HARTFORD — Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) awarded West Hartford’s Eric Pagett with bronze and silver Congressional Medals this morning in recognition of Pagett’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life within his community and beyond.

“Eric Pagett represents the best qualities of the first congressional district’s youth,” Congressman Larson said. “His tireless work helping others made him an obvious and much-deserving recipient of a gold, silver and bronze congressional medal.”

The Congressional Award is a non-partisan, non-competitive and voluntary program open to young men and women aged 14-23 that looks to recognize excellence in the areas of voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness expedition and exploration.

After earning a Congressional gold Medal in June at a ceremony in Washington, Eric was awarded silver and bronze medals for his hundreds of hours he volunteered in his community mentoring a special-needs student and raising money and doing work for students in Grenada.

“The Congressional Award is a great program for youth to engage with,” Pagett said. “It’s not a traditional thing for high school and college students to participate in. It doesn’t take extraordinary effort, it’s just ordinary people doing simple things to help others that makes it extraordinary.”

This year 246 young men and women received gold medals – Eric was the only recipient from Connecticut.

Eric is 21 years old and entering his senior year at Principia College in St. Louis, Missouri.

By Ann-Marie Adams, Staff Writer

HARTFORD – While many have blasted Gov. Dannel Malloy’s switch to a so-called “Plan B” budget, at least two mayors have applauded this move.

That’s because so far, Plan B hasn’t shifted more tax burdens onto municipalities, as they have been accustomed to in the past, according to two mayors from Greater Hartford.

Hartford, East Hartford and West Hartford mayors on Wednesday briefly discussed the statewide debate over Malloy’s decision to begin 4,742 layoffs after talks with the state employees’ union stalled Monday night. Malloy is asking the union to concede $2 billion over two years. And he chose the to lay off employees instead “shifting the burden on municipalities. For these mayors, it’s a “wait and see situation.” But, they said, they know one thing.

Scott Slifka

“Gov. Malloy finally brought a perspective of a mayor to that office,” said West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka at a gathering in Hartford Wednesday. “And he [proposed a budget] exactly as a mayor would.”

Republicans are calling for no more tax increases and have pointed to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cumo. Both men went against raising taxes. Slifka said they solved their budget problems by shifting the burden of tax increases onto towns.

“Those two solve their budget problems on the backs of municipalities,” he said. He added that their choices were either to decrease services or increase taxes.

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said he was pleased with Malloy’s proposed budget and his Plan B choice, so much so that he plans to give Malloy the fourth key to the city.

“There’s just no way we could switch that kind of burden on tax payers in the city,” Segarra said.”

Marcia Leclerc

Although, Malloy had pledged not to hurt cities, East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc expressed concerns about state aid to towns, especially the payment in lieu of taxes or, PILOT, which is a big chunk of most town budgets.

Mayoral candidate Edwin Vargas via phone said laying off state workers would also be hurting municipalities. Those state workers, he said, live in towns and cities. If they get laid off, they would have to tap safety net services in cities.

Up to 5,000 state workers could be laid off if the union and the governor’s administration fail to reach an agreement. Other cuts proposed in the Plan B budget include the closing the Commission on Human and Opportunities, 17 vocation technical high schools, state library and prisons.

In a New York Times report, a union spokesman, Larry Dorman, said Malloy’s $40.1 billion budget demands are too much.  He added: “like all middle class families, are already paying 10 percent of our income in state and local taxes, while millionaires are only paying 5 percent of their income and some of our largest corporations are paying little or no taxes at all.”

WEST HARTFORD – Calvary Fellowship on Jan. 9 will begin a new 12-week series entitled “Breaking The Law,” a study exploring legalism versus libertarianism.

“Many reject the teachings of the Bible assuming it will curtail freedom and impose overly restrictive rules,” said lead pastor Bill LaMorey. “Still others work very hard to follow all the rules believing this make them right with God. Both groups are mistaken.”

Breaking the Law will explore the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians and will cover the contrasting themes of the doctrine of the law and the gospel of grace. The series will illustrate how the law confines and condemns whereas grace releases and transforms.

“This study will help us gain a greater understanding and application of God’s grace in our lives and thereby enabling us to experience the freedom and maturity God intends,” said LaMorey.

Breaking The Law begins Sunday, Jan. 9, and ends Sunday, Feb. 27. Calvary Fellowship meets Sundays at 10 a.m. at Conard High School, 110 Beechwood Road, West Hartford.

Calvary Fellowship features contemporary music and offers relevant biblical teaching and fun-filled Bible classes for children. Calvary Fellowship is casual in style but serious about faith. Spring 2011 home fellowship groups are scheduled to begin in February.

