Christine Stuart | Nov 15, 2011 5:33pm(Updated 6 p.m.) Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is in Kuwait.
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, Gov. Danell Malloy, and US Sec. of Defense Leon Panetta (contributed photo)
Yup. That’s right, Malloy flew to out of Washington D.C. on Monday evening as part of a Department of Defense program which provides state governors with the opportunity to visit deployed National Guardsmen and Reservists in the field.
The announcement released at 5:05 p.m. today came as a surprise to news media who have been inquiring as to Malloy’s whereabouts this week.
US Senator Blumenthal spoke during a senate hearing to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act which was enacted just a few years ago. The Act decided that the federal government would recognize marriage as one between a man and a women. It does not override state laws, but merely defines the term marriage when it applies to federal taxes, benefits, and other issues before the government.
In part, Blumenthal testified: “There is no question we need to focus on jobs and econ growth, no certainty on when the senate vote will be. But the cause of justice will be advanced when this committee votes… in favor of repealing DOMA.”
For those of you who are still without power, hang in there. I hope it returns soon, most of all for your comfort and so that we can live as we did before last week. Normalcy is important. If you need anything, particularly some spare bottled water, ice, or anything else, let me know. I’ll be happy to help.
For my other friends, I hope that you’ll find the time to help out at a shelter, distribution site or any other way you can. There is a great need out there. Even a simple check on your neighbors would be appreciated.
To my political friends- butt out. I’ll get to you later.
Governor Malloy addressed the state at 6:30 tonight giving cautions reminescent of Hurricane Irene as over 300,000 residents are already without power. “We are experiencing outages beyond what we experienced during Hurricane Gloria,” he told reporters.
As of the news conference, one person has died on Rt. 85 in Colchester and a State Trooper was injured in an accident. His injuries are not life threatening.
The first day of school is Wednesday, but Wolcott High School students may get one more summer day off. Wolcott School superintendent Joseph Macary has informed the Whisper that power has been out since Hurricane Irene rolled through Connecticut. “We know where the tree branch came down, but it’s just a matter of CL&P of fixing it.” Macary says that a determination of whether or not to open school will be made closer to the opening period tomorrow morning, as the electricity could be restored at almost any time.
Classes will start at the other four town schools on schedule. “We’ve had no other problems other than some
Open forum today – tell us where you were when you felt the ground shake (if you felt it… some did not, including this author) and perhaps if you thought it was something else. What did you do?
There was a 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered between Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia at about 1:51 pm and the rumble felt across Connecticut about four minutes later. Buildings up and down the east coast as far north as Boston have been evacuated as a precaution. Some damage has been reported in Farmington and Millerton, NY.
Do not call 911 or any other critical service unless you have an emergency. Any general building inquiries should be directed to Wolcott’s Building Inspector at (203) 879-8100. Wolcott Police and the Building Inspector’s office reported that “not one” call was made to them about any damage in town.
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
in New Haven. A free concert by the group will energize young and old alike on the Agawam Green as part of the town’s Summerfest Music Series.
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.”
Local Wolcott property taxes are due on July 1st. They can be paid by mail, or online. Go to www.wolcottct.org to pay these.
State Senator Joe Markley has a summary of the taxes taking affect on July 1st. Some of the income taxes are retroactive to January 1st as well. State taxes which go into affect on July 1st include:
JULY 1ST Sales and Use Taxes:
The general sales and use tax rate increases from 6% to 6.35%; (make sure your cash register is reprogrammed!)
The room occupancy tax increases from 12% to 15%;
Renting or leasing of a car for 30 days or less increases to 9.35%;
Luxury tax of 7% for cars more than $50,000, boats more than $100,000, jewelry more than $5,000, clothing or footwear, handbag, luggage, umbrella, wallet or watch more than $1,000.
Service Taxes: Valet parking provided at any airport;
After last week’s union rejection of an agreement with state government, the pointing of fingers has begun. Yet, those fingers aren’t willing to plug the $1.4 to 3 Billion leak in the state budget’s dam. But what exactly will change is yet to be seen. Constitutionally, it seems that the legislature is in control of the state budget still. Even after adjourning their session on June 8th, it is that branch of government who controls the state’s purse strings. Last Friday the Governor ordered them back into session. If he could make budget cuts – or at least budget cuts to the extent necessary to balance the budget – himself, he could have done so without summoning them back to the Capitol.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy plans on giving the legislature a “roadmap” for how he plans on reducing the two-year, $40.11 billion budget by $1.6 billion in the next 24-hours, according to top administration officials.
Malloy’s Chief of Staff Tim Bannon said the governor will give lawmakers a plan for balancing the budget before July 1 and an idea of just how many pink slips he will send out in the next day. Last week he threatened to send out as many as 7,500 almost immediately, but has since said he will try to reduce that number wherever possible. Ben Barnes, Malloy’s budget director, said pink slips will go out in about two weeks.
By Christine Stuart
CTNewsJunkie – After the legislature approved a state budget with over $2 Billion in the balance, state unions have begun voting on a new agreement to balance the state’s budget. Over the last few weeks, state union members have held closed door meetings and posted discussion on talkboards, including 201 comments on this CTMirror article and others, on whether or not to approve Gov. Malloy’s concession package.
At least one of the 34 bargaining groups and one of the locals, which is part of the larger Correction Officer’s bargaining group, voted against the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition’s tentative agreement, according to sources.
The one bargaining group to vote against the $1.6 billion concession deal was
By Kathleen Kiley
CTWatchdog.com – As Connecticut’s love affair with locally grown food intensifies, more slaughterhouses might be needed right here in the Nutmeg State.
Connecticut already has three United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected slaughterhouses, which most consumers are not even aware of. And there’s a debate in the farming community as to whether additional ones are needed. Several farmers and restaurateurs say more slaughterhouses could help the economy and result in more locally produced meat. However, some farmers say the need might be overblown.
Local Wolcott property taxes are due on July 1st. They can be paid by mail, or online. Go to 
After last week’s union rejection of an agreement with state government, the pointing of fingers has begun. Yet, those fingers aren’t willing to plug the $1.4 to 3 Billion leak in the state budget’s dam. But what exactly will change is yet to be seen. Constitutionally, it seems that the legislature is in control of the state budget still. Even after adjourning their session on June 8th, it is that branch of government who controls the state’s purse strings. Last Friday the Governor ordered them back into session. If he could make budget cuts – or at least budget cuts to the extent necessary to balance the budget – himself, he could have done so without summoning them back to the Capitol. 
The Wolcott Whisper 