2:18pm–#Bridgeport CT– Report of a Bridgeport Sanitation truck on fire in front of Winthrop Middle School, 85 Eckart Street. Update– Paper touching the manifold caused the quite minor fire.
Author: Alex
TUESDAY: GOV. MALLOY REMINDS RESIDENTS OF IMPENDING HEALTH CARE DEADLINE; PARTICIPATES IN MINIMUM WAGE EVENT; HOLDS COMMUNITY FORUM IN ENFIELD
(HARTFORD, CT) – On Tuesday morning, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, and Access Health CT CEO Kevin Counihan will hold a news conference in East Hartford to remind residents about the impending March 31 deadline to sign up for affordable health care through Access Health CT, Connecticut’s health care exchange.
In the afternoon, Governor Malloy and Lt. Governor Wyman will join Americans United for Change at an event in Hartford to urge Congress to vote in favor of President Obama’s plan to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. The organization is currently on an 11-state “Give America a Raise” Bus Tour
, which will end at the U.S. Capitol in April.
In the evening, Governor Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman will hold a community forum
in Enfield, where they will speak with members of the public about their agenda for Connecticut’s future. This will be the fourth event in this year’s series of gubernatorial community forums.
WHO: Governor Malloy, Lt. Governor Wyman, Kevin Counihan
WHAT: News conference to remind residents of impending deadline to sign up for affordable health care
WHEN: Tuesday, March 25, 2014; 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: First Choice Health Center; 94 Connecticut Boulevard, East Hartford
———
WHO: Governor Malloy, Lt. Governor Wyman, Americans United for Change, local business owners and workers
WHAT: “Give America a Raise” Bus Tour visits Hartford urging Congress to increase the federal minimum wage
WHEN: Tuesday, March 25, 2014; 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Star Hardware; 2995 Main Street, Hartford
———
WHO: Governor Malloy, Lt. Governor Wyman
WHAT: Governor Malloy and Lt. Governor Wyman hold a community forum
WHEN: Tuesday, March 25, 2014; 7:00-8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Enfield Street School, Cafeteria; 1318 Enfield Street, Enfield
TUESDAY: LT. GOV. WYMAN HOSTS WOMEN’S ROUNDTABLE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, ATTENDS ACCESS HEALTH PRESS CONFERENCE, SPEAKS AT RELEASE OF STATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN, HOLDS ENFIELD COMMUNITY FORUM
(HARTFORD, CT) – On Tuesday, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman and Permanent Commission on the Status of Women Executive Director Teresa Younger will host a women’s roundtable discussion on higher education. This is the fourth in a series of discussions that address the issues facing women in Connecticut including pay equity, workforce policies, and education.
The Lt. Governor will then join Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Access Health CT CEO Kevin Counihan at a press conference to highlight the March 31 healthcare enrollment deadline.
In the afternoon, the Lt. Governor will join Commissioner Jewel Mullen at the Connecticut Department of Public Health Connecticut Health Improvement Planning Coalition meeting. The Coalition will release Healthy Connecticut 2020: The Connecticut State Health Assessment and State Health Improvement Plan, a comprehensive plan to improve the health of Connecticut residents.
In the evening, Lt. Governor Wyman and Governor Malloy will hold a community forum
in Enfield where they will discuss the state’s future and answer questions from residents. This is the fourth gubernatorial community forum.
WHO: Lt. Governor Wyman, PCSW Executive Director Teresa Younger
WHAT: Women’s Roundtable
WHEN: Tuesday, March 25, 8:00 a.m.
WHERE: City Hall, 165 Church Street, New Haven
***
WHO: Governor Malloy, Lt. Governor Wyman, Kevin Counihan
WHAT: News conference to remind residents of March 31 deadline to sign up for affordable health care
WHEN: Tuesday, March 25, 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: First Choice Health Center; 94 Connecticut Boulevard, East Hartford
***
WHO: Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Dr. Jewel Mullen
WHAT: Release of Healthy Connecticut 2020: The Connecticut State Health Assessment and State Health
Improvement Plan
WHEN: Tuesday, March 25, event runs 1-4 p.m., LG will speak at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Cromwell
***
WHO: Governor Malloy, Lt. Governor Wyman
WHAT: Governor Malloy and Lt. Governor Wyman hold Enfield community forum
WHEN: Tuesday, March 25, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Enfield Street School, cafeteria; 1318 Enfield Street, Enfield
Himes Reminds Taxpayers Making $58K or Less IRS Free File Available
Free software and step-by-step help available for those who qualify at www.IRS.gov/freefile
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) today encouraged constituents to take advantage of free tax preparation services available through the Free File program. Every taxpayer with a 2013 Adjusted Gross Income of $58,000 or less may visit www.IRS.gov/freefile
to prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns at no cost.