For more information on Breaking The Law or on enrolling in a home fellowship group, visitwww.calvaryhartford.com or call 860-231-9957.

HARTFORD – About 800 students from 28 high schools throughout Connecticut are expected to convene at Hartford Public High School on Feb. 11 through 12 to participate in the annual Model United Nations Plenary Session.

The Model U.N., sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, is  simulated meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in which student teams, each representing a member nation, meet to discuss pressing issues and how to  resolve those issues.

Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Steven J. Adamowski said the model conference “is one of the best ways of widening our students’ perspective on the world.”

Not all countries are represented, however. Students will represent selected countries from each hemisphere.

In addition, they will research a country, take on roles as diplomats of that country, investigate international issues, debate within parliamentary rules and procedures, consult and then develop solutions to world problems.

Among Hartford public schools, for example, a team from the Law and Government Academy will represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo; a Bulkeley High School team will represent Vietnam and teams from the University High School of Science and Engineering will represent Nigeria and Djibouti.

Preparations for the Model U.N. begin in late September, when representatives from the participating schools meet to choose the topics that could be discussed, school officials said.

A variety of topics were designated to one of four committees: the political committee, the economic committee, the environmental committee and the humanitarian committee. Student delegates in each committee then choose a topic that will engender debate and foster increased understanding of each committee focus.

Once the committees selected their topics, the school teams picked the countries they wanted to represent by lot and began researching their country’s geography, history, economy and political structure as well as its position on issues.

This year, the political committee will debate nuclear proliferation; the economic committee will discuss worldwide economic stability; the environmental committee will discuss ocean pollution, urban growth and environmental sustainability; and the humanitarian committee will talk about refugee camps in Darfur, Somalia, and Congo.

HARTFORD — City police have identified the suspect in a double homicide early Saturday morning on Francis Ave near Park St.

The suspect, Jose Medina, 20, of West Hartford was captured yesterday after leading police on a high-speed chase into West Hartford.

Dozens of Hartford Police cruisers circled the West Hartford shopping plaza on Kane Street after Medino raced across I-84 and abruptly stopped at the plaza where his car engine failed.

The wild chase also went through East Hartford before ending in West Hartford.

In another incident, a man approached police outside of the West Indian Social Club on 3341 Main Street and said he had been shot. He was transferred to St. Francis Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper left chest area.

Police said the injury was not life threatening.

Later that morning, St. Francis Hospital alerted police of the shooting victim who drove himself to the hospital after being shot in the back of the West Indian Social Club.

Police said the man suffered a non-life threatening injury to the upper right chest area.

Detectives are still investigating the shootings.

FARMINGTON/CT — The young stars of the holiday motion picture event The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader are set to kick off the holiday season in grand fashion by hosting a nationwide 16 city lighting ceremony via live satellite, for the groundbreaking, multi-sensory, new Ice Palaces created by Taubman Centers, featuring scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (www.narnia.com). 

The ceremony will illuminate Westfarms, Connecticut’s premiere shopping center, and other Taubman (NYSE: TCO) malls across the country simultaneously as families and fans everywhere gather together in celebration. 

On  Nov.  12 at Westfarms the young stars from the movie, Georgie Henley (Lucy Pevensie) and Will Poulter (Eustace Clarence Scrubb) will give holiday revelers the first look at the Ice Palaces and their highly anticipated film streamed live from Beverly Center in Los Angeles.

The event will be simulcast to 16 Taubman centers across the country, including  Westfarms where children from select children’s charities will wave LED wands to collectively illuminate the Ice Palaces. The celebration opens the free exhibit for all to experience, ushering in the holiday season and the arrival of Santa Claus.

United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut will launch its Women’s Leadership Initiative at a breakfast featuring nationally recognized financial literacy expert Susan Beacham.

The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at the Pond House Café in Elizabeth Park, West Hartford.

The United Way Women’s Leadership Initiative will focus on celebrating the power of women as leaders to bring about lasting change in the community.

Members of the Initiative will advocate for issues important to working families, specifically in the areas of financial literacy, stability and independence.

United Way focuses on helping local families become more financially stable by supporting programs and initiatives that help local people gain the skills they need to land jobs and advance in their careers, make the most of their income, pay off debt and save for the future.

Members of the United Way Women’s Leadership Initiative will become part of a national movement.  More than 130 United Ways across the country have women’s leadership programs that engage more than 32,000 women in solving their communities’ most pressing problems.

Members will have the opportunity to network with other leaders, engage in volunteer opportunities, advocate for issues around financial stability and independence, and attend special events featuring women of influence.

