Month: May 2014

 

 

Robert (“Bob”) Satter, WWII Veteran

William Vornkahl, President of the Westport Veterans Council announced that Robert Satter, a Veteran of World War II, has been selected as the Grand Marshal for the Memorial Day Parade to be held on Monday, May 26th.

 

Bob volunteered for active duty in World War II in November of 1942.  Serving as a radio operator with the 8th Air Force, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and two battle stars and the Air medal with three oak leaf clusters after 25 missions in the European Theater of Operations.  All of his missions were flown between February and June ’44 in the thick of the war raging over Europe.  Of the 18 original crews that formed the 732nd Squadron—part of the 453rd bomb group headed by the actor Jimmy Stewart and awarded a presidential unit citation, 12 bit the dust.  Satter’s own crew had three badly wounded men plus a frequently deficient ball turret gunner which meant that he doubled in that capacity whenever there was enemy activity.

 

After moving to Westport, Satter opened a portrait photography studio located in Sherwood’s barn right next to the Green’s Farms Post Office, sharing the studio with another famed photographer, George Cardozo.  Among the many folks he photographed were the celebrities living in Westport, Fairfield, Darien and New Canaan until he retired in 2003.  Sailing the sound around Westport, where he had a slip for about 25 years, was a major part of his life after his war service.  His last sailboat was a 28 ft. Pearson sloop “On Location”.

 

The Parade begins at 9:00 a.m. on Riverside Avenue.  Immediately following the Parade, Memorial services will be held on Veterans Green.

 

 

 

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today hailed the Connecticut State House of Representatives for final passage of legislation he introduced that will result in a major modernization of the state’s recycling and waste management system that will not only help the environment, but saves taxpayer money and create economic benefits in the state.

 

“This bill will help make Connecticut a leader in recycling and innovative waste management.  We must develop a better model that recovers the resources from our waste stream and maximizes its economic value,” Governor Malloy said.  “The modernization effort called for in this bill can save our towns and cities millions of dollars, grow jobs, and protect our environment.”

 

Tonight, the House passed Senate Bill 357, An Act Concerning Revisions to Energy Statutes, by a vote of 144-0.  Previously, the Senate passed the bill by a unanimous vote of 33-0.

“I’d especially like to thank Environment Committee co-chair Linda Gentile and Energy and Technology Co-Chair Lonnie Reed for their advocacy of this legislation today.”

 

Business and residents in Connecticut currently produce approximately 3.2 million tons of municipal solid waste each year.  Approximately 64.5% of this trash is incinerated at the six waste-to-energy facilities, almost 24.8% is reported diverted from disposal through recycling, 9.9% percent is shipped out of state, and 0.8% percent is landfilled in Connecticut.

It is estimated that more than $10 million in valuable commodities are burned at the waste-to-energy facilities each year.

It has also been estimated that cities and towns and their taxpayers would save $35 million a year if the recycling rate was moved to just 40%.  Recycling is also a growth industry that creates jobs – experts say that for every 10,000 tons of waste generated recycling creates 36 jobs.

The bill, which was based on the recommendations of the Governor’s Modernizing Recycling Working Group, seeks to double the state’s recycling rate and transform an outmoded system of trash disposal by adopting a more modern, cost-effective, and environmentally sound materials management approach.

Among other changes, the Governor’s proposal:

 

• Sets a 60% target rate for reducing solid waste disposal by increasing source reduction, recycling, and reuse.  The current reported recycling rate is under 30%.
• Reshapes the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA) – a quasi-public entity that owns and operates the waste-to-energy plant in Hartford – into a leaner organization focused on promoting innovation in materials management, renamed the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority.
• Creates a process to explore the repurposing of the CRRA facility, Connecticut’s largest, oldest, and least efficient waste-to-energy plant, to recover more materials of value from trash and to provide better, cheaper service for member communities.
• Creates “RecycleCT” – a statewide education initiative to promote recycling, much the way “EnergizeCT” is promoting energy efficiency and renewables.

 

 

 

June 30, 2014 is the expiration date for all Railroad Parking Permits. Renewal letters have been sent out to all permit holders. For the first time, permit renewal letters have been sent by email to permit holders with a valid email address on file. If an email address is incorrect the permit holder will then receive a permit renewal letter by mail. If you are a current permit holder but have not received a renewal letter by the end of this week, whether by email or by regular mail, you should contact the Railroad Parking Division.

Permits may be renewed in 3 ways. Permit holders can renew their permit online, by mail, or in person at Police Headquarters. Online renewals are also charged a 3.5% conveyance fee. Online renewals and mail-in renewals will have their permits mailed to the address on record for that permit. Instructions for renewal are printed on the renewal letter. Unfortunately, the Railroad Parking Division does not have the capability at this time to accept credit card payments by mail or at Police Headquarters. Credit cards may only be used for payment for online renewals. Loss of or non-delivery of your renewal letter does not necessarily guarantee the ability to renew late and these cases are reviewed on an individual basis. Permits which are not renewed are subject to removal from the permit list.