By CHRIS POWELL Many people want to get out of Hartford, just as many people already have gotten out, the city having lost a third of its population since 1950. The problem for the people who still want to get…
Posted: 27 November 2020 [08:41 PM] Opinion
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Posted: 27 November 2020 [08:41 PM] Recent Headlines
Wednesday 11/25/2020
Posted: 25 November 2020 [08:01 PM] By CHRIS POWELL Amid the growing panic fanned by news organizations about the rebound in the virus epidemic, last week's telling details were largely overlooked. First, most of the recent "virus-associated" deaths in Connecticut again have been those of frail…
Monday 11/23/2020
Posted: 23 November 2020 [08:11 PM] By TIM GAMACHE To the Editor: The Bristol Veterans Council would like to express our appreciation to those high school student volunteers who assisted with reading the names of Bristol Veterans who passed away in the last year. Without…
Posted: 23 November 2020 [07:59 PM] By CHRIS POWELL Not so long ago censoriousness was a phenomenon of the political right. Mere liberals were called communists and spies and drummed out of their jobs. The political right sought to ban books and writers as subversive or…
Sunday 11/22/2020
Posted: 22 November 2020 [09:14 PM] By CHRIS POWELL Maybe it will turn out to be only a fluke, but amid the renewed panic about the virus epidemic there is some interesting detail in the monthly death statistics of the state Department of Public Health. In…
Wednesday 11/18/2020
Posted: 18 November 2020 [04:39 PM] By CHRIS POWELL His handling of the virus epidemic has doubled Governor Lamont's public approval rating, giving him more fans than detractors. But judging from recent developments that are being overshadowed by the epidemic, the governor could be forgiven if…
Monday 11/16/2020
Posted: 16 November 2020 [08:36 PM] By CHRIS POWELL Many teachers around the country are cheering the forthcoming change in national administration because Betsy DeVos will be replaced as secretary of the U.S. Education Department. DeVos, an heiress and philanthropist, has been a fan of charter…
Thursday 11/12/2020
Posted: 12 November 2020 [08:13 PM] By CHRIS POWELL After the supposedly slow response by Eversource Energy and United Illuminating to the widespread electricity outages in Connecticut caused by the tropical storm in August, there were calls for state government to take over the electricity distribution…
Tuesday 11/10/2020
Posted: 10 November 2020 [04:28 PM] By CHRIS POWELL After warning that the U.S. Postal Service might sabotage the vast increase in voting by mail for last week's national election, leading Democrats in Connecticut are renewing their calls for allowing everyone to vote by mail just…
Sunday 11/08/2020
Posted: 08 November 2020 [07:35 PM] By CHRIS POWELL Everybody in Connecticut is tired of the virus epidemic, and no one is more entitled to be tired of it than Governor Lamont. It has devastated the finances of state government, commandeered its management, crippled education at…
Tuesday 11/03/2020
Posted: 03 November 2020 [09:01 PM] By CHRIS POWELL When he was inaugurated as president of the University of Connecticut a year ago, Thomas C. Katsouleas made a grand gesture. He said that henceforth the university would waive tuition for new students from families with annual…
Monday 11/02/2020
Posted: 02 November 2020 [07:51 PM] By CHRIS POWELL For four years any disparaging story about President Trump has been touted by national news organizations even if its source was anonymous. Of course given his business record and character it is easy to believe almost any…
Sunday 11/01/2020
MAYOR'S COLUMN: Telling Bristol's story as covid-19 continues Posted: 01 November 2020 [08:05 PM] By ELLEN ZOPPO-SASSU Bristol’s recent “Covid Orange Alert” has city officials facing a series of intertwined economic, public health and public relations…
Posted: 01 November 2020 [07:51 PM] By CHRIS POWELL Sailing against a heavy political wind, Republican candidates for the General Assembly have been heartened by the vigorous endorsements they are getting from police unions, which this year have broken away from the government employee union apparatus…
Thursday 10/29/2020
Posted: 29 October 2020 [09:19 PM] By MEL BARDELL To the Editor: Over the last 4 months, I have had the pleasure of volunteering with #andrewforbristol’s campaign. Not only has it been an incredibly rewarding learning experience - regarding even just a small portion of…
Posted: 29 October 2020 [09:10 PM] By CHRIS POWELL Every day Governor Lamont conscientiously reports the "positivity rate" of coronavirus tests administered in Connecticut, and news organizations report it as if the state's fate hangs on the data. Lately the "positivity rate," the percentage of tests…
