Paving Storrs Road – Route 195 in Mansfield

Milling and paving of Storrs Road (Route 195) – part of improvements being made to this main roadway associated with the Storrs Center development – is expected to begin on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Press Release

Milling and paving of Storrs Road (Route 195) – part of improvements being made to this main roadway associated with the Storrs Center development – is expected to begin on Friday, May 17, 2013.

During this work, traffic will be restricted at times to alternating one-lane patterns.

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Bank to donate profits in honor of Veterans and Memorial Day

The Fisher House program now operates 60 sites throughout the country and serves more than 19,000 families; it has made available more than 4 million days of lodging to family members since the program originated.

Press Release

Mischler Financial Group, a leading “boutique investment bank” and securities brokerage owned and operated by service-disabled veterans, today (May 7) announced that in honor of upcoming Memorial Day, the firm will contribute 10 percent of its May profits to Fisher House.

Fisher House is a private-public partnership that provides temporary housing facilities at no cost for visiting family members of disabled veterans who are hospitalized for treatment in local VA medical centers.

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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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AAA identifies motorist breaking point on gas prices

The report finds that roughly two-thirds of Americans (62 percent) are offsetting high gas prices by changing their driving habits or lifestyle. At the top of that list is less driving in general, less dining out and less shopping; at the bottom of the list is using public transportation.

Half of U.S. adults consider gas prices to be “too high” when it reaches $3.44 per gallon, indicating a potential breaking point on gas prices, according to a new consumer price index developed by AAA.

The report also points to the negative impact on consumer spending in other areas, in order to keep gas expenditures to a manageable level.

The report finds that roughly two-thirds of Americans (62 percent) are offsetting high gas prices by changing their driving habits or lifestyle.

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CT DEEP Commissioner to demonstrate electric-vehicle service 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.

By Brenda Sullivan, HTNP News Editor

Connecticut Connecticut DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty is expected to join Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson and other local dignitaries beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16 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 was originally scheduled to visit Storrs Center and talk about the electric-vehicle leasing service on March 19, but that visit was rescheduled because of bad weather.

His April 16 visit begins at the Storrs Center Parking Garage and then moves to the businesses on Dog Lane.

The lower level of the parking garage features electric vehicle charging stations for the public. Commissioner Esty will park his Chevy Volt and connect it to a charger.

There are four, Level-2 retractable electric charging stations – and a Hertz car-share program will be introduced.

This demonstration will be followed with a speaking program on the sidewalk along Dog Lane, outside of retail shops and restaurants. (In the event of rain, the group will move inside the Dog Lane Café).

A reception will follow at Dog Lane Café.

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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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ECSU event raises funds to benefit early detection and treatment of mental illness

Harold Schwartz, M.D., gives his keynote speech on “Mental Illness in the Wake of Sandy Hook,” at the sixth annual ECSU Luncheon benefitting Natchaug Hospital education programs on March 27, 2013. Contributed photo.

Press Release

The ECSU Foundation’s sixth annual luncheon benefitting Natchaug Hospital education programs raised over $12,000.

The event, held on March 27, 2013 was attended by more than 110 community representatives including Backus Hospital President and CEO David Whitehead; Connecticut State Rep. Susan Johnson; and Eastern Connecticut State University President Elsa Nunez, Ph.D.

Half of the funds raised at the event will be put towards Natchaug’s commitment to promote early detection and treatment of mental illness, an initiative endorsed by Vice President Joe Biden following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT in December 2012.

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Watch Solarize Mansfield-Windham installations in April

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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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 the 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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Savings Institute to acquire Newport Bancorp

The acquisition will add to SI Financial Group approximately $449.4 million in assets, $355 million in loans and $289.7 million in deposits before acquisition accounting adjustments.

SI Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SIFI), the holding company for Savings Institute Bank and Trust Company, and Newport Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:NFSB), the holding company for Newport Federal Savings Bank, today (March 5) announced execution of a definitive merger agreement under which SI Financial Group will acquire Newport Bancorp.

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