Laws make gift cards less restrictive, limit fees, but buyer beware!

Federal rules that took effect in August of 2010 are designed to protect consumers by restricting fees and changing conditions regarding gift card expiration dates.

As the holiday shopping season kicks off with Black Friday, many shoppers are avoiding the crowds and saving on gas by buying gift cards – the one-size-fits-all kind of gift.

The Connecticut Better Business Bureau (BBB), however, cautions consumers to do their homework, first. Not all gift cards are created equal.

“While the majority of vendors are honest, there is a degree of risk associated with buying gift cards from some online sites and over-the-counter displays at convenience stores and gas stations,” warns Connecticut BBB President Paulette Scarpetti.

Since January 2011, the BBB has received more than 440 complaints against the gift card industry, a huge increase from the 33 complaints received in 2010.

In some cases, consumers are disgruntled because they received an expired gift card that was loaded with cash, but the cards were not usable until the expiration date was corrected.

After sending their expired cards for replacement, updated cards were never returned, leaving the recipients empty-handed.

Connecticut’s Gift Card Law prohibits the sale of cards with expiration dates or inactivity fees.

The BBB has these tips for both gift card givers and recipients:

1. Know your rights

Federal rules that took effect in August of 2010 are designed to protect consumers by restricting fees and changing conditions regarding gift card expiration dates.

These new rules apply to two types of cards: retail gift cards, which can only be redeemed at retailers and restaurants that sell them, and bank gift cards, which carry the logo of a payment card network such as American Express, Visa, or MasterCard and may be used wherever those brands are accepted.

More information on the new rules is available from the Federal Reserve website at http://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/wyntk_giftcards.htm

2. Know the seller

Make sure you are buying from a known and trusted source. You can look for information about a business at www.bbb.org

And avoid online auction sites that promise ‘full value guaranteed’ gift cards. Some sites of this type have been reported to sell cards that are valueless, counterfeit, expired or obtained fraudulently.

3. Inspect the packaging and the card

Be on the lookout for gift cards that appear to have been removed from their packaging, are approaching their expiration date or are already are expired. Verify that no protective stickers have been removed and that the protective layer on the back of the card hasn’t been scratched off to reveal a PIN number. Report any damaged cards on display to the seller.

4. Read the fine print before buying

Is there a fee to buy the card? Are there shipping and handling fees for cards bought by phone or online? Will any fees be deducted from the card after it is purchased?

5. Provide the card’s recipient with back up

Give the recipient the original receipt in case the card is later lost or stolen. Also, before you buy retail gift cards, consider the financial situation of the retailer or restaurant. A card from a business that files for bankruptcy or goes out of business may be worthless.

[Editor's note: I was given a $50 gift certificate to a children's bookstore that went out of business a week later and filed for bankruptcy. I was told by a state official that it is up to the now-closed business whether to refund or otherwise honor their gift cards. The bookstore owner chose not to.]

The BBB says if a business closes a store near the recipient [Blockbuster is a recent example], it may be hard to find another location where the card can be used.

A business that files for bankruptcy may honor its gift cards, or a competitor may accept the card. Call the business or its competitor to find out if they are redeeming the cards, or will do so at a later date.

6. Treat the gift card like cash!

For recipients, it’s important to immediately report lost or stolen cards to the issuer. Some issuers may not replace them, while others will, for a fee. Make sure to use gift cards as soon as possible; it’s not unusual to misplace or forget about them.

Founded in 1928, the Connecticut BBB is an unbiased, non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior.

The BBB helps consumers find and recommend businesses, brands and charities they can trust, offers objective advice and a wide range of education on topics affecting marketplace trust. The BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses.

Today, 116 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than three million local and national businesses and charities.

Posted Nov. 25, 2011

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CL-P President Jeff Butler resigns in aftermath of Storm Alfred outage outrage

CL&P is currently under scrutiny by a Two Storm Panel created by Gov. Malloy to address issues over restoring power both after Tropical Storm Irene in August and Storm Alfred in October.

The man who took the brunt of the criticism for the prolonged power outages following the freak October snowstorm – that left hundreds of thousands of residents and businesses without electricity for as long as nine days – will no longer be in the spotlight.

