Learn more about impact of regional water use plans on Willington

The Willimantic River as seen from the Garden on the Bridge next to ArtSpace. Photo copyright 2011 by Brenda Sullivan

Water supply is a global issue, but locally the issues hit closer to home when towns are trying to boost economic development – while at the same time, provide enough clean drinking water and sewage service.

Mansfield is currently trying to find ways to bring businesses back to the Four Corners area (Route 44 and 195), but one of the largest obstacles is water supply.

Willimantic is trying to “grow” its downtown, and at the same time, the Willimantic Whitewater Partnership is working on a major project that would create a whitewater park and tourist destination by tapping into the power of the Willimantic River.

Willimantic already has a small hydropower station operating on the river.

To learn more about regional decisions that will affect water supply in Tolland, Storrs/Mansfield, Coventry, Willington and Willimantic, come to the Water Supply Forum that will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. this Wednesday, May 11.

The forum, hosted by the Willimantic River Alliance, will be held at Storrs Community Church, 90 Tolland Turnpike (Route 195) in Coventry (the new church across the road from Pumpkin Paul’s Farm on Route 195).

According to Meg Reich, Vice President of the Willimantic River Alliance, representatives from the University of Connecticut, the Connecticut Water Company (CWC), the Tolland Water Commission and the Mansfield Four Corners Sewer and Water Committee will make brief presentations from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m. and will be available to answer questions from 6 p.m. until the end of the forum at 9 p.m.

There also will be plans and maps on display for the following:

• CT Water Company’s proposed regional pipeline

• UConn’s new five-year water supply plan, including water conservation and wellfield management plans

• Tolland Water Commission’s water diversion application to increase water drawn from their Willimantic River wellfield

• Mansfield Four Corners Sewer and Water Committee’s draft plan for a source of water for the RT 195/44 intersection

Drawing more from the Willimantic River

The Tolland Water Commission has applied for a water diversion permit to double its withdrawals from existing wells along the Willimantic River to continue to supply Tolland homes, schools and businesses south of I-84 into the future.

It would also connect with the Connecticut Water Company’s water pipeline, from Shenipsit Lake (which already serves the Tolland Green area north of I-84) for a back-up emergency water source.

The Willimantic River Alliance suggests that the CWC could create a new regional water supply pipeline if it were to connect with the Tolland system south of I-84.

At Four Corners and UConn

A new pipeline from Tolland to Storrs-Mansfield extending along Route 195 could not only provide backup water for Tolland’s water supply needs, it could also meet the needs for water at Four Corners and the University of Connecticut in Storrs, the Alliance suggests.

A new well along the Willimantic River or interconnection with an existing piped water supply are options for Four Corners, according to a draft plan currently under review.

UConn also recently prepared a new five-year water supply plan for the Storrs and Mansfield Depot campuses and areas adjacent to the campus.

The draft March 2011 plan calls for an integrated approach to managing its wellfields along the Fenton and Willimantic Rivers.

It also explores water conservation measures, including a reclaimed water facility to recycle treated wastewater from their sewage treatment plant to use as cooling water for their central utility plant and irrigation water for campus athletic fields.

The Alliance notes that the plan acknowledges that there is a greater demand for even more water during dry summers, so a new additional source of water is needed.

Potential sources include a new well along the Willimantic River or an interconnection with an existing piped water supply… the same options as for the Four Corners area.

All of these projects involve the Willimantic River, its watershed and aquifers.

They will affect not only the towns where they are planned, Tolland and Mansfield, but also adjacent towns, the Alliance notes.

Coventry Village

Coventry Village needs more water, and may also need a new well along the Willimantic River; Mansfield and Coventry officials have met to consider sharing a well.

Tolland’s water was extended to Willington’s Hall Memorial School on Route 32 two summers ago.

CWC’s proposed regional pipeline could result in demand for more intense development along the pipeline’s corridor, affecting land not only in Tolland and Storrs-Mansfield, but in Coventry and Willington, the Alliance suggests.

The pipeline would involve transferring significant amounts of water from the Hockanum River watershed to the Willimantic River watershed.

UConn’s reclaimed water facility would recycle water, but also reduce the amount of water flowing into the Willimantic River.

Towns need to work together

All of these water diversions need to be evaluated to make sure there is a good balance of water for people and for aquatic life, the Alliance notes.

Addressed separately, these water supply decisions could be uncoordinated and could result in unintended consequences, the Alliance states.

