LITCHFIELD - Film and stage actor Elmore "Rip" Torn came in to Litchfield Superior Court Tuesday morning.

The 79-year-old actor, who is facing a number of charges including first-degree burglary, came into the courthouse around 9:25 a.m. Torn is slated to appear today on allegations that he broke into a Lakeville bank intoxicated.

Police said Torn, who has been in rehabilitation since being released on a $100,000 bond, did not take anything from the bank. According to court documents Torn thought he was at his house when he entered the Litchfield Bancorp on Jan. 29. Police said he broke a back window to get in, took off his hat and boots and was milling around the house when state police in North Canaan responded to the break-in alarm.

Check back at The Register Citizen for further updates on the story later today and tomorrow.

Please be advised that the south lane of the Blue Swamp Road Bridge will be closed to traffic beginning Monday, March 29, 2010 for an undetermined amount of time. The Town will begin undertaking repairs and eventually complete replacement of the bridge. Questions can be directed to the Director of Public Works Jack Healy at 860-567-7571. Your patience during this time is greatly appreciated.

The Rose B. Nader Circle "For the Agitation of the Caring Mind" series will feature three lectures in April, all at 7 p.m. in Founders Hall Auditorium at the Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Winsted.

William Hosley will speak April 7 about "Valuing Your Sense of Place, History and Community."

Colman McCarthy will speak April 22 on "Waging Peace in a Time of War."

And Dr. Fred Hyde will speak April 28 on "Health Care: How Did We Get Here? What Now?"

All lectures are free and open to the public.

Connecticut High School's graduation rate is lower than predicted, with less than 80 percent of students earning their diploma in four years.

Malloy stated that with Connecticut's inability to grow our economy and create jobs over the past 20 years, we are relying on our public school system now more than ever to help create our next generation of workers and leaders.

"The rates are particularly bad among minority and low-income students," said Malloy, "What does this mean? That the state's achievement gap - already the worst in the country - will likely continue to grow in the years ahead, perpetuating the social and economic divide in our cities."

Malloy believes that if we don't correct the problem that it will mean an exacerbation of our economic condition. A government report stated that the problems that come with lower graduation rates are: lower rates of ownership, less civic engagement, and higher rates of incarceration which will result in towns having less tax revenue and an increase in social services dependence.

Connecticut is one of the wealthiest states in the nation, Malloy points out, "It's unconscionable that we would allow this to happen."

As Mayor of Stamford, Malloy made Stamford the first city in CT to offer universal access to pre-school. He also established the Juvenile Review Board, a program to keep youths out of the juvenile justice system by providing them with opportunities to make more positive choices.

Price Chopper Supermarkets will sponsor a Pinwheels for Prevention Pin-up Campaign to help in the fight against child abuse during Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

The campaign raises awareness about the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Barbara L. Page, Community and Public Relations Manager of Price Choppers parent company stated that last years Pinwheels for Prevention campaign raised over $30,000. Their goal is to reach $50,000.

Every dollar collected will support Prevent Child Abuse Connecticut's Parent Warmline, public education, and parent support efforts. Bookmarks and fact sheets about child abuse prevention will also be available at the stores customer service desks and information tables.

Local participating stores are in Bristol and Torrington, as well as Newington, Putnam, Southington, Vernon, Waterbury, and Windsor.

Prevent Child Abuse Connecticut is a statewide program of Wheeler Clinic dedicated to the prevention of all forms of child abuse, with an emphasis on promoting healthy family relationships. The program collaborates with community partners to strengthen and educate families. For more information, call Prevent Child Abuse Connecticut at 1-800-CHILDREN.

This spring, Connecticut Food Bank will mark the fifth anniversary of its Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign.

The campaign encourages home and community gardeners and farmers to plant an extra row of produce specifically to donate to local hunger-relief efforts.

Every extra tomato, squash, or watermelon can go a long way to help feed those who don't have enough to eat every day. While Connecticut has the highest per capita income in the U.S., about 390,000 people are at risk of hunger each year. They are children, working parents, people with disabilities and seniors.

Since CT Food Bank launched the Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign in 2006, the program has collected about 11,400 pounds of fresh produce for people struggling with hunger in Connecticut.

