Governor Ned Lamont today announced that – in accordance with a proclamation issued by President Joe Biden directing flags to be lowered throughout the country as a mark of respect for General Colin Powell – he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut to be flown at half-staff beginning immediately until sunset on the evening of Friday, October 22, 2021.

Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered during this same duration of time.

Over 400 spectacularly-beautiful accordions have been moved into the recently-restored Canaan Union Railroad station in the heart of North Canaan, Connecticut by long-time collector Angelo Paul Ramunni. As creator and owner of the New England Accordion Connection & Museum Company (NEACMC), Ramunni recently relocated the exceptionally-detailed and highly-ornate hand-crafted accordions from throughout the world dating back to the year 1829 into the historic railroad station.

“This is a happy, hands-on experience place that the public is embracing with great joy,” stated Ramunni. “We opened this living historical museum in early July 2021 and visitor’s jaws drop when they enter and see hundreds of accordions in a room with 12’ high wood-beamed ceilings and windows. It is the only room in the original 8,500 square foot station dating back to when it was built in 1872. The rest of the building was destroyed in a 2001 fire and had to be re-built to modern-day specs.”

Between 1984 and 2002, Ramunni owned the historic station to house his CPA business. In 2001 he sold it to the Connecticut Railroad Historical Association after it was heavily damaged by an arson’s fire. Visitors today to his museum are enthusiastically engaged when he tells them folk stories about what happened in the building over the last 147 years at the ‘crossroads where thousands of people passed through every week.”

In 2011, Ramunni created his accordion museum in a garage on his home’s property in North Canaan, Connecticut. This July, he lovingly relocated and now displays the 400+ gorgeous accordions plus he repairs, buys and sells these remarkable ‘bling-enhanced’ vintage accordions. He also offers for sale over 10,000 pieces of sheet music and accordion-related books, plus lessons, and his accordion-playing talents for special events.

“Vienna, Austria in 1829 was where the first ‘official’ accordion was patented,” revealed Ramunni. “In America, the accordion became very popular as the West was being settled and it became an integral part of many emigrating families from across the globe. Being portable and musically-rich with numerous mechanical reeds and sounds, it was played in happy and harrowing times of people’s lives including throughout the Civil War, World War I and II.

People who play accordions offer their personal gifts of music to the listeners. Frequently they create lasting relationships with other people through their music. That is what is happening with this newly-relocated display of accordions. Visitors here experience a great deal of joy and excitement.”

“This museum’s 40 x 24 foot historical room,” continued Ramunni, “is helping people to reconnect to themselves and unite with others again. It offers an energizing and really beautiful atmosphere. It is my blessed joy to witness true excitement and wonder of visitors of all ages as they tour. Visitors walk through taking deep, appreciative and very long breaths of wonder and joy. They especially enjoy my old Wurlitzer jukebox, and I play a lot of polkas!”

The New England Accordion Connection & Museum Company is located in the Canaan Union Railroad station in North Canaan next to the Connecticut Railroad Historical Association Museum and the Great Falls Brewing Company restaurant.  The accordion museum is open each weekend, and by appointment weekdays by calling 860-833-1374 or emailing to ramunni@comcast.net. To learn more, visit https://www.neacmc.com.

Celebratory Concert Headlining José Feliciano on August 14 at The Ridgefield Playhouse

To mark the passage of the new state law that better protects victims of human trafficking in Connecticut, as well as highlight continued efforts by organizations around the state to focus greater attention to this pervasive problem, Traffick Jam Live, a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is hosting a special concert featuring Grammy Award-winning singer/guitarist José Feliciano of Weston and special guest Vaneese Thomas at the Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, Aug. 14.

The concert will work to raise money -- and awareness -- about human trafficking, which affects communities large and small, including many here in Connecticut. Since 2008, more than 1,000 children have been referred to the Department of Children and Families in Connecticut as possible victims of child trafficking.

Between the two performances several Connecticut based anti-human trafficking nonprofits (PEHT, LOVE 146 and TJL) will share some vital information about human sex trafficking right here in our own communities. The presentation takeaways include: tips on “Red Flags” to look for to spot early indications of “grooming” techniques of traffickers; a protective look at how social media can provide traffickers access to our young daughters.

