Date: Fri 15-May-1998

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Aug 13, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Matthews-Femmes-Joel-Junction

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS

A perennial favorite is returning to the Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford

this summer. I know this is cutting it close, but for those of you who read

the paper Thursday night when it's hot off the press it will give you a bit of

notice: Tickets for two shows by DAVE MATTHEWS BAND at the Meadows on July 31

and August 1 will be going on sale Friday morning at 10 am. All tickets --

Pavilion and Lawn -- are $29, and there is a four-ticket per person limit.

Charge through the usual locations: Pro Tix, 860/422-0000, or purchase with

cash at any Strawberries location.

Speaking of tickets going on sale, the fourth and final Connecticut appearance

this year by BILLY JOEL will be going on sale at 10 am Saturday, May 16. No

doubt these tickets will sell out as quickly as tickets did a few months ago

for the three shows The Piano Man did at the Civic Center last week. Joel will

be returning to Connecticut on Wednesday, September 9.

All seats are $38.50. Visit the Hartford Civic Center box office or charge

through TicketMaster, 624-0033 or 860/525-4500.

Such wicked smart thinking last week by the organizers of WestFest! Last

Friday afternoon, after it had been raining all week and more was forecast for

the weekend, WestConn and Tuxedo Junction in Danbury teamed up to move what

was supposed to be an outdoor VIOLENT FEMMES concert on Saturday afternoon to

the Ives Street club in downtown Danbury.

And what a show it was! You have to give mucho credit to this band. The trio

has been around for over 12 years, long before Alanis Morissette even thought

about sharing her angst with the world, and well before the world

"alternative" became a mainstream word to describe the unplugged sound the

Femmes have always performed.

The band continues to plug along, playing campuses and festivals across the

country. The Femmes continue with two guitarists and a drummer; Gordon Gano

(left, lead vocals, guitar), Brian Ritchie (vocals and bass) and Guy Hoffman

(drums and vocals), who stepped in for original drummer Guy Hoffman five years

ago. Most people don't recognize the name, but put "Blister in the Sun" on the

stereo and many go "Ohhhhhhhhh, those guys!" Yeah, well, those guys from

Milwaukee put on a 90-minute show last weekend that featured not only "Blister

in the Sun," but about 100 other songs, including "American Music" and the

also anthemic "Kiss Off" and "Add It Up." The really funny part is the guys

haven't had a new album released in the States since 1994, when they released

New Times on the Elektra label (all previous albums were recoded with Slash).

There is a newer album, called Rock!!! , released in 1995 on

Mushroom/Liberation, but that one is only available in Australia.

Until next week, I'll be seeing you... on the road, when I'll be on my way to

Middlebury to visit the latest addition to the family.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

MAY 15 -- Them Bones at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Max Creek at Toad's Place,

New Haven, 4:20 and Missing Joe opening (all ages);

May 16 -- The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction;

May 17 -- Radio 104Fest at the Meadows, Hartford, with Mighty Mighty

Bosstones, Barenaked Ladies, Soul Asylum, Scott Weiland, Propellerhead,

Fastball, Harvey Danger, 2 Skinny J's, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, K's Choice,

Guster, Pure, et al; Gov't Mule at Toad's Place, Jono Manson Band and Walkin

Bird opening; Grass Roots Festival (Jiggle the Handle, Stony Hill, Free Beer

Chicken & Empty Streets) at Woodbury Ski Area & Skate Park, Woodbury;

May 19 -- The Urge and 2 Skinny Js at Toad's Place (all ages);

May 20 -- King Diamond at Tuxedo Junction, Pitbull Daycare and Soundscape;

May 21 -- Live Acoustics at the Mary Hawley Inn; The Urge and 2 Skinee J's at

Toad's Place (all ages);

May 22 -- L.O.L. at Tuxedo Junction; Toots & The Maytals at Toad's Place, The

Lightning ad Giggle Juice opening;

May 23 -- Scream at Tuxedo Junction;

May 24 -- King Diamond at Toad's Place, Pit Bull Daycare opening (all ages);

May 27 -- Stevie Nicks at the Meadows, Boz Scaggs opening;

May 28 -- Live Acoustics at the Mary Hawley Inn;

May 29 -- The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction;

May 30 -- The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction; Sgt Scagnetti and The Toasters at The

Globe Theatre.

JUNE 1 -- Jimmy's Chicken Shack at Toad's Place, New Haven, Wank opening (all

ages);

June 3 -- 2 Skinnee Js at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

June 4 -- Savatage at Tuxedo Junction;

June 5 -- Moppin' Sauce at Fat Daddy's, Watertown;

June 6 -- Max Creek at The Globe Theatre, Norwalk, Hubinger Street opening;

June 19 -- The Tubes (featuring Fee Waybill) at Toad's Place, Crucible

opening;

June 21 -- The Allman Brothers Band at the Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford;

June 23 -- Ani DiFranco at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford; Hatebreed and

Madball at Toad's Place, One King Down and Soul Sick opening (all ages);

June 26 -- Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood at Toad's Place, Triple Threat Blues

Band opening;

June 27 -- Cutting Edge Alternative Festival at Woodbury Ski Area & Skate

Park.

JULY 3 -- The Spice Girls at the Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford;

July 7 -- Further Festival (Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Michey Hart, The Other Ones)

at Hartford Civic Center;

July 11 -- The Lilith Fair (Sarah McLachlan, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Merchant,

Tracy Bonham, Lauren Hill, Heather Nova, Imani Coppola, Garrison Starr and

Donna Martin) at the Meadows Music Theatre;

July 18 -- Uncle Will's Dogs at The Cook House, New Milford; Moppin' Sauce at

Fat Daddy's, Watertown; Backstreet Boys at New Haven Coliseum;

July 21 -- Metallica at The Meadows Music Theatre, Jerry Cantrell and Days of

the New opening;

July 23 -- Brian Setzer Orchestra at The Globe;

July 26 -- 25th Annual Reggae Festival at Woodbury Ski Area & Skate Park;

July 31 -- Uncle Will's Dogs at Bobby R's, Monroe; Dave Matthews Band at The

Meadows, Hartford.

AUGUST 1 -- Dave Matthews Band at the Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford;

August 4 -- HORDE Tour at The Meadows (Blues Traveler, Ben Harper, Barenaked

Ladies, Paula Cole, Marcy Playground, Smoke the Prophet, et al);

August 6 -- Culture Club, Howard Jones and Human League at the Oakdale,

Wallingford;

August 8 -- Uncle Will's Dogs at CityCenter Green, Danbury;

August 14 -- Cinderella at The Webster Theatre, Hartford (rescheduled from

April, earlier tickets honored);

August 23 -- One World Festival at Woodbury Ski Area & Skate Park;

August 25 -- Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band at The Meadows, Hartford.

SEPTEMBER 9 -- Billy Joel at Hartford Civic Center;

September 12 -- Moppin' Sauce at Fat Daddy's, Watertown.

September 13 -- Pearl Jam at the Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford.

OCTOBER 3 -- Janet Jackson at Hartford Civic Center, Usher opening.

COA Welcomes New Alternate, Discusses Senior Alliance

BOE Recognizes 2026 Profiles In Professionalism Honorees

C.H. Booth Library Hosted Another Successful Volunteer Fair

Fire Reports | April 28-May 4, 2026

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 :)

Log In

Date: Fri 15-May-1998

Leave a Reply Cancel reply