Health Dept.Grants Ryan Woods Autism Foundation $5k

The grant from Middletown's Health Department will go towards an after school program.

Press release by founder and grandmother of Ryan, Brenda Wilson:

"In an economy that appears to be traveling down the road of no return, there is still a Lil’ City called Middletown that cares about its people. “I am so proud to be a resident of this City, said Wilson, Foundation founder. This generous donation from the City of Middletown’s Public Health Department speaks volumes about their philanthropic spirit, and their desire to support children with intellectual disabilities.” “Providing educational opportunities to meet the evolving needs of students on the spectrum is essential to help those lead fulfilling lives of productivity and independence.”

“They have made a lasting impact on our students and programs. This grant will allow us to share our story and the many wonderful services our after-school program offer students of residents in the city of Middletown” said Ian Woods, Program Director.

When RWAF’s founder made her application for the grant and explained the purpose of continuing to enhance socialization, life skills, building relationships with peers, peer mentors in the lives of our youth affected by autism, the City of Middletown’s Public Health Department stepped up to the plate to make things a little easier. RWAF offers an after-school program and is the only concept like it in the state of Connecticut where only youth with autism, Aspergers and other Special Needs come, feel safe in a warm and beautiful location. ‘Our boys and girls who are different – and, different is good -- want a place to meet up with friends, play basketball, dance, learn boundaries, healthy eating, laugh and identify with others like them.’ This is their Teen Center, said Wilson.”

The founder, Brenda Wilson, notified her Committee Members immediately -- “The grant I applied for from the City of Middletown Public Health Department was approved and we received the $5K check today.” “Our after-school autism Teen Center needs every penny of it” exclaimed Wilson. “All I can say is that dreams still come true and every life has reason.”

If you would like to know how you can help, please contact the Ryan Woods Autism Foundation at rwaf@comcast.net - call 860-346-8777.

We need furnishings; computer equipment; supplies and nutritional foods (gluten-free and sugar-free) they eat like grown men and women after school. And, “Keep on sending up those prayers.”"

Ryan Woods Autism Foundation is located at:

One Riverview Center, lower level (Take Dingwall Ave.)

Suite 102 (behind the Middletown Police Station)

Middletown, CT 06457

www.ryanwoodsautismfoundation.org * (860) 346-8777

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ~~ Mon-Fri (by appointment)

The group held a music festival in August on the South Green.

Health Department Complaint against 438 East Main Street

Editorial Note: The below letter was sent to the Eye and we are posting in its entirety as it was sent to us. Nothing written in this letter has been researched or verified by the Eye, nor has the letter been edited. The letter expresses the opinion and experience solely of the person who wrote it.

Hello,

My name is Jackson LaRose. I am the owner and inhabitant of 438 East Main Street. Last year, the health department lodged a complaint against the condition of my property, which they claim is a "potential harborage for vermin". The reason being is that I haven't mown my lawn, because I am attempting to repair my soil based upon accepted Permaculture practices. As such, the grasses and other broad-leaf annuals (chicory, dandelion, etc.) in my yard grown taller than they had deemed safe. They sent me a legal order that I cut the offending plants. I appealed in front of the State Board of Health, lost my appeal, and asked the Health inspector and city attorney what I needed to do to be in compliance. The health inspector's answer was,

"Cut everything."

I wasn't sure to what height, if trees and shrubs also counted, garden flowers, vegetables, etc.

After my repeated requests for more clarification, she became frustrated and referred me to the City Attorney. He told me that I could either mow or mulch. I chose to mulch, and spread town provided mulch on my property over the winter. In the spring, almost all of the grass species were gone (smothered by the mulch), allowing the broad-leaf annuals to spread. I thought this would be satisfactory, because grass is the only type of plant mentioned in the legal order, and the remainder who came up through the mulch are widely considered to be wildflowers (chicory, goldenrod, dandelion, yellow hawkweed, etc.).

Earlier this week I received a packet from the City Attorney. Contained within was a lawsuit for violating the order of the city. They threatened to sue me for $119,500 ($250 a day from the pre-appeal deadline of Jun. 21, 2010) plus any legal fees. I called the attorney to ask why I had been sent this, and he claims I had not complied with the order. I tryed to remind him of our conversation last November concerning the mulch, of course, he conveniently "did not recall", but he also said it did not look like I mulched at all from the pictures he saw (although there is clearly hardly any grass in my yard anymore, and mulch clearly visible). I asked what he wanted me to do, and he referred me to the Health Inspector. I asked her again what she would like me to do. Again,

"Cut everything."

I asked her for some guidelines I could follow in the future to avoid the threat of such a large lawsuit. Her only answer was,

"You know what to do, it has to go."

She also mentioned no "weeds" (but would not specify what she meant by that vague term), and that all flowers had to be "landscaped" (again, no definition of terms). She also refused to put anything into writing (statement of compliance, guidelines, etc.) She is coming by my house Monday morning to do a walk through so she can point out what she means, since she is either unwilling or unable to do so over the phone.

I am now afraid that this woman has become the overlord of my property. I don't want to wonder every time I adjust the flora of my yard, whether or not the specter of this outrageous lawsuit will return to haunt me. It is also my belief that the health inspector has taken our past exchanges personally, and will keep me "under the microscope" out of her dislike for me.

I spoke to the ACLU, and they advised me to get my story out to some local media outlets. I'm hoping you can bring some light on what I feel is an unjust situation.

- Thank You,

Jackson LaRose

438 East Main Street

Middletown, CT 06457

apeheadqwerty@yahoo.com

Editorial Note: The above letter was sent to the Eye and we are posting in its entirety as it was sent to us. Nothing written in this letter has been researched or verified by the Eye, nor has the letter been edited. The letter expresses the opinion and experience solely of the person who wrote it.

H1N1 Flu Clinic on Thursday

The third in a series of H1N1 flu clinics is scheduled:

Thursday, October 29 from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Middletown Municipal Building Council Chamber

The clinic is only for residents of Cromwell, Durham, Haddam, Middlefield, and Middletown. Participants must be 2 through 24 years of age and in good health, or 25 through 49 years of age who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age, or health care and emergency medical personnel.

The vaccine will be administered as nasal mist and is not suitable for pregnant women, persons with long-term health problems, and children 6 months to 2 years of age. A second vaccine may be necessary in about a month’s time.

Parents or guardians should check their care provider to determine if the vaccine is appropriate for their child. The H1N1 flu mist is not effective against seasonal flu.

The clinic is free and by appointment only. Proof of age and residency will be required.

More H1N1 flu clinics are expected to be scheduled for other segments of the population when vaccine becomes available. The clinic is sponsored by Mass Dispensing Area 36: the City of Middletown and the towns of Cromwell, Durham, Haddam, and Middlefield.

