Info events planned for new power plan

Residents are invited to two presentations about a fixed-rate electricity agreement established by the town earlier this month that could save ratepayers money.

The agreement was made with Direct Energy, an electricity pro­vider that serves more than 6 mil­lion residential and commercial customers in 46 states.

The two information sessions will be held at the Patriot’s Park Lodge on 172 Lake St. on Wednesday at 10 a.m. and Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during Pumpkin Fest, an annual Halloween cel­ebration in town. In 2009, the Direct Energy saved its customers approximately $5.9 million through its offers in United Illuminating and Connecticut Light & Power service territories.

Three other local towns, Wind­ham, Hampton and Hebron, have reached the agreement with Direct Energy while Lebanon is consid­ering the option.

Under the “Direct Choice” pro­gram, senior citizens who are 65 and older and own their resi­dence will pay 8.99 cents per kilowatt hour from October 2010 through June 2011. This covers the November 2010 through July 2011 billing cycles.

Younger customers will pay a fixed rate of 9.29 cents per kilo­watt hour during the same time frame. Senior citizens must prove their age to receive the discount.

Recently, Town Manager John Elsesser said there is no enroll­ment or early termination fees for the program and residents can back out at anytime. There also is no deadline for registration.

Elsesser said Direct Choice cus­tomers would save up to 18 percent on electrical costs, not including additional costs. Electricity com­prises about 50 percent of each electric bill. The savings won’t affect taxes and distribution fees.

Public Works Director Tim Webb said the sessions were scheduled because many residents wanted more information about “Direct Choice.”

He said individuals wanted to make a “good, educated” deci­sion.

Elsesser said the town has re­ceived positive feedback about the program, but word is spreading slowly.

He said one local business own­er was happy the town made the agreement because there are “too many options” sometimes for electricity and other services.

After Wednesday’s session, which focuses on senior citizen discounts under the program, the town will have a better idea how many people are interested and what their concerns are, Elsesser said. He said people are often uncomfortable with change.

“In New England, change comes slow,” Elsesser said. ” Sticking with the status quo is a very com­fortable thing.” Webb said individuals should look into the program because it could benefit them financially.

” There could be some good sav­ings there,” Webb said.

Residents who are interested in the plan should bring a copy of the last month’s electric bill to the pre­sentation to facilitate the switch to the Direct Choice plan.

To learn more about Direct Energy’s Direct Choice offer, resi­dents can log on to www.directener­gy. com or contact Direct Energy’s Customer Service Department toll free at (866) 803-4618, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also call the town manager’s office 742-6324 for information, as well.

Posted 9-28-2010

Local and delicious – taste the flavors of Farm-to-Chef Harvest Celebration

Blood Root Restaurant in Bridgeport, a feminist vegetarian restaurant with a seasonal menu, is one of the participants in the Farm-to-Chef Harvest Celebration Week Sept. 26 – Oct. 2, 2010.

The first-ever Farm-to-Chef Harvest Celebration Week is set for Sept. 26 to October 2. This special week is meant to increase awareness and appreciation for the rich heritage of Connecticut agriculture.

The fruits of the state’s farms will be on display and on the menu at more than 80 restaurants, farms and other establishments.

In announcing the specially-designated week, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said, “What better way to celebrate the bountiful harvest from Connecticut’s farms and fields than with a unique dining experience across the state?”

“Connecticut agriculture and the benefit we derive from it – from beautiful open space to healthy, fresh, locally grown delights to the jobs the industry creates – contributes greatly to our quality of life,” Gov. Rell said.

A kick-off event will be held at the Coventry Farmers’ Market on Sunday, Sept. 26. Chefs from participating locations – including Zest Restaurant’s Carrie Landry, Saybrook Point Inn and Spa’s Carlos Cassar, and Max’s Oyster Bar’s Scott Miller – will shop the market and cook with the Connecticut Grown ingredients.

This event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the market, which is located at the Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street in Coventry, and is free and open to the public.

