New cycle business hosts food drive

While Storrs Center Cycle is new to town, Paterson is a Mansfield native. He took up cycling as a teen and knows the roads and trails of the area well.

Storrs Center Cycle, a new full-service bicycle shop serving the greater Mansfield community, announces a food drive to benefit the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic.

Customers who bring in a non-perishable food item (or two or three) will receive 5 percent off their purchases, now through the end of January (excludes 2011 bicycles).

All food items will be donated to Covenant to support their Emergency Food Pantry.

As Aaron Paterson, owner and manager of Storrs Center Cycle explains, “For individuals and families struggling with economic issues, the winter months can be an especially trying and difficult time, so we are eager to aid the Covenant Soup Kitchen in their support of our community.”

Individuals who wish to contribute to the food drive may bring their donations to the shop at any time during its open hours, and Storrs Center Cycle would like to mention that protein rich items like beans and beef stew are especially needed at this time of year.

Storrs Center Cycle, located at 1132 Storrs Road (next to Liberty Bank), opened in late October. The shop offers bicycles for every rider, from children to racers.

“We’ve got great bikes for everyone from kids to pros and everyone in between,” says Paterson. “Everyone can enjoy cycling with a great fitting bicycle, and we’ll help you find the ride that fits you.”

Storrs Center Cycle also features a full service repair shop that can fix any make or model. They can handle all sorts of jobs on any model bike, including hydraulic disc work and suspension overhauls on all brands.

Paterson adds, “While we offer the serious cyclist services like advanced suspension tuning, professional fitting, and custom hand built wheels, we are just as eager to help you get your 20 year old bike running again.  The important thing is keeping people rolling on two wheels!”

Storrs Center Cycle is new to town, but Paterson is a Mansfield native.  He took up cycling as a teen and knows the roads and trails of the area well.  “If you are new to biking, we can help you plan some routes for the road or the trails that are safe and fun,” he says.

Storrs Center Cycle is located at 1132 Storrs Road in Storrs/Mansfield, just a half mile from the UConn campus and E.O. Smith High School.

The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and is open until 8:00 pm on Thursday (closed on Sundays).

Visit www.storrscentercycle.com, find us on Facebook, or call 860.429.5300 for more information.

Posted Dec. 8, 2010

Kardashians kancel kriticized kredit kard

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” may be a hit, but a debit card tied to the reality television family has been canceled.

A Minnesota lender Monday (Nov. 29) halted sales of a prepaid debit card featuring an image of the Kardashian sisters, after Con­necticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the card carried ” outrageous” fees that unfairly targeted financially unsophisti­cated young adults.

University National Bank said the 250 consumers who bought the MasterCard-branded “Kardashian Kard” since its Nov. 9 launch may continue using it for 30 days, and thereafter would receive refunds of balances and up-front fees.

The St. Paul- based company said it was reviewing its agree­ment with the Kardashians’ com­pany Dash Dolls LLC to ensure that cardholders get refunds, and would work to ensure that card holders “experience as little inconvenience as possible.”

Blumenthal had complained Fri­day (Nov. 26) that the debit card burdened fans of Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian’s “lives of luxury and extravagance” with fees that could reach $100 a year, plus fees for ATM withdrawals, cancellations and talking with a phone opera­tor.

According to a letter from the Kardashians’ lawyer released by Blumenthal’s office, the sisters Monday pulled out of the agree­ment that allowed the bank to use their likenesses on the card.

“The Kardashians have worked extremely long and hard to cre­ate a positive public persona that appeals to everyone, particularly young adults,” wrote the lawyer, Dennis Roach.

” Unfortunately, the negative spotlight turned on the Kardashi­ans as a result of the Attorney General’s comments and actions threatens everything for which they have worked.”

A spokesman for Purchase, N.Y.-based MasterCard Inc. re­ferred a request for comment to University National.

Prepaid debit cards associated with celebrities ” are becoming more and more popular,” said Pamela Banks, senior policy counsel for Consumers Union in Washington, D.C.

