My neighbor is from the mid-west and she does not let me forget it. We were talking about all the fairs being canceled this fall and what we would miss the most. The displays, the various contests and of course the food.

I have nothing to contribute to conversations about how to grow the largest fruit or vegetables. I have no firsthand experience planting sardines beneath my corn and beans or feeding whole milk to pumpkins. I can admire quilts and the products of all skilled crafters but my own skills end there.

I can however discuss food endlessly I thought. I was wrong and have missed the Iowa State Fair regional favorite – Hot Beef Sundae. Described with sheer reverence as served in an oblong paper tray, three scoops of tender mashed potatoes, lovingly smothered in a rich brown gravy with almost no fat and strained of the garlic, onions and mushrooms used for flavor and the most tender smoked and shredded beef , lightly sprinkled with shredded aged cheddar cheese, topped with a tiny dollop of locally sourced sour cream and a cherry tomato. And it must be eaten with the long sundae spoon of course.

Doesn’t that description beat an all beef hot dog, on a stick, dipped in corn bread batter and deep fried?

Have you ever been to a Strawberry Festival? Yes? My neighbor was a judge for a Strawberry Chili Contest one year. Now there was a combination I had never, ever, even contemplated. I could not find recipes for Strawberry Chili other than my neighbors which is delicious and easy.

To 1 tablespoon vegetable oil add 1 large diced onion, 2 large diced cloves of garlic, 1 diced stalk of celery, and cook until transparent, add 1 pound ground turkey or sausage, add 1 chopped red pepper, one small jar of strawberry jam without seeds, 1 cup tomato sauce or catsup, season with salt and pepper, add chopped jalapeno pepper, 1 can Heinz vegetarian baked beans and 4 cups frozen strawberries. Serve when the strawberries are heated through.

(Note: If you assemble in a crock pot add 1 tablespoon molasses, 2 tablespoons light soy sauce, and a dollop of brown mustard for an even richer flavor. )

While I was poking around I found this recipe for Strawberry Baked Beans in All Recipes. 4 cup fresh strawberries ; hulled , 4 teaspoons vegetable oil, ½ cup ketchup, ¼ cup strawberry jam, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons dark molasses, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, 1 chipotle chili in adobo; chopped, 1 clove garlic; minced, ½ cup onion; diced, ½ cup red bell pepper; diced, 2 fifteen ounce cans pinto beans; drained, 1 tablespoon parsley; chopped.

Coat strawberries with oil and place on skewers – lightly char on bbq grill (optional) (Never occurred to me)

Preheat oven to 300

In a medium sauce pan, combine strawberries, ketchup, jam, balsamic vinegar, molasses, soy sauce, mustard, chipotle chile and garlic.

Cook over medium heat until strawberries start breaking down – about 15 minutes. Using an immersion blender, blend strawberry mixture until smooth. Continue cooking until sauce is reduced by one third – about 15 minutes

In a dutch oven, heat 2 teaspoons of oil. Add onion and bell pepper – saute until soft. Add pinto beans and 1 1/2 cups of the strawberry sauce (remainder can be used elsewhere or saved). Place pan in the oven and bake at 350 degrees until sauce thickens – about 25 minutes. Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with parsley

Also in All Recipes.com was this for Strawberry Chili Pepper Jam – 4 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, chopped and crushed, 3/4 cup  jalapeño peppers, finely diced, 1 large lemon, 6 cups sugar, 1 tablespoon red chili flakes (optional.) Mix together strawberries, jalapeños and pectin in a large saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil that can’t be stirred down. While the mixture is heating up, zest and juice the lemon. You should have about 1/4 of a cup of lemon juice to add to the pan. Add a pinch of zest if you like the lemony zing! Add the sugar and continue to boil, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the chili flakes for extra heat. Stir thoroughly. Allow to cool and refrigerate.

What fair activities and food will you be missing this fall?

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community 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 leaders of Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) are doing a good thing by extending the moratorium on shut-offs. Their customers and the residents of Norwich, CT thank them. But there is more that they should be doing. More that is simply not even written into the management textbooks yet.

