Hartford Shooting Team Task Force Report

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Police Chief Daryl Roberts announced "significant progress with the Shooting Team Task Force efforts to increase public safety and the perception of public safety, reduce homicides and other gun-related violent crimes, and arrest those who violate the law and endanger others."

Since the Shooting Team Task Force was re-instated by Mayor Segarra on July 5, the overall reduction in shootings over the past four months is 35.1 percent. This means that compared to last year, shootings have gone from 13.9 percent above last year to 21.2 percent below this time last year.

“When the shooting team was reconvened, there were 19 homicides in the first six months of 2011. Since July, that number has been reduced to 3. While one homicide is one too many, our team is making people safer and helping them to feel safer. These numbers aren’t just a positive reflection on the city, they have a positive impact on the region as well as this truly is an inclusive effort,” said Mayor Segarra.

“Murder arrests are up almost 110% percent, 80 arrests (mostly firearm related) have been made and over 30 guns have been seized; there is no doubt that this is a reflection of the maximum effort this team gives each and every day,” the Chief added.

The Hartford Shooting Team is a partnership between the HPD, Offices of the Chief State’s Attorney and Hartford State’s Attorney, the Connecticut State Police and State Department of Correction, Board of Pardons and Paroles and Office of Adult Probation, Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, and the East Hartford, West Hartford and Manchester Police Departments.

The Task Force investigates gun violence and brings those responsible for such violence to prosecution. It also collaborates with the Violent Crimes Bureau and the Witness Protection Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and works in conjunction with the Central Connecticut Cold Case Task Force.

Jordan Named VP CFO At Zygo

John Jordan has been named as vice president and chief financial officer at Zygo Corporation (NASDAQ: ZIGO), a worldwide supplier of optical metrology instruments and high precision optical systems in Connecticut.

Most recently, Jordan served as vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Baldwin Technology Company, Inc., a publicly-traded global manufacturer of printing press accessories and controls for the newspaper publishing and commercial printing industries. Prior to joining Baldwin, Mr. Jordan served as treasurer and vice-president of Paxar Corporation, a publicly-traded global manufacturer of apparel identification products, bar code identification machinery and supplies.

Zygo Corporation is a worldwide supplier of optical metrology instruments, precision optics, and electro-optical design and manufacturing services serving customers in the semiconductor capital equipment, bio-medical, scientific and industrial markets.

Tech Innovation Award To RSL Fiber Systems

RSL Fiber Systems, LLC, an East Hartford, Connecticut-based manufacturer of advanced lighting solutions and illumination systems for commercial and military applications, has earned its second major award in three months with its receipt of the 2010 North American Technology Innovation of the Year Award in Remote Source Lighting, presented by internationally-renowned research leader Frost & Sullivan.

The annual“best practices” awards recognize companies in a wide variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, independent analysis and extensive secondary research.

RSL will accept the award on Feb. 9 at Frost & Sullivan’s 2011 Excellence in Best Practices Awards Banquet in New Orleans.

The company was chosen for the award based upon an extensive and independent analysis by researchers of today’s remote source lighting market. In general terms, remote source lighting refers to the method by which high-performance light is delivered to any number of hard-to-reach destinations, usually in a hazardous work environment, from a remotely located source.

Remote source lighting generates light in one location and delivers it to another – 1,000 or more feet away – via fiber optic cable. The technology is safe, efficient, low maintenance and durable.

The company is the sole-source provider of remote source lighting applications for the U.S. Navy for shipboard use on the Navy experimental craft Sea Fighter, the LPD 17 and the DDG 1000 stealth class ships. Since 2005, RSL has installed some 50 high-performance fiber optic lighting systems on Navy ships, including signaling and navigation lights for the USS New York, one of the Navy’s newest vessels with the keel built using steel from the World Trade Center.

RSL and its proprietary technology are moving into new markets including mining and mine safety, first responders, homeland security, energy and chemical industries, luxury yachts and commercial ships, renewable energy and more.

In 2010, the company was named the state’s leading Connecticut technology company in revenue growth in the advanced manufacturing category by the Connecticut Technology Council and Marcum, LLP. RSL has also earned the Silver Connecticut Quality Innovation Award, and been nominated for “Business of the Year” by the Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce.

