Category: Local News

Mobile Art Studio Provides a Creative Outlet for Children

The Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County is hosting The Art Truck at its

annual Art Show for the first time on Sunday, April 6th

natural fit for the Art Show weekend, and marries up the successful fundraiser

with the JLEFC’s long-standing objective to help children succeed in school.

“The Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County and The Art Truck share a

commitment to children and a love of the arts,” says Maura O’Shea, owner of

the Art Truck. “Our partnership is a wonderful way to celebrate creativity in our

communities.”

“It’s important children are inspired in all sorts of ways,” Junior League of Eastern

Fairfield County president Sonal Rajan. “That makes the Art Truck a perfect

partnership for the Art Show weekend. Kids can be inspired by the works of art

available for purchase and on display in the Burr Homestead, and then they can

go on to create their own masterpieces in the Art Truck!”

The Art Truck, Connecticut’s only mobile art studio, aims to put the “art” in

party. The Art Truck delivers fun, educational birthday parties and events

to homes, schools or offices. An inspiring menu of unique projects offers

creative experiences for all ages, while “art-tenders” make party planning and

management a breeze. Gift bags, invitations, snack packs and full party services

are available to turn any party into a work of art.

Proceeds raised at the Art Show support the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield

County and its “Healthy Families, Healthy Futures” community projects, which

impact school readiness in the areas of literacy, healthy lifestyles and nutrition to

better prepare children to succeed in later grades and graduate from high school.

. The mobile art studio is a

 

(HARTFORD, CT)  – Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman will attend the National Lieutenant Governors Association Federal-State Relations Meeting

in Washington D.C. March 19-21, 2014. The agenda includes discussions on STEM education initiatives, workforce development efforts, transportation funding, and a meeting with General Frank Grass of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on National Guard funding.  The Lt. Governor is Chair-Elect of NLGA and the Chair of the Policy Resolutions Committee.

 

 

WHAT:                 Discussion: Technology Issues In Today’s Headlines and Governing in the Information Age

WHEN:                10:15 a.m., March 19, 2014

WHERE:               Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:                 Panel: Best Practices and Steps Forward in STEM Education

WHEN:                11:15 a.m., March 19, 2014

WHERE:               Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:               Policy Resolutions Committee

WHO:                 Lt. Governor Chairs

WHEN:               1:45 p.m. March 19, 2014

WHERE:              Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:               Keynote: 21^st Century Public Health and Safety Challenges of Illegal and Illicit Drug Use

WHO:                 Michael Botticelli, Acting Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy

WHEN:               8:00 a.m., March 20, 2014

WHERE:              Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:               Panel: How Will States Fund Road Projects?

WHEN:               9:00 a.m., March 20, 2014

WHERE:              Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:               Session: Advancing Economic Development in the States Through Public Private Partnerships

WHEN:               9:45 a.m. March 20, 2014

WHERE:              Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:               Session: Federal Bills Impacting States: Chemical Safety and Water Resources Development

WHEN:               11:00 a.m., March 20, 2014

WHERE:              Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:               Presentation: The U.S. Energy Resolution

WHEN:               12:00 p.m. March 20, 2014

WHERE:              Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:               Presentation: The Future of the National Guard and Impacts to States

WHO:                 General Frank Grass, Chief of National Guard Bureau, Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff

WHEN:               8:00 a.m., March 21, 2014

WHERE:              Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:               Panel: Evidence Based Policy Options for Increased School Safety

WHEN:               9:10 a.m. March 21, 2014

WHERE:              Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

 

***

WHAT:               NLGA Executive Committee Meeting

WHEN:               10:00 a.m. March 21, 2014

WHERE:              Westin Capital City Center, 1400 M St. NW, Washington DC Meeting Room B-C

First Selectman Mike Tetreau announced today that CT Rises, a statewide long-term recovery

organization, is sponsoring a volunteer team from World Renew that is opening a temporary

five-day Walk-in-Center at the Fairfield Senior Center, 100 Mona Terrace, to assess unmet

Storm Sandy-related needs. A CT Rises volunteer from the Red Cross or from another affiliated

organization will also be available at the Walk-in-Center.

After needs assessments are compiled, they will be referred to a disaster case manager who will

help residents find possible resources for their unmet needs.

The Walk-in-Center will be open from Tuesday, March 25 to Saturday, March 29, 2014. On

Tuesday and Thursday, hours are 11 am to 7 pm; on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, hours

are 10 am to 6 pm. Residents can either walk into the Senior Center or call 2-1-1, the toll-free

information referral service operated by United Way of Connecticut to make an appointment.