And there’s more…

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DOAG) has posted menus, hours of operation, and other information from the 80-plus participating restaurants and farms (in PDF format) on its Web site at http://www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?a=2778&q=330850

Each of these locations will feature a special Farm-to-Chef menu that week, showcasing a bounty of Connecticut Grown ingredients.

And Connecticut wines will be offered by those venues that serve alcohol.

“The variety of choices is tremendous,” said Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture F. Philip Prelli.

Farm-to-Chef Harvest Celebration Week’s “rules,” which allow for flexibility and creativity, are one reason for the high number of participants, explained Manager of the Farm-to-Chef Program Linda Piotrowicz.

“Participants responded with some extremely creative, exciting menus,” she said.

It may surprise some to know that menus will include Connecticut Grown beef, lamp, pork and even goat.

Seafood ingredients will include local oysters, clams, scallops, mussels, lobster, shrimp and calamari.

Dairy and eggs will be featured in plates of local cow- and goat-milk cheeses, scrambled eggs and omelets.

Pizza, burgers and sandwiches – all with Connecticut Grown ingredients – will accommodate eaters on the go.

Prices range from free samples and a la carte items as low as $1.50 to fixed-price complete meals $75 and up.

Vegetarians, vegans, and raw foodists will have plenty of choices too, including meat-free moussaka, pumpkin- or squash-filled ravioli, corn-crusted tofu pot pie, raw broccoli-walnut soup, zucchini lasagna with “rawcotta” and marinara, green smoothies, and a plethora of salads full of Connecticut Grown produce.

Desserts and confections will include maple-bacon ice cream, apple pie, berry cobbler, white chocolate raspberry tart, and chocolates spiced with local peppers or herbs, just to name a few.

And from the vine…

The state currently boasts approximately 35 licensed farm wineries, making local grape and wine production among the fastest growing agricultural sectors in Connecticut.

The Department of Agriculture hopes Farm-to-Chef Harvest Celebration Week will help introduce the public to what it considers one of the state’s best-kept secrets.

“Connecticut wines are very diverse and delicious.  From the unique fruit wines to traditional grape wines, Connecticut wines offer a great variety of taste,” said Commissioner Prelli.

Oh, the places you will go…

The public will have a chance to visit a wide variety of venues while enjoying Farm-to-Chef Harvest Celebration Week.

Besides restaurants, there are schools, corporate dining services, caterers, prepared food counters, farms, wineries, a hospital, ice cream parlors, a chocolatier, and a farmers’ market that will offer delicious dishes.

Some also will host related activities during the week such as farm talks and tours, cooking demonstrations and more.

More information about Farm-to-Chef Harvest Celebration Week can be found at these links:

CT Department of Agriculture www.CTGrown.gov

A blog featuring Farm-to-Chef Harvest Celebration Week participants www.CTFarmtoChefNetwork.typepad.com

The Farm-to-Chef Program was established by the CT Department of Agriculture in 2006 to help connect local culinary professionals with producers and distributors of CT Grown products. This is the first time a whole week will be set aside for this program.

Members in the free Farm-to-Chef Program enjoy an informational newsletter, workshops, networking, promotions and other opportunities. The program also helps guide the public to dining establishments serving Connecticut Grown foods.

For more information, contact Linda Piotrowicz at 860-713-2558 or linda.piotrowicz@ct.gov

Posted Sept. 24, 2010

Related link:

Blood Root Restaurant http://www.bloodroot.com/index.htm

Coventry Farmer’s Market: ‘Green Up, Connecticut!’ event

Chris Brown, featured on NPR, will bring examples of unusual bicycles including this Yuba Mundo, which is carrying a Melon Slice folding bike. Photo from Chris Brown's Web site, Daily Rider.

On Sunday, Sept. 5 at the Coventry Farmer’s Market, it’s ‘Green Up, Connecticut!’ day. Event sponsor Ackert Electric will be with us. Tim’s crew delivers top notch electrical work with an eye toward energy conservation.

Chris Brown also will join us with his cargo bike.

You may have heard Chris as a guest on WNPR’s Colin McEnroe show on urban biking. Chris’s blog Daily Rider is dedicated to the practical everyday use of bicycles for transportation and more.