Marilyn Wilkes, a volunteer coordinator for the program in Connecticut hopes to grow the program by getting gardeners, farmers, schools, places of worship, youth and community groups and businesses to add a row of seedbeds, or donate their surplus produce to Connecticut Food Bank. Donations are tax-deductible and donor receipts will be provided.

To help gardeners get started, CT Food Bank is giving away free tomato seeds donated by H.J. Heinz Company. Call the Food Bank at 203-469-5000 for details.

Fruits and vegetables most needed are spinach, kale, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, peas, green beans, tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplants, summer and winter squash, zucchini, beets and garlic.

Drop-offs can be made at: Any of CT Food Bank's warehouses in East Haven, Fairfield, and Waterbury; a local food pantry in your community; for large donations call Marilyn Wilkes at 203-415-4712 to arrange a pick-up.

Once the Easter egg hunting is done, children across Connecticut are invited to enjoy a free meal at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants.

On Sunday, April 4th, kids 10 and under, accompanied by an adult making an entree purchase, are invited to come to Applebee's for a great meal and "hopping" atmosphere.

On Easter Sunday only, kids can choose one free entree from the following options on the kids menu. The meal also includes a choice of side dish and soft drink or juice.

Participating Connecticut Applebee's locations include: Groton, Mansfield, Manchester, Plainville, Wallingford, Torrington, and Orange.

Offer is for dine-in customers only. Limit two free kids meal per adult entree purchase.

Torrington Rotary Club member Cathy Coyle wore a Torrington High School cheerleader outfit, borrowed from the Warner Theatre's costume shop, Tuesday to help kick off planning for the Rotary's 22nd annual Golf Tournament.

Coyle attempted to lead the club in cheers, and even did some semi-acrobatic cheer moves.

This is not the first humorous stunt to be used to generate excitement about the golf tournament, which is the club's one major annual fundraiser. In the past, tournament co-founder John Logan, a Torrington attorney, has even dressed up as Paul McCartney and played guitar.

The fundraising goal for this year's tournament is $50,000. Proceeds support scholarships for local high school students and support for numerous local nonprofit organizations.

TORRINGTON - The Bereavement Council and the Spiritual Care Department of The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital will be holding a Service of Remembrance on Wednesday, April 14, 200 at 5:30pm at the Hospital's Library Conference room, 540 Litchfield Street, Torrington.

The service is an opportunity for people to honor the major losses in their lives and find comfort and peace. It is an interfaith service allowing people of all faiths to support one another and pray together.

Reverend Richard Burgess, the hospital's Spiritual Care Coordinator said that by remembering and honoring our losses, we can find renewed strength and purpose. "We can grieve and through our grieving find new life."

Special prayers will be offered for person who have died in the last year. The names of deceased person will be read during the service. Those persons being honored do not need to have patients at the hospital. Prayers will be offered for other losses as well, jobs, health, and pets.

For more information, contact the CHH Spiritual Care office at 860-496-6543 or email rburgess@hungerford.org

It was just a year ago when the new playscape at Community Field was opened to the public, but the complex opened without a shade structure as the project ran short of money. The playscape opened with an area left vacant for an addition of a shade structure to shield visitors from the direct summer sun.

The playscape plans will finally be completed due to a donation from the Litchfield Garden Club. This generous gift to the community will pay for the purchase and installation of a shade structure as well as two anchored concrete ADA picnic tables to be housed within it.

"We at Litchfield Parks and Recreation are overwhelmed by the kindness of all the members of the Litchfield Garden Club. I know this final piece of the puzzle will be the perfect fit for all of the families who come here to play and relax! We really cannot thank them enough!" said Brent Hawkins, Litchfield Parks and Recreation Director.

Creative Recreation will schedule the installation as soon as possible. This will bring to a close a project begun by Litchfield Parks and Recreation in the Spring of 2007.

Can't you just feel the egg-citement in the air? It's probably because the annual Litchfield Easter Egg Hunt is coming to the Community Field and Playscape on Saturday April 3rd at 10:00am.

Bring your own basket!!

