GOP chief: Larson a "lap dog" for Pelosi

Press release from Chris Healy, the state GOP chairman:

Larson the Lap Dog for Pelosi's Purse

HARTFORD - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, will appear in the nation's insurance capital Friday to raise funds for a Democratic Congress that is determined to destroy this critical industry, according to state Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy Thursday.

"Like Sherman marching toward Atlanta, Speaker Pelosi is bringing her reign of terror to a city where thousands wonder whether she will make good on her threat to bury the private insurance market," said Healy. "Speaker Pelosi deserves credit for having a good deal of gumption or contempt for the people of Connecticut, and she has John Larson to thank for the honor."

The high-end fundraiser, held at The Restaurant on 20 in the Hartford Steamboiler Building, will be hosted by U.S. Rep. John Larson, CT-1, and benefit the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Tickets are $1,000 per seat with $30,000 for a place at Speaker Pelosi's table.

Pelosi has called insurance companies "evil" and said the industry has conspired to defeat health care reform efforts this year. The proposal passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee (HB 3200) would create a government financed insurance plan, called the "public option" that would, in effect, create an unfair imbalance in the marketplace and eventually drive private insurance costs up.

In July, Pelosi left no doubt that she saw the industry, which has been a successful integral part of providing health care coverage to an overwhelming majority of Americans as the sole impediment to controlling costs and improving access:

"The glory days are coming to an end for the health insurance industry in our country," Pelosi told reporters July 12th. "This is about inoculating against misrepresentations and educating about what is in the bill," she said. "We all want bipartisanship...but you're either with the insurance companies or you're for something new."

Healy said the public isn't buying her brand of reform which would credit a large centralized model that would lead to rationing, higher costs through taxation and penalties and lower quality. Another proposal, offered this week by U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT, would subsidize coverage for the uninsured through a tax on insurance companies.
"Whether it's Obama-care or Baucus-care, the bottom line are higher taxes and more uncertainty," said Healy. "When are the Democrats going to get the message that we need to start from scratch and reform what all parties agree to - now."

Larson, Healy said, should be particularly ashamed since he represents many of the insurance companies and financial service entities that would be adversely affected by a big government model. There is much agreement on many reforms that can address pre-existing condition, portability of coverage and inter-state purchasing of insurance. But the Democrats, like Larson, are blind to the impact their bill would have on health care and Connecticut's economy.

"Has John Larson checked the Yellow Pages lately and figured out how we make a living in Connecticut?" asked Healy. "Or is Congressman Larson so eager to curry favor with his boss, that he is willing to shake down the business community to elect more anti-business candidates?"

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

CCRPA snags economic development grant

Press release from U.S. Rep. John Larson, the East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol:

Larson: Local Regional Planning Agency Awarded a Federal Grant to Support Economic Development

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) announced that the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency (CCRPA) was awarded a $64,000 federal grant from the Economic Development Administration to encourage regional economic development and job growth. CCRPA represents seven towns in Central Connecticut including Berlin, Bristol, and Southington which are located in the First District.
“In these difficult economic times, this funding will boost our economy in the short term, create jobs and invest in key industries that will lead to long term economic growth and investment in the region.” said Congressman Larson. “When President Obama came into office, our economy was on the verge of collapse. Because of the hard work of this Congress and the President, we can now say the economy is no longer on the brink.”
“There is still a lot of work to do to ensure that our friends and neighbors feel the impact of an improving economy. It is vital that we keep up investments in our local economic development, like this grant for CCRPA, in order to create jobs and put our economy on a solid foundation for the future.”
The investment from the Economic Development Administration will support CCRPA’s update of their comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) to leverage both the private and public sector to strengthen and diversify our region’s economy.
Since 1955, CCRPA has served as the chief regional planning organization of central Connecticut, providing a cooperative vision and technical assistance that supports the economic advancement of its partner towns. With the leadership of Executive Director Carl Stephani, CCRPA will position the Central Connecticut region on a path toward economic strength and stability for the future.
The Economic Development Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, leads the federal economic development agenda of the nation, by serving as a venture capital resource that supports the economic growth of communities throughout the United States.

