For the last eight months of 2016 at every Norwich City Council meeting there was at least one person, group, organization or department being recognized for one great accomplishment or another. The Otis Library and the teachers in Norwich were all number one in the state or the nation but once the certificate was handed out, the polite applause subsided and the trip to collect the whatever was over, we have not seen or heard about their great work again.

I was thinking that what a magnificent source of pride it would be to read an article or two naming and explaining why and how all of these certificates of greatness were earned because collectively they would explain why Norwich, CT is a great place to live, work and locate your business.

By assembling all of this greatness into one document, for lack of a better and probably more appropriate term, it would be a terrific marketing tool. Who wouldn’t want to live and achieve in an environment where award winning status is the norm? Different versions could be sent to different publications in different areas to spread the word of the greatness of Norwich, CT. Imagine bringing a prospective business representative into a single hallway reserved for the display of awards earned by the city and its organizations and departments. Haven’t you ever stopped to look at the trophies displayed in a case at a school? If you do it, don’t you think others do as well? Maybe that is the reason for the display case. It is to remind everyone that award winners live or work or participate in that school. It also becomes an invitation to you to join them. YOU too can be a winner if you are a part of this team.

Norwich, CT deserves to have a team. A team of proud award winners. Winners who lead their community by example. The examples can be many established and new successful businesses leading the economy with product, with care, with example and with community support. Success does not occur over night. It takes time. It takes energy. It takes money and it takes commitment.

Norwich, CT has it all but we need to have political, business and community leaders with the dedication and commitment to push, pull, shove and remind us of what a great place Norwich, CT is. Don’t bother looking around. The person Norwich, CT needs is reading this blog. The person Norwich, CT needs is YOU. Join a group that is doing something. Get active in your neighborhood. Make certain that you vote and that your family votes too. Every vote does count. Take pride in where you live, where you work and where you play. Norwich, CT is your city. Be loud and be proud!

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs.

I have a young friend who uses the word “epic” freely to describe almost every project he is affiliated with. I understood immediately that he was using the word epic in place of impressive or just very good. That does not stop my brain from going to the first definition I know of for epic which is An epic is a long serious poem or other work of art celebrating heroic feats . They are long poems that do not rhyme but tell a story such as The Odyssey, Beowolf or Paradise Lost.

I feel the new definition of the word lessons its impact and makes it more mundane and less important. But while I was checking to make certain my definition was the same one as could be found in most dictionaries I found other lists of words that had me smirking and giggling and laughing out loud.

I now have irrefutable proof musicals transcend time and place. With apologies to Meredith Wilson, to you I present “The Music Man.” (1957) A truly epic (impressive) slick (awesome or cool) whiz-bang (impressive or flashy) musical with mad (good in reference to talent) 133t (computer speak for elite, bet you didn’t think I knew that one) stars (actors to look up to) that knock ones socks off (greatly impress a person). I wonder if Mr. Wilson realized he would be epically changing the American vocabulary forever when he wrote a musical about a peddler who was not familiar with the people or the route he was on.
Have you been hearing and using words that have a somewhat different definition than the one you used to associate with that word? What was it or what are they? What are the old and new definitions?

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs.

I recently received a surprise email from asking for a recipe I was promoting back in 2009 when I was playing around with how Norwich, CT could use Cocoa in local promotions. Hot Cocoa was great but there had to be more. Anyway, her recently retired husband has discovered competitive Bar-B-Q cooking and he was looking for something unique when she remembered the little packets I was giving out one year of Norwich Cocoa Barbecue Rub. Was I still making it? Could they purchase the recipe and tweak it to make their own?

Not having thought much about it since 2010 I said certainly if I can find it. It took a little hunting but I found it. I wish you the best but Norwich must remain somewhere in the name to stand proudly such as the names of Memphis, Saint Louis and others do in the great tradition of Bar-b-q styles.

Depending on my mood I might increase or decrease some of the amounts slightly and I might add some hot pepper flakes too. So anyway, here is the recipe for Norwich Cocoa Bar-B-Q Rub.

Altogether it is an easy to assemble mix of pretty standard kitchen spice powders that could stand alone on the table in a shaker to sprinkle over individual servings of food, used as a dry mix to be rubbed onto chicken, meat or fish, or mixed with oil or tomato sauce for a more standard barbecue sauce.

1/4 cup grey sea salt
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground black pepper

Directions
Combine the salt, cocoa powder, white sugar, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, and black pepper in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.

