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State Cancels Liquor Permit for Hamden Bar

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The Consumer Protection Commissioner has canceled the liquor permit for the Clubhouse Café in Hamden.

The cafe has been closed since Jan. 30 after police said they found more than 100 underage customers at the bar.

According to a news release from the Department of Consumer Protection, many of the underage customers were Quinnipiac University students who had alcoholic beverages.

After the liquor permit was suspended, the Liquor Control Division investigated again and also held settlement talks with the bar owners and their attorney.

Officials from the state Department of Consumer Protection said bar ownership agrees that the owners and the permittee will not apply for a liquor permit in the State of Connecticut for at least one year from today and no member of the ownership company will have any management or employee status at the premises if a liquor permit is ever applied for at this location.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

YouTube Child Stars Allegedly Abused by Adopted Mother

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The adopted mother of seven young children who starred on YouTube channel "Fantastic Adventures" pepper-sprayed and beat them, deprived them of food and water and grabbed their genitals to get them to perform, authorities allege.

NBC News reported that Machelle Hackney was arrested Friday along with her two adult sons. She was arraigned Tuesday on child abuse, unlawful imprisonment and child molestation charges and held without bond.

It's not clear whether she or her sons have lawyers. According to police documents, Hackney denied abusing the children, whose ages weren't released by police, and said she only spanks and grounds them or has them stand in a corner as punishment.

The "Fantastic Adventures" channel has more than 242 million views and over 700,000 followers. It was demonetized once YouTube was made aware of the arrests.



Photo Credit: Pinal County Jail

Police Seek Public's Help With Information on Norwich Cold Case

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Connecticut State Police and Norwich Police are asking for the public's help with information about a cold case involving a missing person from nearly 30 years ago.

On March 24, 1989, then 24-year-old Kenneth Reed was last seen at his parents' home on Forest Street in Norwich. His vehicle was found in his parents' driveway and he has not been seen since, according to state police.

Reed is described as a man with brown hair and brown eyes.

Detectives are asking for the public's help with any information they mave have.

You can contact Det. Cuoco at (860) 896-3235 or (860) 896-3230. You can also contact the Norwich Police at (860) 886-5561 ext. 3156 or State Police Tip Line at (860) 685-8190.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Dog Dies in Torrington Fire

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A dog died in a two-alarm fire in Torrington Wednesday morning.

Fire officials said they responded to a call at 10:44 a.m. for a fire 139 Funston Ave. and found smoke coming from the second floor of a two-and-a-half story three-family home.

Residents told first responders that pets were still in the building and firefighters began fighting the fire and looking for any people or pets that were still inside.

The fire went to a second alarm around 10:55 a.m. and off-duty firefighters were called in.

A dog was removed from the second floor and crews could not revive it, according to fire officials.

Another dog, two cats and two ferrets were rescued from the home.

No other people were found in the house.

The fire was knocked down as of 11:08 a.m. and no people were injured.

The fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

FDA Issues Warning to Two Breast Implant Makers

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Less than a week before a major hearing on breast implant safety, the FDA issued two warning letters to implant manufacturers, citing their failure to do proper safety studies.

The letters sent to Mentor and Sientra warned that certain implants could be pulled off the market if the companies didn’t fulfill the agency’s requirements, which ask that manufacturers continue safety studies even after the devices are approved.

"Post-approval requirements are critical to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the medical products we regulate and we'll continue to hold manufacturers accountable when they fail to fulfill these obligations," FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in a statement.

According to the letters, Mentor failed to enroll enough people in these studies. Sientra had poor follow-up rates.



Photo Credit: DONNA MCWILLIAM/AP, File

Late-Night Trains Added for NCAA Men’s Tournament Games in Hartford

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The state Department of Transportation is adding late-night trains to get basketball fans home after going into Hartford to see first- and second-round games of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. 

The first and second rounds of the Division one NCAA men’s basketball championship will take place at the XL Center on Thursday, March 21 and Saturday, March 23.

