Portland...  On the Move |
Issue 77 ~ News from your Town Hall ~ June 2000
The Charrette is Coming; Educational Testing |
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Portland Moving -- A community is more than houses lining a street. It's the people who live there, who know each other in their neighborhoods. Relationships. A feeling of cohesiveness. That willingness to help one another and be concerned. The feeling of ownership that comes from personal investment. Portland has a lot of community spirit that outsiders might not notice right away. That spirit is quiet at times. Slow and quiet. Typical New England reserve. But now and then something excites that spirit into something electric, vocal, irrepressible. Some topic that keeps people talking, provoking creative ideas. Some project decidedly "Portland." Well, that is what's happening now. Actually, it's been going on for a quite some time. Only lately has the momentum seriously grown as more and more people get involved. After all, what could be more Portland-ish than the brownstone quarries, down Silver Street, just off Main? Once upon a time, Portland's economy depended on these massive walls of compressed sediment. Our first European resident, John Stanclift, came to this side of the river to utilize this stone, cutting blocks and chiseling names for gravestones. John and his neighbors had no idea how abundant this lode of brownstone was. A hundred and fifty years later, the resulting quarry-works employed 1,500 people. Three local shipyards sprang to life, providing Yankee schooners for shipping this stone to Boston and New York, and other ports around the world. The work drew immigrant workers and skilled craftsmen. The quarry fell into disuse as other construction materials, cheaper and easier to work with, made their debut. Flood water filled the quarry basin, leaving us with the scenic landmark we have today. Abandoned, long ignored by all but just a few, the famous quarries surrendered their glory to the neglect of time. Shipyards and docks along the river followed suit. |
But today a new consciousness is stirring in town. The Ghost of Portland Past has resurrected interest in the quarries, fueled by local merchants, historians and politicians. A beautiful resource like this, historically significant, has to be good for something! So too the 2,500 feet of prime riverfront property recently acquired by the Town (prime, because unlike most of the shoreline, it is not located in the flood plain). The National Park Service agrees. They've sent a representative to help us decide how today's Portland can benefit from showcasing the quarries as a National Landmark. Concerned parties are meeting on a regular basis to discuss the possibilities. Interest in reclaiming Portland's history is growing every day, with a museum opening soon, and historical articles being published every month. The town's history continues to be taught in schools. When it came to building a new Town Hall, residents voted to preserve some of the past by renovating a long-abandoned Central School. The old Town Hall, constructed of brownstone, is also being renovated for the future location of some other Town departments. Change is in the air. The momentum is unstoppable. What we need is a vision of what we ultimately want. We need your input to formulate that vision. Informational and public input sessions (entitled the Quarry and Riverfront Charrette) will be held at the Portland Library on June 14th through June 17th. That gives us a little time to consider the potential of what we have, and what we can do about it - and then bring those ideas to the table. Please attend. The future depends on what we do today. For more information, see last page. |
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Ever Healthy, Ever Green 
Everything Doesn't Cause Cancer
Sometimes it can be difficult to make sense of the erroneous amount of health information now at our fingertips. Headlines, magazines, news program, and now the Internet seem to tout some new health report each day. But with so many different sources of information, the media often fails to provide a meaningful context for new scientific findings. As a result, much of the public can become frustrated. Worse, however, this barrage of information may give rise to some serious misconceptions. The popular notion that "everything causes cancer" is one of the biggest. Let's start by clearing the air with a bit of good news. Scientists believe most cancers are in fact caused by factors we can control. And they now know enough about the cancer process to recommend ways you can dramatically reduce your risk of getting cancer. An astonishing 80% of all cancers are associated with three lifestyle factors we can and do control: diet, smoking, and exposure to the sun. By paying attention to these factors, and placing other risks in perspective, you can lower your personal risk and increase your overall health in the bargain. The most important overall factor on controlling risk is diet. A 1997 American Institute for Cancer Research report surveyed over 4,500 scientific studies and concluded that 30-40% of all cancers are specifically related to the choices we make about food, exercise and weight management. A diet rich in a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans supplies nutrients and other substances your body uses to fight - and sometimes even reverse - the cancer process. Maintaining a healthy weight and keeping physically active give your body the edge it needs to help keep cancer at bay. Tobacco, in all its forms, accounts for an estimated 30% of cancer deaths. If you currently use tobacco, quitting is the single action that will most dramatically reduce your cancer risk. Sun exposure is responsible for 30% of all cancer cases, and 1-2% of cancer deaths. Wearing protective clothing, sunscreens with SPF 15 or greater, and avoiding the sun's rays between 10 AM to 3 PM are simple ways that reduce your risks. Other risks, however, though considerably smaller, nevertheless merit attention. These include occupational exposure to carcinogens, exposure to environmental pollution and exposure to manufactured chemicals. Taken together, these account for an estimated 6 - 7% of all cancer deaths. By following workplace safety guidelines and being informed about pollution sites in your community, even these risks can be reduced. One final note. A recent AICR survey found that the great majority of Americans continue to harbor one very large misconception about cancer risk. 77% mistakenly believe they can reduce their risk of cancer by avoiding vegetables and fruits that have been sprayed with pesticide. As yet, however, no experimental study has linked pesticide residue to increased cancer risk in humans. In fact, the overwhelming evidence argues strongly that fruits and vegetables are the most important part of a cancer-preventive diet. Their protective potential far outweighs the as yet unknown dangers of pesticide residues. Keep in mind that lowering your cancer risk involves small, positive changes in your daily life. Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables, getting regular exercise and watching your weight are the heart of a healthy, risk-reducing lifestyle. |
Father's Day 
was first observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. The idea originated with Mrs. John B. Dodd, who wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran. Smart, a widower, raised his six children on a rural farm in eastern Washington. Although many cities and towns celebrated a "father's day" for many years, it was not until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed it a national observance, declaring the third Sunday in June as Father's Day.
