Looking back at 2012, one thing is for sure- women have taken the City by storm and good, bad, or other wise have influenced the community in a variety of arenas where their male counterparts hadn't dare tread. Education, politics, arts, business, and social justice are only a few areas that City women have made contributions and made citizens wake up and take notice more so than in years past. The Insider would like to take a brief look back at the year's past headlines and the "Most Influential Middletown Women of 2012" in random order. If there is anyone we may have forgotten please add in the comments section!
#20. Charitble Chicks: M-town is blessed to have many women (many of whom are not mentioned) who run non profits in Middletown that in 2012 made notable strides in furthering their cause. #20 Wendy Black Nasta, Artists for World Peace who co founded with #20.1 Priscilla Harnesk of Cold Stone Creamery, a special MXCC Scholarship for Art Students this past year. # 20.2 Brenda Woods, founder of Ryan Woods Autism Foundation fought for and won initially denied funding for an after school program. # 20.3 Deb Bagley, founder of C.A.T.A.L.E.S. had a particularily hard year keeping the charity a float but, guided her team thru with flying colors.
#19. Karen Nocera, Park & Recreation Inclusion Specialist: Nocera has created and continued numerous City wide programs to include children of all abilities. Under her direction and co-operation with Marco Gaylord, the Unified Theater was created to include special needs and non special needs students to work together and be involved in the performing arts. From breakfast with Santa, a City wide toy drive for the needy, to Easter egg hunts, Nocera is an asset to many. The program for special needs currently individuals serves 20.
#18. Saint Susan Bysiewicz: After this Middletown native lost her party's nomination for office, the Insider made a little joke as a play on words on our facebook page " Bye Bye Bysiewicz." Why? 1. Because a myriad of critics claim Bysiewicz just wants to win an office, any office after several lost elections. 2. Because it's political satire, so why not? Well, none the less, comments from readers who went to kindergarten with Susan, to 5th cousins twice removed from Susan piled in calling us unusually callous and insensitive. Duh, we are both of those things, but not
unusually so by any means! No other politician has received so many comments after we poked fun at them. Apparently, some folks are off limits. Word on the street is Susan will be canonized at St. Seb's.
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| LOLZ. Click to enlarge. |
#17. Congresswoman "Red" Rosa DeLauro: DeLauro, champion of the program to "Pamper the Poor" (coined by Glenn Beck) with free diapers, won her gazillionth year in office. When Delauro isn't fighting on the front lines against natural arsenic in rice, she manages to make it to Middletown. DeLauro only visits when there is a chance the public won't be able to ask her questions, but she can pose with some poor people. Why is she making our list? Local media and Mayor Drew manage to name drop her at least once a week falsely attributing anything beneficial to Middletown solely to her. Middletown so and so got such and such grant, thank you Rosa. The sun managed to rise again over Middletown, thank you Rosa.
#16. Lisa Santangelo: She sees you when you are sleeping, she knows when you're awake.
Former Democratic Town Committee chairwoman, appointed Deputy Registrar of Voters and right hand to Mayor Dan Drew. Respect my authoritaay!
#15. Barbara Senges and 14.Nancy Haynes- The Matrons of the BOE Regime under Michael Frechette. Frechette, although still on the books at the BOE receiving $300 an hour in consulting fees, currently teaches classes on fiscal responsibility at Central Connecticut State University to future superintendents. We have heard hide nor hare of his lady back up singers who took "early retirement. "We wish this class at CCSU was a joke, but even we couldn't make this one up!
#13. The Elected Women of the Board of Education- We would like to hear more from you! Where are you? And come on Sheila Daniels- stop abstaining! Things are improving, but we want to see some hair fly! Transparency huzzah!
#12. Apryl Dudley : The brave PTA mom that wrote the infamous letter that blew the lid off the situation at Farm Hill Elementary School regarding unlawful restraint and seclusion of special needs and non special needs students. Many parent's of special needs students found her choice language the letter offensive, despite, others praised her efforts for speaking up. What began was the "Scream Room" media frenzy. Tensions flared from parents on all sides of the issue. Ultimately, conversations about Board of Education funding, student oversight, and mistreatment of special needs students - which had been long over due came to pass. An issue uniting all parents, besides the best interest of students arrived: the elephant in the room that the Board of Education Administration had been long turning a blind eye to communication with parents.
