Misconceptions Persist on Gun Ownership

The
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden Journal
www.thehamdenjournal.com
August 6, 2010
FREE
Misconceptions Persist on Gun Ownership:
A Semi-Monthly Publication: 1st &
3rd Fridays of Each Month
Our Second Amendment Right
by Chris LaTorraca
The U.S. Supreme Court has
struck down a gun ban ordinance in the city of Chicago.
This follows the court’s decision to overturn a similar law
from Washington D.C. passed
in 2008. Many cities have held
to the belief that by banning legal gun ownership they would,
essentially, see a dramatic drop
in crime. According to Andy
Piscitelle, owner of Perfect
Trigger in North Branford,
CT, that simply is not the case.
Andy is a strong advocate for
proper training, education, and
responsible use for the guns
and accessories he sells. After
our interview was over, it became clear that it is the criminals, and not the law-abiding
gun owners, that are the real
problem.
Andy states, “Education and
training are the keys to maintaining a safe environment
for folks to own a gun. This
includes gun safety classes,
permit training, and proper
storage of the pistol or rifle.”
Once a person becomes licensed, the benefits of ownership are many, according to
Mr. Piscitelle. “Hunters are
huge environmentalists who
respect nature because they
see firsthand the effects that
humans can have on wildlife.
People who target shoot develop skills, such as hand eye
coordination, attention to detail, and the thrill of competition.” In fact, Andy’s personal
opinion is there should be a
two-tiered permit system. After eight hours of training, a
person should be able to keep
a gun at home, and after more
training a concealed gun permit would be the next level of
licensing.
But what about more guns,
more crime? John Lott, author
of More Guns More Crime,
clearly shows, with huge statistical data, that in fact a legally
armed society is much safer
than one without access to legal firearms. Lott highlights
the D.C. gun ban as an example of the failure gun laws that
take guns out of the hands of
law-abiding citizens. D.C.’s
murder rate fell from 3.5 times
more than Maryland and Virginia’s to only three times
more during the five years
before the handgun ban went
into effect in 1977, but rose 3.8
times more in the five years after it. According to Lott, murder rates decline when either
more women or men carry
concealed hand guns, but a
gun represents a much larger
change for a woman to defend
herself than it does for a man.
An additional woman carrying
a concealed handgun reduces
the murder rate for women by
about three to four times more
than an additional man carrying a concealed handgun reduces the murder rate for men.
Ultimately, will concealed
Inside this Edition
handguns in hands of lawabiding citizens save lives?
According to both Andy Piscitelle of Perfect Trigger and
John Lott, the answer is “yes.”
The next question is “will we,
the American citizens, allow
the government to take that
right away?”
Town
to Restore
Rochford Field
Progress on Lower State Street
New Regional Bus Terminal, Hamden
by Chris LaTorraca
The largest building in Hamden is set to open its doors in
September. The Regional Bus
Terminal will close its James
Street location in New Haven,
and will relocate all equipment
and personnel to its state-ofthe-art facility in Hamden next
to the DMV. This complex will
be over 250,000 square feet
with 300 employees working
two shifts. Dale Kroop, the
Town’s Economic Develop-
ment Director, says that this
project will “benefit the local
business community and eliminate a once vacant lot.”
“The local businesses will
benefit because those 300 employees will purchase products
and services that they need
from local merchants. Items
such as coffee, sandwiches,
and car repairs are just a few
that 300 new people will bring
to an area,” says Kroop. The
other advantage is the rebuilding of the old Detroit Steel
site, which
the bus terminal
sits
on. The state
purchased
the property
around 10
years ago,
and
what
was once an
eyesore has
become another facet
in the revitalization of
lower State
Street.
According to Mr. Kroop, “There will
be a grand opening with the
Governor, as well as other dignitaries in attendance.” The
Hamden Journal will continue to cover this event over
the next few weeks as things
continue to unfold, and if town
residents get a chance to drive
by, they will be amazed at the
scope and size of this new facility and see that, yes, positive
things are happening. We just
have to keep our eyes open.
Arts & Entertainment.......... 19
Classified Ads..................... 23
Faith Matters....................... 21
Financial Strategies............... 7
From the Editor..................... 3
Hamden Chamber............... 10
Hamden Fun Facts................ 4
Health & Wellness.............. 17
Local Business...................... 9
Police Log............................. 3
Real Estate.......................... 22
Sports & Recreation............ 16
Rochford Field
by Chris LaTorraca
The Town of Hamden has received approval for a five
million dollar bond to assist
homeowners with structural repairs and acquiring homes that
can’t be fixed. Funds should
be available in the fall with
work beginning in the spring
of 2011.
Also, included in this clean
up of Newhallville is a consent
order that the town has to remediate and restore Rochford
Field. This park has a long history of baseball, softball, and
other activities that made it
a focal point of the neighborhood. Dale Kroop of the Hamden Economic Development
Department states, “Several
ideas are being discussed and
a design of a revamped park
should be finished by October.” So what does the future
look like for Rochford Field?
Kroop mentioned the possibilities, “A skate park or maybe a running track on the outside perimeter of the fields.”
An improved, regulation-size
baseball diamond will allow
kids to play organized baseball at fields other than Legion
Field. It can be used for makeup games and possibly even
attract adult leagues that are
utilizing other playing fields
in neighboring towns. Parks
across the country are reinventing themselves based on
economics, needs of the community, and evolution of new
activities. One of these new
activities is skateboarding. Although it’s not a new choice
of recreation, it certainly has
grown to be a popular one.
Why not meet the needs of the
community and build something that people will use?
Hamden also has few running
tracks like the one at the High
School. In fact, a track could
be a wise use of space that otherwise would be neglected.
Hamden has an opportunity
to remodel a southern Hamden
landmark. Many generations
enjoyed the park and, if the
town handles things correctly,
then future generations will
also.
Grab a cup of coffee...pull up a chair...and sit back, relax, and enjoy reading “your” Journal...a place for fun facts & local news.
Page 2 — August 6, 2010
The
Hamden Journal
The
This newspaper is published
semi-monthly on the first and
third Fridays of each month.
Hamden Journal
From the Editor
Founders / Publishers
Chris & Shala LaTorraca
Editor-in-Chief
Shala J. LaTorraca
Director of Sales
Christopher D. LaTorraca
Staff Writers
Christopher D. LaTorraca
Shala J. LaTorraca
Columnists & Contributors
Thad K. Bartley
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Ronald S. Gambadella
Bill Hartigan
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Elizabeth L. Maloney
Jeff Pangaro
Richard Rocco
Webmaster
Carl E. Bartley
Proofreader
Phyllis J. Bartley
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August 6, 2010 — Page 3
I just want to take this time
to express Chris’ and my sincere gratitude to you – our
readers, advertisers, supporters, and even our critics. This
has been an amazing ride so
far – the past four months
since our first edition. Readership continues to increase.
Local businesses are advertising in full force. And, the
paper continues to increase in
size (as you will notice, this
one bumped up to a whopping 24-pages – great in the
short amount of time we’ve
been publishing The Hamden
Journal).
In this edition, we’ve
brought you some information about candidates in the
upcoming primary elections
on Tuesday, August 10 (see
page 5). We must take advantage of our constitutional
right and privilege to vote
before it ends up being taken
away. So, let’s get out there
and support our favorite candidates, who will, hopefully,
provide great leadership for
our Town and State. Remember: Your Vote Counts!
Be sure to check out our
specific sections. We have
lots happening in Hamden
from Sports and Recreation,
Arts and Entertainment, and
happenings in the Religious
Community to information to
help Local Businesses and to
help you in your Personal Finances.
We’ve also added several
advertisers.
Let’s support
our local businesses and help
keep most of our money stimulating Hamden’s economy.
Thank you, Hamden!
Thank you for reading
this edition of The
Hamden Journal...your
place for fun facts and
local news.
To the Editor
Tax Assessor Accused
Please be advised that the
Town’s Tax Assessor, James
Clynes, is engaging in activities that are negligent, incompetent, and/or corrupt, and bad
behavior does not just occur in
New Haven.
Mr. Clynes has been the Assessor since I purchased my
Hamden home in 1987. I reside on Ridgewood Court. The
street begins in North Haven
See Assessor, Page 4
Many Thanks
I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Kelly Stone
of Kelly’s Kone Konnection
who so generously named
two ice cream flavors for the
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to help promote
the 2010 Jerry Lewis MDA
Telethon. This is the third consecutive year that Kelly’s Kone
Konnection has named a flavor
for MDA.
July 29
David Brown, 35, of West
Ivy Street, New Haven, was
charged with Larceny in the
Sixth Degree.
Melissa Dunkley, 27, of
Monroe Street, New Haven,
was charged with No Insurance and Operating Unregistered Motor Vehicle.
James Jenkins, 28, of Winchester Avenue, was charged
with Possession of Narcotics
and Illegal Manufacture/Distribution/Sale/Prescription.
Dwayne Randolph, 39, of
Goodrich Street, was charged
with Larceny in the Sixth Degree, Burglary in the Third
Degree, Theft of Firearm, and
Larceny in the Fourth Degree.
Todd Sutcliffe, 47, of Wintergreen Avenue, was charged
with Misuse of Plate, Operating Unregistered Motor Vehicle, and No Insurance.
Francois Tucker, 24, of Miami Street, West Haven, was
charged with Weapons in Motor Vehicle and Fail to Display
Plate/Sticker.
July 30
Rubia Chica, 25, of Elliot Street, New Haven, was
charged with Failure to Obey
Stop Sign and Operating under
Suspension.
Samuel Hargrove, 26, of
Shelton Avenue, New Haven,
was charged with Possession
of Narcotics.
See Thanks, Page 22
Police Log
The following is a selection
of arrests made in Hamden.
Log accuracy is dependent on
all information being entered
correctly by those doing data
entry.
July 23
Jermaine Cannon, 37, was
charged with Possession of
a Controlled Substance Less
than Four Ounces, Possession
of Narcotics, and Interfering
with an Officer/Resisting.
Skyler Downing, 31, of
Sheffield Avenue, New Haven,
was charged with Criminal
Mischief in the Third Degree.
July 24
Jason Carter, 37, of South
Ridge Road, Prospect, was
charged with Breach of Peace
in the Second Degree and
Threatening.
Kimberly Dansby, 24, of
Sumac Street, Waterbury, was
charged with Operating under
Suspension and Turn Signals.
Dorothea Grant, 30, of Paradise Avenue, was charged with
Breach of Peace in the Second
Degree.
July 25
Leopoldo Cervantes, 42, of
Whalley Avenue, New Haven,
was charged with Misuse of
Plate, No Insurance, Operating
Unregistered Motor Vehicle,
and Operating without a License.
Patricia Frederick, 49, of
Dagget Street, was charged
with No Insurance.
Juan Garcia, 26, of Barnes
Avenue, New Haven, was
charged with No Insurance,
Operating without a License,
Traveling Unreasonably Fast,
and Operating Unregistered
Motor Vehicle.
July 27
Michael O’Keefe, 32, of Fernbrook Avenue, was charged
with No Insurance, Operating
under Suspension, Operating
Unregistered Motor Vehicle,
and Misuse of Plate.
Meghan
Wyckoff-Maiso,
28, of Grandview Avenue, was
charged with Larceny in the
Sixth Degree.
July 28
Michelle Cooney, 48, of Lucien Drive, was charged with
two counts of Failure to Appear in the First Degree and
two counts of Failure to Appear in the Second Degree.
Terrance Rogers, 24, of
Howard Avenue, New Haven,
was charged with Operating
under Suspension and Improper Number of Headlights.
July 31
Daryl Dawson, 29, of Dickerman Street, New Haven, was
charged with Possession of
Narcotics, Illegal Manufacture/Distribution/Sale/Prescription, and Possession of
Drug Paraphernalia.
