These volunteers take Windham town pride seriously

The annual Town wide/Town Pride event is hosted by ECSU and was previously known as Eastern Hits the Streets before it was turned into a larger community event in 2008.

With Earth Day falling on April 22 this year, more than 450 locals got a head start in the Thread City Saturday [April 17], and braved chilly, damp weather to clean up the community for the third annual Town Wide/Town Pride Day.

“We’re making it fun,” said Nicole Letourneau, of Warwick, R.I., who is captain of the Eastern Connecticut State University cheerleading team.

This was the first time for Letourneau and 14 of her teammates to take in the annual event that when volunteers from ESCU and Windham beautify the grounds of various churches, parks, nonprofit organizations and businesses across town.

The event is hosted by ECSU and was previously known as “Eastern Hits the Streets” before it was turned into a larger community event in 2008.

The cheerleaders were assigned to clean up a spot the town will eventually turn into a park a short distance behind the Windham regional Chamber of Commerce on Bridge Street.

The team participates in numerous community service events throughout the year.

“We’re big on community service and big on giving back to the school,” Letourneau said.

The girls also participated in Toys for Tots, Take Back the Night (an event that raises awareness of sexual assault and abuse), and various bottle and can drives for charity.

To keep their energy up, team was told to create a cheer every hour they worked.

“I think just because we’re cheerleaders, it’s kind of expected,” said Alissa Savage, a freshman cheerleader on the squad.

A short distance from this team, the American Marketing Association was landscaping outside the Chamber of Commerce building. This group also makes community service a priority. Town Wide/Town Pride has become an annual event for them.

“We’re trying to give this town a facelift,” said Gian Dennies of Stamford, a member of the American Marketing Association who has participated in the event for three years.

Dennies’ group raised more than $600 for breast cancer research this year by selling pink ribbons and pink cupcakes at its “Think Pink” event.

“It was rewarding to see our hard work pay off,” said Chelsea Stepensky of Kensington, the group’s vice president of community service.

Saturday’s event culminated with an indoor picnic in the Windham Town hall auditorium and included a performance by Artists Against Addiction, Hunger and Homelessness (AAAHH).

Volunteers refreshed themselves with drinks and food donated by Hosmer Mountain Soda, Main St. Café, Fred’s Pizza, Tony’s Pizza and Pappa’s Pizza.

Another participant on Saturday was “Hope for the Homeless,” a group formed as a social-action project by three women as part of their senior seminar class at Eastern, a requirement for sociology majors.

The purpose of the group is to educate people about homelessness, and members are raising money and collecting items for shelters.

Group member Michelle Gagne of Groton published a  put up a request on Craigslist for items. One woman donated a lot of baby clothes and furniture.

“She was my age too, which is really great to see,” Gagne said. “That was incredible.”

Posted April 21, 2010 as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

University gears up for start of 2010 Spring Weekend

The University of Connecticut is getting ready for the annual Spring Weekend festivities that begin Thursday night [April 22] with unsanctioned parties at off-campus apartments.

“Spring Weekend is on my mind,” said UConn Trustee and Student Life Committee Chair Louise M. Bailey. “Isn’t it on everybody’s mind?”

The Student Life Committee met Tuesday [April 20] after the Board of Trustees meeting, to discuss Spring Weekend, which traditionally is a combination of university-sponsored events and off-campus drinking parties.

It’s the non-sanctioned events that have caused headaches over the years, for the university, town leaders and residents neighboring the apartment complexes, particularly at Carriage House and Celeron Square Apartments on Hunting Lodge Road.

A few years ago, university and town officials began coordinating their efforts to prepare for the annual event – which precedes final exams – and pool information and resources, which includes marshaling state and local police and emergency response personnel.

Between local, university and state police – and other public safety personnel – the 2009 Spring Weekend cost more than $225,000, according to a report compiled by Mansfield’s Town/University Relations Committee.

This includes the cost of setting up triage tents with medical personnel to tend to the injuries (and the effects of binge drinking) that occur during these parties.

This year, the coordinated strategies include closing off parking areas because it’s been found that most of the trouble has been caused by an influx of party crashers who don’t attend UConn.

UConn also attempts to lure students away from the drinking parties by offering concerts and other alcohol-free activities on campus, many of them created and run by students.

Local residents are forewarned that there probably will be heavy traffic on roads near UConn beginning Thursday, and that traffic may be slowed by sobriety checkpoints set up by State Police.

Recently, letters were sent to students’ parents by UConn President Michael Hogan – and to students, from UConn Police Chief Robert Hudd – in hopes of gaining support to curb any excessive behavior during Spring Weekend.

Hogan’s letter encourages parents to talk with their children about the dangers of Spring Weekend and to encourage responsible behavior.

“As a parent myself, I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t bring to your attention the risks that these non-sponsored events raise for your children,” Hogan’s letter reads.

Chief Hudd’s letter warns that violence and starting fires will not be tolerated.

One of the most notorious Spring Weekends occurred in 1998, when fires were set throughout campus (some fueled by residence hall furniture) and cars were flipped over. Riot police were called in and the celebration turned violent – and made the TV news.

“Think before you act,” Chief Hudd warns in his letter. “I do not wish to see you in our jail cells.”

There also has been concern about students from E.O. Smith High School who are underage, who merge with the crowds at these parties. Students have made an effort to prevent this by checking IDs and issuing arm bracelets at the parties.

According to UConn Vice President for Student Affairs John Saddlemire, students have tried to begin Spring Weekend parties earlier, beginning on Wednesday with parties at Willington Oaks Apartments or at UConn’s W-lot.

However, Student Trustees Corey Schmitt and Richard Colon said a Wednesday night party on campus is only a rumor and highly unlikely.

In past years, students have concluded their Spring Weekend celebrations on Saturday evening at X-lot.

