A proposal for $1 million in intersection improvements, a new Friendly’s Restaurant and lease payments that would have funded the renovation of the local VFW has been scrapped, the project developer said Wednesday.

Mario DiLoreto, president of READCO of Old Lyme, the developer for the Stop & Shop/VFW proposal, said a number of factors went into the decision, including difficult economic conditions and increasing project costs.

The development proposal involved grocery giant Stop & Shop, located at 1391 Main St., and the neighboring VFW.

It  included road improvements on routes 66 and 32, moving the Friendly’s restaurant to the front half of the VFW parcel, revamping parking and adding a new commercial development site.

The VFW would have collected revenue from a land lease that would have helped it to renovate its existing building, while the town would have gotten additional tax revenue with a renovated Stop & Shop store, a new Friendly’s restaurant and the additional commercial site.

DiLoreto said more than five years went into planning the project, but with the size and scope of the project and escalating costs, “it didn’t make sense, anymore.”

According to DiLoreto, making the intersection improvements alone would be “too costly.”

Posted March 18, 2010, edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

The town did a good job of controlling expenditures for the 2008-09 fiscal year, while town and Willimantic Service District fund balances increased, the town’s auditor reported Wednesday.

Robert Howard Jr. and Michael VanDeventer of Carlin, Charron & Rosen LLP, out of Glastonbury, made a formal presentation of the town’s audit to the Board of Finance on Wednesday, March 17.

According to the audit, the town closed the 2009 fiscal year with an undesignated and unreserved fund balance [surplus] of $9,167,264, which is made up of - $5,945,857 in the town’s general fund, $2,762,493 in special revenue funds and $458,914 in capital project funds.

The audit stated the $9,167,264 ending fund balance represents 9.7 percent of total expenditures in 2009.

Generally municipalities keep their fund balances as a percentage of total expenditures between 5 percent and 15 percent.

“They’re right in the middle of the benchmark,” Howard said after the presentation.

For the 2008-09 budget, the audit reports the town’s revenues were down for the fiscal year, but expenditures were even lower than budgeted: revenues were $216,893 lower than expected; expenditures were $413,338 lower than budgeted.

At the year-end, Windham had a surplus of $87,000, “primarily because they controlled costs,” Howard said.

The Board of Education spent its entire budget of $41.25 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year, the audit reports.

The Willimantic Service District saw the biggest gains in its fund balance, it increased by $538,726 and now stands at $792,692.

Posted March 18, 2010

Mansfield Middle School Principal Jeff Cryan sent a warning email to parents at about 2 p.m. today that two students were offered a ride by an unidentified driver waiting in a van at an intersection near the school.

He writes:

“We have learned today from the State Police that two middle school students were offered a ride on Wednesday afternoon by an unidentified driver near the intersection of Spring Hill Road and Clover Mill Road.  This is within a quarter mile of Mansfield Middle School.  The students were walking home from school at the time.”

The driver was described as a white male, 50-60 years old, average build, wearing a straw hat with a dark string.

He was driving a white van with no windows on the driver’s side.  The van had windows in the rear door and white patches on the body that didn’t match the color of the rest of the vehicle.  There were also dark scuff marks on the body of the vehicle.

The driver asked the students, “Where are you going?  Do you want a ride?”

Anyone with information that might be helpful to police should call the Resident Trooper’s office in Mansfield at 860-429-6024 or State Police Troop C at 860-896-3200.

“We reviewed this information with students in small groups this afternoon at school,” Cryan says.

“We reminded them never to accept a ride or to have a conversation with someone who tries to get them into a vehicle.  We have also reminded them to shout loudly for help if they ever feel endangered.”

“We ask that you have similar conversations with your children, encouraging them to share information with you or with us about any incident like this.”

Police have promised increased police patrols around the middle school in the afternoon after dismissal.

Posted March 18, 2010

March 4: Rodney Pantoja, 43, of 95 W. Prospect St., West Haven, was charged with first- degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny, second-degree unlawful restraint and threatening. Bond: $ 500,000. Court: March 5 in Danielson.

March 4: Jamie Villasenor, 18, of 96 Spring St., Willimantic, was charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle, no insurance, misuse of plates and operating without a license. Bond: $500. Court: March 15 in Danielson.