“Tying a card to someone who is famous or wealthy can get more consumers to say, ‘I want to be more like the rich and famous,’” she continued. “But prepaid debit cards do not have the same protec­tions that traditional debit cards have, and often have hidden fees that eat away at their value.”

Connecticut voters this month elected Blumenthal, a Democrat, to the U.S. Senate, beginning in January 2011.

Original article provided by Reuters. Reprinted here under an agreement with The Chronicle.

Posted Dec. 1, 2010

Blumenthal: Kardashian Kard is too kostly

Richard Blumenthal

Keeping up with the Kardashians can be costly for young adults enticed by a debit card tied to the popular real­ity TV series, Connecticut’s attorney general said.

Richard Blumenthal, the attorney general and senator-elect, issued a Black Friday warn­ing to parents about the “Kardashian Kard” and other prepaid debit cards he said burden card holders with “outrageous” fees.

In a letter to University National Bank, which issues the Kardashian Prepaid MasterCard, Blumenthal complained about card fees of $ 59.95 for six months or $ 99.95 for 12 months, plus $7.95 a month thereafter, as well as fees for ATM withdrawals, cancellations and talking with a live phone operator.

Blumenthal said the card may violate a state gift card law designed to eliminate ” perni­cious and predatory fees,” even as it evokes the name and image of a family known for “lives of luxury and extravagance.” The card features an image of the sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian.

Kim Kardashian

“I am deeply disturbed by this card’s high fees combined with its appeal to financially unsophisticated young adults,” Blumenthal wrote to Jim Conrad, president of St. Paul, Minn.-based University National Bank. “In reality, no family can ‘keep up with the Kardashians’ using this card.”

In an e-mail, University said it will review Blumenthal’s request when it receives official notice from his office.

” Prepaid products are proven to meet a financial need and we continue to monitor all prepaid programs for business viability and compliance with consumer protection provisions,” it added.

Representatives for the Kardashian family did not imme­diately return requests for com­ment. MasterCard Inc., based in Purchase, N.Y., also did not immediately return a request for comment.

The Kardashian Kard web site calls the card “a fast and conve­nient way to manage money.”

It includes a fee table and says the $7.95 monthly fee is “much lower than those charged for most low- balance checking account and check-cashing services” and “a small price to pay for a card that offers so many features and benefits.”

Blumenthal asked University to provide details about the card’s users, fees and marketing; its rela­tionship with MasterCard and the Kardashian family; and a copy of the cardholder agreement within seven business days.

Posted 11-27-2010

Original article provided by Reuters and written by Jonathan Stempel. Reprinted here under an agreement with The Chronicle.

CT Int'l Auto Show – from a purple monster truck to first look at the Chevy Volt

This purple monster truck was detailed with images of dragons by AFTERFX Customs in Stamford, CT - one of the exhibits at the 2010 Connecticut International Auto Show. Photo copyright 2010 by Brenda Sullivan

Even if you’re not in the market to buy a car this week, or this year, a trip to the Connecticut International Auto Show at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford this weekend can be a fun afternoon of virtual shopping. That’s because you get to sit behind the wheel of any car that catches your eye – except the antique cars, and the big pinkish-purple monster car with the dragon illustrations.

You might want to settle into the leather seats of a sleek yellow Corvette, or hop into one of the Jeeps with enough style, seating and cargo capacity to offer a cool alternative to the “soccer mom” SUV.

My personal favorite was an “army green” Toyota FJ Cruiser that seats four and sells for $25,770 retail. It’s not exactly fuel efficient – 17 miles per gallon in the city, 21 miles on the highway – but it would be a pleasure to drive.

My second favorite in the Jeep category was the Jeep Sport Wrangler Unlimited, with a three-piece modular sun roof – which means you can stay in the shade while your husband can choose to sunburn his bald spot.

