On Saturday, June 28, my curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to go to Mixville to see if it was as “awful” as some people are making it out to be. Also, I wanted to see if those dogs had driven away the geese as I recently read in the newspaper. As I drove in, I’ll be honest, I did not expect to see that many people there.

I’d say it was around 4 p.m. when I arrived. The place was PACKED!!. Albeit, it was sweltering so it was good to see the park being used. I was sweltering too because my air conditioner was not working AGAIN!! But alas, I know why. Partly old age nearly 25 years old, and partly that for some technical HVAC reason, when we had our new furnace put in over the winter, I guess the new components are not “compatible” with the old air conditioner. So—REST IN PEACE old air conditioner. Out with the old and in with the new (hopefully within a few days, because if you think I am a bitch normally, I am even BITCHIER when I am HOT!!) Thanks AGAIN to White-Bowman for their fast service!!

The pavilion at the far end of the park was loaded with picnickers; the area where the picnic tables and the grills are were all taken, the parking lot was FULL and even the beach had a decent amount of people: I would say at least 30, who were swimming or just enjoying cool breeze. I did not notice ANY GEESE which was great. There was one lifeguard on duty which was good because that entire swimming area, even the area near the old snack bar, where the basketball courts are, had people swimming. So the lifeguard had his hands full.

I know a lot of people think the water at Mixville is “yucky” but I would rather swim in natural water than a chlorinated pool. After about 45 minutes, between the sun and the chlorine, I start getting a headache. If you don’t like the way the bottom of the pond feels, then wear those water shoes and be done with it.

Now the Town Council just appropriated approximately $20,000 more to fill an economic gap in the Community Pool. The money was taken from the Park and Recreation budget. I know Councilman Ruocco expressed dismay over the additional appropriation, which seems to be more and more each year.

Listen up, when I was a girl in Bridgeport, the City charged people who were not City taxpayers, a fee to enter Seaside Park. When you paid your property tax, you received a blue sticker that you “stuck” on the left hand side of your windshield.

When you entered Seaside Park from Park Avenue, (which was the only vehicle entrance, unless you walked in) their was a booth, you slowed your car, the guard saw your sticker and you entered. If you even dared try to enter without paying or without the sticker, the Bridgeport Police, who were patrolling, pulled you over and you got told very nicely but firmly to LEAVE!!. You didn’t think twice about giving them a hard time either, because there usually was a police dog accompanying this park patrol, so that ended it right then and there.

I suggest Cheshire adopt the same agenda, sans the Police dog. When people in town pay their property tax, they can be issued a sticker which also acts as a receipt, which they can put on their windshield and will allow them free entrance into Mixville.

Everyone else, should pay. I am glad all people are using the park, but I notice it is getting to be people from out of town. How do I know this? I saw a large group that I know personally that reside in a neighboring town and they told me they have been coming every weekend now that they don’t have to pay.

I think that the town of Cheshire could recoup some of the money it is not making at the pool by charging out of towners a small fee. Not a large fee to scare people away, but enough of a fee to take up some of the slack at the pool.

Now, as many of you know, East Haven is now charging non residents over $100 to use their beaches and is ticketing any vehicle that enters the park without a sticker. This is what Bridgeport did, I suggest Cheshire follow their lead. I mean, we can’t charge $100 but $3 to $5 a person with the $50 season pass to be made available, is also an option. With the price of gas, people who want to visit our Mixville and swim I believe would be more than willing to part with a few dollars to enjoy a spot to cool off without having to hit the highways and travel any long distance.

Cheshire should take advantage of this right away.

Click here for East Haven Story on Beaches

By request-I will be featuring under “Featured Video” some of the OLD Beatle songs before Brian Epstein died and they got all screwed up!! This song is from the movie: “Help” and features HOT HOT PAUL!!–DAMN!!

I am going to be busy with a project for several days so I thought I would add an extra post for the weekend. I also decided to post because so many of you have contacted me about this drunk driving incident. I know "Matt" from Seymour wrote that he thought the whole legal process with DWI’s is too lenient. I sort of agree, but as you know, people are entitled to Due Process under our Constitution. That is why the driver’s license is not taken away on the spot.

If you remember the Michael Badnarik posts about Civil Liberties that I ran under the "Featured Video" section of the blog, there was a section where Badnarik spoke about Due Process and that people have the right to this protection because Americans cannot be deprived of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

This right also extends to search and seizures. i.e. when law enforcement arrests a person for alleged drug dealing or drug possession, if the suspect is in their car, the police usually impound or seize the car on the spot. This is a sticky situation, as Badnarik pointed out, because technically, that tactic is unconstitutional. An American citizen MUST have his or her due process rights afforded to them before they can be deprived of property. So take note of that.

Now I was going to name this post "Different Strokes for Different Folks" because that really is the topic. Speaking of DWI, when I was younger, I knew a man whom people called "The General."

He drove a BIG yellow Cadillac. He was nice guy, but there was ONE problem, he was intoxicated most of the time his eyes were open.

If "The General" called and said he was coming by to visit, you always knew when he arrived–you would hear the sound of metal crunching and glass shattering. Yes, there were VERY FEW times when "The General" drove his car, it did not end up smashing or crashing into some innocent persons vehicle or property or both.

I remember "The General’s" favorite saying: "It’s just another piece of metal."

Well you know, people that were around The General laughed and joked about it in front of him, but behind the scenes people knew he had a big DRINKING problem. This man must have smashed that Cadillac at least a dozen times in the several years I knew him. There was no way in hell, you could drink "The General" under the table and believe me, I knew some HEAVY drinkers in my day. Hence the nickname.

I don’t know how people could admire this person, but they did. I didn’t. What got me even more upset was the fact that he GOT AWAY with countless drunk driving accidents. Why? Because his father was in law enforcement. Now I know a lot of you will say that should not matter and it did not matter in your circumstance. But unfortunately in "The General’s" case, IT DID.

I mean these events happened in the 70’s when there was not such an outcry and awareness against DWI as there is today. But even so, the laws still are not as strict as they should be.

I did contact the Cheshire Police Chief today and he seemed concerned but the law still ties the hands.

And I am hoping that unlike the case of "The General" this other person because of his supposed association with jurisprudence, will not be treated lightly.

I really believed this person should have been jailed until his trial date, taking into consideration this person MAY have committed two DWI offenses within a month, if this IS the SAME person.

"Oh we can’t hold him until the trial date" said the Chief. Well that is too bad. You know why? Because this person might just be driving again as we speak. What will it take, another innocent death before someone gets the message.

Back to "The General." He never got the message and neither did the authority.

I remember the day "The General" was driving down Park Avenue in Bridgeport by Sacred Heart University. This was over 30 years ago, but still, I remember getting a call from one of my relatives who told me that they were hanging curtains in their house on the corner of Park Avenue and Old Town Road in Bridgeport,

There was also a four way intersection and a traffic signal. Well, she told me, and I will always remember what she said, that she had no sooner gotten down off the step stool with my uncle from hanging curtains in their living room, when all of a sudden–CRASH!!! A yellow Cadillac had lost control ran the red light and smashed right through their living room. The crash was so violent that the house was literally KNOCKED off its foundation!! GUESS WHO!!! YEP!!

Another time, "The General" was going down Park Avenue again, lost control and this time, crashed into Sacred Heart University for God’s sake. Another time, he hit a carload of people head on. In God’s name I don’t know how this man NEVER killed anyone–it was a miracle.

I lost contact with "The General" after that, but I heard several years ago, he was still alive and living somewhere down South. God help them!!

This man NEVER got arrested, never even got a ticket, never went to court. I wonder what would have happened if he did not have the connections he had then. Different Strokes for Different Folks? I wonder.

Well the day finally came–yes, the day I received the accident report from the Southington Police Department.

To refresh, I was in an accident in Southington, on the Cheshire line last Thursday, June 19th. The other driver involved did not stay at the scene, but was stopped by the Cheshire Police Department.

Now the report from Southington Police list the other driver as Christopher J. Shea, 38 of East Hartford. According to the accident report:

"Upon arrival on the scene of a two car motor vehicle accident, investigation revealed T.U. (whatever that means) #2 (Shea), was traveling south on Marion Avenue in the area of Meriden-Waterbury Road. As T.U. #2 was traveling it pulled to the right, stopped and then pulled to the left in an attempt to continue straight. As T.U. #2 pulled to the left it struck the left rear bumper of T.U. #1 (Me). At the time of the collision T.U. #1 (Me) was traveling south on Marion Avenue and was attempting to pass T.U. #2.

After the collision T.U. #2 fled the scene south on Marion Ave. T.U. #2 was subsequently stopped by Cheshire Police and the driver was charged with several violations including DUI and engaging an officer in pursuit.

Upon interviewing Operator #2 at Cheshire PD Operator #2 said he might have hit something but was not sure. Operator #2 was issued a summons for Evading Responsibility and Turns Restricted and given a court date in Meriden of 7/01/08"

Now I have a "Press Release" from the Cheshire Police Department that states the court date is 7/11/08 so I wonder WHEN the actual court date is!! Or are there two separate court dates because of two separate incidents in Southington and in Cheshire. So the Cheshire court date may be 7-1-08 and the Southington date may be 7-11-08 now that I think of it. Oh BROTHER!!