March 4: Milca Sanchez, 29, of 111 Cameo Drive, Willimantic, was charged with possession of narcotics. Bond: $5,000. Court: March 15 in Danielson.

March 5: Travis Armstrong, 27, of no certain address, was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, sixth-degree larceny and fifth-degree larceny. Bond: $1 million. Court: March 5 in Danielson.

March 5: Milca Sanchez, 29, of 111 Cameo Drive, Willimantic, was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of conspiracy, sixth-degree larceny and fifth-degree larceny. Bond: $ 500,000. Court: March 5 in Danielson.

March 8: Enrique Pedraza, 25, of 132 Spring St., Apt. B, Willimantic, was charged with two counts of second-degree failure to appear in court. Bond: $500. Court: March 8 in Danielson.

March 8: Fernando Maldonado, 36, of no certain address, was charged with possession of narcotics, possession and use of drug paraphernalia and breach of peace. Bond: $ 1,000. Court: March 9 in Danielson.

March 8: Charles Vega, 22, of 75 West Ave., Willimantic, was charged with violation of probation and second-degree failure to appear in court. Bond: $ 7,500. Court: March 9 in Danielson.

March 9: Jose Velazquez-Sanchez, 53, of 3 Bellevue St., Apt. 4, Willimantic, was charged with possession of narcotics and use and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond: $2,500. Court: March 18 in Danielson.

March 9: Christi Johnson, 44, of 71 Foster Drive, Apt. E, Willimantic, was charged with possession of narcotics and criminal attempt to possess narcotics. Bond: presentment. Court: March 10 in Danielson.

March 9: Victor M. Colon, 44, of 7 Normandy Ave., Willimantic, was charged with possession of narcotics and criminal attempt to possess narcotics. Bond: $2,500. Court: March 18 in Danielson.

March 9: Javier Crespo, 20, of 466 Ash St., Apt. 10, Willimantic, charged with third-degree criminal mischief and two counts of interfering with emergency. Bond: $2,500. Court: March 10 in Danielson.

March 10: Jessica Morris, 28, of 20 North St., Apt. 8, Willimantic, was charged with second-degree failure to appear in court. Bond: $50,000. Court: March 10 in Danielson.

Posted March 17, 2010

The council reached its decision after a brief discussion during an executive session.

The town’s labor unions’ have been threatening to file unfair labor charges with the state against the town over the ethics ordinance.

Ethics Commission Chair Kessenia Gagnon said she wasn’t pleased about changing an ordinance approved last October.

“I’m not surprised,” Gagnon said Wednesday. “Am I disappointed? Absolutely.”

By exempting town union employees from the ordinance, there is “no recourse” for someone who feels they were mistreated.

Union spokespersons have objected to the new ethics ordinance because, they say, it conflicts with a complaint process that is already a part of the contracts with employees who are union members, and that the ordinance in effect alters those contracts without negotiating with the unions - which violates state labor laws.

Beets said Wednesday he would present a draft of a revised ethics ordinance to a Town Council subcommittee for review, and the committee will make a recommendation to the full council.

A public hearing on the revised ordinance will be held before the Town Council votes on the revised document.

Meanwhile, the current ordinance remains in effect.

The controversy over the ordinance began when an ethics complaint was filed against town building official Don Schultz, who is a union member, by Windham resident Steven Edelman, who objected to a written comment on his application for a building permit.

An attempt Wednesday to contact Municipal Employees Union Independent staff representative Danielle McMullen for a comment was not successful. MEUI represents town hall department heads and professional staff.

Posted March 17, 2010 - edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

[To read previous Windham Today stories about this topic, use the search word "ethics."]

The new Thirsty Frog Restaurant at 600 Main St., next to Willimantic's famous Frog Bridge. File photo.

The Town Council voted 10-1 Tuesday [March 16] to allow an off-track betting facility to be located inside the Thirsty Frog Restaurant at 600 Main St.

The lone dissenter was Councilman Jerry Iazzetta, who has consistently opposed the proposal since it came before the council.