A division of Skyler Technologies Group, more about the company may be found at www.rslfibersystems.com.

CPES Legislative Update Meet Set

The Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) annual legislative update is Wednesday, Jan. 12, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Cromwell Marriott.

For more information, call Paul Brady, CPES executive director, (203) 265-0823. Cost is $60.

McConnell Promoted To Vice President

Anne McConnell has been promoted to vice president, human resources officer, at Rockville Bank. The announcement was made at the annual meeting by William McGurk, bank president and CEO.


McConnell is responsible for a broad spectrum of human resources-related policies, programs and practices for the bank, including employee relations, employee benefit administration, recruitment and payroll management.

She joined Rockville Bank in 1995. She is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management.

Norwich, The Rose City, Agenda

The Rose City Renaissance/Norwich Tourism Round Table is set for Thursday, May 20 at 4 p.m. at the Otis Library conference room.

The agenda includes a report on the State Tourism Conference, held May 6; general information; the Mystic.org Web site; an update and proposal on the Norwich Tourism Web presence; previous meetings; updates from tourism colleagues.

RSVP to Richard Bryan Kramer, executive director, Rose City Renaissance/Norwich Tourism Office, (860) 887-3289.

Rose City Renaissance (RCR) is committed to lead a preservation-based, community-driven urban revitalization effort to restore the historic Norwich downtown and waterfront into a thriving center of community life.

Wagner Elected To Bankers' Bank Northeast Board

William Wagner, president and CEO of Chicopee Savings Bank, Chicopee, Mass., has been elected to the Bankers’ Bank Northeast board of directors.

“I remember Bill’s comment at our annual meeting several years ago, when he challenged attending shareholder banks to follow his bank’s lead by using all the pertinent services we offer,” said Peter Sposito, president and CEO of Bankers’ Bank Northeast. “He made a great impression on us then, and I know Bill’s commercial loan experience will enhance our Board’s expertise in that important segment of our activities.”

Wagner, a resident of Longmeadow, Mass., has been president of Chicopee Savings Bank since 1984. Previously, he spent 18 years with Park West Bank, West Springfield, Mass.

Bankers’ Bank Northeast, based in Glastonbury, Conn., serves more than 200 community banks throughout New England and New York state. Nationally, there are 20 bankers’ banks that work with more than 6,000 community banks in all 50 states.

Essex Savings Bank opens new Madison office

Essex Savings Bank (ESB) cut the ribbon to open a new financial service center at 99 Durham Road in Madison.

Gregory Shook, president and chief executive officer, said the new financial center will include an adviser from its Essex Financial Services subsidiary as well as a senior vice president from its trust department.

ESB offers a broad range of financial services, including banking, financial, estate, insurance and retirement planning. Branches are located in Essex, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook.

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremonies were attended by town officials, chamber representatives and members of the local business community.

Essex Savings Bank is a state-chartered mutual, or depositor owned, savings bank serving the shoreline and Connecticut River Valley.

29th Annual Mark Twain Holiday House Tour

The Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum will deck the halls of five elegant homes in Hartford and West Hartford for the occasion. Tour the private homes, plus Mark Twain's magical mansion and enjoy live music in each locale on Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets are $30 each in advance; $35 day of the tour. For more information see www.marktwainhouse.org.

Holiday Event At Papa's (See Nice Wheels, Too)

This month, Papa's Chrysler Dodge Jeep is collecting non-perishable food for Christmas and local food pantries through Dec. 23.

The goal is to fill a 2010 Dodge Caravan for the holiday. Those who stop by and make a donation get a cup of hot chocolate at Papa’s Pit Stop Diner, the retro 1950s eatery inside the complex in New Britain, Connecticut.

New Campus For Gateway in New Haven?

The amount of $182,730,057 for a construction contract to build the new campus of Gateway Community College in downtown New Haven, Conn., is expected to gain approval when members of the state Bond Commission meet Oct. 30.

Gateway Community College campus will be a four-story structure located on Church Street in the heart of downtown at the sites of the former Macy’s and Malley’s department stores.

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and be completed in time for the 2012 school year. The project will encompass 360,000 square feet and will include a 600-car parking garage. In addition, the state has completed an agreement to lease 700 spaces in New Haven’s Temple Street garage adjacent to the site.

