More Rumblings about Middletown! Read Carefully Insider Lovers!

1. The Middletown Press, umm, The Middletown Mess ran a story today reminding us Rep. Joe Serra is still alive after getting a call it had been a full 72 hours since a “S “family member was mentioned in the paper. Serra is still "working" to "help" seniors.  In fact, he has gone on record to promise that he will introduce a bill in the next Connecticut House Legislation that will promise to reduce aging for anyone over 62.  It’s sort of like a reverse Logan’s Run thing.  (Google it)

2. How's that Rt. 9 on ramp fix going the DOT proposed in November Rep. Serra? Oh wait that was just a campaign ploy.  How long have you been a State Rep who sits on the transportation committee? Long live CASHO!

3. Mayor Dan Drew has been tweeting all day how he has been out in the snow with emergency crews. Reportedly, an ambulance was stuck on Farm Hill Rd and Drew, with his mighty Asgardian Hammer, helped push it clear, delivered a baby in a snow bank, swaddled the newborn & & breast fed the infant himself while the mother recovered from shock.  He then made damn sure Joe Somalis called Victoria Sunderkistqust at The Mess to put it in the Press, why not? It's an election year suckers.  Taxes still keep going up! Vote Dem! (They have controlled the town's budget since 1991)

4. The roads are 75% clear; the roads are 50% clear. Too soon? Next year, I the mayor will meet with Zeus and the other Olympian Gods to stop the storm. I will take the mystical horse Pegasus up to the heavens to stop the storms.  I fight for YOU, the citizens.  Oh yeah, Obamacare it is the way to go!! Opps, right, the prices continue to go up for that too.

5.  Rep. Matt Lesser (D) Middletown proposes a bill for "legal equality" of snapping turtles, or as Latino Caucus member calls them Tortugas. Christie Carpino (R) Cromwell proposes a bill to allow break-ins to prevent hot-car deaths. What the hell about turtles trapped in hot cars? Unbelievably insensitive. Come on guys and gals, let’s be political correct about everything.  Why not, it’s the 21^st Century!  (Trivia: Matt is a member of the Hispanic/Spanish caucus up in Hartford? Jesus, he is whiter than Wonder Bread and he is now hanging out in that Caucus)

6.  The Connecticut Freedom of Information (FOI), Commission has scheduled a March 2015 to hearing for FOI requests for reports and more importantly budget information with regard to the Middletown Board of Education budget.  More importantly, a member of the Middletown Board, Linda Szynkowicz who cannot get an itemized copy of the budget, filed the FOI request.  Don’t believe it? Try to get a copy for yourself or better yet visit a BOE meeting? The budget presented utilized broad numbers and takes the public in circles whenever a logical question was presented by member Szynkowicz to the board.  What happened to transparency Ed4ED?    In unrelated news, there seems to be a matter of a large shredder missing from the BOE basement on Hunting Hill Avenue.  I guess you could check Brochette’s basement on Coleman Road, but don’t hold your breathe!    Where the missing 1.2 million?

7. Did anyone send a letter to Mayor Drew recently seeking an appointment to a vacant City Commission & not receive a answer? Please review the following new instructions in order be appointed by King Drew: Democrats: send your letter of intent to City Hall, 245 deKoven Drive.         

 Republicans: Tie a rock to your letter & toss from Arrigoni Bridge. Aide Joe Samolis will retrieve. Shit that is funny!  Perhaps, anybody living on Wilcox Island will hoard the GOP requests and make a giant paper teepee out of them or it may be revealed that the real BOE budget is hiding on Wilcox Island next to Stephen Devoto's ego.

8. Deer head reportedly found on Wesleyan campus. Where is Stephen Devoto when you need him?  Heck, the Yeti thing was funnier.

9.Connecticut State Sen. Dante “I only won by 213 votes” Bartolomeo is upset that new CT Transit facilities won't have restrooms. DOT states there are no funds to maintain such facilities & that if towns want potties then they should foot the bill. Bartolomeo: "Isn't that what illegal aliens are for?" Yep, she did indeed!

