This is the second in our four part series highlighting the rating of  Connecticut cities and towns by Connecticut Magazine. In our first post, we focused on the cities and towns with populations of between 10,000 and 15,000. To recap, the publication set the following criteria for the rankings:

They first sorted the localities into four groups based on population:

• 10,000 – 15,000
• 15,000 – 25,000
• 25,000 – 50,000
• 50,000+ (Towns with populations below 10,000 will be featured in their own four part series coming soon!)

Then, information was collected in the quality-of-life criteria that are most important to residents:

• Schools
• Crime Rate
• Cost of Living
• Local Economy
• Leisure/Cultural Outlets

Then the numbers were crunched and rankings were awarded based on how the towns scored in those criteria, with a “1” being the best score possible. In this second part of the series, we’ll be taking a look at the next population segment, between 15,000 and 25,000 residents, and specifically those in our market area:

15,000 – 25,000: Ridgefield Repeats, East Lyme and Stonington Advance

Ridgefield was once again at the top of this group, due mainly to great schools, a robust economy, and nearly non-existent crime rate of .69 crimes per 1000 residents. Farmington, last year’s #8 in this category, moved on to the next higher population group allowing both Stonington and East Lyme to move up several spots in the ratings.  Unfortunately, many of the communities we serve were outside of the top 20 shown here. For example, our neighbor to the south, North Haven, was at #23 (same as last year), while Seymour and Ansonia were at #31 and #32 respectively, affected mainly by poor economic conditions and high unemployment that plague the Naugatuck Valley. The median town in this group appears to be Stonington which, despite its poor showing in education, more than made up for it in other ways (be sure to visit Stonington Vineyards if you’re ever in the area, their Seaport White is to do for!).

To see the complete rankings of all 32 towns in this category, see the Connecticut Magazine report here. Remember, these rankings are not to be considered the last word in what the quality of life is in a particular city/town; however, they are a starting point and can be used as a point of comparison when making a decision about where to live in the state. There are many reasons for liking – or not liking – a specific city or town that transcend any statistical ranking or report, and only you can decide if a place is right for you and your family.

In the next installment, we’ll take a look at the towns and cities with a population between 25,000 and 50,000.

Related articles

• Rating Connecticut Cities and Towns: 2012 (Part 1) (wallingfordwired.com)

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Rating Connecticut Cities and Towns: 2012 (Part 2)

Ever wonder what makes one community better to live in than another? If so, then you’re in luck as Trumbull-based Connecticut Magazine has once again published their analysis of how various cities and towns rank based on several criteria. As usual, they have sorted the localities into four groups based on population:

• 10,000 – 15,000
• 15,000 – 25,000
• 25,000 – 50,000
• 50,000+ (We will feature the smaller towns with populations below 10,000 in their own series of posts coming soon)

Then, information was collected in the quality-of-life criteria that are most important to residents:

• Schools
• Crime Rate
• Cost of Living
• Local Economy
• Leisure/Cultural Outlets

Then the numbers were crunched and rankings were awarded based on how the towns scored in those criteria, with a “1” being the best score possible.

In this four part series of posts, we’re going to show how the top 20 places in each population size fared, and highlight how some towns in our market area fared as well. We’ll begin in Part One with those communities between 10,000 and 15,000 residents:

10,000 – 15,000: Weston New #1, Cromwell, E. Hampton Improve

Very few towns in our market area fell within this group, with the exception of Cromwell, Oxford and Derby which finished 9th, 12th and 16th respectively. Cromwell improved on their previous ranking by 2 spots, thanks mostly to a lower crime rate and good leisure activities, while Derby jumped 3 places after improving in every category. Oxford was rated in a different group last time. Weston and Canton slipped ahead of previous number one Old Saybrook. Weston’s improvement came mainly through lower real estate prices, as median home prices their fell by 25% from 2007 and 10% from 2009.

