NEWS from ALL OVER:
The International Pancake Races [see my blog post on 3.7.11] were held on March 8. Liberal, Kansas beat Olney England. Liberal now leads Olney 36 to 25.
The hearing for the proposed storm water authority in New Haven on March 17 was contentious. The authority would be financed by a fee levied on all property owners, tax-exempt or not, and would be based on the amount of impermeable surface on their property. A well-organized and vocal group of clergy turned out in great numbers to protest the levying of any fee against those “doing God’s work.” The New Haven Independent covered the lengthy meeting in great detail. The proposal was tabled for a second time.
A huge full moon filled the front window of the bus I boarded in Lexington, Massachusetts on Saturday evening, March 19, just after sunset. Dubbed a “Supermoon,” it was the largest and brightest moon in nearly 20 years. The NASA site explains the phenomenon far better than I ever could. You can see some stunning views of this moon rising over US cities here.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been questioning the safety of the Indian Point Nuclear Reactor since he was the state’s attorney general. In light of the recent disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Reactor, he brokered a meeting with officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on March 22 and exacted an agreement that the NRC would make Indian Point “top priority,” that it would share data on seismic risk, and that state personnel would be included in the commission’s on-site inspection of the facility. Indian Point is up for relicensing in 2013. Indian Point is less than 50 miles from New York City (a 72 mile drive from New Haven, closer as the crow flies) and is situated near a fault line.
It’s Spring in New Haven, but you’d never know it. Snow fell on Monday. A little more fell this morning and a bigger storm will arrive tonight. Still, it is highly unlikely that this year we will exceed the winter snow total set in 1995-1996. We will have to settle for second place.
NEW (OR NEARLY NEW) VENTURES in NEW HAVEN:
Elm City Market received a big boost when Webster Bank committed $4 million to finance the opening of the co-op. Elm City Market has 450 members and is now expected to open this summer. It will employ more than 100 people and expects to source more than 50% of its products within 400 miles of the market.
Downtown grocery shopping will return when Stop & Shop opens at the site of the former Shaw’s in the Dwight neighborhood on April 15.
The venue for the March 16 New Haven Green Drinks [see my blog post on 1.10.10] was Elm City Handmade, “a maker’s showcase in the heart of the ninth square.” Artist Lisa Spetrini was a wonderful host and gave an enthusiastic run-down on the venture, the space, and all that happens there. Elm City Homemade features products from a number of “makers” ranging from terrariums to hula hoops, including bags by GG2G [see my blog post on 7.7.10], as well as vintage clothing, and other surprises. A participant in Project Storefronts under the auspices of the New Haven Department of Cultural Affairs, Elm City Handmade is open from 1-9 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 1-5 PM. NBC-30 featured Project Storefronts during the winter holidays.
Adjacent to Elm City Handmade in the former home of United Way is The Grove, a coworking space, billed as “a new kind of social space.” Its members are “value-driven, collaborative people building innovative solutions for a radically better world.” You can meet them here: you, too, can become a member. The Grove is a Groundworks initiative, directed by Ken Janke and Slate Ballard. Their story is here.
Helping Hands Community Thriftstore and Furniture Bank is looking to fill its warehouse. Helping Hands opened in February. Located at 1593 State Street, New Haven in the former home of the Costume Bazaar, its hours are 9:30 AM-5:30 PM Mon-Sat. Its mission is two-fold. The Furniture Bank is open to needy clients of partnering social service non-profit organizations. For the partnering organizations, donating is a fundraising activity: each organization receives 18% of the sale price of any goods donated in their name. What a great motivation for doing a little spring cleaning! The list of what Helping Hands does and does not accept is available here.
On a recent visit to Nica’s Market I purchased a loaf of fit bread which came in a neon green bag. It made terrific toast. Fit is baked by New Haven’s newest artisan bakery, Whole German Bread. Check out this story in the New Haven Independent to read more about the bread, its bakers, and how the business came to be.
NEW HAVEN BICYCLE HAPPENINGS:
March’s Critical Mass [see my blog post on 5.4.10] ride will depart from the flagpole on the New Haven Green at 5:30(ish) this coming Friday, March 25. The idea behind these monthly rides? As Aretha would say, “A little R-E-S-P-E-C-T” for cyclists. Bundle up.
On Tuesday, March 29, the new Smart Cycling Handbook will be introduced in an event on Pitkin Plaza, the front yard of the Devil’s Gear Bike Shop. At 10:30 AM New Haven Mayor John DeStefano will speak on behalf of the city and in support of the handbook. This handy guide contains everything you need to know for safe biking in the City from routes to rules to repair tips.
Saturday, April 30, is the date of the Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride in New Haven. This event is a day-long celebration of Earth Day. Hundreds of riders traverse the city from West Rock to East Rock in a relatively flat and easy 8.5 mile route, stopping along the way to rest, eat tasty food, help plant some trees, and explore. There is a 22+ mile route for the more hard-core riders. The registration fees and pledges collected support local environmental organizations. Start training now! You can register here.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Saturday, March 26
8:00 PM: Bach Collegium Japan, JS Bach: Mass in B Minor. Special Performance to Benefit Yale’s Relief Efforts for the Japan Earthquake. Woolsey Hall at Yale. Presented by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. $15 ($8 students).
Saturday, March 26
8:30-9:30 PM: Earth Hour
Friday, April 22
Saturday, April 30
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Visit this site for a location near you.
BLOG NEWS:
My blog’s page views crossed the 10,000 mark on March 20! And, just so you know, my own personal page views are not counted. Thanks everyone.
Be sure to come back for this week’s Freebie Friday.
Thanks for the Post on HandMade Storefront. Even though I am often at the Grove. I never had an opportunity to go to the stores. Great Space and wonderful people! I did some video taping but it ate up so much bandwidth I had to ditch the effort.
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