Taking the Zip Line to Heaven

As Published in the Southington Citizen

Bible Zippers Ready to Go

Over a long cup of coffee at Caffe Del Mondo, Diana Sheard, popularly known to people of all ages in Southington as Valentine the Clown, told me this about a special journey she had taken.  

Valentine, oops, Diana, is a person of gentle heart who has, throughout her 30 years as a clown, generously given untold hours of her talent to various charities, non-profits and churches, apart from her successful professional appearances.  STEPS and Southington Community Services are among the many community service groups that come to mind in those she has served voluntarily.

Valentine in a different costume begins a
twenty-three foot climb to the top.

Beneath the grease and paint, ‘Di’ is the same person as ‘Valentine’, a good-natured, spiritual person of deep faith who openly shares her talent for making people laugh and feel good, while opening herself to deeper thoughts in her private life, inspiring a quiet but uplifting spirituality that comes through in her private and public personae. 

What makes Diana and Valentine run, both in her street shoes and her clown’s big feet?  There are many answers but one of them surely is her love and faith in people and God.  

The Christian Bible ladies, (about a dozen are involved), had no official name for their group though Sheard said it was themed after “My Way”, the movie.  Meeting in their homes on Wednesdays at 9:30 am, except during the summer, the group reads and studies the bible and prays together, sharing their faith and innermost thoughts, coping with life’s challenges and celebrating the joys of happy times.  After eight years together, they all seem to treasure their weekly rendezvous. “It provides hope, peace, and trust in God and my closest friends”, said one member who preferred not to be personally quoted. Another said “We can talk about anything, knowing that our confidence will never be broken. We’ve also learned the meaning of forgiveness even though it’s not always easy”. 

Valentine joins Michelle Pestillo at the top

Recently, Bible group member Michelle Pestillo, who happens to work at Zip Line in Newington, suggested an activity that is quite different: going together to what turned out to be exciting from the perspective of a higher place.  

For the uninitiated, Zip Line offers programs that build confidence and trust, empowering participants to dare to bring out the best in themselves, individually and as a team.  The park is equipped with physical and mental obstacles that bring individuals together in overcoming their fears by building confidence in one another. Imagine a group of adult women, many mothers and some grandmothers climbing poles and going up into trees, twenty some feet high, or getting  themselves over a fifteen foot barrier using their own bodies and each other to achieve the goal of getting every one of them on top and over the wall.  

Deb Mikan takes a different route to the top

Others who took part in the Zip challenge included Marie McLean, Joni Noyes, Anita Mandeville, Doris McAdoo, Tony Escott and Mary Emerson.  Between pictures, photographer Deb Mikan, joined the group in a few activities,  Escott said, “It was an exhilarating experience, entirely different and out of the ordinary for a bible group.  It was an opportunity to be together testing ourselves.  It was a real physical challenge but clearly there was a moving spiritual aspect to it that was rewarding.” 

Zip Line activities are done under careful guidelines that include the use of harnesses, ropes, carabiners and other protective gear.  “Before we started, we prayed together.”, said Sheard.  “You find out how much more you can do than you think you can. I believe it happens with confidence in your team and trust in God”, she added. Heretofore without a name, the group now calls themselves, the Bible Zippers, Michelle Pestillo told me.  The exhilarating experience seemed to shout: “We’ve taken the Zip Line to Heaven.”

The Course is Set for the Senior Commission to Travel a New Road

As published in the Southington Citizen, July 20, 2012

A new and untravelled road is ahead for the Senior Citizens Commission in Southington.  Will a positive and cooperative approach take us to a commonly shared destination?

The Senior Citizens Commission met on Tuesday, July 12th for the first time as an advisory body, following the Town Council’s unanimous approval of changes in the governing ordinance. The Commission now includes a seat for at least one member of the Calendar House Membership Association, either its president or another member named by him. Association president, Peter Freeman, nominated C. Mark White, vice president of the membership association.

