Thanksgiving

As on Thanksgiving Day, we look around

Here’s what we’re grateful for right here in town

Winter storm Alfred is now in the past

We’re thankful the lights came back on at last!

Eastern Coast Earthquake gave us a slight jolt

Good that the town folk did not lose a volt

A hurricane not, no eye to be seen

That was the story of trop storm Irene

The taxes in town rose only a bit

Oh wait, 2012 we’ll really be hit!

After election, lawn signs taken down

Oh wait, I still see them all over town!

No “Occupy” tents on green of the town

Oh wait, weekend pickets are still around!

Peterson, Pfau’s, our stores Mom and Pop

We’re grateful for local places to shop

We shop in the stores of Square of Blue Back

Oh wait, it’s for sale, it’s not in the black!

We’re glad to be getting a new dog park

Oh wait, no we aren’t, where will they bark?

All kidding aside, let’s truly give thanks

For food on the table and cash in the banks

For us and our loved ones enjoying good health

And jobs that allow us to increase our wealth

With family and friends we gather this day

And observe Thanksgiving in our own way

Winter Storm Alfred

A winter storm arrives
Last days of October
The heavy snow on leaves
Makes the trees fall over

The heavy branches fell
On every street in town
Blocking many roadways
And bringing wires down

There’s no time to protest
Or think of the Dog Park
As we sit in houses
Cold and in the dark

By a roaring fire
On dark November night
West Hartford Poet Rogue
Writes poems by candle light

Many town folk thinking
CL & P is mean
They claim they’re working hard
But no crews to be seen

When talking of the problem
Of tree limbs still attached
CL & P and Mayor
Get in a shouting match

Each and every night
The  Mayor tells us all
The most current status
On daily Robo-Call

Robo-Calls inform us
Of crimes and burglaries
And other useful stuff
Like where to stack downed trees

A killer on the loose
Quickly apprehended
For keeping us informed
Town to be commended

Looking for gas station
Driving helter – skelter
Then escape cold night
At the Conard Shelter

Need to make some calls
I don’t sit home alone
I’m in the library
To charge up my cell phone

Mayor cancels Halloween
Costumes would be dandy
Without Trick or Treat
Stuck with all the candy

Puddles in the kitchen
Meat and eggs no good
Only thing to do is
Get take-out Chinese food

With televisions off
New noises fill the air
Generators humming
And chain saws everywhere

Slowly, oh so slowly
The power starts to flow
Have to be so careful
The breakers not to blow

Facing any hardship,
Any kind of weather
People of West Hartford
Face it all together

The Signs of Fall

It's time once again for the signs of Fall
Objects of beauty? Not always for all
This time of year an old scourge comes to pass
Are they the mushrooms on your neighbor's grass?

Are they the leaves that come down from your tree?
No, they're the lawn signs that say "Vote for Me!"
Some lawns have many and some just a few
The best ones are those that lawn signs eschew

Gas stations in town take a unique stand
Some allow all, but at some signs are banned
One puzzle whose answer yet I know not
How lawn signs spring up on an empty lot?

Seems there's a new sign behind every tree
Here's a short listing of those that I see
While making my way through town in my car
There's Democrats Cantor with falling star

Whose ugly orange signs? Kindall's the name
From Ed Board to Council, spending's the same
Slifka and Captain and Casperson too
Essie and Davidoff - There's no one new!

Almost forgotten, I have to admit
Candidates Putterman and Terry Schmitt
Are running once more for Education
So from the board there'll be no rotation

Republicans Adler and Goldman and Hall
Of Martin and Sarzen - no "sign" at all
From Kyle and from Brassil nary a roar
One more Republican, lonely Burke Doar

Most signs are the same as two years ago
Reuse them again, expense to forego
Old signs with a new phrase are now bedecked
In small crooked letters, "Please Re-Elect!"

With choices like these for our town I fear
My vote this fall is becoming quite clear
With so many signs, no sick days at all
JP Carroll the roofer send to Town Hall

Long after the vote on November 8
Some signs will still stand on February 8
So please be timely with your collection
Need to make room for next year's election!

Farewell to Diane Mudge

A Board of Ed member named Mudge
On spending she just would not budge
She said "Why spend in haste?
"Let's first cut the waste
"In detail through budget let's trudge"

To everyone she did confide
She found a new place to reside
From education
She made resignation
'Cause she moved to the Farmington side

While principals eat out at Max's
Diane will now pay less taxes
Getting more for her money
Her days will be sunny
And instead of board meetings, relaxes

Meanwhile in West Hartford town
Conservatives are feeling down
Claire Kindall will party
And feel like a smarty
In increasing taxes we'll drown!

Lib Brassil will take Diane's place
And others will enter the race
To fill Diane's shoes
The public will choose
A fresh new conservative face

Diane, may good luck follow you
As you bid West Hartford adieu
But without you to fight
To keep spending tight
What will us conservatives do?

West Hartford Dogs Do Beware

West Hartford dogs do beware
In this town you haven't a prayer
The town may seem cool
But don't be a fool
There's an anti-dog attitude there

A big box pet store called PetSmart
Was off to a glorious start
But at Bishop's one day
The store went away
Done in by a poor profit chart

3-Dog Bakery was a store
Where dogs went to eat, drink and more
It used to be fun
But that fun is done
Last year the store closed its last door

A place called Reigning Cats and Dogs
Sold booties and leashes and togs
The store is no more
Now dog paws are sore
When walking in snow, rain or fogs

Without a West Hartford Dog Park
Where will the town dogs go to bark?
Home Depot withdrew
So with no place to poo
The future for dogs looks quite dark

Town council is starting to talk
When dogs go outside for a walk
Should bring their own scoop
To pick up their poop
A new law for walking the block

No dogs on the Derby Town Green
Said an article recently seen
When reading the text
Wonder "Is this town next?
"Dogs banned from West Hartford town Green?"

Was it the economy alone
Or a plot by a party unknown
That dog stores in town
Were all shut down
And left many dogs without bone?

So who is behind this commotion
To set anti-dog plans in motion?
The house cats in town
Want to wear the top crown
And give all the dogs a demotion!

Parking Blues

Taking my girl out on dates
I'm shocked at the new parking rates
I'm sad to report
I'm one dollar short
And paying is something SHE hates!

With each visit to CVS
My frustration I must express
I cannot afford
To park my red Ford
The increase, it's just more B.S.

Those with money may come eat at Max
At Joseph A. Banks they buy slacks
They just pay a five
For a valet to drive
For the rest its an increase in tax

Out of towners may whine and may balk
And of high parking rates they may talk
We who live here
When getting a beer
Just park at Whole Foods and then walk

But parking at Whole Foods in town
Is something the cops now look down
They give you a ticket
As if to say "Stick it!"
Which turns my smile into a frown

It used to be free after eight
The new time you better keep straight
You're safe only when
You're paid up 'till ten
When dining at Grant's very late

The new parking rates do remember
When thinking of each council member
Then please make a note
When you go vote
The upcoming eighth of November

The parking spot search was no fun
With Blue Back and Center I'm done!
I said "Screw it all
"I'll head to the Mall
With plenty of spots and costs - None!"

West Hartford Singing Star

On that TV show called "The Voice"
The people have made their first choice
West Hartford's own
Javier Colon
With pleasure we all now rejoice