Game one is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 21 when number four Florida State competes against number 13 Vermont. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

Game two will be number five Marquette vs. number 12 Murray State. It starts after game 1 ends.

Game three starts at 7:20 p.m. Thursday when number six Villanova competes against number 11 St. Mary’s.

Game four, which starts after game three, will be number three Purdue vs. number 14 Old Dominion.

The second-round games will be held on Saturday and the schedule will be announced after the games Thursday.

The winner of game one will play the winner of game two and the winner of game three will play the winner of game four.

Train Service:

CTrail Hartford Line train service will operate on a regular schedule on Thursday and Saturday but there will be an additional Hartford departure southbound after the game on Thursday, March 21. 

“The Hartford Line provides a quick option for fans in the central Connecticut corridor to avoid traffic and travel safely to our state’s capital city,” Governor Ned Lamont said in a statement. “Connecticut residents deserve to have an efficient transportation system – adding these special late night trains for the tournament is another effort to provide more convenient options to travel around and get our state moving.” 

The southbound train after the last game of the evening will leave Hartford Union Station at 12:15 a.m. or 30 minutes after the game ends, whichever is later. It will make stops in Berlin, Meriden, Wallingford, State Street and at New Haven Union Station.

For northbound passengers, bus service will be provided from Hartford Union Station and it will also depart at 12:15 a.m. or 30 minutes after the game. Northbound buses will drop off at Windsor, Windsor Locks and Springfield stations.

Fans can walk to the XL Center from Union Station in Hartford.

See schedules and fares here.

NCAA tournament officials have not announced the game times for Saturday, March 23.

If the last game is scheduled to end after regular train service has ended, an additional train will be added southbound and bus service northbound.

Additional service for Saturday, if necessary, will be announced at www.hartfordline.com.

For those who drive, there are some parking deals.

Parking Information:

There will be $10 parking throughout downtown Hartford in designated surface lots and garages during all March Madness festivities. The following list of garages will feature $10 Tournament

• 58 Chapel St.
• 1212 Main St.
• 285 Church St.
• 55 Chapel St. South (MAT Garage)
• 10 Ford St.
• 185 Pearl St.
• 160 Jewell St.
• Trumbull on the Park Garage
• The XL Center garage is $15

Local Restaurant Deals:

Certain downtown Hartford restaurants and bars will be offering exclusive Tournament deals throughout the weekend. See the full list of discounts here.

Party on Pratt:

There will be a free block party open to public and it will feature a pop-up pub with local breweries and distilleries, live music, local vendors and exhibits. All ages welcome! Learn more here xlcenter.com/prattstreet

Hours:

Thursday, March 21: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, March 22: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 23: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Mother Says CBP Detained US Girl for 36 Hours

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A mother and her 9-year-old daughter were separated for 36 hours after the child fell into U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody because agents at the border didn’t believe she was who she claimed to be, a mother says.

Thelma Galaxia said her friend, Michelle Cardenas, was driving each of their two children from Tijuana, where they live, to their schools in San Ysidro Monday morning, as they do nearly every day.

Galexia's 9-year-old daughter, Julia Isabel Amparo Medina, attends fourth grade at Nicoloff Elementary School and her 14-year-old son, Oscar Amparo Medina, attends ninth grade at San Ysidro High School. Both are passport-holding U.S. citizens.

When they got in line at the border at 4 a.m. Monday, traffic was moving slow. Cardenas told the four children to walk across the border instead. She was going to call them an Uber so they could make it to school on time.

But Oscar and Julia Medina never made it across, according to their mother.

Galaxia says CBP officers accused her daughter of lying about her identity. Officers told the girl she didn’t look like the girl in her passport card picture.

Julia Medina told NBC 7 that CBP officers accused her of being someone else, her cousin Melanie. The children said officers also accused Oscar Medina of smuggling and other crimes which he said he didn’t understand.

“My daughter told her brother that the officer told her that if she admitted that she was her cousin, she would be released soon so she could see her mom,” Galaxia said.

“I was scared. I was sad because I didn't have my mom or my brother. I was completely by myself,” Julia Medina said. She said she woke up several times throughout the night, sad because she wasn’t with her family.

