"St. Patrick's Day PARADE Route For Saturday March 12, 2011 Route-Stamford, CT-From Lt. Nick, Stamford P.D." Posted By Reverend Barbara Sexton 'Dear Ones Healing Ministry'

MySpace Comments: Chromaluna.comST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE ROUTE STAMFORD, CT(ST. PATRICK'S DAY ITSELF IS THURS, MAR 17)

MySpace Comments: Chromaluna.comST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE-SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2011

From Lt. Nick Montagnese, Stamford P.D.:

This years St. Patrick's Day Parade will be on Saturday March 12th, parade will kick off at 12 noon, staging for the parade will be on North Street between Summer and Bedford St. The parade will turn onto Summer St from North St, then proceed south on Summer St to Main Street, parade will turn east on Main Street and end at the Old Town Hall at Main and Atlantic St, any questions or issues let me , thanks Lieutenant Nicholas Montagnese 203-977-4850.

Thanks Lt. Nick for passing this along.

God Bless You & God Bless All at the Stamford Police Dept

May the Lord Keep You & Your Loved Ones Safe at all times!

Reverend Barbara Sexton

"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/

MySpace Comments: Chromaluna.com

"Today Dec 1 Is World AIDS DAY: A Reflective Lesson" By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

http://blog.bioethics.net/2008/12/world-aids-day-how-far-weve-comeand-still-how-far/

Dear Ones:
     You may have 'heard me' say this before; "If HIV AIDS were easily transmissible, I would be dead by  now". 
     I say it because it's true.
     I was 'in' biomedicine in the years immediately preceding the full 'out-cropping' of this horrific disease, during which time I literally handled and processed as many as twenty liters at a time of pooled human blood serum for 'cell culture' at Sloan-Kettering.
    We all knew what we were exposing ourselves to potentially and we all knew what the risks were.
     Prior to the full-emergence of 'AIDS', our main concerns in the lab were the usual blood-borne infectious agents such as hepatitis, reasonably well-understood and accepted 'risks'. 
     My technique was always excellent, but one can never discount the occasional bad-luck, unavoidable 'accident', such as a slip or spill or 'needle stick'. 
     Thank God I never suffered one of those, although in those late-70's/early 80's years I didn't do much praying (or any) for I was yet a proud atheist-agnostic back then.
     Coincidentally, a few years later, AIDS as a 'community concern' was just rearing it's head where I was living in Stamford, CT and a 'new Christian'.
     You can believe that few 'knew' about AIDS and HIV in those days and even 'fewer' cared about it, if they did.  And NO ONE wanted to 'work' with HIV+ patients if they could avoid it.
     But my universe was working with homeless individuals, female prostitutes, male prostitutes and many i.v. drug users. 
      So there was no escaping anything related to that emerging terror known as 'AIDS'.
     In my capacity first as a 'secretary' and then as a Soldier in The Salvation Army...I was there on the front lines. 
     I didn't want to be and I didn't ask to be, but I was immersed up-to-my-eyeballs when 'AIDS' first reared it's head in our area.
     I was there when the first few clinic patients walked into my office for a counseling session, test results in hand and 'collapsed' in grief, misery, fear and disbelief. 
     These poor souls were amongst the first to be diagnosed as 'HIV Positive' and who were struggling to know 'what does that mean'?  And they were amongst 'the first' to be modern-day 'lepers' as far as society was concerned.
     I write about this in detail in my upcoming book 'ENTERTAINING ANGELS' LINK:  http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/01/entertaining-angels-book-by-former_27.html
     You will read about those 'first' heart wrenching months when we began regular HIV testing.  You will read how exposed I was to the body fluids and substances of HIV+ individuals who were 'acting out' due to concurrent psychiatric issues.
     No distinction was made back then between 'HIV Positive' and 'AIDS', but you can imagine where my biochemist's mind was going each time a situation presented itself.
     You will read how I clutched a dear HIV+ lady to myself, resulting in my having a soaked-to-the-skin tear-drenched blouse and slip as I consoled her and she asked me to 'explain her test results'.
     In those early days of AIDS, you will read how I managed to get my own personal physician (a Stamford doctor many of you know!) to volunteer in our Clinic downstairs and how he monitors me to this day.
     And you will read how I 'gave permission' for the very first 'AIDS SUPPORT GROUP' to meet in the 'conference room' across from my tiny Salvation Army office on the first floor on (the old) Beehler Street HQ (Headquarters).
     Finally, you will read about my 'crisis pregnancy work' of many years wherein I was just as likely to 'send a gal for a pregnancy test' as I was to send her for an 'AIDS test' and the agony of waiting it all out. 
     You will read of the shock and disbelief of those early days when few acknowledged, let alone understood, the vagaries of this multi-faceted, multi-formed Human Immunodeficiency Virus in all its 'incarnations'.
     No one wanted to 'be involved' back then.  Everyone was 'afraid' and those who say otherwise are not being truthful. 
     My story needs to be told of the emergence of AIDS in Fairfield County, CT.  The 'early days' of this socio-medical saga must not be forgotten or glossed over, or, worse still, ignored.
     It is a tale of fear turned to hope, and of prejudice turned to compassion.
     And in it lies hope and guidance for dealing with what the future may hold.
God Bless You this World AIDS DAY 2010 & every day
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/



Hot Myspace Generators

http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/01/entertaining-angels-book-by-former_27.html

"Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia ENDORSES Tom Foley for CT Governor!" By Reverend Barbara Sexton

courtesy http://free-foto-animation-digital-images.blogspot.com/search/label/Christianity 
THE LATEST FROM TEAM FOLEY-BOUGHTON:

Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia Endorses Tom Foley for Governor

Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia announced his endorsement of Tom Foley for Governor.

