Search This Blog

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A BUSY WEEKEND FOR ANDREW



Last December I posted about my nephew Andrew who is afflicted with Cerebral Palsy. I was going to say he "suffers" from it, but I don't think he knows the meaning of the word suffer as he strives to l;ive and enjoy his life.

It has been a tough summer for him as he recovers from surgery at the Shriner's Hospital in Springfield, MA. He had surgery to essentially break and reshape bones in his foot to try an realign his foot to be more functional. He has spent mmuch of the summer in a cast and a wheelchair. It has kept him out of the swimming pool, but other than that he moves on.

He attended the Ivan Lendl Tennis Camp this summer hosted at Saint Joseph College and won the award for best overall tennis player. It was a weeklong camp for young people in wheelchairs and waqs well attended.

Over the last couple of years, as I posted in December, Andrew has developed a real talent for skiing. He has difficulty walking, but he sure can fly down a ski slope. He's beginning to amass a collection of awards and medals as a testament to his ability on his ski's.

Andrew and his younger brother Ryan have both become "mentor's" to other children with physical disabilities with the Ability Plus program at Mount Snow in Vermont.

Andrew is now trying to qualify for the 2014 Paralympics being held in Russia. His mother, and I'm proud to say my sister,has risen to the challenge of raising the funds necessary for him to train and travel.

The first event was held in Somers last month with a miniature golf night and that was very successful. This weekend she has organized a motorcycle ride event called a "Poker Run" and it promises to be a good size event. The rided kicks off from TSI Harley-Davidson in Ellington and ends at Riverside 159 Restaurant at 1530 Palisado Avenue in Windsor.

Food, raffles and entertainment will take place at Riverside 159. If you have a chance, sign up for the ride, or stop by Riverside 159 from 2:00PM on and help support Andrew in his attempt to participate in the 2014 Paralympics.

And on Saturday, Andrew will also be the patient ambassador for the Shriner's Hospital fundraiser walkathon starting at 9:00am.

To read more about Andrew, please go to his website "andrew races.com".

HARTFORD CANCELS QUESTIONABLE MEDICAL BENEFIT


I first posted here on July 29, 2011 about the City of Hartford's questionable medical benefit that allowed City of Hartford employees to travel to Puerto Rico for Medical care. You can read that original posting here

Then on August 14, 2011, the Courant's Kevin Rennie picked up on the story and wrote about it in his column in the Courant. You can read his column here

Now the Courant is reporting that the City has cancelled its contract with Satori Medical due to concerns over a previous fraud conviction involving the companies owner. The Courant story can be found here

Do the words "due diligence" mean anything to those working at Hartford City Hall? A simple Google search before signing any contracts with Satori Medical would have turned up all the information they would need.

Monday, September 12, 2011

JUST TO BE FAIR.....

After the posting regarding the "new" HPD advocate, many comments were posted, actually a record number of comments for the blog. Several had questioned the credentials of Christine Mertes as an attorney.

Just to be fair, I did check with the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) and they confirmed that Christine Mertes is an attorney "in good standing" in the State of Massachusetts.

The original post can be found here

ISN'T IT FUNNY HOW THIS WORKS ?

Last week I had requested the incident report for the Nappier traffic stop. Several other media outlets including WFSB and the Courant had also asked for it and were refused. The explanation was that it was part of an ongoing investigation and exempt from release.

At least one person I spoke with at FOI disagreed with that , but none the less, the report was not released. Luckily, I was able to obtain the report from an "alternative" source and posted it here. Now, apparently HPD has seen the light and decided to abide by the FOI laws. Or did they just figure out that resistance was futile since I had already posted it?

Whatever the reason, the letter below was e-mailed to me this afternoon advising me that the report was available"for immediate release" and it would cost $1.00 for copies. Thanks HPD, but I'm all set. And by the way Channel 3 is all set also, they have it on their website too.

