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Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day 2011

Thank you to all our U.S. Service Members who died while in the military service of this great country of ours.

Freedom is not free; it has been paid for by the ultimate sacrifice of many.

I know this, I will not forget this, I will teach my kids this and make sure they understand it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

Sunday, May 29, 2011

FROM WALLINGFORD - Memorial Day and legacy

V-Knight_S

As published in the Record Journal Sunday May 29, 2011

This week’s FROM WALLINGFORD is written by my counterpart on the column – Stephen Knight

Tomorrow is one of our nation’s most important days: Memorial Day — a day of remembrance of and thanks to those who have laid down their lives in service to us, to their country and to the very concept of freedom. It has also become an opportunity to thank those who have served and are still here to hear a grateful nation say it.

But as wonderful as are the speeches and the parades, what makes me even prouder of America are the day-to-day activities that so many Americans are involved in to support our military men and women.

One of those efforts is Holy Joe’s CafĂ©, a group within the First Congregational Church of Wallingford supplying donated coffee to military chaplains in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. I hope you have read one of the recent Record-Journal articles about it, because space does not allow me to give you much detail.

Suffice it to say that Tom Jastermsky, who is heading up the effort, and Carol Wallace, whose company has donated thousands and thousands of dollars packaging and shipping the coffee, are the primary two people who have made this program work.

But there have been others, and I want to use them as examples of some of the support you might never see, support that is given instantly, enthusiastically and with no questions asked other than “when do we start.” CCI Logistics in Wallingford has donated warehouse space for two years now – thousands of dollars worth.

T.R. Brysh, an owner-operator freight hauler; RKZ Trucking; Bailey’s Express of Middletown; Old Dominion Freight Lines and Andreucci Trucking all provided transportation. It costs a lot of money to operate a truck or warehouse, but if it was “for the troops,” they were just grateful to have been asked.

These acts of love and respect for our military are found all over this country. Go to troopsupport.com and you will see an index of ninety-four volunteer groups dedicated to support our military in some way, and that list doesn’t even include large ones such as Fisher House Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project or Soldier’s Angels. Scroll through this list and see if it doesn’t put a lump in your throat and pride in your heart about what America is all about. And think of the thousands of local efforts by school students and others involved in all manner of activities aimed at making sure that members of the United States military know in what high esteem they are held.

There are two reasons for all this effort. The first is obvious. The people in the military service of the United States of America are the best in the world at what they do. The best trained, the most disciplined, the most compassionate and, at the same time, the most humble. Why wouldn’t we support such professionalism?

But the second reason is this: there was a period in our history when we civilians did not conduct ourselves properly when it came to supporting our military personnel. They do not call the Korean War “The Forgotten War” for nothing. And the Viet Nam War? Many, many of us will spend the rest of our lives trying to make right what we did – or more accurately – did not do when soldiers returned from that awful conflict. And we most certainly did not support their efforts when they were in theater as we should have.

So I would like to conclude this piece by speaking directly to those of you who served in these two conflicts: When you see soldiers being cheered as they walk though airports; if you see a stranger walk up to a soldier and say thanks; if you read of efforts such as Holy Joe’s Cafe and thousands of similar projects, know that this is part of your legacy. Some of that love, some of that respect, some of that admiration that you see is for you. It is late, but it is real.

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND - Charity saves the day

Fireworks show must go on in Wallingford

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday, May 28, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — For the second year in a row, private donations will fund Wallingford’s Fourth of July weekend fireworks display after the town dropped the celebration from its budget.

Jason Zandri, who successfully led the fundraising charge last year, came up with the $24,150 needed only hours before Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr.’s Friday afternoon deadline.

Zandri said the group was about $6,000 short of its goal at the beginning of the week, but made the final push thanks in part to a $2,500 donation from the New Life Church in Meriden (http://www.InNewLife.com).

“It’s very gratifying to know that we made the deadline,” said Republican Town Councilor Craig Fishbein, who helped Zandri on the fundraising effort.

Fishbein said he had some doubts about a month ago that the money could be raised in time, but Zandri was confident the money would come.

“I wasn’t able to help as much as I did last year,” Fishbein said. “For Jason, this is a labor of love. His confidence and work ethic should be heralded.”