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Chinese officials study Bristol's government

Four months ago, three officials from cities in Shandong Province that each house millions of people came to Connecticut to learn how local government works here.

For the past two months, they’ve been looking over the shoulders and getting advice from their counterparts in Bristol.

“The government is a small government” in Bristol, said Rong Gao, vice chairman of the Qingdao Youth Federation, “and it serves the people.”

The idea of serving the people resonated with all three of the Chinese visitors who said they are used to a system where government holds more power.

“The power of the government is big in China,” Gao said.

When he returns home next week, he said he’s going to try to organize volunteers because he’s learned from his American visit “how volunteer service really improves the standards of morals in the whole community.”

Last year, Gao helped organize volunteers in his coastal city of 8 million people to lend a hand with the sailing competition held there during the Beijing Olympics.

The three are part of a program sponsored by the U.S.-China Business Center at Central Connecticut State University that allows Chinese officials to learn public administration. It also serves to create connections for state businesses to extend their reach into a fast-growing Chinese market.

Mayor Art Ward said he’s glad the city had the chance to host the interns for a couple of months. They spent time with 17 departments of city government, they said, and talked to many municipal workers and residents along the way.

Groups of Chinese officials have been studying City Hall’s operations for several years through the CCSU program.

Mary Suchopar, the mayor’s assistant who coordinates it for the city, said it is mainly “about expanding some people’s horizons about other cultures” and ways of doing things.

“The department heads learn as much about the Chinese way of government as the Chinese do about the American way of government,” Suchopar said.

Keqiang Li, a senior engineer with the Shandong Province’s division of mining management, said he hopes that Bristol businesses will follow the lead of ESPN and Otis Elevator to develop in China.

“There are many chances for these businesses to enlarge their market in China,” Li said.

He said ESPN and Otis, which has a testing facility in Bristol, are well known in China.

Shengyong Dong, who holds a law enforcement position, said he’s been impressed with the commitment to environmental protection he’s seen in America. He said the Chinese can learn a lot about how to combat pollution from regulators he’s met in Connecticut.

Gao said that Americans “know very little about China.

He said programs such as the one at CCSU provide “a good window for the exchange of information and culture.”

Gao said that relations “must be solid, must be improved” because of the importance of both countries.

The Chinese men, who are all in their forties, said one thing they especially enjoyed in Bristol was attending a camp for children organized by youth services at the Pine Lake ropes course. They said the spot was beautiful – and Gao said he tried dangling on the ropes while he was there.

“We had many wonderful times,” Gao said, though all three said they are anxious to return home to their families after so many months away.

Suchopar said the Chinese men “always invite us to come over and visit” but so far nobody from Bristol has taken them up on it.

“We’ve never really taken advantage of sending someone over to reciprocate. Right now, it’s a good will thing,” she said.

After Gao wished Ward well in his election campaign, he invited the mayor to fly over.

“As soon as you send me airline tickets, I’ll come visit,” the mayor responded, laughing.

*******

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Where's the beef?

If any of you buy, sell, dress or raise cattle from Bristol or neighboring towns, I'd sure love to talk with you for a story about locally raised farm animals. Send me a note to scollins@bristolpress.com and let's talk. Thanks.

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Surviving high school with The Tattoo's help

In today's issue of The Tattoo, Youth Journalism International students in seven countries weigh in on high school life, with advice on everything from surviving art class to getting through that first day as a freshman. It's all part of a package of back to school tips that we started a decade ago and now includes almost two dozen issues chock full of practical advice that can help anyone navigate the topsy turvy years before college.
In this issue, we have work from Eugenia Durante in Italy, Caroline Nelissen in the Netherlands, Jenna Potter in Canada, Janani Ramachandran in India, Nicole Megan Gounder in South Africa, Tasman Anderson in Australia and five students in the United States - Luke Pearson and Jacqueline Mejia in New York, Gokce Yurekli in New Jersey, Brice Birdsall in Oregon and Mary Majerus-Collins in Connecticut. It's an incisive, comprehensive take on high school.
Students in Youth Journalism International are gearing up for our 16h year of taking teens seriously. We've got lots of enthusiastic youngsters who eager to learn about journalism, writing, the world and each other. It's a great program. By the way, you can become a Fan of Youth Journalism International on Facebook by clicking here.
We're always eager for your advice, support, constructive criticism or any other help.
By the way, if you missed last week's issue, be sure to click on the "Inside ESPN" box on The Tattoo's front page and check out our behind-the-scenes look at the worldwide leader in sports.
Thanks for reading,

