Outside It's a Bright Night (Norwich Meetings 8-11 September)

This week in the Rose City and in towns all across The Nutmeg State there will be a lot of tinkering with municipal budgets developed, debated and deliberated upon during the spring that took effect by state statute on 1 July, even though the State of Connecticut had no budget.

Then last week, there it was, a state budget and now our elected local leaders get to disassemble our budgets and make due with even less as almost everyone ended up with less money than had been forecast. What's that tee-shirt say, 'bi-partisan fecklessness happens'? You betcha.

It's against this background of increased financial exigency that our neighbors assemble this week for a variety of meetings that touch on just about every subject and aspect of living in the greatest city in Connecticut.*

Today, if you have the time off from work enjoy it; if you have to work because of the nature of what you do, thank you. And as few of us who can be in this scenario, the better.

Tuesday begins almost literally and figuratively at 8 AM with a meeting of the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Executive Committee in their building in the Norwich Business Park. There's no agenda posted, and I know you know how surprised I am by that, but here's the August meeting minutes. Lots of people talk about 'working together' and 'learning to think regionally' but SCCOG attempts to turn words into deeds.

At 5:30 in the Kelly Middle School Library it's a regular meeting of the Norwich Public Schools Board of Education. This is where their agenda should be, but isn't, and they're coming back after a summer break to some less than sanguine news about test results in connection with No Child Left Behind (just found that; pass it on!) to contemplate on top of the impact the reduction of state funds to the city's budget will have on our schools.

The Downtown Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Committee meets at 6:45 in the Otis Library. The city's website can offer you a copy of their October LAST YEAR meeting minutes and/or this past June's minutes unless you're interested in a July Agenda that may have been from a special meeting (because of the change in location). I seem to do this every meeting preview: here's the state law on postings on municipal websites with what should be there and when. It's not a suggestion, it's the law. Why do both of us know this is not the last time I'll step on this soapbox? We are, if nothing else, around here, consistent.

The Zoning Board of Appeals meets at seven in the downstairs conference room at 23 Union Street. They have a full plate, looking at the agenda which probably has some items that were held over as their August meeting was cancelled. And the City Council at 7:30 holds its first regular meeting of the month with a comparatively light agenda unless, of course, it's your neighborhood getting sewers. I think hearing the discussion on "New Business, Resolution One" (some background here) could prove to be informative especially since I heard a story over the weekend about a new NPU policy that could very negatively impact redeveloping properties in the city (like that's a cakewalk now) and that seemed to take two Aldermen by surprise when they first heard of it.

Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins--sorry! As I was almost saying, Wednesday morning at a quarter to nine, the Rehabilitation Review Committee meets in the downstairs conference room of 23 Union St. There are NO minutes, no agenda and all but one of the members' appointments have expired, otherwise we're swell. And speaking of missing agenda and meeting minutes, at six it's a regular meeting of the Baseball Stadium Authority in Room 210 of City Hall. And there's little else to be said on either of these meetings except it underscores the importance of open and transparent government. And meanwhile only 22% of our registered voters show up on election day and no one knows why or what to do about it. Yeah, amazing, innit?

At seven, across town in the Taftville Volunteer Fire Department, is a regular meeting of the Public Safety Committee who've worked hard with the public safety professionals and volunteers to get us away from a 'who gets the next truck?' mentality but may have a challenge in light of fiscal restraints in providing timely funding to support requests for new equipment. Here's their August meeting minutes (a draft) to give you an idea of the scope and range of their deliberations and concerns.

Thursday afternoon at 5:15 at the Lakeside Pavilion up in Mohegan Park is a regular meeting of the Mohegan Park Improvement and Development Committee, who appear to meet every other month (with a Q in it; NOT). I found the 'empty seat on the committee' under old business of the draft minutes from July utterly fascinating since at the top of this page under Volunteers Wanted, there's a detailed explanation of how the process is supposed to work. Rules, I should always remember, are for people who don't know better.

