Police arrest operator of jewelry shop at East Brook Mall

The operator of an a gold exchange kiosk in the East Brook Mall will appear in court next week.

Gangyuan Jin, 55, of 346 Foster Drive, Windham, CT has been charged with six counts of violation of precious metal/stone regulations, according to police.

He will appear in Rockville Superior Court July 25. His bond was set at $2,500.

Jin operates Park Avenue Jewelry, where police say he was receiving stolen jewelry in exchange for cash.

This arrest is the result of testimony by a woman arrested in connection with several burglaries in the Mansfield area who told police she sold jewelry to Jin, who never asked for information about where the jewelry came from, according to police.

Jin also allegedly did not keep required records for all transactions.

According to police, Jin was taken into custody without incident while working at the mall. He was arrested and charged on July 10.

Posted July 17, 2012

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Windham Council supports residential use at Windham Mills

Windham Mills in Willlimantic, CT. Image source: TWB Properties

Residential use at the Windham Mills complex may happen, but maybe not as soon as the property’s owners would like.

The Windham Town Council voted 5-4 Tuesday (May 15) to support the Windham Economic Development Commission’s thumbs-up for residential development at the mills.

The council vote will be forwarded as an advisory to the Windham Planning and Zoning Commission.

Thomas Briggs, president of TWB Properties (Loch View LLC) was pleased with the outcome. “It was close, but a positive is a positive,” said Briggs.

Windham Mills developers came to the town earlier this year to ask for a zone change that would allow them to supplement the industrial/ commercially-zoned property with high-end apartments.

Since buying the property out of bankruptcy in 2008, mill owners have struggled to fulfill a vision of the riverfront as a hub of industry and commerce.

The complex, however, is only about 30 percent occupied and most of its tenants have relocated from other areas in town, which critics doesn’t equate to true economic development.

Some in town have expressed concern over a purported “tax abatement” they say was offered to the mill developers based on their promise to fill the space with industrial tenants.

The mill owners received a seven-year, fixed tax assessment when negotiating the $5.5 million purchase price.

Briggs said the owners gave the town certain parcels on the property in exchange for the fixed assessment of 70 percent of the purchase price, which is the amount they pay property taxes on.

The town has not done a revaluation since the property was purchased. Windham due for a reval in October of 2012 but requested a postponement based on concern that plummeting property values would negatively impact property owners and the town’s Grand List.

On the other hand, it’s possible the mill owners would have benefited because of the anticipated decrease in property values.

“We are one of the largest taxpayers in Windham,” said Briggs. “We are getting nothing different than everyone else. We pay more taxes every year.”

The PZC asked for direction from the Town Council on Briggs’ request.

PZC Chair Paula Stahl said it isn’t something that can be decided quickly.

Stahl said the commission has several factors to consider, including the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.

“We cannot make any change unless it’s consistent with our town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. The mills (are) not included in ( that) for anything other than what it’s currently zoned,” Stahl said in an interview Wednesday.

Stahl added that a zoning change would affect more than just the mills. “Any change we would make would affect every single parcel in the M-3 zone,” Stahl said. The zone encompasses about 26 acres in addition to the mills property, she noted, some of which is used for manufacturing purposes and some of which is vacant.

Windham Economic Development Commissioner Bob Horrocks said he believes the zone could be dissected, but Stahl said that is not the case.

“You could create a new zone, but a new zone can’t be for just one property. It’s called spot zoning and it’s against the law,” said Stahl.

Stahl also said the commission needs to consider what impact the zone change would have on all of the other ongoing economic development projects in town.

Mill owners are hoping for a decision soon. Once approved, they could have residential units ready within 12 to 18 months, they said.

However, Stahl said the matter could take up to two years. “Whatever you decide … this is going to take quite a long time,” said Stahl.

Whether housing is economic development was one point of contention at the meeting.

Horrocks said it is an “erroneous assumption” to say it isn’t.

Horrocks pointed to the Storrs Center project under construction in Mansfield, near the University of Connecticut, the first phase of which is expected to open this summer to make his point. Storrs Center is a mixed-used development that will include a variety of housing, as well as shops, restaurants, service businesses and other uses.

Harrocks noted Storrs Center’s market rate rentals, which begin at about $1,000 a month, are all leased, and most of the first-floor commercial units are spoken for.

“Storrs Center is booming. It will work there and it will work here,” said Horrocks.

Council member Christel Donahue said she doesn’t believe Windham has the necessary housing demand, voted against the approval motion as did council members Tony Fantoli, Arnaldo Rivera and Charles Krich.

“I don’t find this to be economic development,” said Krich.

Posted May 17, 2012 as Edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

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Storrs Center to add another restaurant, Mooyah Burgers and Fries

“We'll have ten restaurants open in Connecticut by the end of 2012,” Rusconi said.

