Willimantic Chocolate Fest now on Feb 16

The Chocolate Fest events include The Cupid Shuffle, The “Let Them Eat Cake” Chocolate Cake Baking Contest,
The Chocolate Chip Stroll of Willimantic’s Downtown.
Chocolate Lovers’ Soiree and Cabaret

Three feet of snow dumped on us by Storm Charlotte means Willimantic’s 9th Annual Chocolate Festival, originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb 9, 2013, has been postponed until Saturday, Feb. 16.

All originally scheduled events will take place then, including:

• The Cupid Shuffle

• The “Let Them Eat Cake” Chocolate Cake Baking Contest

• The Chocolate Chip Stroll of Willimantic’s Downtown

• Chocolate Lovers’ Soiree and Cabaret

All events will take place at their original times and everyone is welcome! Most events are free.

Please visit RomanticWillimantic.org, WillimanticDowntown.org or call event coordinator Lynn Duval 860-428-7573 for updated information.

Posted February 9, 2013

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Anne Jordan Crouse Dec. 11, 1943 – Feb. 2, 2013

Anne Devereaux Wilson Jordan Crouse, 69, of Mansfield Center, Connecticut passed away on the afternoon of Feb. 2, 2013 after battling lung cancer.

She was a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A. and M.A) where in 1968, she received the Avery and Jule Hopwood Awards in poetry and short stories.

She is best known for founding the Children’s Literature Association in 1973; she served as its Executive Secretary/Treasurer, as well as Director of the Annual Conference in Children’s Literature until 1976.

In 1992, she was the first recipient of the “Anne Devereaux Jordan Award,” an award established in her honor and now given annually by The Children’s Literature Association for outstanding contributions to the field of children’s literature.

… Continue Reading

Gov Malloy lifts travel ban, asks President to declare emergency

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has asked President Obama to declare an emergency in Connecticut in the wake of the blizzard that hit the Northeast Feb. 8 and 9, 2013.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

Gov. Malloy has submitted a request that President Obama declare an emergency in the state of Connecticut in the wake of the blizzard that hit this state Feb. 8 and 9.

“As we continue with the recovery from this historic winter storm, I am asking the federal government to provide us assistance with this process,” said Gov. Malloy. “If granted, this declaration would provide much needed help to our state.”

An emergency declaration allows for direct federal assistance, including possible snow removal equipment and personnel, power generation, and commodities but does not provide federal disaster funding.

However, since most, if not all, counties in Connecticut are digging out from record or near record snow fall, a preliminary damage assessment will be conducted to determine which counties may be eligible for disaster funding.

… Continue Reading

Gov Malloy – travel ban remains in effect

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, in a press conference held at 11 a.m. today (Feb. 9) advised residents that a travel ban remains in effect today, until further notice, so that roads can be cleared for emergency vehicles.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, in a press conference held at 11 a.m. today (Feb. 9) advised residents that a travel ban remains in effect today, until further notice, so that roads can be cleared for emergency vehicles.

Many roads in the state are impassable because of stalled cars and/or record-breaking accumulations of snow.

Gov. Malloy also warned that clearing roads is likely to “go on for a number of days.”

He also warned residents about the dangers of carbon-monoxide poisoning since snowfall and snow drifts can block ventilation.

Meanwhile, weather forecasters say the blizzard warning has been lifted in the following counties: Middlesex, New London and New Haven.

However, light snow continues to fall and chilly temperatures are still a concern. The wind-chill factor means the temperatures are effectively in the single-digits to the 20s. The wind-chill temperature in Storrs-Mansfield, for example, was 6 degrees as of 11 a.m.

… Continue Reading

CT State Police crack down on computer crimes

Troopers assigned to the Computer Crimes Investigation Unit recently made several arrests of subjects who have been the target of criminal investigations.

Troopers assigned to the Computer Crimes Investigation Unit recently made several arrests of subjects who have been the target of criminal investigations.