Later Thursday at six, is a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Uncas Health District, in their main office at 401 West Thames Street. They don't have the most up to date meeting schedule or archive of minutes or agenda, or even close which is to me somewhat unfortunate as they are engaged in many worhwhile and valuable activities (more than once going through their website I realized after reading something 'I didn't know that') and I suspect I'm not the only one who needs to get a lot smarter on a valuable, local resource in my community

Friday morning at eight on the steps of City Hall will be a commemoration of attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001. I doubt that more than a handful of us, across the country can remember the top five issues we were arguing about in national politics from the night before. My point, in light of the eight years since this cowardly catastrophe, is we owe all those who died, and ourselves who've survived, a bit more civility and courtesy in listening to and interacting with one another on the important issues of the day, (especially today), in which we find ourselves. We're called the United States of America for a reason-- maybe this is the morning when we start acting like it.

This is as good a week as any to be an exclamation and not an explanation.

Everyone, everywhere can use a helping hand, so offer someone one of yours.

-bill kenny

(*at the confluence of the Shetucket, Thames and Yantic Rivers and named Norwich. Your mileage may vary. City's reputation in mirror is larger than it seems. Void where taxed or prohibited by law. No animals were harmed in the framing of this disclaimer. Lou Reed is probably not too pleased with me right now.)

Shut Up Underpants

I was coming back yesterday afternoon from a Republican Party candidates' forum in Greeneville at the Wonderbar Restaurant (and you missed an informative time if you weren't there, or if you sat next to me (thanks, Sheila)). There were three of the four candidates for City Council, plus the Mayoral candidate and three candidates for the Board of Education and about thirty of us. I'm not a member of this party, but those who are realize (or realize again) I don't have cloven hooves or a third eye and seated across and alongside of them for a couple of hours, I'm pretty sure the same can be said about them and that's an important first step. It went on for about two hours, and was always civil, respectful and thoroughly pleasant and well worth our time. I hope we do it again and do it often. And I hope the candidates from the Democratic Party and the Norwich For Change party also hold get togethers and people do and will.

But I digress (I know, 'gee, such a surprise!').

While driving home I passed a woman on Oneco Street near the intersection with Williams Street (I think; I'm real good at driving the streets and not so good with their names) walking her Doberman Pinscher (I assume; who offers to walk someone elses'?) on a leash and she had on dark blue tee shirt with Shut Up Underpants on the back. I have no idea what was on the front-what with the large dog and all, but when I sat down to write this, her shirt just jumped out at me (which probably isn't really the way I'd like this sentence to read, but, as they say in Congress, who has time for English? (kidding, I hope)).

And the title has the advantage of jumping out at you if you're just surfing the web today, hanging ten, grabbing some churn and getting jiggy with it (see? all of that was English and I have NO idea what any of it means) and your search engine just found this, and like a moth to a flame, here you are. Hopefully not sans (or ohne) underpants. And if you stop here on a regular basis, I know, 'big whoop'.

I had someone send me some amazing insights the other day-someone with whom I share the same biology and with whom I'm joined by the same air we breathe, but that's about all we have in common. So he's a pretty amazing guy for passing this stuff along but (of course) not as amazing as I am for sharing some of it with you. (why is there no ironic type font?)

Bernie (not the guy with the appliance store, another Bernie) tells me this comes from the mind and pen (or keyboard, I suspect) of Regina Brett of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and while I'm only going to pass along a few of her insights, the column itself is right here but before you read it, make yourself a nice cup of coffee, brew yourself some tea, or if it's late enough, maybe have a Seagrams's and soda, because you'll want to savor it, it's that good.

"Life isn't fair, but it's still good."

"Life is too short to waste time hating anyone."

"You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree."
"If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it."
"Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful."
"No one is in charge of your happiness but you."
"What other people think of you is none of your business."

" No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up." and my favorite,

"Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does."

We're smack in the middle of the Labor Day weekend, so if you have to work, thank you for your labor and if you get the time off, enjoy it. The hustle and bustle and head-noise aren't going anywhere and you really look like you could use a break, so take it. And if anyone says anything, refer them to today's title and let them figure it out.

