The Performing Arts Center of Connecticut will present a special holiday performance of The  Nutcracker at The Trumbull Library, 33 Quality St., on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.Students from The Performing Arts Center will perform a reading and dance experience for an audience of all ages. The magical Kingdom of Sweets will take the stage and Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score will fill the air and the Sugar Plum Fairy, Arabian, Mirlitons, Russian, Spanish, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince will make the story come alive.

Dancers will perform some of the more notable and memorable solos, pas de deux and pieces.   

Attendees will have the opportunity to pose for photos with the dancers after the performance.  

Free and open to the public.  Registration is requested through the library’s website trumbullct-library.org or by calling 203-452-5197.

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Stratford’s Shakespeare Theatre.

The attorney representing the group hoping to renovate the American Festival Shakespeare Theatre and build an inn on the property believes he’s ready to sign a deal with the town if the Town Council gives Mayor John Harkins the go-ahead.

Attorney Barry Knott said Wednesday that he and the town have finalized discussions on all the outstanding issues between the town and Stratford Stage Group LLC and he is ready to sign a deal to let the group begin renovating the theater.

Knott said he had finalized negotiations with attorney Bruce Jackson, who had filled in for Town Attorney Tim Bishop, as Bishop is out of the country. Knott and Jackson last spoke on Friday.

“Bruce Jackson and I have been working diligently to work on the outstanding issues. As far as my people say, we’re satisfied with the documents,” Knott said. “We’re hoping the town feels the same way.”

Knott didn’t delve much into the proposed lease agreement, but said it is a 10-year deal with four 10-year options. It would also allow for SSG to bring an inn onto the property. Knott said the inn’s operators would have to pay taxes to the town.

“I don’t want to speak for the Town Council, but my clients are satisfied with the status of the negotiations,” Knott said.

The outgoing Town Council has tentatively scheduled a special meeting for Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., with the theater contract expected to be on the agenda. The outgoing council voted in March to choose SSG for the theater redevelopment. It had also rejected a proposal from Elm Street Theater Company, which wanted to redevelop the Shakespeare Theatre using federal and state tax credits.

Ten new council members, several of whom did not support SSG’s proposal, will be sworn in on Dec. 14.

Outgoing Council Chairman Joe Kubic said Wednesday that he wants to get a deal done. While he wants to hear from other council members, Kubic said, it’s in the town’s “best interests” to sign a deal if they have a document that’s close to the plan the council approved in the spring.

“If it does the job, I would like to move it forward for the best interests of the town,” said Kubic, who noted that the departing council members don’t have “special interests” in the theater.

Kubic also dismissed comments that SSG was chosen with the idea that it would fail, noting that the group spent a lot of money on designs and legal fees to prove it is serious. He also said he doesn’t believe the Elm Street company idea was a credible solution.

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If the thoughts of the incoming Town Council members are any indication, the town should not not sign a deal with Stratford Stage Group LLC to redevelop the Stratford American Festival Shakespeare Theatre.

The outgoing council opted at its last regular meeting on Nov. 10 to keep the Shakespeare Theatre negotiations on the table. But the departing council members may act after all. According to council Clerk Carol Cabral, the departing council will have a special meeting on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. to discuss several matters, including a possible contract for the Shakespeare Theatre property.

The outgoing Town Council voted in February to negotiate a deal with Stratford Stage Group LLC, led by David Reed. The SSG plan called for renovating and reopening the theater while also building an inn on the theater’s grounds off Elm Street.

While most of the the outgoing councilors were willing to work with SSG, incoming 2nd District councilman Mark Dumas said the proposed deal with SSG will not be successful because of deed restrictions that prohibit commercial use outside of operation of the theater. The inn would fall into such a category, Dumas said.

Dumas recommends the town stop talks with SSG and begin negotiations with Elm Street Theater Company, which also presented a theater renovation based on generating cash from the sale of tax credits from the state and federal government.

“I believe that the town will be best served by not wasting time or money on a proposal that does not comply with deed restrictions on the property and that the town should instead begin working with the Elm Street Theater Company,” Dumas said, noting that Elm Street was the preferred choice of a special committee last October. “I have spoken with representatives of the Elm Street Theater Company and they still want to move forward with the project.”

Dumas said he’s prepared a resolution that he will present after being sworn in that would have the town end negotiations with SSG and begin working with Elm Street.

“We’ve wasted enough time with Stratford Stage Group,” Dumas concluded.

Incoming 8th District councilman Vincent Chase agrees. In an interview Wednesday morning, Chase said the inn/hotel plan would pose a deed violation.

“I think it’s a problem,” Chase said.

Chase agreed with Dumas that the town should reopen discussions with Elm Street, saying “their hearts are really in it. They have many volunteers who have spent time on their own” working to get the theater open again

Beth Daponte, who will take over as the 1st District councilwoman, said the departing council made the right choice to not vote. Daponte added that the planned inn, which Reed has claimed will make the renovation financially viable and give theatergoers a place to stay, is “an unnecessary distraction from the goal of developing a first-class performance center on beautiful grounds.”

“I commend the outgoing council for responsibly choosing to table the vote on SSG. I am committed to seeing the theater become a viable and flexible performance center,” Daponte said in an email. “The performance center will become one anchor of Stratford’s economic development strategy. Clearly, the new council will revisit the proposed deal with SSG, which was not the recommended developer.”

However, incoming 10th District councilwoman Tina Marie Manus said she wants to talk with the rest of the council before weighing in.

“We are a team. While we may have differing opinions on the issue in the end, I believe that it is important for us to discuss the issue together first,” Manus said in an email. “My colleagues bring a variety of backgrounds and experience to this issue. I would be remiss to think that their input would not be more important in making my final decision.”

Mayor John Harkins said Tuesday that he’s is not involved with the negotiations and did not comment.

Incoming 9th District councilman Alan Llewelyn said late Wednesday that he would like to see an economically feasible theater “brought back to life as soon as possible and without any involvement and/or use of town funds or taxpayer money.”

