Friendly Fire Game Center gets a break from the State Building Inspector

Goal now is to open in mid-November

Just before 5 p.m. today, Dan Keener got some welcome news.

The State Building Inspector is giving his new business, the Friendly Fire Game Center a break.

Up until now, it looked like the business would never open its doors, because the Inspector had ruled that he and his partner Ryan Fitzgerald, would have to install a second, wheelchair-accessible bathroom in the space, located in the Grand Union retail plaza on Route 44.

A little over a week ago, Keener submitted a request for a modification of that ruling – backed by research and testimony showing that other, similar businesses were operating with a single bathroom. His stomach has been in knots while waiting for the reply, but now he can breathe again, Keener said.

The new ruling doesn’t reclassify the business, as the young entrepreneurs had hoped, but it removes the requirement. “What it means is that the code applies but they recognize it would created an unwarranted practical difficulty,” Keener said.

They had hoped the game center would be considered a retail business, but it has been classified as a “place of assembly.”

The partners had originally planned to open on Nov. 1, but some of the other changes that need to be made to bring the space up to fire codes will require new architectural plans, and these have to be approved by the town’s Building Inspector and Fire Marshal. The back door to the space has to be widened, and the gap between the ceiling and a couple of walls needs to be closed – which may mean installing a dropped ceiling.

Once the plans are OK’d by the town, construction can begin.

“So, the goal is to open on Nov. 14. I don’t know that we can make that, but it’s something to shoot for,” Keener said.

The ordeal has been a real learning experience for someone starting his first business, but it hasn’t discouraged Keener. “This is my first time starting a business, but it’s not going to be my last,” he said.

See related stories in Mansfield Today: “Friendly Fire game center gets a ‘maybe’ from State,” “Computer game center adopts new strategy,” and “State throws plunger into plans for a new Mansfield business“

For More Information

http://mansfield.htnp.com/business_news/friendly_fire_game_center_gets_a_break.html

'Vote Southeast' : Even third-graders worry about taxes

Students at Southeast Elementary School held a mock election for the Presidential, Congressional and State Legislature races.

Did you know that Barak Obama drives a Ford Escape Hybrid? That his favorite TV shows include The Wire, Sportscenter, Monday Night Football, M.A.S.H. and the U.S. Senate on C-Span?

And did you know that John McCain drives a Cadillac CTS? That his favorite TV shows include 24, Lost, Damages, The Daily Show, The Tonight Show, Late Show, The Sopranos, Prison Break, and I, Claudius?

Third-graders at Southeast Elementary School know these things – and possibly even more than many adult voters – about the Democratic and Republican candidates for President, because they did a lot of research in preparation for this week’s mock election: “Vote Southeast.”

Their tasks included:

• putting the ballot together (complete with head shots of each candidate)
• researching the candidates and creating posters
• and assigning jobs for Election Day

Those jobs included “registrars,” who checked voters’ names against their lists, and voting helpers who explained the computer program (from Zoomerang ) used to cast and tabulate votes.

There was a lot to do. As third-grader Caleb put it in a tired voice, “It took all day long.”

The students’ research sources included the children’s version of *Time, the Nickelodeon site “Nick’s Kids Pick the President,” the online versions of the Weekly Reader and Scholastic News, and because none of these mentions the other Independent candidates – Ralph Nader and running mate Matt Gonzalez – they went to their official Web sites.

They also learned a bit about the Electoral College system and how it determines the outcome of the Presidential Race.

And they talked about the other races on this year’s local ballot: U.S. Rep. for the 2nd Congressional District, State Senator for the 29th District, and State Rep. for Mansfield’s 54th District.

A total of 242 voters took part in “Vote Southeast,” including teachers, staff and students.

At the end of the day, Democrat Barak Obama emerged as the winner, with 71 percent of the vote.

Republican John McCain received 26 percent. And Independent Ralph Nadar received 3 percent.

In the 2nd Congressional District race, Democratic incumbent Joe Courtney won by 45 percent, followed closely by Republican Sean Sullivan with 34 percent, and then Green Party candidate G. Scott Deshefy with 9 percent.

And because Courtney is also the Working Families party candidate, he received another 12 percent of the vote.

