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Celebrate halloween at The Fairfield Museum

Like Halloween? Fairfield Museum has two great ways to celebrate the season.  Ghosts, witches and goblins of all ages are invited to a Spooky Stroll. Families will stroll through Fairfield’s legendary Town Green and Old Burying Ground during this new, interactive children’s Halloween program.Costumes are encouraged. Spooky Stroll takes place on Friday,October 30 at 6pm and begins at Fairfield Museum.  Please pre-register, call 203-259-1598  Cost:adults $5,children $3  Recommended for children ages 6-10, adult supervision required.

Adults are invited to a Legends and Haunting Lantern Tour on Saturday October 24 and again on Sunday October 25 from 5:30pm – 7:00pm. Attendees will follow a costumed guide through Fairfield’s legendary Town Green and Old Burying Ground while hearing stories of legends and local lore.This program is recommended for adults and begins at the Fairfield Museum and History Center.Cost:$5 for museum members, $7 for non-members Please pre-register by calling 203-259-1598.

Fairfield Museum is located at 370 Beach Road in Fairfield, just past the Old Town Hall. For more information on these and other great programs, please visit www.fairfieldhs.org or call 203-259-1598.

Himes issues statement on Biden visit

Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement from the Recovery Act press conference with Vice President Biden and Senator Dodd:

“The Vice President’s effort to ensure smart, accountable use of Recovery funds is creating jobs and improving transportation throughout the state,” said  Himes. “While our economic recovery will not be easy or quick, the Recovery Act has been a major factor in helping us prevent more severe job losses and beginning to turn the economy around. The investments we’re making now—like improving the Merritt, new cancer research at Fairfield University, and making publicly-owned buildings more energy efficient—will pay dividends for decades to come.”

Finch is in D.C.; Mayor is apparently trying to escape CitiStat fiasco

Mayor Bill Finch is attending the United States Conference of Mayors’ Lobby Day, where Mayors from around the country will press the Senate to pass legislation on energy and climate issues and ensure funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program.

“There are many things that we as elected officials can do as part of the effort to reduce climate change and make our communities more sustainable,” said Finch . “Ensuring the continued existence of the EECBG Program gives us the resources we need to move forward.”

“The City of Bridgeport aims to be a leader in the region and the state in green jobs creation and curbing greenhouse gas emissions. As a result of the executive order I issued last fall, called B-Green 2020, the City has undertaken a variety of projects that will help us to save energy, reduce waste and shrink our carbon footprint while creating green jobs and promoting energy efficiency, both for municipal uses and for our citizens,” said Finch. “Cities must be a part of the solution if we have any hope of solving the problem of global climate change. I am honored to join my fellow mayors in lobbying Congress to pass this important piece of legislation.”

Finch is a member of the Advisory Board of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Joining Finch in this lobbying effort is Alanna Kabel, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in charge of the City’s Office of Central Grants & Community Development. They will meet with Connecticut Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman’s staff, and with Senators Barbara Boxer, John Kerry, Richard H. Lugar, Debbie Stabenow and Mark Begich to ensure that the Senate’s energy and climate change legislation includes continued funding for the EECBG. The EECBG provides direct funds to local governments for climate protection and efficient energy projects.

The EECBG, a program first conceived by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is available to eligible cities, counties and states providing grants for the following purposes: to curb energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; create green jobs; promote greater energy conservation and improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other energy-consuming sectors.

The Conference of Mayors is organizing the Lobby Day at the specific request of Senate Environment Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer. Conference Leaders met with Boxer and members of the Environment and Public Works Committee in August to establish the need for this legislation.

Grimaldi gets it right!

Congratulations to political writer Lennie Grimaldi who correctly predicted yesterday that Finch would appoint David Dunn as Acting Civil Service Personnel Director. Here is the official release from the mayor's office:

Mayor Bill Finch has announced that he will appoint David Dunn as Acting Civil Service Personnel Director and will submit his appointment to the Civil Service Commission for ratification.

“David Dunn brings more than 30 years of experience in human resources, personnel and labor relations, and has worked with the City for more than 22 years. I fully expect that with his experience in Civil Service and personnel that we can continue to move the department forward until a test for a permanent director can be held,” said Mayor Finch.

“As Acting Director, I plan to work with labor and management to bring greater efficiencies and modern operations to the office, completing tests in a timely manner and, to help implement structured employee performance evaluations,” said Dunn.