Matt Rusconi and partner David Vorchheimer aren’t content with opening just one restaurant in Storrs Center. They recently signed a lease to open a second restaurant, Mooyah Burgers and Fries, to join their Moe’s Southwest Grill when Storrs Center opens later this year.

“We’ll have ten restaurants open in Connecticut by the end of 2012,” Rusconi said. “Our Mooyah and Moe’s restaurants are fashionable and fun stars in the fast, casual food industry.  They thrive in college towns and offer quality food, a fun environment, and good value.”

Rusconi said that he and his partner have had their eyes on Storrs for some time and when Storrs Center became an option, they felt it was the perfect venue for their growing restaurant business.  Storrs Center is a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented “downtown” now under construction in Storrs-Mansfield, Connecticut.  It will include shops, restaurants, businesses and apartment homes in a design that includes a town square and public areas.

Mooyah offers beef, turkey, and veggie burgers, along with French fries and sweet potato fries.  Fresh breads are baked onsite and burgers can even come wrapped in a lettuce leaf for the health conscious diner.

“We welcome Mooyah as the latest restaurant to commit to Storrs Center,” said Howard Kaufman, Managing Member of LeylandAlliance LLC, the parent company of developer Storrs Center Alliance. “And, we appreciate the commitment that Matt Rusconi and David Vorchheimer are making to the neighborhood by opening two restaurants.  All indications are that they will be most successful in Storrs Center.”

For more information about leasing opportunities, please contact Dan Zelson of Charter Realty and Development at (203) 227-2922 or e-mail him at dan@chartweb.com

For more information about Storrs Center, visit www.storrscenter.com

Posted May 16, 2012

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Mansfield mulls management of Storrs Center parking garage

The agreement assumes the operator, Storrs Center Alliance (SCA), will assume management responsibilities for the parking facility, on-street parking and the Storrs Road/Route 195 parking for at least seven years.

Mansfield Town Manager Matt Hart and other staff members will review a draft parking management agreement that will spell out how the Storrs Center parking garage is to be operated.

The management deal is between the town, Storrs Center Alliance (a subsidiary of Leyland Alliance, the project’s master developer) and its development partner, Education Realty Trust (EdR).

The Mansfield Town Council dissected the agreement at its regular meeting Monday (May 14).

The proposed agreement includes the public parking garage and shared facilities that serve both the garage and intermodal facilities for bicycles and buses.

All of the buildings are part of the $220 million Storrs Center multi-use development now under construction on Route 195 and Dog Lane, across from UConn’s south campus.

The garage is expected to be complete by this summer.

The agreement assumes the operator, Storrs Center Alliance (SCA), will assume management responsibilities for the parking facility, on-street parking and the Storrs Road/Route 195 parking for at least seven years.

Under the agreement, the SCA would collect revenues from the operation of the garage and use them to pay various expenses, such as routine maintenance, parking regulation enforcement, insurance, sales and use taxes payable to the state on parking revenues.

Mansfield Public Works Director Lon Hultgren said the agreement indicates the operator is responsible for “everyday maintenance” and the town is responsible for “major” issues that arise.

However, council member Meredith Lindsey said she is concerned about the “vagueness” of the language in the agreement, i.e. the difference between a “routine” repair and a “minor repair.”

“I think it’s very confusing,” said Lindsey.

Hart said staff will review the language and possibly add “additional specificity.”

Lindsey requested a list of what would be considered “minor” repairs and what would be considered “routine.”

Hultgren said it would be difficult to create a list including all instances. “It’s really a case-by-case basis,” he said.

Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson agreed. “Invariably, there will be something that isn’t on the list,” she said.

There also was discussion about a clause pertaining to mandatory arbitration between the involved parties. The draft agreement states, if there is a dispute and it cannot be resolved within 30 days after the initial mediation conference, there must be arbitration.

This will also be mandated if a party has waived its right to mediation.

The council asked Hart to have the town attorneys review this clause.

“Mediation is almost never going to be successful,” said Council member Paul Shapiro, who is a lawyer.

Town Attorney Dennis O’Brien said he doesn’t feel arbitration is a good idea either, but that was part of the negotiations.

Deputy Mayor Toni Moran, another lawyer, was on the other side of the coin.

“The advantage of arbitration is it’s a lot less expensive,” she said. “I’m not certain that you’d get any more certainty by going to court than you would through arbitration.”

Shapiro said one of the “weaknesses” of arbitration is parties “don’t have any right of judicial review if something goes wrong.”

The council also approved various other items related to the Storrs Center project, including authorizing Hart to grant Connecticut Light & Power a utility easement.

This is necessary because, even though the streets around the development will be town roads in the future, construction is not yet finished.

Electrical facilities will be installed while the roads are being built.