As of 11 p.m. Thursday, Zandri had posted on his blog that the group still needed $1,288.

Zandri took off from work Friday and started collecting money at the Dunkin’ Donuts on North Colony Road at 7 a.m. while his father collected at the Dunkin’ Donuts on South Colony Road. Jason Zandri said that he was able to raise nearly $200 Friday morning before he collected the $2,500 check from the Rev. Will Marotti. Zandri said additional donations were collected at the Stop & Shop in town.

Dickinson said it was good that Zandri raised the money in time and applauded the successful effort. Dickinson said the town would begin to appropriate the money and plan for the show. He said the check was delivered to Town Hall about 2:30 p.m. Friday.

While Zandri has made the deadline each of the last two years, it hasn’t been easy. In 2010, Choate’s $5,000 donation pushed the fund past its $30,000 goal. This year, the money wasn’t raised until the eleventh hour. Even though fundraising efforts started earlier this year — and the group earned 501(c)(3) status, making its donations tax deductible — Zandri said it wasn’t until the last few weeks that the checks started rolling in.

Zandri said he hopes to get more volunteers next year, and that the current group of himself, his father and Fishbein “isn’t sustainable.” He said he hopes to form a committee next year to help better coordinate the effort.

Fishbein said that the group’s three fundraisers — a dinner, a concert and a movie matinee — didn’t draw many people from the community. Fishbein attributed the success to a number of small donations and “grassroots fundraising and going door to door.”

Fishbein said he doesn’t foresee the town providing taxpayer dollars for the event in the near future, and that residents should get used to chipping in for the fireworks.

“I’ve said all along, this event is for the people, by the people,” Fishbein said. “If the residents of the town want this event, then they should volunteer.”

The fireworks are scheduled for July 2 at 9 p.m.

Friday, May 27, 2011

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – New Life Church makes their $2,500.00 donation; collections continue as we are $600.00 short our goal

image

Craig and I stopped by New Life Church this morning at 10:30 to meet with Will Marotti Senior/Founding Pastor who was happy to hear that we had crossed the matching grant level.

When we arrived he already had the check ready for us saying “we knew folks would come forward to help get you over the grant threshold where we were able to donate.”

With that grant given and the money from this morning in we are sitting at about $600.00 short of our goal to get the check cut and over to the Mayor for the 5PM deadline.

The mail has yet to arrive with possible donations and I am going to see about standing at Stop and Shop to collect so we still have time to get the funds to the town.

Fireworks Show

 

$12,000.00

Police Overtime

 

$7,750.00

Fire Department / Overtime

 

$1,900.00

Port-o-lets

 

$990.00

Fire Marshall

 

$850.00

Public Works

 

$330.00

Board of Education

 

$330.00

     

Total

 

$24,150.00

$600.00 in six hours? Piece of cake Wallingford, we know we can do this.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – 18 hours left, $1,288.00 left to collect

I am writing this blog post after 11PM on Thursday night; it’s scheduled to automatically post on Wallingford Politico and it’ll appear on From the Mind of Jason Zandri at 7AM on Friday.

We need to collect just $1,288.00 more and the show will be on. This assumes the matching grant from New Life Church in Meriden (http://www.InNewLife.com) comes in (their current total is $2,360.00 against our recently collected total of the same amount). I am supposed to meet with Founding Pastor Will Marotti at 10:30 tomorrow morning to pick up their matching grant check.

My father will be at Dunkin Donuts on South Colony Road collecting donations after 7AM and I will be at the Dunkin Donuts on North Colony Road at the same time.

We have until the close of business at Town Hall on Friday to get the $24,150.00 to the Mayor.

Please consider stopping by and making a donation and helping us get over that finish line.

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – Where we stand with 35 hours to go

Hi Gang – I am sure you read the news in the Record Journal as well as my blog post from the other day; we are about $5,000.00 shy of our goal and New Life Church in Meriden (http://www.InNewLife.com) has pledged to grant up to $2,500.00 to the funds as matching funds to the fireworks effort.

What this means is all the donations that are coming in over the next two days will be matched by them, dollar for dollar, up to $2,500.00.