Dunn’s 30 years of experience includes senior and corporate level human resources work for international companies, and he has managed personnel departments from 800 to 1,250 employees in size. He has twice served as the City’s Director of Labor Relations – from 1975 to 1981 under Mayor John Manadanici and from 1986 to 1991 under Mayor Thomas Bucci. Since 1997, he has served as the City’s senior labor relations officer.

Dunn is a management member of the Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration, appointed in 1990 by Governor O’Neill.  In 2001, he received designation as a Certified Professional from the International Personnel Management Association, a national organization of personnel management professionals.

His professional affiliations include, past President of the Connecticut Public Employer Labor Relations Association (CONNPELRA); and membership in the Industrial Relations Research Association (IRRA), the International Personnel Management Association (IPMA), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. 

Dunn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sacred Heart University , and has undertaken graduate level work in labor relations and human resources at the University of Connecticut . He holds Advanced Arbitration Advocacy Certification from the American Arbitration Association; Certified Professional designation from the International Personnel Management Association (IPMA-CP); and National Public Employer Labor Relations Association Master Certification in Labor Relations (pending).

In addition to his professional work in Bridgeport , Dunn has consulted on projects for numerous Connecticut towns, cities, or housing authorities. 

City strives to empower youth

Mayor Bill Finch has welcomed Connecticut Youth Alliance, a youth empowerment program of Children In Placement, at the opening of its Bridgeport Media Lab housed on the first floor in City Hall Annex.

“We are very happy to welcome Children in Placement to Bridgeport and give them a home for their Media Lab,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “As an adoptee, I am supportive of the work they do to help young people who are in transition to find a way to express themselves through digital storytelling and media. The Alliance helps these young adults to get the support they deserve while helping them to learn valuable skills.”

The Alliance ’s mission is to promote youth involvement in improving the foster care system and to provide opportunities to prepare youth for life outside of a state system.   The Bridgeport Media Lab uses digital storytelling as a platform to teach local youth literacy, writing skills, and job training and/or college preparation with state-of-the-art media technology.

 

“We are very excited about the addition of the Bridgeport Media Lab to our Connecticut Youth Alliance program,” said Joan Jenkins, Executive Director of Children in Placement. “Youth from Bridgeport and surrounding towns have been participating in this program for a couple of years, but they had to travel to New Haven to do so. Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Finch and support from AT&T, the Perrin Family Foundation, and other private donors they now have a space to call their own.”

Program participants from Bridgeport and New Haven shared their digital stories and experiences with the attendees at the open house and ribbon cutting ceremonies.

Name the seal pups!

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration recently welcomed three California sea lion pups and wants the public’s help in naming them. Starting today, the aquarium is holding a contest to find the perfect names for the playful pups – one male and two females – that arrived on May 16. The chosen names will be announced during their first birthday party on August 27 at 11 a.m. at the aquarium.

The contest consists of several parts. First, the public can submit name ideas through the aquarium’s Web site, mysticaquarium.org, through August 12. From these suggestions, the aquarium’s animal care staff and celebrity judges – WFSB-TV meteorologist and “Better Connecticut” co-host Scot Haney , Miss Connecticut 2009 Sharalynn Kuziak and UConn Men’s Basketball Coach Jim Calhoun – will choose five finalist names for each pup. From August 17 to 24, the public can go back online to vote for their favorite names. The winning names will be announced on August 27 at the pups’ first birthday celebration, featuring cake for guests and a fish “dessert” for the pups.

“We are thrilled to have the pups here,” said Dr. Tracy Romano, senior vice president of research and zoological operations for Sea Research Foundation, Inc. “Our guests will be able to watch them develop physically and through their training, and learn more about these intelligent animals. The naming contest also provides the perfect opportunity to tell these pups’ stories and remind everyone of the important animal rescue and rehabilitation work that Mystic and other aquariums around the world do. We encourage the public to submit name ideas that reflect these pups’ stories.”

Finch launches conservation corps

By ELAINE FICARRA

Mayor Bill Finch has launched the Mayor’s Conservation Corps, a cadre of young adults who will begin canvassing city neighborhoods raising awareness and distributing information to residents about recycling, stormwater management and weatherization programs.

“This program will help raise awareness in our neighborhoods about the benefits of conserving energy by taking advantage of weatherization programs, increasing recycling rates and educating homeowners about the benefits of diverting stormwater runoff to help reduce the load on the city’s sewer system,” said Finch. “In addition, the participants in this program will be gaining valuable job skills which will help them compete in the new “green” economy.” Funding for the program will come from energy conservation and community development block grants funds.