Llewelyn said he understand the SSG proposal will involve renovating and restoring the theater to operation before doing any other work. Llewelyn said the council intends to bond the modifications to the grounds, meaning that if an inn is built and SSG goes bankrupt, the bond will be pulled.

“If the worst thing that happens is we the people of Stratford end up with a renovated theater on a beautiful piece of waterfront property then why delay or renegotiate or rebid or start another RFP [request for proposals] process?” he said.

Editor’s note: Alan Llewelyn’s comments came after the print edition was published and will only appear in our online story. 

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The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County and the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut are thrilled to announce that they will be collaborating to assist Americans for the Arts with its latest national economic impact study, Arts & Economic Prosperity V. Americans for the Arts is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America; its mission is to serve, advance, and lead the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the full spectrum of arts in America.

This important research project, for which data collection will begin in January of 2016 throughout Fairfield County, will quantify the economic impact of the arts and culture industry in Fairfield County, providing valuable information on how many jobs and how much revenue the industry generates in our area. Americans for the Arts has conducted similar economic impact studies in more than 250 U.S. communities.

Spinnaker Real Estate Partners, located in Norwalk, has stepped up with funding for this important project. “Spinnaker Real Estate Partners is proud to be a sponsor of the Americans for the Arts’ Arts & Economic Prosperity V Study.  The arts and cultural offerings in Fairfield County greatly contribute to strengthening local communities through meaningful economic development,” stated Kim Morque, President of Spinnaker Real Estate Partners. “Investing in this important study will help demonstrate the vital role of the arts and cultural organizations that make Fairfield County a great place to call home.” Additional funders are sought to insure that this study be as thorough and inclusive as possible.

A diversity of arts and culture organizations from the towns supported by the two Alliances covering all of Fairfield County will participate in the project, collecting intercept surveys at various public events. The survey is a simple one-page anonymous questionnaire that takes less than two minutes to complete. Information gathered will be aggregated with studies done in 150 other communities and regions across the country. The project’s final report will be available in June of 2017 and will include aggregate data supplied by participating organizations on revenues, expenses, attendance, staff size, volunteerism, and in-kind support.

“We’re excited by the opportunity to once again participate in Americans for the Arts’ national effort to document the arts and culture industry’s impact in contributing to a robust economy. From creating jobs to generating revenue to supporting tourism, arts and culture is a cornerstone of a vibrant community.” said Angela Whitford, Executive Director at the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. Towns served by the organization include: Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

Lisa Scails, Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, adds, “We understand the importance of ongoing documentation of the tangible ways by which arts and culture impact and underpin a community’s economic climate, growth, and sustainability. Through this collaborative undertaking, we’ll be able to better serve all of our stakeholders. I look forward to working closely with Angela to produce not just a document, but rather a living, breathing, working one.” Towns served by the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut include Danbury, Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, and Sherman.

The previous study, Arts & Economic Prosperity IV, also included the participation of both Alliances. The results, which were revealed in June of 2012, unequivocally demonstrated that the arts are big business. Nationally, the arts and culture industry is a powerful economic engine, generating $135 billion dollars of economic activity, supporting 4.1 million full time jobs, generating $22.2 billion in revenue to local, state and federal governments every year — a yield well beyond their collective $4 billion in arts allocations.

Findings for Fairfield County included in that document show that there is $130 million in economic activity created by arts & cultural organizations, supporting over 4,000 jobs annually. In addition, arts & cultural organizations generated an additional $10.5 million in local and state government revenue, during the time period of the previous study. Plus, visitors to Fairfield County spent an excess of $25 per cultural event they attended – above the price of the ticket.

For more information, contact Angela Whitford, Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, at 203-256-2329, by email at Angela@CulturalAllianceFC.org or visit www.culturalalliancefc.org If located in northern Fairfield County, call Lisa Scails, Executive Director of the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, at 203-798-0760, by email at lscails@cawct.org , or go to artswesternct.org

The mission of the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, based in Norwalk, Connecticut, is to support the cultural organizations, artists, individuals and creative businesses, which make up this vital sector, by providing promotion, services, and advocacy. The Alliance works to build partnerships in the arts and culture sector and the community at large, promote a unified arts and cultural brand for Fairfield County — FCBuzz.org, and to create a pro-active, unified voice for its constituency and the communities in which they live, work and play.

The Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, with offices at 287 Main Street, Danbury, Connecticut, is a leader in supporting a vibrant arts and culture community in Northern Fairfield and Southern Litchfield Counties. The Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut, a 501c-3, works to ensure better access to arts and culture for all residents and visitors in Greater Danbury. It is supported by public and private funding, corporate sponsors, and by its 185 members including more than 55 arts, history, and cultural organizations.

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Dr. Jennifer H. Mattei had a vision, and she shared her view of the future on a windy day at Stratford Point.

“We want to put in pockets of shrubs and trees for migrating birds and we’re putting in two acres over here of pollinator habitat. … This is going to be a site for monarch butterfly and many other pollinator insects that come through,” Mattei said as she gestured toward the mainland.

“We’re getting a native seed mix of New England for the pollinator meadow, which will have flowering plants from early spring to fall,” Mattei said as the Sacred Heart University professor spoke before the awarding of 22 grants totaling more than $1.3 million to groups in Connecticut and New York to improve the health and ecosystem of Long Island Sound.

Mattei said habitat on Stratford Point will feature shrubs that are drought-tolerant but produce berries.

The site had been overtaken by invasive species, until a controlled burn a few springs ago reclaimed it for the flora that originally called it home.

“The ultimate goal is to bring back coastal habitat and manage it for wildlife,” she said. Thanks to a conservation easement, it will never be built on.

Rather, she said, the site at the confluence of the Housatonic River, separating Stratford and Milford, and Long Island Sound will become a demonstration plot, where techniques that can be used at other sites around Connecticut will be tested and showcased.

The public-private grant program pools funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Projects, which are funded through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund, will open up seven miles of river for passage of native fish and restore 180 acres of coastal habitat, including lakes, ponds and grasslands.

Previous grants paid for the installation of an artificial reef off Stratford Point, made of concrete orb pockmarked with holes, called reef balls.

