Monthly Archives: November 2016

Turkey Wings for Squirrel

In the October 28, 1842 Norwich Courier ran the following weather prediction article right on the front page. “SQUIRRELS AND A SIGN OF A HARD WINTER. – The Detroit Advertiser says a squirrel hunt took place in that city week before last. The number killed was three thousand three hundred and sixty. – Other papers ran similar notices like wholesale slaughters. The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser states that for some weeks past, the woods in the neighborhood of Fort Eerie, across the river, have literally swarmed with squirrels. Within the past week or two, they have crossed the Niagara to the American side in vast numbers. The width and rapidity of the river prove fatal to many of them, but little armies of them nevertheless succeed in reaching the shore, whence they push off South. On the Allegany River they are so numerous that it has not been deemed worthwhile to waste powder and shot in killing them. Those wishing squirrel pie, stand on the banks of the stream and knock the little “varmint” on the head with a stick, as they swim across. This apparent general emigration of the squirrels to the South is held by the Indians and others knowing in such matters, to be a token of a hard winter [to come].”

For anyone interested in making Squirrel Stew, here is a recipe from a Leffingwell House Museum Fundraiser cookbook and later recipe bookmark collection. The delicious stew has been successfully made with the substitution of cut up chicken breast for the squirrel.

Squirrel Stew
Ingredients:
1 squirrel, cut up (or 1 chicken breast, cut up)
flour
salt and pepper
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
7 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon thyme
1 cup yellow corn
3 potatoes, cubed
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
3 medium onions, sliced
2 cups canned tomatoes with juice
2 cups lima beans

Directions:
Roll the squirrel pieces in flour, salt, and pepper.
Brown in butter.
Add squirrel and all other ingredients, (with the exception of the tomatoes), to the boiling water, cover, and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
Add the vegetables and continue to simmer another hour. Serve hot.

P.S. this is great crock pot soup and I add more vegetables because I like them. OK you have discovered that I am not a really big fan of lima beans so I switch them out for other vegetables or beans I care more for. Wondering what to do with the turkey wings? They are a great substitute for the squirrel too. Depending on your sense of humor, cut up the wings with the bones and tell your family or guests its squirrel and watch their faces. Priceless!

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View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs and please read the daily 225th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

Toasts for your gatherings

19th Century Norwich, Connecticut residents knew how to party! There were gatherings, dances, banquets and dinners; the bigger the occasion, the more ale, wine and effusive toasts. Being the “toast of the town” was an honor and serious business.

Toasting was so important in Norwich, CT that for many years in the reporting of the event was a listing of many of the toasts. Here are a few of my favorites that can be used today, in no particular order:

From July 1808 –
The Sages in the Council and Heroes in the field who achieved our independence – May America always deserve and have such defenders.
The State of Connecticut – May its steady habits never be corrupted.
The political parties of our country – May they remember they are AMERICANS, not parties of foreign powers.
Arts and Sciences. – May the Sons of genius never want encouragement from their countrymen.
The Youth of America – May they evince the same ardor, in the support of our independence, that their Fathers did in the contest for it.
The Clergy – May they be pious, wise and sincere.

From July 1828
All men in office – While they are supported by the people, may they not forget to protect the equal rights of the people.
The four great sources of wealth – Agriculture, Commerce, Manufactures and Mechanic Arts.
To the Orator of the Day – From the past we predict well of the future.

July 1844
The memory of Eli Whitney – The man who first discovered the way to make the best kind of Gin. without one drop of alcohol.

July 1847
The Fire Department of Norwich – In its improved organization, lays the safeguard of our interests.
The Firemen of Norwich – May they whose business it is to pour water upon fire, avoid the fire-water.
Our Common Schools – May they be more common, by being more cherished.

July 1852
To the City of Norwich, A perfect Eden of Love, All too beautiful to sin in, But overall and above all, Its charm and its beauteous women.
The Navy – In 1776, a speck upon the worlds horizon; Its sails now whiten every sea.
Our Country. – An asylum for the oppressed of all nations, the citadel of Freedom, and the ensampler of Liberty.
The Army – The right arm of our Government
Success to the nations of the earth now struggling to emancipate themselves from religious and political tyranny,
We can unite in thanks to God for the blessings of Peace, Liberty and Independence.

