Pumpkin Festival on Saturday at Long Lane Farm

There will be live music, food, tours of the organic farm, and activities for all ages. Bring a can of food to be donated to Amazing Graze.

The Festival is from 12PM to 4PM. Long Lane Farm is at the corner of Long Lane and Wadsworth Street.

Navarati Festival Underway at Wesleyan

For more information visit the Wesleyan CFA website.

Trick or Treat At McCarthy Park

Sunday, October 31, 2–4pm

McCarthy Park, Hotchkiss Street, Middletown, CT
Between High Street and Hotchkiss Street (off of Church Street)

Kick off your Halloween with an afternoon of trick-or-treating at McCarthy
Park. Join community members and enjoy spooky activities, gooey treats,
refreshments, music, and much more! Show off your scariest costume and meet
neighbors at Middletown’s largest downtown park. All ages welcome, and stay
as long as you’d like!

The Public Cultures Sociology class at Wesleyan University is hosting this event to celebrate Halloween, bring awareness to McCarthy Park, and promote a sense of community among Wesleyan students and the greater Middletown area.

Puorro Denies Police Ordered to Attend Council Meeting

Today the Middletown Press published a piece which reports that Council member Hope Kasper claims that police officers were paid and assigned to attend the Council meeting, as a show of support, for Acting Chief Patrick McMahon, who was being considered for the permanent position.  McMahon was rejected by the Council as chief largely as a protest against the process by which he was chosen.

Yesterday, while pursuing the same story, I interviewed Detective Derek Puorro, who is the police union president, and who attended the meeting.  He said that only one officer, the Sargent-at-Arms, was ordered to attend the meeting.

"Everybody was there of their own free will," Puorro said.  "Nobody was ordered to go."

As the Press story indicates, some of the officers at the meeting were "on the clock."   Puorro contends that no members of the force were paid overtime while attending the meeting.

"Surely the chief would never authorized payment of overtime for attendance at the meeting," Puorro said.

Puorro noted that the police union as a body does not endorse, or offer negative opinions of chief candidates.

The accusation about police attendance at this meeting has been forwarded by three sources to the Middletown Eye, and is one of several "confidential" accusations that have surfaced since the Common Council meeting. 

Parking Request Forwarded By Finance and Governance

The Finance and Governance Operations Committee forwarded a request by Tom Hartley, Middletown's Parking Director, to conduct an engineering study which will provide a "service assessment" of the town's existing parking arcade on Dingwall Drive.

F&G approved the $6,500 expenditure for the study after questioning Hartley about a previous study.

"I don't want to pay for something we've already paid for," F&G member and Common Council member Gerry Daley said.  "We paid for a study back in 2008.  What did we pay for then, and what has changed?"

Hartley explained that the 2008 study provided information about needed repairs, such as resurfacing the roof and fixing leaks in the arcade (work that is currently underway), but that "it did not go into details of what we have to do in maintenance over the next five years."

The Common Council will have to vote to approve the expenditure for the study.

F&G also forwarded a request for $740,000 to complete citywide parking upgrades which will include metering, lighting, security and gates for all lots, and will allow for a rate structure which discounts parking in lots over parking on the street.

"It provides the opportunity for people to choose between convenience and value seeking," Hartley said.
 
The change in parking rates is designed, among other things, to encourage employees of Main Street businesses to park in long-term, off-street parking.

F&G Committee member Phil Pessina emphasized that some of that responsibility ought to be borne by business owners.

"The chamber has got to get more assertive with employees," Pessina said.  "And these restaurants have to tell employees 'you cannot park here.'"

Well, Water

The Water Department requested a temporary shift in personnel which would unfreeze a frozen position and create a temporary position to allow the Water Department to anticipate staffing increases now that new wells at the Kleen Energy site are coming on line.

The two new wells, one owned by Kleen Energy, and one given to the city by Kleen Energy, will be staffed by Water Department personnel.   Under the agreement, Kleen Energy will pay for all water pumped from either well.


Klattenberg Mum on Conservation Funding
(hed suggested by G. Daley)

F&G approved forwarding a training request for Public Works Department diesel mechanics, and asked that a certification training request by the IT department be forwarded to them by email for consideration.  However another request for Recycling Coordinator Kim O'Rourke to renew membership with the Connecticut Recyclers coaliation was denied after a motion proposed by Daley failed to achieve a second.  The $125 fee was denied because it did not lead to certification of any kind.

"We pride ourselves on being a leading community as regards environmental consciousness," Daley said, as he urged his colleagues to second his motion.  He chided F&G committee chair Ron Klattenberg who is known in town as an environmental champion.


"I can't believe it...$125," Daley said as the motion was disregarded.