When the NPU budget was presented to its Board of Directors, a corporate profit margin expectation was built in. In the past normal, the margin was high and while achieving that profit margin might have a negative affect on some customers the over-all impact would be absorbed by the customers with nothing more than a bit of grumbling because of the expected, ever-increasing costs of the utilities.

But then, then there came Covid-19 with local, state and national, mandated, and out of the customer’s control shut-downs. Shut-downs and circumstances beyond the individuals and customer control, while the costs of the utilities, insurances, and rents/mortgages continued. Costs that not just continued but continued with the expectation that the charges would be paid, and with fees and penalties applied to meet the expected profit margin.

When it became apparent that a large and ever increasing number of customers were having problems meeting the payment expectations during the crisis, companies backed off, and generously created moratoriums and some stopped late-fees, penalties and interest. The executives of the companies scrambled to make their own corporate cutbacks so the shareholders would not need to become aware that the corporation might not meet the imagined profit set into the budget.

In the case of Norwich Public Utilities, the shareholders, the stakeholders, are in fact its customers. The very same customers who are struggling to pay the bills, to not be shut off.

The leadership of NPU and its Board of Directors should have by now had a genuine and honest sit down discussion on the expectations of the budget, profitability and margins. A prepared for discussion where the timelines for the projects, that the profits were going to be used for (that’s what I was told so I am going with it), would be reviewed and discussed. Make no mistake, I cannot think of a harder discussion for executive leaders to have with their fellows, their Board and their shareholders. But I also cannot think of a more important one at this time in history.

The comparison of the profit of what was budgeted to be earned during the old normal versus what was actually earned in the current normal means what precisely? Currently a very healthy profit is still being made. What needs to be seen and happen, is the setting of a new, lower and much more realistic for the times budget goal. Then a comparison of the new goal and the reality.

Lowering profit expectations is generally not a good sign for a business but, these are extraordinary times with a very skewed reality. The customers of Norwich Public Utilities need leadership that takes their circumstances into account.

NPU leaders deserve a lot of credit for the job they are attempting but they need to be encouraged and re-assured that future plans and visions sometimes need to be adjusted and re-focused due to circumstances beyond their control. The re-evaluation of future plans is not leadership failure, it is the very definition of good leadership. The leadership of NPU needs to be reminded that they are a public utility and their shareholders are their customers. Their customer/shareholders are their strength. More than 75% of the customers are current with their bills, they deserve some credit too. (On a personal note: An actual reduction in my customer fees would be much appreciated.)

At a recent meeting NPU officials presented actual expenses and revenues through July 31 and projections for August, September, and October. The three-month budgeted revenue period totaled $22.2 million, but the new projection estimated the three-month revenues at $19.9 million, a 10.3% drop. The anticipated cash balance on Oct. 31 is projected at $38.5 million, down by $951,000, or 2.4%, from the budgeted figures. If the leadership adjusted their figures to a slightly lower budget profit, they’d be back to bragging how their customers are exceeding their expectations. Even with an international crisis. It’s all in how you look at it through the smoke and mirrors.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community 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 .

Honoring veterans is a long standing tradition in Norwich, CT. There are the monuments on the point of Chelsea Parade. The veterans organizations do their best to put flags on veterans graves every year. There are the parades and the flag ceremonies on given days. Coffee houses for vets are a recent addition to local activities.

But not one thing is done, scheduled or even considered for the last Sunday in September. The date this year is September 27, 2020. That is the Sunday dedicated to the Gold Star Mothers and Families who have endured the loss of a son or daughter while in the service of our country. Other veteran notable dates in September are Patriots Day, September 11^th; Constitution Day, September 17^th; and National POW/MIA Recognition Day, September 18^th.

Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day was established on June 23, 1936 by a Senate Joint resolution to honor mothers whose child was killed or became missing in action, or died later as a direct result of their service. “Family’s Day” was added in 2012 by President Barack Obama.

The Leffingwell House Museum had a lovely Silver Garden surrounding its flag pole for a few years to honor those who became ill, injured or wounded while in the service. The proper name for the two acre Norwich Rose Garden is the Veterans Memorial Rose Garden in Norwich, CT although there is no sign declaring it as such.