The Willimantic River Alliance is advocating for a coordinated regional approach where all of the parties can explore solutions with mutual benefits and minimal adverse consequences.

In an effort to provide the public with more information on these important projects and to foster the communication which a regional approach will require, the WRA is hosting this water supply forum

For more information, visit the Web site at www.willimanticriver.org Or call Meg Reich at 860-455-0532

Posted May 8, 2011

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Get rid of sensitive documents responsibly on Earth Day

A free shredding and paper recycling day will be offered on Earth Day, which falls on Friday, April 22 this year.

The service is being offered by the Easter Seals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut and its subsidiary company, EnviroShred.

Shredding provides a safe and secure means for disposal of personal, confidential, or sensitive information.

EnviroShred operates as an affirmative business of Easter Seals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut and directly employs individuals with disabilities in support of fulfilling their goals of self-sufficiency and community integration.

EnviroShred is a regional leader in providing safe, secure and environmentally-friendly document destruction. The company operates in accordance with all state laws and regulations and maintains compliance with Federal Government standards for document disposal.

An important part of this service is preserving our environment. Each ton of paper that EnviroShred shreds and recycles saves 17 trees, 100 gallons of gas, 60 pounds of air pollutants, 7,000 gallons of water and 4,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

EnviroShred will also accept office materials, corrugated cardboard, X-Ray film, magazines and newspapers to be shredded and recycled.

The Earth Day shredding and recycling event will be held at EnviroShred’s facility, located at 22 Prestige Park Circle in East Hartford.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., you can bring in bags, boxes, or containers of paper to be shredded on-site, so you can feel confident your documents are destroyed.

As an introduction to EnviroShred’s services, local businesses are also invited to bring in up to four (4) boxes of papers to be shredded free.

Questions? Contact Rosemary J. Aielloat (860) 833-9861 or visit the Web site at www.enviroshredct.com.

Posted April 22, 2011

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Looking for a summer job? McD’s holding a hiring blitz on April 19

If you’re a high school student, college student or retired person looking for a part-time job… if you’re at all interested in getting a job working for McDonald’s, be prepared to show up bright and early on Tuesday, April 19 and get in line.

Or submit your application online, now.

That’s because McDonald’s is planning to do all of its spring-summer hiring on that one day.

In all, according to a press release issued by the corporation, it plans to hire up to 50,000 new workers throughout the United States on April 19.

The hirings are expected to bring McDonald’s workforce up to 700,000 – a 7.7 percent increase over current levels.

In Connecticut, McDonald’s and its franchisees expect to hire more than 1,300 new crew workers and managers on April 19, according to a local spokesperson for McDonald’s, Charlene Durham.

Durham said the new positions will include a combination of both seasonal and “sustaining full-time and part-time positions” based on each restaurant’s specific needs.

If you’re interested in a job, you’ll want to visit a participating local McDonald’s (you can call ahead to find out if your local franchise is participating) or you can apply online at http://www.McDonalds.com/Careers

Want to find out if working at McDonald’s is for you? One way is to read the stories posted on McDonald’s Website under “While I Love My McJob,” also at http://www.McDonalds.com/Careers

Posted April 17, 2011

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FBI cracks international 'bot' network that has infected more than 2 million computers

Robot wallpaper image from blingcheese.com

Today, the Department of Justice and FBI announced it has cracked a network of hackers who have infected more than 2 million computers with a malicious “bot” program that hijacks sensitive personal and financial data from computers.

Known as a “bot” network – because the malware can be controlled remotely like a robot – it infects computers with a software program known as Coreflood, which installs itself by exploiting a vulnerability in computers running Windows operating systems.

The press release issued today by the FBI calls this sting “the most complete and comprehensive enforcement action ever taken by U.S authorities to disable an international botnet.”

Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch Shawn Henry said, “These actions to mitigate the threat posed by the Coreflood botnet are the first of their kind in the United States and reflect our commitment to being creative and proactive in making the Internet more secure.”

Besides infecting personal computers, the network had accessed corporate and business computer networks and used information they contain to steal funds.

According to information contained in court filings, the group of all computers infected with Coreflood – known as the Coreflood botnet – is believed to have been operating for nearly a decade and to have infected approximately 2,336,542 computers around the world (About 1,853,005 are in the U.S.).

According to court documents, examples of illegal fund transfers allegedly conducted via Coreflood botnet include:

• $115,771 from a real estate company in Michigan,

• $78,421 from a law firm in South Carolina,

• $151,201 from an investment company in North Carolina,

• $934,528 in wire transfers that were attempted to be taken from a defense contractor in Tennessee, but was successful in stealing about $241,866.

