**News Release Submitted by Easton First Selectman Bindelglass**
Aug. 2, 2024
Good afternoon,
The Connecticut Secretary of State has designated Tuesday, August 13th for the Republican Primary for candidates vying for Republican endorsements for positions on the November ballot. Republicans Michael Goldstein and Bob MacGuffie, each seek to oppose the endorsed Democrat candidate, incumbent, Rep. Jim Himes for the 4th District Congressional seat. Republicans, Matthew Corey and Gerry Smith are each seeking the Senatorial seat occupied by the Democrat-endorsed candidate, incumbent, Senator Chris Murphy.
The Republican Primary will be preceded by seven (7) days of early voting from August 5th through August 11th and held at the Easton Library Community Room. Hours for Early Voting are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Hours on Tuesday, August 6th, and Thursday, August 8th, will be from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily.
For those Republicans who either haven’t voted early or by absentee ballot, Primary Day, is Tuesday, August 13th, and voting will be held in the Cafetorium at Samuel Staples Elementary School, from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
As a final note, remember, in Connecticut, only registered Republicans are eligible to vote in the August Primary, in person, by Early Vote, or by Absentee Ballot. For more information please visit the Town website at: https://www.eastonct.gov/town-clerk/pages/8-13-2024-republican-primary-i….
Also, August 1st was national poll worker recruiting day. It is critical that we have an ample supply of workers for our voter polling places both for early voting and election day. Please consider volunteering to work at the polls. For more information please reach out to the registrar of voters at (203) 268-6291 or voters@eastonct.gov.
Connecticut Blood Center, a not-for-profit, independent, community blood center, provides over 65,000 units of blood to over a dozen Connecticut hospitals annually. The Hartford HealthCare network, including the local St. Vincent’s Medical Center, receives all of its life-saving red cells, platelets and plasma blood for patients in need from the Connecticut Blood Center. For more information, visit ctblood.org.
BLOOD EMERGENCY: From July 22nd – August 12th, the Connecticut Blood Center will be in a blood emergency with a low supply of blood for Connecticut hospitals. Due to the challenges around blood collections during the summer months, there is an URGENT NEED for more blood donations!
Save the date for an exciting day at the Easton Senior Center auction on September 18, 11:00 am – 2:15 pm. Preview auction items on Monday, September 16 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Enjoy snacks and beverages before the auction. Enter for a separate raffle ($5 for 10 tickets) to be drawn at the auction. Rare and vintage items selling online for big dollars are being offered at a huge discount. Find your treasure to add to your collection or profit from your finds. Thrown into this mix are gift certificates from local businesses/residents, delicious homemade goodies, a professional photography offer, and local resident art. Don’t miss – mark your calendars!
Blood Pressure Screening will be provided by the Easton EMS every second Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am at the Easton Senior Center.
Next week the Municipal Agent, Daniel Simonelli, will be hosting a Health and Information Fair at the Easton Senior Center. There will be many great providers such as Avangrid (UI, SCG), Home Health Care providers, Mozaic Senior Living, Aspetuck Health District, Alzheimer’s Association, and more! This is a great way to speak to some of the providers you already use, or may want to use in the future. Looking forward to seeing you there! No sign-up is necessary, feel free to drop by at any point on August 7th between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm to gather information from all of these great providers!
Mark A.R. Cooper, Director of Health for the Aspetuck Health District stated today that West Nile Virus has now been found in mosquitoes trapped in Westport. This comes as no surprise as other area towns have already found mosquitoes carrying the virus in the past few weeks. With warm and wet weather conditions, which are favorable for breeding mosquitoes, and with plenty of time before the first frost that ends the mosquito season locally, there is concern that the number of infected mosquitoes will continue to increase, increasing the potential for human exposure. Mr. Cooper stated that “there is no reason to panic, but precautions should be exercised to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.”
Mosquitoes will deposit their eggs in any pool of water they can find and will be eagerly looking for blood to feed on once they mature and begin to fly. The mosquitoes testing positive were Culex pipens mosquitoes the predominately feed on bird hosts, but given the opportunity, will feed on humans. No human cases of West Nile Virus have been identified yet in Connecticut.