White was appointed by Town Council Chairman John Dobbins at the July 9th council meeting. The council also unanimously approved that the executive director of Calendar House, Bob Verderame, would now report directly to Town Manager, Garry Brumack and that the senior commission would now be an advisory group.  In a separate development, in a letter to town officials, Leonard Marcheselle tendered his resignation from the commission. Details were not disclosed in the commission’s announcement other than the suggestion that Marcheselle’s action was for personal reasons.

Brumback, Verderame and two staff members of Calendar House joined the commission meeting with a representation of senior citizens in the audience.  In contrast to recent meetings, the proceedings went relatively smoothly. The sense of cooperation in the transition and civil and positive discourse were evident along with an impression that had signs of guarded optimism in the hope of leaving personalities, controversies and any lingering disagreements in the past.

Brumback’s comments opened the door to a positive spirit of cooperation between the advisory commission, the membership association, the Calendar House staff and the senior citizens “who are our customers.”  He spoke of the importance of planning and preparing for future waves of the growing “boomer generation”, steadily aging into the ranks of seniors.  Our focus has to be on what we need to do to provide the services that meet the needs and expectations of all seniors in the most effective manner.  Brumback proposed development of a five-year plan and that it is equally important to plan what it will take to achieve the plan and how to accomplish it.

A broader insight into this first meeting of the newly organized senior commission might be garnered from the after-meeting thoughts of participants that follow.

White: “The ordinance change has enabled a significant and positive change in direction of the Senior Citizen’s Commission. (The) meeting showed the genesis of a forward looking group focused on enhancing the facilities, services and infrastructure of the Calendar House jewel in Southington’s crown. The committee clearly developed unity and sense of purpose )in) the course of the meeting which generated approval from the members of the public present.”

Sandra Micalizzi: “It is an honor to serve the seniors of the Town of Southington on the Senior Commission.  A collaborative team effort enriches the lives of all involved.”

Lynn Maschi: “I was encouraged by this evening's meeting. I see it as moving forward. I’m glad Mr. Brumback attended and all were able to hear from him personally, his perspective on how we will collaborate and work together. I was also glad to see (senior) members attend. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to introduce myself to them personally post meeting. I believe we all have the same common goal, to benefit not only the seniors/members but our town as a whole.  Change and transition is rarely, if ever, easily done. I think with time, communication, patience and our common goal always as our destination it will be accomplished.  I look forward to our next meeting in September.”

Cliff Snow, Jr., a director and past president of the C.H. Association Board and member for close to 20 years said: “I was pleased with the change in attitude of some of the Commissioners, which was constructive, rather than controversial. If  a spirit of cooperation and communication can be established between our two groups, under *Brumback), then I see a positive future for Calendar House and it's senior members. This should be the goal of all."

CHMA board president and manager of the Computer Learning Center, Peter Freeman, said: “The launch of the new role of the Senior Citizens Commission was positive and uplifting.  The commission is looking to the future, a long-term five year plan, a new set of by-laws, and a positive outlook to working closely with the association, staff, and the town.  Mark White, representing the membership, will be a strong addition to the Commission.  I am excited with the new direction the commission is taking with nothing but strong advice being given by this body.”

Bob Verderame, who has been executive director of Calendar House for decades, said:  “I'm looking forward to a smooth transition with everybody on the scene on the same page with the Town Manager's approach. I’m excited about his new approaches and directions. My staff and I are ready to get to work with him and his staff, keeping communications open with the new advisory commission and the seniors of Calendar House.”

As to the Calendar House monthly newsletter, new opportunities are being explored by the volunteer publicity committee with the hope of presenting viable alternatives to the current monthly newsletter.

The next Senior Commission meeting in September will be held at 3:00 pm to enable as many of the town’s seniors who wish to attend to do so.

White Sworn in as Member of the Senior Citizens Commission

Town Clerk Leslie Cotton administers oath to
C. Mark White as member of senior citizens
commission.  L to R. Town Manager, Garry
Brumback, Peter Freeman, president of
Calendar House Members Assn, Cotton,
White and Lana Leland-White.

It’s a new day at the Southington’s Senior Center at Calendar House, one that many seniors in Southington cheer as bringing the hope of new, positive and fresh ideas through modified direction of the center.

