Colchester Goes to the Dogs by Katy Nally It Was All About Man’S Slobbery Best Friend Sisters Walked Phoebe Around the Ring and Sunday, Oct
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★ US. POSTAGE PAID POSTAL CUSTOMER GLASTONBURY CITIZEN, INC. LOCAL RIVEREAST PRESORTED STANDARD NewsServing Amston, Andover, Cobalt, East Hampton, Hebron,Bulletin Marlborough, Middle Haddam, Portland, Colchester and Salem Volume 34, Number 29 Published by The Glastonbury Citizen October 9, 2009 Colchester Goes to the Dogs by Katy Nally It was all about man’s slobbery best friend sisters walked Phoebe around the ring and Sunday, Oct. 4, at the 11th annual Pumpkins judges were impressed. ‘n’ Pooches Fest in Colchester. Hundreds of The judging panel included veterinarian Rob dogs strutted their stuff, showing off their best McLaughlin, First Selectman Linda Hodge, attire to a panel of four judges. Colchester Police Officer Rob Suchecki and The event was sponsored by the Colchester Lions Club District Governor Keith Lemere. Lions Club and held on the town green. “It was The winner of the funniest costume, Peeves phenomenal,” organizer of the fest and Lions the pit bull, could have won a look-alike con- Club member, Charlene Picard, said. “People test too. He was dressed as Mr. T, wearing a came out because they love their dogs. They neck full of gold beads, red armbands and a love showing them off.” And the dogs seemed tank top that read “I pity the fool.” However, to enjoy the event as well. Peeves did suffer from a wardrobe malfunc- There were pooches everywhere. There were tion when his stick-on Mowhawk fell off as small ones, tall ones, shaggy ones, fuzzy ones owner Liz Culver walked him in front of the and many in adorable costumes. It was actually judges. But he still made off with the blue rib- difficult to walk near the judging circle without bon and two large Milk-Bones to devour. getting tangled in a few leashes. Peeves was no novice competitor. Culver A big attraction was the costume and “silly said he won best kisser two years ago and this dog” contests. Owners paraded their pooches year was the “kiss off” between Peeves and his around the lawn in front of the judging panel, sister, who was also a previous year champ. hoping to secure a winning doggie treat. There There were many memorable pups at Pump- were five costume categories: funniest, cutest, kins ‘n’ Pooches. Picard said one of her favor- scariest, best ensemble and most original, with ites was the second-place winner of the best a best in show finale where the five winners ensemble category. Bentley the basset hound went head-to-head. and his owner (who was not much taller than First-time competitor Phoebe Boofae, a bull the dog) were both dressed as Elvis. Winner of mastiff, won the cutest contest and best in show. the best ensemble contest was Kayla McAuliffe Phoebe sported a flashy, pink sequin top with a who was dressed as a bride and her Jack Russell black, tulle ballerina skirt, which looked curi- terrier, Pickles, was the groom. ously like an old dance costume. She wore The dog contests were open to all for a small Sisters Madison, left, and Reghan McGinnis of Colchester stand with their award- matching pink goggles and a tres-chic pink donation. For $3, the pups were entered into winning pooch, Phoebe Boofae, a Bull Mastif, at last weekend’s Pumpkins ‘n’ Pooches headband with a flower to match. Owners Madi- two contests; after that it was only $1 per en- festival. Phoebe was dressed as a “funky supergirl,” and was voted cutest and best son and Reghan McGinnis of Colchester said try. All proceeds from the fest will go to sev- in show. Phoebe was dressed as a “funky super-girl.” The See Dogs on Page 2 Proposed Sunset Clause Deemed ‘Slap in the Face’ by Katy Nally At Tuesday’s meeting of the Marlborough tion,” essentially giving it a “drop dead date,” first appeared on the BOS agenda on June 2 fund. At Tuesday’s meeting Black called the Board of Selectmen (BOS), board members Black said. If the board does not “expressly and on Sept. 15 the board members agreed to ordinance an “unfunded mandate.” He said “we voted to include a controversial “sunset clause” extend” this ordinance “by law” on Oct. 1, 2011 seek counsel to draft an ordinance. need some commitment or latitude” from the in an ordinance draft that would exempt a local it will dissolve. However, at the Sept. 15 BOS meeting, state “on what we can afford, and the only op- veteran from paying his property taxes. The ordinance is the result of a five-month Amodeo and Hodge were not hoping for an or- tion that’s in there is survival of the spouse.” The selectmen agreed this was a useful ad- battle between the BOS and