PRIDE seeks to put Portland's Main Street on the National Stage On May 12th, PRIDE executives delivered 13 copies of a 94 page application, plus slides and photographs to the Connecticut Main Street Program in Hartford, asking to be one of up to three towns and cities in Connecticut to be awarded National Main Street status. Together with the Town of Portland, PRIDE has been working to complete the application process, gathering letters of support and seeking donations to beautify and revitalize Main Street. The last applications were accepted in 1997, and there is no indication when applications will be accepted in the future. First Selectman Ed Kalinowski, Planning Director Susan Decina and Assistant Town Planner Nancy Mueller were particularly helpful in the preparation of the application, according to PRIDE president Brian Gouin. "The Town Planning Department provided us with factual information that would have been difficult to get on our own," Gouin said, "they did maps for us and gave valuable guidance on the preparation of the application." "Based on national averages, (being a Main Street Town) means a return of $32 for every dollar invested in the Main Street business district." - Brian GouinBeing designated a Connecticut Main Street Town costs very little, but pays a great deal. It means having access to extensive consulting, technical and marketing expertise at no cost. Based on national averages, it means a return of $32 for every dollar invested in the Main Street business district. It means considerable positive publicity for the town. And, of course, it means more of that less tangible "community pride." Finalists made their presentations on May 25th, and winners will be notified in early June. Bruce Tyler Public Works Working for You! by: Rosanne VecchittoWith the nice weather approaching, many homeowners will be having their driveways resurfaced. It is important that either the contractor or the homeowner obtain a Driveway Permit at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to work. The permit can be obtained from the Public Works office for $15.00. You do not need a permit to seal a driveway. When a new driveway is being proposed, the Director of Public Works or his authorized representative must inspect the site of the proposed driveway before any permit for construction is issued. A bond shall be posted with the Public Works Department to ensure the completion of the driveway within three hundred and sixty consecutive days after the issuance of the Driveway permit. The Director of Public Works, or his authorized representative, shall inspect all construction work covered by a Driveway Permit. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to notify the Director of Public Works at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to any paving of a driveway or driveway apron, so that an inspection can be made of the gravel base and the driveway or driveway apron grade. |
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The Old Town Hall Dean Jacques, editor, producer, director, chief cook, and bottlewasher for this newsletter, suggested to me, "Why don't you do a piece on the 'old Town Hall?'" Well, Dean, I thought, there was the 1790 Episcopal Church at the corner of High and Bartlett Streets, an old 2-story wooden building sold to the town in 1845 and used until 1895 for a "Town House." Before that there was another frame "Town House" built in 1790 and used until Portland split from East Hampton in 1841. That one was out on the corner of Pepperidge and Penfield Hill roads, in order to be fair to folks in both the west and east sides of Chatham, later to become Portland and East Hampton. There was also an attempt in 1841 by three local bigwigs to have a town house built on the lot just north of our present post office. They didn't succeed. And before that, there was the Meeting House - Congregational of course, wasn't everybody? -- at the corner of Bartlett and Prospect from 1750 to 1790. And before THAT, the Meeting House at the intersection of High and William streets, from 1721 to 1750. Town meetings happened in these places, though the land and vital records were kept at the Clerk's house (a miracle they survived!). And I have late word that the smaller tract of the Wangunk Reservation, flanking Indian Hill Avenue, was the Wangunk's ceremonial area - Penny Corner Road was the residential area. So perhaps Portland's EARLIEST "Town Hall" actually stood there! So, which one do you want, Dean? He went on to say, "I heard that the old Town Hall was actually a house." Oh. THAT one. The Town Hall at 261-265 Main Street was an elegant brownstone house, built in 1852 for Jonathan Fuller (1796-1876). Fuller was born in East Haddam, and married Lucinda Cook of Wallingford. He moved to Connecticut in the 1830s, where he became manager and part-owner in the Shaler and Hall Quarry, and active in the Episcopal Church. At the time he built his house, the area was a beautiful tree-shaded residential neighborhood, the homes of well-to-do quarry owners standing two or three to a block. Fuller and his wife had a daughter, Jane, born in 1831. Jane married, but apparently the marriage fell through. She resumed her maiden name and returned to her parents' house. When her father died in 1876, she inherited the stone house, and lived out her life here. She died in 1894. Portland had used the old Episcopal Church building on Bartlett Street as a town hall since 1845. However, by the early 1890s, town officials were worried about the danger of fire, since the land and vital records were stored in this wood-frame, wood-stove-heated building. Some town halls in this period did suffer fires and lose part or all of their records. A special town meeting called on January 21, 1891 empowered the selectmen to "erect a fireproof building for town purposes." When no resolution had been achieved for the town hall problem and Jane Fuller died in 1894, the solution seemed obvious: buy the stone house and modify it for a town hall! |