Councilors also authorized Hart to sign a quit­claim deed, which terminates a 1998 easement from the Fleet National Bank to the town along the southern edge of Dog Lane.

The council also granted a triangle of land to EdR from the current part of Dog Lane to construct the foundations for the new building in front of the parking garage.

This is necessary since the realignment of Dog Lane will not be completed beforehand.

Posted May 15, 2012 as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

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CT Sunday liquor sales expected to begin by May 20

The legislation allows liquor permittees to sell alcohol 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, as well as on the Memorial, Independence and Labor Day holidays, and on Mondays following any Christmas and New Year's Day that falls on a Sunday.

Connecticut residents may be buying alcohol on a Sunday for the first time, in this state, as soon as May 20. That’s what Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told reporters on Thursday morning (May 10) at a post-legislative session press conference.

The legislation allows liquor permittees to sell alcohol 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, as well as on the Memorial, Independence and Labor Day holidays, and on Mondays following any Christmas and New Year’s Day that falls on a Sunday.

Also:

• No one will be allowed to own more than three package stores (which is an increase from two under the old law).

• Minimum prices will remain intact, with one exception; retailers can sell one item per month for 10 percent below the cost of acquisition.

• Discounted items cannot be sold for less than 90 percent of the permittee’s wholesale cost.

The governor said Thursday the bill hadn’t arrived on his desk yet, but added that by early next week, he expects to receive the bill, give it a final review and sign it.

To read the full story, click here: http://www.ctmirror.org/story/16313/sunday-liquor-sales-should-begin-may-20

Posted May 12, 2012

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Connecticut gets $6 Million from settlement with drug company

Abbott Laboratories allegedly offered and paid illegal remuneration to health care professionals and long-term care pharmacy providers to encourage them to promote and/or prescribe Depakote

Connecticut Atty. General George Jepsen said today (May 7) the state will receive approximately $6 million from settlements with Abbott Laboratories in relation to charges the pharmaceutical company marketed the prescription drug Depakote for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Depakote is approved by the FDA for treatment of seizure disorders, “mania” associated with bipolar disorder and to prevent migraine headaches.

According to complaints, Abbott also marketed the drug for behavioral disturbances in dementia patients, anxiety, conduct disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and drug withdrawal, attention deficit disorder, autism and other psychiatric conditions – uses the FDA has not deemed to be effective.

According to the allegations in the complaint, Abbott Laboratories promoted Depakote for unapproved uses by:

• making false and misleading statements about the safety, efficacy, dosing and cost-effectiveness of Depakote for some of these uses;

• improperly marketing the product for use in nursing homes;

• and by offering and paying illegal remuneration to health care professionals and long-term care pharmacy providers to encourage them to promote and/or prescribe Depakote.

Abbott Laboratories’ marketing for non-FDA approved uses allegedly resulted in false claims to Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs.

Jepsen said these settlements “will serve as a deterrent to other companies who seek to benefit unfairly from government healthcare programs.”

“Most importantly, they will help to protect consumers who were prescribed an expensive drug with little evidence the drug could help their condition,” Jepsen said.

In the settlements, Abbott has agreed to pay the involved states and the federal government $800 million in civil damages and penalties.

Connecticut’s share of Medicaid claims is more than $3.9 million.

Connecticut will also receive $499,000 for state-funded benefit programs administered by the state Department of Social services.

Social Services Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby said, “Our claims data indicated a significant and inappropriate impact on Medicaid expenditures, a factor that will now be mitigated by this major settlement.”

The company has also agreed to a $700 million criminal fine and forfeiture for violating the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Another $100 million settlement with 45 states and the District of Columbia, resolves civil consumer protection claims that the company engaged in unfair and deceptive practices by illegal off-label marketing of Depakote.

Connecticut’s share of the consumer protection settlement is more than $1.5 million, including $150,000 for the state Department of Consumer Protection’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said, “The funding that the settlement provides for Connecticut’s Prescription Monitoring Program will directly benefit patient health by assisting pharmacists and physicians to better monitor potentially dangerous drug interactions and prescription errors.”

Abbott also agreed to enter into a corporate integrity agreement with the federal government.

For a period of five years, Abbott must also limit:

• the creation and use of responses to requests by physicians for non-promotional information about off-label uses of Depakote;

• dissemination of reprints of clinical studies relating to off-label uses of Depakote;

• and use of grants and continuing medical education.

It must also disclose payments to physicians and register and disclose clinical trials.

The healthcare fraud settlement was based on four qui tam cases, filed under federal and state false claim statutes that were consolidated and are pending in U.S. District Court in Virginia.

Assistant Atty. General Thomas Saadi handled the consumer protection settlement for the Attorney General with Assistant Atty. General Phillip Rosario, head of the Consumer Protection department.

