Worldwide cyber crime probe hits Storrs

An FBI raid at a home just off the University of Connecticut campus Friday is part of a larger nationwide investiga­tion into a string of recent orga­nized cyber attacks. The FBI said it began execut­ing more than 40 search warrants nationwide Thursday (Jan. 27) as part of an investigation into coordinated attacks.

The United Kingdom’s Metro­politan Police Service also arrest­ed five people for their alleged role.

One of those raids occurred just off the UConn campus in Storrs Friday, but U. S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Thomas Carson said no arrests have been made from the raid as of this morning (Jan. 31).

Calls to a spokesman for the FBI’s office in New Haven seek­ing comment were not returned this morning.

UConn spokesman Michael Kirk said the raid reportedly occurred at 208 North Eagleville Road, an address listed as the location for the UConn Student Shelter for the Arts.

A phone number for the organi­zation was not accepting calls this morning, and Michael Improta, Darrell Hollens and Vincent Cardinal, all listed as officers on the organization’s web page, did not respond to e-mails seeking comment.

According to UConn’s web site at the Division of Student Affairs link, the UConn Student Shelter for the Arts’ mission is to “pro­vide an outlet for student creativ­ity on the UConn campus, for performing and visual arts of all kinds. To organize and sponsor events including but not limited to poetry readings, staged readings, student bands, open mic nights and visual art shows.”

Kirk declined to comment fur­ther, saying the raid occurred off campus and there was no indi­cation this morning that UConn students are involved in the FBI’s investigation.

The FBI said it began executing more than 40 search warrants as part of an international investiga­tion into the coordinated cyber attacks.

The FBI said distributed denial of service attacks occur when a software program sends a series of useless commands and infor­mation to a computer network.

The commands make the net­work deny “service to legitimate users,” the FBI said, adding the attacks have targeted major com­panies and organizations.

The FBI added a group calling itself “Anonymous” has claimed responsibility for the attacks and said the attacks were in protest of the companies’ and organizations’ actions.

On its web site, www.whywepro­test.com, “Anonymous” also said it supports WikiLeaks and defi­ance groups in Iran, Zimbabwe and Tunisia.

Along with the UK, the FBI also said authorities in Germany, the Netherlands and France have also been conducting investigations into coordinated cyber attacks and the FBI is working closely with those investigations.

The FBI said the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance – a public- private partnership that works to identify, mitigate, and neutralize cyber crime – is also helping in the investigation.

The NCFTA has advised that software from any untrustworthy source represents a potential threat and should be removed, the FBI said.

Posted 1-31-2011

Next wintry blast headed our way

Raymond Gadoury flings another shovel full of snow off the roof of his porch in Willington on Saturday. Many peo­ple took advantage of the mild weather Saturday to clean up roofs and driveways before the area gets socked with the next round of winter weather Tuesday and Wednesday. Photo: Marie Brennan

Area residents are bracing for yet another wintry blast on Tuesday and Wednesday, as weather forecasters are predict­ing some snowfall and a mix of precipitation.

Over the weekend, residents continued to dig out while some trudged up to roofs to remove snow ahead of this week’s storm. Tom Kines, senior meteorolo­gist for AccuWeather.com, said precipitation would start in the morning Tuesday and continue through the day.

He said there would be “a few inches of snow to deal with,” offering an estimate of between 1 and 3 inches during the day and another inch Tuesday night.

Kines said temperatures would be in the mid-20s on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Kines said there would be a mix of sleet, freezing rain and snow that will complicate morning commutes.

“Wednesday morning looks horrendous,” Kines said, adding freezing rain would be the worst­-case scenario.

Freezing rain is rain that freez­es on contact and leaves an icy glaze on roads, tree limbs and utility lines, while sleet is precipitation that initially falls as rain and hits a cold layer in the atmosphere and lands as frozen precipitation, he said.

Kines added the storm would move out Wednesday between 8 p. m. and midnight and tem­peratures on Wednesday would be right around freezing – 32 degrees.

For those with sore backs from shoveling, Kines said there isn’t much relief in sight.

“Not really,” he said. “It’s January and February in New England.”

Also, those living in Williman­tic are reminded to dig out their fire hydrants, shovel out a spot for their garbage and recycling cans and to shovel their side­walks.

Windham Town Manager Neal Beets said crews were spending the day loading up and taking away snow from areas.

