Flags half staff for Peace Officers Memorial Day

Peace Officers Memorial in Florida. National Peace Officers Memorial Day is observed annually and corresponds with Police Week.

Press Release

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has directed that U.S. and Connecticut flags be flown at half-staff today (May 15, 2013) in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

National Peace Officers Memorial Day is observed annually and corresponds with Police Week.

“National Peace Officers Memorial Day is an opportunity to honor the service of our brave men and women in law enforcement,” said Gov. Malloy.

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Fishing season opens – get info here about where to fish in Connecticut

Approximately 381,000 trout have already been released this spring into 102 lakes and ponds and 200 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut and are awaiting Opening Day anglers. Photo courtesy of CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) 2013.

Opening day of the Trout Fishing Season is Saturday, April 20 and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has the state’s rivers, streams, lakes and ponds stocked and ready.

Approximately 381,000 trout have already been released this spring into 102 lakes and ponds and 200 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut and are awaiting Opening Day anglers.

DEEP’s spring trout-stocking effort began in early March and will continue through the end of May. When spring stocking is completed, DEEP expects to have stocked about 630,000 trout.

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Groundbreaking celebrates new UConn Basketball Development Center

UConn officials and friends celebrate the groundbreaking for the university’s new Basketball Development Center. (L-R) UConn supporter Sonny Whalen; UConn President Susan Herbst; UConn Board of Trustees Chair Larry McHugh; Rosalind Shenkman; UConn Foundation Board of Directors Chair Mark Shenkman; UConn Supporter Peter Werth; UConn Husky Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis; UConn Husky Ryan Boatright; UConn Athletics Director Warde Manual; UConn Coach Kevin Ollie, UConn Coach Geno Auriemma, and UConn Board of Directors Member Robert Skinner. Contributed photo.

Press Release

Official groundbreaking ceremonies for a dedicated, new practice facility for the University of Connecticut’s championship men’s and women’s basketball programs were held Tuesday (April 16) on the site of the facility’s home behind Gampel Pavilion on the Storrs campus.

The event, which occurred a week after the Huskies brought home their eighth national title, tying Tennessee for the most wins in women’s basketball history, was attended by officials from the University, the UConn Foundation, by alumni and donors and by several present and former players, as well as students.

“This is a landmark day for UConn,” said UConn President Susan Herbst. “Our coaches and athletes have made UConn basketball the envy of the nation. They earned this facility with their hard work and their dedication.”

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Sandy Hook families sway Washington’s discussion on Gun Legislation

Eleven family members of those killed in the December 2012 shooting at the Newtown, CT elementary school joined President Barack Obama on an Air Force One flight from Connecticut to D.C. after Obama’s speech at the University of Hartford on Monday. At the university, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy. Megan Merrigan photo, CTNewsJunkie.com

By Megan Merrigan | CTNewsJunkie.com

April 12, 2013

Eleven family members of those killed in the December 2012 shooting at the Newtown, CT Sandy Hook Elementary school joined President Barack Obama on an Air Force One flight from Connecticut to D.C. after Obama’s speech at the University of Hartford on Monday (April 8).

“The families of Newtown literally turned the tide in Washington, D.C.,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal said at a press conference at the University of Hartford on Friday (April 12). “Their faces and voices are an historic story in achieving better measures against gun violence.”

In all, 16 Republicans contributed to Thursday’s (April 11) 68-31 bipartisan victory over the Republican-led filibuster that would have prevented debate on the legislation.

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Hebron group is part of million dollar challenge

For the 16th consecutive year, the Feinstein Foundation will donate a matching grant of $1 million to support organizations that help feed those in need.

By Brenda Sullivan| HTNP News Editor

Hebron Interfaith Human Services (HIHS)   is taking part this year in a $1 million challenge offered by Rhode Island philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein.

For the 16th consecutive year, Feinstein will donate a matching grant of $1 million to support organizations that help feed those in need.

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Challenges loom for Connecticut’s new gun law

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs new gun law on April 4, 2013 at the State Capitol in Hartford, CT. Photo by Christine Stuart | CTNewsJunkie.com

by Hugh McQuaid | CTnewsjunkie.com

Flanked by families of some of those murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT in December 2012, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into law the state’s new bipartisan, gun-violence prevention legislation at a ceremony Thursday afternoon (April 4) at the state Capitol.

The bill expands the number of firearms prohibited in Connecticut, bans the sale of ammunition magazines that carry more than 10 rounds, and imposes new eligibility requirements for purchases of all guns and ammunition. It also creates the first statewide gun offender registry.

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Properties up for sale for unpaid taxes on May 1

A tax sale, at which properties being sold for unpaid back taxes will be auctioned, will be held beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Yeomans Hall (part of Columbia Town Hall building).

A tax sale, at which properties being sold for unpaid back taxes will be auctioned, will be held beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Yeomans Hall (part of Columbia Town Hall building).

At any time prior to this sale, property owners may reach a repayment agreement with the town, which would remove that property from the sale.

For more information about that process, please contact the Town Clerk.

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Gov. Malloy taps retired Sen. Prague to head office for the elderly

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has tapped former State Sen. Edith Prague of Columbia, CT to serve as Commissioner of the newly-formed State Department on Aging (SDA).

Press Release

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has tapped former State Sen. Edith Prague of Columbia, CT to serve as Commissioner of the newly-formed State Department on Aging (SDA).

SDA will ensure that Connecticut’s elderly population has access to the supportive services necessary to live with dignity, security and independence, and it is responsible for administering a variety of federally-funded programs under the Older Americans Act.

“Senator Prague has dedicated herself to improving the quality of life for senior citizens; with her background and expertise, she is a natural choice to lead the Department on Aging,” said Gov. Malloy. “I know she will make an immediate impact as the Commissioner on Aging and am eager to work with her to address the needs of our state’s growing senior population.”

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Is new magnet school process illegal?

“With the lottery to select students for Windham‘s new Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy Magnet School about to take place, Adamowski and the Windham School System STILL HAVEN’T filed a legally-approved Operations Plan with the State Department of Education and the application form that they have been using inappropriately requests that students provide their social security number. It is a technique that effectively reduces the number of immigrants and poor who might apply for a seat in the new school.” – Jonathan Pelto

By Jonathan Pelto

You can keep Gov. Malloy’s “Special Master” Steven Adamowski, and Windham’s school administrators on the list of entities and individuals who seem unable or unwilling to follow the state’s laws and regulations.

With the lottery to select students for Windham‘s new Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy Magnet School about to take place, Adamowski and the Windham School System STILL HAVEN’T filed a legally-approved Operations Plan with the State Department of Education and the application form that they have been using inappropriately requests that students provide their social security number.

It is a technique that effectively reduces the number of immigrants and poor who might apply for a seat in the new school.

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Rescheduled Hebron Maple Fest is this weekend

The 23rd annual Hebron Maple Festival is March 16-17, 2013… rescheduled because of the snow last weekend.

Don’t forget – the Hebron Maple Fest is this weekend (March 16 and 17), moved to a new date because of the snow on the ground last weekend.

Events are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come prepared to eat… a lot.

The festival has its own web site – http://hebronmaplefest.com – with a downloadable (in PDF format) schedule of events.

This year’s festival includes the first-ever Farm Tractor Parade, which begins at Ted’s Supermarket on Main Street (Route 66) where the tractors will be on display beginning at 11:30 a.m. Antique and working tractors will parade through the center of town beginning at 1:30 p.m.

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