And another question, why are we wasting a sworn police officer, a detective at that, to handle FOI requests? Wouldn't she be better off actually solving crimes instead of violating FOI laws?

Here is the response letter:
State+Treasurer+Dennise+Nappier+Response+Letter

Sunday, September 11, 2011

DO YOU REMEMBER?


My parents with the World Trade Center in the background, shortly before the attacks

"Do you remember where you were when the attacks occurred?", that seems to be the question today as we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11,.

I think just about everyone can recall watching the first tower burn and depending when you were able to get in front of a television, many of us witnessed in real time as the second aircraft slammed into the next tower and the eventual collapse.

More importantly though is the question if you remember the days following the attacks. Do you remember the sense of civility that seemed to sweep our country? Walking down the street complete strangers would acknowledge each other with a smile and a hello rather than ignoring each other.

Do you remember driving, and drivers were actually polite and courteous, the sound of blowing horns was almost nonexistent, drivers would motion for you to go ahead rather than blow their horns and cut you off.

I think we were actually shocked into realizing what was important, but only for a short time. Maybe it is time we try to think about that sense of civility and where we would be going as a country if it once again became an everyday thing.

And while we are at it, remember the heroes that gave their lives that day in 2001. Police, Fire and EMS personnel and even everyday civilians that stepped up and did what they needed to do without regard for their own well being or safety. Many of them that survived are now showing the consequences as various illnesses and forms of cancer are taking their toll on those that were fortunate enough to survive.

And also remember those heroes that were not there at Ground Zero but are playing the continuing role now as they defend our Country. Remember the members of our military as well as civilians that are playing a supporting role to keep our country safe.

And while you are at it, say "thank you" to a first responder you may encounter. Whether it is a police officer, a firefighter or an EMS worker or a military member. In this society we live in, we never know when the next "9/11" may occur and it is reassuring to know that we have people that will readily head into harms way to protect and rescue us as everyone else is headed the other way, away from danger.

Friday, September 9, 2011

JUST A THOUGHT, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

I was watching Channel 3 news at eleven Wednesday night. They displayed a large amount of cash, drugs and guns seized today from Wilson Street in Hartford after an investigation by the shooting task force.

I've also seen that there is some question as to whether the Shooting Task Force will be continued past November of this year. I'm not sure why the timeline exists since gun violence seems to be year round in Hartford now. It also is quite apparent that Hartford's underground economy, the drug trade, fuels much, if not almost all of Hartford's gun violence.

It also seems quite obvious that at many times the right hand might not really be communicating with the left hand. If an operation that has been run with precision, such as that of the shooting task force, can produce the results they have in their short period of existence, why even think about ending it?

Instead, wouldn't it make more sense to strengthen it and expand the program? My thoughts are that Vice and Narcotics, actually make that Narcotics, (the "vice" part should be something the conditions units and Community Service Officers deal with)should be reconstituted and combined with the Shooting Task force unit as the Gun and Narcotics Task Force, roll all of those assigned to Narcotics now into a unit that most likely would produce some real results at reducing crime in Hartford.

And the involvement of the other agencies should also be kept. Drug and gun problems aren't confined within Hartford's borders. Much of the Task forces success is happening because of involvement, information and resources being developed outside of Hartford.A large part of the operational success of the task force, from what I have been told, is due in large part to the operational skills and "management style" pulling the task force together. Former Hartford Police Officer, now Chief Inspector from the State's Attorney's Office James Rovella and Lieutenant Lance Sigersmith, Commander of the HPD Intelligence Division, as well as numerous others from several agencies.

It just seems to make sense, the drugs are linked to the guns and the guns are linked to the drugs and the resources and expertise are out there producing results and making a difference. It would just take some leadership to find the funding and make it happen, most of the money is already being spent on the salaries, so it shouldn't be a big expense. It might actually be an example of working smarter and communicating to get results, rather than duplicating efforts and working against each other.

Let me hear your feedback.