Do you have a log or two in your yard that would make fine lumber if milled? On Sunday, Peter Nyberg of CT Logs to Lumber will set up and run his portable sawmill.

Peter’s small business brings the sawmill to your site. Native lumber is rough-sawn on the spot and readied for use. That’s a pretty cool local harvest option!

NadJah’s Knickers’ makes, from recycled wool, a variety of styles of wool diaper covers and matching tunics, hats and skirts.

Orchid Deer Dalomba is a cloth diaper educator who can offer information, demos and literature on cloth diapering. Orchid also makes tote bags from recycled T-shirts and duct tape.

Avalon, a lovely little shop in Coventry, will discuss “green” make up and a more natural approach to nurturing your body, and share lots of samples!

The kids from the Norwich G.R.E.E.N.S. school gardens will join us!

Bill Cherniske from Viridian Energy will discuss wind energy and other “green energy” alternatives.

The Community Problem Solving team from Coventry and East Catholic High Schools will share their efforts to preserve the health of Lake Wangumbaug.

Berkeley Nowosad from New Ground Custom Green Homes will discuss custom built green homes.

The Coventry High School Earth Club will share information for Coventry residents regarding the CL&P Clean Energy Options Program.  Those who join this program will receive two phosphorescent light bulbs, a battery charger and rechargeable batteries.

The Master Gardeners will show us how to clean indoor air with houseplants and address your questions on current garden insect and disease problems.

And visit some really “green” demos under our program tent:

Noon – Chris from Bean and Leaf will share his tips for composting coffee.  We brew coffee at home and at the office… composting the waste is a simple step that’s easy to do.

12:30 – MaryLynne of Bethany Homecrafts will teach a session on rug braiding.  This “lost art” turns fabric scraps into a useful work of art.  This is a great chance to learn the skills involved from a master craftsman.

1 p.m. – Ann of Healthy Cleaning Solutions will explain toxic vs. non-toxic cleaning, Himalayan salt stones, pumice stones and how to make your own green cleaning solutions.

The market is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays from June through October on the grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead at 2299 South St. in Coventry. For directions, to subscribe to the newsletter for for more information about the Coventry Farmers Market, visit the Web site at http://coventryfarmersmarket.com

Posted Sept. 4, 2010

The new $100 bill and how to spot a fake

The $100 bill has been redesigned with dozens of new security features and will be put into circulation in February 2011. Image provided by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing

While it’s true many of us are not likely to have a wad of $100 bills in our wallets, many of us do handle cash as part of our job. And because the $100 bill recently received a makeover, the federal government wants us to know what to look for, to distinguish between the real thing and counterfeit currency.

The redesigned bill is so high-tech, it’s like something out of a James Bond film or, to be more current, The Matrix.

The newly designed $100 bill has a 3-D “security ribbon,” for example. (In fact, each denomination of currency has a different ribbon that can be seen under a UV light.)

Other features include raised print in the portrait of Benjamin Franklin on one shoulder, ink that shifts color as you move the bill, tiny printed words inside the jacket in the portrait, as well as more cool things to look for.

To make the design changes easy to spot and understand why they make it harder to create a counterfeit bill, the federal government’s Redesigned Currency Public Education Program released on Aug. 18 an educational online video/ Podcast, “How to Detect a Counterfeit.”

It can be viewed at www.newmoney.gov

The video is the second in a series created to increase public awareness about the new $100 bill, which will begin circulating on Feb. 10, 2011.

The “How to Detect a Counterfeit” video discusses how to identify the security features in the redesigned $100 note, including the new 3-D Security Ribbon and the Bell in the Inkwell.

The video also includes some common tricks counterfeiters use to fool businesses and consumers, what to do if you suspect someone is trying to pass a counterfeit note, and information about what the U.S. Secret Service does to combat counterfeiting operations.

The New Money Web site itself offers lots of other interesting information, as well as a game that allows you to design your own bill. (Check out my design, below.)

The www.newmoney.gov site includes other interesting information and a game in which you can design your own bill. Here's my "monster cash" version of the $100 bill.

