So Little Time Here

Ashton and Alton Perry

I can't imagine how a grandmother could take the lives of her two grandsons, one just six months and the other two years old, before taking her own life.   That very afternoon I passed through the areas where tragedy would soon unfold following an Amber Alert.    I got the horrible news by seeing a Facebook friend's post.    Cheryl from Stonington is an in-law of the North Stonington Perry family.    There was no way she could make sense out of what just decimated that household, and I challenge anyone to come up with a suitable explanation.   Last night I attended a wake for someone who lived a very full life almost to the ripe old age of 90 only to return home and find out about the shooting deaths of two babies.   We all may be created equal in the eyes of God and the law, but our experiences during our time on this Earth are far from similar.    If there's anything we can do to cut down on sad news like this, it's to make sure we get between mentally ill people and their access to lethal force.    I know several family members close to this tragedy, so my prayers are with them.    Chelsea Groton Bank has set up an account to benefit the family of the Perry children for expenses. Donations for The Perry Family Fund will be accepted at any Chelsea Groton Bank location, or the public can mail checks/letters to: Chelsea Groton Bank, The Perry Family Fund, P.O. Box 11, North Stonington, CT 06359.

The End?

WMOS studio looking out into Mohegan Sun

Yesterday was my last day at 102.3 The Wolf.   Even with part-time hours, it is sad to leave behind a big part of who I am.   Many people think radio is the coolest thing you can do, and who am I to argue?   It is also a crazy business, so let me stress that I was not laid off or fired. It was my decision.   After two years and two months covering Sundays and lots of fill-in slots with little intention of having it work into anything more substantial in local radio, I knew I had to focus on getting more income.   New London County has a lot going for it and is a very competitive radio market, but it's not exactly a goldmine to a weekender as market #177.   It's not all about the money, of course.   While it was great to see familiar faces and loyal listeners pass by our casino studio, I do admit it could get a bit claustrophobic in the booth for five hours.    Like many radio shows, it really was a "lone wolf" situation there, and I like working with other people more than that.    I did feel very comfortable with the music and the presentation; feedback was positive.    I've asked this before: "Is this my radio swan song?"    I've never assumed radio would be an uninterrupted source of employment, and I've always approached every show like it would be be my last.

An Unenviable Job

Gov. Malloy & Lt. Gov. Wyman

I can't remember a state leader being beset with so much bad news in such a short period.   Say what you want about Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, but his term as the state's chief executive has been one rocky road with one crisis after another.   After a very nasty campaign and close election, the looming budget nightmare could have been enough of a challenge.   That was not the case.   Thankfully, state Republicans and Democrats seem to be able to work better together than their Washington counterparts.   The past two and a half years have seen five natural disasters plus the Newtown massacre.   Governor Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman have been familiar faces in countless news conferences.   Malloy is not the smoothest and most charismatic speaker, but he has improved somewhat and there can be no denying his being on top of so many pressing situations.    New Jersey's Chris Christie has gotten the most national attention, but can there be any doubt that Governor Malloy's administration is just as engaged in getting us through these tough times?    He has managed to avoid taking on the role many of his Republican counterparts brag about: that of public employee union buster.   During this tumultuous time, Connecticut has moved ahead on legalizing gay marriage and eliminating the death penalty.   Agree or disagree, this has been a productive period.   Last but not least, nobody would have wanted to trade places with him while he helped families and neighbors deal with the shock and grief from the Newtown shootings.   No wonder he choked up at his State of the State address.   He apologized, but as one reporter said, "He didn't have to."   

The Check Isn't In The Mail

The US Postal Service just announced the planned elimination of Saturday mail delivery as of August 1, 2013. Package delivery would continue. What does that mean for you and me? At first glance, it may not impact us too much. It's no secret that the post office has been under severe financial pressure as people go online to pay bills for free while email, Twitter and Facebook have become primary ways to keep in touch. Online shopping has meant more package deliveries while many billpayers still prefer paper statements, but the trend is a net loss for the USPS since many of us now think twice before affixing a stamp to anything. A book of stamps can last me six months or more. The other gorilla (or elephant) in the room is government mandated prepayment of postal worker retirement funding which puts the post office budget billions in the hole. While the postal service is a quasi-governmental agency, it generates its own revenue while the retirement mandate is unfunded. Most other businesses don't have that type of requirement. While we may be able to survive without getting "junk" mail six days a week, does anyone really think this austerity measure won't have the effect of slowing down the American economy at a time we can least afford that? The federal government seems to have bailouts for profitmaking corporations deemed too big to fail who don't have to follow the same rules as the post office. If the USPS can't operate more independently, then Uncle Sam should just take it over. Direct mail advertising, my primary source of income these days, is a primary reason the post office hasn't already gone the way of the dinosaur. We've supported it through numerous rate increases and are not always able to pass along the costs, but direct mail still works very impressively and I believe its survival affects more than just my business. The mailbox will certainly outlast the newspaper box. I hope the powers that be do everything they can to avoid what could be more disastrous than most people think.