According to the CPD "Press Release" it states:

"On 6-19-08 at approximately 1344 hours (1:44 p.m.) Cheshire Police received a 911 call from a motorist (me) who stated that a vehicle struck her vehicle and then took off. Cheshire Police located the vehicle moments later and attempted to stop it, when it took off at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle struck a curb, took off again, and eventually stopped for the officer. After an investigation on scene it was determined that the hit and run occurred in the Town of Southington. The operator and lone occupant was taken into custody and charged with DWI, Engaging Police in Pursuit, and Failure to Drive in the Proper Lane. Shea was transported to CPD Headquarters where he was processed and later released on a $1,000 bond. Shea is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on 7-11-2008 to answer to the charges."

Now I just "happened to go onto the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch’s website where you can get upcoming and pending criminal and motor vehicle cases.

I typed in Christopher J. Shea with the 1970 birthdate and UNLESS THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE WITH THE SAME NAME, SAME MIDDLE INITIAL AND SAME BIRTHDATE, the records show that a Christopher J. Shea birth year 1970 was charged by Wethersfield Police on 5/14/2008 with "ILL OPN MV UNDER INFL ALC/DRUG and Following Too Closely." He was released on a $2,500 (this case only nonsurety) (released from custody). and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on July 14, 2008.

it looks like someone may be traipsing the state of Connecticut’s court system in July!!

This means that within a months time there has been with TWO DWI charges.

But what gets me, is the Wethersfield Police released this person on a $2,500 (non surety bond).

Cheshire Police released this person after he posted the $1,000 bond. WHAT?? HELLO??

This doesn’t make sense!! Did someone not KNOW that if this IS THE SAME person that this person has the same PENDING CHARGES in another jurisdiction? Does it matter? I don’t know. How come the bond was a lesser amount in Cheshire?

Shea’s vehicle a 2008 Chevy Tahoe was registered to a "CAMRAC INC. which is Enterprise Rent A Car out of Windsor Locks. What does THAT TELL YOU?

I will be attempting to talk to the Police Chief Friday on the phone (a private conversation) because I am not sure of all of this and don;t want to jump to any conclusions. All I can say is, if this IS the same person, OMG, I can’t believe it. I hope this person gets help because obviously there is a problem here.

I hope IF this IS the same person that this person never drives again!!! But as you know, it is really difficult to stop someone from driving if they really want to. I don’t know what to think, but I am NOT TOO HAPPY. That is why I hope to get an explanation Friday and clear things up. I am not sure what a nonsurety bond is, but why wasn’t the bail higher this last time, or as I said above, does it matter? You would think it would.

I keep having to make changes here because I am so upset over this it is beyond belief. Last year, my husband got hit by a drunk driver near Marlboro, Mass. on 495. Luckily, my husband was not hurt and the DRUNK stopped because when he collided with our 1991 Toyota Camry, the DRUNK got knocked over three lanes of highway and into a ditch!! YEAH!! And the DRUNK had a Dodge Durango!!

UPDATE :Here is what a NON SURETY BOND IS–Non-surety bond: the defendant’s signature alone guarantees the amount of bond. The defendant is not required to post any property as collateral, or retain the services of a professional bail bondsman. Oh that’s great!!

Here is the info from the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Docket. Click on the SQUARE under DOCKET to see the information. It got cut off because the parameters are too wide for my site.

Defendant (Last, First)	Birth Year	Court	Next Activity/Status	Next Activity/Status Date	Docket No.
SHEA CHRISTOPHER	1970	Meriden GA 7	Arraignment	07/11/2008 10:00 AM	N07M-MV08-0490780-S
SHEA CHRISTOPHER J	1970	New Britain GA 15	Awaiting Plea	07/14/2008 10:00 AM	H15N-MV08-0356474-S
1

I came across some interesting articles about the state of being well, just being a person, or being a child today. Are we playing it too safe? Are we turning our children into wimps and crybabies?

When we were kids and we rode in the car, there were NO seatbelts and we lived, (well most of us did). We played outside all day and into the early night. We played in the street!!! We got hurt, we fell down, we got into fistfights. We solved most of our peer problems ourselves.

We got hit at school and at home when we disobeyed. My brother was paddled in front of the class for talking out loud when it was not his turn to speak. This was in HIGH SCHOOL!!

It was humiliating, but you know what, we learned how to cope. We learned life was not fair and did not always go our way. We learned to deal with it. We learned to speak and demand respect and get things done in a positive way, not pick up a gun like they do today because little Lord Faulteroy’s feelings got hurt and it “wasn’t fair.”

We wouldn’t DARE say we were not going to go to school. And God forbid, if you did not do your homework or spoke in class, you got hit or yelled at.