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City to review key projects more carefully

In the wake of a funding flap over the $159,000 widening of Center Street, city councilors said they are determined to ensure they know the particulars of every significant project before they’ll approve it.
City Councilor Cliff Block said that reviewing project requests ahead of time will ensure “we’re not told something that’s not true” ever again.
Block said the council was “somewhat misled” in August when city officials mistakenly said the state had provided the money for the Center Street project.
It turned out that the city itself had sold bonds to pay for the work five years ago. The intervening time was needed to come up with a design, conduct a traffic study and secure backing from necessary municipal panels, including the council.
The council agreed to award the contract to the Vernon-based VMS Construction Co. last month, with only city Councilor Kevin McCauley dissenting.
McCauley got his colleagues to support the creation of a new panel to review projects that cost more than $100,000 but the details were fuzzy.
“It was vague,” McCauley admitted.
It appears that the mayor’s five-year capital project committee will serve as the review board for projects to ensure they’re still worth pursuing before contracts are handed out, though that could change.
City Councilor Frank Nicastro pointed out that the Center Street project had been in the works for seven years before a construction contract was ready for approval.
He said that the city had already spent a fair amount of money and time on the project because officials had thought at every step that it was worth doing.
McCauley said that projects need to be looked at again in part because of the difficult economy.
McCauley said it’s important the city refrain from signing contracts until projects have been reviewed thoroughly and the facts surrounding them made clear.
But he did not ask colleagues to reconsider the Center Street project.
McCauley said he wants to “make this a positive” by focusing on the review process for upcoming projects.

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Visiting Shanksville, where heroes died

I wrote this column for the Press back in September 2003, but on this eighth anniversary of that bleak day when the towers fell, it seems like a good time to run it again.

On the far side of a rolling field -- not far from massive, rusting coal mining machines -- we saw a few dozen cars, a fence covered with visitors’ notes and a small crowd of people milling around.

After parking and joining the others, we stared out across the field at a distant American flag that supposedly marked the spot where 40 Americans and a handful of hijackers died in an instant on Sept. 11, 2001.

It already has the feel of a sacred place, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington or the tomb of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.

We’ve all heard the stories of the terrified passengers, informed by phone of what happened at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, bucking up their courage and doing what they knew they had to do.

They apparently charged the cockpit and played some role in making sure the plane didn’t go on to smash into the Capitol or the White House or wherever its captors planned to wreak havoc.

The word hero is thrown around almost recklessly these days, but those ordinary Americans were the real deal. Long before the president started dropping bombs on distant lands, they’d already started fighting back.

At the Shanksville crash site, there are plenty of photographs of passengers tacked to posters, markers and even little wooden angels that somebody planted in the ground.

There are baseballs, American flags, toys, scribbled notes and a heap of small objects that early visitors left beside the parking area because, it seemed, they wanted to leave something, to show their respect.

One fellow in Central America has erected two different stone markers hailing the heroes of Flight 93.

It’s all rather makeshift now, a temporary pilgrimage site that is sure to be replaced down the road with an impressive memorial.

But it says something that a million or so people have already found their way to an obscure field that’s well off the beaten path.

They stare in reverence, a few with tears, and remember the price that courage can exact.

My children were kneeling in front of the wire mesh fence to which many items have been lashed, reading messages and looking at the stuff people have brought to the site.

My son, Kiernan, was particularly enchanted by a primitive, wooden sculpture that showed the twin towers and the Pentagon, all of them scorched. For Shanksville, the sculpture just had a hole burned in the wood.

My 4-year-old daughter, Mary, was so taken by the vast accumulation of knickknacks that she headed back to our car, dug around for a bit and returned with a shiny piece of copper emblazoned "I love you."