Children 9 and under are welcome free to this event, sponsored by Litchfield Parks and Recreation and their friends at WZBG FM 97. The "hunt" will be broken down into three age groups. The kids aged 3 and under will look for eggs on the Ripley Field; children between 4 and 6 will be on Porter Field, and children 7 to 9 will hunt in the playscape.

Please plan to be there on time as the Easter Bunny hopes to be there for the event and his schedule is very tight these days. The Easter Egg Hunt will begin exactly at 10am.

In addition to the hunt for eggs there will also be a candy guessing game with the winner taking home all of the candy in the jar from the Litchfield Candy Company, and a certificate for a free dental exam and cleaning from Dr. William Fabbri, DDS of Litchfield.

For more information or to volunteer to help hide the eggs, contact Litchfield Parks and Recreation at (860)567-7569.

Team Alchemy is a rookie team participating in the NASA/FIRST National/International Robotics Competition. These young people have come together and formed a team that has designed, constructed, programmed, tested and sent a robot to the Hartford Area NASA/FIRST Regional Competition.

The Regional competition is at the Convention Center in Hartford, April 1st through April 3rd. The National competition in Atlanta is 2 weeks late.

When Team Alchemy wins the regional award they automatically will receive an invitation to the national competition.

The trip to Atlanta for the national competition will cost approximately $25,000.

There will be an open house and fundraiser March 27th to reveal the team and robot to the community. The open house will be at the former Capuano Cadillac dealership building on Main Street in Torrington from 1 to 4.

For further information please contact Renee at 860-605-7159

Please come out and support Team Alchemy!

TORRINGTON - Northwest Physical Medicine, LLC, the practice of John Carbon, D.O., will be relocating to a new office at 1185 New Litchfield Street beginning April 5th. Formerly located at 538 Litchfield Street on the campus of The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, the practice offers physical medicine and rehabilitation services in the non-surgical treatment of arthritis, spinal and other musculoskeletal conditions.

The practice will continue to use its existing telephone and fax numbers. Office visits are by appointment only, Monday through Thursday 8:30 to 4:30 pm and Fridays 8:30 to 2:00 pm.

Dr. Carbon uses a combination of therapeutics, exercise, medical management, and joint, nerve and muscle injections and has close working arrangements with physical and occupational therapists throughout Northwest Connecticut. He provides the most advanced assessments, treatments and therapies to alleviate neck, back, muscular, and arthritis pain.

A Torrington attorney is in trouble - again - for allegedly offering to waive a client’s fees in exchange for a massage.
The details emerge in a story in the Connecticut Law Tribune (read it here).
Ira S. Mayo may have jeopardized his law license again, after having been suspended once before for making unwanted sexual advances toward clients.

March 16, 2010 – For immediate release:

The New Hartford Lions Club announced its 2010 Scholarship Program today and invited high school seniors who live in the community and plan to attend post-secondary training or education programs next year to apply. Seniors can get the application form from their school guidance counselors. The Club’s Antiques & Collectibles Show this Sunday, March 21st at Northwest Regional School #7 will help raise funds for the scholarships to be awarded in early June. The local Lions organization was established in 1970.

The chapter’s President, Jim Creamer, said “Our Club’s men and women have worked hard over the past 40 years to create a remarkable record of service to the community. My wife and I moved to town in 2003 after many years dedicated to Lionism in the New Haven area and we have been very impressed by the accomplishments of this small town Club. The Lions’ motto ’We Serve’ is brought to life by the hard work of our members to meet local needs.”

In 2009, the Club awarded scholarships of $1,000 each to six graduating high school seniors. The group also donated funds to families in need, local food banks, and civic projects such as purchasing a defibrillator for New Hartford’s Brodie Park. New Hartford Lions contributed additional monies to eyesight initiatives, a historic priority of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization founded in 1917 with more than 1.3 million members in about 200 countries around the globe. According to the group’s fact sheet their focus has expanded greatly from fighting blindness and, “Lions are part of a global service network, doing whatever is necessary to help our local communities.”

