A police union votes overwhelmingly that they have no confidence in the police chief. The police chief states “I am going nowhere.”
We’ve covered at least two similar situations in my 23 years at the newspaper. Both were drawn out affairs that ended up costing the towns involved a lot money and effort.
If you read the Record-Journal regularly it comes as no surprise that the Southington police union passed a no confidence vote on both Chief Jack Daly and his supervisors on the police commission. Both sides have been haggling for months. Things appeared to thaw slightly around the start of the year, but it is now clear the two sides are never going to resolve their differences on their own.
Southington’s Town Manager John Weichsel is also apparently unable or unwilling to mediate. It may be time for Deputy Town Manager Mark Sciota to get involved or maybe he has already tried. If Sciota can’t resolve it, the only option left is the Town Council.
One thing is certain. The situation cannot remain as is because the people of Southington are the ones who lose. A union and police chief battling each other can’t fight crime as well as a department that is working together. My suggestion is that an ad hoc group of say one or two councilors and an administrator or two be appointed to meet with both sides to determine if an agreement can be mediated. Perhaps a retired officer that both sides respect could also be involved. If there is no chance for resolution, other options should be explored. This problem has festered for too long. Left on its own, it will only worsen.
Let me know what you think.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
You have to read this one
My family complains I am making myself sound too good in this blog. I find that hard to believe. If you read it regularly my faults are obvious. I’ve explained to them that the best way for them to set the record straight would be to respond to my blog or better yet start their own. I think the public, especially those we cover regularly, would enjoy reading about the dark side of the Record-Journal’s executive editor. They have not responded because they feel any attacks will only make readers feel sorry for me, enhancing my image even more.
Since they won’t set the record straight, I will. If you read the blog regularly you already know:
I’m not very good at household chores.
I’ve been accused of throwing away forks and spoons.
I lecture my teen-agers too much and don’t consider their point of view.
When there is family discord, I am the first to try to fix things and in the process only make things worse.
I am more prone to help a woman in distress than a man in a similar situation. This may sound noble, but it is a form of stereotyping.
I don’t know how to make a sandwich.
I exercise regularly and then eat too much. In the end, I never lose weight.
I find it difficult to admit to my teens that I was once a teen-ager and did things that I shouldn’t have done.
I think it is a good solid list of some pretty serious shortcomings. But since my family thinks I sound too good, let me add a few:
My wife’s main complaint about this blog is that I come off sounding sensitive and caring. I never intended to portray myself as sensitive and caring. Among other things, when my wife tells me something I don’t listen. And then two minutes later I ask her about what she just told me that I didn’t hear, making it obvious that I don’t listen. Also, when she ties to tell me about her problems, I offer solutions when all she wants is for me to listen and shut up.
I am not good at fixing things around the house.
I think I am good at hiring people to fix things. My wife thinks I always overpay and am too lenient with the workers.
I don’t like watching the same movies as my family. I prefer movies about history or conspiracies or both. I also like reading non-fiction, listening to WFAN, watching a ball game or C-Span. The key word here is “I.”
I frequently talk about my son Danny as though he is not in the room.
I sleep late when I can. My sons also sleep late when they can. My wife gets up early.
When talking to my 16-year-old son Michael, I frequently turn almost anything he mentions into a lesson about the evils of drinking, sex, smoking pot, speeding or something else he shouldn’t be doing.
Speaking of Michael. When he drives I sit in the front seat and dispense too much advice.
When my wife or sons raise their voice at me, I get quieter. That drives Mary and Michael nuts. Danny deals with it better.
I don’t socialize much. When I do, I don’t drink alcohol. The overwhelming opinion is that if I drank I would be a lot more fun when socializing.
My idea of socializing is watching my sons play a double header and talking to the other parents about baseball.
I tell people that I am younger than my wife. This is an outrageous lie. No one believes me.
I make women in their 20s laugh a lot and convince myself that they think I am funny and young. They are really laughing at me, not with me. When my wife points this out, she laughs harder than the women in their 20s.
Although I am breaking down physically and mentally in many ways, I am way too proud about the fact that I still have lots of hair and very little gray. I intentionally mention that I don’t dye my hair around women who dye their hair regularly.
I could go on forever, but I have other things to do around here. I think this list should quiet the notion that I am making myself sound too good in this blog.
Those who know me, feel free to post any other faults that I left out. If you feel I have positive qualities, this would be a good time to chime in.
Since they won’t set the record straight, I will. If you read the blog regularly you already know:
I’m not very good at household chores.
I’ve been accused of throwing away forks and spoons.
I lecture my teen-agers too much and don’t consider their point of view.
When there is family discord, I am the first to try to fix things and in the process only make things worse.
I am more prone to help a woman in distress than a man in a similar situation. This may sound noble, but it is a form of stereotyping.
I don’t know how to make a sandwich.
I exercise regularly and then eat too much. In the end, I never lose weight.
I find it difficult to admit to my teens that I was once a teen-ager and did things that I shouldn’t have done.
I think it is a good solid list of some pretty serious shortcomings. But since my family thinks I sound too good, let me add a few:
My wife’s main complaint about this blog is that I come off sounding sensitive and caring. I never intended to portray myself as sensitive and caring. Among other things, when my wife tells me something I don’t listen. And then two minutes later I ask her about what she just told me that I didn’t hear, making it obvious that I don’t listen. Also, when she ties to tell me about her problems, I offer solutions when all she wants is for me to listen and shut up.
I am not good at fixing things around the house.
I think I am good at hiring people to fix things. My wife thinks I always overpay and am too lenient with the workers.
I don’t like watching the same movies as my family. I prefer movies about history or conspiracies or both. I also like reading non-fiction, listening to WFAN, watching a ball game or C-Span. The key word here is “I.”
I frequently talk about my son Danny as though he is not in the room.
I sleep late when I can. My sons also sleep late when they can. My wife gets up early.
When talking to my 16-year-old son Michael, I frequently turn almost anything he mentions into a lesson about the evils of drinking, sex, smoking pot, speeding or something else he shouldn’t be doing.
Speaking of Michael. When he drives I sit in the front seat and dispense too much advice.
