Free Fashion Series Starts Saturday (1/28) For Students 10-18 At S.U.R.E.
NEW BRITAIN – S.U.R.E. (Safety Usually Resolves Everything), a non-profit youth development program, begins a series of Saturday educational sessions January 28th for students ages 10 to 18 on the fashion industry and careers. The Fashion Group organized by SURE Founder Candyce Scott, MA, LPC, “helps children improve self-esteem, social and vocational skills.” The program […]
‘Strengthening Local Journalism’ Is Topic at Community Meeting On January 28
New Britain Progressive invites participation to strengthen local coverage NEW BRITAIN – The New Britain Progressive’s Board of Directors will host a 2023 Kick Off meeting January 28th focusing on strengthening local journalism at the online, volunteer community newspaper now in its seventh year of publishing. Residents are invited to the meeting on Saturday 1/28 […]
City Charter Question Sparks Bill For “Clarity” In Wording Of Local Referendums
Local And State LWV Backs Proposed Legislation At GAE Committee By John McNamara HARTFORD -Legislation to ensure specific wording on local referendum questions has been proposed by New Britain lawmakers in the 2023 Connecticut General Assembly. Proposed Bill 862 “to increase the clarity and simplicity of the language presented to voters in municipal referendum questions” […]
CPOA To Donate To Police K-9s For Its Last Act
Conservative Taxpayer Group Is Dissolving After 90 Years By John McNamara (Update: The resolution concerning the dissolution of the CPOA and its donation was withdrawn at the meeting) NEW BRITAIN – The Citizen Property Owners Association (CPOA), a conservative taxpayer group and one of the city’s oldest citizen organizations, is dissolving and plan to donate […]
Lawmakers Will Discuss Legislative Issues, Priorities For 2023 Session
NB League of Women Voters Hosts Public Forum at Library January 21 Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – The New Britain area League of Women Voters (NB-LWV) invite the public to ask questions and hear from local lawmakers at “2023 Legislative Conversations” on Saturday, January 21st, at 10 a.m. The forum will be held at the […]
Coalition Pushes For Rent Stabilization
2023 Legislation would cap rent increases to stem gouging, homelessness By John McNamara HARTFORD – A statewide “Cap The Rent” coalition kicked off a campaign to enact rent stabilization legislation in Connecticut this year at an online meeting of tenants, fair housing advocates and legislators on January 12. More than 225 participants heard calls for […]
Marlo Greponne Of HRA To Keynote MLK Day Observances
NB Museum of American Art To Hold Free Community Day To Mark Dr. King’s Birthday Staff reports NEW BRITAIN – Marlo Greponne, Ph.D, Executive Director of the Human Resources Agency (HRA), will be the keynote speaker at the Human Rights and Opportunities Commission’s observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) national holiday. The […]
Council Committee Agrees To Compromise On Tax Break For Myrtle Street Housing Development
Incentive Drops From 26 To 13 Years In Amended Resolution That Goes To Common Council For Approval By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN- The Common Council’s Committee on Administration, Finance and Law (AFL) unanimously approved a “compromise” tax break at a January 4th meeting for Avon Towers LLC to develop 119 housing units at 480 Myrtle […]
Atty. Rivera Is Sworn In As Judge Of Probate
Democrat Begins First Term After Taking Oath At CCSU Ceremony by John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – The office of Judge of Probate for Berlin and New Britain changed hands for a third time in two years on January 3rd when Attorney Bill Rivera was sworn in to a four-year term. Rivera, an attorney in New […]
2022 Campaign Activists Recognized At New Britain Working Families Party Celebration
WFP Ballot Line Boosted U.S. Rep. Hayes in 5th Congressional District Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – The Connecticut Working Families Party (CT-WFP), the union-backed third party instrumental in U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes’ (D-5) narrow victory in November, celebrated election year wins across the state at a fundraising reception on December 20th at the Five Churches […]
Mill Rate Cut Is Expected To Offset Big Jump In Property Tax Values
Post-Pandemic Revaluation Brings Hikes Of 50% Or More To Single And Multi Family Homes By John McNamara New Britain’s turn for a revaluation of real property came this year in the regressive property tax system that mandates every city and town set new values for tax purposes every five years. Unlike the last revaluation in […]
Three Schools Get $800K For Technology Improvements
Legislators Praise Approval of Bond Funding For Student Achievement Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – Northend Elementary and Pulaski and Slade Middle Schools will receive $814,484 in instructional technology improvements thanks to support from the city’s legislative delegation and approval of state Bond Commission funds this week. In a joint statement State Senator Rick Lopes (D-6), […]
North/Oak NRZ Turkey Drive Helps Families At Thanksgiving
Group Holds Meeting To “Re-Brand” For 2023 Organizing Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – Resident leaders of the North/Oak Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) held a “rebranding” meeting on November 17th at the Howey House on North Street to plan outreach activities that will engage more neighbors in 2023. Led by NRZ President Manny Sandoval, participants discussed […]
Attorney Bill Rivera Is First Hispanic Elected To Probate Court
Democrat Reverses 2021 Special Election Loss To Republican Mike Carrier By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – Attorney Bill Rivera, a Common Council Majority Leader in the 1990s, won a close race for Judge of Probate in the November 8th state election and is believed to be the first person of Hispanic heritage elected to office […]
Farmington And New Britain Hold Official Observances On Veterans Day
Staff Reports, Photography by Frank Gerratana Central Park Ceremonies Recognize City Vets Of Past Wars With Marine Corps League’s Hardware City Detachment NEW BRITAIN – The city Veterans Commission led Veterans Day services at Central Park Friday (November 11) with wreath layings, presentations of colors and remarks from Mayor Erin Stewart and Terry Crescimauno, a […]
Hayes’ Ground Game Came Late To A CT-5 Democratic Stronghold
New Britain Had 2.6K Fewer Voters Than ’18 Gubernatorial Election By John McNamara Urban votes in state and federal elections are the firewalls for Democratic candidates to win competitive races in Connecticut. New Britain, the most reliable Democratic town in non-municipal years in the 5th Congressional District (CT-5), joined other cities in a lower turnout […]
Farmington Results: Representative Demicco, Democratic Candidates Prevail in Farmington
Staff Reports FARMINGTON – State Rep. Mike Demicco (D-21) held off Republican challenger Joe Capodiferro in the Farmington-Unionville state assembly district as Democrats prevailed across the town’s ballot. Demicco received 5,486 (54.86%) to Capodiferro’s 4,919 (45.04%). Demicco will begin his sixth term in January. He was first elected to the legislature in 2012, after serving […]
DeFronzo on City Charter Referendum: “No Thank You”
A modest estimate for a COO, office staff required to carry out his/her functions, equipment, travel cost and associated expenditures will easily exceed half a million dollars annually.Voters should know that.
New Britain Has Close To 34K Voters Eligible For State Election on Tuesday
Redistricting Means New Polling Places For Some Voters in 2022; Polls Open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – November 1 was the last day to register to vote across Connecticut to be officially on the rolls before the November 8th state election. In New Britain, Registrars of Voters counted 33,731 voters as of […]
Governor Lamont Stumps With Dem Candidates In Farmington
Staff Reports FARMINGTON – Candidates and local Democrats gathered at The Rebel Dog Coffee Co Tuesday morning (November 1) for a Meet & Greet with Governor Ned Lamont ahead of the final televised gubernatorial debate. 2022 Campaign State Rep. Mike Demicco (D-21) joined with other Farmington candidates in the final stretch of the campaign before […]