Standing room only at The Buttonwood Tree!

Standing room only at The Buttonwood Tree! Over 40 people, including 2 children and even a dog filled the house last night (4/23) for the Triple Bill of Glenn Roth, Sarah Blacker and Lara Herscovitch, the CT State Troubadour. Sarah started the first set off with her song, O Holy Night, and it surely was a wholly enjoyable night for all present
- and THAT'S MIDDLETOWN!
Each performer sang 3 songs during the first set, well, sort of. Lara, claiming it a perk of being the State Troubadour, snuck in an extra song - a short love song that had the audience laughing all the way through. Lara explained a little bit about the application process that she went through to be considered and chosen as the state Troubadour and it was no easy undertaking. After the break Sarah brought her black lab, Beasley, up on stage, to the delight of the children. The two youngsters came at the suggestion of their guitar teacher, a friend of Lara's. They all drove an hour to get here, and were thrilled with the show. I spoke with the teacher after the show, who told me he wanted the kids to come to not only hear the instrumentation of the artists, but also to see the paths a musician can follow. It's not all about being a "Britney Spears" they learned. The night ended with a mellow sweet version of Bill Withers' Lean On Me which Lara eloquently introduced with a quick talk about how important community is and how important The Buttonwood Tree is for keeping a sense of community alive right here. Tonight, Saturday, Lys Guillorn and Christina Antipa take the stage during and after a special Riverwood Poetry performance by Shijin, a 6 woman ensemble. The Arts are Rising in the North End!

Union Spurns Dem Councilman's Suggestion of Deferred Pay Increase

Responding to a request by Democratic Majority Leader and Council member Thomas Serra to consider a deferment of pay increases, the Middletown Managers and Professional Association has informed Serra that they only consider the mayor a legitimate representative for pay negotiations.

Pot By Mail Scheme Thwarted

From the Middletown Police Department

On April 23, 2010 the Street Crime Unit (SCU) along with the State Wide Narcotics Task Force (SNTF), and the US Postal Inspector conducted a joint narcotic investigation. After MPD Narcotic canine Rika alerted to a package a search and seizure warrant was obtained. Located in the package was twenty one pounds of marijuana which was located upon executing the search and seizure warrant.  

Upon further investigation it was determined that the package containing the marijuana was bound for the address of 238 Ridgefield Dr, Middletown, CT. Detectives would substitute the package of twenty one pounds of marijuana with an alternate substance.

The investigation provided the following information:  Jose Nunez allowed Jose Rivera-Baron to accept packages of marijuana at his residence. Nunez was observed conducting counter surveillance in the area of 238 Ridgefield Dr. Rivera-Baron accepted the package which he believed still contained twenty one pounds of marijuana.

Rivera’s brother Alberto Rivera and Arturo Guzman were observed leaving Nunez’s apartment and operating a blue Chevrolet Cobalt rented from Enterprise Rent-a-Car in which they and Rivera-Baron were to leave in.


As  SCU, Middletown Detectives, SNTF, and Middletown PD patrol units converged on the address Rivera-Baron was in possession of the package as Guzman and Rivera were about to pick him up and drive out of the apartment complex. All parties were detained and the residence at 238 Ridgefield Drive was secured.


The street value of the seized marijuana seized is approximately $80,640.00.

Jose Nunez DOB 10/10/85 was subsequently arrested for the following charge and released on a $25,000.00 Non-Surety Bond:
Conspiracy to Possess over Four Ounces of Marijuana 
 
Jose Rivera-Baron DOB 1/7/83 was subsequently arrested for the following charges and held on a $500,000.00 Bond:
Conspiracy to Possess over Four Ounces of Marijuana
Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana With Intent to Sell
Criminal Attempt to Possess Marijuana
Criminal Attempt to Possess Marijuana With Intent to Sell

Alberto Rivera DOB 2/14/84 was subsequently arrested for the following charges and held on a $500,000.00 Bond:
Conspiracy to Possess over Four Ounces of Marijuana
Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana With Intent to Sell
Criminal Attempt to Possess Marijuana
Criminal Attempt to Possess Marijuana With Intent to Sell
Arturo Guzman DOB 1/20/85 was subsequently arrested for the following charges and held on a $500,000.00 Bond:
Conspiracy to Possess over Four Ounces of Marijuana
Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana With Intent to Sell
Criminal Attempt to Possess Marijuana
Criminal Attempt to Possess Marijuana With Intent to Sell
Rivera- Baron, Rivera, and Guzman all failed to provide sufficient identification and were held on additional detainers by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Any citizens willing to give information concerning possible illegal activities are encouraged to contact Sgt. Rich Davis of the Street Crime Unit at (860) 344-3259. All information will remain anonymous.

Student Publishes Essay About Rape at Wesleyan

A Wesleyan student who has reported being raped on campus has authored a report of her experience for the Wesleyan Argus.  According to her account, "The rapist went unpunished by the administration and still walks this campus. There is nothing stopping him from raping someone else."

Assistant Director of Student Life, Scott Backer said he couldn't comment on the situation, saying "it has come to the attention of the university and it's a judicial matter."

"Wespeak articles are essentially editorials," Backer said.  "What she wrote in her Wespeak is her way of coping with the experience."

Backer said it is up to the individual who is assaulted to report the assault to the Middletown Police.

Wesleyan is the site of a Key Issues Forum on Campus Violence titled "The Person You Thing You Know: Signs and Solutions of Campus Violence" sponsored by the Hartford Courant on Tuesday, 6-7:15 PM.

