New Haven Independent: Rell Delivers The Check To Common Ground

Rell Delivers The Check To Common Ground

by Paul Bass | August 19, 2008 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

All the talk about how community gardeners and local farmers will make use of a new kitchen was making the governor hungry.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell (pictured below greeting junior Smita Shrestha) was stopping by Common Ground High School at the base of West Rock Park Tuesday afternoon to hand over a $100,000 check to expand the school’s kitchen and make it a community institution. The grant went to New Haven Ecology Project, Inc., which runs the schools.

The new kitchen will not only enable the environment-themed charter school’s 150 students to prepare more of the vegetables they grow. It will welcome people who work in New Haven’s many community gardens as well as growers associated with CitySeed Farmers markets. The school has been stressing “civic engagement”: the new kitchen will help forge links between students and local growers.

Common Ground Principal Oliver Barton (pictured receiving the check from Rell) told the governor about how the gardeners and farmers will make salsa and sauces from their harvests and can them in the renovated and expanded Common Ground kitchen.

“My mouth is watering,” Rell responded. “I’m thinking of salsa already.”

The check technically comes from the quasi-public Connecticut Health and Educational Facility Authority. Authority Executive Director Richard D. Gray (picured) said New Haven Ecology Project Inc., was one of nine agencies chosen from among 40 which applied for the grants. The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven nominated the Ecology Project/ Common Ground.

Rell was offered a foretaste of the future kitchen’s bounty at Wednesday’s event: salads including fresh flowers (pictured at the top of this story) and nuts …

… and some shrimp.

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Comments

Posted by: Jivin | August 19, 2008 11:31 PM

Is shrimp earth-friendly?

Posted by: Bugupit | August 20, 2008 7:08 AM

Congrats to this quality community organization, adults and kids alike. Did I miss it? Too bad Common Ground's booth at Cityseed did not have a big sign... "Come meet Governor Rell at our School Tuesday". The food looks good... at the Cityseed Market and in the photos. Did the Governor break bread on Springside, or just leave with a watery mouth?

Posted by: Doriss William | August 20, 2008 7:23 AM

$100,000 for salsa and flowers? Couldn't this money have been better spent on prisoner re-entry aid and homeless shelters? Where do they raise the shrimp? New Haven Harbor!

Posted by: jt | August 20, 2008 9:13 AM

Congrat's to the kids at Common Ground. You are all great.

And shame on the jaded individuals who cannot support our youth.

Posted by: Charlie | August 20, 2008 10:42 AM

This is the best our Governor has to offer? She comes out for salsa and shrimp, but on the really important issues confronting our state she is nowhere to be seen! Governor Rell: How about providing some leadership for once in your life? For the life of me, I cannot understand how we re-elected someone who has nothing to show for her years in office. Truly unbelieveable!

Posted by: Mike | August 20, 2008 5:27 PM

$100,000 for a kitchen? Geez, how many do they intend to feed?

Posted by: Calhoon | August 20, 2008 9:03 PM

$100K for a new kitchen campare to $1.9 Billion in construction for a failed school system that serves as a conduit for campaign contributions for the egomaniac that buys a $3000+ armoire for his office. I'd say the governor's delivering of the check herself shows leadership in the midst of sickening excesses of JD and RM.

New Haven Independent

Rell Delivers The Check To Common Ground

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