CT Rises/World Renew will share space with the existing Intake Center at the Fairfield Senior

Center which is shutting down on March 31, 2014. However, the State Intake Center will still be

accepting new applications for the Storm Sandy Community Development Block Grant –Disaster

Recovery (CDBG-DR) Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation and Rebuilding (OORR) Program

and applicants will continue to have access to the call center phone number (866-272-1976),

online website/application (http://sandyctapplication.com and http://www.ct.gov/doh/cwp/view.asp?

a=4513&Q=530630, and if needed mobile units.

First Selectman Tetreau said, “I encourage anyone affected by Storm Sandy to visit or call this

Walk-In-Center. I also stress to our residents that they can still apply to the Fairfield Storm Sandy

Relief Fund.”

The Fairfield Storm Sandy Relief Fund is still accepting applications for assistance from

those with unmet needs. To obtain an application, residents can contact Brenda Lobdell at

blobdell@operationhopect.org or 292-5588, ext. 234. To date, a little over $200,000 has been

approved by the Fairfield Storm Sandy Relief Fund Committee for Fairfield Residents, since Storm

Sandy.

***

World Renew volunteers are commonly referred to as the ‘Green Shirts’, a reference to the uniform

the teams wear as a means of being easily identifiable within communities. The Green Shirts are

experts in assessing and quantifying disaster-related property damage. Their objective is to provide

Sandy survivors with unresolved storm damage to their homes access to a needs assessment team

who can quantify necessary repair costs. The World Renew visit is the culmination of many

months of coordination between the many volunteer organizations involved in CT Rises.

CT Rises is a non-profit and faith-based organization offering disaster recovery resources in the

form of money, manpower and materials. Participating organizations include: American Red

Cross Connecticut, Church World Service, City of Bridgeport, City of Norwalk, CT Department of

Emergency Management, CT Food Bank, CT VOAD, CT State Independent Living Council,

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Habitat for Humanity, Home Front, Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Helping Hands), Modern Scribe Marketing, LLC,

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Salvation Army – Southern NE Division, Small Business

Administration, State of Connecticut, Team Rubicon, Town of Fairfield, City of Milford, United

Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, New York Annual Conference, United Way of

Connecticut, World Renew.

CT Rises understands disaster recovery is long-term endeavor that requires a multifaceted

community-based approach to be successful.

The mission of CT Rises is to:

• Identify disaster caused unmet needs of individuals and families

• Identify available resources from voluntary organizations

• Coordinate delivery of resources to address identified needs

• Identify and support projects to mitigate damage to individuals and property from future

disasters

*Information on World Renew and CT Rises was taken from a CT Rises Press Release.

(Westport, CT; March 17, 2014) –

Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service (WVEMS) announces it will be

offering free Hands-Only CPR training sessions for the general public. Students will

learn how to perform hands-only CPR (no mouth-to-mouth) for an adult who does

not show signs of life, how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and

how to assist an adult who is choking and cannot breathe. Hands-Only CPR takes

only 30 minutes to learn; it is NOT a certification-level class.

Classes will take place on Friday March 21, 2014; one at 9:00AM and a second

at 10:00AM, in the training classroom of the Westport Police/EMS Headquarters

building, located at 50 Jesup Road. Participants need to attend only one 30-

minute session, at the time of their choosing. Participants should use the

Training Division entrance on the west side of the building (facing the Library).

Please do not park in spaces designated for the Police Department.

Pre-registration is required in order to ensure a proper ratio of instructors to

students. Sign up by sending an e-mail to cpr@westportems.org, or call our CPR

Hotline @ (203) 341-6030. Please indicate the date and time that you want to

attend.

Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service (WVEMS), a designated American

Heart Association (AHA) training center, also conducts certified CPR and

First Aid classes. For a full schedule of our classes, please go to our website,

www.westportems.org, and click on the Training tab.

Majority of JAX Genomic Medicine Project Awarded to Connecticut-Based Contractors, Employing Hundreds in the Construction Trades

 

(FARMINGTON) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) has met and exceeded last year’s business goals and employment targets outlined in connection with the Governor’s Bioscience Connecticut initiative, including hiring 20 percent more scientific and administrative staff than was required for 2013.  According to its 2013 annual report

, the JAX Genomic Medicine project in Farmington is on schedule and on budget two years after a final deal was reached between the state and JAX to build a new nonprofit research institute focused on advancing genomics and biomedical research with partners from the state and around the world.

