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By Kerri Provost, January 25, 2012 8:56 am

Even with nearly 100 vehicles towed and 500 parking tickets issued during last weekend’s snow event, some streets appeared to have not gotten the memo that there was a street parking ban in effect.

Lt. Chris Mefferd, the Police Department’s Traffic Division Commander, said “vehicles parked on the street were issued tickets, announcements were made over the loudspeaker instructing residents to move their vehicles, and vehicles that were not removed were towed. Through this process, we made our best effort to gain voluntary compliance before initiating tow operations to ensure efficient plowing and clearing of city streets.”

This was not the case for every city street. On Tuesday, some were still not plowed to the curb; in Hartford, Saturday’s “storm” left only a few inches of snow, making removal of it far less daunting of a task than what the City dealt with last January. The October 2011 storm, which left about a foot of snow in the city, did not inspire officials to treat on-street parking with the degree of seriousness that a few inches of powder over the weekend apparently warranted. Continue reading 'Snow is Green: Tickets Mean Revenue'»

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By Kerri Provost, January 21, 2012 5:32 pm

Not enough snow to prevent local shops from opening and just enough for children to go sledding down hills like the one along Park Terrace. Continue reading 'Winter in Pope Park'»

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By Kerri Provost, December 22, 2011 10:39 am

During what he called a “grueling 3 1/2 years” without a permanent address, Harry Mitchell, who recently found a place to call home, learned firsthand about the “ridiculous stigma” surrounding homelessness.

During Wednesday’s memorial service for the homeless in Hartford, Mitchell spoke about what how society treats homelessness and those who experience it. Of this problem’s cause, Mitchell said “people say it’s the system,” but it’s actually caused by “our own neighbors” who do not want shelters “in their backyards.” Continue reading 'A Full House for Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service'»

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By Kerri Provost, December 21, 2011 9:08 am

Following “Storm Alfred,” it became clear that these coping-with-living-on-Earth editions are necessary. In the aftermath, so many were quick to criticize CL&P, the governor, the mayor, and pretty much anyone who was thought to be remotely responsible for the power not being on right this very instant, and frankly, Connecticutians sounded like spoiled brats.

Some of this, no doubt, was to mask real anxieties — like funding a replacement roof after the existing one was tackled by an Oak — but some of this was because many Americans feel entitled. So, when people in one of the wealthiest states in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet are upset because they are temporarily living without the amenities that their poor brothers and sisters go without daily (there are schools around the world that operate without ever having electricity), it’s hard to feel very sympathetic; moreover, it points to something else: a need for people to check on their emotional health. Of course, if you tell someone who is clearly experiencing emotional unwellness that you think this might be the case, they freak out.

Let it be known, this is not something that those with power have invented to mock those without. The Red Cross has literature on keeping emotionally healthy during disasters. Read it, particularly if the way you coped with the power outage was to whine via social media because you did not get your electricity turned back on within twelve hours during a time when it was not even cold enough to require turning up the thermostat.

Some people are really skilled at making a stressful situation unbearable for themselves and for all in earshot. The Red Cross also has useful information about “sheltering-in-place” and how individuals should try to remain informed, but be careful not to allow themselves to be over-saturated with information. Obsessively watching the news or clicking “refresh” on an outage map are unhelpful things for a person to do during an emergency situation.

Losing power does not need to mean losing perspective on the reality of the situation. And, the reality is that we can plan, but nature is powerful. The reality is also that when over 800,000 people in the state lose power, someone has to be the last to get it back, and that might be you. Growing up in a town where we lost power during almost every storm, and where we were never a priority, going days without a reliable power source was something with which we learned how to cope. A lot of the needs that we think we have are not needs at all.

Here is some perspective: About 4300 people were homeless in Connecticut in 2010 at any given time. Although some were in shelters or crashing on the couches of family or friends, some were also without shelter. In any of those situations, the homeless person does not have the security of knowing where she will be sleeping from day-to-day, whether or not she will be in a facility with electricity, when she will get to shower next, or even where her next meal is coming from. Of those who are homeless, 18% will experience what Ending Homelessness calls “chronic long-term homelessness.” Nationwide, it is expected that 74,000 people who have not experienced homelessness before will in the next three years. If you were one of the people to lose power during Hurricane Irene, Storm Alfred, or any other incident in recent years when people have seemed more prone to quick complaint, acknowledge that it is likely you are coming from a place of privilege; you might be miserable for a few days, or even a few weeks, but almost every single person will be returning to the almost-indulgent degree of comfort that has become the norm in first world countries.

