Red Rosa's opponent | , Wayne Winsley |
Friday, August 31, 2012
Teetering on Corruption Middletown
Interview with Candidate Wayne Winsley
Wayne Winsley, candidate for the U.S. Congress representing all of the citizens of the 3rd Congressional District, today released the following statement:
On Monday August 27th Wayne Winsley engaged in a discussion with members of the Hartford Courant editorial board. The topics included taxes, education, and individual rights.
The full interview is available at http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=8108
“I look forward to every opportunity to engage with members of the media, and more importantly the citizens of the third district and others. As your new representative, I will continue to engage in an ongoing dialogue with, and be an effective representative for, all citizens of Connecticut.”
On Monday August 27th Wayne Winsley engaged in a discussion with members of the Hartford Courant editorial board. The topics included taxes, education, and individual rights.
The full interview is available at http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=8108
“I look forward to every opportunity to engage with members of the media, and more importantly the citizens of the third district and others. As your new representative, I will continue to engage in an ongoing dialogue with, and be an effective representative for, all citizens of Connecticut.”
Help Middletown Youth Services
Help Middletown Youth Services
BIGGER THAN YOU THINK is a short play with a huge purpose--helping Middletown’s children grow up well. This is a time for committed action. Be a part of the action in a community performance created by the Middletown Youth Services Bureau, The Center for the Advancement of Youth, Family and Community Services, and Community Performance International. From the stories of Middletown youth and adults, our play uses the 40 Developmental Assets, or building blocks of healthy youth development, to tell the story of how Middletown is doing with the most important job a town can have--raising the children. Participate in shaping the next generation of Middletown's leaders as we also share our latest set of data from the largest survey we’ve ever conducted of Middletown youth.
To sign up for any of these volunteer opportunities or for more information please contact us by phone at 860-854-6030 or via email at carbonellaj@mpsct.org (please include your name and contact information). You can also keep up to date on this project via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ MtownYSB
Cast –Roles for everyone from elementary school age, middle school, high school, young adults and grandparents, from all walks of life. The play looks to include over 50+ actors/participants so there is room for everyone regardless of perceived skill and experience (WE NEED YOU!!!). Auditions will be held at the Middletown Youth Services Bureau (372 Hunting Hill Ave, Middletown – former MHS VOAG site) and are scheduled for:
Friday, September 7th from 6-9pm
Saturday, September 8th from 10-12pm and from 1-4pm
Sunday, September 9th from 2-5pm
Justin Carbonella, MPA
Youth Services Coordinator
860.854.6030 fax : 860.854.6028
372 Hunting Hill Ave, Middletown, CT 06457
Thursday, August 30, 2012
FEULNER: Teacher unions' pressure is failing
School choice is passing the test
from The Washington Times
Hearing teachers unions complain about extending school choice to American families is nothing new. They have been spreading misinformation about efforts to break up their monopoly on education for years. With millions of students going back to school, we can, unfortunately, expect them to turn up the volume.
Yet every year, the unions’ grip on power loosens. Scholarships, education savings accounts, vouchers and other reform efforts keep proliferating. Worse, from the unions’ point of view, school choice keeps growing in popularity among parents and students. Forty-four percent of Americans now favor allowing students the option of attending private schools at public expense. That is up 10 percentage points from last year.
Small wonder that the Louisiana Association of Educators threatened last month to sue private parochial schools in the state that plan to accept voucher students this fall, or that the union-supported Obama administration has supported a plan to give federally issued paychecks directly to local teachers. Desperation must be setting in.
The calls for more taxpayer money persist despite the huge increases in federal education spending over the past decade. President Obama’s fiscal 2013 budget request included another major increase for the Department of Education — 2.5 percent more than last year — to nearly $70 billion.
We’re now spending an average of $11,400 per student, a record amount. Yet test scores and other measurements of academic achievement continue to lag.
Given this state of affairs, we should be glad school choice is on the rise. Among the promising signs we see:
New Hampshire is one of 11 states to offer scholarships for underprivileged students to attend private schools. Parents unhappy with their local public schools have a choice. They can do something to get their children into schools they feel would better meet their needs. Businesses and individuals who donate to private-school scholarship funds receive sizable tax credits. The scholarships average $2,500 for students whose families earn up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.
South Carolina has a tuition tax-credit program that lets children attend schools that are right for them. Who is eligible for the tax credit? Anyone who donates to the privately funded scholarships that have been set up for low-income and special-needs students. The program gives tax deductions of up to $4,000 to families to help cover the cost of sending their children to private schools, $2,000 for home schooling and $1,000 to help with expenses related to sending their children to out-of-district public schools.