“We have no place to plow it any longer,” he said, adding the town was loading up trucks with sand and salt in preparation of Tuesday and Wednesday’s storm. “Hopefully we can push it some place.”

This storm is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freez­ing rain is expected to hit the Rockies, Plains and Midwest regions Tuesday, before moving on to the mid-Atlantic states and New England.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

Posted 1-31-2011

In Coventry – prostitution via Craigslist, assault at daycare

Jan. 27: A Tolland man was arrested Thursday as part of prostitution investigation after actively placing ads on Craigslist just days after a local teenager was also arrested for her involvement.

Thomas Napolitano, 25, of 268 Apt. F5 Hartford Turnpike, Tolland, was charged with second-degree promoting prostitution and delivering liquor to a minor.

He was released on $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court Feb. 8.

A 17-year-old female from Coventry, who was not identified because of her age, was arrested Monday and charged with prostitution. She was arraigned Monday as a youthful offender.

Coventry police said Napolitano and the teenager placed 46 ads on Craigslist around March 2010 in the “casual encounters” section, and the two had contact with “many individuals who inquired about the services offered.

Jan. 28: A local man was arrested for attempting to commit sexual assault and other charges Friday after an investigation into a complaint about an incident at a home day care.

Rene Cote Jr., 65, of 23 Catalina Dr., Coventry, was charged with criminal attempt to commit third-degree sexual assault, second-degree unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a minor and disorderly conduct.

He was released on $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court Feb. 9.

Coventry police said it investigated an incident between Cote and a young female child at a day care. The day care has since surrendered its license to the Department of Public Health. Police did not identify the day care.

Posted 1-30-2011

UConn 'backer back in 'Bama for Senior Bowl

Signing autographs was a must for all the All Stars. Lawrence Wilson signs a ball for former Stafford, CT resident Andrew Williams and his sons Oliver, 7, on his shoulders and Eli, 5. Andrew's dad, Jack Willaims, still resides in Stafford and is a season-ticket holder at The Rent. Photo © 2011 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

MOBILE, Alabama – Name an NFL linebacker whose first name is Lawrence and whose surname has six letters and two syllables.

You don’t have to be a New York Giants fan to come up with the name Lawrence Taylor.

But come this fall, there may well be a second answer to that question, namely, Lawrence Wilson.

The former UConn stalwart at linebacker took his first major step toward a pro career Saturday afternoon (Jan. 29) when he played for the North team in the Under Armour Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.

Wilson had six tackles, good for fourth overall for both teams, as the North lost 24-10.

“It was a great week, being here, met some good people,” Wilson said as he walked off the field after the game, the loudspeakers blaring, what else? Lynyard Skynyard’s “Sweet Home, Alabama.”

Former UConn linebacker Lawrence Wilson was among 100 top collegiate players chosen for the 2011 Senior Bowl. Photo © 2011 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

An appropriate anthem for Lawrence Wilson whose nickname is ‘Bama.

That’s what made the honor of being chosen for this squad of budding NFL talent even more delicious for Wilson, the fact that he grew up in Mobile, moving to his dad’s home in Tuscaloosa at the age of 12 when his mom passed away.

From there, the next stop was Storrs, CT.

Next stop, NFL Combine

Now the next stop after Mobile is Indianapolis, a few weeks from now, for the NFL Combine, where players get to perform to enhance their value in the NFL Draft.

Some analysts have placed the former Husky among the top dozen prospects at outside linebacker, potentially going as high as the third round.

That wouldn’t be surprising, based on his college credentials: Wilson led the Big East in tackles this past season (123) and was named to the All-Big East first team.

His career stats at Storrs are just as impressive: Wilson started as a freshman and never stopped, as it were, starting a total of 50 games. He leaves Connecticut second on the all-time list of “tackles made,” 449, trailing only John Dorsey who had 495 from 1980-83.

Lawrence Wilson was fourth among all players with six tackles in Saturday's game. Photo © 2011 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

However, Wilson is now at the top of the all-time list of Huskies returning an interception for a touchdown with three, and none more important than the 55-yard masterpiece that turned the game around against South Florida – running triumphantly down the sideline in front of a bunch of cheering UConn players and coaches – a play that led directly to Connecticut’s first-ever BCS Bowl game.

He ranks that as his signature play, the most memorable of many memorable moments.

“You know, at the time, it didn’t sink it right then, but after, when you look back and realize how big it was, how important it was….” Wilson says.