Posted Aug. 28, 2010

Editor’s note: Information for this story provided by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Changes to credit card rules you need to know

Congressman Joe Courtney met with seniors in Lebanon to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Social Security on Aug. 14, 2010. He says seniors are often the hardest hit by credit card policies. Courtesy photo.

From Congressman Joe Courtney:

Earlier this week, provisions designed to protect credit card holders went into effect across the country as part of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure or CARD Act.

I fought for the CARD Act because it addresses many of the deceptive and frustrating practices used by credit card companies – many of which I have heard about directly from constituents.

Some changes have already gone into effect as of earlier this year, but as of August 22, 2010 credit card companies must adhere to the following consumer-friendly rules, as well:

Reasonable penalty fees

Previously: A late payment fee may have been as high as $39, and you likely pay the same fee whether you are late with a $20 minimum payment or a $100 minimum payment.

Now: Your credit card company cannot charge you a fee higher than $25 unless: (1) One of your last six payments was [also] late, in which case the fee may be up to $35; or (2) Your credit card company can justify a higher fee by showing that it incurs costs as a result of late payments.

Also, your credit card company cannot charge a late payment fee greater than your minimum payment.

Therefore, if you have a minimum payment of $20, your late payment fee can’t be more than $20.

Similarly, if you exceed your credit limit by $5, you can’t be charged an over-the-limit fee of more than $5.

Re-evaluation of recent rate increases

Previously: Your credit card company could increase your card’s APR with no obligation to re-evaluate the rate increase.

Now: If your credit card company increases your APR, it must re-evaluate that rate increase every six months. If appropriate, it must reduce your rate within 45 days of completing the evaluation.

Additional fee protections

No inactivity fees. Your credit card company cannot charge you inactivity fees for not using your card.

One-fee limit

Your credit card company cannot charge you more than one fee for a single event or transaction that violates your agreement as a cardholder. For example, you cannot be charged more than one fee for a single late payment.

As I mentioned, these are the last of several rules implemented as part of the CARD Act. A list of the protections that went into effect earlier this year can be found at this link to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Web site:

http://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/wyntk_creditcardrules.htm

As always, I look forward to hearing from you about this or any other information.

Please feel free to contact me at http://courtney.house.gov/email to share your thoughts or concerns.

Editor’s note:

Some of the changes affecting bank practices when it comes to credit cards that went into effect in February 2010 are especially important. Among them:

• If your credit card company does raise your interest rate after the first year, the new rate will apply only to new charges you make. If you have a balance, your old interest rate will apply to that balance.

• If your payment due date is on a weekend or holiday (when the company does not process payments), you will have until the following business day to pay. (For example, if the due date is Sunday the 15th, your payment will be on time if it is received by Monday the 16th before 5 p.m.).

• If you opt-in to allowing transactions that take you over your credit limit, your credit card company can impose only one fee per billing cycle. You can revoke your opt-in at any time. [Talk to your bank representative about how to sign up to allow transactions over the limit; most banks are assuming you don't want this option if you do NOT contact them.]

Information about more changes is available at the link included in Congressman Courtney’s letter, above.

Posted Aug. 27, 2010

Federal ‘Strike Force' nets truck and bus drivers who evade drug testing and their employers

Gov. Rell recently reported on the first two weeks of a crackdown on truck drivers/ commercial haulers in Connecticut who were driving overtired or over load limits, or with bad tires and other unsafe practices.

Now, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that 109 commercial bus and truck drivers were removed from the country’s roads as a result of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s annual drug and alcohol strike force sweep June 21 through July 2.

Also, more than 175 companies face enforcement actions.

“If you are a commercial driver or carrier operating in violation of federal drug and alcohol laws, we will remove you from our roadways,” said LaHood.

“Parents deserve to know their children are being driven by bus drivers who are drug and alcohol free, and every motorist deserves to feel confident that the drivers of large trucks and buses are safe and sober,” he said.

During the two-week sweep, FMCSA strike force investigators examined the drug and alcohol safety records of commercial drivers employed by bus and truck companies, including school bus drivers, interstate passenger carriers, hazardous material transporters and general freight long-haul trucking companies.