“Tom Foley understands and is committed to tackling the challenges facing Connecticut. Tom, as a businessman and not a career politician, knows how to create jobs – the most pressing task of the next governor," said Mayor Michael Pavia. "As a mayor I am encouraged by Tom’s pledge to work with local governments to reduce expenses, hold down taxes and improve education. Connecticut needs a governor with Tom’s background and experience to restore some common sense and the right priorities for Hartford."

Tom Foley for Governor's full list of public endorsements to date can be found here http://www.tomfoley2010.com/?page_id=1168  

-----------------------------------------------------------

courtesy http://free-foto-animation-digital-images.blogspot.com/search/label/Hanukkah

FROM REV. BARB:

OH HAPPY DAY!  What a wonderful sense of ANTICIPATION and ENCOURAGEMENT we who are SICK OF THE STATUS QUO feel knowing that our own BELOVED STAMFORD MAYOR MICHAEL PAVIA endorses the man best suited to fulfilling the job of GOVERNOR of CONNECTICUT! 

 MAYOR PAVIA is ENDORSING the TEA PARTY PATRIOTS CHOICE--TOM FOLEY FOR CT GOVERNOR!

Please join me in this prayer of thanks and dedication:

Lord God, we thank you for the strength and bravery these men manifest at this time in American history.

Please Bless them and all who work with them with all good courage, strength, resilience, resources, success and victory as they work to restore not only Stamford and Fairfield County, but ALL OF CT. 

May they 'lead us with goodness' which is sanctified by You, dear Father. 

And know that we are already grateful for the progress you have allowed this political season.

Still we only ask for your continued Presence and Guidance in our daily lives and we will be content.

We pray these things unified as a peoples wishing to please You, our Creator.  May all of our actions and words be acceptable to you, our Rock and our Redeemer as we pray these things in our individual traditions, unified in our love for You.

For we Christians we pray this in the Name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit

AMEN

Reverend Barbara Sexton

www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

courtesy www.GospelGifs.com   Jim Sutton

Free Valentine Day wishes Happy Valentine Day Valentine Love Greetings
http://www.free-foto-animation-digital-images.blogspot.com/

'IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK For Greenwich-Stamford TEA PARTY PATRIOTS Between NOW & NOV 2nd!' By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

GADSDEN FLAG

"I CAN SEE NOVEMBER FROM MY HOUSE"

GREENWICH/STAMFORD TEA PARTY PATRIOTS

ANNOUNCES:

What can you do to help America

and the STATE of CT get back on it's feet?

SEPTEMBER 27th-OCTOBER 2nd
Lots to get excited about this week in the Greenwich/Stamford area.
IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK between now and November 2nd.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY...
Monday, September 27th
Due to a scheduling conflict at our regular meeting location, SBC in Stamford,
we will be meeting at...
Greenwich Town Hall.
101 Fieldpoint Road
Greenwich CT
Cone Room-2nd Floor
1) OUR usual format w/open discussion bringing the latest issues to the forefront from 7-8pm and then
2) MEET AND GREET-Livvy Floren Incumbent State Rep from District 149 (Stamford/Greenwich)will be sharing her experience in Hartford with us from 8-9pm.

CITIZENS FOR CHANGE ASKS CANDIDATES TO COMMIT TO POLICIES
A group of citizens in Connecticut called "Save Our Constitution State" is inviting candidates from all political parties to commit on the record to the people of Connecticut to numerous public policy changes affecting our state and our nation. They are working together with Citizens For Change and they have developed Candidate Commitment statements for each and every race on the ballot in November, from State Assembly to Governor, and the US Congress. The Tea Party movement in Connecticut is at a crossroads, and this initiative not only helps us promote our tea party principles, but also helps us hold our candidates accountable. Please go to the Citizens For Change website at http://www.cfc.us/ and read the Candidate Commitments for each race, and ask your preferred candidate(s) to sign on and make their Commitment for CT. At the website you can also sign an on-line Declaration of Independence, and sign up for news & updates. For more information, please contact Richard Olivastro at RichOlivastro@gmail.com
-------------------------------------------------------
To stay tuned in with latest news from the Greenwich/Stamford Tea Party Patriots sign up on facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=323508332567&ref=ts


Visit us at www.gstpp.org


Get involved on a campaign or two. A couple of suggestions...
Phonebank, distribute yardsigns, register voters, host a meet and greet or a fundraiser. Write letters to the editor. Go door-to-door with your candidate. Distribute literature. Volunteer at the polls. Assist the GOTV campaign for your favorite candidates.


OR JUST WRITE A CHECK.


