Well sweetie pie, it’s hard to believe that it’s Thanksgiving already. Here in the Asylum by the sea, yew can tell it’s Thanksgiving cuz the city workers have been working like the Dickens trying to git the Green all gussied up for the tree-lighting ceremony that takes place this weekend. Yup, the best way to find out nowadays whether we’re going “over the river and through the woods” is to find out if we’re getting ready to “Deck the Halls.”
Also, a sure sign of the holiday is the fack that the WHHS and Notre Dame HS teams are on the front page. Both are going to take the gridiron for the final time today. Funny thing about West Haven, though. It was trying an experiment to do something it never did before – play the night before Turkey Day. The school has been playing on Thanksgiving Day since the 1920s when it played Hillhouse. In fack, the two schools still hold the record for attendance in these parts for a schoolboy game. More than 43,000 were in Yale Bowl for the 1944 game.
Tennyrate, the snow last week put a damper on those new plans – or could it be the football gods were not amused and decided that tradition was tradition. Whatever the reason, the boys are playing on Thursday morning as they have for more than 80 years.
Sammy Bluejay likes to watch the fellas from Public Work put the stuff up for Christmas. The angels that the city has had for decades went up foist as they always do, then the other things, like the lights, and then the sentry buildings. Sammy told me the next this in Santa’s house, and a nice warm spot for the Jolly Ole Elf to ensconce himself when the lights are lit for sure.
Meanwhile, Bill Ewry and his group seem to have things in hand for the Community Thanksigiving Dinner set for noon on the big day – witch is “today” by the time yew read this. The birds are baking, the cranberries are saucing and the people will que up for the meal.
In other words: Happy Thanksgiving!!
Needless to say, as we do every year, we are ready to hand out our own mythical turkeys to the celebs and politicos who make our little place in the universe soooooo special. It’s a tradition yew and I have had fer a long, long time. So, here goes:
Mayor Nancy Rossi – Our esteemed chief exec has had quite a year and one wouldn’t be surprised effen she’s on a diet of antacids and lactose-free milk. With her coming into office finding out the city was under state control, and now trying to figger out how to navigate through these narrow straits the Municipal Accountability Review Board has set, she’s had a heckuva first year. But, she gits her own turkey this year with the antacids attached to the wings. We figger she can feast and then pop a few tablets. Effen she decides to have an adult Beveridge or three, who can blame her.
City Council Chairman Ron Quagliani – Ron has had a bit of a rough go as well, but he seems to have weathered it fairly well. He gets his turkey with some noise-cancelling earphones on the bird. The cacophony of voices, all screaming at each other, might mean he needs to go to his own lit’le happy place every once in a while.
Councilman Aaron Charney – Charney didn’t make too many friends amongst various quarters when he voted against the five-year plan a couple weeks back. He’s been a bit of a lone wolf on the council in his foist year and that’s not a bad thing. The problem with this burg sometimes is that there is a wolfpack mentality to keep the metaphor going. Tennyrate, he gits his turkey with a flashcard: I hear you, but I still disagree. People impute reasons for things around here, without ever listening to the arguments. It’s always been that way. Agree or disagree, he gave a reasoned argument.
Mayoral Assistant Louey Esposito – An interesting part o’ the foist year of this administration has been the number of positions or hats that Louey has been asked to wear. We lost count, truth to tell. Louey’s turkey have gravy with a bit more oomph to it so he can git extra energy fer all the tasks he seems to have on his plate.
School Superintendent Neil Cavallaro – Neil’s turkey will be arrayed in sunglasses. Cavallaro has had a knack for staying under the radar of late. There was a time when it seems his nibs was in the news and the subjeck of discussion around these parts almost daily – and for good reason. In the last little while, however, he seems to prefer the lowlight to the limelight. Good choice, methinks.
Merlie Mae – Our gal, Merle Stevens, otherwise known as Merlie Mae, has been in camera for a while since she was the victim of a house fire back in the summer. Merlie is still recovering. We’re gonna give her a big turkey, and one with extra stuffing. She’s been through a lot, and we want her to know her friends are still lookin’ out for her.
Members of the MARB – The Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) has been nothing effen it hasn’t been tough. Well, the member will git a turkey – each – that’s as tough as shoe leather. They don’t seem to care about people’s ability to pay, just that they do. Also, the stuffing will be bean-based for all the bean counters on the board.
The taxpayers of Allingtown – They get turkeys with tax bills attached. Honey bunch, effen there is a part o’ town that is probably ruing the day it went under city auspices for fire service, it’s gotta be the people of Allingtown. Since they made the decision to be a city fire department, the taxes in that borough have gone hog wild. And, with the new five-year plan, the homeowners get zonked again.
Eleanore Turkington – She gits a turkey with a little extra spice. The gal has been a firebrand to git things done in the city when it seemed that nobody was listening to the little gripes that taxpayers had amongst the larger financial difficulties. She’s kept the elected officials accountable.
Patrick Morrissey — Patrick has been part o’ this colyume for years – almost 20 by our count. His turkey will be one to savor for a long time, just like this mention here.
City PR man Mike Walsh – His turkey will be extra sweet and savory, jest like him.
To all our readers – The hope for a fine family holiday and the best of the upcoming holiday season.
As we said above, Happy Thanksgiving.