Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge nets town more than $4,500

Press Release

Storrs-Mansfield and Windham-Willimantic town leaders, and representatives from Northeast Utilities will gather in two ceremonies to celebrate the success of The Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge, a three-year community energy savings program that helped local residents save money, reduce energy use and give back to their local economy.

Over three years, Neighbor to Neighbor engaged residents in 14 towns, including Windham and Mansfield, helping them reduce their energy use by 20 percent.

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Australian Aboriginal music at Mansfield Library

Pete Onofrio presents “Learn with the Didgeridoo: Australian Aboriginal Music” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25 at the Mansfield Public Library. This program is recommended for ages 5 and up. Photo source: video screen shot.

Press Release

Pete Onofrio presents “Learn with the Didgeridoo: Australian Aboriginal Music” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25 at the Mansfield Public Library. This program is recommended for ages 5 and up.

Let the sounds of the Didgeridoo, the world’s oldest wind instrument, and the Native American flute take you back to ancient times when people were closely connected to nature.

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Mansfield Library events in June

At the Mansfield Public Library, Friday, June 21 marks the start of the Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is “Dig in to Reading” and we’ll be kicking off the fun with a Garden Gnome Party from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Image source: Wikicommons free usage.

Press Release

Look for the return of Wonderful Wednesdays at the Mansfield Public Library, beginning June 19 at 10:30 a.m.

This story time is held in the Program Room, and is followed by a craft or other activity.  All ages are invited and no registration is required.

Also, on Friday, June 21 – it’s Toddler Time!  Open to children from 0-36 months and their parents/caregivers, this playgroup features a brief story time, songs and lots of age-appropriate toys.  The program is a drop-in group beginning at 10:30 a.m.

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Benton Museum names new director

Nancy Stula, who has led the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London since 2008, has been named Executive Director of the William Benton Museum of Art, effective July 1, 2013. The museum is located on the University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus in Mansfield.

Press Release

Nancy Stula, who has led the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London since 2008, has been named Executive Director of the William Benton Museum of Art, effective July 1, 2013.

The museum is located on the University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus in Mansfield.

Stula was named executive director and curator of Lyman Allyn in 2009 after serving as interim director for a year.

She previously spent six years as curator and deputy director at the museum.

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Statewide property tax pitched for funding CT schools

Economist Stan McMillen said when increased special education costs and the costs of the school readiness program are factored in, the shortfall in Connecticut’s aid to municipalities totals around $1.09 billion. Photo by Hugh McQuaid | CTNewsJunkie.com

By Hugh McQuaid | CTNewsJunkie.com

Economists at the University of Connecticut are suggesting that a statewide property tax might close a more than $1 billion funding gap in the state’s education cost sharing (ECS) formula.

They pitched that idea in their quarterly “Connecticut Economy” report released Thursday (June 13) at the Connecticut Education Association’s (CEA) Hartford offices.

Stan McMillen, a contributing economist, said that for the last five fiscal years, the state has underfunded its share of education funding to municipalities required by statute.

He said when increased special education costs and the costs of the school readiness program are factored in, the shortfall totals around $1.09 billion.

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CT Dept of Ag to crack down on misuse of Connecticut Grown label

The Connecticut Weekly Agricultural Report announcement cites a 2005 case in which a company paid the state $70,075 for falsely using the Connecticut Grown logo on its egg cartons and deceptively using the word “farm” in its trade name.

Press Release

Today (May 28), Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky announced that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has ramped up inspection and enforcement concerning the use of the Connecticut Grown slogan, logo and label.

“It is essential that consumers who purchase agricultural products labeled ‘Connecticut Grown’ be confident those products were, in fact, grown and produced here in Connecticut,” said Commissioner Reviczky. “It is also critical that products marked ‘local,’ and/or ‘native’ are what their sellers claim them to be. Connecticut laws are very clear about the definition of these terms with respect to farm products.”

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Wal-Mart fined $81 million for illegal disposal of toxic substances

André Birotte Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California said, “Retailers like Wal-Mart that generate hazardous waste have a duty to legally and safely dispose of that hazardous waste, and dumping it down the sink was neither legal nor safe. The case against Wal-Mart is designed to ensure compliance with our nation’s environmental laws now and in the future.”

Press Release issued by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

According to a statement released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. pleaded guilty today (May 28) in cases filed by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles and San Francisco to six counts of violating the Clean Water Act by illegally handling and disposing of hazardous materials at its retail stores across the United States.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based company also pleaded guilty today in Kansas City, Mo., to violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) by failing to properly handle pesticides that had been returned by customers at its stores across the country.

As a result of the three criminal cases brought by the Justice Department, as well as a related civil case filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wal-Mart will pay approximately $81.6 million for its unlawful conduct.

Coupled with previous actions brought by the states of California and Missouri for the same conduct, Wal-Mart will pay a combined total of more than $110 million to resolve cases alleging violations of federal and state environmental laws.

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Mansfield residents eligible for free video production training

Free classes begin June 13 at 6 p.m. at the Charter Studios. Photo from Town Talk, a public access program hosted by Brenda Sullivan, HTNP News Editor.

Press Release

The CTV14 Community Access Television Studio (Charter) is now taking applications for a free Public Access Internship program.

Classes begin June 13, 2013 at 6 p.m.

Interns get hands-on experience in all aspects of video production in our North Windham TV studio.

Cover community events and public affairs shows for airing on CTV14. Interns also have the opportunity to use these new skills to produce their own Public Access program.

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