We received the following update on conditions at the town skating rink in Chapin Park from the neighborhood Keep of the Rink himself, Tom Goddu:

The Pine Meadow rink will be in top condition Sunday. A couple of the volunteer firemen fixed the nearby hose spigot, so Matt Hawkins and friend were able to apply a thin coating of water this evening; it froze immediately. This may be one of the last skating days of this season, so I hope lots of people will take advantage of the ‘Season Finale’ skating on Sunday – and hopefully Monday and Tuesday as well.

Photo Credit: The photo at left shows Tom Goddu sharpening skates during the 2010 Frozen Farmers Skating Party and Farmers’ Market.  The photo below is a view of the skating rink during the same event.  Photos by Maria Moore from NewHartfordPlus archives.

Many Thanks: to Tom Goddu, Matt Hawkins and the volunteer firemen and everyone else who has helped keep the skating rink in “tip-top” condition: Well done all!

Among the various signs of spring around us, one of our most favorite is the Opening Day of our local Farmers’ Market  and today is that day!  So get your (recycled) shopping bags ready, make your ATM stop along the way and at 4:00 p.m. head down to the Green in Pine Meadow and be ready to say “Hi” to the nicest group of people anywhere: our local vendors and their loyal customers.

A quick email update this morning from Joanne Dahill set the stage for this afternoon’s market:

Vendors: The Barden Farm, Beckwith Brook Farm, Better Baking By Beth, B’Udder Bar Soaps, Dandy Acres, Dineberg’s Localvore, Easton Crafts, Eaglewood Farm, Gresczyk Farms, Planted Feather Farm, Sweet Pea Cheese, Sweet Wind Farm, Woolen It Be Nice …

New Hartford Business Council Featured Business: New Hartford Wine and Beverage

Listen To the Music Of: The Josh Galusha Trio.

This year, Maria and Bob of NewHartfordPlus will be going “free-range” ~ we’ll be taking photos while shopping and hanging out with friends.   Hope to see you there!

Check out the latest on the New Hartford Farmers’ Market on Facebook.

The carrot lawn signs made their first appearance at the Farmers' Market last year. Photo: NewHartfordPlus archives

Following are the Daily Community Calendar listings for today in New Hartford, CT:

Friday, May 21, 2010:

• Children’s Story Time at the Beekley Library: for 3- to 5-year-olds at 10:15 a.m. at the Beekley Library, 10 Central Avenue, New Hartford. For more information please call Andrea Gaedeke at the library at 379-7235.
• New Hartford Senior Center Activities: Yoga Class: at 11:00 in the Senior Center. To see this month’s scheduled activities at the Senior Center please see our Community Bulletin Board. For more information about the Senior Center please call Jean Barnicoat at 860-379-3980 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
• New Hartford Farmers’ Market ~ Opening Day! From 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the Green in Pine Meadow. Sellers include: Barden Farm, Beckwith Brook Farm, Better Baking By Beth, B’Udder Bar Soaps, Dandy Acres, Dineberg’s Localvore, Easton Crafts, Eaglewood Farm, Gresczyk Farms, Planted Feather Farm, Sweet Pea Cheese, Sweet Wind Farm, Woolen It Be Nice and more.
• Should your event be listed here and you don’t see it? Please email us the info. and we’ll add it! Email: newhartfordplus@gmail.com and write Calendar in the subject line.

Our Community Calendar section provides additional information about the events listed above and information on past, current and future events – a permanent record of events in New Hartford. Also check out our UPDATED Community Bulletin Board where you can see flyers on upcoming events, monthly calendars and information on local non-profit groups.

…NHGrapevine…

“I don’t know if anyone has sent you the report on the ecological characteristics of the property that came out a few days later, but it is going around by e-mail. If you have room on your website, it would be very informative for the townspeople to post it, I think.”

Wrote a reader as she forwarded to us another copy of the Brodie Park South Baseline Study. Ever responsive to our readers, we went ahead and published it.

