The Rocking Heartbeats band will perform on the Town Green tonight at 6 pm. There is no admission and everyone is invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs for a nice summer evening.
July 30, 2011
Dunn Mayoral Announcement Sunday
A gathering will take place on Sunday afternoon from 4 – 6 pm at the VFW Farmingbury Eatery where Mayor Thomas G. Dunn intends to declare his candidacy for a fifth term as Wolcott’s Mayor. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Last week, Steven Olmstead declared his candidacy and was endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee. Olmstead is currently the Vice Chairman of the Town Council and serving his first term as Councilman from the 3rd District.
Republicans have placed James Paolino at the top of their ticket, although only as a place holder seat. Republicans generally have been supportive of Dunn’s performance as mayor, but want to ensure someone could challenge Olmstead or Dunn if anything changes in Wolcott politics.
July 27, 2011
Busline Meeting Tonight
State Senator Joe Markley (R-Southington) and State Representative Selim Noujaim (R-Waterbury) will host a planning meeting about the New Britain busline tonight at Rotella School. The meeting, taking place at the Magnet School at 380 Pierpont Rd. will take place from 6 – 8 pm.
The legislators view the $900 busway as a waste of money while both the state and national governments undergo large fiscal deficits. More information about the group working against the project can be found at www.blockthebus.com
July 27, 2011
JetBlue Offering Refunds For Federal Taxes – Will Others Follow?
By Jennifer Strathman
JetBlue is stepping up and offering customers a refund for the extra taxes they paid for their airline ticket. Will others follow?
On July 22nd, the Federal Excise Tax expired. If you bought your ticket before July 22nd for travel after July 22, you may be entitled to a refund.
JetBlue detailed the refund process on its blog, BlueTales, and there’s a “Travel Alert” on the company’s main website. Both posts explain how to get a refund for the expired federal excise tax if you have a trip planned in the next seven days. The refund will be for the Federal Excise Tax and other federal taxes travellers paid when they bought their tickets.
Continue reading how to get a tax refund at JennStrathman.com
July 15, 2011
Mt. Carmel Feast This Weekend
Thousands of area Italian- Americans … and some who just like italian food and music- will converge upon the Town Plot section of Waterbury this weekend in one of the largest of the city’s festivals. The festival runs from Thursday until Sunday with live music after 5 pm. A special noon mass will be held on Sunday followed by a neghborhood processecion. Music will greet the procession back on the grounds of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School on Highland Ave. Admission throughout the weekend is free.
Click here for the Fest Flyer: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel 2011 Flyer
July 15, 2011
Haggis Play Region This Week
By Cori Urban – MassLive.com –
Toronto’s Celtic rock band Enter The Haggis will be entering the 18th annual Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival Saturday at Northampton’s (MA) Look Park. The band isn’t short on Connecticut area performances this week with an outdoor party tonight at The Hungry Tiger in Manchester and next Thursday at Toad’s Place
Enter The Haggis
The popular group blends elements of rock and pop with traditional Celtic music for everyone from the “Haggis Heads,” who follow the band from gig to gig, to those who have never heard their progressive and lyrically driven music.
The music is popular because “it’s different, it’s exciting,” said Peter G. Langmore, festival chairman.
Speaking of Enter the Haggis, Langmore said, “We love them. They are just so full of life, so full of energy, and they put on a tremendous performance. They inject a lot of excitement into the festival.”
July 14, 2011
State Layoff Totals Revealed
OPM Director Ben Barnes and Chief of Staff Roy Occhiogrosso; Hugh McQuaid, Photo
When the dust settles on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s attempt to close a $1.6 billion budget gap created in part by the defeat of a labor concession package, there will be 57 fewer state troopers, fewer group homes for the disabled, fewer Department of Motor Vehicle offices, fewer social service offices, fewer teachers, and fewer prison guards.
Documents released by Malloy’s administration show he plans on eliminating 6,560 positions in state government. About 1,599 of those are funded vacancies that are being eliminated, according to Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management Ben Barnes. About 450 of the layoffs will come from the Judicial Branch and 50 from the legislative branch. The executive branch will eliminate 4,328 state employees currently working for various state agencies.
Aside from the four DMV offices in Putnam, Continue Reading at CTNewsJunkie.com
July 13, 2011
Stores Offer Sales in July
By Jenn Strathman
Jenn Strathman, Consumer Advocate
Target is offering Back in Black Friday. The retailer offered three sneak peak deals including 50% off a Vizio television, 20% off a Kitchenaid mixer, and 50% off a makeup set.
July 10, 2011
Concerts Begin Tonight at Peterson Park
The air is dry, the sun sets late and the warm air is inviting. What better way to cap off the weekend than with a concert with your family and friends outside not far from home?
Beginning tonight, the Wolcott Parks and Recreation concert series will start with the band Clearview. They will perform in Peterson Park beginning at 6 pm. Their mix of modern rock and classic rock will get you out of your seat. Future concerts will be at the Town Green, although a few larger ones will return to the park.
Here is the schedule.
July 9, 2011
Weekend Fireworks
Did you miss them last weekend?
Here are Saturday and Sunday’s firework shows in Connecticut. Most of Friday’s shows have been postponed to Saturday, but check ahead:
Friday July 8
Norwich – Waterfront following band performance at 8 pm
Unionville section of Farmington
(Part of the Tunxis Hose Co. Fireman’s Carnival)
Saturday July 9
Beacon Falls – Pent Rd. complex. Shuttle busses from other locations to be provided
note: The Whisper attended this last year – a very fantastic and brilliant display!
Guilford – Fairgrounds
Lebanon – Town Green
Sunday July 10
East Lyme
Enfield – part of the Enfield festival going on all weekend
New London – Thames River
July 9, 2011
Cans Collect Funds For Scouts
Cub Scout Pack 230 is holding their semi-annual Bottle and Can Drive on Sunday, July 10th. Please leave clean, redeemable 5 cent deposit bottles and cans – as well as water bottles too – at the curb Saturday night and Pack 230 will pick them up Sunday morning. All proceeds will go toward programs, events, field trips, materials and activities for our Cub Scouts.
For large pickups, please contact Steve D’Amato (860) 302-0672
July 9, 2011
Watch: Correspondent at Shuttle Launch
Lon Seidman Shares the Final Launch for Shuttle Program
CT Tech Junkie’s Lon Seidman has been in Florida for the last two weeks compiling reports about the unique facets of the space program. We’ll be sharing some of these here on the Whisper. Click on the above link (underlined) to see the launch. Can you hear the noise?
We hope you enjoy!
July 8, 2011
Bonding Referenda Set
The Town Council set a referendum vote on a $12.3 million bond package for Saturday August 27th from 6 am – 8 pm. The bond package will be whether to approve two waterline packages, road reconstruction projects in various parts of town, a fire truck, complete the walking trail around Scovill Resevoir, and to install new alarm systems at Wolcott High School and Wakelee Elementary Schools.
Mayor Thomas Dunn says that informational sessions will be planned so residents can ask questions about the proposals.
The Whisper will detail each individual project in upcoming days…
The Wolcott Whisper 