I mean, we did stuff that was wrong, we weren’t perfect. But we knew that there was a line that we would not dare cross with our parents. I remember a few weeks ago, speaking with a woman at the Cheshire Relay for Life about 5:30 in the morning and we were talking about kids and the way things are today. We used to defy our parents, and cuss at them (under our breath) and think they were stupid. Well you know what? They WEREN’T. That is what that woman at the Relay told me- She said “Our Parents WERE RIGHT!! And they were. What a mess everything is today. And you know why–NO DISCIPLINE PERIOD. You don’t feel like a parent, you feel like a monitor.

When a girl in my third grade class kept running around the class, the teacher TIED HER TO HER CHAIR. Guess what, she never ran around the class anymore. And today she is a pediatric surgeon.

Now its “he/she has a hyperactivity problem and needs a drug” I am NOT saying some children do not need medication to correct behavior, NO not at all. But let’s face it, some of these kids need some discipline and need to bear consequences to their actions. They need to feel bad. That is how children learn how to cope.

My husband would drive my kids to school. I WON’T. They need to go on the bus PERIOD. “Oh, I feel embarassed going on the bus because I am a senior and everyone else is younger than me,” TOO BAD!! DEAL WITH IT. I had to. I did not have a car until I was 28 years old for God’s sake!!

And then we have adult crybabies too. We just heard one on TV the other night!! Oh Grow Up. You don’t get five weeks vacation–I don’t get any!! Most people these days would give their right arm just to have a JOB never mind the vacation time. Yes, you should get more vacation time, how about 52 weeks!! Sound Good?

Back to the good old days: the parent was the authority and parental authority was respected. I am not saying there were problems with abusive parents and people that took advantage, there were, but it was dealt with. Everyone seemed to be on the same page which helped matters.

Today, it is a totally different story. Take a read of these articles and see what you think.

Article One

Article Two

With Cheshire’s plans for this Lifestyle Center still alive and kicking, it was interesting to read this story which appeared in the June 23rd issue of the Hartford Courant. Mansfield and Storrs (where University of Connecticut is located) are planning to revitalize their downtown areas. Read about it below. These towns want to revitalize their town centers, and it strikes me as strange that Cheshire is literally forgetting about theirs. P.S. I know West Main Street is going to get a facelift, but that will not attract people to the center of town, not like the Lifestyle Center will attract people away from town.

Click here

What is interesting is some residents have expressed “concerns” about the feasiblity of undertaking this project at a time of financial instability in our state and our nation.

click here

In other news: Many of you have asked about my accident. Well, I still don’t have a police report from Southington Police. But,I understand that it could take several days, that is the norm I was told.

I also have received reports that the driver of the other vehicle that was involved in the accident and then left the scene MAY have been intoxicated!! Can you imagine if this is the case, intoxicated at 1 p.m. in the afternoon!! Great!!

As I told you before, I did manage to get the FULL license plate number and relay it to the Cheshire Police Department who happened to answer the 911 call I made, even though I made the call in Southington.

This event did take place in Southington, that is a fact, but when the Cheshire Police Department pulled the other driver over in Cheshire, than it is also a CPD matter and a separate case.

I contacted the CPD records division but I was told that IF the person was arrested, they can’t release any information until the court appearance. I am not going to go into this any further in public right now, but I thought if someone was arrested it WAS public information!!

If this information is true, than I am glad I was able to get the plate, and am even happier that the Cheshire Police Department was able to stop this individual. Whenever I call the CPD, they come out right away, so I have no issue with that. But, as you know I AM the QUEEN and I rule over ALL of CHESHIRE and KNOW ALL!! Believe me,

I mean it takes nearly a WEEK to right a report on a hit and run accident with minimal damage, well, the minimal ended up being a little less that $1,000, which is not really minimal. I hope I can get the report within the next few days so I can have my car fixed. As you know, any car I drive has to be perfect. I can’t have any blemishes on it at all. This is really ridiculous and now of course, all sorts of “ideas” are going through my head right now about this situation.

And now the Town Council will be considering some sort of plan where the Town Government suddenly becomes more open and has more on their website, blah blah blah. Oh, give me a break. You know what it is: “throw the public a bone, and they will be satisfied and then they will go away” OR WILL THEY?

Addendum: Thanks to many of you who contacted me regarding Kansas State and the tornado and my home. The University has started to repair the damage and most of the classes are back in the buidings that were hit by the storm. As for my home: Gone With The Wind!!!

FACTS ABOUT KANSAS STATE for some of you who think it is a hick school because it is Kansas. WRONG!!

Rank among all universities

1. Harvard
2. Yale
3. Stanford
4. Princeton
5. Duke
6. K-State
7. Brown
8. Chicago
9. Cornell
10. MIT

Rank among state universities

#1 in all-time Truman scholars
#1 in all-time Goldwater scholars
#2 in Rhodes scholars since 1986
#2 in Marshall scholars since 1986 (tied)
#3 in all-time Udall scholars (tied)