Creamer urged area residents to do some spring shopping at Sunday’s Antiques and Collectibles Show and support the Club’s scholarship program at the same time. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Northwest Regional School #7 in Winsted (off Route 44 just east of the junction of Routes 44 & 8). Admission is $5.00. Those age 16 and younger get in free with an adult. Early bird buying from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. is $10.00. There is plenty of free parking and door prizes and food will be available. The Show will feature about 50 dealers. For event or dealer information, call 489-9188.

Northwest Regional School #7 is home to a student ‘Leos’ Club that gets youth involved with volunteering. Leos contribute their time to a wide variety of projects including local Lions Club fundraisers. The name Leo comes from the concepts of ‘leadership’, ‘experience’ and ‘opportunities’ that students are exposed to through their community service activities. Regional #7 High school Principal, Wayne Conner, is a member of the New Hartford Lions.

There still is time for Connecticut high school seniors considering a future in one of the "helping professions" to apply for college funds from the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA). The deadline for applications is Friday, April 9th. A total of eight $500 college scholarships will be presented - one to a student in each of the States eight counties.

This is the tenth consecutive year that the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association has sponsored this scholarship awards program to support graduating high school seniors who are pursing careers in a profession that provides emotional or medical support for families. It includes such fields as counseling, social services, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, medicine, social work, gerontology and funeral service.

"Our organization created this program to encourage young people to follow their dreams and consider careers where they can help families - just as funeral directors do every day," explains Funeral Director Shauna Molloy, President of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association.

The deadline for the "Family Support Services Scholarship" applications is Friday April 9, 2010. To receive an application, call the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association at (860) 721-023 or (800) 919-2332 or download an application from the associations web site at www.ctfda.org.

To be eligible for the scholarship, candidates must:
- Be a high school senior who will graduate in June 2010
- Be a legal resident of Connecticut
- Be pursing a career that provides emotional, medical, or physical support for families. This includes professions such as, care-giving, counseling, social services, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, medicine, social work, gerontology and funeral service
- Have maintained at least a B grade point average in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

Candidates must submit the application form and a current high school transcript. The application form must be neat, legible, and complete.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has won a judgment compelling a Hartford loan company owner to pa $230,150 in restitution and penalties for allegedly taking money and failing to provide promised loans and services.

The settlement bans Michael Petriccione from the commerical loan business in Connecticut and obligates him to pay $165,150 in restitution to thirteen consumers and $65,000 in penalties.

Petriccione used phony endorsements from prominent individuals to entice consumers into doing business with is companies.

Blumnethal sued Petriccione and his two companies, Mediations, Inc. and Innovations NE, LLC in April 2008 for allegedly collecting $165,000 in deposits and upfront fees, but never delivered the loans or services.

The judgment empowers Blumenthal's office to seek seizure of property and other assets that Pettriccione has or may acquire in the future.

Through his companies, Pettriccione claimed to provide investment loans of $100,000 to $700 million and "mediation services." His companies also claimed to have legal and "placement" skills, and Petriccione represented that he was a Connecticut attorney. He is not licensed to practice law in CT.

Pettriccione is currently in jail awaiting trial on separate larceny charges stemming from the case.

New parents Mark and Amanda Malkowski of Avon, CT, have made a donation of $10,000 to Bristol Hospital's Families are First Maternity Unit for the purchase of four sleeper chairs and six rocking chairs for maternity patient rooms. Mark's wife, Amanda recently gave birth to their son, Evan and decided to make the donation because they were so pleased with their experience that they had during their stay last fall. The Malkowski's are the owners of Stag Arms in New Britain.

"It is the most amazing experience in the world to give birth to a child," commented Amanda Malkowski, "Mark and I were so blessed to have had the staff at Bristol Hospital go the extra mile for us during our five day stay. They certainly exceeded our expectations in hospitality, service, knowledge, and patient care."

They hope that their contribution will allow other families to continue to have as comfortable and enjoyable an experience as we did.

The gift was made last October and the furniture was delivered in January.

Eva Wickwire states that they are grateful for the gift as it will be shared and appreciated by others in their special time.

Bristol Hospital's Families are First maternity unit consists of large private suites for birth, labor, delivery, and recovery that allow for mother and child to stay together at all times.