10. Wife killer defender & City Hall leech John Hall of the Jonah Center says it will supply bio-degradable poo poo bags to rail commuters. "If you have to go & are waiting for the train, you have to go somewhere. This way, you can save it, take it home and compost it in your garden, or just toss it from the platform." Bags will feature pictures of  snapping Tortugas & be handed out by volunteer unicyclists lead by Dic Wheeler at stations between Meriden and West Haven. BTW if the City hired a real environmental planner, can't we dump the biology reverend hippy? Hall has asked Mayor Daniel T. Drew to ignore David Messenger’s negative side and let him work with Treasurer Quentin Phipps in the future due to all the checks balances the treasurer has to do with regard to checks and balances and organizing folks to protect that position’s stipend. (Seen rant below)

Translation: The Dems and the GOP wanted to defund the Phipps’ position because it costs the city nearly $5,100 a year and the elected official does NADA!  The job has been phased out years ago 

folks, ask member  Dr. David Larsen, he’s a Democrat so he must be right.  Phipps, after already being muscled out of the city job by Drew and the downtown district, freaked out and made this a an issue that rhymes with lace. Yep, the elected Dems got nervous and stuck the treasurer job back in, even though their own findings said the treasurer position in Middletown should be moot. What happened next?  Phipps claimed on his Facebook page that he was working at a school in the Bronx, a few days later he was called on this and it turned out the school was in Stamford.  Must be nice to say what you want!

11. Despite being hired for an unfunded Environmental Planner position, and despite that 466 does not have a no lay-off clause making it perfectly legal to drop this person, Council majority and hanger-on council members (you know who you are) rumored to keep Michele Ford in her recently acquired position & find the funds. NOTE: they won't be found in any culpable party's pocket. Is employing someone for possibly next 25+ years with full benefits & pension cheaper than a lawsuit or dropping the ax on those who made the boo boo? Who is the mysterious Michelle Ford?  Who does she know? What is her connection with Drew or with Malloy?

12. Senior Center Library named the Phil "ITS FOR THE CHILDREN" Pessina Library. Find the irony in that one.

13. Park & Rec study shows need for new fields and sports facilities in Middletown. Ironically the fields supposed to be built across from a certain Serra's house no longer proposed as needed. NIMBY. 

TV GUIDE Previews (Part I)

Look Inside!! EXCLUSIVE

  The Middletown Insider gives readers a sneak preview at the new television season for Middletown 2014!   The list has a lot to pick from and if you read real carefully you may find yourself a treat like an Easter egg or two!

1)   The Mayor and His Mom (FOX)- This ½ hour comedy on the FOX network tells the tale of a former Mayor and his Mom who co-habitat together, argue with one another and basically drive one another batty in a style that is reminiscence of Neil Simon’s classic play The Odd Couple.

2)        Devoto and The Man- (Satire/Encore Vineyard Networks) Follow the adventures of a college professor turned politico as he uses his followers, known as the The Villagers, on his quest for domination of the town’s planning and zoning committee.  The  pilot episode focuses on the professor's many ambitions and shameless deal making techniques in order to become chairperson of an organization he  just joined.  Watch as  his beloved Dems chew him up and spit him up while in the same breath he hopes to dodge a political bullet by putting a “Vote Serra” sign on front lawn.

3)       P/Z Commissioner Russo in Charge (BET)- From the team that brought you Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charles in Charge comes P/Z Russo in Charge.  Directed by the DMTC and their minions, after Commissioner Chisem is forced to stop down and settle in at his Common Council seat, the DMTC has a field day with this one by naming Daniel Russo, Chisem’s successor.  Watch as the entitled Villagers write letter after letter hoping to force a change against Russo who they openly dumped on (remember how nasty they were?)throughout both campaigns.  The second episode deals with Karma as it crosses over with Devoto and the Man as the viewers see the professor's reaction when he was told Russo beat him for chair.

4)        Bait Car-(Reality on F/X Network) Watch as Republican Town Committee Vice-Chair person William “Billy” Wilson drives a taxicab all around Middletown looking for trouble with the hopes that he can pick up a few fares while keeping his tire threads from going bald.

5)         Phillip Pessina- (Biography Network) The educational channel looks at former deputy chief Phillip Pessina and his rise to power.  Interviews with William Shatner and Lynn Baldoni are included.