Planning and Zoning Approves 2-Family House on Farm Hill Road

The Planning and Zoning Commission met for about 30 minutes on Wednesday evening. It approved a 2-family house to be built as a replacement for a previous 2-family house on Farm Hill Road , to be built by Jean Gullitta. Commissioner Catherine Johnson requested that the house be placed exactly according to the site plan, which put the house closest to the street, with a garage and parking in the rear.

Two high school students attended the meeting, fulfilling part of the requirement of Mr. Bardos' American Studies class. Shane Jacobs and Alex Dykas listened attentively throughout the meeting. When I asked them afterwards whether they were surprised by anything, they said, "It was quick."

Macdonough Teacher Honored!

Originally Posted in the Macdonough School Blog

Joanne Jukins received recognition last night (Tuesday, Oct. 26)  as a "Local Hero" by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut. 

A reception was held at the Governor's Mansion where Ms. Jukins was honored during an awards ceremony.  Governor Rell made a surprise appearance and shared a moment with Ms. Jukins after the ceremony.

The Local Hero award is presented to teachers who exhibit tremendous dedication to their profession and outstanding efforts in servicing their schools and communities. To further recognize Ms. Jukins for her hard work, RMHC awarded a $500 grant to Macdonough School in her honor.                   

                                                                   During the presentation, Joanne was described "..As a learner who takes advantage of opportunities for new learning. As a a mentor, who shares knowledge with colleagues. As a model citizen, who is active in PTA events and rarely misses an evening school activity. Above all, as a superior teacher, who gives individual care to each of her students and creates an environment where her students can excel..."

Milardo Last to Receive Reprimand from AFT

A reprimand, issued by Sharon Palmer the president of AFT Connecticut, a union representing teachers, healthcare workers, public employees and higher education employees, and directed to MMPA President John Milardo, was received and read by a raft of people before Milardo ever got a copy.

The letter, which was published by the Middletown Press today in an article detailing an ongoing war of words between Milardo and Democratic members of the Common Council, was sent by Palmer to an email list which included this blog, the Hartford Courant and at least one member of the Middletown Common Council, among dozens of others.  The email list is one compiled by Milardo, and used to distribute his occasional MMPA Newsletter.

Milardo's name was not on the email list.

"I finally had a copy forwarded to me from someone who received it," Milardo said in a phone interview today.

The reprimand received wider distribution once it was emailed (the Middletown Eye had at least two copies forwarded), and was used as a basis for a critique published here and in the Middletown Press by Common Council member Hope Kasper.

Milardo received his official copy of the complaint today in the mail with a note from the post office that the letter was found floating loose amidst the mail.

"We're meeting Friday with Sharon Palmer at the AFT to discuss the matter," Milardo said.  "I don't understand the basis for her letter.  She's never been to Middletown to meet with our union.  Much of what she accuses me of is wrong.  And I don't understand why, as a union colleague, she didn't bother to call and check before she wrote the letter."

"We sent the letter based upon a complaint," Palmer said.  She refused to name the complainant.  "We sent the letter, and we called and left a message to tell him the letter was being sent."

When questioned why a letter of reprimand would have been distributed so widely before the person it was addressed to had seen its content, Palmer confirmed that she would be meeting with Milardo to discuss the matter on Friday.

"We do what we think is appropriate," Palmer said when asked if it was common practice to widely distribute a letter of reprimand to such a wide audience.

United Way Looking For Volunteer Tax Preparers

Here’s a way to make a difference at tax time – volunteer to become a tax preparer and you can help working families get back the money they’ve earned. Free tax preparation services are available during the tax season through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) to ensure that working families and individuals are filing for the tax credits they have earned. It can also help people save up to $150 in tax preparation fees. 

In 2010, local VITA sites helped 211 residents of Middlesex County file their taxes for free. Those who qualified for refunds or tax credits received an average of $1,898 back. The total amounted to $362,540 – that’s money getting back into the hands of working people who have earned it. Of those served, there were an additional 113 dependents, mostly children, who were impacted by the program.

The program is looking for volunteers at the VITA sites located in downtown Middletown to provide free basic tax preparation for eligible taxpayers from January 22 – April 12, 2011. Volunteers should be available to help 4 hours per week, during the evening or on Saturdays during this time period.

Volunteers must complete a training and be certified by the IRS. The training will be held from January 3-6 and 10-13, 2011 in the evening. Volunteers must attend 4 consecutive sessions. You will be trained to let filers know if they qualify for additional tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. Anyone with an income below $50,000 is eligible to make an appointment for this free service.

Volunteer qualifications are: basic computer skills for inputting tax return information; knowledge of the most elementary tax forms in helpful; ability to deal with the public in a helpful and supportive manner; be friendly, dependable, and flexible. Basic tax training, interviewing skills training, and certification will be provided. No accounting experience necessary.