See Log, Page 23
Page 4 — August 6, 2010
The
Mayor Announces Columbus Day
Parade Grand Marshals
Mayor Scott Jackson has announced that four of Hamden’s
former Mayors have proudly
agreed to serve as grand marshals for the 2010 Greater New
Haven Columbus Day Parade,
which will be held in Hamden
on October 10. The parade will
step off from Hamden High
School at 1pm. Mayors Lucien DiMeo (1974-1979), John
Carusone (1987-1991), Barbara DeNicola (1997-1999), and
Carl Amento (1999-2005) will
lead our parade.
Hamden is proud to continue the tradition of hosting the
Columbus Day Parade every
five years along with the communities of North Haven, East
Haven, Hamden, West Haven,
and New Haven.
A celebration of this magnitude and significance requires
the work of many volunteers,
as well as generous contributions from corporations, institutions, organizations, and
individuals. The Committee
is soliciting ads for this year’s
commemorative Ad Book, as
well as other sponsorship opportunities. In addition to the
parade, there will be a number
of other events to commemorate the Columbus Day Celebration in Hamden, such as the
Annual Heritage Dinner that
will take place on October 8.
Please contact Gerry Tobin, Administrative Secretary to Mayor Jackson, at
203.287.7100 or email gto
bin@hamden.com if you are
interested in: purchasing an
ad/sponsorship
opportunity,
purchasing tickets to the Heritage Dinner, or volunteering to
assist the Committee with any
of these events.
Local Student Named to Dean’s List
In July 2010, Merrimack College, in North Andover, Massachusetts, announced that
Justin N. McNeely of Hamden
was named to the spring 2010
Dean’s List.
To be named to the Dean’s
List, a student must achieve a
3.25 GPA or higher, based on a
4.0 grading system.
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Hamden Fun Facts
Hamden Journal
“School Supplies” for Hamden Children
The Town of Hamden Youth
Services Bureau provides
Hamden students with free
school supplies to meet their
academic requirements. This
initiative was created to assist
Hamden families who have
displayed financial need and
are having difficulty in providing their children with the necessary items needed for school.
The school year is rapidly
approaching and supplies are
low. Residents, schools, and/or
organizations are welcome to
assist the “Supplies for School”
project with donations of any
of the following new items:
backpacks, notebooks, pencils,
pens, rulers, pocket folders,
pencil sharpeners, glue, magic markers, tape, calculators,
crayons, scissors, three-ring
binders, etc. All items may
be dropped off at the main office of Hamden Youth Services
Bureau at 11 Pine Street, Hamden, CT 06514, or the lobby in
Hamden Government Center,
2750 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518, between the
hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm,
Monday through Friday.
On Fridays, please join us
at the Farmer’s Market. Youth
Services will be offering a free
child’s craft activity. There
will be a School Supplies Collection Box next to our table.
For more information, please
call 203.777.2610.
Assessor ~ Continued from Page 3
and dead ends in Hamden and
is not accessible except through
North Haven. Our mailing address is North Haven and all the
houses on the street exist only
on Hamden soil. Since moving in, Hamden has collected
property taxes on the houses,
and North Haven has collected
property taxes on the motor vehicles.
Since 2008, Mr. Clynes has
tried to make a change to the
system in a harassing, unethical, and illegal way by only
seeking taxes for motor vehicles from select owners and not
all owners at the same time, and
not seeking legislative change
to an accepted tax method and
process.
Further, the methods employed by the Tax Collector,
an alias tax warrant, and billing
for back taxes knowingly paid
to another municipality takes
away a taxpayer’s constitutional right to fair treatment under
the law.
I am not writing to discuss the
merits of which town should
receive the taxes, as it doesn’t
matter. The problem lies in the
manner and methods used. As
the Assessor, Mr. Clynes has
known, or should have known,
that there are motor vehicles on
the street for the 23 plus years
of the street’s existence. For all
that time, until 2008, the DMV
and the towns recognized that
cars were taxed by the address,
in this case, North Haven. If
Mr. Clynes thinks the system
should change, all he has to
do is meet with the Assessor
of North Haven and the DMV
Property Tax Division and the
change can affect the whole
street at the same time. He has
been apprised of this, as has the
Mayor. It is unconscionable and
inexcusable that the Assessor
should assess unequally, and
he and the Town violates the
constitutional rights of all the
residents of Ridgewood Court
by doing so, putting the Town
at needless risk.
Again, I am not arguing the
merits as to which town should
receive the taxes – ONLY
that all the residents have to
be billed the same way, at the
same time, and can only occur at some future point when,
through the DMV, all motor
vehicles have been identified
and the complete change can be
made.
Charles M. Baltayan
Queen Anne: 1880-1910
This style, developed in England in the 1870s and named
for an English queen, had little
to do with the early 18th century architecture of her reign.
Instead, its irregularity of plan
and massing, numerous gables,
variations in wall textures,
and other features had more
in common with rural Elizabethan styles. American builders, taken with its picturesque
qualities, developed their own
interpretations. Often built of
wood, many of these houses
were bedecked with the spindlework style of ornamentation
sometimes called “Eastlake”
after an English interior designer. Around the turn of the
century elaborate Queen Anne
houses were built by some of
the well-to-do residents of
Hamden, but except for a very
few they have been demolished or altered almost beyond
recognition.
The majority of the houses
of this late Victorian period
that are found in Hamden are
smaller and simpler in plan.
They are modest gable-fronted
structures whose facades are
embellished with mass-produced decorative woodwork,
derived from the Queen Anne
style of ornamentation, such as
paneled vergeboards, brackets,
fancy shingles, and spindlework porches. Inexpensive,
and yet stylish, they were put
up by ordinary builders during the first phase of Hamden’s
residential expansion that began in the late 1880s. Their
similarity in form and decoration suggests a limited number
of builders.
Reprinted from Hamden: Our
Architectual Heritage by permission from The Hamden Historical Society Library, Miller
Memorial Cultural Center,
2901 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden. For more information,
visit www.hamdenlibrary.org/
historical society, or visit them
Tuesday from 10am-Noon or
Thursday from 1-4pm.
Did you know...?
...Hamden, affectionately
known as the Land of the
Sleeping Giant, is a thriving
town midway between New
York and Boston which is
considered one of Connecticut’s finest mid-sized communities, and has a land
area of 33 square miles.
---www.hamden.com/
content/39/53/default.aspx
“One of Hamden’s Most Elaborate Houses of the Period”
Built in 1895, located at 3208
Whitney Avenue. Despite the
recent alteration of windows
and other components, this
Queen Anne era house, with
numerous outstanding decorative elements, retains much of
its original exuberant design.
The raised star-and-vine design on the vergeboards, twostory bay on large fancy brackets, and second-floor porch
with flared roof on large brackets are among the features that
make this one of Hamden’s
most elaborate houses of the
period.
Herman D. Clark (18561904) was the son of Richard
S. Clark who came to Hamden in 1867 from East Hampton. He began making small
bells in the factory complex
at Ives Street and Broadway
and in 1872 bought the large
fancy near New Road, south
of the pond now known as
Clark’s Pond. Three years later
he turned to the manufacture
of silk thread. His son joined
business and developed a patented process of covering cotton thread with silk.
Judging by the stylish house
he built, the business prospered
in the last decades of the 19th
century. But with the death of
Richard Clark in 1900, followed by that of his son four
years later, the business came
to an end. Now only a few traces of the large factory can be
found.
Reprinted from Hamden: Our
Architectual Heritage by permission from The Hamden Historical Society Library.
The
Hamden Journal
Lemar Unveils Plans for Connecticut
At two recent events in Hamden, at the home of Amy and
Josh Winnick and at Legal
Grounds coffee shop, Roland
Lemar recently released his
innovative plans to move Connecticut forward. He raised
important concerns about our
town and state, including protecting our natural resources
and investing in the green
economy, protecting clean
elections, providing needed
property tax relief, and improving our educational system.
As the only candidate competing in the race for the 96th
district seat with a child in the
public schools, Lemar believes
that our public schools can and
should provide a quality education to all of our children.
Lemar supports the school reforms happening across our
state, and once elected, he will
work tirelessly with other education advocates to ensure that
our teachers continue to be
treated as professionals, while
adding more accountability to
the classroom.
Lemar also sees an opportunity to provide property tax
relief to Hamden residents
by forcing state government
to fully fund Hamden Public Schools. Over the last ten
years, some estimate that the
State of Connecticut has shortchanged Hamden schools by
roughly $100 million because
leaders have been unwilling to
phase in promised ECS funding increases. Doing so has left
schools in many towns – like
Hamden – receiving less than
their fair share from the state,
while putting pressure on local
leaders to increase the property
tax burden on homeowners.
It’s time for the State to step up
to its obligations, and Roland
is ready to fight for Hamden’s
schools.
Lemar strongly supports decreasing energy costs by empowering residents with opportunities to reduce their energy
use. Lemar believes that the
State must give homeowners and businesses the tools
to be able to evaluate their usage, compare it to their neighbor’s energy usage, and decide
whether to use power at peak
times. He supports expanding tax credits for middle-class
families that weatherize their
homes and make investments
in energy improvement. He
also favors the development
of innovative loan programs
that allow all property owners to invest in weatherization
upgrades, efficiency improvements, and even small-scale
solar, geothermal, and wind
technologies that are available for residential use. These
investments are good for everyone and will come at a very
small cost that will yield longterm savings.
Roland Lemar is also a supporter of the state’s Clean
Elections Program, which requires that participants swear
off contributions from lobbyists, state contractors, and other
special interests. Lemar argues
that given our State’s scarred
legacy of corruption, all of the
State’s elected officials should
not seek these contributions,
and instead spend time talking
to the voters whom they hope
to represent. Lemar is the only
clean elections candidate in the
August 10th primary for the
96th district seat.
Lemar will be meeting more
Hamden residents at Bassett
Park this Saturday, August 7,
from 2-4pm. Bassett Park is
located at the corner of Ridge
Road and Waite Street in Hamden.
Lamont Lays out Clear Vision for Connecticut
Malloy Refuses Lamont’s Call for Civil Conversation
On August 3, Democrat and
businessman Ned Lamont and
his opponent in the Democratic
primary for governor met for
their 29th joint appearance of
the 2010 campaign.
While Lamont focused entirely on his own record and qualifications to be governor, Malloy
closed the debate by reiterating
the same false attacks that he’s
launched against Lamont on
television.
Malloy repeated his attacks
despite Lamont’s call for a civil
conversation on the issues.
“I’m glad I had the opportunity to stand up and talk directly
with the people of Connecticut
about my record as a small business owner and a public servant,” said Lamont. “Given the
tone of the past few days, I had
hoped that Dan would refrain
from dragging our campaign
further into the mud, but I guess
he couldn’t help himself. With
just seven days until the primary, I hope he can find it within
himself to close this campaign
with a serious, positive conversation about the challenges Connecticut families are facing this
year.”
The debate on August 3
marked the 29th joint appearance for the
two
candidates and the
third
statewide televised
debate. In this
final
week,
Lamont will
continue traveling the state,
meeting with
the people of
Connecticut,
and
talking
about his plan
to move Connecticut forward.
August 6, 2010 — Page 5
Hauser Challenges
New Haven Alderman
Photo by Steve Perlmutter
Debra Hauser, candidate for
State Representative of the
96th Assembly District, is
challenging a New Haven Alderman in the August 10th
Democratic primary.
A clinical psychologist and
community activist from New
Haven’s East Rock neighborhood, Hauser has strong personal ties to Hamden. Her husband, cardiologist Jack Hauser,
runs HeartCare Associates of
Connecticut, a medical practice that has been doing business in Spring Glen for fifteen
years.