Their goals were to identify motor carriers in violation of federal drug and alcohol testing requirements and to remove from the road commercial truck and bus drivers who jump from carrier to carrier to evade federal drug and alcohol testing and reporting requirements.

“FMCSA is committed to ensuring that only safe commercial drivers and carriers are allowed to operate,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.

The 109 commercial drivers identified in the sweep face monetary fines and being barred from operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Additionally, 175 commercial carriers face enforcement actions for violations such as using a driver who has tested positive for illegal drugs and for not instituting a drug and alcohol testing program.

Both drivers and carriers will have an opportunity to contest the alleged violations and the amount of the civil penalties.

Posted Aug. 21, 2010

Garage, roof work will not hurt taxpayers

Local officials speaking at a town meeting Thursday said residents will not be financially burdened by the public works garage and roof replacement projects.
Those are two major town projects that will be decided at a referendum later this month.

The projects were discussed at a special town meeting on Thursday night in the Coventry High School Veteran’s Auditorium.

The town is seeking $3.35 million to replace the public works garage facility on Bradbury Lane.

Meanwhile, $3.24 million is being sought to fix the roofs of Capt. Nathan Hale Middle School, Coventry Grammar School and George Hersey Robertson Intermediate School.

Of that money, $1.6 million will be bonded and the rest funded by anticipated state reimbursements.

Town officials presented the two projects at a special town meeting at Coventry High School Thursday night. The projects will be brought to referendum on Aug. 31.

Town Manager John Elsesser said the projects won’t increase taxes and half of the savings from last fiscal year will go to the two projects. He did not specify how much money was saved.

The state will help defray much of the cost of the roof project, according to Al Jacunski of Jacunski Humes Architects LLC, a firm involved in the evaluation of the roofs.

Elsesser said the state currently funds school roof replacement projects, which will help the town financially.

The roofs became an issue when leaks were noticed a few months ago.

“Connecticut is more generous with these types of projects than other states,” Elsesser said of state reimbursements.

Jacunski said the state has been funding these projects for about 30 years.
However, Elsesser said he is worried the state will eventually stop this funding, making the project urgent.

The roofs are in dire need of repairs and town officials were hoping they would be fixed sooner.

Jacunski said it is hoped work on the roofs will start next July and August and get them finished by the time school starts next fall.

Jacunski’s firm found several problems with the roofs when it examined them in July, including leaks, rusting and asbestos, although he assured them the asbestos is not dangerous.

“It doesn’t require you to close the building,” Jacunski said.

The intermediate school roof, he said, was most urgent and the other schools could hold off a little longer if needed.

Jacunski said two months would be sufficient time to repair the three roofs.
The budget for the public works garage project has already been lowered from $3.6 million to $3.3 million. The larger garage project was shot down at a referendum earlier this year.

The current facility is outdated.

The first public works garage was built as part of the Washington Mills in 1825 and the last major renovation was done in 1946, said Karl Acimovic, chairman of the public works building committee.

Town officials said the new property, with an entrance from Route 32 off Fern Road, has already been acquired.

The town has acquired $600,000 in grants for a new salt shed and access road improvements and construction of these projects is underway.

Town officials also discussed a replacement project for the Pucker Street Bridge, though talks on that were short.

The $2.4 million project – funded with a mix of local and state/federal funds – will be decided at a referendum as part of the Nov. 2 elections.

The Town of Columbia will pay for part of that project, since the bridge straddles the border.

Posted 8-13-2010

Attorney General leads multistate investigation of Google’s unauthorized collection of data broadcast over WiFi networks

One model of a Google "Street View" car

Atty. General Richard Blumenthal announced Monday [June 21] that his office will lead a multistate investigation into Google Street Views’ unauthorized collection of personal data from wireless computer networks.

The Wi-Fi traffic collected by Google’s world-roving Street View cars reportedly included passwords and email.

Google’s Street View is a popular service that provides street-level images of locations – in several countries.

The controversy began when the BBC (in Britain) reporting that the French data protection agency CNIL, investigated the exact data that Google’s Street View cars captured, and found it included “sensitive data” such as email passwords and “data that are normally covered by… banking and medical privacy rules.”