He looks back on his four years at UConn with pride, glad he made the choice to go North: “It worked out well, it got me here,” he says of his spot on the all-star game roster.

Oh, Canada

Speaking of roster spots, if the NFL doesn’t pan out for him, Wilson always has a home even further north than Connecticut: Canada.

A scout for the Edmonton Eskimos had an eye on Wilson during this week’s practices, not because he was the best linebacker in Mobile this week, but because he was among the smaller linebackers on either squad.

“Lawrence is a good athlete, he’s fast, he’s fluid and he moves really well in space,” said P.A. Jones, assistant general manager of the Eskimos.

Whether on the field or on the sideline, Lawrence Wilson brings an intensity to the game that allowed him to end his UConn career second all-time in tackles. Photo © 2011 by Vito J. Leo for HTNP.com Sports

In other words, Jones thinks Wilson would make an ideal linebacker in the Canadian Football League.

“Wilson is undersized by NFL standards,” said Jones of the 6-foot-1, 226-pound former Husky. “But he would be ideal in our league, the kind of guy we look at because of his speed and quickness, assets that are really necessary for the style of football we play,” Jones said.

He sees Wilson as a special teams player in the NFL, a role player or situational defender.

“Maybe after a few years, as his contract increases, fewer teams might be willing to pay a higher price and that’s when he might make a move to our league,” Jones said.

But until then, even the thought of being an Edmonton Eskimo leaves Wilson cold.

After visiting with friends and family in his home state, ‘Bama is off to southern Florida to continue training for the NFL Combine.

Nevertheless, he’s enjoyed this week of back-home cooking, during the second straight season he’s played his final game in Alabama.

A year ago, the Huskies ended the season with a win over South Carolina in the Papajohn.com Bowl played in Birmingham.

And now Lawrence Wilson ends his amateur career where it all began for him – in Mobile, Alabama.

“Yeah, I guess it’s kind of unbelievable, ending the season in Alabama two years in a row,” Wilson says when reminded of the coincidence. “You know, it’s just great to be back in ‘Bama.”

Posted Jan. 30, 2011

Students: UConn Spring Weekend moratorium will be difficult

With the University of Connecticut now looking to implement the steps in last week’s Spring Weekend Task Force report, many students on campus believe voluntarily foregoing the event this year may be too tall a task.

At the same time, many agree that the student body needs to play a role in helping to make Spring Weekend, and off- campus events in general, safer.

“It seems (the recommendations will) work if students want them to work,” said Sophia Walker, a sophomore from Ridgefield.

Former President Michael Hogan formed the Spring Weekend Task Force in May after UConn student Jafar Karzoun died during an alleged altercation in April with Edi Rapo, of East Hartford, who was not a UConn student.

He charged the task force with finding ways to reduce the size of crowds and control activity during Spring Weekend, which is typically celebrated the last weekend before the last week of classes in the spring.

The Task Force included UConn administrators, faculty and stu­dents, as well as local and state officials. It issued a report Jan. 20 calling for a voluntary, one-year moratorium on the event.

UConn administrators will now begin working with Mansfield staff, town leaders and other affected parties to implement the recommendations.

But Ammar Quidwa, a junior from Westborough, Mass., said he does not think it is realistic for the university to expect such large crowds to just stop gathering this year.

“I don’t think they can stop 18,000 people” from gathering at the off-campus apartment complexes, Quidwa said.

Walker agreed and said, “students will go off-campus” regardless of UConn’s requests, especially since the event was not sanctioned by the university in the first place.”

“If it’s all on the students, we’re the ones to control it,” she said.

Walker also said Karzoun’s death will likely help bring a new perspective, but others do not think students are paying enough attention right now.

“I would say people are not as concerned as they should be,” said sophomore Emily Udal of Willington.

But she also said students might be distracted by the first week of classes after the January break and so, she is optimistic students will focus more on the issue.

She also said “safety should be a priority.”

Other students agreed something needs to be done.

The Task Force said in its report that the deaths of Karzoun and football player Jasper Howard were a “long-held fear on the part of the university,” and these tragedies made it more urgent than ever for the university to address large gatherings, with a specific eye on Spring Weekend.

Rapo is facing second-degree manslaughter and other charg­es for allegedly killing Karzoun and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court again Feb. 25.

In October 2009, Howard was stabbed  in an alter­cation with John Lomax III, 22, of Bloomfield, after an on-campus dance sponsored by a student organization.

