United Technologies subsidiary Hamilton Sundstrand Corp will serve a term of probation and pay a light monetary penalty for poisoning the Farmington River with hexavalent chromium and copper during the first years of the Bush administration. (more…)
May 2007
Monthly Archive
Thu 17 May 2007
Thu 17 May 2007
State Democrats are scrambling to purge Patsy Papandrea of Meriden. He’s been a Democratic State Central Committee member for 27 years. It seems old Patsy boy forwarded the long time email forward “Proud to be White” to some friends. Papandrea apologized for the email but said he didn’t read it. Well, he sure as hell read the subject line, didn’t he? (more…)
Tue 15 May 2007
The Standing Stone Irish Pub (111 Allyn Street, Downtown Hartford) sold (allegedly) for $125,000 according to its bartenders. As of Friday, all but one of those bartenders were scheduled to be fired/“let go” at the end of next week in a house cleaning by the new owner.
In the words of one patron, “They only kept the big titted, blonde bimbo.” Personally, I can’t speak to that, having never met her. Friday was the first time in years that I walked into the Standing Stone. And, the bartenders on duty seemed to have a good opinion of the girl that made the cut. (more…)
Mon 14 May 2007
Fri 11 May 2007
Alumni News- Sherwood Runs for City Council
Posted by Undercurrents under government , politics , activism1 Comment
HIMC founder and comrade Phil Sherwood has announced his candidacy for New Britain
Common Council. The New Britain Herald has the story here and spazeboy covers it here.
Since graduating from the University of Hartford, Phil has worked for the Connecticut Citizens Actions Group (CCAG). He recently played an integral role in securing the HIMC’s new office within CCAG’s space on Arbor St.
An accomplished jazz trumpeter, husband, father, and committed activist, Phil was an original founder of the HIMC in October 2002. He also worked extensively on the Hartford Undercurrent newspaper. The HIMC wishes Phil the best of luck in his race for city council.
Fri 11 May 2007
Meet State Representatives Diana Urban and Steve Fontana, who have been fighting
tirelessly for HB7019, The Elephant Bill, and join us in an educational outreach event at the Hartford Civic Center. CT News Junkie has more on the fight for the bill here.
Saturday’s outreach event will be an opportunity for Connecticut animal advocates and allies to stand alongside Representatives Urban and Fontana in a peaceful demonstration.
Our goal is to educate the public about animal welfare issues inherent to circuses that use animals, as well as to suggest alternative, truly wholesome family fun that does not involve animal cruelty.
Location: The Hartford Civic Center, One Civic Center Plaza, Hartford
Main demo will be on Church Street entrance. Directions here.
Saturday, May 12, 2007– 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Saturday’s demo is timed for outreach to people leaving the 11am show and for outreach to people attending the 3pm show.
Contact: neil.annie@cox.net
Thu 10 May 2007
Hartford Superintendant of Schools Steven Adamowski is to be commended for hiring Dr. James Thompson to take over administration of the city’s elementary schools. Thompson is the retired principal whose accomplishments at Simpson-Waverly School proved that it is possible to educate children in an urban elementary school. (more…)
Thu 10 May 2007
As if the Advocate didn’t have enough to deal with this week, seems like they dropped the ball on the most basic tenant of journalism- get the facts straight.
In the new News Briefs section of the paper, there is a blurb by Advocate reporter Daniel D’Ambrosio. The story is about Democratic State Representative Art Feltman’s contention that the recent mailing for the city’s new help line is actually a promotion for Mayor Perez. Anyone who lives in Hartford would know that the number is 311, since we got tons of these 311 mailers dumped all over our mailboxes (see the Undercurrents discussion here).
Yet, twice in the 132-word blurb, the number is reported as 211. This number of course is the infoline run by the United Way of Connecticut.
Thu 10 May 2007
I am here once again exercising my right to speak out as a citizen and resident of Hartford. I have to ask myself why are so few parents and taxpayers heard and listened to by the elected and appointed officials. Could it be because so few are aware of the hearings? Is it possible that there is a deliberate attempt to advertise the hearings at the last moment so as to deny people a chance to speak? I saw only one notice in the local newspaper about this public hearing and likewise the city budget hearing in April at Bulkeley High. It subverts democracy and undermines public confidence to allow only two minutes a month for public comment at Brd of Ed mtgs. (more…)
Tue 8 May 2007
Protest Tomorrow: Government For and By the People
Posted by Undercurrents under anti-war , governmentNo Comments
In a show of total disregard for the will of the American people, George W. Bush recently vetoed the spending bill that had a timeline for troop withdrawal. At 5 pm on Wednesday, there will be protests around the country, speaking against politicians’ lack of interest in both their constituents’ beliefs and their safety.
Locally, a group will gather at the Federal Building in Hartford to voice their dissent against the war and Bush’s veto.