6)         Baywatch- (TV Land) The number 1 syndicated show in America returns for a very special episode that features former State Representative Jim O’Rourke leaving the scene of a boating accident that left one innocent female dead.  Watch as Mitch and the gang attempt to unravel the threads of guilt in Mr. O’Rourke’s remarks and attitudes after the tragedy. The episode is based on an actual event that took place in Rocky Hill, Connecticut a few years back when the Mr. O'Rourke left a young woman to die after picking her up at a Rocky Hill bar.

7)   I Lead Two Lives- (Documentary/NatGeo) starring Tim Lennox as the once and future Republican/Independent who has composite view points on most social issues.

8)   Mr. Santangelo’s Neighborhood:  (PBS/Children) The producers of Mister Rogers Neighborhood have a new resident in the neighborhood, Mr. Santangelo and his wife Lisa.  Lisa talks to the children about all the important work she does with everybody while Bob follows her around and basically does what is asked of him. "Bob, get the dogs off the bed!"  Special Guest: Darryl Lucas as the Pizza Delivery Boy.

9)        Dateline (NBC/News) Keith Morrison takes a deeper look into the mysterious Connecticut Health Center CEO Mark Masselli and attempts to figure out why somebody in the non-profit field is making over $607, 000 a year.  What is Masselli’s hidden connection with Former Speaker of the house Christopher Donovan? Who paid for Masselli's trip to Tibet and his meeting with the Dali Lama?  The news-team will also conduct interviews with former employees that claim Masselli forced them to give Donavan’s campaign $100.00 donations. 

10)       Growing up Micciulla- ( E! Reality/Style Channel) Follow the adventures of a young Italian man running a massage parlor while running for office and hanging out at the Bada-Bing club.  Early episodes include cameos from: Jimmy Smits, The Lombardo Boyz, Kool Moe D,  James Caan, Big Pussy from The Sopranos and Frank Vincent.

Board of Assessment Appeals member 
 stars in the reality show "Growing up Micciulla"

11)                  Star Trek The Middletown Generation (SyFy)- Starring Councilman David Bauer as Spock, Billy Russo as Captain Kirk and John Killian as Q.  Early adventures include: plans to put the budget in space and beam Tribbles into the Mayor’s office with the hopes that the cute cuddly characters won't be eaten alive.

"Damnit Joe these friggin tribbles!!
Get me appropriation for the Council to rubber stamp STAT!!"

12)                  Dr. Fred Carroll is Dr. Who- (BBC/Drama)-  The traveling Doctor is back for his 50^th year.  This time the 10th Doctor Who morphs into an American, Fred Carroll.  In this episode, the new Doctor plans to grab a broom and sweep up the solar system.When things get rough, the Doctor fights a Demalak and zooms away in the TARDIS call box.

13)                  Who’s Line is it Anyway? - (GSN/Reunion) Anniversary edition that pits the improvisational skills of Richard Pellitier, Joyce Rossittier, Dan Russo and Stephen Devoto against one another.  Watch as the gang goes after Devoto and his selfish agenda of promoting his self as the expense of anyone. Blue House anyone?  Does anybody know what the hell is going on? Does anybody care? 

14)  Sons of the Village- (Fox/FX) From the Kurt Sutter the creator of Sons of Anarchy.  The show returns in October and Sutter promises fans that all plot lines will be resolved. he The creator told TV GUIDE, “Let’s just say that Ed ‘Jax’ McKeon’s team of bicycle riding social vigilantes attempt to defeat a Starbucks drive through proves to be quite interesting as he tosses tofu bars at cars that refuse to honk whenever the villagers are having a protest.”    Sutter also mentions the final story arch will look at the financial motivations behind some of the Villagers actions as they are forced to admit that are indeed capitalists like those they are publicly protesting.

15)                   Judge Joe Gallo (Court TV/30 Minutes)- Yep, another court show on Court TV, makes sense doesn’t it?  The producers claim unlike Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Alex or The People’s Court this show is different- the judge is worse than the defendants.   The first episode brings us inside Gallo’s court house as we watch Bailiff J. Milardo push Gallo’s eyes back in his head, cartoon style after an attractive paralegal walks by.  “This show is so much fun that after I hid my wife from Gallo, I had to pee,” claimed an employee from Call Before You Dig.

