Comments (9) 
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'»
The Pope Park Rec Center (in Pope Park) and Parker Memorial Community Center (2126 Main Street) are both open and serving as emergency shelters for those who have lost power in Hartford. The Seventh Day Adventist Church is also a shelter following Storm Alfred. The church is at 500 Woodland Street, between Albany Avenue and Greenfield Street.
The City of Hartford provides this information:
Mayor Segarra also noted that both Parker Memorial and Pope Park Recreation Centers remain open and operational. He did caution that while cots are being provided, visitors are reminded to bring a blanket, pillow, towel and their own personal bathing supplies. Fire houses are also available for residents that wish to shower and charge cell phones, laptops and tablet computers.
Additionally, the City of Hartford has announced that “Seniors and residents with special needs who need transportation to the City’s emergency shelters can call 311. Food is provided but residents need to bring toiletries, medications, etc.”
No parking ban has been issued.
UPDATE [4 Nov 2011]: The Seventh Day Adventist Church shelter is now closed.
UPDATE [7 Nov 2011]: The shelters in Hartford are now closed, but if you still require assistance, call 211 or 311.
Map from CL&P
Looking at this map from CL&P, the instant interpretation is that the areas in black are the hardest hit, with 81-100% of customers losing power. And if you are among those without power, my condolences.
But, all we learn from this is how the town as a whole is affected.
Wait for the super-obvious: not all towns and cities have the same population. Continue reading 'The Deception of a Pretty Map'»
Panic is bothersome. Preparation is smart. Whenever the slightest possibility of some weather event has been sensed, the commercial, mainstream media goes overboard, sensationalizing stories. The audience, instead of feeling empowered to make informed choices, often moves toward being overwhelmed with anxiety. We can not stop natural forces, but we can choose how we respond.
Those who are new to Southern New England, or who just forget how to live here every year, here are some of the things you can expect in the next few months while living in Hartford, and how you might deal with them: Continue reading 'How to Live in New England: Autumn Edition'»
Continue reading 'Occupy Hartford: Protesting Bank of America (Part 2)'»
Photo courtesy of Monika Leon
While most Connecticutians were navigating the crowded grocery stores, topping off their gas-guzzlers, or filling their bathtubs with water early on that Saturday morning in anticipation of Hurricane Irene, others set out for a bicycle education class arranged specifically for members of the media. Given that I typically walk or bike to events that I cover when wearing my media hat, I thought it appropriate to attend.
Real Art Ways hosted the event, which was coordinated and taught by Bike Walk Connecticut instructors who received certification from the League of American Bicyclists. Coffee and bagels made the dreary morning more manageable as we settled in for a video that demonstrated street cycling techniques. This was followed by a Powerpoint presentation mainly concerned with “taking the lane,” something that new road cyclists tend to not know they can do, not understand the best way to do so, or are completely terrified of trying. The main point of this lesson: bicyclists should behave like motorists in terms of which lanes to use. Making a left turn? Get in the left turn lane.
For me, a lot of this was review, so I asked questions about more complicated maneuvers. I envisioned how I might run errands in the West Farms sprawl region and asked what apparently amounts to survival techniques. Continue reading 'Schooled on the Street'»
On Tuesday, Connecticut residents were preoccupied with the earthquake, which did little damage here. On Twitter, people sounded frantic about the possibility of aftershocks. This concern was rarely for/by those near the epicenter, where some property damage occurred. For perspective, a Richmond news site had no stories about the earthquake “above the fold” that evening, while every mainstream news outlet in Connecticut had it posted as the top story.
As Hurricane Irene became a formidable threat, again, the news jumped on it, making it a top story. Announcements, such as the one that Malloy declared a “state of emergency” are rarely accompanied with information about what this actually means. All people see is the word “emergency” and get their emotions stirred further. When it is declared, it means a disaster is believed to be imminent, or, it has already occurred; but, the intention is to secure funds and temporary powers to assist with the situation. Remember when a State of Emergency was declared last winter after all that snow fall? Nobody was out rioting in the streets, but removing all the snow cost a lot of money. The declaration was to help defray the cost.
Here is an explanation of the Declaration of Emergency, from the Governor’s website:
For those constantly tuned in for news updates, they are barraged with “breaking stories” — often of marginal importance — lots of red, flashing, scrolling data, dramatic music, and even graphics prepared for the occasion. Something that should be treated with attention and concern is converted into a spectacle of obsession. Continue reading 'Preparation without Panic'»
Some people have been inquiring about when the holiday lights on Constitution Plaza were going to come down. The answer is now! Workers were dismantling the display this afternoon.
The Connecticut River has overflowed, blocking parts of the Riverfront path.
Want updates? Sign up for the Real Hartford mailing list
Follow updates using Networked Blogs or "like" us on Facebook
Panorama theme by Themocracy