“They’re working beautifully, actually,” Mattei said. “We had the coldest winter on record and four inches of ice covered them, and it survived quite well.”

The reef balls never sank or moved, she said, and there was no erosion. Shellfish and algae took up residence on the balls before baking off in the spring sun, but rockweed and other species then colonized the barriers.

“The plan is to expand it if possible,” Mattei said of the artificial reef.

Expansion is also being made possible in projects that open nature to urban students.

“The grants that are awarded today, particularly for Audubon Connecticut, allow us to expand our work in schools, in New Haven particularly,” Stewart Hudson, vice president and executive director of Audubon Connecticut, said of the money for the Schoolyard Habitats program.

“The grants we have received in the past allow us to expand our shorebird conservation up and down the Connecticut coastline,” Hudson added.

“We must take steps to ensure the health of Long Island Sound for future generations, especially because of the increasing environmental stresses caused by climate change.  Vibrant, sustainable and resilient communities with clean water and healthy habitats are goals we must strive towards to make sure our children and grandchildren can enjoy Long Island Sound as we do today. The grants announced today represent active efforts to protect and restore the Sound, and therefore the community and economy. In addition, the grants solidify the continued involvement of all the community groups and local governments that are so crucial to the state and federal governments’ efforts here,” stated EPA New England Regional Administrator H. Curtis Spalding.

“Long Island Sound is an amazing natural resource, which provides recreation and economic opportunities for millions of people,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Region 2 administrator. “These projects are smart investments that will improve water quality and build resiliency in shoreline communities.”

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund grants will reach more than 130,000 citizens through environmental and conservation programs, allow nearly 1.7 million gallons of water to be treated through water quality improvement projects, and leverage $2.1 million from the grantees themselves, resulting in $3.4 million in funding for on-the-ground, hands-on conservation projects in both states.

“The Long Island Sound and its waterways are among the state and nation’s most precious natural resources. Since 2005, the Futures Fund has provided millions of dollars for hundreds of projects to protect and preserve this critical ecosystem, restoring valuable habitats, treating and cleaning polluted waters, and engaging and educating new generations of advocates and caretakers. These projects will help ensure that we can continue to enjoy the Sound’s unparalleled beauty and benefit from the vital role it plays in supporting our state and region’s economy for centuries to come,” said Connecticut’s senior U.S. senator, Richard Blumenthal.

“As a kid, I spent my summers on the beaches of Long Island Sound, so I know that Connecticut is defined by the economic and ecological power of the Sound. Today’s $1.3-million Long Island Futures Fund grant, funding that I’m proud to have fought for in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, will support community projects along the coast that will make a real difference in continuing our progress towards cleaning up the Sound. The public-private partnerships funded by today’s grant show our commitment to the health of the Sound and to ensuring that our children and grandchildren can enjoy it for generations to come,” U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said.

“The new Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan will help us build a more resilient and healthy Sound for future generations. As co-chair of the Congressional Long Island Sound Caucus, I will continue to fight for the funding needed to carry out the plan, and continue the restoration and protection of this ecosystem so Americans can continue to enjoy it for years to come,” U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd) said.

“The Sound has always been of special importance to the people and communities of Connecticut and Long Island. It’s where we live, work and play and touches almost every aspect of our lives. Restoring the health of ecosystems, removing pollution, and increasing wildlife habitat are issues we’re not going to be able to achieve in a year, or even five years; it’s going to take dedicated, long-term effort. That’s why I am supportive of the NFWF Sound Futures Fund. We need the education and resources it provides to drive community involvement and ensure that the Sound is here for future generations to enjoy and protect. I believe we should all see ourselves as protectors of our wild, natural spaces,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th).

“One of the greatest environmental challenges facing our nation and its communities is the restoration and protection of highly productive estuaries,” stated the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s vice president for conservation programs, Eric Schwaab. “The funding awarded today represents the foundation’s and U.S. EPA’s continuing commitment, as well as the commitment of other federal and state partners, to restoration efforts that will improve the health and living resources of Long Island Sound.”

The Long Island Sound Study initiated the Long Island Sound Futures Fund in 2005 through the EPA’s Long Island Sound Office and NFWF. To date, the program has invested $14 million in 324 projects in communities surrounding the Sound. With a grantee match of $28 million, the Long Island Sound Futures Fund has generated a total of $42 million for locally based conservation in both states. The projects have opened up 157 river miles for fish passage, restored 1,024 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat and open space, treated 100 million gallons of pollution from ground and surface sources, and educated and engaged 1.8 million people from communities surrounding the Sound.

“We are pleased to support our conservation partners through this collaborative effort,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Regional Director Wendi Weber. “These are diverse projects — from introducing youth to wildlife and the outdoors in their schoolyards and neighborhoods, to restoring the health of our rivers, coastal marshes, forest, and grasslands. But collectively, these projects demonstrate the connection between healthy ecological communities and healthy human communities. These types of local efforts will go a long way to create a more resilient coast.”

“Connecticut DEEP is committed to its partnership with the Long Island Sound Study, and to working with our neighbors in New York as well as the EPA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to continue to preserve Long Island Sound, one of our most valuable natural resources.  This year $600,433 will support Connecticut projects to improve water quality, restore rivers, grasslands and coastal habitat for native fish and birds, and educate and engage current and future generations of citizens to create resilient communities that use, appreciate and help protect Long Island Sound,” stated Mike Sullivan, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection deputy commissioner.

“Long Island Sound is a vitally important ecosystem that continues to be on the road to recovery, thanks to funding provided through successful programs like the Long Island Sound Futures Fund,” said Basil Seggos, acting commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “DEC applauds all the awardees for their innovative projects to improve the health of this environmental and economic treasure by addressing pressing issues such as storm water runoff, fish passage and wetland loss. We look forward to working with our local, state and federal partners to keep protecting and restoring Long Island Sound.”

