Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley is making a campaign stop in Bristol on Saturday morning.
He's supposed to stop by the Crystal Luncheonette at Mafale's Plaza on Main Street about 8:30 a.m. and then shake hands in a few other, unidentified locales.
On Monday, GOP senatorial hopeful Linda McMahon is heading over to Panera Bread at the Shop-Rite Plaza at 3 p.m. She's supposed to hang around for about an hour.
These are great opportunities to shake hands and ask a question. These are real people, not just television characters, and it's best to make sure they never forget that.
If you're trying to make up your mind about who to vote for, they're trying to make it easier for you. Give 'em credit for coming.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 6, 2010
Brickley, Zydanowicz hold only real debate
In their only full-scale debate, two Republicans vying for the right to take on U.S. Rep. John Larson in the general election showed a surprising civility Thursday and expressed views that largely mirrored one another.
But Ann Brickley, an engineer from Wethersfield, and Mark Zydanowicz, a dairy executive from West Hartford, clashed sharply on one key issue at the showdown at Trinity College: the proposed $574 million busway between Hartford and New Britain.
Zydanowicz scoffed at the plan, calling it “financially irresponsible” and a poor substitute for a commuter rail line.
Brickley said the busway is “ready to go” and would begin to alleviate congestion on Interstate 84 within three years.
Holding out for rail, she said, would be much more costly and take a decade if it ever came to pass.
Generally, though, the candidates offered only slightly different takes on the issues raised during the debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and co-sponsored by Trinity and CT-N, which recorded it and plans to show it sometime this weekend. Click here for the full story.
I'll endeavor to post a link to the CT-N video whenever I find it online.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
But Ann Brickley, an engineer from Wethersfield, and Mark Zydanowicz, a dairy executive from West Hartford, clashed sharply on one key issue at the showdown at Trinity College: the proposed $574 million busway between Hartford and New Britain.
Zydanowicz scoffed at the plan, calling it “financially irresponsible” and a poor substitute for a commuter rail line.
Brickley said the busway is “ready to go” and would begin to alleviate congestion on Interstate 84 within three years.
Holding out for rail, she said, would be much more costly and take a decade if it ever came to pass.
Generally, though, the candidates offered only slightly different takes on the issues raised during the debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and co-sponsored by Trinity and CT-N, which recorded it and plans to show it sometime this weekend. Click here for the full story.
I'll endeavor to post a link to the CT-N video whenever I find it online.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 5, 2010
Gridley House corner from Bristol's old downtown
I love that car out front. And I wonder who the one guy standing there was.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
O'Brien stings elections enforcers on dumb ruling
State Rep. Tim O'Brien, a New Britain Democrat, makes a strong case against what appears to be a ridiculous decision by the state Elections Enforcement Commission that would make it a little harder for politicians to use free social networking sites. We should be encouraging politicians to get online and interact with their constituents rather than doing anything that would discourage it.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 4, 2010
Mayor's brother-in-law barely escaped Manchester rampage
Take a look at reporter Jackie Majerus' blog for the story. Check it out here.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Malloy in Bristol today
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy is slated to shake hands at the Shop-Rite plaza on Route 6 beginning about 3:30 this afternoon. Mayor Art Ward is hanging with him, according to the Malloy campaign.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Brickley, Zydanowicz to debate Thursday in Hartford
Media Advisory |  | |
| ||
| REPUBLICAN 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES TO DEBATE AT TRINITY | |
| ||
| Ann Brickley, Mark Zydanowicz to Compete in August 10 Primary What: Ann Brickley, the Republican Party’s endorsed candidate in the 1st Congressional District – which includes Hartford – and challenger Mark Zydanowicz will participate in an hour-long debate. The two will appear on the August 10 primary ballot, with the winner squaring off against Democratic incumbent John B. Larson in the November election for the right to represent central Connecticut in Congress. The debate, which is open to the public and will be taped and broadcast by CT-N, is being hosted by the League of Women Voters. When: Thursday, August 5 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Where: The Washington Room in Mather Hall on the Trinity campus, 300 Summit Street. | |
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Bristol man among victims in Manchester rampage
The Waterbury Republican-American reports today that Francis Fazio, 57, who has lived at 264 Wolcott St. since 1982, was among the victims of a deadly workplace shooting yesterday in Manchester that left nine dead.