This one is a 5 passenger – which really means three kids in the backseat or three slim adults, and is in the same general price range as the FJ Cruiser. It also has a cargo area that can hold up to 250 pounds of stuff and it can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Charging your new electric car

The show is also a great place for you and your children or grandchildren to learn about the up and coming technologies for the days when many of us will be driving electric or hybrid cars.

Before you step into the showroom, visit the Control Module Industries booth to see a demonstration of not only how you will power your electric car in the not too distant future, but how you will be able to charge it up while you’re at work or shopping at the local mall.

The booth presents products developed by the company’s Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment division. This includes a mockup of a home power-share system that eliminates the need to install (and pay for) electrical upgrades in order to charge your electric or hybrid car. Using this module, you can tap into the same power source that runs your appliances.

The idea is that you will be charging your car overnight, but if you happen to need to run the washing machine or dishwasher or electric oven, the system will “sense” the appliance and switch off the car charger, so you don’t overload your electrical system.

The rep at this  booth also can show you what an overhead charger (an EVSE Marquee) used in the parking lots of the future will look like, with a retractable cable and a plug with a design similar to the nozzle we’re familiar with at the gas pump.

Several of these are now being tested with state and federal fleets, such as the U.S. Postal Service’s electric cars.

In the showroom, you can see just what these car will look like – sleek and luxurious – including the not-yet-released Chevrolet Volt and the Escalade hybrid.

“Say the word”

Another high-tech display worth exploring is the Microsoft® Sync voice-activation system for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles that includes:

• hands-free calling – press the “voice” button on the steering wheel and say the name of the person you’re calling, or the phone number you want to call. And this feature synchronizes with your cell phone. Sync uses your radio or a touch screen to display signal strength, caller ID, a caller log, and more,

• audible text – if you receive a text message, press the “phone” button on the steering wheel and SYNC can read it to you. And you can choose from 15 “generic” text messages if you want to acknowledge the call (and therefore, are not texting and driving!)

• music search – plug your digital media player or music storage device into the vehicle’s USB port and SYNC creates your music library. Press the “voice” button on the steering wheel and you can tell SYNC to play a specific song or artist, or “play all” or “shuffle,”

• 911 assist – if you’re in an accident and your airbag deploys, SYNC can place a call from your connected Bluetooth-enabled phone to a 911 center, not a call center,

• vehicle “health report” – that diagnoses problems, reminds you about scheduled maintenance and alerts you to recalls,

• business search (as in, “find Dunkin Donuts” or “find Puppy Time groomers”) – and SYNC can deliver turn-by-turn driving directions, send a text message with directions and map to your mobile phone, or even place a call to the business,

and you can receive traffic alerts, weather forecasts, stock listings, sports results and more.

Something extra

Another exhibit that will either impress you or make you shake your head and wonder why someone would do this to their car is the AFTERFX customized cars.

One is adorned with the faces of notorious rappers along the sides and on the hood, two fists holding guns. Another, the aforementioned purplish monster truck, is covered with Medieval images of dragons.

AFTERFX is for the hardcore auto lover. Its services include custom audio/video upgrades, custom built in radar system, custom-designed interiors and more.

Win a car

There’s a unlikely display, outside the showroom, of a smashed up, squashed car that’s actually the subject of a contest. If you can guess what this car was in its former life – make and model – you could win a new car.

At another table, you can try to guess how many Lego® blocks it took to build a two-foot tall Lego guy and win a prize.

In general, the show is the place to go if you want to see what the latest looks and features are for the 2011 models. The factory representatives and Connecticut dealers will be more than happy to bend your ear.

Represented at the show are:Acura, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Kia, Subaru, Scion, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln, Ram, Saab, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Nissan, Hyundai and Volvo.

The show is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 21 the last day. Tickets are $10 each (ticket sales end at 4 p.m.) for adults and $5 each for children age 6-12 (no charge for children under 6 years old). Parking at the garage next door is $3 for the first hour and $2 for each additional hour.

For more information, visit the show’s Web site at http://www.paragonexpo.com/index.php/CT-General/ or call (860) 728-2592.

