Well honeybunch, here we are getting to the middle o’ July already. It’s gonna be no time before we start seeing leaves turn and our thoughts will be of snow, cold and heating bills. It’s amazing how fast – even more at our age – the summer seems to go.
Kitty Carlisle, the bon vivant that used to prowl about the game show circuit many years ago lived well into her 90s. She was once asked how she liked it. Her answer was classic, something to the effeck, “It’s OK, but at this age it feels like I’m having breakfast every 15 minutes.
Cobina can relate.
With the middle of July, thoughts turn to the annual Savin Rock Festival down at the Old Grove. With the fireworks display completed for another – and we hear they were humdingers – we now go to the biggest event of the year.
It’s hard to believe this event is nearing 40, but ‘tis. And those of us who remember how it got started – and how it almost ended – are happy to see that it continues. More info will be coming up as we get closer. Right now, I believe those in charge are making sure all the I’s are dotted and the T’s crossed.
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Nelly Nuthatch came in t’other day and and asked effen anything is happening with the demolition of the G-wing at the high school yet. I told her exactly whot I told yew a few weeks ago. Effen that little bit o’ news is nearing, yew can bet yore bottom dollar the powers that be both in the city and school system will be ringing bells and blowing whistles.
In other words, as of this writing, nothing yet has occurred. Remember it was supposed to happen right after the kiddies were let go for summer vacation, but the date of the beginning is and has been rather…fluid. Whilst some reports have it as early as this summer, many people have said they’ve been told it won’t be until school is back in session – well back in session – before the wrecking ball is put in a position to do its business.
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Still the wag is convinced nothing is gonna happen on that front until there is some indication the bond isshew that the City Council approved two weeks ago now will be sold. Like the State of Illinois, our bond rating is in the tank, and is setch that effen our bonds aren’t in the “junk” category, they are pert near.
As such, one would be best to not hold his breath waiting for the foist one to be sold. They probably will be sold – everyone needs a tax write off – but it ain’t gonna be smooth, and probably ain’t gonna be pretty.
The mavens of the Actors Colony ain’t too concerned on the aesthetics of the matter. What they want are the benefits of the sale so they can start spending the cash and paying the bills.
Keep yore eyes on this one, sweetie pie. It could be a very interesting education in investing and investors.
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The rumors are flying to the pernt yew’d think our city was an airport. Now that two city churches have closed to regular Sunday schedules, but remain places of worship, the rumors that a certain school of higher education has been rumored to be on the interested end of purchasing some of the properties.
Sammy Bluejay sez that some of the reports have more than a few people at the University of New Haven perplexed. One has them interested not only in one of the church properties – where they already have some office space – but also in the soon-to-be-closed ShopRite at the nexus of Campbell and Foist avenues.
Sammy sez that one highly placed person in the university has been telling all and sundry that setch interests are the creation of the pajama crowd in the social media circuit. Not having enuff to do, the yokels that stay on their computers all day determine to speculate about certain matters pertaining not only to the nation and the state, but our dear city.
Needless to say, once one speculation is put out there, the entire thing becomes like a game of “Telephone.” The speculation becomes fact and then the fact becomes something morphed into a saga with alleged prices for sale and the people who are interested.
Sammy sez that the university people he’s talked to say that nothing has been broached about new purchases, and that all the rumors are the products of active imaginations and too much time.
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Iva Lootey saw over the weekend that Yale University – one of our advertisers don’tcha know, jest like UNH – paid the City of New Haven a whopping $4-plus million for building permits and other fees. They’ve been constructing new residential colleges.
Well, the pernt of the story is that Iva saw that and began wondering when our little corner of the universe was gonna start seeing kopecks from permits and other assorted collections when it comes to the Haven.
It’s yet another week and the talk is the developers and the remaining landowners have come to terms. But, like the aforementioned G-wing at West Haven High, the bells and whistles that would be sounded once that happens would be something to behold. There would be a news conference and big announcement.
The story persists that things are heading toward a first date with the backhoe to take down properties, but as far as the city reaping any financial benefits from the projeck, Iva sez he ain’t aware the city has collected a farthing.
We’ll keep waiting, but we –like above – will not hold our collective or singular breaths.
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With the middle o’ the month, the campaign season will take on a life of its own. The Democratic and Republican Town Committees will be scheduling their caucuses in the next few days, and we’ll have official slates and official announcements concerning attempts at forcing a primary.
Madame Olga was by the other afternoon and sez that all things pernt to Ed O’Brien getting a rather easy win in the caucus along with his favored slate. That means that the next day the petitioning process will begin, and the canvassers will be out on the streets looking for signatures.
This has always been a fun part of each election, cuz, as yew know, primaries are a political staple in these parts gong back at least two decades.
Once the ink is dry on the Democratic Party’s official slate papers, the ink will be applied to Nancy Rossi’s request for petition and primary. She’s expected she’ll get the needed signatures, and we’ll be off to a September primary.
Over in the GOP, there is not so much talk of a primary as there will be a full slate of candidates. David Riccio, the at-large councilman representing the minority party has been working for the nod, and we’re told that it should be a slam-dunk that he’ll get it.
I know they are gonna have a full slate cuz they’ve been letting that info out to various people, including our esteemed editor. We shall see once the caucus is over. If it’s true, it’ll be a red-letter day.
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Cobina wonders how Mike DiMassa and Dorina Borer, not to mention Ferraro and Slossberg, are liking going up to the Capitol in the heat of July? From the looks of things it’s gonna be while before the boys and girls up there get some kind of consensus going to cobble together a state budget.
We have our own ideas about state spending and the fack that we sometimes think they don’t think it’s real money up there in the Legislature, but that’s on our editorial page.
Meanwhile, let ‘em stew. The only thing we know that is sure is one way or the other we’re all gonna be paying more to Hartford when all is said and done. Meanwhile, the state’s population continues to decrease – excep’ of course, the people who benefit.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,