If anyone who knew him would like to talk about him, I'd love to hear from you.
****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
If anyone who knew him would like to talk about him, I'd love to hear from you.
****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 3, 2010
City buys decrepit gas station near Rockwell Park
City councilors agreed Tuesday to buy a former gas station at the entrance to Rockwell Park for $185,000 as part of a package that includes snagging $150,000 in federal stimulus funds to clean up contamination on the site.
The 316 Park St. property needs the costly cleanup to remove wastes that have leaked from underground fuel tanks in years past.
Robyn Bugbee, the city’s grants coordinator who has spearheaded a five-year effort to purchase and clean up the site, said the work has reached “a pretty exciting stage” where the end is in sight.
The council endorsed the deal on a 4-1 vote, with Republican Ken Cockayne in opposition. It merely ratified terms already agreed on back in 2006.
Cockayne said the property will enhance the entrance to Rockwell Park, but the price is too high. He said prices in 2006 were higher than they are now.
“This was dumped in our lap,” Cockayne said.
Mayor Art Ward said he agreed, but pointed out that the city backed the terms four years ago and shouldn’t undermine the deal at this point. Click here for the full story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The 316 Park St. property needs the costly cleanup to remove wastes that have leaked from underground fuel tanks in years past.
Robyn Bugbee, the city’s grants coordinator who has spearheaded a five-year effort to purchase and clean up the site, said the work has reached “a pretty exciting stage” where the end is in sight.
The council endorsed the deal on a 4-1 vote, with Republican Ken Cockayne in opposition. It merely ratified terms already agreed on back in 2006.
Cockayne said the property will enhance the entrance to Rockwell Park, but the price is too high. He said prices in 2006 were higher than they are now.
“This was dumped in our lap,” Cockayne said.
Mayor Art Ward said he agreed, but pointed out that the city backed the terms four years ago and shouldn’t undermine the deal at this point. Click here for the full story.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Fire request sets off heated discussion
City fire officials are turning up the heat in a bid to win the right to douse any fires in town that they deem a nuisance.
The request, however, has sent sparks flying.
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
“We’re just looking for something really simple,” Fire Chief Jon Pose said.
The Fire Department wants a legal change that would allow senior fire officers who determine a blaze presents a problem – from smoke or embers –to order it doused.
The request, however, has sent sparks flying.The Ordinance Committee, which is pondering the request, is wary about handing off the power to firefighters to put out backyard fires that are burning in a controlled setting.
Tom Conlin, a city attorney, said he’s concerned about handing over the power to put out campfires, bonfires and other controlled fires merely because a fire official deems it a possible nuisance.
He said he would prefer any new law include a more defined, measurable standard.
It isn’t clear what that standard could be. Click here for the full story.
A midnight ban on outdoor fires?
City leaders are eyeing the possibility of banning open fires after midnight.
City Councilor Cliff Block said that officials are thinking of declaring a midnight curfew for burning campfires, bonfires, outdoor fire pits and the like,
There is no time limit now for most fires.
Brush can only be burned from sunrise to sunset, officials said, so they are thinking of making it so that nothing can be burned outside between midnight and sunrise. Click here for the full story.
Update: The story that appears on the Press website has an error that city Councilor Kevin McCauley pointed out. Here is the correction:
Update: The story that appears on the Press website has an error that city Councilor Kevin McCauley pointed out. Here is the correction:
BRISTOL – The Bristol-Burlington Health District regulates the open burning of brush, not bonfires, as a story in Tuesday’s paper incorrectly stated.
There is a possibility that bonfires may also be regulated, but for now at least they are not.
City Councilor Kevin McCauley, who heads the Ordinance Committee, said Tuesday that the first step in the process for burning brush is to get a permit from the health district.
That permit needs to be put on file with the city fire marshal’s office.
On the day that someone wants to burn the brush, they must contact the Fire Department for specific authorization, which will be granted or not depending on weather conditions, McCauley said.
The department doesn’t want to take a chance that it could turn into a wild fire or brush fire, said McCauley, a city firefighters.
