Three honored for carrying on Dr. King’s legacy

February 28, 2013 Local News No Comments

Honored at the Feb. 27, 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award Reception at Eastern Connecticut State University are (L-R) the event’s keynote speaker, author and poet Billie Jean Young, Eastern student Soely Barros, Connecticut Supreme Court Justice The Honorable Lubbie Harper Jr., Assistant Dean of the School Continuing Education Indira Petoskey; and Eastern’s President Elsa Núñez. Contributed photo.

Eastern Connecticut State University presented the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award to senior Soely Barros, Indira Petoskey, assistant dean of the School Continuing Education and the Honorable Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Lubbie Harper Jr. at a reception on Feb. 27 in the J. Eugene Smith Library.

The awards recognize members of the campus community and community-at-large whose actions demonstrate distinguished service in promoting the ideals of Dr. King, and to further the goals of diversity and social equality.

Watch for projected images on the Willimantic Brewing Co exterior

February 26, 2013 Arts & Entertainment, Business, Local News No Comments

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.

WHALES ink multi-year deal to play XL Center

February 26, 2013 Business, Sports No Comments

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.

Windham Theatre Guild presents WWII classic

February 24, 2013 Arts & Entertainment No Comments

The Windham Theatre Guild presents the next SecondStage production for the 2012-2013 season, Arthur Miller’s classic drama “All My Sons,” with four performances only, at the Burton Leavitt Theatre.

It’s WWII and Joe Keller and Steve Deever run a machine shop that makes airplane parts for the army. When the shop turns out defective parts, Keller and Deever are tried and sent to prison, but Keller gets his conviction overturned and even makes a lot of money… but his crimes come back to haunt him.

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

February 22, 2013 Areawide, Business No Comments

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.

Congressman Joe Courtney on looming budget cuts

February 21, 2013 Areawide, Letters to Editor No Comments

Connecticut Congressman Joe Courtney.

Dear Friend,

Last Friday, with sequestration’s across-the-board, indiscriminate cuts looming and a host of outstanding issues still unaddressed, Speaker Boehner called a vote on whether the House should adjourn and return home for the week.

I voted against adjourning and said, “As precious seconds tick away, the House should be in Washington doing its job and finding a compromise to protect our economy. Speaker Boehner should reverse course, and keep the House in session.”

Sequestration was designed to spur bipartisan action in Congress to address our long-term fiscal outlook. When used in the past, that is precisely what happened. In fact, former-Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX) said: “It was never the objective of Gramm-Rudman [legislation that used sequestration in 1985] to trigger the sequester; the objective of Gramm-Rudman was to have the threat of the sequester force compromise and action.”

Connecticut militia members sue state

February 20, 2013 Areawide No Comments

Photo courtesy of 1st Company Governor’s Foot Guard

By Zachary Janowski | Raising Hale

Members of one of Connecticut’s ceremonial militia units are suing the state for allegedly seizing $10,000 worth of private ammunition, terminating a lease and failing to pay members for training.

State officials claim the unit – the 1st Company Governor’s Foot Guard – has not kept its weapons and ammunition secure, and that it was within the state’s right to terminate the lease and not pay the members for training.

The militia unit’s board of trustees do not control the 1st Company; under a unique statutory arrangement dating back to 1885, the state created a special corporate entity so the trustees could own and maintain the unit’s armory.

Although the unit is ceremonial in function today, it still falls under the command of Brig. Gen. Thaddeus Martin, adjutant general of the Connecticut Military Department.

Firefighters charged with sexual assault

February 14, 2013 Local News No Comments

Both men are members of the Coventry Volunteer Fire Association, which is commonly referred to as the South Coventry Fire Department.

Joseph Michael Carilli (left) and Joe Fragoso (right) have been charged with sexual assault. Both men are members of the South Coventry Fire Department. Photos provided by Coventry CT Police. Composite by HTNP.com

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

Coventry Police report that two firefighters were arrested today (Feb. 14) for sexual assault.

Police arrested Joseph Michael Carilli, 53, of 131 Wangumbaug Drive, Coventry, CT and Joe Fragoso, 35, of 490 Root Road, Coventry, CT

Carilli is charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. His bail is set at $500,000 and he is scheduled to be arraigned today at Rockville Superior Court.

Fragoso is charged with second-degree sexual assault. His bail is set at $250,000; he was released after posting a surety bond. His court date is set for Feb. 27, 2013 at Rockville Superior Court.

America’s funniest screwball comedy comes to Connecticut

February 13, 2013 Arts & Entertainment No Comments

The fast-talking editor of The Daily Record learns that his ex-wife and former star reporter is going to marry Bruce Baldwin, played by Actors’ Equity guest artist, Kevin Crouch (pictured here) in the upcoming performance of His Girl Friday at UConn. Publicity photo.

The Connecticut Repertory Theatre at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, presents John Guare’s adaptation of “His Girl Friday,” from Feb. 28 through March 10.

“His Girl Friday” is an all American rat-a-tat comedy adapted from the film to the stage by acclaimed playwright John Guare.

Guare’s stage adaptation of the classic movie – starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell – maintains the best of the traditional American screwball comedy form while adding sparkling theatricality and sharp political commentary for a brilliant and hysterically funny live theater event.

CT Dept of Motor Vehicles closed Feb 11-12

February 10, 2013 Areawide, Business No Comments

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.