For six years, Jack has also
been the enthusiastic sponsor
of the Hamden Father’s Baseball/Softball League, and the
Hausers’ two sons are keen
Hamden little leaguers. At thirteen, Max has been playing for
seven years, while ten-year-old
Sam has been playing for five
years. Besides work and little
league connections to Hamden, Debra’s mother-in-law,
Anne Hauser, lives in a condo
here.
Given those connections and
her policy positions, including
a pledge to ensure that Hamden
receives a fuller share of Educational Cost Sharing (ECS)
funding, Hauser has the enthusiastic endorsement of former
mayor John Carusone and former state representative Nancy
Beals.
Hauser’s basic stance is that
state government must become
economically fairer. Hartford
must be fairer to Hamden parents who need decent schools
so their children can succeed in
life; fairer to property owners
who expect reasonable rates of
taxation; fairer to small businesses whose contributions to
the economy are largely overlooked; and fairer to both the
working poor and indigent
children. As a mother and
grandmother, Hauser is especially committed to helping
children and to ensuring that
we leave them a world that is
at least as good as the one we
inherited from our parents.
Hauser is also a businesswoman deeply concerned with
the bottom line. Believing that
the best way to make government fairer is to make it smarter, she advocates cost-benefit
analyses. “Connecticut is at a
crossroads,” says Hauser. “To
move ahead, we must develop
initiatives and repair our socioeconomic infrastructure. We
have push-pull needs to make
enlightened long-term investments, especially in schools,
health care, and the economy,
while cutting spending and the
deficit. Doing so in this financial climate will not be easy,
but there’s no better time than
now to start if we want things
to improve.”
Debra Hauser has been talking to prospective Hamden
voters for months. “Campaigning is an opportunity to learn
from voters and talk about issues,” says Hauser. “State government must put people first
and rethink how public policy
is made. It must clearly avoid
the silo effect, where issues are
regarded as self-contained entities, and begin to treat problems systemically by using
multiple and overlapping approaches.”
Hauser’s opponent in the
primary is backed by New
Haven’s Democratic machine.
“I’m considered too independent-minded for New Haven’s
machine. And there hasn’t
been a contested election for
this seat since the 96th District was cobbled into its partly
Hamden, mostly New Haven,
form. When Cam Staples decided not to run, I decided to
put my money where my heart
was and offer myself for public service to give voters a
choice.”
If prospective voters want
more information, they can
call Debra at 203.786.0022 or
check out her website at www.
debrahauser2010.com.
She
will respond.
Primary Elections
Tuesday, August 10, 2010.
Your vote counts!
Page 6 — August 6, 2010
The
Gut Feeling
Hamden Journal
The New Green: Oil
An Editorial Piece
by Ronald S. Gambardella
Did you ever get the feeling
that something is not quite
right? You know, the kind of
uneasiness that begins in your
gut that lets you know something bad is about to occur.
Almost like a premonition of
a car accident or some kind
of personal tragedy. Recent
developments at the town
hall have given me just such
a feeling.
Allowing for rounding,
there are about 60,000 residents in Hamden. A town of
this size certainly has its challenges. There seems to be
more work than the various
departments in Hamden can
handle. This generally means
work must be prioritized,
scheduled, and completed in a
timely manner. Residents, for
the most part, understand this
and can appreciate the balancing act each department head
must consider when new requests are piled on top of the
existing work.
When I read about the police chief directing traffic
and the mayor painting walls,
my gut was telling me something is wrong with this picture. The mayor, through his
own admission, indicated that
there are about 600 emails
that he hasn’t read. He has
no idea what the folks have
written or what their concerns
may be. Instead, he thought it
better to react to a phone call
concerning graffiti, grabs a
paintbrush, and does the job
himself. He then delights in
the fact that he was able to
check one item off his list. I
suppose he is of the mindset
that it is better to do it yourself than rely on others. Meanwhile, there are residents who
took the time to write about
“who knows what,” hoping
that their concerns will be addressed or at least read.
In the case of the police
chief, it isn’t a stretch to imagine that a town of our size has
its share of crime with open
and unresolved cases. The
police chief is instrumental
in assisting in strategy, tactics, planning, budgeting, and
a myriad of other tasks that
command his time and attention. In my opinion, directing
traffic is not something that he
should be doing with his time.
The previous mayor prohibit-
ed the police chief from working traffic. Our current mayor
supports this approach to policing.
I believe the issue is the
police chief’s salary. Rather
than the mayor simply adjusting the chief’s salary so he
can continue to focus on more
pressing matters, Mayor Jackson decided to allow the chief
to work traffic on an overtime
basis. Does this make sense to
anyone? If you were mayor,
is this something you believe
helps the department run effectively? I think not.
The mayor’s leadership
skills, as of late, appear questionable. Sound leadership
encompasses vision, inspiration, providing support, clearing obstacles, delegating,
planning, problem solving,
motivating, and follow-up –
an exhausting job, even for
the most skilled managers,
and typically requires more
hours than those that are
available on any given day.
While some may praise the
mayor for painting over graffiti, my position is that the
mayor would better service
the town by managing it and
requesting the appropriate department to care for such matters. If the chief was free to
speak his mind, I am sure he
would rather manage his department, instead of directing
traffic to make ends meet. My
gut tells me that the mayor is
inexperienced in fundamental
management skills and is in
over his head.
There is growing animosity
in the rank and file, and recent
decisions regarding the police chief and job layoffs have
contributed to brewing tensions. Things feel as though
they are getting progressively
worse. Now, the mayor needs
only to propose a sixth tax increase in a row to complete
the picture.
Ronald S. Gambardella, EA, is
a Registered Representative of
Lincoln Financial Securities
Corporation. He can be contacted at 203.281.5512, toll
free at 800.685.5727, or visit
him on the web at www.ron
gam.com.
Securities and
advisory services offered
through Lincoln Financial
Securities Corporation, Member SIPC.
Ed Ryan
Much has been written about
the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. So much, that President
Obama would like to use this
disaster to change energy use
in this country. However, is
oil really that bad for the environment and the U.S.? Does
it really make sense to permanently transform the way we
drive, heat our homes, and supply our electricity? And, what
about the local oil dealer? How
will this affect their business
and customers? Gene Guilford, President of ICPA, an oil
dealer trade organization, and
Ed Ryan, owner of Ryan Oil
in Hamden, were able to give
their side of the story and how
the future success of oil is tied
to the success of America.
The transformation of oil
heat to a renewable clean burning fuel has been in the works
for many years. According to
Mr. Guilford, “Oil consumption is not going anywhere anytime soon. Ninety-four percent
of all energy consumed in this
country is from oil, gas, coal,
and nuclear power. It just isn’t
possible to replace these sources in a sound economic way
for the next several decades.”
What has the oil industry done
to decrease consumption, reduce emissions, and reduce
costs? The answer, according
to Mr. Guilford, is bioheat.
“Bioheat is biodegradable with
organic materials such as soybean oil that is now approved
for use in CT homes and businesses. With its unique blend
of low sulfur heating oil and
biodiesel, it will reduce sulfur emissions by up to eighty
percent, nitrogen oxides are
lowered about twenty percent,
and carbon dioxides also are
lowered about twenty percent.
Because of its clean burning
capabilities, the homeowner
will notice a substantial drop
in their oil consumption. The
homeowner will not have to
replace any current equipment,
but in the long run will see a
reduction in their oil bill.”
With the industry now producing a renewable, cleaning
burning fuel source, it then
becomes the job of your local
oil dealer to educate, install,
and deliver the right product to
their customers. That’s where
Ed Ryan comes in.
Anyone who meets Ed will
notice right away his great
sense of humor, generous
spirit, and his commitment
to serving his customers with
the best service and products
on the market. In the old days,
oil dealers wanted their customers to consume as much
oil as possible. That’s how
they made their living. Today,
however, the opposite is true.
They constantly strive to lower
consumption because that how
they develop long term, satisfied customers. They do this
through continuing education
about the industry, utilizing the
best technology, and delivering the cleanest, most efficient
heating source on the market.
Ryan stated, “The oil companies that delivers in these areas
will be the companies that will
thrive in the future as consumers become more conscious
of the environment, as well as
their checkbook.”
In the end, it still takes oil to,
literally, run our country. It’s
not going away and, with business owners like Ed Ryan, it
looks like families will be well
cared for in the future.
For more information, call
Ryan Oil at 203.248.6984 or
visit www.ryanoilcompanyinc.
com.
Americans Love Romance!
(StatePoint) Call Americans
old softies, but romance is
booming nationwide.
Date night is back. Film attendance climbed 16 percent
last year, the biggest rise in 20
years according to Media by
Numbers.
Sales of romance novels are
up. Nielsen BookScan reports
increased adult fiction sales,
with many romance publishers
enjoying boosts.
“Romantic novels and movies inspire us to infuse our
relationships with romance,”
says relationship expert and ro-
To place an ad, submit
a or press releases,
or send comments
or questions, call
203.668.6307, email
info@thehamdenjournal.
com, or mail to PO Box
187101, Hamden, CT
06518.
mance novelist, Gayle Rogers,
who has seen increased sales of
her 1972 million-copy classic,
“Nakoa’s Woman,” which follows two star-crossed lovers in
the Old West, and its sequels,
“Gladyce with a C,” and “For
Love’s Sake Only,” in which
the lovers meet in other eras.
So break out those chocolates
and roses, and join the trend!
The
Financial Strategies
Hamden Journal
Can You Still Make Money in the Stock Market?
by Stuart Pearl CLU, ChFC
Back in the late 1990s, it
seemed every prospective client
that came to my office asked the
same question, “How do you
feel about technology stocks?”
This question was asked for
good reason. Bank CDs were
paying roughly six percent interest and it was not uncommon
for technology stocks to return
60, 70, or even 100 percent for
the year.
Sadly the roaring 1990s came
to a screeching halt in 2001.
The NASDAQ index, which is
made up of mostly technology
stocks, is still down more than
50 percent from the highs of
the bubble years. As we move
the calendar forward to current
times, the NASDAQ index has
averaged 3.79 percent returns
for the past five years and is up
a whopping 1.2 percent year to
date.
The quandary is whether to
play it safe with FDIC insured
certificates of deposit, where
the banks are graciously paying under 1.25 percent for a
one year CD, or to throw caution to the wind and jump back
into stocks, hoping for another
twenty-year bull market.
Over the coming months, I
will present a variety of ways to
invest and protect your assets.
If the goal is to potentially grow
assets at a rate that is greater
than what CDs currently provide, a basic core approach
would be the conservative cornerstone investment strategy.
The conservative cornerstone
investment strategy is made up
of three investment principles.
First, protect yourself against
another downturn in the markets. Keeping a portion of your
assets in certificate of deposits
or bonds backed by the government may not be the quickest
way to become the next Bill
Gates, but it will provide safety,
compound, grow, and provide
liquidity.
The second step is to diversify assets beyond the style
August 6, 2010 — Page 7
boxes. There is an investment
theory that says if you buy a variety of investments from nine
investment categories, you will
be quite safe. The segments of
the stock market include large,
medium, and small-size companies, as well as growth, value,
and blended companies. Unfortunately, during the recession of
2008, all nine of the diversification segments lost money; none
of them provided a safe haven.
Yet, within each segment
category, greater diversification of stock or mutual funds
would have provided greater
safety and potentially much
smaller losses. As an example,
within the large cap growth
category, some stocks are more
aggressive (high beta stocks)
and some are more conservative (low beta stocks). Sticking again with the large cap
segment of the stock market,
there are stocks that do not pay
a dividend and some that pay a
relatively high dividend. This
approach provides multiple layers of diversification, including
investment style, management,
and characteristics that, taken
together, may help provide performance diversification.
The third step to building a
conservative investment strategy is to use a combination of
active and passive management. I will go into much greater detail on the topic in future
columns. Passive management
is a financial strategy in which
a fund manager makes as few
trading decisions as possible in
order to minimize transaction
costs and keep capital gains
taxes to a minimum. The theory
behind modern portfolio theory
says that it is impossible to systematically “beat the market”
through active management.