For more information or to schedule an appointment call Lisa Mountain at (860) 344-3474.

From the Middletown Health Department

Krom Responds to Health Department Assertions

Ron Krom, Director of St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen has sent a point by point refutation of some of the assertions made in a letter the Health Department sent to Mayor Sebastian Giuliano and the Common Council.



Mayor and Members of the Council



I know that the following letter to you from Sal Nesci was not directed to me, but since I've seen a copy, I cannot ignore many of the statements that were made in it. In the spirit of providing accurate information on this topic, I would like to offer the following. My comments follow each of the bullets in Sal's letter. I would be happy to speak with any of you regarding this matter at any time.



Ron Krom

Executive Director

St. Vincent DePaul Place



The following is the letter from Sal Nesci:



Gerry/Tim/Mayor/Council...

I do understand that you all have been getting lots of calls and emails about the alleged cease and desist order issued to St. Vincent DePaul Place. First of all, I want to make it clear that it is with the most heavy of hearts that I, as well as Dr. Havlicek and Manfred Rehm of the Health Department, had to put our signature on a legal notice to St. Vincent DePaul. A legal notice is not a cease and desist order. It is a written notification following an inspection or investigation resulting in the discovery of a violation. It allows the individual two weeks to seek a modification of the said practice in order to assure state compliance. Failure to comply usually results in the issuance of a legal order...for food service its usually 30 days. Failure to comply with the legal order Iusually results in the revocation of the license or abatement of the violation.



I've not used "cease and desist" at all. I've been clear in all that I've said and written that the legal notice comes as a CT DPH Food Inspection Report violation. I've also been clear that the legal notice I received said that "failure to correct the outstanding violation will result in the issuance of legal orders and . . . this may put your license to distribute food and beverage within the City of Middletown in jeopardy of being revoked."



For the record:The health department was never aware that the soup kitchen was open on Sunday's until about a month ago. In fact Inspector Rehm was told on numerous occasions that the soup kitchen is only open Monday through Friday. He has been told that by Ron Krom for several months.



It is unfortunate that this has now become a "he said, she said" - I have no recording of our conversations. However, neither I nor our Soup Kitchen Coordinator has ever said that we are only open Monday through Friday. I personally have never been asked that question. What reason would I have to hide the days of the week that we're open? In fact, I'm proud of the fact that we serve 363 days a year and we tell that to every funder, including the City of Middletown in our CDBG grant application every year for more than a decade. It says "Our Soup Kitchen is open seven days a week, 363 days a year." Granted, the health department doesn't see that application or my reports, but why would I tell the health department "on numerous occasions" that we are only open from Monday through Friday? For the record we're also open on Saturdays for breakfast and lunch, in addition to Sunday evenings for dinner.



The health department was never aware that the one meal that was served on Sunday nights was provided by area churches under the supervision of a soup kitchen staff member.



Yes they were. I personally told Fred Rehm this back in February or March when he came to ask me questions about the Food Not Bombs group. I remember telling him that I didn't know much about the Food Not Bombs meal, that it was served outside the Soup Kitchen by folks who were not connected to us. At that time I mentioned that our meals were on Sunday evenings.



The health department was never aware that a portion of this Sunday night meal was prepared in private homes and transported to the soup kitchen.



I believe that they were not aware of this until sometime near the end of August. On September 2, Fred Rehm was in my office and I confirmed that this was the case.



When we were made aware that this activity was possibly happening, we approached Ron Krom to ask if it is true and he stated to us that he has a criteria he uses to assure food coming in on Sunday night meets state code requirements and to the best of his knowledge it does. I stated to him that if that is the case than he is to continue his current practice and we as a health department will work with the area churches to educate them on proper donation procedures.



In fact, I assured them that the food comes from many home kitchens. Sal stated to me over the phone that I should continue my current practice and that he would work with the churches.The health department then sent a memo to all area churches reminding them that all charitable contributions made in the name of their organization should be that of non perishable food or food prepared in their licensed kitchens. The memo was sent on Sept 8, "reminding" churches that "all food contributions to any charitable event should be prepared on the premises in your kitchen currently licensed by the Middletown Health Department." The churches were confused - this was received more as a directive than a reminder. The only thing they remember is that they've been involved in this ministry for almost 30 years. I began to get calls asking "what's this about?" "Can we still serve our meal on Sunday?" "Will we be allowed to bring cupcakes that are baked in our parishioners' homes?"



At a recent hearing at DPH regarding Food Not Bombs, Mr. Krom was called as a witness and gave sworn testimony that he does in fact receive a portion of his Sunday night meal from private home kitchens which is in violation of the state health code. In fact he gave very specific examples of certain foods he receives from private kitchens on a regular basis.



This is true - I did not say anything that I had not already told Mr. Rehm and Mr. Nesci.



Because of the statement he made, we were required by virtue of the professional licenses we hold to confirm this and take appropriate steps to assist in the modification of the current practice. The very next day, Inspector Rehm visited Mr. Krom and Mr. Krom re-affirmed the statements he made in his sworn testimony the day before.



Why at the time of this hearing? Why not on September 2?



The notice sent does not pertain to the general operations of the facility Monday-Friday. It is only relative to a small percentage of the food distributed on Sunday night.



Not true. We receive sandwiches during the week from non-licensed kitchens. They come from families, church receptions, student classrooms, sunday school/catechism classes and more. At least a part of every meal, every Sunday night, is prepared in home kitchens. Last year we served 4133 meals on Sunday nights, or an average of 80 meals each Sunday. This is a significant part of our program and the need is growing. We are already serving 15% more people than this time last year.



To the issue of discretion:As we understand it, we are only talking about a percentage of the Sunday night meal in question. Relative to that, we believe that a viable solution would be to encourage donors continue using the licensed kitchens at their churches and to donate commercially prepared and prepackaged food that could be heated and served on the premises whereby eliminating the issue of cooking in their own homes. As we understand it, many churches already donate commercially prepared and prepackaged food to the soup kitchen. We are willing to work with any group that cannot readily comply and come to a code compliant resolution to anyone organizations concern and willingness to feed the hungry.



In some cases, it is the entire Sunday meal that comes from homes. Some of the smaller faith communities are able to participate in this program precisely because they can get their parishioners to sign up and make casseroles or desserts at home. If they were required to gather a group on a Sunday afternoon in a licensed kitchen, some have said they would not be able to participate. It isn't only about having a licensed kitchen - it's about gathering a group of people to prepare the meal.



We are in no way intending on revoking the license of St. Vincent DePaul. If we are put in a position where further code enforcement is required, we would only be seeking to curtail the distribution of food during the Sunday night program in that we need to assure that home cooked food is not distributed.



If there is no intention of revoking the license, then why include that language in the Legal Notice that they sent to me?