Galaxia said officers made Oscar Medina sign a document that said his little sister was his cousin.

“That is not true,” Galaxia said. “She is my daughter. He was told that he would be taken to jail and they were going to charge him for human trafficking and sex trafficking.”

Oscar told NBC 7 he felt terrible for signing the document. He said he just wanted to see his sister.

When CBP officers told Galaxia that Oscar and Julia Medina were detained, she got the Mexican consulate involved.

At about 6 p.m., while Galaxia interviewed with NBC 7 in Kearny Mesa, the consulate called her and told her Julia Medina would be released to her at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Galaxia and her family rushed to the border where they were reunited with Julie almost two days later. The family of three hugged, cried and embraced, but Galaxia said the emotional reunion should never have had to happen.

NBC 7 reached out to CBP, asking why officers detained a 9-year-old U.S. citizen and kept her from her mother for 36 hours. The agency said it would respond to questions when it had more details on the case.

The Mexican consulate told NBC 7 it will also provide more information as to how they were able to reunite the family.



Photo Credit: KNSD
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Cheshire Man Nearly Duped By Phony Employment Offer

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The Better Business Bureau says nationwide employment scams top the list of riskiest scams because of potential for huge financial loss and compromised personal information. A Cheshire man who almost fell victim to one reached out to NBC Connecticut Responds to share his cautionary tale.

Thomas Riccitelli is unemployed and searching for a job. He thought signing up with a Secret shopper program would be a fast way to make some cash.

“What attracted me to it was the fact that I would be dealing with people,” said Thomas Riccitelli.

The job required Riccitelli to evaluate the layout, products and customer service of local shipping companies like the US Postal service or Fed-Ex.

“I said great, you know,” he said.

Riccitelli was instructed through email to deposit $1,700 cashier’s check, then, deduct $200 for his assignment, $50 for Fed-Ex shipping charges, and mail the remaining $1,500 in money orders to a Houston address.

That was a red flag.

“I started to research the information on the check, and to look for…um…things like watermarks on the check…addresses,” said Riccitelli.

While the initial offer sounded good, Riccitelli didn’t fall for it. But according to the Better Business Bureau, in 2018 dozens of Connecticut residents did

“Unfortunately, a lot of those secret shopper jobs and work from home jobs that seem to pay a lot and don’t take a lot of skill, those are more high risk for an unemployment scam,” said Luke Frey of the BBB CT.

Riccitelli’s complaint comes on the heels of the BBB’s riskiest scam report released last week.

Frey says the BBB saw an 86 percent rise in people most likely to be scammed between the ages of 18 to 40.

“It seems like a real opportunity. A real job,” said Frey.

Riccitelli considers himself lucky that he wasn’t a victim. He worries about others.

“There may be some people out there that are getting the same type of thing,” said Riccitelli. “It looked so official.”

There are some reputable online jobs. But before you apply do your research, ask for references, don’t give social security numbers, banking information or driver’s license information and never send money in the mail.


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CT Mom Shares Experience With New Postpartum Depression Drug

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After both of her pregnancies Stephanie Hathaway had the same feelings return.

“The worst was when I started having intrusive thoughts like your daughter deserves a better mom your husband deserves a better wife,” Stephanie Hathaway said.

While anti-depressants helped ease her postpartum depression after her first daughter, she says the symptoms came on even stronger after having her second.

“At that point I was so fearful and so hopeless for my life that I felt why not? I didn’t even call my husband first I called them and was accepted into the study,” Hathaway said.

Stephanie’s friend told her about a trial for a new drug known as Brexanolone, a 60-hour injection and for Stephanie the positive results came in just hours.

“I came home and the bonding with the baby was just how it’s supposed to be from the beginning,” Hathaway said.

The drug which was approved by the FDA on Tuesday will be marketed as Zulresso. Art Guerra, an APRN with The Institute of Living with Hartford Hospital, says 10 to 20 percent of moms suffer from postpartum depression. Guerra is encouraged how the drug targets symptoms.