When my wife or sons raise their voice at me, I get quieter. That drives Mary and Michael nuts. Danny deals with it better.
I don’t socialize much. When I do, I don’t drink alcohol. The overwhelming opinion is that if I drank I would be a lot more fun when socializing.
My idea of socializing is watching my sons play a double header and talking to the other parents about baseball.
I tell people that I am younger than my wife. This is an outrageous lie. No one believes me.
I make women in their 20s laugh a lot and convince myself that they think I am funny and young. They are really laughing at me, not with me. When my wife points this out, she laughs harder than the women in their 20s.
Although I am breaking down physically and mentally in many ways, I am way too proud about the fact that I still have lots of hair and very little gray. I intentionally mention that I don’t dye my hair around women who dye their hair regularly.
I could go on forever, but I have other things to do around here. I think this list should quiet the notion that I am making myself sound too good in this blog.
Those who know me, feel free to post any other faults that I left out. If you feel I have positive qualities, this would be a good time to chime in.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Page one story on Coalition for Unity
A page one story in Saturday’s newspaper points out that Wallingford’s student population is nearly 17 percent minority while the number of minority school professionals is less than 2 percent. This has to be hurting the school system’s efforts to educate the town’s growing Latino population. A new superintendent will be starting July 1. The town’s Coalition for Unity met with him last week on the issue, but Salvatore Menzo said it was too early for him to discuss specifics. That is understandable. The fact that he met with the group so soon is probably a good sign.
Left on his own, Menzo may or may not make more progress than his predecessors. The town can’t really afford to leave something so important to chance. The school board should sit down with Menzo and give him some realistic goals and the encouragement to try some new approaches. Clearly, the current ones are not working. Those goals should be reviewed quarterly and at the end of the year a progress report should be made public.
Let me know what you think.
Left on his own, Menzo may or may not make more progress than his predecessors. The town can’t really afford to leave something so important to chance. The school board should sit down with Menzo and give him some realistic goals and the encouragement to try some new approaches. Clearly, the current ones are not working. Those goals should be reviewed quarterly and at the end of the year a progress report should be made public.
Let me know what you think.
Flatware mystery
My wife and I are standing in a big box department store looking at flatware. I am surprised at the cost. You can purchase a setting for two for about $10, but we can tell that the stuff is too flimsy. You can buy spoons and knives separately for $1 each, but it looks like the fork would bend if you tried cutting a piece of meat. The nicer stuff seems to be upwards of about $15 a setting.
We came in to the store on Friday night to pick up some other things that had been on her list for several days and ended up looking at forks and spoons because about an hour earlier when I had gone to eat some eggplant leftover from her lunch I noticed there were no forks in the drawer.
“We don’t have any forks?,” I asked, somewhat surprised because it seemed like only six months earlier there had been at least 8 to 10 in the drawer. I noticed the number dwindling, but it didn’t hit home until right then.
We were actually down to three forks. Since my wife and two sons had eaten dinner earlier all three were sitting in the dish strainer drying.
Where did the other forks go?
My wife’s theory is that when I have a late-night snack on a paper plate I throw out the fork and/or spoon (curiously we are also down to three teaspoons) away with the plate. My sons support this theory.
As usual, their theory blames me although they can produce no actual evidence.
My theory is more interesting. I don’t quite know why, but someone or something enters our house and only steals our flatware, passing up much more valuable items. It could be the beginning of an X-Files episode. In fact it could be a two-parter because someone or something also enters the house and steals my socks somewhere between the time they enter the washing machine and exit the dryer.
I’m just wondering if anyone else is missing forks and spoons? If so, feel free to share your own theory. Also, your approximate location so I can determine if there is some geographic pattern to the thefts. Finally, let me know if you find my wife’s theory or mine more plausible.
By the way, we passed on buying forks and spoons until we figure out where they are going. I’m the last one to eat breakfast so I used a plastic spoon this morning.
We came in to the store on Friday night to pick up some other things that had been on her list for several days and ended up looking at forks and spoons because about an hour earlier when I had gone to eat some eggplant leftover from her lunch I noticed there were no forks in the drawer.
“We don’t have any forks?,” I asked, somewhat surprised because it seemed like only six months earlier there had been at least 8 to 10 in the drawer. I noticed the number dwindling, but it didn’t hit home until right then.
We were actually down to three forks. Since my wife and two sons had eaten dinner earlier all three were sitting in the dish strainer drying.
Where did the other forks go?
My wife’s theory is that when I have a late-night snack on a paper plate I throw out the fork and/or spoon (curiously we are also down to three teaspoons) away with the plate. My sons support this theory.
As usual, their theory blames me although they can produce no actual evidence.
My theory is more interesting. I don’t quite know why, but someone or something enters our house and only steals our flatware, passing up much more valuable items. It could be the beginning of an X-Files episode. In fact it could be a two-parter because someone or something also enters the house and steals my socks somewhere between the time they enter the washing machine and exit the dryer.
I’m just wondering if anyone else is missing forks and spoons? If so, feel free to share your own theory. Also, your approximate location so I can determine if there is some geographic pattern to the thefts. Finally, let me know if you find my wife’s theory or mine more plausible.
By the way, we passed on buying forks and spoons until we figure out where they are going. I’m the last one to eat breakfast so I used a plastic spoon this morning.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Did I do the right thing?
On Thursday night, around 7:30 p.m., I was pumping gas at the station next to Zandri’s Stillwood Inn on Route 5 in Wallingford. About the same time I started filling my SUV, a car pulled in on the other side of the pumps. A woman, who looked to be in her early 20s, got out of an older model compact car and walked toward the pump.
A few minutes later, I was done and she had not started. She poked her head around the pump and started to speak but nothing came out. Her eyes went down and then up at me.
“I know this sounds strange, but it won’t accept my card. Do you have $5 for some gas?.”
Unfortunately, I rarely carry cash.