State Sen. Will Haskell will join them on stage and comment about the importance of the recently signed anti-human trafficking law.

Traffick Jam Live is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit aimed at collaboratively disrupting human trafficking, specifically sex trafficking of girls under the age of 18, in the United States. It was launched by Ridgefield resident Bo Beatty in 2016.

Traffick Jam Live shines a spotlight on the shadows of human trafficking through concert and event productions that inform audiences on vital human trafficking awareness information.  For starters, if you see something, say something by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. Traffick Jam Live is also collaboratively developing a tactical hand signal for girls to alert “trained eyes” when they are with their trafficker on an airplane, a hotel lobby or any public facility with monitored security cameras. 

"Sadly, most Americans have no idea how prevalent sex trafficking is right here in our own communities," states Beatty.

The new law, which passed earlier this summer, has been hailed by advocates working to end human trafficking. Traffickers charged in Connecticut will find it harder to avoid prosecution and victims of trafficking will now have an easier time getting their convictions vacated if the crimes they committed were done while being trafficked.

Advocates say these measures, and others included in the law, reflect a greater understanding and awareness of the problem, as well as the long-term consequences trafficking has on its victims. On a recent online zoom presentation hosted by Greenwich-based Partnership to End Human Trafficking (PEHT), the group praised the new law and the significant efforts of advocates over several years to get it passed and signed. 

“This new Connecticut State law is a major accomplishment,” said Erin Williamson, vice president of Global Programs and Strategy at New Haven-based LOVE146.

One of Williamson's and LOVE146's concerns are the predatory traffickers' enhanced social media access to vulnerable young girls anywhere in Connecticut.

The average age of entry into human sex trafficking is 12 to 14 years old, according to many anti-trafficking agencies. And the U.S. Department of State, in its "2021 Trafficking In Persons Report,” indicates that 28 percent of sex trafficking victims in the United States (more than 1 in 4) are girls under the age of 18.

Concert organizers are hoping the community comes out to enjoy some great music and do their part in disrupting human trafficking. The concert opens at 7 p.m. with a performance by Thomas and her ensemble.

"I'm honored to be a part of it. It's such an important issue," said Thomas, who has sung with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Celine Dion, to name a few.  "I don't think people really know ... they know the large picture, the big picture of what human trafficking is about. But they don't see it in a personal sense. That it could be right next door to them. That it could be right in their neighborhood. I'd like to draw attention to that aspect and have people be aware of what is going on around them."

She will be followed by the presentation and then the headliner -- Jose Feliciano -- will take the stage. Feliciano, a longtime Weston resident, headlined the Grand Opening of the Ridgefield Playhouse in 2000 and is returning once again to lend his talents to a worthy cause. 

In a joint statement, both José and wife Susan Feliciano stated, “Unless we, as a people, are really aware of this perversion —  a thing as diabolical as Human Trafficking — it will continue to permeate the underbelly of our society. I must admit, not until I was invited to perform this concert in support of Traffick Jam Live,  did we, Susan and I, grasp the scope of the dilemma. We need to become more fully aware and dedicated to do whatever we can, whatever it takes, to rid this scourge in order to protect the most vulnerable among us. Together, let’s work towards eradicating Human Trafficking in all its forms.”  The venues Gold Circle tickets also include post event VIP “meet and greet” with Feliciano after the concert.

To help provide complimentary concert tickets to Connecticut human trafficking survivors and employees and volunteers of CT’s anti-trafficking nonprofits, visit traffickjamlive.org “donate” page, make a donation, and enter “Comp Tix” in the comments field.  Join in and let’s JAM human trafficking together.

Tickets are available at RidgefieldPlayhouse.org and here

-- For more information about Traffick Jam Live, please visit https://traffickjamlive.org/

Connecticut's mandatory back-seat seat belt law effective October 1

The provision, which requires all passengers, no matter where they sit in a vehicle, to buckle up, was part of a State Department of Transportation bill, passed with bipartisan support. The bill became Public Act 21-175 when Governor Lamont signed it on July 12. It’s effective October 1.