North Carolina is home to an elementary school that has used online learning to move from the middle of the pack on student achievement into a tie for second place on state tests. In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Juan Williams explains how:
“All of their textbooks, notes, learning materials and assignments are computerized, allowing teachers and parents to track their progress in real time. If a student is struggling, their computer-learning program can be adjusted to meet their needs and get them back up to speed. And the best students no longer wait on slow students to catch up. Top students are constantly pushed to their limits by new curricular material on their laptops.”
Home schooling. Heritage Foundation education analyst Lindsey Burke says it may be the fastest-growing form of education in the United States, rivaled only by charter schools. Data from the U.S. Department of Education show a 74 percent increase in home schooling since 1999 alone, with approximately 1.5 million children (2.9 percent of school-age children) being home-schooled in 2007. The numbers have only grown since then. Some analysts place the number of home-schooled children at more than 2 million.
These and other encouraging trends suggest that the status quo in education won’t necessarily remain the status quo much longer. The trend is flowing away from government control — and toward parental control.
“Parents are the first and the most important educators of their own children,” Pope John Paul II once said. “They also possess a fundamental competence in this area; they are educators because they are parents.” They, not Washington, are the ones who should be directing education. The more our education policy reflects this truth, the better off our children will be.
from The Washington Times
Hearing teachers unions complain about extending school choice to American families is nothing new. They have been spreading misinformation about efforts to break up their monopoly on education for years. With millions of students going back to school, we can, unfortunately, expect them to turn up the volume.
Yet every year, the unions’ grip on power loosens. Scholarships, education savings accounts, vouchers and other reform efforts keep proliferating. Worse, from the unions’ point of view, school choice keeps growing in popularity among parents and students. Forty-four percent of Americans now favor allowing students the option of attending private schools at public expense. That is up 10 percentage points from last year.
Small wonder that the Louisiana Association of Educators threatened last month to sue private parochial schools in the state that plan to accept voucher students this fall, or that the union-supported Obama administration has supported a plan to give federally issued paychecks directly to local teachers. Desperation must be setting in.
The calls for more taxpayer money persist despite the huge increases in federal education spending over the past decade. President Obama’s fiscal 2013 budget request included another major increase for the Department of Education — 2.5 percent more than last year — to nearly $70 billion.
We’re now spending an average of $11,400 per student, a record amount. Yet test scores and other measurements of academic achievement continue to lag.
Given this state of affairs, we should be glad school choice is on the rise. Among the promising signs we see:
New Hampshire is one of 11 states to offer scholarships for underprivileged students to attend private schools. Parents unhappy with their local public schools have a choice. They can do something to get their children into schools they feel would better meet their needs. Businesses and individuals who donate to private-school scholarship funds receive sizable tax credits. The scholarships average $2,500 for students whose families earn up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.
South Carolina has a tuition tax-credit program that lets children attend schools that are right for them. Who is eligible for the tax credit? Anyone who donates to the privately funded scholarships that have been set up for low-income and special-needs students. The program gives tax deductions of up to $4,000 to families to help cover the cost of sending their children to private schools, $2,000 for home schooling and $1,000 to help with expenses related to sending their children to out-of-district public schools.
North Carolina is home to an elementary school that has used online learning to move from the middle of the pack on student achievement into a tie for second place on state tests. In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Juan Williams explains how:
“All of their textbooks, notes, learning materials and assignments are computerized, allowing teachers and parents to track their progress in real time. If a student is struggling, their computer-learning program can be adjusted to meet their needs and get them back up to speed. And the best students no longer wait on slow students to catch up. Top students are constantly pushed to their limits by new curricular material on their laptops.”
Home schooling. Heritage Foundation education analyst Lindsey Burke says it may be the fastest-growing form of education in the United States, rivaled only by charter schools. Data from the U.S. Department of Education show a 74 percent increase in home schooling since 1999 alone, with approximately 1.5 million children (2.9 percent of school-age children) being home-schooled in 2007. The numbers have only grown since then. Some analysts place the number of home-schooled children at more than 2 million.
These and other encouraging trends suggest that the status quo in education won’t necessarily remain the status quo much longer. The trend is flowing away from government control — and toward parental control.
“Parents are the first and the most important educators of their own children,” Pope John Paul II once said. “They also possess a fundamental competence in this area; they are educators because they are parents.” They, not Washington, are the ones who should be directing education. The more our education policy reflects this truth, the better off our children will be.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Wave the Flag Event Middletown!
Support America, support our veterans......WAVE THE FLAG EVENT
When: September 1, 2012
Where: Corner of Main and Washington Street, Middletown CT
Time: Noon-1pm
See you there-bring a flag and a sign: Thank you veterans! We love America!
