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Former FEMA Head, State Panel Agree on Outages

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut Light & Power Co. was not only unprepared but also made critical mistakes and was seriously undermanned during the historic Oct. 29 snowstorm that knocked out power to a record 809,000 customers across the state, concluded a blistering report issued Friday by former FEMA director James Lee Witt.

"CL&P also knew it was making a false promise when it said all power would be restored in Connecticut on Nov. 6, more than a week after the storm," according to the report by the Washington, D.C.-based Witt Associates. Power wasn't completely ...

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Conflict of Interest Debated by Easton Selectmen

By Erin Lynch 12/02/11

EASTON, Conn. – Would it be a conflict of interest if a member of an Easton board got a paycheck from the Board of Education? That is the question that left members of the Board of Selectmen scratching their heads Thursday night.

The selectmen were supposed to deliberate on the possible appointment of two residents as alternates to the Board of Finance. One is Paul Lindoerfer, who previously worked on several tax-related committees in Easton.

Lindoerfer was hoping the selectmen would appoint him to the finance board, but instead the conversation turned to a ...

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Funding Coming for I-95 Widening in Fairfield County

By Staff Report 12/02/11

NORWALK, Conn. — Beleaguered I-95 drivers may someday get a little relief now that the state is close to approving $85 million in funding for two "traffic-mitigation" lanes to be built between Exits 14 and 15 in Norwalk.

“Once again, the state of Connecticut is making the investments needed to preserve and grow our infrastructure at both the state and local levels,” state Sen. Bob Duff said in a statement Friday. “I have been advocating for these congestion mitigation lanes at Exits 14 and 15 for quite some time, so I’m happy to finally have the money ...

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Report: CL&P; Didn't Prepare for Vast Outages

By Staff Report 12/02/11

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut Light & Power was not prepared to deal with the massive power outages that occured after the October nor'easter, says a report compiled by a former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The report released Friday by Witt Associated said the "worst-case scenario" the utility had planned for enivisioned only 100,000 power outages. But more than 809,000 customers lost power after the snowstorm, according to Gov. Dannel Malloy's office.

Some Connecticut residents lost power for more than a week.

“This was ...

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Eastonites Could Get Break on Driveway Bond Issue

By Erin Lynch 12/02/11

EASTON, Conn. – It looks like there could be light at the end of the asphalt tunnel for any Easton resident with an outstanding driveway bond that is more than 10 years old.

The town is sitting on $278,000 worth of outstanding driveway bonds that date back more than a decade, according to First Selectman Thomas Herrmann. On Thursday, the Board of Selectman agreed that something needed to be done, including the possibility of returning the money to residents.

A driveway ordinance was enacted in Easton in 1980 to ensure that residents had working and up-to-code driveways, ...

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Former FEMA Head To Present Report on Outages

By Richard Weizel 12/01/11

HARTFORD, Conn. – A much-anticipated report on the record power outages in Connecticut after October's historic nor'easter will be presented Friday morning by a Washington, D.C., consulting firm run by former FEMA director James Lee Witt.

The report will be presented to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and a special panel investigating the outages.

Malloy will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. with Witt Associates' Vice President Charles Fischer to discuss findings in the firm's independent review and analysis of the storm.

After the news conference, Fischer will make a ...

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Easton Shop Gets Ready for Christmas

By Erin Lynch 12/01/11

EASTON, Conn. — It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Silverman's Farm as workers there gear up for the holidays.

The Christmas trees are layed out, the halls have been decked, the orchids and poinsettas have been watered and the Christmas lights have been turned on. The employees are ready for the holidays and have redecorated their market into a holiday wonderland.

Are you getting ready for the holidays? Please send photos to reporter Erin Lynch at elynch@mainstreetconnect.us.

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Webbe Takes Aim at Easton Leaders With New Site

By Erin Lynch 12/01/11

EASTON, Conn. – Here is a warning to all town officials: Big brother is watching, and it comes in the form a new website created by former first selectman candidate Robert Webbe.

Within the next few days, Webbe will launch Easton Eye, a site that will discuss hot-button issues in town, including driveway bonds. “I want this site to be informative, and I want to educate people and to allow the site to energize them,” Webbe said Tuesday.