For this edition, I have placed emotional wellness up front because that is as much of a concern as physical wellness.

Now, for the other stuff: Continue reading 'How to Live in New England: Winter Edition'»

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By Kerri Provost, November 3, 2011 5:13 pm

Removal of brush and dangerous limbs was underway this afternoon in Bushnell Park.

No word if the territorial geese in Pope Park allowed people to remove debris there.

The City of Hartford reports that CL&P is focusing on restoring power to the area “Tower Avenue, Coventry Street, Blue Hills Avenue, Vine Street, and Maple Avenue” today.

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By Kerri Provost, November 2, 2011 12:21 pm

The City of Hartford has been providing periodic updates for residents who are temporarily living without electricity. The latest press release states:

Schools are high on the priority list when it comes to restoring power to the City of Hartford.  CL&P officials have also assured all town and city leaders that municipal offices and large industrial and commercial sites are high on the list as crews work to get electricity back on line.

“These areas are critical to our residents as we work to get back to some sense of normalcy.  Please remember that downed lines need to be treated as energized lines, so please do not go near them.  To help ensure public safety, police, fire, and public works are all teaming-up with CL&P crews to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible, but we need your cooperation,”  said Mayor Segarra reiterated.

Committed resources include 5 CL&P crews with an additional 6 going active about 1:00 p.m., this will bring 11 total crews active by day’s end.  They will be focusing their efforts along Prospect Avenue, Kane Street, Reserve Road, Maple Avenue, Nelson Street, and Blue Hills Avenue, among others. In addition, 8 city and contracted crews will be working to remove debris and open roads. Two of those crews are dedicated to the Blue Hills neighborhood, which is one of the hardest hit neighborhoods in Hartford.

Hartford residents are reminded that even without power, we have advantages that those in rural areas do not. Continue reading 'Power Restoration'»

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By Kerri Provost, November 1, 2011 6:46 pm

Hartford’s public schools will reopen on different days.

Right now, those rescheduled to open on Thursday, November 3rd include: Bulkeley, Capital Prep Magnet, Classical Magnet, High School, Inc., Hartford Public High School, Opportunity High School, University High School of Science & Engineering, Achievement First, Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy, America’s Choice at SAND, Asian Studies Academy Dwight/Bellizzi, Breakthrough Magnet School, Burr Elementary, Early Reading Lab at Betances, Mary Hooker Environmental Sciences Magnet School, Global Communications Academy, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Montessori Magnet at Annie Fisher, Naylor, Parkville Community School, Maria Sanchez Elementary School, STEM Magnet School at Annie Fisher, and West Middle. Also, the Adult Education Center and HALO.

Those that may reopen on Monday, November 7th include: Pathways to Technology, Sport & Medical Sciences Academy, Weaver, Rawson, Batchelder, Breakthrough II Elementary, Clark, M.D. Fox, Milner, McDonough, Moylan, Kennelly, Kinsella, Latino Studies Academy at Burns, Simpson-Waverly, Noah Webster, and Wish.

This message comes from information provided by the City of Hartford.

[updated on 2 Nov 2011]

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By Kerri Provost, October 31, 2011 4:59 pm

Although many areas in the state have experienced complete devastation, other sections were relatively untouched. A walk from Frog Hollow to the Connecticut River involved no fallen power lines, a few down trees, and many branches strewn about.

All businesses appeared to be open.

Roads were clogged — particularly around gas stations — with impatient and careless drivers. Late last night, the lines at the pumps were only two or three cars deep. East of the Connecticut River, only a few gas stations were open because of the power outage.

Damage could be seen on the State Capitol grounds, in parks, and in residential areas alike. Continue reading 'Storm Alfred: Wreckage and Beauty'»

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By Kerri Provost, October 30, 2011 6:46 pm

They said they would not be deterred by the weather. Given the nature of Saturday’s storm, the Occupy Hartford bunch may have had a few advantages over the rest of us: no trees overhead and they already adjusted to being without power, aside from what the small solar panel could supply. Continue reading 'Occupy Hartford: Surviving the Storm'»