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Adolescent sexual assault: six facts

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Sexual assault among adolescents is common.  Christine Blasey Ford’s account of allegedly being sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh when they were teenagers is provoking both informed and uninformed comment from politicians. Still more private conversations about the subject are happening in homes and offices around the country.

There is a large body of social science research about what are called “peer sexual assaults” that is relevant to these discussions. We are experts on violence, including sex offenses against children and youth, and our research focuses on surveys to document those realities and track the trends. Continue reading Adolescent sexual assault: six facts

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CT assault victims back Christine Blasey Ford at presser

Lindsay Jones speaks at a press conference Thursday in Hartford in support of Christine Blasey Ford (CT Mirror photo).

Victims of sexual assault in Connecticut on Thursday joined others across the country in backing Christine Blasey Ford, a college professor who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault decades ago when both were attending a teenage party.

At a press conference in Hartford that also featured Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Wethersfield resident Lindsey Jones said she was sexually assaulted at a house party as a teen and is still in pain 15 years later. Continue reading CT assault victims back Christine Blasey Ford at presser

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Flynn campaigns for ‘due process,’ makes many allegations

Republican District 140 State Representative candidate John Flynn speaks at last week’s Norwalk Housing Authority town hall in South Norwalk.

The election is Nov. 6.

Updated, 6:19 a.m.: Copy edits, information added.

NORWALK, Conn. – John Flynn, the Republican candidate for District 140 State Representative, has a multi-year history of allegations, including multiple unsuccessful lawsuits in which he represented himself.

Claims by Flynn include an assertion that Stamford Police facilitated a murder for hire scheme against him and that Norwalk Police are helping to cover up 300,000 felonies. He has also alleged in court actions that police sent an “informant” to have him killed, and that police sent an off-duty officer to shoot him.  Nine out of ten lawsuits have been unsuccessful; one is in process.  Flynn says his lawsuits have been dismissed because Gov. Dannel Malloy appointed the presiding judges. He also says Malloy ordered a hit against him, when he was Stamford’s Mayor.

Flynn is running in the heavily Democratic district against Common Council member Travis Simms (D-District B), the Democratic candidate, and Human Relations Commissioner Colin Hosten, a Democrat endorsed by the Working Families Party. Continue reading Flynn campaigns for ‘due process,’ makes many allegations

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Opinion: A remarkable change in Norwalk High Schools

Bruce Kimmel

Bruce Kimmel is a Board of Education member. 

During last year’s budget debate, I argued the city had been in denial when it comes to the cumulative impact of the state’s Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula, which severely shortchanges Norwalk. Year after year, our elected and appointed officials, even former members of the BOE, had touted the progress made by our schools, when all the while we were barely treading water; in fact, we were beginning to sink.

Finally recognizing the need to play catch-up, the Board’s most recent budget requests were rather substantial. The Board believed the city could no longer afford to lag further and further behind as the world of education changed drastically. Fortunately, after long and sometimes difficult discussions, the city provided the funds necessary to implement what might be called “catch-up initiatives.” Continue reading Opinion: A remarkable change in Norwalk High Schools

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Norwalk/RDA lawsuit accuses Milligan of ‘sham’ property transfers

The view of Wall Street Place from Jason Milligan’s “Phase II” parking lot on June 1.

Updated, 3:35 p.m.: Additional comment from Jason Milligan; 6:15 a.m.: Copy edits

NORWALK, Conn. — Jason Milligan has engaged in unfair trade practices by using sham corporations to white-wash a prohibited transfer of property, the City of Norwalk and the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency allege in their lawsuit dated Friday.

Richard Olson has been unjustly enriched by selling property he was given by the City with the expectation that parking spaces be provided for citizens, the lawsuit alleges.

“This lawsuit is mostly complete nonsense with fancy words and legal mumbo jumbo,” Milligan said Wednesday, when asked by NancyOnNorwalk for a response to the lawsuit’s allegations.

Olson did not reply to a Tuesday email from NoN. Continue reading Norwalk/RDA lawsuit accuses Milligan of ‘sham’ property transfers

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Carver Center led me to where I am, will help others

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Thursday, Sept. 20, is Carver Day. Taylor Hemphill is a Carver alumna. 

Even as a young adult, living in Philadelphia, I still consider myself a Carver Kid. It’s an identity that didn’t leave me once I graduated high school.  My parents were involved with the Carver Center in their youth and my involvement extended to Girls Scout meetings, CASPER program, summer camp, Junior YDP, then Senior YDP. I would later return to the Carver the summer before finishing my undergraduate degree. I had the privilege of giving back in the building that gave to me, as a co-director for Let’s Get Ready!, an SAT prep program for low-income high school students. Continue reading Carver Center led me to where I am, will help others

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Norwalk education roundup: ECS, NHS colors and Adamowski ‘dirt’

Screenshot from a drone video showing Norwalk High School’s exterior paint job. (Trevor Cooper, IG @Photography_by_Trevor)

Updated, 10:09 a.m., 7:01 a.m.: Copy edits

NORWALK, Conn. – Here’s some education news of note:

  • An analysis of ECS funding changes: $400,000 increase this year
  • Norwalk High School’s ‘new colors look amazing’ in drone video
  • What’s that in the Superintendent’s parking space?