#11. Jane Flanders Majewski- Who can forget this brave mother's compelling and emotional testimony to the Board of Education regarding the mistreatment - some of which was physical- of her special needs son? Majewski became the un-official spokes person for local parents of special needs students bringing their difficult plights navigating the Middletown school system to light. Her child's story was one of many that had gotten swept under the rug by the past school administration after the closing of the self contained program for the most intensive cases at Spencer School. Majewski and her family participated in a news broad cast by ABC focusing on student withstraint issues on a national level. Majewski continues to fight for all students and push for better education for special needs pupils. Her son is now in a special school outside of the district that can better address his needs.
#10. Christine "Ballsy" Bourne- Bourne spoke up when no one else dare against then Superintendent Dr. Michael Frechette, Nancy Haynes, and Barbara Senges. Bourne, then City Treasurer & payroll supervisor at the BOE noticed that over $1 million dollars was missing from the budget. Bourne brought this to the attention of then Mayor Giuliano who called for an investigation into the BOE finances. The superintendent basically said - no way are you looking at my books! Bourne was terminated by the BOE for being a whistle blower and calling into question excessive overtime practices, and "differences in accounting." Haynes "allegedly" struck Bourne when she went to call her Union representative when she was not allowed access to her desk; a lawsuit is still pending. Bourne had long been an active Democrat and held the elected position of City Treasurer for several terms. When sh*t hit the fan, the Democratic Town Committee stripped Bourne of her nomination for Treasurer replacing her with a more complacent nominee Quentin Phipps. Bourne's recourse? Run for mayor against the Democrats chosen Manchurian candidate !
The Insider has heard reports of a new movie series called "Bourne Ultimate Finances" that has started filming. It is about average mom turned super hero and who's memory of $1 million in budget money is erased by an over zealous superintendent and his pair of heckling slap-happy femme fatale cohorts disguised as office workers. The Bourne character then remembers the missing money, and is sent on a wild goose chase where she must dodge a town full of unsavory nutso characters.
#9. Councilwoman Hope "Hopeless" Kasper - aka "Nepotism Nancy"- In an deal to cover up the wrong doing at the Board of Education and make nicey- Democratic Councilwoman Kasper concocted a deal with the Serracrats. She sucessfully got her son-in law, a former real-estate agent Josh Berger with no financial budget analysist background hired at the BOE as just that. The position was specially created for him. Kasper, who was on the hiring committee claimed to have no knowledge her son-in law was going to get he position. She attempted to have him get teacher benefits. Flash forward a year, and as part of the negotiations with the City to settle some of the many grievances Union 466 employees had mainly with Frechette, it was insisted that removing the illegal hire Berger was a deal breaker for everyone. Hmmm.. Sadly, this was before her re-election in fall of 2011, and although pointed out by many, Kasper won back her seat despite. Now, as having received the special favor for her family member, Kasper rolls over and backs whatever the Democrats ask her too come Council voting time.
#8. Lea Tomaszewski- Tomaszewski is a former Middletown Press journalist who know writes wonderful non political articles for the Middletown Patch. She has proven the GOP is now the the Brand New Party-
#7. Cassandra Day -
Ms. Day is a former Middletown Mess Editor. Since her departure, Day
has become the editor and chief contributor to the Middletown CT Patch
online news blog. While other so called news outlets pretend
conservatives in Middletown don't exist, editor of the Mess
(#7.5) Viktoria
Sundqvist remains the lap dog of the Democratic party, and yet still
another blog has a side bar with links to the DeLauro and Lieberman
websites yet claims impartiality and journalistic standards. The Insider writes truth, yet we don't pretend to have impartiality or journalistic standards so lets not kid ourselves, at least we aren't in denial. Day, on the other hand, actually practices real journalism. And good, fair, impartial, balanced,
and entertaining journalism to boot. Good job Ms. Day
36. Callie Grippo - Fearless and fiery are two words that describe this mother and business woman to a T. Grippo challenged state capital antique Senator Joe Serra for a seat in the 33rd District. Grippo lost, but pleasantly shocked everyone taking 1/3 of the vote, giving Ol' Joe something to look forward to- a long overdue retirement.
