Jim O'rourke has big Ones!!

On February 14, 2014 disgraced former State Legislator Jim O'Rourke, who, rumor has wants to run again for his former job,  posted the following on his Facebook account: 

The Insider has no issue with the fact that Mr. O'Rourke has the right to exorcise his first amendement rights, but Jimbo, um you are not an ordinary citizen remember?  You were involved in the death of a young woman that allegedly jumped into your car while you were at a Rock Hill bar.  The woman is dead and you are posting pictures of another so-called political troublemaker?  Remember the woman is dead and you did not do any jail time, while Rowland did time in jail for the hot tub violation.  Let's put things in perspective here people.  The Republican goes to jail for his violation of illegally steering a potential contract and getting certain contractors to install a hot tub under the radar, while Jim O'Rourke kicks a woman out of his car without shoes and a coat on a snowy night.  Mr. O'Rourke, I think you need to do all of us a favor and start posting confessions about what really happened that night. Your soul may depend on it one day.

 For information on Jim O'Rourke and his homocide victim see Christopher Keating's excellent story on the issue located at:

 http://courantblogs.com/capitol-watch/civil-lawsuit-against-ex-state-rep-james-orourke-settled-state-employee-died-in-freezing-weather-in-2009/

Mayor Drew Thinks Bookstore is a Good Idea

Originally published at:  http://wesleying.org/2012/11/17/mayor-drew-thinks-bookstore-move-is-a-good-idea/

"Despite all the brouhaha over the potential Wesleyan bookstore relocation—including dissenting voices from Middletown resident Jen Alexander ’88 and Red & Black owner Ed Thorndike ’89—Mayor Dan Drew remains committed to supporting the development on economic grounds. In a press conference on Wednesday, Drew praised developer Bob Landino’s proposal as a potential job-creator in Middletown. As Middletown Patch reports:

“This will bring a $6 million influx of funds into the Middletown economy,” said Mayor Dan Drew. “It will create 30 full-time jobs in the development complex.”
Joining Drew at a press conference in council chamber of city hall were Robert A. Landino, president and CEO of Centerplan Construction; Gerry Daley, longtime chair of the Economic Development Commission; and Larry McHugh, president of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.

Drew also compared the model to William and Mary College (though this slab of Washington Street is at least a few blocks from Middletown’s “historic downtown”) and praised Landino’s connections to the Middletown community (read: he’s not from “New York or Boston or Chicago”):

“It’s a model extremely similar to what’s been done at William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.,” Drew said — a university bookstore in the heart of an historic downtown. [ . . . ]
“If this were a developer swooping in from New York or Boston or Chicago that we didn’t know, it would create a tremendous amount of concern,” but, Drew said, Landino is a “known quantity” working with local Realtors, local architects and engineering firms.

Many of the reader comments, interestingly, are in favor of the move—and less in favor of Wesleyan’s involvement with it. As one “Jane” voices:

cant say I trust Wesleyan much with it’s promises to our town- those jobs will probably go to their students not what they call “townies”- people have a short term memory with promises to open the athletic center to our community- its not as accessible as they had us believe-"

For more on the controversies surrounding the bookstore proposal, click here or here.

OddFellows Playhouse Youth Theater

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater

Oddfellows' Land of the Dead is having its last weekend!! Show is Tonight, and Saturday at 7:30 pm. Do you like zombies? Enjoy theater? Looking for a fun night out with a date?

Come to Oddfellows tonight and check out the show-- AND, NoRA Cupcakes will be here with their truck before and during intermission selling cupcakes!

http://oddfellowsplayhouse.ticketleap.com/landofthedead/

GO online to buy tickets or call us at 860-347-6143 to reserve. Seats are filling up.

You Know You're a (Middletown) Liberal if.....

1) You lead the fight with the local Board of Education and the Mayor's office to ensure that all Middletown schools are racially balanced. Once the list is released, you notice that your own child has to be bused to a school in the north end which infuriates you so you complain about this error at the next BOE meeting. "I didn't mean my kid."

2) You bitterly complain about a State Senator's bid to call for a recount over the 228 vote margin during the last election. If this were Murphy vs. McMahan and she won by 228 votes, you would be driving around the state and screaming voter fraud. In fact you would have a megaphone and offer to count votes yourself. Give me a break! Voter fraud only occurs if it favors the left.

3) You write in your blog about the alleged nastiness of other writers on different blogs, but it's okay for you to drop F-bombs about Linda McMahan on Facebook twice a day. "Let's count to three and take a breather."

4) You fight for the local diner that burned down due to the owner's lack of responsibility of not having fire insurance. Sorry guys, you want to help out the community let's earn some money for schools and not waste time and energy for a person that wasn't responsible. Instead it's: Lets's' make sure the natural food store gets free money from the town to make up revenue due to the bridge traffic. (Did they lose money? The place is always packed. What's the kickback?) When the Wesleyan bookstore and Starbucks want to move in your territory, it's, they don't have the right or we don't want chains in this town or the classic, it's bad for Middletown. Give me a break. You don't own the North End! (Real reason: We don't want anything to rock the little non-profit boat we are running down here! What's your salary now?)

5) You campaigned for the BOE on a platform of transparency and honesty. Reality: It's impossible to get a word from you about BOE business or the missing million dollars. Where is the budget? Why are they underfunded? Typical answer: "I refuse to answer to anonymous people."

6) You claim you didn't vote for Wayne Winsley because Rosa DeLaura is more qualified. What the…..? Mmmmm, it's probably the same reason people like you spend $51,000 a year to keep your children away from the public school population. "We want YOU to do it this way, but I get to do what I want." I would ask you what Rosa has done for the people, but I would get the same old liberal dribble. Qualified? I thought American politics were developed to get the common man into the thick of things? Right? I get it, not qualified?