 

Drone video of new Norwalk High School exterior, by Trevor Cooper, posted below Continue reading Norwalk education roundup: ECS, NHS colors and Adamowski ‘dirt’

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Forums will talk Wall Street issues, Oak Hills bar; candidates to make pitches

Norwalk Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Tim Sheehan (left) plans to be part of a four-person panel Monday in the Wall Street Theater; Republican Congressional candidate Harry Arora and U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (center) are scheduled in a League of Women Voters’ forum, as are other candidates; and Mayor Harry Rilling and the Common Council are seeking your opinion about possible changes at Oak Hills Park, including a sit down bar.

The election is Nov. 6.

Updated, 5:58 p.m.: Added sentence to Smirniotopoulous quote.  4:05 p.m.: Added Smirniotopoulos e-mail, corrected typo; 12:09 p.m.: Added comment from Josh Morgan regarding OHPA payment status;  10:52 a.m.: Copy edit; 6:10 a.m.: Copy edits, information added.

NORWALK, Conn. — Multiple forums will address hot topics in Norwalk or offer chances to hear candidates.  Here are some opportunities for civic engagement:

  • CNNA panel discusses: “What’s Up with Norwalk’s Wall Street?”
  • Common Council seeks input on the Oak Hills Park Authority request for changes, including a sit-down bar in the park’s restaurant
  • League of Women Voters offers legislative candidate forums

Continue reading Forums will talk Wall Street issues, Oak Hills bar; candidates to make pitches

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Opinion: The $27 cup of Connecticut coffee

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The national average price of a cup of coffee is three dollars.  You would not pay $27 for a cup of coffee in Connecticut, would you?  The average price of an iPhone is $728 – does $6,500 sound like a good deal in Connecticut?  Nationally, cars sell for an average of $35,000 –  so that Honda here in Connecticut at $315,000 would be insane, right?

Note my Connecticut estimates above are each nine times the national average.  Why do my analogies use nine times the national average?  Because the amount of money Connecticut spends per mile of road in administrative costs is nine times the national average.   Continue reading Opinion: The $27 cup of Connecticut coffee

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Opinion: Why the 140th needs a competitive race for State Representative

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I recently ran in the Democratic Primary for State Representative of the 140th Legislative District, here in Norwalk. Although I missed securing the nomination by a very close margin, I ended up earning the nomination of the CT Working Families Party, and will still appear on the ballot in November.

Some have asked me whether having two Democrats—my progressive campaign against the political establishment—continue in a race against a Trump-supporting Republican is a wise move. Continue reading Opinion: Why the 140th needs a competitive race for State Representative

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City withdraws court action against Milligan, announces new one

Norwalk real estate broker Jason Milligan, owner of POKO Phase II and III properties, speaks to Common Council members Sept. 4 in City Hall.

Correction, 1:22 p.m.: Story amended to reflect clarification from Jason Milligan regarding a Sept. 7 email exchange. Updated, 6:44 a.m.: Information added; 6:16 a.m.: Copy edits

NORWALK, Conn. — A court action against POKO property owner Jason Milligan and former owner Richard Olson has been withdrawn, and a new one filed, according to Norwalk Corporation Counsel Mario Coppola.

The new lawsuit “alleges that the parties, among other things, breached the LDA by conveying Phase II and Phase III properties in the project at 21, 23 and 31 Isaacs Street and 83 and 97 Wall Street without the consent of the Agency,” according to a press release sent by Norwalk Communications Manager Joshua Morgan late Monday. Continue reading City withdraws court action against Milligan, announces new one

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Norwalk DPW retiree sues City

Updated, 8:41 a.m.: Copy edits

NORWALK, Conn. — The City of Norwalk is being sued by a former employee, who claims he was harassed into resigning his job with the Department of Public Works.

Bela Garrison resigned in March and took early retirement to escape conditions made intolerable by Scott Vetare’s harassment and threats of bodily harm, the Sept. 7 complaint filed by Attorney Steven Jacobs in New Haven Superior Court states.

The City is filing a motion to strike on the basis of governmental immunity, Deputy Corporation Counsel Jeffry Spahr said. Continue reading Norwalk DPW retiree sues City

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7 Forest Hill owners appeal and advertise

A screengrab from the Sunshine Senior Residence website. Last week “September 15th 2018” was changed to “Soon”.

Updated, 12:12 p.m.: Photo added; 8:01 a.m.: Clarification to opening sentence; 6:34 a.m.: Copy edits

NORWALK, Conn. — A business that was denied permission to operate a senior living residence in West Norwalk is appealing the decision in court while requesting permits to continue work on the property.

7 Forest Hill LLC, owner of the single-family residence 7 Forest Hill Road, applied for and was granted a permit earlier this year for five unrelated senior citizens to rent rooms in the home and receive help cooking and cleaning.  Neighbors appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), which unanimously overturned the permit July 12.

Attorney Joseph Capalbo, representing the owner, appealed the decision in an Aug. 1 complaint to Stamford Superior Court.  The complaint argues that the ZBA illegally abused its discretion to reverse the permit as the use is “valid, proper, compliant and permitted.”

Continue reading 7 Forest Hill owners appeal and advertise

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