“We’re pleased to see a city such as Bridgeport take a multidisciplinary approach to confronting the challenge of climate change,” said Jason Turgeon, environmental scientist in the Energy & Climate unit of EPA-Region 1 in Boston , who attended the event on behalf of Acting EPA Regional Administrator, Ira Leighton. “Mayor Finch’s vision for this program is a perfect example of what we [EPA] had envisioned for the use of stimulus funding – helping to create “green jobs” that can’t be shipped offshore and providing training in a growing field.”

The Mayor received an energy audit of his home during the event, and the Conservation Corps trainees observed the testing. Energy audits are available through the Home Energy Solutions Program – a residential weatherization program funded by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund and administered by the United Illuminating Co.

The Mayor’s Conservation Corps is part of Mayor Finch’s B-Green 2020 Sustainability Initiative, an effort aimed to help the City of Bridgeport lower its carbon footprint by, among other things, reducing energy costs in both city buildings and private homes, increasing recycling rates and reducing stormwater runoff. 

The Mayor’s Conservation Corps training was conducted in conjunction with the Workplace, Inc., as part of their Work & Earn program. The canvassers will travel in teams of two and will be dressed in white polo shirts with the city logo and carry identification which shows they are part of the Mayor’s Conservation Corps.

The teams will canvass neighborhoods throughout the city during the next eight weeks asking residents to complete a one-page questionnaire to gauge their interest in obtaining a free (or reduced price) energy audit, purchasing rain barrels, obtaining recycling bins or more information on energy conservation and weatherization. A project leader will work with various city departments to fulfill residents’ needs and/or make the proper referrals to outside agencies or vendors to fulfill requests.

 “Our goal is to increase recycling rates in areas of the city where it currently is lagging behind and raise the awareness of the benefit of conserving energy and increase the number of households that apply for free or reduced price energy audits,” said Finch.

Also joining the Mayor at the press conference were representatives of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, United Illuminating and the Energy Conservation Management Board. Also on hand to support the Mayor’s effort were City Council members Susan Brannelly, D-130, Leticia Colon, D-131 and Richard Paoletto Jr., D-138.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment worked closely with the program interviewing potential canvassers and providing one week of training on how to canvass.

“We’re proud to be part of this historic effort,” said Emmett Pepper, state program director for the organization. “The fight against global climate change is being fought here in Bridgeport in the only way it really can be: one person at a time.”

"The United Illuminating Company is excited to be part of Mayor Finch's B-Green initiative and Youth Canvassing Project for the City of Bridgeport . Through the UI Helps and Home Energy Solutions programs funded by The Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund and administered by UI, we hope to make a big difference in the way residents live by reducing their energy use and costs. The results of these efforts will not only have a local impact but a global impact as well."

"One of the goals of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund is to educate people on using energy efficiently. With this program, Bridgeport has taken a leading role in the state in helping spread this message,” said Jeffrey Gaudiosi, chairperson of the Energy Conservation Management Board.

P.T. Barnum to summer on Long Island

Beginning Sunday July 12, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Education and Cultural Center in Stony Brook Village Long Island will host an exhibit featuring the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum, known to most of the world as the “Greatest American Showman.” The exhibit, “Celebrating P.T. Barnum ...The Man” was created with items on loan from Bridgeport’s Barnum Museum, and will be on display through Sunday August 23.

Among the many items on display from The Barnum Museum’s collection will be authentic Tom Thumb miniature furniture, authentic Jenny Lind, “the Swedish Nightingale” memorabilia, circus memorabilia, a photographic montage of P. T. Barnum and much more. All visitors will be able to visit beautiful Stony Brook Village and register to win a family four-pack of tickets to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Boom A Ring Circus appearing at Coney Island through September 7.

The Grand Opening on July 12 from noon to 4:00 p.m. will feature entertainment by famous Ringling Bros. clowns, games, prizes and loads of circus fun for children of all ages.

St. Vincent's names Employee of the Year

By LUCINDA AMES

Maria Duque-Ferreira, RN, of Easton, a staff nurse at St. Vincent’s Medical Center for 25 years, received the Pasquariello Award as St. Vincent’s 2009 Employee of the Year for personifying the mission of the hospital patron, St. Vincent de Paul.

The award was presented before almost 500 people at St. Vincent’s 51^st Annual Employee Recognition Dinner held recently at the Waterview in Monroe .  The presentation was made by St. Vincent’s President Susan L. Davis, RN, EdD,  also of Easton , Corporate Vice President of Human Resources Pamela Tarulli and Duque-Ferreira’s supervisor Lori Boncher, RN, as part of the event recognizing employees marking service anniversaries ranging from five to 40 years with a combined total of 5000 years.