To the kindness and hospitality of our friends of Norwich – May it be remembered as long as the Quinebaug and Shetucket mingle their waters in the Thames. (July 1844)

Happy, healthy and safe holidays to all!

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View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs.

An Eating Song

On the upper left column of the daily Norwich newspaper in the 17 and 1800’s would be a bit of poetry, prose or an ode of some sort. I was unable to discover an author for this “Address to Gluttons” and even the date is an iffy November 26, 1797. I was able to find it in a few other publications though, so for a time it was quite popular. I made no spelling or grammar changes to the article I found.

AN EATING SONG. –

“What a charming thing’s a dinner.”
Chear up gluttons, fill your bellies,
Gormandize whole pounds of meat;
Never piddle o’er your jellies.
But substantial viands eat.

Ev’ry waistcoat quick unbutton,
See the enemies advance!
Charge the turkey, beef and mutton,
Point the culinary lance;

Brandish, boys, your knives and forks all,
As you would in war the spear;
Bloat your paunches like a foot-ball,
Eat in grease from ear to ear.

Still let us abhor the motto,
“Pauca verba”[few words] – damping words!
But good roast beef, piping hot, O!
Spread in plenty o’er our boards.

See the sirloin richly smoking.
Mark the gravy how it springs!
Malcontents, forbear your croaking,
By the gods, we feast like kings.

Come, dexterity exert now,
Deep incisions make with speed!
Wipe your chops, look quite alert now,
Whilst on such strong fare we feed.

Lord! How hot the battle rages!
Conquest desolates the plains:
What? Our appetite assuages!
Let us drink – and eat again.

From the store house – brisk and mellow,
See the brown October fly –
Through the spacious hall we’ll bellow,
“Here’s success to Liberty.”
Whilst we’re gorging without measure,
Hear our greasy chairman cry –
Eating is sublimest pleasure,
“Whilst we eat – we’ll never die.”

Enjoy a safe, happy, and filling Thanksgiving!

Thank you for sharing my blog with your friends. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs and please read the daily 225th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

Forefather’s Day

On December 22, 1853 the Norwich Weekly Courier printed a lengthy article on Forefather’s Day. I was immediately confused as the date was past Thanksgiving and so very close to Christmas not to mention that is was completely off from the 4th of July.

The writer of the article was of the firm opinion that “It is a pity a little more enthusiasm for the historical antiquities of our country could not be cultivated among us.” There was mention of a celebration of the forefathers on the battleground in Groton the previous fall and the addresses delivered year to year by the most distinguished orators of the country being “rung like a watchword through the land;” and notes made of the “historical antiquities and curious relics to be found still existing at Plymouth.”

So I consulted the internet to learn that the first celebration of Forefather’s Day was on December 22, 1769. The December date chosen as homage to the time of the pilgrims arrival and welcome in “New England and stepping foot on Plymouth Rock” after sailing across the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower in 1620. In 1802 John Quincy Adams made it a political event by delivering a stirring address that celebrated the Pilgrims as proto-democrats whose Mayflower Compact had laid the basis for the great experiment in republican government to come.

Other aspiring leaders used the occasion to look back on the experience of people grateful for what foodstuffs they could gather and to talk about where America was going.
The bicentennial of the landing 1820 speech was delivered by Daniel Webster, who spoke from atop “the Rock” about how “1620 was the beginning of an entire civilization to come.” He warmed to the subject as “we feel the cold which benumbed, and listen to the winds which pierced them.” A listener of the speech, George Ticknor, wrote, “I was never so excited by public speaking in my life. Three or four times I thought my temples would burst with the gush of blood.”

President Lincoln did not make Thanksgiving, in November, a national holiday until 1863 in a proclamation written by Secretary of State Seward; that expressed thanks for good harvests, great victories and penitence for “national perverseness and disobedience.”