Volunteer tasks include:

·       Attend basic and/or refresher tax law training and certification on either January 3-6 or January 10-13, 2011. Instruction on the use of tax preparation and electronic filing software is included.

·       Successfully pass a test on required tax law knowledge. Online practice sessions available as preparation.

·       Interview clients to determine that all income, deductions, and allowable credits are claimed.

·       Enter information in the computer software program. All the math calculations are done by the software.

·       Maintain confidentiality of all client information.

For more information or to sign up contact David Morgan at dmorgan@wesleyan.edu or (860) 346-1522.

VITA is a free program offered by the federal government. The local Middletown VITA sites are coordinated by Middlesex United Way and the Middlesex VITA Coalition.

"A Society Should Not Be The Agent of Death"

Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan, introduced Elie Wiesel to a rapt audience of 600 students, faculty, alumni, and community members on Tuesday evening in the Wesleyan Chapel. Speaking of Wiesel's life work against war, genocide, and hatred, Roth said, "He goes on telling the story, he goes on teaching, he goes on writing. Because he sees the work is not yet accomplished."

Wiesel is a Romanian born Jew who at the age of 15 was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp; his mother, father, and sister were murdered by the Nazis. Wiesel has spent his life since then as a journalist, educator, and prolific writer of fiction and non-fiction books. Wiesel is currently a professor of Humanities at Boston University.

In an interview prior to his address, Wiesel said that until 3 days ago he had been planning to speak on the more general topic of "Building an Ethical Society". He said that when he learned about the brutal murders in Cheshire, and the current sentencing phase of the trial of one of the men, he decided to speak about capital punishment as well.

While calling for the establishment of an ethical society and the abolishment of the death penalty, Wiesel acknowledged he could inadequately address the husband and father whose wife and daughters were murdered. In the interview, he said, "It would be almost obscene to plead [with the survivor] for morality." He said he could only ask, "Do you really think that capital punishment would bring her back to life?"

Wiesel wove a story of history, of himself, and of his vision for a moral society in a speech that enraptured the audience with wisdom and wit. The story telling and the wit are difficult to convey on the computer screen, but here are some of his comments.

One of the first stories of the Old Testament is about the murder of Abel by his brother Cain.

Why?

In the original, the Lord addresses Cain after his killing and says, 'The voice of thy brother's bloods crieth out.'

Wiesel's interpretation: "Whoever kills, kills his brother. Whoever kills, kills not only the person but also the children that person would have had."

"It is the law which makes a society a moral or immoral society."

"Law should celebrate life."

"Death should never be the answer, not in a moral and civilized society."

Wiesel said that he took his mantra from Leviticus (19:16), "Thou shalt not stand idly by."

In response to a question from a student, he urged students to do the same. Specifically, he said that students should keep learning and moving, "Information in itself is not enough--it must be turned into knowledge....knowledge has a metaphysical component. Knowledge itself is not enough, it must be turned into sensitivity. Sensitivity itself is not enough. It must be turned into commitment. Well, I just gave you a plan, that should cover your life."

(top photo by Brian Stewart)

IDS Canned Food Drive and Tag Sale to Benefit Amazing Grace Food Pantry

The Independent Day School in Middlefield is hosting a canned food drive and tag sale to benefit Amazing Grace Food Pantry this Saturday, 10/30, from 9am - 12pm.

Please bring a non-perishable food item as your "ticket" to the tag sale. The following items are particularly needed at the food pantry: tuna, peanut butter, beans, soups, canned fruit and veggies, cereals, pasta, pasta sauce, juices and rice.

IDS is located at 115 Laurel Brook Road, Middlefield, CT.

An Informative and Lively Meeting

A Report on the Oct. 25th Meeting on “The Intersection of Education and Juvenile Justice System” at First Church

From Elizabeth Bobrick

A panel discussion before an audience of about 50 sparked some heated responses last night at a meeting organized by Betsy Morgan of The Middlesex Coaltion for Children. The panel consisted of Abby Anderson, Executive Director of the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance, Hannah Benton, Esq., of the Center for Children’s Advocacy, Annie Hillman of Connecticut Voices for Children, Marta Koonz of One Caring Adult, and South Windsor Police Ofc. Caleb Lopez, representing the Connecticut School Resource Officer Association. Ofc. Lopez is an SRO in the South Windsor district.

Ms. Anderson said that the number of referrals of children into the system has “drastically increased” in the past decade although there was little to no data kept on the reasons for referral, which include “truism, absenteeism, and school-based arrests.”

Ms. Koonz spoke of the need for a change in “school climate,” which she defined as the atmosphere created by the way in which every member of the school community perceives and relates to one another. Changing school climate, she said, is more cost- and time effective than procedures for suspension or expulsion, and allows teachers to focus more on teaching rather than discipline.

