Headlines
Stewart-Proposed High-Level Bureaucrat and Department Head Residency Requirement At Issue
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart will ask the Republican-dominated City Council to approve her choice to lead the “Human Resources Department”. The new high-level bureaucratic position was created when the Council approved Stewart’s proposal to increase the number of city departments to fifteen, including the creation of the Human Resources Department. Who her choice is for the position […]
New Britain Youth Theater Stage Combat Workshop
In preparation for the spring production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, NBYT is offering a Stage Combat and Fight Choreography Workshop on Sunday, January 22. The workshop will cover some basic training of stage combat including safely fighting, falling, and using fake stage weapons. Connecticut actor and fight choreographer Rob Richnavsky will lead the workshop […]
New Britain School Officials Speak at School Absenteeism Summit
New Britain school Superintendent Nancy Sarra and Attendance Officer Joe Vaverchak were presenters at the national virtual summit sponsored by the United States Department of Education, building on the Obama Administration’s Every Student, Every Day Initiative to eliminate chronic absenteeism in the nation’s public schools. During the 90-minute summit on December 7, Sarra and Vaverchak […]
New Britain Youth Theater Auditions for ‘Peter Rabbit Is Lost!’
News Brief New Britain Youth Theater (NBYT) is looking for young aspiring actors for its production of the play ‘Peter Rabbit Is Lost!’ and will hold auditions in January. The play is an adaption of Beatrix Potter’s classic children’s books including The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, and others. […]
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 […]
Proposal on Affirmative Action Strikes Out Many Provisions
Press Pool Story The Republican-dominated City Council is considering a proposal by Mayor Erin Stewart on the city Affirmative Action Plan that proposes numerous deletions of text. On Wednesday, December 7th, the Council’s Administration, Finance and Law Public Committee will consider a resolution by Republican Council members Kristian Rosado and Louis Salvio to approve the […]
Jr. Hurricanes Win Game 1 in Championship Playoffs
Press Pool Story The 11U Jr. Canes football team won their first round game over Tyler Hurricanes of Texas 24-6. The game, on Monday, December 5th, was part of the playoffs of the American Youth Football (AYF) Championships. The Jr. Hurricanes team, with community support, traveled to the AYF Championships in Kissimmee, Florida to compete. On Wednesday, December […]
New Britain Election Postscript: “If Trump wins will I have to leave the country?”
By John McNamara “If Trump wins will I have to leave the country?” The question was asked of me by a Holmes School student when I was leaving the Masjid Al Taqwa mosque on Arch Street on a Sunday evening in August. It didn’t matter that the 5th grader has probably lived in New Britain […]
Berriault Announces Exploratory Committee for City Elections
Press Pool story Bobby Berriault, a member of the Democratic Town Committee and a community activist, has announced that he is forming an exploratory committee to run for city office in New Britain. “We as a city are facing serious challenges that our elected officials are ignoring,” said Berriault. “The New Britain Public School system is […]
New Britain Powder Puffs Lose in Overtime to Southington
New Britain High School’s Powder Puff team lost 17-14 in overtime on Monday night against Southington High School. The game winning 20-yard field goal came from Southington’s Caroline Kemnitz. New Britain was led by a strong performance from quarterback Jamyra Irizarry, who was a pivotal factor in the Hurricanes two scoring drives. While all the […]
Cathy Spano to Receive NHS Lifetime Achievement Award
News Brief Catherine M. Spano has been a longtime community activist and leader. Known for years as the “Mayor of Oak Street”, and affectionately referred to by many as “Auntie Kay”, she was a founding leader of the North-Oak Neighborhood Revitalization Zone and her advocacy led to the creation of the Oak Street Police Substation. […]
Organizing for the Holidays with LesMess’ CEO and Founder Leslie Jacobs
By Rhona Cohen — Editor, New Britain Progressive I came to Connecticut in 2006 to help organize in the movement for health care for everyone. It was all consuming work and while I worked at organizing people my home became less so. I didn’t mind, nor did my husband who was similarly immersed outside of […]
Tercyak Solidly Wins Re-Election
Press Pool Story Democratic State Representative Peter Tercyak (D-26) scored a convincing re-election win over Republican Desiree Agosto. In his victory speech, Tercyak talked about issues on which the Connecticut legislature has been an example to the country, implementing policies that can later be adopted nationwide, and his hopes that this would continue with new legislation in […]
Lopes Wins, In A Setback for Republicans
Press Pool Story Democratic State Representative Rick Lopes (D-24) prevailed solidly against his Republican opponent, Ald. James Sanders (R-AL) by a nearly two to one margin. Lopes’ defeat of Sanders was a major setback for local Republicans, who had hoped that they may prevail in the 24th Assembly District. Local Republicans had reportedly put considerable […]
Movements Uniting – Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Against Racism, Sexism, Homophobia and Hate Working Together
Press Pool Story Students protested on the CCSU campus on November 9th, the day after the November 8th elections, to “Take a Stand” for immigrant rights and against discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia and hate. The demonstration was the beginning of what organizers plan as a coming together of movements concerned about the future, in the […]
Gerratana Wins Big Over Two Opponents
Sen. Terry Gerratana (D-6) won a big victory for re-election on November 8th over two opponents. Sen. Gerratana thanked supporters on election night, and described problems encountered by people in New Britain.
League of Women Voters to Hold Forum on Watershed Mining Proposal
News Brief The New Britain Area League of Women Voters is holding a forum to discuss the proposal of Mayor Erin Stewart (R) to allow mining on New Britain’s drinking watershed land. The League of Women Voters said, in a statement that, “The New Britain Area League of Women Voters is presenting a forum on the […]
Voters Reject Two of Three Republican City Charter Proposals
Press Pool Story New Britain voters rejected two out of three changes to the City Charter that were proposed by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart and the Republican-Dominated City Council. The two charter proposals that were defeated would have extended the term of office of city’s mayor and tax collector from two to four years. City […]
Rep. Bobby Sanchez Wins Re-Election in the 25th
Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) easily won re-election on November 8th. Rep. Sanchez reflected on the moment and thanked the people of his district.
City Bureaucracy Under Stewart to Grow Again While Concerns Rise Over Weakening of Human Rights and Opportunities
Press Pool Story The Republican-dominated City Council approved a city reorganization plan proposed by Mayor Erin Stewart (R) that, once again, increases the number of city departments, while placing the city’s Human Rights and Opportunities Officer and Commission under the newly-created “Human Resources Department”. The City’s Human Rights and Opportunities Officer and Commission have historically provided oversight […]