Dalbar Inc, a market research
company, found that during the
20 years from 1984 to 2004, the
average stock investor earned
returns of 3.7 percent per year.
The S&P 500 returned 13.2 percent for the same time period.
Active management refers to
a portfolio management strategy where a manager makes
specific investments with the
goal of outperforming the various stock indexes. The active
investor buys stocks that they
feel are undervalued and sells
them when a profit objective is
met.
While index investing outperformed during the bullish
1990s, active investing has become an attractive alternative
during the volatile and turbulent 2000s. Active investment
allows the manager to hold
cash, short the market, avoid
areas of the market that are less
desirable, and sell a stock for a
desired profit or to minimize a
loss.
The conservative cornerstone
to investing provides a variety
of investment techniques to
diversify a portfolio with the
idea of minimizing risk if the
stock market decides to take
another plunge. Earning money
in the stock market is the goal,
but preserving capital is the
most important step to building
wealth.
Financial planning is offered
through Stuart Pearl CLU,
ChFC, an investment advisory
representative of LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended
to provide specific advice or
recommendations for any individual. To determine which
investments may be appropriate for you, consult with your
financial advisor. There is no
guarantee that a diversified
portfolio will enhance overall
returns or outperform a nondiversified portfolio. Diversification does not ensure against
market risk. The strategies discussed cannot guarantee or ensure against loss.
For more information call
203.281.4748 or email pearl
financial@lpl.com.
Life Insurance 101
by Thad K. Bartley
Unfortunately, the only time
Life Insurance is needed is
when there is a death. (Please
do not let your English, or Literature, teacher read this. I do
not believe that you are supposed to start a sentence, or
much less an article, with the
word “unfortunately.”)
Remember this phrase, “Buy
Term and Invest the Difference.” Unfortunately, most of
the Life Insurance industry attempts to sell Whole Life or
Universal Life. My Term Insurance policy, half a million for
$30 a month, is not sexy or profitable enough for the industry.
After all, with a Whole or Universal Life policy, with $100K
benefit for $125 a month, I
would have $1000 banked after
5 years. Woohoo! (These numbers are fictitious and off the
top of my head.) Please look
up what Dave Ramsey has to
say on this subject at www.
daveramsey.com
However, when you “Buy
Term and Invest the Difference,” like I did, you can take
the remaining $90 and invest
it at 10-15 percent. Maybe you
can achieve the 10-15 percent
return, but you might not be
able to (disclaimer). This will
put you holding $12,000 in five
years. With the rule of 72, you
will double your investment
approximately every five years
– this is assuming a return percentage of 10-15. Again, maybe
you can achieve the 10-15 percent return and maybe you cannot (though I am).
Please remember that when
most insurance agents approach you, they may begin
with Term Insurance, but eventually want you to buy Whole
or Universal Life Insurance.
Why is this? It is because the
industry pays them more for
this insurance than any other.
They involve fees, returns, and
repayments for the industry
that are much higher for the industry and much lower for the
consumer. With all due respect
to your insurance agent, please
change your insurance to Term
with them and, if they hold an
investment license, invest the
difference. You will thank me,
and your agent, later.
Repeat after me, “Buy Term
and Invest the Difference.”
Thad K. Bartley, of Aspen Family Financial, holds an MBA
and is working to secure his CPA
license. For more information
about his consulting services,
remote accounting, or other assistance available, please visit
www.aspenfamilyfinancial.
com. Also, please see ad on
page 3.
Gold Rush
Cash Is Flowing in Old Jewelry Sales
by Bill Hartigan
“For years people would ask
if we bought gold jewelry, and
we’d refer them elsewhere.
After a while, you realize that
business is walking out the
door,” Antoinette Scirocco of
Elm City Jewelers recently told
us. She and partner, Josephine
Countryman, have been buying
gold for two years, and it now
represents a nice portion of their
business.
“We tell people to shop
around for the best price. You
probably won’t find it from a
place that does lots of advertising,” Scirocco added. “It’ll pay
big if you do your homework.
Or if you’re looking to buy new,
trade-in your old jewelry and
you’ll save a lot.”
Sources at CT Gold Exchange
(1030 S. Main Street, Cheshire)
also told us that business there
has been steady and growing.
“Gold is at a historic high, so
now is the best time ever to be
selling it,” said Bob Smith. Like
their colleagues at Elm City
Jewelers, CT Gold Exchange
has seen sellers from all walks
of life. They also say gold buyers that advertise everywhere
usually pay the lowest. “We’ve
tried to be the highest in what
we pay, and sometimes we’ve
nearly doubled some of our
competitors – you know them
by first name – will pay,”
Smith told us. As a sign of the
times, CT Gold Exchange holds
“Cash-for-Gold” house parties.
Call them at 203.314.6081 for
more details.
Page 8 — August 6, 2010
The
Hamden Journal
Shoprite’s Owner Talks ~ Part 2
What It Will Take to be Successful in Hamden, the Good News It Means to Shoppers,
Some Powerful Keys of How He’s Learned to Do Just That
of his favorite shoppers who
frequents his Milford store.) “I
see him every weekend, an older gentleman who never fails
to stop by with a list his wife
gives him. He only buys what’s
on that list, and each item is
also marked for price. He’s a
nice guy, a friend, and a great
shopper.
Harry & Ann Garafalo
by Bill Hartigan,
Business Reporter
As is evident in Part 1 of our interview with ShopRite of Hamden’s owner, Harry Garafalo,
he’s confident that ShopRite
will do well in its new neighborhood. Much of that confidence comes from knowing his
business inside and out, knowing who to hire, and knowing
how to take care of his customers. A good part of that means
making grocery shopping affordable. That’s where we pick
up the interview.
The Hamden Journal: How
can a grocery shopper get the
most for their money?
Harry Garafalo: Always make
a list of what you want to buy.
Know what’s on sale, and try to
stock up on sale items. We always carry a number of items
for sale at bulk rates, so look for
those. We have no problem with
browsers, people who walk up
and down every aisle and fill
their cart. But times are challenging, and price is one area
where we have to compete. (At
this point he tells me about one
THJ: Who influenced you the
most in this business?
HG: I had a lot of people help
me, but my most notable mentor was Pat Lanci, my store
manager in Milford.
THJ: What made him so special?
HG: He was ahead of his time
in how he got people interested
in their work and involved in
what they were doing. He had a
very good work ethic and was a
great judge of character. He’d
give you added responsibility
to keep you involved and challenged. He really knew all the
basics.
THJ: Let’s expand on that.
What are Harry Garafalo’s keys
to good business?
HG: To me there are four major elements. You have to know
your business and its customers. Then, you have to hire the
best people you can to execute
your vision. Be involved in
your business on a day-to-day
basis. And, be sure to have set
policies and procedures. Along
with all that, I’m lucky to have
my wife, Ann, working with
me. She’s really important to
the success that we’ve had.
THJ: How do you hire good
people?
HG: Look for people who “fit
in” to the culture of your business. We’re a small company,
so everything we do counts.
We teach the need for urgency
on the job, in other words “do
it now.” Good people show up
on time, follow the rules, and
they’re anxious to work. They
like their job, and they also like
to learn new things. In our business, it’s really important to
have a customer-service frame
of mind. We also have an obligation to them (employees). We
post their schedules early, we
create opportunities for them,
and we always try to hire from
within. (At this point I mention
an employee who I first noticed
years before at the West Haven
location, an individual whose
focus and attentiveness obviously stood out.) We hired her
from a completely different
field. She took the ball and ran
with it. There are a lot of very
good positions in our stores,
and we have a top-notch training program.
THJ: If you weren’t in this
field, what would you like to
do?
HG: I’d be an architect. I really like reviewing designs and
improving layouts, something
we’ve done here, as well as at
our other locations. (Days later
I stopped into the Milford store
with a client whose background
is in design. “Oh, this is attractive and different,” she said as
we entered the store. “Different
than what you’d expect, but in
a nice way.” While there, we
also encountered the store’s nutritionist, who educated us on
healthy grilling without coming across as a hard sell. Like
the previously mentioned employee, this person is also “on”
her game. If not architecture,
Harry may want to consider
headhunting.)
THJ: What are some other keys
to good business that you use?
HG: Any good business needs
to be innovative, and to always
be competing in the marketplace.
THJ: How do you innovate?
HG: With us (ShopRite), it isn’t
hard. We have 44 owners, and
we love to share ideas and to try
new things. If it works, we all
know the “how-and-why.”
THJ: Your toughest competition?
HG: Not just other supermarkets. The big stores like Target
and Walmart, almost any store
with shelf space, have learned
that food creates traffic, so
they’re selling our products,
too. And the bottom-line, price,
is another area we have to compete in. A friend’s wife shopped
for years at our big competitor,
even though he asked her to try
us. About a year ago she tried
us, and saved $35 on her weekly shopping. She’s our customer now. This is a business where
we add customers one-by-one.
Competition helps you and
your neighbors, and it makes us
better. Good businesses always
keep getting better.
Harry Garafalo knows his business and knows how to succeed
at it. Two events, which occurred during our interview,
gave me a better insight into
Harry, the person. An hour
into the interview, a young man
wandered lost into our room,
unable to locate the person who
would interview him for a job,
and looking as though his world
was in complete turmoil. We’ve
all been there, and the anxiety
on his face brought me back
more than a few years. Harry
quickly puts the young man at
ease, telling him that the person
he needs to see is indeed in the
building, and offers to take him
there. Earlier, I asked Harry
how he relaxes. “I hit golf balls.
It helps me unwind, and it takes
away the stress.” As I got up
to leave, I told him I’d like to
contact him for his opinion on
a non-profit program I’m working on. It’s his golf time, and
all I’m hoping for is a “call me
and let’s talk about it.” For the
next fifteen minutes, he pours
out idea after idea, and gives
me some “must-dos” for the
project. The “new kid in town”
is also a friend.
Bill Hartigan writes and reports on business for The Hamden Journal. A former reporter
for ABC, he’s reported and
produced stories and programming for local, national, and
international news outlets. His
business clients range from
IBM and ITT to one-person
start-ups. Success after Forty
(AndrewsMcMeel) is one of
several published books he’s
written. You can contact him at
writeups@juno.com.
New Haven Business Community Now Supported by AlphaGraphics Excellence
Business Center Headed by Longstanding Fundraising and Marketing Communication Expert Locals
Longtime family business owners and New Haven locals, John
and Jim Cunneen, announced
their plans to expand the services offered by their fundraising
consulting firm, The Cunneen
Company, by opening an AlphaGraphics business center as of
August 2010. This move reflects
their commitment to providing
excellent marketing and communications solutions for small
to mid-sized businesses in their
community.
Said John Cunneen, President of The Cunneen Company
and co-owner of AlphaGraphics New Haven, located at 24
Rossotto Drive, Hamden, “By
joining the AlphaGraphics Network, we will be able to expand
the reach and selection of our
marketing and communications
services to better support the increasing needs of the New Haven business community.”
The Cunneens hope that their
deep-seated roots will prove to
be an asset to neighboring businesses seeking proven, trustworthy marketing partners. “Our
goal is to leverage our corporate
experience and the advanced
solutions we’ll be able to offer
our clients as part of the AlphaGraphics Network to strengthen
New Haven’s economy and
grow area businesses,” stated
John.
The AlphaGraphics New Haven team will include a staff of
knowledgeable production, design, and marketing professionals, including Executive VP of
The Cunneen Company and coowner of the new business center, Jim Cunneen, whose strategic production and distribution
experience will ensure quality
results for local business owners.
Also, joining the team will be
Michael Desroches, who brings
10 years of corporate marketing
and creative services knowledge
to the table, and Kevin Spika, an
industry veteran with 20 years of
print and production experience.