Connecticut’s complaint filed against 13 “John Does” states, “The full extent of the financial loss caused by the Coreflood Botnet is not known, due in part to the large number of infected computers and the quantity of stolen data.”

In Connecticut

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut has filed a civil complaint against 13 “John Doe” defendants that accuses them of engaging in wire fraud, bank fraud and illegal interception of electronic communications.

Search warrants also were obtained for computer servers throughout the country, and a seizure warrant was obtained in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut for 29 domain names. (Click here for a PDF version of the warrant.)

“The seizure of the Coreflood servers and Internet domain names is expected to prevent criminals from using Coreflood or computers infected by Coreflood for their nefarious purposes,” said U.S. Attorney David B. Fein for the District of Connecticut. “I want to commend our industry partners for their collaboration with law enforcement to achieve this great result.”

Assistance was provided by Microsoft, the Internet Systems Consortium and other private industry partners, the release states.

Government will monitor infected computers

The government now has a temporary restraining order that authorizes it to respond to signals sent from infected computers in the United States, in order to stop the Coreflood software from running.

The Coreflood malware on a victim’s computer is programmed to request directions and commands from C & C [command-and-control] servers on a routine basis. A single C&C server can control millions of bots.

New versions of the malware are introduced using the C & C servers in an effort to stay ahead of security software and other virus protection updates.

If the C & C servers do not respond, the existing Coreflood malware continues to run on the victim’s computer, collecting personal and financial information.

The temporary restraining order authorizes the government to respond to these requests from infected computers in the United States using substitute servers with a command that temporarily stops the malware from running on the infected computer.

During that time, the hackers behind Coreflood will not be able to introduce different versions of the Coreflood malware onto the infected computers.

This will give computer security providers time to update their virus signatures and malicious software removal tools so their customers can use them to remove the Coreflood malware, the release states.

Is your computer infected?

The press release also states that, “The Department of Justice and FBI, working with Internet service providers around the country, are committed to identifying and notifying as many innocent victims as possible who have been infected with Coreflood, in order to avoid or minimize future fraud losses and identity theft resulting from Coreflood.”

If you are among those who are contacted, “at no time will law enforcement authorities access any information that may be stored on an infected computer.”

The FBI also stresses that this crackdown does not mean that Coreflood malware or similar forms of malware have been removed from the Internet entirely.

“Nor does it mean that criminals will not attempt to build another botnet using a different version of the Coreflood malware or other malware,” the release states. “The best defense against such malware, and botnets in general, is for users to ensure their computers are protected by regularly-updated anti-virus security software.”

The crackdown is the result of an ongoing criminal investigation by the FBI’s New Haven CT Division, in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service.

The matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang, and attorneys from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

The targeted domain names

Besides the U.S. (many in Virginia and Washington), the hackers targeted by the FBI sting also originate from Australia, Canada, Germany, India and the UK.

They also employ misleading terms such as “spamblocker,” “taxadvice, “wiki,” “wellness,” “flu.medicalcare” “ticket,” “onlinebooking,” “licensevalidate,” “gamer,” “logon,” “unreadmsg,” “mediastream” and “google” in their domain names.

Some of the domain names (and their tertiary domain names) include:

SINKHOLE-00.SHADOWSERVER.ORG; adv-webhost.com; node1.adv-webhost.com; alex.adv-webhost.com; antrexhost.com; ads.antrexhost.com; cafe.antrexhost.com; coffeeshop.antrexhost.com; marker.antrexhost.com; old.antrexhost.com; spamblocker.antrexhost.com; bonuspages.net;

And… carl.bonuspages.net; diplodoger.com; ns1.diplodoger.com; ehostville.com; taxadvice.ehostville.com; fishbonetree.biz; brew.fishbonetree.biz; googlestat.net; hostfarmville.net; inews.hostfarmville.net; hostfields.net; wiki.hostfields.net; wellness.hostfields.net; hostnetline.com; ticket.hostnetline.com; joy4host.com; just-twin.com; celsius.just-twin.com; licensevalidate.net; acdsee.licensevalidate.net; savupdate.licensevalidate.net; medicalcarenews.org; flu.medicalcarenews.org; medinnovation.org; vaccina.medinnovation.org; nebuladay.net; gamer.nebuladay.net;

And… nethostplus.net; accounts.nethostplus.net; imap.nethostplus.net; logon.nethostplus.net; mediastream.nethostplus.net; onlinebooking.nethostplus.net; pop3.nethostplus.net; schedules.nethostplus.net; taxfree.nethostplus.net; netwebplus.net; ipadnews.netwebplus.net;

And… penlist.net; butik2000.penlist.net; realgoday.net; dru.realgoday.net; stafilocox.net; exchange.stafilocox.net; unreadmsg.net; jane.unreadmsg.net; vip-studions.net; a-gps.vip-studions.net; and virtukon.com; kelvin.virtukon.com.

