Sponsored Content by Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law. Driving around to see the beautiful fall foliage is a welcome activity for many people. If you are planning on heading out to do this, you must ensure that you are prepared for driving in this season. You might not think of autumn as a season with specific hazards. Here are a few to remember as you head out the door: … [Read more...] about Legal News You Can Use: Prepare for Autumn Driving Hazards
Columnists
Reading Uncertainly? ‘Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process’ by John McPhee
“Hunt through your mind for a good beginning. Then write it. Write a lead.” There, I found it ... As a semi-intoxicated reader of most of John McPhee’s 32 books, I launched into these eight mesmerizing essays on the art (and work) of writing as soon as they were published late last year. McPhee, a Princeton graduate (1953), a lecturer and writing advisor at the University, … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process’ by John McPhee
Talking Transportation: Secret “Hacks” of Grand Central
There is possibly no more beautiful railroad station in the world than New York City’s Grand Central Terminal (GCT). As the destination of over 55,000 daily rail commuters from Connecticut, it’s a place where many of us spend a fair amount of time. I’ve been riding in and out of Grand Central for over 50 years. So to help you maneuver the station’s labyrinth of tunnels, … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Secret “Hacks” of Grand Central
Reading Uncertainly? “Et Cetera, Et Cetera” by Lewis Thomas,
Awhile back, a conversation at Ashlawn Coffee in Old Saybrook brought up the word “blight,” in connection with a new committee in Old Lyme. What, indeed, is “blight”? Is one person’s “ugly condition” possibly a delight for someone else? That brought up the word “Blighty,” a word referring to England, possibly from Urdu and no connection whatsoever with the word “blight.” So … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? “Et Cetera, Et Cetera” by Lewis Thomas,
Talking Transportation: Trucks as Traffic Scapegoats
“Why don’t we just ban all trucks from our interstate highways in rush hour?” The question was asked of me by a small town mayor in Fairfield County who’d obviously given a lot of thought to solutions to our traffic woes. He’s a smart guy and thought he’d come up with “the answer” to our transportation crisis. He said he wasn’t in favor of tolls, but liked them as a traffic … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Trucks as Traffic Scapegoats
Reading Uncertainly: ‘Writing to Learn’ by William Zinsser
Almost 30 years ago my wife bought and read William Zinsser’s Writing to Learn, with a copy autographed by the author. It has taken all that time for me to find and read this perceptive and challenging work. Late, but perhaps not too late! The key lies in the title: this is not a “how to” book but rather an encouragement to write, and write, and then write some more, as the … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly: ‘Writing to Learn’ by William Zinsser
Talking Transportation: ‘Train Time is Your Own Time’ … True or False?
“Train time is your own time” was the old marketing slogan of Metro-North, encouraging commuters to kick back and enjoy the ride while reading, working or taking a snooze. But in reality, train time is shared time. They don’t call it “mass transit” for nothing as passengers much share their space with a hundred other commuters on each railcar. Assuming you get a seat, this … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: ‘Train Time is Your Own Time’ … True or False?
Talking Transportation: “The Automotive-Construction Complex”
How did Americans develop their love affair with driving? Visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington and the transportation exhibit, “America on the Move,” will sell you on the commonly-held theory that when Henry Ford made cars affordable, Americans loved them and demanded more and more highways. Of course, that exhibit is sponsored by General … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: “The Automotive-Construction Complex”
Talking Transportation: Federal Air Marshals? Worthwhile or Worthless?
Do you feel safe when you fly? Forget about exploding jet engines, cracked aircraft windows and clear-air turbulence. What about terrorists? We haven’t seen a domestic case of terrorists attacking jetliners in years, thanks to increased scrutiny of passengers by the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration. From the moment you book a flight, you are being … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Federal Air Marshals? Worthwhile or Worthless?
Letter From Paris: Exhibition Explores Work of American Female Artist in Male World of French Impressionism
"Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was the most French of all American artists," said art historian Jerome Coignard. She was the only woman - along with Berthe Morisot - to be recognized by the Impressionist movement and therefore permitted to show her works in their annual Salons. For 40 years she developed a personal and artistic friendship with Edgar Degas, which was somewhat … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Exhibition Explores Work of American Female Artist in Male World of French Impressionism
Reading Uncertainly? ‘Wicked, Weird & Wily Yankees’ by Stephen Gencarella
Editor's Note: Stephen Gencarella, the author of 'Wicked, Weird & Wily Yankees' will be the guest speaker at the Lyme Public Library's Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. What a pleasure: to read an engaging book by a close neighbor (Steve and his family live just down Tinker Lane from me) and to encourage other Lymies to do the same! Steve, a professor at the … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘Wicked, Weird & Wily Yankees’ by Stephen Gencarella
Talking Transportation: Connecticut: Love It or Leave It
The recent debate over tolling our highways should remind us of just how divided our state has become. Not red vs. blue and not even just upstate vs. downstate. The real divide is between those who commute by car vs. those who take mass transit. I’ve written for years about the fact that riders on Metro-North pay the highest commuter rail fares in the US, and those fares … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Connecticut: Love It or Leave It
Family Wellness: New Beginnings
Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Every year in New England nature reminds us of this. Crocuses emerge, the landscape turns from brown to green and many animals have their babies: foxes, otters and black bears, just to name a few. I look fondly back on my grandmother’s stories about lambing season in Ireland. Human babies are born year round, of course, but my … [Read more...] about Family Wellness: New Beginnings
Reading Uncertainly? ‘Moonglow’ by Michael Chabon
This is, at one and the same time, a work of fiction and the author’s actual family history, selectively combined and embellished. It is the story of Michael Chabon’s grandfather and grandmother, recreated as a totally engaging novel, covering more than five decades in Germany, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City, Florida and California. He “recreates” these two … [Read more...] about Reading Uncertainly? ‘Moonglow’ by Michael Chabon
A la Carte: Bake the Best Big, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies!
A few days after I made banana bread (about six overripe bananas I had, to which I added five overripe ones from Noank friends), I decided it was time to make cookies. (By the way, all four of the banana breads left my homes to friends’ kitchens, because I didn’t want to eat them.) Alter all, I had already thawed two pounds of unsalted butter and, while looking for the … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Bake the Best Big, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies!