Connecticut

Property of the week: Charming and adorable Connecticut home

Published

1 year ago

June 11, 2023

Property of the week: Charming and adorable Connecticut home

Charming and adorable are apt descriptions for this West Hartford home, located in a quiet neighborhood that is close to Westfarms Mall. Mature trees and a large lot of over half an acre provide a sense of privacy, while the interior of the home is warm and inviting. The attractive walkway to the front door, flanked by stone retaining walls, gives but a hint of what awaits inside.

The entry hall provides enticing views of the large living room to the right. On the other side, an open kitchen and dining area enhance the feeling of space. Stairs leading to the second floor add visual appeal to this entry foyer while hardwood floors, found here and throughout much of the home, offer a touch of elegance.

The kitchen is thoroughly modern. It features a large island that is more than 10 feet long. This provides ample space for seating, making it ideal for entertaining, snacks, and light meals. It also serves nicely for completing homework assignments after school.

Along the kitchen’s outer wall are the dishwasher, a sink, and a stainless steel gas stove with a center griddle. The cabinets, which offer ample storage space, have soft-close doors and drawers. Large windows on both sides of the kitchen and in the dining area provide ample natural light during the day, while overhead and recessed lighting, along with a chandelier for the dining room table, take over once the sun sets. It is a layout that works well for both daily living and entertaining. Adding to its convenience, the kitchen enjoys direct access to the two-car garage and the first floor laundry.

Contributed
42 Woodridge Circle, West Hartford

The living room is large and, thanks to well placed windows, bright on a sunny day. A fireplace on an interior wall that features a vertical shiplap treatment serves as the focal point. It is one of two fireplaces in the home.

Continue to the rear of living room to reach the den, which has a vaulted ceiling that adds to the feeling of space, while generously sized windows give views of the backyard, highlighted by mature trees and a brick patio with updated masonry and a fire pit. This den flows into a great room which shares the den’s vaulted ceiling, but offers even more glass, two skylights and a slider to reach the patio. It, too, is beautifully bright and cheery on a sunny day.

The first floor includes a bedroom, which is located next to a newly renovated full bath. Here modern fixtures and a glass enclosed shower add a contemporary feel. This first floor bedroom and nearby bath make this home an ideal candidate for one-floor or intergenerational living.

The stairway in the front hall leads to the second floor and three additional bedrooms. The highlight here is the primary suite, with its private bath, and two walk-in closets. The other two bedrooms share a full bath with a tub. The angles of the gambrel roof and dormers, which are reflected in the exterior walls, add to the space and visual appeal of these bedrooms.

Taking advantage of the slope of the lot, the lower level has a spacious, fully finished room with a large window and direct outside access. This room is carpeted and features the home’s second fireplace. The possibilities for this space are numerous, and include a family or recreation room. This lower level also includes an area for basement storage and access to the home’s mechanical systems. These include a zoned natural gas boiler for hot water heating and the ductwork for the central air conditioning system. Additional storage is available in the home’s attached two-car garage, which has space for two vehicles and gardening and recreational items. An attic area over the garage provides even more storage space.

The list of this home’s recent upgrades is long. The three bathrooms and kitchen are new, the roof is new, the vinyl siding is new, and the electrical system has been upgraded. Many windows are also new. In the basement, the gas-fired heating and hot water systems have also been updated.

Outside, the landscaping has been addressed. In addition to the stone retaining walls and new backyard patio, which would be perfect for summer entertaining, there is a raised bed for growing plants or vegetables, and the yard has been partially fenced. All the next owner will have to do is move in.

Along the kitchen’s outer wall are the dishwasher, a sink, and a stainless steel gas stove with a center griddle.

The location could not be better. This home is close to major employers in Hartford, West Hartford and Farmington. Shopping areas, a wide range of services, restaurants, and medical facilities are nearby. Entrances to I-84 east or west are just minutes away. Yet, the hustle and bustle associated with daily life, work and traffic seem to disappear when you turn off Woodpond Road and head toward this home at 42 Woodridge Circle. Since Woodridge Circle ends in a cul-de-sac, traffic is light, which encourages walking. Stroll to Woodland Road and you will be treated to beautiful views of Wood Pond and Woodridge Lake. The Rockledge Golf Club is also nearby.

It is often said that location is the prime factor in determining real estate value, and judged by this standard, the location of this home has to be considered ideal. However, the interior layout, the extensive list of recent upgrades, and the flexibility it offers for one-floor living or intergenerational occupancy also add substantially to its appeal.