CL&P President Jeffrey D. Butler has resigned.

His resignation was announced via a press release issued today (Nov. 17) by Northeast Utilities, the parent company for Connecticut Light and Power.

As Butler leaves his position, he also takes with him any input he might have given into why some of the things that went wrong did so, and why some things did get done correctly, as he often pointed out in press conferences.

As the power outages stretched into day nine, after the Oct. 29 storm, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy began leaving Butler on his own at the podium during the twice-daily updates from the Emergency Operations Center televised by news stations.

Reacting to the news of Butler’s resignation, Gov. Malloy issued the following brief statement this afternoon, through a member of his staff, Senior Advisor Roy Occhiogrosso:

“Gov. Malloy made clear that he thought Northeast Utilities needed to address CL&P’s management issues, and it’s clear that process has begun. It’s also likely that there will be other changes on other fronts as a result of CL&P’s performance in the lead-up to and aftermath of the storm.”

CL&P is currently under scrutiny by a Two Storm Panel created by Gov. Malloy to address issues over restoring power both after Tropical Storm Irene in August and Storm Alfred.

The historic October storm dumped as much as 20 inches of snow in parts of the state. The main problem created by Storm Alfred was that the snow fell on trees that still had their leaves, which caused widespread damage from broken trees and tree limbs falling onto power lines.

Gov. Malloy has also called in a private company, Witt Associates to investigate what went wrong, and they are expected to produce a report by Dec. 1, 2011.

In the statement issued today, Northeast Utilities Chair, President and CEO Charles W. Shivery announced that “changes in senior leadership and in the emergency preparedness organization of its Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) operating company,” would be taking place, including accepting Butler’s resignation “effective immediately.”

Butler holds a degree in electrical and electronic engineering. He previously worked for Pacific Gas and Electric, and then for an energy consulting firm. He was hired as president by CL&P in 2009.

“We reluctantly accepted Jeff’s resignation,” Shivery said. “His commitment and dedication on behalf of our company, employees and customers have been exceptional. We thank him for his important contribution to NU, CL&P and the community. We wish him all the best.”

“I am proud of our employees and their hard work in response to these historic storms,” said Shivery. “Today’s changes are major steps to help CL&P and our employees better meet future challenges. There are still things to learn, but with winter coming these were changes I knew we should and could make right now.”

Northeast Utilities will now begin searching for Butler’s replacement. In the interim, James A. Muntz, NU president – Transmission, will take over Butler’s duties.

“Muntz currently has overall leadership and management responsibility for NU’s Transmission business… as Vice President – Customer Operations, responsible for the operation and maintenance of CL&P’s electric power distribution system,” the press release states.

Muntz will report to Lee Olivier, who is Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer for NU and CEO of CL&P.

Other steps NU will take in response to the issues surrounding Storm Irene and Storm Alfred outlined in the press release:

- the company has retained a consulting firm, Davies Consulting, Inc., “to perform a thorough evaluation of CL&P’s preparedness and response to recent unprecedented storms,” with a preliminary report due the first week of January and the final report due in early February.

- CL&P has created a new position to lead emergency preparedness, to be filled by CL&P Senior VP – Emergency Preparedness William J. Quinlan. “Quinlan will lead the consolidation and integration of all CL&P emergency preparedness. He will work with state and town officials to put protocols in place to allow CL&P to partner effectively in any type of emergency,” the release states. He also will coordinate the company’s participation in the current post-storm reviews. “Quinlan has worked closely with the towns and the state following Tropical Storm Irene,” the release states.

CL&P Vice President – Asset Strategy Dana Louth has been named to the new position of Vice President – CL&P Infrastructure “He will report to Quinlan. “Louth is a 35-year CL&P veteran with extensive experience in the design and maintenance of electric systems,” the release states. In his new role, Louth will be responsible for “reviewing and making recommendations on how the company can improve the resiliency of its electric system. He will look at such things as tree cutting/trimming, structural “hardening” (making the electric system more resilient under harsh weather conditions), and issues related to underground utilities.