Some campaigns have chosen not to take taxpayers money to fund their campaigns.
Martha Dean and Phil Balestriere, for example, have chosen a principled position from the start. A direct donation to their campaigns would be greatly appreciated.
MARTHA DEAN-- http://www.deanag2010.com/
PHIL BALESTRIERE--www.philb2010.com

Other events, issues and initiatives across the state and country are constantly being updated. Stay in the loop.
"NO BLUMEN WAY, CLINTON" RALLY SUNDAY SEPT 26

"DRAIN THE SWAMP" RALLY OCTOBER 2
Full details on website http://www.gstpp.org/ 
-------------------------------------------------------
WEDNESDAY, September 29
State Senate DEBATE NIGHT
6:30 pm
State Senator Scott Frantz will be airing it out with his opponent Nancy Barton.
Greenwich Town Hall
Main Meeting Room-first floor
101 Fieldpoint Road
Greenwich CT
------------------------------------------------------------------
THURSDAY, September 30
Phonebanking for Phil w/Tom Foley
6:00-9:00pm
Tom Foley for Governor Headquarters
20 Summer Street , 2nd floor
Stamford, CT
(Entrance adjacent to the parking lot. Set of stairs down next to Maya Riviera Restaurant)
WHO IS PHIL? Seen the billboard? www.WhoIsPhil.info
Come on out from 6-9pm.
Man the phones.
Let's have fun calling his neighbors.
"YOU CAN'T BALANCE THE BUDGET
UNTIL YOU BALANCE THE LEGISLATURE"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Representative DEBATE NIGHT
Need some 151 PROOF?
Come see:
State Rep. Fred Camillo, Assemblyman from Greenwich's 151st District and his opponent, Democrat Nominee, Claude Johnson share their positions at 7:30pm
Get proof positive on your vote.
Greenwich Town Hall
Main meeting room
101 Fieldpoint Road
Greenwich, CT
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"It's Perfectly Normal!" to have a discerning Q&A.
Follow the path of a book from Scholastic Corporation to your child's hands. Do some homework first.
This little gem's travels are quite an adventure.
Stay involved in your children's education.
See attached.
Community Forum
State of the Schools 2010-2011
7:00 pm
Westover Magnet School
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAUCUS FOR CITIZENS
There will be a special 'Caucus For Citizens' series session Thursday evening, September 30th.
You are invited to attend and participate in the caucus which will convene at 7:31 P.M. Plan your arrival at least 15 minutes prior to the caucus start time.
If you would like to make other citizens aware of this 'Caucus For Citizens' session, feel free to forward this communication directly to them.
The 'CaucusForCitizens' Series is a public outreach program developed by Citizens For Change. Each caucus affords participants and session leaders the opportunity to discuss public policy issues of import and related topics of interest to the respective group of attendees.
CitizensForChange is an organization dedicated to the review of current and emerging public policy issues. CFC volunteers conduct data and detail research; identify prospective alternative approaches; and, develop solutions in order to help inform citizens, public servants, ET AL, who are receptive and committed to making fact-based decisions on the principles set in U.S. founding documents.
We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening in Greenwich.
Greenwich Town Hall
Cone Room-2nd Floor
101 Fieldpoint Road
Greenwich CT
=================================================
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1
Mini Tea Party Rally-HONK FOR AMERICA
Held every Friday afternoon
5-7pm
in front of the Greenwich YMCA (corner of Mason and E. Putnam Ave)
Stop by and get some fresh air. Chat with passers by on any issue. Educating ourselves and others in an open-air forum.
Handing out US Constitutions and waving a flag is always uplifting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CAUCUS FOR CITIZENS
No you are not seeing double-
Just in case you were unable to clone yourself on Thursday
CFC is presenting back-to-back nights
There will be a special 'Caucus For Citizens' series session Friday evening, October 1st.
You are invited to attend and participate in the caucus which will convene at 7:31 P.M. Plan your arrival at least 15 minutes prior to the caucus start time.
If you would like to make other citizens aware of this 'Caucus For Citizens' session, feel free to forward this communication directly to them.
The 'CaucusForCitizens' Series is a public outreach program developed by Citizens For Change. Each caucus affords participants and session leaders the opportunity to discuss public policy issues of import and related topics of interest to the respective group of attendees.
CitizensForChange is an organization dedicated to the review of current and emerging public policy issues. CFC volunteers conduct data and detail research; identify prospective alternative approaches; and, develop solutions in order to help inform citizens, public servants, ET AL, who are receptive and committed to making fact-based decisions on the principles set in U.S. founding documents.
We look forward to seeing you Friday evening in Greenwich.
Greenwich Town Hall
Cone Room-2nd Floor
101 Fieldpoint Road
Greenwich CT
=============================================
SATURDAY, October 2nd
Mini Tea Party Rally-HONK FOR AMERICA
Held every Saturday afternoon
12 noon-2:00pm
in front of the Ferguson Library-Downtown Stamford
(Corner of Bedford and Broad Street)
FREE PARKING at the Municipal Garages
Stop by and get some fresh air. Educating ourselves and others in an open-air forum.
Bring your favorite sign.
Make a flyer to hand out on your favorite issue.
Conduct a survey.
Chat with passers by on any issue.
Lots of foot traffic to engage your neighbors.
Lively conversations abound.
Handing out US Constitutions and waving a flag is always uplifting.
====================================================
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4
Regular Monday Night Meeting
back at SBC Restaurant and Brewery
131 Summer Street
Stamford CT
7-9pm
Open discussion from 7-8pm
THEN from 8-9pm...
6 WAYS TO COMMIT VOTER FRAUD
A presentation by Fred DeCaro and Lucy Corelli
Greenwich and Stamford Republican ROVs share there expertise on a topic near and dear to their hearts. Lucy had hands on experience unraveling a costly voter fraud exposure in Stamford during the 2008 election.
Learn how to detect and prevent voter fraud. How do they do it? And what can you do to stop them from stealing your vote?
The buck stops here.
=======================================================
From the land of the free because of the brave,
Monique Thomas
Greenwich-Stamford Tea Party Patriots
http://www.gstpp.org/
Mobilizing in support of meaningful economic reform that supports entrepreneurship, promotes individual responsibility, respects Constitutional integrity, and depends on American ingenuity over expansive governmental growth and spending

