Challenges loom for Connecticut’s new gun law

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs new gun law on April 4, 2013 at the State Capitol in Hartford, CT. Photo by Christine Stuart | CTNewsJunkie.com

by Hugh McQuaid | CTnewsjunkie.com

Flanked by families of some of those murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT in December 2012, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into law the state’s new bipartisan, gun-violence prevention legislation at a ceremony Thursday afternoon (April 4) at the state Capitol.

The bill expands the number of firearms prohibited in Connecticut, bans the sale of ammunition magazines that carry more than 10 rounds, and imposes new eligibility requirements for purchases of all guns and ammunition. It also creates the first statewide gun offender registry.

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Public hearings April 3 on Storrs Center plans

The Mansfield Downtown Partnership will hold two public hearings on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at the Mansfield Fire Station 107 meeting hall, at 879 Stafford Road (Route 32), to hear comments on two zoning permit applications from Storrs Center Alliance LLC. Image source: MDP web site

Press Release

The Mansfield Downtown Partnership will hold two public hearings on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at the Mansfield Fire Station 107 meeting hall, at 879 Stafford Road (Route 32), to hear comments on two zoning permit applications from Storrs Center Alliance LLC.

The hearings concern Phase 4: Market Square and Phase 1C: Building Town Square-3 of the Storrs Center project.

The first hearing begins at 7 p.m. on the application to develop the proposed market area in Storrs Center (Phase 4: Market Square).

The second hearing is scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. on the application to develop the proposed Town Square-3 (TS-3) building (Phase 1C: Building Town Square-3).

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Watch Solarize Mansfield-Windham installations in April

Two Solarize Mansfield-Windham installations are coming up that will give local residents an opportunity to watch how it’s done, meet the homeowners participating in Solarize Mansfield-Windham, and have your questions answered by the official solar installer, C-TEC SOLAR. Image courtesy of C-TEC Solar

Submitted by Virginia Walton | Mansfield Recycling Coordinator

Two Solarize Mansfield-Windham installations are coming up that will give local residents an opportunity to watch how it’s done, meet the homeowners participating in Solarize Mansfield-Windham, and have your questions answered by the official solar installer, C-TEC SOLAR.

C-TEC is providing lunch, as well.

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Postponed – DEEP Commissioner to ‘charge up’ at Storrs Center

CT DEEP Commissioner Esty is expected to charge his Chevy Volt at one of the stations – there are four Level 2 retractable electric charging stations in the Mansfield Garage – and a Hertz car-share program will be introduced.

Editor’s note: This event was postponed because of winter weather. When a new date is announced, I will share that information.

By Brenda Sullivan, HTNP News Editor

Connecticut DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty  is expected to join Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson and other local dignitaries at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 to tour the Storrs Center development.

The visit is meant to highlight energy and pro-environment aspects of the development, including electric vehicle charging stations  for the public.

Commissioner Esty is expected to charge his Chevy Volt at one of these stations – there are four, Level-2 retractable electric charging stations – and a Hertz car-share program will be introduced.

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Watch for projected images on the Willimantic Brewing Co exterior

The collection of twenty rotating images is each artist’s individual interpretation of a Green Light, in support of The Last Green Valley and their 3rd Annual Green Lights Project.

In partnership with the Willimantic Screen Project, The Willimantic Brewing Co. will host a “Green Lights Night” on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 beginning at 5 pm.

Presented in conjunction with Thread City Development Inc., Eastern Connecticut State University and the Town of Windham, the Willimantic Brewing Company will project digital images onto the High Street façade of its building each night from Wednesday thorugh St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2013.

The collection of twenty rotating images is each artist’s individual interpretation of a Green Light, in support of The Last Green Valley and their 3rd Annual Green Lights Project.

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Gov. Malloy – Storm Sandy aid to CT tops $50 million

Milford, CT, November 17, 2012 – The constant beating of this building by Sandy’s wind and waves destroyed the electric service entry and more. FEMA opened Disaster Recovery Centers near the areas hardest hit, to help Sandy survivors rebuild safer and stronger homes. Photo by Marilee Caliendo/FEMA

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today (Feb. 22) announced that more than $50 million in federal assistance has been approved, to date, to help individuals and businesses with disaster expenses since President Obama approved the Disaster Declaration following Storm Sandy.

“I want to thank FEMA for extending the deadline to apply for disaster assistance, not once but twice,” said Gov. Malloy. “With over 12,000 claims filed, clearly many residents took advantage of the help they were entitled to.”

“Getting back to normal after a disaster like this is paramount, and the assistance from FEMA was undeniably a big factor for many in making that possible,” the governor said.

A total of 12,380 Connecticut residents registered for federal disaster assistance during the application period that ended Feb. 11.

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Employers – register now for CT DOL job fairs

“Our Connecticut Career Fair series traditionally attracts thousands of job seekers and hundreds of businesses each year …” – CT Labor Commissioner Sharon M. Palmer. Photo source www.careerguidetips.com

The Connecticut Department of Labor’s “Connecticut Career Fair” series returns this spring, with regional events scheduled for Manchester, East Hartford and Danbury – including one specifically for Connecticut residents who have served in the Armed Services, the Connecticut National Guard and the Reserves.

“This is the agency’s 17th year providing job and career fairs with the goal of matching employers with potential employees,” said State Labor Commissioner Sharon M. Palmer.

“Our Connecticut Career Fair series traditionally attracts thousands of job seekers and hundreds of businesses each year, and each event offers excellent opportunities for companies to meet qualified, job-ready candidates who have technical, administrative, managerial or production backgrounds,” Commissioner Palmer said.

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CT Dept of Motor Vehicles closed Feb 11-12

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 11 and 12 in observance of Lincoln’s Birthday, which is a legal State holiday.

Update – The CT Department of Motor Vehicles has cancelled road skills testing at all offices Wednesday, Feb.13 as a safety precaution, due to snow piles/snow banks that can create hazards for pedestrians and blind spots for motorists at intersections. Road tests are expected to resume Thursday, Feb. 14.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 11 and 12 in observance of Lincoln’s Birthday, which is a legal State holiday.

The DMV will re-open for business at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Also, on Friday, Feb. 15, DMV major customer service offices will close at 12:30 p.m. to observe President Washington’s Birthday; offices will reopen Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7:45 a.m.

Some AAA offices will be open for processing license renewals on Monday and Tuesday, including Manchester, 1500 G Pleasant Valley Road.

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