I went down to the Cheshire Herald today, and to paraphrase an old Rolling Stones Song, “to get my fair share of abuse” and I wasn’t disappointed!!!

Every once in a while I place tiny classifield ads promoting my website, (actually it doesn’t really need promoting, but I am such an egotist that my belief is too much is never enough)!! I have placed the ads in several papers, so I thought nothing of going to our local paper and placing the ad.

Well, when I walked through the door and said my name, I might as well have been David Duke at an NAACP convention. The mood changed SUDDENLY.

The woman at the desk seemed nice but cautious. Then I waited for a few minutes for the Herald’s ad rep to come out. She never looked me straight in the eye. She kept turning her head away. I know I don’t smell so that could not have been the reason.

Then all of a sudden, like a bat out of hell, came this woman.

She came storming up to me and said “WHY DO YOU WANT TO PUT AN AD IN OUR PAPER WHEN YOU ARE CONSTANTLY CALLING US THE SOVIET NEWS AGENCY TASS?

Man, she was biting mad. I asked her if she was the same person several months ago when I called the Herald to talk to the editor who said “oh it’s you.”

She said she has confronted me several times, but you know what, I can’t remember things that are insignificant.

Then, the editor Shannon Becker came out and tried to calm things a little. I was really shocked. I started to go into the newsroom, which when I worked for several papers was always open to the public. They all started yelling, “Cynthia, you can’t come in here–this is private.”

I asked them who this woman was that is always so upset over what I have to say on my so-called “insignificant website.” I was told she was the owner and that she cares what is said about her paper and that people call her and tell her everytime I call the Herald the Soviet News Agency Tass.

How many times have I called the Herald the Soviet News Agency Tass? Like three times in four years. If you READ any of my posts I usually say “affectionately called.”

You know I do have a dry sense of humor but some people take offense at that I guess.

Let’s face it, the Herald is getting better at reporting issues in town, especially in regards to the police department. In all honesty, I don’t think you would have seen the story about the police office appearing in court over that alleged sexual harassment issue.

You know, if you have been reading this paper as long as I have, over 20 years, it would NEVER have been mentioned-NEVER. Whether they want to admit it or not, it was my influence that has made the Herald open up. They can be a lot better than they are. It is starting to change, but has a long way to go. If any of you want to see a balanced newspaper than start reading the Connecticut, formerly Bridgeport Post, of which I was a reporter for over 11 years.

After you read that paper, and I don’t mean online, I mean purchase the paper, tell me if the Herald is the same. And don’t say “Oh that is a weekly and the Post is a daily” BALONEY!! I was the editor of a weekly paper and I wrapped circles around the Register every week!!

Now I will be meeting with the owner next Tuesday at 10 a.m. in her office so we can discuss our differences in a calm and professional matter, which I intend on doing.

When I walked into that newsroom, they all got nervous. I wonder why. I am not an animal. I can and do discuss issues with people everyday. That is the real problem with Cheshire and they need to get over it. People are different and they have different opinions. If they cannot take lighthearted banter about themselves at the Herald, then we have problems.

I will keep you posted after the meeting.