 

“This report highlights the successful collaboration between the state and a world-renowned research institute, while reinforcing our efforts to recruit the best and brightest minds into our workforce, attract new business investment to foster a prominent industry cluster and boost our status as an international leader in bioscience and personalized medicine,” said Governor Malloy. “The report also demonstrates that the investments we have made over the last two years to stake a claim in the global biomedical market are already paying-off. Since introducing Bioscience Connecticut, we took the steps necessary to get the ball rolling on this fledging initiative and are gaining momentum on our way to becoming a major player in a growing, multibillion dollar industry. Judging by the groundbreaking research that is already being done by JAX Genomic Medicine and the speed at which this project is progressing, I know that JAX is as serious about Bioscience Connecticut as we are – we couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

 

When negotiating its deal with the state, JAX agreed to employ at least 300 biomedical researchers, technicians and support staff by 2020, of which 90 employees or 30 percent of the total number of employees – whichever is higher – will be senior scientist positions. JAX reported that it has met and exceeded all of the goals set for its 2013 Operating Metrics, including:

 

·         Number of employees employed in the preceding year – Recruitment and hiring are ongoing, but at the end of last year, JAX exceeded its hiring target of 63 total employees for 2013 with 79 employees on the payroll, more than 30 percent of whom were residents of Connecticut prior to their employment.

 

·         Number of senior scientists employed in the preceding year – In 2013, JAX had 48 Ph.D.-level senior scientists on staff, which was 60 percent more than last year’s hiring target of 19 senior scientists.

 

·         Compliance with the Average Annual Wage Obligation in the preceding year – With an average annual wage of $124,703 for employees – more than one and a half times the average wage in Connecticut – JAX exceeded its commitment to pay employees wages equal to 125 percent of the state’s average wage.

 

 

Construction of the new four-story, LEED-certified JAX Genomic Medicine facility on the campus of UConn’s Health Center began in January 2013 and will be ready for occupancy by October 2014. As of December 31, 2013:

 

·         Nearly $64 million in contracts were completed on the $135 million facility, representing 47 percent of the total construction budget.

 

·         More than $94 million out of $108 million in contracts – 87 percent of total bid packages – has been awarded to Connecticut-based contractors who are using hundreds of local workers.

 

·         Construction of the facility, which is under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA), logged more than 250,000 staff hours without a time-lost accident and employed about 270-300 construction workers daily on the job site.

 

·         The JAX project PLA also includes a Community Workforce Agreement (CWA) provision that specifically focuses on increased participation of small and minority-owned contractors, with nearly $30 million worth of contracts awarded to these designated groups.

 

·         To date, the project has met or exceeded its target of awarding 25 percent of contract value to Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firms and 6.35 percent to Minority Business Enterprise firms, achieving 25.8 percent and 18.5 percent of contract value respectively.

 

 

While the new JAX Genomic Medicine facility is under construction, the Connecticut scientific staff is now operating in temporary lab space focusing on advanced research that will transform the field of personalized medicine by developing new medical treatments tailored to each patient’s unique genetic makeup. In 2013, JAX Genomic Medicine’s main activities included fundamental research in the areas of genomic structure and variation, biology of the genome and computational biology, translational research in cancer biology and cancer treatment options and clinical translation using the most advanced genomic technologies for developing new diagnostics. Some of the highlights resulting from these activities include:

 

·         In 2013, the first full year of operations, JAX Genomic Medicine received five grant awards from the federal government worth a total of nearly $3.2 million. In addition, JAX Genomic Medicine’s scientific director, Dr. Charles Lee, was also awarded a $7.5 million, five-year (2013-2017) grant from the government of South Korea to collaborate on a large-scale cancer genomics project.

 

·         Last year, scientists at JAX Genomic Medicine submitted three patent applications based on innovations in stem cell technology, treatments of inflammatory disease and DNA analysis.

 

·         Key scientific journals published four seminal articles arising from research conducted by the Genomic Medicine faculty in 2013.

 

·         Three Jackson Laboratory researchers made the list of the nation’s most promising young investigators in genomics research in a survey presented by GenomeWeb, an influential publication in the field.

 

·         JAX Genomic Medicine’s Postdoctoral Program currently hosts 17 postdoctoral fellows, three of whom were recently nominated for the 2014 Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists.

 

 

Scientists at JAX Genomic Medicine are building collaborations among doctors, researchers and the biomedical industry to bring genomic findings into the clinical setting, advance scientific understanding of human disease and develop precision medicine for better patient care. Last year, JAX reached and maintained collaborative agreements with several clinical and academic entities in Connecticut:

 

·         In April 2013, JAX entered into a Collaborative Research Agreement with Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and is also in the process of finalizing a Collaborative Research Agreement with Hartford Hospital to explore new approaches to cancer treatment for adults and children.

 

·         Last fall, JAX Genomic Medicine received important state and federal licensing and approval to accept and process clinical samples of human cells and tissues for DNA testing, paving the way for clinical collaborations with other health facilities.

