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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Philip DesJardins Nov 26 1961 – March 6 2013

Philip DesJardins, 51, of Brown Avenue, Jewett City – formerly of Amston (Hebron), CT – died Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Greentree Manor in Waterford, CT.

Mr. DesJardins was born on Nov. 26, 1961 in Willimantic (Windham), CT and was the son of Leonard and Rachel Magnant-DesJardins.

He graduated from E.O. Smith High School in Storrs-Mansfield, CT and served in the Air Force for eight years.

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Sandy Hook Commission reveals controversial recommendations

Hamden CT Mayor Scott Jackson (at podium), Chair of the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission and CT Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. Christine Stuart file photo, CTNewsJunkie.com

by CTNewsjunkie Staff

After more than 40 hours of expert testimony, the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission issued an interim report that includes a controversial recommendation to ban high-capacity magazines with 10 or more bullets and guns that can shoot them.

According to the report, the commission recognized that certain sporting events may at times seek to utilize higher capacity magazines. However, the consensus of the commission was that the spirit of sportsmanship can be maintained with lower capacity magazines.

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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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Get to know Hebron-area business owners

The Hebron Economic Development Commission and the Lions present a business showcase on March 19, 2013.

The 2013 Hebron Business Showcase is just around the corner.

Get to know local businesses owners and their products and services at the event that will run from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 at the Hebron Lions Fairgrounds (347 Gilead St.) off Route 85 in Hebron, CT.

The event is free and open to the public, and is co-sponsored by the Hebron Economic Development Commission and the Hebron Lions Club.

There will be free exhibits, refreshments and a variety of presentations.

Many of the local businesses will offer special promotions on the day of this event.

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New Red Sox charity plate for CT scholarships

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman are expected to join representatives from the Boston Red Sox and other state and local officials at a news conference to announce the details of a Red Sox charity license plate program on March 8, 2013.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

Editor’s note: Given the forecast for severe weather Thursday evening into Friday morning, this event may be postponed.

On Friday morning (March 8), Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman are expected to join representatives from the Boston Red Sox and other state and local officials at a news conference to announce the details of a Red Sox charity license plate program.

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Fund approved for workers traumatized by Newtown shootings

The Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Fund will be used to reimburse medical expenses and lost wages. It will be overseen by the Connecticut Office of Victim Services and funded through private donations (including corporate donations), which will be handled by the United Way of Newtown.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

The Connecticut General Assembly unanimously gave final approval today (March 6) for legislation that will create a special fund to assist workers who were traumatized by the shootings at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, CT. The Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Fund will be used to reimburse medical expenses and lost wages.

It will be overseen by the Connecticut Office of Victim Services and funded through private donations (including corporate donations), which will be handled by the United Way of Newtown.

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Windham Hospital Auxiliary offers college scholarships

Windham Community Hospital in Willimantic CT. Contributed photo.

The Auxiliary to Windham Hospital invites applications from area high school seniors for the Anne L. Card Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship, named in honor of the late Anne L. Card who was a 50-plus year member of the Auxiliary and a dedicated volunteer at the hospital, awards two $1,000 scholarships to students planning to enter a full-time course of study in medical-related fields.

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Three honored for carrying on Dr. King’s legacy

Honored at the Feb. 27, 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award Reception at Eastern Connecticut State University are (L-R) the event’s keynote speaker, author and poet Billie Jean Young, Eastern student Soely Barros, Connecticut Supreme Court Justice The Honorable Lubbie Harper Jr., Assistant Dean of the School Continuing Education Indira Petoskey; and Eastern’s President Elsa Núñez. Contributed photo.

Eastern Connecticut State University presented the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award to senior Soely Barros, Indira Petoskey, assistant dean of the School Continuing Education and the Honorable Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Lubbie Harper Jr. at a reception on Feb. 27 in the J. Eugene Smith Library.

The awards recognize members of the campus community and community-at-large whose actions demonstrate distinguished service in promoting the ideals of Dr. King, and to further the goals of diversity and social equality.

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