“With many taxpayers still preparing their returns, I encourage those making $58,000 or less to take advantage of the free tax services available from the IRS and Free File,” said Himes. “Anyone may use Free File to file a tax return or, if necessary, submit an extension – giving themselves an extra six months to prepare and file a federal tax return.”
IRS Free File is available at www.IRS.gov/freefile
, which provides a list of Free File Alliance member companies and their free tax software offerings. Users may either choose the company that fits their needs or utilize the “Help Me Find Free File Software” tool. After selecting a company, users will be transferred to the company’s website to prepare, complete and electronically file their federal income tax returns. The service is also available in Spanish.
The Free File Alliance, a coalition of 14 industry-leading tax software companies, has partnered with the IRS since 2003 to help low and middle-income Americans prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns online. The Free File Alliance is committed to giving 70 percent of Americans free access to the industry’s top online tax preparation software. About 40 million returns have been filed through Free File since its inception. For more information, visit www.freefilealliance.org
Teen Arrested for Robbery
(Bridgeport, CT – March 21, 2014) – A city teen was arrested for a robbery on his 18th birthday.
Officers Cody Remy and Michael Mazzacco responded to Harral Avenue for an attempted robbery and assault Thursday night. Sgt. Sean Lynch and other officers had arrived moments earlier and observed a male with a wood stick chasing another male.
The man with the stick ended up being the robbery victim. He told police that he has just purchased some eggs and tomatoes at a grocery store and was walking home when he was approached by a group of young males. He was knocked down from behind and members of the group rifled through his pockets and threw the eggs and tomatoes at him.
When one of the youths intimated that he had a weapon, the victim fled with the youths pursuing him. The victim, 36, picked up a small wooden board to protect himself. Police began arriving at that point.
Police detained the victim and the suspect, later identified as Elija Ceesay, 18, of Bridgeport, and through the victim and witnesses compiled an account of what occurred.
Ceesay was charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, second-degree breach of peace and interfering with police.
Burglary Suspect Arrested in the Act
(Bridgeport, CT – March 21, 2014) – Police arrested a 50-year-old man on a burglary charge Thursday. Officer Stavros Mirtsopoulos was dispatched to 1 Yaremich Drive, a vacant house, on a report of a burglary in progress. Officers had positioned themselves in the front and rear of the building when the suspect, Willie Cox, of Bridgeport, attempted to flee out the front door. When he encountered police, he attempted to go back into the house but police apprehended him.
He was treated for lacerations to his hands that he suffered when he broke the window to gain entry and for a laceration on his head.
He was treated and released at the hospital and then booked on charges of third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief and interfering with police.
Familiar Phone Number Leads Detectives to Arrest Teen in Robbery
(Bridgeport, CT – March 20, 2014) – A teenaged robber had ordered pizza from his cell phone with a just-stolen credit card.
The larcenous act provided detectives with a key lead when one of the detectives remembered the same cell phone number in connection with another January robbery he investigated.
Now the same teen will face charges in connection with a second robbery.
On Jan. 13, a mugging victim came to police headquarters for an interview with Detectives Martin Heanue and Jorge Cintron about a street robbery that had happened on Jan. 2 on Beechwood Avenue. She was walking home and reached her door when she was grabbed from behind and had her purse stolen by two males.
In the interview, she also told police that her visa card was used to purchase food from a Stratford pizza restaurant about two hours after the mugging. She had used a GPS locator a day after the robbery that told her that her stolen iPhone was in the area of 154 Alex St.
When the detectives followed up and visited the pizza shop, an employee stated the food was delivered to 203 Alex St. and provided the phone number from which the order was placed.
Certain details jumped out.
“I remembered the phone number” from the earlier case, said Heanue. He also recalled that the robbery suspect in the other case was arrested at a friend’s house on Alex Street.
That robbery happened on Hollister Avenue on Jan. 5, three days after the purse snatching. Heanue and Cintron were assigned to that case as well.
In the Jan. 5 robbery, the teenaged victim, from West Hartford, stated that he had arranged to buy a pair of Air Jordan sneakers on a Facebook page called “Connecticut Sneaker Exchange.” The alleged seller used a profile name and the two corresponded to negotiate a selling price.
When he and his father came to the arranged location, they were robbed. Police were able to identify one of the suspects with his Facebook profile picture. The victim also provided the suspect’s cell phone number.
