Saturday, April 30, 2016

Russell Library May Calendar of Events


RUSSELL LIBRARY
May 2016 Programs  
 
  
 
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
   
All programs are free and open to all.

Thank you to The Friends for their continued support!
Feng Shui

Tuesdays at 5:30pm
in the Hubbard Room

Part 1: May 3

Part 2: May 10



Gia Khalsa will teach this ancient Chinese art of placement for
health, prosperity, happiness and peace to enhance your home and your life.
Drop-in. Sponsored by the City of Middletown Department of Health.
The Dog Listener

Wednesday, May 4
6:30pm 
Hubbard Room     








Certified Dog Listener Phil Klein will explain how canines see the world and the underlying reasons for unwanted behaviors. Bring your questions, but NOT your dogs! No registration.
World War I - Digitization Day

Senator Markley on the Crazy Budget Process

State Senator Joe Markley

In his latest update from the Capitol, Senator Markley discusses "the crazy process at this time of the year and the three budgets floating around the building".  Joe says, "the best plan for the state is the Republican budget".  He also explains what a "caucus" is.  The plan is discussed in more detail, here.


Lori on Liberty! Sunday at 1:00 on 94.9 News Now

This Sunday, broadcasting live in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Long Island, N.Y. and streaming live on www.tunein.com, listen to Lori on Liberty!

Donald Trump made immigration into the issue that will save the country and the Republican Party. Find out why this issue resonates with Americans from all walks of life this Sunday on Lori on Liberty!

Special guests unveil the underbelly of regressive policies that are creating mayhem in this country and why the Progressives are the biggest threat to the future of our free and open society.

Zeig Mir Deine Papiere – Show Me Your Papers

Photo - fanpop.com
The following is a guest post by CCDL member David Ortiz of New Britain and first appeared in the CCDL Blog.

Editor's Note:  Notice the one, lone man in the photo who is NOT giving the Nazi salute.  This one man had the guts not to comply; not to join with the herd mentality.  I can't help but wonder, just what was his fate for this courageous act of defiance.
____________________________________________________________________________

A phrased quite often uttered from the mouths of the Gestapo in Nazi Germany as they stopped anyone they deemed suspicious and quite possibly harboring a Jew, “Zeig mir deine papiere” in English means “show me your papers”. As Jay Roberts so eloquently stated at the Public Safety Committee public hearing on February 3rd, “most people are not familiar with that saying because we beat the Nazis and we have a fourth amendment”.

Friday, April 29, 2016

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Finding Cures. Saving Children.


 
 
 
St. Jude kids share what makes their moms special and surprise them with Mother’s Day cards filled with love. Watch and share.
 
Meet Gracie
 
 

Meet Gracie

When 5-year-old Gracie didn’t want her belly touched, her mom feared appendicitis. In fact, the diagnosis was worse: acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Gracie began a treatment plan of two and a half years of chemotherapy at St. Jude, at no cost to her family. Watch and share her video.
 

Last Chance To Stop Gun Confiscation Bill!

ccdl_logo.jpg There are only days left in this year's legislative session.

Amended H.B. 5054 AN ACT PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE already passed the House late Wednesday night by a 104 to 42 vote and will be called in the Senate any day. This bill seizes firearms, ammunition and permits from legal gun owners that have an Ex Parte Temporary Restraining Order (an order WITHOUT a hearing) filed against them. Nearly half of these Temporary Restraining Orders do not become full restraining orders. WE NEED EVERY MEMBER to call these key Senate leaders, as well as your own Senator today, and tell them to vote NO on H.B. 5054. Call the offices listed below and ask to speak with one of the Senators listed and leave a message. Feel free to use the scripted message below if needed.  
You can find your local Senator and their contact information HERE.

Linares Highlights “National Small Business Week”

Sen. Linares

May 1-7 is “National Small Business Week” and Sen. Art Linares is supporting legislation at the State Capitol which aims to help people start businesses and grow jobs in Connecticut.

“At the State Capitol, we must keep fighting to pass policies which help Connecticut small business owners in their efforts to thrive and grow jobs,” Sen. Linares said.  “This week, we celebrate the significant impact small businesses have on our communities.  At the same time, we must advance ideas throughout the year which ease burdens on our job creators and future entrepreneurs.”