Long Island Sound is an estuary that provides economic and recreational benefits to millions of people while also providing habitat for more than 1,200 invertebrates, 170 species of fish, and dozens of species of migratory birds. The Long Island Sound Study, developed under the EPA’s National Estuary Program, is a cooperative effort between the EPA and the states of Connecticut and New York to protect and restore the Sound and its ecosystem. To learn more about the LISS, visit www.longislandsoundstudy.net. For full descriptions of the Long Island Sound Futures Fund grants, visit http://longislandsoundstudy.net/about/grants/lis-futures-fund/.

Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,000 organizations and committed more than $2.9 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.

Dr. Jennifer H. Mattei of Sacred Heart University explains how Long Island Sound grants are transforming Stratford Point and creating a model for other habitat reclamation. — John Kovach photo

Reef balls like this have created an artificial barrier to erosion and habitat for aquatic life off Stratford Point — John Kovach photo

EPA New England Regional Administrator H. Curtis Spalding discusses 22 grants totaling more than $1.3 million awarded Thursday, Nov. 12, through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund.

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The Stratford Library will present a special holiday program of the Dylan Thomas classic, A Child’s Christmas in Wales on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m., in the Lovell Room. The event is sponsored by the Friends of Square One Theatre who also will provide light refreshments. It is free and open to the public.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales is told through a series of warm childhood remembrances of growing up in Wales. Dylan Thomas’ mastery of poetic prose as well as his gorgeous use of the English language reflects not only the Victorian era in Wales from which it evolved but also of a family portrait that speaks of and to the human condition.

The prosaic work is brought to life by professional actor Colin Lane with live musical accompaniment by Rebecca Zaretzky. Lane has performed on and Off-Broadway and in most of the major regional theaters from Boston to Los Angeles and Minneapolis to Florida. He’s a Dramalogue award winner for his role as Frank Sweeney in Molly Sweeney at the Mark Taper Forum in LA. The actor has performed A Child’s Christmas in Wales over the past 25 years from Boston to Off-Broadway.

The performance is suitable for adults who wish to reminisce and children old enough to sit through a live performance of 30 minutes.

More information is available at stratfordlibrary.org or 203-385-4162.

Actor Colin Lane and musician Rebecca Zaretzky will perform A Child’s Christmas in Wales at the Stratford Library on Dec. 6, at 2 p.m.

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For the 25th consecutive year, hundreds of state residents will gather on Dec. 10 at ceremonies in 11 southern Connecticut cities and towns to remember departed loved ones as part of the Tree of Light program hosted by Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut. The traditional community gatherings began in 1991 as friends and families of hospice patients cared for by VNS came together to honor the memory of their loved ones at a community tree lighting ceremony on a town green. This year, some 1,000 residents will have the names of their departed family members and friends read during the non-denominational ceremonies which are open to the public.

Tree of Light ceremonies are planned for Bridgeport, Fairfield, Easton, Huntington/Shelton, Milford, Monroe, Oxford, Southport, Stratford, Trumbull and Westport. Each Tree of Light ceremony will include a memorial roll reading of the names of the deceased, music, a brief inspirational reading, tree lighting and a reception afterwards.

Many families mark the occasion by contributing a symbolic memorial light to their community’s Tree of Light, These contributions benefit VNS’ Hospice at Home program and enable VNS to provide compassionate care and comfort for individual families in need. The memorial green, blue, and white lights symbolize the comfort, dignity and peace provided by the professional staff and volunteers of VNS’ Hospice at Home program.

Residents are invited to have the names of their family members or loved ones read during the memorial roll or to have a memorial light on their community’s tree. For information on how to participate in the 25th annual Tree of Light in your community, call VNS at 203-366-3821, ext. 1111, or visit vnsct.com.

Attendees hold candles in memory of deceased loves ones at a recent VNS Tree of Light ceremony.

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For those who missed the November test date, Sacred Heart Academy will offer an entrance exam Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Academy, 265 Benham Street, Hamden.

To register for the exam, candidates for admission must submit the application for admission online at sacredhearthamden.org with $60 fee by Tuesday, Dec. 8. Students should arrive at 9 a.m.; testing concludes at noon.

For more information or to arrange an interview or “shadow day,” contact Director of Admissions Elaine Lamboley, at 203-288-2309, ext. 307.

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Construction work at Interstate 95’s Exit 30 in Stratford will cause highway closures during overnight hours beginning on Nov. 23.

The state Department of Transportation announced the work will be done on the northbound and southbound lanes from Nov. 23 to Dec. 1. The work of removing old and installing new overhead signs and sign supports will require implementation of a full highway closure for intermittent periods. The closures will occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Traffic control personnel and signing patters will be utilized to guide motorists through work zones. Drivers should be aware that modifications or extensions of the schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions.

In addition, construction activities associated with the installation of signs along Route 25, Interstate 84 and Interstate 95 in Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Orange, West Haven, Trumbull and Danbury will require the implementation of both day and nighttime lane restrictions. This work is scheduled to run through Dec. 15.

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Ryan Marcone and Callan Suozzi-Rearic in The Island Boys at Urban Stages. Marcone wrote and performed in the play. — Contributed photo

Being on stage and stepping into other people’s shoes has been something that has long intrigued Ryan Marcone. Even if the people you’re portraying aren’t universally loved.

“I think the goal of every actor on stage is to make your character sympathetic. No one is interested in going out and twisting their mustache like Snidely Whiplash,” said Marcone. “The things we do or see as bad or detestable are to them the only course of action.”

Marcone, 24, is immersing himself in acting. The Stratford native and Bunnell High School alumnus is settled in New York City, making his way in the world one stage at a time.

Ryan Marcone as Jonah Kane in The Island Boys at Urban Stages in New York City. — Contributed photo

The acting path, however, was not clear-cut at the beginning of his high school years. He played football at Bunnell in his freshman year, but admits he was not good at it and “I decided I was tired of getting hit in the head.”

Later during his freshman year, he watched a BHS production of West Side Story and was hooked.

“I couldn’t stop talking about it,” Marcone said. “My friends told me I wouldn’t shut up. I said it was a nice alternative to getting hit in the head.”