“I’m sorry I don’t have any money,” I said. She muttered something, turned, got back into her car and started talking on her cell phone. I guessed that she was almost out of gas and didn’t want to chance driving to another station. But I’m not sure. She looked really distressed. I got into my car and searched my console. Sometimes I stick a couple of bucks in there and forget and sometimes I put aside quarters and accumulate a few bucks. No such luck. If I had found any money I would have given it to her. It occurred to me as I was driving away (She was still in her car) I could have simply swiped my debit card and pumped her $5 worth. For some reason I hadn’t thought of that earlier. Instead of turning around and helping, I drove off.
When I got home, I told my wife the story.
“That’s not like me,” I said. “I should have helped her.”
My wife scoffed. “I wouldn’t have given her anything,” she said, suspecting the girl might have been trying to scam me.
I don’t think so. Scam artists don’t try for $5.
“If it was a man you wouldn’t be worried about not helping,” she said. Good point. The fact that it was a woman made assume she was more helpless. That’s stereotyping.
Ten years ago I think I would have handled it differently. Twenty years ago I’m certain I would have.
It seems a lot of us are more suspicious and indifferent today. The girl was someone’s sister, someone’s child. Maybe she is related to someone I know. I don’t think I did the right thing.
Let me know what you think.
A few minutes later, I was done and she had not started. She poked her head around the pump and started to speak but nothing came out. Her eyes went down and then up at me.
“I know this sounds strange, but it won’t accept my card. Do you have $5 for some gas?.”
Unfortunately, I rarely carry cash.
“I’m sorry I don’t have any money,” I said. She muttered something, turned, got back into her car and started talking on her cell phone. I guessed that she was almost out of gas and didn’t want to chance driving to another station. But I’m not sure. She looked really distressed. I got into my car and searched my console. Sometimes I stick a couple of bucks in there and forget and sometimes I put aside quarters and accumulate a few bucks. No such luck. If I had found any money I would have given it to her. It occurred to me as I was driving away (She was still in her car) I could have simply swiped my debit card and pumped her $5 worth. For some reason I hadn’t thought of that earlier. Instead of turning around and helping, I drove off.
When I got home, I told my wife the story.
“That’s not like me,” I said. “I should have helped her.”
My wife scoffed. “I wouldn’t have given her anything,” she said, suspecting the girl might have been trying to scam me.
I don’t think so. Scam artists don’t try for $5.
“If it was a man you wouldn’t be worried about not helping,” she said. Good point. The fact that it was a woman made assume she was more helpless. That’s stereotyping.
Ten years ago I think I would have handled it differently. Twenty years ago I’m certain I would have.
It seems a lot of us are more suspicious and indifferent today. The girl was someone’s sister, someone’s child. Maybe she is related to someone I know. I don’t think I did the right thing.
Let me know what you think.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Teen-ager procastinator
“Are you all set for Michael’s driving test tomorrow,” I ask my wife, who is sitting at the computer looking at practice tests at about 7:30 p.m. Monday. Michael turned 16 that day and Mary had taken Tuesday off to bring him to get his learner’s permit.
“I’m set, but I’m not sure about Michael,” she replies, with a sigh that tells me I’m about to hear something less than positive. She explains as far as she can tell Michael has not started studying.
“He never even printed the stuff off the computer,” she says.
“Where is he?” I ask, learning that Michael has been out since about 3 p.m. Mary hasn’t seen him since he and three friends ate some birthday cupcakes in our kitchen and headed off to hang out at another house.
“Unless he passes the practice test I’m not taking him. I can’t afford to waste the time off,” she says.
I do some quick math and realize that unless Michael starts studying immediately his big day is in jeopardy. I also learn she texted him about a half hour before and he still hasn’t responded, which is unusual. I figure he is doing a little rebelling on his 16th birthday and decide to call him. No answer, I leave a message and head out to the YMCA. I expect to hear from him before I arrive but don’t. In the middle of my workout, I check my phone, still no message. I call Mary. She hasn’t heard. It’s around 8:30 and I’m bordering on minor panic. Finish my workout around 9:15 p.m. No message, Mary also hasn’t heard. We are both ready to kill him. Our concern is shifting from his failure to study to the more serious: “Where is he and why isn’t he answering.” Michael is not one to ignore our calls or texts for almost three hours.
At 10 p.m. I had given up all hope he would study or pass the test and was mainly interested in finding him. After thinking the worst, I drive to his friend’s house and find him. He’s angry as he gets into my vehicle because he can tell I thought he was up to something.
“I have no cell phone service here,” he explains. “I texted you guys three hours ago.”
I don’t even bother to ask how we are supposed to receive a text from a phone with no service because I am glad to see him.
“Have you studied for the test ?,” I ask. He calmly tells me he is planning on studying when we get home and will probably be at it until 1 a.m.
As we drive away he sees about two dozen calls and texts that we have made and sent during the previous three hours and sees they grow more angry and threatening. For example, “If I don’t hear from you in five minutes, I’m not taking you for the test.”
“Oh man,” he says. “I hope when I get home you guys aren’t going to freak out on me.”
Why would we freak out?
Imagine, having months to study for what he considers the most important test of his young life and instead putting it off until 10 p.m. the night before.
At around midnight, I hear the snoring coming from his room and look in. He has papers spread out all over his bed and he has fallen asleep. I am sure he is going to fail the test.
At about 2 p.m. on Tuesday I get a text from my wife. “He passed. Waiting to get his permit.”
I can’t believe it.
“I’m set, but I’m not sure about Michael,” she replies, with a sigh that tells me I’m about to hear something less than positive. She explains as far as she can tell Michael has not started studying.
“He never even printed the stuff off the computer,” she says.
“Where is he?” I ask, learning that Michael has been out since about 3 p.m. Mary hasn’t seen him since he and three friends ate some birthday cupcakes in our kitchen and headed off to hang out at another house.
“Unless he passes the practice test I’m not taking him. I can’t afford to waste the time off,” she says.
I do some quick math and realize that unless Michael starts studying immediately his big day is in jeopardy. I also learn she texted him about a half hour before and he still hasn’t responded, which is unusual. I figure he is doing a little rebelling on his 16th birthday and decide to call him. No answer, I leave a message and head out to the YMCA. I expect to hear from him before I arrive but don’t. In the middle of my workout, I check my phone, still no message. I call Mary. She hasn’t heard. It’s around 8:30 and I’m bordering on minor panic. Finish my workout around 9:15 p.m. No message, Mary also hasn’t heard. We are both ready to kill him. Our concern is shifting from his failure to study to the more serious: “Where is he and why isn’t he answering.” Michael is not one to ignore our calls or texts for almost three hours.