#5. Lucy McMillan: McMillan, an administrator in the mental health field, is wife of blogger and BOE member Ed McKeon. She is also the chairmain of the
MiddNight On Main event being sponsored by the Community Health Center. New Years 2011/2012 was the first event that gathered over 5,000 people. This year the event will likely draw even more to the family friendly celebrations. The woman who makes the magic happen is McMillan. Very cool.
#4.
Anna Neumon - Most people won't know Ms. Newman, but it has to be said that behind every good man is not one but possibly a number of good women. That is true for Senator Len Suzio who not only has a wife, daughters, but also a spectacular unflappable campaign manager named Anna Neumon. Neumon and her lady posse helped Suzio give Dante Bartolomeo a run for her money when she falsely accused Suzio of voter intimidation and poll calling. Bartolomeo flung the mud during a press conference on the steps of Meriden City hall last election. Suzio rolled up with Newman and crew and calmly dismissed the charges, which Bartolomeo admitted she had no proof of. Bartolomeo won by approximately 200 votes, and had her campaign treasurer work the polls election day... Bartolomeo has still offered no apologies to anyone.
#3. Councilwoman Linda Salafia:
Newbie to the political scene, but not to the challenges faced at the
City. This City pay-roll manager retiree and once 466 Union VP
is no stranger to the negotiation process. Often times she is the voice
of reason on the Council floor where the men fall short or asleep. Dynamic duo
Kleckowski & Salafia crunched the numbers for the Republican's
alternative budget that would
not have raised taxes on citizens. Councilmen Pessina and Bibisi were also instrumental
in its conception, however, left the ladies high and dry come voting
time, choosing to vote in favor of the Spendacrat version. Salafia's sharp eye for
numbers, propensity for sticking to the facts and the rules makes her an
advocate for the people - and their wallets. Her mouthy daughter, PZ
Commissioner
(#3.5) Molly Salafia, didn't fall far from the same tree.
Recently, Linda Salafia called Mayor Drew out for lecturing her after
she made a motion during a Council session, making a point that he was
in violation of Robert's Rules of Order. Visibly perturbed by the
questioning of his authority, Mayor Drew often "forgets" to call on
Salafia. Salafia called out the frivoulous
spending of $25,000 on It's Only Natural store to
compensate the business for Arrigoni Bridge construction that,in the end, concluded ahead of schedule.
2. Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski:
Kleckowski and counterpart Councilwoman Linda Salafia are often the
voices of financial reason and fiscal responsibility on the Common
Council being the more than often the 2 to vote for logical measures to
save tax payers money. Kleckowski called into question the changing of the job description of the city attorney as not being done according to protocol. Kleckowski has championed issues regarding
special needs students who parents sought her out for help navigating
the system, and public safety concerns. Unfortunately, Kleckowski was defeated for
state representative for the 100th district this last election cycle.
The Insider hopes she makes a come back and chooses to run again!
1.
Dr. Patricia Charles: Despite having been given a ridiculously ginormous contract & mileage stipend (that will top $250K in 2014 and continue to grow) better than any other department head, and literally, $75,000 in perks better than the former Superintendent Michael "It's for the Children" Frechette's, the Insider has to say we support Charles. If anyone can save us, it will take a smart & powerful woman like Charles no doubt. Charles inherited a mess at the Board of Education Admin, and we have faith that she can straighten it out and make Middletown schools shine for good things. Godspeed Dr. Charles, may the force be with you!
Looking back at 2012, one thing is for sure- women have taken the City by storm and good, bad, or other wise have influenced the community in a variety of arenas where their male counterparts hadn't dare tread. Education, politics, arts, business, and social justice are only a few areas that City women have made contributions and made citizens wake up and take notice more so than in years past. The Insider would like to take a brief look back at the year's past headlines and the "Most Influential Middletown Women of 2012" in random order. If there is anyone we may have forgotten please add in the comments section!
Talking with children about the recent school shooting in Sandy Hook 12/14/12
