Tribes Put Plans For East Windsor Casino on Hold – NBC ...

Hey everyone!
It’s the weekend leading up to fourth of July, so lots of Fireworks celebrations this week. Here’s the list!:
Windsor Locks Fire Department Annual Carnival at Veterans Memorial Park in Windsor Locks, June 28-30
Trumbull Day at the fields behind Trumbull High School, June 28, 29 & July 1st
Saybrook Summer Sidewalk Sale on Main Street in Old Saybrook, June 29-July 1st
Hamden Fireworks at Town Center Park in Hamden, June 29th, dusk
Red, White and Blue BBQ at Owen Bell Park in Killingly, June 29th, 4-9:45 pm
Celebrate America! at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center, June 29th, 7:30 pm
Fireworks at Ocean Beach Park in New London, June 29th, 8 pm
ComiConn at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, June 30th & July 1st
Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire at Warsaw Park in Ansonia, June 30th & July 1st
Arts & Crafts Show on the East Lyme Town Hall green, June 30th & July 1st
Connecticut Taco Festival at Harrybrooke Park in New Milford, June 30th, 12-6 pm
Food Trucks on the Farm at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, June 30th, 11 am - 6 pm
Food Truck Festival on Water Street in New London, June 30th, 6-9 pm
Rose Arts Festival at Chelsea Parade Park & Downtown Norwich, June 30th
Caribbean Jerk Festival at Library Park in Waterbury, June 30th, 12-8 pm
Fireworks at the Lake at Lake Compounce in Bristol, June 30th, 9:30 pm
Beach Party & Fireworks at East Haven Town Beach, 12-10 pm
Coventryfest at Patriots Park, June 30th, 3-10 pm
Picnic & Fireworks at Hebron Lions Fairgrounds, 2 pm (fireworks start at 9:30 pm)
Fireworks at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, June 30th, 9 pm
Kickoff to Summer Fireworks at Milford Harbor @ Lisman Landing in Milford, June 30th, 4-11:30 pm (fireworks at 9:15 pm)
Rock n’ Roots Revival at Lonetown Farm in Redding, June 30th, 1 pm
Connecticut Vape Festival at Overshores Brewing Co. in East Haven, June 30th, 3-11 pm
Food Trucks & Fireworks Extravaganza at Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, July 1st, 2-10 pm
Barnumpalooza at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, July 1st, 11 am - 10 pm
Independence Day Concert & Fireworks at Orange Fairgrounds, July 1st, 6:30 pm
Concert & Fireworks at Rotary Park in Putnam, July 1st, 7-10 pm
Hondafest at Thompson Motor Speedway, July 1st, 12 pm
Enjoy your week!

Lawmakers in Southeastern Connecticut and other parts of the state are opposing legislation to study the impact of gambling in our state. I live in Enfield and our town opposed a casino. So did lawmakers in Windsor Locks. But East Windsor approved it, and at site that is next to Windsor Locks border and a stone's throw from Enfield's border. Regardless of how you feel about casino gambling or East Windsor casino, it has potential to deliver a boatload of problems. The legislature will hold a hearing Tuesday some gambling related bills, but the most relevant to my town is H.B. 7290, which will require “the state to conduct studies concerning the effect of legalized gambling on the citizens of this state.”
Testimony is needed. (Details about how to submit it, below)
The last time the state did a comprehensive study was in 2009 and it looked at impact of the two tribal casinos. It looks at the impact in all the towns near the casinos, but here’s the data about Norwich, which has a population of about 39,000, almost the same size of Enfield. That’s why I broke it out.
1 - In 2005, Norwich reported that it is spending close to $1 million a year to deal with impacts of the two casinos.
2 - Norwich police reported a 27% increase in motor vehicle accidents from 1991 to 2004. The city could not say how many of those accidents were related to casino traffic, but officials noted that traffic on local roads leading to the casinos has more than doubled.
3 Norwich expected wear and tear on local roads to increase
4 - Since the casinos opened, Norwich hired 15 additional police officers. Much of that hiring was initially done with state and federal grants in 1996, but that funding expired years ago, forcing Norwich to pick up the $861,000 tab itself.
5 - From 1992 to 2004, calls for service increased 76 percent. Norwich estimates that it costs an extra $200,000 to respond to those additional calls for service.
6- With many casino workers unable to afford housing in southeastern Connecticut, some landlords have converted single-family homes into boarding facilities. Norwich added a new position, Blight Officer, in 2007 to investigate complaints of substandard housing and hotbedding.
8 - Schools impact: Norwich Free Academy (Norwich‘s public high school): Its current ESOL enrollment is nearly 200, seven times the 1993 figure.
9 - DUI risk. From the report: “Norwich, the largest municipality in the region, is coping with a number of problems. It is located within eight miles of both casinos. DUI arrests have more than doubled since 1992. Montville and Ledyard have also experienced significant increases. Roughly 20 percent of the motorists in Montville, Ledyard and North Stonington arrested for DUI acknowledged to police that their last drink was at a casino. One such motorist was charged with manslaughter in March 2009 for allegedly causing a fatal accident by driving the wrong way on I-395.”
10: Problem gambling. Statewide: "In 1996, the state had just one [problem gambling] clinic, which saw 100 clients. In FY 2008, the figure was 922 clients. Still, as the prevalence rates show, there are thousands of residents who are either problem or probable pathological gamblers, which means Bettor Choice [the organization that helps gamblers] sees only a small fraction of them."
Email your testimony in Word or PDF to [email protected] by 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 12. Cite the bill number in the subject line, H.B. 7290. This doesn’t have to be long at all. It's no different than writing an email.

