Happy Fourth of July, Felicia! The year keeps rolling by and here we are in the midst of the summer. In fact, summer started last week, and we can begin to see the days getting a bit shorter as we roll along. The Mystick Maydens of the Marsh have planned a big do in the Woodmont Road area for the holiday. We ain’t been there in quite some time. Madame Olga is presiding over the shindig, and it should be a good time had by all.
Of course, there are signs all over that summer is upon us. Signs and banners have been put up in various locales, the summer concert series has begun, and things are planned for the Old Grove Park and sundry other places to git people outside.
The recent Make Music Day was sponsored once again by ArtsWest and it seems to have been a nice way to celebrate the Summer Solstice. It looks like quite a few people ventured out and did what the event required: made music. So, things are happening on a high note.
We would be remiss effen we didn’t sent a shout out to the first responders of all stripes, including the members of the WHPD who assisted in that horrid thing that happened on the beach. Young lives were saved, and we found out that when called upon, our first responders are top shelf.
It also was a sad reminder that while we like to think heinous crime only happens elsewhere, it could happen anywhere anytime. This time and happily, nefarious plans were not carried out.
Here in the Asylum by the Sea, otherwise, the news from the DOT is making more than a few wonder just what new hell will be happening in these parts over the next few years – traffic-wise. Sammy Bluejay has been keeping his beak in places where people talk, and there is a general concern rush hours around here, never easy things, will be just hellacious in the next lit’le while.
In case you missed it, the state is looking to replace the I-95 bridges over the West River estuary. This is the second phase of the reconstruction plan. Effen yew remember, about a decade ago, the clover leaf exit that once brought traffic in and over the Kimberly Avenue Bridge was taken out, and replaced by the current set up, which no one is really happy with.
Tennyrate, there has been talk that the bridges that make up the viaduct over the estuary spilling out into the Sound by the City Point Yacht Club are in need of replacement. The highway was opened around 1958, and the bridges are showing the wear-and-tear of more than 60 years of use in one of the most highly trafficked places in the country.
Sooooo, the time has come to replace them. That means that getting into and outta the city over the next few years is gonna be more difficult than usual. The way they have done other bridges is either build a replacement next to the old one, like the Yankee Doodle Bridge linking Milford and Stratford, or doing a piecemeal replacement, doing one half, whilst leaving the other half to traffic. That means fewer lanes and more backup.
Sammy made mention of the fack that maybe it was Providence that determined the Haven Project never got offen the ground. Could you imagine for jest a sec what would’ve happened effen it was opened. It might hafta close right after with people avoiding coming into town. As it was we were wondering how in blazes the shopping center was going to affeck traffic. Effen the bride reconstruction happened with the shopping center, it could have been a daylong traffic jam into the city Cobina shudders to think about it.
And whilst we’re on the subject, the Kimberly Avenue bridge itself is well past its sell-by date. Effen yew remember, the bridge was open about 1970 and only had a projected lifespan of 20 years. We’re 34 years beyond that, and the deterioration of the underside of the span was talked about more than a decade ago.
Putting a new bridge across the spill into the Sound might be in the offing, which will further make traffic in the city problematic. Whilst I don’t think the thing will collapse, they are looking at it, I do think that there should be some concern here.
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Nelly Nuthatch pernted this little tidbit out, and in the bustle of getting Beach Street open, and other things going on in town, it kind of got lost. In the takeaway after the opening of Beach Street, something was said about the New England Brewing Company projeck.
Now remember, the NEBCO project has been slated for a replacement or rehab of the former Savin Rock Conference Center. Originally, it was a bigger project, and legal battles with the Land Trust of West Haven and Jimmies, Inc., forced a relook and paring down. Thanks to some fancy footwork by some officials, the project was outright canceled.
It now is being said that the NEBCO projeck might be looking for another venue within the city. We find that interesting. Y’see, Nelly mentioned that more than a year ago to Cobina and I hafta admit I sloughed it off as just a wild idea. Nope!
It seems an alternative site is being considered cuz the company might want to get out from under the current legal entanglements that have kep’ it held up. One wonders where that site might be? Could the former Haven property be one of the sites considered.
That might be a good possibility. Heck, we’re just speculatin’ here, but the company obviously wants a shore setting or they would not have attempted to get the Conference Center. The owners would have a good shot at prime land, and nobody would sue them. It might be a win-win. Again, it’s jest Cobina waxing her poetry.
It all depends on whether the shore was a major reason for the site in the first place. I think so, but Cobina never thinks she’s infallible. There are other sites in town, and I would love to be a fly on the wall when negotiations are going on.
It’ll be very interesting, no doubt.
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Iva Lootey sez that there are some movements concerning the Debonair Motel site, too, but those are kind of snagged, he’s hoid. The story is that a project was proposed, and there was some haggling. A revised projeck was then looked over and, again, there were some problems.
Last Iva heard effen the city and the developer can’t come to an agreement, the site might jest be left alone and the taxes will be paid. That’s not the way this should end. Iyam sure Herroner wants to get something over there cuz there is real movement in that part o’ town right now. It’ll be a real feather in the administration’s cap effen it could get the albatross off someone’s neck.
The rehab of Beach Street is a real booster shot for that area, which, effen yew remember, was quite forlorn for so long. In fack, we did a count on the number of weeks things went unsold and lying fallow. We’ve since moved to the aforementioned Haven, cuz that thing doesn’t seem like it’s ever gonna be sold in lots or otherwise.
Getting a new project at the Debonair has to be high on the priority list cuz it’ll get that part of the city off the developmental plate – after years of uncertainty.
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The Wag came in t’other afternoon and he and I had our usual confab about things in the burg. We talk and talk about blight and rebuilding the city to make it look nice. Well, one of his and my pet peeves is the parking of cars on front lawns.
The Wag was out in his roustabout and Cobina was out in her gassamobuggy, and it jest seems like more and more lots, particularly in the more rented parts of town, have cars positioned on the front lawn Adj. Campbell, for example, would be appalled by the number of cars that are parked on the lawns of homes on his namesake avenue. It really is an eyesore, and is to coin a phrase, “low rent.” Maybe a few citations from this new group the mayor has put together will send the woid out that it won’t be tolerated. There really ain’t no reason for it other than laziness, and carelessness. We hope this will be taken care of soon. It hurts all of us.
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Nice to hear that some movement is being made toward finding a home for the Piantino Library – otherwise known as the Allingtown Branch. Let’s hope in the next little while some plans will be presented and the people of the borough will get something that was taken away from them. And with the beginning of the new fiscal year this week, what better time than to announce some plan or projeck now that the funds are available…at least they will be when people make their tax payments.
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I hafta say, Felicia, things in the burg have been relatively quiet over the last several weeks. I don’t wanna say it’s like the calm before the storm, or waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I don’t remember this long a stretch where there is no controversy or other to roil the populace. Maybe it’ll be a nice summer after all.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,