16)                  Little Blue House on the Prairie (PBS)- The award winning investigative news show Frontline takes a hard look at a group of creative capitalist people in a small town in Connecticut who claim they are buying and fixing houses for the joy of it and to bring quality folks into the city.  The special asks serious questions with regard to Blue House: Did the 7 principal owners make money off the deal?  What is their real reason (non-Villager political correct) to buying the property other than money? Could this be a case of elitism gone wrong or something more sinister?

17)                  Blue’s Clues: The Case of the Missing Midnight on Main (PBS)-  Host Donavan Patton as Joe sends BLUES on a special mission to figure out who is responsible for killing the Midnight on Main Street dream.  Did  Masselli pull the plug because he was angry at the Mayor? Was it something else, something more devious?  Be on the look out for money clues and other things that spell out C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N.

18)                   Somalis: When the Time is Right (Spice Channel/Adult Programming)  For $49.99 viewers can watch as the Mayor’s chief of staff Joseph Sherman Howard Somalis shows the world his inner John Holmes as it’s Wonderland all day and Boogey Nights, well, all night in this steam feast that will make Milton Berle’s third leg look small in comparison. 

19)                   The New Odd Couple (CW)- Starring William Wilson and Grady Faulkner as they live together above Vechitto’s Lemon Ice. Tonight’s episode has Billy refusing to do the laundry and watching the game, while in retaliation, Grady buries all the laundry inside Billy’s bed.  The laughs keep on flowing for 30 minutes of quality entertainment on the CW network.

20)                  Walking Dead: Middletown (MSNBC)- From Robert Kirkland and Dan Pickett comes a new chapter in horror.  It seems the voting machines in Middletown have been contaminated with a toxic waste substance which forces the voters to bitch and moan about taxes, jobs, and other important things but vote the same way.  Watch as the voters slowly become zombies and slaves but continue to keep the status quo the same making sure that a plate of JELLO has more smarts than them.

2 Term Treasurer Que Phipps (D)
on the set of the new Middletown "Walking Dead"

Stay tuned for  TV GUIDE PART II!

Rumblings: Thank you sir! May I have another?

1. Middletown could be the host location for the next Pixar movie: "Cars VIII: Sloppy Jalopy."
Periodically replacing police cruisers was always an annual expense as precedent in tales of budgets past. But with the Mayor snipping this from the budget, an appropriation for approximately a baker's dirty dozen new cruisers purchased all at once may be in taxpayers' futures. CNR baby!

2.  Macdonough Elementary gets grants to cover after-school care for low income families. Other school districts S.O.L. Due to a record number of early dismissals parents scramble to line up babysitters. Where are those fictional teen Babysitters' Club girls from the 1990's paperbacks when you need them?With a record number of folks needing sitters, there is apparently a shortage - current babysitter rate now in Middletown is up to $30 an hour!

3. If teen babysitters can get $30/hour minimum wage should be $15/hour! At least, according to Rep. Matt Lesser who held rallies to raise minimum wage to $15+ outside the Dunkin Donuts on Washington Street earlier in the month. That's some fart sminking Lesser!

4. A wise man once said there are actually 3 budgets... The Mayor's Proposed Budget in January, The Council's Adopted Budget in April, and the grande coup de gras total at June 30th of the following year when the total of what was actually spent via appropriations is known. What's in your wallet? Or rather what is left?

5. Renowned Hobbit costume designer & Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, on her never ending campaign for re-election recently blew into town to read to some elementary school children. "D" is for Diapers provided by the government...

6. Cromwell selectmen flush the idea of allowing Middletown to join the Mattabasset sewer district. Middletown counters by commissioning author Taro Gomi to do a rewrite of his famous book with the new title "Everybody Poops & Your's Ain't Nothin' Special Cromwell"; book signing at the Buttonwood Tree, TBD. Lil' Danny ought to get on the horn to Big Dan and straighten this out.

7.  Personal photography entourage aka the Middletown Mess posted pics of the Mayor frosting cupcakes today. Seems Double D is doubling down on all the photo ops he can before the election as well as any opportunity to spend away from the office. Mayor Drew to assemble Youth Cabinet. Hey we thought that was what besties Joe S. & Matty L. were for? What happened? Actually, no wait this is a good thing; students can probably teach you a thing or two about budgeting. Is a Senior Cabinet to follow? Middle Age Cabinet?  
YES YOU DID!!