Over the years, Forefathers Day and Thanksgiving have morphed into something very different from 17th-century Plymouth, and the preoccupations of the Civil War. Even the meal differs from the feast consumed of, “a large baked Indian wortleberry pudding, a dish of sauquetach (succotash), a dish of clams, a dish of sea fowl, a dish of cod fish and eels, an apple pie, a course of cranberry tarts and cheese.” At least mine does.

Enjoy happy and safe Forefathers and Thanksgiving Days!

Thank you for sharing my blog with your friends. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs.

Alms House Conflagration 1876

Norwich CT has had a number of great tragedies in its past but thanks to the Indiana State Sentinel of March 22, 1876 we can learn the details of one of its greatest tragedies. Somehow these details of an early fire have been lost as we re-print the photos of a later almshouse fire.

BURIED IN THE BUILDING. THE NORWICH ALMSHOUSE CONFLAGRATION. A GRAPHIC NARRATIVE OF THE DISASTER SCENES OF HORROR AND THE ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE OF THE INSANE AND THE INFIRM NAMES OF THE DEAD AND INJURED.

The Norwich, Ct., correspondent of the New York Herald (filed the following graphic description of the burning of the almshouse at that place: The detailed particulars of the burning of the town almshouse in this city on Sunday night was of a heartrending character. The discovery was made about eleven o’clock by one of the inmates, who was awakened by the smoke, and who, looking for its source, found that it proceeded from the cellar, where the heating apparatus was situated. He at once aroused the superintendent, Mr. G. M. Mills, and the two attempted to enter the cellar, but were driven back by the smoke. Dispatching the pauper to the city to give the alarm Mr. Mills proceeded to arouse the occupants of the house. There were fifty-one of these, distributed through a large three story house with several wings, and that they were still in the building was shown by the appearance of one and another at the windows. At one of the dormer windows in the roof, quite thirty feet from the ground, Nancy Raymond, a colored woman, weighing 250 pounds, appeared and it was with the greatest difficulty that this was done. When help arrived flames were pouring from the ground floor of the main building, and in places bad worked through to the floor above. Access from the upper stories had been cut off, and the horrible fact that a number of poor creatures gesticulated wildly. It was a terrible Jump to the ground below, but the fierce flames were in the rear, and, gathering courage at last, she crowded through the narrow window and dropped. Both of her legs were broken by the fall, the bones being fairly pulverized. This was only one of the agonizing sights. There were no ladders about the place of sufficient length to reach the higher windows, and though the wretched beings within could be plainly seen, nothing could be done to save them. A woman appeared at a window of the second story. An old rickety ladder, found on the ground, was quickly raised, and a plucky young Irishman ran up. He broke through the casement, and dragged the woman out. She was half totaled with smoke and nearly dead from nervous excitement, but revived on being removed to a place of safety. In the wing, in the second story, was Bartholomew Shugrue, a lunatic, 80 years old. A party went to his rescue, but a heavy iron grating, too hot to touch with the naked hands, prevented them from entering the window. A ladder was hastily converted into a ram, and by repeated blows the grating was knocked away. Shugrue seemed stupefied at first, and made no outcry, but when the grating was partly displaced he caught hold of it with his bands and bent it back with unnatural strength, bruising himself seriously. A man ran up the ladder and helped him out, and just in time, for as the ladder was thrown aside after their descent, the fire burst into the room. Eight other patients were helped from windows.

