As part of the Register Citizen’s Ben Franklin Project, I will be reporting on problems and opportunities that are facing local merchants during the Downtown Torrington revitalization.We are in the middle of an experiment here called “The Ben Franklin Project,” in which we plan to produce an entire print and online edi...tion of the newspaper (we’ve chosen the issue of Sunday, July 4) that involves readers at every step of the process of our local journalism.Mike Agogliati will be working on the problems and opportunities facing Local Merchants. Email Mike at magogliati@registercitizen.com or call at 860-489-3121, ext. 324.See More

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation Wednesday to allow local control of two hydropower dams. The legislation was authored by Chris Murphy. Canton, in cooperation with Avon and Burlington is one step closer to generating its own power.

Murphy and Dick Barlow, Canton's First Selectman, have been pushing for town operation of the Collinsville dams as city, state and federal governments look for ways to provide cleaner, domestic power sources to consumers. The Collinsville dams, once retrofitted, are expected to produce about two megawatts of power, enough to power more than 1,500 homes.

"Bringing these two dormant dams back in service makes sense for Canton and the surrounding communities, and this project could become a shining example for the rest of the state and country as we look for cleaner ways to power our homes and businesses," said Murphy.

The Collinsville dams were built in the 18th and 19th centuries to power the Collins Company, which closed in the 1960s.

Although the dams are now owned by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), operating licenses are issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The newly approved legislation will provide the town with the right to operate the dams by allowing for the reinstatement of existing inactive FERC licenses.

The legislation would also require the FERC to solicit additional public comment and new environmental data before taking any action, ensuring that the river's health and ecology is fully protected. The state legislature passed legislation allowing the town of Canton to operate the dams.

The bill has a couple more hurdles before the town can take over the licenses - U.S. Senate and President Obama.

The American Red Cross is providing canteen service to emergency responders at the site of a bridge collapse in Naugatuck.

"Our volunteers provide refreshment that helps responders to stay hydrated and to maintain energy during what can often be very lengthy and strenuous responses," said Connecticut Region CEO Dianne Auger. "The canteen at our Emergency Response Vehicle can provide brief moment of rest during a difficult response. We are proud to provide this service to the men and women who work, often at risk of their own safety, to protect the people of Connecticut."

Volunteer doctors from the Connecticut Association of Optometrists will be treating hundreds of Special Olympics athletes to vision examinations and prescription and safety eyewear this weekend at the Summer Games.

The event is part of Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes (SOLCIOE) Vision Health Program.

Volunteers expect to dispense over 150 pairs of free prescription glasses and goggles to athletes, fabricated on-site at the Special Olympics CT Summer Games at SCSU.

This event will take place June 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday June 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Michael J. Adanti Student Center on the 3rd floor at the Southern CT State University Campus in New Haven.

Soroptimists International of Farmington Valley will be giving a self defense class for women and girls Saturday June 26, 2010.

The class will be held at Yu's Academy of Martial Arts on Route 44 in Canton.

The class is free but a $10 donation to Soroptimist International is suggested. Donations collected will go to area women and children in need.

This workshop will help empower women to identify potentially dangerous situations that can put them in harm. Women will gain confidence while learning some basic self defense techniques. It is structured for women, 13 and older with little or no experience.

Come and observe self defense demonstrations and have a chance to practice simple techniques. Several SIFV women are students at Yu's Academy, which has generously donated their facility for the event.

Registration is required as space is limited. To register please call Kathleen at (860)614-5676. For more information visit www.BestForWomenSelfDefense.com.

Soroptimist International is a volunteer service organization for women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Funds raised by the organization support organization's like My Sister's Place and Prudence Crandall Center, shelters for women in transition and also provide grants to young women who display outstanding community service.

FALLS VILLAGE - If you're traveling up Route 7 in North Canaan, keep in mind the traffic is a bit slow in one section of this sleepy town.

Department of Transportation officials continue to work on a portion of Route 7, near Geer Village, just south of the border with North Canaan. As of today, the length of road that remains under construction has expanded from previous days.

Traffic can flow through the area, although there are DOT workers there who are holding up signs for "stop" and "slow."

LITCHFIELD – Actor Elmore “Rip” Torn appeared briefly in court Tuesday, although his alleged bank-break-in case was swiftly continued as the attorneys involved continue to discuss a resolution.

Torn was seen in the main hallway at Litchfield Superior Court on Tuesday, flanked by members of his family. His attorney A. Thomas Waterfall, reportedly requested a continuance during the morning roll call to June 23, which Judge James P. Ginocchio granted.

Torn, 79, who won an Emmy for his work on “The Larry Sanders Show” and who most recently appeared in “Men in Black” and “30 Rock,” is facing charges of first-degree burglary and carrying a pistol without a permit. Police said Torn broke into a Litchfield Bancorp branch in Lakeville on Jan. 29, thinking he was home, with a loaded .22 revolver in his pocket.

The actor was intoxicated at the time, the police report detailed.

Court officials said Waterfall requested the continuance so he could continue discussions in chambers – which are private discussion on the case – with the state’s attorney, David Shepack. During a court appearance last month Waterfall said he will speak to Shepack about a resolution in the case which he hopes would not include jail time.

Waterfall said in recent weeks he hopes to apply for an accelerated rehabilitation program for his client. This program, open to non-violent first-time offenders, would allow Torn to go through a two-year rehabilitation process with the end result being the charges dropped.

Ronald DeRosa can be reached by e-mail at rderosa@registercitizen.com. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/registercitizen.

Connie May Fowler author of such books as "How Clarissa Burden learned to fly," "Affirmation, Etched in Vinyl," "Remembering Blue," and "The Problem with Murmur Lee" lives in Franklin County Florida, a peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico.

Being in such close proximity to the BP oil spill she has started blogging about the effects it is having on her community.

To get a bird's eye view of the disaster click here to check out her blog.

Here is an excerpt from her latest blog, it really gives an idea of the impact the spill is having on the local communities:

Amid the occasional debate over whether we’re imagining a faint stench of oil, there’s a sense of hopelessness and finality in the air. New phrases have slipped into our everyday lexicon : HAZMAT training, oiled seabirds, sea turtle autopsies, oil-spill trajectory forecasts, deep water oil plumes, Corexit dispersant, dead zones.

For now, our oyster reefs are open, fishing is unaffected, and the beaches remain pristine. But we fear we may have only a few oil-free days left. We don't have reliable data. We're all guessing, hedging our bets. All we know for sure is that the sheen is out there, to our south and west. Emails from local agencies advising us to be prepared pile up like virtual butterflies blown asunder by a foul wind.