BRISTOLTODAY.COM
The Bristol Blog features news and information about Bristol, Connecticut.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Downtown grocery store may yet bounce back
Welch calls for state to help laid-off ESPN workers
State Sen. Jason Welch, a Bristol Republican, sent out this letter today regarding the ESPN layoffs:
May 22, 2013
Commissioner Sharon Palmer
Connecticut Department of Labor
200 Folly Brook Blvd.
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Dear Commissioner Palmer,
As you know, ESPN announced today that they will be laying-off employees in areas and job descriptions "across the board," according to spokesman Mike Soltys. I understand that the reduction will also include positions eliminated by attrition.
As one of the State Senators representing the city of Bristol, I am requesting that you immediately dispatch your Rapid Response Team to address the needs of the displaced workers as a result of the layoffs.
In addition, I would like my office to be notified of any meetings taking place between ESPN and the Department of Labor so that I can participate in helping those who will be losing their employment.
I am hopeful that we can work together to help re-locate these workers in new jobs as soon as possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance for you or your office.
Sincerely,
Jason Welch
State Senator, Bristol
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Mass layoffs in the works at ESPN
Some ESPN
workers are calling it Black Tuesday.
Despite
record profits, the Bristol-based company handing out layoff notices Tuesday to
an unknown number of employees in what appears to be a cost-cutting move
dictated by Walt Disney Co. executives.
It appears
that about 6 percent of ESPN’s workforce got a pink slip.
In a
companywide message sent out this morning on ESPN’s internal system, its
president, John Skipper said, “We are implementing changes across the company
to enhance our continued growth while smartly managing costs. While difficult,
we are confident that it will make us more competitive, innovative and
productive. “
Mike Soltys,
an ESPN vice president, said the layoffs are worldwide. The company has 7,000
employees, with more than 4,000 of them based in Bristol.
Even after
any layoffs, however, “we remain on track to reach the increase in jobs that
are called for” under the First Five agreement reached between ESPN and Gov.
Dannel Malloy, Soltys said.
That 2011 deal
included a $17.5 million loan from the state Department of Economic and
Community Development for the construction of a new 193,000-square-foot
production facility.
The company
vowed to create 200 jobs within five years in Bristol. The development package
has incentives for the company to add up to 600 more jobs over 10 years.
The company
is also on track to open its new production center next spring and to finish
work on two other projects, a new welcome center and a generator facility,
Soltys said.
Soltys said
he couldn’t discuss the number of layoffs.
The author
of a book about ESPN, Jim Miller, said on his Twitter account this afternoon
that the cutbacks will number “between 300 and 400” people, but that “includes
open jobs that won't now be filled.”
“Any
layoff/firing/buyout is rare for Bristol culture. It is not being taken
lightly. By anyone. No gain, just pain,” Miller wrote in another tweet.
ESPN is
owned by Disney, which this month reported that its second quarter profits were
up 32 percent.
Disney said
at the time that much of the profit increases was due to ESPN, which was
bringing in more revenue from affiliates and advertising that more than made up
for “increased programming and production costs.”
The company laid
off some workers at the height of the recession in 2009, but generally has
increased its workforce over the years.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Malloy to hold forum in Bristol on Thursday
Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman today announced that they will host a community forum in Bristol onThursday, May 16, 2013, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Greene-Hills School (718 Pine Street).
These town hall-style events provide an opportunity to discuss the state’s pressing issues face-to-face with state residents. They are open to the public; tickets are not necessary and seats are available on a first come, first served basis.
Those who would like an opportunity to ask a question should arrive a little bit earlier to fill out the sign-up sheet. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Additional dates and locations across the state will be announced as they are scheduled. For the latest schedule, please visit http://governor.ct.gov/ communityforums.
Ward says he will nominate Sampson for council seat
| Mayra Sampson |
Effective at
the May 14th Bristol City Council Meeting, Mayor Arthur J. Ward will
be requesting City Council confirmation of the appointment of Mayra Berrios
Sampson to complete the remainder of the City Council term of former City
Council Member Kevin Fuller, who has resigned.
The City Council
term will expire upon the swearing in of the newly-elected representative
resulting from the November municipal election.
Mayra has
been employed with the City of Bristol
for the past 31 years. She has served in various volunteer and leadership
positions as a member of Local 233, the Bristol Democratic Town Committee, Ivy Drive
PTA, Bristol Midget Football, the Bristol ARC Board of Directors and City of Bristol Retirement Board ,
along with other numerous activities.
Mayra was
presented the Exceptional Women’s Award for 2013 from the Queen Anne Nzinga
Association for the promotion and advancement of young women role models and
the Women And Girls Fund award for volunteerism. Mayra is a life-long resident
of Bristol and
is married to Patrick Sampson and has four children, Kristen, Amaris, Morgan
and Sienna.
Bristol's Muzzy Field eyed for movie
Bristol’s historic Muzzy Field may play a leading role in a film about a young baseball phenom who “struggles to maintain his dignity and gain acceptance in the traditional world of professional baseball” after he is outed as a homosexual.
“The First Out” is “a film about being yourself,” said producer and director Joshua B. Porter. “It’s a family drama. That’s the way we’re looking at it.”
If all goes according to plan, Muzzy Field would become a movie set for a couple of weeks next spring or summer as the third baseman Brad Hawley’s home ballpark as a star on the mythical Bristol Wolves. Click here for rest of story.
Friday, May 10, 2013
The new Kevin Fuller? Bet on Mayra Sampson
Republican city councilors said Sampson called all of them this week and had pleasant conversations with them. It doesn't appear they'll attempt to block her nomination.Monday, May 6, 2013
Who will replace Kevin Fuller?
O'Brien Funeral Home seeks more parking
If you spot
one of those yellow signs in front of O’Brien Funeral Home, you can’t help
wondering what’s going on at the Forestville landmark.
It turns out
that the funeral home is seeking the Zoning Commission’s approval for 20
additional parking spaces behind the building.
The
application goes before zoning commissioners next Wednesday. The meeting is
slated for 7 p.m., Wed., May 15 in the
City Council chambers on the first floor of City Hall.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Ward taps Cockayne as designated replacement
| Ken Cockayne, left, and Art Ward |
Replacing Kevin Fuller is next task
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Fuller resigns from his City Council seat
City
Councilor Kevin Fuller is resigning from his council seat as of 5 p.m. today.
Citing “personal
reasons,” Fuller told the mayor he was leaving with “a heavy heart.”
Fuller, a Democrat,
is in his second term. He had sought to run for mayor this year, but pulled out
of the race recently.
“Kevin has
served his constituency and the city of Bristol with both distinction and
dedication, committing his sole mission to be for the betterment and best
interests of the people of this community,” Mayor Art Ward said.
Ward said
that Fuller told him of the decision Wednesday and handed in a short resignation
letter.
“It has been
an honor to serve as a councilman under your terms of mayor,” Fuller wrote. “Not
only have you been an example to follow but I consider you a friend for life.”
Ward said he
did not know what personal reasons may have caused Fuller to resign.
Fuller, a
computer technician for the Board of Education, has been working long hours
lately. He also runs Dunphy’s Ice Cream Parlor on Stafford Avenue and plans to
expand it.
City officials
who heard the news late Wednesday expressed shock.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said that Real Estate Committee slated for Thursday to discuss the fate of Jennings and Memorial Boulevard Schools will no longer take up the schools issue.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said that Real Estate Committee slated for Thursday to discuss the fate of Jennings and Memorial Boulevard Schools will no longer take up the schools issue.
“I’m alone
now,” Ward told officials at an industrial committee meeting Wednesday.
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