Headlines
News
The deadline for former Mayor Erin Stewart (R) to make her initial restitution payment to…
Community News
The New Britain Public Library is hosting a Pet Show. “Children, teens and adults are…
News Analysis
NEW BRITAIN COMMON COUNCIL UPDATES Municipal bidding procedures for the purchase of supplies and contractual…
Featured Journalism
by John McNamara Sponsors and attendees at the New Britain Public Library’s (NBPL) 10th Annual Fundraiser on…
Opinion
By Molly Felth Dear New Britain Progressive, Thanks for the work that you do! I…
New Britain Racial Justice Coalition
By the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition, The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition (NBRJC) is raising serious concerns about Mayor Bobby Sanchez’s proposed FY27 budget, stating clearly that it reduces overall education funding while failing to meaningfully invest in libraries and community services. Despite public claims of increased support for schools, the full budget shows […]
Community Announcements
By Bike New Britain On Monday, Bike New Britain will be providing the 5th grade class at Smalley School in New Britain with a bike safety education program. Beginning on Monday, May 4th and continuing through Thursday, May 7th, members of Bike New Britain will be conducting safety education classes from 8am to 9:45am Then […]
Community Announcement by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut (BBBSCT) honored two New Britain residents during its annual Big Night celebration this Saturday, recognizing Big Sister Alex Steel as the 2026 Big of the Year and Jessica Mercado as the 2026 Parent Partner of the Year. Both were celebrated […]
Schools
As the summer days wind down and back-to-school shopping begins, familiar signs of a new school year appear. Store shelves are stocked with school supplies, shopping carts start to fill, and a growing sense of anticipation starts to creep in. Across the town of New Britain, students are preparing to return to the school halls […]
History
By John McNamara Saturday, March 7th was one of those days when New Britain lived…
Flooding Series
Latest News and Opinion
By Molly Felth Dear New Britain Progressive, Thanks for the work that you do! I write on behalf of my Iraq War veteran partner. You may know that yesterday, July 5th, New Britain Parks and Rec discharged all the fireworks they were going to use on July 4th, during the day, at Walnut Hill Park […]
The New Britain Public Library is hosting a Pet Show. “Children, teens and adults are invited to bring in their pets for our annual pet show! Or, just come and meet some new animal friends! Registration is required; please call the Children’s Department at 860-224-3155 x121.” the Library says. The event is Thursday, July 16, […]
Students Organize for Immigrant Rights and Rally Sept 14th
The student organization, CHANGE, will hold a rally at CCSU Thursday, September 14, 2017, “in support of the immigrant population and their families at this university and around the country.” The rally comes at a time when immigrant communities have come under powerful attack by Republican President Donald Trump and his allies. Trump has recently […]
Council Considers Allowing City Borrowing Services Contract to Change Firms With Former Stewart Chief of Staff
The Republican-dominated City Council is set to consider a resolution that would authorize Republican Mayor Erin E. Stewart to sign a contract moving city borrowing services from one firm employing her former Chief of Staff to the firm to which he has recently moved. The Council resolution says that, “William Blair and Company, the City’s Public […]
New Britain’s Puerto Rican Festival, Celebration and Helping Hurricane Relief
Hundreds of people gathered on front on the Puerto Rican Society of New Britain on September 9, 2017 in celebration of New Britain’s 2017 Puerto Rican Festival. Amongst the live music, food and vendors, people enjoyed company of friends and family on a warm and sunny September day. The Festival is a time when Puerto […]
Did Stewart’s Use of Main Street USA Advertising Violate Campaign Laws?
Questions have arisen about the legality of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart using the recent Main Street USA event for political self-promotion. A state law prohibits a candidate for public office from using public funds to promote themselves on, among other things, newspaper ads and billboards, within a year of an election. The questions about whether […]
New Britain’s Puerto Rican Festival Coming Up, Saturday, Sept 9th.
New Britain’s Puerto Rican Festival is coming up on Saturday, September 9, 2017. The Festival will be held from 12:00noon to 8:00pm at 152 High Street. New Britain’s Puerto Rican Festival is a long standing tradition in the community. Held on High Street, the Festival places the Puerto Rican Society of New Britain at the center of community life […]
League of Women Voters to Hold Forum for Board of Education Candidates, Sept 11th
The New Britain Area League of Women Voters will hold an “Eat, Meet and Greet Pasta Pot Luck” to allow people to “ask questions and get to know” candidates for Board of Education in this year’s city elections. The forum will be Monday, September, 11th at 6:00pm in the Trinity-On-Main Rotunda Room at the corner […]
New Britain High School Football 2017 Home Opener, Friday Sept 8th
The New Britain High School football team will host Conard High School of West Hartford at its home opener at Veterans Stadium on Friday, September 8th. The game will be played at 7:00pm. The New Britain school district says that, “In celebration of the home opener, all CSDNB students who present their student ID will […]
New Britain Youth Theater Wins Recognition and Plans Auditions for New Season
The New Britain Youth Theater (NBYT), which begins its eighth season this month with auditions for a December production of “Annie Jr.,” has also announced that it has been named “Best Children’s Theater” by Connecticut Magazine. In its September edition, Connecticut Magazine says that, After putting on three shows in its inaugural season in 2010-11, […]
Did Stewart Get A Prohibited Campaign Freebie In Mailing Of Car Tax Bills?