She stuck it in the ground beside one of the stone markers.

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Turning up the heat

A proposal to turn off the furnace at a little-used former school is generating plenty of heat at City Hall.
At a time when city officials are scrambling to find ways to hang on to taxpayers’ cash, one source of savings could be to turn off the boiler at the 165 Hill St. building that’s only used for a little storage.
Fire Chief Jon Pose, whose department controls the old South Chippens School, said there’s no reason to leave the heat on. He said it costs almost $10,000 a year to keep the place heated to 50 degrees during cold weather.
But Public Works Director Walter Veselka said that turning off the heat would cause so much damage to occur that future repairs would far exceed the cost of maintaining it now – if the 73-year-old building could be used at all.
City councilors urged the Board of Finance to come up with the money to keep the heat on this winter. The only dissenter was city Councilor Ken Cockayne, who said that leaving the furnace off for a couple of years wouldn’t harm the building.
Finance board members said last winter they were deeply skeptical of the need to heat the building, which is next door to Engine 2. They did not include any money in the budget to cover the tab.
City Councilor Cliff Block said he has a house in Vermont that he leaves without heat every winter after draining its pipes. He said it’s been fine for 20 years.
But Veselka said the old school has a “very moist” basement and the plaster walls would deteriorate quickly if the air is too frigid.
Pose said the walls are already in bad shape and he doesn’t think they’d worsen much.
He said the city should use the building only for cold storage. Someday, he said, the structure may be torn down to make way for a renovation of the neighboring firehouse.
Minor said that if the city isn’t going to turn on the heat, it should demolish the building or lease it out.
Pose said that if the city rents it out, the lease should be short-term so that it won’t get in the way of any firehouse project down the line.
The structure has been vacant since the nonprofit CW Resources moved out a year and a half ago for new quarters on Broad Street. It had been paying $1 a year to use the building since 1974.
The site has been used as a school since 1755, when a one-room school was put up there. After a fire destroyed an early building, the existing one was erected in 1936. It remained open until about 1970, officials said.
The property is assessed for nearly $500,000.

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Ward calls for remembering 9-11

Press release from Mayor Art Ward:

Bristol, CT, September 11, 2009 – September 11th, 2001, the day that no American will ever forget – a day I hope to never witness again.

The lives lost and the lives shattered by those who would deny us freedom, are the reminder that freedom is not free. It carries a huge price tag.

As we remember September 11th and the events of that day, let us not forget those men and women who paid the price for our freedom. We remember those who sacrificed their lives on that day and in the military operations that followed as a result of 911.

Let us reflect on that tragic day, honor our dead and the loved ones who lost someone, and know that as a nation, we are stronger and more united in the pursuit of the principles our forefathers declared on July 4, 1776.

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Larson hails Obama health care speech

Press release from U.S. Rep. John Larson, the East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol:

LARSON RESPONDS TO OBAMA SPEECH ON HEALTH CARE REFORM

Washington, DC – Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, released the following statement following President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress.

“Tonight, President Obama drew a bright line between those who want to reform our broken health care system, provide stability and security to all Americans and lower the health care costs that are breaking the backs of American families and small businesses – and those who don’t. Inaction is not an option. If we do nothing, more Americans will face bankruptcy because a loved one gets sick. More Americans will lose their coverage when they need it most or be denied coverage because they have diabetes, heart disease, cancer or another pre-existing condition. Health care costs will continue to rise at untenable rates. And, insured families will continue to carry the financial burden of health care for the uninsured.

“The President underscored what I heard from so many of my constituents and spoke to at forums and meetings across my district. We have a unique opportunity right now to form an American plan – one that combines our science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, with the commonweal notion of helping one another out, which is what makes the American character so great.

“Congress has worked hard to pass a health care reform bill out of three committees that meets the goals the President and this country have laid out for us. Tonight the President helped to move the process forward to find unity and a path ahead on health care reform.

“With the great entrepreneurial spirit of this nation and resolution of this Congress, I am confident that we will pass, and the President will sign, health care reform legislation.”


