Author: thecapeblog

Bourne; Rain

The boys did a fantastic job, fixing the fence at Edgewater. They are willing to do more work.

The grass garden is quite beautiful now. Weeding, mulching and fence repair made a huge difference.

I brought more old landscape timbers and fencing to Bourne this morning, and dropped off lampshades and a poster at the swap shop.

Picked up another bag of black mulch to finish up the moonlight garden. Got it down before torrential rain caught up with us. Glad we got cages on the tomatoes and a hoop on the campanula at Edgewater. We have so many tomato plants from last year that I’m not sure what to do with them: thin out, leave them, transplant.

Untangled a bunch of weeds from the larkspur.

Eye Exam

Fit in an eye exam this afternoon. Had been scheduled for noon, was able to postpone it to 4. Doc graciously introduced me to his daughter and wife. Charming folks.

Downloading SQL 2016 to RAGNAR. Problems with WiFi on RAGNAR this morning. Checked the drivers, seem to be current.

Fortunately, I don’t need SonicWALL for the moment, so switched to Wireless on WORKERBEE.

Nice “attagirl” from Jim B.

Ron is mowing the lawn. It looks horrible. We are short on rain for June.

Stella D’Oros have started. Front of the house is pretty with the geraniums, larkspur, penstemon and evening primrose.

What’s Blossoming Now

Driving rain briefly this morning.

Roses (all of them)
Iris (last of them)
Penstemon (have been blooming for a while)
Foxglove
Salvia
Peonies
Evening primrose
Larkspur (just started)
Squash, or could be pumpkin or cukes
Tomatoes
Potentilla

A few beans survived being eaten by pests. Small tomatoes on several plants.

Plantings

I stumbled onto the discount nursery’s half price sale on Saturday and picked up 8 plants.

This was in between flying back and forth to Eagle Fence to return the wrong backing rails – for which we were charged double – and pick up three good ones.

Yesterday, I planted everything, including daylilies and two bellflowers at Edgewater, three daylilies in the front corner garden here, and two hibiscus in the back.

Also celebrated Cathy’s birthday brunch with Cindy at Celestino’s, did the transfer station run and changed sheets. Ron did three loads of laundry.

It’s been humid and on the warm side, high 70’s, low 80’s. We have coped so far with just the fans.

Peter gave us a set of heavy duty plastic plates and glasses for Father’s Day.

Started today with the people in Maryland, Skype call. Downloaded project.

Sail On, Sailor

Ron did the lawn today and laundry as well.

I sat in on Ellen’s class to give them an update and paid a brief visit to Edgewater to clean up from yesterday.  James and I managed to get the fence back in place.

Got some good feedback from Jim on Leads.

Grass Garden

We spent 3+ hours yesterday working with James and Joe on mulching, weeding, pruning and fence repair.

Ron, James and I were able to take down the fence leading to the back yard.

We used a full truckload (one yard) of premium mulch I’d picked up from Blacksmith Farm the day before.

We didn’t have to move the posts to install some usable crossbeams the boys uncovered the other day.  James and Joe salvaged some pickets as well.  We ended up spending only about $2 for a box of nails.

94 Degrees

Ron and Peter moved three big pieces of furniture, including an exercise machine, to the transfer station.

I worked in the grass garden, but it was too hot, so we finished after bringing Robert home.  Planted Rudbeckia from Laura’s front garden and transplanted a little hosta.

I made a mess of the hosta.  I always feel bad for the inevitable damage from planting, and bare root transplanting, such as I had to do with the Rudbeckia, isn’t my favorite.  I hope they all survive.

Tried baking cookies on the grill.  Didn’t work; maybe next time.

Feels like I may be almost done with the Leads project.

Open Records Advocates

The adoptee rights legislation in Connecticut, bill 977, made it to the Senate floor on Friday night. It was then tabled for discussion. It did not make it back to the floor after Friday night. As a result when the legislature ended last night, it did not proceed.

