Street Wake Boarding and Sandy

Hers's an idea to pass time and have fun after we've seen the worst of Sandy.  Our Caribbean friends in Santo Domingo saw Sandy pass Thursday, Oct. 25 2012. When the sun came out so did the wake boards and the fun began. 

How to do it? A high chassis vehicle, a long robe with a handle on one end and a wake board.  
Now we don't know what Sandy will bring.  If it's rain it will help that your neighborhood suffers terrible drainage.  If its snow install chains on that high chassis vehicle and  rename that wake board.....snow board.  If it's ice get out those ice skates.

Wake Boarding Can Be Fun Anywhere

Garden Bridge Underpass

The route 32 underpass in the old days, now The Garden on the Bridge. There were many underpass vs truck incidents over the years but the grand daddy of all troublesome railroad underpasses is located in Durham NC. It has been made famous by a couple web-cams and it's own web site.


The Bridge Always Wins

website: http://11foot8.com/

Recognizing the potential for rich cinéma vérité, a local man named Jürgen Henn has taken it upon himself to act as the official videographer of this panel-crumpling bridge. On his YouTube channel, he's compiled dozens of wince-worthy scalpings; he also maintains a website, 11 Foot 8, where he attempts to answer all questions related to this nightmare of traffic-infrastructure logistics.

Vintage American Thread Pictures

American Thread Photos

A gallery of approximately 36 photographs,the majority, taken (my estimate) in the mid 1950's and  1960's.  It appears many of the photos were shot for publicity, public or institutional relations and marketing purposes.  The work place appears too clean as does the worker's clothing and the work force  too "white" if my date estimate isn't completely wacky.

I have no idea of the manufacturing processes seen in the photos  For posterity, I would appreciate those readers with knowledge of the Thread Mill  and the various manufacturing steps contribute their thoughts in the comment section under each photo. Thank you 

American Thread Photos

Presidential Debates: 8 Zingers, Gaffes & 'Moments'

Kennedy-Nixon Debate, Sept. 26, 1960

A presidential debate, and indeed an election, can end up turning on a quip, a gaffe, a comment,a move , or even something as simple as a sigh.
Here is a vidio slideshow of some of the biggest debate zingers, gaffes and "moments" since presidential debates were first nationally televised in 1960

Presidential Debates: 8 Moments to Remember

Minimum Wage: What It Buys You Now and Then

How many hours  would you have to work to buy a gallon of gas, a movie ticket or pay the rent

Minimum Wage: What It Buys You Now and Then
1950 to 2010

Claire;s Italian Garden

Another 30 photos from Claire's collection of customers she waited on. over 2 decades  at Italian Garden. 

Check to see if you are included

 

Windhamweek On Politics

"A Workable Stimulus Package"
From The Daley Beast

If all politics were so serious this reader may pay attention.

 "Tail to the Chief"

Riding Out The Recession Storm.....Doing OK

Windham's Fiscal Indicators FISCAL YEARS  ENDED 2006 TO 2010

Windham is not a rich town nor poor. Windham is a striving town that has more then its share of poor people.  Because of the preponderance of low income families, Windham is ranked 166 of 169 towns (per capita income), unemployment (8th of 169 towns) and TANF Recipients (6 of 169). 

Combined with other social indicators and Windham's equalized net grand list per capita (ranked last) the town's taxpayers receive one of the lowest tax bills in Connecticut. Not that the tax rate is not high, it's that all Connecticut taxpayers contribute to Windham's tax bill through grants provided by the state and Federal Governments.  While the average Connecticut town covers 71.7% of their obligations with Hartford and Washington picking up the rest, Windham gets off covering 45.7% of its bills with state and federal grants paying the rest. While Windham taxpayers pay taxes of $1,120 per capita  the average state taxpayer pays $2,424 (FY2010)                                                      

Windham's Board of Finance, over the years, has maintained a conservative approach when it comes to spending the town's money. Something that is now paying off during these hard times that don't seem to end. 