Under an updated ordinance governing the operation of the Senior Citizen Commission, the Town Council moved to change the reporting lines of the Executive Director of Calendar House, Bob Verderame, from one of direct responsibility to the senior citizen commission to Town Manager, Garry Brumback, thereby bringing it under the same organizational governance as most other municipal departments. 

Exceptions, thus far, continue to be the Police and Fire Departments, each of which report to a commission and the Library which reports to a board.

In the June action, the Senior Citizen Commission became an advisory body.  The Calendar House Membership Association had supported this action as well as asking for representation on the new senior commission of active members of Calendar House. 

The revised ordinance directs the Town Council chairman to appoint to the senior citizen commission the president of the Board of Directors of the Calendar House Membership Association, or a person the president designates.

As president, Peter Freeman, nominated C. Mark White, vice president of the association’s board and assistant manager of the Computer Learning Center.  The Board of Directors unanimously concurred with White’s appointment by Freeman as did the members of the association.

White was sworn in as a commissioner on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, by Town Clerk, Leslie Cotton.

A Conversation with Town Manager Garry Brumback

Southington Town Manager
Garry Brumback

As published in the Southington Citizen

The following is the first of a series of conversations between E. Richard Fortunato and Town Manager Garry Brumback in which Brumback responds to questions concerning the status of certain priority challenges he had identified in an interview a year ago, a few months after his arrival in Southington.  The intent is to provide readers a close-up, personal perspective of the ideas, style and approach of the town manager to some fairly complex issues of significant importance to the Town of Southington.

Fortunato:  An initial priority issue was the need to upgrade technology for communications between town departments and ultimately the development of online access to town services by citizens.  An allocation of about $75,000 was a first step in that process. Would you bring us up to date on that?”

Brumback: When we began talking about that I had a goal for putting many town services on the internet.  Early on in the process, we found, unfortunately, that our entire technology infrastructure was archaic and unable, without major changes, to do much more than was already being done. So, we took a step back in expanding our ability to provide service through the internet until we had a base technology structure in place.  In the last year, with the support of the Town Council and the Board of Finance we invested well over a half million dollars completely re-doing the infrastructure, taking it from the technology of the 1990’s to a 2012 based-technology.  We’ve established a platform from which we can create a virtual town hall within the next couple of years.  It’s important that I differentiate between providing internet access to our citizens and still have them feel welcome coming to town hall. There’s no intent, whatsoever, to deprive people of an opportunity to come to their town hall to conduct business, but as our community evolves we see folks rapidly embracing newer technology.  We see people of all ages taking advantage of technology in ways that were not conceivable ten years ago.

As a government responsive to the needs of all, we’re trying to mix the two. We’re always going to be a brick and mortar government, a place where folks who want to can always do business, personally if they wish. At the same time, there’s a growing portion of our population that prefers to do business on line and they want to do it at the time they want to do it and not necessarily at the time we’re available. Technology links with good communications so we will create lists of easily accessible information for people who want to know what is going on in town hall, in the planning or building department and in the area of economic development area. They’ll be able to go to the town website to access virtually unlimited information right from home. We’ll also develop email lists to broadcast information with the punch of a button so that people don’t have to wait until they see it in the newspapers.

Fortunato: How about communications between departments?  I remember that as one of your goals as a means of enhancing effective management of daily operations.

Brumback:  Communications have taken a significant and positive turn. When I arrived here, we were no different from the fairly classic style of town government where departments are fairly insulated and narrowly focused.  Employees come to work every day expecting to do their own piece of the services of the town government.  One of my first goals was to break down those department barriers, causing them to communicate both with one another as well as vertically and horizontally throughout the organization to experience the synergy of multiple people attacking tasks and problems from various perspectives. We’ve come a long way in doing that ... the Police and Fire Departments are at the table as are the senior services center and the Library. They are participants in meetings with other departments, at a minimum of once a month, discussing issues that we’re all confronting.  It is now routine for departments who have challenges to pick up the phone or send an email to all departments seeking assistance across all department lines.  That’s a fairly new phenomenon here.

Fortunato:  Specifically how have these changes benefited the town? 

