The Circle Game

Routines and traditions help us make transitions from what is now to what’s next. I’ve offered much of what follows before at this time of year, so perhaps it’s on its way to becoming a tradition (I can dream, right?).

I know it’s hard to believe but a week from today, children in kindergarten through sixth grade begin a new year of classes at Norwich Public Schools, while Monday is the start of classes for 9th graders with everyone else returning on Tuesday at NFA. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn't we just wish everyone a great summer like last week? (Something about objects in mirrors being nearer, I think.)

I've been seeing back-to-school displays in stores everywhere and advertisements on TV for weeks as the retail sector has its own calendar that moves even more relentlessly than the ones we have hanging in our kitchens.

Speaking of back to school, we are smack in the middle of Connecticut Sales Tax-Free Week which, and should, have an asterisk because what's 'sales tax-free' is most apparel (to include square dancing clothes) and shoes (such as 'bicycle sneakers without cleats') costing less than one hundred dollars. And, no, I did not make any of that up; that's how it’s described on the Department of Revenue's Chart of Exempt and Taxable Items. 

We can combine our back-to-school shopping trips with money-saving while patronizing local businesses so that more of our dollars stay here where we live and continue to support those merchants who help make our community a better place for all of us.

As we head towards autumn, perhaps this is a good time to check those kitchen calendars to see if we can't find space and time that allows us to volunteer for one or more of the many activities we have across our city, like the Greek Food Festival, A Taste of Italy or Walktober and/or dozens (if not hundreds) of others. We all enjoy going to them, right? And while it's nice to believe they run on rainbows, they don’t. All of them rely on volunteer power, which is where you and I come in.

There's an 80/20 rule of volunteering about who does the work and who enjoys the fruits of that work, but my larger point is there isn't a single aspect of our community that would not be better if more of us got involved and engaged.

I mentioned the start of the new school year and not just for parents of school children but for all of us, a great place to lend a hand and stay close to home is our local Norwich Public School. We owe one another a thoughtful discussion about this November’s bonding initiative for new schools and you’ll be sick of reading about here long before I get tired of writing about it but that’s for another time. The children in my house and perhaps yours are grown and gone, but their graduations shouldn't mean the end of our interest and engagement.

Start by attending a parent-teacher conference or a Board of Education meeting and see what happens and what can happen next. Summer's ending and it's time to become a bigger part of where we call home. We are better together and always have been.
-bill kenny