Dog Lane temporarily closed due to Storrs Center construction

July 19, 2012 Business, Local News Comments Off

File photo by Roxanne Pandolfi

Due to construction of the new Dog Lane connection to Storrs Road (Route 195) as part of the Storrs Center project, Dog Lane will be closed between Route 195 and Bundy Lane beginning today (Thursday, July 19, 2012), according to an announcement made by the Town of Mansfield today.

“We expect this portion of the road to be reopened to traffic by Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012,” the announcement states.

Also:

“Businesses located on Dog Lane between Willowbrook Road and Storrs Road (Route 195) should direct their employees and customers coming from Storrs Road to use Gurleyville Road and Bundy Lane as a temporary detour.”

Gurleyville Road is across from UConn’s north campus, next to the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

“From the intersection with Bundy Lane, Dog Lane will be limited to local traffic between Bundy Lane and Willowbrook Road to allow access to Dog Lane residents and businesses, according to the announcement.

All construction traffic to Storrs Center will be rerouted through UConn property; no construction traffic will be directed to other local roads, according to the announcement.

Any problems with construction traffic or the road closure should be directed to the Town Manager’s Office during office hours at 860 429-3336 or via email to StorrsCenterInfo@mansfieldct.org

Town Hall is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays from 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Note that Town Hall (the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building, 4 South Eagleville Road) closes early on Fridays – hours are 8 a.m. to noon.

Posted July 19, 2012

Related link: Mansfield Downtown Partnership http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/1914/6514/default.aspx

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Richard Pellegrine Sept. 15 1935 – July 5 2012

July 19, 2012 Local News, Obituaries Comments Off

Richard Pellegrine of Mansfield, CT

Richard Pellegrine, of Mansfield, CT passed away on July 5, 2012 after a long, courageous struggle with COPD. Dick was born on Sept.15, 1935 in Middletown, CT, the son of Margarite Spencer and Orlando Pellegrine. He grew up in Middletown and Cromwell, CT and graduated from Middletown High School in 1954 and New Britain State Teacher’s College (now Central Connecticut State University) in 1958.

He began teaching Junior High School Social Studies and Geography in his hometown of Cromwell upon graduation.

In 1964, he and his young family moved to Mansfield, CT in order to begin teaching 7th and 8th-grade Social Studies in Coventry, CT.

When Nathan Hale Middle School opened in Coventry, Dick chose to stay at the High School and taught Modern Problems, Geography, Civics, U. S. and World history and Youth and the Law. He also taught and became the Director of Driver Education, thus teaching most of the students in Coventry how to drive!

Dick was a dedicated volunteer fireman. He first served in the Cromwell Fire Department and then the Eagleville Volunteer Fire Company in Mansfield. Dick served as president of the EFD for many years.

Dick also believed in serving his town and made certain that all people in the town of Mansfield were represented. He served on many Mansfield committees over a 30-year period, including as a member of the Board of Education and finally as a member of the Town Council.

Richard Pellegrine is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carol; his three children Clifford (and his wife Ann) of Forest Park, GA, Debra Dioguardi (and her husband Glenn) of Tampa, FL and Pamela of Coventry; and his three beloved grandchildren Shane, Amanda and Gillian.

Dick’s commitment to service was his motto – to his family, to his students and to his community. Above all, Richard Pellegrine loved to teach.

Dick’s family will greet friends and family at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195), Willimantic, on Friday, July 20, 2012 from 5 to 8 p.m.

A Memorial Service celebrating Dick’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 21 at the Storrs Congregational Church, North Eagleville Road (UConn campus).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Coventry Scholarship Foundation – Dollars for Scholars, 78 Ripley Hill Road, Coventry, CT 06238

Posted July 19, 2012

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UConn forms group to find location for hazmat storage facility

July 19, 2012 Business, Local News Comments Off

UConn officials have considered the relocation of the facility for at least a decade. Some area residents claim the university has been dragging its feet. They are concerned about the possibility of contamination of the Willimantic reservoir and the Natchaug and Shetucket rivers, though there haven’t been any reported incidents.

The University of Connecticut recently established an advisory committee to identify alternate sites for the hazardous materials storage facility, now known as the “main accumulation area” (MAA).

The current facility located off Horsebarn Hill was constructed as a temporary storage area for chemical, biological and medical waste and “low-level” radioactive material generated by the academic and research facilities.

The committee, which includes UConn and town representatives, is tasked with identifying five potential alternative sites, said UConn Environmental Compliance Analyst Jason Coite.

The group will review options that have been considered in the past, as well as the current site and any others brought to the table.

“We’re still working off the original options that were proposed back in 2003-04,” said Coite.

UConn officials have considered the relocation of the facility for at least a decade.

Some area residents claim the university has been dragging its feet. They are concerned about the possibility of contamination of the Willimantic reservoir and the Natchaug and Shetucket rivers, though there haven’t been any reported incidents.

Coite said reconvening the committee “was the best first step” to getting conversations about the MAA going.

The MAA site advisory committee includes Chair Richard Miller who is UConn Office of Environmental Policy Director, representatives from the Willimantic River Alliance and Windham Water Works, Mansfield Planning and Development Director Linda Painter, Mansfield Fire Chief David Dagon and resident Bill Lennon.

As part of its charge, the advisory committee will identify a preferred location and other options, a process they hope to complete this summer.

Its next meeting has not been scheduled.

Once the locations have been recommended, they will undergo an environmental impact evaluation (EIE), a process Coite said could take a year or more. Community members will have the opportunity to comment on the EIE findings throughout the process.

Options to be reviewed by the committee include two locations on the northern UConn campus, one in the science quadrangle and another in the northwest corner of campus.

According to university officials, the current MAA facility is regulated by various agencies, including the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the state Department of Public Health. The water company also regularly tests local water to ensure it is not being contaminated by hazardous materials.

Chemical waste is securely stored in the facility for no more than 90 days before it is transported off-site for disposal by an EPA-permitted company, according to UConn officials.

Posted July 19, 2012