Willie and Robin dinance; they wanted a resolution (a motion However, when spread out across the town, this dition to the ordinance because it would give Hodge. Willie Hodge, 59, is a disabled veteran made by the board) to pass that night, which tax exemption works out to about 42 cents per board members the chance to modify it every who recently received a special adaptive hous- would immediately exempt Hodge from prop- person per year, according to Marlborough’s two years. However, others in town said they ing grant from the federal government. Hodge erty taxes. The city of Hartford adopted the same tax assessor, Marie Hall. The Hodges’ prop- viewed it as yet another “slap in the face.” is entitled to be property tax exempt as per state state statute through a resolution on June 8, erty tax is $4,416 and there are roughly 10,000 In a separate clause, the draft also excludes statute 12-81 section 21(C) because of this grant 2009. However, other towns, including East taxpayer accounts in Marlborough. the surviving spouse from receiving the tax ex- and his disability. (He is paralyzed from the Hartford and Hebron, drafted an ordinance. See Clause on Page 2 emption in the event of the veteran’s death. waist down.) The statute exempts Hodge from However, the ordinances of these two towns Like the past BOS meetings where the vet- his local property tax assessment up to $10,000; do not exclude a surviving spouse from tax ex- erans’ tax exemption was discussed, many vet- however, the “legislative body of the munici- emption. The East Hartford ordinance does not erans came from neighboring towns to show pality” can decide to make him 100 percent tax mention carrying on the benefits for the spouse, New Word Limit their support. However, all of them left after exempt. but since there is no specific clause excluding Due to space constraints, starting the public comment section and did not hear This is where the BOS and the Hodges’ at- the tax exemption, East Hartford Tax Assessor next week – the issue of Oct. 16 – all about the sunset clause and the spouse exclu- torney, Pasquale Amodeo, disagree. Amodeo Brian Smith said it would continue after the letters to the editor must be 300 words sion. cites the town’s charter, section 7.1.1, which veteran dies. “I feel very sad about the issue of or less. No exceptions will be made. This clause was a new concept for many who states, “The legislative powers of the Town shall not extending the exemption to the spouse,” said Also, due to the volume of elec- attended Tuesday’s meeting. A sunset clause, be vested in the Town Meeting and in the Board State Representative Pam Sawyer, who was First Selectman Bill Black said, requires the or Selectmen.” But Black said at Tuesday’s present at the Sept. 15 BOS meeting where the tion-related letters the Rivereast is re- board to renew the ordinance, in this case, ev- meeting that “the legislative body is interpreted issue was discussed. ceiving, we cannot guarantee every ery two years. The tax exemption coincides with as being the Board of Selectmen.” On Sept. 15, Sawyer and Black discussed letter will be published. Brevity will the Oct. 1, 2009, grand list and runs until Oct. The discussion about a veterans’ tax exemp- how this statute can be considered “feel-good work in your favor. 1, 2011. “It links it to this board for applica- tion has been going on since this summer. It legislation,” which the state writes but towns Sunday’s festival was filled with, well, pumpkins and pooches. Pictured above left are some of the pumpkins entered in a pumpkin decorating contest. Show at center are Joyce Schwartz of Salem and her dog Tess walking happily out of the judging circle after winning second place for funniest costume. Pictured at right are the winners of best ensemble, Kayla McAuliffe of Colchester and Pickles the Jack Russell terrier, dressed as a bride and groom. Dogs cont. from Front Page Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and the this year, and, although there is no way of track- Colchester Land Trust. There is a complete list ing attendance because there is no admission of charities on the Lions Club website, fee, she said there were about 3,000 people who www.colchesterlions.org. Picard said many of came out. these organizations support programs for the Pumpkins ‘n’ Pooches debuted in 1999, when blind and the visually impaired. Picard first came up with the idea. It has largely And where there were pooches, there were remained the same, she said, but now there are pumpkins. Michelle Wyatt, a Lions Club mem- more activities revolving around the dogs, be- ber, directed the pumpkin contests that began cause people love to show off their pets.