The health department is not looking to shut down thanksgiving and/or Christmas dinners. We are willing to work with any organization to make sure that there is a way to cook all turkeys. Just off the top of my head, we could utilize fraternal organization kitchens, school kitchens, church kitchens and restaurant kitchens. We just need to know how many turkeys need to be cooked.



There are turkeys, pies, breads, and more. I don't dispute that it may be possible to have this all prepared in licensed kitchens. If that is necessary, I would appreciate the assistance of the Health Dept to coordinate all that. Right now it is coordinated by the faith communities and a few volunteers who spend countless hours to put on these meals.



The Middletown health department values the security and safety of food distribution. It is our belief that the hungry and homeless of our community deserve the same rights and privileges in a free meal as paying customers at a restaurant do. All restaurants are inspected for compliance of their general practices regularly and that food is acquired from approved sources. Shouldn't the patrons of St. Vincent DePaul on Sunday nights receive the same consideration? That goes to the same position with Food Not Bombs?



St. Vincent DePaul Place values security and safety of food distribution too. And we absolutely believe that the poor and homeless of our community deserve the same rights and privileges as everyone. Don't they deserve a home cooked meal too? A license does not guarantee food safety. We take food safety very seriously and ensure the proper heating, refrigeration, storage, and serving protocols. We also have a 30-year history of serving food to this vulnerable population and no one can remember any incidence of food poisoning. Can the same be said for all the licensed restaurants in town?



Any resolution or change to current city ordinance regulating the distribution of food and beverage cannot supersede current state statute or health code.

We are encouraged by the activity on the State level to change this law. Today's Courant reports that legislators were "dumbfounded" to learn that state laws prohibit the longstanding practice of parishioners preparing meals in their homes for shelters and food kitchens. There is a bipartisan movement to get this legislative change onto the implementer bill, and Governor Rell has said that she supports that too.



Food safety and security has taken a front line position in our national security post 9/11 and much time, energy and money have been spent in the way of agro terrorism. To compromise our interpretation of code regulation, we are minimizing state and federal efforts of homeland security and safety.

Just because every other town "compromises their interpretation of the code" doesn't make it right. I get that. But to not do so threatens our ability to provide nutritious meals to the poor of our community. Somehow, some way, I believe that we can find an answer. And hopefully the State law is changed very quickly.



***We had a very productive meeting this morning with Peter Harding, who as you know is the former director of St. Vincent DePaul. He is willing to work with us to achieve compliance. It is his understanding, as it is ours, that the entire situation has been blown way out of proportion and the issue we are dealing with in this legal notice is small in comparison to what the media and blogs have turned it into. He has assured me that together we will come to and understanding where we will be able to put this issue to rest without compromising the mission of the soup kitchen as well as our professional integrity. My spirit is strong in this regard and we will work to do what ever we can to make this happen. I will keep you posted.



I'm glad that Peter is willing to work with the Health Dept. to help sort this out and to find a compromise. I welcome the opportunity to participate in these discussions as well.

Health Department Defends Citation of St. Vincent dePaul

The mayor's office and Common Council members have received dozens of letters, emails and phone calls concerning the enforcement by Middletown's Health Department of a statute which prohibits the distribution of food not prepared in licensed kitchens, to the public.

The statute was initially cited as the reason for arresting members of Food Not Bombs for distributing food in a shared meal each Sunday on the corner of Main and Liberty Streets.

In defending the Health Department actions Health Department official Sal Nesci wrote a letter to Middletown official making the timeline of actions of his department clear, defending an accusation that the health department cited St. Vincent dePaul Soup Kitchen because its director, Ron Krom, spoke in defense of Food Not Bombs at a state Health Department hearing.

Nesci also states that the city, meaning the Common Council, does not have the ability to create a statute that would supersede state law.

Additionally, Nesci emphasizes the importance of food safety in light of "our national security post-911" indicating that allowing to be served to the needy from unlicensed kitchens could be linked to "agro terrorism" and would minimize efforts to maintain "homeland safety and security."

Nesci also notes that "the entire situation has been blown way out of proportion" and that the issues is "small in comparison what the media and blogs have turned it into."

The entire letter can be read below:

Gerry/Tim/Mayor/Council...

I do understand that you all have been getting lots of calls and emails about the alleged cease and desist order issued to St. Vincent DePaul Place. First of all, I want to make it clear that it is with the most heavy of hearts that I, as well as Dr. Havlicek and Manfred Rehm of the Health Department, had to put our signature on a legal notice to St. Vincent DePaul. A legal notice is not a cease and desist order. It is a written notification following an inspection or investigation resulting in the discovery of a violation. It allows the individual two weeks to seek a modification of the said practice in order to assure state compliance. Failure to comply usually results in the issuance of a legal order...for food service its usually 30 days. Failure to comply with the legal order usually results in the revocation of the license or abatement of the violation.

For the record:

• The health department was never aware that the soup kitchen was open on Sunday's until about a month ago. In fact Inspector Rehm was told on numerous occasions that the soup kitchen is only open Monday through Friday. He has been told that by Ron Krom for several months.
• The health department was never aware that the one meal that was served on Sunday nights was provided by area churches under the supervision of a soup kitchen staff member.
• The health department was never aware that a portion of this Sunday night meal was prepared in private homes and transported to the soup kitchen.
• When we were made aware that this activity was possibly happening, we approached Ron Krom to ask if it is true and he stated to us that he has a criteria he uses to assure food coming in on Sunday night meets state code requirements and to the best of his knowledge it does. I stated to him that if that is the case than he is to continue his current practice and we as a health department will work with the area churches to educate them on proper donation procedures.
• The health department then sent a memo to all area churches reminding them that all charitable contributions made in the name of their organization should be that of non perishable food or food prepared in their licensed kitchens.
• At a recent hearing at DPH regarding Food Not Bombs, Mr. Krom was called as a witness and gave sworn testimony that he does in fact receive a portion of his Sunday night meal from private home kitchens which is in violation of the state health code. In fact he gave very specific examples of certain foods he receives from private kitchens on a regular basis.
• Because of the statement he made, we were required by virtue of the professional licenses we hold to confirm this and take appropriate steps to assist in the modification of the current practice. The very next day, Inspector Rehm visited Mr. Krom and Mr. Krom re-affirmed the statements he made in his sworn testimony the day before.
• The notice sent does not pertain to the general operations of the facility Monday-Friday. It is only relative to a small percentage of the food distributed on Sunday night.

