Well, sweetie pie, the leaves are falling – trees around my domicile have already given up the ghost – the days are getting shorter, a chill is in the air, and the boob tube is cluttered with one campaign ad after another. So, it must be elections season if nothin’ else! By this time next week maybe, jest maybe we’ll have an idea who won, cuz in our fast-paced, super tech world, we have states who take longer to count votes than entire nations. And then then wonder why people think there’s monkey business goin’ on. But that’s the topic of another conversation.
Here in the Asylum by the Sea it’s been a perty quiet election season. There are the usual lawn signs for this or that candidate, and there is a General Assembly election, but, because there is a national vote going on, that seems to take up all the oxygen in the room.
We will be voting for our entire Assembly and State Senate delegation, and Cobina would be very surprised effen there is much of a change in the current faces of the incumbents that are running. Foist of all, this is a city run by one party, with very little opposition from t’other. Second, most people will probably vote for the incumbent cuz they recognize the name, and thoid, the only districk where there will definitely be a change is the 117th. Charlie Ferraro who has held forth in that districk for the last decade has called it a career. Meanwhile, Ray Collins III is lookin’ for the seat in the traditionally Republican enclave. One way or the other, there will be a new face in that seat.
As far as our national delegation, let’s face it Rosa DeLauro Greenberg will have that seat until they roll her hearse into position. The only time the Third Congressional Districk was held by a member of the GOP was when Larry DeNardis won the seat in the Reagan Landslide of 1980. Two years later he was ousted, and the Demmies have held the seat since.
Chris Murphy, who never met a tax he didn’t like nor a Chinese Communist, is probably gonna get reelected cuz people in this state are nuts. He as well as his counterpart Richard Blumenthal are embarrassments to the state, but I guess to paraphrase a quote by Harry Truman, “He might be an embarrassment, but he’s my embarrassment.”
So, the nonsense that is the final days of the campaign will be over, and there we are.
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Before we go on, we want to extend our condolences to the family of Michael Violano, well known sportsman in this town, and longtime businessman. Mike met his maker during a hockey tournament doing what he loved best, coaching kids. His passing was punch in the gut to many people in town who knew him.
Many remember his days as a star athlete at the local high school, where he was a three-sport captain. He never forgot his roots and despite all his coaching chores did business in the city.
We extend our deepest sorrow to his family!
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Well according to Sammy Bluejay there seems to be some good news on the Beach Street horizon as well as at Savin Rock. Could it be that things might actually get done and in some type of good order? Let’s hope so.
Sammy sez that the owners of the former Debonair Motel are looking to raze the building and put up some shorefront condominiums. Since there are three or four setch things in that neighborhood already, one can’t be too surprised about that turn of events. In fack, methinks I mentioned to you a month or so ago that setch a plan was in the works. It was jest a matter of how many stories the new development would have.
Sammy mentioned that cuz he was relating it to the six-story condo that is near the corner of Washington and Beach. That building we all remember was put up about two decades ago, and had some minor difficulties along the way.
Y’see people who live on surrounding or parallel streets have somewhat of a view of the water and wanna keep it that way. Well, when that six-story job was put up there was a bit of consternation about it blocking the view.
Sammy is of the opinion something like that might be happening behind the scenes, but effen all things are in order there ain’t much that can be stopped. Besides, that old building is starting to go to seed, and the fack that it’s been closed for five years or so is starting to show bigtime. We’ve always said Beech Street was the perfect place for shorefront condos. So, let’s hope this thing happens sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, barely months after the New England Brewing Company told the city “See ya later,” there is new interest in another building that has been closed for about five years – the former Savin Rock Conference Center.
Sammy was on top o’ this, too. I guess a wedding venue and eatery is planned for the site, and whilst the plans aren’t complete for the “Kelsey Project” as it’s being called, things seem to be going full speed ahead as Herroner has let it be known she wants this thing to make a quick run through the red tape.
Of course, all eyes are not on this but next door to the former Conference Center. Once the approvals are received – and there is no reason to believe they won’t – the wonder is gonna be effen there will be a lawsuit filed. One will find out soon enuff. That’s for sure.
A wedding venue was envisioned for the place when it was foist closed, but the building and its current problems seemed to give people cold feet. It seems this new developer has a good plan and is looking to start asap.
Keep yore eyes peeled on this one!
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And for those keeping score, we are reaching the end of another month where nothing is happening as the former Haven site. We know Herroner is not happy about this, but we also know the current owners, the Haven Group, treat local authorities as if they are rubes. They are big time New Yawkers, after all.
How long has it been since the place was closed off – four years? And how long has it been since the demolitions took place? About a year? Still no inkling as to what in Samuel J. Hill is happening over there. Mother Nature is reclaiming the land daily with new growth, and there will be new trees sprouting before we know anything. You can bet on it.
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We tetched on this the last missive, but methinks it should be expanded upon. “It” is the Allingtown Library. Jest before the last letter, it was announced the Blake Building would be looked at as a new location for the Piantino Library…in other words the Allingtown Branch. As yew remember it was closed four or five years ago when it lost its lease at the Former Forest School Building on Forest Road.
Since then the books have been stored, and the Village Improvement Association, the agency in charge of the Library System, has been trying to get new digs. The former CVS site over there in the intersection of Campbell, Forest and the Post Road was mentioned, as was the building of a new building shared by the local fire brigade.
Well, interestingly, we get back to the Blake Building. When yew and I started this colyume some 50 years ago or so, the building was known as Lincoln School. Before the 70s were over the school was closed. When the Board of Education had to move outta West Haven High School cuz the place was burstin’ at the seams, they chose Lincoln School, did some interior work and named it after a former politico who was a State Rep. The Blake name was a big one in these parts.
The building was talked about as a venue for the library once the Board of Ed moved over to City Hall after the constabulary moved to its new building on Sawmill Road. But for reasons not too clear, the idea was nixed. Well, now it’s back.
Cobina thinks this is gonna be the place where it finally settles. It’s got parking, is big enuff, and the extra space can be utilized. Besides, Herroner is behind the idea. That will cinch the deal.
Stay tuned for more. Methinks you’ll be hearing more details very shortly.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,