As Iyam writing this week’s missive sweets, we are between rain storms. Whilst the mavens of the boob tube were tellin’ us this morning was gonna be sunny and bright with rain later, Cobina woke up to see rain falling – yet again. The begonias can’t take much more. The only thing that’s gonna be sprouting in our garden is gonna be mushrooms – and not the good kind. Needless to say, trying to air out the house has been a lost cause cuz we can’t git enuff sunny weather. Let’s hope it gits better cuz May was not so much to brag about.
Yew gotta hurt for the guys and gals in the Actors Colony who had to make the call concerning last week’s aborted Memorial Day parade. Y’see last year, they had to postpone the parade from Memorial Day to the follying weekend only to have the rains come again, and it canceled. This year the committee made a pernt to say the procession was gonna take place rain or shine. But things ain’t ever that cut and dried as yew know.
When the day came and the weather was rainy and cold, the decision was made to folly the directive and have the parade. However, the weather folks weren’t quite so helpful. They determined that the conditions were right for lightning. That put a whole new complexion on the matter, and the people in charge did not wanna take the responsibility.
As it toined out, the lightning never showed up, and the committee took a bit o’ heat for making the decision to cancel.
Puttin’ these things together ain’t as easy as once upon a time. There was a time only West Haven had a parade on the day, with other towns having theirs during the weekend leading up to the holiday. Then a bunch o’ towns started parades. Bands that used to sign up every year – particularly high school bands – had to commit to their home towns. So what once had nine or ten bands was whittled down to two or three.
Tennyrate, the decision to cancel this year’s parade was because of the lightning forecast by various outlets. Of course, if the parade went on and the lightning came, there would be hell to pay that way. Ya can say it’s a lose-lose matter.
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Of course, Sammy Bluejay came by with another situation wherein the Actors Colony is taking a big hit. As yew probably hoid, the ShopRite on Campbell Avenue has decided to close after nearly 20 years over there. Some people thought that might be the case when the Orange store opened on Bull Hill Lane, but it wasn’t until the pharmacy got moved that the real rumors started, according to Sammy.
Well, the announcement was made and about 142 people are gonna be lookin’ for work, with the owner saying he’s gonna try to help ‘em get new situations.
What is really irking a few in the Actors Colony is the usual suspects on what is called “social media” are blaming hizzoner and others for the lose of the store. Evidently, the various websites have been exploding with finger-pointing and playing the blame game.
Lissen, Cobina is the foist to blame City Hall effen the leadership does something wrong, but yew can’t blame ‘em on this one. These decisions are made by corporations and corporate attorneys. Once the decision is made an act of Congress wouldn’t change them. Nope. This is all on the corporation. And, needless to say, once they opened the Orange store, one had to wonder what was gonna happen.
Still, the store seemed to be busy, so one wonders why the decision was made in the foist place. I gave up trying to figger out corporate minds a long time ago. They build new branches cuz there’s a tax write-off, and then once the benefits are no longer, many of the stores git closed. And yew can guess why.
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And as we trundle on through June, yew can expeck that tax bills will be going out sometime soon. As we git closer to the July 1 date, tax bills go out so that people can pay them through the month. Nelly Nuthatch was talking to some people from outside the berg, and the angst that we hear is being felt in the Actors Colony is being felt elsewhere.
Y’see sez Nelly, jest as people in city government are worried about what aid they’re gonna git from Hartford, that fear has run through most of the state’s 169 municipalities. Even though the suggested state aid was sent out when budgets were being formulated, now that the state has to redo its own spending plan and try to close a $5 billion well of red ink, the woid is for everyone to hold onto their horses.
Whilst our own city decided to only count two-thirds of what was promised, even that is up in the air. Towns in the regions are jest as worried as our own leaders, and this summer could be a very hot one when the decisions to try to close city spending gaps are to be made. Nobody knows how this is gonna play out, and Nelly sez the sweat under the collar is beginning to be seen in other places.
Stay tuned for this one cuz it could get very ugly before it is all over.
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I jest seen that Vic Hogfeldt sent another missive to the papyrus, and has sent a copy to each and every board of ed member. He wants and open hearing before the bored, and is of the opinion that certain legal opinionators are of the belief that the situation is too technical for the elected officials to understand and is trying to abort that possibility. Iva Lootey tells me that under the terms of law and the contrack Vic can ask for a hearing before the bored, and those of opposing opinions can pound sand, fry ice, or generally jump off a short bridge.
It would seem to li’l ole me that effen Vic has an option of a hearing before the bored he should git one. The only reason not to have it is that certain inconvenient truths might come out hurting one or t’other administrator. Look, I’ve been saying all along up until the whole matter started about 18 months ago, Hogfeldt was considered an OK teacher and he sez he has the evaluations to back him up. If it goes to court, a jury might see the evidence of things before the trouble and after. That could cost the taxpayers of this community big.
There was other ways of handling this matter, but as usual, the powers that be, both in the union and school system chose to use strong-arm tactics rather than play nice. This thing ain’t over, that’s for sure.
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As we head into June the next big thing in town is the Fireworks on July 3. We see that a couple of events are planned to get some extra kopecks for the event, which runs about $20,000-$25,000 per year. Normally, they have money donated and the costs are perty well taken care of, but it’s always nice to have a few more pennies in the till. It’s a big night around here as yew know, with more than 100,000 usually packing in town to see the display. This year should be no different.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,