Linares, who co-founded his own successful small business at the age of 19, is backing several pieces of legislation which aim to help small businesses, including:

·         The establishment of a Connecticut Entrepreneur Learner's Permit pilot program to encourage and assist first-time entrepreneurs by reimbursing them for state fees associated with forming a business.
·         Helping the more than 40,000 veteran-owned businesses in the state by providing them with additional bidding preferences under state contracting laws.
·         Allowing the state to establish a “Connecticut-Made” program to promote Connecticut manufacturers and producers.

Rep. Dubitsky on HB 5054

Rep. Dubitsky
Yesterday was a long and emotionally-charged session at the legislature. We debated a number of bills and amendments intended to protect domestic violence victims from abuse through the Temporary Restaining Order system. The Democrats' bill, HB 5054 was seriously flawed in a number of signigicant ways. Most importantly, it puts some domestic violence victims at increased risk of abuse by allowing an abuser to disarm the victim of the very firearm she may be using to protect herself against her abuser. It does so by requiring a recipient of a TRO turn her firearms over to the police or to sell them without the ability to first have a heaing in court in violation of the victim's 5th and 14th Amendment Due Process rights. The Democrats' bill lacked the requirement for Probable Cause and allowed the TRO recipient to be served by simply leaving a copy of the TRO at the recipient's house. 

My bill, HB 5597 (see below) and several amendments I introduced during yesterday's debate, resolved these Constitutional violations by using the Risk Warrant Statute through the criminal court. If a victim is beaten and threatened with death or is in immediate danger from a domestic abuser, the victim should be given the option of having the police investigate and obtain a warrant to seize the abuser's firearms without the delay (and unconstitutional lack of due process) associated with the civil TRO system.

My bill protects all domestic violence victims while protecting the Constitutional rights of both parties. The Democtrats' bill puts some domestic violence victims at increased risk by violating their Constitutional rights to disarm them.

Unfortunately, the Democrats defeated all of my amendments and passed their dangerous bill. I will post the video of some of the debate shortly.

AN ACT PROTECTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS SEEKING RESTRAINING ORDERS

"FROM BEHIND BARS" - A Series, Part 15

Photo - ncbconnecticut.com
This is the fifteenth in a series of letters written by someone currently in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction.  (Links to previous letters are at the bottom of the page.)

There are more than 50 letters going back for a number of years.  One per day, Monday thru Friday will be published until we catch up to the present day.

Those following this series will observe that they started out rather "slow" and that as time goes by, they become more and more personal, revealing the emotional and physical distresses faced by those committed to Connecticut's prisons.  These distresses are not confined (no pun intended) to just the prisoner,  but extend to the prisoner's family and friends.  And we pay for it.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

"FROM BEHIND BARS" - A Series, Part 14

Photo from WFSB
This is the fourteenth in a series of letters written by someone currently in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction.  (Links to previous letters are at the bottom of the page.)

There are more than 50 letters going back for a number of years.  One per day, Monday thru Friday will be published until we catch up to the present day.

Those following this series will observe that they started out rather "slow" and that as time goes by, they become more and more personal, revealing the emotional and physical distresses faced by those committed to Connecticut's prisons.  These distresses are not confined (no pun intended) to just the prisoner,  but extend to the prisoner's family and friends.  And we pay for it.

Day 156 (followers will have picked up that there is more than one person receiving these letters)

Most of us likely don't know anyone who is incarcerated, much less do we correspond with someone who is.  These letters are being submitted anonymously and have been, and will be, redacted to protect the privacy of the writer and the writer's family and friends.

After examining the trial transcripts and speaking extensively to others who have first hand and intimate knowledge of the matter, I am of the opinion that this person is innocent of the crime for which he was convicted, his council being incompetent and ineffective.


Given that the reader has no knowledge of this person or the facts or circumstances surrounding this person's case, the editor asks that readers keep an open mind and take the letters at face value.  Because the purpose of publishing these letters is not to bring condemnation or ridicule to the parties affected, such comments will not be published.  Please keep comments civil.



