Well hon, yew know summer is rolling along when Fourth of July rolls around. That means the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer (so quoth Nat King Cole)” and here we are! As I told yew before, the Cobina rule is in effect.
Therein it states that the amount of coverage of bathing attire is in opposite proportion to the, er, girth of the wearer. Ya see it all the time, people of more “substantial” proportions seem to think skimpy is in, whether they be of either sex. Cobina has had this axiom for decades, and ain’t seen it fail yet.
Meanwhile, the Mystick Maidens of the Marsh were lookin’ for a place to have their July 4 festivities, and had to settle for the West Haven side of the marshes along the Oyster River. Beach Street being under construction kind o’ put us in a quandry as it’ll be harder to git to Sandy Pernt. The MMM council determined Oyster River, and there we were. We had a grand ole time.
It was good to see the city puttin’ back the fireworks to July 3, and Sammy Bluejay sez that the City Council woiked long and hard to make sure the funding was in place so it could happen. As yew remember, the fireworks were moved last year to the Savin Rock Festival, which caused quite the uproar.
Ostensibly, Herronner said at the time, it was gonna keep the outsiders from comin’ into town. As yew might recall, the fireworks along Bradley Point used to bring in upwards of 100,000 souls in the past, and the police and logistical costs were on the high side.
That, rather than the number of outsiders, was the reason things were altered in the past. It was gonna cost the city some bucks to put things on come July 3, with overtime and the like. Sooooo, put it when the Festival is on or later in the year, and the costs come down.
The council, according to Sammy looked at every nickel and found the bucks needed to put the show on at the traditional time and place.
The big question is what’s gonna happen to the thousands that go to Beach Street? That thoroughfare has been closed off for more than two weeks cuz of the roadwork being done. It’s gonna be months before the projeck is finished, and holiday or no, each weekend lotsa people used the beaches over there, the most being around July 3.
The road being closed means there are detours through neighborhoods. One jest wonders effen those people are gonna traverse through the detours and the neighborhoods, tying up traffic even worse than ever. Cobina was of a mind to visit friends on July 3, but given the inflow and outflow of traffic for the ‘works, she’s gonna park the gassamobuggy and stay at home.
Still, for those who like the fireworks every year, it’s good to see them back. It’s one of the big traditions in this burg and one that shouldn’t be trifled with.
Another tradition in my neighborhood is the local use of boom-booms in the days leading up to and after July 4. Hon, sometimes it seems like we’re reenacting the Battle of the Marne – without the taxicabs. Things don’t seem to quiet down until late at night.
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With the roll around of July thoughts are moving toward the Savin Rock Festival, which we are hearing is in full planning for the end of the month. It’s gonna be here before yew know it, and the Old Grove Park will be buzzin’ with thousands of people. It’s not what it was a few decades ago, insofar as there seems to be fewer local organizations taking part, and the Baby Contest is no longer part of the plans as far as I kin tell – that was always a big thing.
Still, it should be chock full of things to see and bands to hear, and all kinds of other things that make the community what it is. With the dog days of summer setting upon us, people will be looking to git to the shore and enjoy the breezes, and the sounds.
The Wag noted that the DJs that used to be down at the Captain Tony Deck aren’t there anymore. Whilst Cobina doesn’t have foist hand knowledge of why, the organization of setch an undertaking used to be handled by people in the Actors Colony, and then by volunteers, scheduling the music, and making sure people show up. That has been getting harder and harder over the years, and one wonders effen that spelt the end of the longstanding tradition. I’m sure we’ll find out one way or t’other.
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July in odd-numbered years also means the biennial meetings of the Democratic and Republican Town Committees to endorse their slates of candidates. Nelly Nuthatch was here the other afternoon, and some scenarios seem to be the “consensus wisdom” on what will happen over the next few days.
On the Demmie side, things are in flux with the decision by Mrs. Rossi not to seek a fourth term. Right now, Ed O’Brien, former chief executive, and Councilman Victor Borras seem to be the two candidates vying for the standard to bear. That is, unless one person enters the race.
Nelly sez (and this is what she is hearing from Demmies) that Dorinda Borer is expected to announce her candidacy. Word on the street is that with the new salary of $108,000, the office is much more attractive than it was before. That might entice her to decide to make the run. By the time yew git this missive the determination might already be made.
Demmies were expecting her to make a decision in the days leading up to the caucus, and then the whole shooting match takes on a new “calculus.” Supposedly, Ed O’Brien has said effen she runs, he will drop out. That remains to be seen, but that is what Demmies are saying out loud.
Of course, they are hoping she will run to keep the Demmies in power. Borer is a rather popular gal with her finger in a lotta pies. The fack that she is rather important in Hartford these days may or may not have a bearing on whether she runs, but the big money is hoping she’ll put her chapeau into the arena.
Name recognition is a big part o’ politics, and, frankly, Borras might be a good candidate, but nobody knows him, and O’Brien is considered a retread by some in the party (not Cobina’s words), and not the candidate they want this time round. Soooo, we shall see.
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Over on the GOP side, the conventional wisdom believes that the RTM is gonna go with Paige Weinstein as the candidate. She seems to have swayed the members of the panel to her side, and the fack that she might have her own war chest of cash ain’t a little part of the equation. Still, she has no name recognition, and will have a hard hill to climb in that regard – a thing she herself admitted when she visited her a few weeks back.
Steve Mullins and Barry Cohen are the other two announced candidates, and there is no reason to think they aren’t gonna have their petitions out on the street forcing a primary before the ink is dry on the GOP slate form. Mullins thinks he’s the best candidate for the job, and has a lotta name recognition both inside and outside o’ the political sphere.
Cohen, on the other hand, was the candidate the last time, and is lookin’ to pick up where he left off in ’21. He only lost by 30-plus votes, and it was an election rife with “irregularities.” Sooo, naturally, Cohen thinks he deserves another bite of the apple.
In fack, again this ain’t Cobina talking, many think effen push comes to shove, and there is a primary for the GOP nod, Cohen has the tilt in his favor cuz of his last attempt at the office. People know who he is, like it or not. So, the other candidates are gonna hafta fight that advantage.
The bit question, and one being asked even by Demmies, is could the GOP find it in itself to gather ‘round a candidate once the voting is over and the winner decided? In the past most GOPers took their ball and went home, giving the election to the other side – been that way for a long time.
Even with Borer in the running, dissatisfaction with the status quo might mean the voters are ready to make a change over what’s been going on the last 30-plus years. If the GOP is gonna just play dead after the primary, then it might have squandered its best opportunity to win since George H. W. Bush was at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
We shall see what happens, but we know that’s the scuttlebutt we’re hearing.
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Meanwhile, we’re still hearing about our editorial a couple weeks back. We will jest reiterate. We were using the promise of a pledge as a take off pernt for a broader statement. No candidates, regardless of party should use personal attacks, and should stick to the issues. It wasn’t a matter of supporting or not supporting a candidate, but the view that candidate stated should be something we all agree with…at least in a sane world.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,