At 10 p.m. I had given up all hope he would study or pass the test and was mainly interested in finding him. After thinking the worst, I drive to his friend’s house and find him. He’s angry as he gets into my vehicle because he can tell I thought he was up to something.
“I have no cell phone service here,” he explains. “I texted you guys three hours ago.”
I don’t even bother to ask how we are supposed to receive a text from a phone with no service because I am glad to see him.
“Have you studied for the test ?,” I ask. He calmly tells me he is planning on studying when we get home and will probably be at it until 1 a.m.
As we drive away he sees about two dozen calls and texts that we have made and sent during the previous three hours and sees they grow more angry and threatening. For example, “If I don’t hear from you in five minutes, I’m not taking you for the test.”
“Oh man,” he says. “I hope when I get home you guys aren’t going to freak out on me.”
Why would we freak out?
Imagine, having months to study for what he considers the most important test of his young life and instead putting it off until 10 p.m. the night before.
At around midnight, I hear the snoring coming from his room and look in. He has papers spread out all over his bed and he has fallen asleep. I am sure he is going to fail the test.
At about 2 p.m. on Tuesday I get a text from my wife. “He passed. Waiting to get his permit.”
I can’t believe it.
Furloughs vs. Wage freeze or layoffs
We ran a page one story today on the idea of considering furloughs for Wallingford town and school workers instead of a wage freeze or layoffs (which is the choice that Mayor Bill Dickinson has offered the unions). During a meeting Tuesday four town councilors, two from each party, voted to have the personnel director offer furloughs to the unions. Mayor Dickinson is not embracing or discounting the idea, although an article last week on the same topic indicated he will only accept a wage freeze.
I like the mayor’s approach and think the council should have stayed out of it. Furloughs can create as many problems as they solve because services still need to be provided while workers are taking unpaid days off.
By remaining at least publicly cool to the furlough idea, Dickinson is again showing he is a much shrewder politician than most people think. The voters are looking for “wage freeze” or even “wage reductions.” “Furloughs” doesn’t play as well with taxpayers who have lost their job, had their wages frozen or reduced.
By supporting the furlough idea, Democrats Mike Brodinsky and Vin Testa risk appearing weak to voters. Brodinsky has already ruled out a run for mayor. Testa may still be considering one. I don’t think the furlough initiative is going to win votes.
Let me know what you think
I like the mayor’s approach and think the council should have stayed out of it. Furloughs can create as many problems as they solve because services still need to be provided while workers are taking unpaid days off.
By remaining at least publicly cool to the furlough idea, Dickinson is again showing he is a much shrewder politician than most people think. The voters are looking for “wage freeze” or even “wage reductions.” “Furloughs” doesn’t play as well with taxpayers who have lost their job, had their wages frozen or reduced.
By supporting the furlough idea, Democrats Mike Brodinsky and Vin Testa risk appearing weak to voters. Brodinsky has already ruled out a run for mayor. Testa may still be considering one. I don’t think the furlough initiative is going to win votes.
Let me know what you think
Monday, April 20, 2009
Where are all the football players?
My sons have always played baseball and basketball. Over the years, I’ve been at games and noticed a kid with a good build and plenty of speed and think: “That kid should be playing football.” More often than not I find that the child has never considered playing football or that his parents have forbidden him to play because he might get hurt. To a certain extent, I understand. My sons don’t play football, although at this point neither of them has a football body.
A colleague was telling me recently that she was worried because her son told her he wanted to play football when he starts high school next year. I could relate to her son’s desire. Even though I was a pretty good soccer player and my thin build was better suited for soccer, I surprised everyone in my family and chose to pass on soccer in the fall of my freshman year and play football instead. Football was the coolest sport back in the late 70s and a chance for a young man to prove his courage. For the next three years, I got pounded regularly. I was undersize and not very good, but I stuck it out through my junior year and only quit after it became apparent that as a senior I didn’t have much chance of getting varsity playing time.
Do I regret playing football? No way. High school football was about the hardest thing I ever did. The practices were brutal, the coaches were like drill sergeants and in the games I did play in I was often overmatched and run into the ground. After high school football, everything seemed easy. While I never played many varsity downs, I take great pride that I simply survived three years.
In Wallingford and other towns, there is a shortage of football players. Scared parents, soccer and the desire to play baseball or basketball virtually year-round have all taken its toll on the sport that most closely resembles basic training for the military. I think it is a shame more kids don’t play football. My football experience still helps me nearly 30 years later.
Let me know what you think?
A colleague was telling me recently that she was worried because her son told her he wanted to play football when he starts high school next year. I could relate to her son’s desire. Even though I was a pretty good soccer player and my thin build was better suited for soccer, I surprised everyone in my family and chose to pass on soccer in the fall of my freshman year and play football instead. Football was the coolest sport back in the late 70s and a chance for a young man to prove his courage. For the next three years, I got pounded regularly. I was undersize and not very good, but I stuck it out through my junior year and only quit after it became apparent that as a senior I didn’t have much chance of getting varsity playing time.
Do I regret playing football? No way. High school football was about the hardest thing I ever did. The practices were brutal, the coaches were like drill sergeants and in the games I did play in I was often overmatched and run into the ground. After high school football, everything seemed easy. While I never played many varsity downs, I take great pride that I simply survived three years.
In Wallingford and other towns, there is a shortage of football players. Scared parents, soccer and the desire to play baseball or basketball virtually year-round have all taken its toll on the sport that most closely resembles basic training for the military. I think it is a shame more kids don’t play football. My football experience still helps me nearly 30 years later.
Let me know what you think?
