Haddam Bulletin

Transfer Station: Let's Do Our Part

Over the past few months I have noticed an annoying tendency, to me anyway, at the paper and cardboard containers at the transfer station. It seems that a lot of people bring their paper or cardboard in and just drop it wherever there is an open piece of floor. The other day the paper container was full to the door, and the paper was stacked all of two feet high most of the way in. The cardboard container has been in similar shape with quite a few boxes not broken down. Then of course there are those who, for some reason, get a nice shiny new computer and put the box with the Styrofoam packing inside the container all as one piece. So this raises the question, do we believe there are "dump elves" who magically get everything to the proper place? The folks we hire to manage the station are too busy to be that. We are a community that watches its tax dollars closely, for the most part. So that leads me to the conclusion that too many of us are either ignorant of the "rules," which is curable, or feel that they are too important to bother. To which I must answer, "Get over it, you aren't." It only takes a minute to sort, break down, throw or otherwise take care of what you are recycling. On the other hand, maybe it's just me. Ken Burtis, Higganum

Sharing the Path

What a fantastic job the DEEP has done clearing and maintaining a path along the shoreline for joggers, walkers and sightseers at Haddam Meadows. But, unfortunately, someone who rides his or her horse along this same path neglects to clean up after the horse and leaves a terrible mess right in the middle of the path. I grew up with horses and adore these beautiful animals; however, you should abide by the same standards and rules as dog owners who clean up after their pets. Please be considerate and leave the path clear for others to enjoy as well as yourself and your horse. Charlene Spaar, Higganum

American Shad Is State Fish

While reading the August issue, I came across an article, "The Outdoor Mentor" by Kim Syrel. In it she states that the Connecticut State Fish is the Eastern American Oyster. As owner and director of the Haddam Shad museum in Higganum, I called Ms. Syrel and informed her that our state fish is actually the American Shad. The American Shad was designated as the state fish by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2003. It was selected because: it is a native Connecticut fish; it has great historical significance in that it provided food for Native Americans and colonists; and finally it was, and still is, of great commercial value to our state. Dr. Joseph Zaientz, Haddam Neck

Grateful Parents

On behalf of my husband John Scott and myself, I would like to thank those members of the fire department and EMT's for their remarkably quick response to our 911 call on Sunday, August 7, when our 15-month-old daughter was having trouble breathing from a seizure. They were at our home fully equipped in what seemed to be under three minutes from our 911 call and quickly took control of the situation and we immediately knew she was in good hands which put our minds at ease (or as much as they could be at that time). Being in real estate, buyers always question the efficiency and competence of volunteer services; I now have first hand knowledge of how to respond to that question and couldn't be happier to do so. You all truly do not get the recognition you all deserve for you services to this community. Téa is home and is doing well thanks to all of your combined efforts and we couldn't thank you enough for that. With Sincere Gratitude, Cortney Emshwiller-Swokla

Sound Off

When Did Center Turn Village? by Art Wiknik

The HVG (Higganum Vision Group) web site proudly proclaims: "Revitalizing Our Village, One Project at a Time...." Think about that statement. On the surface it sounds harmless but what they are really saying is that Higganum Center is an ugly place and it needs to be changed.
While some change is good, HVG have gone too far by labeling Higganum Center as Higganum Village with banners on the light posts along Route 81. It is insulting that they arbitrarily renamed an area that townspeople have proudly known for their entire lives!
Equally disturbing is that our town government gave HVG permission to put up those banners. I do not recall a survey, a town meeting or a referendum recommending a new identification.
Instead, the regular folks were kept out of it, much like the Haddam Land Swap debacle. Is the Higganum Center designation too unsophisticated or are the rest of us just too ignorant to realize that snobby titles are the path to prominence and prosperity?
If we start allowing special interest groups to dictate name changes, then what is to stop them from re-identifying of other parts of town that are deemed unsuitable? Will Higganum Reservoir be changed to Higganum Pond, Tylerville to Hooterville, or even my road from Foot Hills to Beverly Hills?
These HVG banners are not about economic development or making Higganum Center more attractive. They are the tip of the elitist iceberg where our heritage and traditions are being manipulated to feed egos.
Until the townspeople say how they want the area identified, the village banners in Higganum Center need to be removed.
Higganum resident Art Wiknik is the author of "Nam Sense," a book about his experiences in Vietnam in 1969–70 at the height of the war. He serves on the Memorial Day Parade Committee and contributes occasionally to the Bulletin.