CT State Police seek couple who stole transmissions from shop

State police are looking for information about two people caught on camera stealing transmissions from a local automotive repair shop.

State police said two people stole several transmissions from Terry’s Transmission, located at 164 Square Hollow Road in Ashford, CT, at approximately 11 p.m. Tuesday, May 17.

Police said security cameras show two people in a dark-color vehicle, appearing to be a Chrysler Sebring two-door convertible with a light­color top, driving into the parking lot.

A white male in his early 20s, wearing a medium-color long-sleeve shirt with white stripes on the arms and a hat, was driving the car, and a white female in a hooded sweatshirt was the passenger, according to police.

State police said the driver backed the vehicle against the building, lowered the convertible top and then put several transmissions into the car.

Police said the suspects put transmissions in both the trunk and back seat, then left the property.

Anyone with information that will help the investigation is asked to call Troop C in Tolland at (860) 896-3200 and reference case 11-00239594.

Posted May 18, 2011

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Sen. Prague’s comments on home-invasion case won’t delay Komisarjevsky trial

Sen. Edith Prague caused an uproar when she said an accused killer in the Petit triple-homicide case should be hung by his genitals from a tree, without a trial.

The judge in the Joshua Komisarjevsky triple homicide trial on Tuesday (May 17) denied the defense’s request to delay jury selection due to comments made by State Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia.

Also on Tuesday, the first alternate juror chosen for Komisarjevsky’s trial in the Cheshire home invasion was excused from serving, the day after he was selected, because he claimed newfound financial hardship, some demanding teaching commitments and “distracting” feedback about the case at his school.

Superior Court Judge Jon C. Blue tried in vain to persuade the Stratford high school teacher to remain on the panel, but the Hamden resident, 32, said he felt uncomfortable in his school Tuesday because many people had already figured out he was chosen for the jury, even though his name was not reported in the media.

The teacher said most of the opinions he had heard in school were that Komisarjevsky is guilty and should be executed.

Defense attorney Jeremiah Donovan later told Judge Blue this shows the effects of Sen. Prague’s remarks. Previously Sen. Prague said there’s no need for a trial and Komisarjevsky should be hanged by his genitals from a tree.

Atty. Donovan asked Judge Blue to reconsider his ruling to deny delaying jury selection for three months.

Judge Blue called Prague’s remarks ” obviously inappropriate,” but added the extensive questioning of each potential juror by both sides can weed out any prejudicial candidates.

Atty. Donovan said, “We’re deeply concerned about jurors who might conceal an agenda to lynch Mr. Komisarjevsky. We’re not confident we can spot jurors who have that agenda.”

State’s Attorney Michael Dearington responded, “This case has been subject to publicity since day one.” He agreed that voir dire questioning would take care of the problem.

The 12 regular jurors have been selected, but now six alternates and three back-ups are needed.

At Tuesday’s questioning of a half dozen potential jurors, no one was acceptable to both sides.

Komisarjevsky is due to go on trial Sept. 19 for multiple counts in the deaths of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Michaela, 11, and Hayley, 17.

Originally published in New Haven Register, distributed by McClatchy-Tri­bune Information Services, edited and reposted here May 18, 2011 via The Chronicle

In Mansfield, Let the sun shine

This is the second earned solar PV system to be installed at the high school. The first, a 3-kW system, was installed in 2008.

There will be a celebration Thursday (May 19) of Mansfield’s acquisition of new solar panels and their installation at Edwin O. Smith High School.

The town of Mansfield earned this new 4-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system through the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)

This is the second earned solar PV system to be installed at the high school. The first, a 3-kW system, was installed in 2008.

Thursday’s celebration begins at 2:30 p.m. and will be held at the high school, at 1235 Storrs Road (Route 195), next to the Audrey P. Beck town hall.

Speakers expected to participate include:

Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson

Dan Britton of Sunlight Solar Energy

Director, Energy Market Initiatives, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Bob Wall

… and other town representatives.

Did you know?

Mansfield is a leader in the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program and in the adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.

As of December 2010, Mansfield had 446 customers enrolled in the CTCleanEnergyOptionsSM program and 34 local clean energy installations, earning the town a total of 548 clean energy points (one point for each customer and three points for each installation) under CCEF’s Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program. These points earned the town 5 kW of solar PV, and the town earned a bonus award of 2 kW of solar PV by surpassing 5 percent household participation in the CTCleanEnergyOptions program. To date, the Town has earned 7 kW of solar PV from CCEF.

Both the Energy Education Team and the student Cool-It Team from Edwin O. Smith High School have been instrumental in promoting clean energy in town and securing clean energy signups under the CTCleanEnergyOptions program.

E. O. Smith High School is the second location in Connecticut where a Heliotronics data monitoring system has been installed; it is providing real-time data from the school’s solar array under CCEF’s Learning for Clean Energy Innovation Program.

Solar arrays are now installed on six town-owned buildings in Mansfield.

Mansfield is one of 14 municipalities participating in the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge in Connecticut.

Looking to the future, Mansfield plans to strengthen its commitment to clean energy. In the next three years, Mansfield will seek to dramatically increase residential enrollments in the CTCleanEnergyOptions program through its participation in the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (N2N), a 14-town community energy savings program led by CCEF that was launched in March.

Additionally, Mansfield’s Energy Education Team has organized a series of workshops focused on energy efficiency and clean energy; the first, “Do It Yourself Solar,” will be held on June 6 at the Mansfield Public Library.

About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund

CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is funded by the electric ratepayers.

CCEF’s mission is to promote, develop and invest in clean energy sources for the benefit of Connecticut’s ratepayers in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state.

CCEF is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public authority.

For more information on CCEF, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.

Posted May 18, 2011; updated May 19 2011

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