New Wallingford School Super
I read with interest the profile in Sunday’s newspaper of new Wallingford School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo. My main question after reading it is: Why did the school board opt NOT to hire someone from a larger or at least comparable-size school district? The Marlborough district that cur-rently employs Menzo has 700 students. Wallingford has 7,000. The entire Marlborough school budget is $7 million. Wallingford’s budget is $85 million. Marlborough is really not a school district in the sense that we think of it in this part of the state. Marlborough has one elementary school. After sixth grade, students attend regional schools.
The article by staff reporter Samaia Hernandez points out Menzo’s many qualifications. But I would like to know whether the other finalists the Wallingford school board considered came from larger districts than Marlborough (they had to) and what kind of discussion board members had about the giant leap that Menzo is taking. I think the other issue I have is related to the first. Considering his lack of experience running a school district with more than one school, why did the board hire him at the high end of the salary scale ($165,000)? I would expect that kind of salary if someone was coming from a larger district or a similar size one.
Let me know what you think.
The article by staff reporter Samaia Hernandez points out Menzo’s many qualifications. But I would like to know whether the other finalists the Wallingford school board considered came from larger districts than Marlborough (they had to) and what kind of discussion board members had about the giant leap that Menzo is taking. I think the other issue I have is related to the first. Considering his lack of experience running a school district with more than one school, why did the board hire him at the high end of the salary scale ($165,000)? I would expect that kind of salary if someone was coming from a larger district or a similar size one.
Let me know what you think.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
No free lunch
“I put more money on your lunch account,” my wife tells Michael, 15, as we enjoy a rare family dinner at home the other night.
Apparently Michael was slightly overdrawn after his last lunch purchase and she was trying to square up his account and make sure he has plenty of money in reserve. Michael interjected that the lunch ladies never worry when he is overdrawn because the cash flow from my bank account to the school lunch coffers is reliable and never ending.
I was a little jealous because that day I had a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch for the second day in a row. While I was eating it I was thinking how good a hot lunch might be for a change. I stopped eating lunch out a long time ago to save money. When I suggested that my sons, who get hot lunch every day, might occasionally brown bag to save money I was outvoted 3 to 1. My wife protested loudest because she would have to add sandwich making to her already busy morning routine that includes driving them both to school. (I say make them walk but that is another blog). I suggested she make the sandwiches the night before and she looks at me like I’m from another planet. You can’t make sandwiches the night before, she explains, they will get soggy.
“But I make my sandwich the night before,” I reply.
She snarls and tells me that I don’t put anything on my sandwich but meat and cheese and therefore there is nothing to get soggy but that no normal person eats a sandwich that way. Truth be told I prefer my sandwich with a little mayo, lettuce and tomato but don’t have time to make it that way in the morning so I make it dry the night before and make do.
At the dinner table earlier this week I considered raising the hot lunch issue again because the country is in the midst of an economic crisis. With people out of work and some unable to afford necessities, I thought it might be a good time to suggest that the children sacrifice a little. Instead I chickened out and said nothing.
Should I raise the issue again?
Apparently Michael was slightly overdrawn after his last lunch purchase and she was trying to square up his account and make sure he has plenty of money in reserve. Michael interjected that the lunch ladies never worry when he is overdrawn because the cash flow from my bank account to the school lunch coffers is reliable and never ending.
I was a little jealous because that day I had a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch for the second day in a row. While I was eating it I was thinking how good a hot lunch might be for a change. I stopped eating lunch out a long time ago to save money. When I suggested that my sons, who get hot lunch every day, might occasionally brown bag to save money I was outvoted 3 to 1. My wife protested loudest because she would have to add sandwich making to her already busy morning routine that includes driving them both to school. (I say make them walk but that is another blog). I suggested she make the sandwiches the night before and she looks at me like I’m from another planet. You can’t make sandwiches the night before, she explains, they will get soggy.
“But I make my sandwich the night before,” I reply.
She snarls and tells me that I don’t put anything on my sandwich but meat and cheese and therefore there is nothing to get soggy but that no normal person eats a sandwich that way. Truth be told I prefer my sandwich with a little mayo, lettuce and tomato but don’t have time to make it that way in the morning so I make it dry the night before and make do.
At the dinner table earlier this week I considered raising the hot lunch issue again because the country is in the midst of an economic crisis. With people out of work and some unable to afford necessities, I thought it might be a good time to suggest that the children sacrifice a little. Instead I chickened out and said nothing.
Should I raise the issue again?
Put your list of cuts where your mouth is
I find it interesting when people gather to complain about taxes and incumbent politicians as they did yesterday in rallies billed as tea party protests. Everyone says they want to cut taxes. The problem is that no one wants to cut any of the programs that benefit them. I noticed from the photographs that a lot of people at the rallies were senior citizens. I’m sure they want to cut all kinds of taxes but if you try to mess with Medicare, Social Security or any of the benefits older Americans receive, they balk.
People with children often don’t want to cut the school budget. If you have a relative who is a firefighter or you live near Meriden’s Broad Street fire station, you want to keep it open. If your child attends a parochial school and receives speech therapy from the city, you don’t want to cut that program. I personally hate to see them cut recreation funding.
Despite these one-day events, about 90 percent of incumbents are re-elected each year. No one likes the incumbents who represent other districts but most people like their own incumbents because somewhere along the way they have delivered lots of pork for their home district. Of course that pork is what makes taxes go up. So next time you praise some politician for delivering money for artificial turf, think twice.
If you are going to attend one of these tea party tax protests in the future, bring along a list of the benefits you receive that you are willing to see cut or eliminated. Next time you complain about incumbents, make a list of all the incumbents who represent you at the local, state and national level and sign in blood that you will never ever vote for them again. Otherwise it is hard for me to take any of this too seriously.
Let me know what you think.
People with children often don’t want to cut the school budget. If you have a relative who is a firefighter or you live near Meriden’s Broad Street fire station, you want to keep it open. If your child attends a parochial school and receives speech therapy from the city, you don’t want to cut that program. I personally hate to see them cut recreation funding.
Despite these one-day events, about 90 percent of incumbents are re-elected each year. No one likes the incumbents who represent other districts but most people like their own incumbents because somewhere along the way they have delivered lots of pork for their home district. Of course that pork is what makes taxes go up. So next time you praise some politician for delivering money for artificial turf, think twice.
