NewHartfordPlus.com

Photos & Text By: Maria Moore

Trout Fishing Opening Day is a HUGE day for fishermen who come back in droves to one of their favorite fishing spots in the region, the West Branch of the Farmington River. And both Barkhamsted and New Hartford, the two local communities on this part of the river, celebrated this yearly ritual with well-established – and new – events. Following is NHPlus’ photojournal of this great day on the river: cold and with rain imminent, just like the fishermen like it!

Riverton

Fishing at the Riverton Bridge

Looking down onto the fishermen in the river from the Riverton Bridge on April 16, 2011, Opening Day for the trout fishing season.

Mid-morning in the river next to the old Hitchcock Chair Factory, fishermen are still arriving to take their fishing posts.

Fishermen line the river looking east towards Pleasant Valley from the Riverton Bridge.

Fishermen at the recreation area near the Riverton Bridge.

Riverton Fishing Derby

The crowd gather for the result of the Riverton Fishing Derby at the Riverton Volunteer Fire Department.

Announcements at the Fishing Derby.

The most coveted prize: The special-edition Hitchcock chair.

The winner of the fishing derby sitting on the Hitchcock chair he won with his winning catch.

The derby winners and their prize-winning catches.

Pleasant Valley

A fisherman has a stretch of the river to himself under the Pleasant Valley Bridge which is being repaired.

A bench and a couple of chairs set up at the edge of the water "for the older ones to use" as a fisherman informed our photographer. Across the water can be seen the top of of the Pleasant Valley General Store which has just reopened as a tackle shop.

The view from River Road across to the handicapped access area for fishermen.

New Hartford

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Entering New Hartford

The Farmington River as seen at the old Greenwoods Pond location from the bank by the Hurley Building.

A view of the river flowing towards New Hartford Center as seen from the bank near the large field area at the Hurley Building on Greenwoods Road.

Side trip to Bakerville
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A side trip from the river to the Fishermen's Breakfast at the South End Volunteer Fire Department on Route 202 in Bakerville which was filled with patrons.

New Hartford Center

A boy gets a fishing lesson on the river in New Hartford Center.

Fishermen in the river seen from the Route 219 bridge in New Hartford Center.

Two fishermen receiving fishing lessons in the river near the Route 219 bridge.

Learning to cast a line.

Pine Meadow

Fisherman’s Breakfast at Pine Meadow Volunteer Fire Department

Stopping off for breakfast at the Pine Meadow Volunteer Fire Department served by the friendly crew including (not in order) Walter Wabrek, Rita Wabrek, Jeremiah Wabrek, Vanessa Wabrek, Lew Patchett, Phil Loveless, John Racloz, Amanada Loveless and Tyler O'Neill. Paul and Polly Pobuda had just left the building.

Black Bridge in Pine Meadow

Fishermen in the river as it flows towards Black Bridge from New Hartford Center.

Fishermen on the banks of the river as it flows towards Satan's Kingdom and then on to Canton - the end of our photographer's trip.

Trip ends at the Fishermen’s Lunch at the North Congregational Church

Glenn Strycharz stops by the baked goods table manned by Donna Howard and her young helper to pick up some dessert to go with the soup and sandwich lunch provided by the members of the North Congregational Church. A delicious way for our photographer to end her Opening Day adventure.

Many Thanks to the friendly people – both fishermen and non-fishermen alike – who made this trip along the West Branch of the Farmington River such a joy.

Many Thanks to the NewHartfordPlus Crew (Bob Moore and Murray the Border Collie) who turned a trip a few miles up the river into an adventure!

NHPlus crew on assignment

By: Bob & Maria Moore

The Board of Finance held a Special Meeting on Tuesday evening, March 22, with a twofold purpose: the first, to hear public comments on the budget process so far, and the second, to discuss the Town Budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2011-12. The meeting was held at Ann Antolini in the Multi-Purpose room to accommodate any number of residents who might turn out for the meeting.

Bob Moore, NewHartfordPlus techie, videotaped the Public Comment section of the meeting and is making that video available below.

Altogether, about two dozen residents attended the meeting and of those 8 or so gave their input on the budget. Most of those who spoke addressed the high cost of education in the budget and asked for those costs to be brought under control.

A much greater number of residents had chosen to communicate in writing with the BOF members, and of those the overwhelming majority were in support of a zero-increase budget. They, most likely, had written in response to an email that circulated among taxpayers alerting them of the 5.69% increase in property taxes that would result from the proposed budgets that had been presented at the Saturday morning Budget Workshop.see the copy of the email posted on NewHartfordPlus.