To the issue of discretion:

• As we understand it, we are only talking about a percentage of the Sunday night meal in question. Relative to that, we believe that a viable solution would be to encourage donors continue using the licensed kitchens at their churches and to donate commercially prepared and prepackaged food that could be heated and served on the premises whereby eliminating the issue of cooking in their own homes. As we understand it, many churches already donate commercially prepared and prepackaged food to the soup kitchen. We are willing to work with any group that cannot readily comply and come to a code compliant resolution to anyone organizations concern and willingness to feed the hungry.
• We are in no way intending on revoking the license of St. Vincent DePaul. If we are put in a position where further code enforcement is required, we would only be seeking to curtail the distribution of food during the Sunday night program in that we need to assure that home cooked food is not distributed.

Other:

• The health department is not looking to shut down thanksgiving and/or Christmas dinners. We are willing to work with any organization to make sure that there is a way to cook all turkeys. Just off the top of my head, we could utilize fraternal organization kitchens, school kitchens, church kitchens and restaurant kitchens. We just need to know how many turkeys need to be cooked.
• The Middletown health department values the security and safety of food distribution. It is our belief that the hungry and homeless of our community deserve the same rights and privileges in a free meal as paying customers at a restaurant do. All restaurants are inspected for compliance of their general practices regularly and that food is acquired from approved sources. Shouldn't the patrons of St. Vincent DePaul on Sunday nights receive the same consideration? That goes to the same position with Food Not Bombs?
• Any resolution or change to current city ordinance regulating the distribution of food and beverage cannot supersede current state statute or health code.
• Food safety and security has taken a front line position in our national security post 9/11 and much time, energy and money have been spent in the way of agro terrorism. To compromise our interpretation of code regulation, we are minimizing state and federal efforts of homeland security and safety.

***We had a very productive meeting this morning with Peter Harding, who as you know is the former director of St. Vincent DePaul. He is willing to work with us to achieve compliance. It is his understanding, as it is ours, that the entire situation has been blown way out of proportion and the issue we are dealing with in this legal notice is small in comparison to what the media and blogs have turned it into. He has assured me that together we will come to and understanding where we will be able to put this issue to rest without compromising the mission of the soup kitchen as well as our professional integrity. My spirit is strong in this regard and we will work to do what ever we can to make this happen. I will keep you posted.

Hope for Change in Food Distribution Law Not Dead

To Senator Paul Doyle's credit, he was as good as his word when he promised members of Middletown's faith-based community that he would push for a change in a statute that prevents charitable distribution of food, not prepared in licensed kitchens, to those in need.

While Democratic leaders were too embroiled in a struggle to implement a budget, Doyle took the idea for a change in law to the governor's office.

Today, in a letter from the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, representing the governor's office, Robert Genuario listed specific items in the implementer bill which the governor objects to.

At the end of the list, the letter concludes:

Finally, we have been informed that there is a need for a statutory revision to allow charitable organizations to provide to needy people, meals which have not been prepared in licensed kitchens. For example, many churches provide pot-luck dinners of the homeless which consist of dishes prepared by members of the congregation in their homes. This charitable practice technically violates section 19a-36 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Although not necessary, strictly speaking, to implement the budget, the Governor would support including in the implementer bill a revision to section 19a-36(a)(4) of the Connecticut General Statutes to allow this practice to legally continue.

"The key, and the blessing is that this indicates the governor will support the change," said Common Council Vinnie Loffredo Wednesday night. "The governor is on board to get something done."

Loffredo urged all those in support of the bill to contact State Senate and House Leaders, and all members of the Middletown legislative delegation to make sure language to change the statute is included in the implementer bill which will likely be submitted Friday.

Many members of the faith-based community addressed letters to Common Council members and the mayor urging them to forward the correspondence to the entire Common Council so that it may be part of their discussions at Monday's meeting.

Senate Unlikely to Take Up Changes In Food Distribution Bill

Despite a letter from the State's Attorney General, and several letters from local pastors worried about serving Christmas dinners to the needy, the Senate is unlikely to have time in the current short session, to take up legislative change in the bill which currently is interpreted to prohibit charitable distribution of food prepared in unlicensed kitchens.

In the present, abbreviated session, the legislature is wrestling with regulations which need to be created or modified as a result of the late passage of the state budget.

"We got it (the Attorney General's letter) very late in the process, and I think there's some agreement with the Attorney General and the concerns he raises," said Derek Slap, Senate Democratic spokesman. "We're absolutely sympathetic to the points the Attorney General and others have raised."

But Slap indicated that the complaint, and the legislation in question, would have to be fully vetted before action could be taken. Slapp suggested that there may be an approach featuring a broader interpretation of the statute which would not require a change in legislation.

Without the change, local pastors in Middletown are concerned that Christmas meals, which consist of turkey and the fixings prepared in the homes of parishoners, would have to be cancelled.

Democratic Mayoral Candidate Confounded by Soup Kitchen Citation

Democratic Mayoral candidate Dan Drew has come out strongly against the Health Department citation against the St. Vincent dePaul Soup Kitchen. He indicated it was within the mayor's discretion as chief executive in the city to decide whether or not to pursue the violation.

"The mayor has the ability to use his judgment," Drew said. "I just can't believe this is happening at a time when people can't feed themselves, in a time when the soup kitchen is needed the most. It makes me wonder if Mayor Giuliano is going to go after the Girls Scouts."

"I disagree with the approach Food Not Bombs has taken, but I'm supportive of providing food to the hungry," Drew said. "But in the case of the soup kitchen I don't understand why there is a drive to shut it down."

Soup Kitchen Cited For "Illegal" Sunday Meals

After testifying yesterday at a State Health Department hearing about Food Not Bombs, St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen director Ron Krom was afraid of the repercussions. As a witness for Food Not Bombs he explained that the soup kitchen on Main Street regularly served a Sunday dinner with food prepared and donated by individuals in the community.

"I thought they might do something," Krom said Tuesday morning. "And here we are this morning being told we are going to be cited."

This morning, town sanitarian Fred Rehm appeared at the soup kitchen and informed Krom that the soup kitchen would be cited for serving food not prepared in a licensed kitchen.

Fred Rehm of Middletown's Health Department declined comment saying that the possible citation was part of an "ongoing investigation."

John Hall, pastor of First Church felt that the citation would have a chilling effect on charitable food distribution, and that it would send a ripple throughout the faith-based community.

"I think it's all based on a misinterpretation of state law," Hall said. He and a delegation from Middletown spoke about the problem with Secretary of State Richard Blumenthal.

"It's hard to believe the intent of the law was to allow an exemption from state statute for charitable organizations preparing food in unlicensed kitchens for sale in fundraisers, and not include organizations who give food to those in need," Hall said.

Hall indicated that the broader enforcement of the statute is likely the result of the Middletown Health Department's attempt to avoid being accused of selective enforcement.

"This is a state law they're enforcing" Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said. "Krom went on the record in a Health Department hearing, and now we can't ignore it. If they want to change the law because it's too broad and preventing some good from happening, then fine. This is really a scientific question, and if scientists decide that the risk is minimal then we'll follow those directives. But our Health Department is only following a state law to keep people safe, and even poor people deserve to be kept safe."

