The latest craze to find its way to Norwich is eateries that serve beer and wine. 36 Town Grill & Tap at 42 Town Street, Norwich CT just opened its doors this weekend, Sunday thru Saturday 11am – Midnight. It is right next door to Stop & Shop, Yogurt City and the Lucky House Chinese Restaurant.

There is lots and lots of parking. I was met by a very pleasant hostess and seated immediately in the dining area. While the restaurant is not wide the split between bar and grill is well defined and the colors chosen for the walls soothing.

The menu is plain and simple and the portions large.  I was hoping for a light snack before I went grocery shopping to keep higher calorie items from making the leap into my shopping cart. Appetizers  are mostly $7.99 for nachos, chili cheese fries or an order of onion rings. An individual shrimp with cocktail sauce is $2.99. Chicken wings, Chicken Tenders or Jalapeno Poppers with cream cheese are $8.99.

There are four versions of entrée salads and all contain chicken varying only in price from $9.99 – 11.99.

Cold chicken salad, tuna salad, sliced roast beef, sliced ham or turkey sandwiches are served on white, wheat or marble rye bread for $9.99 with French fries.

Hot sandwiches  with French fries are mostly $9.99 and include French Dip, Grilled Cheese with Ham, Tuna Melt or for $10.99 a Reuben or a Patty Melt.

It’s a typical selection of burgers from $8.99 – 11.99 served with French fries.

Soups are a cup or a bowl of their own creamy Clam Chowder, Chef’s Choice Soup of the Day or House Chili from $3.49 – 5.49.

Homestyle dinners are a choice of grilled Teriyaki chicken, homemade meatloaf, pot roast, grilled pork chops or chicken Pomery all with French fries, mashed potatoes, or rice, side salad, and vegetable of the day. $13.99 – 14.99 Steak dinners  are $16.99 – 18.99 Seafood dinners begin at $13.99 to a Surf & Turf at $19.99.

All soda, milk, iced/hot coffee/tea is $2.49. Desserts were not yet available when I was there but the coffee was hot and the service was prompt and pleasant.  I am still searching for the coffee and sweet shop open until midnight.     

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View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172

It is true that you never know where a small statement is going to lead. On April 16th 2013 I wrote a blog about a John Meyer exhibit with the hope it might someday come to Norwich where the company was once located. From September 20, 2015 to January 15^th 2016 it will be at the Slater Memorial Museum here in Norwich.

Recently I was contacted by Tjitte S. Pal of the Netherlands. He had read the blog while looking for some information on the internet as he had a wonderful and unique experience with John Meyer. In May 1968, after completing his military service, he travelled from the Netherlands to Norwich, CT for a full year “trainee-ship” at John Meyer under the flag of the Netherland America Foundation. He learned a great deal and had a wonderful experience before returning to the Netherlands to continue his professional life.

Tjitte S. Pal, who was called “Cheetah” when he was at John Meyer, sent me a few questions and I am hoping that there are readers out there who will be able to answer them for him.  “As for myself (Tjitte S. Pal) I would like to exchange my life-guiding-memories at “John Meyer’s” with former employees if they would like to have the same goal.”

1 John Meyer’s secretary “Marge” was quite a character (with a heart of gold)

2 Herbert Stern was manager of Personnel, always looking after his people, had together with his son a few “Saab 96” cars to drive and maintain.

3 Arlene Meyer had 2 female assistants, Jan and Donna, they were a little younger than I was.

4 My last day at John Meyer’s, a Good Bye party, I received a “hand-embroidered Logo/ Image” to wear on my Blazer/Blue jacket, made by one the female John Meyer employee’s, she came from one of the Caribbean Islands.

I can continue with names and situations.

My question is: what happened to Marge, Herb, Jan, Donna, are they still living around, or in Norwich CT, do relatives recognize their situation and are they able and willing to tell how their lives went after the plant was closed down around 1974?