Yesterday’s donations from Wednesday the 25th also applied and here’s where we are:

Donations received on Wednesday May 25th - $1,273.00
Donation to be made as part of the grant - $1,273.00

Total due to the Town of Wallingford for the show – $24,150.00

Total cash on hand in the Fireworks Fund – $19,415.00

When you add together the cash on hand in the fund and the donations to be made from the New Life Church matching grant our new total is $20,688.00; we are now just $3,462.00 short of our goal with 35 hours to go.

My father will be collecting at Dunkin Donuts in Yalesville today from about 7AM to about 9:30AM or so – if you’re in the area please consider swinging by and making a donation; New Life Church will match all of these donations and double the impact.

On Friday I am taking a day off from work to collect as well; I am going to be at the Dunkin Donuts on North Colony in the morning to about 10AM and I will call Stop and Shop as well to see if we can stand out there in the mid afternoon.

If you’re considering mailing a donation please do it this morning – it has to reach me by tomorrow to be considered part of the match.

Checks can be mailed to The Wallingford Fireworks Fund, c/o 35 Lincoln Drive EXT, Wallingford CT 06492.

You can also make a donation via PayPal to the fund via our website - http://www.wallingfordfireworks.org/

We can do this Wallingford – effectively we are talking about $60.00 an hour or so over the next 35 hours when you add in the effects of the matching grant.

Let’s roll.

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND - Church helps fund fireworks show with days to spare

As published in the Record Journal, Thursday May 26, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com  
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — With help from the New Life Church and the Rev. Will Marotti, fundraising efforts for town’s Independence Day weekend fireworks display may reach the amount needed.

Jason Zandri, who has coordinated the event since the town dropped financing for it last year, said the New Life Church agreed Tuesday to match up to $2,500 in donations Zandri receives before Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr.’s Friday afternoon deadline.

“They reached out to me and said they wanted to do something,” Zandri said.

“We’ve been in Meriden for 11 years and we’re always looking for ways to add value back to the community,” Marotti said. “We’ve been having weekly services in Wallingford for a year, and we thought this was a good way we could do something to bless the community.”

Wednesday afternoon, Zandri said the group was still about $5,000 short of the $24,150 needed, including $7,750 of overtime pay for police officers to work the event, which draws around 10,000 visitors.

Zandri said he asked Dickinson for an extension to Tuesday, but the mayor wouldn’t budge. Dickinson said last week the town needed to know by Friday to allow time for securing state permits and scheduling employees from the Police Department, Public Works and the Fire Department.

Despite the looming deadline, Zandri is optimistic that the money will be raised in time. Last year, Choate Rosemary Hall donated $5,000 to fund the show.

“I’m pretty optimistic, we’re pushing hard to get this,” Zandri said. “I know checks are coming, I’ve had some people call and say they were sending more money in. It’s going to be a photo finish, but we’ll clear the line.”

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – 59 hours and counting

imageIt’s 6AM Wednesday morning as I write this blog post from the train and we have 59 hours to the close of Town Hall on Friday to get them the check for $24,150.00 for the fireworks.

Our cash on hand total is currently $18,230.00 and there is a $900.00 pledge from my former employer Microsoft still outstanding.

You might have already seen from my post yesterday - WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – Closing the gap with a grant from New Life Church – New Life Church (website - http://www.InNewLife.com) has made a pledge to match all new donations dollar for dollar up to $2,500.00 from now to the end of collections on Friday.

This means, effectively, if we can raise just $2,500.00 more in new donations we can clear the total amount due and have the show paid for by the close of business on Friday.

My father is out collecting at Dunkin Donuts this morning and he’ll be out there on Thursday and Friday as well. I am taking Friday off myself to collect additional donations. All of these cash donations will be part of that matching grant from New Life Church so every dollar you give now counts twice.

You can also make a donation via PayPal to the fund right off our website at http://wallingfordfireworks.org/. Donations there will also be applicable to New Life Church’s matching grant as well as all monies mailed and received by Friday. If you want to mail in your donation please try to do it today or Thursday morning the latest so that we might receive it in time to apply it against their matching grant offer.