Christmas Meal At Risk

Hall worries that a strict interpretation of the current statutes will prevent his, and other churches, from serving meals to those in need, particularly regular holiday meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"There aren't enough licensed kitchens in town to cook all those turkeys," Hall said. "You won't have people donating food if they have to go to a licensed kitchen to prepare it."

Giuliano cited the real risk of salmonella in turkey preparation.

"Thanksgiving is two months away," he said. "And there's got to be a way we can figure out how to cook enough turkeys in licensed kitchens between now and then to allow those meals to happen."

This recent concern with charitable meals prepared in unlicensed kitchens stems from the ongoing controversy with Food Not Bombs.

"We have to share our food with the poor" Krom said. "Unfortunately, if I hadn't testified I don't think that I would have received a citation today. In the end, I hope this will all bring about some social change."

"Look, if your goal is to get food to hungry people, no in town is trying to stop them" Giuliano said. "But it's our job to ensure that people are safe. I don't know if Food Not Bombs has some civil disobedience thing they want to express, but if they're just trying to thumb their noses at authority, I can't help them."

"Until we get a clear interpretation, it appears the city health department is going to press the issue for all charitable giving," Hall lamented. "And that's going to cause a problem."

UPDATE 9/22 4:10 PM: (This from Ron Krom at the St. Vincent's Soup Kitchen) While I was told in the morning that I would be "cited", the Health Department returned this afternoon with an inspection report with an identified violation. The report is a standard State of CT Department of Public Health Inspection Report for Food Service Establishments. We were found to be in violation of item #1,"approved source of food, wholesome, nonadulterated." The detail specified that "some donated food served on site is not prepared in licensed kitchens." I was told that I have two weeks to correct the violation, at which point we will be reinspected. If the violation is not corrected, "a number of things are possible, including shutting down the Soup Kitchen."

Food Proves to Be A Public Relations Bomb for Middletown

COMMENTARY

Spread across the front page of the Hartford Courant this morning is a story of Middletown's effort to ban Food Not Bombs from sharing meals with Middletown residents every Sunday morning in front of the Buttonwood Tree. It is now a statewide story, and will likely be picked up by the national press. What a picture it paints of Middletown.

Sharing food with folks who need and appreciate it, especially food which would have been discarded (American waste 100 billion pounds of food every year), seems like a decent idea. Young, enthusiastic Wesleyan students willing to engage residents who most of us have never met, and some of us would not like to even think about, are being told that they are breaking the law because they don't use sneeze-guards. These students are engaging the community, forming community, and the adults in town are sneering at their effort.

Imagine what the rest of the world is thinking.

And Middletown, sticking to a selective and rigid interpretation of the law, is prosecuting this band of "hippies" because it is presumed they are dumpster diving for their food (which they are not). I've helped them prepare a meal, and I've found them to be decent, friendly, funny and concerned young men and women who may not even be thinking about the gospel, but their walking the talk when it comes to "loving your neighbor."

Middletown is making the case that they are trying to protect the people who are being served the food. Though they don't seem to share an equal concern, when it comes to sneeze-guards, at bake sales, church dinners, lemonade stands and other Main Street events. A lot of watermelon was sliced and distributed during the recent road race on Main Street with nary a sneeze-guard in sight.

Some of these events, church dinners for example, are licensed and food is prepared in inspected kitchens, but one can assume that inspections at the actual dinners are few and far between because of a lack of manpower.

We have to be happy that our health inspectors have a strong and enthusiastic concern for food safety and food consumers, but in the case of Food Not Bombs, where there has never been a problem with tainted food, city hall might easily look in the other direction. It's not difficult to think of other times city hall looks the other way, on any number of other issues in town, (say the excessive noise issue when hundreds of illegally mufflered motorcycles gather on Main Street).

Finally, because Food Not Bombs has asked for a state hearing, the city has felt obliged to hire legal representation for the health inspectors. That costs real money. Tax dollars. To fight a fight which hardly seems worth fighting.

So what has Middletown gotten for its effort? A reputation as a town that would take the food out of the mouths of the hungry. A reputation as a town which is making a stink about doing something that Jesus recommended - feeding the hungry.

I guest if JC showed up on Foss Hill and recited the beatitudes while multiplying loaves and fishes, he might get a citation for distributing food unsafely.

Food Not Bombs Sues City and State

(Abe Bobman being issued a summons by the Middletown Police Department.)

From Food Not Bombs

Today Middletown Food Not Bombs filed for an injunction in federal court against the City of Middletown and the State of Connecticut to prevent enforcement of a cease and desist order barring the plaintiffs from political and meal-sharing activities unless the meals are prepared in a kitchen that is registered with the Health Department. According to the Health Department, sharing meals prepared anywhere else, as the organization and its members have for over ten years, is a violation of the health code. As a result of its cease and desist order, the City issued citations to two members of the organization, charged one of the plaintiffs with a misdemeanor, and seized and destroyed food prepared by the plaintiffs. Middletown Food Not Bombs has charged in its lawsuit that the order interferes with its ability to engage in constitutionally-protected expressive activity and has a chilling effect on the expressive activity of the group, individual activists, community members, and others.

According to Plaintiff Fred Carroll, a Middletown Food Not Bombs activist and Middletown resident who was issued a citation and is a plaintiff in the case, “Food Not Bombs has been sharing vegetarian meals and groceries in Middletown for at least ten years. For the last two or three years I’ve participated in the meal sharing on Main Street. I am not homeless, but I have not had a steady income during this time, and the political discussions and healthy and nutritious Sunday meals became an important part of my week. I recently became a more active volunteer with the organization. Sharing food with people is our way of saying that food is a human right, that there is enough of everything to go around if communities were more empowered, and that everyone should be treated as equals.” According to the lawsuit papers, at least 20% of children in Middletown live in food insecure households, and roughly 2,000 families make use of the local food pantry.

Plaintiff Abe Bobman, a Food Not Bombs activist who was arrested in May for his participation in Food Not Bombs’ activities, stated: “Our weekly meals build fellowship, understanding, hope for a better world, and bring a voice of protest against systems of inequality. Sharing food with whoever wants to join us is how we oppose the hierarchy that exists where a few have much and many have little.” According to Bobman, the heart of the Food Not Bombs political message is a challenge on the assumption that there must be scarcity, hunger, waste and poverty. “Our actions are expressions of our belief that a world is possible where people work together to meet their basic needs and desires.”

