Local News for Plainville, Connecticut

Fleeing New Yorkers squeeze surrounding housing markets

Angel Garcia, a single father approved for a mortgage loan of $300,000, had high hopes in early 2020 of finding a house he could afford in his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Within months, New Yorkers began fleeing the city and the surrounding area, snapping up houses. Home prices that already READ MORE.

Wolcott attorney serving time for bilking clients denied compassionate release for COVID-19 threat

WATERBURY – An attorney who stole thousands from his clients has been denied his bid for a “compassionate release” due to the ongoing pandemic. Some lost thousands in retirement savings, a couple was forced to move into an apartment in another state after the equity from the sale of their home vanished, while a woman READ MORE.

Survey of college students suggests they fear the effects of COVID-19 vaccine

This month, I completed a study titled, “College Students’ COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy.” Students at a midsized university in Connecticut were surveyed to determine the extent of their vaccine hesitancy regarding coronavirus vaccines. The random sample consisted of 592 undergraduate and graduate students – 378 (64%) female students and 206 (34.9%) male students. The survey question READ MORE.

Despite some concern, region’s first responders have been taking the COVID-19 vaccine

TORRINGTON — First responders from the region’s fire, medical and police agencies have been filling appointments at the Torrington Area Health District over the past month to receive Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as part of the first phase of the rollout. While some were skeptical as the rollout began, education about its safety and effectiveness against READ MORE.

Here’s what you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the state

So far… The number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine that have been administered since the state vaccination program kicked off in mid-December is approaching 200,000. Vaccines are being given to direct care providers and other critical workers in health care settings, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and first responders at risk of exposure. READ MORE.

‘I don’t want any part of it’: Not everyone keen on taking COVID-19 vaccine

Here’s the good news: Spurred by a pandemic and a “Warp Speed” effort to produce vaccines to eliminate it, two biotech companies produced two vaccines that the Food and Drug Administration says are 95% effective in preventing the disease. Here’s the bad news: Not everybody is keen on taking it. Without 80% of Americans getting READ MORE.

First, plan for repayment

Many components of Connecticut’s economy have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some legislators hope state government will borrow money to assist the beleaguered sectors, the Connecticut Mirror reported in a story the Republican-American carried Jan. 13. Reporter Keith M. Phaneuf indicated Gov. Ned Lamont is “wary” of charging more to the state’s credit READ MORE.

Waterbury school board expected to reaffirm use of police in city schools

WATERBURY — City officials are moving to reaffirm the use of police in city schools, prompting calls for scrutiny given the city’s history of unusually large numbers of school-based arrests. The Board of Education is expected to vote on a new “memorandum of understanding” with city police in a meeting Thursday. This update of an READ MORE.

Victor H. Leidel

WOODBURY – Victor Leidel, 98, of Woodbury, passed away New Year’s Eve morning, Dec. 31, 2020. Always living with a zest for life, his goal was to live to 100, but sadly he was taken early by the coronavirus. He was the husband of the late Violet (Holmgren) Leidel. Mr. Leidel was born March 23, READ MORE.

Attorney: State health employee blew whistle before firing

NEW HAVEN – A state Department of Health employee says he was fired after questioning the department’s authority to fine a bar that allegedly flouted state rules about crowd size amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Haven Register reports that Av Harris, a spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, was abruptly terminated on READ MORE.

March for Life asks its supporters to stay home this year

Organizers of the March for Life, the anti-abortion movement’s preeminent annual event, are asking their supporters nationwide not to gather in Washington this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic and political unrest. Instead, a small group of invited anti-abortion leaders will march Jan. 29, and the event will be livestreamed, March for Life’s president, Jeanne READ MORE.

Robert Charles Bova

IRVINE, Calif. – Robert Charles Bova (Bob) passed peacefully to the next great adventure on Dec. 28, 2020, at the age of 90 after a short battle with COVID-19. It took the pandemic of our lifetime to steal his final breath. He was born on Aug. 9, 1930 to parents Peter Charles Bova and Jeanette READ MORE.

Governors have gone too far in fighting pandemic

Because of COVID-19, many of our rights under the Constitution have been taken away. Liberal governors have used this newfound power to eliminate one’s right to choose. They have forced the closure of thousands of businesses for weeks and months. This has left millions of people out of work and unable to pay rent, mortgages, READ MORE.

Revise vaccine distribution rules to save more lives

The COVID-19 vaccination landscape has changed with the spread of the new, highly infectious variants. The vaccination plans need to be updated to have the singular goal of saving as many lives as possible in the next 12 to 16 weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and advisory boards, had in mind a READ MORE.

Valley Chordsmen – ‘Brothers in Song’ – push past COVID

COVID-19 may have halted live music across the country, and it also kept Waterbury’s Valley Chordsmen from rehearsing what they love. However, the area a capella group, which was formed in 1947 as the Brass City Chorus, is hoping to share its love for choral music to potential new members with a virtual guest night READ MORE.

State municipalities request same aid, no new costs

GOSHEN — Elected officials from the 21 municipalities represented by the Northwest Hills Council of Governments are braced for a legislative session they are calling pivotal with the COVID-19 pandemic showing no sign of slowing down. The council’s virtual meeting Thursday featured a discussion with Joseph DeLong, executive director of the Connecticut Council of Municipalities. READ MORE.

State deficit erased, according to new projection

HARTFORD — New revenue estimates Friday erased a projected budget deficit for the current fiscal year and slashed a previously estimated $4.3 billion shortfall almost in half for the upcoming two-year budget cycle. The updated revenue projections represent a significant improvement in the state’s fiscal outlook as Gov. Ned Lamont prepares to submit his recommended READ MORE.

Plymouth presents $25.4M budget

PLYMOUTH — Interim Superintendent Sherri Turner presented her proposed $25.4 million budget for 2021-22 to Board of Education members Wednesday. The plan includes a spending increase of $627,992, or 2.5%, over the current $24.7 million budget. “Since March, we’ve lost time with our students,” Turner said, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m impressed and inspired READ MORE.

Today in History, Jan. 15

Today is Friday, Jan. 15, the 15th day of 2021. There are 350 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 15, 2020, Chinese officials said they couldn’t rule out the possibility that a new coronavirus in central China could spread between humans, though they said the risk of transmission appeared to READ MORE.

Residents 75 and older able to register for vaccinations

HARTFORD — State residents age 75 and older can now register for appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations starting Monday. State officials had no counts Thursday on the number of sign ups and appointments scheduled, but an estimated 277,000 people fall in this age category that is the first group eligible to be immunized in the second READ MORE.