CT Dept of Ag to crack down on misuse of Connecticut Grown label

The Connecticut Weekly Agricultural Report announcement cites a 2005 case in which a company paid the state $70,075 for falsely using the Connecticut Grown logo on its egg cartons and deceptively using the word “farm” in its trade name.

Press Release

Today (May 28), Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky announced that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has ramped up inspection and enforcement concerning the use of the Connecticut Grown slogan, logo and label.

“It is essential that consumers who purchase agricultural products labeled ‘Connecticut Grown’ be confident those products were, in fact, grown and produced here in Connecticut,” said Commissioner Reviczky. “It is also critical that products marked ‘local,’ and/or ‘native’ are what their sellers claim them to be. Connecticut laws are very clear about the definition of these terms with respect to farm products.”

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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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Watch actual installation of solar arrays at local homes

Two Solarize Mansfield-Windham installations are coming up that will give local residents an opportunity to watch how it’s done, meet the homeowners participating in Solarize Mansfield-Windham, and have your questions answered by the official solar installer, C-TEC SOLAR. Image courtesy of C-TEC Solar

Submitted by Virginia Walton | Mansfield Recycling Coordinator

Two Solarize Mansfield-Windham installations are coming up that will give local residents an opportunity to watch how it’s done, meet the homeowners participating in Solarize Mansfield-Windham, and have your questions answered by the official solar installer, C-TEC SOLAR.

C-TEC is providing lunch, as well.

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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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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 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.

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Watch for projected images on the Willimantic Brewing Co exterior

The collection of twenty rotating images is each artist’s individual interpretation of a Green Light, in support of The Last Green Valley and their 3rd Annual Green Lights Project.

In partnership with the Willimantic Screen Project, The Willimantic Brewing Co. will host a “Green Lights Night” on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 beginning at 5 pm.

Presented in conjunction with Thread City Development Inc., Eastern Connecticut State University and the Town of Windham, the Willimantic Brewing Company will project digital images onto the High Street façade of its building each night from Wednesday thorugh St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2013.

The collection of twenty rotating images is each artist’s individual interpretation of a Green Light, in support of The Last Green Valley and their 3rd Annual Green Lights Project.

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WHALES ink multi-year deal to play XL Center

The CT Whale contract calls for the team to play at the XL Center in Hartford, CT for the 2013-2016 seasons, and includes a provision that could extend the term for an additional two years. Photo source: The Whale newsletter

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Michael Freimuth, Executive Director of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), announced today (Feb. 26) that a multi-year deal has been reached between Global Spectrum and Madison Square Garden (MSG) for the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Whale to play at the XL Center in Hartford.

The contract calls for the team to play at the XL Center for the 2013-2016 seasons, and includes a provision that could extend the term for an additional two years.

The agreement is an early critical milestone as contract negotiations progress between CRDA and Global Spectrum for management of both the XL Center and Rentschler Field.

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Gov. Malloy – Storm Sandy aid to CT tops $50 million

Milford, CT, November 17, 2012 – The constant beating of this building by Sandy’s wind and waves destroyed the electric service entry and more. FEMA opened Disaster Recovery Centers near the areas hardest hit, to help Sandy survivors rebuild safer and stronger homes. Photo by Marilee Caliendo/FEMA

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today (Feb. 22) announced that more than $50 million in federal assistance has been approved, to date, to help individuals and businesses with disaster expenses since President Obama approved the Disaster Declaration following Storm Sandy.

“I want to thank FEMA for extending the deadline to apply for disaster assistance, not once but twice,” said Gov. Malloy. “With over 12,000 claims filed, clearly many residents took advantage of the help they were entitled to.”

“Getting back to normal after a disaster like this is paramount, and the assistance from FEMA was undeniably a big factor for many in making that possible,” the governor said.

A total of 12,380 Connecticut residents registered for federal disaster assistance during the application period that ended Feb. 11.

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CT Dept of Motor Vehicles closed Feb 11-12

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 11 and 12 in observance of Lincoln’s Birthday, which is a legal State holiday.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 11 and 12 in observance of Lincoln’s Birthday, which is a legal State holiday.

The DMV will re-open for business at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Also, on Friday, Feb. 15, DMV major customer service offices will close at 12:30 p.m. to observe President Washington’s Birthday; offices will reopen Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7:45 a.m.

Some AAA offices will be open for processing license renewals on Monday and Tuesday, including Manchester, 1500 G Pleasant Valley Road.

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