Posted April 21, 2010 as edited and contributed to by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

See related story:

Mansfield Today, “Party crashers not welcome at UConn’s Spring Weekend,” April 16, 2010 http://mansfield.htnp.com/2010/04/16/party-crashers-not-welcome-at-uconn%E2%80%99s-spring-weekend/

State dips into UConn's reserves and fund balance

University of Connecticut President Michael Hogan said the university must find new ways to save money.

Hogan told UConn trustees Tuesday [April 20] at the board’s regular monthly meeting that the university faces a total of $23 million in funding cuts between fiscal years 2010 and 2011.

University funding was cut $8 million by Gov. M. Jodi Rell earlier this fiscal year, he said, but an additional $15 million in cuts was handed down last week.

Hogan said the university will lose an additional $5 million this fiscal year and another $10 million next year.

All of these reductions result in a $23 million deficit the university will need to address.

Hogan said Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed a deficit mitigation bill that results in the state taking funds from the university’s reserves and undesignated fund balance.

Hogan said the only way the university will be able to absorb these cuts will be to distribute the reductions throughout the university.

Fewer class offerings and lower admission rates would be up for discussion, he said.

“The best way forward is through shared sacrifice,” said Hogan.

In response to funding cuts in 2009, UConn created a Cost, Operations and Revenues Enhancement (CORE) task force to research ways to reduce university spending.

CORE found ways to save between $5 million and $7 million in fiscal year 2009.

Hogan said he will ask CORE members to continue meeting and find ways to shave spending in at the Storrs and regional campuses.

Hogan also said the university will create a comprehensive plan for addressing budgets for the next three to five years. The goal is to “try to get a grip on what we can expect from state support, our capital campaign and federal support,” he said. “So all constituents have an idea where we’re going,”

If UConn were to rely solely on a tuition hike for fiscal year 2011 to offset a reduction in state funding, a 13 percent increase would be handed down to students, Hogan said.

Trustees in February 2010 approved an overall 5.96 percent increase for in-state students – for tuition, room and board fees – despite student protests.

Posted April 21, 2010 as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

See related story:

Mansfield Today, ” ‘Chop from the top’ say frustrated UConn students,” April 7, 2010

http://mansfield.htnp.com/2010/04/07/%E2%80%98chop-from-the-top%E2%80%99-say-frustrated-uconn-students/

Elizabeth 'Ita' (Bergin) Kanter Sept. 1, 1918 – April 7, 2010

Elizabeth “Ita” (Bergin) Kanter, 91, of South Windham, CT, widow of Robert L. Kanter, died April 7, 2010 at St. Joseph Living Center.

She was born September 1, 1918 in Kearny, NJ the oldest child of Charles Joseph and Mabel Josephine (Turner) Bergin.

She graduated from All Saints High School in Detroit, MI and later, Wayne State University with a Master of Fine Arts Degree, where she was an editor for the Wayne State University Press for several years. She also worked for the U.A.W. International in Detroit.

When Bob retired and he became a professor at UConn, they moved to Windham where she did editorial work for the Connecticut Botanical Society of which she was a lifetime member.

Ita was a faithful and committed patron of classical music in this area. For 25 years she had a radio show on WHUS-FM. Her enjoyment of classical music was very important to her during her time on the radio and in her later years.

An avid gardener, Ita was also a life member of the North American Rock Garden Society and the Garden Gate Club. A life-long “birder,” Ita enjoyed trips to see both local and far-away species.

Ita was a talented and accomplished charcoal artist, sculptor and painter and won many, many prizes in varied shows. She was also a gifted needle worker and designer and sewed as well as knitted and crocheted many items.

She was a communicant of St. Joseph Church in Willimantic.

Her survivors include a daughter, Nessa Louise Kanter of South Windham; grandchildren Darcy Lomba of South Windham, and Glenn Kanter, Scott Kanter and Wendy Kanter Gallant of Detroit, MI as well as numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated April 9, 2010 at St. Joseph Church in Willimantic. Burial followed in St. Joseph Cemetery in Windham.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Holy Family Shelter, 88 Jackson St. Willimantic, CT 06226.

The Bacon Funeral Home, 71 Prospect St. Willimantic was in charge of arrangements.

Received and posted on April 21, 2010

It is now safe to drink the water

Mansfield Middle School Principal Jeff Cryan sent an email to parents this morning to let them know it is now safe to drink from the school’s water fountains.

For the past few weeks, the water fountains have been covered, after Cryan learned that there was coliform bacteria in the school’s water.

On April 1, water samples were sent for testing after heavy rains had flooded the school’s well house and caused the sump pump to fail.

The well house is separate from the school building, so the flooding did not enter the school, Cryan said.

The water tests came back as positive for coliform bacteria, so the water system was chlorinated and flushed – and new water samples were sent for testing.

In the meantime, 5-gallon water bottles were placed in hallways to provide drinking water.

The tap water was considered safe for washing hands.

Today, Cryan said, “We’ve heard from our maintenance department that tests of the Mansfield Middle School water supply have come back clear, and we can resume use of the water fountains.”

“We will continue to test the water regularly,” he said.

The presence of coliform and/or E.coli bacteria indicates that human and/or animal wastes have entered the water supply.

Chlorination is the common disinfectant method to kill coliform and E.coli bacteria.

Posted April 21, 2010

Related stories:

Mansfield Today, “It’s bottled water at the middle school, again” – April 1, 2010 http://mansfield.htnp.com/2010/04/01/its-bottled-water-at-the-middle-school-again/

Mansfield Today, “Middle school water tests positive for coliform bacteria” – April 6, 2010

http://mansfield.htnp.com/2010/04/06/middle-school-water-tests-positive-for-coliform-bacteria/