Lomax pled no contest to first-degree manslaughter Jan. 14 and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on March 25 for sentencing.

The Task Force said in its report Spring Weekend has grown rapid­ly since 1998, from an estimated 4,000 people nightly 12 years ago, to between 10,000 and 15,000 nightly this past year.

But the task force also said that many of the attendees who were arrested or needed emergency medical attention have not been UConn students and that on Spring Weekend, the campus has between 6,000 and 7,000 reg­istered visitors on campus.

The Task Force recommended banning visitors that weekend, and students who were interviewed for this story agreed that keeping non­students out on Spring Weekend could help.

“When people aren’t from around here… they’re not wor­ried about getting in trouble,” said Biraj Godsay, a junior from Nashua, N.H.

Walker said the move would be a “fair way” to address the problem, but wondered how these party-crashers can be kept away.

The Spring Weekend report also recommended working with landlords to control renters but, Quidwa sai,d “at the end of the day” the tenants are responsible for the off-campus events.

Kirk also agreed students will need to play a hand, as all mem­bers of the university community “will need to work as a whole” to address Spring Weekend.

If UConn could have stopped Spring Weekend, “it would have a long time ago,” he said.

UConn has tried to sponsor on­-campus events in the past to attract students away from the off- cam­pus parties, but the Task Force said students attend both so it might be better to cancel those events – along with any other events on campus that weekend, including at Jorgensen, to make the campus less “porous” to non-students.

Kirk also said UConn believes all of the recommendations can be accomplished. “I don’t think the Task Force would have recommended them if they didn’t think they were doable,” Kirk said.

Posted 1-29-2011

See related story: “Task Force recommends no 2011 Spring Weekend for UConn” for detailed overview of the report

http://mansfield.htnp.com/2011/01/21/task-force-recommends-no-2011-spring-weekend-for-uconn/

Deadline coming for Masonicare purchase of Mansfield land

With Masonicare’s purchase option for an assisted-living complex set to expire at the end of February, company executives said they plan to determine in the next few weeks if the site can get water.

If the developer can’t find a viable water option, including a connection to the University of Con­necticut’s system, the company could look for anoth­er site in town, they said.

Masonicare executives met with the town council Monday to provide an update on the company’s effort to build an assisted- living complex for seniors on Maple Road.

The council selected Masonicare, a nonprofit health-care provider based in Wallingford, as its pre­ferred developer for the project in July 2008.

The designation means the town will work to facil­itate the project, but will not commit any funding to the project or grant Masonicare any exemptions from land-use regulations or permits.

But seniors in town have raised concerns about the project’s slow progress, which the company said is due to a stagnant economy.

Jon-Paul Venoit, president of Masonicare’s Ashlar Village complex in Wallingford, and David Gessart, chairman of the complex’s board of directors, told the council Monday the company is very interested in building a complex in Mansfield.

“We’re actually very excited about the prospect of doing anything in Mansfield,” Venoit said.

He also said Masonicare targeted a location on Maple Road because it would be close to the Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and the senior center.

But he also said water is a “challenge” and testing has found that drilling wells at the current projected site is “not a viable option” at this time.

Masonicare’s option for the targeted site, which is more than 40 acres, expires Feb. 28 and the devel­oper hopes to meet with UConn next week to discuss a connection to its system, Venoit said.

He added UConn has not committed any water to the project, but has designated it as a site for future service, so a connection is possible.

Venoit said Masonicare would need to look at other sites if it could not find a viable water source before its option expires, but reiterated the company’s intent to build a facility in Mansfield.

“I’m happy to say the demand for a retirement community in Mansfield is good,” Venoit said.

Company officials have said a complex could con­tain between 50 and 100 units, some of which would be assisted living.

Town Manager Matthew Hart said an ongoing study to find a water source for Four Corners, the area around the intersection of routes 44 and 195, could also play a factor.

He said the town’s ultimate decision for water, which could include well fields, could also provide water for the complex.

But Hart also noted the study would not be done for at least a few more months and that option would force Masonicare to push back its timeline.

Posted 1-29-2011

Mansfield school decision deadline looms

With the deadline approaching for a May referendum, the school building project committee told the coun­cil Monday (Jan. 24) the town’s cost to build two new schools dropped by roughly $3.4 million after changes to plans.

During a special workshop to discuss the project, town officials, meanwhile, told the council it needed to make a decision by the end of February if it wants to hold a May referendum.

