Paving Storrs Road – Route 195 in Mansfield

Milling and paving of Storrs Road (Route 195) – part of improvements being made to this main roadway associated with the Storrs Center development – is expected to begin on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Press Release

Milling and paving of Storrs Road (Route 195) – part of improvements being made to this main roadway associated with the Storrs Center development – is expected to begin on Friday, May 17, 2013.

During this work, traffic will be restricted at times to alternating one-lane patterns.

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Coventry Farmers Market to pop up at Topmost Farm

This Sunday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., visit one of our most beautiful farms when the Coventry Regional Farmers Market goes on tour with our first-ever “Pop Up Market” at Topmost Herb Farm!

Press Release

This Sunday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., visit one of our most beautiful farms when the Coventry Regional Farmers Market goes on tour with our first-ever “Pop Up Market” at Topmost Herb Farm!

What to expect…

Drive down the dirt road leading to Topmost to find a gorgeous farm and more than 25 of our vendors offering gorgeous asparagus, rhubarb, greens and other spring produce, vegetable plants, eggs, meats, cheeses, artisan foods and more!

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Jeepin for the Cause to benefit Windham Hospital

Jeepin’ for the Cause, a recreational-Jeep ride sponsored by Capitol Chrysler Dodge Jeep to benefit Windham Hospital, is coming up from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday, May 5, 2013.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

Jeepin’ for the Cause, a recreational-Jeep ride sponsored by Capitol Chrysler Dodge Jeep to benefit Windham Hospital, is coming up from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday, May 5.

Capitol Jeep has sponsored seven of these popular events and raised more than $43,000 for local charities.

“We offer three different trails of varying terrain and difficulty to maximize driver challenge and passenger enjoyment,” said Owner/President of Capitol Chrysler Dodge Jeep Scott Lewis.

“These rides are always a lot of fun. Our entire staff gets behind these events and we invite the community to join us on the trails, rain or shine,” Lewis said.

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Private rocket launch to be visible in CT skies

The Antares rocket on the pad at NASA’s Wallops, VA Facility. NASA photo.

UPDATE – because of upper level winds, the launch has been moved to 6:30 p.m. NASA live streaming begins at 5:30 p.m.

by Lon Seidman | CTNewsJunkie.com

The launch of the Orbital Science Corporation’s Antares rocket  (at 5 p.m. Eastern time) should be visible from South Carolina all the way to Portland, Maine.

Orbital Sciences Corporation is one of two companies to win an International Space Station cargo delivery contract from NASA. The 18-minute mission will deliver a test cargo container to orbit but will not dock with the station.

The rocket will appear arching toward orbit in the southern sky shortly after its liftoff in Virginia.

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State Rep Hurlburt to step down to head Farm Service Agency in CT

CT State Rep. Bryan Hurlburt at the Coventy Regional Farmers Market’s new barn. Hurlburt announced his resignation April 16 as he assumes his new role as head of the federal Farm Service Agency in CT. Contributed photo.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (D-2) announced today (April 16) the appointment of State Rep. Bryan Hurlburt (D-53) as Farm Service Agency State Executive Director.

Hurlburt was appointed by President Obama. He was recommended by Senators Blumenthal and Murphy and Congressman Courtney after an interview process coordinated by Senator Blumenthal’s office with state agricultural leaders.

Hurlburt currently represents the towns of Ashford, Tolland and Willington.

Special Election

Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today also announced she has received Rep. Hurlburt’s resignation and will be scheduling a special election to fill this vacancy.

Hurlburt’s resignation takes effect at noon on Friday April 19, 2013.

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CT DEEP Commissioner to demonstrate electric-vehicle service at Storrs Center

CT DEEP Commissioner Esty is expected to charge his Chevy Volt at one of the stations – there are four Level 2 retractable electric charging stations in the Mansfield Garage – and a Hertz car-share program will be introduced.

By Brenda Sullivan, HTNP News Editor

Connecticut Connecticut DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty is expected to join Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson and other local dignitaries beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16 to tour the Storrs Center development.

The visit is meant to highlight energy and pro-environment aspects of the development, including electric vehicle charging stations for the public.

Commissioner Esty was originally scheduled to visit Storrs Center and talk about the electric-vehicle leasing service on March 19, but that visit was rescheduled because of bad weather.

His April 16 visit begins at the Storrs Center Parking Garage and then moves to the businesses on Dog Lane.

The lower level of the parking garage features electric vehicle charging stations for the public. Commissioner Esty will park his Chevy Volt and connect it to a charger.

There are four, Level-2 retractable electric charging stations – and a Hertz car-share program will be introduced.

This demonstration will be followed with a speaking program on the sidewalk along Dog Lane, outside of retail shops and restaurants. (In the event of rain, the group will move inside the Dog Lane Café).

A reception will follow at Dog Lane Café.

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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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ECSU event raises funds to benefit early detection and treatment of mental illness

Harold Schwartz, M.D., gives his keynote speech on “Mental Illness in the Wake of Sandy Hook,” at the sixth annual ECSU Luncheon benefitting Natchaug Hospital education programs on March 27, 2013. Contributed photo.

Press Release

The ECSU Foundation’s sixth annual luncheon benefitting Natchaug Hospital education programs raised over $12,000.

The event, held on March 27, 2013 was attended by more than 110 community representatives including Backus Hospital President and CEO David Whitehead; Connecticut State Rep. Susan Johnson; and Eastern Connecticut State University President Elsa Nunez, Ph.D.

Half of the funds raised at the event will be put towards Natchaug’s commitment to promote early detection and treatment of mental illness, an initiative endorsed by Vice President Joe Biden following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT in December 2012.

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