I would like to see one of the veterans groups take command in Norwich, CT of that last Sunday in September and join the rest of the country honoring the Blue Star Families. The official flag or banner that is white with a red border and features a blue star for each family member who has served in the U.S. Military during a period of war or hostility.

A silver star represents a family member who was injured , wounded, or became ill during combat.

A white star is the yet to be approved by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, symbol which will be to honor the veterans and service members we are losing everyday to suicide.

September is also the designated National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. For more information and resources please visit the websites www.veteranscrisisline.net ,or www.bluestarfam.org ,or www.bluestarmothers.org ,or www.goldstarmoms.com ,or www.goldstarwives.org .

Information for this blog came from an article I read in the September 2020 issue of the VFW Auxiliary Magazine.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community 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 .

If I could give a travel and tourism award for best promotional advertising for a state it would go to Alabama!The advert is in the August/September 2020 issue of Conde Nast Travel

Titled “This is Alabama” its a photo taken of the Little River Canyon National Preserve in Fort Payne one-third blue and white sky. Where it is written This is Alabama. From the sugar white beaches of the Gulf State Park to the pine covered Southern Appalachians in Little River Canyon, you can take it all in. Then the remainder of the page is a drone view of a large wooded area with a very narrow river running through it. With three one inch square boxes highlighted in white with See the sunrise spread across the treetops in bold white print. Smell the freshness of the loblolly pines. Listen to the river whispering its secrets. Get the full view at See AL360.com

It is clean and clear in its presentation and masterful in its simplicity. There is just a large single bird in flight that compels you to go there for the scenery and the peace to be found there.

On the facing page is an article explaining how innovative eco-hotels are developing as an industry because conservation matters in Alabama and they are proud of their efforts and want everyone to experience their progress and dedication to the environment for themselves.

In the well written article nine unique and very different environmentally aware destinations are explained. Each sounds more wonderful and intriguing than the next. I am not certain they could all be covered properly in a lifetime let alone a weeks vacation.

If the State of Connecticut ever decides to up its game and seek help in promoting and advertising even some of what is available in Connecticut they should have a serious talk with whoever is handling matters for the State of Alabama as they are doing an outstanding job and have earned accolades for a job well done.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community 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 .

Weird fundraising idea courtesy of Tasty posted on the World Wide Web.

On the World Wide Web a Tasty producer was challenged to make a 100 Layer Crepe Cake. He experimented and found a recipe. He made 100 in regular size then he found a giant crepe making pan and set to work. It was a challenge making 100 paper thin crepes. It was a challenge making four different creams to go between the layers. The result was gorgeous and the eaters seemed to enjoy it.

Here are the fundraising ideas.

Make crepes with four or five different creams or fruit fillings. Pre-sell for pick up on a specific date and time. Needs: Crepe makers or pans, stove, electricity, flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, creams and fillings, containers, hot dog paper wrappers so they hold the round shape?

Just do the 100 crepe challenge and sell slices. Even the normal size crepe makes a lot of pieces. Won’t bring in thousands of dollars but could still be fun.

Personally, I would like to see this as a Diversity Week challenge. That’s right, ask the different ethnic groups, churches and other diversity week participants to make their version of the 100 layer crepe challenge that they could sell, or give away at an event. Everything would need to be made in safe kitchens with safe ingredients. Sorry but home kitchens would not be allowed. This is a fun, challenge so groups could share the available kitchens. Probably using the kitchens at designated times.

Have you had crepes from Denmark, Serbia, France, Belgium, Peru, Cyprus, Scotland, Ireland? Have you ever tried Alebele, Banh Xeo, Palacinky, Aebleskivers (Sooo good), Langos, Socca, Toutons, Okonomiyaki, injera, Pannekoek, Uttapam, Serabi Beras, or Hobak Jeon? Some of these are more technically a little thick for a crepe but they are still delicious and available at most international hotels that serve breakfast to those more adventurous than the fruit and yogurt I generally stayed with.