Duque-Ferreira was nominated by co-workers for her dedication to the Medical Center , the community and her family.  A wife and the mother of three children, Maria came to the United States from Portugal at age 13 and had to learn to speak English and adapt to a new culture. Boncher described Duque-Ferreira as “an extremely competent, highly respected and well-liked nurse who consistently demonstrates the utmost compassion and reverence for patients and families, and is resource for both new and experienced nurses.”  Duque-Ferreira devotes much time to volunteering at her church, Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Bridgeport , serving as a nurse for youth group retreats and delivering food to the homebound and elderly.

The event also featured a popular slide show of almost 300 employees captured in their work setting who were marking service anniversaries. Chairperson of the Board Sr. Louise Gallahue delivered the invocation, Susan Davis the welcome  and Tarulli served as mistress of ceremonies.

Connecticut receives energy funding

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced $15.4 million in Recovery Act funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Connecticut.  Under DOE’s State Energy Program, Connecticut proposed a statewide plan that prioritizes energy savings, creates or retains jobs, increases the use of renewable energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.  This initiative is part of the Obama Administration’s national strategy to support job growth, while making a historic down payment on clean energy and conservation.

Secretary Chu announced a total of more than $204 million for State Energy Programs in 10 states including: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington.  Each of the states is receiving 40 percent of their total State Energy Program (SEP) funding authorized under the Recovery Act.

“This funding will provide an important boost for state economies, help to put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy independence," said Secretary Chu. "It reflects our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy while insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly."  

Future Bridgeport principals complete training in face of mass retirement

 

Fairfield County Community Foundation brings together four school districts to create pipeline of qualified principals prepared to narrow achievement gap

Twenty-nine prospective public school principals recently completed a year of specialized training to fill a looming leadership void in Fairfield County’s four urban school districts. Seven are from Bridgeport Public Schools. Five of the 29 have already moved up to new leadership positions, including two from Bridgeport.

Connecticut has the largest achievement gap in the country, and Fairfield County’s 92 urban public schools face a new crisis. Within five years, half of the principals and assistant principals leading public schools in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford will retire, and there are few qualified candidates to take their place. The combined enrollment in the four school districts is 60,000 students.

The 29 prospective principals made up the first class of the Fairfield County Community Foundation’s Urban School Leaders Fellowship program. The program was initiated by the Fairfield County Community Foundation and created in collaboration with the Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford school districts, the Connecticut Center for School Change and the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education. It will increase the number and diversity of principals who are committed to urban education and working in Fairfield County’s four urban school districts.

Joseloff announces re-election bid

By ROB SULLIVAN
During last Thursday’s meeting of the Westport/Weston Ys Men, Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff made an informal announcement that he will indeed seek re-election to the town’s highest office.
In response to a question from an audience member about whether or not he would run for a second term Joseloff replied, “Yes, I will be running for re-election this year.” He added that he and running mate Shelley Kassen will make a formal announcement at a meeting of the Democratic Town Committee on May 28th.
The First Selectman’s remarks occurred during the question and answer section of the Ys Men’s annual Westport and Weston forum, featuring Joseloff and Weston First Selectman Woody Bliss.
Joseloff has been in office since defeating Republican John Izzo by a comfortable margin in November 2005.
Joseloff, a Westport businessman and journalist by background who had served as moderator of the Representative Town Meeting for 1o years, was elected by a 59-41 percent margin.
Joseloff replaced two-term incumbent Diane Farrell, who also twice ran for Congress against former Congressman Christopher Shays in 2004 and 2006. In a statement to the Westport Minuteman following his victory, Joseloff said, “Diane Farrell has set the agenda for the town. It will not be easy to fill her shoes. I am eager and excited to face the challenge. I want to encourage residents to volunteer their time. It doesn’t have to be 12 hours a week; it could be four hours a year. The key is to participate.”
If re-elected, Joseloff knows both he and Westport will face challenges in 2010. “Next year will be a tough year,” he said. “I’m fairly certain of that.”

Himes amendment passes

The United States House of Representatives has passed an amendment by Congressman Jim Himes (D-4) that establishes the Microenterprise Training Center Program. The amendment was part of the Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009, both of which passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.

“These small business training opportunities will make the difference between success and failure for our entrepreneurs,” said Himes. “There is no better way to improve our cities and provide opportunity than to create jobs.”

