Postponed – DEEP Commissioner to ‘charge up’ 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.

Editor’s note – This event was postponed because of winter weather. When a new new date is announced, I will share that information.

By Brenda Sullivan, HTNP News Editor

Connecticut DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty is expected to join Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson and other local dignitaries at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 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 is expected to charge his Chevy Volt at one of these stations – there are four, Level-2 retractable electric charging stations – and a Hertz car-share program will be introduced.

… Continue Reading

Rise in online news prompts debate over publishing legal notices

The Hartford Courant’s publisher Richard Graziano testified in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper. Photo by Hugh McQuaid – on CTNewsJunkie

By Hugh McQuaid | CT News Junkie

The Hartford Courant’s publisher testified before a skeptical (state legislature’s) Planning and Development Committee on Friday (Feb. 1) in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper.

Both bills would give towns the ability to publish advertisements of their legal notices on their website.

One also would give them the option of posting in a weekly newspaper.

The Courant’s publisher, Richard Graziano… argued against the change, saying that it was a matter of open access to government through an objective third party. He said that posting the notice only on a government site leaves it open to tampering, alteration, political bias, or publication after the legal deadline.

Several town leaders testified in support of the bills, including… Rep. Melissa Ziobron [Dist. 34 – East Haddam, East Hampton, part of Colchester].

… Continue Reading

Free massages Monday – It’s National Massage Therapy Awareness Week

Enjoy a free massage at Quinebaug Valley Community College between 3 and 6 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 22) as part of a celebration of National Massage Therapy Awareness Week. Image courtesy of American Massage Therapy Association.

Enjoy a free massage at Quinebaug Valley Community College between 3 and 6 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 22) as part of a celebration of the 16th annual National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, Oct. 21-27.

The massages are offered by the American Massage Therapy Association.

QVCC is located at 729 Main Street in downtown Willimantic.

QVCC invites the public to meet local licensed massage therapists and learn about the many benefits of massage therapy.

Posted October 21, 2012 – based on a press release, links and video added by HTNP News Editor Brenda Sullivan

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Advanced Manufacturing Centers open at three colleges – expected to boost jobs

“The new Manufacturing Technology Centers in Connecticut are going to be a huge boost to all the manufacturers in this state and region,” said QVCC President Ross Tomlin. “Manufacturing is growing in the state and the main roadblock for many of the companies is finding enough qualified workers to replace skilled workers who are retiring,” he said. Image source: nextgenmfg.org

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy this week joined Board of Regents President Robert A. Kennedy at ribbon-cutting ceremonies held at Housatonic Community College (HCC) in Bridgeport, Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) in Waterbury, and Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC) in Danielson, to celebrate the opening of new Advanced Manufacturing Centers at each college.

The three new Advanced Manufacturing Centers were established as part of the bipartisan Jobs Bill considered by the legislature and signed by Gov. Malloy last fall (2011).

The bill encouraged new job creation while developing and strengthening the state’s workforce competitiveness.

Included in the bill was $17.8 million in state bond funding for the development of manufacturing programs at the three community colleges.

The colleges will also be responsible for providing measurable outcomes, which include students graduating from the manufacturing program and final job placement in the state’s manufacturing industry.

“The new Manufacturing Technology Centers in Connecticut are going to be a huge boost to all the manufacturers in this state and region,” said QVCC President Ross Tomlin.

“Manufacturing is growing in the state and the main roadblock for many of the companies is finding enough qualified workers to replace skilled workers who are retiring,” he said.

“These programs will infuse a steady stream of graduates this spring (who are) ready to become part of the solution to this problem. They will allow manufacturing to continue to grow and prosper in Connecticut, improve our ability to be competitive in this field (and) at the same time provide excellent jobs to people that need them and want to be a positive part of our economic growth,” Tomlin said.

QVCC’s Manufacturing Technology Center program will run through a partnership with H.H. Ellis Technical High School in Danielson.

Gov. Malloy, at the Oct. 3 ceremonies said, “Turning the corner on decades of economic decline means we have to prepare our students with the high-tech skills that Connecticut companies need to compete globally.”

“We must ensure that our workforce has the strongest possible foundation – that is how Connecticut will regain its competitiveness, create good-paying jobs with good benefits, and strengthen our economy,” Gov.Malloy said.

The colleges recently unveiled a 34-credit Manufacturing Machine Technology certificate program with additional non-credit modules interspersed throughout the year-long program.

The program will prepare students for advanced manufacturing positions that include:

machine operator, Computer Numeric Control (CNC) operator, CNC programmer, assembler and Quality Control inspector.

New equipment will enable students to gain experience operating both manual and CNC equipment.

The program requires a 35-hour-per-week commitment from students and will lead to a basic manufacturing certificate and an advanced manufacturing certificate.

Students will spend approximately half their time in classroom activities and half in the manufacturing lab with hands-on projects.

The model for the new centers and certificate programs is the Manufacturing Technology Center at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield.

At HCC, the center features a newly-designed manufacturing lab space outfitted with both new and existing equipment.