“We can’t wait to get started
serving the small and mediumsized business, as well as the
non-profit community in our
hometown New Haven again,”
said John. “We hope that the
members of our community will
stop by and learn more about
what we can do to help them
communicate more clearly and
effectively to their customers.”
AlphaGraphics New Haven will open in early August.
To learn more about the company’s products and services, visit the website at www.
agnewhaven.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ag
newhaven, or contact John Cunneen at 203.230.0018 or john.
cunneen@alphagraphics.com.
Please see AlphaGraphics ad on
page 23.
About AlphaGraphics
AlphaGraphics plans, produces,
and manages visual communications for businesses at nearly
300 owner-operated, locallybased business center locations
worldwide. Backed by state-ofthe-art technology, strict quality standards, and a global network, the company’s trained and
experienced team members are
committed to delivering creative
solutions that allow customers
to communicate more confidently and effectively.
The
Local Business
Hamden Journal
A Hair(cut) Above the Rest
by Chris LaTorraca
Situated in the middle of the
Carriage House Complex
in the center of Hamden is
Dino’s, a full service men’s
salon. I had a chance to sit
down with Dino one Monday
morning and discuss the past,
present, and future of men’s
haircutting. What many men,
including myself, haven’t realized is that hair care for men
hasn’t always been done by a
barber, but, at one time, was
performed by a men’s stylist.
Dino Zaino is now leading the
charge to bring back this lost
art of razor cuts to a new generation of men.
“Today there are roughly
80,000 registered barber salons in the U.S., which is down
from 180,000 in 1980. The
average age of these barbers
is well into their sixties,” says
Dino. Mr. Zaino noted that the
biggest change in the industry
occurred in the 1970s when
beauty parlors tried to acquire
the men’s haircutting business.
“The spirit of the American
male was being feminized.
No longer were there separate
places for men and woman to
go to, but the emergence of the
unisex salon came into being.
What I want to bring back is
the men’s salon. Privacy for a
man to get his hair cut, to feel
comfortable in a masculine environment, and receive a haircut that men, born before 1970,
would receive.”
Dino’s success spans several decades with numerous awards. A second salon
opened in Fairfield in 1969,
along with the development
of his own product line, Dizano. He has also witnessed
the registered barbers decline
from 180,000 to 80,000 over
the last thirty years. Men today
go to either a unisex salon or
a local barbershop, but not a
men’s salon. “We’re applying
for a three-million dollar grant
from the government to market
and train a new generation of
men to learn the razor cut and
the sculpture cut.” As a former
consultant to three major corporations, Dino feels the time
to act is now. “I have the people in place to get this started.
This is a great trade for men to
earn an excellent living,” continued Dino.
One final note…Dino gives
an outstanding haircut. I was
blown away by how he cut
my hair with a razor, and true
to his word, I didn’t even need
a comb for my hair. I simply
got out of the shower and my
fingers did all the work. Hamden has some great treasures
in town and Dino Zaino is certainly one of them. Stop by and
visit, and you’ll receive a lesson in psychology, how to be
a true innovator, and have the
best haircut of your life.
Please see Dino’s ad on page
17.
What to Know When Changing Careers
(StatePoint) Whether out of
necessity or to follow their
dreams, many people are
changing careers after establishing themselves in a different field.
Over eight million Americans between 44 and 77 are
embarking on new careers.
And new research from the
non-profit Civic Ventures estimates that by 2018 there will
be 3.5 million more jobs in
healthcare and social service,
800,000 new education jobs,
and 400,000 nonprofit ones.
These jobs build on work and
life experiences, making them
good matches for career changers.
But career expansion takes
place in every sector, and many
are following their passions
into creative fields.
One such success story is
that of Rick Mofina, a former
journalist who became a novelist and has since written 11
exciting thrillers. It helped,
of course, that he was able to
draw on his reporting experiences which involved covering
a horrific serial-killing case in
California and an armored carheist in Las Vegas, as well as
going on patrol with the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police near
the Arctic.
“We’ve all had adventures
that could turn out to be useful
in our work lives,” says Mofina, whose latest novel, “The
Panic Zone,” features a reporter sent on a dangerous assignment investigating the murder
of two of his colleagues.
If you’re considering an encore career, you needn’t have
been a jet-setting journalist reporting from Kuwait’s border
with Iraq, as was Mofina. Here
are some tips for anybody deciding what’s next:
* For Love or Money: Determine if your savings will allow
you to embark on a new career
without return on investment.
If so, be adventurous and follow passions. If not, seek to
use your existing skills in new
ways.
* Narrow Your Search: Ask
for informational interviews
with different organizations
to determine where you might
fit within a new field. For example, business-minded professionals seeking to help kids
might be ideal for nonprofit
management positions.
* Dig Deep: Draw creatively
on previous experiences. “Our
lives might seem compartmentalized, but every experience
informs the others,” says Mofina, whose interaction with two
CIA agents in Jamaica turned
into a fiction plotting device.
You may be surprised at how
many experiences you’ve had
that you can leverage into a
new career.
* Find a Mentor: Just as you
have helpful knowledge for
someone starting out, someone younger may be able to
teach you a thing or two. For
example, a senior could learn
computer skills from a recent
college grad in return for sharing knowledge of an industry.
* Tap Resources: Join professional organizations in fields
that interest you. Subscribe
to newsletters or trade magazines. Web sites like encore.
org also can help with free career resources.
* Know Thyself: Do you
want to work a few hours
weekly, or are you willing to
toil hard to launch a business
or writing career? The beauty
of an encore career is you now
have a choice. “My alarm is set
for 4:30am,” says Mofina, who
also works as a communications advisor and writes on the
bus to work. “But I wouldn’t
be able to stop doing this if I
tried.”
An encore career not only
can offer cash, but new purpose and enjoyment.
For more about Mofina and
his novels, visit rickmofina.
com.
August 6, 2010 — Page 9
Womsn’s Boutique Opens Its Doors
Correction: In the July 16
edition of The Hamden Journal, we mispelled the name of
this boutique. Here is more
information for you.
Zsa’s Chic Boutique of Hamden opened their doors on
May 1, 2010. The boutique is
owned and operated by Diane
D’Adamo and Donna Frandy,
both life-long residents of
Hamden.
The boutique is a woman’s
clothing store that carries chic
clothing. The sizes range from
4-18. The styles are chic, comfortable, collective, different,
and most of all – reasonably
priced. The prices are all under
$100. But the quality remains.
There are casual dresses,
crinkle skirts, balloon skirts,
linen skirts, tops, two-piece
outfits, capris, sweaters, and
beaded tanks.
There is jewelry ranging
from sterling silver necklaces
to costume jewelry, such as
necklaces, bracelets, and rings.
There is a large selection of
Swarsky Crystal bracelets and
watches – all under $100.
The handbags include col-
orful clutches to large leather
bags. There are also scarves,
rhinestone hair clips, etc.
The store has been known
for its location as the old “Lucy
Baltzell Dress Shop” from
1980. The dressing rooms are
the original Lucy Baltzell –
with original wallpaper. The
dressing rooms also offer tea,
magazines, and a comfy wing
back chair. The room is yours.
The store is bright and cheerful on a second floor with 14
windows. It has been remodeled in bright colors, such as
peach, pink, and green. Its
location is above Antiques on
Whitney. The building is also
known as the old Royal Footman Restaurant.
Please visit and enjoy the
uniqueness of the shop.
Summer hours are Tuesday
and Wednesday 11am-5pm,
Thursday 11am-7pm, Friday 11am-6pm, and Saturday
11am-5pm.
For more information, visit
Zsa’s Chic Boutique, 2285
Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT
06518, or call 203.248.ZSAS
(9727).
Page 10 — August 6, 2010
The
Hamden Journal
The Hamden Chamber of Commerce...
...your ultimate business connector!
Upcoming Events
Thursday, August 19
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS | Ryan Oil Company | 11 Rossotto
Drive | 5:30pm
Wednesday, September 1
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS & RESTAURANT WEEK KICK
OFF | Hindinger Farms | 835 Dunbar Hill Road | 5:30pm
Thursday, September 9
BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS | Book & Company | 1235 Whitney Avenue | 8:30am
Tuesday, September 14
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS | People’s United Bank | 2165 Dixwell Avenue | 5:30pm
Thursday, October 14
HEALTH & WELLNESS COMMITTEE PRESENTS: Senior
Wellness & Lifestyle Festival and Flu Clinic | Miller Library Auditorium | 9:00am-12:00pm
Wednesday, October 27
CHAMBER CHOICE AWARDS DINNER | Location: Laurel
View Country Club | Join us as we celebrate and honor deserving
businesses and individuals for the 15th Annual Awards Dinner.
We Welcome Our New Members
The Hamden Chamber of Commerce welcomes the following
new members for the months of
June and July:
Alphagraphics-Hamden
24 Rossotto Drive
Hamden, CT 06514
P: 203.407.5848
www.us680.alphagraphics.com
Benjamin F. Edwards & Co.
2321 Whitney Avenue #502
Hamden, CT 06518
P: 203.287.9266
www.benjaminfedwards.com
Hamden Commission on Disability Rights & Opportunities
1320 Aspen Glen Drive
Hamden, CT 06518
P: 203.747.0989
www.hamden.com
Mark Puglise Jewelry LLC
3714 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
P: 203.281.0078
HeartCare Associates of CT
2200 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
P: 203.407.5800
Chuck Johns Services
138 Towne House Road
Hamden, CT 06514
P: 203.281.4561
www.chuckjohnsservices.com
Wireless Wizard
781 Chapel Street
New Haven, CT 06510
P: 203.495.1300
www.thewirelesswiz.com
Criscuolo Chiropractic
18 Broadway
North Haven, CT 06473
P: 203.234.7989
Zsa’s Chic Boutique
2285 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
P: 203.248.9727
It is my great pleasure to kick off Hamden’s first in the industry. Whether you are looking for a
Restaurant Week! Hamden, long known as the family celebration or a ROMANTIC dinner for
Land of the Sleeping Giant and home to art- two, Hamden’s restaurants can surely suit your
ists, performers, authors, and legendary inven- needs. The Town is pleased to partner with the
tors, is now emerging as one of Connecticut’s Hamden Chamber of Commerce in showcasfinest dining communities. Our great Town of- ing our diverse array of culinary options. Truly,
fers truly global cuisine prepared by some of Hamden has it all!
the most innovative chefs and restaurateurs
– Mayor Scott Jackson, Town of Hamden.
Visit www.hamdenrestaurantweek.com for more information and a list of participating restaurants.
Chamber Committee Spotlight
The Hamden Chamber is
pleased to announce the
launch of its third Leads
Group. The purpose of the
Leads Groups is to provide
members an opportunity
to meet and support fellow
members by exchanging
business leads. It also enhances member business
growth through meeting with
other professionals, chamber
involvement, relationship development, and
networking education. Only one business per industry is allowed to participate. Possible indus-
tries not yet represented in the group include,
but are not limited to: Web Design, Restaurants,
Media, Non-Profits, Florists, Hotels, Dentistry,
Physicians, Beauty, Fitness, and Healthcare…
just to name a few. The co-chairs of the newly
formed group are People’s United Bank Vice
President, Jose Lopez, and Attorney at Law,
Paul Begemann. The secretary of the group is
Weichert Residential Realtor, Cindy Iannini.
The group currently meets on the 2nd and 4th
Mondays of each month at 4pm at the SBC Restaurant & Brewery. If interested in joining Leads
Group III, please contact Jose at 203.281.1235
or Paul at 203.230.8739.
Chamber August Summer Special
Join the Chamber during the month of August
and receive $30.00 off your membership for one
year! For 85 years, the Hamden Chamber continues to be a vibrant business network that con-
nects it members with the community to provide
sustained growth and prosperity. We’d love to
help your business grow! Contact us by August
30 at hcc@hamdenchamber.com.