The men’s clothes were scorched by the intense heat. One unfortunate who was brought from the house and left in a place of safety on the ground, had hardly been laid there when she gave birth to a child. She was attended by a number of women and was finally removed, with her infant, to a place where she could be properly treated. At first it was thought that only four of the inmates bad been burned, but the first careful inspection and comparison of the rolls with those saved yesterday morning, revealed the horrible fact that no less than fifteen persons were unaccounted for. During the day one of these was found alive and well, and it is possible that others may have left the building and wandered away; but of this there is not much hope. The search for the dead was begun as early as possible on Monday morning. Before daylight, while the fire companies were still playing upon the burning debris between the walls, two bodies could be seen, lying as they had fallen when the floors above gave way, but burned beyond the possibility of recognition. About 9 o’clock a gang of men was put to work to remove the debris and recover the dead. One corpse was believed, by its size, to be Mrs. Mary Ann Farrell), a woman 60 years old, who weighed 300 pounds. She was almost wholly paralyzed, so helpless in fact that she was unable to feed herself. Her husband, Patrick Farrell, jumped from a window breaking his right arm but escaping without further injury. Another body, from the position in which it lay, was believed to be that of Mrs. Bill, who was insane, and who was in that part of the building used as an asylum. She was 60 years of age, and had been of unsound mind for 30 years. Her husband was a Methodist preacher, but he deserted her unwarrantedly and the shock of his cruelty unsettled her reason. The only other body which could be identified was that of Mary Jane McDonald, a girl about 11 years old. Her mother, Mary McDonald, a woman of 35, was one of those who lumped from the fourth story, her collar bone was broken and she sustained severe internal injuries. She was carried to the police station Sunday night, and as she revived somewhat her first inquiry was for this child. The poor woman was dying with consumption and her injuries which are fatal, can only hasten her death. She was told that her daughter was safe, and was satisfied, but since then she asks piteously why she does not come to her.

A LIST OF THE DEAD.
It was believed yesterday morning that fifteen were lost, but one of them, John Garberry, has since been heard from. Leaving fourteen unaccounted for. Their names, so far as they are known, are given below. It will be observed that they are nearly all very old people, most of them probably too feeble to escape.
Thomas Irons, age unknown,
Joseph Martin, aged 70.
Mrs. Phyllis Perrigo, aged 75.
Mrs. Billings, aged 70.
Ellen Wilett, aged 12.
Sarah McNellev, (insane), aged 60.
Mary Jane McDonald, aged 11.
Mrs. Patrick Farrell, aged 60.
Mrs. Bill, aged 60.
Mrs. Williams, aged 35.
Mrs. Williams was seen on the roof while the house was burning, but was not rescued. There are three others said to be missing, whose names cannot be ascertained certainly, making the entire number not accounted for fourteen.

The wounded are:
Patrick Farrell. aged 70. Right arm broken.
Maria Brown, aged 50. Internally injured.
Ann Corey, aged 80. Hands burned.
Mary McDonald, aged 35, injured internally.
Nancy Raymond, aged 50, both legs broken.

Thank you for sharing my blog with your friends. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs and please read the daily 225th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

November News

According to the Mexico Weekly Ledger of November 16, 1893 “Joshua Barstow, 85, was the only living printer who ever worked at the [type face] case with Horace Greeley [ American newspaper editor well known for his vigorous articulation of the North’s antislavery sentiments during the 1850s.] and still picks up type at night in a Norwich, CT, office. Though he doesn’t look 60, he talks like it and is one of the jolliest old fellows in town.

Norwich, CT news was news all over the country. From the Terre Haute Gazette of November 8, 1871 I learned of some of the excitement that must have been felt that the “largest cotton mill in the world will commence operations in Norwich, CT, in a few weeks. Its capacity is 110,000 spindles.”

A few years earlier though on November 9, 1865 the Indianapolis Daily Herald carried “An exchange states that a police examination into the domestic arrangements of George Miller, of Pittsburgh, develops the tact that for a dozen years his wife and her sister have committed to share the maternal duties of the household, rather than have trouble in the family. Upon which a Norwich, CT paper says: “ There’s a similar case in one of our neighboring towns. The product of the two sisters is twenty-one children. The selectmen once threatened to arrest the vigorous patriarch and have him dealt with, but he warned them that if they did, his whole family, consisting then of fourteen children, would be thrown upon the town for support. This was such a serious view of the case to the town authorities that they left the happy family to work out their own salvation.”

