It’s cold outside … and chili inside

The 27th annual Chili Cook- Off drew a large crowd at the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building. Roxanne Pandolfi photo.

It looked more like a Mexican fiesta than lunch hour at the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building. With sombreros, streamers, a blow-up cactus and 10 pans of chili lined up, what else would one think?

Approximately 40 Mansfield employees put their taste buds to the test and attended the 27th annual Chili Cook-Off in the council chambers on Feb. 25.

“I don’t really have a strategy,” said Assistant to the Town Manager Maria Capriola as she began her taste-testing by diving spoon first into one of 10 small cups of chili. “They all put unique spins on them. Some are sweet, some are spicy.”

The cook-off – which featured different chili recipes from 10 town employees – offered a chance for Mansfield staffers to show-off their cooking abilities and compete for the coveted Chili Cook-Off sash and Brioschi trophy.

Brioschi is an antacid for acid indigestion and heartburn – two symptoms commonly associated with a delicious meal of spicy chili.

During the hour-long program, participants ranked their favorites and then waited to hear who had the winning recipe. Prizes were given for best overall, second place and for the most unique chili.

Chili connoisseur

While most enjoyed their Dixie Cup-size samples of chili and even went back for seconds on their favorites, others took the event a little more seriously.

Eric Ohlund, Mansfield clerk of the works, had a strategy for tasting every recipe and judging its quality. “I write down everything,” he said. “If it’s smoky, chunky, meaty.”

Chaz Plungis, an intern in the town manager’s office, digs into his samples. Roxanne Pandolfi photo.

He said he starts with a little bite of each chili – to get the “initial impression” – takes notes and then cleanses his palate to start again.

Ohlund, who has tasted chili for the past six years, said this year’s competition was different because there were some unusual ingredients featured, including avocado, al dente vegetables and lima beans.

This year, like every year, the master chef behind the winning chili was not revealed until votes were tallied.

Last year’s winner, Mansfield Community Center Membership Services Coordinator Amanda Barry, hoped to regain her trophy. “Last year was a recipe I made up on a whim,” she said.

Barry did not make a double win this year, but still walked away with bragging rights. She won in the most unique category with her green chili.

An old favorite take the trophy

After scores were tallied, the first-place trophy went to Mansfield Tax Assessor Irene LaPointe, who edged out Mansfield Fire Capt. Andrew Franklin by one vote.

LaPointe said she was glad her hand-me-down recipe was still a favorite. This year was either her third or fourth win.

She was given the recipe by a former Mansfield employee who competed with it every year. “It’s a good recipe,” she said, and added that she “tweaked” the recipe to give it her own spin.

Mansfield Tax Assessor Irene LaPointe receives her first-place trophy from Zoning Agent Curt Hirsch, who organized the event. Roxanne Pandolfi photo.

LaPointe attributes her victory to her combination of Italian sausage, hamburger and corn.

According to Mansfield Zoning Agent Curt Hirsch – this year’s event organizer – the cook-off is one of the most popular annual events put on for town staffers.

“I think more people consider ourselves a close unit,” he said. “I think it’s a fun place to work.”

Throughout the year, there are several events Mansfield staff members can participate in including golf tournaments, bowling outings and summer picnics.

Posted Feb. 27, 2010 [as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan]

UConn student makes bid for Mansfield rep’s post

It’s been a little more than a week since state Rep. Denise Merrill, D-Mansfield, officially announced her run for Secretary of the State.

Now, several area residents are making a bid to fill her soon­to-be vacant position.

University of Connecticut sophomore Brien Buckman told members of the town’s Democratic Town Committee he wants to be their endorsed candidate.

He was scheduled to attend Thursday’s committee meeting.

Buckman, 20, originally of South Windsor, said he may be young, but he thinks he is an ideal candidate for the position.

He said a lot of issues – including continuing cuts to state funding for higher education – have inspired him to seek the vacant seat.

“Seeing the state shift the financial burden from the state to towns, which increases taxes for local residents, and a lot of other issues have driven me to seek support,” he said Thursday.

Merrill is stepping down from representing the 54th District – which includes Mansfield and Chaplin – to run for the Secretary of State position that is expected to be left vacant by Democrat Susan Bysiewicz, who has tossed her hat in the ring for the state Attorney General’s position.

Buckman said he believes his youth and inexperience will be beneficial for his campaign run. “I think one of the most unique things about my campaign is that I’ve not been part of the current system,” he said. “I am someone new.”