Beacham, the first featured speaker for the initiative, is a columnist, author, and nationally recognized financial literacy expert. She was recently featured in both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut is a nonprofit organization that has been meeting human care needs in 40 towns across central and northeastern Connecticut since 1924. United Way advances the common good by focusing on the building blocks of a good life: education, income and health.

HARTFORD

WEST HARTFORD – More single family houses are now available for sale, according to a report released today.

The Greater Hartford Association of  Realtors recent report shows that single family housing  inventory has  increased 13.5 percent from last August,  or from 5,749 to 6,525. 

Closed sales decreased 23 percent,  or from 839 to 646, while pending sales also decreased 26  percent  or from 948 to 700.

 The median sales price increased 2.1 percent from $235,000 to $240,000 and new listings increased 3.4 percent from 1,396 to 1,443.

During this same time frame, the average days a home spent on the market increased 1o.6 percent  or from 66 to 73 days.

 Year-to-date data shows an increase in closed home sales by 2 percent  or from 5,382 to 5,493, while pending sales decreased 6.7 percent,  or from 7,029 to 6,559. The median sale price and the days on market remained unchanged, while new listings increased 9.2 percent or from 11,532 to 12,596. 

Closed condominium sales in greater Hartford decreased by 37  percent  or from 254 to 160 when compared to August of last year. The median sale price increased 10.1 percent  or from $160,001 to $176,250.

Inventory increased slightly by 0.54 percent  or from 1,860 to 1,870, while the average number of days a condo spent on the market also increased by 2.3 percent or from 88 to 90 days, when compared to this time last year.

“Considering the state of our economy, home values in the greater Hartford market have been relatively stable,” Greater Hartford Association of Realtors President and CEO Jeff Arakelian said in a statement. “The increased inventory, affordability conditions and low mortgage rates really make this a great time to buy.” 

Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors chief economist, added that  in the short term, this high supply in housing favors buyers. However, he said, “given that home values are back in line relative to income, and from very low new-home construction, there is not likely to be any measurable change in home prices going forward.”

WEST HARTFORD — Here’s one opportunity to save on back to school shopping: tax-free week.

The state’s 10th annual sales tax-free week will begin Aug. 15 and run through Aug. 21. The tax holiday allows shoppers to purchase individual items of clothing and footwear priced under $300 without paying the usual 6 percent sales tax.

“Both consumers and retailers benefit from this annual end-of-summer ritual: Families get a price break and store owners get increased ‘foot traffic’ in their stores,” said Gov. Jodi Rell who kicked off the event yesterday at West Farms Mall. “That’s good for our economy and, in turn, good for keeping and growing jobs – our top mission right now.”

The sales tax free week increases the usual $50 exemption on clothing and footwear. Special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use, accessories, and jewelry do not qualify for this exemption.

“Connecticut has one of the longest-running sales tax holidays and is one of the few states to give shoppers and retailers the benefit of an entire week of tax-free shopping,” said Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Richard Nicholson.

Shoppers can take advantage of sales, coupons and store discounts to build on the savings from the tax exemption. Because sales tax is applied after the use of any coupons or discounts, if the final price is less than $300, the sale is exempt, Rell said.

Layaways and rentals of clothing or footwear under $300 are also tax-free during the week. For purchases of $300 or more, sales tax is calculated on the full cost of the item.

For answers to questions about the Connecticut Sales Tax Holiday Week, the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) has posted details on its website at www.ct.gov/drs. The DRS website also has links to other publications to help consumers understand the regular sales and use tax exemption on clothing and footwear.

Tips for smart back-to-school

shopping

HARTFORD — Three teenagers were arrested for allegedly trying to steal three scooters.

Two 16-year olds from New Britain and Bloomfield were arrested, charged with third degree criminal trespass and released because of their age. The 16-year-old from New Britain was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit along with third degree criminal trespass. He was referred to Hartford Juvenile Court, police said.

The names and addresses of the two 16 year olds were not released because of their ages, police said.

The third suspect, Jack Rodriguez, 19, of 114 Vanderbilt St., West Hartford, was arrested and charged with third degree criminal trespass.

Hartford police said police responded Sunday at about 5: 30 p.m. when a resident called to say three teenagers were  in the backyard at 9 Wyllys St. attempting to cut the chain off three scooters.

Police said they found three teenagers trying to take three scooters.  Officers arrived and secured a 16 year old from New Britain,  a 16 year of from Bloomfield, and a 19-year old from West Hartford.

During a frisk of the 16 year old from New Britain, officers found a loaded Bryco .380 semi-automatic firearm, police said.