Input, support and guidance from area manufacturers continues to strengthen the new certificate programs at HCC.

“This ribbon-cutting is indeed a landmark moment for the college and the business community,” said HCC President Anita T. Gliniecki. “The Regional Advanced Manufacturing Center is coming online just as manufacturing activity in the region is picking up. The center will prepare students for well-paying jobs in a growing field while providing area manufacturers with the skilled workers they need to sustain their growth.”

The Advanced Manufacturing Center located in NVCC’s Technology Hall, will continue to feature manufacturing and technical education.

“Naugatuck Valley Community College… will be training students to enter the workforce for the first time, as well as offering training to companies for their (current) workers,” said NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis.

Posted October 5, 2012 based on a press release as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

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Xenophon ‘Zenny’ Zorba Oct 29 1940 – Sept 17 2012

Xenophon “Zenny” Zorba. Zenny was well known in Mansfield and surrounding towns as owner and operator of the former Zenny’s Restaurant in Storrs-Mansfield, CT, where his friends in the community visited him daily for nearly 30 years until 2010, be it for dinner, a wedding, any one of a number of celebrations, a classical chamber music concert, or simply to watch the Red Sox, UCONN, or Jeopardy together over a drink.

Xenophon “Zenny” Zorba, 71, of Willington, CT, loving husband of Alisonn (Ensell) Zorba, passed away peacefully Sept. 17, 2012 at home.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Storrs Congregational Church, 2 North Eagleville Road, on the Storrs-UConn campus.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Storrs Congregational Church.

Zenny was born on Oct. 29, 1940 in Katerini, Greece to Alexander and Rebecca (Sideropoulos) Zorba.

Zenny was well known in Mansfield and surrounding towns as owner and operator of the former Zenny’s Restaurant in Storrs-Mansfield, CT, where his friends in the community visited him daily for nearly 30 years until 2010, be it for dinner, a wedding, any one of a number of celebrations, a classical chamber music concert, or simply to watch the Red Sox, UCONN, or Jeopardy together over a drink.

The hundreds of employees over the years were like family to Zenny and would stay in touch with him many years after they worked there.

Zenny came to the United States in 1947 and lived in and around Boston up to 1967. As a young man, Zenny worked hard at many different vocations, from driving a taxi, to going up 5 stories to paint buildings, to working at a Coca Cola bottling plant.

In 1967 Zenny moved to Connecticut, where he learned the building trade and ultimately owned and operated his own building and foundation business through the 1970s. During this time, Zenny helped many people become first-time homeowners.

In 1980, Zenny opened Zenny’s Restaurant at Four Corners – the intersection of Routes 44 and 195, and then expanded the business twice throughout the decade.

While it took him 54 years to finally get around to it, one of Zenny’s proudest days was becoming a citizen of the United States in 2001.

Zenny is survived by his wife Alisonn, his four children Laurie Zorba of North Billerica, MA, Christine Ann DeCarolis and her husband James of Nashua, NH, Alexander Zorba and his wife Joanne of Madison, CT and Bethany Zorba of Tolland, CT, his two grandchildren Connor Occhialini and Nicholas Zorba, and his sister Athena Kantartjis and her husband Michael of Athens, Greece.

Zenny’s family would like to thank his many friends – though there is not enough space here to individually thank the countless number of people who were a friend to him.

The family also wishes to thank Storrs Congregational Church for being a welcoming spiritual home for him during his later years and to the caring people of Vitas Hospice Care for helping him stay at home in his final peaceful days.

Potter Funeral Home www.potterfuneralhome.com is handling arrangements.

Posted October 5, 2012

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Rep. Hurlburt supports holding CL&P accountable for storm response

“Our area of the state was hit the hardest and 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 became a health issue.” – CT State Rep. Hurlburt (D-Ashford, Tolland, Willington)

State Rep. Bryan Hurlburt (D-Ashford, Tolland, Willington), in a prepared statement, said a state report critical of how CL&P handled prolonged power outages following last year’s two major storms “confirms what most people in eastern Connecticut already knew.”

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) found CL&P’s response to Tropical Storm Irene in late August 2011 and the October 2011 nor’easter to be “deficient and inadequate.” The findings could result in financial sanctions against the company.

Almost 700,000 residents and businesses lost power for up to two weeks from Irene, while just six weeks later a record 8 00,000 suffered outages from the freak October snowstorm, many lasting up to 10 days.

During this year’s legislative session, Rep. Hurlburt states, he successfully pushed for a new law to hold utility companies more accountable for their performance before, during and after storms.

“Our area of the state was hit the hardest and 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 became a health issue,” Rep. Hurlburt said.

“Clearly the status quo regarding the utilities performance was unacceptable. Frankly, the only way we are going to see improvement from the utility companies is by threatening their bottom line, and that is exactly what we did,” he said.