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Awards over $9,000 in Scholarships to Bridgeport Area Students; Central, Harding students are recognized

On Friday, May 8th the New Haven Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., awarded nine
college scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500 to graduating seniors from New Haven and Bridgeport area high schools.

This year's recipients included Briana Gibson and Zakiyya Howell of Hamden HighSchool; Ashley McWilliams and Fransette Morant of Hillhouse High School; Melissa Montosa of Hill Regional Career High School; Nikita Gittens and Olivia Thergood of Central High School, Bridgeport; Julie
Charleston of  Harding High School. Bridgeport.
Each year the chapter awards scholarships based on academic achievement, community involvement and participation inextra-curricular activities. 

Himes helps pass 'green' school legislation

Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT) helped pass legislation yesterday that would bring over $8.5 million to Fairfield County schools and create local construction jobs. The 21^st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act (H.R. 2187) encourages energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources in schools to help create healthier, safer learning environments. The bill overwhelming passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 275-155.

“Improving schools will help us meet our goal of giving every child a world class education, which will lead to a world-class workforce and sustained American prosperity. “Investing in our schools to make them healthier and safer provides a better learning environment for our kids and creates good-paying jobs for construction workers now.”

Statement from ABA on bank stress tests

 

 

by Edward L. Yingling, president and CEO, American Bankers Association

“The results of the stress tests should put to rest the harmful speculation we have seen over the past few months.  After extensive analysis of what additional capital might be needed to provide an extra cushion against a negative scenario, the regulators have:  first, confirmed that all 19 banks are well capitalized; and, second, indicated that, generally, existing total TIER 1 capital levels are adequate to meet even the negative scenario.

“Several aspects of this announcement continue to be largely overlooked:

“First, while additional tangible common equity (TCE) will be required in some cases, generally the TIER 1 capital levels already meet the stress test total.  The regulators are, in effect, changing the existing rules and requiring that a higher TCE percentage be held within the TIER 1.  Thus banks are not required to have additional TIER 1 capital; they are required in some cases to change the mix of their capital.  While the market, and now the regulators, have apparently decided to focus on TCE, there is, in fact, little empirical evidence to support the theory that the mix of TIER 1 capital needs to be changed.

Statement from Vice President Biden’s Spokesperson Elizabeth Alexander:

 

“On the Today Show this morning the Vice President was asked what he would tell a family member who was considering air travel to Mexico this week. The advice he is giving family members is the same advice the Administration is giving to all Americans:  that they should avoid unnecessary air travel to and from Mexico. If they are sick, they should avoid airplanes and other confined public spaces, such as subways. This is the advice the Vice President has given family members who are traveling by commercial airline this week. As the President said just last night, every American should take the same steps you would take to prevent any other flu:  keep your hands washed; cover your mouth when you cough; stay home from work if you're sick; and keep your children home from school if they're sick.”

 

Bysiewicz: 1st Quarter of 2009 Saw Another Record Number of Connecticut Businesses Shut Down; Nearly 3,500 CT Businesses shut their doors in the First Quarter of 2009; 16% increase in closings over 2008 first quarter Data

By AV HARRIS

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz reported that 3,477 Connecticut businesses shut their doors between January 1st and March 31st of 2009.  This represents the highest number of shut-downs ever in any first quarter of a year since the Secretary of the State's Office started releasing business starts and stops data in 2000.  The number of business stops in the first quarter of 2009 also rose 16% over first quarter 2008 data.  At the same time some 6,941 new businesses started up in Connecticut during the first quarter of 2009, representing the lowest number of first quarter start-ups since 2001.  The number of new business start-ups in Connecticut declined 13% from the first quarter of 2008. 

"Even though some national numbers point to a bottoming out of our current economic recession, Connecticut businesses are clearly struggling to stay afloat," said Secretary Bysiewicz, Connecticut's Chief Business Registrar.  "With federal stimulus funding making its way to Connecticut, our state must maximize and leverage federal dollars to get those funds into the hands of Connecticut entrepreneurs as quickly, efficiently, and transparently as possible.  We also need to make critical investments in areas such as health care and transportation that will bolster Connecticut's economy and the profitability of our businesses."

The monthly figures released by the Secretary of the State's Office are available on the website www.sots.ct.gov <http://www.sots.ct.gov/>  and show that in January 2009 some 983 businesses filed paperwork to dissolve their company, followed by another 818 in February and 1,676 in March.  This was the single highest total of business shutdowns during the month of March since the Secretary of the State's Office started releasing this data in 2000.  The statistics also show that in January 2009, 2,313 companies filed incorporation papers in Connecticut, followed by 2,185 in February and 2,443 in March.