Contribute to the …NHGrapevine… Let us know what you’ve heard – or seen – in town and we’ll add it to this listing, and also add it to the …NHGrapevine.. section. So let’s hear what you’re hearing around town…

A view of the stores in the center of New Hartford. Photo from NewHartfordPlus archives

Following are the Community Calendar listings for today in New Hartford, CT:

Thursday, May 20, 2010:

• New Hartford Senior Center activities: at Senior Center, Town Hall, 530 Main St., New Hartford. Activities: Line dancing at 9:30 a.m.; Fitness at 10:45 a.m. ($2.50 per person, per class, includes a fitness card which is stamped for every class attended; Bingo at 1:00 p.m.; Yoga at 4:00 p.m.
• Planning and Zoning Special Meeting: at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall. A new two year permit for the sand and gravel operation on Maple Hollow Road and discussion of Planimetrics bill and future action are on the agenda for tonight. To see the full agenda for this meeting, please see our Calendar.
• Special Town Meeting: to take action on easements related to two properties in Pine Meadow and a conservation easement for property located at Garrett Ridge Estates. For the full agenda, please see our Notices page.
• Thursday Night Gather With Friends at Passiflora: Lightarian © Reiki: with Laura Rose from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Passiflora, 526 Main Street, New Hartford. Join Laura Rose, Intuitive Medium, Usui Reiki Master, Lightarian Reiki Master, and owner of The Purple Rose Healing Center, as she shares this simple yet powerful healing technique. For more information, please visit Passiflora’s website , or call Passiflora at 860-379-TEAS.

Our Calendar section provides additional information about the events listed above and information on past, current and future events – a permanent record of events in New Hartford.

Tag Sale season begins! Check out our Classifieds Section for upcoming Tag Sales in New Hartford.

…NHGrapevine…

“We’ll collect our individual input so that Allison can present it to the committee”

Members of the Conservation Commission agreed after discussing the Brodie Park South study which they had helped fund. Allison Murdoch, chairperson of the Conservation Commission, is on a committee/study group that is putting together a plan for the future use of this town owned property.

Contribute to the …NHGrapevine… Let us know what you’ve heard – or seen – in town and we’ll add it to this listing, and also add it to the …NHGrapevine… section. So let’s hear what you’re hearing around town…

A scene from last spring's Farmers' Market. Get your shopping bags ready for tomorrow, Friday's opening day of our local New Hartford Farmers' Market. Photo: NewHartfordPlus archives

This weekend calendar is being added to as we come across more events that may be of interest to our readers. If you know of an event, please email us the information and we’ll gladly add it to this Weekend Calendar.

Following are the Calendar listings for this weekend, Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16 in New Hartford, CT:

Saturday, May 15, 2010:

• North Congregational Church Christian Ed. Department Car Wash: Now that Winter is over, it’s time for some Spring cleaning. Don’t forget your car! The car wash will support the Sunday school children’s mission project, Simply Smiles. See the flyer posted on our Bulletin Board for more information.
• Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church Mother’s Market Tag Sale, Bake Sale and Luncheon: The Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church will be holding a Mother’s Market Tag Sale, Bake Sale and Luncheon at 93 River Road-Route 181 Pleasant Valley, from 9 am to 3 pm.
• St. John’s Episcopal Church Youth Group Hosts “Concert for Haiti” from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m., on the Pine Meadow Green in New Hartford. Musical performances will be provided by a number of local youth performers. Proceeds will benefit ShelterBox, a U.K.-based charity which provides tents and other essential equipment in times of crisis, including Haitian earthquake victims. See the listing on our Calendar Page for complete information.

Sunday, May 16, 2010:

• Visit your favorite Church, Temple, Meditation Center or Meeting House: Be sure to make time today to visit your favorite church, temple, meditation center or meeting house for good fellowship and spiritual uplifting. For specific information about times of worship or meditation, please check out the list of links in our Houses of Worship tab in the sidebar on our front page.
• Annual New Hartford PTO “Mother/Son” Event: Get Moving and Have Some Fun! Free hike up Talcott Mountain! B.Y.O. picnic lunch and beverages, as well as something to share if you’d like (e.g. cookies, fresh fruit, etc.). Picnic tables available up top. 1 1/2 mile hike up to Heublein Tower, 1,000′ above the Farmington River Valley (note: tower will be closed). Free parking. See the flyer posted on our Bulletin Board for more information on the event.
• 2010 Earth Weekend Spring Cleanup: Meet in the Town Hall parking lot at 12:30 p.m. to sign in. At 12:45 p.m. the clean up begins! This is the rescheduled event. Bring work gloves, a filled water bottle, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and some tools (clippers, pruners, rakes, etc.). See our Calendar for more information.
• Buddha’s Birthday Celebration: At Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple, 19 Kinsey Rd., New Hartford. Schedule:12:00-1:00: Korean Buddhist Birthday Ceremony. 1:00-2:00: Ceremonial Bathing of Baby Buddha and healthy vegetarian meal. Come One, Come All. For more information, call Su Yen Sunim at (860) 489-3254.