“I received 30 emails, and only one was in favor of the budgets that were proposed (at the Board of Finance’s Saturday morning Budget Workshop).” Ben Witte, BOF Chairman said. He then read aloud portions of several of the emails he had received to give a sense of residents’ input: to hold the line on spending, especially on education. “Looking at the names on these emails – they’re not the kinds of people you usually hear from.” He commented. Other BOF members agreed, saying that they too had received similar emails.

With the Public Comment portion of the meeting closed, the BOF members then turned their attention to a discussion of the Town budget for the upcoming fiscal year; see our companion report After Taxpayers Give Their Input, Board Of Finance Considers Budget, Eyes 1.8% Tax Increase.

Following is the video of the Public Comment section of the March 22 Board of Finance meeting:

After six straight shifts at work and six “must attend” meetings, come Friday morning, March 11, our reporter/photographer played hooky and decided to take a ride around town to check out some of the sights after the days of steady rain and snow melt. This is what she saw, beginning on Route 202:
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Carpenter Road Bridge Off Route 202
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Nepaug Reservoir Spillway
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Nepaug Reservoir
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New Hartford Center From Route 219 Bridge Over The Farmington River
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And the trip ends with a view down Cottage Street off Route 219.

At 6:15 p.m. this past Saturday evening, a long line of residents, including the NewHartfordPlus crew, waited patiently in a long line that stretched out of the Ann Antolini School and onto the pavement outside. They had all come to the Benefit Pasta Dinner hosted by the South End Fire Department in support of one of its member families, the Quinns. That the dinner was a success in raising money to help the Quinns with their mounting medical bills was evident. Just how much of a success? This is what Nikki Follert, a member of one of the families organizing the dinner had to say:

“The Firemen have been so busy today with pumping out basements that they haven’t even touched the money from Saturday night. They had upwards of 700 people come to show their support. Bill (Follert, Nikki’s husband) is STILL receiving checks in the mail-he got 3 today!!

It was a wonderful display of two caring communities, residents and firemen, joining together to help a needy family. I was working at the raffle table and people were putting 100′s and 50′s in the detention jar. One family put a check in for $250.00!!

That night restored my faith in humanity, I have never seen anything like it.”

And neither had the NewHartfordPlus crew!

Following are a few photos of that special evening, when so many in our community came together to eat, share some time with friends, and help one of our own in need.  To see Nikki’s photos of the event, please visit her photo album Quinn Benefit Dinner & Friends on Facebook.   If you would like to add your photos of the event to this photoalbum please email them to newhartfordplus@gmail.com and we will gladly add them.

Snapshot By: Maria Moore

There’s a tree in Bakerville that has a special quality, standing alone, set back in a field. I try to stop as often as I can to admire it as the seasons change. Today I stopped and took a picture of it, a play of gray against gray. A winter scene, still.

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Do you have a favorite snapshot? Email it to us at newhartfordplus@gmail.com and you could have your own snapshot feature.

By: Bob Moore

Following is a video recording of the public comment section at the beginning of the Brodie Park South Study Group/Committee held on February 24 on the third floor of the Town Hall. A large number of New Hartford Football supporters, as evidenced by their Wolverines red sweatshirts, attended the meeting as well other members of the public.

Members of the Study Group initially sitting at the conference table at the front of the room were (from left to right): Rick Berneike (Youth Sports), Alison Murdock (Conservation Commission) and Dan Eddy (Chairman of the Study Group and Rec Commission member). Shortly after the start of the meeting they were joined by Corina Hughes (Friends of Brodie Park) and later former First Selectman Bob LaGoy (sitting in for Jean Cronauer of Open Space Preservation). Absent from the meeting were John Maschi, Rec Commission Chairman, and a representative from the Senior Center Board.

Dan Eddy recapped the work of the Committee for the audience, followed by First Selectman Dan Jerram, who presented figures obtained from Youth Sports of the numbers participating in each of the various sports in New Hartford. The floor was then given over to members of the public for their comments and questions.

By: Maria Moore

A beautiful young lady I’m getting to know better through Facebook recently posted a survey about the different generations: Baby boomers, Gen X and Gen Y.

This is how my generation was described:

Baby boomers: confident, goal oriented, hard working, independent, arrogant, competitive, family family family, retirement on the brain.

I kept reading, hoping to come across the one characteristic which more than any, I believe, characterizes my generation:

“fun loving“

After all, we’re the generation that gave the world Woodstock, remember?

But maybe that’s just it: Gen X and Gen Y weren’t there!  The didn’t see us having fun.

