Officer William Maio Graduates from State Police K-9 Academy

From the Middletown Police
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Officer William Maio and his K-9 Judge completed a rigorous sixteen week training course with the Connecticut State Police K-9 Training Academy. Officer Maio was one of sixteen officers from around the state who successfully completed the training and graduated today.

Officer Maio has been with the Middletown Police Department for over seven years and was most recently assigned to the department’s Street Crime Unit. Officer Maio and his K-9 Judge will now be assigned to day shift in the Patrol Division.

Buttonwood Hosts 4 Concerts in 3 Days This Weekend

The Buttonwood Tree covers the spectrum of musical genres this weekend by bringing in music ranging from Americana to Jazz, Bluegrass to Blues. They'll host four musical groups including a matinee on Saturday with smooth jazz. Two bands are returning, two are playing their debut at TBT, three are from Connecticut, one is from upstate NY on tour, headed to Vermont.

Answering a request for concerts before dark, the Larry Gareau group plays Saturday at 2 pm. Tonight's group covers a whole host of genres itself. The Andrew and Noah Band were chosen from among hundreds performing at NERFA, (North East Regional Folk Alliance), to come to The Buttonwood Tree. The only night they could afford to do at TBT is this Thursday. So step out of the box to hear some music that will cause you to think and move your feet at the same time. Or at least it will cause you to sway, its that sweet. They bring 7 passionate, young musicians who will move you in some way, no doubt.

Reservations may be made online at www.buttonwood.org
 http://www.buttonwood.org/events/

Lacrosse Registration Next Wednesday

Middletown Youth Lacrosse registration is scheduled for Wednesday, January 23rd from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Spencer Elementary School, Westfield Street.

Coaches and board members will be on site to help register and answer any questions.


“Middletown Youth Lacrosse is in its second year. This is the first year we’re offering girls lacrosse teams; we are very excited about expanding our league to include girls’ teams as well as additional boys teams,” said Heather Iaderosa, President of Middletown Youth Lacrosse.

Invitation To Sports Hall Of Fame Induction Dinner

Submitted by Thomas J. Serra President, Middletown Sports Hall of Fame
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This letter is an invitation to the citizens of Middletown and contingent communities to attend a very exciting evening of recognition. On Thursday, January 31, 2013, the Twentieth Annual Middletown Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will be held at Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 100 Berlin Road, (Route#372) in Cromwell, at 7:00 P.M. The evening will begin at 5:30 P.M. with a Cocktail hour. In the event of inclement weather, please call the Crowne Plaza Hotel at (860-635-2000), listen to Radio station WMRD in Middletown (1150 AM), or log onto our website and click on “Current Information”, or tune into Hartford’s WTIC Fox CT TV Channel 6.

"Dweezil's Ripped My Flesh." Popcorn by The Colonel #25

Epigraph: "The path up and the path down are one and the same." --Herakleitos

What's that mean? Be nice to the people you meet on your way up, because they're the same ones you'll meet on your way down? Who knew the dark one was so show biz?

Philosophy: Single malt helps.

Busy Night for EDC

The city council's Economic Development Committee dealt with a large agenda at its monthly meeting Monday night.  Some of the highlights:

30 PORTLAND ST.
Director of Planning Bill Warner said that preparations were being made to demolish the vacant house at 30 Portland Street, which the city acquired through foreclosure.  He said "a lot of people say it's going to collapse".  That prompted member Tom Serra to say that the city is liable in case the building does collapse.  "This should be an emergency situation," he said.  Councilman Joe Bibisi noted the roof had partially fallen in and he was concerned about any heavy rain.  "We own it, and it could all fall on Portland Street."

Chairman Gerald Daley said the building department, fire marshal or other authority should officially determine the building's safety.  Bibisi noted that the building was boarded up for security.  There was some question as to which city department would pay for the demolition.  The committee unanimously approved a resolution to make the demolition a priority.  Warner later said he would request a $30,000 appropriation so work could begin.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOB PROGRAMS
Jeff Pugliese of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce appeared before the committee to request funds for two jobs program.  The Worker Preparation Program provides job seekers help such as resume consulting, mock interviews, help with dressing professionally, and networking through chamber contacts and functions.  The committee unanimously approved $7500 for the program, as it had last year.

Pugliese also asked for $30,000 to support the chamber's "Youth @ Work" program.  The program, primarily funded by Workforce Alliance, placed 37 Middletown teens in jobs last summer.  Last year the city originally provided $20,000 for the program. It then provided an additional $7000 to match the $27,000 in private funds the chamber was able to raise.  Pugliese said that "city support definitely sparks private donations."  He said that the chamber hopes to raise even more in private donations this year.  The committee unanimously approved a resolution to recommend that the Mayor propose the funding in his budget.