'Who Is Phil?' By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

www.WhoIsPhil.info

'Foley for CT Governor Campaign Update' By Reverend Barbara Sexton www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

Foley for Governor Campaign Update

September 24, 2010

Tom Unveils New Health Care Policy

Yesterday, Tom took a tour of the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain and unveiled his new Health Care Plan for Connecticut. As Governor, Tom would set ambitious goals for health care, including making Connecticut the healthiest state in the country by 2020 and reducing the cost of health care services by 10% over 5 years.


To learn more about Tom's Health Care Plan for Connecticut, click here: http://www.tomfoley2010.com/?p=2403

High Unemployment Numbers Highlight Importance of Gubernatorial Race

This week the Department of Labor released state unemployment numbers, showing Connecticut's unemployment rate increasing to 9.1%, another sign Connecticut government's tax, borrow, and spend policies are driving the state off a cliff.


To read Tom's response to the increase in unemployed Connecticut workers, click here: http://www.tomfoley2010.com/?p=2370 


Union Backed Endorsement Shows Malloy is in a Poor Position to Bargain for Taxpayers


On Monday Dannel Malloy was endorsed by the Union backed "Working Families Party". The endorsement shows Malloy will be unable to bargain effectively on behalf of Connecticut taxpayers if he is elected governor.


To see what Tom Foley for Governor Campaign Manager Justin Clark said about the endorsement, click here: http://www.tomfoley2010.com/?p=2401

Join Tom on the Campaign Trail:

Tom is busy traveling around the state discussing his Plan Forward for Connecticut and he would love to meet you. This weekend you can find Tom at:
Saturday
Wallingford Gardeners Market, Railroad Station Green, Wallingford
Fire Truck Meet & Greet, West Hartford
Avon Day, Thompson Brook School, Avon
Durham Fair
Sunday
Heritage India Festival, Fairfield Town Hall Green, Fairfield
Durham Fair
"A Night to Remember" to build CT Vets Memorial in Rocky Hill, East Windsor Banquet House, East Windsor

How Can I Get More Involved?

Want to help Tom and get more involved in the campaign? The easiest way is to become a Fan of Tom on Facebook, and to follow Tom's updates on Twitter:

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thomascfoley

On Twitter:  http://twitter.com/tomfoley2010  

"DOES DAN MALLOY HAVE A PROBLEM TELLING THE TRUTH?-Tom Foley & All Of Us Want To Know'' By Reverend Barbara Sexton

courtesy www.GospelGifs.com   God Bless You, Jim Sutton

"³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

— Jesus Christ, Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV) 

UPDATE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/12/samuel-l-jackson-obama-vote-black_n_1271797.html
Dear Ones:
      Sometimes it's the 'small things' that really get to us.  What may seem to be small matters to some, can be a VERY BIG DEAL to others.  Sometimes, solitary issues can even impel us to think about doing things we really shouldn't do.  And in some cases, we actually 'go through with it' and SAY or DO things that just are not right for anyone to utter or act upon. 
     Such is the case, especially, in POLITICS.  Emotions and 'good intentions' run high and we can all get 'caught up' in making our cases. 
     It's a 'stickey-wicket', alright, especially since in the sense of 'absolute truth', God is and will ever be our Judge in the end, and no one else.  Until such time, the best we can do is to NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, EVER.
     This is easier said than done, because man's inclination is to push the limits.  Many people think that Scripture tells us 'not to judge'.  Actually, we are told that we may judge, just so long as we hold ourselves to the same criteria with which we judge others.  JESUS SAID,

1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Mt 7:1-2  (NIV)
http://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/7.html
     Yet here is a modern-day example of how the emotions of politics can obfuscate people's abilities to discern between the truth and the 'non-truth' and between what they can say and what they should say:
DOES DAN MALLOY HAVE A PROBLEM TELLING THE TRUTH? From TOM FOLEY CANDIDATE FOR CONNECTICUT STATE GOVERNOR