They’re here today, having fun, staying connected by multiple means: by their iPhones and iPads and Facebook and what nots.

Well, that’s OK.  Another quality that Baby boomers have learned through the years is how to be flexible and to meet others on their own turf, whether it’s at the New York Stock Exchange, at Ben and Gerry’s, or Facebook, or here on NHPlus.

So this one’s for my beautiful young friend, and her friend and her other friend’s husband – you know who you are:

“My iPhone screensaver is way cool!!!! And I had fun making it, too! /;-)”

Moral of this story? There just has to be a better way of appreciating each other’s uniqueness than by the year we were born, or the color of our hair, or the screensaver on our phone…

Do YOU have a cool screensaver for your phone?

Send it to us and we’ll post it right here with mine, alphabetically of course.  Send it the old-fashioned way by emailing it to us at newhartfordplus@gmail.com or post it on our Facebook page,  or text us at 860-309-7526 and we’ll transfer it here.

Open to all who like to have fun!

Photo Credit: The photo used for the iPhone screensaver was taken at Light New Hartford this past December and shows children playing on an ice sculpture.  Photo by Maria Moore.

By: Bob Moore & Maria Moore

Amy Speace came to New Hartford and her performance lit up the Night at the ‘Nights at the Beekley’ concert on Saturday, February 12.

As David Sessions said to the audience in his introduction: “I’ve told Amy that we’re the kind of a crowd that likes to hear her talk about her music and I hope to learn a lot more about it this evening.” And that’s exactly what Amy proceeded to do.

The evening was a delightful mix of stories of the people in her life, and the stories in her songs, which sometimes related to each other and sometimes did not. But no matter. The stories were charming, and Amy’s music stands on its own, with no need for props or help of any kind. Accompanied only by her guitar and ukelele, Amy enchanted her audience. Whether crooning a love song as in “It’s too late to call it a night,” or whooping it up as in “Double Wide Trailer,” her sweet, melodious voice carried her audience with her on a journey of musical discovery from Near-New York (Jersey) to Nashville and back again to New Hartford, where she made everyone feel,as she said at the beginning of the evening: “… you’re my kind of people!” And for her audience that evening at the Beekley, Amy was the star who lit up their night.

Amy’s music spans a vast emotional range. Here’s one example as she sings “Weight of the World” which was performed by Judy Collins at the Newport Folk Festival, albeit without acknowledgement. But let Amy tell you about that…

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Bob’s hands-down favorite from the concert is Amy’s rendition of “Battened Hatches” by New Haven composer Chuck E. Costa. Listen and you’ll see why Amy Speace’s music is so easy to love…

With the temperature hitting 59.7 degrees today in town, according to Doug Gerard’s trusted weather station, there was a definite feeling of Spring in the air, even if our heads told us that Spring’s arrival is not due for another month and some days. Steve Wilder of dotCanton.com ventured into Pine Meadow and snapped some photos of Simsbury artist Rob Meyer, hard at work at his easel. And our photographer? Still hampered by a cold that just won’t quit, she and Murray the Border Collie headed up to Brodie Park to check out the scene there, only to find Winter still very much in place. At least for a little while longer…

Spring in Pine Meadow…

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Rob Meyers, a resident of the Tariffville section of Simsbury, took advantage of temperatures in the 50s on Thursday, Feb. 17, to resume work on a painting he said he started about a year ago. Meyers pulled his car into a plowed-out area by the Pine Meadow green off Route 44 in New Hartford and set up shop with an eye on St. John’s Episcopal Church. Text and Photo By: Steve Wilder, dotCANTON.com

Rob Meyer painting at the Pine Meadow Green on Route 44, New Hartford. Photo: dotCanton.com

… While Winter Hangs On At Brodie Park

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Despite some melting of snow, the scene at Brodie Park was definitely a wintry one. Here’s the view from the Green in front of Berkshire Hall at the park.

Some of the cottages around the Green at Brodie Park. Photo: Maria Moore

Photos & Text By: Maria Moore

With her thoughts on the impending snow and ice in the forecast, our photographer set out this morning to find the biggest icicles in town. Maybe it was the cold, or maybe it was her empathy for the little boy statue stoically reading waist-deep in snow, but it didn’t take her long to settle on the icicles hanging from the roof of the Beekley Library. They’re just HUGE!!! Judge for yourself – and if you have a picture of an even bigger icicle, email it to us and we’ll add it to this photojournal. The person with the photo of the biggest icicle of all will win a $10 gift certificate to Rocky River Sweets where yes, you can still get ice cream in the middle of winter, or – if you’re like our photographer – you can get a cup of delicious, home-made soup to warm your belly.