Event is organized by Gail Whitright --www.PropositionUSA.com
"Taking back America"
Middletown Republican Town Committee will be in attendance, anyone & everyone & all groups welcome & invited!
Fact: Every 80 minutes a veteran commits suicide. Over 200,000 homeless veterans.
Support the vets, Support America!
See you on September 1!
Below is a patriotic poem written by local teacher Gail Whitright and featured on the website for Proposition USA, a blog and group of Teachers who believe in helping veterans.
Author, Teacher, and Veteran Supporter, Gail Whitright |
Poem by Gail Whitright
This country is made of immigrants who came through Ellis Island - our front doorThey were tired, they were hungry and all of them were poor.
The English had a work ethic that did not call for rest
The Pilgrims were gutsy and set the foundation for our country to be the best
With the Irish, America too was their destiny and a new life too their fate
They were determined to survive according to history and the famine of 1848.
The Germans had covered wagons and log cabins on the lands.
They had nothing and survived with their bare hands
The Italians, with courage and hard work they would not accept defeat
I grew up with Italian farmers who stopped working just long enough to eat
The Portuguese - their piece of the pie they can redeem
They made it with their families working as a team
If you’re hungry at night, you’ll be served right away
Because in Connecticut we’ve got the Greeks who are working 24 hours a day!
The Asians work hard to fill their needs
It is their honor and discipline is the reason they succeed
With the Scandinavians their goodness never wanes
They’re a hearty lot - The Finns, Norwegians, Swedes and Danes
The Jews have initiative and showed us something which is this
They showed how important love of learning and education is
The Czechs, Bosnians and Hungarians want the same as you and me
They were fleeing opppression all's they ever wanted was to be free
For excellent neighbors, who made great citizens too
If you want self-reliance French Canadians will always come through
Haitians are determined and make A+ friends I find
I like West Indians because they are industrious and kind
Tle Poles worked hard and did what they should
They succeeded because they are honest and good
Blacks have tremendous talent, they do it all in stride
It's easy for black children to have something called Black Pride
The Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians wanted more then just to pass
They rolled up their sleeves and are graduating at the top of their class
Latinos with their families to their goals they will stride
Their successes and accomplishments is what gives them pride
Indians are very special with values they hold so dear
They are very special friends because they have so much to share
Yankee ingenuity and hard work was Connecticut’s fate
400 years of self-reliance made Connecticut the wealthiest state
How did Connecticut become so wealthy - where do I begin?
In 1633 the founders of our state - believed not working was a sin
Hard work and self reliance is how this country grew
Plus WE'RE AMERICANS and there's nothing we can't do!
The fact is red, yellow, brown, black and white
Take is from a school marm - Education is half the fight
Through faith - WE WILL RALLY - do not fret
D-Day, A man on the moon - Those were AMERICANS - Don’t forget!
Won’t you join us - PROPOSITIONUSA - We won’t go down in defeat!
Because through hard work and helping one another...
WE'RE GOING TO GET AMERICA BACK
ON IT'S FEET
HELP ONE AMERICA
LET'S BRING OUR COUNTRY BACK! -Local Vo-Ag Students Win Awards
Middletown Agriculture Students Qualify for National Competition
MIDDLETOWN – The National FFA Association recently announced that ten
area students enrolled in the Agriculture Science & Technology
program at Middletown High School qualified to compete at the upcoming
National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Students
were invited to represent the state of Connecticut in the Livestock
Evaluation Career Development Event, which requires students to analyze
and evaluate livestock animals and management scenarios. Team members
include junior Jaimie Simmons from Middletown, senior Nathaniel
Trojanoski from East Hampton, and 2012 graduates Casey Nielsen from
Middletown and Kacey Reinholtz from East Hampton, both currently
freshmen at Delaware Valley College.
Five
students were also named National Finalists in the Agriscience Fair
competition, and are invited to defend their thesis and conclusions in
an interview and poster session at the convention. Finalists included
junior Morgan O’Sullivan from Killingworth for her project comparing the
relationship of a horse’s shoulder angle and stride length; senior Liam
Mellaly from Clinton for his analysis of the energy availability of
certain fuels; senior Alyssa Annino from Middletown, who investigated
outdoor recreation preferences of youth; and 2012 graduates Anna
Pettengill and Lydia Brodeur for their research concerning agricultural
literacy.
The students, along with junior Bailey Basiel of Durham, winner of the
2012 Melzmuff-Varratto Leadership Scholarship Award, will travel to the
National FFA Convention this October in Indianapolis, Indiana along with
an anticipated 60,000 youth from across the country. There, not only
will the students compete in their respective areas but engage in the
many other opportunities offered at the convention, including a career
show, leadership workshops, and agricultural industry tours.