 

·         As a pilot project, JAX Genomic Medicine offered a Summer Student Program in 2013 that included Connecticut high school students and plans to expand the pilot program in 2014.

 

·         In addition to the 2012 Collaborative Research Agreement established with UConn and the UConn Health Center, JAX Genomic Medicine is in active discussions with other institutions of higher education including Wesleyan University and Connecticut College to co-develop seminars, lecture series and genomics courses.

 

·         JAX has met with local insurance companies, including Aetna Innovation Labs and Woman’s Health USA, to discuss ways to apply genomic technologies to improve health care outcomes and clinical decision-making.

 

 

JAX’s decision to select the UConn Health Center Campus for the site of its new genomic medicine research facility was a direct result of the state’s investment in Bioscience Connecticut

. In 2011, Governor Malloy introduced Bioscience Connecticut to jumpstart Connecticut’s economy by creating hundreds of immediate construction-related jobs and combining the resources of government, the private sector and research institutions and universities to advance cutting-edge biomedical innovation in the state. The State Bond Commission, which Governor Malloy chairs, authorized $291 million in state funding for the construction of the new Genomic Medicine facility in order to generate good-paying scientific, research and administrative jobs for residents and long-term, sustainable economic growth based on bioscience research, innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization.

 

A Battelle Memorial Institute study reports that, in 2012 alone, human genome sequencing projects and related research and industry activities generated $65 billion in U.S. economic output, $31 billion toward the 2012 U.S. gross domestic product, $19 billion in personal income and 152,000 jobs.

 

*For the full 2013 annual report on the JAX Genomic Medicine project, please click here

.

State Bond Commission Approves $1 Million to Design and Plan Improvements to Historic Community Center

 

 

(NEW HAVEN, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy, joined by Mayor Toni Harp and other state and local elected officials, today announced that the state will assist the City of New Haven in funding the construction of the new “Q” House community center, which was left unoccupied for the last decade and fell into disrepair.  Until it closed its doors in 2003, the “Q” House was an important part of the Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods going back to the 1920s, offering after-school programs for the disadvantaged young people of the city and a safe environment free of drugs, alcohol and bullying.

 

“Sadly, the Q House has stood empty for too long and was allowed to become blighted.  The state is happy to help kick-start the process of constructing a new Q House which I hope will be just the first step in revitalizing Dixwell, Newhallville and the surrounding neighborhoods,” said Governor Malloy.  “This is not just an investment in the construction of a new building.  It also represents an investment in an after-school option that offers a safe environment and stable foundation outside of the school system that is necessary to give our children a brighter future and help them grow into successful adults.”

 

The State Bond Commission at its last meeting on February 28 approved $1 million to conduct the planning and design work necessary for demolition of the existing structure and the construction of a new building to house the community center.  The funding was placed on the Bond Commission agenda by Governor Malloy at the request of New Haven Mayor Toni Harp, who said revitalizing the “Q” House has been one of her priorities since walking through the area last summer and seeing the needs of the community and its residents.

 

“Our vision for a vibrant community center in the next-generation Dixwell Q House is now one step closer as a result of state funding announced today – I’m grateful to Governor Malloy and members of the State Bond Commission for their support of this New Haven initiative,” Mayor Toni N. Harp said.  “With ready access to a safe and supportive Q House environment our hope is young people will harness their creative and productive energy, grow as individuals, and help shape a vibrant New Haven for the future.”

 

“A new Dixwell Q House will provided vital educational, recreational and community programs for residents of all ages and continue its legacy of strengthening our neighborhoods,” said Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven).  “I want to thank Governor Malloy, Mayor Harp, the Board of Alders and the countless concerned citizens that worked so hard to make the dream of reopening the Q House closer to reality.”

 

“The Dixwell Q House was once a place where the people of New Haven came together as a community,” said State Senator Gary Holder-Winfield (D-New Haven).  “The building was closed to the detriment of the youth of New Haven. With the revitalization of the Q House our children with benefit with an updated Q House that will meet the needs of the community.  Children and adults will enjoy the branch of the New Haven Free Public Library and a neighborhood cultural center.  This investment into the Q will return it to the symbol of community togetherness it once was.”

 

“Safe places like community centers are incredibly important in steering youth down the right path, and with this funding our community will gain another after-school resource for New Haven students,” said State Representative Toni Walker (D-New Haven).  “I would like to thank Governor Malloy and Mayor Harp for understanding the need for a place like Q House to be open, and serving the community, once again.”

 

The construction project will begin the process of turning the now-vacant neighborhood icon into a new facility to serve the people of Dixwell and Newhallville.  Once completed, the “Q” House is expected to include a neighborhood cultural center, a branch of the New Haven Free Public Library and the Cornell-Scott Hill Community Health Center.