Fair’s fair: Only photos of icicles in New Hartford and photos submitted must be of today’s icicles which means a midnight deadline. Enjoy!

HUGE icicles hang from the Beekley Library roof behind the statue of the little boy reading in the snow.

The stoic little reader among the snow and icicles in the garden area at the Beekley Library.

An avalanche of icicles behind the little reader.

The front of the Beekley Library early this morning with more icicles on its roof.

8-Foot Icicles – Close But Not Quite Long Enough…

Rich and Patty Marshall sent us a photo of icicles hanging from their roof that they estimate to be about 8 feet long. Our photographer estimates the icicles – more like a frozen waterfall – in the corner of the garden area at the Beekley Library to be a good 10-12 feet long. So close, but not quite long enough! Wonder how much more the icicles have grown with today’s icy mix?…

Icicles hanging from Rich and Patty Marshall's roof which they estimate are about 8 feet long! Photo courtesy the Marshalls

Text By: Maria Moore; Photos By: Phil Worley
[All photos have now been uploaded]

Great food, great drinks and a great atmosphere: All essential ingredients for a great party and all very much on display at the Holiday Mingler which Northwest Community Bank recently hosted in New Hartford. This year’s Mingler brought together about 75 members of the New Hartford Business Council and other business owners and leaders, giving everyone the opportunity to relax and and mingle and enjoy some holiday cheer during a hectic time of the year.

Phil Havens & Dawn Whalen

Dawn Whalen, President of the New Hartford Business Council (NHBC), welcomed everyone to the Mingler and made a point of thanking Carol Monroe, Manager of the bank’s New Hartford office, and her staff for their wonderful hospitality. Dawn was followed by Phil Havens, Vice President of the Business Council, who presented checks from the proceeds of the NHBC’s Holiday Marketplace to representatives of both libraries in town, Andrea Gaedeke from the Beekley Library and Joan Auclair from the Bakerville Library.

Steve Reilly

Following the presentation to the libraries, Steve Reilly, president of Northwest Community Bank, spoke a little about his bank’s 150-year history in the area and he emphasized their commitment to giving back to the communities they serve. And then it was time for the guests and their hosts to mingle and catch up with old friends and meeting new ones, until, all too soon, it was time for the Mingler to end. As one of the guests was heard to exclaim at the gathering: “There’s so much excitement in the air, it’s contagious!” The mark, indeed, of a great party!

Northwest Community Bank’s Holiday Mingler took place on Wednesday, December 15.  Two local businesses catered the event, Chatterley’s Restaurant and New Hartford Wine and Beverage.

To read more about the Holiday Mingler and to see more photos of the event, please visit the New Hartford Business Council’s website.

Many Thanks: To Carol Monroe and her staff at the Northwest Community Bank branch in New Hartford for hosting this wonderful Holiday Mingler: “Thanks for your hospitality, everyone!”

Many Thanks Also: To Phil Worley, Executive Director of the Canton Chamber of Commerce for generously sharing his wonderful photographs of the Holiday Mingler. “Your photos are the best, Phil!”

Phil Havens presenting the checks from the Holiday Marketplace to Andrea Gaedeke and Joan Auclair with Dawn Whalen in the background.

Carol Monroe talking with one of the guests at the Mingler.

Joanne Dahill (Marwin Farm) and Anita Barden (Barden Farm) hatching up their next event? Behind Dawn is a glimpse of Bart Baxter, past President of the NHBC.

David Childs catches up with Mike Devins.

Mary Ann Gunning sharing a few words with Maria Moore (NewHartfordPlus editor) with Bob Moore (New HartfordPlus techie) in the background.

Mike D'Apice (Insurance & Investments) enjoying a visit with Betty and an employee of the bank.

Skip Rogers (Rogers Law Firm) shares a good laugh with Anita Baxter (Baxter Communications).

Andrea Gaedeke (Beekley Library), Phyllis Webb (Magic Fluke), David Childs (Economic Development Chairman) and Mary Ann Gunning (Chapin Park B&B) sharing some holiday cheer at the Mingler.

Photos & Text By: Maria Moore

“Beyond cute!” Is the only way to describe the PJ party that followed Story Time at the Beekley Library this past Friday evening.

