Connecticut

Beloved CT restaurant closes abruptly, a ‘very difficult decision’ leaving them ‘heartbroken’

Published

1 year ago

July 12, 2023

Beloved CT restaurant closes abruptly, a ‘very difficult decision’ leaving them ‘heartbroken’

One Fifty Central restaurant and bar in Bristol is the latest victim of Connecticut staff shortages and soaring costs, announcing their permanent closure through Facebook.

In the parting Facebook post, the restaurant’s owners thank loyal customers and employees who became “like a big extension of our Santorso family,” and they wished there was time to stay open to say proper goodbyes.

In this file photo, a dish cooked at 150 Central restaurant in Bristol.

The owners could not be reached for comment.

The post says summer is the hardest season for the restaurant business and “it’s normal for finances to be tight, but it usually all works out in the fall and winter.

But the post also says there are persistent staff shortages in the kitchen

“Knowing that the kitchen would be unable to function without a full staff, and having been unable to find any competent employees through this nationwide employee shortage, we knew that we would be unable to open for the foreseeable future without jeopardizing the quality and service our customers deserve,” the social media post states.

That is combined with the overall difficulty in their restaurant business post-COVID, such as food, utility and payroll costs, contributed the closure, the Facebook post states.

“All these things combined have led us to this very difficult decision,” the post states, adding they are “heartbroken” that this is how it ended.

Employers are running into hiring troubles across many industries in Connecticut, with nearly 100,000 openings going unfilled as of last month. Other restaurants in Connecticut have opened this year amid the hiring issues.

5 new CT restaurants to try this summer. Think taste, location, ambiance.

The One Fifty Central restaurant restaurant, described on its website as an American bistro, has been in business for about 10 years.

Customers reacted on Facebook with sadness and fond memories.

One woman wrote in the comments section, “We love your family and will miss seeing everyone tremendously. Thank you for being such a huge part of our family’s celebrations and making us feel so welcome and loved for so many years.”

Another customer wrote, with a sad face emoji,: “It has been so many great years…”

Another customer who thanked the owners for a “wonderful dining experience,” wrote: “You always treated your customers like family. You have a lot to be proud of. Wishing you all the best. You will definitely be missed.”

Another commenter acknowledged the tough times for business, writing, “This makes us so sad. It is so difficult to keep a business moving these days and you all did everything you could to keep it going.”

Connecticut’s COVID-19 emergency ended in May, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. He said at the time that the economy bounced back and economic conditions are improving, though rebounding from the personal impact of the pandemic may take a little longer.

Source link

Click to comment

Connecticut

WNBA playoffs: How to get last-minute tickets under $50 for Connecticut Sun vs. Minnesota Lynx tonight (10/1/24)

Published

4 hours ago

October 1, 2024

Press Room

WNBA playoffs: How to get last-minute tickets under for Connecticut Sun vs. Minnesota Lynx tonight (10/1/24)

The Minnesota Lynx, led by Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, host the Connecticut Sun, led by Alyssa Thomas, in Game 2 of the second round of the WNBA playoffs on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Connecticut, looking to win its first-ever WNBA title, took Game 1 on Sunday night, 73-70.

TICKETS: Fans who want to attend the WNBA playoffs game can buy tickets at SeatGeek, Ticketmaster, Ticketsmarter or Vivid Seats.

According to Vivid Seats, tickets can be purchased for as low as $34.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Game 2, WNBA semifinals

Who: Sun vs. Lynx

When: Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024

Where: Target Center

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN2

Live stream: fuboTV and DirecTVStream

***

WNBA semifinals schedule/results

The higher seeds will host Games 1, 2, and 5 (if necessary), while the lower seeds will host Games 3 and 4 (if necessary).

Game 1

Sunday, Sept. 29

New York Liberty 87, Las Vegas Aces 77

Connecticut Sun 73, Minnesota Lynx 70

Game 2

Tuesday, Oct. 1

Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Connecticut Sun at Minnesota Lynx, 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

GAME 3

Friday, Oct. 4

Minnesota Lynx at Connecticut Sun, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

New York Liberty at Las Vegas Aces, 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

GAME 4 [IF NECESSARY]

Sunday, Oct. 6

New York Liberty at Las Vegas Aces, Time TBD on ESPN2

Minnesota Lynx at Connecticut Sun, Time TBD on ESPN2

GAME 5 [IF NECESSARY]

Tuesday, Oct. 8

Connecticut Sun at Minnesota Lynx, Time TBD on ESPN2

Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty, Time TBD on ESPN2

***

Here’s a preview capsule via the Associated Press:

Connecticut Sun (28-12, 14-6 Eastern Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (30-10, 14-6 Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

WNBA PLAYOFFS SEMIFINALS: Sun lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Connecticut Sun visit the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA playoffs semifinals with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Sun won the last meeting 73-70 on Sept. 30 led by 20 points from Marina Mabrey, while Napheesa Collier scored 19 points for the Lynx.