The council has been looking at various options to upgrade the town’s existing three elementa­ry schools and middle school, including building new schools or renovating all four buildings.

Along with building two ele­mentary schools capable of hold­ing as many as 350 students each, current options also include building one elementary school with a capacity of 700 students. Either option would also result in renovations to Mansfield Middle School.

The council could also opt for renovations to all three existing elementary schools and MMS, or it could decide to wait on the project.

But school officials said Monday the town could benefit from a new school project, as the town could get grants to help provide energy and technology upgrades for the schools.

School board Chairman Mark LaPlaca said the board has put off technology upgrades in recent budgets, while Superintendent Frederick Baruzzi said the town would ” hopefully gain a num­ber of efficiencies” with energy upgrades.

Recent discussions have mainly focused on the cost of build­ing two schools, and Monday the building project committee said it was able to reduce the space by roughly 4,600 square feet per school.

The change brought the total estimated cost for the project down to roughly $55.98 million, with the town responsible for just under $23.48 million after state reimbursements, a drop of $3.4 million.

The costs figures also included the price to purchase two prop­erties adjacent to Dorothy C. Goodwin Elementary School, located on Hunting Lodge Road.

Discussions have targeted the site for a school in the north end of town, but architect Rick Lawrence confirmed concerns Monday that the town’s property alone is not big enough for a new school.
“It does not appear to be enough land,” he said of the Goodwin property, although he said pur­chasing the two properties would provide adequate space.

Town Planning Director Gregory Padick said he estimated the pur­chases would add a net cost of $450,000 to the total price tag, as the town could sell one of the existing homes on a two-acre lot.

Town Finance Director Cherie Trahan said the modified two­-school project would result in a tax impact of as much as 1.7 mills annually, peaking in the second year of a 20-year bond.

But she also noted the coun­cil would need to consider other debt, including bonding recently approved by town meetings, and other capital improvement needs in town.

“We’ve put off our capital needs over the last few years as (state funding) has gone down,” she said.

Trahan and other town officials also said the council would need to make a decision by the end of February if it wants to have a referendum in May.

She added the town would need resident approval by May if it wants to submit an application to the state before the fiscal year ends on June 30, as the town would need a month to prepare the document.

Councilmen and town officials have said they hope to get the application in this fiscal year, as reimbursement rates for grants could change in the next budget.

Posted 1-29-2011

UConn Gulley Hall fire still under investigation

A fire broke out in the basement at Albert G. Gulley Hall, an administrative building at the University of Connecticut Jan. 26. Photo by Roxanne Pandolfi

The cause of a fire at Albert G. Gulley Hall Wednesday (Jan. 26) remains under investigation, while the building remains closed to em­ployees until Monday.

Gulley Hall is an administrative building and contains the offices of the president and other top uni­versity officials, but employees in the building will need to find alternative work spaces until the building is re- opened.

UConn President Philip Austin told the board of trustees dur­ing its meeting Wednesday that the fire, which occurred in the basement of the building, caused “significant damage” to the phone and data services.

UConn police Maj. Ronald Blicher said restoring those sys­tems and cleaning some smoke damage are the reasons Gulley Hall will be closed to employees through the weekend.

University spokesman Michael Kirk said the employees can still access their e- mails and other important information and will be able to continue their work from other offices. “People who work in Gulley Hall are going to work in other offices,” he said.

Kirk also said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The UConn fire marshal’s office deferred comment to UConn Fire Chief John Mancini, who was un­available for comment.

Blicher also said he is not aware of anything in Gulley Hall that would need replacement from the smoke damage, as a crew is fo­cusing on simply cleaning the building.

“The smoke damage to the building appears to be such that it can be eradicated quickly,” Bli­cher said.

UConn was closed to non-emer­gency support services employees Thursday.

The UConn Fire Department received an alarm from a smoke detector at Gulley Hall shortly be­fore 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The department quickly respond­ed to the building and immedi­ately noticed smoke throughout, then found a fire in a service room in the basement, Blicher said Wednesday.

He also said firefighters quickly extinguished the small fire.

Gulley Hall sits at the end of a cul-de-sac and Blicher said Wednesday the location of the building and timing of the fire resulted in only a small distur­bance to on-campus traffic.

He said the biggest concern was regarding water used to fight the fire freezing on the sidewalks and public safety officials called in a landscaping crew to bring sand and salt.

Posted 1-29-2011