Posted Nov. 17, 2011

Editor’s note: CT-N’s tapings of the Two Storm Panel proceedings can be viewed live online and previous tapings are archived. The next meeting is at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, when the panel will hear testimony from first responders, including police and firefighters, as well as union representatives. Click here for more information http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/press.asp

Related link: “Former FEMA director hired by Gov. Malloy to review response to power outages. http://windham.htnp.com/2011/11/04/former-fema-director-hired-by-gov-malloy-to-review-response-to-power-outages/

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How to register for CLP reimbursement fund for Storm Alfred damages

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy suggests that people save receipts for expenses attributable to loss of power from the October 2011 Storm Alfred. United Way 2-1-1 is in the process of gathering information from residents.

Connecticut Light and Power is collecting information from its customers who lost power as a result of the October snowstorm.

CL&P is in the process of establishing a fund that may reimburse customers for some losses.

It has yet to be determined how that money will be distributed.

Governor Dannel Malloy is currently working to determine the best way to set up a system that is fair and timely when it comes to disbursing the money.

He expects to make an announcement within two weeks.

He suggests that people save receipts for expenses attributable to loss of power from the storm.

United Way 2-1-1 is in the process of gathering information from Connecticut residents who sustained losses caused by the October Snowstorm.

To access information about reimbursements, visit www.211ct.org and click on CL&P in the upper right corner of the page.

When you visit the CL&P part of the site, you will fill out a survey that asks for contact information, how many days you were without power, and what kinds of losses you are claiming, such as:

• food loss and costs of eating meals at restaurants

• costs of staying at a hotel

• cost of gas for a power generator, as well as cost of flashlights, batteries and candles

lost wages

• damage to property from fallen trees, tree limbs and branches

• water damage caused by flooding

• fire damage

• and “other”

You also will have to include an estimate of total costs and indicate whether you have receipts for the expenses you are claiming.

Because so many people are registering their losses, there have been longer than usual call wait times and occasional delays in accessing 2-1-1 online.

Since 2-1-1 began this work earlier this month, more than 5,500 Connecticut residents have reported losses associated with the power outages by visiting www.211ct.org or calling 2-1-1.

If you wish to speak with a 2-1-1 call specialist to leave your storm-related information, dial 2-1-1 and staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Posted Nov. 16, 2011

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US Postal Service would like its stuff back, please

“The Postal Service spent nearly $50 million this past fiscal year to replace equipment that was never returned,” said Vice President of Network Operations David Williams. “This is a serious issue. We are in a financial crisis and simply cannot afford this type of unnecessary expense. The equipment is federal property and we want it back.” Photo source: USPS

It’s kind of like those occasional free passes your local library gives – return your books now and all overdue fines are forgiven. These “amnesty” periods tend to be very effective in bringing back a ton of books and it is cheaper than sending the local sheriff to knock on doors (yes, that does happen).

Well, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has announced a two-week amnesty period to encourage the “rapid return” of postal-owned equipment, especially pallets and mail tubs. This announcement comes on the heels of recent equipment recoveries made by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (click here to learn more. )

“The Postal Service spent nearly $50 million this past fiscal year to replace equipment that was never returned,” said Vice President of Network Operations David Williams. “This is a serious issue. We are in a financial crisis and simply cannot afford this type of unnecessary expense. The equipment is federal property and we want it back.”

The USPS receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

The USPS has already closed many post offices around the country, in some cases replaced them with kiosks, or contracted with drug stores and other businesses to handle some postal services. And there are deeper cuts to come.

The USPS recently reported a $5 billion loss for fiscal 2011.

Interestingly, the Internet may be partly responsible for cutting down on mail volume as more people rely on email, texting and other electronic means of communicating but at the same time, the increasing use of the Internet for shopping has boosted US Postal Service revenue in other areas.

According to the USPS Nov. 15, 2011 press release, “Shipping Services revenue, which includes Priority Mail and Express Mail, increased $530 million in 2011 (6.3 percent). The increase in Shipping Services revenue was driven by strong growth in the Parcel Select and Parcel Return Services, due to increased mailings of packages, as customers continued to use the Internet more often to purchase products.”

Caught re-selling USPS property

While some people may be guilty of “borrowing” a USPS mail bucket or two, sometimes the abuses are at the criminal level. Here are some examples from the USPS Postal Inspection Service web site:

• A Georgia man, who worked for a major mailer, was arrested for stealing and selling almost 10,000 USPS pallets to a pallet supply company. The company provided pallets to freight companies doing business in South America. The suspect made restitution of $10,129 to the USPS.

