And YES I Even Got To Run Through The Stands In July As Santa For The Kids At A Twisters Game-ASK Ray O If You Do Not Believe ME

Do YOU know whom these people are with yours truly? If so, call them and tell them you saw them on M.D.'s blog.

Back in like 1992 or maybe 1993 there was a merchants association downtown and we had a Christmas party for all the downtown merchants somewhere downtown. Those were the good ole days I was lucky to be a downtown merchant!

Special note folks:Thanks FOLKS for the FINE Comments.

Just a quick NOTE that I will ONLY be writing a blog on MONDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY now as work has kept me busy and honestly, I need to pay my mortgage,fill my tank and be able to pay my taxes!

I started this blog hoping to get 700 words in the paper again on any given day and NOT with a theme as the blog is, just the good ole Torrington columns I used to pen.Maybe that will happen, maybe not. I would and will still write a blog three times a week.It can only better my chances IF you let the people know you did or did not enjoy them!Thanks so much and have a sparkling day!

I still have this memory to look at as well as these great looking ladies ,hanging off my shoulders,whom still are around the town.

Moving on, there are so many local issues go on right now around town, it is hard to keep up on them.

Many people tend not to speak up , though ,they do have feelings about local issues such as taxes,services or lack of and other issues.The new SOUND OFF started by the Register Citizen Publisher Matt Derienzo, who was instrumental in getting me in the Sunday paper to begin with,made it easier for you to rant without leaving your name!

This is where though I get to say my feelings and you can tell me to go to ---- or state your feelings on the subject at large.

Brings me to the recent story I read regarding the Torrington Twisters.

In case you do not know, I was there with a portable concession trailer as the exclusive food vendor for the first few years there.I remember it well.What you may not know is I sold hot dogs , with the help of my brother , six years prior to the Twisters coming to town.

Down at the Fussenich Park, in 1990, we paid a guy from the park and recreation department four hours JUST to flip the switch for the lights and they just watched the game,period!

These are facts folks and any good newspaper reporter could verify it.

I remember though, like it was yesterday, the first day the Twisters played their opening day.

While back then, IF you swept off a field for the kids to play after a rainy Friday night or did anything at the park, the Union, would file a grievance because it was their job to sweep off the water or whatever it was to get that four hours of OT.

Please, I think the present day park and recreation crew are a hard working bunch and today, have filed less grievances and will work to stay within their budget and let us get Larmett in there soon and forget about going through five more directors when we have a great guy!.

As stated above, I sold hot dogs from 1990 to 1996 BEFORE the Twisters came to town when 200 people and a hundred dollar night in sales was a great night,no a fantastic night as the average amount of people was less than 50 per game at Fussenich!

I donated to every team down there.

So, it came to a shock to me as I was now about to make a few bucks selling my wares at the park that opening TWISTER night that the park and rec director,then named Craig Schroder,came to me during the seventh inning and said and I quote" Mike it is now your responsibility to clean up the entire park after the game."

I remember then Mayor M.J, watch me almost pick up Schroder and throw him across the parking lot.

So, we went from a dirty park, literally where bums lived in the dugout and the park and rec employees never caught sweeping up the thousands of cigarettes butts, to now, a hand full of paid guys down there being and WE,the concessionaire, now all of a sudden, at a moments notice, being responsible for cleaning the park after every game! So much for the Union filing a grievance on that one?

The twisters were new back then and yes, it was worth it for me to keep my Irish trap closed and clean up that park!

Yes, there were games that exceeded 3000 people,hands down!

Even fed the team after the games but never received even a thank you from that guy named Fredriksson!

Nothing like the days when the Russians' and Japan's teams came to town!

I look back now as watched the great late Lefty Silano work so hard and I never charged him a dime for my french fries he loved so much and was always thankful to me.

And yes, the nice guy selling the T-Shirts, I often wondered if HE had to put in a bid, or donate anything to the town, to vend there?Well he should and I like the guy!

I have read the papers as of late about the city, or you and I taxpayers now and have been paying this $8,000 a year for the police down there?

Yes, some may call this a drop in the bucket in the realm of a 100 plus million dollar budget?

To me though, I believe in the argument.It is the principal of the issue at hand folks.

Does anyone remember the Warner Theatre having to pay for every cop in town for a concert that set them back one hundred thousand plus dollars and THEY had to pay for those cops! Yes, I know the Warner Theatre and Nutmeg Ballet do not pay taxes to the town, THAT in itself is another blog for another day.

The organization of the Torrington Twisters is a for profit business.

I paid the city to vend there and also all the permits required by law,taxes,insurances and such as I am and was for profit business!How is this team and or the new owners that I do not think pay a dime in taxes , or services, to Torrington better than any other business in town? I pay personal property on my business equipment as well yearly!Others have vended after me as well and they had to pay their way as well!

Do not great local groups have to pay for the custodian at school for special events?

And just for the record,I am not looking to vend again at the park.

This may be my ONLY controversial blog to date but I want it known, I myself, only speak for Michael E. Driscoll , do not think it is right that the Twisters can raise prices for tickets and God only knows what the new prices will be for food without any consent of the park and recreation commission! By rights, I feel it should go back OUT TO BID due to the change of ownership?

Before I go though, I want to say and thank, what the Ray's did down at the place.

Turri and Oneglia and all the others involved per the re-make Fussenich Park a jewel again,that will never be forgotten by anyone!

Though, the park, should be enjoyed ALL thought the year,not just a few months of the year.

Do I feel the Twisters are great fun for the town,100%, I witnessed it first-hand in its glory days!

Do I think raising prices to six bucks a whack for tickets is a tough thing to swallow with gas at now over four bucks a gallon,not a doubt.Will Torrington now support this team still, the batter is not in the box yet?

Will people boycott and ask for lower fees? MAYBE they should make a PUNCH CARD and the tenth visit get in for free?

But remember, the Torrington Twisters are a for profit organization and should pay their share as well for their expenses at a time when many, repeat many local business owners that have been in business for 20 plus years are just hanging in there week to week!

Am I wrong? Does anyone read this blog.Stats were here we had 1,400 hits on this blog the first week and for that, I thank you as well and the hundreds whom have commented.

Feel free to take me to town folks that is why hear, YOU get to let your feelings known about ( as in past blogs I have penned ) happy things,sad things and yes every once in a while a controversial THINGY,this being the first I would call controversial!

In closing, I dedicate this column to a man known as John Fulop aka FLOP.A coach who cared about every kid and had a heart as big if not bigger than the plaque behind home plate at a place called Oak Avenue.Also this is donated to the hundreds of people, men and women that have coached a team and all that goes with it, I envy you.Have a great day and hope this brings at least one comment?