October 4, 2013 - Southingtonlibrary.org

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The Step Saver/ The Observer
Friday, October 4, 2013
•Second Look Column.......page 8
•Neighbors...................page 9
ED HARRIS editor
Established in 1975
Published weekly by The Step Saver, Inc.
213 Spring St., Southington, CT 06489
editorial: 860-621-6751
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fax 860-621-1841
e-mail eharris@southingtonobserver.com
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of the author and not necessarily those of the publisher.
www.SouthingtonObserver.com
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Creating a harvest
full of memories
We are asking that you tell your neighbors and
friends to tell their neighbors and friends and everyone
else that they know from out of town about this weekend’s
Apple Harvest Festival. The ever popular event has
no problem drawing in local residents, but we would like
to share the early fall classic that is the Apple Harvest
Festival with everyone in the state and beyond.
The festival kicks off this evening, Friday, Oct. 4. It
runs, through Sunday and next weekend, Oct. 11-13.
See our special insert in this week’s Observer for
information on times and events for the festivities.
The festival has become synonymous with
Southington. The festival is known for attracting anywhere
from 75,000 to 100,000 people, depending on the
weather.
The events and activities featured during the festival
have taken on a life of their own.
There are the bed races, which draws a substantial
crowd every year. Each year, residents dress in somewhat
outlandish costumes and push each other down
the street in a bed.
Then there are the apple themed eating contests. Be
it apple pies or other apple based items, residents line
up to bite into the fruity goodness.
Also, do not forget the fritters. It would not be an
Apple Harvest Festival without the fritters. The long,
long lines are there for a reason. Due in large part to
popularity, the fritter booth is the only one open during
the week.
There is also the annual parade, which always draws
a big crowd as families gather to watch the floats and
marchers passed by along the parade route.
The ever popular fireworks are also making a return
this year. The fireworks will blast off Saturday evening.
Though it can no longer be considered a new addition
to the festival, the annual Harvest the Arts event has
created a name for itself. The Harvest the Arts event will
play out during the second weekend (Oct. 11-13) of the
festival.
Harvest the Arts is now placed under the umbrella
of the Apple Harvest, but the event was conceived independently
of the festival. Originally spearheaded by local
artist Mary DeCroce, this year’s parade grand marshal
(we’re hoping she rides in style in the Batmobile) it is a
partnership between several downtown businesses and
those hoping to put their creativity on display.
Another popular returning event is Connecticut
Icon. The competition is the brainchild of Melissa
Ericksen, sponsorship coordinator of this year’s festival.
Auditions were held at Derynoski Elementary School
on Saturday, Sept. 21. The 12 finalists were recently
announced.
Competitions will be held on each of the six days of
the festival, with the group of contestants narrowed
down after each day. By the time, the festival is over, the
fourth “Connecticut Icon” will be chosen.
This year the Apple Harvest Festival celebrates its
45th anniversary. Over the years festival goers have definitely
created a harvest full of memories. We think more
will be made this year.
The Apple Harvest Festival has a lot to offer. We look
forward to seeing you down there the next two weekends.
Our Views
•Good Times........page 16
Welcome home to our soldiers
Recently, Madison Howes and
awaiting her that night. Shortly after
Jasmyne Engman had the surprises
being presented the award and giving
a few remarks, Wache was told
of their young lives, thanks to a
returning Staff Sergeant Michael
that there was one more person that
Howes.
wanted to congratulate her.
Mike had recently returned to
In walked Augelli, with a bouquet
of flowers for his grandmother.
Southington following his fourth
tour of duty in Djibouti, Africa. He
This was the first time that Wache
had been stationed at Camp
had seen her grandson since his
Lemonnier since last November.
return from Afghanistan.
Along with the help of his wife
“This completes the most wonderful
and memorable night of my
Isabela and the staff at Flanders Ed Harris
Elementary School and Southington
life,” Wache said after composing
High School, Mike was able to surprise
both his daughter and step-
story on the tear filled reunion.
Thoughts around town herself, according to an Observer
daughter and provide moments that
Back in June 2009, a then
none of them will ever forget.
After all eight veterans were Southington High School graduate
Madison had started the day lined up in front of the class Howes received a very special graduation
like any other, taking part in a reading
celebration at Flanders. A
him over to give him a hug.
United States Marine.
walked in. Jasmyne nearly bowled present: the return of her brother, a
teacher asked Madison to read her Southington has had its fair
Shortly after receiving her
book aloud to her fellow third grade share of surprise returns over the diploma, Jennifer Policki was surprised
by her brother Andy, who
classmates, when her father walked years.
through the doors of the gymnasium.