If you are going to attend one of these tea party tax protests in the future, bring along a list of the benefits you receive that you are willing to see cut or eliminated. Next time you complain about incumbents, make a list of all the incumbents who represent you at the local, state and national level and sign in blood that you will never ever vote for them again. Otherwise it is hard for me to take any of this too seriously.
Let me know what you think.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Bickering Boys
When I came in from work on Monday night, my sons were arguing loudly about a Major League Baseball pitcher who was put on the 15-day disabled list. Danny, 14, felt the pitcher was being a slacker. Michael, 15, was arguing loudly that they don’t put major leaguers on the disabled list unless they are hurt. Last night all four of us were watching the Yankee game together, which was rare and nice, when they started arguing about the new Yankee centerfielder Brett Gardner. Danny isn’t so sure he hits enough to start. Michael believes he deserves a chance. Michael crowed when Gardner stroked a double.
For the past year or so they’ve been arguing a lot more and getting louder. They also argue about politics, movies, music and who is the most favored by mom and dad. Last week in the midst of an argument (I can’t recall the subject) they were getting very loud when the older threatened to punch out the younger and the younger (who has grown six inches in the past year and is taller than his older brother) told him to bring it on anytime.
I don’t like raised voices in the house. Never have. Not sure exactly why. So when the regular loud arguing started my initial instinct was to try to stop them or at least get them to lower their voices. That made both of them angry at me. My wife recommends letting them fight it out because they will learn more. At first, I had trouble doing that. Now I do try to stay out of it. The problem is that I would enjoy watching the Yankee game a lot more if they weren’t being so loud. I admit they seem to enjoy the verbal jousts. They don’t seem to hold grudges and it has not escalated to violence.
Any advice?
For the past year or so they’ve been arguing a lot more and getting louder. They also argue about politics, movies, music and who is the most favored by mom and dad. Last week in the midst of an argument (I can’t recall the subject) they were getting very loud when the older threatened to punch out the younger and the younger (who has grown six inches in the past year and is taller than his older brother) told him to bring it on anytime.
I don’t like raised voices in the house. Never have. Not sure exactly why. So when the regular loud arguing started my initial instinct was to try to stop them or at least get them to lower their voices. That made both of them angry at me. My wife recommends letting them fight it out because they will learn more. At first, I had trouble doing that. Now I do try to stay out of it. The problem is that I would enjoy watching the Yankee game a lot more if they weren’t being so loud. I admit they seem to enjoy the verbal jousts. They don’t seem to hold grudges and it has not escalated to violence.
Any advice?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Losing and gaining and losing and gaining
An open yogurt and a banana sit on my desk. A co-worker commends me for my great diet. I smile and thank her but feel like a phony. As she leaves my mind shifts to that big bowl of potato chips I ate the previous night. I adjusted my diet and started a regular workout routine at the YMCA a little more than five years ago. Yet when I stepped on the scale this week I found I’m about the same weight as when I started working out, which is about 20 pounds from where I’d like to be.
I don’t have rigorous routine, but I do burn approximately 500 to 700 calories five days a week. The problem is that I probably eat at least twice that much, including some pretty fattening late-night snacks. My doctor tells me not to worry. Keep exercising, she says. Imagine how much you would weigh if you didn’t work out, she adds. My heart is fine and my cholesterol is good. I was actually hoping I would have bad cholesterol because I thought it would scare me into cutting down on snacks. The doctor also tells me I’m not alone. Lots of men (and women) eat healthy all day, exercise and then pig out at night. She called it the frat boy syndrome.
Over the weekend, my wife said I looked like I had lost a few pounds. I went to the scale and noticed I was probably about five pounds away from my usual weight. The same day I also noticed I could fit comfortably into a sweatshirt that I had stopped wearing because it seemed tight. Maybe this is the week I finally start keeping the weight off. It’s only taken five years.
I don’t have rigorous routine, but I do burn approximately 500 to 700 calories five days a week. The problem is that I probably eat at least twice that much, including some pretty fattening late-night snacks. My doctor tells me not to worry. Keep exercising, she says. Imagine how much you would weigh if you didn’t work out, she adds. My heart is fine and my cholesterol is good. I was actually hoping I would have bad cholesterol because I thought it would scare me into cutting down on snacks. The doctor also tells me I’m not alone. Lots of men (and women) eat healthy all day, exercise and then pig out at night. She called it the frat boy syndrome.
Over the weekend, my wife said I looked like I had lost a few pounds. I went to the scale and noticed I was probably about five pounds away from my usual weight. The same day I also noticed I could fit comfortably into a sweatshirt that I had stopped wearing because it seemed tight. Maybe this is the week I finally start keeping the weight off. It’s only taken five years.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Failing at my chores
About a week ago I took out the garbage out and replaced the bag in the kitchen can. I headed out of the room, out of sight but within earshot, and waited for the sound I hear each time I replace the garbage bag. In a second I heard the rustling of my wife taking the plastic bag partially off the can and putting it back RIGHT.
Apparently I don’t know how to replace the garbage bag. I also don’t know how to properly do the dishes, wipe the kitchen counter or make the bed. I gave up on making the bed a long time ago because no matter how much time I spent on it my wife always remakes it and that seems inefficient. I’m also not good at putting dishes away. Now that I think about it I’m not sure I do any kitchen chore adequately. My genes aren't the problem. Mom tells me that my dad is excellent at household chores. He was very busy working at his business while I was growing up and I don’t recall him doing a lot of indoor chores. He must have practiced a lot since he retired. Maybe there is hope for me too.
I think that some entrepreneur could make a lot of money by opening a school and teaching household chores to those of us who can’t seem to work a broom and mop properly.
Let me know what you think.
Apparently I don’t know how to replace the garbage bag. I also don’t know how to properly do the dishes, wipe the kitchen counter or make the bed. I gave up on making the bed a long time ago because no matter how much time I spent on it my wife always remakes it and that seems inefficient. I’m also not good at putting dishes away. Now that I think about it I’m not sure I do any kitchen chore adequately. My genes aren't the problem. Mom tells me that my dad is excellent at household chores. He was very busy working at his business while I was growing up and I don’t recall him doing a lot of indoor chores. He must have practiced a lot since he retired. Maybe there is hope for me too.