By: Maria Moore

Yesterday evening’s Board of Selectmen meeting at 5:30 p.m. was a brief one, with the Selectmen moving through the agenda items at a steady pace and ending by 6:05 ~ just in time to get home to dinner for those who were not staying for the 7:00 p.m. Board of Finance meeting.

Following is a report on some of the items on the Selectmen’s May 11 meeting agenda; the full agenda is listed at the end of this article.  As always, please be sure to read the official minutes which will be posted on the town website once they become available.

3.  Operations

Budget Referendum: First Selectman Dan Jerram said that the budget referendum had gone well, with a 2:1 approval by the voters of the budget on the first try.  He added the head moderator’s sheet of the vote count to the record of the meeting.

Roads: Dan said that guard rail posts are now being worked on by the road crew.  He also said that Glasso (company) is specing out the roads to be worked on ~ Southeast, Burwell, Steele and Kinsey ~ and then they’ll figure out the chip sealing.   Regarding the West Hill Road overlay, Dan said two bids had come in.

Parking on Central Avenue: Dan said he has talked with the Beekley Library Board about using some of the Foothills land for parking and the Board members seemed receptive to it. They’re continuing to work on it.  The Foothills land is the grassy area between the old library building and the new library on Central Avenue. The Foothills Trader was located there when it was locally-owned.

Wastewater Treatment Plant: Selectman Tom Klebart asked when the sewer plant would be coming online and Dan said: “It’s ready to go” and mentioned the end of May.

5. Resignations from Boards/Commissions – WPCA, Conservation

WPCA: Dan announced that MaryBeth Greenwood, who has been on the WPCA for just over a year, has resigned due to personal reasons.  Steve Hanright was appointed to the WPCA on Dan’s recommendation.  Tom asked if there was still a vacancy on the WPCA, and Dan said there was, that they were waiting for the WPCA to complete the revision of their charter before appointing someone else.

Conservation: Chris James on the Conservation Commission is moving out of state and has resigned from the Commission.  The Selectmen will be looking for a replacement for Chris.

Commission on Aging: Dan proposed Penny Miller for the vacancy on the COA and the selectmen approved Penny for that Commission.

8.  Set Time, Date, Manner of Special Town Meeting

A Special Town Meeting was set for Thursday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. to act on an easements from Mary Ann Gunning (Emergency Access easement) and St. John’s Church.  The easements are to allow the WPCA access to lines located near the walkway to be constructed as part of the new addition at the back of the church; see the April 12 press release from St. John’s.  To read a downloadable copy of the Notice of Special Meeting, please see the link at the end of this report.

10. Correspondence:

Paul Volovski, the town Building Inspector, sent in a letter saying that the Rec Commission wants to take out the boathouse at Brodie Park since it was unsafe.  Paul agreed that the structure was unsafe.  The selectmen approved taking down the building.

11. Any Other Business to Come Before this Board

Bill Baxter, former First Selectman, had come to the meeting with copies for the Selectmen of paperwork related to the Northwest Chamber of Commerce’s initative to set up an Economic Development District.  This district would include towns in Litchfield county and the northwest corner.   Bill Baxter had recently made a presentation to the town’s Economic Development Commission on the Chamber’s initiative and the town had contributed a small sum [$250? ~ to be confirmed] towards a study for such a district.  Bill told the Selectmen that state funding agencies would now be looking at funding on a regional, rather than a municipal level.  The state has also passed legislation limiting the number of regions in the state to 8, and Bill said that small towns in our area need to hurry, or they may end up being assigned to economic development regions with Danbury or Waterbury.  Tom expressed the apparent feeling of the Selectmen when he said: “I’d rather be absorbed by Torrington or Winsted, rather than Danbury!”  Dan said that the LHCEO (Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials had taken a little time to get on board) but they now saw the need for it.

LID (Low Impact Development Stakeholders’ Group): Tom said that the LID was progressing nicely and they were finding that it worked well with the new regulations (the proposed regulations that will soon come into effect.)

The meeting ended shortly after 6 and our reporter went home for a while, leaving Reggie Smith, Jr., the only other member of the public at the meeting, to relax a little in the conference room before the Board of Finance meeting at 7 p.m.

_______________

To read a downloadable copy of the Notice of Special Meeting: Please click on the following link: Notice of Special Town Meeting, May 20 (197).