The Health District recommends residents take the following precautions:
Tips for avoiding mosquito bites when outdoors:
Mosquitoes require a blood meal for reproduction. The following are measures that can help reduce bites from mosquitoes that feed on people:
For more information on West Nile Virus, visit the Health District’s Web site at www.aspetuckhd.org and/or the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito.
Last night at the Board of Selectman meeting we discussed potential changes to the Planning and Zoning ordinance which would allow for the commission to become an elected board. There was also a lengthy discussion about a filing that I made in November 2023, with the Freedom of Information Commission. State statutes allow for towns and organizations to petition to have certain individuals limited in their ability to make requests under the Freedom of Information Act because they are thought to be abusing the process with the intent of obstructing or disrupting the work of the town. A favorable ruling to the town in no way affects the release of any information. Only the activities of the individual.
I took this action by myself as the First Selectman because I felt that the function of the town hall was being affected. Ultimately, the services that we provide to our citizens, and which your tax dollars fund, were being compromised and I felt the need to take this action to protect the town. Unfortunately, the Freedom of Information Commission has decided not to consider the request. My petition and their response are listed below.
Have a great weekend.
Dave
November 8, 2023
Freedom of Information Commission Sent electronically
165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1100
Hartford, CT 06106
To Whom It May Concern:
As First Selectman of the Town of Easton, I am requesting relief from a requester that the Town
of Easton alleges is a vexatious requester, under the provisions of section 1-206. Specifically, I
am asking for a review by the Executive Director, with ultimate review by the commission.
Between August 28, and October 5, we have received 7 FOI requests from a single individual six
of which were received between October 2 and October 5 (attached). All are loosely related to
a single property which the requester has been trying to attack for several months for what she
believes is building and zoning violations. They involve multiple departments in Easton Town
Hall. The last is a request for copies of checks for permit payments and their posting dates and
to which accounts. Our Director of Finance finds this to be an extremely onerous request.
This individual has on multiple occasions viewed the building and planning and zoning files for
this property which consists of all permits. She has spent many hours in Town Hall and the staff
has made attempts to answer her inquiries in person as well as in writing. She has been given
unfettered access to the files she has asked to review. It would appear that her requests,
therefore are duplicative. One request asked for the contracts and job descriptions for the
Building Inspector, Land Use Consultant and Zoning Enforcement Officer. While this request
was filled, it is difficult to imagine what the relevance is to the information she is seeking. It is
purely harassment. While not directly related to the requests for information per se, when she
is asking questions about the information that is provided to her by staff she becomes abusive
to those who provide the information if it is not what she wants to hear.
At times she has brought different departments to a virtual standstill while they try to
accommodate her and her requests. She has destroyed Town Hall morale. The purpose of her
requests is to work with a disgruntled neighbor to shut down a riding rink that borders the
neighbor’s property and has been in place for several years. At this point, after several months
her motives are unclear. Still, the requests persist.
This is the latest conduct by this individual who is well-known to our local FOIA representative,
Thomas Hennick. The town believes these requests are to harass the officials in town
government and attempt to force them to alter the decisions they make to a different set of
decisions which favor her cause. I understand that there is a high burden of proof in denying
freedom of information requests, but in this case, I believe it is justified. The process is clearly
being weaponized to force action which is not indicated. I hope you will give the Town of
Easton every consideration in evaluating this claim.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.
David Bindelglass
First Selectman
Town of Easton
NOTICE PRVR#15
July 19, 2024
Town of Easton Petitioner(s)
against
June Logie Respondent(s)
Notice of Executive Director’s Recommendation to Deny
Petition for Relief from Vexatious Requester
You are hereby notified that the Executive Director has reviewed the Petition for Relief from
Vexatious Requester, dated November 8, 2023, filed by the Town of Easton (“Petition”) in
accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. §l-206(b)(6).
Upon review, the Executive Director has determined that such Petition does not warrant a
hearing because it fails to detail conduct that demonstrates a vexatious history of requests. In
addition, the Petition is not sworn under penalty of false statement, as provided in Conn. Gen.