In a press release today, AAA Northeast applauded the passage of a mandatory back-seat seat belt law during the recent legislative session, a law that’s expected to save lives and reduce fatalities and injuries on Connecticut roadways.

“Connecticut has taken a significant step to reduce serious injuries and fatalities involving unbelted rear seat passengers,” said Alec Slatky, AAA Northeast’s Director of Public and Government Affairs. “Given the spike in fatalities on roadways last year, passage of this lifesaving measure is cause for celebration."

One of the first states to pass a seat-belt law for drivers and front-seat passengers in 1985, Connecticut trailed the rest of the country in extending the law to the back seat. Pre-existing law only required rear-seat passengers under 16 to buckle up, even though proper restraint use is effective for all ages.

Now, Connecticut is the 32^nd state to require all back-seat occupants to buckle up, said Slatky. “There’s overwhelming evidence that seat-belt use reduces motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries. Now, unbelted rear-seat passengers no longer will be back-seat ‘bullets’ in crashes,” he added.

Since 2010, more than 2,000 unbelted back-seat occupants have been injured or killed on Connecticut roadways, reports the UConn Crash Data Repository.

The new law is subject to secondary enforcement, meaning drivers can’t be pulled over just because there is an unbelted adult in the back seat. However, law enforcement can issue a fine for the unbelted passenger if the driver is pulled over for a primary offense such as speeding. The fine is $50 if the driver is 18 or older and $75 if the driver is under 18.

SMALL ACTS OF ART

On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Susan Smith from Second Nature will lead a family workshop via Zoom on Mobile Making. This eco-friendly mobile is fun to make with everyday household items such as scissors, glue, brushes, rulers, colorful papers or magazines.

If you want more items, a packet can be picked up containing a dowel, embroidery thread, metal washers, and cardboard.You may pick up this packet on Nov. 14 or Nov. 16 after you have signed up for the workshop on the Norfolk Library website or by calling 860 542 5075.

This program is limited to 15 families and is best for children in grades 2 through 6. 

CHANGE TO THE SCHOOL DAY

On November 30, Botelle School will return to a typical school day of 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The length of the school day has been adjusted  to provide time for distance learners to meet with teachers. 99% of Botelle students are now in-person learners, and an extra 2.5 hours a week of instructional time adds up. The bus routes remain the same, and you can expect our child home at least 20 minutes later.

Parents should check their child’s masks to ensure they are  fitting properly. Masks must consistently cover the nose and mouth. When we notice your child’s nose consistently exposed, we will provide them with a disposable mask.

2020 marks only the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote nationwide. As in many other states, the women of Connecticut worked tirelessly and seemingly endlessly to achieve this goal.  Ilene Frank, Chief Curator of the Connecticut Historical Society, will use items from the Society's collection including photographs, letters, pamphlets, and newspaper headlines to understand one of the most hard-fought political battles of American history. Frank was formerly Executive Director of the Rensselaer County Historical Society. She oversees exhibitions, education, collections, state-wide folk life program and marketing for the museum and library. 

In this presentation, she discusses suffragists like Katharine Houghton Hepburn and Isabella Beecher Hooker, as well as some Connecticut women who fought tooth-and-nail against women getting the vote. New  research has uncovered the significant role that African-American women played in the movement including that of notable African American reformer and political activist, Mary Townsend Seymour, who said “The work must be done,”  Rose Payton, Minnie Glover, Daisy Daniels, and others.

The Connecticut Historical Society, Connecticut’s official historical society, is a private, nonprofit, educational organization established in 1825. Its collection includes more than 4 million manuscripts, graphics, books, artifacts, and other materials. The program is co-sponsored by the Scoville Memorial Library and the Salisbury Association Historical Society and will be presented live on Zoom on Saturday November 21 at 4:00 p.m.

Registration is required. Visit the events page at  scovillelibrary.org or call 860-435-2838. 

Photo by Scholastic

Fire and ambulance crews from Norfolk, Goshen and Drakeville were called out at about 7:45 p.m. Monday evening to the scene of a two-car accident on Route 263, just up the hill from Route 272.  Reportedly one person was trapped underneath a vehicle and another was seriously injured.

Lifestar was called to the scene and will be landing at the Norfolk/Goshen town line.