East Hampton appears to be the happy medium in this group, with above average scores in education, crime and cost of living offsetting subpar numbers in economy and leisure. As we’ve noted before, it’s interesting how the towns that placed well in education, crime and economy are almost always at the bottom of the pack for cost of living and leisure, proving once again that a good school system, low crime rates and good economic opportunities cost money to maintain.

Keep in mind that there are obviously many more criteria to be considered when deciding where to live in Connecticut, but the ones scored here are important and can be used as a starting point for comparison when deciding where to call home. There are many reasons for liking –or not liking – a specific city or town that transcend any statistical ranking or report, and only you can decide if a place is right for you and your family.

In Part Two of this series, we’ll take a look at the next group of towns, those with a population between 15,000 and 25,000 people.

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Rating Connecticut Cities and Towns: 2012 (Part 1)

Current Mill Rates for the Greater New Haven Area

Once again, we are receiving many calls and visitors to our blog inquiring about what the mill rate the town they live in, or the town they wish to move to, so we thought we’d post an update to the list of mill rates of some of the towns covered by the Greater New Haven Board of Realtors. Just in case you’re unfamiliar with what a mill rate is, it’s how communities calculate the amount of tax you owe on personal property. The actual term is millage rate, but over time it has been shortened to the root word mill, meaning “thousand”. A mill is a thousandth of a dollar, or 0.1%. The mill rate is the amount per thousand dollars of assessed property the owner must pay in taxes to the municipality the property is located in. The assessment ratio in Connecticut is currently 70% of the property’s fair market value.

Using the table below as an example, the owner of a property in Wallingford that has an assessed value (not appraised value or sales value) of $250,000 would pay $6,305 in taxes based on the listed mill rate of 25.22, or 0.02522. In New Haven, an owner of that same property would pay $10,975 in property taxes, based on the current 43.90 mill rate. Any questions on property assessment should be directed to your town’s Tax Assessor’s Office.

These rates are based on the 2010 Grand Lists and are current for the fiscal year 2011-2012:

To download a full list of mill rates of all Connecticut communities, please see the CT.gov web site. For more information about local real estate for sale, please call Harriman Real Estate at (203) 672-4499 today!

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Current Mill Rates for the Greater New Haven Area

Updated Colonial Priced to Sell!

Overview Maps Photos Features Description

$299,900 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 1778 sqft Lot: 0.26 acre(s) Location 148 Oxbow Dr. Meriden, CT 06450 USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

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Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

New Listing: 148 Oxbow Drive, Meriden CT 06450

A Connecticut Christmas: Helping Those in Need

This is the time of year when many people’s thoughts turn to those less fortunate than themselves, and in today’s economy the number of people in that group continue to grow. We all want to help, but sometimes we just don’t know what to do or where to start, but four women with a burning desire to make a difference have just the recipe.

About a month or so ago, Heather Colby, WTNH’s Ann Nyberg, Carol Dahlke and Anna Rubino were having coffee and came up with the idea for a benefit to help two deserving factions: The Connecticut Food Bank, and Tiffany Farms in Lyme, whose barn full of hay and antiques burned down on September 22nd. The farm dates back to 1841 and is one of the few remaining working dairy farms in the state. The Connecticut Food Bank usually sees its greatest need during the holidays, and the farm hit close to home for three of the women: they are all granddaughters of dairy farmers, while the fourth owns a farm herself.

The event will take place on Saturday, December 11th from 1 -4 PM at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., located at 36 Town woods Road in Old Lyme. Admission to the event is a food donation, for example high protein, non-perishable items like soup or tuna fish. Just one item per person will do it, and children under 3 years of age will be admitted free.