September 15th, 2010
Dan Malloy’s latest taxpayer funded negative ad is untruthful and begs the question whether Malloy is loose with the truth.
THE FACTS ARE THESETom Foley saved the Bibb Company, a struggling textile company, he bought in 1985. Bibb employed over 3,000 more people in 1996 when he sold the business than when he bought it. There were never 2,000 jobs lost and Tom Foley never fired anyone at Bibb. When he sold the company he ensured that workers’ pensions and medical benefits were protected. When the new owners closed a plant in Columbus, Georgia two years later, Tom had nothing to do with the business. Tom Foley never made $20 million from the Bibb Company.
Dan Malloy is not only not being truthful about Tom Foley’s record, he has been caught in a lie about his own record. In his latest ads Dan Malloy claims he created thousands of jobs in Stamford, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics disagrees. According to Chris Keating of the Hartford Courant, the BLS shows that Stamford has lost 13,000 jobs since 2000 and has 5,000 fewer jobs than when Dan took office in 1995.
“On the campaign trail Dan Malloy says if he is governor he will tell us the truth. If that’s the case, he’s off to a very bad start. Dan’s misrepresenting my background and being caught in lie about his own seriously call into question his qualifications to be Governor.”“Character counts in Connecticut. More than ever, Connecticut needs strong leadership it can trust. Dan Malloy’s latest ads sound like a typical career politician who will do and say anything to get elected. Connecticut needs more than that in its next Governor to set a new direction for the state, bring jobs and the economy back, and solve our daunting fiscal crisis without raising taxes,” said Tom Foley.
http://www.tomfoley2010.com/?p=2229
     Calling someone 'a liar' is a rough thing to do.  As such, you've got to be SURE, knowing that YOU will be held accountable yourself, for what you do and say.   Just fyi, in this 'Bibb' matter which I've been following and looking into for a while, I'm pretty certain that what's being flung at Tom Foley stems more from 'union politics' than anything else, but what do I know? 
     I'm just a political 'newbie' from the Obama/Wright church making my way through the political morass afoot this election year.
     Is Dan Malloy 'lying' about Tom Foley and Bibb?  I sure hope not.  Maybe the heat of the moment just got the best of Dan, for surely no good can come from a political strategy based on outright lies. 
     Not only is it wrong to bear false witness against political opponents, but lying about that which is readily verifiable just makes one look 'weak and silly'. 
    CT is an abysmal place for corporations.  I feel certain that Tom Foley along with Mark Boughton are the guys to get this state in order.
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/

    

'Tom Foley's Education Plan for Connecticut' Posted By Reverend Barbara Sexton www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

http://www.tomfoley2010.com/?p=2217 

Tom Foley's Education Plan for Connecticut



In addition to being the Jobs Governor, Tom Foley would like to be the Education Governor because he believes every child in Connecticut deserves a good education and he knows how important our schools are to the economic future of our state.

Connecticut faces serious challenges in its K-12 educational system. We are trailing behind our neighboring states in academic achievement, and, shamefully, we have the largest achievement gap in the country.

Every two years the U.S. Department of Education conducts the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which assesses student achievement across the nation for 4th and 8th grade students in reading and mathematics. The most recent NAEP results from 2009 show that most of our neighboring states, including Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Vermont, are outperforming Connecticut in student achievement. In fact, Massachusetts now ranks first in the nation in reading and mathematics for 4th and 8th graders. This is noteworthy because Massachusetts and Connecticut had nearly identical NAEP rankings in the mid-1990’s, are demographically similar, and spend the same amount per pupil. Policies adopted in the mid-1990’s allowed Massachusetts to make significant gains in their NAEP rankings over Connecticut and the rest of the country.


The 2009 NAEP also confirms that Connecticut has the unfortunate distinction of having the largest achievement gap of all 50 states. The performance of our 8th grade students who are eligible for free or reduced priced lunch is three full grade levels behind our 8th grade students who are not eligible for the lunch program. Connecticut has had the largest achievement gap in the country in both mathematics and reading in 2005, 2007 and 2009. Our large achievement gap is confirmed by the results of the state’s annual assessments given to students in grades 3 through 8 and in grade 10. Free or reduced price lunch students account for 25% of our K-12 student population, or over 140,000 children.


Connecticut can and must do better. We are failing too many of our students and impairing our state’s ability to compete in the 21st century economy. We should strive to be the best in the country, and do so for each and every demographic group. Massachusetts’ success and common sense tell us that with better policies and leadership from the top we can do much better.

Plan for Action


1. Leadership from the top.
Tom Foley will make improving Connecticut’s schools a top priority of his administration. He will set an ambitious goal of replacing Massachusetts as the state with the highest scoring NAEP students and he will significantly narrow the achievement gap during his administration. Tom will create a sense of urgency within state government about the importance of this challenge and will link all government policy to ensuring that his education goals are met.