The former candidate said he understands that Easton residents live busy lives and that they can’t always make it to town meetings. But ...

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Community Calendar

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

League of Women Voters Conference Focusses on Workforce and Economic Development
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Holiday Show and Sale at Silvermine Arts Center
Dec 4

Easton Girl Scouts Holiday Craft bazaar and bake sale
Dec 9

Rockapella Sings in the Holidays in Ridgefield
Dec 12

Celebrate Best Buddies of Fairfield County
Dec 14

"Winding Down The Wars"

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CL&P; To Give Customers Bill Credits for Outages

By Anna Helhoski 11/30/11

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – Connecticut Light & Power residential customers who were still without power one week after the pre-Halloween storm will be eligible for a credit on their bill, the utility's parent company announced Tuesday. The credit will range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $200 under a $30 million fund to be created by Northeast Utilities.

“As we heard from our customers and had discussions with Gov. Malloy and his staff, it became clear that the original sum we proposed, $10 million, was insufficient,” Charles Shivery, ...

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Powerball Trio Deny Fronting for Real Winner

By Anna Helhoski 11/30/11

GREENWICH, Conn. – The three Greenwich financial advisers who claimed a $254 million Powerball jackpot Monday issued a statement Tuesday denying speculation they were fronting for a client who was the actual winner.

A public relations spokesman for the trio said “… to be clear, there are a total of three trustees, and there is no anonymous fourth participant.” The statement came from PR exec Gary Lewi on behalf of Putnam Avenue Family Trust, which was created by Brandon Lacoff, Greg Skidmore and Timothy Davidson before they came forward to claim the jackpot. The three are ...

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All Aboard! Fairfield Metro Station Opens Monday

By Greg Canuel 11/30/11

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield Metro train station officially opens for service on Monday, Dec. 5, the state Department of Transportation has announced. First Selectman Michael Tetreau, DOT Commissioner James P. Redeker and Black Rock Realty CEO Kurt Wittek will cut the opening ribbon Friday. The new station will give the town three stops on Metro-North's New Haven Line.

Tetreau told the Representative Town Meeting on Monday night that Fairfield’s work on the station is mostly done and that contractors are “pretty much demobilized.” The town still has to work on a few ...

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Occupy Wall Street Protesters To Head to Darien

By Casey Donahue 11/30/11

DARIEN, Conn. – The Occupy Wall Street movement is going to Darien at the end of the month. Darien resident Margaret Rague has invited protesters to express themselves at Tilley Pond Park on Dec. 21 and 22.

“This is a very wealthy town, and I feel like instead of sitting in Manhattan, detached, they should come here to where the wealthy do live and strike up a conversation,” Rague said.

She is organizing Occupy Darien to encourage a meeting between the 1 percent and the 99 percent. She picked a time near the holidays because she hopes that people doing Christmas ...

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46-Lot Subdivision Eyed for Easton

By Erin Lynch 11/30/11

EASTON, Conn. – It’s in the early stages, but a 46-lot subdivision could be coming to the farming area of Stepney Road in Easton.

Heinz Von Kuthy filed an application Nov. 10 for a soil test with the Health Department and included a site development plan showing the subdivision plan.

The parcel of land sits on 36.71 acres at 740 Stepney Road, just a few blocks from Maple Row Farm. Under the plan, two entrances are proposed to offer access if homes were built: one in a cul-de-sac style on Hayes Street and another off Stepney Road.

Even though the plans are ...

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Who Is Behind the Greenwich Powerball Win?

By Anna Helhoski 11/29/11

GREENWICH, Conn. — The three executives who claimed the state’s $254.2 million Powerball jackpot Monday all work for Belpointe, a financial management firm at 125 Greenwich Ave. The trio — Brandon Lacoff, Greg Skidmore and Timothy Davidson — are trustees of the Putnam Avenue Family Trust, which was created to handle the winnings.

Belpointe, which was co-founded by Lacoff, provides wealth management services and real estate investment management, according to its website. It is responsible for two major real estate projects: Beacon Hill of Greenwich, a ...

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