Mansfield Rep. Haddad co-hosts forum on health issues

Have a beef about health care? Want to know what kind of solutions the legislature will be debating? Want to talk to some of those legislators face-to-face?

Then you will want to attend tonight’s health forum.

State Reps Susan Johnson (D-Windham) who is Vice Chair of the legislature’s Insurance & Real Estate Committee, and Gregory Haddad (D-Mansfield, Chaplin) will hold a health care issues forum in Willimantic tonight (April 15) at 6:15.

State Rep. Betsy Ritter (D-Waterford/Montville), who is the House Chair of the legislature’s Public Health Committee, will also participate in discussing health care legislation being considered at the legislature this year.

Refreshments will be served.

The forum will be held at the former American Thread mill building (Building 2) at 322 Main St. in the central administration offices of Generations Family Health Center – signs will be posted on the light posts at the entrances to the mills. The offices are located on the second floor.

Posted April 15, 2011

Related link: Generations Family Health Center services at the 1315 Main St. location http://www.genhealth.org/sites_willimantic.htm#map

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This Weekend – Bargain hunting, food, worship and more

Saturday April 16

FISHERMAN’S BREAKFAST
S. A. L. Post 19, American Legion, Windham, will host a fisherman’s breakfast at its Bricktop Road headquarters (Route 14) Windham, from 4:30 to 10 a.m. Tickets are $ 6. For information, call (860) 456-1404.

FUNDRAISING BREAKFAST
The Hebron Women’s Club will host an Easter breakfast in the RHAM High School cafeteria, 85 Wall St., Hebron, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Diners should bring their own cameras for a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny. Tickets available at the door or by calling (860) 559-7571 in advance.

BAKE SALE – LEBANON
The Lebanon Baptist Church on the Lebanon green will host a bake sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TAG AND BAKE SALE – COVENTRY
The Second Congregational Church Community House in Coventry will host a tag and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

GIANT TAG AND BAKE SALE – MANSFIELD CENTER
First United Methodist Church, 29 Puddin Lane, Mansfield Center, will host a “giant” tag and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (860) 423-6418 for more information.

ANNUAL SPRING BAZAAR
Mansfield Senior Center, 303 Maple Road, Storrs, will host its annual spring bazaar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All kinds of treasures will be avail­able.

LEBANON EARTH DAY AND PLANT SALE
Lebanon will celebrate Earth Day with a trash pickup event/plant sale at the Lebanon town green from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gloves and trash bags will be provided and participants are asked to bring a rake, shovel or trowel. Residents may bring bagged roadside trash to the truck in the library parking lot. Info: Stacey Whitney at (860) 642-4898 or (860) 208-6255 or jwhitney01@charter.net.

ANNUAL HEBRON ROAD RACE
This annual event is a certified 5K race, looping from the inter­section of Wall Street and Route 66 to Route 85 to Kinney Road to Millstream Road to Main Street to Wall Street. The race is held rain or shine. The run begins at 9 a.m. with check-in between 7:45 and 8:30 a.m. in the RHAM High School gymnasium, 85 Wall St. Registration at the site is $24. Registration forms available online at www.hebronct.com. Info: (860) 530-1281.

SATURDAY BEREAVEMENT GROUP
Hospice of Eastern Connecticut will hold its Saturday Bereavement Group from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 34 Ledgebrook Drive, Mansfield. Group is appropriate for those who are grieving a year or more. Group is open to the community. Info: (860) 456-7288, ext. 293.

PYSANKY EGG DECORATING WORKSHOP
Babcock Library, 25 Pompey Hollow Road, Ashford, will host an egg decorating workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $5 materials fee and pre-registration is required. Info: (860) 487-4420

4-H CAMP OPEN HOUSE
The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp is holding an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at 326 Taft Pond Road, Pomfret. Also, at 1 p.m., join us for an informational parent panel on the benefits of Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp for you and your child. Hosted by Heather Logee, camp director, and Daryn Tenenbaum, LCSW. Information/registration: (860) 974-3379 or e-mail windham4h@earthlink.net.

ROAST BEEF DINNER – LEBANON
Goshen Congregational Church, 157 Church Road, Lebanon, will host a roast beef dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Adults $10, seniors $9, 12 and under $5, under 5 free. All proceeds to go to local/national/international missions.