2. Appoint reform-minded people to the Board of Education
The next Governor will appoint a majority of the members of the State Board of Education. Tom will appoint members who are reform-minded and who share his vision, goals and sense of urgency about improving Connecticut’s schools. He will appoint board members who are focused on the needs of students and improving school and student performance. Tom will appoint members to the Board who concur that we need a reform-minded and action-oriented Commissioner of Education who will:
- Set rigorous academic standards for the state and develop accompanying standards-based assessments.
- Implement accountability frameworks for schools and districts including closing or taking over chronically under performing schools and appointing new Boards of Education in under performing districts.
- Develop a statewide system for tracking longitudinal data related to student achievement, teachers, schools and districts and making this data publicly available on a timely basis.

3. Ensure that all Connecticut teachers and principals are excellent
Student performance is very closely correlated to the quality of teachers and principals. Connecticut has many excellent teachers and principals, but we must make sure that every student in Connecticut has excellent teachers and an excellent principal.
Tom will implement policies that require the following:
- Regular assessments of teacher and principal effectiveness that, rather than seniority, determine who is promoted and how much people are paid
- Teachers and principals who are ineffective will be given the opportunity for professional development, but if they remain ineffective they will not be allowed to remain in the system.
- Eliminate the barriers to attracting great teachers and principals by continuing to expand certification routes for teachers and principals and by extending full reciprocity on teacher and principal certification with other states.

4. Give parents a choice of other public school options when a school isn’t performing
School choice is essential to developing excellent schools statewide. In school districts where a public school doesn’t meet minimum performance standards, the state should require that there be other public school options for parents, such as a charter or magnet school or the opportunity to attend a public school outside of the district.
School choice fosters competition that will favor those schools that are performing well and allow them to grow and will curtail those that are under performing. In addition, competition improves student achievement, an effect that has been found to be very strong over the past decade in Florida and other locales that have made expanded school choice a feature of their reform strategies.


5. Maintain state current levels of state funding, but reform how those funds are allocated
Public education in Connecticut is funded through a combination of local property taxes and state grants to districts, magnet schools, technical schools and charter schools. On average, K-12 spending in Connecticut is among the highest in the country at $13,000 per pupil. Although proportions vary significantly from town to town, on average 38% of the spend comes from the state, 58% from local property taxes and 4% from the federal government. Spending in the poorest 20% of districts is about equal with the spending of the wealthiest 20%, indicating that overall funding levels are reasonably consistent across districts. The good news is that Connecticut has been spending at a level high enough to achieve Tom’s goals and we have achieved a high level of funding equity across the state.


The bad news is that the current funding system is complex, opaque and has created a number of inefficiencies and other problems that impede the state's ability to achieve Tom's vision and goals. For example,
- Connecticut is paying for a student who attends a magnet or charter school but is not reducing the financial grant to the district that is no longer educating that student. In addition, the state’s Open Choice program funds students choosing to attend schools in neighboring districts with approximately $2,600 to the serving district while 100% of the state and local education funds related to that student remain in the home district. Thus, in many cases, the state is paying twice to educate the same student.
- Charter schools are underfunded and only receive 75% of the average per pupil allocation from the state, even though many of these schools are among the best performing schools in Connecticut.
- Adequate funding is not being provided in many cases for children who need additional resources to succeed academically (i.e. poor children, English language learners, and children with disabilities).
A funding system where money follows the child and where each child brings the appropriate amount of financial resources with him or her creates a powerful incentive for schools/districts to attract and retain students since successfully doing so will directly contribute to their resource base. Conversely, failing to attract or retain students will decrease their resource base and may ultimately lead to closure. School choice combined with money following the child will result in funding going to schools that are performing well and away from schools that are failing, an essential “market” element of improving schools statewide.


6. Modify some structural aspects of our school system
Tom will instruct his education appointees to pursue implementation of key structural reforms across the state:
- Building on the State Board of Education’s recent adoption of the Common Core standards for math and English language arts, ensure that Connecticut updates its academic standards to an equally rigorous level across all grades and subject areas, beginning with math and science.
- Working in concert with other states that have joined the Common Core standards initiative, ensure that Connecticut makes the most of federal and philanthropic funds to develop new state assessments matched to the state’s new academic standards and capable of accurately measuring students’ academic growth across all grades and subject areas.
- Replace the current patchwork quilt of district and state data sources by implementing a single longitudinal data system that tracks individual student achievement, teacher performance, school performance and district performance and provides all users real-time access to the data. Such a system must also be integrated with the state’s higher education institutions and be capable of tracking student outcomes into the labor market.
- Building on the existing statutory and regulatory framework develop a comprehensive statewide accountability framework for students, educators, schools and districts that, at each level, defines success and failure and establishes appropriate rewards and corrective action when needed.
- End social promotion in grade 3 for students who earn the lowest score on the state’s annual standardized test (retention must include a remedial program rather than mere repetition of the grade).
- Require students to pass an exam (or a series of end of course exams) to graduate from high school, and offer early graduation and/or free in-state college tuition to students who can demonstrate outstanding competency
- Introduce an A through F grading system for schools with defined consequences (e.g. closure, takeover or other intervention) for failing schools.
- Set-up a triage system where the State Department of Education’s oversight and intervention focuses on school districts that are performing poorly and leaves alone school districts that are performing well.
- Use the state's longitudinal data system to link the classroom effectiveness ratings of incoming teachers with the programs that trained them, and annually publish the results for each teacher training program, as Louisiana has done successfully.
- Drawing on federal Title I school turnaround funding, create capacity at the state level (either internal or contracted) to turnaround or reconstitute failing schools.