“I think the theory behind this is that especially in the postpartum. There can be a rise in progesterone and that might be impactful as far as mood goes,” Guerra said.

“I left her one-month appointment with a prescription for antidepressants and a recommendation to see therapy,” Emily Courtney said.

Mom Emily Courtney who has used therapy and anti-depressants to treat her postpartum depression is encouraged about the drug but says potential cost and time are a concern for her.

“It’s 60 hours in an infusion center that’s a huge time away from the family,” Courtney said.

Still for Stephanie it’s a drug that’s changed her life for the better.

“I think a 60-hour infusion is just a drop in the bucket of time when you’re dealing with what I dealt with,” Hathaway said.

According to the to the FDA the most common side effects include sleepiness, dry mouth, loss of consciousness and flushing. It’s expected to cost somewhere between $20,000 to $35,000 and is expected to be available in late June.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Pedestrian Hit by Vehicle in Naugatuck

Plainfield Coach Pleads Guilty to Charges Involving Minor

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A Plainfield Little League coach accused of trying to solicit a teen for sexual activity in Rhode Island has pleaded guilty to federal charges.

Christopher Merchant, 33, of Canterbury, Connecticut, admitted he traveled to Rhode Island to engage in sexual misconduct with a person he believed to be under the age of 16, according to a press release from the District of Rhode Island Attorney's Office.

Merchant was arrested on federal charges related to initial accusations brought by Rhode Island State Police on Jan. 25. On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transporting child pornography.

According to the US Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, Merchant admitted to using social media to communicate with a person he believed was a 14-year-old boy, sending sexually graphic messages. Merchant admitted be arranged to meet with the boy at a Warwick, Rhode Island hotel, and also to sending obscene photos.

The boy was actually a law enforcement officer assigned to the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, police said.

Travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct is punishable with up to 30 years in prison, and transporting child pornography for up to 20 years. Merchant is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28, 2019.

Merchant is also facing state charges in Rhode Island.

Officials said Merchant was the vice president and coach of the Plainfield Little League. At this time, there no evidence of any involvement with members of the little league, according to police.

Merchant was suspended from all activities in the little league pending the outcome of both state and federal investigations.



Photo Credit: Rhode Island Department of Public Safety

Groton PD Issues Warning After Dog Tests Positive for Rabies

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The Town of Groton Police Department is warning residents to use caution around wild and stray animals after a dog tested positive for rabies.

Police said the dog was from the Midway Oval area and tested positive for rabies Wednesday.

Rabies is a deadly disease that can infect animals and people. It is mostly spread by wild animals, but stray cats and dogs can also spread the disease. It is carried in the saliva and can be spread through bites or scratches, or when infected saliva comes into contact with open wounds, breaks in the skin, or areas like your eyes, nose or mouth.

Pet owners can protect their pets by making sure rabies vaccines are up to date. If you are concerned you may have come into contact with the rabies virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing the wounds and contacting a doctor immediately.

Police ask the public to refrain from feeding or approaching stray or wild animals. Anyone with questions or concerns should contact the Ledge Light Health District at 448-4882 ext. 1311 or the Animal Control Officer at 860-441-6709.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News

Guilford's ‘Roses for Autism’ Nonprofit Flower Shop Closing

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A gift of flowers can brighten someone’s day. But one flower shop in Guilford has provided a lot more than that for people with autism and other disabilities.

Now a place that has helped so many blossom is closing.

With pride and an eye for detail, Caitlin Harrigan and others aren’t just preparing roses for sale in Guilford.

“It’s been a fun learning experience for me. I’ve been through a lot of different day programs in my life and this was the perfect one,” Harrigan said.

At Roses for Autism, people with autism or other disabilities are given a chance to grow their career. But now after nine years, this non-profit says this beautiful program is coming to an end.

“It’s a dream idea. But there are the financial realities and that’s what makes it so difficult to have to do this,” Michelle Ouimette, Roses for Autism managing director, said.

Ouimette blames the move on higher costs, including for growing the roses and operating the greenhouse.