Public Act 12-148, An Act Enhancing Emergency Preparedness and Response, which was signed into law by Gov. Malloy in June 2012, will:

• Establish standards for the utility, telecommunication and cable companies during emergency events;

• Establish penalties in the event the companies do not meet these standards;

• Require utility companies, telecommunication companies and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Service Providers (i.e. phone service via cable companies) to submit emergency plans for restoring service;

• Create a “microgrid” pilot program to be administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection;

• Study the feasibility of requiring backup power for telecommunications towers and antennas;

• Encourage coordination of underground infrastructure projects; and

• Require the development of procedures to expedite the process of road-clearing following an emergency.

“Mother Nature is unpredictable and last fall’s double dose of her wrath was certainly one for the history books,” Rep. Hurlburt said. “That experience led to this legislation and should leave us much bettered prepared when the next big one hits.”

Posted August 2, 2012

Related link: Remarks by the PURA, at the bottom of which is a link to the draft report (in PDF format, which requires Acrobat Reader to open), which was expected to be finalized by Aug. 1, 2012 http://www.ct.gov/pura/cwp/view.asp?A=4144&Q=508102

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CT Sunday liquor sales expected to begin by May 20

The legislation allows liquor permittees to sell alcohol 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, as well as on the Memorial, Independence and Labor Day holidays, and on Mondays following any Christmas and New Year's Day that falls on a Sunday.

Connecticut residents may be buying alcohol on a Sunday for the first time, in this state, as soon as May 20. That’s what Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told reporters on Thursday morning (May 10) at a post-legislative session press conference.

The legislation allows liquor permittees to sell alcohol 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, as well as on the Memorial, Independence and Labor Day holidays, and on Mondays following any Christmas and New Year’s Day that falls on a Sunday.

Also:

• No one will be allowed to own more than three package stores (which is an increase from two under the old law).

• Minimum prices will remain intact, with one exception; retailers can sell one item per month for 10 percent below the cost of acquisition.

• Discounted items cannot be sold for less than 90 percent of the permittee’s wholesale cost.

The governor said Thursday the bill hadn’t arrived on his desk yet, but added that by early next week, he expects to receive the bill, give it a final review and sign it.

To read the full story, click here: http://www.ctmirror.org/story/16313/sunday-liquor-sales-should-begin-may-20

Posted May 12, 2012

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Five CT small businesses get boost from state program

Stafford Motor Speedway has been a destination for auto racing enthusiasts from across southern New England since 1970. Today, about 110 weekly automobile races, plus “monster truck” events and auto and motorcycle swap meets are hosted at the track in Stafford Springs.

Five Connecticut small businesses located in Stafford Springs, Manchester, Middlebury, North Haven, Rocky Hill have qualified for assistance through the state’s Small Business Express Program (EXP).

The program was created as a part of the bipartisan Jobs Bill passed during last year’s jobs special session to encourage business expansion and job growth.

In total, EXP will provide $100 million to help the state’s small businesses hire more employees and fund capital investments.

The program offers loans and matching grants to Connecticut companies with fewer than 50 employees at the time of application. It is administered by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

“The Small Business Express Program helps businesses that perform valuable services in their local communities, as well as companies that bring new products to national and international markets,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said in a press release announcing the grants.

“Whether it’s a mom-and-pop (business) on Main Street or a small tech company with big ideas, small businesses will lead the way to our economic recovery,” Gov. Malloy said.

The businesses qualifying for the grants are:

• Stafford Motor Speedway, which will combine its own $78,000 and a matching grant for the same amount to make capital improvements, including repair of a deteriorating racetrack surface. The company has been a destination for auto racing enthusiasts from across southern New England since 1970. Today, about 110 weekly automobile races, plus “monster truck” events and auto and motorcycle swap meets are hosted at the track in Stafford Springs. The project will retain four jobs.

• Onyx Spirits Company of Manchester plans to invest $165,235, plus a $100,000 matching grant, in hiring and training employees, increasing production capacity and expanding distribution throughout New England. Connecticut’s first legal “moonshine” distiller, Onyx has exceeded sales targets for statewide distribution since selling its first case of ultra premium American moonshine in October 2011.

• Enermore, LLC in Rocky Hill is receiving a $150,000 loan and a $100,000 matching grant. The funds will be invested with $1,450,000 of company money to develop a new line of consumer natural skin care products and market them domestically and internationally. Enermore is creating three new jobs.

• North Haven Ceramic Tile & Floor Covering qualified for a revolving loan in the amount of $100,000, which will help the company purchase additional inventory and hire subcontractors to meet increasing demand for its services. The company will retain ten positions.

• Weise Choice Tree Services, a licensed tree care company in Middlebury, is receiving a revolving loan of $26,000, a matching grant of $26,260, and investing company funds of $26,260 in the latest mobile access software for crews in the field, computers and other machinery and equipment. The company will add one position.

For more information on EXP or to apply for the program, visit the Small Business Express Program web page at http://www.ct.gov/ecd/cwp/view.asp?a=3931&q=489792 or contact Michelle Lugo at DECD at 860-270-8052 or Michelle.Lugo@ct.gov

Posted May 10, 2012 based on a press release from Gov. Malloy’s office

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