Community pride is everyone's business or is
it?
By Art Secondo
Individual
pride isn’t easy to judge especially when it could be a car that is so dirty the
tires look like dirt balls.
Otherwise we have to assume that when homeowners don’t cut their grass it
probably means their lawnmower is broke, or perhaps they don’t care if you like
tall grass or not. Does it bother you when you take the time and effort to clean your yard,
wash your car regularly and keep your garage neat and then see the opposite from
others?
A person or
business owner’s interpretation of
pride isn’t necessarily a private matter.
The demolition of unsightly buildings, the enforcement of municipal laws
pertaining to blight, are examples
of what government can do when something goes too far in extreme
.
Southington business
owners have been applauded over the years with their willingness to spend money
on storefronts, window displays, parking areas and dumpster fencing. This is a reflection of how the owner
feels about himself and the community that is his neighbor – like it or
not.
Yet, there are
literally dozens of violators who could care less about how their property is
viewed by others even if they are potential patrons. A pair of well-known name gasoline
stations just yards from downtown apparently never uses a lawnmower to trim
their tiny grass sections. They
could use a sickle. Another small plaza has a parking area that
resembles a pothole museum.
Right in the heart of
downtown stands a notorious stretch of window fronts that have been around since
the 1940s. The decorative markings
on entrance walk are testimony to the age of the building. There has not been a hint of improvement
in the past 20 years. Does the owner or
owners care about the exterior albeit the interior may be producing well-above
average income?
Have you noticed the
green, well-manicured exterior of the Residence Inn on West Street? It sparkles as a prime example of how
important the exterior of a business means to potential
patrons.
Plantsville center is
a prime example of deteriorating attitudes. When income is gone from a tenant, some
landlords walk away, caring little about any visible contribution to the
center. Others, thankfully, refuse to be guilty of ignorance be it on purpose or
due to frugal money management.
Plantsville’s possible
Renaissance isn’t restricted to individual owners but for the overall betterment
of visitors and residents.
Unfortunately, government cannot force landowners or storeowners to do
much beyond keep the toilets flushing.
It is discouraging to
those business owners who expend a good portion of their annual budgets towards
refreshing and attractive exteriors, to see the pathetic efforts of others who
have allowed their structures and properties to become visible and public
eyesores.
There is at least one
former retail storefront that has been on the market for more than a
decade. Why? Forget location and lack of
parking. The building looks
terrible.
It should never
be taken for granted when owners remarkably transcend a blah building into a
vibrant reflection of good money management. The Chamber of Commerce annually awards business owners who renovate or
construct new buildings.
The point is, this
is what community pride is all about. It’s should be everybody’s responsibility .
Sept. 30 Chamber Golf Tournament gaining notoriety
Luis Tiant, the star pitcher for the Red Sox
and Yankees of years past, will lead his group of
former players again to the 17th annual Classic Cup tournament set for Hawk’s
Landing, Sept. 30th. The shotgun event will
begin at 10:30 a.m. “This
tournament has become the most popular in the area not only because of the
former major league players, but because of the numerous food vendors, the
raffle, the contests and the dinner in the evening,” said
Dana Rickard, now in his 6th year as chairman. Player
fee is $165 and are encouraged to sign up early since the field fills several
weeks before the tourney. Major golf sponsors include Compumail, ADPI services, Hospital of Central
Ct., Ct. Financial, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Network Imaging, Holiday Inn
Express. Committee members are
soliciting raffle donations and flag sponsors. The Chamber appreciates and acknowledges
individual support.
First Annual Pizza Fest successful- Bertucci’s
wins the title
Hawk’s
Landing was the ideal location for the first Chamber of Commerce “Best of Pizza”
competition held recently. The
event was hosted by the Chamber Womens Committee and attracted close to 300
patrons who paid $10 to sample two slices from nine participating Chamber
restaurant members. In the end, a
panel of five judges selected Bertucci’s as the best pizza. However, patrons complimented each of
the vendors on their pizza and the exposure for the restaurants was
outstanding. Proceeds from the
event will be used by the Chamber Women for their annual holiday
“Adopt-A-Family” program, assisting needy families who are registered with the
town’s Community Services Department.
Special thanks to
the judges, Target for donating the paper goods, Say-It-With-Signs and Sweetnote
Design.
Solar tree lights glowing
thanks to town, Chamber
It
took a while to find the best string solar lights but more than 70 have been
placed on the trees lining Center Street.
The blue lights add ambiance to downtown, say residents and some
merchants. Mike Ferreri, chairman
of the Chamber’s Economic Development Marketing Committee (EDMC) said the town
provided the funding and manpower.
Ferreri noted that the cooperation of the town makes it easier for the
Chamber group to move forward in assisting economic development. He said the Chamber is now seeking to change the
billboard message on Queen Street and to add another billboard West Street.
.The EDMC meets the
first Friday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at Steve’s Restaurant in
Plantsville. Any Chamber member
is welcome.
Rep. Zalaski speaks to Chamber Legislative
Committee
State
Rep. Zeke Zalaski (81st ) whose district is exclusively Southington,
recently spoke to a group of the Chamber’s
Legislative Committee during an informal breakfast at
SteveRestaurant. Zalaski is seeking his
fifth term in the state House. The local native explained to the audience
that despite the deficit, the state has been able to function effectively and that
people should become more interested
and involved about the happenings at the State Capital. Legislative Committee Chairman Paul Armor
said he hopes the group can attract more members in order for the Chamber to fulfill its obligation in providing up-to-date information
about Connecticut government actions that affect local businesses.
Chamber Mall is
open!
40
discounts from Chamber business
Check
them out at www.southingtoncoc.com
(top
of page)
Use
your Chamber Discount Card...need one?
Need additional ones?
Call the office at 860– 628-8036
Need
Employees?
Send
us your job description and we’ll post in on our new:
Chamber
Employment Connection (CEC)
On
the website www.southingtoncoc.com
(top
of page)
| 