Third-grader Smaranda pointed out that Nadar didn’t have as much of a chance in this race as the other candidates, “because he wasn’t on TV as much.”

Her classmate Andrew added, “He probably didn’t get a lot of votes because he wasn’t in one of the two parties.”

Asked how they decided who to vote for, many of the youngsters said they voted the way their parents will on Nov. 4, but sometimes added their own interpretations of the issues.

One big issue was taxes. Students said taxes are responsible for people going hungry or otherwise not being able to provide for themselves or their families.

Gabe gave Obama high marks for “making good choices with the environment and not making the taxes go higher.”

Gas prices was another issue. Josh said he chose Obama, “because he will lower them.”

Other students said they chose their candidate based on their party. “It was really important to me how they felt about everyone, all the people,” said Katie. “If there are too many taxes, then people cannot buy food or clothing or live in nice houses. So there needs to be lower taxes and that’s what the Democrats are doing. I don’t really know what the Republicans are doing.”

Likewise, Andrew said he voted for the Democrats, “because they want to take us away from the war, and the Republicans want to keep us there longer.”

Smaranda also said ending the war was important to her, along with lowering prices, “and giving a home to everyone who’s homeless, or at least try.”

Max took a harder line saying he chose Obama because he would end the war and lower taxes, “and because McCain lies.”

Sarah shared that she watched the debates with her parents, and said she was impressed with Obama, “because he actually answered the questions.”

The “Vote Southeast” project was coordinated by third-grade teacher James Hendricks and Enrichment Teacher Susan Irvine. Hendricks said one of the purposes of the project is to encourage children to go home and talk about voting, “It jump starts a lot of discussion,” he said.

[* Students also read about McCain in Kids' Time. ]

For More Information

http://mansfield.htnp.com/news/southeast_school_mock_election_2008.html

UConn's football program gets national recognition for graduation rate

This is the fourth time in six years that UConn has been honored by the American Football Coaches Association.

The University of Connecticut football program has done itself proud by making sure players leave the school with a solid education.

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has recognized UConn for reaching a 70 percent or better graduation rate for 2007.

The graduation rate for the general student body in 2007 was 75 percent.

This is the fourth time in six years that UConn has been honored by the Association’s Academic Achievement Award program. UConn was also recognized in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Nationwide, the overall graduation rate of the 107 schools that responded to the AFCA survey was 60 percent, surpassing the mark of 58 percent in each of the previous two years.

UConn is among 32 institutions recognized for graduating 70 percent or more of their student-athletes in the football program, including: Alabama, Arkansas State, Ball State, Baylor, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, UConn, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana Tech, Miami (Ohio), Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn State, Rice, Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas, TCU, Texas Tech, Toledo, Troy, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington State, Wisconsin.

Two schools, Duke and Vanderbilt, achieved a 95 percent graduation rate.

“We are happy to be recognized by the AFCA for our graduation rates once again,” said UConn Head Coach Randy Edsall. “This is a great credit to our players and to Ellen Rennie and her staff at CPIA [Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes] which works so diligently to help the student-athletes here at the University of Connecticut.”

For More Information

http://mansfield.htnp.com/sports/uconn_football_honored_for_graduation_rate.html

UConn Women's Cross Country competes at BIG EAST Championship

Villanova won the BIG EAST Championship title with 40 points, their first championship title since 1998.

The University of Connecticut women’s team finished in 12th place at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championship on Friday afternoon [Oct. 31.]

The Huskies were led by Meghan Bowden, who was UConn’s top finisher in the championship race, and came in 62nd.

Freshman Courtney Dinnan was the second UConn runner to cross the finish line and took the 71st spot with a time of 23:05.

Villanova won the BIG EAST Championship title with 40 points, their first championship title since 1998. West Virginia and Georgetown rounded out the top three teams with 48 and 74 points, respectively.

West Virginia’s Marie Loui Asselin took the top spot with a time of 20:10, while her Mountaineers and the Villanova Wildcats held the top five spots in the race.

The Wildcats’ Frances Koons took second with a time of 20:13.

For More Information

http://mansfield.htnp.com/sports/uconn_womens_cross_country_12th_in_big_east.html