Consumers can make inquiries of the Attorney General’s office by calling 860-808-5318 during office hours or sending email to attorney.general@ct.gov You can also follow the office on Facebook at Attorney General George Jepsen and on Twitter @AGJepsen

Posted May 7, 2012, based on a press release

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USDA announces farm-to-school grants

“School cafeterias are great places to champion U.S. agriculture and to teach students where their food comes from,” said U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan. Image source: consumerwellness.org

U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced this week that the USDA will invest in farm-to-school programs nationwide to help eligible schools improve the health and well-being of their students and connect with local agricultural producers.

“School cafeterias are great places to champion U.S. agriculture and to teach students where their food comes from,” said Deputy Secretary Merrigan.

“More and more, schools are connecting with their local farmers, ranchers and food businesses each day and these programs are a great way to bring more local offerings into school cafeterias and support U.S. producers as well. As we struggle with obesity and associated diet-related diseases, farm-to-school programs give us one important tool to help our kids make lifelong healthy eating choices,” she said.

The Farm to School Grant Program is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which authorized and funded USDA to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm-to-school programs that improve access to local foods.

Farm-to-school initiatives can also include agriculture- and nutrition-education efforts such as school gardens, field trips to local farms, and cooking classes.

These grants, administered by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), will help schools respond to the growing demand for locally-sourced foods.

In this first cycle, $5 million will be provided to USDA to support grants, technical assistance, and Federal administrative costs.

Food and Nutrition Service anticipates awarding up to $3.5 million in grants, while the remaining $1.5 million will support a combination of training and technical assistance, administrative costs, and/or additional farm-to-school grants.

Letters of Intent are suggested but not required by May 18, 2012, while proposals are due by June 15, 2012.

To assist eligible entities in preparing proposals, USDA will host a webinar related to Implementation grants at 1 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, May 15 and a webinar related to Planning grants at 1 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, May 17.

For more information on webinars, the farm-to-school grant program, or USDA’s farm-to-school efforts in general, please visit the USDA Farm to School website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s/

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFK) of 2010 marks a great win for the nearly 32 million school children that participate in the National School Lunch and the 12 million school children that participate in the School Breakfast Programs each school day.

The USDA is working to implement historic reforms that will mark the most comprehensive change to food in schools in more than a generation, which include:

• updated school meals nutrition standards to increase fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy;
• science-based standards for all foods and beverages sold on the school campus;
• performance-based funding increases for schools – the first real increase in 30 years;
• and training and technical assistance to help schools meet improved standards.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers 15 nutrition assistance programs that, in addition to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and National School Lunch Program, also include the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and the Summer Food Service Program. Taken together, these programs comprise America’s nutrition safety net.

Posted April 18, 2012

Related links:

FarmtoSchool.org http://www.farmtoschool.org

The Connecticut Farm to School program http://www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?A=2225&Q=299424

WK Kellogg Foundation Food & Community program grants http://www.foodandcommunity.org/What-We-Do/Grantee-Stories/National-Farm-to-School-Network-Improving-Health-of-Children.aspx

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UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma announces plans to open restaurant in Storrs Center

UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma signs an autograph for a young fan at First Night. File photo by Vito J. Leo for HTNP Sports.

UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma announced at a press conference this morning that he plans to open a restaurant in Storrs Center, now under construction on Route 195/Storrs Road adjacent to the University of Connecticut campus.

The 100-seat restaurant, to be called “Geno’s,” will be part of the first phase of the project, and plans are to have it open by late summer, according to its developers, Storrs Center Alliance, LLC, a subsidiary of LeylandAlliance LLC.

“Geno’s” will be the newest restaurant to be operated by Auriemma and his partners, who also own and operate “Geno’s Fast Break” at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

“This is an incredible opportunity for us… Storrs Center feels like home.  We hope Geno’s will be loved by the Mansfield community and campus population, as well,” Auriemma said.

“With Mr. Auriemma’s national reputation in the collegiate sports world, opening Geno’s restaurant is a natural for Storrs Center… Geno’s will be a signature restaurant, and we expect it to become a major draw,” said Howard Kaufman, Managing Member of LeylandAlliance,.

Several other restaurants have signed letters of intent to become a part of this project, which is being developed in cooperation with the Mansfield Downtown Partnership, the Town of Mansfield and EdR, a real estate company.

President of the Mansfield Downtown Partnership, Philip Lodewick said, “The Partnership has been working tirelessly with master developer LeylandAlliance to create a vibrant, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented downtown for Mansfield.  With Geno’s restaurant joining the list of national, regional and local businesses in Storrs Center, I believe we are closer to meeting the ambitious goals we have set.”

Storrs Center is a $200 million project to create a “downtown” in Mansfield that is pedestrian friendly and that will include a mix of shops, restaurants, offices, and residential units. Applications are already being accepted from the first apartments. For more information about the project, visit www.storrscenter.com

Posted April 10, 2012

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