“We’re just not able to compete anymore. We need the rose business in order to provide the services we’ve been providing to the individuals in our program,” Ouimette said.

The news hit the current staff hard, including Lee Owens.

“Yes I heard about it and I don’t want that,” Owens said.

Their spirits are brightened by how the sale of millions of roses made a big difference.

In about one decade, 175 people gained important work skills and many have found jobs elsewhere.

“We’ve made a good impact in the local community, we’ve run great programs. There’s been other program modelled after ours so hopefully it’s legacy will live on,” Ouimette said.

For now they’re thanking those who supported the mission.

But there’s not a lot of time to rest because the shop will be open through Mother’s Day, one of their busiest holidays of the year.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Big Dance Brings Economic Boost to Downtown Hartford

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The return of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament to Connecticut following a 21-year hiatus means a boost to business in downtown Hartford.

After months of preparation, signs of March Madness are inside and outside the XL Center.

“Obviously, all of our UConn games are our staples on our calendar,” XL Center GM Chris Lawrence said, “but this one is different, I think just from national exposure that it draws and over 20 years since it’s been here before.”

Across the street from the civic center, Max Bibo’s Deli opened two years after the last time Hartford hosted the tournament.

“Today’s open practice and there’s the city has quite a bustle to it and we’re expecting an even bigger crowd tomorrow,” said managing partner Bob Colangelo Jr.

Colangelo said it will be all hands on deck and the deli will stay open late Thursday, just like on a UConn basketball game day.

“Normally, we’re not open past 3 p.m.,” he said. “We’re a breakfast-lunch establishment, main items are soups sandwich salads, that type of thing that’s our niche.”

Inside the XL Center concourse, plenty of tournament merchandise is on display.

“This is exactly why the building is here,” Lawrence said. “That’s what it’s meant to do. It is meant to be a civic center and really drive the economic impact in the city here whether it’s the hotels, the restaurants, the bars or whatever it may.”

Fans of eight teams – Florida State, Vermont, Marquette, Murray State, Villanova, Saint Mary’s, Purdue and Old Dominion – will fill the XL Center during the afternoon and evening double-headers.

“It’s obviously a very exciting time of year you know the NCAA tournament just feels different than all other games the rest of the basketball season,” said Carly Day, who is with the Purdue basketball team.

She got to explore Hartford Wednesday morning.

“It’s obviously chilly outside,” she said, “but we’re used to that where we from. I just had a nice walk down by the river and back.”

Two members of the Vermont dance team are from Connecticut.

“It’s pretty exciting and a little bittersweet because I am ending my journey here,” said Kara Bates, a UVM senior from Rocky Hill.

While college hoops biggest stage is back in Hartford, another season has gone by with the UConn men’s basketball team not punching a ticket to the Big Dance.

“We’re hoping that Hurley can rebuild you know,” Colangelo said. “We’ll see what happens.”

There may still be some limited tickets available for the games Thursday and the Round of 32 on Saturday.

Gov, Ned Lamont (D) announced on Twitter that the Hartford Line will have late night trains Thursday for fans to take after the last game on the schedule.

Miye Oni’s Story: From Zero D1 Offers to Leading Yale

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Ivy League Player of the Year Miye Oni is a big reason for the Yale Bulldogs success this season.

Oni wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school in Southern California, but the next step of his journey will be playing on college basketball’s biggest stage Thursday in Yale’s first round NCAA Tournament game against LSU. Tip-off is at 12:40 p.m. in Jacksonville.

Trailing late against Princeton on Saturday, Yale’s best player carried the Bulldogs into the Ivy League Tournament Championship game. Oni finished the game with 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

“Teams have to focus on him so much and you see usually ten eyes on him whether he has the basketball or not," Yale senior and All-Ivy First Team Alex Copeland.

But against Harvard, Oni got into foul trouble and sat for ten minutes of the second half on the bench.

"I had complete faith in my teammates to get the job done," Oni told NBC Connecticut.