Checks can be made out to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and mailed to “c/o 35 Lincoln Drive EXT Wallingford CT 06492.”

This is the home stretch Wallingford so let’s do what we do best – pull together and get it done!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND - Wallingford Fireworks Fund needs to raise $5,000 by Friday

As published online via the Post – Chronicle, Tuesday May 24, 2011

New Life Church pledges to match new donations

WALLINGFORD - The Wallingford Fireworks Fund, a recognized 501(C)(3) organization as designated by the IRS, has been collecting donations all spring to supply the town with the needed funds to operate the annual Independence Day weekend fireworks celebration.

The event was dropped by the town in 2010 and saved by two residents. This year the collections for the $24,000.00 event — which is the costs for the municipal services and the fireworks themselves — is presently $5,000 short of the amount needed with a deadline of Friday, May 27.

New Life Church in Meriden (http://www.InNewLife.com) contacted Jason Zandri, President of the Wallingford Fireworks Fund, and has offered to match all donations to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund (up to $2,500.00) over the next 72 hours.

Donations can be made on the fund’s website at http://www.wallingfordfireworks.org/ via PayPal or they can be mailed to The Wallingford Fireworks Fund, c/o 35 Lincoln Drive EXT, Wallingford CT 06492.

Monday, May 23, 2011

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – The deadline hammer is falling…

I’ve had my conversation with the Mayor; the money is due on Friday May 27th – end of story. I made the case for a couple more weeks but I was unable to convince him to change his mind on the matter.

So from there we more forward, about $5,900.00 short as of today.

I have two pledges outstanding at $900.00 so that means, technically, we are $5,000.00 short IF (BIG “IF”) the pledges come in.

I have to work all week in New York City so I am effectively unavailable but I am putting every moment of time I can spare to the effort. (I am writing this post to Wallingford Politico from the train on my ride home. It’ll be cross posted to my other blogs on Tuesday). I do have Friday off and my Dad is collecting as much as he can at Dunkin Donuts this week. I am going to try to see if I can stand at Stop and Shop on Friday (it will depend if I can get permission and if no one else has the time booked).

The bottom line at this point is that it is highly unlikely that we can collect everything we need from individual donors by the deadline.

We will continue to do so anyway; I am working on something that may get us a bridge for a couple of additional weeks beyond the Mayor’s deadline. That would allow us to both get the money in to the town on time AND to continue collecting for the next two or three weekends into June.

In the meantime it is always possible that one of the larger businesses I solicited might come through for us.

A lot can happen in four days and I am driving full bore to the finish.

AGENDA - PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

TOWN OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

TOWN COUNCIL

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE


TOWN HALL, ROOM 315


THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011

6:30 P.M.


AGENDA






1. Opening / Pledge of Allegiance

2. Discussion and Possible Action with regard to the "Redwood Flea Market" site

3. Discussion and Possible Action with regard to use of ATV's (All-Terrain Vehicles) without permission of the land owner.

4. Adjournment

FROM THE PAGES OF THE RECORD JOURNAL - Fireworks fund drive still short

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday May 21, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD — The annual Independence Day-weekend fireworks display, dropped by the town and saved by two residents last year, is $6,000 short of the amount needed to hold the half-hour celebration, attended annually by about 10,000 people.

Event coordinator Jason Zandri said it costs $24,000, half for the display and the rest to pay overtime for police and fire personnel. The deadline to raise the money is Friday, and Zandri said he’s going to ask Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. for an extra three or four days.

“I am unfortunately overwhelmed doing this, and can’t mail letters to everyone I’d like to,” he said. “I’m not really thinking I can’t get that money over the next 10 days — it will materialize.”

Dickinson, who hasn’t yet heard from Zandri about an extension, said the town will need to know by the end of next week whether or not there’s enough money for the entire show, to allow time for securing state permits and scheduling employees from the Police Department, Public Works and the Fire Department.

“We’ve indicated we do not have money in the budget for this kind of purpose, so the money has to be raised by outside means,” he said. “It’s a showing of community support for it, or not. If there aren’t funds sufficient to do it, we certainly need to understand that.