Northwestern Connecticut Community College STEM Students Receive Numerous Recognitions

WINSTED, CT - May 11, 2020 - While the pandemic may have kept them out of the classroom and prevented them from traveling, the research, hard work and dedication of the Northwestern Connecticut Community College’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students have not gone unrecognized.

Students, Rebekah Dery, Sydney Marshall, Francesca Neris, Edgar Petrosyan, Jordan Dziedzic, Kaitlyn Patchofsky, and Cynthia Pitcher were recently inducted into the Epsilon Pi Tau Honor Society for Science and Technology Students during a virtual ceremony that was held for inductees across the country.

Biology major Jeffrey Carrier was awarded a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates and will, at some later date, be working for 10 weeks with Dr. Anastasios Tzingounis, Professor of Physiology and Neurobiology at the University of Connecticut. He will be working with Dr. Tzingounis to study the mechanisms by which epilepsy-associated molecules and signaling networks lead to epileptogenesis in the neonatal and infantile brain.

Renee Brenckman, Amanda Gregg, Elijah Lovejoy and Xavier Rodriguez, all students in the Molecular Genetics class, annotated a Bacteriophage and submitted it for review for publication in GenBank. Renee Brenckman was selected to present their work at the SEAPHAGES Symposium sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Technology students Kit Fitch and Tommy Le were selected to present their poster Addressing the Global Nature of Industry, at the High Impact Technology Conference in Oregon in July. Both students traveled to Spain as part of Northwestern’s new Study Abroad Program to learn about the Global Nature of Industry. During their travels they visited numerous manufacturers and will be sharing what they learned.

Data Science students, Claire Christie, Nicola Sestito, and Joseph McElroy participated in the Capstone Research Project, where they are worked with industry on using their STEM skills to solve real world problems. They were tasked with helping HealthLynxIQ, a startup company, identify their focused market segment and potential barriers to adoption of their products.

Their final products consisted of a 12-page final paper and a 15-minute presentation which will be made available for all to view later this month. These three students will also be presenting their work to a national panel of judges through the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Northwestern Connecticut Community College has a strong STEM program that provides students with opportunities to participate in authentic research and real-world experiences both in and out of the classroom. Students can earn certificates in Manufacturing and Data Science as well as degrees in Biology, Data Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Natural Resources. For more information on how you can start your STEM career at Northwestern, email Sharon Gusky, Professor of Biology sgusky@nwcc.edu.

Drop-in Digital with Beth and Dawn
Five Digital Marketing Tools to Successfully Market Your Small Business Now

This live Zoom meeting is for you if you’re ready to build a foundation to boost your online marketing presence. Reach your audiences, grow your fans, and consistently deliver authentic and engaging content with fun straightforward advice from Beth Carlson of Silo Media and Dawn Stanyon of Professionality Consulting on Thursday, May 7th at 11:00 am. In this one-hour session, Beth and Dawn will:
Review the top five digital marketing MUST HAVES to increase traffic to your website, online store or bricks and mortar shop;
Share pro tips – they do this all the time and know what works…and what doesn’t;
Answer YOUR questions – the last 15 minutes will be totally open.

This is a fun and casual digital gathering made just for you. And the price is right: $35/pp per class.

" _cc="" _bcc="" _subject="" _body="" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204); outline: none; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.09px;">Email beth@silo-media.com or call Beth at 413 429 1176 to register for each class and get the sign in information. There will be 4 Drop In Digital Sessions in this series: May 7, May 14, May 21, and May 28. (attend one or all)

Bios

Beth Carlson
Beth helps her clients cut to the chase and identify priorities in their goals and content - what they do best and how to tell that story. Beth is an event producer and organizer, who loves Instagram, hiking, music, and art. Find out more at www.silo-media.com, @silomedia on IG and @therealsilomedia on Facebook.

Dawn Stanyon
Dawn helps small businesses to understand their brands, tell their stories and grow their fans. Dawn’s loves non-profits, The Berkshires, rat terriers and Instagram (not necessarily in that order). Read more at professionalityconsulting.com and follower her on Instagram @professionality Facebook @professionalityconsulting.

