Sandy Hook Commission reveals controversial recommendations

Hamden CT Mayor Scott Jackson (at podium), Chair of the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission and CT Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. Christine Stuart file photo, CTNewsJunkie.com

by CTNewsjunkie Staff

After more than 40 hours of expert testimony, the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission issued an interim report that includes a controversial recommendation to ban high-capacity magazines with 10 or more bullets and guns that can shoot them.

According to the report, the commission recognized that certain sporting events may at times seek to utilize higher capacity magazines. However, the consensus of the commission was that the spirit of sportsmanship can be maintained with lower capacity magazines.

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In Windham – Educators ignore state laws and regulations

“With the lottery to select students for Windham‘s new Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy Magnet School about to take place, Adamowski and the Windham School System STILL HAVEN’T filed a legally-approved Operations Plan with the State Department of Education and the application form that they have been using inappropriately requests that students provide their social security number. It is a technique that effectively reduces the number of immigrants and poor who might apply for a seat in the new school.” – Jonathan Pelto

By Jonathan Pelto

You can keep Gov. Malloy’s “Special Master” Steven Adamowski, and Windham’s school administrators on the list of entities and individuals who seem unable or unwilling to follow the state’s laws and regulations.

With the lottery to select students for Windham‘s new Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy Magnet School about to take place, Adamowski and the Windham School System STILL HAVEN’T filed a legally-approved Operations Plan with the State Department of Education and the application form that they have been using inappropriately requests that students provide their social security number.

It is a technique that effectively reduces the number of immigrants and poor who might apply for a seat in the new school.

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Victim of Willimantic Police shooting identified

State Police released a statement today that identifies the victim of the fatal shooting by a Willimantic Police Officer on Wednesday, March 12 2013 as 58-year-old Daniel Johnston.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

State Police released a statement today that identifies the victim of the fatal shooting by a Willimantic Police Officer on Wednesday, March 12 2013 as 58-year-old Daniel Johnston, whose address is given simply as Willimantic, CT.

According t the release, shortly after 7:53 p.m. on March 12, Willimantic Police Officers were dispatched after receiving a complaint reporting a man was outside an apartment building at the corner of Main and Clark Streets, “acting in a threatening manner.”

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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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New Red Sox charity plate for CT scholarships

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman are expected to join representatives from the Boston Red Sox and other state and local officials at a news conference to announce the details of a Red Sox charity license plate program on March 8, 2013.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

Editor’s note: Given the forecast for severe weather Thursday evening into Friday morning, this event may be postponed.

On Friday morning (March 8), Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman are expected to join representatives from the Boston Red Sox and other state and local officials at a news conference to announce the details of a Red Sox charity license plate program.

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Girl Scouts ask your help with Heroes program

Columbia and Lebanon CT Girl Scouts have organized a Fill-a-Truck event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 to benefit the Cookies for Heroes Program. CT Girl Scouts photo.

Columbia and Lebanon Girl Scouts have organized a Fill-a-Truck event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 to benefit the Cookies for Heroes Program.

The Scouts ask your help with filling a truck with boxes of Girl Scout cookies to be sent to service men and women overseas.

The truck will be parked at the Lebanon Green. The cost is only $4 per box, or $48 for a case of cookies.

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Fund approved for workers traumatized by Newtown shootings

The Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Fund will be used to reimburse medical expenses and lost wages. It will be overseen by the Connecticut Office of Victim Services and funded through private donations (including corporate donations), which will be handled by the United Way of Newtown.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

The Connecticut General Assembly unanimously gave final approval today (March 6) for legislation that will create a special fund to assist workers who were traumatized by the shootings at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, CT. The Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Fund will be used to reimburse medical expenses and lost wages.

It will be overseen by the Connecticut Office of Victim Services and funded through private donations (including corporate donations), which will be handled by the United Way of Newtown.

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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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Windham Hospital Auxiliary offers college scholarships

Windham Community Hospital in Willimantic CT. Contributed photo.

The Auxiliary to Windham Hospital invites applications from area high school seniors for the Anne L. Card Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship, named in honor of the late Anne L. Card who was a 50-plus year member of the Auxiliary and a dedicated volunteer at the hospital, awards two $1,000 scholarships to students planning to enter a full-time course of study in medical-related fields.

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Three honored for carrying on Dr. King’s legacy

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.

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