He said the legislative branch in Hartford seems “stagnant.”

“The legislative branch really doesn’t seem to have any new driving force behind the Democrats,” he said. “I’m really hoping to bring fresh blood to the legislative branch.”

As a full-time student and chair of the Undergraduate Student Government’s funding board, Buckman said he is a busy man who will balance a campaign and schoolwork.

“There is no doubt it’ll be a balancing act,” he said.

Other area residents may also be campaigning for the state representative’s seat. Reportedly, current Mansfield Democratic Town Committee Chair and Mansfield Deputy Mayor Gregory Haddad, and Mansfield Mayor Elizabeth “Betsy” Paterson may seek the seat.

Democratic Vice Chair Mark LaPlaca said there have been several people expressing an interest in the vacant seat.

“There are several serious can­didates considering it,” he said this morning. “Haddad, Paterson. It should be a very interesting race.”

Neither Haddad nor Paterson could be reached for comment Thursday morning.

Posted Feb. 26, 2010, as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

[See related story: Haddad announces bid for Merrill's state rep post ]

Inside look at UConn women’s basketball tips off on ESPNU

The UConn women Huskies with the 2009 Final Four trophy. File photo by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

“The Climb: UConn’s Quest for Perfection,” a behind-the-scenes look at the 2009-10 University of Connecticut women’s basketball team, will premiere on Friday, Feb. 26 on ESPNU.

The 30-minute program is slated to air at 3:30 p.m. (ET) and 11:30 p.m. (ET).

Head Coach Geno Auriemma has created a women’s basketball dynasty that draws top talent from around the country.

Friday’s airing will be episode one of a four-part series that will offer a unique all-access look at the team’s inner workings.

The premiere episode will feature ESPN’s College Game Day visit to UConn in January, Tina Charles inducted into the “Huskies of Honor,” and segments on the success of the sophomore class and the importance of the play of the bench.

Each episode is told in the players’ and coaches’ own words as the Huskies pursue a second consecutive perfect season and NCAA National Championship.

Additional episodes are tentatively scheduled to air on ESPNU on March 5, March 19 and April 2 with air times of 3:30 p.m. (ET) and 11:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU.

Received and posted Feb. 25, 2010

Council debates appropriateness of Pledge of Allegiance

The Town Council Monday referred a request for a Pledge of Allegiance before every council meeting to the Personnel Committee.

Council member Christopher Paulhus made the request as part of a review of the Town Council’s rules of procedure.

“This is because I am a veteran,” said Paulhus. “I would like the Pledge of Allegiance as an item on the agenda.”

Some council members said the pledge would be inappropriate.

Council member Toni Moran said she understands patriotism and noted that her father is a World War II veteran, but she thinks the flag is only “one element” of being patriotic.

“My father is a veteran of World War II – if anything, he would pledge his allegiance to the Constitution,” she said.

“I don’t think anybody can doubt our commitment to the public and to the system,” she said. “I don’t see how adding a pro forma allegiance is appropriate.”

Moran said she was opposed to the idea of saying the pledge because she grew up in a world where African-Americans and Caucasians aren’t treated equally.

With the spirit of the pledge being about a unified United States, Moran said she could not repeat a pledge that might not be true to the country now – or to the way the country was when she was younger.

“Maybe it’s partly because I’m older, but I have a mistrust of this pro forma recitation,” she said.

Councilor Carl Schaefer agreed with Moran and said councilors have already committed themselves to the country and Mansfield residents by being a part of the council.

“The fact that we are here as a council – that does far more than saying a pledge,” Schaefer said, “far more than a pledge we may or not may not mean.”

After review by the Personnel Committee, the request will be brought back to the council for action at a future meeting.

Other procedure changes

Proposed procedure changes submitted by the Personnel Committee include eliminating the second opportunity for citizens to address the council, and controlling citizen conduct as they address the council – focusing on courtesy and civil behavior.

Councilors voted 5-3 against eliminating the second citizen comment. Those opposed said it was because it is important for residents to be able to address the council at the end of the meeting.

Councilor Meredith Lindsey said, despite the length of council meetings, people may have new items to bring to the council’s attention at the end of meetings.

“If they are committed enough to stay the whole meeting, they should be given the time to speak to us,” she said.

However, Councilor Peter Kochenburger said he thinks the second citizen comment should be eliminated because there are various ways to contact councilors outside of meetings.  ”I don’t think we do the town any favors with sessions going until 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m.,” he said.