I read about the progress of the capture of the robbers of a spring Norwich Bank robbery in the November 24, 1851, Daily Crescent of New Orleans, LA. “There is said to be a prospect of detecting the scoundrel, who, sometime last spring, knocked down and robbed the messenger of the Norwich, CT Bank, of about $30,000. The medium of discovery is the offer of what was recognized to be part of the stolen money at one of the New York banks, a day or two ago. The party who offered the money was from Providence, and measures have been taken to trace the notes back to the robbers, and with some probability of success.”

Thank you for sharing my blog with your friends. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com
View past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs and please read the 225th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

Political Definitions

In Norwich, CT we like to use words that sound powerful. What confuses me is often the context they are being used in. Here are a of the few words I hear used at the Norwich City Council meetings with the typical definitions I am aware of, which may or may not be how the Norwich City Council and Mayor use them. Perhaps it is time to conform to the generally accepted definitions of words or publish our own Norwich, CT dictionary so that we all will know what is being said.

An assembly is a large body of people who meet in a suitable hall to get some specific things done. Most assemblies have some ground rules for their operation, offices such as a speaker or assembly president, and subdivisions such as factions and committees.

An association is an organization in which persons or sometimes other organizations can be members. Its members are typically connected by a common purpose or interest

Boards may be elected or appointed. A board of appeals is a panel of officials, typically appointed by an elected official charged with making decisions on the continuing applicability of administrative decisions.

A board of directors is the governing body of a corporation elected by the shareholders to establish and carry out corporate policy, select the corporation’s officers, make certain major decisions concerning the corporation’s business and finances, and to oversee the corporation’s operations.

A board of education is an elected group of people who oversee a specific school system.

Business is an occupation or trade and the purchase and sale of products or services to make a profit.

Commerce is an interchange of goods or commodities, especially on a large scale.

A commission is a group of people who are entrusted by a government to carry out a task. Commissions are typically defined by local ordinance or state law. Terms are usually multi-year as defined by the applicable ordinance or law. A commission has a specific task or research project, and when complete, reports back to the party that appointed it, and then dissolves (ceases to exist).

A commission can be a committee, and if there is confusion, it is better to use a committee.

A committee is a group of people who meet and deliberate according to fixed rules in order to make a decision or produce a document as a group. The members of the committee have been chosen or delegated by whoever it is that ultimately decides. The members all know each other well, since they are working closely together.

Committees may be “standing” which means they exist more or less permanently, or “ad hoc” meaning their existence will cease when they make their final report.

A commission can be a committee, and if there is confusion, it is better to use a committee.
A council is generally elected and probably has a “term” or a limit of time that it exists before it must go back to the voters.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings change throughout history.

A faction is a group of like-minded committee members that work together to achieve certain objectives, often in opposition to other committee members.

Robert’s Rules of Order is a guide for conducting meetings and making decisions as a group.

A steering committee is a project based or focused on multi-faceted issue, and are appointed on an as-needed basis.

A task force is appointed to focus on a single issue which can be analyzed in a few meetings to formulate a recommendation for consideration by the Board or Committee which formed the task force.

I admit to being a conformist and want what is being said and done by our city council to be clear and straightforward without question as to what is being meant and done.

Thank you for sharing my blog with your friends. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com
View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs and please read the daily 225th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

Board of CMEEC and NPU

There is a lot of chatter and even a parody of the CMEEC (Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative) excursion to the Kentucky Derby. But the most important participants are a wall of silence as well as they should be. I do not condone the trips. I think it was a very poor business decision, a poor political choice to participate and just an all-around bad option. But, alas who am I but a rate payer in only one of the municipalities.

To me, a board of directors is a group of individuals that are elected as, or elected to act as, representatives of the stockholders to establish corporate management related policies and to make decisions on major company issues.(from www.centerfornonprofitexcellence.org).

