GOP Viewpoint: Optimistic Americans

Written by Skip March
Friday, 10 February 2012 05:37

Americans are optimists. We will look for every glimmer of hope and opportunity to move our lives forward. However, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has just issued a dose of reality that will continue to challenge Americans’ optimism. In a nutshell, the CBO projects GDP growth in 2012 to be 2% and then decline in 2013 to 1.1%. And unemployment could rise to more than 9%. President Obama’s State of the Union speech provided little hope and nothing new. Rather than addressing the structural economic problems facing this country, he continued to blame our problems on successful people and pit American against American.

Much of the speech was a rehash of his previous State of the Union speech. As Ralph Waldo Emerson told us, “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.” Further, Senate Democrats haven’t even passed a budget in three years; consistent and foolish.

Top 10 safety tips on data privacy for consumer and business

Written by Susan Kinsman
Thursday, 09 February 2012 05:36

Protecting personal information has never been more important for consumers and businesses and there are simple things that can be done to help keep it safe, said Attorney General George Jepsen, who offered “top 10” tips for data security.

“Smart communications technology has made it simple for anyone to access information. But easy access also raises the threat of identity theft and other security problems when personally identifiable information falls into the wrong hands,” Attorney General Jepsen said.

In recognition of National Data Privacy Day, Jepsen reminded consumers who provide personally identifiable information and businesses that collect it about problems that may result if information is not protected from improper disclosure.

A Schlumberger timeline

Written by Jan Rifkinson
Tuesday, 07 February 2012 17:39

The purpose of this time-line is to illustrate how Ridgefield's legislators have handled the 8-30g housing issue and how that resulted in the purchase of the Schlumberger property and the beginnings of the 8-30g alley that will eventually extend from the route 116 to the corner of Gilbert and Main.

The authors have done their best to document all known events via public records, documents and statements. If there is an error, it is UN-intended.

However, we do have a point of view and it is that had there been more foresight, strategic thinking and better management of this issue, Ridgefield would not be facing it's current situation of being saddled with an $11-$12,000,000 investment for a troubled piece of property under the guise of 'controlling our destiny' while having our hands tied over a concentration of 8-30g housing that will most certainly line part of Main Street within the next few years.

Malloy’s first year: Getting eaten alive

Written by Chris Powell
Tuesday, 07 February 2012 05:42

What’s to be said for Gov. Malloy’s first year in office? The governor credits himself most for restoring solvency to state government.

He was left a contemptible mess by his predecessor and the General Assembly. But then solvency always can be restored to government as Malloy restored it, with the biggest tax increase in state history, and is government’s solvency really to be the highest objective of public policy rather than the public’s own prosperity?

Is Connecticut more prosperous on account of the first year of Malloy’s administration?

Talking Transportation: The five biggest lies about highway tolls

Written by Jim Cameron
Monday, 06 February 2012 05:26

Like it or not, get ready to pay tolls on our interstates and parkways. Transportation officials in Hartford say there’s just no other way to raise badly needed money for over-due infrastructure repairs. Tolls may not be popular, but neither are collapsing bridges.

In the last decade’s debate on highway tolling, here are the five biggest lies that opponents have used to stall the return of highway tolls:

The federal government won’t let us: Also known as “We’ll have to return millions in federal funding.” Not true, as U.S. DOT officials told us at a South Western Regional Planning Agency-sponsored meeting in Westport years ago. The federal government regularly allows tolls to be used as traffic mitigation and revenue raising tools.

Looking Back: Education yes, bomb shelters no, 50 years ago

Written by Tom Belote
Sunday, 05 February 2012 05:46

A town meeting voted by a large majority to ratify the Board of Finance decision to appropriate $35,000 for the working plans of the new Farmingville Elementary School building and $32,500 of supplementary funds for the Board of Education to complete the 1961-62 school year, the Feb. 1, 1962 Press reported.

However, funds for the construction of nuclear fallout shelters were voted down.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bellagamba of Old Branchville Road announced the birth of their first child Suzanne Celeste. The grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Deno Bellagamba of Tanton Hill Road and Mr. and Mrs. George Besse of Prospect Street.

Editorial: The Twitter incident

Written by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
Saturday, 04 February 2012 05:44

It is an encouraging sign. When someone, allegedly a Ridgefield High School student, opened a Twitter account for the purpose of humiliating fellow students with a combination of anti-gay prejudice and bad adolescent humor, the offensive account was shouted down and quickly closed up.

What is most encouraging about the episode, which unfolded early this week, is that the wave of outrage that stifled the offensive tweets came not from adult authorities but from young people — students and recent Ridgefield High School graduates.

Authorities did speak. Both Ridgefield High School Principal Jeff Jaslow and Superintendent of Schools Deborah Low have condemned the offensive material.

Earth Talk: Do garlic and onions help prevent cancer?

Written by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss
Friday, 03 February 2012 05:52

Dear EarthTalk: Given the preponderance of carcinogenic chemicals out there today, is it true that eating certain foods like garlic or onions can actually help prevent cancer? —M. Stone

Natural healers have extolled the cancer-preventing virtues of garlic and onions for years, but only recently do we have enough scientific research to draw some conclusions. Several animal studies showing promising results using garlic and other members of the allium family (onions, leek, shallot, and chive) to prevent tumors have led to hundreds of studies involving human garlic eaters.

While it is near impossible to pinpoint a direct link between garlic consumption and cancer prevention, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that “several population studies show an association between increased intake of garlic and reduced risk of certain cancers, including cancers of the stomach, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and breast.”

Is Connecticut losing its competitive edge in education?

Written by Toni Boucher, State Senator
Thursday, 02 February 2012 05:47

Connecticut Realtors provide a good barometer of the economy’s health. They know why people move in and move out, the canary in the coal mine so to speak.

National headlines that proclaim our high taxes and bonding downgrades make selling our state more difficult. The one competitive advantage Realtors point to has always been the state’s top ranking in Education — until recently.

In an effort to regain our competitive edge, 350 education leaders and reformers attended an education workshop which was focused on initiatives to seriously address the widest in the nation achievement gap.

Our new education commissioner, an education reformer, set the stage by describing six guiding principles.

BBB: five tips to avoid getting swept by unscrupulous chimney cleaners

Written by Howard Schwartz, Connecticut BBB
Wednesday, 01 February 2012 06:13

Every year Better Buisiness Bureau receives complaints from consumers who have been cheated by fly-by-night operators who pass themselves off as legitimate chimney cleaners.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, says consumers should think twice about unsolicited offers to have their chimney cleaned.

“In some cases, the chimney cleaner may not do a proper job. In other cases, they may try to convince homeowners they need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars for repairs that aren’t needed.”

Consumers have reported calls stating that their town fire department recommends a particular chimney cleaning company or contractor. Though town fire departments do recommend having chimneys cleaned on an annual basis, they do not endorse any particular company or inspect chimneys.