WINSTED — Selectman Michael Renzullo is heading a volunteer effort to repaint the Route 44 bridge that runs over the Mad River.
The Board of Selectmen approved the formation of an ad hoc committee to coordinate the painting and gathering of willing participants at a meeting on Monday. Renzullo said he ran a painting business while living in Colorado, and would take the lead from a similar effort that took place at the Riverton Bridge over the Farmington River in Barkhamsted last fall.
The bridge is close to Route 8 near the Dunkin Donuts on Main Street. Fellow Selectmen suggested that once the painting is done, a similar effort might be put together to paint the walkway that links Main Street with Prospect Street closer to the center of town.
Renzullo said he hoped the town could find around $1,000 in the budget for this year to purchase supplies, although other countered that the effort might be able to find someone willing to donate the necessary items.

Operation Fuel will hold its first 5k run/walk, Burn Calories for Fuel, on Saturday April 10 at the Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield. The race will help Connecticut families who are struggling to pay their energy bills.

Operation Fuel's Executive Director Patrica Wrice says, "We want everyone to come out to run or walk for Operation Fuel and to raise awareness of the home energy affordability crisis that affects one out of every five CT households. These are our neighbors who are in crisis...many with young children or are senior citizens on a fixed income."

Early registration is $25 for adults and $20 for students, after April 6 registration is $30 for adults and $25 for students.

The 5K will start at 9 am on April 10th at the Metropolitan Learning Center on 1551 Blue Hills Avenue in Bloomfield. Race day registration begins at 8 a.m. Post race food and beverages will be provided by the Wood-n-Tap Restaurant.

For more information and to register go to http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/foundationnew.html.

West Hartford, CT - The creative team at Sesame Street knows how to get to The Children's Museum in West Hartford! The museum will be launching its newest planetarium show, One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure, on March 23rd.

Thanks to generous donations of The Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Inc. and The Vernon D. & Florence E. Roosa Family Foundation - One World, One Sky will be a permanent addition to the museum's lineup of thrilling planetarium programs.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure, is a multi-cultural, bi-national project between the United States and China, made possible, in part, by Sesame Workshop and the National Science Foundation. The cross-cultural cast includes not only familiar Sesame Street characters like Big Bird and Elmo, but also the new character Hu Hu Zhu, from the Chinese adaptation of Sesame Street, Zhima Jie.

Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu will explore the Moon and constellations and celebrate the different and similar ways we all share such a beautiful world and sky.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure will be shown twice a week on weekdays beginning March 23rd, and will begin showing on weekends in late April.

TORRINGTON — The third annual Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative Kindergarten Readiness Fair will take place on Saturday, March 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Torringford Elementary School, 800 Charles Street. Children entering kindergarten for the 2010-2011 school year will be able to work at hands-on “stations” to help support the development of early literacy, math, gross motor and fine motor skills, find out what school they will be going to, meet teachers and enter raffles for fun children prizes. The Connecticut Children Identification program (C.H.I.P.) coordinated by the Connecticut Freemasons will be present and available to process the comprehensive child identification tool. For more information on the program you can go to CTCHIP.org or call (203) 679-5903. Brooker memorial will be conducting free dental screenings. Story time with special guest readers including firemen, policemen, as well as local and state officials will be scheduled throughout the day.

Shuttle service provided by All Star transportation will be operating from the Torrington Plaza for those who need transportation from downtown or who would like to take a ride on a school bus.

Volunteers still needed to run stations and set up. Contact Donna Labbe at 806-1410 or email labbedonna@yahoo.com.

