Sunday, May 20, 2012
United Way 2-1-1 will coordinate the effort.
The state announced this week that the Department of Labor and the Department of Social Services will work together to provide help to people who are losing unemployment benefits. United Way 2-1-1 will coordinate the services, which will include access to social service and workforce development programs. “While a lower unemployment rate is good news overall, for residents in jeopardy of losing their benefits, we have a clear obligation to make sure they are aware of the assistance that’s available,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said. “Our Department of Labor and Department of Social Services have a clear mission — to make sure that our state’s safety net is in place and helping residents during this difficult time." When Connecticut's …
Friday, May 18, 2012
East Lyme First Selectman Paul Formica gets party nod to face incumbent Joe Courtney of Vernon in November, The Bulletin reports.
Republican East Lyme First Selectman Paul Formica won his party's support Friday to face Incumbent Democrat Joe Courtney in November for the 2nd Congressional District, The Bulletin reported. Nearly 60 percent of the 300 delegates voted for Formica, according to The Bulletin. Madison resident Daria Novak took 33 percent of the ballots, and Doug Dubitsky of Chaplin was third, The Bulletin said.
Test center will open in Cheshire on May 30.
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Friday, May 18
The old system went like this: Parents brought their teenager to a DMV office and waited in a long line to register for the learner's permit test. They waited again for the teenager to take the test, and again, if the teenager passed, for the permit to be issued. The process could take anywhere from an hour or two to half the day. The new system will go like this: Parents or teens can still walk in to a nearby DMV (see above), or they can go online to make an appointment for the learner's permit test, then travel to a new test center in Cheshire to take the test on a specific day and at a specific time. The DMV announced the new system this week, though the test center in Cheshire — off Exit 3 on Route 691 — does not open until May 30. "…
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ends "Blue Laws" in ceremony at Enfield Town Hall.
Connecticut's archaic "Blue Laws" prohibiting liquor stores from opening on Sundays ended Thursday, with the signing of legislation that allows those retailers the opportunity to open seven days a week if they so choose. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed the bill into law in the Town Council Chambers at Enfield Town Hall. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, state Sen. John Kissel, Rep. Kathy Tallarita and Rep. David Kiner were among the legislators present for the ceremony. The bill allows liquor permittees to sell alcohol from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, as well as on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, and on Mondays following a Christmas or New Year's Day holiday that falls on a Sunday. The governor said he chose to stage the signing ceremony…
42.00027
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820 Enfield St, Enfield, CT
/articles/sunday-liquor-sales-bill-signed-into-law
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Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Republican Town Councilman will face incumbent Democrat David Kiner in the Nov. 6 election.
Town Councilman Joe Bosco will challenge incumbent Democrat David Kiner for the 59th District seat in the state House of Representatives. Bosco, a local business owner who is serving his third term on the Council, was nominated at the 59th District convention in the Enfield Room at Town Hall Wednesday night. "I've gotten to know Joey over the last three years through the Council and budget processes and caucuses, and I've found him to be one of the most honest and direct people," said Carol Hall, a fellow Council member who nominated Bosco. "With Joey, there's no secret agendas, there's no hidden motives - he's an honorable man." Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone every …
42.00027
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820 Enfield St, Enfield, CT
/articles/joe-bosco-to-challenge-for-59th-house-district-seat
/locations/7036430
59th District Rep. David Kiner sat down with his father to discuss the recently-concluded legislative session and its impact on Enfield.
Good afternoon David. Congratulations on finishing your first term as state Representative from the 59th District in Enfield. I guess we might say that you are no longer a freshman legislator and that you have "earned your wings" over these last two years. How do you feel about this last session of the General Assembly? DK: Well, I have had almost a week to unwind from a rigorous session. I believe that the legislature had many historic accomplishments during the 2012 session. While tackling a number of significant issues in a shortened time frame, the legislature also passed a budget-adjustment measure that reduces expenses, avoids raising taxes and provides more education funding for Enfield – an increase of $430,348. Education reform, …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Two-year campaign will say 'Connecticut: Still Revolutionary'
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Tuesday, May 15
The new state tourism slogan, announced yesterday by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, is getting some mixed reviews from pundits around the state. The Hartford Courant, in an editorial, called it "not bad" while Courant columnist and WNPR radio host Colin McEnroe said in his blog that the slogan was "a very odd choice for a state whose most famous contribution to the American Revolution was Benedict Arnold." An accompanying video that features the Hartford Symphony Orchestra seems to have gotten better reviews. The campaign will be rolled out over two years at a cost of $27 million dollars. What do you think of the slogan? The campaign? Take our poll and tell us more in the comments.
Monday, May 14, 2012
The initiative is part of a two-year, $27 million campaign to boost tourism.
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Monday, May 14
Here's the slogan you will see and hear over the next two years in a bid to get more people to visit the state: "Connecticut: Still Revolutionary." Gov. Dannel P. Malloy unveiled the new campaign on Monday, saying that Connecticut "has languished" in its efforts to promote tourism. "Starting today, we begin to change that," Malloy said in a news release. "'Still Revolutionary' speaks to Connecticut’s deep roots in the founding of this country and reminds us that we still have that independent, revolutionary spirit. "For centuries we have been the home of literary greats, innovators and natural wonders — an incredibly diverse array of products and talent, all right here in Connecticut. We are a beautiful state, and we are very proud of our …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The 2012 legislative session brought sweeping changes to the state.
The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned its 2012 regular session at midnight Wednesday, bringing to a close a whirlwind three months of legislating that saw many controversial but notable bills passed that will bring significant changes to the state of Connecticut. "Over the course of the last 16 months we have pushed more change through these two chambers than has occurred in Connecticut in a long, long time," Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said in his closing remarks to the legislature, delivered shortly after midnight. "Positive, meaningful change." Among the notable bills approved by the legislature this session include: "That’s a lot of change. It’s required a lot of tough decisions to be made. Along the way it’s ruffled a lot of …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Five states and the District of Columbia offer a full gamut of rights to gay people, according to The Guardian.
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Wednesday, May 9
In the wake of North Carolina's decision to amend its Constitution to ban same sex unions, The Guardian website has created a model looking at gay rights in each state. According to the graphic, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, along with Washington state, Iowa and the District of Columbia, have the most rights afforded to gays. Connecticut allows: Connecticut prohibits: Connecticut's hate crime laws also include crimes committed based on gender identity or sexual orientation. In addition to comparing states' level of gay rights, the Guardian graphic allows you to log in through Facebook and see what rights are afforded in the states where all your Facebook friends live.
Kathie
5:45 am on Monday, May 21, 2012
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