Windham's credit rating, Aa3, is ranked in the second of four tiers statewide. The town has decreased its long tern debt from 28 million (2007) to 21,700,000 (2010). Annual debt service has decreased $$300,00 during the same period.

When the town,s political leaders talk about finances the talk eventually goes to our "fund balance" which is the same as a civilian savings account.  Funds not used in a current year or the arrival of unanticipated funds are tucked away for a rainy day.  These funds are considered when the bond rating agencies consider the credit worthiness of Windham. The rating agencies claim that five percent of a towns budget should be set aside.  The  majority of Connecticut towns maintain seven to ten percent of their yearly budget in the their balance  Approximately 9 towns hold to a more robust fund balance including Windham which keeps 12.5% of the current (2010) budget tucked away.

Windham's 2010 budget is  a million dollars less then its 2006 budget.  Its fund balance has been maintained, its bills are paid and basic services provided. Windham is weathering the economic storm. 

Links to fund balance problems in New London and Hamden
Read More on rating a municipality



Windham's State Finical Standing FISCAL YEARS  ENDED 2006 TO 2010

Population
45 WINDHAM 25,321

Population Density Per Sq Mile
47 WINDHAM 935.4
Average:738.5
Median: 466.3

Per Capita Income
166 WINDHAM $16,978 59.0%
** State Average ** $28,766 100.0%

Debt Per Capita
133 WINDHAM $857.00
Average $2,187
Medium:$1,654

1999 Mediam  Household Income
163 WINDHAM $35,087 65.1%
** State Median ** $53,935 100.0%

2010 Unemployment
8 WINDHAM 11.4%
Average: 9.1%
Mediun7.7%

TANF Recipients as a % of 2010 Population *
                       FY 2010-11    2009-10
6 WINDHAM    2.86%            2.97%
* State Average * 1.12%
   Medium        1.16%


Net Current Education
FYE 2010 *
Expenditures per Pupil
59 WINDHAM    $13,976
Average:$13,568
Median: $13,102


Current Year Tax Collection
Rates, FYE 2010
98  98.3% WINDHAM
Average: 98.4%
Median: 98.5%


Currrent Year Adusted Tax
Levy per Capita, FYE 2010
167 WINDHAM $1,120
Average:$2,424
Median: $2,407


Property Tax Revenues as a %
of Total Revenues, FYE 2010 *
165 WINDHAM 45.7%
Average:71.7%
Median: 75.6%


Equalized Mill Rates
FYE 2010
21 WINDHAM 20.53
Average: S15.84
Median: S16.13


Equalized Net Grand List per Capita
 FYE 2010
169 WINDHAM $54,568
Average: $152,995
Median: $139,257

Key:
6 large numeral signifies state ranking 
Good
Poor
Average
Link

“Municipal Fiscal Indicators” is an annual publication of the

Policy and Management (OPM).  It consists of 
the most current financial information available for each of 
Connecticut's 169 municipalities.  It has 
been compiled from the audited financial reports of 
municipalities. The data extracted from these reports pertains 
primarily to the municipality's General Fund.



