go! at Vinnies

1-3pm: Tango 101 - Each month this class will cover fundamental elements that make up Argentine Tango. This class is geared for beginners and for others who want to brush up on their fundamentals for better control of their skills in more advanced material. The three critical leading and following elements are parallel and crossed system walking, forward and back ochos, and grapevine or molinete.

3-5pm: Tango 102 - Tango 102 will cover the fun applications that define the multiple expressive possibilities for both leader and follower in Argentine Tango. This class is geared for people who have some basic experience with Argentine Tango. Tango 101 students are welcome to also take the 102 class. Applications over the 3 months will include sandwiches, paradas, sacadas, boleos, trading center and circumference roles, planeos and calisitas, barridas, ganchos, and dancing to tango, milonga and vals music.

5-6pm: Guided Practica - The Guided Practica after the classes will be opportunity to practice material from the classes and get more individual feedback from the instructor.

Cost:
General: $30 for both classes and practica when pre-registered. $20 per class at the door
Students and seniors: $25 for both classes when pre-registered, $18 per class at the door

Register now online:
<http://www.vinniesjumpandjive.com/>
[link:http://www.vinniesjumpandjive.com/events.php#argentinetango]

Blues Fusion Dance at Vinnies Tonight!

Tonight at Vinnie's on Main Street, the dancing community of Middletown presents it's monthly blues dancing night, with DJed music by Chris Okansen and Tyler Ames (of NY). From 8-9 PM is a beginners/fundamentals class if you are new to dancing or if you need to brush up on your basics. No partner or experience is needed. After that, join us on the floor from 9-12pm for the dance!

Do I need a partner?
Nope! It’s fun to go with friends, but you’ll make lots of new friends at the dance, too!

Ok cool. But how much does all this cost?
$10 class & dance (general & students)
$8 dance-only general admission
$5 dance-only student admission

Zoning Text Change Application Would Allow More Commercial Development On Washington Street

The Planning Department has received an application to change the text of the zoning code, to allow by special exception an intensive commercial development of properties in the MX zone. It was submitted by "Acquisition Holdings, LLC", a company associated with the Centerplan developer who is vying to develop a strip mall in a residential area between Pearl and High on Washington Street.

Board of Ed Introduces New Hybrid Bus

Before Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting, members were treated to a ride on Middletown's newest hybrid bus, the second in the District's bus fleet.  Upgraded with regenerative braking, this new bus doesn't need to be plugged in. Click here for Middletown Press coverage and here for the District update submitted to the Courant.  For a complete explanation of how regenerative braking works, click here.

In District Highlights, Principal Joe Cassela shared some of the many exciting components of Woodrow Wilson Middle School.  Calling WWMS "Middletown's best kept secret," Cassela told the board that he has high expectations for himself and the students, and that these expectations are increasing behavioral and academic performance.  The Drill Team performed for the BOE, students spoke of a commitment to community service and academics, and staff members explained anti-bullying efforts (the Pride Patrol) and other programs. Board members were treated to oatmeal raisin cookies baked by Mrs. Harris in Family and Consumer Science and served by Mr. Harris (Tech Ed, spouse to Mrs. Harris).

In other district news, Middletown will be receiving a $25K grant to run a program at Bielefield Elementary School, aimed at giving hispanic children after school academic support.  The goal of the additional support is to help close the achievement gap when these students take their CMTs.  Enza Macri, Assistant Superintendent, told the Board that "we are very proud of this program.  We really listened to what parents wanted, and now 90 children are getting academic support four days a week.  Parents who don't speak English well enough to help their children with their homework are able to have their children get help after school."

Elementary School to MHS Director of Fine Arts and District Operations, Marco Gaylord, has been named Person of the Year by The Middletown Press.  Read the full article here.

Superintendent Pat Charles reported the results of 199 personal interviews she had with a wide range of Middletown parents, teachers, politicians, and students as she gathered information about the nature of the community and organization of Middletown.  Charles conducted the interviews to establish a presence in Middletown and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Middletown school system.  Charles heard repeatedly that the Arts program, improved focus on academics, caring and dedicated staff, and broad course offerings were strengths while Middletown parents and leaders were concerned about the achievement gap, curriculum rigor, library quality, and Special Education.  Dr. Charles will use these findings as the BOE reviews and revises its goals, creates budgets, and plans strategically for the future.