Troopers submitted an arrest warrant application in each separate case to Superior Court for the arrest of each of the accused listed below.

The arrest warrants were issued and the subjects were taken into custody, processed and assigned court dates.

Arresting Trooper McCord 926

Arrested: Joseph DosSantos (date of birth 11/22/71)

53 Colonial Ridge Drive

Gaylordsville (New Milford), CT

Charges: Criminal attempt at Impairing the Morals of a Minor, in violation of CGS 53a-49/53-21  (two counts); Criminal attempt at Enticement of a Minor, in violation of C.G.S. 53a-49/53a-90a

The Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit concluded an investigation of a 41-year-old man they say used a fake profile on the Internet to arrange a meeting for sex with a perceived minor aged girl [actually a police investigator]. … Continue Reading

Young writers invited to enter statewide competition

The high school teachers who enter the most submissions in poetry and in prose respectively will receive $250 to the retailer of their choosing. The deadline for submissions is March 15.

The Connecticut Young Writer’s Trust announces its 16th Annual Writing Competition, the state’s longest running literary contest dedicated to encouraging youth literacy and creative expression.

The organization encourages high school teachers from around the state to submit their students’ prose and/or poetry to the annual writing competition through their online system.

… Continue Reading

Connecticut ed reform law disregards parents

Connecticut Parents’ Union President Gwen Samuel says that if lawmakers don’t shift the balance of power back to parents, they will once again become helpless bystanders in the effort to improve education in the Constitution State. Photo source: CT DCFs media resources.

By Ben Velderman | EAGnews.org

Last month, a group of parents in California’s Adelanto school district succeeded in using that state’s Parent Trigger law to convert a chronically low-performing public school into a charter school.

It was the first Parent Trigger victory in the nation’s history, but analysts expect the number of “trigger” cases and laws to expand quickly in the wake of the Adelanto victory.

Some education reform activists are already declaring 2013 to be “The Year of Parent Empowerment.”

But that’s not how the new year is shaping up for Connecticut parents, who are in jeopardy of losing what little power they currently have in the state’s public schools – thanks to the state’s 2012 education reform law which is beginning to take effect now.

… Continue Reading

Gladys M Freeman Nov 22 1923 – Jan 19 2013

Gladys M. Freeman, 89, of Columbia, CT passed away Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 at Windham Hospital.

Gladys was born Nov. 22, 1923 in Willimantic, CT – daughter to the late George D. Freeman and Rose M. Freeman.

She is survived by a sister, Elizabeth A. Freeman and predeceased by her sister Frances R. Freeman. … Continue Reading

Peggy Sutterby McNally May 18 1940 – Jan 21 2013

She loved taking her stepchildren, son and eventually, her grandchildren, to her Kansas farm in the summer. She used this time to show them what life is like growing up on a farm, and loved to watch as they learned to bale hay, milk cows, feed calves, drive tractors and most of all, ride horses.

Peggy Jo (Sutterby) McNally, 72, of Windham CT, beloved wife of Thomas J. McNally Jr., passed away on Jan. 21, 2013 at Douglas Manor Nursing Home.

Born in Iola, KS, on May 18 1940, the daughter of the late Walter and Faye Sutterby, she grew up on a farm in Mapleton KS.

She graduated from Blue Mound High School, and was a member of the Mapleton Methodist Church.

She was employed by Key Work Clothes and Braymore Coat Factory, and the Town of Windham. … Continue Reading

Bullet found on Stafford school bus

Connecticut State Troopers and State Police K-9 Teams that responded to all of the Stafford schools conducted searches of each facility and interviewed the students who were on the bus where the bullet was found. File photo.

Connecticut State Police reported today (Jan. 24, 2013) that they are investigating a report of a bullet found on a school bus in Stafford.

This is the second such incident this week. On Tuesday, Jan. 22, a bullet was found by a janitor inside an Enfield elementary school, the Hazardville Memorial School.

Police say that at about 8:30 a.m., Troop C received a report from the First Student School Bus Company … Continue Reading