Autotote Enterprises Inc. wants to open an off-track betting facility with 1,800 square feet of patron space at the Thirsty Frog Restaurant. In order for the venture to go forward, state law requires Autotote to get approvals from both the Town Council and from the Planning and Zoning Commission, which currently has a special permit for the business pending.

The proposal has been discussed at previous meetings and at a public hearing held earlier this month.

Autotote officials estimate the betting parlor will generate about $64,000 in “handle revenue” (from wagers) to be paid directly to the town.

Iazzetta said that in order for the town to collect that money, the business would need to collect $4 million in wagers.

Iazzetta said he would rather have that money spent on Main Street.

Iazzetta also asked council members to consider approving the business for five years and then revisiting it. This would give the town an opportunity to see if the business delivered on its promises, he said.

Council member Mike Lessard said the town has a reputation for not being business friendly and disagreed with Iazetta, saying there would be no need for the council to oversee the business.

Council member Erika Haynes also said the town needs to make a commitment to be business friendly and council members need to put their “personal reservations aside” when considering the proposal.

Council member Lorraine McDevitt agreed. She said off-track betting officials have “practically jumped through hoops” to seek council approval.

“I’m really tired of it,” she said. “I really want to vote on this.”

Council member David Howe Sr. added, “Let’s cast our votes.” The council doesn’t have jurisdiction over how someone runs a business, he said.

Wednesday, Damian Fox, a Thirsty Frog owner, said he was pleased with the council’s vote and said he understands that town officials wanted to make sure the appropriate approval process was followed.

He said he foresees other towns looking to Willimantic as a model of how to include an off-track betting facility within a restaurant.

He said he believes any concerns about off-track betting at his restaurant will be forgotten quickly and the new business will be a positive addition to the town. “It’s entertainment,” he said.

The next step is for Autotote to win approval for its special permit. Part of that process includes a public hearing, which the PZC has scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 25 at Town Hall.

Posted March 17, 2010, edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

[Read previous Windham Today stories about the off-track betting proposal by using the search word "Autotote" or "off-track"]

UConn's Tina Charles. Photo by Al Malpa

As the NCAA tournament brackets were announced Monday night on ESPN, loud cheers were heard inside the University of Connecticut women’s basketball locker room at Gampel Pavilion.

Cheers for the six other Big East Conference teams selected for the NCAA tournament - DePaul, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Rutgers, St. John’s and West Virginia.

All but one - St. John’s - was not in UConn’s region.

Cheers also were heard when the match-up everyone has been clamoring about has the potential to happen at the Final Four in San Antonio between UConn and Tennessee.

And there were the cheers when the players watched the ESPN-produced segment they had taped, with junior Maya Moore playing the drums, surrounded by the rest of the starting lineup dancing to the beat.

Six games remaining and a chance to make history

The road to San Antonio begins on Sunday afternoon at 12:16 p.m. (ESPN2, WILI 1400-AM, WTIC 1080-AM) when No. 1 nationally-ranked UConn (33-0), the top seed in the Dayton Regional, meets No. 16 Southern University (23-8) in the first round of the NCAA tournament at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

“It’s tough this year,” senior Kalana Greene said. “A lot of teams are evenly matched, from what I can tell. It is fun to see who is going to play who and which bracket seems the most difficult.”

Initially, it was thought that the Huskies - who will be making their 22nd consecutive NCAA tournament appearance - would be headed to Pittsburgh for the opening two rounds. But about15 minutes before the Selection Show aired on ESPN, murmurs were rumbling that UConn would take its road show south to Norfolk.

“I was excited that we get to play our first game in Norfolk,” Greene said. “It’s closer for my family [South Carolina] to come up there and, hopefully, we get a little bit more sun than we have had here in Connecticut.”

And Coach Geno Auriemma likes the fact that UConn will be playing in Norfolk.

“I’m actually happy,” Auriemma said. “We’re in a tournament atmosphere. Sometimes when you’re home you’re still going to class, you’re still doing the same things. So this is a real tournament feeling. I love the fact that we’re not home. Now, it’s bad for our fans that we’re not home.”

Six victories would put UConn into the history books as the first women’s team ever to win back-to-back national championships while going unbeaten.

The only other time that has happened was on the men’s side, when the Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden, guided UCLA to back-to-back titles in 1972 and 1973.

