Move On

Though I do not have the power to unearth the identities of who is commenting anonymously on this blog, I do have the power to "hide" entire postings, which is what I am about to do with "False Alarm." (I will probably restore it in a few weeks, because it serves as some sort of history lesson.)

I did not start this blog to create strife in this town and I feel at this point that the "conversation" about the new fire house is becoming counterproductive and divisive. Our volunteer firefighters who give up so much to protect us deserve better than this. If you want to know more, walk into town hall and ask to speak to Pat Mechare, call someone you know on the fire department or attend a Board of Selectmen meeting. Democracy requires participation, and it can be uncomfortable and difficult. But do we have any alternative?

Our Sweet Library

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
--Charles M. Schulz



It's no secret that children's librarian Erica Joncyk is a chocoholic, and she was the inspiration for a new library fundraising party called Chocolate in the Village, which will take place at the D.M. Hunt Library on Saturday February 23, from 6 to 8 PM.

Designed as an antidote to the late winter blues, the party promises to be a chocolate-lover's dream come true with chocolate desserts donated by the town's best amateur and professional bakers; wines, teas, coffee and hot cocoa; a live auction of chocolate gift baskets as well as a wine tasting; door prizes and live music. The event is being organized by Zoe Fedorjaczenko, Mary Elling, Candice McRee, Laura Munson, Sharon Hamilton and Erica Joncyk. The event's charming, hand-drawn logo--a chocolate tsunami engulfing the D.M. Hunt Library, Toymaker's Cafe and the Falls Village Community & Cultural Center--is the work of Sergei Fedorjaczenko. (If you click on the image, you can see more detail.)

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Call 824-7424 for tickets and information.

Super Sunday

UPDATE, Jan 27: Chris Murphy must really like Falls Village: He was at a private party on Belden Street on Saturday night, Jan 26, where he was photographed chatting with Loek Neimeth of Point of Rocks Road.

If you are wondering which team our freshman Congressman Chris Murphy is going to be rooting for in the Super Bowl, you can ask him when he comes to speak in Falls Village on Sunday, February 3, at the Lee H. Kellogg School from 2 - 4 PM.

Let's Go Giants!

I have never liked baseball so I don't pay much attention to the great divide between Red Sox and Yankees fans. But as a lifelong Giants fan, I am suddenly aware that I probably live in enemy territory. Oy vey. I can't imagine that Patriots' fans felt the same elation as us Giants fans did yesterday as New York upset the Packers in a nail-biter that went into overtime in sub-zero weather.

It's made me wonder: Does one's identification with either the Giants or Pats have any larger symbolism about identity? Falls Village is a quintessential New England town but there are more than a few of us ex-New Yorkers living here full-time. The big question is: Will New England change us or will we change New England?

For now, I say, Let's go Giants!

Mazel Tov!

First time grandmother and Town Clerk Mary M. Palmer is kvelling: Marc Mittaud Hafner was born to Lara Mittaud and Patrick Hafner early today. She reports: "The baby is perfect, healthy, gorgeous, long fingernails, and weighs 8 pounds 8 ounces; 21-1/4 inches long, born @ Sharon Hospital. Mother, father, grandmothers, grandfather (Sharon & Pat Hafner arrived from Pennsylvania), all doing fantastic. A very special thanks to Gloria Jeanne Tatsapaugh, who worked all day and then joined us at the hospital at 5 PM. She gave a lesson in nursing at 2:30 AM; the baby eats like a horse and has a powerful set of lungs."

*"Mazel tov" is Yiddish for "Congratulations"; "kvelling" is Yiddish for "beaming with pride."

A Knit-In for Peace

The Falls Village Congregational Church has come up with an innovative and fitting way to commemorate Martin Luther King Day. On Monday, January 21 at the church's Miner Hall, the congregation will host Knitting for Peace, which is open to all members of the community. Organized by (above, from left) Akke Jasmine, Ashley DeMazza and Mary Atwood, the day's goal is to make sweater vests, mittens and scarves for orphans in the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, China and Nepal. The sweaters will be delivered overseas by an organization called Warm Woolies. The church will donate wool for anyone who wants to participate, and master knitter Akke will offer expert guidance.

Already, some twenty people have promised to spend part of next Monday knitting and crocheting, and the organizers hope more people will attend and share a pot-luck lunch. The Knit-In goes from 9 AM to 3 PM, and you can come for an hour or stay all day. For more information, email Ashley DeMazza or call her at 824-1437

The New Blog in Town

What does a farmer's wife do in the winter? She gets herself some dairy cows and starts a Farmwifery blog. If you miss being in touch with Chubby Bunny Farm's Tracy and Dan Hayhurst during the winter, make sure to check out Tracy's new online diary.

Here Comes Congressman Murphy

Congressman Chris Murphy is coming to Falls Village on the eve of the Connecticut presidential primary. At tonight's Democratic Town Committee meeting, First Selectman Pat Mechare announced the Rep. Murphy would be speaking here on Saturday, Feb. 2, although the time and place have not yet been set. It will be inteteresting to to see if Murphy lets us know whom he'll be voting for in the primary . . .

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow...

It was Audition Day at the Senior Center for the Falls Village Children's Theater Company's spring production of Annie Jr. The kids seemed appropriately nervous as they sang for director Lanny Mitchell (accompanied and encouraged by the inimitable Joshua Stone.) There will be callbacks and additional readings on Sunday before Mitchell makes his final selections, which will be emailed to the cast (and their parents) early next week. Then the Hard-Knock Life begins: Intensive rehearsals every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from now until the performances at HVRHS on March 28 and 29.

Think Globally, Act Locally

If one of your New Year's resolutions was to be more eco-conscious and environmentally pro-active, look at all those pieces of paper stuffed into your Northeast Utilities bill. One of them gives you the information you need to sign up for clean energy. Connecticut Light & Power allows you to opt to have all your electricity come from a company called Sterling Planet, which makes energy from renewable sources: 33% wind, 34% landfill gas and 33% small hydro. CL&P estimates that it will cost a typical household $3.85 to $8 more per month, which seems a bargain to help free us from our dependence on oil, coal and nuclear energy. What's more, I was told at a party yesterday that if 100 household in Falls Village sign up for this program, the town will get a solar panel that will allow the town to produce its own energy, which would cut down on expenses for the town. (If anyone knows more about this program, please share the information.)

And speaking of the environment, Ruth Skovron, who sits on the P&Z Commission, and First Selectman Pat Mechare have been working to create a Northwestern Connecticut Regional Planning Cooperative. It isn't fully funded yet, but it already has a great website if you are interested in issues like open space, affordable housing, conservation easements and protecting the natural beauty of our area.