8. Parking Wars Middletown!  
To air this fall on A&E. Can

a small City Mayor really plug holes in the budget using revenue from parking fees & fines?  Street sensors malfuctioning- can the Mayor find away to blame the past administration? Will gouged citizens revolt? Will the mayor give his bestie a waiver from his $300 worth of fines & booted car? Stay tuned.
 
9.  Middletown's 9th Voting District selected to be randomly audited by the state. The state will review the optical scanners used to process ballots. Rep. Joe Serra volunteered to upkeep the official chain of custody & transport that scanner himself to the state office for inspection. Deja vu?
 
10. Food glorious food. All Middletown school students to get breakfast at school served in classrooms.  Board of Education publishes monthly newsletter "Nutrition Nuggets" with tips on fighting childhood obesity. Students & families to get free discarded bread from Freihofer's Cromwell. North end students sent home with food for weekends. Farmer's market gets grant for students to get healthy vegetables... too little food too much food.. anyone else confused? Thought so.

11.  Stephen4Stephen wins primary. Villagers protest fact there is nothing left to protest.

12. And then there were two: Killian & Carrol.  In a saga more dramatic then a romance story between sparkly vampires and a human,  state says no third party lines on the ballot allowed without signatures ie Realistic Balance is forced to dump all candidates that had also appeared on major party ballots. 

13.  Wait a sec...Mayor Drew and the D Crew appeared front and center in the Mess at the ground breaking for Eckersley Hall Senior Center. Not everyone on the council, including those who originally supported the project were invited. Mayor Drew was initially against the Senior Center project and paid a consultant last year mucho bennies $$$$$ to do a plan of an addition on City Hall that would make a wing for the seniors and a spacious suite for the Common Council. Those against the project are seen in the photos in the Mess now praising the project they once denounced as frivolous. Lest we forget, oh what a different a year makes...must be an election year!!

Orignal Names that The Insider toyed with prior to becoming the Insider!

Original Names for The Middletown Insider

1)   The Nor’wood we Tell You Digest

2)    Trust Us, you Know you want to Read us Times

3)   We’re not who you think we are!  GAZZETTE

4)   We have members that actually look up to minorities Times

5)   BALLS and BLOOD  REVIEW

6)    The EXPOSE* Please Don’t get upset with us that we report what YOU DID

7)     The Matthew Lesser is really Spanish Culture Review

8)     The Dan Drew wants to spend $750,000 for exotic lights on the bridge while the Economy Sucks Science Monitor.

9)      The “They make that much” on Government grants Times

10)   The Masselli/Lami Daily-

11) The Colonel Times

12) The How much did the DEMS spend NOW Review!

13) The Backstabbing Democrat Digest (Hey, I wanted to Run!)

Roundup: BOE News Update

The more things change the more they stay the same.  Last night’s Board of Education meeting was just that.  The administration would speak, the entire board (minus one gadfly member) would drool (or maybe it should be spelled drewl).  The current members were elected for change. They showed up fired Mikey, hired Pat, hired a few other new folks and then put their hats and sun glasses on and said that was too much like work.  Now they sit in their lawn chairs (or in some cases stand on a porch) and watch the tax paper bend over more and more each year.  Here some highlights from last night’s meeting you may or may not have missed. Lots of $$$$$$$$$BOE$$$$$$$$$$

1.       IT Director $102,191.00 a year.  “Hey Mayor What Happened?  Shared Services, NO?  Really? So, were back to two IT Directors in the City? And you had time to go see Obama on Monday? Is he helping Middletown? “

2.       The board is so tired from working sooo hard, Mitch, Eddie, and everyone’s (especially Ryan Kennedy) favorite TED dy Bear didn’t show. Thanks for representing the voters. (Absent).

3.       The board approved the approval of hiring a temporary Facilities Director from a private company called Sodexo. They won’t even tell you how much this is costing. 

4.       No. focus group, no workshop, doesn’t even tell the people who are affected. Just jam it down their throat and they will have to deal with it.  WESU suburb, the Pikes Ravine area, was moved to Macdonough Elementary back in 2009. Bad times, people sold their house because of this. Now less than five full years later back to Snow Elementary and Farm Hill they go.  People need to ask if one board member who lives in the village district had anything personal to gain.  The committee who recommended this is chaired by Ed McKeon. His neighborhood now gets moved back to Farm Hill School.  Fishy?