What you should do

Make sure you have virus and malware protection, make sure it’s up to date (usually there are daily updates), keep the program running and schedule a daily full scan.

To learn more about what you can do to protect your computer, including how to download and receive updates on security issues, visit these sites operated by U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) and the Federal Trade Commission: us-cert.gov/nav/nt01 and onguardonline.gov/topics/malware.aspx

Posted April 13, 2011

Protect yourself from price gouging from contractors hired to clear your roof

When it comes to cleaning off accumulated snow, some roofs will require more work than others, but homeowners should be cautious and get a written estimate of costs from the contractor. Courtesy photo.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has issued a warning that homeowners take some precautions when hiring a contractor to clear their roofs of snow and ice.

The warning comes on the heels of several reports of roofs collapsing, mainly on commercial buildings, but also including some homes and barns.

Gov. Malloy suggests residents

• contact the Department of Consumer Protection for information about contractors and

• get a written estimate for services.

There have been reports of some contractors asking for upwards of $2,000 for their services, which suggests they are taking advantage of homeowners’ fears and the high demand for these services.

“We are getting reports of possible price gouging by contractors offering roof snow removal. The best advice is, if possible, to get a price from more than one contractor, and always have the contractor put the price in writing,” Gov. Malloy said.

Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. echoed the governor’s advice.

“This isn’t a perfect situation – rooftops need to be cleared quickly – so a traditional contract between the homeowner and the contractor may not be possible. Even so, get out a sheet of paper and write out what the contractor has told you verbally he is going to do – ‘remove all snow and ice from rooftop for one hundred dollars’ for instance – and have the contractor sign the piece of paper,” Farrell urged.

“You don’t want the price to start fluctuating once the contractor is on the roof,” Farrell said.

Depending upon the nature of the roof, the homeowner should also specify in writing whether it is only the roof that is to be cleared, or whether ice needs to be removed from gutters as well.

Gov. Malloy said, “As we get more mixed precipitation and melting, those gutters have to be functioning or water could flow into homes and cause damage, so while workers are on the roof, this should be done as well.”

Price-gouging investigation

Farrell also cautioned Connecticut contractors that reports of price gouging will be investigated and pursued. “The sky is not the limit on the price that can be charged for roof snow removal,” he said.

“There has to be a reasonable basis between the size of the roof, the time involved in removing the snow, and a comparable ascertainable hourly rate – such as that for home improvement work – that would normally be charged for similar work under normal circumstances. Every situation will be different, but the test of whether price gouging occurred will be whether the contractor can justify the price using an objective standard.”

Gov. Malloy added that insurance coverage is another essential part of hiring a contractor.

“There have been instances of contractors falling off of roofs while doing snow removal – make sure your contractor is insured to do that work, before the work starts and someone gets hurt,” he said.

Another note of caution – anyone removing snow from a roof, whether homeowner or contractor, should be extremely careful of any kind of above-ground wiring and keep all tools away from power lines.

You can reach the Department of Consumer Protection hotline with this toll-free number weekdays during business hours: 1-800-842-2649.

Posted Feb. 8, 2011

Business owner grateful to escape safely when roof collapsed

The top floor of this building at 505 Main St. in Middletown, CT collapsed the morning of Feb. 2, 2011. Courtesy photo

The three story brick building at 505 Main St. in Middletown that collapsed under the weight of successive snow and ice storms was home to Guilmartin, DiPiro & Sokolowski, LLC, a certified public accounting firm. It is owned by two partners of the firm, Mike DiPiro and Mike Sokolowski.

Two members of the firm were in the 120-year-old, flat-roofed building at the time of the collapse which was at about 10:30 a.m.

Both escaped without injuries. “Everyone is okay,” Dipiro said.

“We would like to assure our clients that all systems are backed up and that no data has been lost. All of our files are intact and the computers were not damaged,” he added.

The computers were housed in the building’s basement.