Editor

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Legislative Update from Coalition of CT Sportsmen



 
http://ctsportsmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ct-capitol-building.png
ALERT: Our information indicates this bill  HB-5054 AN ACT PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OPPOSE  will be debated today! Probably this evening and into the morning. Your IMMEDIATE input to legislators OPPOSING the Bill is essential! We also expect multiple amendments to be called on the bill. Contact with legislators indicates some of our concerns may be addressed in a Substitute bill including 1. A  shorter time frame for a hearing (7 days) We preferred 3 days;  2. Possible revisions to transfers to Police, FFLs, AND to individuals qualified to receive (the latter eliminated from the this bill previously authorized under the Risk Warrant statute) a possible revision to transfers of Registered AR-15 and other registered firearms which would not be able to be transferred back to owners constituting a "Taking";  3. Some State Police procedure to Immediate pistol permit reinstatement when the TRO is finalized.  4. Prosecution for perjury for those making false accusations in their affidavit. NONE of these may be included in the Substitute bill! These were only some of our concerns. WE continue to OPPOSE the bill even if these corrections are made! YOUR INPUT IS ESSENTIAL!   DO IT NOW! See How to Find Your Legislators below:

South Fire District Budget Referendum



http://knowingtheworld.com/clipart/fire/Fireman/clip-art-fireservice-firefighter-cartoon.gifThe Annual Budget Referendum for Middletown’s South Fire District has been scheduled for

Tuesday, May 3, 2016.  Voting will take place from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm at the South District Fire House, 445 Randolph Road in Middletown.  All registered voters residing within the district are eligible to vote. All five South District Commissioners are urging district voters to vote “YES” on the proposed budget saying it represents a fair balance between the need for basic fire rescue and EMS service and the need to keep taxes low.

South Fire District provides fire, rescue and emergency medical response to approximately 14,000 Middletown residents in a 21 square mile area that represents half of the city’s land area. The response area extends from South Main Street on the west to the

From a Victim's Point of View - Open Letter to the CT Legislature

Photo from Tapiture.com
Dear legislators,

Earlier this year I was the victim of an ex parte restraining order.  My neighbor executed a viscous retaliatory attack against me for having complained to animal control about their barking dogs.

Nearly half of all temporary restraining orders are dismissed, and after hearing the evidence, the judge dismissed this application.  My neighbor clearly abused the judicial system, seeking revenge. 

Had HB 5054, AN ACT PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE been in effect at the time, I would have been required to surrender my firearms without the benefit of due process.  It is, on its face, an unconstitutional denial of one's due process rights.

CCDL Legislative Alert - Bills to Oppose/Support

 
Connecticut Citizens Defense League, Inc.


Legislative Alert!
There is slightly more than a week left in this year's legislative session. The following gun bills may come up for a vote as early as tomorrow!  Please call the House and Senate leaders, as well as your own Representative and Senator today, and tell them to take the specified actions on the pending bills below.
  • House Majority Leader: Joe Aresimowicz - (860) 240-8500
  • House Minority Leader: Themis Klarides - (860) 240-8700
  • Senate Majority Leader: Bob Duff - (860) 240-8600
  • Senate Minority Leader: Len Fasano - (860) 240-8800
Also be sure to your call your local Representative and Senator as well, and tell them how you, as one of their constituents, want them to vote on the the following bills.
You can look up your local Representative and Senator and their contact information here: www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/cgafindleg.asp
_____________________________________________________________________________

Oppose HB 5054

AN ACT PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

This bill would violate due process rights for gun owners. Nearly half of these Temporary Restraining Orders do not become full restraining orders
_____________________________________________________________________________

Oppose HB 5623

AN ACT CONCERNING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, ACCESS TO MARSHALS, AND VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

This bill would violate due process rights for gun owners. Nearly half of these Temporary Restraining Orders do not become full restraining orders.
The same identical language from HB 5054 is included in this bill. This bill is a very unsettling attempt to divide gun owners to make them look like we somehow support human trafficking.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Oppose HB 5408

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRESENTATION OF A CARRY PERMIT

 This bill would undermine the “reasonable suspicion” clause in the current law and would deprive gun owners of Constitutional rights protected under the 4th Amendment.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Support HB 5409

AN ACT CONCERNING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR A TEMPORARY STATE PERMIT TO CARRY A PISTOL OR A REVOLVER.

 This bill is a worthy of support. This will help establish uniform criteria for local issuing authorities across the state.
________________________________________________________________________________
It is critical to contact your legislators to let them know your positions on these bills. Your communication with your elected officials is the only thing that will stop anti-gun bills from passing, and help pro-gun bills to pass. Remember, their job is to represent YOU!
If you need more information before contacting your legislators about these bills, please visit our blog for useful information, or email Ray Bevis at legislative@ccdl.us
CCDL's strength lies in the actions of it's members.  Please take action as soon as possible. Our rights are at stake!
Featured Sponsor: Connecticut Sporting Arms, LLC

Next Meeting May 10th, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Join us in Middletown for our next monthly meeting. This meeting is open to all Members! As usual, we will be collecting canned goods/non-perishables at our meetings. 
 