4.5   Sheila Daniels- If you speak against something, most people would then vote against it.  We all know you’re related to Earle, but you do not have to act like him...

5.       The board went into executive session to discuss non-renewing of contracts.  What the Insiders sources at the BOE building are saying is Mayor Drew lied again.  No layoffs????  Not so much!!! Over 50 layoff notices went out to teachers. Tommy’s son is safe, is yours?

6.       Also, did anyone hear Ryan Kennedy mention the BOE met on Saturday morning- 9am?  Hello TRANSPARENCY?? I think Seb Giuliano needs to send Chief McKenna over there again to chase those fools out of there? Shake em down!!!!  24 hour police presence, I think so!

7.       Why was Former Councilman David Bauer outside peeking into the Chamber?  It was seventy degrees out and this guy is wearing a winter hat!

The Board of Education will be in front of the Common Council for their budget workshop on April 16, 2013 at 7pm. Phil & Joe – we get it, it's for the kids. Drinking game anyone?

Corruption, Ellen, St. Francis and other Rublings or Who Got Paid for Midnight on Main.

Rumblings Part II

Holy Smokes! Joe forgot to back in the 'ole' boy.

Corruption in the Public Sector-  Are we talking about the famous Community Health Center run by Ernst Starvo Blofeld  or in this case Mark “I love my bowtie” Masselli.  This man  banks a lot of capital on your dime folks?

That’s right the taxpayaers of this fine city are paying for Mark’s  trips to the Olympics and other festivals all in the name of  WHAT?  Why did he have to go to TIBET or the Olympics? Let’s get real.  Perhaps he was finding medical supplies for the CHC in the mountains of TIBET or getting hockey puck samples at the winter Olympics.  

The spin has already started, in the commentary section of The Insider and  other fine (biased) blogs in town a few folks wrote to say:

  “Mark started a company many years ago to help those  in need that need health care.” 

Really?  Did he use his own money to do that or did he create a non-profit company that allowed him to be tax exempt and award himself a huge salary of his own.?  You know the answer to that one folks.  BIG BUCKS

The only way to expose this type of corruption is from the outside or to utilize people who are not involved in the magical circle of public sector corruption. Translation: bring in The Untouchables.

The problem with public sector corruption is that everyone who is in a position to clean it up has to get his or her own hands dirty to get there. That's the "dirty little secret". Everyone is dirty, so nobody can blow the whistle without being implicated themselves. Which is why the light has to be shined from the outside, i.e. The Insider.

SAFER GRANT- Remember how Dan Drew was all overthe Italian mayor about hiring cops when he debated Giuliano a few years back? Drew in fact railed against Giuliano for not taking the SAFER grant!  One reason Giuliano did not pursue SAFER was because the City would then have to cover the total sum of the salaries of the new law enforcement hired under the grantonce the grant ran out after two years. Well, it seems Drew is doing the old cop shuffle himself.  The boy king who backs into his stall, has opted out of keeping on the SAFER grants, a program that will allow Middletown to hire a few extra Police and Firemen.  If one goes back and views the three debates, Dan mentioned numerous times that our city needed more cops and emergency management personnel and he would be the 'man' to deliver those folks to Middletown.  On April 4, 2013 the tides have changed and Drew is quietly letting the SAFER grant go without hiring anybody new in fire and police.   I can see the comments now, “A SAFER grant only pays for an employee for two years and then the town is on its own and has to come with said employee's salary.” So what! Dan Drew promised to bring in more cops and said he would get the job done.  I think not.  He also promised to lower taxes.  Spin that one, High Street doorknockers!

Random Thoughts-  Perhaps the people that are suing the city after the double whammy denial at the Planning and Zoning Committee should focus on a few important issues that are plaguing the town:

A)   Villagers, please help the food pantry- Those people really need help, but yet, most of  you like the MK-Ultra Zombies that you are want to please your master and help Blue House LLC make money.  Think about it, why couldn’t the master pay for the anti-Middletown lawyer himself?  He has the money, but  he wants you, the MK-ULTRA followers to pay the money for his Kurtz like journey into madness.   