Ms. Betton cited a Yale University study of prevention measures applied in the Bridgeport school system that showed significant academic gains in 6^th to 8^th graders when the school focused on prevention rather than suspension as a means of behavior modification. Children with learning disabilities require particular help with learning appropriate behavior in order not to be suspended, as many of them are.

Ms. Hillman said that more and more kindergartners were being suspended for behavior issues. Suspension, she said, prevents students from learning how to improve their behavior, especially at such a young age.

South Windsor Police Officer Lopez was the last to speak, and remarks were largely the focus of the evening’s discussion. He was asked to explain the role of a Security Resource Officer. He replied that an SRO was “a uniformed, sworn police officer whose task is to serve a school or group of schools.” SROs, he continued, ideally employ a “triad philosophy,” in which they are “one-third law enforcement officer, one-third teacher, and one-third counselor.” He said that he mediates disputes between students, counsels them individually, consults with parents, and gives them advice about keeping their kids safe. He does home visits and works with social service providers working with families. He added that “sometimes we have to put on our police hat only when everything else has been tried.” Nonetheless, he said that a police officer should not be the first responder to a disciplinary situation. When asked if SROs increase arrests because they are present in schools, he said that “some problems were there all along” and that police officers, “because of their training,” recognize when behavior has reached the point where police intervention is necessary. Ofc. Lopez acknowledged that SROs do not always function in the ideal way he described. He emphasized that his organization has trained officers who volunteer for unpaid, 48 hour training sessions in order to work as SROs. The number of officers who want to participate exceeds the number of programs available.

Ms. Betton noted that she had seldom seen the “ideal situation” that Ofc. Lopez presented. She sees a lack of communication between the schools and the police, and little training, guidance, and “unclear expectations” for SROs.

When the question and answer session opened, Maria Masden Holzberg asked for details about SRO training, and asked if Ofc. Lopez wore his gun to school. Ofc. Lopez, answered in detail about the training, and said that as a uniformed police officer, he was required to carry “the tools of my trade.” She noted that he was not allowed to carry his gun to every courtroom, but was still allowed to carry it in school.

Audience member Anthony Glenn asked if there were SROs in every community, and if not, why not. Ofc. Lopez replied that the town’s budget limitations could be a reason, as well as “perception that an armed officer does not belong in school.” Mr. Glenn then asked if Rocky Hill (a system without SROs) had different results in school suspensions and arrests. All panelists agreed that there was not enough data kept by schools to do comparative studies, and that what data there is was of dubious accuracy.

An audience member who left before this reporter could get her name was openly scornful of Ofc. Lopez’s ability to function with what she said was no training as an educator. “Do [SROs] even have a college degree?” she asked. Ofc. Lopez replied with information about his training and certification and requirements for recertification. Ms. Anderson had noted at the beginning of the meeting that there is “no requirement in Connecticut that teachers have training in classroom management,” although such training would reduce behavior problems.

Middletown child psychiatrist Paul Sadowitz asked Ofc. Lopez, “How have these three jobs of teacher, counselor, and law enforcement officer fallen on your shoulders? Why is the SRO doing all this work?” He said that the schools were “abdicating responsibility” by turning this work over to “the man in blue.”

Some audience members who spoke declined to give their names when asked. One spoke of statistics that showed most arrested and expelled students were minorities, and said that having more minority teachers and staff would improve school conditions for minority students. Another asked the panel for details about the nature of the interventions prescribed, but was answered mostly with generalities about the importance of intervention. One who left before this reporter could get her name said, “We need laws about parental involvement,” because unless parents hold responsibility, “the schools are some kind of shadow government.”

Larry Owen noted that the panel of “white women and a police officer” reflected what students see in school. Schools need to “stop all the programming,” he said, and hire more minority teachers. At the same time, however, he said he discouraged minority teachers of his acquaintance who lived in southern states from moving to Connecticut because “they don’t want you here.”

MHS principal Robert Fontaine was present, and stayed well after the meeting, talking with audience members, as did MHS Dean of Students Sheryl Gonzales, Justin Carbonella of Middletown Youth Services and BOE member Sheila Daniels. She was the sole member of the BOE present. None of the four spoke publicly.

When I contacted Ms. Daniels later, she told me that the BOE was working with various members of the school system’s administration to implement the kinds of changes recommended at the meeting. They had initiatives in place to recruit minority faculty and to reduce school suspension. The BOE had made “a concerted effort” that resulted in ongoing professional development with the goal of school climate change and training in classroom discipline methods. She agreed with the need for parental involvement, but noted that parents must join the process voluntarily. The BOE felt that the SRO should be the last responder to student behavior problems, not the first.

An earlier draft of this article said that it was the principal's decision whether or not to have an SRO in the building. That is the case in Hartford, but not in Middletown.