_______________

Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
5:30 PM

AGENDA

1.) Minutes – April 13, 2010; April 20, 2010
2.) Opportunity for Public Comment
3.) Operations Updates
4.) Grants Updates
5.) Resignations from Boards/Commissions – WPCA, Conservation
6.) Appointment to WPCA – Steve Hanright
7.) Authorization to sign 2010/2011 Sand/Salt State Contract
8.) Set Time, Date, Manner of Special Town Meeting
9.) Request for Tax Refunds
10.) Correspondence
11.) Any Other Business to Come Before this Board

St. John's Episcopal Church in Pine Meadow with the red banner across the front announcing the building of its new addition. Photo: Maria Moore

The Annual Meeting of the New Hartford Village Fire District will be held this evening at 8:00 p.m. at the New Hartford Volunteer Fire Department Firehouse on the corner of Greenwoods Road and Route 219.  This is the meeting residents in that fire district need to attend if they have any questions or concerns regarding the taxes and the operation of the fire district.

The South End Fire District will be holding its Annual Meeting next Wednesday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the South End Volunteer Fire Department Firehouse at 20 Antolini Drive just off Route 202 in New Hartford.

The Pine Meadow Fire District held its Annual Meeting on April 26.

New Hartford has three separate fire districts: the New Hartford Village Fire District, the Pine Meadow Fire District and the South End Fire District.  All three district are manned by volunteers and they each operate independently of each other.  They each have the authority to tax residents who live within their districts.  Currently, the districts levy property taxes and motor vehicle taxes.

The South End Fire Department located on Antolini Road on the corner of Routes 202 and 219. Photo: NewHartfordPlus archives

Pine Meadow Fire Department located on Route 44 just before the light at the green. Photo: NewHartfordPlus archives

Following are the Community Calendar listings for today in New Hartford, CT:

Wednesday, May 5, 2010:

• New Hartford Business Council Board of Directors/Steering Committee Meeting: at 8:00 a.m. at the Chapin Park Bed and Breakfast, Church Street, Pine Meadow section of New Hartford. For more information about the Business Council, please see the NHBC’s Facebook page.
• New Hartford Senior Center: Fitness: at 9 a.m.($2.50 per class, includes a fitness card which is stamped for every class attended); Wii Bowling at 10:00 a.m.; Refreshments at 12:00 noon; Blood Pressure Check at 12:30 p.m.; Art Horn ~ the Wonders of Weather at 1:00 p.m. For more information please call Jean Barnicoat at 860-379-3980 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
• Children’s Story Time for 2-year-olds at the Beekley Library: at 10:15 a.m. at the Beekley Library, 10 Central Avenue, New Hartford. For more information please call Andrea Gaedeke at the library at 860-379-7235.
• Canton Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting: at 11:30 a.m. La Trattoria, Route 44, Canton. For more information about the Canton Chamber of Commerce which has a partnership with the New Hartford Business Council, please visit the Canton Chamber of Commerce website.

.

• Commission on Aging Meeting: at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall, 530 Main Street, New Hartford. For the agenda for this meeting, please see our Calendar.
• New Hartford Recreation Commission Meeting: at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall, 530 Main Street, New Hartford. For the agenda for this meeting, please see our Calendar.
• Have a Spring-related business you want to advertise?: Check out our BRAND NEW Yellow Pages: an economical, simple way to get your business in front of our 32,066 visitors (this past March). Use the “Submit Your Listing” form to send us your information and we’ll list your business. Looking for a lawn care service? Check our Yellow Pages where we’ll be listing companies as soon as their info. is submitted to us.

…NHGrapevine…

“I just learned to knit today!”

Said one of the poll workers at Town Hall yesterday during the afternoon on what was a very quiet day for voter turnout on the budget referendum.

Contribute to the …NHGrapevine… Let us know what you’ve heard – or seen – in town and we’ll add it to this listing, and also add it to the …NHGrapevine.. section. So let’s hear what you’re hearing around town…

The lilacs are in full bloom outside the photographer's home, image from 2009. Photo: Maria Moore

Following are the Community Calendar listings for today in New Hartford, CT:

Wednesday, April 28, 2010:

• New Hartford Senior Center: Fitness: at 9 a.m.($2.50 per class, includes a fitness card which is stamped for every class attended); Wii Bowling at 10:00 a.m. For more information please call Jean Barnicoat at 860-379-3980 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
• Children’s Story Time for 2-year-olds at the Beekley Library: at 10:15 a.m. at the Beekley Library, 10 Central Avenue, New Hartford. For more information please call Andrea Gaedeke at the library at 860-379-7235.
• New Hartford Schools Plant Facility Subcommittee Meeting: at 5:30 p.m. at Central Office at the Town Hall, 530 Main Street, New Hartford. For the agenda for this meeting, please see our Calendar.
• Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting: at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall, 530 Main Street, New Hartford. For the agenda for this meeting, please see our Calendar.
• CANCELLED ~ Regional #7 Board of Ed Meeting: This meeting has been cancelled.
• Have a Spring-related business you want to advertise?: Check out our BRAND NEW Yellow Pages: an economical, simple way to get your business in front of our 32,066 visitors (this past March). Use the “Submit Your Listing” form to send us your information and we’ll list your business. Looking for a lawn care service? Check our Yellow Pages where we’ll be listing companies as soon as their info. is submitted to us.

…NHGrapevine…

“You should tax everyone, and then credit the tax back to those who bother to show up at the Annual Budget Meeting!”

Our editor gave her tongue-in-cheek solution on how to improve turnout at the town’s most important meeting of the year, which is now a shadow of what it should be. Bah-humbug!

Contribute to the …NHGrapevine… Let us know what you’ve heard – or seen – in town and we’ll add it to this listing, and also add it to the …NHGrapevine.. section. So let’s hear what you’re hearing around town…

The beautiful magnolia tree in full bloom at the Chapin Park Bed and Breakfast in Pine Meadow. Photo: Maria Moore from our archives

By: Maria Moore

Before This Evening’s Town Annual Budget Meeting

The New Hartford Annual Budget Meeting, scheduled for this evening at 7:00 p.m. would have,  in times past, brought together voters to debate next year’s budget line by line, make changes where they saw fit, and then approve the budget ~ or not, as was known to happen.

Tonight’s town Annual Budget Meeting, a shadow of its former self, having been stripped of its purpose by the Selectmen at a Special Meeting on Tuesday, April 20, is set to draw only a handful of participants, most of them required to attend by their official roles: the three Selectmen (maybe), the Town Clerk, a Moderator; and one or two reporters.  Why would any voters interrupt their dinner?  No discussion of the proposed budget will be allowed at the meeting and the referendum date of May 4 has already been set.  Even the Board of Selectmen meeting, which should have preceded the Annual Budget Meeting, has been cancelled, and with it, residents’ last opportunity to address the content of the proposed budget before the referendum date.

Our reporter attended the town Annual Budget Meeting that is no longer an Annual Budget Meeting and was back home within a half-hour.

Meeting Summary

At 7:07 p.m., the town Annual Budget Meeting was over.   Reggie Smith, Jr. was elected Moderator, a role Reggie graciously takes on.  He read through the Notice of Annual Budget Meeting, and the Budget, untouched by the Board of Finance at their last meeting, was sent to referendum on the predetermined date of Tuesday, May 4.

Our reporter underestimated the number of people at the meeting. At its beginning, the following were present:

• First Selectman Dan Jerram;
• Selectmen Tom Klebart and Bruce Gresczyk;
• Town Clerk Donna LaPlante;
• Moderator and Board of Finance member Reggie Smith, Jr.;
• Board of Finance Chairman Ben Witte;
• Board of Finance members Roy Litchfield and Laura Sundquist;
• and our reporter.

As the brief meeting concluded, Board of Finance Member Alesia Kennerson joined her fellow Board of Finance members, and the Register Citizen reporter arrived with his video camera.

Conversation With Town Clerk Donna LaPlante

Our reporter checked in with Donna LaPlante and asked if she remembered when the townspeople actually attended Town Budget Meetings to discuss the budget. Donna replied that yes, she remembered it well. “The meetings used to be held at Pine Meadow Elementary to accommodate the people.” Donna said. Our reporter asked if there were really that many people who showed up at the meetings and Donna said that it wasn’t unusual for 100 voters to show up at the Town Budget Meeting. “That’s when they could discuss the budget and cut or eliminate line items from the budget before voting on it.” Donna said.

Elevator Conversation With Ben Witte

Riding down in the elevator one flight with Ben Witte and Bruce Gresczyk, our reporter told Ben that with all the Board of Finance members who showed up at the meeting, she was way off on the estimate she had given in her short report before the meeting. Ben answered that he wasn’t going to go to the meeting, but that on reading the statute he thought he’d better be there in case the budget didn’t go to referendum and he’d be needed to present a budget. As the elevator doors opened, our reporter asked Ben: “You mean you had a budget with you?” At which Ben smiled, holding his portfolio in hand, and the elevator doors closed.