Definations
EQUALIZED MILL RATE
The Equalized Mill Rate, or the Effective Tax Rate, is
calculated by dividing the adjusted tax levy, as presented in the
municipality’s Tax Collector's  Report, by the Equalized Net
Grand List.
EQUALIZED NET GRAND LIST (ENGL)
The Equalized Net Grand List is the estimate of the market
value of all taxable property in a municipality.  Municipalities
revalue their Grand Lists based on schedules established by the
Connecticut General Assembly (CGS 12-62).  Thus, there can
be a marked difference between the market value of all
property and the assessed value.  OPM calculates the ENGL
from sales and assessment ratio information and grand list
reports filed by the municipality.
 NET GRAND LIST
The Net Grand List is the assessed value of all taxable property
in a municipality net of exemptions allowed under state statutes
as of October 1.
TANF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federal
program that was established  as the successor to Aid to
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).  This program
represents the basic income assistance program for low-income
families with children.  The figures presented represent the
monthly average number of recipients for the twelve months of
the fiscal year; e.g., July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010.
FUND BALANCE
TOTAL FUND BALANCE
Total fund balance is the excess of fund assets and
resources over fund liabilities. The total fund balance of
the General Fund, and its three separate components, (as
defined below), are presented on each individual town
page (Section D).
DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE
The designated fund balance represents a portion of the
fund balance that is intended for specific uses.
RESERVED FUND BALANCE
The reserved fund balance represents a portion of the fund
balance that is legally segregated for a specific future use
and is not available for appropriation
UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE
The undesignated fund balance represents a portion of the
fund balance that is expendable and available.
NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE
This is the difference between revenues (including other
financing sources) and expenditures (including other
financing uses), net of any special and extraordinary items
reported by a municipality for the fiscal year.
REVENUES
INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES
Intergovernmental revenues include all revenue received
by a municipality from federal and state sources.
PROPERTY TAX REVENUES
Property tax revenues are the  total revenues, including
interest and lien fees, generated from real and personal
property taxes.
TOTAL REVENUES
Total revenues are the revenues a municipality receives
from all sources, as reported in the General Fund

17 Political Movies For All Times

From The Finicial Times
During these political times it maybe nice to get away and view the seventeen political movies of all times

View Here

Jack Connell; 'There's Not a Time I Didn't Have Fun'

We Lost Santa This Week


Jack Connell was involved in a freak accident. For years he brightened the lives of children and adults alike being what he was...Santa.

To this hot dog conisseur the highlight of the day was lunch time. Day after day, thousands of times, I'd drive up to Jacks hot dog truck.  It would be parked on a gravel lot on Rt 66 in North Windham next to Joe Bousa's Garage which today is the car lot for Gate's GMC.
Two dogs, mustard, relish and onion, day after day after day.  Many days I'd drive back to Willimantic with a sore face.... from laughing....Jack never never stopped.

This mourning I received an email from Gina Riquier with a link to an article from the NY Times written by Robert Hamilton a former Willimantic Chronicle reporter and contributing writer to The Connecticut section of the NY Times. It was published on Chrismas Day, 1988. The title: Connecticut Q&A: Jack Connell; 'There's Not a Time I Didn't Have Fun'

I would have titled it: "Oh Santa"

Read it here  

How Much Stuff Does Connecticut Own?

University  of Connecticut

Connecticut taxpayers own $23.2 billion worth of stuff, including more than $10 billion of infrastructure, a quarter-million acres of land and fine art worth almost $100 million, according to the state’s property inventory for 2011.

Read More

Windham Sister CitySurvey

The Town of Windham is looking for your imput concerning a sister city relationship with a city in Germany.  Please fill out the survey and email before Wednesday October 3. 2012

Sunday, September 23, 2012 7:56 AM

-----Original Message-----
From: Thread City Development [mailto:info@willimanticdowntown.org]
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2012 11:09 AM
To: Thread City Development
Subject: FWD: Town of Windham Sister City Survey

In August 2012, the Windham Town Council passed a resolution creating an ad hoc committee to explore a sister city relationship between Windham and a compatible city outside the U.S.

The members of the committee believe sister city relationships can offer many benefits to individuals and to the town, including opportunities for travel, economic development, and exchanges between businesses, schools, arts organizations, churches, and other groups. But an effort like this depends on community support.

Please take a moment to fill out a brief survey accessible through the link below.
The results will assist us in researching the community's interest and opportunity potential for a sister city program. The short survey can be completed in under ten minutes.

Thank You,

The Windham Ad Hoc Sister City Committee

Windham Sister City Program Survey

Please forward this email to increase the survey scope.