Dipiro told news reporters that he heard a cracking sound and he shouted “Run, Chris,” as he and his co-worker escaped from the building.

Shortly after that, the third floor of the building collapsed, sending bricks flying below and across Main Street in what witnesses said sounded like an explosion.

Acting Fire Marshal Al Santostefano told The Associated Press the entire third floor of the building was destroyed.

Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas were called to the scene to shut off power and gas.

Main Street (Route 66) was closed from Washington Street to Liberty Street while emergency crews checked nearby buildings. An apartment building was evacuated when cracks in that structure were discovered.

The New Haven Advocate reports that 100 people were evacuated from a three-block section of Main Street at about 12:30 p.m. and were given temporary shelter at the Middletown High School.

The building’s collapse – and closing Main Street – meant businesses were closed in that area today, but Dipiro said his company at least has a “disaster recovery plan.”

That plan is to relocate to new offices in downtown Middletown within the next week and the company “will resume business as usual as quickly as possible,” he said.

“Thankfully, this was not a tragedy,” said Dipiro. “We are grateful for the outpouring of support from the Middletown Fire Department and business community.”

Guilmartin, DiPiro & Sokolowski, LLC was founded in 1972.

Posted Feb. 2, 2011

Related link:

NECN video http://www.necn.com/02/02/11/Roofs-are-collapsing-across-Connecticut-/landing_weather.html?blockID=402700&feedID=4211

Recall issued for organic and other salad mixes sold at Stop and Shop, other local stores

Olivia's Organics is one of the salad products under the State Garden recall for mixes produced Jan. 4, 2011.

State Garden based in Chelsea, MA is conducting a voluntary recall of all salad products produced at its plant on Jan. 4, 2011 due to a risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy persons may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

No Listeria illnesses have currently been linked to any State Garden product.

Salad products and blends under this recall were distributed to retail stores on the East Coast under various sizes and packaged under the brand names: Gold Quality, Hannaford, Natures Place, Natures Promise, Roche Bros, Northeast Fresh, Noreast Fresh, Olivia’s Organics, Signature and Wegmans.

See http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm241088.htm for the specific salad product, size, package type and UPC codes – and look for these “trace back” code numbers (45693 and 45703), which are typically found on the upper right corner of labels and bags.

The “best if used by” date will be no later than Jan. 15, 2011 for either trace back code.

The company was notified by the Rhode Island Department of Health that a sample of Northeast Spring Mix Salad at a retail store in Rhode Island tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

Consumers who have purchased this product should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions can contact the company at 1-888-841-6191 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 .pm. (EST) Monday through Friday.

The company says the recall is a precautionary measure and it is working with the FDA and the Massachusetts Department of Health.

Posted Jan. 29, 2011

Atty. Gen. Jepsen says CT interests need protecting in NU merger with Boston company

Attorney General George Jepsen Monday (Jan. 24) called on state utility regulators to exercise their “clear authority” to review the proposed merger of Northeast Utilities with Boston-based NSTAR, to ensure that Connecticut utility customers are protected.

“This merger has enormous potential ramifications in Connecticut. It is important that any impact on consumers be considered and weighed and any necessary conditions to protect them be imposed before this merger goes through,” Jepsen said.

In October, NU and NSTAR, a gas-electric utility, announced a stock-for-stock merger that would result in a $17.5 billion corporation called Northeast Utilities.

It would have headquarters in Boston and Hartford and would be one of the nation’s largest utilities.

In written exceptions filed Monday, Jepsen urged the state Department of Public Utility Control to reconsider its draft decision of Jan. 19, in which the department said it had no authority to review the merger because there was no clear change in corporate control.

Jepsen disagreed. “The NU that will exist, if the merger is consummated as proposed, is a vastly different corporate entity from the NU that currently operates in the state of Connecticut,” he wrote. “The only thing remaining constant after this merger will be the name of the surviving entity – NU.”

Jepsen noted that as proposed, after the merger, “NU will be lead by an NSTAR executive from an out-of-state headquarters and overseen by boards of directors and trustees that have as many NSTAR-controlled seats as they do NU seats. Moreover, 44 percent of the stock in the post-merger NU will be held by NSTAR investors.”

Jepsen said the proposed management changes were significant enough to require the department’s review.

“These changes are fundamental and indicate that a new entity will have the power to exercise control over Connecticut public service companies CL&P and Yankee Gas,” he said.

Assistant Attorneys General Michael C. Wertheimer and John S. Wright are representing Jepsen before the DPUC.

Posted Jan. 24, 2011