Posted: 29 October 2020 [09:07 PM] By ROBERT A. SCALISE, JR. In Connecticut, the Probate Courts handle a variety of matters including guardianships, emancipation and adoption of children, conservatorships, mental health commitments and guardianships of persons with intellectual disabilities. However, when most people think of “Probate”…
Posted: 29 October 2020 [09:04 PM] By SEEMA VERMA Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment season is underway, and I want to encourage all people with Medicare to review their current health and prescription drug coverage. Under President Trump’s leadership, Medicare Advantage Plan premiums have fallen to historic…
Wednesday 10/28/2020
Posted: 28 October 2020 [09:19 PM] By ELLEN ZOPPO-SASSU To the Editor: I want to share a few reasons why I am enthusiastic about the election and the potential of electing Mary Fortier and Andrew Rasmussen-Tuller, as well as re-electing Chris Ziogas to represent Bristol in…
Posted: 28 October 2020 [09:18 PM] By ERNIE PITTI To the Editor: “I am a senior and an unabashed, enthusiastic supporter of Cara Pavalock-D’Amato! To those who may ask why, let me say first and foremost, she works for all of us! She knows how to…
Posted: 28 October 2020 [09:17 PM] By MARK J. SCIOTA To the Editor: On Nov. 3, 2020, there will be a $10 million referendum for road improvements on the ballot. If approved, it is a serious responsibility to utilize these funds as effectively as possible.…
Tuesday 10/27/2020
Posted: 27 October 2020 [09:26 PM] By PAUL ZAGORSKY To the Editor: I write in support of Emmanuel “Manny” Sanchez as New Britain state representative. He has served the city’s interests well as an alderman for 10 years and will do so as state representative.…
Posted: 27 October 2020 [09:24 PM] By TIM GAMACHE To the Editor: As Election Day nears, I would like to voice my support for the Democratic Team of Mary Fortier (state senate, 31st), Andrew Rasmussen-Tuller (state rep., 77th), Chris Ziogas (state rep., 79th) and Dean Kilbourne…
Posted: 27 October 2020 [09:22 PM] By CHRIS, TIM, LISA AND NICOLE MAYNARD To the Editor: The Maynard Family is proud to support Dean Kilbourne as judge of probate. Our father was Judge Robert Maynard. He was elected as probate judge and served honorably from…
Posted: 27 October 2020 [09:19 PM] By CHRIS PALMIERI To the Editor: I would like to share my support for the $10 million roads improvement referendum in Southington. This is the next step in a long-range plan to improve our 214 miles of this…
Posted: 27 October 2020 [09:17 PM] By ROSEMARY MORANTE To the Editor: I am writing in support of Mary Fortier, an outstanding candidate for the state senate in the 31st District. Mary has been elected to multiple terms on the Bristol City Council. She is…
Posted: 27 October 2020 [09:15 PM] By MATT BENNETT To the Editor: I’m writing in support of Senator Henri Martin who is seeking re-election in Connecticut’s 31st Senatorial District which includes Bristol, Harwinton, Plainville, Plymouth and Thomaston. I moved to Bristol a couple of years…
Posted: 27 October 2020 [09:12 PM] By DONALD CHAMBERLIN To the Editor: I believe some balance must be added to the op-ed article in the Thursday Oct. 22, 2020 Herald entitled, “Why Senate Republicans deserve to lose a number of seats.” Contrary to what the article…
Monday 10/26/2020
Posted: 26 October 2020 [09:06 PM] By FRANK N. NICASTRO, SR. To the Editor: The voters in Bristol and Plymouth will be electing a new judge of probate to fill the vacancy which will be left by our current retiring judge, Andre Dorval. With…
Posted: 26 October 2020 [09:03 PM] By VICTORIA TRIANO To the Editor: “Shall the Town of Southington appropriate $10 million for cost related to the 2020-2021 road and bridge improvement program and authorize the issue of $10 million bonds and notes to finance the appropriation?” I…
Posted: 26 October 2020 [09:02 PM] By TOM LOMBARDI To the Editor: I am writing in support of the referendum question for infrastructure (roads and bridges) upgrades. The $12 million investment would be allocated over a period of four years and would provide the majority…
Posted: 26 October 2020 [09:00 PM] By HELEN BERGENTY To the Editor: I am supporting David X. Sullivan to represent us in the United States Congress. David supports commonsense law and order, not anarchy. This is the kind of representation we need in Washington…
Posted: 26 October 2020 [08:59 PM] By HELEN BERGENTY To the Editor: I am urging my fellow residents of Plainville to support the re-election of both Henri Martin to represent us in the state senate and Dr. William Petit to represent us in the state House…