That detail proved to be key in the Jan. 2 robbery investigation.
As Heanue and Cintron began investigating the earlier robbery from Jan. 2, they realized that the cell phone used to order the pizza was the same one provided by the victim for the suspect in the Jan. 5 robbery.
They also noted that the pizza delivered to Alex Street was taken to a location in the same block as where the teen suspect had been arrested.
The detectives showed the purse-snatching victim a photo array that contained the suspect’s photo and she picked out the suspect.
The suspect has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 5. A judge signed a warrant charging the youth, who has since turned 18, with first-degree robbery, fifth-degree larceny, credit card theft and illegal use of a credit card. The warrant has not yet been served.
Police Interrupt Drug Deal, Two Men Arrested
(Bridgeport, CT – March 21, 2014) – Two men face charges after police interrupted a drug deal Thursday on Norman Street.
Officers Christopher Martin and Elizabeth Santora made the arrest after noticing the occupant of BMW acting suspiciously. They later observed him pull over on Norman Street and, a moment later, saw a gray Chevrolet Equinox park along side of him.
The BMW driver, Michael Mott, 34, of Naugatuck, partially exited his car and reached into the Chevy.
Believing a drug deal was taking place, police converged. Mott got back into his car and attempted to flee but was stopped by police. He claimed he was only buying a “$20 bag,” a reference to an amount of drugs.
While searching the driver of the Chevy, Xavier Diaz, 28, of Bridgeport, the driver dropped a bag containing crack cocaine. Police also later recovered a baggie of crack cocaine from the rear seat of the cruiser that transported Mott to police headquarters.
Diaz was charged with possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to sell. His bond was set at $25,000. Mott was charged with possession of narcotics. His bond was set at $10,000.
GOV. MALLOY APPOINTS FIVE TO STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he is appointing five Connecticut residents to fill vacancies on the State Board of Accountancy, the panel responsible for licensing and regulating accountants in the state.
“The State Board of Accountability plays a critical role in providing oversight and setting standards for this important profession,” Governor Malloy said. “The personal and professional experiences of each of these appointees provides them with valuable perspective for this role, and will help guide them in carrying out their responsibilities on the Board of Accountancy.”
The members appointed today, including the board’s chairman, are:
- John H. Schuyler of Simsbury (Chairman) – Partner at Marcum, LLP
- Timothy F. Egan of Darien – Partner at KPMG, LLP
- Dannell R. Lyne of Trumbull – Tax Partner at Dylewsky, Goldberg & Brenner, LLC
- Marcia L. Marien of Norwich – Partner/CPA at O’Connor Davies, LLP
- Peter J. Niedermeyer of Simsbury – Partner, Director of Accounting and Auditing at Blum Shapiro & Co.
The board is located for administrative purposes within the Office of the Secretary of the State. It consists of nine members, including five accountants and four public members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor, who receives recommendations from the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Westport Accepting Applications for 2014 Neighborhood Assistance Act
Tax Credit Program
Westport Director of Human Services, Barbara Butler announced today that the Town of
Westport is currently accepting applications for the 2014 Neighborhood Assistance Act
(NAA) Tax Credit Program sponsored by the CT Dept. of Revenue Services (DRS). The
NAA program is designed to provide funding for municipal and tax exempt organizations by
providing a corporation business tax credit for businesses that make cash contributions to these
entities.
The NAA program allows businesses to claim a State tax credit for cash contributions made
to qualifying community programs conducted by tax exempt or municipal agencies. The
types of community programs that qualify for the NAA tax credit program include but are not
necessarily limited to: energy conservation; employment and training; child care services;
neighborhood assistance; substance abuse; open space acquisition; crime prevention programs
and affordable housing development. The minimum contribution on which a tax credit may
be granted is $250 and the maximum contribution that any nonprofit or municipal entity can
receive under this program is $150,000. There are no Town funds involved in this program.
Each municipal agency or tax-exempt organization that wishes to participate in the NAA
Program must complete the program proposal application available on the CT DRS website.
This form must be submitted to the municipality for approval by its governing body. All
locally approved programs must be submitted to the DRS no later than July 1.
For further information about the Neighborhood Assistance Act Program please go to the DRS
website at http://www.ct.gov/DRS. Agencies wishing to participate should submit applications
to the attention of Barbara H. Butler, Director, Westport Department of Human Services, 110
Myrtle Ave., Westport, CT 06880 by Wednesday, May 21. The list of participating agencies
will be submitted to the Representative Town Meeting for approval at its meeting on June 3.