The Hamden Chamber of Commerce
2969 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518
Email: hcc@hamdenchamber.com
Phone: 203.288.6431 Fax: 203.288.4499
www.hamdenchamber.com
The
Hamden Journal
August 6, 2010 — Page 11
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The
Hamden Journal
The
Hamden Journal
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The
Hamden Journal
The
Hamden Journal
August 6, 2010 — Page 15
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The
Sports & Recreation
Hamden Journal
Cesare Golf Tourney
The 10th Annual Frank P. Cesare Memorial Golf Tournament and Benefit Dinner will
be held at Woodbridge Country Club on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. Registration
and breakfast is at 9am, with a
10am shotgun start. There will
be lunch at the turn, a cocktail
party (open bar), and a buffet
dinner. Awards and prizes will
be given. All proceeds will
benefit the Hamden Police Department.
The Cesare family has sponsored this tournament in memory of Frank Cesare, a former
member of the Hamden Legislative Council, who passed
away in May of 2000. The
tournament has raised nearly
$70,000 in the last nine years
Bic Honored as “Man of the Year”
for public safety initiatives in
the town of Hamden.
Foursomes are going fast.
Cost is $150.00 per person for
golfers and $65.00 per person
for dinner only. Tee/Green
sponsors are also available.
For more information, please
call 203.281.4973.
William “Bic” Wright, a retired
Hamden Police Sergeant, was
honored as the Wilbur Cross
Golf Team “Man of the Year.”
Mr. Wright was honored for his
support of the team throughout
the season. His contributions
included fundraising for the
team’s annual Florida trip, the
design of the 2010 team t-shirt,
and the Traveler’s Golf Tournament Luncheon for the team
and coach. Bic Wright received
a plaque and team t-shirt in appreciation of his hard work and
dedication to the team.
Hamden Girl in Dressage 4 Kids
Elizabeth Popolizio of Hamden is one of four young
members of the Blackhorse
Equestrian Center’s team participating in the 12th Annual
Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival in Saugerties, New York.
Liz and her horse, Just Like
That (“Junior”), are veterans
of the show circuit, winning
hunter classes throughout the
area. Liz and Junior expanded into dressage and, at this
festival, proved conclusively
that their considerable talent
extends beyond a single discipline!
“The entire team did very
well,” said Melissa Pogwizd,
owner of Blackhorse Equestrian Center and the team’s
coach. “This was a great expe-
rience, where the girls pulled
together as a team, helping
each other, and, most of all,
having fun.”
In their first year competing
at the festival, Blackhorse’s
team pulled into the top third
of the competitors. But Melissa is quick to point out that the
competition, although instructive, is not the only learning
experience.
“The kids learn it’s important to take care of their horses. One of the judges commented that she asked the kids
about their horses after each
class, and, invariably, each one
smiled when giving the horse’s
name. That enthusiasm is a vital part of horsemanship, and
it’s too easy to lose sight of it.
The purpose really is fun.”
Lendon Gray, the founder
of Dressage 4 Kids, which
sponsors the Youth Dressage
Festival, is an accomplished
horsewoman whose career has
developed from Pony Club activities, through training with
two Olympic teams, to author
and her current passion, Dressage 4 Kids.
Lendon formed Dressage 4
Kids with the following mission statement: to encourage
riders under 21 to become true
horsemen with correct position, competitive skills, and
knowledge of all aspects of
riding and horse care; to offer
scholarships to enable competitors to further their education;
to have fun and develop good
sportsmanship throughout.
The Blackhorse Equestrian
team of Lucy Anderson, Elena Leaf, Rachel Hunter, Liz
Popolizio, and Ingrid Slattery,
and led by Melissa Pogwizd,
are already making plans for
next year’s festival.
For more information on
Lendon Gray and her program,
visit www.dressage4kids.com.
To find out more about Blackhorse Equestrian Center, visit
www.blackhorsecenter.com.
Aquatics Relay Brings Home Gold
The four women that represented Team Connecticut in Aquatics represented teamwork when
they took home the Gold in the
4 x 25 Medley Relay. Aquatics
brought home four gold medals, seven silver medals, two
bronze medals, and three fourth
place ribbons. The athletes truly
showcased their abilities at the
Special Olympics 2010 National USA Games in Lincoln,
Nebraska, one of the biggest
multi-sporting events of the
year.
Alix Violano of Hamden,
one of the four team members,
brought home Gold in the 25
Meter Freestyle, Bronze in the
4 x 25 Meter Freestyle Relay,
fourth place in the 25 Meter
Backstroke, and Gold in the 4 x
25 Medley Relay.
While each swimmer competed individually at the National
Games, the 4 x 25 Medley Relay, where each athlete races
in their strong stroke for a cumulative win, proved that Connecticut is all about team work
because they won the Gold. We
are proud of our swimmers and
their ability to dive into challenges.
For more information about
the 2010 Special Olympics National Games, visit
www.2010specialolympics.org.
For information about Team
Connecticut, visit www.SOCT.
org.
Bridge Games at Atria Larson Place
Ongoing, Fridays in August,
a Bridge game will take place
from 2-4:30pm at Atria Larson
Place located at 1450 Whitney
Avenue. Games are facilitated
by local bridge club director,
Frederick Townsend, who has
been running bridge groups for
more than 25 years. Please join
us at Atria Larson Place in our
Quinnipiac room. FREE admission and refreshments are
served.
The
Health & Wellness
Hamden Journal
Can You Be Lean and Have Your Alcohol, too?
by Joanne Hoffman
Bad news first…
One gram of alcohol yields
approximately seven calories
– almost twice as much as protein and carbs. From a health
standpoint, these calories are
empty and useless. Alcohol
is a simple sugar that actually
enters the bloodstream through
the walls of the stomach as opposed to most nutrients, which
are absorbed in the small intestine.
Alcohol decreases reaction
time, slows muscle contraction, digestion, and thinking. It
knocks down your inhibitions
and makes you act like an idiot. Even though we do like to
drink occasionally, there’s very
little to be said for the positive “benefits” of alcohol. This
quick absorption explains why
you may feel the effects of alcohol shortly after having just
one or two shots.
It also goes directly to work
on the central nervous system
and starts to damage valuable
brain cells. So far alcohol consumption doesn’t seem like the
greatest idea in the world, does
it?
Ready for more?
Alcohol damages these brain
cells by withdrawing water that
is essential for cellular health.
Next, it moves on to other cells
in your body, which leads to
dehydration. That’s the primary reason you’ll get the famous
“hang-over-headache.”
Alcohol is the equivalent
of the most notorious simple
sugar. It requires no digestion.
It is a form of fuel, but in this
case, that’s not necessarily a
good thing. Your cells uptake
it because it is so simple. Your
body will use it for fuel before
August 6, 2010 — Page 17
using other carbs, proteins, or
ingested fats. It is considered
“nutrient sparing.” Since it becomes the quickest available
food source, it spares all other
nutrients that follow it.
If calories are prevented
from being used as food, what
do they likely become? You
guessed it… accumulated body
fat stores!
If you’re trying to reduce
body fat, you should also know
that alcohol is very rapidly
synthesized into triglycerides
and stored as fat. It is also an
appetite inducer! If anyone you
know has ever gotten drunk (I
would presume that even you
might have), the first thing they
wanted to do when the excitement slowed was EAT!
So…can you really drink alcohol and be lean?
People want to get lean and
stay lean, but they don’t want
to give up drinking alcohol.
It comes down to a matter of
commitment. If you are totally
committed to health and fitness, you will probably minimize your alcohol intake.
If you enjoy an occasional
drink or two, that’s fine. Just
be aware of the whole picture
when alcohol enters your system.
You can drink in moderation,
and still stay perfectly healthy
and lean after some initial
sacrifice to get to your goals,
but there are a few tricks that
can help you not pack on the
pounds.
Drink plenty of water to
prevent the dehydration. If
you decide to drink beer after
working up a sweat, I suggest
killing your thirst with a few
large glasses of water first. Or,
if you pull a late-nighter, make
sure you have damage control
in place by drinking extra water before bed and having a water bottle by your nightstand.
If you know you’re going to
consume more alcohol than
you’re supposed to, it helps
to make sure that dinner is
based only around protein
and vegetables. Eating a good
portion of appetite-satisfying
protein, along with nutrientrich vegetables, can help to
control your appetite and give
your body the nutrients it
needs. As explained above, too
many carbs + alcohol intake =
“fat-spill-over.”
Make sure you stay away
from syrupy, fruity drinks
that are loaded with sugar.
This has a twofold negative effect for your belly and butt fat.
You’re not only getting all of
the empty alcohol calories, but
also loads of empty sugar calories. These drinks can have as
much as 500-600 calories per
serving! The best thing to do is
stick with a clear alcohol mixed
with water or club soda. Vodka
with fresh squeezed grapefruit
or lemon juice is yummy, but
make sure to add water, too.
Another option is vodka with
club soda and extra lemon/
lime. This is easier if you’re at
a restaurant, bar, or nightclub.
Also, most people don’t realize
that tonic water is loaded with
just as much sugar as soda pop.
Stick with club soda because
it contains zero calories. If
you’re a beer drinker, you’re
better off choosing just one or
two dark beers rather than five
or six light beers. Although
dark beers have more calories
than light beers, they also have
more B vitamins and antioxidants than light beers, so you
actually get more nutrition
See Alcohol, Page 22
Dental Tip from the
Desk of Dr. Anthony Prezioso
The latest research confirms
that tooth decay is an infectious
disease that can be passed from
mothers to their children, according to Dr. Andrea Shepperson, lead dentist at City Dental,
Quay Park in Auckland, New
Zealand. Dr Shepperson, an international lecturer in dentistry,
explains that the new research
from the University of California published in the Journal of
Dental Research shows that untreated decay in mothers almost
doubled the odds of one of their
children having serious untreated decay. Dental decay is an
infectious disease which is vertically transmitted from parent to
child. Babies are born without
the bacteria which cause dental
decay, but pick this up from their
mothers. The bacteria becomes
established on new teeth as they
erupt.
Mothers with high levels of
Mutans Stretococci (a common
decay causing bacterium) were
likely to place their children at
risk of high levels of decay. Left
untreated, this infection can continue throughout life.
The new study warns, “This
bacterium can be transmitted from person-to-person, including mother-to-child.” One
means of transmittion could be
from using another person’s eating utensils. This just reiterates
what we have been saying all
along, good oral health is a family issue!
Excerpt: Dental Decay Passed
from Mothers to Their Babies.
Dr. Anthony Prezioso is a graduate of Tufts University School of
Dental Medicine. For more info:
www.prezidental.com.
Sweet Potato Burritos
2 large (10-inch diameter) flour tortillas or healthy wraps
½ cup canned refried beans
¼ cup prepared guacamole or sliced avocado
1 large baked sweet potato, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
1 cup packaged salad greens of your choice
1 scallion, chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (this makes it)
Spread tortillas/wraps with refried beans and guacamole, leaving one inch all around untouched. Layer remaining ingredients.
Fold in sides and tightly roll each tortilla/wrap to form a tight
package. Slice in half diagonally.
MAKES 4 SERVINGS. Nutritional information per burrito:
200 calories, 6 g protein, 34 g carbohydrate, 4 g fat, 5 g fiber.
This is one of my favorite recipes, and one that I have been craving during my pregnancy. I hope you enjoy it, too.
--Recipe developed by Jackie Newgent, R.D.,
and adapted by Shala J. LaTorraca.
To submit your favorite recipe, please email to info@theham
denjournal.com or mail to PO Box 187101, Hamden CT 06518.