Opponents are riding 7-game streak

The Huskies’ first-round opponent, Southern University, hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Jaguars - who received the automatic bid from the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 60-47 victory in the tournament final over Alabama State last Saturday - are riding a 7-game winning streak and are making their first NCAA appearance since 2006.

In the second game on Sunday, eighth-seeded Temple (24-8), coached by former UConn assistant coach Tanya Cardoza, meets Colonial Athletic Association tournament champion and No. 9 James Madison (26-6).

Last year, Temple and UConn were in the same bracket as well, in Storrs. Florida played the role of spoiler by defeating Temple in the first round.

“I just hope Tonya’s team wins, because I always root for my assistants to play,” UConn Coach Geno Auriemma said. “I also know James Madison’s really good. And there are teams I think you’ve got to worry about a little bit. Teams from conferences that people don’t always give the respect that they probably deserve.”

Ohio State, Florida State, Iowa State and Virginia would be potential opponents for UConn when the tournament reaches the Regional semifinal stage in Dayton, Ohio.

And UConn has advanced to the Sweet 16 every year since 1994.

Second-ranked Stanford (Sacramento), No. 3 Tennessee (Memphis) and No. 4 Nebraska (Kansas City) also received No. 1 seeds

And if things hold to form, the match-up everyone is savoring to see - UConn vs. Tennessee - would occur at the Final Four in San Antonio in the NCAA national semifinals.

Posted March 17, 2010

Municipal Employees Union Independent staff representative Danielle McMullen says that, depending on the council’s actions, the town’s various labor unions may individually file unfair labor charges with the state Department of Labor.

The problem, McMullen said, is that the ethics ordinance gives the Ethics Commission jurisdiction to hear complaints against union employees, and that conflicts with the contractually agreed upon complaint process.

McMullen said that while town union employees believe in the importance of ethical behavior, the new ordinance is an attempt to change the terms of employment without negotiating with the unions, and that is a violation of state labor laws.

Chair of the Ethics Commission Kessenia Gagnon  said the committee has an ethics complaint pending, but will await an update from town officials and meet next week to determine its course of action.

Gagnon said she believes the town might scrap the code, rather than go up against the labor unions.

The controversy began when an ethics complaint was filed against Windham building official Don Schultz by Windham resident Steven Edelman, who claimed a questionable notation was made by Schultz on his building permit application.

Windham Town Manager Neal Beets wrote a letter to Edelman and said the notation was not made by Schultz; it was made by Windham Code Enforcement Director Matthew Vertefeuille.

Beets says that in addition to going the “extra 10 miles” for Edelman, Windham also made arrangements with another town to inspect the work on Edelman’s property.

“In summary, Mr. Edelman received a permit from the town without delay, the notation Mr. Edelman objected to in that permit was made by another staff member and not Mr. Schultz, and the building official from another town conducted the inspection of the work authorized by that permit,” Beets says in a written statement. “I see nothing even faintly resembling unethical conduct on the part of any town employee in this matter.”

Posted March 16, 2010

It’s March 16, and the Huskies are just hours away from the tipping-off point in the biggest game of their 2009-10 season.

That game doesn’t involve a March Madness bracket, a high seed or the prospect of the Huskies bringing home the program’s third NCAA national championship banner.

But what is attached to tonight’s 7 p.m. first-round NIT game pitting the UConn Huskies (17-15) against the visiting Huskies (20-12) of Northeastern University at Gampel Pavilion is the hope that the team can somehow salvage something from a lost season that began with so much promise, so much potential, way back when workouts began in October.

Coach Jim Calhoun began his NCAA Division I coaching career at Northeastern and coached for 14 seasons in Boston, including a 1985 season that featured Northeastern’s last victory over UConn (a 90-73 rout in the Connecticut Mutual Classic that paved the way for Calhoun to come to Storrs).

The point guard on that victorious 1985 Northeastern team was Andre LaFleur, who is now one of Calhoun’s assistant coaches.

“Obviously, playing Northeastern has special meaning for me and for Andre,” Calhoun said in a statement he gave on Sunday. “Northeastern is a place that gave me a chance to be a head coach, and [it's] a place where I have a lot of great memories.