Stat. §53a-157b, and therefore, does not meet the strict filing requirements set forth in Conn.
Gen. Stat. §1-206(b)(6).
You are further notified that the Executive Director will recommend to the Freedom of
Information Commission (“Commission”) that the Petition be denied without a hearing, and that
the Commission will consider such Recommendation at its regular meeting on August 14, 2024,
at 2:00 p.m., at the Freedom of Information Commission Hearing Room, 165 Capitol Ave.,
Conference Room H, Hartford, Connecticut. Please note that this matter is not arguable and
will be addressed on the papers.
By Order of the
Freedom of Information Commission
Molly E. Steffes
Acting Clerk of the Commission
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NEW BRITAIN, CT — Stanley Black & Decker on Thursday said it has decided to close its manufacturing facility in New Britain.
Debora Raymond, vice president of external communications for the manufacturer, said the decision is a result of a “structural decline in demand for single-sided tape measures.”
The New Britain facility predominantly makes these products, according to Raymond.
“These products are quickly becoming obsolete in the markets we serve,” Raymond said, via an emailed statement Thursday.
The decision is expected to impact approximately 300 employees, according to Raymond.
“We are focused on supporting impacted employees through this transition, including providing options for employment at other facilities, severance, and job placement support services for both salaried and hourly employees,” Raymond said.
As of Thursday at 4:30 p.m., no Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice had been filed with the state Department of Labor.
The company’s corporate headquarters remains at 1000 Stanley Dr., New Britain.
Gov. Ned Lamont released the following statement on the decision:
“Although Stanley has made the decision to discontinue operations for manufacturing outdated products, a change in workforce opportunities is difficult for employees, their families, and any community.,” Lamont said. “However, I am hopeful that these skilled workers will be repurposed with the help of Stanley Black & Decker, a company that will still proudly be headquartered here in Connecticut. My administration is working closely with local and state leaders to support affected workers and to reimagine the factory site so it can continue to create opportunity and strengthen New Britain’s economic future.”
New Britain Mayor Bobby Sanchez said he is “deeply disappointed” the company will be closing its Myrtle Street operations.
“For generations, Stanley Works has been part of the fabric of our city, providing good-paying jobs, supporting families, and helping build New Britain’s proud reputation as the ‘Hardware City,’” Sanchez said.
According to the mayor, his office’s immediate focus is on helping affected workers and their families. The mayor has been in contact with Lamont’s office, and they will be working closely to make sure employees have access to job placement services, retraining opportunities and support, Sanchez said.
“We will continue aggressively pursuing economic development opportunities and attracting businesses that are looking for a true community partner, a city ready to collaborate, innovate and grow alongside them,” Sanchez said. “New Britain has reinvented itself before, and we will do so again.”
Stanley Black & Decker, founded in 1843, operates manufacturing facilities worldwide, according to its website. It reports having 43,500 employees globally, and makes an array of products, such as power tools and equipment, hand tools, and fasteners.
Newly released police video shows former WWE executive Vince McMahon ram his luxury sports car into the rear end of another vehicle on a Connecticut highway last summer as he was being followed by a state trooper.
McMahon, now 80, was driving his 2024 Bentley Continental GT at more than 100 mph on the Merritt Parkway when he crashed in the town of Westport, according to state police.
A trooper’s dashcam video shows McMahon accelerating away, then braking too late to avoid crashing into the back of a BMW. The Bentley then swerves into a guardrail and careens back across the highway, creating a cloud of dirt and car parts.
“Why were you driving all over 100 mph?” state police Detective Maxwell Robins asked McMahon after catching up to the wrecked Bentley, which can cost over $300,000.
“I got my granddaughter’s birthday” McMahon replied, explaining he was on his way to see her. The encounter was recorded on police bodycam video.
No one was seriously injured in the July 24 crash, which happened the same day that WWE legend Hulk Hogan died of a heart attack in Florida.