• A woman who was an employee of an air-express transportation subcontractor for major mailers was arrested for selling 3,520 pallets to a pallet consultant company.

• The owner of a Florida pallet company that sold more than 21,000 pallets belonging to the USPS was arrested by Postal Inspectors in Florida. The USPS says the man was aware the pallets belonged to the Postal Service and that the sale of those pallets was illegal. He and his company pleaded guilty, he was sentenced in federal court to five months in prison and was ordered to make $419,206 in restitution to the Postal Service. An additional 16,000 pallets were also returned.

• An investigation in California by Postal Inspectors found approximately 7,500 pallets, valued at more than $200,000, at a recycling company,

No questions asked

The amnesty period to return mail transport equipment, or MTE, is from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26, 2011. Anyone possessing Postal Service MTE is strongly encouraged to return it during this time period and no questions will be asked.

During the amnesty period, small amounts of equipment can be dropped off at local Post Offices or nearby mail processing and distribution centers.

Arrangements also can be made for the Postal Service to pick up large amounts of equipment and/or pallets by sending an email to hqmte@usps.gov, and including “Equipment Pickup Request” in the subject line (if applicable, your company name), the address where the equipment is located, type of mail transport equipment and quantity, and contact information in the message.

There also is a mail transport equipment recovery hotline – 866.330.3404 – that can be used to report the misuse of equipment, such as hoarding or recycling.

The following message is printed clearly on all U.S. Postal Service equipment:

WARNING: Maximum penalty for theft or misuse of postal property, $1,000 fine and 3 years imprisonment (Title 18 USC 1707).

Chapter 58 of the Postal Operations Manual and Title 18 Section 1707 of the Federal Criminal Code detail the policy and laws regulating use of all mail transport equipment.

Posted Nov. 16, 2011

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In Willington: Rep. Hurlburt says utilities need to be fined when they fail

State Rep. Bryan Hurlburt said a Massachusetts law that levies stiff fines on utility companies for not meeting established benchmarks for restoration has been very successful and he wants Connecticut to follow suit.

State Rep. Bryan Hurlburt, who represents Ashford, Tolland and Willington, CT in the General Assembly, is backing a number of measures designed to force utilities such as CL&P to drastically improve their restoration performance following outages.

His recommendations come on the heels of Storm Alfred, which left hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents, businesses, health care centers, schools and other critical services without power, in some cases for as much as nine days.

Power outages affected health care facilities’ access to records, knocked out cell phone towers, caused untold dollars to be lost by businesses, and put pressure on cities and towns to provide food, showers, warmth and sleeping quarters for large numbers of their residents.

Rep. Hurlburt, and others, have said that there should be a special session of the Legislature to get new laws in place as soon as possible.

Hurlburt’s district – Willington, in particular – was one of the hardest hit by the historic nor’easter of October 29-30, 2011.

In a statement released today (Nov. 14), Hurlburt said a Massachusetts law that levies stiff fines on utility companies for not meeting established benchmarks for restoration has been very successful and he wants Connecticut to follow suit.

He also wants rebates to be credited to customer bills if a utility remains out for over five days.

“They only way we are going to see improvement from the utility companies is by threatening their bottom line,” Rep. Hurlburt said.

“Many people who had to wait the longest to get their power back also depend on electricity to run their well pump for water and that quickly becomes a health issue. Status quo is unacceptable,” he added.

Rep. Hurlburt also supports requiring emergency generators at certain critical sites such as senior housing and gasoline stations.

He also wants to see utilities be required to file annual emergency response plans with the state and set up standardized communication systems with all municipalities.

“Hurricane Irene in August turned out to be pre-season practice,” Rep. Hurlburt said. “The freak October nor’easter was game time and frankly, CL&P dropped the ball.”

