Columbia residents eligible for free video production training

Free classes begin June 13 at 6 p.m. at the Charter Studios. Photo from Town Talk, a public access program hosted by Brenda Sullivan, HTNP News Editor.

Press Release

The CTV14 Community Access Television Studio (Charter) is now taking applications for a free Public Access Internship program.

Classes begin June 13, 2013 at 6 p.m.

Interns get hands-on experience in all aspects of video production in our North Windham TV studio.

Cover community events and public affairs shows for airing on CTV14.  Interns also have the opportunity to use these new skills to produce their own Public Access program.

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Eastern CT State University Class of 2013 – Congrats to Columbia graduates

At Eastern Connecticut State University’s 123rd Commencement exercises 1,256 undergraduates and 41 graduate students heard the roars and cheers of thousands of their family members and friends as they celebrated their achievements.
2013 Commencement exercises were held at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Contributed photo.

Edited by Brenda Sullivan | HTNP News

At Eastern Connecticut State University’s 123^rd Commencement exercises 1,256 undergraduates and 41 graduate students heard the roars and cheers of thousands of their family members and friends as they celebrated their achievements.

Commencement exercises were held at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on May 14.

Carlotta Walls LaNier, the youngest member of the “Little Rock Nine,” gave the Commencement address.

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Flags half staff for Peace Officers Memorial Day

Peace Officers Memorial in Florida. National Peace Officers Memorial Day is observed annually and corresponds with Police Week.

Press Release

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has directed that U.S. and Connecticut flags be flown at half-staff today (May 15, 2013) in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

National Peace Officers Memorial Day is observed annually and corresponds with Police Week.

“National Peace Officers Memorial Day is an opportunity to honor the service of our brave men and women in law enforcement,” said Gov. Malloy.

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Fishing season opens – get info here about where to fish in Connecticut

Approximately 381,000 trout have already been released this spring into 102 lakes and ponds and 200 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut and are awaiting Opening Day anglers. Photo courtesy of CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) 2013.

Opening day of the Trout Fishing Season is Saturday, April 20 and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has the state’s rivers, streams, lakes and ponds stocked and ready.

Approximately 381,000 trout have already been released this spring into 102 lakes and ponds and 200 rivers and streams throughout Connecticut and are awaiting Opening Day anglers.

DEEP’s spring trout-stocking effort began in early March and will continue through the end of May. When spring stocking is completed, DEEP expects to have stocked about 630,000 trout.

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Sandy Hook families sway Washington’s discussion on Gun Legislation

Eleven family members of those killed in the December 2012 shooting at the Newtown, CT elementary school joined President Barack Obama on an Air Force One flight from Connecticut to D.C. after Obama’s speech at the University of Hartford on Monday. At the university, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy. Megan Merrigan photo, CTNewsJunkie.com

By Megan Merrigan | CTNewsJunkie.com

April 12, 2013

Eleven family members of those killed in the December 2012 shooting at the Newtown, CT Sandy Hook Elementary school joined President Barack Obama on an Air Force One flight from Connecticut to D.C. after Obama’s speech at the University of Hartford on Monday (April 8).

“The families of Newtown literally turned the tide in Washington, D.C.,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal said at a press conference at the University of Hartford on Friday (April 12). “Their faces and voices are an historic story in achieving better measures against gun violence.”

In all, 16 Republicans contributed to Thursday’s (April 11) 68-31 bipartisan victory over the Republican-led filibuster that would have prevented debate on the legislation.

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Town of Columbia to hold property sale for unpaid taxes

A tax sale, at which properties being sold for unpaid back taxes will be auctioned, will be held beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Yeomans Hall (part of Columbia Town Hall building).

A tax sale, at which properties being sold for unpaid back taxes will be auctioned, will be held beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Yeomans Hall (part of Columbia Town Hall building).

At any time prior to this sale, property owners may reach a repayment agreement with the town, which would remove that property from the sale.

For more information about that process, please contact the Town Clerk.

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Challenges loom for Connecticut’s new gun law

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs new gun law on April 4, 2013 at the State Capitol in Hartford, CT. Photo by Christine Stuart | CTNewsJunkie.com

by Hugh McQuaid | CTnewsjunkie.com

Flanked by families of some of those murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT in December 2012, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into law the state’s new bipartisan, gun-violence prevention legislation at a ceremony Thursday afternoon (April 4) at the state Capitol.

The bill expands the number of firearms prohibited in Connecticut, bans the sale of ammunition magazines that carry more than 10 rounds, and imposes new eligibility requirements for purchases of all guns and ammunition. It also creates the first statewide gun offender registry.

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Puppet Project recreates works of puppeteer who inspired Henson

Fred and Cinderella hold hands in a photo of two of the original puppets used by puppeteer Dick Meyers who’s 1960s puppet shows will be lovingly recreated and presented by Connecticut Repertory Theatre April 11 – 14 in Storrs. Photo by Seth Shaffer.

Press Release

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present “Cinderella” and “Beauty and the Beast” as part of The Dick Meyers Project, featuring Puppet Arts graduate student Seth Shaffer. The family friendly performance will be a one-hour puppetry recreation of the Dick Meyer’s 1960’s puppet show featuring all his original puppets in the Studio Theatre in Storrs, April 11 – 14, 2013.

In the 1960s and 70s, Dick Myers toured his one-man puppet performances based on classic fairy tales throughout Europe, The Soviet Union, Japan and the U.S. Jim Henson and Frank Oz both proclaimed Dick Myers as “the genius of American Puppetry.”

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Edith Prague comes out of retirement to head CT Department on Aging

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has tapped former State Sen. Edith Prague of Columbia, CT to serve as Commissioner of the newly-formed State Department on Aging (SDA).

Press Release

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has tapped former State Sen. Edith Prague of Columbia, CT to serve as Commissioner of the newly-formed State Department on Aging (SDA).

SDA will ensure that Connecticut’s elderly population has access to the supportive services necessary to live with dignity, security and independence, and it is responsible for administering a variety of federally-funded programs under the Older Americans Act.

“Senator Prague has dedicated herself to improving the quality of life for senior citizens; with her background and expertise, she is a natural choice to lead the Department on Aging,” said Gov. Malloy. “I know she will make an immediate impact as the Commissioner on Aging and am eager to work with her to address the needs of our state’s growing senior population.”

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Rescheduled Hebron Maple Fest is this weekend

The 23rd annual Hebron Maple Festival is March 16-17, 2013… rescheduled because of the snow last weekend.

By Brenda Sullivan | Editor HTNP News

Don’t forget – the Hebron Maple Fest is this weekend (March 16 and 17), moved to a new date because of the snow on the ground last weekend.

Events are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come prepared to eat… a lot.

The festival has its own web site – http://hebronmaplefest.com – with a downloadable (in PDF format) schedule of events.

This year’s festival includes the first-ever Farm Tractor Parade, which begins at Ted’s Supermarket on Main Street (Route 66) where the tractors will be on display beginning at 11:30 a.m. Antique and working tractors will parade through the center of town beginning at 1:30 p.m.

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