Friday, May 11th:

• ARIES SPEARS (May 11-13): Hartford Funny Bone, 194 Buckland Hills Drive Suite #1054 Manchester, various times, $25, - As a principal cast member on Fox’s hit sketch comedy show Mad TV, Aries brought a fresh, hip style to the already-edgy program from the third through the tenth season. The producers made full use of many of Aries’s talents by calling on him frequently to create new hilarious characters and write sketches. Some of the many recurring characters that Aries is famous for on the show include: Belma Buttons, Bill Cosby, Jesse Jackson, Mike Tyson, Walter (Crackheads), Reggie (Erascist), Dollar Bill Montgomery, Shaquille O'Neal, The Klumps, Michael Jackson, Sisqo, Evander Holyfield, El Diablo Negro and more. Aries also boasts a number of uproarious impersonations on the show that include James Brown, Al Pacino, and his childhood idol Eddie Murphy. The Aries-branded sketch “Talkin’ American” was Mad TV’s most popular bit, keeping fans tuned in and boosting Mad’s ratings impressively on Saturday night.
  
• Goats 'N Pajamas & Goat Therapy (May 11-13): Bradley Mountain Farm, 537 Shuttle Meadow Road, Southington, Free-$25, - Our meditation instructor will lead you through a relaxing guided session while our goats are wandering around eating, cuddling, and playing. OR Help put the herd to bed, cuddle with your favorite goat, and experience pure silliness. You will be brushing the goats, putting pajamas on the baby goats, and reading them a good night story in the barn.
  
• Mother’s Day / Bingo Bonanza (May 11-13): Strawberry Park Resort, 42 Pierce Rd., Preston, Various times, Can't seem to find a price? - Celebrate Mom’s this weekend with a mother’s day wine and cheese social. All mom’s come out and have a friendly competition against your little ones. Along with the Mother’s Day breakfast buffet with our mother’s day basket raffle. Show your creativeness with “Paint and Party” by The Art House of Norwich (small fee applies). This fun-filled weekend also has 4 bingo sessions and our annual Mother’s Day $2000 Raffle. Each site reservation for this weekend will receive one free raffle ticket, while additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase. You don’t need to be present to win, join us for the prize drawing held at noon on Sunday. Prizes drawn will include a $1,000 grand prize winner, with an additional $1,000 to be awarded.
  
• Dogwood Festival (May 11-13): Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, 1045 Old Academy Rd., Fairfield, Various times, Free, - Celebrate Mother's Day and the beauty of the dogwood blossoms. The weekend-long festival includes more than 60 vendors, live music, children's games, food, raffles, and a tag/treasure sale. Special event includes Friday luncheon at noon.
  