Among the criticisms of CL&P’s handling of power restoration Rep. Hurlburt cites:

• Not arranging for outside crew help until after the storm hit

• Crews sitting idle for hours waiting to be dispatched

• Investing in billing and call systems upgrades, but not in frontline resources

• Failing to pay contractors for Hurricane Irene work in a timely fashion

• Reduced power line-tree trimming efforts over the past decade

Posted Nov. 14, 2011

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Homeowner Mortgage Assistance Workshop is Tuesday Nov 15

Learn about foreclosure prevention, loan modifications, debt management, state and federal assistance programs, foreclosure rescue scams and other resources at a free workshop Nov. 15 sponsored by Gov. Malloy, Atty Gen George Jepsen and the Connecticut Department of Banking.

If you’d like to know more about preventing foreclosure on your home during these difficult economic times, you can attend a free “Homeowner Mortgage Assistance Workshop” on Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard in Hartford.

Free parking will be available at the Convention Center garage.

The workshop is sponsored by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, CT Attorney General George C. Jepsen and the Connecticut Department of Banking.

Learn about foreclosure prevention, loan modifications, debt management, state and federal assistance programs, foreclosure rescue scams and other resources.

To print a copy of the flyer in PDF format, click here.

At this workshop, you will meet one-on-one with your mortgage lender or a HUD-approved housing counselor.

Participating lenders will include:

Bank of America

Citibank, NA

GMAC Mortgage, LLC

HSBC National Bank USA

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

First Niagara Bank

McCue Mortgage

Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC

People’s United Bank

Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc.

Webster Bank, NA

Wells Fargo Bank, NA

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors will include:

Affordable Housing Centers of America

Catholic Charities

Community Renewal Team

Consumer Credit Counseling Services

Co-opportunity

Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund

Housing Development Fund, Bridgeport, Danbury and Stamford

Housing Education Resource Center

Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven

Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury

NID – Housing Counseling Agency

Urban League of Greater Hartford

Urban League of Southern Connecticut, Stamford

Other participating agencies will include:

Capital Workforce Partners, Connecticut Association for Community Action Agencies; Connecticut Bar Association; Connecticut Fair Housing Center; Connecticut Housing Finance Authority; Department of Housing and Urban Development; Fannie Mae; Freddie Mac; Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund; Infoline 2-1-1; Judicial Branch Mediation; Statewide Legal Services; The Workplace, Inc.; United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

Please note that there are a number of documents the workshop sponsors recommend you bring. These are:

• Most recently filed and signed federal tax return with all schedules and attachments including W2s

• Three most recent statements (all pages) for all of your bank, investment and retirement accounts

• Most recent statement for all of your department store/credit card, auto/student loan, and other mortgages/liens

• A form of state-issued identification, such as a driver’s license

• A recent utility bill with your name and property address to show proof of residency

• Signed and dated hardship letter that explains in detail why it is difficult for you to make your mortgage payments

• A list of all household monthly income and expenses (actual expense monthly statement)

• A copy of your Homeowners Insurance Declaration Page and Real Estate Property Tax Certification (tax bill)

• For each salaried borrower, you need to bring a month’s worth of the most recent pay stubs (within 30 days of the event)

• For each self-employed borrower, you need to bring the most recent quarterly or year-to-date profit/loss statement stating three months of business bank statements

• For each borrower with income such as Social Security, disability or death benefits, pension, adoption assistance, public assistance, food stamps, or unemployment you need to bring a benefits statement or award letter from provider, proof that you receive unemployment wages for a minimum of 12 months

• For each borrower relying on alimony or child support as qualifying income you need to bring the divorce or other court decree, or separation agreement or other written agreement filed with the court stating amount and period of time it will be received, and three most recent bank statements showing receipt of such payment

• For borrowers relying on rental income, you need to bring a complete schedule of real estate that you own, including the monthly payment amount for principle and interest, the amount of taxes and insurance/escrowed), and any homeowner association dues, current Lease Agreement(s) in its entirety, signed and dated, and three months of bank statements showing deposit of payment or cancelled checks showing receipt of payment

• For borrowers with income from other source(s) that amount to more than 20 percent of your total yearly income (this could include bonuses, tips or investment income, and letters regarding contribution to mortgage payments), you need to bring copy of documentation describing the nature of the income (employment contract or tip income)

Posted Nov. 14, 2011

Related resource: Foreclosure Assistance Hotline: 1-877-472-8313

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Heads up – Click it or Ticket police enforcement begins Monday, Nov 14

High-visibility enforcement such as the Click It or Ticket mobilization is credited with increasing the national seat belt usage rate from 58 percent in 1994 to an observed usage rate of 85 percent in 2010.