Posted Nov. 20, 2010

ING defaults on $11.3M loan attached to off-campus apartments

The ownership of some apartment complexes largely rented to UConn and ECSU students may change hands. The current owner defaulted on a loan agreement, allowing a Philadelphia company to purchase the debt.

RRE VIP Borrowers LLC, with offices Philadelphia, Pa. and other locations, purchased the loan, with an outstanding balance of more than $11 million, after ING Real Estate Community Living Fund defaulted.

The loans are attached to Ashford Hills, Clubhouse, Hunting Lodge, Knollwood, Maplewood, Millbrook, Oakridge, OrchardAcres, Perry Hill Estates, Renwood, Ridgeview Heights and Willington Oaks.

RRE VIP was the highest bidder, according to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in early October.

Rebecca Fields, executive director for the Mansfield Housing Authority, said the housing authority also bid on the loan in the hopes of converting some of the properties into affordable housing.

Fields said the housing authority bid $4 million, with the money coming from lenders and grants, and not town tax money.

RRE VIP bid $ 9.3 million.

“It would have been a wonder­ful opportunity, but it didn’t work out,” Fields said.

Fields said ING took out roughly $11.4 million in loans for the properties in 2006, and said the remaining balance is in the range of $11.3 million.

RRE VIP’s purchase of the loan does not currently give the company ownership of the properties, Chief Executive Officer Alan Feldman said. The company could work out an agreement that allows ING to maintain ownership of the properties or it could take ownership itself through foreclosure.

Feldman said the company has ownership of both loans and properties throughout the country and RRE VIP would be open to either arrangement.

He also said RRE VIP views the properties as sources of “good, clean student housing” and would not seek to change their current status. “In general, we view this as a student housing asset,” he said.

Posted Nov. 15, 2010

State gets $2 million to screen workers for nursing homes

Connecticut has been awarded a $2 million federal health care grant to design a comprehensive background check program for employees of nursing homes and other long-term care agencies.

Connecticut is one of only six states to receive the grant, which is provided through the federal Affordable Care Act. The new law sets aside $160 million for the program, which runs through September 2012.

Long-term care facilities or providers covered under the new program include nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospice providers, long-term care hospitals and intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation, adult day care and personal care assistants.

The background check program will help identify whether a job seeker has any kind of criminal history or other disqualifying information that could make him or her unsuitable to work directly with elderly or disabled clients.

Background checks for each prospective direct patient care employee must include a search of both state and federal criminal records, abuse and neglect registries, and other databases (such as the Nurse Aide Registry).

The state Departments of Public Health , Social Services and Public Safety will work together on the initiative.

The first step for Connecticut is to propose enabling legislation for action during the next legislative session.

Other states awarded grants were Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Missouri and Rhode Island.

Posted Nov. 13, 2010

Storrs Center’s first phase highlighted at event

Tom Trubiana of Education Realty Trust Inc. addresses the audience.

Area residents got a glimpse of the first phase of the Storrs Center project during a celebration and informational event Oct. 7.

Those associated with the project also expressed the belief they will be able to begin construction next spring after overcoming some of the final obstacles in the next few months.

“This is one of those things that people want to see happen,” said Howard Kaufman, executive vice president and general counsel for LeylandAlliance Inc., the project’s master developer.

The roughly $220 million proposed Storrs Center project is a mix of residential development, retail shops and commercial buildings to be built along Storrs Road (Route 195) from Dog Lane to South Eagleville Road (Route 275).

LeylandAlliance was joined by the Mansfield Downtown Partnership Inc., Education Realty Trust Inc., four vendors and town officials to give the public a view of the project’s proposed first phase.

“The goal was to just have people meet each other informally,” said Cynthia van Zelm, executive director of the Mansfield Downtown Partnership, a nonprofit public organization that includes officials from Mansfield, the University of Connecticut and the surrounding community.

