Power pact could save customers dollars

Several towns in the region recently signed an agreement with a company that is expected to save residents and businesses money on electricity costs.

Direct Choice is a program offered by Direct Energy, a supplier of electricity and natural gas, that sets a fixed rate for electricity through a defined period of time.

Locally, Windham, Coventry, Hebron and Hampton have signed the agreement, with one town outside the region, Marlborough, on board.

Under the program, customers will pay a fixed rate of 9.29 cents per kilowatt hour for the nine-month period from October through June 30, 2011.

The rate will be effective for the November through July 2011 billing cycles.

Coventry Town Manager John Elsesser said customers would save up to 18 percent on electrical costs under the program, not including other charges. Electricity comprises about 50 percent of each electric bill.

The savings don’t affect taxes and distribution fees.

Senior citizens over age 65 will receive an even cheaper rate on electricity, 8.99 cents per kilowatt hour, under Direct Choice. Elsesser said that rate is “very competitive.”

“It’s one of the best rates I’ve seen around,” he said.

Elsesser said there are no enrollment or early termination fees and there is no deadline for registration, although he recommended customers sign up as soon as possible.

It takes a month and a half for the new contract to go through the billing cycle, he said.

“The sooner you sign up, the more savings you are going to get,” Elsesser said.

According to a press release issued by Direct Energy, residents and small businesses involved in the program saved approximately $5.9 million in energy costs through its offers in United Illuminating and Connecticut Light & Power service territories.

Elsesser said Coventry was inspired to participate in the program because almost 75 percent of Connecticut residents have not transitioned to an independent electrical supplier yet.

“People are afraid of change,” Elsesser said. “We thought this would make people more comfortable with it.”

Windham Town Manager Neal Beets said he hopes Windham residents will take advantage of the new program, a transition he said would be “pretty friction-free.”

Beets said the program would be beneficial especially during these tough economic times.

“Anything we can do to save residents money is a good thing,” Beets said.

Elsesser said town offices in Coventry will not participate in Direct Choice because the town is locked into its current electric company. “We locked in years ago,” Elsesser said.

Elsesser said Coventry residents and businesses should be sent mailings within the next week with details about Direct Choice.

There is also a presentation scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 29, at Coventry’s Patriots Park Lodge at 10 a.m. for senior citizens.

Residents can sign up for the program itself at the PumpkinFest on Saturday, Oct. 9, from noon to 3 p.m. at Patriots Park.

Coventry residents can enroll by using the password, Coventryct, on the direct energy web site, www.directenergy.com. For senior citizen rates, individuals must call the company.

For other participants, residents can log on to Direct Energy’s web site, or contact the company’s customer service department toll free at (866) 803-4618 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for more information.

Posted Sept. 7, 2010

Off-track betting opens in Willimantic Nov. 1

The former Thirsty Frog Restaurant, which closed temporarily in mid-June, will re-open its doors in November with a new look and a new occupant.

Owner Damian Fox said the target date is Nov. 1 for the restaurant and Autotote Enterprises Inc. [Scientific Games] to open both the restaurant and a new off-track betting facility at 600 Main St.

Fox added the focus of his business will shift from a restaurant/night club to more of a sports bar & grill theme.

He’s also considering a name change, from the Thirsty Frog to The Lucky Frog Bar and Grill.

In the meantime, Fox said he’s working on filling out the stack of paperwork from various state agencies so that his plans can more forward.

“It wasn’t as quick as we thought it would be,” Fox said.

Fox said he is also working on renovations, getting the building ready for off-track betting – including 40 TVs on which patrons will watch horse racing and sporting events.

Fox said they also plan an expanded patio but it won’t be used until next spring.

He said the menu will be expanded beyond Italian to include more bar & grill foods.

It was a long road to this point.  Autotote/Scientific Games were able to get local permits and state approvals but then  ran into a roadblock when Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed the bill that would have allowed for off-track betting at the Thirsty Frog and a couple of other Connecticut restaurants.

Gov. Rell – who is not seeking re-election –said she vetoed the bill because she didn’t consider allowing struggling restaurants to add an off-track betting facility a sustainable way to grow the economy.

That veto, however, was overturned by the Legislature.

Currently, 12 off-track betting parlors in the state are permitted to simulcast races and jai alai, though two new locations in Manchester and New London are expected to open soon.

The Town of Windham stands to gain some revenue from OTB in Willimantic.

State regulations provide that towns hosting an off-track betting facility can collect a share of “handle” revenue [a share of the wagers], which Autotote officials estimated at $64,000.

Autotote employs 300 people in the state. The firm purchased the state’s OTB system in 1993 and is the exclusive authorized operator of off-track betting facilities in Connecticut.

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

Autotote officials have said in correspondence to the town that the hours at the facility will 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 in the off-track betting facility would be restricted to age 21 and older.

Autotote officials estimate they will employ at least two full-time staff members and four part-time workers when the betting parlor opens. Fox has said the restaurant might also add waitstaff.

While Autotote would operate off-track betting, waitresses and waiters from restaurant would serve the patrons.

Posted Sept. 7, 2010

Community School of the Arts now enrolling students

The Community School of the Arts at the University of Connecticut is now enrolling students in a full fall program of non-credit, affordable classes in music and art for adults, teens and children.

Classes begin in early and mid September.

Private music lessons on most instruments and voice are available to students of all ages and ability levels with CSA’s professional faculty.

CSA also offers a comprehensive Suzuki program for violin, cello and guitar.

New fall music offerings include music theory for teens, advanced chamber music coaching for teens, group piano for teens and adults, and an infant music class.

Ongoing music classes include a “Xyloband ensemble” for grades K-1, “music for the young” for 18 mos. to 3 years old with a parent, and “music time” for ages 3 and 4.

Adult offerings include cello and guitar ensembles and group piano.

And for teens, the Advanced String Ensemble, UConn Youth Symphony, music theory and a chamber music class.

Grade school students may enroll in the Treblemakers choral programs or the Presto Ensemble for beginning Suzuki students.

An adult version of the popular art class All Things Art is now offered for adults who are beginners or who would like to explore different media through crafts such as printmaking, bookmaking and paper sculpture.

Other adult art classes include pottery I, and II, Raku workshop, sculpture and drawing studio.

Ongoing art offerings for children and families include Art-a-rama for ages 3½ to 5 years old, and family clay classes for ages 3-6 and ages 6 and up, both with a parent or caregiver.

Grade school ages may register for All Things Art (ages 5-7 and 8-10) or fun with clay ages 6-10, and teens and pre-teens are offered youth wheel (ages 9-13), and drawing and 2-D media (ages 9-16).

All classes offer a high quality experience with professional faculty.

CSA also offers private and semi-private lessons, pottery studio rentals, home school and custom classes, Scout classes and birthday parties.

All programs are held at the UConn Depot campus in Storrs.

For additional information or to register, contact CSA at (860) 486-1073, csa@uconn.edu or visit www.csa.uconn.edu.

Posted Sept. 7, 2010