By John McNamara Contributing Columnist New Britain motor vehicle owners finally got their bills on September 1 along with a glowing missive from Mayor Erin Stewart that makes the case for her re-election. The city held up auto tax notices this year, blaming the state budget impasse for the two month delay. Uncertain was whether […]
Hurricane Relief Drive: New Britain’s Own George Springer Calls for New Britain to “Pack the Truck”
Houston Astros All-Star and New Britain native, George Springer, together with the New Britain Bees, Siracusa Moving and Storage, Premier Limousine and others, are calling for New Britain to join together for a “Pack the Truck” drive to collect needed supplies to help people affected by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. The “Pack the Truck” […]
Proposed 23% Mayoral Pay Increase Re-Emerges As Issue in Debate on School System Salaries
The proposal promoted by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart to increase the mayor’s salary by 23% was thrust again into attention by the recent controversy among city Republicans about the salary levels of three school system staff members. In a recent article and editorial in the New Britain City Journal, Republican elected officials allied with Stewart […]
New School Year Brings New Associate and Assistant Principals Appointments
The new school year has also brought several new associate and assistant principal appointments to be a part of the leadership of the New Britain Schools. In New Britain High School, Antoine Billy has been named Associate Principal. An educator since 2013, Billy holds two Bachelor’s Degrees, one in Religious Education from New York Southeast Religious […]
Republican Partisan Gambit Raises Meeting Legality Questions
The attempt by members of the City Council elected as Republicans to claim different party affiliations than they were elected as has raised the question of whether the Republican Party’s caucus on the City Council may have been holding unlawful meetings. State law requires that meetings of a majority of City Council members must be […]
23 Students Graduate After Summer School
Twenty-three students received their high school diplomas on August 17, 2017 after completing summer school studies. “I know many of you displayed perseverance and grit to get here,” said New Britain High School Principal Joseph Pinchera, speaking at the graduation ceremony. “It would’ve been easy for you to give up, but you didn’t. As you […]
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Scenes from the 37th Annual Dożynki Festival
The 37th annual Dożynki Festival began on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Falcon Field in New Britain. Food, music, dancing and community celebration at the Festival continue through Sunday, the 27th. Dożynki is the traditional Polish harvest celebration, giving thanks for a bountiful harvest. The festival began with the celebration of Mass on Saturday morning, followed […]
School District to Have Staff on School Buses for Preschool Kids as School Begins Monday, Aug 28th
“The safety of our little ones is one of our highest priorities,” said Superintendent Nancy Sarra, as the school district announced that it is assigning twenty-one central office staff to ride school buses on Monday and Tuesday of the first week of school to ensure that preschool children arrive safety at school and back with […]
Talisha Foy Named Principal of Northend school
Talisha Foy, an educator at the Waterbury Public Schools since 2006, has been named as the Principal of the Northend Elementary School. “I am extremely excited about becoming a part of the CSDNB family and look forward to working closely with the wonderful students, families and staff at Northend Elementary School,” said Foy. Foy assumes the […]
North-Oak NRZ to Meet Aug 28th
The North-Oak NRZ will hold its monthly meeting on August 28, 2017. The meeting will be at 7:00pm at the North Oak Police Substation at the corner of Oak and West Streets. The North-Oak NRZ (which stands for Neighborhood Revitalization Zone) was formed in 2001. Its purpose is to plan and advocate for the social […]
Art Fights Hate – ‘The Laramie Project’ Opens at the Hole in the Wall Theater Sept 22nd
The Hole in the Wall Theater and Director Dennis Hull are presenting ‘The Laramie Project’, by Moises Kaufman and members of Tectonic Theater Company, opening September 22nd. The Laramie Project is set in Laramie, Wyoming after the fatal beating of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. The Tectonic Theater Company’s website describes the history of the play. […]
Democratic and Republican City Election Candidates for 2017
With Autumn just around the corner, election season will be coming into full swing. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party have both put forward their slates for the city elections on November 7th. For Mayor, the candidates are: Democratic Republican Merril Gay Erin Stewart For Town and City Clerk, the two parties have nominated […]