They did just that. With Oni cheering from the bench, the Bulldogs built a double digit lead en route to a victory over their rival on their home court to punch a ticket to the Big Dance.

"Apart from my little cousin's being born, and a couple other moments, that was one of the best moments of my life," Oni said of seeing Yale’s name revealed on Selection Sunday.

Rewind to Oni’s junior year of high school at Viewpoint High School in California, and offers to play Division 1 basketball were not there after a knee injury limited his time on the court, meaning he didn’t have too much film to show coaches. He originally committed to play Division 3 basketball at Williams College.

“Playing through my senior year,” he said, “the Yale coaches saw me. Some of my coaches sent film to them and the rest is history. Took a year of prep school here in Connecticut at Suffield Academy and ended up here."

This season Yale Coach James Jones said Oni has improved his composure on the court and has learned to trust his teammates even more.

"It's a real privilege to play with him and it’s also really fun to watch," Copeland said.

Still, the Ivy League Player of the Year filled up the stat sheets.

"He was in almost each major statistical category in the top ten,” Jones said. “We haven't seen that in this league since probably Jeremy Lin did it."

Lin of course went from Harvard to a career in the NBA.

As a 6-foot-6, long and athletic win player, Oni is now on the radar of NBA scouts. According to the ESPN broadcast, 20 of them were in the building for the Ivy League Tournament.

If Oni leaves Yale after this, his junior year, he could become the first Ivy League player drafted since 1995.

"I don’t think he's taken one more shot or one less shot or made one less pass or one more pass because he's trying to look good for somebody else,” Jones said. “He's just trying to make our team better."

After Yale lost at Duke this season, Coach Mike Krzyzewski said of Oni, “he will be a first-round pick.”

ESPN’s latest mock draft has him projected to go in the middle-to-late-second round.

Oni has said if invited, he would attend the NBA scouting combine, but he could always come back for his senior year.

First, he’ll try to write Yale basketball history on Thursday as the Bulldogs aim for an upset just like they did in 2016 against Baylor for the program’s first NCAA Tournament win.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Navy Families Express Concerns Over Housing in Groton

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Mold, dirty water and heating problems are among some of the issues military families in southeastern Connecticut said they’re dealing with in their privately-run military housing.

Sen.Richard Blumenthal (D) visited some of the homes in Groton on Wednesday to see the conditions first-hand.

A Submarine Base New London spokesperson said there are 1,041 active duty families living in privately-run military housing units in Groton, some built as far back as the 1960s. He said all have some degree of rehab work done, or were built when the property management company took over in the early 2000s.

But some Navy families said health and safety issues aren’t being addressed properly.

Chief Petty Officer Chazwani Kelly and his wife Glenda Pelliccio showed Blumenthal mold under the drain in their bathroom sink and throughout the shower.

Pelliccio said she cleans it often and it keeps coming back.

“The bottom of the fridge, the drawers were full of eggs of a spider,” Pelliccio said, also noting that at one point the dirty water from the dishwasher was coming out of her kitchen faucet.

Despite calling property manager Balfour Beatty Communities, they said the problems aren’t always fixed.

Balfour Beatty has a contract with the Navy to provide public private venture (PPV) housing.

“When we go ahead and try to call the maintenance line for Balfour Beatty to actually get things taken care of, they just don’t answer. It just continues to ring and ring,” said a member of the Navy living in military housing, while in a discussion with Blumenthal.

About 50 people were in attendance. About a dozen spoke. Among them, a woman who addressed concerns about peeling floors.

“My family, including my 10-month-old crawler cannot walk on the floor barefoot or crawl across the floor without getting splinters in their feet.”

Mold concerns was a common issue. Justin Anderson said her kids have severe asthma.

“Mold grew through the entire HVAC system, hospitalized my children and I to the point where they thought they were going to have to put my son on a ventilator,” Anderson said.

She said she has lived in military housing near the SUBASE for 10 years and had to switch to different units. Anderson said she hasn’t had success with Balfour Beatty resolving maintenance issues.

“They told me that the mold growing in my home is because I take too hot of a shower. No, it’s the fans. They are not generating enough,” Anderson said.