After reviewing Secretary of the State Bysiewicz's report, Fred Carstensen, Director of the Center for Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut said, “The rapidity of
the loss of businesses establishments in Connecticut is deeply troubling. Small business
plays a crucial role in job creation; the continuing loss of businesses underlines the
profound challenge we face in preserving and then expanding jobs.”

Carstensen added, “There is a larger perspective we must consider. Connecticut is
confronting a double crisis: a short-term crisis fueled by the national and global economic
meltdown and a long-term crisis of economic vitality. Before these latest losses,
Connecticut was already the only state in the nation with fewer business establishments
than it had twenty years ago. Adding to this the absence of meaningful job creation in
those twenty years and declining median household income since 2000 paints a stark
picture of a state economy in long-term decline. These latest numbers drive home the
critical point that Connecticut must develop coherent and systematic economic
development policies and, even in the face of the current crisis, identify those critical
strategic investments – principally in life sciences and renewal energy – that will drive
restoration of Connecticut's competitive edge.”

Following his review of the report, Don Klepper-Smith, Chief Economist and Director of
Research for DataCore Partners LLC and Chairman of the Governor’s Council of
Economic Advisors said, “The first quarter statistics on CT business starts and closings
were disappointing, but not unexpected. The State is still dealing with the headwinds
from a national recession, which implies continued weakness within our labor markets,
less consumption over the near-term, and reduced business activity. However, I expect
that the President’s fiscal stimulus package, together with efforts from the Fed to lower
long-term interest rates, will prove beneficial at some point.

In her own assessment of the report, Secretary Bysiewicz said, “While the Obama
Administration and congress work hard to stabilize financial institutions and get credit
flowing again, we in Connecticut still have an obligation to do all we can to make our
business climate as profitable as possible. Small businesses have created over 90% of all
new jobs in Connecticut in the last 10 years and they are the backbone of our economy.
Small business sustainability is seriously threatened by skyrocketing health care and
energy costs. In these extraordinary times government action is needed to help reduce
those costs for businesses. Health care and energy policy must be at the forefront of our
plans to revive our economy. We ignore these critical factors at our own peril.”

Secretary Bysiewicz is a strong advocate for The Connecticut Health Care Partnership
and the Sustinet plan, which would both provide affordable health care options for small
businesses and non-profits, are currently being considered by the General Assembly.

Secretary Bysiewicz is also leading a series of roundtable discussions with small business
entrepreneurs throughout the state trying to find solutions to high energy costs and
explore ways to expand the emerging green technology sector.

Zoo Director receives statewide award

Gregg Dancho, director of Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, the state's only Zoo, will be honored with a Culture and Tourism Distinguished Advocate Award on April 15, 2009.  Individuals from the arts, historic preservation, tourism, and film industries will come together for an evening of celebration during the 2009 Governor's Awards for Excellence in Culture & Tourism, presented by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT).  The awards ceremony will take place in the atrium of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford at 6:30pm and is open to the public.    "The Governor's Awards recognize those whose work is enduring and great.  They bring pride to Connecticut and the nation," said Karen Senich, executive director of the Commission on Culture & Tourism.  "We're pleased to recognize their efforts."   Recipients of the Distinguished Advocate Awards are Connecticut residents who have worked to strengthen, preserve or promote the arts, history, film and tourism in the state.  They have made a significant impact on one or more organizations or have made important contributions to their communities, regions or the state.  Dancho, a Stratford resident, is being honored for his 25 year commitment to the Zoo and to tourism in the Bridgeport region.   In a letter supporting Dancho's nomination, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch wrote, "Gregg Dancho has distinguished himself as a consistent voice of vision and reason at both the local and state levels for 25 years.  As such, I am proud to endorse this well-deserved nomination."

Finch receives small business award

PartnerAmerica, a public/private partnership of The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and American Management Services (AMS), last night in Bridgeport presented Mayor Bill Finch with the prestigious Small Business Advocate Award for his dedication to the small business sector in Bridgeport. 

“Small business is the engine for our economy in Bridgeport,” Finch said to 120 small business owners who gathered at Testo’s Restaurant in Bridgeport. “It is an economic imperative that we continually strive to create an environment where small businesses can flourish, create jobs and expand right here in Bridgeport.”