I think that some entrepreneur could make a lot of money by opening a school and teaching household chores to those of us who can’t seem to work a broom and mop properly.
Let me know what you think.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Dag needs a portable toilet!
I’m not sure who is in charge of these things, but it would be nice if someone at Wallingford Town Hall or the Board of Education could see to it that a portable toilet is placed at Dag Hammarskjold Middle School soon.
It’s no secret that school and town league baseball and softball teams play and practice at Dag from mid-March until Halloween. Baseball games often last three hours. It’s unfair to expect people to hold it in that long. I’m fortunate enough to live within three minutes of the school and can run home in a pinch. I feel bad for those who don’t live as close.
A couple of other portable toilet suggestions. The West Side Field baseball diamond could also use one. The softball complex has facilities but when softball teams aren’t playing they are locked. I believe Moran Middle School also lacks an outdoor bathroom facility. Not sure about Sheehan. Pat Wall field has a portable toilet but it was so poorly maintained last year that most people pass on it. For most of last year it didn’t even have a lock on the door so if you used it you had to bring a lookout or risk being interrupted.
I’m sure there are others that I’ve missed. Pass them along. Maybe we need to start a petition.
Let me know what you think.
It’s no secret that school and town league baseball and softball teams play and practice at Dag from mid-March until Halloween. Baseball games often last three hours. It’s unfair to expect people to hold it in that long. I’m fortunate enough to live within three minutes of the school and can run home in a pinch. I feel bad for those who don’t live as close.
A couple of other portable toilet suggestions. The West Side Field baseball diamond could also use one. The softball complex has facilities but when softball teams aren’t playing they are locked. I believe Moran Middle School also lacks an outdoor bathroom facility. Not sure about Sheehan. Pat Wall field has a portable toilet but it was so poorly maintained last year that most people pass on it. For most of last year it didn’t even have a lock on the door so if you used it you had to bring a lookout or risk being interrupted.
I’m sure there are others that I’ve missed. Pass them along. Maybe we need to start a petition.
Let me know what you think.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Bonding over Jim Morrison
For Valentine’s Day I got an iPod gift card and was excited because the music lineup I inherited from my wife and sons was heavy on classic Rock and rap. While I like both, I had a longing for some of the grunge/alternative music that was popular during the previous decade. Before I could make up my mind my 16-year-old was complaining about some Doors songs he didn’t have so I let him use $3 of my $10 gift card.
When I got in from work last night, son Michael was in the living room watching The Doors movie and he again started asking me about the groups’ long dead, but forever popular lead singer Jim Morrison.
I did not come of age in the 60s, but entered high school in 1977 when Morrison, Led Zeppelin, the Who and the Rolling Stones still dominated radio. Morrison was one of my favorites but when Michael started asking about him last year I hesitated to tell him all The Doors knowledge I had committed to memory as a teen.
Why? Any conversation about Morrison and his songs eventually turns to his drug use and the alcoholism that killed him. I guess I didn’t want my son to know that when I was his age I idolized someone who was famous for smoking pot onstage. Instead I used our conversations about Morrison to preach about the evils of drugs and alcohol. While that may sound good to parents, put yourself in the place of a 16-year-old. There is this really cool dead singer and your Dad knows lots about him and his music and instead gives you a lecture.
After ignoring and evading most of his questions about Morrison, I went to the YMCA. When I returned he told me he really wanted the song “5 to 1.” I told him he could use my remaining credits. While we were at the computer, I pointed out another five Doors songs that he didn’t know about and told him to download them for us.
“You know there were a lot of theories about what Morrison meant by 5 to 1,” I said. “The one most of his fans seemed to like was that it was a reference to the ratio of non-pot smokers to pot smokers in 1967.”
His head swung around from the computer screen to Dad. It triggered a 15- minute discussion on some of Morrison’s most controversial lyrics, most of which involved drug references, Vietnam, sex and mysticism.
Teen-agers often want to talk about things like pot, beer, sex and rebellious, drug-using musicians that their parents idolized. I think the hard part is letting down your guard and letting them know that you were once just like them.
When I got in from work last night, son Michael was in the living room watching The Doors movie and he again started asking me about the groups’ long dead, but forever popular lead singer Jim Morrison.
I did not come of age in the 60s, but entered high school in 1977 when Morrison, Led Zeppelin, the Who and the Rolling Stones still dominated radio. Morrison was one of my favorites but when Michael started asking about him last year I hesitated to tell him all The Doors knowledge I had committed to memory as a teen.
Why? Any conversation about Morrison and his songs eventually turns to his drug use and the alcoholism that killed him. I guess I didn’t want my son to know that when I was his age I idolized someone who was famous for smoking pot onstage. Instead I used our conversations about Morrison to preach about the evils of drugs and alcohol. While that may sound good to parents, put yourself in the place of a 16-year-old. There is this really cool dead singer and your Dad knows lots about him and his music and instead gives you a lecture.
After ignoring and evading most of his questions about Morrison, I went to the YMCA. When I returned he told me he really wanted the song “5 to 1.” I told him he could use my remaining credits. While we were at the computer, I pointed out another five Doors songs that he didn’t know about and told him to download them for us.
“You know there were a lot of theories about what Morrison meant by 5 to 1,” I said. “The one most of his fans seemed to like was that it was a reference to the ratio of non-pot smokers to pot smokers in 1967.”
His head swung around from the computer screen to Dad. It triggered a 15- minute discussion on some of Morrison’s most controversial lyrics, most of which involved drug references, Vietnam, sex and mysticism.
Teen-agers often want to talk about things like pot, beer, sex and rebellious, drug-using musicians that their parents idolized. I think the hard part is letting down your guard and letting them know that you were once just like them.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Will Wallingford unions avoid layoffs?
Now that Wallingford Mayor Bill Dickinson and the Town Council have signaled their intentions to hold the line on spending next year, the unanswered question is: How will the town and school unions respond?
