Connecticut
Poll: Should Connecticut Ban Helium Balloons? It's on the Table
It’s busy season for Connecticut lawmakers.
They are crafting and floating ideas to make Connecticut a safer, happier place. One of those ideas just captured my attention and had me wondering what the public would think. According to WFSB:
“A law considered by Connecticut lawmakers would ban the sale of helium of balloons. The description of the bill on the state’s website stated that no person would be able to sell, offer for sale, import, or distribute any helium or lighter-than-air gas balloons that are not biodegradable.”
This potential balloon ban is obviously an environmental effort but it made me wonder if people would get emotional about this in some way? I remember when Toys R’ Us closed and people were ready to lose their collective minds. Whenever something scrapes at the edge of childhood fun people go banana sandwich.
I don’t have a strong feeling about this except to say that I hate balloons but I’m not a kid, I used to love them. What do you think?
I’ll never forget the news coverage of the demise of Toys R’ Us, it was exceptional TV. Watching grown ups crying on the news about a store closing had me laughing hysterically. I understand nostalgia and connecting to your childhood but if you really loved the place so much, maybe you should have continued shopping there and spent a little less time and money on Amazon.
Check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast on Apple and Spotify
Poll Ranks Greater-Danbury Towns 1-7 for Traffic Problems, Hat City Wins + Loses
Recently, I ran a poll to find out which town has the worst traffic problems in the Greater-Danbury area. I set out to rank the towns in order of the aggravation.
The towns up for consideration were:
- Danbury
- Brookfield
- Bethel
- Newtown
- Ridgefield
- New Milford
- New Fairfield
The respondents were all current or former residents of the Greater-Danbury Area. I also made sure that I gathered some hilarious comments. #1 is the worst, having the most complaints and #7 is the best of the towns, receiving the least complaints. I counted all the votes from the respondents, and this is how it all worked out.
Exploring Beyond the Rusty Gates of Danbury’s Oldest Cemetery on Wooster Street
I live just down the block from the Wooster Street Cemetery and whenever I pass, I am always struck at how odd it is. You have this quiet, beautiful place that is dedicated to the people who were buried there, in the middle of a busy city and almost no one ever goes there. I decided to go take a deeper look around and see what was beyond the iron gates and stone walls.
Gallery Credit: Lou Milano
Absurd Connecticut Laws That Are Still in the Books
Connecticut
Here's how much snow fell in Connecticut on Saturday
The storm dropped two inches of snow in Stratford, as of 8 a.m., and Newtown, as of 10 a.m. In Shelton, weather observers reported 1.8 inches of snowfall as of 8 a.m., according to reporters from the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.
Along the western edge of the state, the storm dropped 1.3 inches of snow in New Preston and an inch in New Milford by 9:15 a.m., Frank Nocera, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s Boston office said. Further south, the Bridgeport area received a 0.4-inch coating, according to weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Nocera said the National Weather Service should have more data available as snow continues to fall Saturday. He said Connecticut’s totals should stick between a coating and two inches.
Snow began falling overnight and was set to create slippery conditions on the roads Saturday. Electric utility customers reported hundreds of outages in the state Saturday morning, but their cause was not immediately clear. The weather service has said the snow should fade in the afternoon as drier conditions close out the weekend.
Connecticut
Want to donate to Los Angeles fire victims? Be aware of scams
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — In Los Angeles, where fire has destroyed thousands of homes, officials say they don’t need any more items like blankets or clothing. What’s needed is money to help people try to get back on their feet.
Here in Connecticut, if you want to give there are some things you should know to avoid being scammed.
A warning from the Connecticut Better Business Bureau says that before you open your heart and your wallet, do your due diligence before you donate and verify which charities truly have a proven track record of helping.
One of the more common scams you may see is a direct message in your social media feed.
“So, an acquaintance on Facebook messages you and says my uncle was a victim of the fire in LA and I’m collecting money, and you’re asked to click to donate or send me some cash via Venmo, but what you don’t know if that FB page has been hacked,” Kristen Johnson of Connecticut Better Business Bureau said.
The best advice is to pick up the phone and call that Facebook friend and ask are you really collecting money for LA relief. And if you can, make sure the charity you give to is registered with the state of California.
“And another thing that happens and this isn’t a scam, but people who want to help they set up charities to help but they don’t have boots on the ground — they’re not established,” Johnson said.
In other words, avoid grass roots efforts even though their heart may be in the right place. Experts also say never send cash and only a use a credit card.
If a charity says 100% of your gift goes to the LA cause that’s a red flag. Why’s that?
“Because every charity has some overhead right even your credit card payment will come with a transaction fee,” Johnson said.
The Connecticut Better Business Bureau has certain charities that meet their criteria. Just go to give.org to see the list.
Watch the full story above.
Connecticut
Central Connecticut State University remembers Jimmy Carter’s 1985 visit
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) — A few years after former President Jimmy Carter’s term ended, he made a trip to New Britain.
In 1985, about 3,000 people gathered at Central Connecticut State University’s Welte Hall to hear the former president deliver the annual Robert C. Vance Lecture.
This lecture series ran from 1983 to 2015 to honor the editor, publisher and journalist for The Herald in New Britain, Robert C. Vance.
In addition to giving a speech, Carter was also awarded the university’s first honorary degree.
The university’s archivist, Renata Vickery, said, “it was also important for our students to see someone who started from the very humble beginning.”
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