Her family was unable to move, until now, because of credit and concern that Anderson’s husband wanted to relocate.

Anderson, a real estate agent also handed Blumenthal housing listings around town and said that the military housing was overpriced.

Another mom, whose house Blumenthal toured, said despite repairs to her shower and connected bathtub, there’s still mildew because the property manager didn’t seal the bathtub.

She won’t give her two young daughters a bath.

“My little one’s two and she takes a shower like the rest of us because I don’t want her to be in there and me to rinse her hair or anything and the little flecks to fall into her actual bathwater,” said Tiaria Perrill, who did said military housing was significantly better than it was when her husband was stationed in Georgia.

Blumenthal told her that as part of the Senate Armed Service Committee he has heard from families across the country about mold, asbestos, lead among other deficiencies in privately-run military housing units “probably more common in other places than here, I’m happy to say,” Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal said he’s going to take the issue up with the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Justice and wants to see if there is any fraudulent activity from private housing contractors nationwide.

One Navy man did speak in favor of Balfour Beatty at the meeting with Blumenthal.

SUBASE Housing Director Donna Wilson and Capt. Paul Whitescarver, the commanding officer for Naval Submarine Base New London, were also on hand and said they are advocates for tenants who can turn to them when not getting the results they need.

Whitescarver said he’s confident Balfour Beatty will take up the issues.

“Balfour Beatty did a survey. They had a participation rate close to 50 percent where there was an 80 percent satisfaction rate. You know, that’s pretty big,” Whitescarver said.

The SUBASE will conduct a Navy-administered survey as well.

Balfour Beatty Communities’ corporate office released a statement that said, “Delivering an exceptional living experience for every resident who calls our community home is our top priority. For our team this means providing a safe, quality home, well-maintained community amenities, responding promptly to service requests and resolving them quickly and completely, while consistently delivering the highest level of customer service. We acknowledge there are some residents who have had experiences that do not meet our standards, and we are working diligently to correct that. We are fully aligned with our Navy partners and actively working with them to make the necessary improvements to ensure all residents have a positive experience, quality home and clear channels to get immediate resolution when issues arise.”

Heather Babb, a DOD spokeswoman sent NBC Connecticut a statement that reads, “Recent concerns raised by military families about DOD's privatized housing call for immediate action and underscore a need for greater accountability within the department and from our private partners. DOD is working with the military departments and our privatized housing partners to increase opportunities for ongoing, collective communication with residents and to improve our responsiveness to their concerns as we strive to ensure a positive experience for all military families living in privatized housing. The department is committed to improving the housing privatization program and our privatized housing to ensure safe, high quality and affordable housing and communities where service members and their families will want -- and choose -- to live."



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Crocodile Monitor, Dogs Seized in New Britain Animal Cruelty Case

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New Britain police have arrested a woman months after finding a crocodile monitor and two emaciated dogs in a home that officials said was in such poor condition that the New Britain Health Department condemned it. 

Officers responded to a home on Chestnut Street in New Britain on June 19 after someone reported a foul odor and flies coming from the residence, according to police. 

Officers could not reach anyone when they responded and feared someone might be dead inside so they went in through a window, according to police. 

Inside the apartment, officers found a crocodile monitor, which Connecticut residents are prohibited from owning. The estimated black market value for the reptile is approximately $15,000. The Central Florida Zoo describes the crocodile monitor as "one of the longest lizard species in the world," close in length to the Komodo dragon. 

Police said they also heard dogs barking from a separate room, police said. 

Police described the apartment as filthy and said there was feces throughout, it smelled of urine and was hot with no fans or air conditioners to cool the animals. 

New Britain Animal Control obtained a search warrant to seize the crocodile monitor and the dogs and determined that no person was living in the apartment, police said. 

They said there was water, but no food for the animals. 

Several aquariums and cages were piled up inside as well, according to police. 

Police said the property owner identified the renter of the apartment as 26-year-old Eileen Rodriguez, of Newington. They said she and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Carlos Colon were believed to harboring the animal in the apartment under filthy conditions. 