To use, rub spice mixture onto meat serving and let stand at least 10 minutes before cooking. Allow meat to stand after cooking.
Keep some fresh rub in a shaker on your table to spice your burgers and fries!

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs.

I did it! I reported the birds I saw at my feeder this morning at 6 AM on 2/17/17. I went to www.birdcount.org and registered my name and user id. Pretty standard information was asked; nothing invasive. Then they wanted to know if I wanted to report a count. I clicked on yes. So far, so good.

WHAT WAS THE OBSERVATION TYPE? Choose Traveling – You traveled a specific distance – a walking trail, driving through a refuge, field birding? Or Stationary – You stayed at a fixed location – watching from a window, or a bird blind or Historical – Birding was your primary purpose, but you cannot estimate the start time, duration, or distance or Incidental – birding was not your primary purpose- but noted a bird while driving or gardening or walking or shoveling.

Then it was even more straight forward Start time. 6 AM Duration – 15 minutes Party Size – 1 You are even able to choose how you want to view the listing of birds – You can choose between seeing the list alphabetically or rarities or subspecies or my personal favorite – grouped by most likely. Comments – I did not have any. That was it, all done. YOU know you can do it and you know the kids will get a charge out of seeing how the information they enter changes the information on the larger tables. They also ask if you are submitting a complete checklist of birds you were able to identify – yes or no.

Later in the day I made my bird watching rounds at Brown Park, Mohegan Park – Lower Pond, Park Center, Rose Garden , and even McDonalds parking lot where I stopped for a cup of hot cocoa.

I will be doing it again tomorrow and Sunday and Monday. Today I strolled the Mohegan Park Trail. Who know s where you will find me the other days. But please do say hello and join me. I carry extra cracked corn if you would like to join me.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs.

Connecticut Arts Day is Thursday, March 2nd 2017 in Hartford CT. It is a free of cost, jam packed day filled with exhibits, shows, performances, and speeches. Lots and lots and lots of did I mention this already? Speeches.

From 8:30 – 10:30 AM there are speeches by no less than 19 politically strategic people including the Governor, Representatives, Directors, Specialists, and even an Honorary Chair.

At 10:30 AM the attendees are going to march from the Bushnell to the State Capital to show support of the Arts. Then at 11 AM there are going to be two panel discussions A. On the Art of Advocacy and B.On the Impact of Cross Collaborations. Someone from Norwich needs to be there taking notes.
From noon to 1:30 PM is lunch. Where attendees will hopefully be encouraged to make new friends and to meet and chat with people they do not know. Then the real fun stuff begins at 1:30 with presentations and performances until the keynote address by Laura Callanan, founding partner of Upstart Co-Lab, located in New York City.

Upstart Co-Lab is a national collaboration of financial partners sharing their resources; strategic partners bringing their time, talent, and proprietary platforms; a small professional team; a working group of social innovators; an advisory board — and artists. Whose combined efforts nurture connections, align systems, and jump-start solutions.

Then at long last, with enthusiasm filling the minds and hearts of the listeners to the last speaker at 3:30 PM will be the honoring of the nine 2017 Arts Heroes of Connecticut. Two of those heroes come from Eastern Connecticut. Bruce John of Willimantic and Joy Supples of Groton. Congratulations and best wishes to them both. Maybe in 2018 we will be honoring someone from Norwich, CT.

If you would like to attend please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/connecticut-arts-day-2017-registration-21317951567 So now is the time we need to get loud, proud and busy in Norwich. What projects will you be participating in?

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs.

How is Norwich, CT presenting itself to the rest of the world? How are we marketing ourselves? Which of the livability websites do we participate in?

Towns, cities and states across the country are working hard at recruiting people and businesses to support their tax base. So what is Norwich, CT doing to call attention to ourselves? What are we saying about ourselves?

Do we have a presentation that is filled with articles, photos and infographics? Are they from papers and magazines across the country or just local? Are the photos of just land and buildings or do they feature local residents and businesses?
Someday I would like to see a presentation of the comprehensive data set Norwich is using to lure new businesses to our city. The contents should not be secret or proprietary. Every resident should be well versed to the content details.

What details and information are we including in our site selection and information consultant packets? As the economy changes have the packets been re-examined with updated information, contact names and numbers? Does the city provide separate standard economic development data vs. a site comparison version? You would think they would contain the same information but they do not. They are usually very different presentations and their interpretations of even the same information may be very different.

What are the advantages of being in Norwich for the years to come? How do we describe the quality of life in our city, county, state and location? Why should visitors love your town and want to encourage others to share their experience? How does the general public define community?