 If you know the next chapter to this story and would like to be in touch with Tjitte S. Pal to exchange information, memories and tales please call me at 860.887.9000 and I will give you his email address.  .

Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172

I miss traditions. For example once upon a time in a land called Norwich, CT on a specific fall day close to All Hallows Eve, the students were given the day off from their studies to go into the woods and lanes of the area with baskets, bags, and even aprons sewn shut at the sides to make capacious pockets to gather the ripened walnuts, butternuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts and other nuts that were bountiful. It was Nutting Day!

The various nuts and shells would be treats for the long winter serving as well as flavoring, filler, dyes, and/or ground into flour for breads, pies and cakes. When more was collected than the family could use it was sold as any other crop and shipped to other areas. It was a way for even the youngest to contribute to the coffers of the family.

On this special day teenage boys and teenage girls roamed the woods. This was a special day as normally girls were not permitted into the woods without an adult escort and certainly not together with a teenage boy.  

By the mid-1970’s Nutting Day was a teacher in-service day at Norwich Free Academy and a day off from their studies for the students and now it has disappeared altogether.

If I was a member of a group that had cut down a large area of trees and brush and did not have the money or the support for a planned project, I might consider taking a lesson from Seattle Washington and plant a grove of fruit and nut trees that could provide food for humans and animals, shelter for various wildlife and a learning experience for many who have never seen fruits or nuts growing on trees.

Many people have stopped having fruit and nut trees in their yards because of the mess they create every year or the animals and insects that think the trees were blooming for them alone. Well placed paths and a few benches would give visitors a unique experience not found in many places.  

A public sustainable forest in Connecticut is definitely something unique that would draw visitors and fill our residents with pride. That was the goal of the unfunded original project. This would just be a change in the vision. What do you the readers of this blog think? Let your voice be heard and don’t hesitate to tell Chelsea Gardens what you think.

Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172

Did you know that Norwich CT has a calendar on its website? Well yes it does and community events, exhibitions, performances and fundraisers can be submitted to be on it.  First go to the City of Norwich, CT web page http://www.norwichct.org/ and on that very first page on the right is the calendar. Now I need you to be brave. Go ahead click on it and then one by one answer the questions.

Are you an non-profit or other community organization which has an event, exhibition, performance, or fundraiser in the near future? If so, you can use the Submit an Event feature below to list your event on Norwich’s website. Once you answer all the questions you have to wait two or three business days for your posting to be approved as appropriate for this community-based calendar.

Selecting a calendar is kinda fun. The options are 1. All Calendars 2. Community Events 3. Fire Recruiting 4. Human Services 5. Municipal Meetings 6. Police Recruiting 7. Recreation 8. Registrar of Voters 9 Senior Center I admit that I am an All Calendars gal. The more the merrier I say to events I am in charge of.

The next questions to answer are cake and once you answer these you will be ready to also post your event in the newspaper calendars – The Bulletin, the Day, The Willimantic Register, the Hartford Courant, the Providence Journal and don’t forget all the free weekly papers that can be found throughout the region.

What is the title of your event?

What is the date of your event? When does it start and when does it end? Does it run for more than one day?  AM or PM is important so be careful.

What is the location of your event? There is usually a drop down box of places that have been used before or you can fill in a new one. Most websites will allow you to link the location to a map, GPS, or the event website.  Look  carefully and I am certain you will find an opportunity to post pictures too.   All with the click of a mouse.

There are usually some other optional features that allow you the opportunity to explain costs, more details about the event, a contact phone number and an e-mail for further information.

Did you answer the questions Who, what, when, where, why and how much?

READ over all of your information TWICE. Take a deep breath and begin to let it out slowly as you click on submit and you are done. Wasn’t that easy? You can do it! Add your events today!

Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172

I am borrowing with gratitude the following article from an August 1883 Indiana State sentinel because it mentions that Rev. George H. Smith was of Norwich. I have not been able to verify him as  Norwich resident but he may have been from the area and Norwich was the nearest city.