NEW HARTFORD GARDEN CLUB
Cow Pots start the New Year….
Theresa Freund of Freunds’s Farm was the guest speaker at the New Hartford Garden Club’s first 2010 meeting on February 3. Garden club members eager to talk “dirt” and plan a new growing season turned out to hear about the Connecticut farm’s invention taking national gardens by storm. Members were not disappointed… Theresa’s presentation was not only interesting and educational… but an entertaining history of the evolution of the “Cow Pot”.
Theresa and her husband Matthew are second generation dairy farmers and own Freund’s Farm in East Canaan, now a major business with a new world market; due to their environmentally friendly creation they affectionately call “Cow Pots”. Giving credit where credit is due, Theresa told the audience “A total of 250 milking Holsteins (and one Jersey) provide the manure to make the Cow Pots”. The Freund’s herd is the largest herd of cows in the state of Connecticut on pasture. Each day they change the pasture with a 20 day rotation program assuring that the animals do not damage the approximately 200 acres during the five months they graze.
The Freund’s have nearly perfected the complete use of all the ingredients the cows so efficiently supply for cow pot products. The manure is fed through a methane digester that supplies the farm with hot water that heats the home, barn and offices. The residual liquid is used for fertilizer and the bulk waste becomes cow pots. The molding process for the pots heats the ingredients and adds air making each pot weed, pathogen and odor free. “Making the Cow Pots includes heating the manure to 110 degrees, producing methane as a byproduct and then the manure goes through a digester to squeeze out the liquid” informed Theresa.
From the first cow pot prototype six years ago, to recently having their product featured on “Martha Stewart”, “The New York Times” and “Johnny Seed”… Theresa is quick to mention with pride the positive environmental impact of their cow pots. Land and waste management is a life style for the Freunds, who proudly point out that cow pots are not only good for plants but their use helps to reduce garden plastic containers that are the bane of landfills. Cow Pots act like a slow release fertilizer, are 100% biodegradable and can be planted directly in the garden without shocking the plant with transplanting.
Theresa ended her presentation by answering questions from the New Hartford Garden Club members eager to gather details on Cow Pot fine points, and she delighted the crowd by giving away “Cow Pot six packs” for club members to use in their spring gardens. A table of homemade baked goods made by NHGC members and spirited conversation topped off the successful meeting.
Interested garden enthusiast’s are encouraged to consider membership and are invited to educational seminars and meetings. Contact Sibyl Pellum at 860-379-3722 or Marylou Ringklib at 860-379-4612 for more information.

The Harwinton Woman’s Club will be hosting its Winter Wind Down – A Social Gathering and Dance at the Harwinton Rod & Gun Club on 123 Campville Hill Road, Harwinton on Saturday, March 27, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. This is a BYOB event with mixers and munchies provided. A disc jockey will provide the entertainment and raffle prizes have been donated from a host of local businesses including J.C. Penney’s, Tony’s Package Store, Sky Top Lanes, A Healing Trail, Eastwoods Country Club, Torrington Country Club, O&G Industries, Torrington Savings Bank, Cinerom, Mohawk Mountain, Hair By Design, Passiaflora Tea and Herbal Room and the Warner Theater. The event is open to the public and tickets are $20 per person. All proceeds will be distributed back to local charitable causes. Tickets can be purchased by calling (860) 302-1566 or from any Harwinton Woman’s Club member.

NORFOLK — The Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Dance in the Hall of Flags at Botelle School on Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Proceeds will enable the fire department to buy new turnout gear for its firefighters, Jonathan Barbagallo, an EMT with the Norfolk Lions Club Ambulance and the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department, said.
A single ticket costs $15 and a couples ticket costs $25. Tickets can be purchased from any firefighter or at the door.Entertainment will be provided by Avallone Productions. Botelle School is a smoke-free campus.

WINSTED — Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are normally relatively intimate affairs, with few members of the public attending. So, while the members of Winsted’s commission are on a first name basis by now, anyone else in attendance may have been a bit confused at a meeting Monday night.
Craig Sanden, who normally serves as an alternate on the commission, was serving as a member due to the absence of Chairman John "Jack" Winn, Jr. When it came time to take a vote, Vice Chairman Bruce Hillman reminded the group that he had to officially seat Sanden before any action could be taken.
At that point, members noticed that nameplates in front of each member were slightly off, as Sanden was sitting in a seat assigned to Mike Peacock, and vice versa. The two chuckled as they as they exchanged plates, remarking that they even sometimes forget they are even there.

Torrington School Superintendent Chris Leone has provided further explanation and data on the Title 1 funding cutoff at Southwest School that we wrote about this morning.

