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WINSTED - In less than 10 minutes at the annual Town Meeting, the 2019-20 budget was presented, approved and sent to a June 1 referendum vote. A group of about 80 taxpayers voted unanimously to support the $33,825,361 budget, which for the third year in a row has a flat tax rate, holding steady at 33.54 mills. The meeting wrapped up so quickly, Town Manager Bob Geiger said, because "we… → Read More
TORRINGTON - The most well-known property listed in the city's recent tax sale auction was removed from the bidding process in the interest of better transportation. The Stone/Hendy factory complex at 200 Litchfield St. was scheduled to be auctioned off over the weekend for back taxes totaling nearly $160,000. But Tax Collector Launa Goslee said Monday that "the state is interested," so she… → Read More
WINSTED - The water at Highland Lake remains murky, a month after tests showed the clarity of the water may be as low at its ever been . A statement from the town released Wednesday noted that officials are "monitoring the low visibility readings (taken) at the lake on April 4th and (the water's) continued murkiness through May." The problem is compounded, the statement notes, by the failure of… → Read More
TORRINGTON - At least 10 arrests in 10 years: that's the record of Richard Lacasse, 31, formerly of the city, whose history of arrests stretches back to 2009. His most recent arrest was weeks ago in Winsted, where he lists his home address as an apartment on Main Street. Lacasse is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail at New Haven Correctional Institution. His court record shows there are seven… → Read More
TORRINGTON - This may be the last summer that city employees will have to work in the outdated and outgrown regional Animal Control Shelter at 248 Bogue Road. A design plan for a larger and more efficient building is expected to ready for review in a few weeks, Rick Lynn, executive director of the Northwest Hills Council of Governments said in an email. The council is managing the shelter… → Read More
TORRINGTON - The school district has until June 1 to make corrective actions mandated by the State Department of Education for two of its special education programs. The corrective actions were issued in March against the district and EdAdvance, the educational consortium that manages the Access North and TAP programs - the two investigated by the state. The deadline comes as EdAdvance enters… → Read More
WINSTED - The first Pride Palooza conference at Northwest Connecticut Community College will be held on May 10 with a daylong forum on gender roles and identity. Nearly 100 Connecticut high school and community college Pride Club members will attend, said Karen Hunter, the college's advisor for lesbian, gay and transgendered students. Hunter began planning the event in August and has assembled… → Read More
TORRINGTON - In just over two weeks, the Board of Education must submit a revised spending plan for the 2019-20 school year to the Board of Finance. In a joint meeting of the two boards this week, the Board of Finance asked the school board and administrators to submit proposed budget totals that reflect incremental increases from 4 to 6 percent on a requested $79.2 million budget . The original… → Read More
TORRINGTON - One of highest tax debt amounts listed in the city's May 11 property auction is for nearly $156,000. Property records show that two buildings at 200 Litchfield St., which are part of the historic Stone Hendey complex, are slated to be sold to the highest bidder in just over a week. One building is a plain warehouse, but the second, a two story brick structure that is perpendicular… → Read More
TORRINGTON - A new zoning enforcement and wetlands officer will join the city's Planning Department Monday. Jeremy Leifert, 43, who lives in Torrington, worked as the land use administrator in Thomaston for almost 12 years, he said Wednesday. "I'm focused on clean water and clean air," Leifert said. Because he lives in the city, he said, "I have almost a personal stake," in environmental… → Read More
TORRINGTON - In just a few months the old Torrington firehouse at 117 Water St. that's been vacant for about 20 years is expected to house the Bad Dog Brewing Co. Matthew Tkac and his family from Bristol are expected to sign a lease for the two-story 1901 brick building with its striking architecture and bell tower. "They were looking for almost a year in Torrington," to establish the business,… → Read More
TORRINGTON - A request for a 6.9 percent increase in the Torrington Board of Education budget was met Tuesday night with concern and questions from the City Council and Board of Finance. "We need to discuss the capital budget," said Mayor Elinor Carbone. "This is specifically about the impact on the mill rate." The capital budget request is $1.42 million with an additional $864,325 for… → Read More
WINSTED - Every April a scientist who specializes in water quality takes samples in Highland Lake to check the amount of oxygen and chemical elements found in the water. This year's sample showed the clarity of the water in the northern section of the lake was only to 1.8 meters deep, or about six feet. "That's probably the lowest readings ever," said Mayor Candy Perez, whose family has owned a… → Read More
TORRINGTON - The first documents have been filed with Superior Court in Torrington for the civil lawsuit brought by the W. L. Gilbert Corp. against the town of Winchester. The corporation's attorney, Michael Sconyers of Bantam, said Monday that the filing requires the town to respond on May 7 to his client's complaint concerning two parcels of land totaling about five acres behind the Mary P.… → Read More
TORRINGTON - In less than a month, the city's only Rite Aid store at 92 Willow St, will close permanently after being recently purchased by its corporate rival, Walgreens. The in-store pharmacy at 92 Willow St. has been operated by Walgreens for more than two years, said an employee, who didn't want to be named. The store is closing, "to help ensure we have the right stores in the right… → Read More
TORRINGTON - Downtown is the heart, soul and mover of a city's economic growth. To adapt to a new economy, development experts note that the state's "legacy cities," which includes Torrington, need to make their downtown more inviting. "Connecticut has an aging population," said Patrick McMahon, CEO and president of Connecticut Main Street , a nonprofit planning organization that works to… → Read More
TORRINGTON - Strategic, collaborative and engaged are the goals for the next generation of the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council's projects. The council's new Executive Director Rufus de Rham is five months in to his position - he is only the second person to lead the nonprofit organization since its founding in 2003. He succeeded Amy Wynn , who is now the executive director of the American… → Read More
TORRINGTON - Daniel Gervais, 72, of the city, was sentenced on Friday at the Superior Court in Torrington to 22 years in prison on the charges of first-degree manslaughter and tampering with evidence in the death of his wife . He must also pay two fines totaling $20,000. Gervais pleaded guilty in February of killing his wife, Phyllis Gervais, 79, of Torrington in the spring of 2017. Gervais is… → Read More
WINSTED - A New York investor recently purchased the historic Gilbert Clock Shop apartment property at 13 Wallens St. for $5.1 million. The buyer is listed on the town's property database as Ventures LLC, CT3, owned by Hillel Markowitz of Monsey, N.Y. He could not be reached for comment Thursday. The former owner, Gilbert Clock Apartments LLC of Ansonia, was in turn, held by Winsted Investors… → Read More
LITCHFIELD - Vaping monitors at a regional high school are helping administrators recognize students who are nicotine dependent, with the goal of helping the teens break the habit. "It's going really well," Wamogo Regional High School Principal Sabine Loveland said about the new monitor system. Twelve were installed in February in student restrooms and locker rooms. As one of the first schools… → Read More