”The fireworks show, which would be held July 2, could get some last-minute support, the way a late push made it a reality last year. In the last week of fundraising in 2010, Choate Rosemary Hall made a $5,000 donation. That allowed Zandri and his fundraising partner, Town Councilor Craig Fishbein, to meet their goal, and it gave them a $4,000 head start on this year’s drive.

In November, the Wallingford Fireworks Fund Inc. won nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service after being rejected twice. Fishbein and Zandri rewrote the application with help from the secretary of the state’s office, and the fund was accepted as a 501(c)(3) organization, allowing people to claim the gifts as charitable donations on their tax returns.

The fireworks are launched from a knoll near Moran Middle School, and Zandri said he’ll be mailing requests for donations to that part of town.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

FROM WALLINGFORD - It’s fireworks funding time

by Jason Zandri

If you’re a regular reader of “From Wallingford,” you’re probably keenly aware of the efforts to restore Wallingford’s annual 4th of July Fireworks celebration. Back in 2009, funding for the decades-old celebration was pulled from the town budget. The sitting Town Council at the time restored the funding from surpluses so that the event could still be held.

In 2010 it was a different story. Funding was cut and there was no ability to restore it — the show was cancelled.

At that time, I decided to take the effort out to the people to fundraise the entire amount for the cost of the fireworks themselves and all the city services — police, fire, public works, etc. I was quickly joined by Councilor Craig Fishbein and a short list of other volunteers.

Donations came from John and Jane Wallingford almost immediately. Some families that could went way above and beyond the call. Kim and Christopher Dellaselva contributed $1,000 in honor of their unborn child. Toby and Susan Rhodes held a tag sale and donated all of the proceeds raised, $500 in total, to the cause.

These large donations were important, but so were every single dollar and all the loose change given by everyone. Nothing alone was going to matter by itself but all of it together made a difference.

Donations also came in from local businesses large and small. There were a couple of major sponsorships, and the largest donation came in at $5,000 from Choate Rosemary Hall. There was also a huge publicity push by the Record-Journal, which, when combined with everything else, contributed to the desired end result — the 2010 celebration was saved.

Once provided to the residents of Wallingford “free” of charge (actually, funded by tax dollars at the rate of about $1 per taxpayer) the Wallingford Fireworks Celebration of the birth of our great nation was now and forever more going to be a grass roots effort.

The Wallingford Fireworks Fund is now a recognized 501 (C) (3) organization as designated by the IRS. Our Tax ID number is 27-2576599. We are fast approaching our 2011 deadline and time is of the essence. Funds need to be supplied to the town by the end of May — basically a week from the time you read this, on Sunday morning.

We have a good portion of the money already collected, but we are still about $6,000 short for the 2011 event as of May 18th. If we are to have the show for this July 4th holiday, we will need to collect the remaining funds before the month is out. If not, the funds will stay parked and we’ll keep them set aside for 2012. I know Wallingford can do it. We did so last year with less lead time, so I know we can this year.

If you have any capacity and/or desire to help us with the efforts in keeping this grand Wallingford family tradition alive, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. Any donation, big or small, is going to help us close the gap to this goal. Every dime collected matters, and is as equally important as every $20 bill collected. If you can and wish to donate, you can do so directly via PayPal on our website at wallingfordfireworks.org. Alternatively, you can send us your donations made out to the Wallingford fireworks Fund at: Wallingford Fireworks Fund c/o 35 Lincoln Drive EXT Wallingford CT 06492

Thank you for supporting our efforts.

Thank you as well for doing your part in making Wallingford more than just a great New England town. By getting involved, you’re adding your own character to Wallingford’s personality as a great New England community. That cannot be bought nor paid for — that can only be freely given, and Wallingford residents do so in great abundance.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

AGENDA – WALLINGFORD REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

TOWN OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT

REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Town Council Chambers

May 24, 2011

6:30 P.M

AGENDA

Opening Prayer – Reverend Margaret Jay, First Congregational Church of Wallingford

1. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call

2. Correspondence

3. Consent Agenda

3a. Consider and Approve Tax Refunds (#721 - #735) totaling $7,573.21 Acct. # 001-1000-010-1170 - Tax Collector