CLICK HERE to read Leone's blog entry on the topic. He points out that the Title 1 issue has been known for some time, and mostly relates to changing demographics at the school.

He says the "size of the headline" in this morning's Register Citizen may have made it seem like a more urgent or recent phenomenon.

The Moody Blues, the legendary rock group is back!

Backed by the World Festival Orchestra and recorded live at the famed Royal Albert Hall in London, The Moody Blues at the Royal Albert Hall is a classic concert special featuring performances of many of their international smash hits. This concert features guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward, bassist/vocalist John Lodge, and drummer Graeme Edge in a crowd-pleasing performance from 2000.

The concert airs tonight on CPTV at 8pm. Songs from this concert include: Nights in White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, English Sunset, Question, Words You Say, The Story in your Eyes, I Know You're Out There Somewhere and more.

Viewers will get a chance to learn about exclusive ticket opportunities to their upcoming CPTV Red Carpet Experience concert in Connecticut.

What is up with Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham's multiple connections to tonight's Oscars ceremony?

We told you a few months ago about George Clooney's role as "Ryan Bingham" in the Oscar-nominated "Up in the Air."

A coincidence, maybe.

But then ANOTHER Ryan Bingham showed up at the Oscars, and won tonight. Ryan Bingham, the musician and songwriter, won Best Original Song for a piece that was on the "Crazy Heart" soundtrack.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving urges lawmakers to take action on SB 272, an act concerning drunk boating.

On Monday, March 8, MADD CT will testify on SB 272 in response to the tragic boating crash that killed Susan Brandes July 2007. A public hearing will take place at the Legislative office building, room 2B, in Hartford. The proposed bill will strengthen criminal penalties for enforcement of operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol.

Laurie Dunham, former director of the development for the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame in New Haven, has been named development officer by the Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut.

Ms. Dunham will work out of the foundation's headquarters located in Torrington. "This is a wonderful opportunity for me to be part of a worthy organization that has helped so many charities throughout the Northwest Corner," says Dunham.

Dunham has a diverse background that includes fundraising, real estate and many years in public television. Dunham is a resident of Sharon, Connecticut.

LITCHFIELD - A Litchfield Superior Court judge raised the bond of a former New Hartford bus driver this morning who is facing five years in jail for second-degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy.

Steeves' defense counsel, Attorney Ira Mayo, and Assistant State's Attorney Terri Sonnemann agreed that Ronnie Steeves' bond should be raised due to difficulties Steeves is facing in the home. He lives at 260 Steele Road in New Hartford.

Judge James P. Ginocchio agreed to increase Steeves' bond $50,000 putting his total bond at $250,000. Steeves has been at liberty since his arrest last June. The time Steeves serves in jail from now until March 26, when he is slated to be sentenced, will be credited to his overall sentence.

The accused pleaded guilty on Jan. 12 to the sex assault charge stemming from an incident last summer. Steeves was charged with committing oral sex on a teenage boy staying at his house, who was a friend of his daughter. The boy immediately alerted police after getting out of the house and Steeves was arrested shortly therafter.

He first denied any sexual contact, but then later changed his statement, saying he could not remember exactly.

Recently he was placed under electronic monitoring, being given a bracelet to wear so authorities could keep track of his wherabouts. That bracelet is slated to be removed today as he now goes in for incarceration, Mayo said.

This Saturday more than 2 million boxes of Girl Scout cookies will be arriving in Connecticut. Girl Scouts throughout the state will pick up their orders and prepare them for delivery to you.

Volunteers and Girl Scouts will be on hand at several locations across the state to help off-load the thousands of cases of cookies from the semi-trucks and pallets and into the waiting cars of Girl Scout leaders for local distribution.

A representative from the military will be present at one of the locations in support of Girl Scouts of Connecticut's "Cookies for Heros" service project. "Cookies for Heros" allows customers to purchase Girl Scout Cookies to be shipped to service men and women at home and overseas. This year 100,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to our service men and women.

The city council has been asked to address the fact that Police Chief Maniago's ceiling is leaking after the recent hard rains.
Not good. Nobody wants the police chief to be all wet.