Featured
’13th’, From Slavery to Incarceration, Film Showing and Community Discussion
News Brief The NAACP New Britain Branch and the League of Women Voters are co-sponsoring a showing of Ava DuVernay‘s documentary film ’13th’. The documentary provides an in depth analysis of the racial bias of incarceration in the United States and the high number of Americans who are imprisoned. A community discussion will follow the […]
Democrat Merrill Gay Announces City Elections Exploratory Committee
Press Pool Story Democratic Board of Education member and longtime activist, Merrill Gay, has announced that he has formed an exploratory committee to begin raising funds to run for office in November’s city election. “All around us we see the need to make change happen ourselves when we don’t like what we see. I am […]
By the Numbers: Statistical Debate Concerns Educational Quality in New Britain
Press Pool Story A critique of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s education record by Democratic City Council candidate Bobby Berriault sparked a heated internet debate in January about education in New Britain and whether to view statistics about the city’s schools as a sign of progress or as a measure of how far the community has […]
CT Breast Health Initiative Officially Launches Registration For the 2017 Race in the Park
The CT Breast Health Initiative (CT BHI) officially launched registration for their biggest fundraising event of the year, a Mother’s Day weekend tradition, RACE IN THE PARK 2017. CT BHI’s RACE IN THE PARK 2017 will take place on May 13, 2017 in New Britain’s historic Walnut Hill Park with registration beginning at 6:30 a.m. […]
Support for Malloy Budget Increasing State Aid to New Britain
By Bobby Berriault I write in strong support of Governor Malloy’s proposed state budget for FY 18 and FY 19. His budget calls for increasing state aid to New Britain by $24.2 million over the course of the next two years over what we currently receive. His proposal allows municipalities like New Britain to add […]
NAACP Freedom Academy Looking for Leaders of Tomorrow
News Brief The New Britain NAACP is looking for “Leaders of Today and Tomorrow” to participate in its “Freedom Academy” February 25th from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. The Freedom Academy is a training for people interested in considering candidacy for public office, elected or appointed. The training is sponsored by the NAACP New Britain Branch, The Black […]
Rep. Lopes Bill Requires Fair Market Value For City To Sell Wells, Watershed Land
By John McNamara State Rep. Rick Lopes (D-24) has filed a bill requiring municipalities or water companies to “complete a fair market appraisal of any property encompassing a watershed, well or reservoir before such property may be sold, and to make such appraisal public at least 90 days prior to such sale.” The legislation (6481) […]
Black Ministerial Alliance Hosts a Celebration of Black History February 26th
News Brief, The Black Ministerial Alliance of New Britain will celebrate Black History on Sunday, February 26th. The event, themed ” A Legacy of Strength, A Future of Hope”, will be celebrated by Guest Preacher, Rev. Jacqueline King, Pastor of Spottswood A.M.E. Zion Church. The Celebration will be at 4:00pm at Bethesda Apostolic Church, 249 […]
Southern Style Breakfast at Bethesda Apostolic Church February 18th
News Brief Bethesda Apostolic Church is celebrating Black History with grits, fish, eggs, sausage, bacon, bisquick, coffee, juice at its Southern Style Breakfast on February 18th from 9:00am to 11:00am. The Church invites people to “Join us as we eat, drink and be merry for our spirits to stand through it all.” The Breakfast will be […]
Two More Showings of “Travesties” at the Hole in the Wall Theater
News Brief There will be two more chances to see the play, “Travesties” at the Hole in the Wall Theater. The two showings will be Friday February 17th and Saturday February 18th, both at 8:00pm. The play, by Tom Stoppard, is described by the Theater, “What do you get when you combine Oscar Wilde, Monty Python, […]
City Hall Watch: Deferring Municipal Debt Payment Means Cash Now, Higher Interest Next Year
By John McNamara The Stewart administration is shifting $6 million from a scheduled payment on the city’s rising municipal debt— creating an election year windfall to avert yet another tax increase. The Common Council approved what representatives of William Blair & Company, the city’s bond counsel, called a “re-structuring” of a $28 million bond at […]
Applications now being accepted at DiLoreto School for Pre-K Through 8th Grade
News Brief Applications for students in Pre-Kindergarten through Eighth Grade are now being accepted at DiLoreto Elementary & Middle School. DiLoreto is the only intra-district magnet school in New Britain. The school features the Spanish Language Development Program to students in grades 2-8, which helps build and enhance their Spanish language acquisition. Based on this […]
New Britain Fagan League Announces Winter Clinics and Spring Season Registration
News Brief “Spring is right around the corner and so is baseball!,” announces the New Britain Fagan Cal Ripken Baseball League. “Are you looking for a league where all of the games are played at one field (Martha Hart Park), where all of the coaches are certified, and where every child who registers is guaranteed to […]
New Britain Little League Registration Underway
News Brief Registration for this year’s New Britain Little League season is underway. Two additional registration sessions will be held on Wednesday, February 15th and March 1st. Registration will be held on both days from 6pm to 8pm at New Britain High School. Fees are $65 for Tball, Tball Softball and Coach Pitch, $95 for Minors, […]
2017 Little Poland Festival Set for April 30th
News Brief The date of the 2017 Little Poland Festival has been announced. Broad Street business leader Adrian Baron said on Facebook, “Last year over 20,000 people enjoyed New Britain’s Little Poland Festival. This is a free admission family friendly event that features, live music, folk dancers, carnival rides, costumed mascots, shopping, art and more.” “This […]
New Britain Youth Theater to Hold Romeo and Juliet Auditions
News Brief Flower power, doves and hawks, draft card burning, miniskirts, high society and counter-culture, and the Summer of Love will be the background for an upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by the Teen Company of New Britain Youth Theater. The company will hold auditions for Romeo and Juliet on Monday, February […]
Republicans Pass Over Violet Sims for Board of Education
Press Pool Story Dozens of city residents attended the City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 25th, in support of Violet Jiménez Sims to fill the vacancy on the Board of Education left by the passing of Democrat Judy Greco. Speakers at the public session before the meeting overwhelmingly favored Sims, the candidate nominated by city Democrats to […]
Citywide Celebration in Honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Press Pool Story The Mary McLeod Bethune Club, in Partnership with the Black Ministers Alliance of New Britain sponsored the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. City-Wide Celebration Program. The keynote speaker was Mr. Lamar Bowsky, a Senior at Central Connecticut State University and 2nd Vice President of the N.A.A.C.P., New Britain Branch. The event was […]
City Hall Watch: Stewart Wants More Money For Tilcon Watershed Study; Costs To Exceed $350K
By John McNamara The Stewart administration is seeking an additional $17,500 for an environmental study of Tilcon Inc.’s long-term plan to lease city watershed for trap rock mining. The extra cost is up for consideration at the December 14th Common Council meeting and follows the June 2016 Common Council approval of a $337,000 no-bid contract […]
City Purchasing Nearly $500,000 of New Vehicles
Press Pool Story The Republican-dominated City Council is considering a proposal from the administration of Mayor Erin Stewart to purchase $495,078.84 for various motor vehicles. Under proposal, the city would purchase $461,578.84 of vehicles from Crowley Ford, LLC of Plainville: Also, the proposal calls for the purchase of $33,500.00 for one vehicle from Crowley Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge of […]