I thank Suzanne Bachner, the producer, author, playwright of the Good Adoptee, Kathleen Aghajanian, the Northeast Director of Concerned United Birthparents, Irene Clements, the Executive Director of the National Foster Parent Associations, Kathy Jones, author, Assistant Director of Foster Leaders, Karen Caffrey, Carolyn Goodrich, Eileen Eileen Woebse McQuade, Carol Goodyear, and others including:

• Adoptions from the Heart
• Clifford Beers Clinic
• Community Health Center, Inc.
• Connecticut Adoption Services
• Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Families
• Connecticut Bar Association, Human Rights and Responsibilities Section
• Connecticut Conference, United Church of Christ
• Connecticut Council on Adoption
• Connecticut District, The New York Conference, The United Methodist Church
• Connecticut Voices for Children
• Ms. Deb Kelleher, Co-Founder, Annie C. Courtney Foundation, Inc.
• Family and Children’s Agency, Inc.
• Family Affirmation Center for Treatment
• Family Orchard LLC
• Heart For Open Adoption
• Independent Adoption Center
• Jewish Family Services of Bridgeport
• Jewish Family Services of New Haven
• Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven
• Lutheran Social Services of New England
• National Association of Social Workers/Connecticut Chapter
• ‘r Kids
• Rainbow Adoptions International, Inc.
• Thames Council Valley Community Action, Inc.
• The Multicultural Leadership Institute, Inc.
• The Village for Children and Families
• Touched By Adoption
(*Access Connecticut seeks to re-establish the right of access for adult adoptees only. However, adoption and child welfare organizations are in a position of trust in regard to minor adoptees, and have an obligation to preserve their rights until they reach the age of majority.)
National & International Endorsements
FULL STATEMENT
Concerned United Birthparents (CUB)
“CUB supports adult adoptees’ right to access their records, without restrictions or qualifications.”
FULL STATEMENT
National Foster Parent Association
“Be it Resolved that the [we] support open access to original birth certificates for adult adoptees…”
FULL STATEMENT
American Adoption Congress
“We advocate legislation that will grant every individual access to information about his or her family and heritage.”
FULL STATEMENT
American Academy of Pediatrics
In March 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed the National Adoption Center: Open Records’ policy stating they ‘believe[s] that it is an inalienable right of all citizens, including adopted adults, to have unencumbered access to their original birth certificates.”
FULL STATEMENT
Holt International
“Holt International Children’s Services supports access by adoptees and birth parents to identifying information about each other.”
SEE STATEMENT
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
“The need and right of adoptees to know their birth origin should be recognized and respected. This right extends to requests from adult adoptees for identifying information.”
FULL STATEMENT
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
“NACAC supports their right to this information and supports access to original birth certificates to any adult adoptee at age of majority.” (Statement for NJCARE linked.)
SEE RESEARCH
Donaldson Adoption Institute
“Every state should restore unrestricted access to original birth certificates for all adult adoptees, retroactively and prospectively.”
FULL STATEMENT
National Adoption Center
“The National Adoption Center believes that it is an inalienable right of all citizens, including adopted adults, to have unencumbered access to their original birth certificates.”
SEE STATEMENT
Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform (PEAR)
“PEAR supports unrestricted access to birth records for all adults adopted as minors.”
Many more national experts and influencers support adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates including:
• Abrazo Adoption Associates
• Access Massachusetts
• Adam Pertman, Executive Director of NCAP, Journalist
• Addison Cooper, MSW, LCSW, Adoption at the Movies
• Adoptee Rights Civil Resource Center
• Adoptees Without Liberty (AWOL)
• Adoption ALARM Network
• Adoption Rights Now
• ALMA – Adoptees Liberty Movement Association
• Americans For Open Records
• Ann Fessler, Visual Artist, Filmmaker, Author
• Brooke Randolph, LMHC
• Caring Adoptive Parents
• Carol Schaefer, Author, Editor, Ghostwriter, Speaker
• Catholic Conference of Ohio
• Corie Skolnick, Author, Speaker, Educator, Therapist
• Deanna Doss Shrodes, Author, Adoptee Restoration Blogger
• Deborah Siegel, Ph.D., LICSW, ACSW, DCSW
• Dr. John DeGarmo,PhD, Foster Care Expert, Author, Speaker, Trainer
• Episcopal Church
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in American New England Synod
• Foster Care Film Community Engagement Project
• Foster Leaders Movement
• Heather Waters, Film Producer
• Jennifer Dyan, Author
• Jo Swanson, Adoption Reform Advocate
• JoAnn Bennett, Author, Adoptee Rights Advocate
• Jodi Haywood, Author
• Joe Soll, Adoption Healing
• Joyce Maguire Pavao, Ed.D., LSCW, LMFT
• Judith Land, Author, Adoptee Rights Advocate
• Julie Stromberg, Author, Lost Daughters Blogger, Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights Advocate
• Katherine Jones, Author, Radio Host
• Kelley Maize, Singer, Rapper, Songwriter
• Kristi Lado, Author
• Lifetime Adoption
• Lifetime Adoption Foundation
• Liz Semons, Author
• Lori Holden, Author & Writer
• Lorraine Dusky, [Birth Mother] First Mother Forum
• Lucy Sheen, Actor, Writer, Filmmaker
• Lynn Grubb, Author, Editor
• Khmer Health Advocates
• Mardie Caldwell, Author, Speaker, Educator
• Marci Axness, PhD., Early Development Specialize, Speaker, Author
• Mary Payne, Author
• Mei-Mei Ellerman, Ph.D., Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center
• Melinda Warshaw, Author
• Mirah Riben, Author, Journalist
• National Center on Adoption and Permanency
• New York Statewide Adoption Reform Unsealed Initiative
• Ohio Right To Life
• Oklahoma for Open Records & Adoption Honesty
• PACER – Post Adoption Center for Education & Resources
• PACT, An Adoption Alliance
• Peter Dodds, Author, Speaker, Screenwriter
• Priscilla Stone Sharp, Professional Geneaologist and Adoption Search Angel
• Suzanne Bachner, Playwright
• Terri Salvatore Vanech, Blogger, Author
• Viorica Culea – Adoptee, Author
• Yvonne Curri, Author
• Zara Phillips, Author, Singer, Songwriter, Presenter