Mr. Bobman, who is represented in his criminal case by Attorney Diane Polan of New Haven, entered a “not guilty” plea at a court appearance on June 17 and asked for a jury trial. “It is unbelievable that at a time of drastic cutbacks in state services, the State of Connecticut is wasting judicial resources on an unwinnable prosecution. Not only is this criminal prosecution a violation of Mr. Bobman’s First Amendment rights,” said Attorney Polan, “but it is also a case of illegal selective prosecution because the health department official who made the criminal complaint has admitted that Food Not Bombs is a leaderless organization. It is obvious that Mr. Bobman cannot be held criminally responsible for the actions of a political organization.”

According to the plaintiffs, Food Not Bombs does not “dispense food” in the manner that the city's health code regulates, like a restaurant or a soup kitchen. Instead, Food Not Bombs gathers as a community to share food, in the form of a potluck, as a statement of equality and abundance. As plaintiff Fred Carroll stated: “What’s next? The Health Department will come in and regulate people’s picnics in the park?”

The purpose of the injunction is to prevent the City from enforcing its Cease and Desist order while the organization’s lawsuit is pending. According to the injunction papers filed today, “As a result of the City of Middletown's actions, including issuing the cease and desist order, giving out citations, seizing pots and pans and prepared food, and charging plaintiff Abe Bobman with a misdemeanor, it is clear that Middletown Food Not Bombs members have been chilled in their First Amendment expression. Members are fearful of arrest, and are also fearful that the people with whom they share food - especially homeless people and other marginalized members of the community - will be put at risk of arrest if they are invited to share meals with members of the group. The City of Middletown's actions have forced Middletown Food Not Bombs to alter its activities. In some weeks, members have limited food sharing to the handing out of non-prepared healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables. In other weeks, members have joined with volunteers from a local church who distribute food that has been prepared in a registered kitchen. Neither of these activities fulfills the mission nor permits the expression of the core beliefs of Middletown Food Not Bombs and its members.

Indeed, since being issued the cease and desist order in April, Food Not Bombs has been working for a solution that would allow the group to continue to prepare food and share prepared vegan meals in its long-time location on Main Street, outside the St. Vincent DePaul Place. St. Vincent DePaul Place operates a soup kitchen that serves meals six days a week; it does not serve meals on Sundays.

After two of its members received citations, and one was charged with a misdemeanor, Food Not Bombs decided temporarily to use the kitchen at the First Church of Christ in Middletown in order to continue their weekly food preparation activities. According to the plaintiffs, the use of the church kitchen has been a short-term solution that has allowed Middletown Food Not Bombs to continue to share food and engage in its ongoing political activities without further arrests and harassment by the City and/or state. It is not, and never was intended to be, a long-term or permanent operating procedure. As Bobman stated, “While the church has been extremely gracious during this time period, the activities and missions of the two groups are distinct and separate.”

According to Dave Rozza, a long-time Food Not Bombs activist in Hartford, Connecticut, “Given the situation in Middletown, I am convinced that the best option to maintain the long-term presence of Food Not Bombs in communities across the state is to challenge the city of Middletown and state health departments in a court case.” Rozza further stated that Food Not Bombs “opposes the logic of devoting so much of our country's resources to the military - $663 Billion in the next fiscal year - when so many struggle to meet their daily needs in our communities.”

First Church Assists in Food Not Bombs Meal

"It's an opportunity to cooperate with another community group," Wesleyan student and Food Not Bombs member Abe Bobman said about the group's decision to accept the help of Middletown's First Church. "And it's an opportunity that's too good to miss."

On Sunday, Food Not Bombs shared it's Sunday meal for the first time in weeks without the threat of action from Middletown's Health Department, and Middletown Police.

"It's so much easier not having to worry," Bobman admitted. Last week Bobman was served with a summons to appear in court to answer to a misdemeanor charge of serving food to the public without a license.

Last week, First Church minister John Hall offered the group the ability to prepare the meal in the First Church kitchen, which is fully licensed.

"I think Food Not Bombs has a valid point about who is served by the food economy," Hall said Sunday after helping prepare and serve the food. "We feel this an act of prophetic witness. It's a comment about the system, and who is served better, those in wealth, or those in poverty. By helping we want to point it out and stand with those who are shortchanged by the system."

Bobman called the cooperation a temporary solution, motivated primarily by the prevailing atmosphere at the university which suffered through an unthinkable tragedy this week when a student was murdered in the Red and Black cafe.

For First Church parishoner Lynn Shaw it was an opportunity to make a point too.

"There are too many people going without food," Shaw said. "And here we are in the wealthiest state, in the wealthiest country in the world."

Ann Marie Cannata, director of the Buttonwood Tree, who also helped organize the cooperative effort said that the Health Department would be satisfied as long as all volunteers signed in, and Food Not Bombs provide a list of their sources for the food distributed at each meal.

A Table in the Presence of My Enemies

After hearing from Cocomo Rock, Sunday, at the aborted Food Not Bombs meal, that his minister had preached on hunger during his sermon at Church that morning, I called John Hall, minister of First Church of Christ Congregational and asked him what he said.

"I talked about the social dimensions of eating," Hall told me today. "I did talk a little bit about the Food Not Bombs controversy."

Hall said the controversy was not without its share of human foibles.

"I think there's some sport going on. People like to have something to oppose. And I think the Department of Health is flexing their muscle. But I love the debate that this has generated. These kids have brought up the issue that we have all this food that is being wasted."

I asked Hall if he would mind allowing the Eye to reprint his sermon for those of us not fortunate enough to hear it.

Here then, is the sermon that John Hall delivered on Sunday:

A Table In the Presence of My Enemies
May 3, 2009

Text — Psalm 23, verse 5
“You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.”


Who we eat with, who we’d rather not eat with, and what we eat is all emotionally loaded. Jesus got in trouble because he ate with sinners. His disciples didn’t observe the customary food-related rituals, such as hand-washing. 50 years ago in the South, blacks and whites were kept from eating at the same lunch counter. In the church, people belonging to certain Christian denominations won’t share the Lord’s Supper with people from other Christian denominations. How pathetic is that?

I’ve been following the “Food Not Bombs” controversy in Middletown. It’s been covered in the local news blog, Middletowneye; I recommend you check it out. A group of students and others have been sharing food on Sundays at the corner of Liberty and Main Street.

I spoke with one of the Wesleyan students involved. The main idea is: there’s a lot of perfectly good food that gets thrown out. After caterers serve at a party, what can they do with the leftover food? They can’t sell it. They can’t save it until the next party. Restaurants have food in quantities too small to put it on the menu. Bakeries throw out perfectly good baked goods just because they’re not the freshest. Supermarkets have produce that’s slightly damaged.

A lot of food gets thrown out at the same time there are people who need food. Doesn’t it make sense to get this unwanted food to people who do want it?