All
students are members of the Mattabeset FFA Chapter, the youth
leadership organization associated with the Middletown Agriculture
Science and Technology program based at Middletown High School. The
Middletown Regional Agriculture Science & Technology Program is
available to high school students from Chester, Clinton, Clinton, Deep
River, Durham, East Hampton, Essex, Guilford, Haddam, Killingworth,
Madison, Middlefield, Middletown, Portland, Rocky Hill, Old Saybrook and
Westbrook. The National FFA Organization is the nation’s leading
agricultural youth leadership organization with over 7,000 FFA chapters
in the United States, serving 540,379 FFA members. For further
information about the program, please call (860) 704-4599 or on the web
at www.middletownschools.org
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Letter to the Editor: Lessons for the Future About Route 9 Traffic Lights
A letter to the Editors of the Insider brings to light an old but once again relevant issue. With decommissioning of the Middletown's Sewage Treatment plant and the subsequent joining of the Mattabassett Sewage District scheduled for referendum this fall, new opportunities open up Middletown's river front for development. One reader cautions citizens and begs the question: Is an increase in patronage to businesses downtown worth the tragedies that have resulted from traffic lights put in place to direct people to Main Street? With new developments on the horizon, what will the new traffic patterns needed to be to satisfy developers look like? What have we learned and what can we do to make this stretch of road safer now that there may be new opportunities?
The Hartford Courant published an article about the CT Department of Transportation's conclusion that this stretch in Middletown is the most dangerous stretch of roadway in the state. Read the article here. In the Courant's article, manager of Amato's on Main Street Diane Gervais describes the delicate relationship between Route 9 Traffic and Main Street patronage, she is said: "Our customers need access to Route 9, and we need access to our customers from Route 9."
Below is one readers opinion, in his own words. All letters to the editor do no necessarily reflect views of the Insider and are posted for information purposes only.
-----------------------------------------------------------
When Route 9 was proposed to pass along the river front in Middletown, the leaders of another generation agreed to it on one condition. That being there be traffic lights on a four lane highway to stop passing motorists for the sole purpose of patronizing Middletown businesses.
The lives lost at that dangerous bottleneck will be forever on their heads. Take the traffic lights off RT 9 and end the bottleneck to the flow of traffic. There are plenty of on- and off-ramps and the traffic lights are not needed and are deadly.
Tom Salafia, Resident of Middletown, CT
The Hartford Courant published an article about the CT Department of Transportation's conclusion that this stretch in Middletown is the most dangerous stretch of roadway in the state. Read the article here. In the Courant's article, manager of Amato's on Main Street Diane Gervais describes the delicate relationship between Route 9 Traffic and Main Street patronage, she is said: "Our customers need access to Route 9, and we need access to our customers from Route 9."
Below is one readers opinion, in his own words. All letters to the editor do no necessarily reflect views of the Insider and are posted for information purposes only.
-----------------------------------------------------------
When Route 9 was proposed to pass along the river front in Middletown, the leaders of another generation agreed to it on one condition. That being there be traffic lights on a four lane highway to stop passing motorists for the sole purpose of patronizing Middletown businesses.
The lives lost at that dangerous bottleneck will be forever on their heads. Take the traffic lights off RT 9 and end the bottleneck to the flow of traffic. There are plenty of on- and off-ramps and the traffic lights are not needed and are deadly.
Tom Salafia, Resident of Middletown, CT
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
It's ok to Hate & Persecute Conservatives
We can all agree racial and religious discrimination is wrong, but how are we taught to treat others with differing political views? |
After the primary the Insider made a joke (ok, not a great joke) about losing Democratic candidate Susan Bysiewicz's platform which was based on the "every woman" tactic to liken herself to the middle class. The reaction to this comment on our facebook page from friends was astounding.From the reaction one would think we attacked a patron saint or tripped Mother Teresa, clubbed a baby seal or something. In actuality, a intelligent discussion thread resulted. The above article makes a MASS generalization about conservative citizens as inferior HUMAN beings. Most comments thus far listed below it condone this. Cue the crickets. In grade school, American students are all taught racial, religious, gender, cultural etc etc discrimination is wrong. But what about discrimination based on how one perceives authority and government - how one believes society should function- ie political beliefs. What does this say about what we are teaching our children about tolerance of others with different thought processes? Should we all behave and not be critical? Or, should be all grow a thicker skin? Many conclusions can be drawn.
On August 17, 2012 cartoonist Bob Englehart of Middletown published a cartoon in the Hartford Courant calling GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan "Mitt & Twitt." He also writes: "The
great thing about moderates and liberals is that they can change their
minds after learning new information, or understanding justice and
fairness.Conservatives
cannot, under any circumstance, change their minds. The old way is the
best way, every man for himself, I got mine and nobody helped me, now
you get yours the same way; you failed, it's your own damn fault. What a
wonderful world it would be."