The Lynx are 16-4 on their home court. Minnesota ranks third in the WNBA averaging 9.5 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 38.0% from downtown. Kayla McBride leads the team averaging 2.7 makes while shooting 40.7% from 3-point range.

The Sun are 14-6 in road games. Connecticut is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 25.1 defensive rebounds per game led by DeWanna Bonner averaging 7.3.

Minnesota averages 9.5 made 3-pointers per game, 3.0 more made shots than the 6.5 per game Connecticut allows. Connecticut has shot at a 44.4% rate from the field this season, 3.4 percentage points higher than the 41.0% shooting opponents of Minnesota have averaged.

TOP PERFORMERS: Courtney Williams is averaging 11.1 points and 5.5 assists for the Lynx.

Bonner is averaging 15.1 points and six rebounds for the Sun.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lynx: 8-2, averaging 82.6 points, 33.4 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.8 points per game.

Sun: 7-3, averaging 80.7 points, 34.3 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 6.4 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.0 points.

INJURIES: Lynx: None listed.

Sun: Tiffany Mitchell: out (illness).

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Source link

Connecticut

Connecticut companies sending crews to help the South recover from Helene

Published

11 hours ago

October 1, 2024

Press Room

Connecticut companies sending crews to help the South recover from Helene

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Connecticut is stepping in to help as millions of people are still without power after Hurricane Helene hammered the Southeast.

“The size of the trees that have come down here is unbelievable, just gigantic trees everywhere,” United Illuminating Senior Manager of Regional Operations Christine Pariseau said.

Travelers relieved to make it to Connecticut ahead of Hurricane Helene

The devastation is unlike anything Pariseau has seen before. She said restoring power to millions is an arduous and urgent task and one that takes trained hands.

“Not a lot of people do this type of work so it is important to use the mutual aid,” Pariseau said.

That’s why UI in Connecticut is lending their hands with 28 line crews down in Virginia and North Carolina.

“They have 14 linemen here and that’s it so they need as much as they can get and so we bring support, mechanics and a few more people to make sure we are self-sufficient,” Pariseau said.

They left on Saturday, along with 45 additional crews from Avangrid in Maine and New York.

Eversource also sent 40 line crews and 20 support personnel from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire to help out.

“No hotels have power down here so it’s been a struggle,” Pariseau said. “The guys have gotten quite a few thousand of people back on.”

Americares provides mutual aid to help the devastation of Hurricane Helene

Beyond utility repairs, Connecticut crews are also performing water rescues and wellfare checks.

The state’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security said eight people from their Urban Search and Rescue Team are in North Carolina including swift water technicians, a state trooper and paramedic and communications engineer. They are also checking debris piles and vehicles that were swept down rivers.

Connecticut is helping out with another critical need: food.

Bear’s Smokehouse, that has two locations here, is offering free hot meals at their restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina. They are also launching a fundraiser to support ongoing relief efforts.

Connecticut crews have brought people to safety, restored electricity and given out free meals, really helping out in every way.

Most arrived last weekend and expect to be in Virginia and North Carolina for at least a week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.

Source link

Connecticut

Lynx looking to come back in Game 2 vs. Sun

Published

19 hours ago

September 30, 2024

Press Room

Lynx looking to come back in Game 2 vs. Sun

Second round, best-of-five series

Game 1: Sunday: Sun 73, Lynx 70

Game 2: Tuesday, 8:30 p.m., Target Center (ESPN2)

Game 3: Friday, 6:30 p.m. at Connecticut

Game 4, if necessary: Sunday, at Connecticut, time TBA

Game 5, if necessary: Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Target Center

Opening bell: The Lynx made just four of 18 shots and were out-scored 16-8 in the fourth quarter Sunday. The Lynx played good defense overall — holding the Sun to 31 second-half points and to 35% shooting in the fourth quarter — but just couldn’t get enough shots to fall. The Lynx struggled to contain Alyssa Thomas (17 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists), who was an assist away from her second triple-double of the season against Minnesota. They also struggled to contain Marina Mabrey, who hit six of 11 three-point attempts and scored a game-high 20.

Source link