Posted Feb. 24, 2010 [as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan]

UConn teams fall short of third Big East Indoor Track & Field Championship

The 4x400 team of Chanell Smith, Ana Groff, Trisha-Ann Hawthorne and Phylicia George placed third in the indoor track & field conference championship. Photo © by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

NEW YORK CITY – The UConn men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams, both two-time Big East defending champions, each struck out in a bid to make three straight conference titles.

The Villanova women, displaying a great finishing kick, streaked past front-running Louisville in the next-to-last event of the two-day meet (Feb. 20-21), to win their first league title in 10 years.

The Notre Dame men traveled a different path to their fourth crown in eight years, building what proved to be an insurmountable lead early and maintaining that status quo throughout the meet.

The Irish had come close the past two years, yet could never quite overcome the depth of UConn Head Coach Greg Roy’s squad.

But that wasn’t the case this past weekend as the Huskies struggled to finish fifth.

Injured athletes

Although relinquishing their crown, the Connecticut women did finish on the podium in third place.

Tynisha McMillian took third in the shot put and Victoria Flowers came in third in the weight throw. Photo © by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

Head coach Bill Morgan said a growing injury list meant that those members of the team who did participate in the meet would have had to have performed at peak level to give the Huskies a shot at their third straight title.

“We felt that everyone we brought [to the meet] had to PR [turn in a personal record] for us to win the championship,” he said. “And practically everyone did PR; we certainly did maximize our efforts, today. This was a true team effort.”

But it wasn’t enough to hold off the Wildcats, who tallied 115 points, followed by Louisville with 107 and Connecticut with 84 points.

Despite slipping into third place, Morgan said he was quite satisfied with the competitive balance on the team and even more pleased with the way the athletes respond to his staff’s instructions.

UConn women's head coach Bill Morgan, far left, huddles with other coaches to choose the outstanding performers. Photo © by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

“I love the attitude on this team,” he said. “The culture we’ve created here is right where I’d like it to be. After coming in third, after winning it two times and placing in third four years ago, I think we’ve made ourselves a championship team,” Morgan said.

Quick lead

On the men’s side, Notre Dame vaulted out to a quick lead early Sunday morning that they never relinquished.

After finishing tantalizingly close to first-place in the past two Big East championships, they finally got over the Husky hurdle, as it were, and won the Irish’s fourth league title in the past eight seasons.

“The first event [Sunday morning] was the 1000-meter and we finished 1-2-6 and that set the tone that, ‘Hey, we’re here to compete,’” said Notre Dame Head Coach Joe Piane.

“Then the next event was the 800-meter and we finish 2-3-and-boom! Two events and we’ve got a 34-point lead and no one could really match that the rest of the day. It was exciting,” Piane said.

Notre Dame senior sprinter Jack Howard said his teammates performed “above and beyond what was expected. We fell just short of UConn the past two years, so I guess third time is the charm,” he said.

Notre Dame finished with a whopping 146.5 points, outdistancing second-place Georgetown’s 104. Louisville came in third with 93 points followed by Villanova at 76.5 and Connecticut placed fifth with 75.5 points.

Big effort by Scott Johnson

The Huskies might not have even finished fifth, if it hadn’t been for a valiant effort by runner Scott Johnson, a sophomore from Old Lyme.

Sophomore Scott Johnson ran a clutch anchor leg to help UConn take third in the 4x800-meter relay. Photo © by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

Johnson, running the anchor leg of the 4×800-meter relay, found himself in fourth place, a little behind a Georgetown runner, as they headed for the wire.

Digging deep into a reserve even he probably didn’t know he had, Scott nipped his opponent at the wire, and earned his team a third-place finish by 200ths of a second.

“We had talked about getting on the podium [winning a medal] in at least one event in the meet and that hadn’t happened. So, when I had that one last guy in front of me, I saw this as a way to get all of us on the podium today,” said Johnson, who attributed his strong finishing kick “to an extra incentive because of the other guys on my shoulders.”

Brothers on the podium

Johnson was one of eight UConn men who earned All-Big East honors, including two sets of brothers.

Alex and Tim Bennatan, along with Dan Holst, joined Johnson on the podium for their third-place finish in the 4×800 relay.

In the heptathlon, Jake Waruch recorded a personal-best combined point total of 5,094 which was good for second place and brother Ben placed third with a score of 4,968.

Happy hepthathloners Ben (center) and Jake (right) with their parents Claudia and David Waruch. Photo © by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

“Ben and Jake had lifetime performances today,” said UConn Assistant Coach Rich Miller, who oversees multi-event performers for Head Coach Greg Roy.