The event will be an indoor market featuring over 50 vendors of items such as fresh produce, arts, ornaments, olive oils, oil cloths, toys, books, biscotti, soaps, jewelry, rugs, canvas bags, purses, artisan breads, pasta sauces, wooden sculptures, fleece wraps, children’s clothing, and Four Mile River Farm natural beef. Fifteen percent of your purchases will go to Tiffany Farms. The event will also feature the following live music performances:

1 PM – 1:30 PM: Blue Plate Radio Jazz

1:30 PM – 2 PM: Lyme/Old Lyme High School Select Singers

2 PM – 2:30 PM: Blue Plate Radio Jazz

2:30 PM – 3 PM: The Sanctuary Bell Choir (Branford First Congregational Church)

3 PM – 4 PM: Strolling guitarists Kip Sturgeon & Dan Bernier

In addition, there will be complimentary coffee from Ashlawn Farm & Cider, kids can have their picture taken with Smoky the Santa Pony, and Santa Claus himself will also make an appearance.

If you’re looking for a joyous and heart-warming way to spend your Saturday afternoon, look no further than A Connecticut Christmas!

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

A Connecticut Christmas: Helping Those in Need

The Connecticut Wine Trail: Tenth Stop

When we left Stonington Vineyards, we headed north for about 4.5 miles until we came to the tenth stop on our tour of the Connecticut Wine Trail, Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington. As you pull into the parking area, you’re greeted by a charming New England farmhouse on 48 acres situated only 9 miles from Long Island Sound.

The Edwards family purchased the former Crosswoods Vineyards, removed all the old vines and planted new ones, and incorporated the latest technology into their winery. While Stonington Vineyards uses the French Burgundian method of winemaking, Jonathan Edwards opted to use Napa Valley grapes in some of the extraordinary wines they produce. The grapes are pressed in California, then shipped to Connecticut in refrigerated trucks to be barrel aged and bottled. They also produce 3 estate wines, including a Gewurztraminer, a Chardonnay, and a Cabernet Franc, which are harvested and processed on site.

We entered the restored barn that houses the tasting room and settled in at the end of the attractive oak bar to begin our tasting ($10 for a full tasting of 8 wines, and includes a wine glass with engraved logo). The first wine up was a 2008 estate Gewurztraminer (“gewurz” is the German word for “spice”), which proved to be our favorite. It emitted nice aromas of grapefruit, lemon zest and spice, and finished cleanly in what the barrista said was a dry manner, but which I wold describe as off-dry. Definitely a nice wine with any spicy food or just to sip chilled on a warm day. Next up was a 2009 estate Chadonnay, aged in oak which gave it some hints of vanilla, and showed lemon and green apple on the palate. Next was the first of the Napa Valley wines, a 2008 Chardonnay. It was very fruity on the nose and oaky on the palate, thanks to the aging it got in large French oak barrels.

Moving out of the white wines into the realm of reds, we next tried the last of the estate wines, the 2008 Cabernet Franc. Lots of cherry and blackberry notes were evident here, as well as some light oak finish provided by a year of barrel aging. Next was a 2007 Napa Valley Zinfandel, with all the spice you could want, big and jammy in the mouth and a smooth, peppery finish. A 2008 Napa Valley Merlot was next, with lots of berry aromas and oak and fruit on the palate, just right for a savory pork roast. We then sampled a 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which just begged for a nice, juicy steak! Very earthy flavors, tobacco and chocolate dominated this big wine. The last wine we tried was a 2007 Napa Valley Petite Sirah. Sourced from grapes grown in Calistoga, CA, it was a very dark color and smelled like plums and spice. Another great grilled meat wine!

Jonathan Edwards Winery has a great stone patio in the back where you can enjoy a bottle of your favorite wine. In addition, they hold several events throuhout the year for their fans, including Celebtate CT!, where they offer their estate wines and food samples from local artisanal vendors. This event takes place on September 24th from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, and tickets are $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Another great event is the Annual Harvest Festival, on October 2nd & 3rd from Noon to 6 PM each day. Tickets are $20 if pre-purchased and $25 at the door, and include a free wine glass and a voucher to sample the latest vintages. All in all, a great time for the entire family!