Brumback: We have developed many more web pages with new information going on the web almost instantly, in great part to the Town Clerk's amazing job of facilitating that while also getting information on our cable news (local access) channel.  Email across departmental lines is now routine and people recognize that we are all one organization with diverse skill sets, who, working as a team, are more effective.  This is happening in all levels of communication. 

Fortunato:  Given the common tendency to resist change, how do you feel you were able to bring it about?

Brumback: By demonstrating that there is value in working as a team and by encouraging folks to reach outside of their immediate environs to solve problems. There’s a greater willingness to work with others because there is no risk associated with it.  It’s not uncommon for some to feel that if I share myself with others there might be some threat to me, a diminishing of my authority. But, in practice, they discover that there is power in teamwork.  This phenomenon exists in all areas of life, not just in government. But when a significant culture shift takes place not only is the organization more successful but there is a sharing of pride in the success.

Futured editions of this series will explore the progress in several other areas of challange as we continue our conversations with the town manager, including the town infrastructure, roads, sewers and facilities and updates on the North Center School and other projects.   Stay tuned!

The Cushy Chair By The Window

This story arrived over the transom earlier this week.
 

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Last night, I was on my own, which was fine because I had a stack of reports to edit. I was feeling a bit claustrophobic and didn't want to work at my desk at home, so I walked over to the nearby Starbucks with my laptop and a few file folders tucked in my bag.

Inside Starbucks, all of the seats at the tables were taken. There was just one unused cushy chair by the front window, so I sat in The Cushy Chair. I noticed a woman, probably in her late thirties, sitting directly across from me in another cushy chair. I'll call her Woman #1. Woman #1 looked like she was getting some work done, too.

I really would have preferred to sit at a table where I could set my folders beside my laptop, so when a seat at a table opened up about forty-five minutes later, I gathered up my things and moved to the open spot.

Almost as soon as I gave up The Cushy Chair, a young man took my place across from Woman #1, who was still seated in the other cushy chair.

The young man in The Cushy Chair left about thirty minutes later and another woman, I'll call her Woman #2, was the next to claim The Cushy Chair across from Woman #1.

I noticed Woman #2 because I often see her roaming the neighborhood. She looks about age fifty and appears to be someone who's been in the mental health system for a long time. She has straggly hair, tardive dyskinesia and the weather-beaten look of someone who's seen years of hard times through a haze of Haldol and cigarette smoke.

Independence Day

Why is today different from and yet similar to other holidays we celebrate?

Holidays in general, whether historic, patriotic or religious, are generally understood in society with at least a basic sense of their meaning.

Yet, it seems that what is more universal about all these special days of dedication is that they seem to gray out the core particularity of their significance, giving way to celebration and social activities associated with them after centuries of evolving customs and practices.

Perish the thought of being misunderstood, I proudly admit that, like most people, I enjoy celebrating and am always ready for wholesome social activities, leisure time, relaxation, picnics, fireworks, exciting sports events, days at the beach or pool, vacations, long weekends, music, reading and travel away from the mundane routine of everyday life.

Still, my purpose is to do my part ot ensure that we take appropriate note of the occasion we are commemorating and avoid making each holiday just another day off from work and other productive activities.

On a July 4th, two-hundred thirty-six years ago, a group of 56 courageous leaders, scholars and intellectuals representing the thirteen American Colonies, came together after decades of having their people suffer the rule and consequences of a foreign despot who neither needed nor did anything to protect or preserve their freedom, their will or their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

For many of us, it's been many years since we studied our country's history, a saga of America filled with stories of suffering need, hard work, courage and heroism, along with the willingness to put their lives on the line to defend the liberty endowed each of us by our Creator.

July would be a good time to do some reading of history. Check out you local library for print and electronic versions of some great historical literature and films.

A great place to start might be the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America as a source of understanding how and why it was carefully crafted by Thomas Jefferson who authored this historic document based on the common ideas and idealogies of the people of the Commonwealth of Virgina, along with the other twelve American colonies of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Our history is our nation's heritage.  We need to treasure it and share it with the world.

The more who understand it,     the greater the pride we may take in our our democratic republic and preserve it.

Happy Independence Day