-bill kenny

Maybe your Last Chance to Wear White Indoors

This is it, the weekend that ends summer. Just me or does it seem like it was last weekend that we were enjoying Memorial Day and looking forward to the summer months? I used to hate Labor Day as a kid because in New Jersey we went back to school after Labor Day, so we knew the end was near. Many towns in Connecticut went back earlier this week, but they're all still off Monday so I'm wondering what, exactly, the point was to going back. I feel better now because I wanted to pass along something that I forgot I knew about and had wanted to tell you yesterday. But as it turns out, I never thought of it again until a moment ago, just in the nick of time....

This afternoon at two, at the Wonderbar Restaurant in Greeneville (it's almost exactly across the street from the car wash on Boswell Avenue) is a Republican candidates' forum for the November Norwich Mayoral and City Council election. Obviously, you don't need to be a Republican or even a resident or elector of Norwich to attend, but if you have an interest in our city and in its workings I'd urge you to consider going.

Peter Nystrom, current alderman who wishes to be elected Mayor, and William Nash seeking a second term on the City Council, are two people whom I know, but the other three persons running on the Republican ticket are unknown to me which is why I'm planning on trying to meet them. I just hope all three will be good sports about their luck running out. ;-) I can always tell them that both Mr. Nash and Mr. Nystrom were very good when it happened to them.

It has, so far, been a quiet election season in Norwich. I realize we're still wrapping up summer, so for a lot of people it really hasn't been the right time to think about elections or what comes after them (governance, or attempting it), but without intending to dull the tans and the summer glows, it's time to turn to the task at hand.

I have no idea what the format for the forum will be but I'm sure there'll be opportunities to meet the people who are offering to help out by holding elected office and if not really "get to know them" then perhaps, "get to know them a little bit." And for them to get to know us a little better. I attend a lot of City Council meetings, so my interest in meeting and getting to know the candidates is perhaps (selfish and) based, in part, on my understanding of how our political dynamic here works (or doesn't, as I sometimes despair).

If there's a chance to discuss particular topics, I'll be very interested in learning more about how the candidates feel about our city budget (which I think came up a little shorter than projected in the new though not improved state budget) but what I really will listen for from each person is how he/she envisions working to build our municipal grand list so that my personal property taxes go down (and yours, too, if you live in Norwich and show up on Saturday). I'm a little tired of office seekers telling me 'Norwich needs economic development'-I already know that. I want people who wish to be the Mayor or Alderpersons to tell me, in detail, how they will grow the Grand List, attract new business and create additional revenue streams for our city government.

I have a box of cliches at home, under the bed: 'pull together', 'work as a team', 'check our egos at the door', 'work across party lines', 'get Kenny a pony ride for his birthday' (no? well, it should be!) so we can skip all of that and cut to the chase. And while we're at it, maybe the candidates can outline their positions on the Ethics Commission that our Mayor placed in the news in recent weeks, or (a hot topic last election that was effectively stifled) Charter Revision, and as some or all of them could be on the next City Council, I'd like to hear their thoughts on how the Council could be more effective and efficient in the accomplishment of their duties (and come to think of it, maybe they can help me understand what exactly the City Council does, and what they think it should do).

And, pardon the drama for all non-fashionistas, need I point out the forum is just about everyone's last chance to wear white this season. Unless, of course, you're a professional mummy. Christopher Lee says hello.
-bill kenny

How Do You Figure Out the Tip When Paying the Bill of Rights?

When we have the will and the inclination, we have the tools and technology to expand our world beyond our wildest imaginations. There is also the danger, because we are humans with free will, to use those same tools to restrict and constrict the world as we see it or as we'd like it to be seen. The one-eyed monster found in living rooms from coast to coast and from McMansions through crack houses to mental wards can be a fulcrum from which we can move the world. Or it can be a cudgel to bludgeon those with whom we disagree into submission.

There's no right answers on our fascination with and addiction to mainstream media just as there are no wrong answers as to which newspapers we read or what radio and television stations we watch for news and information. When the Founding Fathers, assisted by others, created the Bill of Rights (and this is a marvelous site), they could have not foreseen the world in which we now live. For them, freedom of speech, and within that, 'the press', was a matter of newspapers and broadsides (one sheet exhortations and excoriations on behalf of and in opposition to issues of Colonial America). The electric fire of 2009 could not be imagined or controlled-as it turns out, neither could its impact.

