Date: Fri 22-Aug-1997

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: CAROLK

Quick Words:

Wine-Widsom-Small-Spectator

Full Text:

WINE WISDOM: What Makes Wine So Darn Special?

By Steve Small

Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate and The Wine Enthusiast are all popular

journals dealing specifically with wine. Most major daily newspapers have a

weekly wine column. Dozens of new wine books are published annually. This

raises the question of what makes wine so darned special? Why isn't there a

Cola Chronicle, Coffee Consumer Guide or Water World News ? What gives wine

that special mystique?

First of all, wine has history. Winemaking dates back to the ancient cultures

of Egypt, Greece and Rome. Some of the first wine writers were fellows by the

name of Cato and Herodotus. Even in the earliest times, man's fascination with

wine was evident in writings about weather, grape types, and grape-growing

techniques.

Wine's history is also tangible because it can actually be tasted: 100-year

old bottles can often be found in auction lots. Some of the world's most

famous wineries even organize tastings to sample and compose different

vintages over the last 50 years or so.

The idea that every vintage of a wine can be different also helps

differentiate wine from other beverages. Most wines try to adhere to a certain

style from year to year. However, changes in the weather will inevitably cause

changes in the wine. These changes are what keep wine interesting and fresh.

The complexity in a wine's taste also distinguishes wine from other beverages.

It is fun to read about wines that are described as tasting like blueberry,

pepper, vanilla, chocolate, dried herbs or minerals. This usually means the

wines have hints or reminders of these flavors. As time goes by, most wine

aficionados come up with their own description and terminology for that tasty

liquid in their glass.

Wine tastes good. It is also fairly interesting. Pouring a glass of wine

uncorks not just something to drink, but also culture and history.

(Steve Small is the proprietor of Steve's Liquor Store, in Ricky's Shopping

Center at 71 Main Street South/Route 25 in Newtown.)

Silver Alert For Blue McGrath Ended

Top Of The Mountain

Cargo Van Driver Taken To Hospital Following Collision With Gas Tanker

Knotweed Initiative Program Planned

Theater Review: No Weak Links In Farnol’s Gripping, Fast-Paced ‘King Lear’

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 22-Aug-1997

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