These initiatives will give Connecticut a strong start towards reversing the deterioration in our schools that has occurred over the last two decades. Tom will look to other states such as Massachusetts and Florida, which are doing better than Connecticut at improving their schools, for best practices and other policies that work. Working together with educators, municipalities, and our legislature, Tom will re-establish Connecticut as a leader in education and the state with the best performing schools in the nation.
LINK: http://www.tomfoley2010.com/?p=2217 

GO TOM & MARK!!!

Endorsed by:

Rev. Barb 

'I Endorse Tom Foley For CT State Governor & Mark Boughton For Lt. Gov.' By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

Leslie and Tom FOLEY

Dear Readers:
     It is without reservation and with a great deal of hope and optimism that I am unabashedly endorsing TOM FOLEY for the GOVERNOR of the State of CONNECTICUT and MARK BOUGHTON for LT. GOVERNOR. 
   Tom is my choice after a great deal of fact-finding, fact-checking and endless research...a course I have taken for each and every candidate that I have endorsed to date.
     As a political 'newbie', I am determined to not fall into the habit of merely endorsing candidates because of party affiliation. 
     Neither am I a 'one issue voter'.  I try to be flexible enough to understand that the world does not 'revolve around' JUST ONE ISSUE.  I'm referring to things like gay marriage, immigration and pro-life lobby-lovers, for instance.  Many of them see only through the lens of their personal lives, all others be damned.
    The sad truth is that part of the reason our country is SO messed up....and Connecticut in particular as the 'Gold Coast/Academic Beacon/High-end Socioeconomic area that it has come to be--is due to the shenanigans of the progressive-lib Dems.
     I happen to live in what I call 'Liberalville'.  For all the years I've lived in Southwestern CT, I have been the 'quiet one' politically, even as I made waves in the social service/church communities.  I have kept a low community profile in the past, though my 'political awakening' calls, now, for the exact opposite.
     From what I see, Tom Foley is the one to get Connecticut back on track.  Now don't get me wrong, Dan Malloy and his family have been my neighbors for many years--first across the street and then through our abutting backyards.
     Our kids grew up together-God bless them all-and I adore all the Malloys to pieces.  You can't live in one of Stamford's neighborhoods for 29 years with your kids in the public school system and involved in community activities without getting to know each other.
     Granted...I was the 'odd-mother-out', perhaps.  Not one for the Yacht Club, I was more interested in being a homeless advocate and being a Soldier in The Salvation Army.  
     Not one for politics, I basically 'didn't belong' and have gratefully done my work independently, coordinating with (the old) Fairfield Hills (mental institution, for those unaware), Middletown Facilities, Hall-Brooke, DuBois, the shelters, Newtown, all the prisons, Rocky Hill and all the Southwestern CT mental health/dual diagnosis facilities.
     I guess you could say I got around.  My mentioning all these mental health/prison facilities by name is not in vain.  I've noted that Dan Malloy has chosen to BLAME our BURGEONING PRISON POPULATION on the CLOSING of Connecticut's MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES.
     I plan to 'help' us remember just what role Dan Malloy, Christel Truglia, the Reverend Richard Schuster (God rest his soul) and cronies had to do with the 'de-centralization' of mental health care in Connecticut.
     I plan to remind a few people of how they pimped 'SCATTERED HOUSING' and 'ASSISTED CARE FACILITIES' as abysmal SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS which have seem to have BACKFIRED on ALL OF US!
     Do any of you, dear readers, remember the plan DAN MALLOY and others had to 'spread those in need of assisted living for 'dual diagnosis' issues (that means being mentally ill and being drug-dependent) in places ALL OVER Stamford, including SHIPPAN, NORTH STAMFORD, SPRINGDALE and the COVE, among others?
     Do any of you, dear readers, remember how the populace BALKED at the plans?  Do you remember how all the 'touchy-feely progressive-lib Dems' wanted to make everyone feel all warm and fuzzy over trying to 'integrate' any and all into one koombayah society.
     I do.  And I can tell you that as much as some neighborhood people weren't too crazy about having 'post-rehab subsidized housing for those with prison records and mental health and drug problems' in THEIR neighborhoods...there was ONE GROUP who hated the idea even more.
     Don't let me surprise you too much here, but it was the disenfranchised themselves.  'Clients' stuck up in North Stamford were terrified about having to suddenly use public transportation (buses) to get to their counseling appointments, the soup kitchen and or to the Salvation Army or elsewhere on 'Cheese Day'. 
     Clients were uncomfortable and felt 'out of place' as they were moved to higher end neighborhoods than they were used to. 
     I could go on and on with these stories and will later, but all these problems and those we have today stem from a cockamamey plan known as 'THE GENTRIFICATION' of STAMFORD.  I do believe I wrote my 'one and only' letter to the Stamford Advocate on that one, for I was so incensed at how the mentally ill and homeless were being portrayed.
     You see, Dan Malloy and Co. wished to 'rid' downtown of the prostitutes and drug dealers and so forth and 'clean up the South End'.  There used to be a big project there known as 'Southfield Village' (the old one) for those of you readers unfamiliar with these issues.
     So, someone came up with the brilliant idea of spreading housing out for the disenfranchised, starting with the closing of Connecticut's big, central mental health facilities.  Malloy 'forgets' that he loved this idea!  He 'forgets' his part in this 'progressive-lib Dem SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS in the '80's and early '90's. 
     He wasn't alone, by any means...and 'today' he is very right about people being thrown in prison--where they do not get treatment or rehab.  Dan Malloy is just failing to mention that HE is part of the reason this is so.  Did he forget?
     This is but ONE issue I will be discussing with Gubernatorial Candidate TOM FOLEY.  It is my hope and in fact it is my prayer, that Tom is victorious and will help 'my guys' get the help they need and that we need.  We live in such a rich and generous area.  I know we can do better than to let our mentally ill and substance abusers 'just exist' without help in prison.
     Things have progressively deteriorated all over the country under the 'tutelage' of the progressive-lib Dems and it's time for a change.
     Let our change here in Connecticut begin here with TOM FOLEY FOR CT GOVERNOR, MARK BOUGHTON FOR CT LT. GOVERNOR and with MARTHA DEAN as Connecticut ATTORNEY GENERAL.
      Dan, I love you, man, but I just can't vote for you.
God Bless You and God Bless America,
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/  

