Rise in online news prompts debate over publishing legal notices

The Hartford Courant’s publisher Richard Graziano testified before a skeptical (state legislature’s) Planning and Development Committee on Friday (Feb. 1) in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper. Photo by Hugh McQuaid – on CTNewsJunkie

By Hugh McQuaid | CT News Junkie

The Hartford Courant’s publisher testified before a skeptical (state legislature’s) Planning and Development Committee on Friday (Feb. 1) in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper.

Both bills would give towns the ability to publish advertisements of their legal notices on their website.

One also would give them the option of posting in a weekly newspaper.

The Courant’s publisher, Richard Graziano… argued against the change, saying that it was a matter of open access to government through an objective third party. He said that posting the notice only on a government site leaves it open to tampering, alteration, political bias, or publication after the legal deadline.

Several town leaders testified in support of the bills, including… Rep. Melissa Ziobron [Dist. 34 – East Haddam, East Hampton, part of Colchester].

Ziobron is a freshman Republican who doesn’t serve on the committee but proposed one of the bills. She said there are no daily newspapers in her district. She said there is a weekly newspaper [RiverEast] that covers 13 towns in the area but few people read it.

“I can tell you the majority of my residents don’t even pick it up . . . It actually becomes litter, which is very unfortunate,” she said.

… Continue Reading

Rise in online news prompts debate over publishing legal notices

The Hartford Courant’s publisher Richard Graziano testified in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper. Photo by Hugh McQuaid – on CTNewsJunkie

By Hugh McQuaid | CT News Junkie

The Hartford Courant’s publisher testified before a skeptical (state legislature’s) Planning and Development Committee on Friday (Feb. 1) in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper.

Both bills would give towns the ability to publish advertisements of their legal notices on their website.

One also would give them the option of posting in a weekly newspaper.

The Courant’s publisher, Richard Graziano… argued against the change, saying that it was a matter of open access to government through an objective third party. He said that posting the notice only on a government site leaves it open to tampering, alteration, political bias, or publication after the legal deadline.

Several town leaders testified in support of the bills, including… Rep. Melissa Ziobron [Dist. 34 – East Haddam, East Hampton, part of Colchester].

… Continue Reading

State invites applications for Recreational Trail Grants

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for Connecticut’s National Recreational Trails Program Grants. The Naugatuck River Greenway in Waterbury, CT is a past recipient of one of these grants. Image source: Waterbury City Website

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for Connecticut’s National Recreational Trails Program Grants.

Applications will be accepted through March 29, 2013.

Grants may be made to any private nonprofit organizations, municipalities, state departments and tribal governments. Grant amounts vary.

The National Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is an assistance program of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. RTP is administered through the DEEP. Recreational Trails Program funds may be used for: … Continue Reading

Local group offers college scholarships for women

The GFWC Northeastern CT Woman’s Club is accepting applications for both the Dorothy E. Schoelzel Scholarship and the Phipps Memorial Scholarship.

The GFWC Northeastern CT Woman’s Club is accepting applications for both the Dorothy E. Schoelzel Scholarship and the Phipps Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarships are available to enable Connecticut women to pursue advanced courses in accredited institutions.

Phipps Scholarship candidates must have completed two or more years of undergraduate work towards a Bachelor’s degree or a post graduate degree and must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average.

Candidates for the Schoelzel Scholarship must have completed three or more years of undergraduate work in the field of education and have a grade point average of 3.0 or … Continue Reading

Orange Bowl donates $80,000 to UConn Sandy Hook Scholarship Fund

The Orange Bowl Committee’s gift brings the Sandy Hook scholarship fund to about $800,000.

The University of Connecticut’s Sandy Hook School Memorial Scholarship Fund, which honors those who died in the tragic shooting in Newtown, has received a gift of $80,120 from the host of the 2013 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship Game.