In budget news, the BOE is hoping to get funding from FEMA to cover the costs associated with opening the cafeteria as a shelter during last year's hurricane and snowstorm. Budget Chairman Ted Raczka worried out loud about the "Washington D.C. kick the can down the road" approach to budgeting, noting that "sooner or later we are going to have to balance the books, and we will have to bear the burden."  Raczka was talking about the fact that the district now has a deficit of more than $1 million dollars for this year, in addition to the 10% budget increase the Superintendent is asking for.  "Instead of approaching this as a winners and losers situations, let's consider that all boats rise or all boats sink - cuts should come out of every one's pockets, " Raczka commented.  In other words, rather than cutting programs in their entirety, Raczka is advocating cutting some from every part of the budget to spread the pain.

The next BOE meeting is Tuesday, January 22 at 7pm.  The board is scheduled to adopt the 2013-2014 School Budget.  The meeting will be held in the City Hall Common Council Chambers.

Dainty Rubbish Special Exception Approved with Conditions

The Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday night approved with conditions the application of Dainty Rubbish Service, Inc. for a special exception allowing it to condense its transfer station operations now spread over two abutting lots on Industrial Park Road (80 and 90) onto 80 IPR only. The two lots are each about 2.5 acres. The three conditions were a limit of 250 tons of waste per day (the applicant had sought 750), that trucks not be allowed to back up onto Industrial Park Road, and that operations on 80 IPR not be allowed to interfere with ingress and egress to 90 IPR, a rear lot, over an existing easement connecting 90 to IPR.

Wesleyan Rare Book Room Special Event Tomorrow

From Suzy Taraba, Wesleyan Library.
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On Thursday, original documents, books, and printed materials related to the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln, and the Civil War, will be on view in the Davison Rare Book Room, Special Collections & Archives, from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Among the items on display will be a certificate signed by Lincoln appointing Hiram Willey (Wesleyan Class of 1839) U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Harper’s Weekly, the North’s most comprehensive, illustrated source for news about the Civil War; Confederate publications related to slavery; abolitionist publications; and the first edition of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s galvanizing novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

This event is free and open to the public. Children under 12 must be closely supervised by an adult. Visitors are required to sign in and put belongings in a locker before entering the Davison Rare Book Room. Olin Library is located at 252 Church Street. Special Collections & Archives is on the first floor of the building, east side, behind the glass door next to the stairs. For more information about the event, contact Special Collections & Archives at (860) 685-3864 or email.

Two Virgins, Buttonwood Tree, 1/04/2013

Monday, January 7, 2013

Two Virgins, Buttonwood Tree, 1/04/2013

If you come to The Buttonwood Tree often, as I do, there is often a reward. Great music. Traditional, jazzy, eclectic or sometimes undefinable, like the Tree, a category by itself. If you came for Two Virgins you were ambushed. Regular looking guys it seemed. Instead, taken in by musicians who would pour everything they had onto the stage and into the laps of an unsuspecting listener. They wrote all the songs. A few by Tom Mooney pushed me back into my seat like a raggedly powerful Jagger/Richards composition. Each guy on the stage had his own aura, each one could have performed solo. Together they were  completely unpretentious, viscerally engaging. If you came with a date you had to have a great time and if you came stag. . . you'll know better next time.

FIND YOUR JEWISH ANCESTORS AT GODFREY LIBRARY on Sunday, January 20 @ 1:30 pm

The Jewish Genealogical Society of CT presents Godfrey Library Executive Director Beth Mariotti on Sunday, January 20, 2012 at 1:30 pm at Godfrey Library, 134 Newfield Street, Middletown, CT.  Beth will discuss materials such as newspapers, city directories, state and local histories, and funeral and cemetery records and will also describe the Family History Center and how it can be used for researching immigrant ancestors.

 

Program is free and open to the public.

 

Godfrey Memorial Library is the only CT library devoted to genealogy.

 

For additional information, please see www.jgsct-jewish-genealogy.org/programs.html.