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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Puppet Project recreates works of puppeteer who inspired Henson

Fred and Cinderella hold hands in a photo of two of the original puppets used by puppeteer Dick Meyers who’s 1960s puppet shows will be lovingly recreated and presented by Connecticut Repertory Theatre April 11 – 14 in Storrs. Photo by Seth Shaffer.

Press Release

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present “Cinderella” and “Beauty and the Beast” as part of The Dick Meyers Project, featuring Puppet Arts graduate student Seth Shaffer.  The family friendly performance will be a one-hour puppetry recreation of the Dick Meyer’s 1960’s puppet show featuring all his original puppets in the Studio Theatre in Storrs, April 11 – 14, 2013.

In the 1960s and 70s, Dick Myers toured his one-man puppet performances based on classic fairy tales throughout Europe, The Soviet Union, Japan and the U.S.  Jim Henson and Frank Oz both proclaimed Dick Myers as “the genius of American Puppetry.”

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ECSU event raises funds to benefit early detection and treatment of mental illness

Harold Schwartz, M.D., gives his keynote speech on “Mental Illness in the Wake of Sandy Hook,” at the sixth annual ECSU Luncheon benefitting Natchaug Hospital education programs on March 27, 2013. Contributed photo.

Press Release

The ECSU Foundation’s  sixth annual luncheon benefitting Natchaug Hospital education programs raised over $12,000.

The event, held on March 27, 2013 was attended by more than 110 community representatives including Backus Hospital President and CEO David Whitehead; Connecticut State Rep. Susan Johnson; and Eastern Connecticut State University President Elsa Nunez, Ph.D.

Half of the funds raised at the event will be put towards Natchaug’s commitment to promote early detection and treatment of mental illness, an initiative endorsed by Vice President Joe Biden following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT in December 2012.

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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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Enjoy some pasta and benefit vo-ag

The Storrs Regional FFA Alumni & Boosters invites you to enjoy a tasty meal at its 5th annual pasta dinner fundraiser to benefit the students and graduating seniors in the Vo-Ag program at E.O. Smith High School http://www.eosmith.org/ in Mansfield, CT.

Press Release

The Storrs Regional FFA Alumni & Boosters invite you to enjoy a tasty meal at the 5th annual pasta dinner fundraiser to benefit the students and graduating seniors in the Vo-Ag program at E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield, CT.

Dinner is served from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at the Eagleville Fire Department, located 897 Stafford Road (RT 32) in the village of Eagleville, in Mansfield (near the intersection of South Eagleville Road/Rt 275).

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Award-winning rapper Wale performs at Jorgensen on April 11

Award-winning rapper Wale, whose “Lotus Flower Bomb” drew a 2013 Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song, will take Jorgensen’s stage for one night only at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2013. Image of Wale courtesy of NUE Agency.

Press Release

Award-winning rapper Wale, whose “Lotus Flower Bomb” drew a 2013 Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song, will take Jorgensen’s  stage for one night only at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

Wale, whose full name is Wale Victor Folarin, won the 2012 BET Award for best collaboration for “Lotus Flower Bomb,” the lead single on his second studio album Ambition, featuring R&B singer Miguel.

Wale also was named Best New Artist in the 2010 Soul Train Awards.

Born Olubowale Victor Akintimehin to Nigerian parents 28 years ago in Maryland, Wale started as an American rapper when his 2006 song “Dig Dug (Shake It)” took hold of fans in Washington, D.C.

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Philip DesJardins Nov 26 1961 – March 6 2013

Philip DesJardins, 51, of Brown Avenue, Jewett City – formerly of Amston (Hebron), CT – died Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Greentree Manor in Waterford, CT.

Mr. DesJardins was born on Nov. 26, 1961 in Willimantic (Windham), CT and was the son of Leonard and Rachel Magnant-DesJardins.

He graduated from E.O. Smith High School in Storrs-Mansfield, CT and served in the Air Force for eight years.

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