Besides damage to the rear of the BMW, another vehicle driving on the opposite side of the parkway was struck by flying debris. The driver of that third car happened to be wearing a WWE shirt, according to the police video.
McMahon was cited for reckless driving and following too closely. A state judge in October allowed McMahon to enter a pretrial probation program that will result in the charges being erased from his record next October if he successfully completes the program. He was also ordered to make a $1,000 charitable contribution.
McMahon’s lawyer, Mark Sherman, said the crash was just an accident.
“Not every car accident is a crime,” Sherman said. “Vince’s primary concern during this case was for the other drivers and is appreciative that the court saw this more of an accident than a crime that needed to be prosecuted.”
State police said Robins was trying to catch up to McMahon on the parkway and clock his speed before pulling him over. They said the incident was not a pursuit, which happens when police chase someone trying to flee officers. They also said it did not appear McMahon was trying to escape — though in the video the detective suggests otherwise.
“I’m trying to catch up to you and you keep taking off,” Robins says.
“No, no no. I’m not trying to outrun you,” McMahon says.
An accident information summary provided to the media shortly after the crash did not mention that a trooper was following McMahon.
The Associated Press obtained the videos Wednesday through a public records request. They were first obtained by The Sun newspaper.
The trooper’s bodycam video also shows him asking McMahon whether he was looking at his phone when the crash happened. McMahon said he was not and adds that he hadn’t driven his car in a long time.
After Robins tells McMahon that his car is fast, McMahon replies, “Yeah, too (expletive) fast.”
The videos also show McMahon talking to the driver he rear-ended. Barbara Doran, of New York City, told the AP last summer that McMahon expressed his concern for her and was glad she was OK. She said she was heading to a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard at the time of the crash.
After McMahon was given the traffic summons, he shook hands with Robins and another trooper and they wished him well.
McMahon stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He also resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE, in 2024, a day after a former WWE employee filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against him. McMahon has denied the allegations. The lawsuit remains pending.
McMahon bought what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1982 and transformed it from a regional wrestling company into a worldwide phenomenon. Besides running the company with his wife, Linda, who is now the U.S. education secretary, he also performed at WWE events as himself.
The New Haven Pride Center will close for 30 days starting Thursday, as leaders reassess the organization’s finances and its long-term business model.
Board members said the temporary shutdown will allow the nonprofit to stop accruing expenses and get better insight into a $250,000 IRS debt discovered in 2022 that has weighed heavily on the center’s operations.
According to board co-chair Hope Chavez, the debt was found four years ago. The board let the executive director go and began paying the back taxes. The payments have been ongoing, but Chavez said there’s no clarity on how much has been paid toward principal versus interest, making it hard to map out a payoff.
Chavez said the organization has an attorney to help obtain more details from the government, and that the debt has hurt its ability to generate income during an already challenging time.
“It all depends on the political climate — whether corporate sponsors feel like they can sponsor you, whether funders feel like they need to redirect elsewhere,” she said.
The 30-day furlough will include a pause in services. In the meantime, staff members are compiling a list of alternative LGBTQ-affirming resources in the Greater New Haven area to support community members.
Laura Boccadoro, who has worked at the center for more than six years, joined at what she says was a dark time.
“I was in and out of rehab dealing with drug abuse, and the center found me,” she said. “I grew up here, honestly.”
She said the organization has offered vital services, such as a clothing closet and a food pantry, and programs that she is helping clients find through partner organizations.
“There are so many LGBTQ-specific or affirming spaces that have food pantries, clothing closets, healthcare — all those kinds of things,” Boccadoro said.
Chavez highlighted partnerships with groups including AIDS Project New Haven, Anchor Health Initiative, and Q Plus, as well as other grassroots community organizations that will offer assistance during the pause.
Boccadoro emphasized that the staff’s focus remains on serving the community as effectively as possible.
“Our job at the end of the day is to impact the community in the best possible way that we can,” Boccadoro said.
The Board hopes a clearer financial picture and a restructured business model will position the center to reopen stronger and more stable.
“We want to ensure that our community has the care and supportive services that we’ve been providing,” Chavez said.
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