Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The heat continues as today will be another hot one at 90 degrees with increasing humidity. Certainly has been quite the summer, and may end up being the warmest on record. We have luckily missed all the very severe weather and Thunderstorms, with some occasional downpours. A rash of house fires in Woonsocket over the past several weeks, Olo St, Park Ave, Gilbert St, Mowry St to name the lastest. All this comes as Woonsocket quietly begins talk about closing another firehouse. Nonsense. With the taxes we have to pay, that is the LAST place they should be looking. Over the years they have already shut down Station 5 in Social and Station 6 in Fairmont. Enough is enough. WWII Memorial Park is going to Hades, hopefully the State will come through with planned upgrades for next summer. The heck with northern RI, keep the South County fully staffed for the politicos is the motto I surmise as the State House continues to place the burden of finances on the back of us taxpayers rather than cut the burgeoning payrolls that weigh down the budget year after year after year. Oh well, my morning rant is complete.

Saturday, July 24, 2010







Quick work by the Woonsocket Fire Department prevent a total loss of this home at 86 Park Avenue during the Friday dinner hour. No one was reported home at the time of the fire. Firefighters were on the scene until around 9PM conducting mopping up operations. Good Job Guys !!!!! (and Gals !!!)

Monday, July 12, 2010

Brayton Point Power Plant Somerset MA changes its look !!!

style=The view from the Quality Inn down in Somerset and from I-195 for those whom have traveled
That route to Fall River, New Bedford and Cape Cod for many decades may recognized the
Brayton Point Power Plant, one of the major electric generation stations in Southern New
England, it is a coal fired facility
Although the view is across the Lee’s River Estuary, in person, the structure is imposing



Old View:

















The new water cooling towers are about half completed,

Here is a shot of the New View:

When finished, these structures are to be about 550’, for perspective,

The main stack at Brayton Point is 250’ to 300’ tall I believe.

Monday, July 5, 2010

For friends whom have asked for my Clam Chowder Recipe:

1 large onion, chopped
4 slices meaty bacon diced (or meaty salt pork)
3 stalks celery chopped
2 leeks thinly sliced
2 cups chopped or minced clams
1 cup If available, minced quahaugs, don't forget to save steaming liquor
2 quarts clam juice (canned or bottled if necessary)
(if you steam your clams prior to mincing, use the clam liquor strained)
4 large potatoes diced
1 can cream of celery soup condensed
1 pint of light cream or half and half
sea salt
freshly ground pepper
2 bay leaves
tbsp thyme

Render bacon until crisp, remove the cracklings
slowly cook onions, celery and leeks until translucent
add about 2 tablespoons of flour, mix well for about a minute or two
add clam broth
add clams
add potatoes
add bay leaves and thyme
simmer for 2 hours
Salt and pepper to taste
add cream of celery soup
simmer for an hour or so until potatoes are thoroughly cooked

**** AT THIS POINT YOU MAY STOP AND COOL AND REFRIGERATE FOR A DAY OR
SO, CHOWDER DOES TASTE BEST THE "NEXT DAY" AFTER ALL THE FLAVORS HAVE
DEVELOPED ****
If cold, reheat chowder to
just below the boiling point.
Add cream and pat of butter
Add the bacon or salt pork cracklings from Step #1

Serve with oyster crackers

ENJOY !!!!!!