Info Box:

Built: 1956

Price: $629,000

Style: Colonial

Rooms: 9

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 3 full

Square footage: 3,219

Acreage: 0.54

Mill rate: 40.68

Best Feature: Location and neighborhood. This charming home is close to shopping,

schools, services and employers located in Hartford, West Hartford and

Farmington.

Contact: John Lepore

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties

860-798-7844

jlepore@bhhsne.com

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Connecticut

Singing Connecticut Banana is What Nightmares Are Made Of!

Published

2 mins ago

July 1, 2024

Press Room

Singing Connecticut Banana is What Nightmares Are Made Of!

I like bananas, I really do but singing dead-eyed, soul-reaping bananas are another story altogether. Have you ever seen the opening credits of American Horror Story? If you haven’t, each season features at least one shot of an old school doll with alarming indifference in its eyes.

That is exactly what I saw when Hound Dog Lover 19 posted his new video to Youtube recently.

We can assume this thing is an inanimate object, just a mechanical toy meant to inspire wonder in children until it makes a painfully slow turn and locks eyes with you.

BOOM! Right there, that is the moment we graduate from innocence to chaos and find ourselves in the basement of despair. I have enough to worry about with work and keeping our household running smoothly, I can’t be concerned with whether or not my soul is safe at the local grocer.

Let’s ease up on the raged-out mechanical produce and do something a little more gentle with our imaginations. I saw this video a few weeks back and I have not slept since. I spend my evenings in my favorite chair, staring out the window repeating the word potassium over and over again.

P.S. I love Stew’s I just wanted to make that clear. I can eat a whole box of their cookies alone and I have.

Want more CT News? If so, check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast. The show is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple and Spotify. The program is the same one we do on the radio but with limited commercials and no music. You can also listen live by streaming the show on the I-95 Rock Mobile app, or tune into I-95 (95.1FM).

Year of Fear: Connecticut’s Most Bone-Chilling Stories of 2023

Some of the most terrifying stories ever told have come right out of the State of Connecticut. There is something evil that was seeded in our origin story, something we cannot shake. Maybe we are cursed by the choices of our forefathers, or maybe we’re living near a gateway to a darker dimension. Whatever the case, Connecticut has many inexplicable and haunting tales. Some of these stories return again and again and others appear from out of nowhere. In 2023, I wrote about plenty of creepy Nutmeg State Nightmares, these are 12 of my favorites.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

5 Famous Connecticut Locations Many People Think Are Haunted

Connecticut is steeped in rich history from border to border. Real-world stories here are often stranger than fiction, leading many to believe that the Constitution State has a thin veil between the living and the dead. There is no shortage of ghost tales or ghost hunters in Connecticut, with numerous locations across the state thought to be haunted. Here are just five of the many places in Connecticut believed by some to be haunted.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

17 Unspoken Truths About Connecticut That Newbies Should Know

Just got to Connecticut? There are some things you’ll need to know that everyone here knows but rarely talks about. These are 17 Unspoken Truths About Connecticut That Newbies Should Know

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

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Connecticut

These New CT Laws That Can Change Your Life Go Into Effect July 1

Published

7 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

These New CT Laws That Can Change Your Life Go Into Effect July 1

CONNECTICUT — Social media, school buses, the Freedom of Information Act, and hair strand thickness have all been under the microscope in Hartford recently. These are a few of the laws that resulted, new to the books as of July 1.

The complete list covering 95 pieces of new legislation is on the state’s website.

State law now requires children to be 5 years old by Sept. 1 of the year they start kindergarten in Connecticut. The previous date was Jan. 1. Parents may obtain an exception for their child following a written request and an assessment completed by the school that determines admitting the child to kindergarten would be developmentally appropriate.

When parents pick their children up from kindergarten after their first day of school, they will find a new emphasis has been placed on “play-based learning.” This is an approach to teaching that includes developmentally appropriate strategies that can be integrated with existing learning standards. It does not mean time spent in recess or as part of a physical education course or instruction, according to the definitions in the legislation.

Legislators hope that a new law cracking down on motorists illegally passing school buses will make the roads safer before and after school. The new legislation allows municipalities or districts to install “school bus violation detection monitoring systems,” surveillance technology designed to make collection of newly ramped-up penalties from scofflaw motorists a bit easier. Roadway work zones will also be under enhanced video surveillance, as the results of last year’s Transportation Department trial program convinced lawmakers to make the monitoring permanent.

