NEW BRITAIN — Rita Giancola has decorated every inch of her house except the kitchen sink. Literally — the stainless-steel basin in her kitchen is the only part of her house not covered in decorations for the holiday season. Giancola’s Victorian home, directly across the street from the Museum of American Art, has been a Christmas landmark in New Britain since 1978 – just look for the home whose ... Full Story »
The corner of Corbin and Black Rock Avenues is such a busy area that the New Britain school department has assigned two crossing guards to keep traffic moving and children safe across a staggering total of 13 lanes of traffic each weekday morning. Their names are Janet and Tom Karwoski and yes, they are one of the few husband and wife guard tandems in the “business.” Full Story »
A single mother of eight finds the Warm the Children program to be a useful tool for clothing her children each winter. Full Story »
PLAINVILLE – A local resident’s interest in her family’s history helped create a new exhibit at the Plainville Historical Center. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — With less than 12 miles separating them, New Britain and Middletown are close in terms of distance but miles apart in their history, demographics and economic status. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — With all the dismal economic news, it’s good to know one local business is not just surviving but growing: Cheshire-based business Jordan Caterers is celebrating its 30th year in business. Most city residents know Jordan as the operator of the café at the Museum of American Art, and (as of this year) the operators of the Whinstone Tavern on the city’s Stanley Golf Course. Full Story »
HARTFORD — Connecticut Health Care For America Now released a study Thursday that spotlights how private health insurance companies “waste premiums.” Full Story »
BERLIN — When Nicole Maynard-Megos threw a party to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her new business, Echo Consignments, she decided to turn it into a cystic fibrosis fundraiser as well. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — You might be tempted to reach out and grab yourself a handful of the money hanging on the walls of the Museum of American Art, but don’t bother — it’s all fake. The museum’s newest exhibit, “John Haberle, American Master of Illusion,” focuses on the works of a 19th-century New Haven artist whom museum director Douglas Hyland calls “one of America’s greatest trompe d’oeil artists.” Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — Better quality pre-school teachers and more available pre-school slots are key components to one initiative outlined in a “Blueprint” for bettering the lives of city children from birth through age 9. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — The city’s Opportunities Industrialization Center has finally “gone mobile,” in the words of executive director Paulette Fox, thanks to a bus which an anonymous donor gave to the program. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — Maurice Peress, conductor of the New Britain Symphony, can’t say for certain that history will be made in New Britain today, but he’s pretty sure it will be. Full Story »
FARMINGTON — A Hartford woman who claimed she was married to Dustin Hoffman was arrested on criminal trespass charges early Friday after she crawled under a mall store security gate to “see a friend,” police said. Full Story »
Christmas came early for three New Britain organizations. Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a collection of annual appropriations bills. The measures included $475,000 U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, Democrat-5th District, secured for the New Britain area. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — Firefighters arrived to battle a blaze at 173 Beaver St. Friday to find flames trapped within the walls between the exterior of the two-family house and the interior. Full Story »
Local police in the area reported few problems after Wednesday’s first measurable snowfall of the season. But State Police were hopping while dealing with crashes and spin-outs on the interstate highways. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — Staying true to his word, Majority Leader Phil Sherwood had his way at Wednesday’s meeting of the Common Council and rallied his party to override a mayoral veto and reappoint William Candelori to the Mattabassett District. Full Story »
HARTFORD — A former Bristol man pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter Wednesday in the revenge killing of New Britain resident Kevin Cales when the two were housed in the same prison, the Associated Press reported. Full Story »
BERLIN — It was billed as a meeting on the status of health care reform. But, it soon turned into an open, often heated session on the impact of U.S. House and Senate measures on small business owners. Full Story »
HARTFORD — Democratic state Sen. Donald DeFronzo with support of the New Britain Legislative Delegation, said Tuesday he will propose a plan to roll back recent fishing and hunting license fee increases. Full Story »
PLAINVILLE — Bristol is pursuing a grant that would allow Plainville to start implementing single-stream recycling in town while Bristol expands its pilot single-stream recycling program. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — A Corbin Avenue man and his guest were arrested on drug and gun charges Tuesday after Special Services Unit officers found the makings of a drug factory in his home, police said. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — A Stanley Street man was arrested on burglary and assault charges early Wednesday after he forced his way into a home and struck a resident, police said. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — The Hospital for Special Care announced its plans Tuesday for a $7 million initiative to expand outpatient services by waging a “Hope Campaign” set to kick off next month. Full Story »
NEW BRITAIN — The hope for a future of the downtown area took a step forward Tuesday as plans for the $35 million cornerstone project at Main and Chestnut streets were displayed for the public. Full Story »
A 6-day-old sheep relaxes with its mother at a zoo in Tokyo, Dec. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
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