Now, when you touch that dial, you often have to do 'rock, paper, scissors' on where you turn and tune for news. Truisms are often truths, and perceptions of reality are frequently reality. Many people believe certain broadcast operators and cable providers are right or left of center (and those are some of the kinder names they're called) and cite numerous examples to support their positions. Meanwhile, the sum total of Americans who get their information on a world beyond their threshold from television (of any kind) continues to decline and the folks who manage the contents inside the video boxes insist they have no idea why.

Into all of this, comes this story (and be cognizant of the messenger, but don't let that overwhelm the message). I was part of a generation who grew up watching Frank Reynolds, Huntley and Brinkley and Walter Cronkite. There was nothing sexy, or happy talkish, or slick about any of them. Television news was 'radio with pictures' and most of the pictures were of middle aged white guys at a desk reading stories to us. Sort of 'Book at Bedtime' without either. Some of the 'evening news' programs were (only) fifteen minutes long-now we have how many channels offering 24/7? And how much of that 'news' is noise?

TV news probably now does more persuasion and less informing because advocacy draws better ratings than reporting. Broadcasters and cable operators alike pander to audience 'segments' as long as those segments buy the products those broadcasts are sponsored by, from the advertisers who bought time because the broadcast's demographics could deliver certain groups in large numbers.....and round goes the gossip.

It's easy to 'hose the area' as electronic news gatherers call it when covering stories like health care town hall meetings, HIV prevention rallies, TEA parties, what-have-you. And much of the time, proving we've come full circle, we're no longer actually watching events at all, but rather (now far more than) middle-aged white guys and all kinds of other people who are talking about events. Sort of like singing about football and each of us decides who sings the goodest. Keef O or Glenn B or a player to be named later. Do you suppose Franklin, Jefferson and Washington saw eye to eye on every aspect of what proved to be the American Revolution? Or perhaps they came to an agreement on the portions they shared and agreed to disagree, 'later', about the rest. Maybe we could try that again.

You must get as tired reading it as I get tired typing it: the issues we face can't be captured in a seventy-second story with a ten second stand-up location lock-out (TV speak for "in Bug Tussle, Oklahoma, I'm Edward R. Murrow."). They require our fullest attention, no matter our political beliefs (as a matter of fact, precisely because of our political beliefs). Not just Democrats or liberals require health care and not just Republicans or conservatives are taxed too much. And people who feel that way or who feel differently don't come from another dimension or drink their bath water (or any of the other insults we manufacture when we disagree with each other).

The farther out in space you travel the more we all look alike down here. How about we agree to put the remotes down and nobody gets hurt? Step away from the cable box and keep the satellite dish where we can see it.
-bill kenny

If he had fingers instead of feathers

Big doings yesterday for me-a chance to accomplish a project I'd been working towards for a couple of days.....wait for it, and do NOT laugh....relocating the bird feeder on my office window to the other office window. I know, incredibly trivial and almost morbidly mundane.

Sorry it wasn't finding a cure for an infectious disease, getting Kate Gosselin a date (come to think of it, how'd you like to be that guy? No pressure, eh?) or coming up with a realistic and fiscally responsible Connecticut state budget (or not). My little distraction had the advantage of appearing to be better though it was no more than different-but America in 2009, for the most part, can no longer tell the difference and (between you and me) the birds don't really care.

Feeding the birds is a remarkably entertaining diversion that in the summer is the same as bringing a sandwich to a banquet. Maybe I should be ashamed of how I've corrupted the birds, instead of wandering through nature (I'm not sure what the official Ornithological Society description is for what the birds are doing out there when they're not pooping on our cars), these plump little lumps of feathers with beaks perch on tree branches closest to the feeder, or on the ground the six or so feet below the feeder, and wait for when the bi-ped isn't looking and eat the sunflower seeds I put out . I feed them in the winter, too, but let's face it, it's really more for me in the summer. And judging by the size of the birds, the worms in the area are doing just fine.

I'm not sure why I ended up with sunflower seeds-maybe because they were sold in the biggest bag and I just didn't want the work I've watched my wife and daughter go through at the house. I really don't remember and judging from the way the birds, all kinds from the little brown dime a dozen birds to cardinals (both female and male), the birds don't care either.