3b. Approval of Resolution Concerning African American Revolutionary War Patriots of the Town of Wallingford, Connecticut and the Proposed National Liberty Memorial - Mayor

3c. Set a Public Hearing for June 21, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. regarding Neighborhood Assistance List Projects – Program Planning

3d. Consider and Approve Merit Review - Personnel

3e. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $15,500 to Wage Differential Acct # 2030-101-1450 from Rescue 3, Year 2 of 3 Acct # 2030-999-9004 – Fire Chief

3f. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $225 to Maintenance of Equipment Acct # 001-1303-570-5200 from Office Expenses & Supplies Acct # 001-1303-401-4000 – State and Federal Program Administrator

3g. Acceptance of Donation and Appropriation in the Amount of $462 to Youth & Social Services Special Fund Operation Fuel Donations Acct # 213-1042-070-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 213-3070-600-6000 – Youth and Social Services

3h. Acceptance of Donation and Appropriation in the Amount of $1,320 to Youth & Social Services Special Fund Donations Acct # 213-1042-070-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 213-3070-600-6000 – Youth and Social Services

3i. Approve change in Schedule of Regular Town Council Meetings for June 2011 - Chairman Robert F. Parisi

3j. Approve minutes of Special Town Council meeting of April 19, 2011

3k. Approve corrected minutes of Special Town Council meeting of April 25, 2011

3l. Approve minutes of Regular Town Council meeting of May 10, 2011

3m. Approve minutes of Special Town Council (WHA) meeting of May 10, 2011

4. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda

5. PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER

6. Consider and Approve a Bid Waiver to utilize the Qualifications-based selection procedure to secure consulting services for development of a Wallingford Electric Division Wholesale Power Procurement Policy – Director of Utilities

7. Consider and Approve a Bid Waiver for CMEEC to conduct the procurement and management of lighting retrofit projects using the balance of $25,287.70 ARRA Award Funds and change title of line item to Lighting Retrofit Projects – Don Roe, Grants Administrator

8. Consider and Approve agreement between Town of Wallingford and the Connecticut Transmission Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative for the purpose of continuing for payment in lieu of municipal tax payments – Town Attorney

9. Acceptance and Appropriation of Masonicare Donation and American Gift Fund - The Holden Family Charitable Fund Grant in the Amounts of $1,800 each, and Approval of Appropriation of $3,600 to Miscellaneous Revenue Acct # 001-1075-070-7040 and to Carbon Monoxide Blood Gas Device Acct # 001-2030-999-9018 – Fire Chief

10. Consider and Approve a Resolution authorizing the Wallingford Board of Education to file an application with the State of Connecticut Commissioner of Education for a grant for a non-priority project to design and install new roofs at:

Lyman Hall High School
Mark T. Sheehan High School
Dag Hammerskjold Middle School
James H. Moran Middle School
Cook Hill Elementary School
E. C. Stevens Elementary School
Highland Elementary School
Moses Y. Beach Elementary School
Parker Farms Elementary School
Pond Hill Elementary School
Rock Hill Elementary School

11. Consider and Approve a Resolution authorizing the establishment by the Town Council of a School Building Committee to represent the Town in the implementation of reroofing projects at the following schools:

Lyman Hall High School
Mark T. Sheehan High School
Dag Hammerskjold Middle School
James H. Moran Middle School
Cook Hill Elementary School
E. C. Stevens Elementary School
Highland Elementary School
Moses Y. Beach Elementary School
Parker Farms Elementary School
Pond Hill Elementary School
Rock Hill Elementary School

12. Consider and Approve a Resolution authorizing the preparation of design documents (including schematic drawings, construction contract drawings and specifications) for the reroofing at the following schools:

Lyman Hall High School
Mark T. Sheehan High School
Dag Hammerskjold Middle School
James H. Moran Middle School
Cook Hill Elementary School
E. C. Stevens Elementary School
Highland Elementary School
Moses Y. Beach Elementary School
Parker Farms Elementary School
Pond Hill Elementary School
Rock Hill Elementary School

13. Town Council commits to funding of the school reroofing projects upon receipt of public bids and adoption of an Ordinance in accordance with the attached preliminary budget as provided by S/L/A/M Collaborative

14. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(D) of the Connecticut General Statutes with respect to the purchase, sale and/or leasing of property – Mayor

Saturday, May 14, 2011

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND - 2011 fundraising campaign total $16,035.72 (As of May 14, 2011)

So the totals are in for this weekend and we picked up an additional $1,150.00 (and the loose change still needs to be counted).