So what do you think? Is anyone else tired of a bouncy house being the international diversity tribute in Norwich CT and willing to try something else? Something that will highlight the tastes and flavors of other countries and serve also as an educational piece and tribute to the world we are a part of.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community 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 am cursed. I see things. I see opportunities. I see visions of possibilities. Norwich, CT is a city filled with people from a variety of other cultures and ethnicities. Almost every week some group or other is raising the flag of another country at the Norwich, CT City Hall with a few local politicians and a few young people with speeches that are way too long and teach nothing about the flag being raised.

In downtown Norwich, CT there are the occasional ethnic street festivals complete with a bouncy house but in the age of Covid those have slowed in number. The church festivals have slowed and speaking for myself, I will miss the Greek Festival, Italian Festival, Russian Festival foods and thank the merciful heavens that the Polish Church figured out a way to continue their fund raising once a month dinners. Yum! Yum! And don’t let me leave out the Diversity Festival with its not for food trophy.

Anyway, I was reading through another International cookbook series and had a thought. If Norwich, CT is so proud of the number of diverse cultures and ethnicities of Norwich why doesn’t one or more of the plentiful committees and organizations, for example, the Norwich Community Development Corporation, either of the two Chamber of Commerce’s, Downtown Development, a neighborhood watch, a veterans group, a political party, ask our wide and diverse residents to submit a recipe symbolic of their ethnicity or culture for a cookbook or a column that could run in the Norwich Bulletin or be printed separately but given to potential home buyers and businesses as a marketing piece promoting our said diversity.

A physical piece that could demonstrate who the residents and businesses are. A continuing reminder that we are more similar than we are different. People love to go on vacation, to see different places, to try new and exotic food, and wines. So why not ask our residents what their favorite meals are when they think of the “old country?”

This is a way to celebrate the diversity of Norwich, CT. This is a way to make Norwich, CT home to everyone. This is not the job for a single person. Like so many other things in life this requires a committee of dedicated people willing to work together. I wish that was something found in Norwich, CT and regret its absence every day.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community 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 am very excited to announce that my CT election ballot was in my mailbox on Saturday. Voting by mail for me could not be easier. I opened the envelope in the cool and privacy of my own home.

I opened the ballot flat and colored in the little bubbles next to my choices.

I folded the ballot in half and placed it into the inner envelope provided.

I followed the directions to sign and date on the lines provided and sealed the envelope.

The next part was a little tricky. I had to make sure that the printed address of the Town Clerk showed thru the outer envelope window. To be honest I never knew there were Suite numbers assigned to the various offices in the Norwich City Hall. It makes the office locations sound so professional. I have always just asked for and blundered my way to the Tax Office, Assessors Office, City Clerks Office, etc. Anyway, I sealed the correctly addressed envelope. Placed my fanciest return address label in the left corner and even though it says on the right No postage necessary if mailed in the United States I added a single stamp. Then all I had to do was drop it in a mail box.

How easy. How simple. How private. My voting for the primary is complete. No muss. No fuss. No waiting in a line. No concerns over cleanliness. No concerns at all.

I liked it. I trusted it. I want to hear how many others in Norwich chose to vote by mail ballot. I am not interested in who anyone voted for. I am only interested in how many of us took advantage of voting by mail out of the number of eligible voters. Eligible voters are those that have registered to vote. Because this election in August was a primary it is important to know the total number of eligible voters in each party as each voter can only vote for the choice of candidate in their party.

In November, it will be important to know the total number of eligible registered voters of all parties and unaffiliated voters in Norwich combined, the number choosing to vote by mail-in ballot and the number choosing to vote in-person. Personally, I do not care who you vote for, I only care that you do vote. Your voting ballot is personal. Your voting ballot is private. Your voting ballot is confidential. Please do not try and save the government money by putting two ballots in one envelope. One ballot. One envelope. It is government money well spent for once.

My grateful thanks to the Connecticut Secretary of State who has worked so long and so hard to make this mail-in ballot a viable option to everyone.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community 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 .

“Hi. I am seeking two bored children between the ages of 8 and 12 willing to work for food. Do you know where I can find any?” “When do you want them?” “ It’s a little too hot at lunchtime but how about sending them over around 4 pm. I have a new cookbook I am going to have them test out.”

