Fall baseball sign up/Weekly wrap up show

In case you hadn’t heard, registration for the very popular Wallingford Panthers fall baseball program is Saturday, July 19, from 10 to noon and Saturday, July 26, same time. Both will be held at the concession stand at Keller Field (Behind Parker Farms School) The Wallingford Panthers web site also says there is a registration on Wednesday, July 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. The program has grown so popular that late registration is very difficult, especially in the younger age group. So make sure you sign up when you are supposed to or you may be out of luck. For more information on the Wallingford Panthers, including forms, google “Wallingford Panthers.”

Also, this weekend don’t forget to check out the Weekly Wrap Up internet radio show on www.sullivanoneonone.com. John Sullivan and I will be interviewing Stamford Mayor and former candidate for governor, Dan Malloy. Check it out. I’m sure we will also find time to discuss some of the news events in Wallingford since last Sunday. If you have favorite story you’d like us to mention, let me know. The show airs at 8 p.m. on Sunday and is repeated around the clock on www.sullivanoneonone.com

Sharpening my point

Let me try to sharpen my point a bit. I was not trying to debate whether there are legitimate zoning issues prompting people to oppose this mosque. I know a lot of people who live in the Leigus Road area and they are some of the finest folks I've met in my time in this town. My instinct is to assume that opponents of this mosque are doing so out of legitimate concerns. But to accuse others who feel differently of only doing so because they live in another section of town is to accuse them of hypocrisy. I don't think that is fair either.
I could see how some might take my point about mosques and churches v. trash plants as inflaming the issue. It was not my intent. I just was trying to point out that even if you oppose the mosque you have to admit there are worse things that could end up in your neighorhood.
As far as the Record-Journal being sensational. Please be more specific. We publish every day of the year, except Christmas. Please point out the specific sensational content you object to and I'll be happy to address.
I realize mosque opponents feel as though some have unfairly labeled them with a broad brush. It doesn't help to do the same thing to those who disagree or the local newspaper.

An "other side" perspective on the Wallingford mosque controversy

Craig Fishbein, a Wallingford attorney leading opposition to a mosque near his neighborhood, has done a good job of sticking to the facts and making his case. But he may want to rethink this sentence from an op-ed piece he wrote in June that was also repeated in a front page story this past Sunday : “It is very easy to sit on the other side of town and point a finger claiming ‘prejudice’ when you won’t be affected by the traffic and parking.”

I’ve talked to people from the “other side” who feel strongly that this is an issue of religious freedom and tolerance. Like me, they have churches in their neighborhoods and wouldn’t mind of having a mosque.

As someone who has covered and lived in town for more than 20 years, I also think it is interesting what the “newer” section of town considers potentially harmful development. Those of us who live closer to downtown and Route 5 have had to put up with a lot more than houses of worship. For decades, many have complained about the trash plant, sewage plant, landfill and Cytec all being located nearby. At one point, there was a serious concern about cancer clusters. I think I speak for a lot of “other side” residents when I say we would welcome mosques and gladly move the landfill, trash and chemical plants over to the eastern portion of Route 68. Let me know what you think.