“Bill Coen is a really good guy and coach and they are an excellent team that our older guys are familiar with, having played them in 2006 and 2007 in Storrs.”

No fear

UConn would normally schedule Northeastern as one of those tune-up opponents heading into Big East play or line up against a similar opponent in the early rounds of the NCAA tournament.

Now it will host a Husky squad that is dangerous and will walk out onto the floor at without a trace of fear.

Seeded fifth in the Virginia Tech bracket, Northeastern’s Huskies will attempt to add to UConn’s woes which include a 4-game losing streak that leaves the men’s team out of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007.

This season, the initial momentum built on a 3-game winning streak over the likes of Villanova, Rutgers and West Virginia had UConn’s Huskies lining up an NCAA tourney berth with a 17-11 overall record, including a 7-8 Big East ledger,

But then they dropped regular-season decisions to Louisville on Senior Day in Storrs.

And then fell on the road to both Notre Dame and South Florida.

And in the first round of the Big East tourney on March 9, UConn was flogged by St. John’s - a squad the Huskies had beaten by a 75-59 margin just 48 days before (by a 22-point, 73-51 bulge) at Madison Square Garden.

Still, Coach Calhoun knows that he has enough players on his roster that will answer the call for him and their program at least one more time.

“With a quick glance at the bracket, it looks like the field is remarkably tough,” Calhoun said, after his Huskies joined the likes of UCLA, Arizona and North Carolina that will miss out on the real March Madness this season.

Last April, the defending national champion Tar Heels and the Huskies both advanced to the NCAA Final Four at Ford Field in Detroit.

“There are plenty of teams that were in position to make the NCAA tournament and I think that with all of the parity in the field, it will be very difficult to win and advance. Our goal is to continue to play and give it our best,” Calhoun said.

But what exactly is UConn’s best?

If the Husky team that beat the likes of Texas, Villanova and West Virginia treats the home crowd to a similar effort tonight, then fourth-seeded UConn will advance to the second round against Wednesday night’s survivor of the first-round game that pits Coach Tom Moore’s No. 8 Quinnipiac Bobcats (23-9) at Virginia Tech.

UConn has won the last seven meetings and owns an overall advantage of 34-4 against Northeastern in a series that spans 38 games.

But if the 4-game slide becomes a 5-game skid, then Connecticut’s Huskies will have a lot of explaining to do - again - to a rabid fan base that became increasingly squirmy as the winter months flipped through the calendar.

Seniors Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson and Gavin Edwards - freshmen on the last Husky team to miss out on the NCAA tournament - have precious few minutes remaining if they are to leave behind something resembling a legacy.

And sophomore point guard Kemba Walker - who expressed reservations about even accepting an NIT bid in the early moments following the latest debacle at Madison Square Garden - has to somehow retain his joie de vivre-style of play that enamors him to so many Huskymaniacs.

It won’t be easy

Not tonight. Not against Northeastern.

The Bay State Huskies, coached by fourth-year mentor Bill Coen, lost three of their last five games, including a 47-45 setback to William & Mary in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament after finishing the regular season with a 14-4 CAA ledger.

William & Mary (22-10), which went on to lose to Old Dominion in the CAA tourney title game, travels to take on North Carolina (16-16) tonight at 9:30 p.m. in the first round of the NIT.

Northeastern earned quality wins over Utah State (64-61) and Hofstra (75-55 and 74-71) and battled Providence (76-72 loss) and Rhode Island (79-76 loss) on even terms before falling.

Coen’s Huskies are led by 6-4 senior swingman Matt Janning (15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds), who scored a career-high 29 points in Northeastern’s 69-60 loss to UConn back on Dec. 6, 2007 at Gampel Pavilion.

This team also boasts double-digit scorers in 6-4 junior guard Chaisson Allen (13.7 points, 69-of-170 from 3-point range) and 6-8 senior forward Manny Adako (11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds).

Senior center Nkem Ojougboh (6-9, 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds) provides some size, while 6-5 freshman swingman Alwayne Bigby (3.3 points) rounds out the starting lineup.

