Connecticut

‘I don’t think we have balance’: Gov. Lamont tours solar facilities in East Windsor

Published

3 days ago

March 31, 2026

‘I don’t think we have balance’: Gov. Lamont tours solar facilities in East Windsor

About a third of the state’s solar energy is collected in East Windsor, and another facility could be coming.

Neighbors have been airing their concerns about more solar in town. Gov. Ned Lamont toured a facility on East Road with lawmakers and people who live in the neighborhood across the street to hear some of those concerns on Tuesday.

“I love clean, renewable power that’s also affordable, but I also love open space, protecting open space, and I don’t think we have that balance right now,” Lamont said. “We’re taking open space, we’re taking fields and commercializing them. In this case with solar, I think that’s going the wrong direction.”

Neighbor Amanda Berube described a constant humming coming from the facility.

“We built our home prior to the solar array going in, and we had built it for the peace and quiet that the area offered up, surrounded by farmland,” she said. “We deal with a ringing noise that comes from this facility from sunup to sundown. And it’s extremely loud, and it just permeates through our home if we have our windows open.”

Berube also told the governor about a fire that started from one of the transformers on the facility’s property last March.

“If the wind had been blowing in a different direction that day into the panels, we don’t have the support apparatus to put that out,” East Windsor First Selectman Jason Bowsza (D) said. “We can’t use PFAS. We don’t have fire hydrants out here.”

East Windsor and Ellington State Representative Jamie Foster backs a bill that would upgrade fire reporting. She said she’s confident it will pass.

“There’s no plan for when there’s been an incident on a solar field, and there’s a fire,” she said. “Who determines the point of safety? It certainly shouldn’t be just the developer on their own who gets to say, ‘yep, safe. I’m turning it back on.’ They obviously have a financial incentive to turn it back on.”

Plans for a proposed solar project called Saltbox Solar would build arrays across from Berube’s neighborhood, throughout East Windsor, and in Ellington. It would produce 160,000 megawatts of energy annually, according to the project’s website.

John Hoffman, the owner of Hockanum Valley Farm, said the proposed site for Saltbox Solar is prime, meaning it can produce food year-round.

“It drains well, and we are in a 45-inch rainfall zone in this state,” he said. “And you can grow, especially food. So, vegetables and corn silage or hay for dairy cows. And we have a big concentration of dairy cattle to be fed right in this area.”

Flat land near transmission lines is ideal infrastructure to build solar arrays, which is why companies drift towards East Windsor.

Saltbox Solar has not yet been considered by the state siting council, which approves solar projects, such as the recently approved 150-acre expansion of Gravel Pit Solar in East Windsor.

Currently, municipalities lack representation on the siting council. The governor said it was too early to announce his support for a bill that would implement local representation, but he admitted there needs to be a change.

“I will say we ought to make sure we have legislation in place that guides the Siting Council and DEEP towards what we think are our broad interests,” he said.

DESRI, the parent company of Saltbox Solar and Gravel Pit, was unavailable for comment.

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Connecticut

CT’s top Latin and Caribbean restaurants of 2026, according to Connecticut Magazine

Published

8 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

CT’s top Latin and Caribbean restaurants of 2026, according to Connecticut Magazine

Once again, Connecticut Magazine has surveyed a panel of food experts to share their favorite places for it Top Restaurants for 2026 list. Experts have named restaurants in dozens of categories, from top cuisine (American, Mexican, Chinese, vegetarian, etc.) to outstanding apps and desserts, romantic ambiance, beer and wine selections and the top places to grab a burger or a slice of apizza.

607 Brewster St., Bridgeport, 203-212-3386

164 Main St., Norwalk, 203-846-8009

954 E Main St., Stamford, 203-323-3176

430 Main Ave., Norwalk, 203-354-7329

340 Arch St., New Britain, 860-518-0708

162 Shield St., West Hartford, 860-953-2672

51 Isham Road, West Hartford, 860-216-9285

730 Barnum Ave. Cutoff, Stratford, 203-540-5825

1641 CT-12, Gales Ferry, 860-381-5765

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Connecticut

Connecticut Sun announces plans for its ‘Sunset Season’

Published

20 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Connecticut Sun announces plans for its ‘Sunset Season’

The Connecticut Sun announced the launch of its “Sunset Season,” its final season playing in the state before moving to Houston, Texas.

Throughout the 2026 season, the Sun said it’ll honor more than two decades of “unforgettable moments, legendary players, and the fans who have been the heart of the organization.”

It was officially announced by the Mohegan Tribe on Monday that the team was sold and would be moving, making this season the Sun’s last in Connecticut.

“We intend to honor every chapter of our story and make this final season our most meaningful one yet. This season is about gratitude, celebration, and giving our fans the farewell they deserve. The Connecticut Sun story is one of resilience, community, and heart, and the Sunset Season will honor all of it,” said Connecticut Sun President, Jen Rizzotti.

There will be a roll out of special initiatives, events, and fan experiences to honor the team’s legacy and impact.

There will be a new commemorative sunsey logo this season and will appear on limited edition merchandise, select game day give awards, and in-arena branding throughout the year.

The home court will also be sunset-themed, and throughout the season, the organization will welcome back Sun legends in iconic players and coaches who helped shape the organization.

Original Day 1 Season Ticket Members will get an exclusive commemorative gift celebrating their dedication from the very beginning, the organization said. The team will also lead a community court revitalizaiton project with the aim of creating a lasting gift to reflect the team’s connection to local youth, families, and fans.

Finally, the team will host a homecoming game that will reunite generations of Sun players and fans for a day that will honor the past and celebrate the team’s future.

The team is also expected to make additional announcements on events and merchandise. You can find more information on their website.

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Connecticut

Mansfield Drive-in to open for 2026 season

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Mansfield Drive-in to open for 2026 season

MANSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — The Mansfield Drive-in is back open and ready to play some movies for guests starting the first weekend of April.

The drive-in’s first showing will be Thursday, April 2, with shows only through Sunday, April 5. At the start of the season, the theater usually sticks to weekend-only showtimes.

Gates will open at 6:30 p.m., with the first showtime starting at approximately 8 p.m. each night.

Movies playing this weekend include:

Screen 1:
8 p.m. “Super Mario Galaxy Movie”
9:55 p.m. “Reminders of Him”

Screen 2:
8 p.m. “Project Hail Mary”
10:10 p.m. “Crime 101”

Screen 3:
8 p.m. “Scream 7”
10:10 p.m. “undertone”

Tickets are available online in advance or at the gate. Pets are allowed as long as they are leashed and owners pick up after them.

The Original Southington Drive-In is slated to open in June.

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