7) You endlessly campaign against Linda McMahan on Facebook, but sell an advertisement on your blog to her campaign. What happened not enough money in the non-profit sector for you?

8) You verbally claim you love a certain politician, but tell folks: "I can't put up their sign because people might get angry with me."

9) You truly believe you are better than everybody or entitled to things that don't belong to you.

10) You love to point fingers at corporate types, but when that person is a personal friend of yours all your personal feelings are put aside. "Well, it's 'ok' if the Democrat is doing it, but if it's a GOP member I should stomp and scream like a child who doesn't get his way."

11) You are a member of MADD, but stood up and clapped when Dominique Thornton arrived at the Democratic Town Committee Meeting after her arrest for drunk driving.

12) You put up a lawn sign that tells folks to "Vote for Jim O'Rourke," but privately tell your family members to decline any ride offers from the state rep.

From the MRTC Chair: Ken McClellan

To the Middletown Republican Town Committee and friends who supported us.

Thank you, all for the hard work done during the recent campaign.   Our candidates ran good, clean campaigns, with no personal attacks, accusations or innuendo, campaigning on the issues, and on the records of incumbents.  I thank them for their courage, persistence and hard work during the campaign.  I do have to mention that Deb Kleckowski and Len Suzio put a stupendous amount of work and heart into their campaigns.  If work alone would win an election, it would have been a landslide for both.  I hope both of you continue to be active in politics.

Now that we’ve had a few days to digest the results of the last election, I’m hurt and disappointed that our message of small government, fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility, family values, morality and honesty in government has not penetrated.  I believe in small government, fiscal responsibility, individual freedom and personal responsibility.  If that message doesn’t resonate with most people, I won’t change my principles or my message.  This is what I believe in and what I will continue to champion.  I won’t change my principles in order to win an election.  I won’t change my message in order to be popular.   I hope that all of you agree with me.  And remember, it doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down, what matters is how many time you get up.

I also believe that charity and helping others starts with the individual, not the government.  Please remember those less fortunate, and contribute, if you can, your time, money and resources to helping others, through the food banks, shelters for women and children, churches and service agencies.

Sunday is Veterans’ Day.  Please join the Veterans’ organizations of Middletown at commemorative ceremonies on Veterans’ Green on Washington Street, at 11am, Sunday, November 11, and at the State Veterans Cemetery on Bowe Lane at 2pm.

Again, thank you for your hard work, take a deep breath, and I’ll see you all at the next town committee meeting on Nov 26.  Guests are always welcome!

Happy Veterans Day and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks,

Ken McClellan

Chairman, Middletown Republican Town Committee

Letter from Deb Kleckowski

Congratulations to Matt Lesser on his win last night and thank- you to all of you who helped on my campaign and who voted for me. Though I may not have won, our voice still can be heard and must be heard. 

 I pledge to you as a member of the Common Council and an active member of this community that I will continue to work hard and bring your voices forward. It is imperative that we work together to provide solutions for the challenges which lay ahead. I encourage you all to hold the newly elected officials to their word on reinvigorating our sluggish economy and to stop the massive tax hikes and perpetual spending; it is our obligation.

 
Again, thank you to everyone who supported me in my effort and I look forward to working with you to make Middletown an even better place to live and to work. God Bless AMERICA!

Hurricane Safety Tips Checklist- Be Prepared

Hurricane Safety Tips Checklist – Be How to Prepare for the Annual Hurricane Season

1) Listen to the forecast. Pay attention to any warnings and determine whether to evacuate or ride out the storm.
2) If you choose not evacuate, find a safe shelter to stay in that is adequately outfitted with emergency supplies.
3) Ensure your family knows when to go to the shelter and how best to get there.
4) Install storm shutters on your home, or cover windows with plywood to keep them from breaking.
5) Purchase supplies such as non-perishable food, water, flashlights, a portable radio, batteries, and a first-aid kit.
6) Have rain gear and extra clothing stored in your shelter and easily accessible.

What to Do when a Hurricane Warning is Issued by the National Weather Service

1) Get a hold of family members to determine their whereabouts and enact your safety plan.

2) Gather animals in a safe place.

3) Fill your gas tank to ensure you can evacuate the area if necessary.

4) Follow the directions of local authorities and listen to local weather reports.

5) Don’t wait until the last minute to evacuate. If you wait, exit routes may be at a standstill or completely closed.

6) Move forward with securing your home, closing shutters and covering windows.

7) Ensure everything that can be blown around and cause harm is tied down securely.

Continued:

Middletown High School Shelter Open!

From Councilwoman Kleckowksi:

Shelter will open at noon-Middletown High School on Newfield Street. This is a pet friendly shelter. Pets should be crated. If you need to go to the shelter be sure to bring all your medications and your own pillow and blanket (there are pillows and blankets if you forget). For more information call 211. Thank you to all volunteer members of Emergency Management. Be safe!!! We are in good hands..Emergency Operation Center is up and running. All Emergency Personnel are on stand-by ready to ensure our safety. Thank you to all who are working to keep us safe!!!

Wayne Winsley-Listen on the Radio- MIddletown and Durham Sept 29, 2012

Middletown City Councilwoman, Deborah Kleckowski, a candidate for state rep in Connecticut's 100th district, introduced Wayne Winsley to residents in her district on a walking tour Saturday morning, Sept. 29, 2012.

Afterwards, Winsley, the Republican congressional candidate in the 3rd district, visited the Durham Fair in the afternoon.