• Yanni 25: Friday, May 11, Oakdale Theater, 95 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford, 7:00PM, $35-85, - (Yanni; The Rain Must Fall, 2012)
  
• Ray Wylie Hubbard: Friday, May 11, Infinity Music Hall, 20 Greenwoods Rd. Norfolk, 8:00PM, $29-44, - (Ray Wylie Hubbard; Snake Farm, 2010)
  
• Olga Tañón: Friday, May 11, Grand Theater, Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, 8:00PM, $55-125, - (Olga Tañon; La Gran Fiesta, 2017)
  
• Rick Springfield: Friday, May 11, Shubert Theater, 247 College Street, New Haven, 8:00PM, $52-77, - (Rick Springfield; Jessies Girl, 1981)
  
• Air Supply: Friday, May 11, Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Rd. Ridgefield, 8:00PM, $90-179, - (Air Supply; All Out of Love, 1980)
  

 
Saturday, May 12th:

• Chris Perondi's Stunt Dog Experience: Bushnell Theater, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford, 2:00PM, $24.50-49.50, - This cast of performers and dogs will delight audiences of all ages, with high energy excitement from beginning to end. During the Stunt Dog Experience, you will witness some of the most incredible stunts and behaviors ever performed by dogs. With amazing tricks, big air stunts, comedy antics, dancing dogs, and athletic feats, it is the most entertaining show of its kind! Every show also includes interactive crowd participation. It’s not just a show, it’s an experience!
  
• Vincent Pastore aka "Big Pussy" & Goumba Johnny: Saturday, May 12, Treehouse Comedy, 11 Schoephoester Road, Windsor Locks, 6:00PM, $25 - Vincent pastore from HBO's The Sopranos, featured in the movies Good Fellas, Regarding Henry, Made, Awakenings, and CBS's Hawaii Five-O & Goumba Johnny from Late Night With Seth Meyers, Comedy Central, CBS, and longtime NY radio-personality.
  
• Connecticut Race in the Park: Saturday, May 12, Walnut Hill Park, 184 West Main St, New Britain, 10:00AM-6:00PM, Free for spectators, $15 to run, - The Connecticut RACE IN THE PARK takes place annually each May on the Saturday before Mother’s Day in New Britain’s historic Walnut Hill Park. Each year, thousands gather to participate in race day festivities and events while honoring survivors, remembering loved ones, celebrating life and most importantly, raising much needed funds to advance the fight against breast cancer in Connecticut. By joining The Race, pledging your support or becoming a valuable sponsor, you help raise awareness and funds to support the fight against breast cancer. 100% raised in Connecticut. 100% stays in Connecticut. Join The Race. Join the cause.
  
• On Golden Pond: Saturday, May 12, Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook, 1:00PM, Free, - Celebrate what would have been Katharine Hepburn's 111th birthday with a free screening of On Golden Pond. The legendary Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn star in one of the 1980s most honored and cherished films, On Golden Pond. In his final role, Fonda masterfully plays Norman Thayer, a prickly retired professor who visits his Maine summer home with his loving wife Ethel (Hepburn). Soon after, they are joined by their daughter Chelsea (Jane Fonda, in her only on-screen teaming with her father), her fiancé Bill, and his son Billy. The cantankerous Norman develops an unlikely bond with young Billy, providing the framework for an emotional summer in which the Thayers' strained familial relationships are finally allowed to heal and take wing.
  

 
Sunday, May 13th:

• Connecticut Science Center, Moms Visit Free!: Sunday, May 13, 250 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, 10:00AM-5:00PM, various prices for not moms, - Mom is sure to feel like a VIP this Mother’s Day with free general admission to the Science Center. Enjoy more than 165 hands-on exhibits including the traveling exhibit, Bionic Me. Or, smell the flowers and enjoy the sunshine on the rooftop garden.
  
• 'Petrouchka', a Mother's Day Matinee: Sunday, May 13, Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, 1:00PM, $35, - Connecticut Ballet presents a special Mother's Day family matinee of Russian Classics. The child-friendly hour-long performance of Petrouchka will be narrated by Artistic Director Brett Raphael. Petrouchka is the Stravinsky/Fokine masterwork created for Ballets Russes in 1911 (including iconic costumes/scenery designed by Alexander Benois). An exciting meet and greet with the characters will take place after the show.
  

 
27 Ways to Treat Your Mom This Mother’s Day in CT - CT Weekender