The Connecticut Citizens Defense League strives for hands on activism from our members. We want an organization for us all to be proud of as we put forth effort to fight for our 2nd Amendment rights in our beautiful State. See you there!

Location : Middletown Elks Lodge 771
44 Maynard St
Middletown, CT 06457
View Map or Get Driving Directions
This message brought to you by The Outpost Guns & Ammo

"FROM BEHIND BARS" - A Series, Part 13

Photo from WNPR.org
This is the thirteenth in a series of letters written by someone currently in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction.  (Links to previous letters are at the bottom of the page.)

There are more than 50 letters going back for a number of years.  One per day, Monday thru Friday will be published until we catch up to the present day.

Those following this series will observe that they started out rather "slow" and that as time goes by, they become more and more personal, revealing the emotional and physical distresses faced by those committed to Connecticut's prisons.  These distresses are not confined (no pun intended) to just the prisoner,  but extend to the prisoner's family and friends.  And we pay for it.

Day 150 (followers will have picked up that there is more than one person receiving these letters)

Most of us likely don't know anyone who is incarcerated, much less do we correspond with someone who is.  These letters are being submitted anonymously and have been, and will be, redacted to protect the privacy of the writer and the writer's family and friends.

After examining the trial transcripts and speaking extensively to others who have first hand and intimate knowledge of the matter, I am of the opinion that this person is innocent of the crime for which he was convicted, his council being incompetent and ineffective.


Given that the reader has no knowledge of this person or the facts or circumstances surrounding this person's case, the editor asks that readers keep an open mind and take the letters at face value.  Because the purpose of publishing these letters is not to bring condemnation or ridicule to the parties affected, such comments will not be published.  Please keep comments civil.


Editor

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

"FROM BEHIND BARS" - A Series, Part 12

Image from Snipview.com
This is the twelfth in a series of letters written by someone currently in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction.  (Links to previous letters are at the bottom of the page.)

There are more than 50 letters going back for a number of years.  One per day, Monday thru Friday will be published until we catch up to the present day.

Those following this series will observe that they started out rather "slow" and that as time goes by, they become more and more personal, revealing the emotional and physical distresses faced by those committed to Connecticut's prisons.  These distresses are not confined (no pun intended) to just the prisoner,  but extend to the prisoner's family and friends.  And we pay for it.

Day 133 (followers will have picked up that there is more than one recipient of these letters.)

Most of us likely don't know anyone who is incarcerated, much less do we correspond with someone who is.  These letters are being submitted anonymously and have been, and will be, redacted to protect the privacy of the writer and the writer's family and friends.

After examining the trial transcripts and speaking extensively to others who have first hand and intimate knowledge of the matter, I am of the opinion that this person is innocent of the crime for which he was convicted, his council being incompetent and ineffective.


Given that the reader has no knowledge of this person or the facts or circumstances surrounding this person's case, the editor asks that readers keep an open mind and take the letters at face value.  Because the purpose of publishing these letters is not to bring condemnation or ridicule to the parties affected, such comments will not be published.  Please keep comments civil.


Editor

Monday, April 25, 2016

Chuck Roots on Ty Cobb


My Photo
Chuck Roots

Roots in Ripon
25 April 2016
Chuck Roots

Ty Cobb



As I continue to research Ty Cobb the baseball player and the man’s character, I come away forming a much different picture of this larger than life person who inexplicably became a target for those who chose to denigrate him.

How could so many writers, sports writers in particular, get so many stories wrong about this man? I don’t know. But this much I can surmise: Sports writers worked under deadlines which meant they had to write stories which would appeal to their readership. In that era newspapers were king in the world of communication. The demand for current and updated material for publication no doubt exerted its own pressure on those making a living investigating reports on the antics of professional athletes.

Former Gov. Jodi Rell Endorses Dan Carter for US Senate

Dear Fellow Republicans
This past week I was honored to have had a truly wonderful and heartfelt letter about me,  from Governor M. Jodi Rell, published in the Danbury News Times.  I wanted to share with you her very kind words. I am forever  grateful to Governor Rell.
Best regards,

Dear Editor,

I was very pleased to read that Dan Carter has decided to run for the U.S. Senate.