This is “Food Not Bombs’” mission, and they’ve been doing it for about 10 years — until someone raised the question with the Health Department: Is this food safe? Is it being properly handled? Do the people eating the food know where it came from? These are appropriate questions. There have been meetings and proposed accommodations. Fred Carroll got a $100 ticket for his involvement.

The Health Department says they don’t want to shut down this activity. The people I’ve talked to believe that the Health Dep’t is sincere in that statement. And they’re willing to cut the group some slack in terms of certain regulations, as long as the group complies with other regulations, including filing reports.

Food Not Bombs says that the Health Department shouldn’t have jurisdiction over people sharing food. They say it’s like having a cookout. When you have friends over for a cookout, you don’t have to file paperwork.

This is all more complicated than I can describe here, but you get the basic picture. I find this interesting for two reasons. For one, it raises legitimate questions about wasted food, and hunger, and regulation, and our conventional meal-sharing practices. Jesus got in trouble over his meal-sharing practices, so this should get our attention. When it comes to eating food, it’s never just about food. Think about who you like to eat with. Are there times when you’d rather eat alone?

Now to Psalm 23. The psalmist is declaring trust in God, the Good Shepherd. That’s what the psalm is about in general. And then it says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Why does it say, “in the presence of my enemies”? Why not just “You prepare a table before me, so I can eat?” What does the presence of the enemies add in this case?

Part of us likes having enemies. Part of us also dislikes having enemies — probably the bigger part. But nothing — not even sharing food — unites people like sharing an enemy. Enemies energize us, and focus our attention, give us purpose, and bind us together. It’s human nature, when things are tough, or when we’re anxious, to find someone to blame or oppose. When I was in high school, just being bored made me look for something or someone to oppose. Opposing can be fun. Politicians and talk show hosts use this dynamic. Inflame fear, inflame outrage, and you can get a movement going. We’ve had class warfare debates about people on Main Street before.

Here’s the question that came to me: Does this argument about people eating food on Main Street have anything to do, on anyone’s part, with wanting someone to oppose? This could apply to either side, or both sides. Is this, in part, a kind of sport?

Going back to Psalm 23, what does it mean to say, “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies?” It could mean, “You invite me to your table, O Lord, when others are against me.” It could mean, “You prepare a table for me because of my enemies, to help me oppose my enemies.” It could mean, “You prepare a table that puts me above my enemies, so I can look down at my enemies who aren’t at the table.”

It could also mean, “You prepare a table for me where I will eat with my enemies.” You bring enemies together at the same table. I don’t know what the original psalmist meant by this verse, but from a Christian perspective, this is obviously the preferred reading because this is what Jesus did. Jesus ate with the “wrong” people. And he ate with his enemies. Jesus had real enemies. He didn’t just create them for sport. And by the people he ate with, he inflamed certain oppositions. Some things need to be opposed.

On Palm Sunday, in connection with this Food Not Bombs movement, I posed the question, “Has Jesus come to Jerusalem?” Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem, turning over the tables, and getting crucified, was God’s way of disrupting a problematic status quo.

Something is being stirred up in Middletown by Food Not Bombs. If nothing else, it draws attention to the fact that a lot of food is getting thrown out when there are hungry people. Is that something Jesus would have us look into? Is God up to some disruptive creativity in our city? Is some dramatic sport taking place? Is it purely nutrition and health that are being served, or are turf and authority being guarded too?

Is a meal like the one being served at Main and Liberty today a kind of Eucharist meal, a transformative meal, where Jesus is covertly present?

City Escalates Tactics Against Food Not Bombs

Middletown sanitarian Manfred Rehm confiscates prepared food from a Food Not Bombs meal.



"They took the food right out of my hands before I could get it into my mouth," Reverend Cocomo Rock of the 191914 Ministries said on Sunday at an aborted Food Not Bombs shared meal. "And then he told me he was going to throw all of it in the garbage.

Rock, who is unemployed, and who has not been able to get food stamps after applying seven weeks ago, claims the Sunday meal fills an important gap for him, and for other hungry Middletown residents.

Sunday, soon after members of the local Food Not Bombs chapter set up tables and placed pots of jambalaya, rice, beans, tofu and cake on the table as part of a meal they share with the community, the Public Health Sanitarian Manfred Rehm began photographing the activities with his cell phone. He could then be heard calling his supervisor, health department manager Sal Nesci asking for a directive.

"The press is here," Rehm was heard to say. "And they want to talk to someone.

"On the other end of the phone, Nesci could be heard clearly to say, "Tell them no comment."

Reporters from The Hartford Courant, the Middletown Press, the Wesleyan Argus and the Eye were present.

After calling in two police officers, Rehm confiscated all the prepared foods. When the members of the group asked about the pots and spoons he was taking, Rehm indicated they could pick up the cooking utensils at the Health Department on Monday.

Food Not Bombs member Abe Bobman was issued a summons to appear in court for the commission of a misdemeanor - distributing food without a license. Last week Food Not Bomb members were issued tickets.

Food Not Bombs has been sharing meals on the corner of Main and Liberty streets for ten years. A few months ago, Nesci claims that the city received a complaint, and was forced to issue a cease and desist against the group for distributing food to the public without a license. Last Sunday, Michele Markowitz and Fred Carroll were issued $200 tickets, but returned for the meal this Sunday.

When asked why he returned in the face of possible ticketing, Bobman said: "It's what we do. I wish they weren't so concerned about something so small."

Bobman also indicated that the group was waiting for a decision from the State of Connecticut Health department on the situation which should come after a hearing in Hartford on May 19.

The group, which is mostly made up of Wesleyan students, was supported by a few community members.

Dottie Teneyck prepared a pot of organic food, and proclaimed that she was not afraid to receive a citation from the Health Department for providing food for those who need it.

"Come and serve it in my backyard," Francine Augieri, a local teacher invited. "This is just a message asking you to serve the food on private property, and not here on Main Street."

In a flier being distributed, Food Not Bombs summarized their refusal to pursue food licensing:

"We have refused to obtain a permit because we do not believe we fall under the city health code any more than a bake sale or picnic does. We do not think the city government should have the ability to prevent people from sharing food."

Carroll seemed dubious about the city's ability to protect the health of its citizens.

"If the health department can't prevent me from buying and smoking cigarettes," he said. "Don't worry about protecting me from vegetables."

Food Not Bomb members vowed to continue sharing meals.

"This is one of a few meals I count on every week," Cocomo Rock said. "We even heard a sermon about it at my church this week. What's the crime in letting people eat? Where's the Christ in that?"

ADDENDUM: Middletown Press story here.

Swine Flu Advisory

From the Middletown Health Department:

Middletown Police Ticket Food Not Bombs

In open defiance of a city Health Department order to cease serving prepared foods to those gathered at their weekly meal, the local Food Not Bombs chapter found themselves visited Sunday by the Health Department and the police.