Does Norwich, CT present a high quality feeling that remains with visitors for a long time? Do we encourage friendly service, great amenities, a safe environment, clean air, a unique history or culture?

Have multiple Tourism Assessment Programs been used and combined to make the best use of our collective past for the future? How are we, the residents and leaders of Norwich, CT presenting ourselves to the public?

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs.

The residents of Norwich, CT have always been and to this day remain amazing people. While other cities, towns, boroughs and even the State of Connecticut are looking for ways to entice single entrepreneurs and businesses to settle within their confines, the leaders of Norwich, CT remain resolute in their firm stand to not work with or learn from others how this might be accomplished.

For example, I attended a CTNext workshop with three featured presentations on making cities a magnet for talent. Norwich, CT was not represented by leadership or department. Other cities sent a variety of representatives, different departments, different jobs, some private, some public but all would be taking back information and sharing what they had learned. Not so for Norwich, CT although I did forward copies of the presentation to the Mayor, Council members and NCDC.
Speakers included Architect Robert Orr, former president of the New England chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism, on what CNU has learned over the past 40 years on how to make vibrant, walkable places that people love and want to live and work. Norwich is perfect for those over 30 years old looking to settle down in a place where they can make a difference and put their mark on their portion of the world.

Brian Falk of the Project for Lean Urbanism shared what they are learning from their five pilot projects underway to enable startups and millennials to build their own habitats. Aren’t these the people we are supposed to be encouraging to come to our city? Astonishing to me was that Norwich, CT has done, completed and has in place many of the items and programs that the Lean Urbanism Project is working on developing in their five pilot programs. But obviously we are not using them effectively so why are we not on the phone talking to Brian Falk discussing how we can use them and others to be more effective.

Kip Bergstrom of CTNext filled in for a presenter not able to attend due to the weather. Bergstrom explained the CTNext program and how the program provides guidance, contacts, opportunities for financial assistance to start-ups, Most importantly he spoke of the importance of receptivity. Not only must the city be initially welcoming but it must remain welcoming. No city or community is perfect. Every place can be improved upon and changed and it is ok to ask the young to make their mark on your city by asking for their help. It is ok to hear new voices, thoughts and ideas. It is ok to build a stronger community by working together.
As a resident and taxpayer of Norwich, CT can we please begin working together soon?

Thank you for reading and sharing my blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs.

Variety is indeed the spice of life. I am doing my best to eat a healthy diet. Strong and hearty on fruits and vegetables and light on everything else but alas from November through January I fall off the wagon and “the everything else” takes over. I love bread, cookies, pasta and almost anything else made with flour. But somehow through the magic of a space and time continuum it is now February and whether I like it or not I have to gain some control.

So I am looking once more to how I can improve my eating habits. I am not a vegetarian. A vegetarian by definition “does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacean, or slaughter by-products. ” So I am obviously not vegan, as they do not use other animal products and by-products such as eggs, dairy products, honey, leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetics or soaps derived from animal products. So really vegetarianism is a diet, while veganism is a lifestyle. I am flexible so maybe I am a Flexitarian which believe it or not is defined as a predominantly vegetarian diet, in which meat is occasionally consumed.

But will I be defined by the other options that are all over the internet? A lacto-vegetarian includes certain types of dairy but not eggs and food with rennet. A lacto-ovo vegetarian includes eggs and dairy. A pescetarian diet includes fish but not meat. A lacto-pescatarian includes fish and dairy foods and of course there is the lacto-ovo-pescatarian who eats fish, dairy and eggs. I am investigating the plant-based diet which is being used by a bunch of diets that range from fully vegetarian to others that include a small amount of occasional meat.

It is possible to spend hours just reading the names of the various diets that are on the market today not including the diet programs that can be subscribed to.

There is the alkaline diet that avoids acidic foods, the blood type diet where you eat according to your blood type. DASH is a Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension with fruits, vegetables and high grains. Eat Clean allows no preservatives or complex carbohydrates. The gluten-free diet avoids protein glutens found in barley, rye and wheat. The Mediterranean diet is really strong on the use of olive oil. The Organic Food diet would be the absolute hardest to follow with its strict rules of ingesting only food which is organic meaning it has not been produced with chemical fertilizers, genetic modifications, irradiation or additives. The paleolithic eats only what the hunter-gatherers would have found and the raw foodist chomps everything raw and uncooked whether its grain or meat.

So I remain an omnivore – consuming both plant and animal based foods and anything else that looks and tastes interesting.

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.