*MOPPIN SAUCE has dropped off a few upcoming dates for June. The band will be at Shenanigans in South Norwalk on June 8, then at Skybox Café in Fairfield on June 9, and then back in South Norwalk, this time at Amberjacks, on June 15.

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: May 30, 2001 12:00 am

*MOPPIN SAUCE has dropped off a few upcoming dates for June. The band will be at Shenanigans in South Norwalk on June 8, then at Skybox CafÃ© in Fairfield on June 9, and then back in South Norwalk, this time at Amberjacks, on June 15.

*The previously-announced June 9 performer of JESS KLEIN at Acoustic CafÃ© in Bridgeport has been changed. The show next weekend will now be LARA HERSCOVITCH & THE COMEDY IMPROV GROUP LOST DOGS. That date is also this monthâs WPKN Benefit Show at the cafÃ©, with door proceeds going to the way-cool Bridgeport-based radio station (89.5 FM). Herscovitch, formerly part of LARA & LARAMBA, combines folk and Spanish music with an interesting blend of English and Spanish lyrics. The Lost Dogs Comedy Group will then cajole and tickle your funny bone with their side-splitting, bust-a-gut comedy.

Klein, meanwhile, has been rescheduled for June 29, when she will be part of triple bill also featuring 4-string guitarist VEDA HILLE and electric singer-songwriter ERIN McKEOWN, who just finished up a run of opening dates for ANI DiFRANCO. That show will begin at 9 pm and itâs just $10 to get in the door.

Also coming this month will be a songwriting circle hosted by Sweeter Than Wine on Sunday, June 10. The Sunday afternoon event, which will begin at 3, will offer a relaxed andÂ supportive circle for writers at all levels. Iâm told STW found inspiration for its latest album in circles hosted a musiciansâ homes, so itâs obviously a winning formula. Admission is $2. Also, acoustic singer-songwriter LYS GUILLORN on June 13 (8:30 pm, $5); CATS LIKE ANGELS on June 14 (9 pm, $5), which is a fun folk/jazz five-piece high-energy rock band led by Melissa Mentus and Ellen Lalicata; and ROY BOOKBINDER on June 15 (9 pm, $12), with his acoustic blues, laid-back vocals and strong guitar playing. TIM REGAN will play an opening set.

*The July 1 DIDO show at The Meadows has been moved over to the âmore intimateâ (read: smaller) ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford. Tickets for the original venue need to be returned to the point of purchase. Tickets for the Oakdale show will be going on sale this weekend, Saturday at 10 am, through the Oakdaleâs box office (in person or by calling 203-265-1501), online at www.ctnow.com, or at any Strawberries, LaSalle or Coconuts music stores. Tickets for the Oakdale setting are $25, $35 and $35, showtime is 7:30, and Travis still has opening duties.

Also going on sale this weekend are the tickets for four more shows at the Meadows:PAUL SIMON AND BRIAN WILSON, on Saturday, July 14, at 7:30 (tickets $19.50 for the lawn, $35 and $65 for the pavilion); MTVâS TRL TOUR featuring DESTINYâS CHILD, et al, which will be Thursday, July 19, at 8 pm ($19.75 for the lawn, $45.25 and $55.25 for the pavilion); MATCHBOX TWENTY, with TRAIN opening, Saturday, August 18, at 7 ($19.50 for the lawn, $35 and $45 for the pavilion); and THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND with special guest SUSAN TEDESCHI on Sunday, August 26, 7 pm ($24 for the lawn, $29.50 and $42.50 pavilion).

Â All of these shows will also be going on sale Saturday, June 2, at 10 am. Tickets for shows at the Meadows are also available in person at the Meadows AND Oakdale box offices, as well as the options outlined above for Oakdale shows.