A decision Rendered against the Defendant in the Case of plaintiff. James Bell. Washington, Aug. 18. A decision was rendered by Judge Miles in the Police Court today in the civil rights case of Rev. George H. Smith (colored), of Norwich, Conn., AGAINST James W. Bell, proprietor of a restaurant. The ground of the complaint was that Bell had denied the accommodation of his restaurant to the plaintiff on account of the latter’s color, and suit was brought to enforce the criminal provision of the act of March 1, 1875. The Court holds that under common law an innkeeper is bound to take in and receive all travelers and wayfarers, and that by the act of March 1, 1875, it is a made a misdemeanor to discriminate against a traveler on account of race, color, or any previous condition of servitude.  A restaurant keeper has the right to establish certain regulations as to hours to meals and to regulate certain places or seats for customers, but such hours and seats must be the same for all, or If any discrimination be made it must be made upon some principle or for some reason the law recognizes as just and reasonable, and not on account of color of race or previous condition of servitude. All guests of the Inn or restaurant must be given equal privileges, and the places designated for them must be accessible to all respectable persons at a uniform rate. From these just principles it follows that the defendant in discriminating against the complainant Smith on account of his race and so or was guilty of a misdemeanor, and incurred the penalty prescribed by the second section of the equal rights act of 1875. Judgment is entered accordingly. This rise is in some respects a novel one since It is the first attempt to enforce the penalty under the second section of the civil rights act which makes it a violation of the law a misdemeanor, and it is the first effort made to enforce the criminal provisions of the law in a territory where the Congress of the United States has exclusive and absolute legislative jurisdiction. 

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View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172

What is it with Norwich, CT? As a city Norwich, CT has a large pristine forest land in the center of its limits with free access to hiking trails, a beach, fishing, picnic and play areas. At various times there were even educational and wildlife programs, and even an assortment of zoos!

Connecticut and other states across the country are currently in the process of revising its original Wildlife Action Plan for the next decade of 2015-2025 while Norwich, CT suddenly decides to destroy theirs.

Norwich began playing with Chelsea Gardens in the 1990’s, but the State of CT and the rest of the nation began creating a Wildlife Action Plan in 2005. Guess which will be done first? Yup. The State of Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan is now ready for your citizen input.  Mohegan Park is not required to follow along with the State of CT Wildlife Action Plan but wouldn’t it be nice if the Mohegan Park advisors were aware of its existence and participated in its planning and shared its goals?  There is also a very helpful section on available funding for specific projects. Just sayin’.

The following is directly from The Connecticut Department of Energy and Wildlife Protection

Goals of Connecticut’s Wildlife Action Plan (CT-WAP)

The intent of the CT-WAP is to provide guidance and vision for wildlife conservation in Connecticut. Accordingly, the plan:

1. Addresses the broad array of all fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrate species.
2. Uses available funding to address the species in greatest need of conservation and their habitats.
3. Identifies actions needed to conserve species diversity and keep common species common.
4. Builds upon past efforts to conserve all species of wildlife.

Encourages the creation of partnerships with conservation organizations at local, state, and regional levels to enhance opportunities for implementation of actions to conserve wildlife.

DEEP has published an overview of fish and wildlife projects in Connecticut that have received funding through the State Wildlife Grants Program (PDF, 12 pages): Connecticut State Wildlife Grants – Taking Conservation into the Future

A complete draft of the  2015 Wildlife Action Plan can be found at www.ct.gov/deep/WildlifeActionPlan.

Comments can be sent via email to deep.WildlifeActionPlan@ct.gov. They also can be faxed to (860) 675-8141, with “2015 Wildlife Action Plan” on the subject plan. Comments also can be mailed to Connecticut Wildlife Division, Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, P.O. Box 1550, Burlington, CT 06013. The deadline for submitting comments is Aug. 21.

