America’s funniest screwball comedy comes to Connecticut

The fast-talking editor of The Daily Record learns that his ex-wife and former star reporter is going to marry Bruce Baldwin, played by Actors’ Equity guest artist, Kevin Crouch (pictured here) in the upcoming performance of His Girl Friday at UConn. Publicity photo.

The Connecticut Repertory Theatre at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, presents John Guare’s adaptation of “His Girl Friday,” from Feb. 28 through March 10.

“His Girl Friday” is an all American rat-a-tat comedy adapted from the film to the stage by acclaimed playwright John Guare.

Guare’s stage adaptation of the classic movie – starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell – maintains the best of the traditional American screwball comedy form while adding sparkling theatricality and sharp political commentary for a brilliant and hysterically funny live theater event.

… Continue Reading

Gov Malloy – Storm Charlotte points to climate ‘turmoil’

The intersection of Valley Street Ext. and Milk Street in Willimantic buried beneath about three feet of snow left behind by Storm Charlotte on Feb. 9, 2013. Photo copyright 2013 by Brenda Sullivan.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

At a press conference Monday evening (Feb. 11), Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy fielded questions from reporters, including one about whether the state was adequately prepared for Storm Charlotte – in light of recommendations made by the Two Storm Task Force that looked at problems that arose during Tropical Storm Irene and the recent hurricane, Storm Sandy.

Gov. Malloy responded by saying that while his opinion might make some people unhappy, “we’re in a time of climate turmoil,” and that planning needs to get underway “on an expedited basis” for more of these kinds of events.

“We need to make sure we have the resources to respond to these kinds of incidences,” he said, and pointed to the fact that this is the fifth emergency/disaster declaration within a period of months.

… Continue Reading

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.

… Continue Reading

UConn plans to revive Spring Weekend

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

For decades, Spring Weekend – the celebration enjoyed by the Storrs UConn campus in the days between the end of the spring semester and the beginning of final exams – has been a black eye for the university.

Over the years, Spring Weekend became synonymous with binge drinking, off-campus (including out-of-state) party crashers, cars set on fire, reports of rape, and even violence resulting in death.

The problem wasn’t with the university-sanctioned events carefully organized by students. Trouble brewed in the mobs that congregated over the three days, mainly at apartment complexes on Hunting Lodge Road adjacent to UConn’s north campus (as well as within UConn’s X-Lot.) Triage units were stationed at Carriage House Apartments, for example, to deal with injuries and other emergencies, such as alcohol poisoning.

… Continue Reading

The aftermath of winter Storm Charlotte – Info for Mansfield residents

Here is the latest update (7 p.m. Feb 10) from the Town of Mansfield, CT related to Storm Charlotte:

While all town roads are accessible, Public Works staff will continue to work in the coming days to further clear snow.

School is canceled for Monday, Feb. 11 for the Mansfield Public School District and the Region 19 District (E. O Smith High School).

The Mansfield Senior and Wellness Center will be closed on Monday, Feb. 11.

Other municipal facilities plan to open for a normal schedule on Monday, Feb. 11. If weather or travel conditions change, this may change.

… Continue Reading

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.

… Continue Reading

Willimantic Chocolate Fest now on Feb 16

All originally scheduled events will take place then, including: The Cupid Shuffle, The “Let Them Eat Cake” Chocolate Cake Baking Contest and
The Chocolate Chip Stroll of Willimantic’s Downtown.
Chocolate Lovers’ Soiree and Cabaret

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

Three feet of snow dumped on us by Storm Charlotte means Willimantic’s 9th Annual Chocolate Festival, originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb 9, 2013, has been postponed until Saturday, Feb. 16.

All originally scheduled events will take place then, including:

The Cupid Shuffle

• The “Let Them Eat Cake” Chocolate Cake Baking Contest

• The Chocolate Chip Stroll of Willimantic’s Downtown

• Chocolate Lovers’ Soiree and Cabaret

… Continue Reading

Anne Jordan Crouse Dec. 11, 1943 – Feb. 2, 2013

Anne Devereaux Wilson Jordan Crouse, 69, of Mansfield Center, Connecticut passed away on the afternoon of Feb. 2, 2013 after battling lung cancer.

She was a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A. and M.A) where in 1968, she received the Avery and Jule Hopwood Awards in poetry and short stories.

She is best known for founding the Children’s Literature Association in 1973; she served as its Executive Secretary/Treasurer, as well as Director of the Annual Conference in Children’s Literature until 1976.

In 1992, she was the first recipient of the “Anne Devereaux Jordan Award,” an award established in her honor and now given annually by The Children’s Literature Association for outstanding contributions to the field of children’s literature.

… Continue Reading