The Oresteia: The Chorus

In part 5 of our video log on The Oresteia, we took a moment to sit down and talk with the Chorus of the play - you might remember them from high school English classes as that group of townspeople that the individual characters talk to throughout the play. The students portraying the chorus have developed a more mature understanding of their function over the last several weeks of rehearsal as this video shows.

Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company presents
The Oresteia by Aeschylus
Thursday April 29 - 7pm (Pay What You Can Preview) and bring a canned food item for Amazing Grace.
Friday April 30 - 7pm
Saturday May 1 - 7pm
Thursday May 6 - 7pm
Friday May 7 - 7pm
Saturday May 8 - 7pm

Adults $15 Students/Seniors $8
For reservations call 860-347-6143.

Middletown Rotarian Celebrates Half a Century Plus Five

Pictured left to right are Rotarians Patti Anne Vassia and Ralph “Biff” Shaw, II, and Club President Patricia Lyman.

The Middletown Rotary Club is proud to announce the 55^th Anniversary of Ralph “Biff” H. Shaw, II, a resident of Middletown.  Shaw became a member of the club in October of 1954 and commented that he is “proud of the ever increasing way that Rotary International and the Middletown Rotary are working to relieve problems of the local and global nature.”  Additionally Shaw stated, “I can honestly say, that whatever success and honors have come my way are in large part due to the associations that I made in Rotary.”  Shaw was President of the Middletown Rotary Club in 1963, and is a Paul Harris Sapphire member. 

 

The Middletown Rotary Club meets weekly at First & Last Restaurant on Tuesday at 12:15.  For more information on the services the club provides to the community and internationally, please visit our website at www.middletownrotary.org.

MxCC Electronic Recycling Event Successful

The Middlesex Community College computer club hosted a free computer and electronics recycling event Wednesday, allowing nearby residents to junk their used electronics in a manner consistent with environmental standards. The community turned out in droves for the opportunity, causing a veritable wall of electronics to accumulate while Middlesex volunteers loaded them into a twice-filled semi-trailer.

Organizers were thrilled to see cars line up early and often during the midday event, which was advertised mostly through a network of emails. Middlesex students did most of the heavy lifting, along with two representatives from Green Monster Ecycling, at whose West Hartford facility the equipment would undergo the first several stages of recycling.

It was the first event of this kind for the MxCC computer club, whose members elected not to charge a commonly required fee to those who donated.

Rae Johnson to Run for State Senate

Adapted from a Green Party Press Release

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Green Party of Connecticut officials announced today that Ruthann "Rae" Johnson has filed for the Connecticut State Senate race in the 9th district as a Green Party candidate. The district, which includes the Westfield area of Middletown, is currently represented by Paul Doyle (D), in his second term.

"Rae" Johnson is married with two children and lives in Middletown. She currently works as a counselor in a group home. She has a degree in theater and dance and has been working on her Masters at Central Connecticut State University. Johnson ran for mayor in the 2009 election, on the Realistic Balance party ticket, getting about 2% of the votes in a three-way race.

Johnson said she views some of the main issues in the senate race as job growth, education, fair taxes, transportation and the environment. Johnson said "I have owned and operated two businesses while residing in Connecticut. Both called upon my budgeting, negotiating, and communication skills and I will bring those skills to the State Senate."

Green Party spokesperson Tim McKee said "We are excited to have some like "Rae" Johnson running for State Senate because she will bring a fresh outlook to the office. She is not a professional politician and frankly most people do not even know who the State Senator is from that area!"

WDRC, Live From The Inn

Brad Davis brought his morning talk show to Middletown this morning, broadcasting live from The Middletown Inn from 6 to 9 AM. Davis interviewed Mayor Sebastian Giuliano for about 15 minutes around 8:00AM. Other guests included Pamela Tatge and Frank Kuan from Wesleyan, Julie Flagg from Middlesex Hospital, Larry McHugh from the Chamber of Commerce, and Marie Kalita-Leary from the Downtown Business District.

Giuliano said that Davis did not touch on any recent news in Middletown, but rather asked questions about the history and culture of the City.

Snap, Crackle Pop Returns Thursday Evening

Return of.... Snap, Crackle, Pop!

A percussive dance show featuring dance groups from Wesleyan, Macdonough Elementary School, and Green Street Arts Center. The performance will include many kinds of dance including tap, step, African, rapper sword, Indian, and breakdancing.

The show is Thursday, April 22nd in Wesleyan's Crowell Concert Hall at 7:30.

It’s free and no tickets are required.

This is the second ever Snap, Crackle, Pop! and we hope it will be even more fun than last year! Bring family and friends, for a short sweet evening of explosive dancing.

WDRC to Broadcast Live From The Inn on Thursday

A New England Town Meeting

with Brad Davis

Date: April 22, 2010

[That is Thursday - Tomorrow !!]

Brad will broadcast from

The Inn at Middletown

Stop by The Inn for a cup of coffee from 6AM - 9AM

and see the live the broad cast or listen to WDRC AM 1360

Brad will be speaking with Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, Representatives from Middlesex Hospital, The Downtown Business District, Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, City of Middletown and Wesleyan University

The TALK of Connecticut’s Morning host Brad Davis is taking his show on the road for an old fashioned New England Town Meeting, and the chance for communities to get together, learn more about their town government and its officials, and discuss the issues affecting them.

Every Thursday morning Brad broadcasts live from a different area served by The Talk of Connecticut Radio Network. Brad brings together guests and officials relevant to each town, interspersing topical interviews with facts and issues about each town he’s visiting.

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From the Downtown Business District

Nieves to Leave Middlesex Community College for Capital CC

The CT Mirror is reporting that Wilfredo Nieves, president of Middlesex Community College will be leaving to take the post of president at Capital Community College replacing the retiring Calvin Woodland.