Page 18 — August 6, 2010
The
Hamden Journal
Chiropractic, What’s the Deal?
by Dr. Bryan Barry
Chiropractic is a health care
profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal
system and the nervous system,
and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often
to treat neuromusculoskeletal
complaints, including, but not
limited to, back pain, neck pain,
pain in the joints of the arms or
legs, and headaches without the
use of drugs or surgery.
Doctors of Chiropractic, often
referred to as chiropractors or
chiropractic physicians, practice
a drug-free, hands-on approach
to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis,
and treatment. Chiropractors
have broad diagnostic skills and
are also trained to recommend
therapeutic and rehabilitative
exercises, as well as to provide
nutritional, dietary, and lifestyle
counseling.
Chiropractic History
The roots of chiropractic care
can be traced all the way back
to the beginning of recorded
time. Writings from China and
Greece written in 2700 B.C.
and 1500 B.C. mention spinal
manipulation and the maneuvering of the lower extremities
to ease low back pain. Hippocrates, the Greek physician,
who lived from 460 to 357 B.C.,
also published texts detailing
the importance of chiropractic
care. In one of his writings, he
declares, “Get knowledge of the
spine, for this is the requisite
for many diseases.” The word
Chiropractic is actually derived
from two Greek words “cheiros”
and “praktikos,” which together
means “done by hand.”
In the United States, the practice of spinal manipulation began gaining momentum in the
late nineteenth century. In 1895,
Daniel David Palmer founded
the Chiropractic profession in
Davenport, Iowa. Palmer was
well read in medical journals of
his time, and had great knowledge of the developments that
were occurring throughout the
world regarding anatomy and
physiology. In 1897, Daniel David Palmer went on to begin the
Palmer School of Chiropractic,
which has continued to be one of
the most prominent chiropractic
colleges in the nation.
Chiropractic Benefits
Chiropractic care has been used
to help people of all ages and individuals seek chiropractic treatment for a variety of reasons.
Many have reported relief from
numerous conditions such as
whiplash, neck pain, headaches,
back pain, poor posture, digestive issues, and sinus trouble to
name a few. On a personal note,
chiropractic care has helped me
regain function and get back to
work after a severe motor vehi-
cle accident left me disabled for
three months.
Causes of Spinal And Neck
Alignment Problems
The spine can be compromised
due to a variety of reasons. Poor
posture, emotional stress, sports
injuries, work and traffic accidents, degenerative processes,
and nutritional deficiencies are
just a few things that can cause
spinal problems. When the proper care of the spine is neglected,
the body becomes susceptible to
disease, degeneration, pain, and
loss of function.
What To Expect During Your
Initial Visit
At your first chiropractic appointment, you will receive a
thorough medical history of
your general health, as well as
a general examination with focus on your specific condition.
Advanced diagnostic testing is
utilized to evaluate the health of
the spinal nerve tissue, as well
as spinal musculature. Sometimes a diagnostic X-ray or MRI
may be needed to determine the
precise location of the spinal
nerve damage. A digital orthotic
pedal examination will also be
performed to see if your condition is related to poor arches in
the feet. Nutritional and metabolic assessment can also be discussed.
Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic treatment will
typically consist of therapeutic
modalities, such as moist hot
packs, cold packs, interferential
muscle stimulation, ultrasound,
acupuncture, and other therapies to relax the musculature of
the back, as well as to reduce
pain and inflammation. The
most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of
chiropractic is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called
“chiropractic adjustment.” The
purpose of manipulation is to
restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force
into joints that have become
hypomobile – or restricted in
their movement – as a result of
a tissue injury. Tissue injury can
be caused by a single traumatic
event, such as improper lifting
of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting
in an awkward position with
poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either
case, injured tissues undergo
physical and chemical changes
that can cause inflammation,
pain, and diminished function
for the sufferer. Manipulation,
or adjustment of the affected
joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and
muscle tightness, and allowing
tissues to heal. Spinal adjustments are safe and are very comfortable for the patient.
Is Chiropractic Treatment
Safe?
Chiropractic is recognized as
one of the safest types of health
care in the world. Numerous
studies, including those funded
by National Institute of Health
(NIH), World Health Organization (WHO), universities, and
nonprofit research institutions
have proven it to be a successful primary therapy for neuromusculoskeletal conditions – a
therapy that is safer, in fact, than
most medical procedures used to
treat the same conditions. Chiropractic is also widely used as a
complementary mode of care for
a variety of other conditions and
diseases and to promote overall
health and well-being.
Do Your Research
If you are considering chiropractic care, talk with your
health care provider or consult
with your local chiropractic association (CTCHIRO.com or
ACAtoday.org). During your
appointment, listen to the recommendations that are given
for exercise, posture, diet, and
maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
We are always available for a
FREE consultation to discuss
your health concerns in private.
Visit www.DrBryanBarry.com
for great health information or
call 203.288.2821 to speak with
Dr. Barry directly. Also, please
see ad on page 22.
Hamden’s Vast Resources for Physical Activity
by Lisa A. Bemben, MPH,
CHES
Regrettably many of us do not
get enough health-enhancing
physical activity each week. In
fact, a Gallup-Healthways poll
from 2009 found that 49 percent of adult respondents aged
18 and older were exercising
less than 90 minutes per week.
The data was collected via an
astounding 400,000 interviews,
which took place between May
2008 and April 2009. Beginning
in 1983, every month of May is
National Physical Fitness and
Sports Month. The purpose of
National Physical Fitness and
Sports Month is to encourage
compliance with the Department
of Health and Human Services
Physical Activity Guidelines
(Mendes, 2009).1
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Guidelines
First published in 2008, the
guidelines were the first ever
written by the U.S. government.
The recommendations state
that in order to see substantial
health benefits, adults need to
achieve at least 150 minutes of
moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week. For increased
health benefits, adults should exercise 300 minutes or five hours
a week; this is in addition to
muscle-strengthening activities
on two or more days per week.
Examples of moderate-intensity
physical activities include brisk
walking or biking less than 10
mph. The full guidelines, along
with recommendations for older
adults and children, are available at www.health.gov/pa
guidelines.
Physical Activity in Hamden
Hamden residents are fortunate
to have many resources available in order to help us achieve
the recommended exercise standards. The trails at Sleeping Giant Park, a state run park located
off of Mt. Carmel Ave., are perfect for brisk walking and hiking.
The Tower Path, a 1.6-mile trail,
has a gradual climb, which leads
to a stone tower and impressive
views of Hamden. Sleeping Giant Park is open daily between
8am and sunset.
West Rock Ridge is a second
state park located in Hamden,
on Wintergreen Avenue. Also
open between 8am and sunset,
residents may hike in the park
or mountain bike on the red and
white blazed trails designated
as multi-use. Other trails are
marked for hikers only.
In addition to the two state
parks, Hamden has many town
parks run by the parks and recreation department. A complete
list of parks with available resources can be found at www.
hamden.com. Hiking trails are
available at Brooksvale Recreation Park, while a walking track
can be found at St. Ann’s Field.
Several parks, such as Bassett
Park, have basketball and tennis
courts.
Interested in other forms of
non-motorized recreation, such
as rollerblading? The Farmington Canal Trail may be the place
for you. The Farmington Canal
Trail runs from New Haven,
CT, to Northampton, MA. That
is a total of 84 miles! Walkers,
runners, and bikers are also welcome. One Hamden entrance to
the trail is across the street from
the Stop & Shop plaza parking
lot on Skiff Street.
For those of us looking for
a health club or fitness center,
Hamden has several to choose
from. Planet Fitness is located
on Marne Street, LA Fitness is
on Skiff Street, and Elite Fitness is on Raccio Park Road.
Nearby on Elm Street in North
Haven is North Haven Health
and Racquet (NHHR). NHHR
is a family-owned fitness center
with traditional fitness center offerings, such as free weights and
cardio equipment, plus indoor
tennis and racquetball courts.
Lastly, for those of us that like
to swim, Hamden High School
has a six lane, 25-yard indoor
swimming pool. The pool has
programming for the public September through August. Lockers
and showers are also available.
A pool pass is required, but last
season the fee for a resident
family of four was only $75.
Open swim and adult lap swim
are available most weekday
evenings. Consult the schedule
at www.hamden.com for exact
times.
Finding time to exercise is
not always easy, but, as the U.S.
government guidelines point
out, physical activity is vastly
important and can produce longterm health benefits. For adults,
these benefits include, but are
not limited to, lower risks of
high blood pressure and type 2
diabetes, reduced depression,
and prevention of weight gain.
Hamden has many wonderful
resources that are easily accessible and can help us meet our
exercise goals.
Mendes, Elizabeth. (2009). In
U.S., Nearly Half Exercise Less
Than Three Days a Week. Retrieved from www.gallup.com,
07 July 2010.
1
Lisa A. Bemben, a Hamden
resident, is a Master of Public
Health and a Certified Health
Education Specialist. She is also
a licensed CT real estate agent
with Keller Williams Realty. To
search homes on the CT MLS or
for a free home market analysis,
please visit http://lisabemben.
yourkwagent.com
The
Arts & Entertainment
Hamden Journal
Planning Annual Fashion Show
Plans are now underway for the
Hamden Woman’s Club’s 2010
Annual Charity Luncheon/
Fashion Show, under the direction of co-chairwomen Mary
Lou Masi and Sharon Reynolds. The recipient charity of
this year’s event is The Hamden Chapter of the Alzheimer’s
Association.
The luncheon will take place
on Saturday, November 6,
August 6, 2010 — Page 19
Concert Series Concludes with Record Breaking Crowd
at Zandri’s Stillwood Inn in
Wallingford. The theme will
be “An Affair to Remember,”
with each table dedicated to an
old movie star stricken by Alzheimer’s and a playlist featuring classic movie tunes.
More information will follow
as details are finalized. Please
save this date and plan to attend this fun event.
Library Activities Continue
Summer reading activities are
continuing to be offered at the
Brundage-Community Branch
Library at 91 Circular Ave.
Call 203.287.2675 to register.
Thursday, August 12 at
3pm, be mesmerized at the
Magic program with Danny
Magic, for ages 5-12. A com-
edy magic show with mindboggling tricks! Summer reading prize raffle will follow this
program.
Thursday, August 19 at
4pm, join in with Fun with
Pasta! (PACK program), for
ages 6-10. Make your own
jewelry using dried pasta.
“Annie” at Hamden High School
The Whitney Players Theater
Company presents “Annie,”
August 18-21 at Hamden High
School, 2040 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden. Wednesday
through Saturday performances begin at 7:30pm. Ticket
prices are $15 for general admission and $12 for students
and senior citizens. Tickets
can be purchased in advance on
Thursdays from 6:00–8:30pm
at Thornton Wilder Hall, 2901
Dixwell Avenue in Hamden.
Cash or checks only. T h e
show is directed by Cindy
Simell-Devoe, with choreography by Joan Christensen. This
production is co-sponsored by
the Hamden Arts Commission.
For more information, call
203.314.8599.
Music at Atria Larson Place
The Cheshire Community
Band will give a concert on
August 8 at 6pm.
Multi-instrumentalist,
Paul Kulas, will perform on
Wednesday, August 11 at
2pm.
Classical Guitarist, James
Baird, will perform on Mon-
day, August 23 at 2pm.
All concerts are held at Atria
Larson Place, 1450 Whitney
Avenue, Hamden, and are
free and open to the public.
For more information, call
203.248.8880.
On Friday, July 30, Tower of Power brought to an end the Summer Concert Series sponsored
by the Hamden Arts Commission. A record breaking crowd, estimated at 20,000 people, was
in attendance.