Essentially it is the role of the board of directors to hire the CEO or general manager of the business and assess the overall direction and strategy of the business. The CEO or general manager is responsible for hiring all of the other employees and overseeing the day-to-day operation of the business. (Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC.) Understanding the roles and responsibilities should be the first task when appointed. (from www.centerfornonprofitexcellence.org)
From the Norwich Public Utilities website I learned Norwich Public Utilities operates under municipal ownership, which means that it is owned by its customers and the City of Norwich.
The Norwich Board of Public Utilities Commission is made up of five members from the Norwich community. Members are appointed by the City Council and serve 5-year terms. The Board of Utilities Commissioners also serve as the Norwich Sewer Authority. The commissioners live in the community as your neighbors, NPU’s commissioners understand the needs of Norwich and are responsible to all the citizens.
Per the CMEEC website The Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative or “CMEEC” is a publicly directed joint action supply agency formed by Connecticut’s municipal electric utilities in 1976 under the state’s General Statutes. Headquartered in Norwich, CT.
CMEEC is responsible for the financing, acquisition and construction of generating resources and implementation of power supply contracts for the purpose of furnishing low-cost and reliable electric power to its members and participants. Electric energy purchase contracts and other resources obtained by CMEEC supply power to each of the community-owned utilities. The utilities in turn distribute the power at retail to local homes and businesses at the lowest prices in Connecticut.
CMEEC is organized as a partnership of five municipal utilities, each locally controlled. Through their ownership of and active participation in CMEEC, the member utilities are represented on the Board of Directors and thus provide the organization’s overall direction and governance.
CMEEC’s member utilities are: City of Norwich Department of Public Utilities, City of Groton Department of Utilities, Borough of Jewett City Electric Light Plant, Norwalk Third Taxing District Electrical Department and South Norwalk Electric Works. In addition to these five voting members of the cooperative, CMEEC provides wholesale power to participating utilities Bozrah Light & Power Company and Mohegan Tribal Utility Authority.
CMEEC represents members and participants as a single-entity participant in the regional Independent System Operation (ISO-New England) and the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL). CMEEC serves as the designated bargaining agent for the State of Connecticut with respect to the New York Power Authority’s allocation of Niagara and St. Lawrence power supply. CMEEC actively participates in industry groups such as: the American Public Power Association (APPA), the Northeast Public Power Association (NEPPA), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), and the Connecticut Valley Electric Exchange (CONVEX).

Local representation with shared control: CMEEC’s Board of Directors is made up of two representatives from each of the member utilities. The Board sets policy for CMEEC and performs other duties and responsibilities as determined by applicable state statutes and CMEEC’s bylaws. The Board is responsible for operating CMEEC in such a way that power supply services are provided for the optimum economic benefit of all members. Member systems control the process through their active Board participation. Members and participating utilities pay for power based on a rate tariff that reflects a melding of costs of CMEEC’s total supply system.
The business model of NPU is cost-based. Customers pay rates that reflect the cost of the services provided, not simply what customers are willing to pay. This is different from investor-owned utilities, where profits may be maximized for return to individual investors. In contrast, NPU’s municipal ownership returns profit directly to the community it serves. (http://www.norwichpublicutilities.com/about-npu/business-model)
BoardSource, in their booklet “Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards”, itemized the following 10 responsibilities for nonprofit boards. In a for-profit corporation, the board of directors is responsible to the stockholders — a more progressive perspective is that the board is responsible to the stakeholders, that is, to everyone who is interested and/or can be effected by the corporation.

1. Determine the Organization’s Mission and Purpose
2. Select the Executive
3. Support the Executive and Review His or Her Performance
4. Ensure Effective Organizational Planning
5. Ensure Adequate Resources
6. Manage Resources Effectively
7. Determine and Monitor the Organization’s Products, Services and Programs
8. Enhance the Organization’s Public Image
9. Serve as a Court of Appeal
10. Assess Its Own Performance

So I guess we now have to ask the Board members of CMEEC and its CEO to evaluate their performance and their trip and anything else the public doesn’t need to know about. But perhaps we can be wiser in who our City Council appoints to the Commission and their abilities to make the decisions that ultimately fall to the utility rate payers in our city and beyond, whether they are members of this esteemed organization or not.

Thank you for sharing my blog with your friends. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com
View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs and please read the daily 225th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.