*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Little League's real worry? Dwindling participation

Forestville Little League is more worried about a decline in the number of ballplayers than it is about the future of its fields behind Greene-Hills School.
Laurie Micale, president of Forestville Little League, said Wednesday the league is reaching out to the other two Little Leagues in Bristol because participation is dwindling.
She said the league has about 300 youngsters, but the pinch is especially keen in its major league, with 11 and 12-year-olds.
Instead of having eight teams as it did in the past, the league had only five this year, she said.
And even that was a stretch, Micale added, saying that it could easily have justified only four teams.
Micale said the Forestville Little Leage’s board reached out to the other leagues, particularly McCabe-Waters, to try to develop inter-league games so that players could face a wider range of competition.
She said officials in all the leagues in town are eyeing their numbers to see what’s feasible, which could include dissolving the Forestville Little League.
Though at least one board member of the league blamed worry about the fate of the fields during construction of a new Greene-Hills School, Micale denied that any concerns about the school project played a role in the decision to look into alternatives.
The reality, she said, is that “our numbers are down.”
She said that McCabe-Waters has about 250 players while Edgewood Little League has about 350.
“I really don’t know where this is going to go,” Micale said.
Making any revisions in the three leagues in town would require the approval of Little League Baseball, Micale said.
Don Soucy, the regional director for Little League at the Giametti complex on Mix Street, could not be reached for comment.
The $130 million school project includes a new kindergarten to eighth grade school to replace the aging Greene-Hills Elementary. It also calls for another K-8 school on Matthews Street.
It is slated to be done by 2015. It’s not clear when construction will begin.
School officials said the change shouldn’t impact the use of fields by Forestville’s Little League.
Micale said her biggest worry about the project is that it might make parking difficult.

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City bans tall grass

A new city law bars most property owners from allowing their grass to grow higher than eight inches.
The ordinance, approved unanimously by city councilors this week, calls for the city to give property owners who violate the statute 10 days to mow their lawns or else a city-hired contractor will do it for them.
The property owner would have to pick up the tab, officials said.
The new law aims “to deal with tall grass,” said city Councilor Craig Minor, who chairs the Ordinance Committee.
It bars most property owners – farmers are one exception – from allowing grass or weeds to stretch more than eight inches toward the sky An exception is made for ornamental grasses used in gardens.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said the law is “a great idea” but expressed concern that allowing ornamental grasses and weeds could wind up vexing enforcers.
Building Official Guy Morin, who is responsible for issuing warnings, said he’s not concerned about the exception for gardeners.
“We can tell the difference” between high, weedy lawns and gardens, Morin said.
Morin said the city opted not to impose fines for violators because its goal is simply to make sure people cut their grass.
City Councilor Mike Rimouski said he’s glad to see a crackdown in the offing.
Rimcoski complained about some tall grass mixed with garbage near the corner of Route 6 and North Main Street.
"That place is really to pot -- and I don't mean the kind that you smoke," he said.
Tall grass laws can be problematic.
Though many homeowners accept the logic of Frank Scott, an early landscape architect who once insisted “a smooth closely shaven surface is by far the most essential element of beauty on the grounds of a suburban house,” some have adopted later arguments by environmentalists who are pushing for more natural yards.
A 1993 John Marshall Law Review article took a stand in favor of those pushing for a more environmentally friendly approach.
It argued that local weed laws serve “to protect and proliferate exotic mono-turf” that are “the most obvious example of humankind’s disregard for nature.”
Localities that have taken a more eco-friendly route tend to refrain from passing laws dictating grass height or allow bigger exceptions for homeowners who are trying to have yards that fit their climate and natural culture, according to the law review piece.
Those who favor height restrictions mostly due so for the same reason that blight laws exist, because overgrown, unsightly yards tend to detract from nearby property values and can contribute to undermining neighborhoods.
Bristol used to have a law requiring that grass be cut, but it was accidentally knocked out of the statute book during a revision of blight and code enforcement laws a few years ago.
During a discussion of the issue in committee last year, Rimcoski asked his colleagues, "Did you know that bamboo is classified as grass?"
"And marijuana is not," responded Minor. "Go figure."

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com