Many attendees had their first chance to meet representatives from Education Realty Trust, a Memphis based company that will develop, own and manage the apartment spaces in the first two phases.

Mansfield Mayor Elizabeth “Betsy” Paterson said she believes the company will be a good partner for the project.

The company’s Web site states the firm specializes in housing near universities through mixed-use and public/private partnerships like Storrs Center.

Paterson said the company’s commitment to the project and history show Education Realty Trust is “in it for the long term.”

Thursday’s gathering also gave the public the chance to meet some of the potential food vendors that will be part of the first phase.

Along with Vanilla Bean Café of Pomfret, which has signed a letter of intent, a Greek restaurant named Dimitri’s was also at Thursdays’ event, and Kaufman said he hopes to have a letter of intent from the establishment in the near future.

With 10 food vendors already expressing their intent to move into eventual spaces, Kaufman also said LeylandAlliance and the partnership are focusing on “all types of different” businesses.

He said LeylandAlliance hopes to add a grocery store, bookstore, gift shop and clothing retailers to provide more variety.

But the project must also secure some permits in the next few months before it can break ground in the spring, something those associated with the project are confident about.

The project will need to come before the town’s planning and zoning commission for some permits, and will also need approval from the state Department of Transportation for some roadwork projects.

As part of the DOT process, the Downtown Partnership will need to meet with the town council for an informational meeting, something van Zelm said could happen as soon as Oct. 25.

Kaufman said the first phase, which will cost an estimated $60 million, will involve a lot of “multi-tasking” between the Downtown Partnership, all the private developers and the town, which will be doing some of its own work.

Kaufman credited the town, including Planning Director Gregory Padick and Public Works Director Lon Hultgren, for help in the planning phase.

Paterson said town officials will continue to help make the project “a reality” as quickly as possible.

“We’re going to do everything we can to expedite it,” she said.

Posted Oct. 10, 2010

New law tackles DEP delays with business applications

Senator Donald Williams

A recent state law change likely would have helped local small business owner Michael Weitz obtain permits to renovate his space and open his doors sooner.

On Wednesday, two state law makers, the Windham area Chamber director and Weitz gathered to highlight new laws and how they will impact businesses.

Roger Adams, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce Inc., Windham Region said, “One of the Chamber’s priorities is the removal of road blocks that prevent our region’s entrepreneurs from moving ahead with job creation and investment in new and revitalized businesses.”

Weitz, who co-owns Design Center East located at 27 Meadow St. in Willimantic, went through the lengthy local and state permitting process when he was renovating his business space.

An environmental cleanup was necessary at his Meadow Street site and Weitz said obtaining the approvals took time.

Weitz said if the process is delayed, it ends up pushing the timetable back, which also affects financing, construction deadlines and ultimately how soon a business opens its doors and start serving customers.

However, with new changes in state law, the environmental review/permit process with the state Department of Environmental Protection is expected to be expedited.

“It will let you know where you stand,” Weitz said, of the new law. “Until you know that, you’re on hold.”

Weitz said environmental work can be costly, but part of the problem is that a business owner doesn’t know what money is available to put in other areas of a business until after the cleanup.

The new law — an act concerning expediting permitting for economic development — took effect Oct. 1.

Provisions include:

• The DEP will make “all reasonable efforts” to review applications for deficiencies within 60 days, and issue tentative determinations — approval or denial — within 180 days after submission.

• The DEP will study its permit process and come up with recommendations, while also creating an Office of Permit Ombudsman in the state Department of Economic and Community Development to help expedite certain permit applications by the DEP and state health and transportation departments.

State Senate President Donald Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, said business owners previously would put in applications with the DEP and not get an answer for months or even years.

He said sometimes business owners, after waiting months, would then be notified they were missing something on their application which caused further delays.

He added the change in state law mandates DEP be prompt in reviewing applications.

State Rep. Susan Johnson, D-Willimantic, said the new law would help the downtown area with business owners renovating historic buildings. Johnson co-sponsored the legislation.

Posted Oct. 7, 2010