Photo by John Columbus
Upcoming Concert Lineup at The Space
Distance No Object
Exit 48
Doors 6:30pm
$8 in advance/$10 at the door
Saturday, August 7
Solfege Radio
Love Via Dance Machine
Soletta
Cinema 24
The Premier
Push For Coin
Doors 6:30pm
$10
Sunday, August 8
Flatfoot 56
ILIA
Steady Habits
Monday, August 9
Lydia
Analog Rebellion
River City Extension
The Guru
Doors 6:30pm
$10 in advance/$12 at the door
Friday, August 13
Phone Calls From Home
Voted Most Random
Sleeping Lessons
Falling Up Stairs
Event Horizon
A Lifelike Story (acoustic)
Doors 6:30pm
$10
Thursday, August 19
The Poison Control Center
October Rain
Castles
Universal Remote
Sean and the Big Machines
Doors 6:30pm
$10
All concerts are held at The
Space, 295 Treadwell Street,
Hamden. For more information, call 203.288.6400 or visit
www.thespace.tk.
Prefer the internet? Check us out online at www.thehamdenjournal.com. Social Networker? Join our fan page on facebook at The Hamden Journal LLC.
Page 20 — August 6, 2010
The
Hamden Journal
The
Faith Matters
August 6, 2010 — Page 21
Hamden Journal
Road Rules
by Kristen Cox
I’m pretty distracted by relationship struggles.
Relationships are hard. They
just are. And it seems like the
ones we are closest to are the
ones we hurt the most. Those
are the ones that have the most
headaches, which create the
most bruises; the ones that turn
us into people we never imagined we could be…door slammers and heart hurters.
During those times, it’s easy
to wish for an exit. Often, we
start thinking about other people we know, ones with whom
it seems to be smooth sailing.
Rather than dealing with the
problems at hand, it feels like
an escape to daydream about
future relationships and how
much nicer it would be to move
on with someone else and have
a clean slate. It’s difficult in
painful moments to remember
that the most intimate relationships, while being incredibly
challenging, are also the most
rewarding. I have found that it
is very easy to forget that fact
when hard times come and all I
want is a way out of the pain.
I have been experiencing
some difficulties of my own
lately. On top of that, a very
good friend is trying to find a
way to save her marriage even
after divorce papers have been
filed. I was praying about my
relationships and her marriage
recently, and an analogy came
to mind. I don’t know if it was
from God…but it seemed like it
might be Him. I feel the urge to
share it tonight. Are you ready?
Here goes.
Relationships are like cars.
Now, I only own one vehicle,
but I know there are people
in the world who own several
– and they keep them for different reasons. The sports car
for when they want to go fast
and aggressive. The restored
classic when they are feeling
nostalgic. The convertible for
when they want to feel the wind
in their hair and be carefree.
The Vespa scooter for when
they want to feel like Audrey
Hepburn in “Roman Holiday.”
The pickup truck for when they
need to haul things. The motorcycle for when they just want to
feel tough and cool. And then
there’s the plain old sedan – the
least glamorous of the fleet, the
one you drive every day, the
one you use to navigate through
your everyday life.
Each of these cars has value,
and each serves a purpose to the
owner. He doesn’t want to be
without any of them. But of all
of these cars, the plain old everyday sedan provides the most
value to everyday life. It’s the
one that, literally, carries you
through all of the challenges
you encounter, from the mundane, to the painful, to the glorious.
But the sedan requires more
maintenance, and that can be
costly and tiring. It is driven
every day, so it requires a lot
more fuel than the others. Let’s
say the others are only driven
once or twice a month. You
probably wouldn’t need to refuel them very often at all. But
the car you drive every day will
require pretty constant fill-ups.
You will also encounter more
bumps and dings in the sedan
and that will require tune-ups
and repairs. Oil changes will
need to be more frequent. And,
it is far more likely that you
will experience a breakdown or
an accident in a car you drive
every day than in a car you take
on a spree every now and then.
We can lament and kick the
tires when the sedan runs out
of gas. We can curse it when it
needs repair. We can tell it that
it isn’t being sensitive to our
need to get where we want to
go. We can even threaten to sell
it and find a new car to take its
place. But, the truth is that none
of those options fixes anything.
A new “every daycar” (or close,
everyday relationship) would
have the same requirements as
the old one. The only way to
ensure your most trusty and oftdriven vehicle stays road worthy so it can do what it was designed to do is to fill up the tank
as necessary and make sure the
proper maintenance and repair
takes place.
Reprinted by permission. Acquired from www.thiswalk.
wordpress.com.
To Be Continued, August 20
Mishkan Israel Hosts Interfaith Picnic with Turkish Community
Nebi Demirsoy, Executive Director of the Turkish Cultural Center with Rabbi
Herbert Brockman
Over 100 members from Congregation Mishkan Israel (CMI)
in Hamden, the Turkish Cultural
Center, and the Church of the
Holy Spirit, both in West Haven,
got together at CMI over the
summer for an Interfaith Friendship Picnic to demonstrate the
importance of open dialogue
among the different traditions.
Members of CMI have been in
dialogue with their counterparts
from the Turkish American community for the past two years
and have held three interfaith
dialogues, entitled “Abraham’s
Tent.”
The impetus for the group’s
latest gathering was the tragic
events that unfolded between
Israel and the Gaza-bound flotilla from Turkey. “After the
latest incident, we decided that
we would not allow the tragedy
in the Mediterranean to spread
here,” explains Rabbi Herbert
Brockman. “We believe that the
commonality of our respective
faiths binds us together – that we
can bridge the gaps that separate
people through our mutual feelings as descendants of Abraham.
We must keep channels of communication open and build on
the goodwill of the past.”
The groups are in discussion
about more such programs and,
eventually, an interfaith visit to
Turkey.
For more information about
Abraham’s Tent and CMI’s other
interfaith activities, contact Rabbi Brockman at 203.288.3877.
Amy Brin of West Haven with Mrs. Demirsoy of West Haven
Page 22 — August 6, 2010
The
Alcohol ~ Continued from Page 17
from the dark beer. As long as
you keep it to just one or two
dark beers you’ll be okay, but if
you go beyond that you should
start counting calories and go
with a low-calorie light beer
option instead.
Try to get in a high intensity, full body workout before
your night out of drinking or
socializing. This is always a
great way get your metabolic
rate cranking for some extra
damage control. Also make
sure to get in some long duration cardio the morning after
your night out, along with extra
water intake. Your energy will
probably stink, that’s why you
should stick with lower intensity and focus on sweating and
rehydrating.
Avoid late night fast food
or junk food after drinking.
This will sabotage your fat
loss efforts big time! The worst
thing for your body is loading
up on burger, fries, pizza, ice
cream, or other junk foods after
consuming alcohol. The best
method is to plan ahead. Make
sure you have an alternative
healthy option planned ahead
of time so when you get home
you can heat it up and satisfy
your late-night cravings.
Make sure you consume
extra water and nutrient
rich vitamins, antioxidants,
and food sources the following morning. Alcohol is very
good at depleting your body
of the vitamins and minerals
we need to be healthy and feel
normal, so it’s important to replenish these key compounds
to help us recover.
Although ridding alcohol intake from our lives is definitely
the BEST option, we also have
to be realistic. Most people are
going to consume some type
of alcohol at least socially. If
that’s you, why not do it the
healthiest way possible and
keep yourself on track by using
the steps above? This is also a
great way to possibly prevent a
“hang-over.”
Joanne Hoffman, M.S. is a
Nutritional Consultant with
16 years experience. To find
out more about her practice
and to schedule your free consultation, visit www.eats4life.
com, or contact Joanne at
203.915.5707 or jhoffman@
eats4life.com.
Joanne also
does presentations for groups
and companies. Also, see Eats
4 Life ad on page 13.
Hamden Journal
Thanks ~ Continued from Page 3
Members of the local community can now enjoy the special
edition flavors “S’more Hope
for Jerry’s Kids” and “Jerry’s
Kids Muscle Mint” during the
month of August at Kelly’s
Kone Konnection. Kelly’s
Kone Konnection is located at
2583 Whitney Avenue in Hamden.
Kelly’s Kone Konnection’s
support in helping us promote
the Telethon will definitely increase our viewership in the
Hamden area, which will in
turn help local families and
individuals affected by neuromuscular disease.
The 2010 Jerry Lewis MDA
Telethon will be broadcast
during Labor Day Weekend
(September 5 and 6, 2010)
from Mohegan Sun Casino
on Fox 61 WTIC. Contributions to the Telethon will help
fund diagnostic and follow-up
care for people with muscular
dystrophy, assistance with the
purchase and repair of wheelchairs, leg braces, physical,
occupational, and respiratory
therapy consultations, assistance with the purchase of
communication devices, medical and scientific conferences,
and much more. Other services include support groups and
MDA’s Annual Summer Camp
for children with neuromuscular disease.
MDA is a voluntary health
agency dedicated to helping
more than one million Ameri-
cans affected by neuromuscular disorders through programs
of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far
reaching professional and public health education.
Once again, on behalf of
MDA and the families that we
serve, thank you Kelly’s Kone
Konnection for helping Jerry’s
Kids! Please accept this letter
as recognition of the devotion
that Kelly’s Kone Konnection
has given to MDA over the
past three years.
Brooke Eder
Reg. Public Affairs Coord.
Muscular Dystrophy Assoc.
203.288.3500
What’s Happening in Real Estate
July 16
Tony Liscio, who owned 45
Kathrine Drive, sold the home
to Lisa Fryer for $217,000.
George & Kathleen Evans,
who owned 150 Haverford
Street, sold the home to Amada Gott for $305,000.
Estate of Victor Cappella, who owned 18 Cooper
Lane, sold the home to Alberto & Deborah Mendoza for
$178,800.
Claire Zeranski, who owned
39 Wilbert Street, sold the
home to Evelyn Glenn for
$130,000.
Carl & Andrea Flanders,
who owned 123 Westminster
Street, sold the home to Bryan
Kaestner & Angela Parrella
for $245,000.
WNB Associates, who
owned 54 Brook Hill Road,
sold the home to Wally & Soledad Lazkani for $315,000.
Henry
&
Marilyn
O’Donnell, who owned 175
Mill Pond Road, Unit #406,
sold the home to Mary Ann
LeCavalier for $94,000.
Brian Lier and Christina
Jackson, who owned 26
Townhouse Road, sold the
home to Harry Pylypiw for
$127,000.
The
Log ~ Continued from Page 3
Raymond Holland, 21, of
Dixwell Avenue, was charged
with Possession of a Controlled Substance Less than
Four Ounces.
Shaherah James, 32, of Norton Street, New Haven, was
charged with Misuse of Plate,
No Insurance, and Operating
Unregistered Motor Vehicle.
Jabari Lykes, 24, of Burke
Street, was charged with Misuse of Plate and Operating Unregistered Motor Vehicle.
Wayne Miller, 32, of Miller
Street, Meriden, was charged
with Operating under Suspen-
Hamden Journal
sion.
Tavares Robbins, 27, of
Quinnipiac Avenue, New Haven, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance
Less than Four Ounces and
Interfering with an Officer/Resisting.
August 1
Richard Cosenza, 44, of Longmeadow Avenue, was charged
with No Insurance, Operating
Unregistered Motor Vehicle,
Windshield-Defective
Wipers, and Failure to Have Tail
Lamps.
August 6, 2010 — Page 23
Classified Ads
LOST CAT – “Shelby”
Orange and white adult female
cat. Lives in the Centerville section of Hamden CT. Last seen on
Washington Avenue on Sunday,
July 11. She has a distinctive
right eye defect and was wearing a blue
collar
with
name
tag.
$$$ reward
for her return.
Please
call
203.464.7512
with any information.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Nar-Anon Family Groups, a 12
-step support group for family and friends of addicts, meets
every Thursday night at 7:30pm
at the Harborside Arden House,
850 Mix Ave. For info, call 211.
To place a classified
ad, email info@the
hamdenjournal.com
or call 203.668.6307.
Page 24 — August 6, 2010
The
Hamden Journal