Our Reporter’s/Editor’s Take

There is something slightly uncomfortable in attending a public meeting whose main reason for being has been removed, and at which no public input may be given ~ despite Reggie’s adding that anyone with a question could speak to the First Selectman personally after the meeting.   All present followed an unwritten script, from which there seemed no room for deviation.

Looking back on this 7-minute town Annual Budget Meeting, one has to wonder whether the time has come to bury this construct of a public meeting, and proceed with whatever other form of government should take its place.  This would save the half-dozen or so from the necessity of having to go through a meeting of no substance, just at dinner time.

At the beginning of the Annual Budget Meeting on Tuesday, April 27. Photo: Maria Moore

The Town Budget Meeting on Tuesday, April 27. Photo: Maria Moore

The new owners, Theresa Stark and Deano Mazza: “It’s all about having a work ethic”

“I always knew I was an entrepreneur. I just needed the right thing to come along,” Deano Mazza told our reporter. “And that opportunity came when my friend Brian Hogie asked me if I wanted to take over this location.” Deano made one call to his partner, Theresa Stark to make sure she was on board with it and then, he said: “I went for it!” The pair signed the lease on April 1 for the former location of Hogie’s Sweet Shop in Pine Meadow and by April 10 they were ready to open. In only 10 days they had transformed the space into a bright and cheerful setting for their new business, Rocky River Sweets.

“Really what you need is drive and determination. If you don’t have a work ethic, you couldn’t do this.” Deano said and Theresa agreed, adding: “It’s mind-boggling how much we’ve done.”

A space set up with their customers in mind

The couple has divided the interior of the store into two distinct parts: on one side is the kids’ play area, with a wonderful, wooden playhouse in it and small, child-sized tables and chairs, as well as seating for adults; and on the other side is a seating area with a half-dozen tables where guests can enjoy a quiet meal or they catch a favorite show on the wall-mounted flat-screen TV.  So far, the Discovery Channel has been the favorite with patrons, young and old.

“A place where you can get good food at an honest price”

“We want this to be the kind of place where grandparents will want to bring their grandkids for a treat.” Deano said. The main treat, of course, is ice cream in its many different flavors, as well as sorbets and shakes. The couple has also added a deli section, with sandwiches made with fresh, bakery bread ~ yes, from the Collinsville Baking Company ~ and with Boar’s Head meats. Coming soon, as their sign says, they’ll be serving fried foods (“people have asked us to”) and that New York delicacy, Sabrett hot dogs (“the famous New York City pushcart hot dogs that snap or “pop” when you bite into them!”). The couple plans to keep Rocky River open year-round and come winter, Theresa will be adding home-made soups to their menu. And for those looking for a comfortable venue for a birthday party, Rocky River will be available for private birthday parties; contact Theresa or Deano for more information.

With all of their plans for the future, the couple has a very clear goal for their business:

“We want to be the mom and pop store; we want people to feel they got a good meal for a fair price, and we want everyone to leave here feeling happy and that they enjoyed what they ate.”

And with that they brought our reporter a small dish (“A very small dish, please”) of lemon sorbet and she left with a promise to return very soon, as other fellow customers are already beginning to do. Because good food, served by good people, is something we all want more of.

“And next time, guys, make that a large lemon sorbet, please!”

Sign Up For Earth Weekend Cleanup And Get a Free Ice Cream Scoop

Theresa and Deano have generously donated 30 coupons (actually, 32 printed out altogether) to the organizers of the Earth Weekend Cleanup on Sunday, April 25. Register for the cleanup at the event and the first 32 volunteers will each receive a coupon for a free, one-scoop cone or cup of ice cream.  “Sweet!”

Rocky River Sweets: Is located in the Silo Building between Prestige Cleaners and Michel Angelo’s Restaurant on Main Street in the Pine Meadow section of New Hartford. Rocky River is open 7 days a week, from 11 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

The attractive view as you enter Rocky River Sweets. Photo: Maria Moore

The Goddu family visits with another family at Rocky River Sweets. Photo: Deano Mazza

The attractive Silo Building where Rocky River Sweets is located. Photo: Maria Moore

Collinsville Baking Company Hosts First Morning Mingler

Local business owners came together this Wednesday morning, April 21, for an hour of camaraderie and an opportunity to highlight their business offerings all in the friendly setting of the Collinsville Baking Company. Bakery owner Greg Histed and his mom Vicki Swartwood had set out a large selection of baked goods and coffee and they graciously visited with their business guests as, helped by their staff, they also tended to the steady stream of customers making a morning stop at their local bakery.