“They really stepped up for us and took over as leaders from start to finish” he said of the 10-event heptathlon.

Also winning third-place medals for the Huskies were Kevin Steinberg in the 200-meter dash, with a personal best of 21.72 seconds and Jamaal Smith, who also had a personal best, 15.15 meters in the triple jump.

“This was a good meet, the team is heading in a good direction,” said Jake Waruch.

Women coaches still rare

An interesting fact is that of the 16 schools in the Big East – 32 squads in all, counting men and women – there are only two female coaches: Gina Procaccio, who led Villanova to the 2010 title, and Cincinnati’s Susan Seaton.

The 4x800 meter relay team of Leah Andrianos, Brigitte Mania, Meghan Cunningham and Heather Wilson took second place. At right is distance coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. Photo © by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

“I wish there were more, but it’s hard out there for women,” Procaccio said.

“I’m glad there are at least two of us, because it’s a good role model for female athletes,” Seaton said…  female athletes who may someday perform at the world-class level where UConn junior Trisha-Ann Hawthorne continues to compete.

Hawthorne came away from the Big East Championships with a pair of gold medals, and set school records in both the 60-meter and 200-meter dash with times among the top 10 in the nation.

Three-time All-American Carin Knight placed first in the high jump, Tynisha McMillian took third in the shot put, Victoria Flowers came in third in the weight throw and Phylicia George placed third in the 60-meter hurdles.

The 4×800 meter relay – with Leah Andrianos, Brigitte Mania, Meghan Cunningham and Heather Wilson – took second place, while the 4×400 team of Chanell Smith, Ana Groff, Hawthorne and George placed third.

The conference championship was held at The Armory, a track and field center located in Manhattan’s upper west side.

Posted Feb. 24, 2010

Are the town’s political sign rules ‘unconstitutional’?

At issue are regulations governing the content, size, illumination and other parameters of political signs posted on private property.

In December 2009, the state’s chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union sent town officials a letter saying that Mansfield’s regulations governing political signs are unconstitutional.

This has prompted the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission to review those regulations, and the commission invited Town Council members to share their views.

The Town Council on Monday, however, decided to postpone any comment, pending a public hearing the PZC plans to hold in April or May.

The PZC is the governing body that would decide what, if any, changes would be made to the rules.

Under current regulations, political signs can only be posted if they “pertain to the election of candidates to a public office (or) to the passage or defeat of a measure for which a specific voting date has been established.”

The rules prohibit political statements such as, “abortion is murder.”

Also, signs can be posted within 30 days of an election and must be removed within five days of the end of an election.

Proposed regulation changes drafted by the PZC would allow both political statements and election signs to be posted on private property, but prohibit signs on public property.

And while political signs on private property would not be restricted, the town would offer non-binding suggestions so as to preserve the town’s aesthetics without limiting free speech.

In addition, “To help reduce neighborhood impact and to help preserve Mansfield’s scenic character, it is recommended that political signs be limited in size and number, be non-illuminated and be displayed for a limited period of time,” the draft states.

Some town residents, such as Carol Pellegrine, took the opportunity at Monday’s meeting to voice their opinion.

“Political signs on private property should never be regulated by the Town of Mansfield,” she said. “We need to remove it from our regulations.”

Town property, however, shouldn’t be used for political signs because residents have different opinions, she said.

Town buildings and town-owned properties belong to all residents and should not be decorated with signs, she said. “It [a political sign] cannot represent all of us, so it should not,” Pellegrine said.

Another resident, Betty Wassmundt, said the town should revise the political sign policy or remove it completely.

“I feel that a political sign is one of the basic rights I get in this country,” Wassmundt said.

She said she objects to regulations that infringe the freedom of speech. “You’re trying to place limits on my freedom and my right of expression,” Wassmundt said. She added that she should be able to have a 10-foot-by-10-foot illuminated sign on her property if she wants to.

Posted Feb. 23, 2010 [As edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan]

One school – one book – one very big snowstorm

Standing beside giant snowbanks at the corner of Main and State Streets in Hartford after the Blizzard of 1888. Photo © Connecticut Historical Society

During recent years, several schools and cities have undertaken various reading initiatives.

One idea that has been particularly popular is the “One Book, One Read” or “One Book, One City” program, in which an entire city, region or community read the same book, which is made available through school and public libraries.

Unfortunately, these books are often not appropriate for middle school students, says MMS Coordinator of Library and Media Services Linda Robinson.