The Penny Press from May 30, 1894 opined, "Anyone disposed to bid on the Fuller house, as a matter of speculation, should bear in mind that the town of Portland wants the property bad, and that they ought to have it." Two days later, the Press pondered whether Col. William H. Bartlett should "take this occasion" to resign as town clerk. Bartlett lived on Bartlett Street, practically opposite the old town hall. It isn't clear whether they would be sad to see him leave, or felt he had overstayed his welcome! Ironically, Bartlett, born in 1815, died two months after the paper's remark, thereby avoiding an ousting. The Penny Press of October 13, 1894 continued the tale of the creation of a town hall from a prosperous man's house: "The work of alteration on the Fuller property is going along well. A good portion of the front of the building, in the center, has been torn out to make the arched-doorway provided for in the plans. The opening on the south side of the building will be built up with stones removed from the front." All through October the Press chatted about the progress on the Fuller house. An addition was made on the rear, and "cells intended for the keeping of prisoners" built into the southeast corner. Dennis O'Brien, who ran the Union House tavern at 5 Indian Hill Avenue, fetched the ironwork for the vaults from East Berlin. All during this time, the selectmen held their regular meetings in the Hose House of Fire Company No. 1, which stood directly across the street on the site of 252 Main until 1923. On October 31, 1894, the town's Republican caucus, some 263 strong, met in the old Town Hall, the former 1790 Episcopal Church on Bartlett Street. Directly after everyone had voted (some of them twice, according to witnesses), the floor caved in! Some men were trapped upstairs in the old church's gallery. One of them, William Welch, jumped out a second story window and broke his leg, later to sue over the town's alleged negligence. Old Col. Bartlett had warned them before his death that there was a 16-foot-deep hole under the building, probably an ancient well, and they felt fortunate that no one had gone down that hole. Truly the town needed its new town house! Now, readers, here's your part: I have not discovered from the town meeting minutes exactly when the Town Hall officially opened. The Selectmen continued to meet in the Hose House, and suddenly in March of 1895, meetings were happening in the "Town Hall" with no "Old" attached to it, so the move must have been made by then. I thought the Penny Press might shed some light, but I read the microfilm till I was seasick, and found no mention! Then I consulted Alain Munkittrick, who did the historical talk on Central School for the opening of the newest Town Hall, and he hadn't seen any announcement of opening celebrations, either! So, here is what we need: do any of you have stories from your parents or grandparents about the opening of the Main Street Town Hall? Did anyone's historically-conscious great aunt save the freshly-cut opening ribbon, or a program of the speakers for the day? Let me know - I'm in the book! Thanks! |
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Education Portland’s District-Wide Testing Plan Every school calendar across the state includes information on their district-wide testing. When Portland families receive their district-wide calendars at the end of summer, the dates for testing are included. As testing director for the district, I am often called upon to respond to questions and concerns regarding these assessments. Portland’s district-wide testing plan allows for the provision of on-going assessment information to help maximize instruction and student learning. More specifically:
Test scores are, at best, indicators of a set of possibilities. Test scores in and of themselves tell us nothing. Additional information is necessary if a complete and meaningful profile of a student, instructional program, or school is to be developed. Test data, when combined with other information, can contribute to improve student learning and be useful in evaluating curriculum. Achievement test results serve best as measures of curriculum, not as measures of individual students.
The data resulting from the examination of test results across grade levels should be interpreted with reservation, particularly when different student populations are involved as opposed to comparing data based on the same student population over time. |
Student test performances on a given test provides a limited sample of student achievement within a short period of time. For a complete profile of a given student’s achievement, other data such as teacher ratings and observations, and grades attained (report cards) are more valid and reliable indicators of student learning. Single indicators based in isolation can be dangerous. The administration of standardized tests is a means of attaining the following: Administrative Use: To evaluate curriculum as to
Teacher Use:
Program Evaluation:
Student Use:
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