The feeder is clear plastic or something like plastic with a shelf to put the seed in and a roof over the whole thing. You put suction cups on the window, spaced just so, and then line up the two hooks that are on the suctions cups with the two holes in the feeder and that's how it sits on the glass. While the birds feed, you watch.

Transferred the feeder from one window to the other after I had eaten lunch-not that any of the birds were watching me (though that would be very creepy if I were to look out the window and they were all sitting on the tree branches watching the fork go to my mouth and then back to the dish. Glad I have venetian blinds. (what do they call them in Venice? Us blinds? Dude? (I was talking about Venice, California and you thought I meant Italy....)) and I was delighted that my innate sense of mechanical equilibrium and structural dynamics played no part in popping the suction cups off of one window and sticking them on the other one and hanging the filled feeder. So far, so good and then, so what?!!

Back inside the office, protected by the glass, I watched as, while two little birds sat butt and beak-deep in the sunflower seeds in the tray, a third bird (not to be confused with a second gunman), standing on the feeder roof above them, began pulling on the suction cup! He went it at it like a bird possessed (or in light of our current economic climate, a bird repossessed) pulling and pecking at the suction cup. I got right up to the glass (usually a sure fire 'scares the bejabbers out of 'em' maneuver) and nothing--his (her? I don't know and I don't know how to tell either) two buds downstairs did fly away and then came back, I'm not sure what 'sheepishly' looks like in a bird (or many people from around here, come to think of it) but I think they showed me, when they realized I couldn't chase them. And still he kept working on the suction cup.

I'm now making a mental movie that the Audubon Society is NOT going to like where, somehow, he successfully separates one of the suction cups from the window and the feeder and its diners plummet to the earth. Nothing Quentin Tarantinoish by any means, more Tweety and Sylvester, though I don't see a happy ending for the two birds in the seed tray in this one-reeler. Eventually I had to bang on the window which got the attention of the yellow bellied suction cupper (my own invention) and between the yelling and dramatic gesticulation, he seemed to grasp that the feed-dispenser (me) was agitated and that beating a retreat was the simplest solution. Unless with all the frantic waving I was doing he feared I was trying to take off and the movie in his head had a very tragic landing.
-bill kenny

Out of Many

There's a pair of notable dates I missed earlier this week. I'll start with belated best wishes to Chief Pudge on his birthday to start the month of September (yeah, I know, 'which started yesterday'). I wanted you to get warmed up first. Chief is a force of nature and, luckily for all of us, a force for good in the village of Taftville on behalf of everyone living and working in the city of Norwich. I must point out that I've heard from some if you were as tall as you are old, my friend, you'd be be able to dunk a basketball without jumping.

The other item I should have passed along Monday is courtesy of Dr. Robert (I'm not sure it's ethical to just do first names but it's sooo California, and I've always wanted to meet Brian Wilson).

It's the Montville Rally and Health Care Town Hall Forum with Congressman Joe Courtney which starts tonight at 5:30 PM at Montville High School, followed by the (actual) health care forum at 6:30.

We've spent months, at this stage in the game shouting at and over one another, so it's probably too late for me to realistically hope we can have a dialogue instead of dueling monologues at Max Vol (maximum volume) either before, during or after this session. At the end of the day, as someone who has health care but tries to NOT lose sight of the tens of millions who do not, I'm not alone when I point out that we can all agree 'something' must be done-but the devil is, as always, in the detail. I'm not sure being unhappy about how the current discussions are shaking out in terms of coverage, choice and payment makes anyone a black-hearted ba$tard, and certainly no more than advocating to develop a humane and fair system to assure coverage makes someone a socialist (or worse).

I fear that the 'health care debate' which isn't what we're having ('you scream, then I scream; then we both go home and have ice cream' Sorry, mom), is the tip of a larger, longer and more uncivil iceberg on how we don't agree to disagree anymore in the Land of Unlimited Possibilities. I've done some reading on the decades of divisiveness in this country leading to The War Between the States (I've never understood using the term 'The Civil War' when it was anything but) and lived through the turbulence of "Vietnam" where the Gulf of Tonkin came to symbolize a greater one, between generations and, sadly, within them as well.

