New Britain
Hearing On Batterson Park Study Set For Thursday (12/7) At NBPD Community Room
A public hearing on the feasibility of Batterson Park’s revitalization as a state park will be held Thursday, December 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the New Britain Police Department’s Community Room, 10 Chestnut Street. The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is taking public comments on the study at three separate meetings in Farmington (December 4), Hartford […]
NBPD Publishes Arrest Log Online After FOI Controversy
A July controversy over the City’s and New Britain Police’s denying access to arrest logs to the New Britain Herald without formal Freedom of Information requests has led to the New Britain Police Department (NBPD) posting a weekly arrest log online at https://pd.newbritainct.gov/safety-prevention/police-blotter. The link shows arrests made in the city for one week — […]
“Bleibol!” Exhibit Features New Britain’s Springer Family At Museum for Culture and History
¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues Opens Aug. 12 and Runs Though November 5 By John McNamara The Connecticut Museum for History and Culture’s exhibition “¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas“ that opens on Saturday, August 12 celebrates baseball through the experiences of […]
State School Aid to New Britain Up 56% Since 2012; Grant Will Reach $115.5 Million By 2025
“Flat Funding” Claim By Mayor Stewart Is Contradicted By The Actual Numbers By John McNamara The new state budget adopted last month brought increases in Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) funds to the New Britain School District over the next two years. The $11.9 million increase approved by the legislature and Governor will bring the total […]
2023 New Britain 4th of July Fireworks, “Great American Boom,” Planned
New Britain’s widely attended July 4th “Great American Boom” fireworks display, celebrating Independence Day, is planned for the 2023 celebration. The 2023 Great American Boom fireworks event has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The event is to feature food trucks, DJ entertainment and, of course, fireworks. The administration of Mayor Erin Stewart says […]
Attorney For Stalled East Street Project Seeks Dialogue With City
Developer Jim Sanders Says City Hall “Gag Order” Violates Property Rights By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – The Attorney for Chamberlain Square LLC and its owner, James Sanders, is requesting further discussion with city officials on the “land use and economic development merits” of a proposed mixed use development at 600 East Street and an […]
Byron Jones Will Sponsor The 31st Annual Osgood Shootout This Summer
NFL Pro Bowler, UCONN Standout To Give Back To His Native City Staff Reports New Britain’s Byron Jones, a National Football League ( NFL) Pro Bowl cornerback and University of Connecticut standout, will sponsor the Annual Osgood Shootout in its 31st year, Coach and Tournament Director Darwin “Bubby” Shaw announced. “Byron Jones, informed me earlier […]
Sportswear Retailer With New Britain Roots Is Closing All Stores
EBLENS: “Born in the streets of New Britain in 1949……” By John McNamara Eblen’s Streetwear and Sneakers, the Torrington-based sportswear retailer, is closing all of its stores in the coming weeks including its Main Street location in downtown New Britain where it began 74 years ago. Through the years Eblen’s grew into a modest-sized, multi-state […]
Commission Holds First Hearing On Rent Hike Complaints
By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – The first of seven scheduled hearings in June by the Fair Rent Commission was held Tuesday, June 13th over rent increase complaints involving a West Main Street apartment complex. Anibal Garcia and Reina Torres, 34-year residents of an apartment at 923 West Main Street, are seeking relief from a […]
New State Budget Increases Funding For NB Schools
City Gets $15.5 Million More For Education; Lawmakers Tout Personal Income Tax Cut Staff Reports HARTFORD – The state budget for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years will increase state funds for municipal government and the city’s schools, New Britain legislators announced after bipartisan approval in the State Senate and House of Representatives on June 7th. […]
Commission Schedules Hearings Over Double Digit Rent Hikes
Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – A reorganized Fair Rent Commission voted Tuesday May 23rd, to hold hearings on rent increase complaints at a West Main Street apartment complex. Seven tenants are seeking relief over rent hikes from 22% to 43% that would take effect in June. In the case of the largest increase among the […]
Central Students Win Grants For Two Youth Serving Organizations In New Britain
NEW BRITAIN -Two New Britain nonprofits won grants from the American Savings Foundation through the efforts of students in a psychology course focusing on roles and responsibilities in philanthropy in the Spring 2023 semester. Receiving $5,000 grants are The Pathways/Senderos Center and the Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain thanks to grant applications submitted by students on their behalf. […]
Prof. Jannette Carey Is Commencement Speaker At CCSU Saturday
Alumna Is Prominent Researcher in Biophysical Chemistry; Advocate For Access To STEM Education By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – Scientist Jannette Carey, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Molecular Biology at Princeton University, will address Central Connecticut State University’s graduating class for the Schools of Engineering, Science and Technology and Education and Professional Studies on […]
New Britain Leads Polish Day At State Capitol
Staff Reports HARTFORD – State leaders, honorees and a large contingent of attendees from New Britain’s Polish community crowded into the state Capitol’s North lobby Wednesday, May 3, to mark the anniversary of Polish Day At The Capitol. The event, catered with coffee and dozens of paczki (Polish donuts) from New Britain’s Roly Poly Bakery, marked […]
Democrats Invite Candidates To Run For City Offices
Staff Reports NEW BRITAIN – The Democratic Town Committee (NBDTC) is seeking candidates for all municipal offices for the November 7th election. This year New Britain voters will elect candidates for Mayor, Treasurer, Common Council (15), Board of Education (3), Board of Assessment Appeal (2) and Constable (4). “New Britain Democrats believe that local government […]
Tercyak To Host Polish Constitution Ceremony At State Capitol
Ceremonies Mark A National Holiday In Poland Staff Reports HARTFORD- Polish Constitution Day (Święto Konstytucji) will be commemorated on Wednesday, May 3rd as part of the 32nd annual “Polish Day at the State Capitol.” State Representative Peter Tercyak (D-26) will host the event and will be joined by Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and other Polish […]
Council To Vote On New Police Chief
Petitions Filed For Major Changes To City Zoning Map At April 26th Meeting By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – The Common Council is scheduled to select a new Chief of Police at the Wednesday, May 26th regular meeting. Three members of the Police Department’s(NBPD) command staff have been selected as finalists. The vote may come […]
GoNetSpeed Wires New Britain For Fiber Optic With $5 Million In City’s Federal Covid Funds
Company Rolls Out New Internet Service At Introductory Rates To Homes, Businesses; Citywide Access Expected By Early Summer By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – A new internet service provider (ISP) is offering residential and business customers high-speed connectivity in all parts of the city thanks to a $5 million public subsidy. In June 2022 the […]
MLK Remembered At Memorial Wreath Laying To Mark Anniversary Of Assassination
Next Step For MLK Corridor Initiative Announced By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – The Mary McLeod Bethune Club, the Black Ministerial Alliance and the City of New Britain joined together on Saturday, April 8th, for the annual memorial wreath laying marking the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. Evelyn […]
Alderman Ayalon Counters Mayor’s State of The City Address
Ward 3 Democrat Cites Administration’s “Extreme Partisanship”, Increasing Debt Service And Gentrification Moves By John McNamara NEW BRITAIN – Alderman Aram Ayalon (D-3) , the Common Council Minority Leader, responded to Mayor Erin Stewart’s widely publicized State of The City address delivered on March 8th at the only scheduled regular council meeting last month. City […]