Marshal Matters — Don’t fall for chimney cleaning scams

Written by Fred Baker, Fire Marshal
Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:50

They're baaaaack. The perennial high pressure chimney cleaning companies are at it again. I have heard reports from several residents of New Canaan who received calls from companies offering to clean their chimneys. They usually start off by saying "... we will be in your neighborhood tomorrow ..." and offer a very tempting deal of cleaning and inspection for $49.

Letter from Hartford — The last days have come and gone

Written by State Rep. John Hetherington
Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:49

Following many post-midnight debates and hurtling down the road towards the finish line on May 9, the General Assembly suddenly seized-up on the eve of adjournment. A spat between the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate over jobs and the minimum wage stalled the Legislature, and the closing hours waned while the House rambled on about this and that and the Senate wandered in and out of caucus.

Simply Put — Making use of food scraps

Written by Jennifer Spaide
Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:47

When you are in the kitchen all day every day, like I am, you tend to generate a lot of kitchen scraps. After many years of pushing mountains of waste into the garbage, I finally decided it would be a much better idea to start composting them instead. It seemed like an intimidating, daunting idea at first, but it really is pretty simple. And composting is a good outdoor/gardening activity to get your kids involved in.

Parenting from the Trenches — Mother’s Day woe-is-me

Written by Julie Butler Evans, Staff Writer
Thursday, 10 May 2012 12:17

Is it pathetic that I sent a mass text message to my four kids last weekend, reminding them that Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13?

Marshal Matters — Safety tips for summertime grilling

Written by Fred Baker, Fire Marshal
Thursday, 10 May 2012 12:16

At the first signs of warm weather many folks head directly to their barbecue grill to start that greatest of summertime traditions — grilling! (Or, if you are like me it never stops.) To ensure that everyone enjoys their backyard bistros unencumbered by unfortunate mishaps, the following is a list of steps you can take to avoid being "well done":

Simply Put — Gardening with kids

Written by Jennifer Spaide
Thursday, 10 May 2012 12:19

Some of my fondest childhood memories are helping in my grandparent's gardens in Maine: pulling carrots from the dirt, planting potatoes, harvesting stalks of rhubarb, picking sweet raspberries. So as soon as my son was old enough to start stumbling around in the yard, I created our own vegetable garden. I wanted him to have a taste — literally and figuratively — of what I grew up with, to connect with the earth, to get his hands dirty, to see where real food came from.

Talking Transportation — Support the busway

Written by Jim Cameron
Thursday, 10 May 2012 05:00

You think rush hour traffic is bad in Fairfield County on I-95 and the Merritt? Try driving on I-84 or I-91 into Hartford. That’s why the planned busway from New Britain to downtown Hartford makes such sense.

Did I Say That? — Battling a sugar addiction

Written by Joe Pisani
Thursday, 26 April 2012 00:00

Several months ago, while suffering what defense attorneys commonly call "temporary insanity," I walked into Walmart, paused at the entrance where they pile up displays of junk food ... and broke down. My self-control collapsed, my addiction took over, and I bought a three-pound bag of candy conversation hearts to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Talking Transportation — Too much traffic? Don’t blame the trucks

Written by Jim Cameron
Thursday, 26 April 2012 00:00

Driving to Hartford the other day (no, you cannot really get there by train), I saw a beautiful sight: hundreds of trucks! What surer sign of an economic recovery?

Yet, motorists hate trucks and mistakenly blame them for traffic congestion and accidents that cause hours of delays.

Parenting from the Trenches — Driving me crazy

Written by Julie Butler Evans
Thursday, 26 April 2012 00:00

My baby Jack got his learner's permit a few weeks ago. This is not only a milestone in his life, but more importantly, in mine. In about four months time, my carting kids around in my car years will be effectively over. We are talking 28-plus years, people. Twenty-eight. (Do not even bother to do the math on how old that may make me; I gave birth to my oldest when I was 15. Just kidding!)

This is going to give both Jack and me newfound freedom. In the meantime, however, he is giving me newfound attitude. Actually, not so newfound, as his three older siblings gave me the same I-know-it-all attitude about driving. So annoying.