Please participate by reviewing the 2015 Wildlife Action Plan draft and encouraging the members of the Mohegan Park Advisory Board to do the same. Thank you!

Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com and don’t hesitate to use this link to access my past blogs http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172

I was privileged to attend a walk through the Jewish cemeteries near the old Norwich Hospital. My guide gave me a wonderful explanation of Jewish burial customs but unfortunately, was not able to share any Norwich Jewish history.  So I went to the cemetery website and learned the following from  the history tab. I have not verified this information but I am hoping to get to that some day.

In the October 30, 1851 copy of the Norwich Evening Courier was the advertisement of Adolph Chamansky of 119 Main Street offering “cloths and clothing” for sale.  The City Directory shows that he lived alone and boarded at the American House. In 1860 a Joseph Chamansky came to Norwich and also opened a clothing store.

The graves of Adolph and Pauline (wife of son Louis) can be found in the First Hebrew Society Cemetery along with Joseph and Henrietta and David Chamansky. Louis, son of Joseph left Norwich and became the merchandising manager for R.H. Macy and Company Department Store of New York and upon his retirement became a director of the company.

In 1857 Ellis and Sam Raphaels came to Norwich from England as cigar makers at 199 Main Street and traveling merchants remaining there through at least 1875.

The 1875 Norwich Directory lists the name of David Rosenblatt, a weaver, who lived in Yantic. Rosenblatt was one of the 7,000 Jews who volunteered for the Union Army (5,000 Jews served in the Confederate Army.) Rosenblatt did not serve long. He enlisted in Rifle Company B (commanded by Captain Frank S. Chester of Norwich) of the 2^nd Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and was captured July 21, 1861 at the first battle of Bull Run or First Manassas and was paroled on June 2, 1862.

Thousands of Jews fled Germany during the 1850’s to the bright economic futures and guaranteed civil rights of America. Bu 1900 the City Directory lists 36 Jewish peddlers, 7 shoemakers, 11 tailors (6 who worked in the Falls Mills), 17 store owners, 3 bakers and 2 laborers.

A Mr. Friedman was the first Jewish volunteer fireman.

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For anyone living in Norwich, CT looking for the listing of the fun adult education classes they are hiding unless you know where to look. Being a silly person I looked first to Norwich Adult Education but if you are not seeking your GED you won’t find any classes there. I looked to the library, but it only allows groups to meet but it does not sponsor classes. When I asked at City Hall we wound up chatting about how there used to be an entire catalog with 50 or so classes of a huge variety but how that was years ago and the last catalog was about four pages of mostly advertisements and sponsors.

So the residents of Norwich CT a City of over 40,000 must have to go to the surrounding much smaller towns for classes of skill, fun and interest but how do you find out about them? Visit each town individually and hope they have a catalog or perhaps it will be an advertisement in the Bulletin or the Day? How many of us have subscriptions to one or both papers? Perhaps there will be an advertisement on the local AM radio that we all listen to daily. No? So imagine my surprise when I discovered hidden in the back of the Three Rivers catalog a listing of some fun non-credit classes available to the Norwich community at the steep price of $102. Each. So then I checked with Colchester and was a bit over whelmed with their variety of classes available from Free to $100+ and filled with community activities, library events, trips, and if you can name it you will probably find it there. The other thing I noted that Colchester is not ashamed or embarrassed to join forces with adjoining communities in their offerings. Norwich Adult Education have you considered this? Groton, New London, Ledyard, Mystic and even tiny Bozrah have classes that Norwich residents can join in.

When you see what Norwich is not offering, look around and do not hesitate to join classes in these other towns. Each of them will give you a warm welcome. I am also taking this opportunity to make the strong suggestion that the cities and towns of New London County join forces and present a single catalog of Adult Education offerings. I think it’s time to realize we are all in this together, and not competitors. It is time to learn individually from one another.

Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com