Milling around were dozens of children dressed in their PJs ~ some holding their favorite blankets and others their stuffed animals. They had all gathered in the Children’s Library at the Beekley Library to enjoy the classic ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ read to them by members of the Women’s Cub. And then it was time for cookies and milk and visits with playfriends old and new. A simple, timeless scene, one which is repeated at the Beekley every year around the holidays, thanks to the generosity of the New Hartford Women’s Club.

As one of the mothers told our photographer: “I thought it might be too cold to come to this, but I’m so glad we did!” And our photographer agreed, even though she had come to story time accompanied only by her camera.

Many Thanks to the New Hartford Women’s Club for hosting this special Story Time.

Images are of the children, their parents and members of the New Hartford Women's Club at the pajama party following Friday evening's Story Time at the Beekley Library.

By: Maria Moore

“Have you ever hula’d with a farmer?” Joanne Dahill of the New Hartford Farmers’ Market asked in her teaser email this past Thursday. And Friday afternoon, August 27 we found out the answer. Here’s many who hula’d with the farmers ~ and a couple of others who enjoyed the show…

Here are the ones who hula’d at the Farmers’ Market:

"On your mark..." Joanne Dahill starts off the hula contest on the Green at Chapin Park during Friday afternoon's Farmers' Market. Photo: Maria Moore

Joanne Dahill hulas with the kids at the Farmers' Market on Friday afternoon, August 27. Photo: Maria Mooreore

How many hulas can you hula with? This young man asks... Photo: Maria Moore

"How'd they do that?" This young lady seems to wonder... Photo: Maria Moore

Making it look oh, so easy! Photo: Maria Moore

If you're Mary, it IS easy! Photo: Maria Moore

He's thinking about trying to hula... Photo: Maria Moore

The youngest hula hooper almost gets it right. Photo: Maria Moore

A cool dad, Shawn Zenuh joins in the action. Photo: Maria Moore

A cool mom/vendor hears the call... Maria Moore

... and takes on her daughter with the hula. Photo: Maria Moore

Awarding the gift certificate to Blue Sky Foods. Photo: Maria Moore

Is it fun to hula? Photo: Maria Moore

Three young ladies having fun. Photo: Maria Moore

What hula hoops are all about! Photo: Maria Moore

And here’s a few who didn’t hula with our farmers

From left to right, the New Hartford Fire Department crew, the volunteers at the Bakerville Library booth, the young book aficionada and the young man petting the dog all didin't hula. Photo: Maria Moore

Luke Alibozek entertains his audience including the young man at the Passiflora stand who listening appreciatively to the music. Photo: Maria Moore

From left to right, Cara and mom Anita at the Barden Farm Stand were not seen with a hula; nor were Aaron Evans-Janes and Bob Moore who were too engrossed in "techie talk" and other shoppers at the market. Photo: Maria Moore

Dianne Litchfield takes a break from the Bakerville Library stand to chat with Dan LaPlante.

Antique Truck & Fire Engine In HDR

HDR photography is a combination of multiple exposures that once combined, reveal the highest highlights and deepest shadows resulting in an image that exposes even the minutest detail. That outcome is then processed even further to create a highly illustrative result which may be tweaked to soften or emphasize the final look. Although it is possible that variations of this effect may be obtained with one to three images, a true HDR image is comprised of five exposures. GeminEye Image utilizes five frames for the full HDR effect. HDR imagery is not just for cars… homes, flowers, architecture, and landscapes all make for good HDR subjects.

Susan Wacht of GeminEye Images will be showcasing her HDR images on Sunday, July 11th, exhibiting at the 9th Annual Charity Benefit Car Show in Simsbury on Iron Horse Boulevard from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The show is being presented by The Valley Collector Car Club, Inc. and draws show cars and spectators from all over Connecticut, Western Massachusetts and New York. In 2009, 427 cars were on display and the event drew more than 2100 spectators. Numerous local charitable organizations were the recipients of monies from this annual event.             ……………………………….Photography/Text: Susan Wacht, GeminEye Images

About the images: Both images are HDR (High Dynamic Range) images The first image, that of the yellow truck is from the same series of HDR images for which Susan received a “Best in Show” distinction in the “Art EI” (Art Tech/Electronic Imaging) Category at Connecticut Professional Photographers Association (CPPA) back on April 26th at the quarterly print competition. That category is for images that have been significantly changed from the original(s) using computer manipulation. The second image is an HDR image of the old Pine Meadow Fire Engine which was sold about 18 months ago.

For more information about GeminEye Images, please visit the GeminEye Images website.

To learn more about the Valley Collector Car Club and the 9th Annual Charity Benefit Car Show on July 11, please visit the Valley Collector Car Club’s website.