Mark Boughton for CT Lt. GOVERNOR

'UCC SYNOD 2007 OBAMA PROGRAM PAGE' Posted By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

United Church of Christ Synod 2007 Program  Hartford CT

UPDATE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/12/samuel-l-jackson-obama-vote-black_n_1271797.html

PETER SCHIFF WE LOVE YOU!!!!! By Reverend Barbara Sexton www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

http://free-foto-animation-digital-images.blogspot.com/search/label/Hanukkah

Dear Peter Schiff & Team:
     You ran a GOOD & TRUE FIGHT for U.S. SENATE for the STATE OF CONNECTICUT and it was an HONOR to campaign with you! 
     Now as we look to the future, we want to SEE MORE OF YOU, for you are just what CT and our fine country NEEDS!
    Thank you PETER for giving us HOPE this election season!
May God Bless you and yours,
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/

MARTHA DEAN WINS CT AG GOP PRIMARY! By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

christian Comments

Dear Martha Dean, Malcolm & Team:
     A BIG SHOUT-OUT to YOU--CONGRATULATIONS!  After much hard work, you've made it one step closer to being our next Connecticut Attorney General!
     Just know that I, along with many others, plan on continuing to campaign for you until we 'get you where we need you to be, Martha'! 
     Let us all keep praying and 'doing good' this election cycle so that come November we are in a far better place in our state of CT and in our country!  I am just so SICK AND TIRED of listening to the SAME, OLD ANTI-AMERICAN RHETORIC  of the 'Obama/Wright' church, the UCC, I belonged to for the past 22+ years!
"I SAY, 'NOT GOD DAMN AMERICA', BUT GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
God Bless & Keep You MARTHA!!!
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/




christian Comments

CONGRATS TOM FOLEY FOR CT GOVERNOR! By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

www.wittnessed.com

UPDATE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/12/samuel-l-jackson-obama-vote-black_n_1271797.html
Dear Tom, Leslie & Team:
     YES you have fought and WON the Republican Gubernatorial Primary in Connecticut!  And YES, God-Willing,  you will be our next GOVERNOR in Connecticut!
     CONGRATULATIONS and JUBILATION for all of us, tempered only by the knowledge that with great POWER comes GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
     But I've every confidence that when the FOLEY TICKET beats the MALLOY TEAM, we will have a fresh prospect of renewed CONFIDENCE, HONESTY and DECENCY for all CT citizens.
"I SAY 'NOT GOD DAMN AMERICA, BUT GOD BLESS AMERICA" ...and I know you do too, Tom.  I certainly have had enough disparaging of our country as a 22+ year member of the 'Obama/Wright Church', the UCC.  I say, "It's time for all of us to join together and heal our fine nation...person by person, city by city and state by state!"
     Please join us in our support of TOM FOLEY for GOVERNOR of CONNECTICUT if you agree with what you read here.
Godspeed in your efforts TOM, LESLIE & TEAM on behalf of all of us!
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

    

ROB MERKLE 4th CONGRESSIONAL DIST-NOT DONE YET! By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

http://www.christianmingler.com/2009/01/free-christian-graphics/

Dear Rob Merkle & Team: 
     I expect to hear from you STILL and AGAIN!  God Bless you for a race well run and for having a platform that restores our faith in 'government'!
     I will not stop praying that you prevail and succeed in your political endeavors.  Many of us share your vision and we will work together to help restore America to it's former GLORY.
"I SAY, 'NOT GOD DAMN AMERICA, BUT GOD BLESS AMERICA"  I listened to too much of that as a 22+ year member of the 'Obama/Wright Church', the UCC!
     Now go recharge, renew and get reinvigorated for what the Lord has in store next for you and for all of us.
God Bless & Keep you and your family and team, Rob.
With Love in Christ,
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com