He became hooked on acting, participating in Bunnell productions all the way through graduation in 2009. He continued acting at the University of Connecticut, where he majored in acting and English. In all, Marcone took part in 16 productions at UConn before graduating in 2014.

“There’s something about being up on stage and getting to tell a story and slip on the skin of someone who’s not you,” Marcone said.

Before going, Marcone said he considered majoring in something else, possibly more secure. But Ryan’s father, Rick, the town’s Democratic registrar, encouraged him to make acting his career.

“He sat me down and said, “You’re going to be working for the next 50 years of your life.

If you don’t enjoy doing it, what’s the point?” Now Marcone gives his dad full credit for his giving acting a shot full-time.

“This was new. It was a fun hobby; I didn’t think it was something I’d do at the next level,” Marcone said.

Now Ryan Marcone has acting as his job, living in New York City and acting in productions in and around the city. He recently got to experience other aspects of the theater business as he wrote, directed and starred in The Island Boys. The show, which was on stage for five shows last weekend, focuses on two men five years removed from a sailing trip gone bad in which they had to spend 40 days on a deserted island with one character confronting the other about things that happened there. Marcone began writing the story over the summer while touring with the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey.

“I’m a big believer in, as an actor, the best way to work is to do you own acting,” he said.

Marcone’s original script involved using one of the characters from the classic story Lord of the Flies. However, he was told in August by Penguin Publishing that he did not have the right to use a character from the book. Marcone got the bad news while playing golf with his father.

“It was the low point in the process,” he said. “When they told me, I was crushed. I never played a worse game of golf.”

Rather than abandoning the project, Marcone pushed on, made some changes and got the show on stage at Urban Stages on 30th Street in Manhattan, including raising money to use an off-Broadway stage and letting people know it was going on.

“I could have shut it down and said, ‘You tried,’ or I could redouble my efforts to try to make it work. I kind of have an inability to sit on my hands, so I decided I’m not going to let it die,” he said.

Marcone enjoyed his foray into the business side, and “The Island Boys” had a good, though short, run. He’s now taking a break and hopes to have the story published and then put on by another company.

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The Mishkan Israel Day Camp will once again light a menorah in celebration of the Chanukah holiday at 6 p.m. at the following locations:

• Monday, Dec. 7, Monroe Town Green.
• Tuesday, Dec. 8, in front of Trumbull Town Hall.
• Wednesday, Dec. 9, Sherman Green.
• Thursday, Dec. 10, Easton Town Green.

This year marks the 26th year that Mishkan has been lighting the Menorah in Fairfield, the 30th in Easton and Trumbull, the fourth annual in Monroe, and the 70th year of serving the entire Fairfield County region by providing vital programs and assistance to those in need. This yearly event is held in conjunction with the holiday of Chanukah.

These annual events will be attended by distinguished, honorable First Selectmen of Fairfield, Easton, Trumbull and Monroe: Michael C. Tetreau, Adam Dunsby, Tim Herbst and Steve Vavrek, and the chiefs of the police and fire departments of these towns, as well as many other town officials and dignitaries. Also expected to attend are the State Police Dept. and local agents of the FBI field office in Bridgeport.

Mishkan Israel Day Camp began in Bridgeport in 1945 by Rabbi and Mrs. Israel Stock — emissaries of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchock Schneersohn of blessed memory. In 1975, it branched out to include Stamford and the surrounding communities of Fairfield County.

Mishkan Israel Day Camp is located in a state of the art, air-conditioned facility right in the heart of North Stamford, and serves youngsters from throughout the entire Fairfield County area during the summer months.

Events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served, musical entertainment, special children’s program.

For free menorahs and information, call 203-268-0740, visit mishkanisrael.com, or email mishkanday@aol.com.

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Bridgeport Rescue Mission is joining forces with two local agencies — Park City Communities and Greater Bridgeport Transit — to ensure that seniors receive a meal this Thanksgiving.  Senior citizens from Park City Communities apartment complexes will be transported for free by the Greater Bridgeport Transit to the Mission’s Great ThanksGiving Project, an outreach to provide 3,000 Thanksgiving Food Bags and coats to struggling community members.

“Transportation for our senior citizens is a big challenge and the Greater Bridgeport Transit is helping alleviate that obstacle, working with Park City Communities to coordinate rides to our Great ThanksGiving Project,” said Mission Executive Director Terry Wilcox.  “We are blessed to have compassionate community partners who are willing to step up in a time of need and work together to make sure no one goes hungry this Thanksgiving.”

Buses will transport a total of 100 senior residents of Eleanor Apartments and Fireside Apartments, both part of the Park City Communities, to the Great ThanksGiving Project located at the Webster Bank Arena.  Residents of Eleanor Apartments are scheduled to arrive at the Arena Monday, Nov. 23, at approximately 2 p.m., and Fireside Apartment residents will be transported on Tuesday, Nov. 24, arriving at approximately 2 p.m.  Volunteers will serve as personal shoppers for each senior, helping them collect their Thanksgiving Food Bag and winter coat and return to the bus for departure.

The media is encouraged to attend for photo opportunities during the Great ThanksGiving Project taking place Nov. 20, 21, 23 & 24, at the Webster Bank Arena from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

For more information on the Great ThanksGiving Project or the Mission’s programs and services for homeless and hurting men, women and children, contact Jessica Allen, communications manager, at the numbers listed above or visit BridgeportRescueMission.org.

Bridgeport Rescue Mission demonstrates the love of God to hungry, homeless and addicted people throughout coastal Fairfield County, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  We fight poverty from the inside out by providing a place of hope and dignity through a yearlong educational program, biblical counseling and case management.  We are funded by compassionate individuals, churches, businesses and organizations.

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Stratford resident and clarinet player Emma Reed, class of 2018, at Sacred Heart Academy is among four students from Sacred Heart who were selected to participate in the Connecticut Music Educator Association (CMEA) Regional Auditions for All State Choir, Band, and Orchestra this Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Waterbury Arts Magnet School.

Other Sacred Heart Academy students include Haley Bothwell ’18 (Oxford), flute; Eunji Lee ’18 (Trumbull), violin; and Zoe Lamoreaux ’19 (Guilford), Bassoon.