Englehart is a talented, clever guy and we would never deny him his right to free speech. Maybe he will do a guest cartoon for the Insider some day? Doubtful . But there is a point: Englehart basically eludes to, and says with out saying that the reader should conclude Conservative minded people are stupid and inferior- conservatives cannot process simple thoughts such as drawing different conclusions- ie changing of ones mind. If the Insider say, said this about liberals would there be no reaction? Would a cartoon of a parody of the Obama name with a certain like sounding middle-eastern name be as funny and acceptable?
Though D's and R's have different view points as far as government structure- and really when you get down to it the driving force behind this is how money should be spent-( it is what makes the world go round) are we that different to be so divided? The Insider concludes that both groups love their families, value community, and are charitable- just in different ways. We checked to find research done by a credible academic group on whether 'mud slinging' campaign tactics used by candidates has produced any relevant general conclusions The only conclusion we could find was that it is a case by case situation without any general rules being discovered. There is a phrase "mud slinging is as American as apple pie." There is also the phrase "two wrongs don't make a right." Most voters have said they do not like candidates who mud slinging, however, the average person, we think can't tell the difference when facts are skewed in subtle ways by the main stream media; especially when in local media a clear practice of prejudice against conservatives in Middletown has been a common practice for years.
The question is - should we all behave or is there room for the mud to fly?
Tax free Week for Clothing!
Sales Tax Free Week in Connecticut runs from Sunday, Aug.19 through
Saturday, Aug. 25.
Throughout the week, clothing and footwear priced under $300 is exempt from the sales tax.
Those who have done their back-to-school shopping during this week in the past know that it is a golden opportunity to save some money. Sales Tax Free Week is also the perfect time for shoppers to make some of those higher-priced purchases, like much-needed winter coats or boots.
Throughout the week, clothing and footwear priced under $300 is exempt from the sales tax.
Those who have done their back-to-school shopping during this week in the past know that it is a golden opportunity to save some money. Sales Tax Free Week is also the perfect time for shoppers to make some of those higher-priced purchases, like much-needed winter coats or boots.
Please remember that the sales tax is applied to merchandise
after the use of any coupons or discounts. Any coupons or discounts that
bring the final price of an item under $300 benefit from the exemption.
For answers to questions about the Connecticut Sales Tax
Holiday Week, visit www.ct.gov/drs.
Letter to the Editor: Kleckowski is an Asset
City
Of Middletown Connecticut
On
behalf of:
Deborah
Kleckowski
Councilwoman
To Whom
It May Concern:
My
name is Billy Prevatte I am 16 years
old I'm writing this letter of
recommendation because Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski named above is being
recommended by myself to be the
next State Representative for
the 100th district in the State of
Connecticut. In addition to being a
state Representative candidate.
She is also a Councilwoman
with the City of Middletown
Connecticut. Here are my reasons why she is a good candidate.
·
Councilwoman Kleckowski has experience
as a politician and has good
leadership skills.
·
She goes door to door for her
campaign and she talks to people.
·
She is really nice to people when
she goes to people's houses during her
campaign
·
She asks good questions to people
while she is working during her
campaign.
Councilwoman
Kleckowski is really great at getting a long with people. Thats why I'm signing this letter . So that people know who
the real candidate should be.
Vote
Deb Kleckowski For state
Representative..
Respectfully
Submitted
____________________________
Billy
M.Prevatte
Local
Journalist/ Blogger
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Middletown Republicans Host Wayne Winsley for Congress
Third Congressional District Candidate Wayne Winsley
Wayne Winsley Thanks Hosts Chris and Helena of Michael's Deli
Deb Klekowski with town Republican Chair Ken McClellan
Michael's Deli-William Wilson Presiding at the Door
A gathering of some 20 Middletown Republicans and others were on hand Saturday August 18th for a "Meet and Greet" with Wayne Winsley, 3rd Congressional District candidate for U.S. Congress. The event was hosted through the courtesy of the newly opened Michael's Deli at 83 Broad Street and was sponsored by Middletown Republican Town Committee. Mr. Winsley is planning to defeat the long entrenched Rosa DeLauro.
The group was also pleased to welcome Deborah Klekowski, Republican candidate for CT 100th District, which embraces most of Middletown. The two term Republican member of the city council hopes to win the seat currently held by Matt Lesser.
Middletown Republicans wish to extend a vote of thanks to the folks at Michael's Deli and wish them great success with their new addition to the city's culinary delights.