The Ordinance Committee is considering the possibility of permits for bonfires, McCauley said, which would likely be processed through the Fire Department alone.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
City councilors meet for special session today
First, the city appears ready to buy the decrepit gas station at the entrance to Rockwell Park -- at 316 Park St. -- for $185,000. It's part of a brownfields cleanup deal. Details to follow.
Second, there's an executive session slated "to discuss negotiations for relocation" of the McDonald's restaurant in the middle of the former mall property.
One of the odd things about the site is that McDonald's owns the land on which it sits. It's not part of the overall 17 acres that belongs to the city. Moving it elsewhere is considered a crucial step in the revitalization process.
I know absolutely nothing about what's under discussion. But with luck, perhaps we'll get some light shining on that, too.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 2, 2010
Bristol 'the most boring place in the world,' actor says
His reasoning was a little shaky, but here's the Hollywood star's rationale: "That's why all those people at ESPN are having sex with each other. ... They're doing wife swaps and all sorts of craziness."
The 39-year-old Oscar-nominated star doesn't appear to have visited Bristol, apparently relying purely on its reputation. He did say, though, that he was joking.
Find out more about Wahlberg here.
Update: ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said that Wahlberg has, in fact, been in Bristol.
He headed over to ESPN's studios in the fall of 2008 to plug Max Payne.
"He did seem to really enjoy it when he visited us in 2008," Soltys said.w
Another update: In a video provided by ESPN, taken while Wahlberg walked through ESPN's campus in 2008, the actor said the place was "bigger and cooler" than he expected and that "everyone was very hospitable."
"It was awesome," Wahlberg said on the video. "It's always amazing. It's surreal just to see everything behind the scenes once you've bunch of television to actually see the studio."
He didn't look bored.
Yet another update: "I guess it depends on your definition of boring. If that's the only positive comments he can make about the community, I would venture to say he hasn't spent much time here," Mayor Art Ward said.
"Coming from someone with experience in Hollywood and tabloids," Wahlberg may not appreciate Bristol, Ward said.
The mayor said he suspects Wahlberg spent only a short time here -- but not short enough.
"I hope his exit was quicker than his entrance. And hopefully there were no impediments on Route 229 to hinder his exit," Ward said. "And let him know I'm in my office whenever he'd like to talk."
The mayor said Bristol warrants its recent designation as one of the top 100 places to live among small American cities and will someday climb to the Top 10 on its way to the top spot.
And still another update -- Keith Olbermann wants to know this: "Swapping them for WHAT?" That's on his Twitter feed.
Sport Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch adds this on his Twitter feed: "Well, this is unexpected: Actor Mark Wahlberg says people at ESPN swap wives."
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Update: ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said that Wahlberg has, in fact, been in Bristol.
He headed over to ESPN's studios in the fall of 2008 to plug Max Payne.
"He did seem to really enjoy it when he visited us in 2008," Soltys said.w
Another update: In a video provided by ESPN, taken while Wahlberg walked through ESPN's campus in 2008, the actor said the place was "bigger and cooler" than he expected and that "everyone was very hospitable."
"It was awesome," Wahlberg said on the video. "It's always amazing. It's surreal just to see everything behind the scenes once you've bunch of television to actually see the studio."
He didn't look bored.
Yet another update: "I guess it depends on your definition of boring. If that's the only positive comments he can make about the community, I would venture to say he hasn't spent much time here," Mayor Art Ward said.
"Coming from someone with experience in Hollywood and tabloids," Wahlberg may not appreciate Bristol, Ward said.
The mayor said he suspects Wahlberg spent only a short time here -- but not short enough.
"I hope his exit was quicker than his entrance. And hopefully there were no impediments on Route 229 to hinder his exit," Ward said. "And let him know I'm in my office whenever he'd like to talk."
The mayor said Bristol warrants its recent designation as one of the top 100 places to live among small American cities and will someday climb to the Top 10 on its way to the top spot.
And still another update -- Keith Olbermann wants to know this: "Swapping them for WHAT?" That's on his Twitter feed.
Sport Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch adds this on his Twitter feed: "Well, this is unexpected: Actor Mark Wahlberg says people at ESPN swap wives."
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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