In a quiet moment, our reporter asked Greg how he was feeling about his bakery’s move from Collinsville to Pine Meadow. “Everyone’s been just great!” He said. “They’ve all been so welcoming.” Asked about his customers, he said he’s added new customers from the area and most of his old customers don’t seem to mind driving out to his new location. Good bread, really good bread is worth going the extra mile or two, our reporter agreed.

The one hour allocated to the Mingler flew by as new business owners introduced themselves to those with longer established businesses in town, and those who hadn’t seen each other in a while caught up on the intervening months. And at the end, as all good networking occasions should provide, everyone stood in a friendly circle and had an opportunity to showcase their business offerings to others at the gathering. And then it was time to leave, most with a loaf of fresh bread, or baked goods, and a promise to return to Greg’s Collinsville Baking Company, that has fast become a favorite among those who appreciate great bread made by kind-hearted man.

This First New Hartford Business Council Morning Mingler was held at the Collinsville Baking Company in the Jeannine Building, Wickett Street in the Pine Meadow section of New Hartford.

The next NHBC Morning Mingler will be held at Passiflora Tea Room and Cafe, 526 Main Street on Tuesday, May 18 from 7:45 a.m. throuugh 9:00 a.m. All business owners and professionals are welcome to attend. RSVP by May 15 to nhbusinesscouncil@yahoo.com or by calling 860-238-7142.

Photos of Wednesday’s Morning Mingler courtesy of Phil Worley, Susan Wacht and Maria Moore (as attributed in the captions):

Greg Histed and his mom Vicki Swartwood visit with the Bakkers at the Morning Mingler which Greg and Vicki hosted at their Collinsville Baking Company in the Jeannine Building in the Pine Meadow section of New Hartford. Photo: Susan Wacht of GeminEye Images

Dawn Whalen of COMPUTER EXPLORERS and Co-President of the New Hartford Business Council gives a few updates to those present of upcoming Business Council events while Ron Miller of Ace Marketing looks on. Photo: Phil Worley

Susan Wacht (GeminEye Images) and Mary Ann Gunning (Chapin Park B&B) share a light moment together at the Morning Mingler on April 21. Photo: Phil Worley

(More photos ~ page 2)

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Win A New Hartford Farmers’ Market Gift Basket

Living in New Hartford we’re so lucky to have a strong farming community. This makes it all the easier for us to live green in our everyday lives. Just a few miles from home, we have access to locally-grown fruits and vegetables, as well as meats of every variety. And every summer, this bounty is brought together in our local Farmers Market.

So when it came time for our family to come up with our green act to add to the Billion Acts of Green campaign sponsored by the Earth Day Network, it was easy for our family to pledge the following:

“We will shop at our local farmers’ market, using our own bags, and eat as many locally sourced meals as possible year-round.”

We want to encourage everyone in our community to shop green and act green in as many aspects of our daily lives as possible. Let us know of a way you’re already living green, or pledge to live green and we’ll enter your name into a drawing for a wonderful gift basket from the New Hartford Farmers’ Market. Included in that basketful of goodies will be:

• $20 of gift certificates for you to redeem at any of the vendors at the first Farmers’ Market of the season on Friday, May 21st from 3:30 through 7:00, and
• A Farmers’ Market T-shirt to proudly show your commitment to our local farmers.

Email or “snail” mail us your green act and we’ll enter you into the drawing for the Farmers’ Market gift basket. We’ll announce the winner of the drawing at the Earth Weekend Cleanup on Sunday, April 25. The gift basket will be available for pickup at the Cleanup or we’ll be glad to deliver it to the lucky winner anywhere in New Hartford.

Email: Your green act to newhartfordplus@gmail.com; regular mail: NewHartfordPlus, PO Box 667, New Hartford.

To learn more: About the New Hartford Farmers’ Market and the local vendors at this year’s lineup, please see the March 27 article May Brings Farmers’ Market to the Green.

To learn more: About CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and FoodShare programs offered by Barden Farm and MarWin Farm, please see the February 21 article Sharing In our Farmers’ Bounty: The Next Step.

