Date: Fri 06-Mar-1998

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Aug 13, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Moppin-Sauce-Everclear-Valenta

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS

On Tuesday night, EVERCLEAR will be at The Webster Theatre. It would be worth

your time to get there in time to see the opener, a British band called

FEEDER.

These guys have been playing together since 1994, having already released two

independently-backed EPs. At the Hartford show, however, trio will be

celebrating the one-month anniversary of its debut American album, Polythene

(Elektra Records). You may recognize the name or the group's sound; radio 104

has already been playing the first single from this album, "Cement."

Tickets can be purchased in advance (at this point, you will be reserving them

to be picked up at the box office) by calling Pro-Tix, 860/422-0000, or buy

them up the night of the show at the door.

Carrie Valenta, a backup singer with the wicked fun group MOPPIN' SAUCE, will

be making her performance debut next weekend. The band - a retro 70s group in

look and sound (they dress up, they perform covers of all songs circa

Seventies) - has a show at The Fireside Inn in Newtown on March 14. Get there

early, not only to see Carrie, but for the entire band. This group always puts

on a good show, and to packed houses.

In addition, Moppin Sauce also has dates set up at Fat Daddy's in Watertown.

The band ill be there April 25, June 5, July 18 and September (!!) 12.

Our first listing for May: JASON BONHAM will be at the Webster in Hartford on

the 1st. Also new at the same venue is a show by INSANE CLOWN POSSE on St.

Patrick's Day; and MAX CREEK, April 10.

Miss I-Don't-Care-If-It- Is

-The-Grammys-I'm-Going-To-Come-Out-Looking-Like-I-Can't-Be-Bothered-To-Wash-My

-Hair herself, FIONA APPLE returns yet again to Connecticut this month. She'll

be at the Jorgensen Auditorium at UConn/Storrs on March 28. Information, call

860/486-4226.

Finally this week, SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS will be at the Lincoln Theatre

(University of Hartford) on April 13. Tickets will be going on sale Monday,

March 9, through the theatre's box office (call 860/768-4228 or 800/274-8587)

or any Strawberries Record & Tapes.

Opening will be Bio Ritmo. Showtime is 8 pm and seating is general admission.

Until next week, I'll be seeing you... on the road.

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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 06-Mar-1998

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