“They have both been in the kitchen with me and the mess they make is unbelievable.” “No worries The book is called, “Hungry Kids Camp Fire Cookbook #1” “Have you met my kids?” “Yup. They are perfect and the reason I called. Send them!”

At 4pm on the dot one almost 8-year-old boy and a just turned twelve-year-old girl appeared at my door and followed me to my very hot backyard. We sat at the table while I explained what they were going to do. They were going to pick up the fallen twigs and branches in my yard to create a campfire in the safe fire pit we have used before. I even had a convenient grate for use later. Then we were going to look thru the cookbook and see which recipes they would like to try.

I provided each one with paper and pencil so they could each pick what they wanted and then we would look to see if there were any matches. Two very different kids with very different tastes but both were more interested in trying to see if it would work and the actual eating was a bonus. So what did we try? Newspaper egg. Wrap raw egg in a full sheet of newspaper and then soak it in water before you bury it in the hot coals between 5-8 minutes then peel and eat. Glop. 3 Tablespoons butter in a skillet. 3 cooked sliced potatoes. We used a can of sliced potatoes. 1 cup of cubed ham. Careful with the knife! And cook for four minutes. Beat five eggs gently and add ½ cup chopped pepper and/or onion. Stir until eggs are almost done then top with Glop Sauce and grated cheddar cheese.Glop Sauce. Melt 3 Tablespoons of butter n a pan with 3 Tablespoons of flour and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Then add 1 and ¼ cup milk while stirring and bring to a gentle boil while stirring, stirring, stirring. Allow to cool a bit before pouring on Glop.

Pioneer Drumsticks. 3 pounds of your choice of ground meat, 1 cup crushed corn flakes, 2 eggs, 1 minced onion, well bashed before mincing, salt and pepper. Other than the mincing of the onion and we added celery and garlic all the mixing was done in a large sealed plastic bag used 12 large wooden craft sticks were soaking in water. Once all was mixed we divided the mixed meat into two bags. One for each chef. Then each had to evenly flatten out their meat to be divided into six equal portions and then each divided portion was wrapped around a craft stick with a couple of inches left as a handle. Then they were cooked on the grill. And eaten with Magic Sauce – a mix of 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 and ½ Tablespoons yellow mustard. They were not interested in the Sausage Puck part of the recipe but delighted in the magic sauce in place of Barbq or catsup. Salad on a stick. They cleaned out my vegetable drawer once I okayed they could work on their knife skills cutting up the vegetables and choose the order they went on their own skewers. More magic sauce for dipping and not the yucky bottled stuff. They even each tried a grilled skewer! Then we had orange peel brownies. I had to send one home to borrow a package of brownie mix. Just had to cut two oranges in half and remove the pulp for snacking. Make the brownie mix in yet another plastic bag and then fill the orange peels about ¾ full. We weren’t really certain about just placing the peels in the coals turning then around a couple of times so we wrapped two in aluminum foil and two we put directly in the coals. The aluminum foil did cook through faster but the ones directly in the coals won the taste test. The kids were great! The choices they made for the foods on their lists were very appropriate and balanced. One is definitely all about breakfast and the other is more about lunch than dinner. Salad is fine so long as it’s not lettuce and it should always be served on a stick. The newspaper egg was not a hit. Glad we only made one. The glop was ok but really needed the glop sauce. The pioneer drumsticks made a lot and went home for lunch, snacks, or parents. There was a suggestion of using pretzel rods but I don’t know if they would stand up to the heat. The orange brownies were a hit and I wish I had thought to get a giant marshmallow to melt on top as frosting. Maybe next time.

Clean up was as quick and as easy as promised. 2 Pans. 2 cutting boards. 2 knives. A few metal skewers were carefully washed in very soapy water. Used plastic ware, bags, and aluminum foil trashed. Newspaper burned. The fire allowed to die down and carefully and slowly drowned with the hose.

The kids were returned unharmed, with full bellies, and in good humor. I think the kids had fun. Their mom had a little break. I had a chance to try out the recipes in a new to me book without the work of doing it myself and my yard is free of small branches and twigs. Winners all around!

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community 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 .