B)  Perhaps the village district can get together and send Ellen DeGeneres a letter and request that she stop dancing on the program. Enough is enough.

C)   Question of the day:  What notable (rich) members of the  Middletown elite were paid for their services on New Year’s Eve at the Middnight on Main event?   The town elders were yapping about “giving it up for the community” or stating that , “being a volunteer is a great thing,” while taking city money for the event. The liberal rich get richer:  I love the smell of fresh MOOLA in the morning! Money that is! There' a lot of money in liberalism. Don't deny it ED4ED or MM.

D)   Token Republican- The roster of the Riverfront Task Force has been announced  and according to the April 2, 2013 published committee  brief, only one member of the Republican Party is allowed in the room.  Former Deputy Mayor and Suzanne Vega fan (R) Joseph Bibsi (the Garrett Morris of the group) will join Richard Pellitier, Mike Gaudino, Dan Russo and others on this important commission, er I mean Task Force, in order to complete important tasks.

E)    Drunk Driving is a bad thing, please don’t do it.

F)   The Middletown Board of Education has voted to privatize their cafeterias. Perhaps now, we can get the kids to eat some fruit! Ketchup doesn’t count.

G)  Development Design Review- Bob Landino ‘s case is coming up and it seems that 3 of  the 6 members will not be voting for a variety or reasons. Conflict of interest baby! The number one overused excuse not to show up. Let's  take a stance on the Landino issue.  I still love how the mayor of the town is 100% in support of Landino, but yet the village people district zombies continue to ignore this.  He's the enemy folks! Wake up.

H)   Did Dan Drew really compare himself to King Solmon and St Francis of Assisi in the recent budget address?  Rumor has it that Drew had Joe Somolis, his designated car parker to taste his food thrice daily.  The other day the Mayor's CD player broke and Joe had to ride shotgun and rap the entire side 1 of Dr. Dre's The Chronic while helmet head dove the MN1 car around Wesleyan Hills.  "Everything going to be alright, yep, yeah, protect the gov, yeah, f- th 2nd amendment."

I)    Earl V. Roberts still wants to run for something in the fall.

J)    What happened to NEAT?  Did their funding really dry up? Mark, come on can you spare them some loose change? Stupid Question.

K)  Coleman’s Carnival showed up and it didn’t rain.  Is that a pig flying?  Rumor has it hell recently froze over as well.

L)   Who does more for the community Fred Carroll or Mark Masselli? Answer: Fred, hands down!
M) Hats off to BOE member Ryan Kennedy: Board member Ryan Kenney objected to the redistricting of Macdonough on the grounds that the board would have to revisit the issue again in the fall. "This is a very temporary fix to a very permanent problem." said Kennedy. 

N) Wesleyan’s new (lack of) ethnicity policy- This is true folks! The Wesleyan Security Officers are not allowed to use color to describe anybody doing anything remotely suspicious on campus. If someone is carjacking you in the Usdan lot, the cops can’t say, “All units be on the look of a white male, 5 feet 7 inches with glasses.”  The Wes security will have to say: “All units be on the look out for a male 5 feet 7 inches with glasses.”  What's next leaving gender and hair color out of physical descriptions too? This is the stupidest thing I have heard of in town.
o) Complete Streets Report only has 3 out of 56 pages that aren't common sense fluff  that actually talk about pedestrian/bike issues in Middletown specifically. Oh yeah and a color coded map that the city pz department probably could have done in an afternoon. Good theories, but no real plans! Yup, taxpayers paid the professional consultants $20,000 for this 6th grade level book report that took a year to complete!
P)  Margaret Thatcher said "There is no public money, only taxpayer money." And on that note another wise person once said: "Grants are the institutional equivalent of prostitution. The "John" (ie the institution paying the grant) offers payment to any "hooker" (eg. a city, a school district, a non profit) who will perform specific act or acts. And we all know how well that ends. R.I.P Iron Lady.

Q)  Where the hell is the streaming for municipal meetings that was supposed to be finalized a few months back?  Now, that may be the stupidest thing I have heard of in town. Imagine expecting the town to fulfill any objective on time, that’s like ED4ED actually making a difference on the board or education.