The BBC quoted a Google spokesperson as saying, “Our ultimate objective is to delete the data consistent with our legal obligations and in consultation with the appropriate authorities.”

In this country, more than 30 states participated in a recent conference call regarding the investigation.

“My office will lead a multistate investigation – expected to involve a significant number of states – into Google’s deeply disturbing invasion of personal privacy,” Blumenthal said.

“Street View cannot mean Complete View – invading home and business computer networks and vacuuming up personal information and communications,” Blumenthal said.

“Consumers have a right and a need to know what personal information – which could include emails, web browsing and passwords – Google may have collected, how and why,” he said.

“Google must come clean, and explain how and why it intercepted and saved private information broadcast over personal and business wireless networks,” he said.

“While we hope Google will continue to cooperate, its response so far raises as many questions as it answers,” Blumenthal said. “Our investigation will consider whether laws may have been broken and whether changes to state and federal statutes may be necessary.”

Blumenthal has addressed the following questions to Google:

• Was data collected by Google ever extracted and if so, when and why?

• How did purportedly unauthorized code, which captured data broadcast over unencrypted WiFi networks, become part of a Street View computer program?

• Who inserted what Google calls “unauthorized code” into the program and why?

• Have there been other instances of engineers writing unauthorized code into Google products to capture consumer data and if so, provide all instances and full details

• Why did Google save data it says was “accidentally” collected?

Blumenthal’s office also is awaiting information from Google in response to his original May 27 letter, which asks for a list of Connecticut towns and cities in which it collected unauthorized data, when it did so and how many state networks it pulled information from.

“We want to know who did this, why and how and when Google discovered it. Another concern is whether the data was accessed in any way by Google and if so when and why,” Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal’s letter also seeks:

• Copies of the company’s internal procedures and protocols for Street View cars and data collected by them;

• What steps Google has taken to keep unauthorized code out of its products in the future;

• Whether Google conducted internal or external audits, analysis or performance reviews of its Street View program and data collected;

• How and when Google learned that its Street View cars were capturing data sent over unencrypted networks;

• Why Google Street View cars recorded the signal strength and quality of personal and business wireless networks.

Posted June 22, 2010

Video

Related Links:

Village Mob Thwarts Google Street View Car http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6022902.ece

Google’s “Street View” page – http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/index.html#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sk-svr&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=street%20view

Expect more police on the roads this Memorial Day weekend

Whichever way you go this weekend, there will probably be heavy holiday traffic as Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer season. Here, vehicles exit from I-84 onto Route 32 in Willington.

With the unofficial start of summer, state and local police are reminding people to stay safe over the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend.

AAA estimates 32.1 million Americans will be on the roads over the course of the weekend – an increase of 5.4 percent over 2009 traffic.

Last year, 30.5 million Americans traveled during the same period.

“Families and friends are excited to kick off summer with fun trips away from home,” said AAA spokesperson Jacklyn Ghergurovich.

Of the 32.1 million Americans traveling, more than 28 million nationwide – or about 87 percent – will reach their holiday destination by driving.

AAA said falling gas prices will help provide a little relief to travel budgets, as the state’s average gasoline price is currently around $2.98 per gallon, down 7 cents from last week.

Locally, gas prices were even less – as low as $2.67 in some locations in the Willimantic area, as of Friday.

There also will be more police presence on the roads.

Also, during the week starting May 30, state and local police will have increased patrols looking for intoxicated drivers and possible checkpoints for seatbelts.

During Memorial Day 2009, state police arrested 64 drunk drivers, charged 1,056 with speeding and 1,499 with seatbelt violations, police said.

They also investigated 257 crashes and two fatal accidents, state police said.

“We are anticipating that increased awareness by motorists and enforcement efforts by state troopers will help to increase safety and provide us with a safe Memorial Day weekend,” state police commander Thomas Davoren said in a press release.

“In the past we have seen several tragedies involving youths and motor vehicles. These accidents remind us to pause and reflect how important good driving skills and the actions of drivers can be.”