Video from the event:
Read more from Middletown Patch
Friday, August 17, 2012
As seen on Patch: Our Children Deserve more than a Food stamp Future
An essay reposted from Middletown Patch blog as seen here
Candidate Wayne Winsley will hold a meet and greet at Saturday August 18th10:00am till Noon At Michael’s Gourmet Deli 83 Broad Street Middletown, CT 06457 Meet the future Congressman for CT’s 3rd District.
In his own words Winsley writes:
Incumbent DeLauro often repeats the phrase, “One in seven families in the third district are food challenged, which means they are often unsure where their next meal is coming from.”
Her answer to this dilemma after having over two decades to work on it is to offer more food stamps.
My solution is to create an environment where small and medium-sized businesses can grow in Connecticut and where more large businesses want to move into and not out of Connecticut so that more citizens can get off the dole and onto a full-time payroll. Then they can buy their own food and everything else they need want and desire.
As someone who has used the safety net personally, including food stamps, I can tell from first-hand knowledge that while the safety is good and necessary to help those in need of help, there is not a single government program that has ever made a single person financially independent or entirely self-sufficient.
Our children can see this and even they have figured out that, “while the government can help you get by, you have to do something else if you want to rise up.”
Our children deserve the opportunity to rise up and embrace the promise of America.
Our children deserve more than the dead-end career paths of the social welfare system of the criminal justice system.
I will work hard to change the current attitude in Washington and in Hartford that talks about loving jobs while showing hate for job creators.
Incumbent DeLauro, after more than two decades of ineffective occupation of the people’s seat in the third district, continues to offer nothing but empty rhetoric about free diapers a promise of more food stamps.
My vision is to help more of our citizens from food stamps to full-time jobs.
My goal is a strong America rebuilt on independence and productivity.
I believe our children deserve more than a food stamp future.
As your next representative, I - Wayne Winsley - will work hard to serve the citizens of the Third Congressional with forthrightness, honor, and integrity.
Republican Candidate for the 100th District Deborah Kleckowski endorsed by Middletown Independent Party
Candidate for the 100th District Deborah Kleckowski |
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Congressional Nominee comes to Middletown Saturday!
For Immediate Release
Coffee & Danish Meet & Greet with Congressional Nominee
Wayne Winsley
NAUGATUCK, CONN – August 14: Wayne Winsley, Republican candidate to represent all of the citizens of CT’s 3rd Congressional District, will hold a Coffee and Danish meet and greet event.
Saturday August 18th
10:00am till Noon
At
Michael’s Gourmet Deli
83 Broad Street Middletown, CT 06457
Invest in the campaign to Restore the Promise of America
All citizens are urged to attend. No minimum donation required but all contributions will be gratefully accepted.
To
speak directly with Wayne Winsley, schedule a media interview, or to
schedule a visit with your group, organization or association, contact
him directly by phone at 860-248-0324 or via email wayne@winsleyforcongress.org .
Thursday, August 09, 2012
A Day in the Life of a Middletown Mayor
While Mayor Drew missed NEAT's discussion with concerned citizens about policing of the North End last week, he did not miss this week's opportunity to have his picture appear in a local paper. Does Mayoral Aide Joe Samolis know your are using those big boy scissors by yourself Danno? The McDonald's on Washington Street presented Oddfellows Playhouse with a $500 donation at the ribbon cutting after the restaurant's recent remodel. This post is making us hungry; speaking of which...
Drew was quoted by the Press last month as saying "“Healthy choices save money... Eating refined or processed food causes health rates to go down.” If anyone out there can translate this grammatical abomination of a quote and explain what the heck a "health rate" is, the folks at the Insider are having some difficulty. The Insider did however, find a website selling "Health-O-Meters." We finally had our "ah ha" - so that's what the Mayor was talking about - moment, how unsophisticated of us! That's how one measures one's health rate. We heard the Mayor's Office is giving them out for free to the first 100 callers, so get yours today!
|
Guest Blog : Loitering Wars of Middletown!
Fred Carroll, photo credit Middletown Eye article from July 2012 |
North End Citizen & social activist Fred Carroll has written a guest blog detailing his thoughts on what he calls "Loitering Wars" and also appeared last week on the Comcast Channel 15 cable access show "The Variety Hour" hosted by William Wilson and Jon Pulino to discuss his thoughts and express his desire to get art back on the community-at- large's agenda.
Carrol's essay below alludes (the Insider's interpretation we could be wrong) to the fact that perhaps the issue with loitering has a wider impact and is in itself a commentary on the socioeconomic paradigm being the current state of the economy the country is facing. Is class warfare happening around us? Are we witnessing a shift in who uses social services and the identity of the "new" poor? What happens to the "old" poor, where do they fit in and what is it to be considered "poor" anyway?