I wish to thank all the cosponsors who advocated for the rights of adoptees. They sent out the message to the nation, there are many legislators who believe in equality for all individuals. I thank them for their hard work.

Co-sponsors of SB-977
Rep. Daniel S. Rovero, 51st Dist.
Rep. Kim Rose, 118th Dist.
Rep. Kelly J. Luxenberg, 12th Dist.
Sen. Steve Cassano, 4th Dist.
Rep. Mike Demicco, 21st Dist.
Rep. Gregory Haddad, 54th Dist.
Rep. Michael Winkler, 56th Dist.
Rep. John K. Hampton, 16th Dist.
Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, 133rd Dist.
Rep. Henry J. Genga, 10th Dist.
Rep. Jeff Currey, 11th Dist.
Rep. Jeffrey J. Berger, 73rd Dist.
Rep. Fred Camillo, 151st Dist.
Rep. Mark Tweedie, 13th Dist.
Sen. George S. Logan, 17th Dist.
Rep. Josh Elliott, 88th Dist.
Rep. Dorinda Borer, 115th Dist.
Sen. Gary A. Winfield, 10th Dist.
Rep. Linda M. Gentile, 104th Dist.
Rep. Mary M. Mushinsky, 85th Dist.
Rep. Adam Dunsby, 135th Dist.
Rep. Brandon L. McGee, 5th Dist.
Rep. Chris Perone, 137th Dist.
Rep. Tom Delnicki, 14th Dist.
Rep. Caroline Simmons, 144th Dist.
Sen. Bob Duff, 25th Dist.
Sen. Beth Bye, 5th Dist.
Rep. Pam Staneski, 119th Dist.
Rep. Lonnie Reed, 102nd Dist.
Rep. Susan M. Johnson, 49th Dist.
Rep. Jason Rojas, 9th Dist.
Rep. Derek Slap, 19th Dist.
Rep. David Arconti, 109th Dist.
Rep. Bill Simanski, 62nd Dist.
Rep. Mike Bocchino, 150th Dist.
Sen. Martin M. Looney, 11th Dist.

To see the path the bill took please go to http://cga.ct.gov.
While the bill did not succeed this year, the fight for equality and justice for all adopted individuals will continue. I will not stop advocating for equality and justice. This year more people become informed of the issue and called their legislators. I thank all of you who were took action on behalf of the bill. I also thank those who asked questions about the bill. You took time and effort to consider the issue.

I ask you to please consider putting your advocacy skills towards helping other states advance the adoptee rights movement. There is an adoptee rights bill in Massachusetts. Advocates across the country helped Connecticut. I hope if you know family, friends, or contacts in other states which have pending adoptee rights bills you will lend your support to those states. I also ask you to become involved in advocating for causes you hold dear. If I can help in any way, I hope you will let me know. When I was sitting in the Senate gallery, I realized how fortunate I am to live in a country were debates can go on without having to worry about my personal safety. I realize in some countries people’s input is not welcome and violence erupts. We live in a great country where we can share our views openly without worry. Thanks again for your support.