Jonathan Edwards hours of operation are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM, and they are closed most major holidays. They are located at 74 Chester Maine Road in North Stonington, just minutes away from Mystic Seaport, the casinos and the beaches of Rhode Island. If you’re planning to be in the Stonington area soon, make Jonathan Edwards Winery a part of your itinerary!

Related articles

• The Connecticut Wine Trail: Ninth Stop (wallingfordwired.com)
• The Connecticut Wine Trail: Eighth Stop (wallingfordwired.com)

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

The Connecticut Wine Trail: Tenth Stop

Wallingford’s “Trail of Terror” Turns Sweet Sixteen

In 1994, Wayne Barneschi built a small haunted house in the  front yard of his Wallingford home. Little did he know that it would grown up to be one of the most famous haunted attractions in all of New England, and beyond: The Trail of Terror.

Named for the third consecutive year as Best in Connecticut by Connecticut Magazine, the award-winning “spook-tacular” is celebrating its 16th birthday this year, and attendance should be brisk. People come from all over the region to behold this masterful fright fest of bloody props, strobe lights, animated monsters and over 300 costumed actors, and even though the economy isn’t exactly the best we’ve ever seen, this year should be no different. The attraction has grown and morphed over the years since its humble beginnings; recent additions include a haunted cathedral, Gotham City, the Good Shepherd Orphanage, Sweeny Todd, the Edgar Allan Poe house, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre house, the Santa Claus Workshop, and a new morgue.

While the size and scope of the Trail has increased, so has its popularity, as evidenced by the hours-long wait in line to enter. Security staff has also been added to protect both the venue and its patrons, and there are 10 EMT’s available should the fear factor prove too much. Barneschi also recently added the ability for patrons to buy tickets online, thus bypassing the possibility of driving a long distance to attend only to find that tickets have sold out. In years past, tickets were known to sell out by 8 or 9 PM, even though the trail is open until 11 PM. A 4-6 hour wait in line is not unheard of for this popular venue, so if you’re looking for a great time with family or friends, go to the Trail of Terror web site now to purchase your tickets. The cost is $10 per person, or $20 for a speedpass. All proceeds benefit the Wallingford Emergency Shelter’s new Family Center as well as other local charities, so you’re not only having a screaming good time, you’re helping a worthy cause to boot.

Here are the Trail’s hours of operation for 2010:

October 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30:  7 PM to 11 PM (Friday & Saturday)

October 10, 17, and 23:  7 PM to 10 PM (Sunday)

(Oh, and don’t forget to bring a “screamer” with you…Shotgun John says they just LOVE screamers in the Trail!)

Related Post: Trail of Terror Returns for 17th Spooky Season

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Wallingford’s Trail of Terror Turns Sweet Sixteen

Connecticut’s Durham Fair is 91 Years Young!

Connecticut’s crown jewel of agricultural fairs, The Durham Fair, turns 91 this year and shows no signs of slowing down! Founded in 1916, this is the largest agricultural fair held in Connecticut, and is also the largest fair in North America to operate without a paid manager or staff; all the workers are volunteers from various organizations, including schools, churches, and civic groups, as well as members of the Durham Agricultural Fair Association.

Festivities kick off on September 23^rd at 4 PM, with a Demolition Derby scheduled for 7:30 that evening. Other planned activities include truck and tractor pulls, pie eating contests, kid’s races, various instructional events, and lots of livestock on display, plus some great live entertainment capped off by country star Aaron Tippin on the Main Stage Friday the 24^th at 7:30 PM, and classic rock legends REO Speedwagon on Saturday the 26^th at 7:30 PM on the same stage.

Here are the operating hours for the fair and parking info:

Dates & Hours:

Thursday 9/23  4 P.M. to 10 P.M.

Friday & Saturday 9/24 & 9/25

9 A.M. to 10 P.M.

Sunday, 9/26  9 A.M. to 7 P.M.