Carrol is a Middletown intellectual icon (we at the Insider certainly think so!), a humanitarian, artist, chess player, founder of the Bums with Brooms social movement to clean up the streets of the city, secretary of the Realist Balance Party of Middletown, and by traditional definition a practitioner of the "nomadic" lifestyle and has been at times what most would consider, and by his own definition as well homeless.
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How To Know If You Are "Loitering" In Middletown's North End...If you can afford a five dollar cupcake, then you're probably not loitering....okay? Is that simple enough for all you confused, cop dissing, bum loving, "Liberal" minded, ACLU types, is that "clear" enough for you?
"But Fred"; I can almost hear you saying; "What if I can afford a five dollar cupcake but don't like cupcakes, or, for one reason or another have simply never bought one in Middletown, how about me, am I loitering?"
And to respond to such a query as this in one word or less I would say simply "Well....", and then continue by saying that I personally have known people who never smoked pot, never voted, never married, never drove, never had children.....but someone who doesn't like cupcakes?! ...I'm not at all sure that such a person would be welcomed anywhere in Middletown, never mind the newly ever so groovy North End!
But seriously folks, speaking as one of Middletown's most loved and hated Bums I would like to offer my own ultra- simple "formula" for making a "loitering/not loitering" determination and it's this: If the area where you are standing, sitting, leaning, lurching, pimping, dealing, begging, stealing, WHATEVER is....wait for it.....dirty? Then you are loitering, period. If it was filthy is how you found it when you got there....it's not "your mess" in other words, then just very simply "get it clean" before you "get comfortable", or else don't park it there, period.
"BUT FRED!" I can surely hear you thinking, "That would never translate into a legally enforceable code, statute, or "ordinance" "....Right.
The "Cupcake Rule" it is, then.
Fred Carroll
Middletown Kiwanis’ 9th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
Middletown Kiwanis’
9th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
Tuesday, August 21st - 9 am shotgun start
Lyman Orchards Golf Club
Routes 146 & 157
Middlefield, Connecticut
On August 21st the Middletown Kiwanis Foundation is holding its 9th Annual Golf
Tournament at the Lyman Orchard Golf Club. Registration is at 8:00 am with a
9:00 am shotgun start – scramble format.
All tournament proceeds benefit the Middletown Kiwanis’ scholarship fund.
Last year $9,000 in scholarship money was awarded to graduating seniors at
Middletown High School, Vinal Technical High School, Mercy High School and
Xavier High School.
The entrance fee of $125 per player includes:
8am till tee time - Assorted Pastry Basket, NY Style Bagels with Cream Cheese
& Butter, Chilled Fruit Juice and Brewed Coffee & Decaffeinated Coffee.
18 Holes of Championship Golf on the Robert Trent Jones Course with cart.
Use of the Driving Range and Putting Green Available 1 ½ Hours Prior to the
Start Time
Lunch at conclusion of golf.
Lyman Orchards “Best in CT” Six Inch Apple Pie for Each Guest
Become a tee sponsor, for $50 a sign with your name/business name will be
placed on a tee box.
Come and enjoy a day of good golf and support your local Kiwanis service
organization.
To register or for more information contact us at
kiwanisclubmiddletown@gmail.com or call 860-538-1216.
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Suzio Takes a Stand Against Crime
Sen. Len Suzio & Fapyo Ghazil |
As Sen. Len Suzio was holding his second press conference in opposition to an inmate early release program, the Malloy administration was blasting him as a hypocrite for advocating the early release of a white collar criminal who’d served only 10 percent of his sentence.
Suzio was in Meriden Friday outside the EZ Mart, where 70-year-old shop owner Ibrahim Ghazal was murdered during a robbery in June. Police have charged Frankie Resto with his murder.
Resto was recently released from prison and earned 199 days risk reduction credits, according to the Department of Corrections. However, not all of the credits were applied, and unlike most inmates, Resto served 91 percent of his sentence. Typically prisoners serve 85 percent of their sentence before they are released on probation.
Suzio was collecting signatures for a petition to suspend the program with Ghazal’s son. But just weeks before Ghazal’s murder, Suzio was recommending the program be used to release John Papandrea, a Meriden resident sentenced to prison on embezzlement charges.
On June 12 Suzio wrote this letter on behalf of Papandrea, whom he said would still be a productive member of society when he gets out of prison.
“I believe that it makes more sense for the residents of Connecticut to have nonviolent prisoners released early versus those with a violent record,” Suzio wrote.
Michael P. Lawlor, Gov. Dannel Malloy’s criminal justice adviser, released a statement calling the Meriden Republican a hypocrite and saying that Papandrea’s crimes impacted many people.