It’s important because the budget is going to be a lot easier for the mayor to manage and for resi-dents to live with if it does not result in substantial layoffs. Most people like a lean budget until they find out that their school is going to have one less teacher or that the pothole in front of their house can’t be repaired for days because there are fewer Public Works employees.
The mayor and council cannot prevent layoffs. Only the unions can do that.
So far union leaders have said virtually nothing to the newspaper about concessions to avoid layoffs. We do know the town unions are negotiating. As of late last week, School Board chairman Mike Votto had not even instructed Superintendent of Schools Dale Wilson to begin negotiating. That may have changed.
My gut tells me the teacher’s union is not going to rush into negotiations. I say that for several rea-sons. 1) Wilson said last week that there is a $1 million dollar surplus that could be used to offset the cuts made by the mayor. 2) School officials have also said they may be able to use additional federal money to offset cuts. 3) Votto is a professional educator himself. Playing hardball with the school unions is playing hardball with his union brothers and sisters. He cannot be expected to approach it the same way as a non-educator. But don’t blame Votto. Blame the fact that there aren’t more people interested in running for the school board. 4) The teacher’s union is very savvy and influential. Politi-cians don’t like to admit it, but their chances for re-election is influenced by a thumbs up or down from the teacher’s union. I don’t blame the teachers for that. They have every right to organize and influence the process. It’s not their “fault” that they have become good at it.
Let me know what you think.
It’s important because the budget is going to be a lot easier for the mayor to manage and for resi-dents to live with if it does not result in substantial layoffs. Most people like a lean budget until they find out that their school is going to have one less teacher or that the pothole in front of their house can’t be repaired for days because there are fewer Public Works employees.
The mayor and council cannot prevent layoffs. Only the unions can do that.
So far union leaders have said virtually nothing to the newspaper about concessions to avoid layoffs. We do know the town unions are negotiating. As of late last week, School Board chairman Mike Votto had not even instructed Superintendent of Schools Dale Wilson to begin negotiating. That may have changed.
My gut tells me the teacher’s union is not going to rush into negotiations. I say that for several rea-sons. 1) Wilson said last week that there is a $1 million dollar surplus that could be used to offset the cuts made by the mayor. 2) School officials have also said they may be able to use additional federal money to offset cuts. 3) Votto is a professional educator himself. Playing hardball with the school unions is playing hardball with his union brothers and sisters. He cannot be expected to approach it the same way as a non-educator. But don’t blame Votto. Blame the fact that there aren’t more people interested in running for the school board. 4) The teacher’s union is very savvy and influential. Politi-cians don’t like to admit it, but their chances for re-election is influenced by a thumbs up or down from the teacher’s union. I don’t blame the teachers for that. They have every right to organize and influence the process. It’s not their “fault” that they have become good at it.
Let me know what you think.
Monday, April 6, 2009
A racoon sighting/Food before fireworks
My wife called me Sunday afternoon to tell me there was a raccoon walking around the back park-ing lot of Lyman Hall High School. It didn’t seem fearful of the people and cars milling around the school, she reported. Mary lost sight of it as it headed into the neighborhood directly across from the back lot.
Last week a woman on Northfield Road (a stone’s throw from my house and about a half mile from Lyman Hall) was bitten by a raccoon after it tangled with her dog in broad daylight. I’m not sure if it is the same raccoon.
Has anyone else in the area noticed a raccoon acting boldly?
Before Wallingford officials and businesses rush to save this year’s fireworks display and symphony performance we need to make sure that all the groups that are helping people with necessities are fully funded. No one is sure how much longer this economic downtown will last. If it goes on for a few more months more and more people are going to have trouble affording food, clothing, medicine, shelter and utilities. In that case, corporate donations would be better off going to those causes.
Let me know what you think.
Last week a woman on Northfield Road (a stone’s throw from my house and about a half mile from Lyman Hall) was bitten by a raccoon after it tangled with her dog in broad daylight. I’m not sure if it is the same raccoon.
Has anyone else in the area noticed a raccoon acting boldly?
Before Wallingford officials and businesses rush to save this year’s fireworks display and symphony performance we need to make sure that all the groups that are helping people with necessities are fully funded. No one is sure how much longer this economic downtown will last. If it goes on for a few more months more and more people are going to have trouble affording food, clothing, medicine, shelter and utilities. In that case, corporate donations would be better off going to those causes.
Let me know what you think.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Kudos to Mayor Dickinson
Kudos to Wallingford Mayor Bill Dickinson on his recent budget proposal for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. He kept the overall spending increase near zero and makes it clear that either through concessions or layoffs the town needs to contract its workforce or cut the amount spent on school and town hall staff. As a result, the average homeowner will only have to pay an additional $59 in property taxes next year.
The unions have a difficult choice. But it is one that many in the private sector have already had to decide. Do they keep the salary and benefits they are due through their contracts and sacrifice jobs? Or do they save jobs and give up salary and/or benefits? It is a very difficult and personal decision that every union member will have to wrestle with. I empathize. The unfortunate reality is that with lots of taxpayers out of work or earning less, there just is no way the town can afford to pay the same amount to its employees next year. This is not a slap to the face of longtime, loyal town and school employees. This is the result of a very real economic downtown.
Finally, with this proposal Dickinson has shown the political skills that have kept him in office for more than a quarter century. Unless the Town Council finds something I missed, there isn’t any room for political maneuvering that would hurt the mayor’s re-election chances.
The unions have a difficult choice. But it is one that many in the private sector have already had to decide. Do they keep the salary and benefits they are due through their contracts and sacrifice jobs? Or do they save jobs and give up salary and/or benefits? It is a very difficult and personal decision that every union member will have to wrestle with. I empathize. The unfortunate reality is that with lots of taxpayers out of work or earning less, there just is no way the town can afford to pay the same amount to its employees next year. This is not a slap to the face of longtime, loyal town and school employees. This is the result of a very real economic downtown.
Finally, with this proposal Dickinson has shown the political skills that have kept him in office for more than a quarter century. Unless the Town Council finds something I missed, there isn’t any room for political maneuvering that would hurt the mayor’s re-election chances.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