Law enforcement across the country will be out in force for the 2011 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization from Nov. 14 to 27, 2011.

During this mobilization, officers will be cracking down on motorists who fail to wear their seat belts, both day and night.

You also may find yourself with a ticket for any of the usual infractions, whether it’s exceeding the speed limit or driving with a broken tail light, so be aware. Police may choose to pull drivers over at random, as well.

High-visibility enforcement such as the Click It or Ticket mobilization is credited with increasing the national seat belt usage rate from 58 percent in 1994 to an observed usage rate of 85 percent in 2010.

Seat belt use reportedly saves thousands of lives each year. In 2009 alone, seat belts saved 12,713 lives nationwide.

The Highway Safety Office of the CT Department of Transportation provides funding to assist local agencies in this effort.

Remember this Nov. 14 to 27, it’s Click It or get a Ticket. Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same. You’ll save the cost of a ticket and may even save a life.

Posted Nov. 13, 2011

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Check out the new and the leading edge at the Connecticut International Auto Show this weekend

A Toyota FJ Cruiser was among the impressive variety of vehicles on display at the 2010 Connecticut International Auto Show. Photo copyright 2010 by Brenda Sullivan

State automotive leaders are celebrating a re-energized industry this weekend at the Connecticut International Auto Show, set for Friday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

The show features some of the newest models of hybrid, luxury, family and specialty vehicles.

While cars are not for sale at the show, one of the benefits of attending is that consumers can view and compare different brands of cars in one place.

New car sales in the state are revving up again, with figures inching toward pre-recession levels.

Prior to the 2008 economic crash, Connecticut’s annual automobile sales averaged $9 billion a year, but that figure plummeted to $6.3 billion in 2008. Total sales now are back up to $8 billion and climbing.

New dealerships also have opened to replace the ones forced to close during the height of the recession.

One of the educational displays at the 2010 Connecticut International Car Show. Photo copyright 2010 by Brenda Sullivan

Between 2008 and 2009, 30 percent of the state’s new car dealers went out of business.

The newest dealers are helping fuel the economy with jobs and money; revenue from automobile sales accounts for 14 percent of sales tax collected annually in Connecticut, on top of the payroll and property taxes paid by the state’s car dealers. according to Jim Fleming, president of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association.

The association represents more than 250 new car dealerships in the state that employ more than 12,000 people.

Fleming also noted that dealer interest in this weekend’s show was so high that floor space sold out for the first time in three years.

Consumer confidence has rebounded since the depths of the recession, noted Barbara Putney, vice president of the Paragon Group, the show’s producer. “People no longer are feeling like if they buy a GM car, they might go out of business,” she said.

The shortage of newer used cars on the market also is prompting many people to consider buying new, she added.

The return of credit also is boosting sales, according to Fleming.

Two or three years ago, dealers were unable to get credit to finance their inventory and consumers struggled to get loans.

While Connecticut consumers are particularly environmentally-conscious and many are drawn to hybrids, large cars such as sport utility vehicles (SUVS) remain popular, Fleming said.

Overall, consumers are showing particular interest in hybrid cars and those that boast high gas mileage, Putney said.

One of the hybrid vehicles at the 2010 Connecticut International Auto Show. Photo copyright 2010 by Brenda Sullivan

“Virtually every brand has a hybrid car in its line. People want to know how the car lines are making engines perform better so they use less fuel. It has to do with the cost of gas, the idea of helping the environment and getting away from the dependence on foreign oil. For nearly 100 years, the car technology barely changed. Now there are different ways of looking at things,” Putney said.

Other attractions at this year’s Connecticut International Auto Show include an appearance by Sean Casey and the Tornado Intercept Vehicle from the Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers” program, from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Comic Bot, the eight-foot-tall robot from “America’s Got Talent” is scheduled to perform Saturday at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Some vintage cars from the 1900s, 1920s and 1930s also will be on display, courtesy of the Klingberg Foundation.

Car show hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under age 6 are free.

This story brought to you by the Independent Media Network, http://imnct.com

Posted Nov. 12, 2011, as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

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