The donation from the Orange Bowl Committee represents $1 for every fan in attendance at the Jan. 7, 2013 BCS National Championship Game, where UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel received the check on UConn’s behalf at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The surprise donation was presented by Orange Bowl President O. Ford Gibson and … Continue Reading

State offers new Youth Fishing Passport

CT Fish and Wildlife has developed fishing activities and is building a list of fishing vendors who will support passport holders with a special benefit. CT Fish and Wildlife photo.

Connecticut Fish and Wildlife has announced a new free Youth Fishing Passport.

The Youth Fishing Passport is a program designed to encourage those under 16 to become avid anglers.

CT Fish and Wildlife has developed fishing activities and is building a list of fishing vendors who will support passport holders with a special benefit.

Check out the Geo-Catching, Fishing Challenge and Sponsors links at http://www.ct.gov/deep/yfp

Posted January 15, 2013

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DMV cancels morning driving tests Jan 16

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles has canceled all road skill tests scheduled before 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16, due to the impending winter storm.

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles has canceled all road skill tests scheduled before 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16, due to the impending winter storm.

Testing should resume at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Anyone with a scheduled road test can call DMV to choose a new date.

The numbers to call are 860-263-5700 if someone is within the Hartford area and toll-free 800-842-8222 for those outside the Hartford area.

The DMV is also attempting to contact customers with road test appointments to advise them of the schedule change.

Posted January 15, 2013

Have a news item, event or Letter to the Editor you’d like posted on this news site? Simply send your information to editor@htnp.com and include your town in the subject line of your email. Please also include a phone number where you can be reached if there are questions. For daily updates on local and Connecticut news, “like” us on Facebook at HTNP News. https://www.facebook.com/HTNPnews and find us on our NEW Twitter page at HTNP News (@HTNPNews )

Why you and your child should still get a flu shot

Although some locations have stopped offering the flu vaccine, which each year is approved by FDA, supplies remain available. Consumers can find out where to get a flu shot by calling doctor’s offices, clinics, pharmacies and supermarkets.

There is still time to protect your children and yourself from the flu in what remains of a severe influenza season.

In fact, federal health officials are reporting that the “peak”of the flu season is unexpectedly lingering, and a much larger number of people are coming down with the flu.

“Everyone seems to know that the elderly are particularly vulnerable, but so too are children,” says William Rodriguez, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatrician at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Severe complications are most common in children under age 2, and all children ages 6 months and older should be immunized.”

As of the end of November 2012, 112 million Americans were immunized for this flu season, leaving the majority unprotected as of that time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Rodriguez notes that in each of the last 10 flu seasons, between 43 and 153 children died from influenza in the U.S. An average 20,000 children a year under age 5 are hospitalized. So far this year, 16 deaths of children under age 18 have been reported to the CDC.

Image source: FDA, used by permission

Currently, 43 states are reporting widespread flu outbreaks, with the District of Columbia and remaining states—Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Montana, South Dakota and Missouri—reporting localized outbreaks.

Connecticut is among those states reporting a relatively low number of cases, For those who’d like to guard against catching the lingering flu virus, however, now would be the time to get vaccinated.

People are generally immunized in the fall, but they can still get protection from the flu for what remains of the flu season—even though immunization takes several weeks to take effect.

The season usually peaks in January or February, with some cases continuing into the spring and even beyond.

“This is particularly late in the flu season for very young children, because to optimize immune response, children between the ages of 6 and 35 months need two shots, four weeks apart, during their first season of vaccination,” said Rodriguez. “However, even one shot provides some protection, so even now there is time to get some benefit.”

Although some locations have stopped offering the flu vaccine, which each year is approved by FDA, supplies remain available. Consumers can find out where to get a flu shot by calling doctor’s offices, clinics, pharmacies and supermarkets.

Posted January 10, 2013

Related link: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) site for an updated map of flu cases nationwide http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

Have a news item, event or Letter to the Editor you’d like posted on this news site? Simply send your information to editor@htnp.com and include your town in the subject line of your email. Please also include a phone number where you can be reached if there are questions. For daily updates on local and Connecticut news, “like” us on Facebook at HTNP News. https://www.facebook.com/HTNPnews and find us on our NEW Twitter page at HTNP News (@HTNPNews )