COMMUNITY DINNER – HEBRON
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 30 Church St. (Route 85), Hebron, will host a community dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. For details, call (860) 228-3244 or visit the church web site at www.StPetersHebron.com.

EASTERN TO PRESENT ‘WORKING, THE MUSICAL’
Eastern Connecticut State University’s theater program will present “Working, the Musical,” in the Harry Hope Theatre in Shafer Hall at 7:30 p.m. For reservations, call the box office at (860) 465-5123.

Sunday April 17

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES – STORRS
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Storrs, 10:30 a.m. “The Four Paths” will introduce the concept of creation spirituality. Service lead by Rev. Darrick Jackson. Info: (860) 429-6088.

WILLIMANTIC ORCHESTRA SPRING CONCERT

The Willimantic Orchestra, with David Vaughan as its conduc­tor, will present its spring concert with the Eastern Connecticut State University Concert Chorale, featur­ing David Belles as conductor, at 3 p.m. at Shafer Auditorium, cor­ner of Windham and Valley streets, ECSU, downtown Willimantic. Free to the public, but donations are appreciated. Info: www.willimanticorchestra.org or Fred Wengrzynek, president, at (860) 228-4008 and/or fred.wengrzynek@charter.net.

EASTERN TO PRESENT “WORKING, THE MUSICAL”

Eastern Connecticut State University’s theater program will present “Working, the Musical,” in the Harry Hope Theatre in Shafer Hall at 4 p.m. For reservations, call the box office at (860) 465-5123.

PALM SUNDAY – WILLIMANTIC

Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church, 46 Valley St., Willimantic, will host a Palm Sunday service at 6 p.m. Inter-Parochial Adult Penance Service will be held at St. Joseph Church. Info: (860) 423-5835

Posted 4-15-2011

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In Mansfield – Region 19 high school budget goes to vote as zero percent net increase

E. O. Smith High School in Mansfield CT

On Tuesday, March 29, the Regional School District #19 Board of Education adopted a scaled down version of the budget originally proposed for the 2011-2012 school year by Superintendent Bruce Silva.

Regional School District 19 oversees E.O. Smith High School and is made up of the towns of Ashford, Mansfield and Willington.

The superintendent initially offered a budget of $19,261,820 or a 3.2 percent increase, but during the course of budget workshops, school board members asked Silva to return with  a “zero increase” budget.

At a meeting held on March 29, after considering eliminating five and one-half staff positions, the regional school board agreed to adopt a budget that includes a 1.4 percent increase – equivalent to $266,650 – in expenditures.

However, with additional tuition revenue anticipated next school year, the net result is a “zero increase” budget.

Increases proposed in the board of education budget will be offset almost in total by student tuition from regular, vocational agriculture and students with disabilities attending Region #19 programs, Silva said. He also noted that it was still necessary to cut $321,600 to reach that goal.

E.O. Smith’s enrollment is projected to increase by 30 students next school year. A total of 1,135 students are expected to attend in the 2011-2012 school year.

However, the number of students sent by the towns of Ashford and Mansfield is expected to decrease slightly – Ashford dropping from an enrollment of 240 to 234 students (-6), and Mansfield from 636 to 623 (-13)  - while Willington is expected to send 18 additional students in the fall, with that town’s enrollment increasing from 260 to 278.

Silva pointed out that while such small differences may seem insignificant, they will have a noticeable impact on Willington’s share of the budget.

In the current budget year (2010-11), Ashford’s portion is $3.74 million, Mansfield’s is $9.92 million, and Willington’s is $4.06 million.

If the proposed budget passes, for the 2011-2012 school year, Ashford would be responsible for $3.65 million ($89,203 less), Mansfield for $9.73 million ($194,998 less), and Willington would need to contribute $4.34 million ($284,201 more).

The budget will be sent to a referendum on Tuesday, May 3. Each town votes at its own polling location(s). In Mansfield, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The outcome of the vote is determined by adding all “yes” votes from the three towns and all “no”votes from the three towns, for a cumulative total. Depending on those totals, the budget can pass – as it has done in the past – even if one of the three towns votes it down.

A copy of the proposed budget can be downloaded at www.eosmith.org or may be requested from the superintendent’s office.

For questions or additional information contact bsilva@eosmith.org or call the superintendent’s office at 860-487-1862 weekdays during school hours.

Posted April 15, 2011