RIVERFRONT PLANNING
As previously requested, Warner provided the committee with a report detailing the history of the "South Cove"section of the riverfront.  The land will become available for development after the decommissioning of the current sewage treatment plant there.  Warner said there has been great interest in future of the land.  Bibisi suggested that members visit the Norwich Harbor area, a similar area which has been developed with a miles-long walkway.

LONG HILL ESTATE
Connecticut Underwriters, which rents space from the city at the Wadsworth Mansion, has a new lease.   Any rental leases for the Long Hill Estate property must be approved by the Common Council.  The committee unanimously voted to recommend the council approve the new lease.  Said Daley "You couldn't ask for a better tenant."

P&Z Commission Fails To Elect Regional Council Rep

The Planning and Zoning Commission could not agree at its last meeting on a candidate to serve as Middletown's representative on the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments. Two candidates were nominated, Molly Salafia (R) and Michael Johnson (D), the votes were strictly along party lines. Each party suggested that the other candidate serve as the alternate, the Republicans additionally expressed concern about Johnson's attendance record.

New, Exciting Teen Repertory Experience

This season adventurous, committed teenagers can experience cutting-edge theater in a challenging, new way.  The winter/spring Teen Repertory Company will be not be approaching theater in the same old way.  Students in grades 9-12 will have the unique opportunity to expand not only their acting skills, but their directing, designing and producing skills as well.  

CALLING ALL POETS, MUSICIANS …

Anything Goes Open Mic Monday @ The Buttonwood Tree
Every Monday
7:30pm sign-up, 8:00 the show starts!

The World’s a stage … the mic is OPEN! This Open Mic is for YOU – the budding artist. Showcase your talents, nurture them with this supportive group. Recite a poem, sing a song, dance, read some spoken word, the microphone is yours for the asking. Community spirit prevails.
We have congas and a piano or BYO instrument. Ends around 9:30 – 10pm.

605 Main Street | Middletown, CT | (860) 347-4957

In Atlantic Monthly: "Violence and Mental Illness in Middletown, Connecticut"

Lindsay Abrams, who graduated from Wesleyan last year, writes in The Atlantic Monthly about the impact that the murders of Jessica Short in 1989 and Johanna Justin-Jinich in 2009 had on our city.

She extensively discusses the efforts of Paul Gionfriddo to improve mental health care at all levels, and uses the Farm Hill Elementary School "Scream Room" investigation to highlight inadequacies in that care.

Zoning Code Text Change Application Would Block New Commercial Development Around Wesleyan

The Planning Department has received an application to change the text of the zoning code, to restrict the possible uses of land zoned ID. It was submitted by Ed McKeon, a community activist who is opposed to the development of a strip mall in a residential area between Pearl and High on Washington Street.

The ID (Institutional Development) zone applies to land around Wesleyan, Middlesex Hospital, and Connecticut Valley Hospital. It provides wide latitude to the institution to build facilities "compatible with its setting in scale and design."

The zoning code currently stipulates that land in the zone "not used and endorsed by the institution" must meet the requirements of the MX zone, which allows residential as well as professional offices, neighborhood stores, and other low-intensity commercial uses. A recently proposed text change would allow very high-density commercial use.

McKeon's proposed text would stipulate that properties in an ID zone that have been used as residences and are not being used by the institution would have to meet the requirement of the RPZ zone. RPZ is a residential zone does not allow commercial use.

All zoning code text change decisions take place after a public hearing at the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Commission is likely to schedule such a public hearing for one of its meetings in February.

No News Is Bad News

Since I moved to Middletown more than 12 years ago, my Sunday morning ritual has been to stop into Central News, on Main Street to pick up a copy of the Sunday New York Times, and then head to a local coffeeshop for caffeine and eggs.

Today was my last opportunity to do so.

Since 1946, Central News has been the go-to shop for newspapers, magazines and tobacco products.  As of today, Sunday January 13, 2013, Central News will no longer be selling newspapers.

"We can't make money on it anymore," said Bill Sbona, proprietor, on Sunday.  "The newspapers keep squeezing and squeezing, and there's not enough left over for a profit."

"We'll still be selling magazines and tobacco, but today is the last day for newspaper sales," Sbona said.  "It's a sad day."

This is but one more sign of the decline of print news media, as paper circulation has shrunk steadily over the last decade as web news sources have cannibalized readership.

"Give me a minute to let this sink in," a regular patron said after reading the sign Sbona had posted about the end of newspaper sales.