Parking:

$5 for one day or $20 for multiple parking times all weekend

Shuttlebus transportation for Fair visitors – free

Admission:

Thursday- $10

One Day (Fri-Sun.) Adult- $15

Children 11 and under are free

Senior (62 and over) – $13

Three day adult ticket- $32

Four day adult ticket- $40

For complete ticket information and directions to the fairgrounds, click HERE.

Come for the rides, come for the exhibits, come for the food, shopping or entertainment. Come for no reason at all except to get away and have some FUN! Just COME!!

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Connecticut’s Durham Fair is 91 Years Young!

A Day at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

We just started a new Facebook page, 365 Things To Do in Connecticut, and one of the first things we included was Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. It’s no coincidence then that we took our granddaughter, Ilissa, visiting from Germany, to see the animals last weekend.

Owned by the Connecticut Zoological Society and located at 1875 Noble  Avenue in Bridgeport, Beardsley Zoo is the only zoo in the state. In 1878, James W. Beardsley, a wealthy farmer, donated 100 acres of land to the city of Bridgeport with the condition that it be kept as a public park. In 1884 Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of New York’s Central Park, submitted a design for the park, which became Beardsley Park, and in 1921 the zoo was started with donations of animals from Bridgeport residents.

Today, the zoo is home to over 100 species of animals, ranging from birds and amphibians to reptiles, insects and mammals. Some of the more striking exhibits are:

The Timber Wolf:

The Siberian Tiger:

And The Bald Eagle:

Another fun part of the zoo is the Carousel, one of the few left in the state.

To see our entire photo album of the trip to Beardsley Zoo, click HERE.

Here is a map of the zoo in its present layout (click on map to view as a PDF):

The zoo is open daily from 9 AM to 4 PM except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is as follows:

Regular Admission:
Adult Admission (ages 12 & older) = $11.00
Child Admission (ages 3 -11) = $9.00
Senior Admission (62 & older) = $9.00
Under 3 years = FREE
Connecticut Zoological Society Members = FREE

You can follow the Beardsley Zoo on Facebook and Twitter, and they can be reached by phone at (203) 394-6565.

Oh, and did our granddaughter have fun at the zoo?

I do believe she did!

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

A Day at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Ready to Kick Some Asphalt?

Those who have lived in and around Wallingford for any length of time have probably heard of Willy D’s Photo T’s & NASCAR Collectibles, a racing themed apparel and collectible shop located at 106 South Colony Road in Wallingford. Owners Bill and Barb Doucette are going into their 18th successful year with the store and have recently decided to take their love of NASCAR one step further: to the track!

Having already run a successful indoor go kart track for several years, Bill and Barb began research into the possibility of bringing outdoor performance karting to Wallingford. They were unable to locate any other tracks of that type in Connecticut, so they set out to make plans to open the first one in the state. They secured a location, designed an outdoor track that includes a road course as well as a traditional oval course, and submitted plans for the operation -  to be called CT Motorsport Park – to Wallingford’s Planning & Zoning Board for approval.

One of the criteria for approval was a sound test to ensure that the noise levels from the karts were within acceptable levels. This test was done in early June and passed with flying colors (see a short video of the test here). The P&Z Board then reviewed the proposal in its entirety and about a week or so ago, the proposal got the P&Z stamp of approval.

Situated on nearly 2.5 acres in Wallingford’s Silversmith Park, the track layout will accommodate 4 different courses, including a 1/4 mile oval and a 1/2 mile road course. Bill plans to operate with about 10-15 carts that can negotiate the track in about 50-55 seconds, covering about 4.5 miles in their 9-lap race. There are just some final details to work out, and then the track will be ready to open to the public. More info about CT Motorsport Park can be found at their website, or you can contact Bill Doucette by email at doitoutdoors@ctmotorsportpark.com, or by phone at (203) 269-6802.

Watch for more info about the opening, pre-opening specials and more, and get ready to kick some asphalt!

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Ready to Kick Some Asphalt?