Posted March 16, 2010

]]> http://windham.htnp.com/2010/03/16/can-the-uconn-men-redeem-themselves/feed/ http://windham.htnp.com/2010/03/16/windham-council-could-vote-march-16-on-off-track-betting-for-main-street/ http://windham.htnp.com/2010/03/16/windham-council-could-vote-march-16-on-off-track-betting-for-main-street/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:52 +0000 David Hinchey | Staff Writer http://windham.htnp.com/?p=2264 Autotote employs 300 people in the state, operates 12 facilities and has approval for a 13th facility finalized in New London, which it hopes to open later this year.]]> The Windham Town Council at its regular meeting Tuesday, March 16 is expected to consider a proposal to allow an off-track betting business at the Thirsty Frog Restaurant on Main Street.

The council meets at 7 p.m. in the meeting room at Windham Town Hall, at 979 Main St.

Autotote Enterprises Inc. wants to open an off-track betting facility with 1,800 square feet of patron space inside the Thirsty Frog, located at 600 Main St. , next to the Frog Bridge.

Autotote employs 300 people in the state, operates 12 facilities and has approval for a 13th facility finalized in New London, which it hopes to open later this year.

Connecticut law sets a limit of  18 OTB sites.

Currently, Autotote operates OTB facilities in Bridgeport, Bristol, East Haven, Hartford, Milford, New Britain, New Haven, Norwalk, Putnam, Torrington, Waterbury and Windsor Locks.

The firm purchased the state’s OTB system in 1993 and is the sole and exclusive authorized operator of off-track betting facilities in Connecticut.

“I’m hoping for a positive vote,” Windham Mayor Ernie Eldridge said Monday morning.

He added he doesn’t feel off-track betting would have a negative impact on the town.

Eldridge said the facility would be a “quality operation” and not a backroom or back-alley type establishment.

More money-or a black eye-for the town?

Supporters of the proposal have said they believe off-track betting would provide a new entertainment opportunity for the area (and bring more people into Willimantic), add some new jobs and possibly boost town revenues.

William Sweeney, attorney for Autotote has  said the proposed facility would generate approximately $64,000 in “handle revenue” (money wagered) paid directly to the town [based on 1.6 percent of the gambling proceeds.] The state currently receives 1.9 percent.

However, opponents of the proposal say they are worried that off-track betting will hurt the town’s image, one that was badly hurt several years ago when an exposé in The Courant dubbed Willimantic “Heroin Town” and subsequently attracted the wrong kind of national media attention.

In order to open the business under State regulations, Autotote must get approval from a town’s planning and zoning board, as well as a town’s legislative body - in Windham, that’s the Town Council - and for the town to hold a public hearing.

A public hearing was held on March 2, and the majority of those who spoke said they favored the proposal.

At the hearing, Willimantic Police Chief Lisa Maruzo- Bolduc didn’t take a position on the proposal, but said a large portion of any “handle” revenue should go to the Willimantic Service District.

PZC permit hearing hinges on Council’s actions

Autotote has applied for a special permit from the town’s planning and zoning commission and that requires another public hearing is required. One has been tentatively scheduled for March 25, pending the outcome of the Town Council’s vote… if the vote is “no,” there’s no reason to pursue a permit.

Autotote officials have said in correspondence to the town that the facility’s hours would be 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; and 11:30 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Patrons would be restricted to age 21 and older.

Autotote officials say they expect to hire at least two full-time employees at the start and four part-­time workers, and that the restaurant might add additional staff.

Autotote would operate off-track betting, and waitstaff would be provided by the Thirsty Frog Restaurant.

Posted March 16, 2010 as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

Related links:

NL City Council clears way for OTB in proposed downtown restaurant (The Day, 12-09-09)

http://www.theday.com/article/20091209/NWS01/312099936/1070/ENT14

Autotote wins OK for OTB site on Rose’s Mill Road (TMC.net, 02-05-08)

http://www.tmcnet.com/news/2008/02/05/3249583.htm

English bookmaker finds a New Haven (New Haven Register, 01-29-2010)

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/01/29/sports/1_29_otb_story.txt

Putnam’s OTB effort praised for convenience, calm (The Day, 11-27-09)

http://www.theday.com/article/20091127/NWS01/311279990/1019&town=

Racing losing its handle during the recession (New Haven Register, 01-10-09)

http://nhregister.com/articles/2009/01/10/sports/10-gambling.txt