This brings our real total (cash on hand) to $16,035.72.

We now need only to raise $25,000.00 in total funds for the cost of the town services (police, fire, public works, etc.), our bills due, and the cost of the fireworks themselves.

We have a new low bid in for our customized fireworks show at $13,500.00 which is further discounted to $12,000.00 as the vendor in their proposal is offering us that additional discount as a Platinum Sponsor of the event. I assume the town will go with this vendor but I do need to speak with the Mayor on this first. I am hoping to get a meeting with him for this Friday; I’ve taken a vacation day from work to fundraise and I’ll get over to town hall if I can book time on his schedule.

So before our additional costs / bills (e.g. advertising in the news paper for the fundraisers) we need to get to $24,000.00 in order to donate that to Wallingford so the show will go on.

That is the cost of the fireworks at $12,000.00 and the costs of the town services (as we have them):

Police Overtime $7,747.00
Fire Department / Overtime $1,900.00
Port-o-lets $990.00
Fire Marshall $850.00
Public Works $325.00

We also have a pledge for a $1,000.00 donation that I am waiting on from one local business as well as an additional $900.00 due from Microsoft Corporation.

That puts our effective total at $17,935.00.

Yes, we still have to raise and additional $1,000.00 to pay our bills and the additional pledges listed above are not yet collected.

Call me an optimist but I’ll count them into our effective totals.

That means at this moment we still need an additional $6,065.00 between now and the end of May.

We can do this; Wallingford CAN do this. 17 more days IS enough time.

Let’s roll.

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – Collecting today, Saturday May 14th

Hi all – we are out right now at the Wallingford Landfill and the Recycling Center until about 1PM.

I got some help at the Recycling Center (Thank you Maria!) and I am going to head over to Stop and Shop to see if I can stand there for a few hours. We don’t have the slot reserved but if no one is there that has the reservation they allow us to take it.

If I can’t work there I will try over at the Dunkin Donuts in Yalesville.

Hope to see you there.

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – Just $8,000.00 to go over the next 17 days

We will be out collecting this morning at the Recycling Center and the Landfill from 8AM to about 1PM or so depending on the weather and if the rain holds off.

I may try to head over to Stop and Shop later from 1PM to about 5PM, again based on the weather.

There are just 17 days left before the funds are due to the town and we need another $8,000.00

If you have any desire and / or capacity to help us out please consider stopping by to make a donation.

Also, you can donate directly online to us as well via PayPal.

Thanks for the support

Friday, May 6, 2011

Testa’s running for mayor again; Dickinson hasn’t thought about it

As published in the Record Journal, Thursday May 5, 2011

By Robert Cyr

Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD
— Local elections are many months away and town councilors are waist deep in municipal budget deliberations, but many have already determined what they plan to do in November. Most of the Town Council members said Wednesday that they are interested in running again for their seats. This year, Democrat Vincent Testa Jr. will run for mayor, his second attempt at the office. Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., a Republican and the second-longest serving mayor in the state, has said he has not even started thinking about whether he’ll run or not.

Testa’s bid for mayor precludes him from running for council, a position he’s held for eight years now. He said he enjoyed his spot there but has set his sights completely on winning — and then retaining — the mayoral office.

“We have plenty of good people to fill my council position and we’ll be fine,” he said.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Vinnie Avallone said he was not worried about finding six strong Democratic candidates for council seats, the maximum amount either party can hold on the council. There are now three Democrats and six Republicans on the council.

“We hope we get six — both parties obviously have the desire to have a majority on the council,” he said. “We haven’t had any trouble in the past getting candidates and we haven’t seen any trouble so far this year.”

Avallone said he’s received two notices of interest for council seats, including Jason Zandri, who along with Republican Councilor Craig Fishbein helped save the Fourth of July fireworks display when the town cut funding for the event.