Rachel Wache was surprised by her lier that day. Andy, in his full uni-
Last February, local volunteer had returned from Afghanistan ear-
Madison sprung from her chair grandson Staff Sergeant Nicholas form, had waited patiently behind
and jumped into the waiting arms Augelli, who had just completed a members of the school’s faculty.
of her father. She even brought the tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Andy had been stationed in
book she was reading aloud with
In late 2011, Wache was given Afghanistan for several months.
her, in her excitement.
the Southington YMCA’s Unsung However, a vehicle he was driving in
Earlier that day Howes had surprised
his stepdaughter Jasmyne at and other awards was held at the his injuries were minor, Andy was
Hero award. The banquet for this ran over a roadside bomb. Though
Southington High School. Eight veterans
were brought in as cover,
Wache, who said she was sur-
Jennifer’s family had been try-
Aqua Turf this past February.
sent home.
there pretending to take part in a prised by the YMCA honor, did not
lecture.
know she had another surprise
See COLUMN, page 14
Will helpline help? I wouldn’t bet on it
Bill Dunn
Laugh or Death
In recent years politicians in
Ohio approved the construction of
new gambling casinos and horse
tracks. Anticipating a surge in gambling-related
problems, the state also
set up a phone service known as the
“Gambling Helpline.” However,
instead of seeking help for gambling
addiction, most of the calls to the
helpline went something like this:
Operator: “Gambling Helpline.”
Caller: “Yeah, I need help with
gambling.”
Operator: “That’s why we’re here.
What is the nature of your problem?”
Caller: “Well, you see, I keep losing
money at the blackjack table, and
I need some help. If I have 15, and
the dealer has a four showing, should
I take another card, or should I
stand?”
Operator: “What are you, stupid?!
Of course you don’t take another
card! Oh, wait a minute. I’m sorry.
This is not a gambling advice line. It’s
a helpline, for people who are addicted
to gambling and want to quit.”
Caller: “Quit? I don’t wanna quit.
I just wanna win some money once
in a while.”
Other callers to the Gambling
Helpline wanted to know who was
performing in the casino lounge and
what was being served at the buffet. I
guess leaving the words “addiction”
or “problem” out of the Gambling
Helpline title kind of made the mission
of the phone service somewhat
ambiguous.
Does anyone besides me
remember a time in the not-too-distant
past when gambling was considered
a vice, and government policies
focused on preventing people from
gambling at all, rather than treating
gambling as a cash cow that can fill
the state’s coffers? Instead of seeking
needed revenue from gambling, why
doesn’t the state raise the income
tax, the sales tax, the cigarette tax,
and the gasoline tax? Oh wait, never
mind. Here in Connecticut they
raised all those taxes, plus all the
money from the casinos and the lottery,
and they’re still hemorrhaging
red ink in Hartford.
I admit I’m probably not in a
position to judge, since I recently
wrote a column describing my
monthly poker game with friends
from church.(As the Gospel of John
says, “Let he who is without sin cast
the first poker chip.”)
Gambling is one of the few
things to which my addictive personality
has not been attracted. On the
other hand, booze and drugs and
donuts and TV and baseball and a
bunch of other stuff are, well, let’s
put it this way: I think I might be
addicted to 12-step groups, too.
But gambling has never interested
me. Even with the monthly poker
games, I attend mostly for the camaraderie
and the snacks. Losing a
bunch of nickels and dimes during
the actual poker playing, in my view,
is simply the cover charge.
So a monthly low-stakes poker
game where you might lose ten or
twenty dollars is one thing; while
state-sanctioned gambling, where
people routinely lose their entire
weekly paychecks in a few hours, is, I
do believe, quite a different thing. But
officials have set up a helpline phone
service, and at the end of each glitzy
lottery commercial the announcer
says, “Please play responsibly,” so
apparently that washes state leaders’
hands of any culpability when gambling
addiction causes countless people
lose their jobs and marriages and
homes and will-to-live.
There’s an old expression: “You
can’t legislate morality.” People are
going to screw up their lives regardless
of whether it’s illegal. True, but
do we really want the government
actively promoting and profiting
from the self-destructive behavior of
citizens?
Of course, what the heck do I
know? With a 15 in my hand and the
dealer showing a four, I’d probably
take another card.
Bill Dunn is a freelance writer
who resides in Torrington. He can be
reached at
MerryCatholic@gmail.com.