When school’s not in session, state inspectors will be doubling down on summer camps, according to new legislation in effect July 1. “An Act Concerning Youth Camps” details the infractions and penalties, which can include license revocation, included in the new scrutiny.

It’s now easier to erase your child’s online life, for whatever reason. New regulations require social media platforms to unpublish a minor’s social media account within 15 business days, and generally delete the account within 45 business days, after receiving an authenticated request. The new law also sets tighter standards for the sharing of personal health and medical data, and requires online dating services to adopt a policy for handling harassment.

Connecticut residents can only hope that a reduction in social media usage will result in head-healthier kids. In the high likelihood that it does not, the state is prepared with an expansion of preschool and mental and behavioral services for children, as detailed in the new legislation here.

Three years after Connecticut made recreational cannabis use legal, new legislation drills a little deeper and tidies up a number of the provisions. Among these, the sale of THC-laced beverages will be limited to licensed package stores and hybrid distributors, federally-recognized Indian tribes can expand their growing operations, and other growers approved for large-scale operations will have the option to scale down and cut costs.

A new law places certain restrictions on exactly what kind of law enforcement records can be released through a Freedom of Information Act request. For example, the identity of certain informants, the identity of witnesses whose safety would be endangered, and the arrest records of juveniles will no longer be disclosed.

It will be a little easier to pay for and get into state universities as of July 1. Under a new law, a minimum unweighted grade point average, and not a student’s class rank, will determine acceptance under the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program. More new legislation permits minors to directly sign for a loan with the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority.

Public Act No. 24-27 establishes a fund providing health insurance to survivors of a police officer killed in the line of duty. Another new law plugs a loophole in existing firearms background check regulations which limited the access to the juvenile records of people involved in the proposed transfer of a gun.

Finally, and in the category of “you-know-there’s-a-good-story-behind-this-one,” Public Act No. 24-53 caught our eye. Drafted in consultation with the Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians, the new legislation expands the curriculum requirements for barber schools and hairdressing and cosmetology schools to include education and training in providing services to “individuals with textured hair, including, but not limited to, working with various curl and wave patterns, hair strand thicknesses and volumes of hair.”

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Connecticut

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Already Issued For Parts Of CT: Live Updates

Published

14 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Already Issued For Parts Of CT: Live Updates

Find out what’s happening in Across Connecticutwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

(Editor’s note: All information is via the National Weather Service and all updates are posted as they come in with the most recent alerts on top.)

…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAVEN COUNTIES…

At 233 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over North Haven, or
near New Haven, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE…Radar indicated.

IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind
damage to trees and power lines.

This severe storm will be near…
Wallingford and Guilford around 240 PM EDT.
Killingworth and North Madison around 250 PM EDT.
Clinton around 255 PM EDT.
Westbrook around 300 PM EDT.

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Northwestern New Haven County until 5:15 p.m.

“At 214 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 1.5 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Waterbury, Wolcott, Cheshire and Middlebury.

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northern New London County Until 315 PM EDT.

“At 213 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Hebron, or near Colchester, moving east at 45 mph. HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail….IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines.”

This severe thunderstorm will be near:
Lebanon and Bozrah around 220 PM EDT.
Norwich and Sprague around 225 PM EDT.
Jewett City and Griswold around 230 PM EDT.
Voluntown around 240 PM EDT.

UPDATE: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for parts of Fairfield, Middlesex and New Haven counties until 3 p.m.

“At 215 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Seymour, or near Naugatuck, moving east at 40 mph. HAZARD…Golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

This severe storm will be near…
Naugatuck and Hamden around 220 PM EDT.
New Haven and North Haven around 225 PM EDT.
Wallingford around 230 PM EDT.
North Branford around 235 PM EDT.
Guilford and Branford around 240 PM EDT.
Killingworth and North Madison around 250 PM EDT.
Clinton around 255 PM EDT.
Westbrook around 300 PM EDT.

UPDATE: A flood advisory is in effect until 4:15 p.m. for New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties.

“At 222 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area,” the weather service said.

Some locations that will experience flooding include: Jewett City, Meriden, Middletown, Wallingford, Norwich, Colchester, East Hampton, Durham, Salem, Hamden, Cheshire,
Cromwell, Griswold, Portland, Prospect, East Haddam, Haddam, Lebanon, Bethany and Preston.

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of Tolland and Windham counties until 2:45 p.m.

“At 217 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Willimantic, or near Windham, moving east at 35 mph….HAZARD…Tennis ball size hail.