To pre-register: For the 2010 Earth Weekend Cleanup, please visit the New Hartford Land Trust website.

The Barden Farm stand at the Farmers Market at Chapin Park in Pine Meadow last spring. Photo: Maria Moore

By: Maria Moore

$3,000 Prize In Fishing Derby

If you’ve driven by UpCountry SportFishing today you might have noticed a small white sign announcing “$3,000 Prize.” And that’s no fisherman’s yarn!

The $3,000 prize is for a special, tagged fish if it’s caught in the New Hartford Fishing Derby on Saturday, May 29. The Derby, which is sponsored by the town’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) has in the past been a rather small, local event which has attracted primarily children and their families. But this year, with the prize set at $3,000 the EDC is looking to attract many more fishermen and women to our stretch of the Farmington River. So pass the word along ~ there really will be a $3,000 fish for the catching on May 29 ~ and that’s no yarn!

To register: For the New Hartford Fishing Derby, or for more information about the Derby, please call Grady Allen at UpCountry SportFishing: 860-379-1952. Or just stop by the store at 352 Main Street (Route 44) in the Pine Meadow section of New Hartford.

Fishing License Sales Help Keep Revenue Flowing To Hartford

We had heard that New Hartford sells a lot of fishing and hunting licenses and so with fishing season here, our reporter headed over to the Town Clerk’s Office to see just how many licenses are sold each year. There our reporter was told that most of the licenses in town are sold at UpCountry SportFishing. Donna LaPlante said that about 30% of sales go through her office, the rest are sold by Carol Allen at UpCountry. In the old days, Donna said, the Allens would sell the licenses and then Carol would bring a box of the three-part forms to Donna’s office for the town to process. “Now it’s much easier.” Donna said, thinking back to the three-part forms that were sometimes so hard to read. The Allens have bought a computerized licensing system from the state, the same as Donna has, and they’re able to process licenses directly with the state. The only licenses that have to be processed through Donna’s office are those for individuals with handicaps, who need to provide documentation to get their free licenses.

On her next visit to UpCountry, our reporter checked in with Carol about the number of licenses she has sold. “How has the start of the fishing season been?” Our reporter asked. “It’s been going pretty well.” Carol said. “With the fees going down, the sales have gone back up again.” She printed out a summary tape from her machine and said so far for the month of April through the 21st,  she has sold 537 licenses, grossing $20,173 for the state, of which her store gets to keep $1 per license sold.

Of the 537 licenses, the most popular types of licenses have been:

• 249 were for Inland Fishing licenses;
• 141 for All Waters Sports Fishing licenses;
• and 65 for All Waters Sports Fishing and Firearms Hunting licenses.

Last year in April, Carol said, she sold exactly 1,000 licenses. And for the whole of last year? “3,400 and 13 or 14,” Carol said; that’s roughly $140,000 in fishing and hunting licenses sold by Upcountry SportFishing ~ not a bad revenue stream to flow to the state in Hartford every year.

2010 Angler’s Guide Now Available

Donna gave our reporter copies of two magazines she has just received from the state: The 2010 Connecticut Angler’s Guide ~ Inland Marine Fishing, and the 2010 Connecticut Guide to Hunting. Both magazines are free and copies are available from the Town Clerk’s Office and from Upcountry SportsFishing.

Donna said the Angler’s Guide is a great resource for anyone interested in fishing. The guide has pictures of the different types of fish to help identify them, and it has a listing of the state’s lakes and ponds with a breakdown of the types of fish available and the regulations for that particular fishing place. On page 33, our reporter found West Hill Pond listed, where you can fish for trout and kokanee and where there is a 15 m.p.h. speed limit during the day (6 m.p.h. during the night) and motors are limited to 8 h.p.

“It even tells you a way to calculate the weight of fish.” Donna said; see page 35 of the guide. And on page 16, there are pictures of Aquatic Nuisance Species which include alewife (a type of landlocked fish), and didymo, a freshwater alga (also known as rock snot ~ the picture shows you why).

This Angler’s Guide is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the bodies of water in our community, whether to fish in them or just enjoy their beauty. And in New Hartford, we’re blessed with two of the best bodies of water in the state: the Farmington River and West Hill Pond.

You may pick up a copy of The Angler’s Guide at either the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall or at UpCountry Sports
Fishing. The guide is also available online and you may download a PDF copy of it from the DEP website.

The Farmington River flowing through the center of New Hartford on a recent afternoon. Photo: Maria Moore