There were political leaders and contemporary historians in those eras who wondered if our nation could, or even should, survive, and so it's not surprising to read and hear these same misgivings today. I'd hope the answer is now as it was then (and at so many other times as well), a resounding and unanimous 'yes!' because dissent and disagreement is just as much a part of our story as Breed's Hill, Gettysburg, Iwo Jima and so many other battles.

Any ideal worth dying for is, logically, worth living for and we can all agree that together we are much smarter than each of us alone. Our motto, found on the Great Seal is part of our national DNA and, in its way, is what puts the US in USA, "E Pluribus Unum." In recent times, it seems to be abbreviated as STFU, which is not only insulting but reduces our voices to just so much noise and hardens our hearts as it steels our resolve to be unkind to one another and to all with whom we disagree. Too many from around the world, in the last two and half centuries, have sacrified everything they owned and were to get to these shores so that their children, our neighbors, could be a part of this amazingly wonderful idea that began as a spark and grew to a flame that still lights the world.

So if you're going to the health care forum, wherever your Montville happens to be tonight, tomorrow or next month-try to not lose sight that at the end of every day, no matter how many of us there are and how many different viewpoints we all bring to bear, it's always the same: out of many, one. Each of us not only makes a difference, we are the difference.

-bill kenny

Habits and Snakes

Spooked myself yesterday. Walking through life with my eyes on but no one home upstairs. About two weeks ago the house we live in was getting a new roof and through a series of unhappy coincidences, a piece of roofing managed to go through a window in our garage whose shards did some 'dinging' to the windshield of our car parked inside at the time. No hole or missing chunk, but some scratches that tend to skew oncoming headlights, especially in the rain. Not a big deal, and the folks doing the roofing made the arrangements for the windshield replacement in a place really close to where I work.

That's the part I forgot about, sort of. I dropped off the car on my way into work, did the 'fill out the envelope and put your keys in it and throw it through the drop slot into the garage' part of the drill, which was the part I was afraid I'd screw up (I have the talent, trust me). It's a two minute walk from the garage to my work. That I never knew they did auto glass replacement until last week I'm hoping has more to do with that I never needed to have a windshield replaced than that I never read the twenty foot long, six foot high banner advertising just this service that hangs from the front of the garage (which I pass every single day at least twice a day and have for the last eighteen or so years.) When they remake that remake of Sherlock Holmes, I will not be holding my breath waiting on that casting call.

The whole process went as smoothly as 'eggs through a hen' as Dave Malone would say. I worked with David when both of us were in the military, back when we were children (at least that's how I remember it). He was a Texan with an inexhaustible supply of aphorisms that would make Dan Rather blush to include characterizing a blinding glimpse of the obvious, as 'if it were a copperhead, I would be withering in pain.' He had others that were very colorful, but time and place being what they, they're not--at least not now, if you follow.

I park in the same place every day--at the hour I arrive I have a choice as there's no one else about, but 'I eat my peas with honey, I've done it all my life. It makes the peas taste funny, but it keeps them on my knife." I've mentioned the difference between a rut and a grave is often only the depth of the habit. It was that habit that tripped me up when I was leaving for the day. I made sure all the lights were off, the computer was powered down and the windows closed and shut with the blinds halfway down (the same amount of halfway) on (both) windows. Closed the door over and made sure the bolt turned with the key. Just like every workday.

Not only did I walk out to the parking lot as I do every afternoon, when I looked up and didn't see the car as I headed down the sidewalk, I quickened my step just in case, perhaps, I could catch up to it and ended up standing in the parking space where the car usually is, but wasn't, trying to satisfy myself that the car really wasn't there. I have a high threshold of proof, since you might have been convinced when you didn't see it, but I not only had to stand in the vacant space, I had to walk around the parking lot, looking in all the other places the car wasn't to satisfy myself that it was not in the lot. Mission accomplished

It was only after someone I work with shouted out the window something about 'windshield glass' that I remembered about the windshield replacement. Technically, they didn't remind me-I thought of it second. Not that the experience will impact in any way my reaction the next time that TV commercial about "Windex makes glass disappear" comes on. I'm still going to reach for my list of people I'd like to try that on, as disappointed as I fear that I shall be with the result.
-bill kenny