State Police out of Troop K in Colchester, which patrols towns including Windham, Columbia, Hebron and Lebanon, will have roving patrols this weekend, police said.

Police anticipate having additional patrols on Friday and Saturday on Routes 2, 66 and 85 in Colchester, Lebanon, Hebron and Marlborough, police said.

State Police from Troop C in Tolland will have roving patrols Friday through Sunday in local towns such as Mansfield, Ashford and Willington, police said.

Police also remind drivers to pay attention to their speed. And if a person sees a suspected drunk driver, report it immediately by calling 911.

The Connecticut State Police offer these tips on being safe this weekend and in the upcoming summer months:

• Wear your seat belt
• Obey speed limits
• Don’t follow the car in front of you too closely
• Eliminate distractions in the vehicle while driving.
• Stay off the cell phone [fines have increased and there is no "first time" warning - you will get a ticket]
• Never drink and drive

Paul Walker, senior meteorologist for AccuWeather.com, said Saturday should be a mix of sun and clouds with a high around 75 degrees and a possible thunderstorm.

He said it’s difficult to say when there could be a thunderstorm, but that the best chance was in the afternoon.

Sunday and Monday though, will be clear, Walker said.

“It’s going to be nice,” he said, adding Sunday will be warm with a high of 87 degrees, while Monday will be mostly sunny with a high around 82 degrees.

Posted May 29, 2010

New jobs bill focuses on small business, green technologies, training, investment incentives

One feature of Connecticut's new jobs bill provides 25 percent personal income tax credits for up to $100,000 in “angel investments” in bioscience, photonics, information technology and green technology businesses. Image of roadside charger for electric cars courtesy of GreenOptions.com

Gov. M. Jodi Rell this week announced passage of sweeping, bipartisan jobs legislation that offers incentives for employers, supports small business and emerging industries, provides resources for tuition and training, helps manufacturers find efficiencies and includes accountability measures to safeguard state taxpayer dollars.

House Bill 5435, An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Majority Leaders Job Growth Roundtable, passed 140-4 in the House and unanimously in the Senate on May 12.

“This may very well be the most important bill – other than the budget – we passed all year,” Gov. Rell said.

“All of us agreed there were really only two priorities this year – the budget and jobs. We passed a budget, on time, for the first time in four years. And today we celebrate the centerpiece of a number of jobs bills that address Issue No. 1 for the people of our state: keeping and growing jobs.

“The less we worried about who got the credit – and the more we focused on what made it into the bill – the more we were likely to accomplish. This legislation has elements I offered in my budget speech, elements from the Majority Leaders’ Roundtable and elements proposed by legislative Republicans. More importantly, the people of our state will benefit in ways large and small – which is exactly how it should be.”

Highlights of the bill:

• Provides up to $500,000 in loans and lines of credit for small businesses and nonprofits

• Sales tax exemption for machinery, supplies and fuel used in renewable energy industries

• Tax credits and a cap of $200 on insurance premiums for small businesses that create new jobs and/or hire workers with disabilities

• Loan reimbursement and training grants for education and careers in green technology, life sciences and health information technology

• Establishes a Community-Technical College advisory board to assess training needs of unemployed residents

• Authorizes up to $150,000 in pre-seed financing and technical services to businesses developing innovative concepts

• Provides 25 percent personal income tax credits for up to $100,000 in “angel investments“  in bioscience, photonics, information technology and green technology businesses

• Authorizes $1.3 million in bonds for mortgage-crisis job training

• Establishes waste-reduction task force to study reducing or eliminating duplicative procedures

• Expands Dept. of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner’s duties in technical assistance for exporting, manufacturing and cluster-based initiatives

• Establishes DECD pilot program helping Connecticut-based small manufacturers implement green technologies and become more efficient

• Evaluates resources needed to include job-impact analyses in fiscal notes and report those findings to the Office of Legislative Management by Dec. 1, 2010

Posted May 14, 2010

Related links:

Definition of “angel investor” from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_investor

Definition of  “cluster-based initiatives,” http://www.isc.hbs.edu/econ-clusters.htm

Green Options Web site, http://www.greenoptions.com