It was my pleasure to meet Dan when he first ran for the CT Legislature.  Since one of the towns he represents is Bethel, a town I represented when I served in the General Assembly, I followed him closely on how he responded to the needs of his constituents.

Dan is an honest, sincere and dedicated public servant.  He's not flashy, nor does he seek press just to get his picture in the paper or be the headline on the nightly news.  Dan is a hard worker who always does what he believes is right and in the best interest of his constituents.

I am proud of Dan and his work in Hartford on our behalf.  His strong work ethic would be a great asset in Washington.

Sincerely,

Jodi Rell
Former Governor
Brookfield, CT

MegaVote - CT Third District and CT US Senate - How Your Rep and Senators Voted


April 25, 2016
In this MegaVote for Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes
  • Senate: Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization – Passage
  • Senate: Energy Policy – Passage
  • Senate: Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Eliminate Funding for Various Commissions
  • Senate: Fiscal 2017 Energy-Water Appropriations – Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program
  • House: IRS Hiring – Passage
  • House: IRS Oversight and User Fees - Passage
  • House: Bar IRS from Rehiring Certain Employees – Passage
Upcoming Congressional Bills

NEAT Community Survey

email_header 2
 

The Community Survey is Live!


Please fill out this survey from Middletown on the Move
Click here to start the survey

And ask all your friends, family, and colleagues to do the same!  Particularly people who live or work Downtown or in the North or South End neighborhoods.

Can you share this with at least 20 other people today???

Remember to . . .

Questions?

Please contact Patrice Barrett, the CDC ATSDR Community Outreach Coordinator
in the City’s Department of Planning, Conservation and Development, at
Patrice.Barrett@MiddletownCT.Gov
Phone: 860-638-4836.

Daria Novak Op-Ed - Foreign Influence in CT Congressional Race



High Level Foreign Official from Socialist 

Nation Attempting to Influence CT Congressional Race


Daria interviews Dr. Ben Carson, former GOP Presidential candidate, on her radio show.
Daria interviews Dr. Ben Carson
On Lee Elci's show today I discussed the major ethical and potential legal issues surrounding my opponent's proud announcement of her political and business endorsement by a foreign vice president from a socialist nation. We Americans have had enough of this type of influence peddling with Hillary Clinton. This is what we are fighting to get rid of in DC!

Ann Brooke's proud claim, in a radio interview Saturday, that the Vice President of socialist Portugal endorsed her campaign is the first I know of a high-ranked foreign leader getting involved in an American congressional level race in my lifetime. On the 94.9 AM CT radio show "Political Class," Brookes explained that she was paid by the government of Portugal to help sell off its government assets and that she also worked for the "royal family" in a failed $25 billion Iraqi deal. Other Portuguese officials already are involved in another international influence peddling scandal in Africa.

What immediately comes to mind is this - why and what favors does this vice president get by involving himself in domestic American politics – by supporting my opponent -- and what might he ask of this potential congresswoman if she's elected? Brookes is using their relationship to push her candidacy. She stated she met with him "almost daily" while in Portugal. So, we can assume the relationship must have been close for such a high-ranked individual to meet so often with an American. 

Brookes needs to withdraw from Connecticut’s 2nd congressional district race or explain herself to the voter's satisfaction. I can't believe a successful international business attorney is ignorant of such major ethical issues, of the potential for a federal Logan Act violation, or the negative perception it creates of a US Congresswoman controlled by a socialist nation active in Middle East politics, especially given that eastern CT has many national security connections.

Contact:
Daria Novak
51 Hammonassett Meadows Road
Madison, CT 06443
203-506-3612
www.novakforcongress.org

Coalition of CT Sportsmen - VOTE Tue April 26, Politics, More


http://ctsportsmen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ct-capitol-building.pngApril 26, Tuesday,  CT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. VOTE!

LEGISLATION:

Bill Status:

READ THE FILE. That is what will be debated. Read the Fiscal Note and Bill Analysis

Reading the bill: Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is NEW (Indicated at the first part of the para), it is not underlined.

It is also imperative you know & contact your own legislators providing your Support/Opposition and requesting their Support/Opposition for the bill. Ask them also to co-sponsor positive bills.

How to Find Your Legislators: https://cga.ct.gov/#  CT General Assembly Home Page: http://www.cga.ct.gov/ 
2016 Regular Session Convened: February 3, 2016 Adjourns:  May 4, 2016

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