Three police officers, summoned by Public Health Sanitarian Manfred Rehm, wrote citations to local resident Fred Carroll and Wesleyan junior Michelle Markowitz for serving food to the public without a permit. The citations contain fines of at least $100 and up to $300.

The meal began without incident as Wesleyan students arrived with fruits and vegetables, most of which are excess from the Wesleyan Co-op, and then set up tables to serve salads, rice and a cake.

When Rehn arrived, he saw the prepared food and called in the police.

Middletown Police Officer White arrived first, asking for a responsible party to step forward.

"Who's in charge here," he asked.

"We all are," came the response from several of the people in attendance.

White asked that the prepared foods be taken away, and when they weren't he called reinforcements.

"It's like a cookout," said local resident Martha Allen. "When you cook out in your back yard it's the same damn thing. We're just having a cookout. People are hungry, and they need food. The soup kitchen don't open until 5 o'clock."

Markowitz, who was at the rally with several other Wesleyan students, most members of Food Not Bombs confronted Rehm.

"When there's not enough money, food becomes a privilege, and that isn't good," she said. "Food should be a right, not a privilege."

Despite the presence of the sanitarian and the police, people continued to serve themselves and eat as the city officials tried to determine what to do.

"I used to think there was a food shortage," Markowitz said. "But what I discovered is that there's an excess of food in some parts of society, and that a lot of food goes to waste. This is just re-distribution of food that would be wasted."

"We have so much extra food," said Wesleyan junior Chloe Bolton. "It would be a shame not to share it. And it's a great thing to get together and break bread."

When Police Officers determined that Carroll was at a meeting between the Health Department and Food Not Bombs, he was taken into a police cruiser and issued a ticket. Markowitz, who also took responsibility for delivering food was also cited. She was driven away in the cruiser to fetch her identification from her room at Wesleyan.

The Food Not Bomb members have been warned for weeks that the city considered them to be outside of regulations. They were offered the opportunity to prepare foods in the St. Vincent de Paul kitchen but refused when they were told St. Vincent would have to assume complete liability for the meals served.

"We didn't think it was fair for them to have to take on all the responsibility," Wesleyan student Daniel Schniedewind said. "We don't want to threaten their license or operation."

"I don't think we've ever issued a ticket before," Rehm conceded. "Most people cooperate when they're cited. It's the political agenda of this group. They just don't want to comply. I think they wanted this to happen."

Several of the people partaking of the food were surprised that the city was spending time shutting down the operation.

"When did it become a crime to serve food to hungry people?" Allen asked. "There's got to be other things to worry about at city hall. We're going to keep coming. They'll get tired before we do."

The Food Not Bomb volunteers agreed that they would return next Sunday to share another meal.

Food Not Bombs Defies Health Department Cease and Desist Order

(Food Not Bombs volunteer, Wesleyan student Abe Bobman)


Every week Wesleyan student activists from the national organization Food Not Bombs prepare an all-vegetarian meal from food donated by local restaurants and markets to serve as a free communal meal on the corner of Main and Liberty Street.

"We don't dispense food in the way that some might think," said Abe Bobman, student Food Not Bombs leaders as a meal was being served Sunday. "We feel it's important so that food does not go to waste, and so that hungry people get the food they need. It's a meal we enjoy together. We're not a soup kitchen or a restaurant."

While City of Middletown health enforcement officer Sal Nesci admires the dual purpose of saving food and serving the hungry, he argues that for public health reasons, municipal, state and federal health regulations cannot be ignored. Last fall the City of Middletown Health Department began raising the meals as an issue, and the group received a formal cease and desist order in February of this year, through a former leader and Wesleyan grad, Jean Pocknus, who no longer lives in the area. She forwarded the order to current Food Not Bomb volunteers who were told by the city that they were serving food in an improper manner.

Nesci was surprised to find that the student group was still serving food.

"Their overall goals are admirable. I appreciate what they're doing," Nesci said in a phone interview Monday. "But they're not doing it in an approved manner, and that's a problem."

Nesci explained that the city Health Department has jurisdiction over all food served to the public, and that all restaurants, food vendors, public kitchens and soup kitchens must be licensed and certified.

"They are getting food from markets and restaurants who have deemed that the food is not appropriate to serve to their customers. They are preparing the meal in their apartments and dorm rooms, and while they may be clean, we have no idea about the conditions in which they are being prepared," Nesci explained. "So the food preparation is unlicensed. The food transport is unlicensed, and the food distribution is unlicensed."

Middletown Food Not Bombs is appealing the cease and desist order with the help of the Hartford chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. In the meantime, they continue to serve their vegetarian fare outside of the Buttonwood Tree every Sunday.

Vern, a local man who is currently homeless, and was one of a crowd of about 25, was enjoying the fruit salad and a hearty bean and barley stew.

"They feed a lot of homeless people," Vern said between mouthfuls. "They give you healthy food so that hungry people don't have to go out and steal."

Dottie and Barry Teneyck, Middletown residents who regularly stop on Sunday to share a meal see it as an opportunity to connect with the community.

"It's a benign process," Dottie Teneyck said. "And it's something that helps people while it strengthens the community."

"One Sunday we sat down at a local restaurant and felt that we were sitting among blank people and we had no communion with them," Barry Teneyck explained. "So the next Sunday we came out here and felt like we were part of a community. It makes the community visible."

When asked about the city cease and desist order, Dottie Teneyck said she understood the city's concern that food be safe and healthy, she thought the order stepped over the boundary of good sense.

"I remember going to the Wesleyan graduation last year and hearing Barack Obama talk about the need for a commitment to service in this country," she said. "Here we have Wesleyan students engaging in meaningful service, and the city discourages it. It need not be punitive."

"Were just trying to help the kids get this on track, so they can do it properly," Nesci indicated. He said that he is willing to connect the students with willing facilities and individuals who are certified so that the distribution of the Food Not Bombs meals can be done in an approved manner.

"We'll issue them a license," Nesci explained. "Free of charge, just like any other non-profit organization."

"It's about action," Wesleyan freshman Hanh Lee, who helped out Sunday explained. "Lots of students on campus feel strongly about getting involved, and don't have an outlet. This is an outlet for us to act upon our emotions. We're helping people who need food, learning to cook, getting together with interesting people to prepare a meal, eating it together and having fun."

"This is about food security," Bobman said. "With so many people in Connecticut unsure about where they are going to get their meals. With so many new groups of people experiencing food insecurity, and especially so many people in Middletown, we feel that something as small as this effort doesn't require the attention of the health department."

For those who would like to get involved by donating food, preparing food, or simply joining in a Food Not Bombs meal, Middletown Food Not Bombs can be contacted at fnbmiddletown@lists.riseup.net.