Official party endorsements are in July.

Fishbein said he started an exploratory committee to begin fundraising for his run this fall and will switch it to a candidate committee within 10 days after a possible party nomination. Other Republicans, such as Chairman Robert F. Parisi and Vice Chairman Jerry Farrell Jr., said they had not begun to think that far ahead, and were still uncertain whether to make their run official yet.

“I’m leaning toward running, but I’m not really ready to commit, to be honest,” said Parisi, who has a combined 33 years on the council.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Robert Prentice did not return calls Wednesday. Councilor Rosemary Rascati, a Republican, said she would seek a fourth term “if the party will have me.” Republican Vincent Cervoni, still in his first term, said he would seek another.

Democrat John Sullivan, also in his first term, said his last campaign cost more than $4,000, but he would likely run again.

“But it’s still kind of early in the game,” he said.

Democrat Nicholas Economopoulos said he also intended to run again.

Republican John Le-Tourneau, now in his second term, said he would seek a third.

“I feel like I still have some unfinished work to do,” he said. “The first term is a learning experience and the second term is rolling up your sleeves.”

Thursday, May 5, 2011

REMINDER – WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – FINAL FUNDRAISER

clip_image002_thumb FUNDRAISER clip_image002[3]_thumb

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS

FUND

CONCERT NIGHT

Scheduled to play

The Suspects

Bluzberry Pi

42nd Street

ZANDRI’S STILLWOOD INN – 7:00P.M.

1074 SO. COLONY RD.

FRIDAY MAY 6, 2011 TICKETS: $10.00

We are a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization; our tax id# is 27-2576599

For more information, please contact:

Jason Zandri – (203)294-4647 – Jason.Zandri@wallingfordfireworks.org

or visit our website http://wallingfordfireworks.org/

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

AGENDA – SPECIAL WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING – FY 2011 – 2012 BUDGET – May 5, 2011

TOWN OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT

Special Town Council Meeting

May 5, 2011

6:00 P.M.

Town Council Chambers

FY 2011 – 2012 BUDGET

AGENDA

1. Moment of Silence

2. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call

3. BUDGET WORKSHOP

Personnel

Risk Management

Employee Insurance & Benefits

Insurance Property & Casualty

Pension Funds

Monday, May 2, 2011

Pepsi Refresh Project - Help us Fund the 2011 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration

Pepsi Refresh Project - Help us Fund the 2011 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration

http://pep.si/hsXMYO

VOTE NOW!

AGENDA – SPECIAL WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING – FY 2011 – 2012 BUDGET – May 3, 2011

TOWN OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT

Special Town Council Meeting

May 3, 2011

6:00 P.M.

Town Council Chambers

FY 2011 – 2012 BUDGET

AGENDA

1. Moment of Silence

2. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call

3. BUDGET WORKSHOP

Public Works

Engineering

Cap & Non-Recurring

Capital Appropriations

Parks & Recreation

Crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s of nonprofit - Local News from Myrecordjournal.com

Crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s of nonprofit - Local News from Myrecordjournal.com

As published in the Record May 1, 2011

It’s nice to see that the board is adding Bill Fritz of Wallingford, a lifelong Democrat, and Republicans Jim Farrell of East Haven and Donna Spose of North Haven. As the article points out, this gives all three district towns representation and crosses party lines which also allows for some additional balance.

I would encourage everyone to review the story to get the details and then if there are any questions I am sure Mr. Parisi would be willing to follow up personally with anyone that has them.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND – possibly collecting today (Sunday May 1) at Stop and Shop

After 11:30 I am going to head over to Stop and Shop to see about getting set up to collect donations. We’ve gotten permission to collect there if the groups that have reserved the space do not show up. (We’re hoping for that today). Otherwise there’s nowhere for us to set up today.

If we can set up I am figuring to be there to 5PM (again, if we can get set up and if we can stay).

I’ll have a little money collected from yesterday and a few checks that have come in so I will have new totals to publish tonight.

I’ll be sure to follow up – thanks everyone for the support over these final 30 day. (The Mayor needs the funds in to commit the town by the end of the month so it is do or die time for 2011).