“The hypocrisy of Sen. Suzio’s actions is that much more outrageous when you consider he recently requested that a convicted felon be reìeased after serving only 10 percent of his sentence. Inmate John Papandrea was convicted for a Bernie Madoff-like crime of embezzling over $1 million from his employer in order to buy artwork for his home,” Lawlor said.
The company Papandrea had been working for was forced to lay off 18 employees because of the embezzlement, he said.
“Does he not think anyone was hurt by Mr. Papandrea’s actions? Maybe he can tell that to the innocent employees who lost their jobs,” Lawlor said.
Asked about Papandrea, Suzio said he was a non-violent criminal who received an unusually severe sentence. He accused the administration of trying to confuse the media on the issue, which he said has nothing to do with non-violent criminals. “Don’t let them play rope-a-dope with you. That’s what they want to do. They want to shuck and jive and get you off the issue because they know they’ve got problems,” Suzio said. “... We’re not talking about non-violent offenders and to confuse that and let the administration get away with that confusion is a disservice to the public.”
In issuing the statement, Lawlor said he was just “pointing out the obvious inconsistencies” in Suzio’s position on the early release program. But he said Suzio’s decision to hold a press event with a family member of a man who’s been recently murdered was “outrageous” and “sort of a last straw.”
“Sen. Suzio ought to be ashamed of himself. His insistence on spreading inaccurate information about this case does nothing but exploit a tragedy, its victim, and its victim’s family. It should be beneath the office he holds,” Lawlor said.
But Ghazal’s son Fapyo said he agreed with Suzio’s position on the early release law.
“What Mr. Senator said about how he left the prison—he left the prison to kill my dad. That’s what I believe and I agree with what he said about it,” Fapyo Ghazal said. “If this guy, he were sitting in prison now, he not kill my dad.”
Suzio said, as far as he was concerned, the program allowed Ghazal to be killed.
“I would say, without the early release law, Mr. Ghazal would be alive today. And I think that’s what the media ought to focus on,” Suzio said.
Following the press conference some of the onlookers gathered at the gas station signed Suzio’s petition. One of them was 69-year-old Meriden resident Dusty Beaty, who knew the late Ghazal.
Beaty said he would frequently stop by Ghazal’s shop after the bars closed and chat with the shopkeeper. For simplicity’s sake he said he referred to Ibrahim Ghazal as “Joe.”
“Nicest guy in the world. Everybody liked him,” Beaty said.
Though he signed the early release petition, the risk reduction credit program was not Beaty’s most pressing criminal justice concern.
“The only thing I don’t agree with is the fricken state abolishing the death penalty. I don’t agree with that,” he said.
Beaty said he thought Resto deserved the death penalty if he’s convicted of killing Ghazal.
“Dig a hole, kill him, and put him in there,” he said.
Local Journalist: Councilman Pessina an Asset to City
As post in the Middletown Patch blog this week featured here:
http://middletown-ct.patch.com/articles/phil-pessina
Local journalist/blogger Billy Prevatte writes of Pessina's many accomplishments and why he feels Pessina is an asset to Middletown
Meet Candidate for the 100th Deborah Kleckowski : Come to an Evening of Family Fun & Conversation
Deb Kleckowski starts her door to door campaign in Middletown |
Find out more about Deb on the Insider here
Join Deb's Supporters for a Fun Evening of Light Refreshments & Great Conversations! Bring your children – plenty of games and activities! Friday August 10, 2012 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 25 Cranberry Lane, Middletown, CT Hosted by Kevin Kelly and Robin Goss Qualifying donations $5 to $100 – Suggested donation $20 Please RSVP to Kevin Kelly @ 860-930-2584 or kevmkelly@comcast.net If you are not able to attend and would like to contribute, please contact Deb Kleckowski @ votedebktoday@yahoo.com All welcome!! Paid for by Elect Deb Kleckowski-Dante Aiudi, Treasurer |
Ryan Woods Autism Foundation of Middletown Needs Help
Earlier this summer, the Ryan Woods Autism Foundation of Middletown was denied state funding for its development of an after school program. Please take a look at the event below and help out this home grown charitable foundation. Message from RWAF:
As you may have already heard the Ryan Woods Autism Foundation will
be going to the Rock cats game August 11, 2012, at New Britian
stadium, New Britian Ct.
You are invited to help support this effort. Tickets are $10
each. The proceeds will go to the Ryan Woods Autism foundation after
school and summer school programs.
If you are interested in attending please give us a call at the center 860-788-7277 or 860-539-6079. Or just email us at mailto:atrwaf@comcast.net
Check us out on line >>>> http://www.
ryanwoodsautismfoundation.com/
Thank you,
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