“I suggested to the MMS staff that we undertake a “One School/One Read” (OSOR) initiative of our own,” she explains in a memo emailed to MMS students’ parents.

“Following careful planning, involvement from the administration, and the support of the Board of Education, Mansfield Middle School successfully conducted such a program during the 2002-2003 school year centered on the book, My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier,” she says.

“We followed this with an even more successful event in 2005/06 using the book, The Breadwinner and again in 2007/08 with Under the Same Sky.”

Something different

This year, the committee involved in the project decided to broaden its horizons and undertake the reading of a nonfiction book, “a genre many students do not select for themselves,” Robinson says.

And so, the committee  searched for a non-fiction book with wide appeal to diverse readers that also offered a local connection.

“As you can imagine, selecting a book for grades 5-8 is complicated at best, but this was even more difficult,” she says.

After considering a selection of books, the OSOR committee enthusiastically recommended the book, Blizzard: the Storm That Changed America, by Jim Murphy.

Blizzard: the Storm That Changed America, by Jim Murphy

This book presents a compelling history, based on personal accounts and newspaper reports, of the massive snowstorm that hit the Northeast in 1888 , and focuses on the events in New England.

“It is a great non-fiction read and has curriculum connections related to weather, technology, and social studies,” Robinson says.

The book has won several awards, including Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and the New York Public Library named it as one of the 100 Best Children’s Books for Reading and Sharing.

Copies for all students

Copies will be distributed to all students and staff at the Middle School. “We will organize students into small groups with a certified staff member and the entire school will read the book together in school for three weeks,” Robinson says.

Additional copies will also be available in the Mansfield Public Library, as well as in the school library for parents to borrow and read with their children.

“We only ask that you NOT read ahead. Events at school related to this project will take place from March 1 through March 19. Students will receive their books at their first group meeting on March 1 but for the most part, those books will remain in school until the OSOR is complete,” Robinson says.

“We believe that this event encourages a common community experience, provides opportunity for parental interaction, promotes reading, and encourages group discussion of some timely themes,” Robinsons says.  “If you have questions regarding this program, please contact me. We look forward to sharing this book as a community of readers.”

Posted Feb. 23, 2009, Revised March 12, 2010

From the Editor, some related links:

Blizzard of 1888 – “Blizzard Men” Testimony: http://www.vny.cuny.edu/Search/search_res_text.php?id=385

The Children’s Blizzard of 1888:

http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/events/childrensblizzard.htm

Connecticut History online – photos of the Blizzard of 1888 taken in Connecticut:

http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm-cho/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOBOX1=back%3A&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOOP2=all&CISOBOX2=blizzard%2C+1888&CISOFIELD2=subjec&CISOROOT=/cho&t=s

Council to meet with legislators Monday

The Town Council will learn about what’s going on in Hartford, financially and legislatively speaking, when it meets with legislators tonight.

Councilors are scheduled to meet with State House Majority Leader Denise Merrill, D-Mansfield, and State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, at 6:30 p.m. in the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building.

Tonight’s meeting is a “work session” for councilors and does not include any opportunity for public comment. The meeting is open to the public.

According to Mansfield Deputy Mayor Gregory Haddad, the legislative meeting is held annually. “It’s for us to share with them what some of our hopes and aspirations are for the legislation,” he said this morning.

He said Merrill and Williams will update councilors on changes that may have an impact on towns, in terms of funding and mandates. It’s an opportunity to “learn (what’s happening) early on in the process,” he said.

Haddad said the meeting is important because it gives Mansfield officials an understanding of how the state’s budget is shaping up before the town’s budget goes to voters for approval.

“This really puts us in the driver’s seat,” he said. “It allows us to be proactive, rather than reactive.”

This financial information is extremely important to Mansfield officials because the town is “heavily dependent” on state funding, said Haddad.

He said as the state looks at a budget deficit this fiscal year, municipal leaders have an added level of uncertainty as they craft local budgets for 2010-11.

“We are trying to anticipate the feeling at the state level,” he said.

Although tonight’s meeting will talk about the early process of the upcoming legislative session, Haddad said he expects the state’s projected deficit and other financial woes to be a key topic.

“I think municipal aid from the state is one of the top concerns,” he said.

Haddad said all other concerns facing councilors are likely a “distant second.”

Almost 40 percent of Mansfield’s operating budget comes from intergovernmental revenue from the state, such as state Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) grant, slot machine revenues and education grants.

Posted Feb. 22, 2010