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This is a letter from a reader of The Daily Norwalk. We welcome comments and opinions from our readers and will try to publish them in our Opinion section.
Did you see the "Super Moon" Saturday?
Our son is a student at Columbus Magnet and has been selected as public affairs officer in this year's Young Astronaut Mission, Humanity Unbound 2011.
The moon was all he could talk about this week, and since we were told the best time to view this unusual phenomenon was right after sunset, my son, my husband and I headed to Calf Pasture Beach to get a good look at the Perigee Moon, the biggest and brightest in almost twenty years.
Just as we were walking to the beach area from the parking lot we heard someone screaming at us that the park was closing and we had better get out now or he'd lock us in. And I mean full out screaming: "Hey you," "I'm talking to you," "Don't keep heading toward the beach, turn around," and "Am I talking to the wall, you people?"
I was sure this was someone joking around because he was so loud and so rude and he was yelling at families with children present, but sadly this was not the case. This was an actual Norwalk Recreation and Parks person named Harold, perhaps even a constable, as someone told me.
He chased away the family walking in behind us, but we continued on to take pictures and video, now made more colorful with his bellowing on the audio.
My son was becoming uncomfortable and wanted to leave. Clearly this guy was ruining our family moment.
Wouldn't it have been nice, on such a special evening, to keep the beach open a little bit longer to let families view this rare occurrence in peace?
I've never encountered a more unprofessional city representative and misguided display of authority.
Who is this guy and does the city know how he's doing his job? Does anyone care?
Now for the bright spot in our evening.
On our way out I stopped to explain what had happened to a patrolman, Officer Paulino.
Officer Paulino couldn't have been more kind and said not to worry and that our family could stay and take a few more photos if we wanted.
Officer Paulino is the kind of civil servant we can respect and be proud of.
Even while I was speaking with the officer the Recreation and Parks guy pulled up and started to yell at me again if you can believe that.
I asked him if he had heard about the special moon that night and he told me "It didn't matter."
It's funny how there are so many unplanned teachable moments for your kids.
This one was clear.
This is not the way to foster mutual respect between the good citizens of Norwalk and official representatives of the city.
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