At long last, I am devoting this “View” to a few thoughts and observations on Old Lyme’s November 7th municipal election, which included a recount; aka “recanvass,” for positions whose margins were less than 20 votes; — required in CT unless the losing candidate waives the recount. The recount, which was held on Monday, Nov. 13th, did not change any elected positions, though … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Reflections on the Election
A View from my Porch
A View from My Porch: Children’s Literature for the intrepid — Let Freedom Read!
The American Library Association (ALA) has proclaimed “Let Freedom Read!” as the theme for this this year’s “Banned Books Week,” which just ended this past Friday (Oct. 7.) This “View” is written to acknowledge the rationale for such a week, and reflect on why it is especially pertinent in 2023 Old Lyme. Stepping back, I said at the end of “Surfing with Gen. Alpha,” which I … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Children’s Literature for the intrepid — Let Freedom Read!
A View From My Porch: The Beach Boys Redux — Surfing with Gen. Alpha
I hypothesized in a “View” published in early August that “The Beach Boys,” whose music regularly celebrated muscle cars, the power of the internal combustion engine, and California car culture had an influence on Americans’ early reluctance to buy electric vehicles. I did not expect to ever consider their music in another essay, or in this case, a little bit of their … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: The Beach Boys Redux — Surfing with Gen. Alpha
A View From My Porch: Some Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Celebration
The celebration: “Rock the Phoebe’s” joyful acknowledgement of the century and a quarter anniversary of the founding of Old Lyme’s Phoebe Griffin Noyes (PGN) Library in 1898 was scheduled for the evening of June 23. The funny things: A letter, signed by 23 members of the Greater Old Lyme community was sent to the library on May 25. This was then followed … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Some Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Celebration
A View From My Porch: A Treatise on Electric Vehicles — Baby Boomers, ‘Beach Boys’ & Battery Benefits
After some sluggish early sales, there has been a considerable increase in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads in the United States. EVs comprised 5.8 percent of all new vehicle sales in the United States in 2022; up from 3.2 percent in 2021; and that’s more than three-quarters of a million of the roughly 14 million new cars and light trucks sold in 2022. The … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: A Treatise on Electric Vehicles — Baby Boomers, ‘Beach Boys’ & Battery Benefits
A Special Memorial Day ‘View from Our Porch’: Town Budget Meeting Reflections
By Christina J. & Thomas D. Gotowka This “View” was supposed to be “Electric Vehicles: Can Elon overcome the legacy of the Beach Boys?”, but Christina encouraged me to ignore the plan and provide some follow-up on last week’s annual town budget meeting. We were troubled by the article by Elizabeth Regan and published on May 16 in The Day, which characterized the … [Read more...] about A Special Memorial Day ‘View from Our Porch’: Town Budget Meeting Reflections
A View From My Porch: Just Another Day at the Beach — A Treatise on Connecticut Beach Access
I will introduce this topic by acknowledging the courage of Ms. Kathleen Tracy and her co-plaintiffs, who have seen the most recent beach access case against the Miami Beach Association (MBA) through to its conclusion. That specific lawsuit, which really began with a fence in 2016, ultimately required more than six years of effort and anguish; and certainly, some considerable … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Just Another Day at the Beach — A Treatise on Connecticut Beach Access
A View From My Porch: Finding Fenway — A Feline Interest Story
Nearly a year ago, Christina and I announced in LymeLine that we were “on the lookout for two adoptable kittens; we hope to find a pair of orange tabby sisters.” Our plan was to name them Fenway and Wrigley. We had lost Finn, our pet of more than 15 years, as a result of an inoperable and inexplicable carcinoma of the lung, which appeared on a radiograph at an emergency … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Finding Fenway — A Feline Interest Story
A View from My Porch: Connecticut Adopts FDA Food Code — A Primer for the Curious
The Connecticut (CT) General Assembly passed the adoption of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code into law in 2018; and it finally went into full effect on the 17th of February. The law requires some changes for both the food service establishments (FSEs) operating in the state, and for the inspection and permitting processes conducted by the local health … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Connecticut Adopts FDA Food Code — A Primer for the Curious
A View From My Porch: Still Talking About the Generations*
*With apologies to Messrs. Daltrey, Townshend, Entwistle, and Moon. (Who?) In my last “View” I explored reports that suggested that Americans’ attitudes about the workplace had changed “remarkably” and reviewed some of the factors that affected work expectations for both the baby boomer and millennial generations. In drafting that essay, I became curious about who … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Still Talking About the Generations*
A View From My Porch: Baby Boomers, Millennials … Who They Are, How They Differ, ‘Acting Their Wage’ & More
Behavioral economists report that Americans’ attitudes about work and the workplace have gone through some remarkable changes. News reports on CBS, both national and local, have presented several stories on one aspect of this change, “the rise of the side hustle”. Another aspect, “quiet quitting”, was addressed on 12/06/2022 in the comic pages in “Hi and Lois”, by Mort … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Baby Boomers, Millennials … Who They Are, How They Differ, ‘Acting Their Wage’ & More
A View from My Porch: Bumble Bee Economics
Prologue: Christina and I both grew up in homes that observed meatless Fridays, which lasted until the Second Vatican Council; after which Pope John XXIII, seeking to modernize the Church, enacted several reforms, which included an end to both Latin services and meatless Fridays. However, in deference to Christina’s sense of nostalgia for life before the Vatican Council, … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Bumble Bee Economics
A View from My Porch: Tatts & Piercings; A Primer for the Curious
In January 2023, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) will enact regulations for the oversight of the tattoo and piercing establishments and their respective practitioners and operators in the nine communities in LLHD’s SE CT service area. Background: Connecticut had passed legislation requiring some oversight several years ago, but an organized monitoring and inspection … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Tatts & Piercings; A Primer for the Curious
A View from My Porch: Brendan and the Pirates — Securing Passage of Crude Oil to The West
I reported a few “Views” ago that my son had landed in Bahrain on an extended mission with the United States (US) Navy. Brendan is attached to the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC). This is a multinational consortium that was established to provide order and security for trade and shipping in the Arabian Gulf region of the Middle East, with particular focus on … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Brendan and the Pirates — Securing Passage of Crude Oil to The West
A View from My Porch: 50 Years — A Retrospective
Editor's Note: We send warmest congratulations to our longtime contributor Tom Gotowka and his wife Christina on their Golden Wedding anniversary. Christina and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary this past July 22nd, and that’s gold. In preparation for the event, I spent some time reminiscing about those years, and I am sharing some of my thoughts in this “View,” … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: 50 Years — A Retrospective