Posted: 26 October 2020 [08:56 PM] By CASSANDRA CLARK To the Editor: I am supporting the re-election of President Donald Trump. He turned the American economy around when the pundits said it couldn’t be done. He has cut down on the number of illegal…
Posted: 26 October 2020 [08:53 PM] By CHRIS POWELL Should every Republican on the party's ticket with President Trump this year be defeated if he won't denounce or at least criticize the president for his demeanor, policies or both? That's the suggestion of New London Day…
Sunday 10/25/2020
Posted: 25 October 2020 [08:56 PM] By MIKE SEL SANTO To the Editor: This Election Day, the taxpayers of Southington have a very important decision to make. We need to decide whether or not to spend $10 million to repair and/or replace hundreds of miles…
Posted: 25 October 2020 [08:51 PM] By DANIEL O. TULLY To the Editor: Over the next two weeks you will see numerous letters about how great the candidates are, encouraging you to vote on November 3rd. I believe my letter is a bit different in…
Posted: 25 October 2020 [08:35 PM] Jimmy Buffett once sang, "We all got 'em, we all want 'em. What do we do with 'em?" Although he was talking about relationships, the same could be said about goals. Many people have goals, and many people want…
Wednesday 10/21/2020
Posted: 21 October 2020 [09:04 PM] By THE PLYMOUTH DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE To the Editor: From the Plymouth Democratic Town Committee to our friends and neighbors of every party: As we approach Election Day, many in town have expressed concern over the plan for in-person voting…
Tuesday 10/20/2020
BRISTOL BITS: Last remaining 'schoolmaster' in Bristol, plus some dancing, pickleball and street name talk Posted: 20 October 2020 [02:35 PM] Tom Doyle, shown here with his wife, Nancy, when they celebrated their 50th anniversary earlier this year, is unofficially the last…
Monday 10/19/2020
Posted: 19 October 2020 [09:09 PM] By SANDY STAFFORD To the Editor: I am writing this letter to express my support for Mary Fortier for State Senate. Many people know Mary from her distinguished record of service as a city councilwoman: the thoughtful communicator, the…
Posted: 19 October 2020 [09:03 PM] By Mike Urrunaga To the Editor: I like to elect leaders I know will get things done. That is why I am endorsing JoAnn Angelico-Stetson as our representative in the state house. JoAnn’s extensive experience in business coupled with…
Sunday 10/18/2020
Posted: 18 October 2020 [08:50 PM] By SALVATORE BORDONARO To the Editor: Donna Veach is a great candidate who will work hard towards restoring fiscal sanity in this state. As a business and community leader, Donna has the experience and toughness to fight for us.…
Posted: 18 October 2020 [08:49 PM] By LAURIE WOJCULEWICZ To the Editor: Sometime in the 1970s, I became active with the Guild of the Blessed Sacrament of St. Matthew Parish here in Forestville. I’m still active to this day, or I will be after this…
Posted: 18 October 2020 [08:48 PM] By NANCY L. JOHNSON To the Editor: I write in enthusiastic support of David Sullivan for 5th District Congressman. He listens well, acts effectively and brings to Washington a desperately needed problem-solver approach. He is an active listener, listening…
Thursday 10/15/2020
Posted: 15 October 2020 [09:11 PM] By JEFFREY CAGGIANO To the Editor: Senator Henri Martin should be re-elected to the state Senate. His strong commitment to our district has been consistent. Henri has worked to keep individuals and families financially intact, both before and during the…
Wednesday 10/14/2020
Posted: 14 October 2020 [09:17 PM] By MARIANNE HEFFERNAN To the Editor: When I was a newspaper reporter, I met a fierce defender of justice. He was a relentless assistant U.S. Attorney who started his days earlier than anyone I knew, and ended them late.…
Posted: 14 October 2020 [09:16 PM] By TIM GRADY To the Editor: Once again it’s election year and once again the Democrat candidate for the 30th House seat, JoAnn Angelico-Stetson is running from her own progressive liberal agenda. Less than a year ago she authored…
Posted: 14 October 2020 [09:15 PM] By JACOB ROCCO To the Editor: Senator Henri Martin understands the needs of locally owned small businesses. He has been a part of the Bristol business community for years and is the man to represent Bristol in the 31st Senate…
Tuesday 10/13/2020
Posted: 13 October 2020 [08:17 PM] By DANNY CARRIER To the Editor: State Senator Henri Martin has been a strong advocate for our public schools here in Plainville. We need a voice like Sen. Martin’s representing us in Hartford. That’s why I am voting to re-elect…