Colon was arrested on Nov. 21 and charged with three counts of cruelty to animals. He pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on April 17, according to online court records. 

Police said Rodriguez immediately relinquished ownership of the two dogs to the New Britain Animal Control and the Crocodile Monitor was turned over to the Connecticut Environmental Police.

Rodriguez was arrested by warrant on March 19 and charged with two counts of cruelty to animals and illegal possession of prohibited species without a permit.



Photo Credit: New Britain

Windsor Locks To Do Away With 'Child Safety Zones' Amid Lawsuit

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Windsor Locks is doing away with so-called “Child Safety Zones.”

Voters decided to repeal the rule which stops registered sex offenders from going to certain spots. Right now the town is dealing with a lawsuit over those zones.

“You want your kids to be safe. You don’t want them to be caught with problems with people,” Kathy Boesch of Windsor Locks, said.

At a town meeting on Tuesday, people voted to repeal the ordinance which barred registered sex offenders from going to parks, schools, the library and other locations.

“The sex offender shouldn’t be mixed in. They should have certain venues to go to,” Fran Marchese of Windsor, said.

In a statement, First Selectman Chris Kervick, wrote in part:

“The town remains as firmly committed to the safety of our citizens and children today as we have always been.”

Kervick say the decision follows the advice of lawyers as the town defends itself in court. In a federal lawsuit, the town is being sued by a resident and a group called “One Standard of Justice” which advocates for the reform of sex offender laws.

According to court documents, that resident – identified only as John Doe – was convicted of the third-degree sexual assault of a 25-year-old woman back in 1995.

The attorneys for John Doe argued that despite him never being accused of wrongdoing with a child, the “Child Safety Zones” stop him from going to various town buildings and attending some of his own child’s activities.

Now “One Standard of Justice” says it’s “delighted” with the town’s recent decision.

In a statement its executive director Cindy Prizio, wrote in part:

“We thank the town council and its residents for understanding the unconstitutionality of the ordinance, its harmful effect on the entire community and making the absolutely right decision to repeal.”

John Doe’s attorneys argued the rule was too broad and do not make anyone safer. Prizio says since they got the desired outcome there is no need to continue the lawsuit.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

New Anti-Spammer Caller ID Tech Closer to Reality

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Technology that could silence illegal scam and spam robocallers has passed a major test and is now just months away from arriving on your phone.

On Wednesday, AT&T and Comcast announced they had completed the first-ever exchange of "authenticated" calls between separate networks. Both companies hailed the test as a milestone ahead of rolling out new caller ID authentication for all phones nationwide by the end of the year.

A Comcast spokesman told NBC Bay Area the calls were made using ordinary phones and phone lines on Comcast and AT&T's digital networks. The calls were verified using the new SHAKEN and STIR standards created by a coalition of phone service providers and technology firms.

It's known as "caller ID authentication." Here's how it works: calls made from authenticated phone lines will come with digital "tokens." When your phone receives a call with one of these tokens, it will display the caller's true phone number and a "VERIFIED" notification, so you know you can safely answer and trust your caller ID.

Spammers and scammers, who mostly use computers to generate fake caller ID and often operate overseas, won't be able to access the digital tokens. Any calls you get from them will show up as "unverified" or can be blocked altogether.

The FCC has ordered all U.S. phone service providers to make caller ID authentication available on all phones and phone lines by the end of this year. Comcast and AT&T said Wednesday that other major phone providers will be conducting similar tests, ahead of the nationwide rollout anticipated over the next several months.

Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates this station.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Woman Injured in Rollover Crash in Scotland

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A woman in her 20s was taken to the hospital after losing control of a car and rolling over on Route 14 in Scotland Thursday morning, according to state police.

They said the rollover happened in the area of 238 Huntington Road just before 7:30 a.m. The car was towed and the scene was clear by 8:30 a.m.

Police said the injuries the woman sustained are not life-threatening. 



Photo Credit: Claire Galvin/thechronicle.com
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