Connecticut Department of Labor launches new system today for self-employed to apply for federal unemployment benefits

On April 30, the State Department of Labor  began accepting claim applications for the self-employed, many of whom are eligible to collect unemployment insurance benefits under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program.

Federal guidelines require that self-employed individuals, including independent contractors and “gig” workers, first apply through the Connecticut unemployment system located at www.filectui.com. Applicants must receive a determination notice in the mail from the Connecticut Department of Labor before they can apply on the newly-designed Pandemic Unemployment Assistance online system that will also be located at www.filectui.com.

Self-employed individuals must follow this two-step application process:

• STEP ONE: Beginning April 30
• File a regular state claim application with the Connecticut Department of Labor at www.filectui.com using the BLUE button to file.
• NOTE: Self-employed individuals who already filed a claim application through this system should not file again. The agency has these original claims and a duplicate is not needed.
• After completing and submitting an application, claimants should look for an email from the Connecticut Department of Labor stating, “Thank you for submitting your online application for unemployment compensation benefits with the Connecticut Department of Labor. … Please look for a CONFIRMATION EMAIL notifying you that your claim has been processed. This email will include your NEXT STEPS information including instructions for when to start filing your weekly claims.”
• Claimants should then be on the lookout for a second email from the Connecticut Department of Labor stating, “Your claim for benefits has been processed! If this is a new claim then we are sending information regarding your claim via US mail.”
• Claimants should then look for their eligibility determination (Form UC-58 Monetary Determination) that must be sent through the US mail service.
• If the UC-58 Monetary Determination shows that the claimant has a “zero” weekly benefit rate (which means they do not have wage earnings in the state system) they are not eligible for state benefits and are eligible to file in the ReEmployCT system for self-employed individuals.
• If the UC-58 Monetary Determination shows a weekly benefit rate, they have wage earnings in the state system and are entitled to collect state unemployment benefits.
• STEP TWO: Once the UC-58 has been received via US mail
• Go to www.filectui.com and click the PUA button.
• The PUA system will have a record of the claimant’s state benefit ineligibility status.
• Complete the PUA application.
• Applicants will need their 2019 IRS forms, 1099, 2019 W-2s, and Schedule C. Applicants will be asked to provide earnings for 2019, broken down by quarters. Those without tax records for 2019 can self-attest their earnings, but will be subject to audit.
• Applicants will be asked the date when COVID-19 impacted their employment. Federal guidelines allow this to go back to February 2, 2020. If an unemployed status goes back to retroactive weeks, the system asks the claimant for weekly earnings through the current week filing.
• Once the PUA application is completed, if applicants did not select a payment method when filing under the state unemployment system, they will select their method of payment (direct deposit or debit card – the agency recommends direct deposit for much faster payment). Payment selection is made by returning to www.filectui.com and selecting the “method of payment” green button.

A frequently asked questions document located on the Connecticut Department of Labor’s website is being updated to include a section on the PUA application process, guidelines, and additional details.

Storytime with Miss Eileen
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 - 9:30  a.m. via Zoom

Miss Eileen has hosted storytimes at the library, at the Norfolk Early Learning Center, at Botelle, and, in the summer, at Tobey Pond. But this will be the first time she has hosted a storytime on Zoom!

Please register here if you would like to be emailed an invitation link to join the storytimes for children ages 2 to 5, or email Miss Eileen at efitzgibbons@biblio.org.

A Documentary Film for Earth Day: Home 

April 22 marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and Yann Arthus-Bertand’s documentary is an ode to the planet's beauty and its delicate harmony. Through the landscapes of 54 countries captured from above, the film takes us on a unique journey around the planet, to contemplate it and to understand the impact humans are having on it. 

Narrated by actor Glenn Close, Home covers the major themes of sustainability and clearly shows how actions and consequences are interconnected across the globe. Every breathtaking shot shows the Earth as we have never seen it before, both the treasures we are destroying and the wonders we can still preserve. "From the sky, there's less need for explanations." You can view the movie here.

On Saturday afternoon at around 4:10 p.m, Life Star was called to the scene of a car vs. motorcycle accident in the vicinity of George's Service Station on Route 44 in Norfolk.  Two people have been reported as injured, and the road is expected to be closed for some time.