Gov Malloy lifts travel ban, asks President to declare emergency

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has asked President Obama to declare an emergency in Connecticut in the wake of the blizzard that hit the Northeast Feb. 8 and 9, 2013.

By Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News Editor

Gov. Malloy has submitted a request that President Obama declare an emergency in the state of Connecticut in the wake of the blizzard that hit this state Feb. 8 and 9.

“As we continue with the recovery from this historic winter storm, I am asking the federal government to provide us assistance with this process,” said Gov. Malloy. “If granted, this declaration would provide much needed help to our state.”

An emergency declaration allows for direct federal assistance, including possible snow removal equipment and personnel, power generation, and commodities but does not provide federal disaster funding.

However, since most, if not all, counties in Connecticut are digging out from record or near record snow fall, a preliminary damage assessment will be conducted to determine which counties may be eligible for disaster funding.

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Gov Malloy – travel ban remains in effect

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, in a press conference held at 11 a.m. today (Feb. 9) advised residents that a travel ban remains in effect today, until further notice, so that roads can be cleared for emergency vehicles.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, in a press conference held at 11 a.m. today (Feb. 9) advised residents that a travel ban remains in effect today, until further notice, so that roads can be cleared for emergency vehicles.

Many roads in the state are impassable because of stalled cars and/or record-breaking accumulations of snow.

Gov. Malloy also warned that clearing roads is likely to “go on for a number of days.”

He also warned residents about the dangers of carbon-monoxide poisoning since snowfall and snow drifts can block ventilation.

Meanwhile, weather forecasters say the blizzard warning has been lifted in the following counties: Middlesex, New London and New Haven.

However, light snow continues to fall and chilly temperatures are still a concern. The wind-chill factor means the temperatures are effectively in the single-digits to the 20s. The wind-chill temperature in Storrs-Mansfield, for example, was 6 degrees as of 11 a.m.

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Discover the art of puppetry at free UConn event Feb 9

This weekend, UConn Puppet Slams presents an exciting array of bold new works for puppet theater by vibrant puppet artists from New York City, Boston and the University of Connecticut – presented by The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (BIMP) and The University of Connecticut Puppet Arts Program.

The popular UConn Puppet Slam series of exciting new works for puppetry will present its next installment from 8-10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9 in a free performance at the Studio Theater in the Drama and Music Building on UConn’s Main Campus.

This exciting array of short-form puppetry will feature professional puppeteers from the Northeast and new works by students from UConn’s famed Puppet Arts Program.

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Rise in online news prompts debate over publishing legal notices

The Hartford Courant’s publisher Richard Graziano testified before a skeptical (state legislature’s) Planning and Development Committee on Friday (Feb. 1) in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper. Photo by Hugh McQuaid – on CTNewsJunkie

By Hugh McQuaid | CT News Junkie

The Hartford Courant’s publisher testified before a skeptical (state legislature’s) Planning and Development Committee on Friday (Feb. 1) in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper.

Both bills would give towns the ability to publish advertisements of their legal notices on their website.

One also would give them the option of posting in a weekly newspaper.

The Courant’s publisher, Richard Graziano… argued against the change, saying that it was a matter of open access to government through an objective third party. He said that posting the notice only on a government site leaves it open to tampering, alteration, political bias, or publication after the legal deadline.

Several town leaders testified in support of the bills, including… Rep. Melissa Ziobron [Dist. 34 – East Haddam, East Hampton, part of Colchester].

Ziobron is a freshman Republican who doesn’t serve on the committee but proposed one of the bills. She said there are no daily newspapers in her district. She said there is a weekly newspaper [RiverEast] that covers 13 towns in the area but few people read it.

“I can tell you the majority of my residents don’t even pick it up . . . It actually becomes litter, which is very unfortunate,” she said.

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Rise in online news prompts debate over publishing legal notices

The Hartford Courant’s publisher Richard Graziano testified in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper. Photo by Hugh McQuaid – on CTNewsJunkie

By Hugh McQuaid | CT News Junkie

The Hartford Courant’s publisher testified before a skeptical (state legislature’s) Planning and Development Committee on Friday (Feb. 1) in opposition to two bills that would remove a requirement that towns post their legal notices in a daily newspaper.

Both bills would give towns the ability to publish advertisements of their legal notices on their website.

One also would give them the option of posting in a weekly newspaper.

The Courant’s publisher, Richard Graziano… argued against the change, saying that it was a matter of open access to government through an objective third party. He said that posting the notice only on a government site leaves it open to tampering, alteration, political bias, or publication after the legal deadline.

Several town leaders testified in support of the bills, including… Rep. Melissa Ziobron [Dist. 34 – East Haddam, East Hampton, part of Colchester].

… Continue Reading

Peggy Sutterby McNally May 18 1940 – Jan 21 2013

She loved taking her stepchildren, son and eventually, her grandchildren, to her Kansas farm in the summer. She used this time to show them what life is like growing up on a farm, and loved to watch as they learned to bale hay, milk cows, feed calves, drive tractors and most of all, ride horses.

Peggy Jo (Sutterby) McNally, 72, of Windham CT, beloved wife of Thomas J. McNally Jr., passed away on Jan. 21, 2013 at Douglas Manor Nursing Home.

Born in Iola, KS, on May 18 1940, the daughter of the late Walter and Faye Sutterby, she grew up on a farm in Mapleton KS.

She graduated from Blue Mound High School, and was a member of the Mapleton Methodist Church.

She was employed by Key Work Clothes and Braymore Coat Factory, and the Town of Windham.

As a child, she had an affinity to being outdoors on the farm, whether it … Continue Reading

A penny for your thoughts

The Board of Directors of SI Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SIFI) has declared a cash dividend on the company’s outstanding shares of common stock. The dividend of $0.03 per share will be paid on or about Feb. 25, 2013 to stockholders of record at of the close of business on Feb. 4, 2013.

The Board of Directors of SI Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SIFI) has declared a cash dividend on the company’s outstanding shares of common stock.

The dividend of $0.03 per share will be paid on or about Feb. 25, 2013 to stockholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 4, 2013. … Continue Reading

Infant and toddler killed in Putnam fire

CT Police state four people were taken by ambulance to a local hospital for what was determined to be non-life threatening injuries. However, it was also reported that two small children were unaccounted for and were believed to have been on the third floor of the building during the fire.

Connecticut State Police report that today (Jan. 22, 2013) at approximately 12:39 a.m., the Putnam Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a structure fire at a three-story, multifamily dwelling located at 6-8 Prospect Street in Putnam.

Police state that upon arrival, firefighters found the structure “fully involved” in flames.

The fire was brought under control, but the building sustained heavy damage.

Police state that four people were taken by ambulance to a local hospital for what was determined to be non-life threatening injuries.

However, it was also reported that two small children were unaccounted for and were believed to have been on the third floor of the building during the fire.

Putnam Fire Marshal Norman Perron requested investigative assistance.

Because the building was heavily damaged by the fire, it required stabilization before Troopers and investigators could safely enter the building to search for the children.

Early this afternoon, a 6-month-old child and a 3-year-old child were both found on the third floor and pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were transported to the Office of The Chief States Medical Examiner for a post mortem examination. … Continue Reading