Ya know, sweets, I was in a local produce section a week or so ago and someone said that she couldn’t wait until winter was over. Whilst I wasn’t part o’ the conversation, Cobina thought to herself, “What winter? Excep’ for the one week of cold temps, we ain’t had one.”
Well, lo and behold this week we finally had what could be termed “winter.” We had our foist major snowfall in two years, and it was brisk and clear…jest like it’s supposed to be. Yeah, Cobina likes winter, and that puts her at odds with a lotta people around here, who hate when the white stuff starts to fall.
Of course, the last place I wanted to be in the days prior to the storm was that same produce aisle. Yew know what supermarkets git like when there is a threat of snow flurries. Well, the fack that (as they say on the boob tube) “significant accumulation” was expected meant that the local comestible purveyors were stacking shelves and handling customers all day. Not the place to waste one’s time. Better to stock up when they hint a storm is coming a week or so earlier.
Tennyrate, the reason I bring up the storm is not to give you an idea of what things look like around here – they’re still covered in white, by the way – it’s that no sooner had the echo died down from his swearing-in ceremony in the Actors Colony, Rick Fontana – yeah, that Rick Fontana – had his foist task, coordinating the clean-up effort – and by gosh it was a perty good one.
Rick, who defected to the El-em City a few years back, brought his expertise back to his hometown as the Director of Emergency Management, the same job he had in the City of the Nine Squares. Hard to believe he’s a sexagenarian. We remember him when he was still wet behind the ears. Tempus does fugit, ya know.
Well, he’s back, and according to the Wag, who happened by the other day, things were in pretty good shape. Cobina traversed around the city cuz she had a snow day, and noted things were fine.
The Wag did mention he was out and about during the morning of the storm, and saw that, despite several warnings, and a couple o’ notices in this papyrus, people still parked where they weren’t supposed to, and the wrecking companies made quite a killing. People who left their gassamobuggies out during the storm woke to find them not there. I’d hate to be the person on the other end of the phone call when they found out where the impound lot was. You couldn’t pay me enuff.
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We see that Charlie Ferraro has determined he wants to enjoy retirement. Good for him. After a ten-year stint as the city’s only Republican elected official in Hartford, he decided to give up his seat in the 117th districk. There were mentions around the burg about him looking at leaving his seat, but Cobina knows that those types of rumors are the stock and trade of politicos around here.
Each year Charlie ran he worked his tail off throughout the three towns that make up the districk, and he was never sure if he would win his own town, given the fack that it’s so heavily Democratic. But the guy was able to parlay the votes in all three communities and stuck with it through five terms. And, he’s leaving at a good time. He has many years left and should enjoy them.
Meanwhile, a familiar name has entered the fray, lookin’ to follow Ferraro in that seat – one that his esteemed father had for several terms. Ray Collins III not only made his announcement before anyone, he managed to secure the endorsement of Ferraro, which can only help.
Collins has been a guy who has followed in his father’s footsteps in that he serves his community. Remember, it was his tenure on the Police Commish that made public the problems the city was having with keeping members of the constabulary, due to the lack of a pension.
That isshew has finally been resolved, and it looks as if things are staring to level off in the WHPD. He was a member o’ the Bored of Ed as well. Soooo, it’ll be interesting what happens this go-round. The Republican and Democratic Town Committees hafta finalize their delegates for the next two years, and then, maybe after that, we’ll know who Collins’ opposition might be.
Cobina ain’t sure effen he’s got the imprimatur of the GOP powers that be, but I can’t figger anyone else would wanna primary him. But, when it comes to politicians and politics around here, ya never know.
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Nelly Nuthatch fluttered by t’other day and said the denizens of the offices in the Actors Colony were made to sit through an Ethics Class and learn about the new Code of Ethics the city passed in the wake of the federal grant scandal in these parts. I guess in looking at it – depending on whether yore a half-full or half-empty kind o’ gal – you could say it was something done after the horse was outta the barn, or better late than never.
Nelly said it was interesting being perched outside the Harriet North Meeting Room and watching the sessions. The workers knew they had to grin and bear it and did jest that. Effen yew’ve done any kind o’ work outside the home, yew know that these types of things are common practice, and they have more to do with the term “CYA” than actually trying to git workers to consciously watch their p’s and q’s.
I know it sounds kind o’ cynical, but these things are crafted by barristers to give organizations cover. When pressed, the city can say it gave every member of the staff a lesson in ethics, and has coverage should something get into the courts.
Still, effen someone is gonna do something untoward an ethics class, no matter how good or thorough, ain’t gonna stop those with a dark heart. I hope they were all able to stay awake.
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I’m gonna grouse again about it. I went by Washington Avenue and Brown Street and the venerable Washington School is no longer. The wrecking ball – though they didn’t use one – took the building down over a two-week period. That wonderful building is now history to be replaced by modern institutional design which is as ugly as it is functional. Bau Haus goes to school.
Someone tried to convince Cobina that the building was beyond preservation, but we’ve been here before. I’ve seen many buildings come down over the decades, and it was always the same story. The fack is there was no will to do it. They wanted something new. Effen the building was that bad it should have come down decades ago. And I’ll say it, again. They build these whited sepulchers, and the kids still can’t read and write like earlier generations.
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Meanwhile, we got something in the office that made us smile. We see the St. Paddy’s Day Parade Committee is gonna honor the late Tom Gallagher. We think that is mighty fine. Tom was always a guy who wanted the best for the city, and was very proud of his Irish heritage. He had his difficulties, but in balance he was a real Westie and a real mensch…there aren’t too many around these days.
We congratulate his family and friends and hope they stand proud at the corner of Church and Chapel in New Haven whilst the annual parade marches to City Hall.
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We seek that after announcing her retirement three years ago, and staying on as a temporary since, Beth Sabo has finally called it a career. After more than 50 years with the city she’s gonna enjoy the retirement she well deserves. The number o’ things that woman was part of, and the projects she oversaw would fill a very long list. Effen she had to tabulate it, Iyam sure she would surprise herself.
And we don’t think she’ll fade in that good night, either. Sabo ain’t the type to sit in front o’ the telly and knit. She’ll find something to keep her busy and active. It’s very difficult to change your modus operandi after so many years. We’re sure of it.
Meanwhile, we have to admit that we’re surprised the rumor mill hasn’t picked a successor. The way things usually work out, a name or three pops up and then we all determine who has the political wherewithal to git the job. Not this time. Soooo, we shall see what transpires.
With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,