Locations impacted include: Mansfield, Windham, Plainfield, Willimantic, Coventry, Brooklyn,
Columbia, Canterbury, Chaplin, Hampton, and Scotland.

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties until 3 p.m.

“At 156 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Brookfield, or near Newtown, moving east at 40 mph. HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail….IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines.”

This severe thunderstorm will be near:
Southbury and Newtown around 200 PM EDT.
Monroe and Seymour around 210 PM EDT.
Naugatuck and Woodbridge around 215 PM EDT.
New Haven and Hamden around 225 PM EDT.
North Haven around 230 PM EDT.
Wallingford and Branford around 235 PM EDT.
Guilford around 240 PM EDT.
Killingworth and North Madison around 250 PM EDT.
Clinton around 255 PM EDT.

UPDATE: The National Weather Service in Norton has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Hartford County until 5:45 p.m.

“At 145 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly. HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms….IMPACT…Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Bristol, Manchester, East Hartford, Southington, Glastonbury, Newington, Vernon, Windsor, Wethersfield, South Windsor, Farmington, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Berlin, Rocky Hill, Avon and Plainville.

UPDATE: A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for southern Litchfield County until 5 p.m.

“At 147 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 2 inches in 1
hour. Additional rainfall amounts up to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include: New Milford, Thomaston, Woodbury Center, Oakville, New Preston, Northwest Harwinton, Terryville, Watertown, Plymouth, Woodbury, Bethlehem, Washington, Morris, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Gulls Hollow, Bethlehem Village, Hotchkissville, Lakeside and Horse Heaven.

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central Fairfield County and south central New Haven County until 2:30 p.m.

“At 138 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Brewster, moving southeast at 40 mph. HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail….IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines.”

This severe thunderstorm will be near:
Danbury and Ridgefield around 145 PM EDT.
Newtown around 150 PM EDT.
Monroe and Weston around 155 PM EDT.
Fairfield and Trumbull around 200 PM EDT.
Bridgeport around 205 PM EDT.
Stratford around 210 PM EDT.
Milford around 215 PM EDT.

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has a severe thunderstorm warning for north central Fairfield County until 2:30 p.m.

“At 128 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Pawling, moving east at 25 mph,” the weather service said. “HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail…IMPACT…Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines.”

This severe thunderstorm will be near: Sherman and New Fairfield around 135 PM EDT.

UPDATE: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Hartford and Tolland County until 2:30 p.m.

“At 129 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Suffield to near Hartford to Southington, moving east at 40 mph…HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail,” the weather service said. “…IMPACT…Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include: Springfield, Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Manchester, East
Hartford, Enfield, Southington, Glastonbury, Newington, Vernon, Windsor, Agawam, West Springfield, Wethersfield, Mansfield, South Windsor, Farmington, Bloomfield, and Berlin.

UPDATE: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Hartford County in northern Connecticut until 1:45 p.m.

“At 1238 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Norfolk to near Dover Plains, moving east at 45 mph….HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail,” said the National Weather Service.

* Locations impacted include: Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Bristol, Enfield,
Southington, Newington, Windsor, Agawam, Wethersfield, Farmington, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Berlin, Rocky Hill, Avon, Plainville, Longmeadow, Suffield, and Windsor Locks.

Original post: CONNECTICUT — A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 7 p.m. Sunday for the entire state of Connecticut.

The National Weather Service said wind gusts up to 75 mph are possible, along with hail and frequent lightning.

“After a mainly benign and muggy morning, things dramatically change this PM,” said WFSB 3 TV meteorologists. “An approaching cold front kicks off a couple rounds of rain and storms. Be ready between 1-10pm from northwest to southeast. Some storms in the afternoon and again early this evening will likely be strong to severe, and that’s why we have declared it a FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY. The greatest impact will likely be frequent lightning, followed by downpours and strong and damaging wind gusts. Large hail is possible if we get a few supercells to develop, and even an isolated tornado is possible, but not the primary threat. Prepare for possible tree damage, power outages, etc. We’re now in the level 3 of 5 risk category for receiving severe wind producing storms! Take this seriously folks! (Read/watch more at WFSB 3 TV).

See also: Another Prominent Bank Closing 2 More Locations: Here’s Where, When

Here are the forecast details for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 3pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 85. Southwest wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and midnight. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 8 mph becoming north in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind 10 to 13 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Independence Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 85.

Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. High near 89. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 61. Northwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday: A slight chance of showers between 10am and 11am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. North wind 3 to 5 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Light south wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Independence Day: A chance of showers before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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