*The Taste of Greater Hartford, one of the largest and longest-running outdoor food and music festivals in Connecticut, returns to Constitution Plaza in our state capital next week for another five-day run. In addition to sample fare from many of the areaâs finest restaurants, live music will be performed from two stages during the run of the event, which is Wednesday, June 6, through Sunday, June 10. Among this yearâs musical highlights will be TIREBITER, a 60s-70s-80s rock nâ roll band, Wednesday at 4:30, and the blues-guitar band TEXAS FLOOD at 6:30. On Thursday, rock band EIGHT TO THE BAR opens Thursdayâs run of the festival with a performance at noon, and the zydeco group RIVER CITY SLIM AND THE ZYDECO HOGS will keep the groove going at 4:30. These guys, by the way, are being featured in Booth Libraryâs Summer Concert Series right here in Newtown on August 17.

On Friday, June 8, LOCOMOTION, a rock band with a killer horn section, has a 4 oâclock set on the South Stage, followed by SNL Band lead singer (and Connecticut resident) CHRISTINE OHLMAN at 6:30. At 4 pm on the North Stage, THE MARSHALL SMALL SHOW BAND will be playing. Members of this rock band are police officers and Hartford DOT workers who write their own songs. That performance will be followed by THE PETE SCHEIPS BAND, with guest drummer JAIMOE (a/k/a JAI JOHANNY JOHANSON, of THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND), starting up at 7:30.

On Saturday, there will be a blues set by THE STINGRAYGS beginning at 6 pm on the South Stage, and then âSPINNING UNREST UNPLUGGED,â an out-of-studio version of the popular radio 104 weekend show, featuring THE REALM and HANNAHâS FIELD, from 8 to 11 pm. And on Sunday, DENISE LAVASSEUR, a pop vocalist who was named MP3 Female Vocalist of the Year (by someoneâ¦), plays on the South Stage at 2:30 that afternoon.

Of course there are also country and jazz performances, not to mention other music genres represented in the run of the festival. For details, call 860-920-5337 or visit www.tasteofhartford.com.

Until next week, Iâll be seeing you... on the road, enjoying the long weekend! See you next week.

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks, c/o Bee Publishing Co., 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown 06470, or shannon@thebee.com; or call The Bee office at 426-3141.

Shows listed on the calendar at club locations are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

JUNE 1 âMichael Hillâs Blues Mob at Black-Eyed Sallyâs BBQ & Blues CafÃ©, Hartford; FUBAR at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

June 2 â Angry Salad, Perfect Toy, The Limit and Zero Chance at The Webster Theater, Hartford;

June 3 â (SOLD OUT) U2 at Hartford Civic Center, PJ Harvey opening; Addison GrooveProject at Steve & Sullyâs, Hartford;

June 6 â Aerosmith at Meadows Music Centre, Hartford, Fuel opening (tickets on sale April 21);

June 7 â George Clintonâs Parliament-Funkadelic at Toadâs Place, New Haven; The Homes Brothers at Black-Eyed Sallyâs; Robert Burke Warren at Acoustic CafÃ©, Bridgeport;

June 8 â Max Creek at Toadâs Place (all ages); Walter Trout & The Free Radicals at Black-Eyed Sallyâs; Super Soul Jam featuring The Stylistics, Delfonics, Dramatics, The Chi-Lites, Harold Melvinâs Blue Notes, Major Harris, and Cuba Gooding Sr at The Palace Theatre, New Haven; Moppinâ Sauce at Shennanigans, South Norwalk; The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction;

June 9 â Our Lady Peace at The Webster Theatre, American Hi-Fi opening; Lara Herscovitch and The Lost Dogs (two separate performers, the first is folk and Spanish music performer, second is comedy improv group; show is monthly WPKN Benefit); Moppinâ Sauce at Skybox CafÃ©, Fairfield; The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction;

June 10 â Volunteer Jam 2001 at Meadows Music Centre, Hartford, featuring Charlie Daniels Band, .38 Special, Dickey Betts, et al.

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The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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*MOPPIN SAUCE has dropped off a few upcoming dates for June. The band will be at Shenanigans in South Norwalk on June 8, then at Skybox Café in Fairfield on June 9, and then back in South Norwalk, this time at Amberjacks, on June 15.

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