Each year, CMEA judges select the best area musicians for an All State Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Jazz Band on both middle and high school levels. This is done through a multi-layered audition process based on the location of the school. Students first audition at the Regional Level; Sacred Heart is in the Southern district. Students prepare scales and specific pieces for the audition and are expected to sight read as well. Trained public school music teachers from throughout Connecticut serve as judges. If students do well enough at regionals, they move on to All State auditions in January and from there some are invited to perform in the All State Festival with the best high school musicians in the state.  Sacred Heart has had five students participate in the All State Festival in the last ten years. It is an extremely competitive process!

A wide variety of opportunities for growth in the Fine and Performing Arts nurtures future artists, actors, and musicians as well as students who simply desire to explore the wealth of fine arts experiences available at the Academy. Students engage as singers, actors, dancers, painters, sculptors, photographers, and technicians. Teachers provide a supportive environment that encourages creativity and the expansion of young minds through hands-on experience. Through courses in music, drama, media production and the visual arts students learn to appreciate beauty through aesthetic awareness, to evaluate, and to think and learn in an active and artistic manner.

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Baldwin Center calendar

Mondays-Fridays, 8:30-4

1000 West Broad Street

203-385-4050

Friday, Nov. 20 — 9 CARES, zumba, men’s club; 9:30 mahjongg; 10 Tai Chi; 11 trip; 11:45 lunch; 12:30 cards, tag sale; 1 Baldwin Players rehearsal, pokeno, ping pong, tap.

Monday, Nov. 23 — 9 CARES, aerobics; 9:30 knitting; 10 crochet; 11:30 Italian; 11:45 lunch; 12:30 quilting; 12:45 bingo; 1 ping pong.

Tuesday, Nov. 24 — 9 CARES, zumba; 10 sittercise; 10:30 line dance; 11 yoga, Spanish; 11:45 lunch; noon Stew Leonard’s; 12:30 ladies poker, mahjongg; 12:45 watercolor; 1:30 Sing Together, dance; 2:30 watercolor.

Wednesday, Nov. 25 — 9 CARES, yoga, men’s club, zumba; 10 strength; 11:45 lunch; 12:30 men’s poker, Wii bowling; 1 writing.

Thursday, Nov. 26 — Closed in observance of Thanksgiving.

Strength training

Join Bobbi Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. for a strength training class. Strength training in older adults improves flexibility and balance, which can decrease the likelihood and severity of falls. Increased bone density is another benefit.  Bring 1-2 lb. hand weights. Registration not necessary. Open to the senior community.

CARES program

Stratford Senior Services is accepting new participants for its CARES program. CARES is a social model activities program designed for older adults who may have a memory impairment or are physically too frail to participate in the programs at the Baldwin Center. The program provides seniors with a variety of therapeutic recreational activities within a supervised and structured environment.

The C.A.R.E.S. Program is housed at the Raymond E. Baldwin Center, 1000 West Broad Street. Program hours are Monday-Friday, 9-3:30. Participants are provided with a continental breakfast in the morning, a hot lunch in the afternoon, and snacks. Programming includes music, exercise, trivia and other word games, and activities that help individuals with balance and hand-eye coordination.

Cost to attend the C.A.R.E.S. program is $15/day for Stratford residents, and $20/day for non-Stratford residents. For more information, call 203-385-4050 or 203-385-4055 and ask for Erin or Diane.

Poker anyone?

The men’s poker group that plays on Wednesday afternoons at 1 p.m. is looking for more players. To join, or for more information call Vinnie at 203-335-3623.

Credit checks

The first Thursday of each month, Jack Cratty will be at the Center to help people with their credit checks. Each appointment is confidential and Jack will help check your credit score and make sure you are not a victim of any scams.

Jack is a retired Stratford detective who was with the Police Department for 30 years. A resident since 1969, he also is past president of Crime Watch, is a current member of the Stratford Rotary Club, and is very experienced at helping people with their credit reports. Jack will be available, by appointment, from 9:30-noon. Sign up at the Center’s front desk.

Qi-Gong

Improve circulation in all parts of the body with Qi-Gong Monday and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. Qi-Gong is a breathing practice developed thousands of years ago. It promotes physical relaxation and mental calmness. Advance registration not required. Class fee $1.

Tai Chi

Reduce your risk of falling with Tai-Chi Monday and Fridays at 10 a.m., in the main hall. Tai-Chi is a popular form of exercise due to its health benefits. It creates balance, flexibility, and calmness. Tai-Chi may help with arthritis, coordination and balance, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. Advance registration not required. Class fee $1.

Tap dancing

Led by a Stratford Dance Academy Instructor, $4/class. Call for the date of the next six-week session.

Yoga

Classes for persons 55 and over are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 11 a.m. and Wednesdays, at 9 a.m. Yoga is an ancient practice that connects the mind, body, and spirit through body poses, controlled breathing, and meditation. Geared towards strengthening and stretching the muscles of older adults. Advance registration not required.

Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation which also promotes healing. This technique is administered by placing hands on or over the body and is based on the idea that life force energy flows through us. If one’s life force energy is low, we are more inclined toward illness or stress. Clients are fully clothed. Appointments available on the second and fourth Thursday of every month, 10-noon. Sign-up at the center’s front desk. Fee: $1/per minute; 10-minute minimum session recommended for benefits.

Monday bingo

The Baldwin Center offers bingo in the main hall on Monday afternoons at 12:45. Bingo cards are .50 cents per card or three cards for $1. Several different games are played. Any senior age 55 and older may attend.

Men’s Club seeks members

The Stratford Senior Men’s Club is looking to expand its membership. The group gets together to bowl, play bocce, pinochle, etc. Club meets twice a month at the Baldwin Center. They host speakers that cover topics ranging from hobbies, sports, history, local news, health, and more. Robert Batka, 203-375-6814.

Dakim BrainFitness

Easy to use, computer-based program designed specifically for adults exercises six essential cognitive domains in every session and self-adjusts the level of challenge for each user in each domain, so everyone receives customized therapy. It is the number one brand of brain fitness in America’s senior living market and has been shown to significantly improve memory, both immediate and delayed, and language skills as it strengthens attention, focus, and concentration. To schedule a session, call Lauren Donovan, 203-385-4050.

Spanish class

Instructor Cindy Brand offers a beginners class which includes speaking and culture, as well as vocabulary and grammar, Tuesdays, 11 a.m., $2, 203-385-4050.

All levels exercise

Stop by the Baldwin Center and check out classes that include aerobics, zumba, qigong, pilates, yoga, tai chi and sittercise. They offer cardio classes for those who want to get their heart rate up and low impact classes that help with balance, coordination and flexibility. Visit the center and pick up a current schedule or try out a class. Information: Lauren Donovan, 203-385-4050.

Wii bowling

Play every Wednesday and Thursday, 12:30. Additionally, group competes against other senior centers in the area. No experience required.

Italian classes

Conversational Italian taught by Anna Sincavage Mondays, 11:30, Baldwin Center library. Class fee: $2, 203-385-4050.

Sikorsky Teamsters of Stratford

Meets second Wednesday of the month, 11, Union Hall, 150 Garfield Ave. Bette, 203-375-7313 or 203-243-5633.

Free Internet

Stratford Senior Services offers free wireless connection to the Internet at the Baldwin Center Coffee Shop weekdays, 9-3.

CT Veterans Wartime Service Medal

Established by the 2005 General Assembly, any veteran who served at least 90 days during wartime and was honorably discharged is eligible for the medal. Visit ct.gov/ctvg. Applications also are available at Baldwin Center Main Desk, and can be submitted to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Sterling House will host their Thanksgiving food drive on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9:30-1 p.m.

Last year, Sterling House Community Center was able to provide 240 local families with Thanksgiving dinners. This year Sterling is asking the public for assistance again.

Donations needed include instant mashed potatoes, boxes of stuffing mix, turkey gravy cans, fruit cocktail cans. Turkeys are also needed, but due to storage concerns Sterling can only accept them on Monday, Nov. 23.

Participating groups include:

Stratford Rotary Club, IGIP, Sterling House STROBE Youth Volunteer Group, Sterling House Interns, Stratford Public Schools, Our Lady of Grace Church, Ameriprise, J. N. Philips Autoglass, Sikorsky Aircraft, First Congregational Church, Perry House Foundation, Kitchen Brains.

Sterling House Community Center is located at 2283 Main Street, Stratford.

Information: 203-378-2606; sterlinghousecc.org.

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The Performing Arts Center of Connecticut, located at 18 Lindeman Drive in Trumbull, will present its annual A Winter Ballet featuring Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic, The Nutcracker Kingdom of Sweets, original choreography to seasonal favorites, caroling and a special visit from Santa Claus.

There are two shows: Saturday, Dec. 5, at 1 and 7 p.m., at the Trumbull High School Auditorium, 72 Strobel Road, Trumbull. All proceeds to benefit Trumbull High School Theatre Arts Program.

Reserves seats are $20 plus web service fees.  Tickets on sale now at showclix.com under A Winter Ballet – PACC or at Trumbull High School auditorium box office one hour before show time.

For more information: call 203-372-ARTS, email PACofCT1@gmail.com or visit www.pacofct.com.

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The Stratford Community Concert Band will present its annual Holiday Concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Baldwin Senior Center, 1000 West Broad Street, Stratford. Wayne Hiller will direct the band in a swing-themed musical program of familiar holiday music specially arranged for the Band by Hiller. Ample parking is available and the concert is free.

For more information, contact band president Dr. Robert E. Sherman at 203-556-4097 or email footdoc7777@gmail.com.

The Band will present the same program a week later on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m., at the South Community Building of Oronoque Village in Stratford.

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Blessed by the lowest gas prices for Thanksgiving since 2008, an estimated 47 million Americans nationwide will make their annual pilgrimage to Grandma’s this holiday.

In its annual holiday travel survey, AAA projects a scant .6 of a percent increase in the number of people traveling between Nov. 25 and 29.

The slight increase marks the 7th consecutive year of growth for Thanksgiving travel as the most Americans carve out time to visit family and friends since 2007.

So look for busy roadways and crowded airports on Wednesday. Of the overall 47 million travelers,

• 89.3% or 42 million will travel by auto, a .7 of a percent increase;

• 7.7% or 3.6 million will travel by air, a very slight .1 of a percent increase; and

• 3% or 1.3 million will take some other mode of transportation including rail, bus or cruise ship, a 1.4% decrease compared to last year.

There’s a cornucopia of reasons why travel has increased this year, according to the Travel experts: cheaper gas prices, more spending money and employment growth are all contributing to the increase.

Drivers nationwide continue to experience significant yearly savings in the price of gas and AAA estimates that consumers are saving nearly $265 million on gasoline daily compared to a year ago.

Most U.S. drivers will pay the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2008. Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.15, 66 cents less than the average price on Thanksgiving last year ($2.80).

In Connecticut, average prices are much higher, but they too are dropping. As of today, the average price of gas in The Nutmeg State is $2.28, 90 cents lower than this time last year. ($3.20)

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, travelers this holiday will also see:

• A 10% drop in airfares;

• An 8% increase in car rentals; and

• Relatively flat rates for AAA Three Diamond hotels.

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Colorado-based business information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA/IHS Global Insight 2015 Thanksgiving holiday travel forecast can be found here.

AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with 61 offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York providing more than 5.2 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, finance, and auto-related services.

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Michael Taylor, president of Vita Nouva, talks about a light industrial complex reuse for the Raymark ball field site during a meeting on Thursday. — Melvin Mason photo

The contaminated Raymark ball field could be linked with the former Contract Plating site and the nearby Department of Public Works and transformed into a light industrial complex.

That post-waste cleanup vision was presented to town residents on Thursday during a pair of meetings hosted by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and consultant Vita Nuova of Newtown.

The concept includes two 20,000-square foot industrial flex buildings, a 30,000-square foot industrial flex building, spreader racks and a vehicle storage building for the town’s Department of Public Works as well as reconfigured parking, and a restricted access connector road from Longbrook Avenue. There would also be a green space buffer to give residents near the property a break from sounds and views from those buildings.

Elaine Richardson, vice president of Vita Nuova, told visitors to the meeting at Town Hall that the most important aspects of real estate are location, access and visibility. So that’s how the looked at the possible use of the Raymark ball field.

Positive aspects include the possible creation of the new Exit 33 off Interstate 95 and that Stratford is a viable economic environment, Richardson said. But the ball field does have constraints, she said, because it isn’t flat, has no stormwater management and doesn’t have great access.

Vita Nuova was chosen to assist Stratford in understanding the redevelopment opportunities presented there. The workshops were intended to get input on the idea and what could happen there.

Stratford recently started demolition of buildings at the Contract Plating site off Longbrook Avenue with state grant dollars. Mayor John Harkins and other town officials want to get the property cleaned up and back on the tax rolls, though no specific plans for Contract Plating have been identified.

Frank Bevacqua said he liked the ball field redevelopment as a way of getting the field back into use as well as seeing the Contract Plating useful again. Bevacqua said it will be nice to finally get bad materials out of other sites in town to make things better for residents.

Britt Hughes, who grew up on Housatonic Avenue near the Ferry Creek operable unit, is “thrilled” with the proposal.

“This is the first time that the EPA has come to Stratford that the EPA has a well thought-out, comprehensive, safe plan to complete this project,” he said.

Before any redevelopment happens, work to remediate the sites has to be done. The EPA presented a comprehensive plan this month with a national EPA priority panel to fund all nine operable Raymark units. The proposal would involve moving contaminated Raymark waste from some operable unit sites around town to the Raymark ball field, also known as Operable Unit 4, off Frog Pond Lane for consolidating and capping with most hazardous waste moved out of town.

Anni Loughlin, an EPA superfund section chief, said the application is different than applying for funding each of the units individually, she said. While the application could bring in more than $100 million for the cleanup, it would not be given in one lump sum, Loughlin said. Rather the cleanup would be paid for over years until it is finished, she said.

“We wanted to present the site as a whole to this panel,” she said. “Once the first amount of funding comes to Raymark for work on the initial OUs, some amount of funding is all but guaranteed to come to the project every year until the entire project is done.”

Ronald Curran, an environmental analyst with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said some residents at the meeting at Wilcoxson School were concerned about moving more waste to the ball field site and adding DPW buildings. But several were receptive of the proposal because many want cleanup to begin.

“The general consensus is they’d like to get this project done,” Curran said.

Loughlin said the EPA will not know until next spring if the cleanup project will be funded, but she said the agencies are very optimistic that it will be funded, noting that EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, a former DEEP commissioner, is familiar with the site. Between her interest and the town’s work in starting renovation of the Contract Plating site, “all of the signs seem to be aligning,” Loughlin said.

The EPA will have a meeting to hear public comments on the proposed cleanup plans early next year before a final decision on cleanup funding is issued.

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Walsh’s Wonderings

I was the world’s worst paperboy. In the salad days before the Internet, newspaper delivery boys achieved a certain status among pre-teens. We delivered the news. In my case, I usually delivered it late on a rickety 10-speed bicycle. I never saw a papergirl, but she would have been a big improvement on my abysmal record.

I like to blame my poor delivery skills on the fact I never wanted to be a paperboy in the first place. I needed a job after lawn-cutting season ended and a classmate’s older brother was looking for someone to help him expand his route.

I’d grown to hate my bike because I had to ride it so much to get around as it was. In the days before carpools, children in large families didn’t travel well. Delivering newspapers would ruin bike riding for me forever.

My route was actually a subcontracting job; my high school boss hired me and oversaw my inadequacy. I don’t know if I was paid a fair wage, but I know no amount of money ever felt worth it. I was asked to pick up the tied bundles he’d leave on his lawn and assemble the papers (advertisements often had to be inserted into the papers). The weekday editions were easy, but the Sunday paper required almost an hour to combine the extra sections. I learned to hate cartoons because of the work involved in adding them to the bulky papers I’d have to squeeze into the small blue bread bag to keep them together.

We’d use the same bags when it rained. I was the world’s worst paper stuffer and I didn’t have the stamina to bring them all back to my house, compile them, then go and attack the same hills for delivery. As a result, I crammed the slightly damp papers into the bags right there on the street. On rainy days, my customers had to handle their newspapers with gloves lest they get dishpan hands by the time they finished reading.

On the other hand, if it rained hard enough my mom would have to drive me along my route. As a result, I’d pray for rain the way ancient Native Americans would during a drought.

It didn’t help that no one ever sat me down and explained how the delivery game worked. I assumed every paper had to be delivered to customers personally. My neighbors looked at me quizzically when I appeared on their doorsteps with that day’s Bridgeport Post. It turns out nobody likes a sweaty 10-year-old waking them up at 7:30 on a Sunday morning. In our house, sleeping in past 7 a.m. was sacrilege, so I never thought twice about assuming my neighbors held the same view.

There’s also something inherently cruel about asking a kid to ride up long, sloping hills with a pile of papers tied precariously to his rear fender. It got worse when it came time to collect money. No one should have to be a debt collector at such a young age. It was awkward watching my neighbors hide behind curtains as I knocked on their doors. My boss kept yelling at me for falling behind on my collections, but I began to feel like a prepubescent Snidely Whiplash.

By the time I spent one windy Sunday morning-into-afternoon picking up the scattered remains of the giant stack of newspapers that had fallen off my bike while grinding up a particularly long hill, I’d had enough. I crammed them back onto my bike and rode to a large trash container at a local construction site. I tossed them in the garbage and swore I was done with newspapers forever.

Now, all these years later, it’s probably the same reaction some of you have to reading my column. Here’s hoping it at least arrived dry.

You can read more at RobertFWalsh.net, contact him at rob@RobertFWalsh.net or follow him on Twitter @RobertFWalsh.

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