The new campus will be the state’s first gold-certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) public building. The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary standard for achieving the goal of producing a new generation of buildings that are energy efficient.

The LEED designation verifies an environmentally friendly design and sustainable building construction.

Gateway will utilize renewable and alternative energy technologies including solar, hot water, and photovoltaics. Gateway will maximize the use of energy efficient systems and equipment and reduce the demand on the existing energy utilities. The average payback for LEED gold certification is approximately eight and one-half years.

Samuel Colt, Hartford - Columbus Day Discovery

That distinctive blue onion dome seen to the right in this image is topped with the figure of a rampant colt, the original symbol of the Colt Manufacturing Company. That building under the dome? The Colt Armory, where the "gun that won the West" was born and manufactured. Read more about re-discovering Connecticut, at www.corpct.com.

Notable End-of-Summer Auction

Mark the date for a Northeast Auctions event, Thursday, Aug. 27, at Dover Elks Lodge, 282 Durham Rd., Dover, NH.


The end of the summer auction includes 350 lots of American, European and Oriental antiques, including property from a Cambridge professor’s estate, two coastal Connecticut homes, residual property from an old-time collector, and other sources.
Preview from 11 a.m.; sale at 4 p.m.

Northeast Auctions are scheduled five times a year and include quality American, English and Continental furniture, paintings, ceramics, silver and other fine and decorative arts. The company's annual sales approach $25 million, and is ranked among the largest auction houses in the United States.

Ronald Bourgeault is owner and auctioneer.

Smith named Waterford CFO

Waterford Hotel Group has named Gregory Smith as chief financial officer and vice president, finance at its corporate offices in Waterford, Conn.

Waterford Hotel Group professionally manages 25 properties in 9 states, representing nearly 3,500 hotel rooms nationwide, as well as the Connecticut Convention Center.

Smith is responsible for the financial, accounting, and information technology functions of Waterford Hotel Group and each of the properties that it manages. Smith develops, implements and maintains financial controls and standardized policies that reduce costs and streamline financial communications, as well as operating and capital budgets.

Smith joins Waterford Hotel Group with nearly 30 years of accounting and finance expertise, most recently serving as chief financial officer/chief administration officer for Boykin Management Company.

Rob Winchester is president of Waterford Hotel Group. Len Wolman is chairman and CEO.

Boardman Silversmiths Inc. To Grow, Move

The state of Connecticut will aid Boardman Silversmiths Inc.'s move from Meriden to Wallingford, ensuring the company and its 11 employees stay in Connecticut. The company also plans to create 10 more jobs within three years.

The company was looking for a larger facility to expand its line of silver and pewter products by as much as 33 percent and plans to add new and more efficient tools and dies to its inventory of equipment. Georgia officials contacted Burton Boardman about moving his business there, but after working with Connecticut officials, a Wallingford site was chosen as a prime location.

The state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is assisting this project with a $147,512, low-interest loan through the Small Manufacturers Competitiveness Fund to help the company purchase machinery and equipment and upgrade their new facility.

T.D. and Sherman Boardman first established a pewter and silver business in Hartford along the Connecticut River in 1798. Eventually other family members set up shop in other cities. These businesses have been passed down through nine generations of Boardmans, with the name becoming is synonymous with quality and fine craftsmanship in silver and pewter manufacturing. Burton Boardman, who purchased his business from his father Joseph in 1985, plans to sell to his sons, daughter, niece or nephew.

Unforgettable Gettysburg - July 1, 2, 3

Gettysburg commemorates the battle, July 1-3, and include "real time" ranger-led programs following the progress of the battle in chronological order.

In addition to these programs, the park offers three-hour battle walks on the anniversary dates. All are free. For details visit www.nps.gov/gett.

It now costs more to visit the Cyclorama, museum and film at the year-old visitor center at the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Adult tickets are now $10.50 (formerly $7.50). Youth tickets now cost $6.50. Discounts are available for advance tickets sold through the Gettysburg Foundation site, www.gettysburgfoundation.org.

July Reenactments

July 3-5
Gettysburg (PA)

July 10-12
Battles at Wise (VA)

July 11-12
Rich Mountain (WV)

July 11-12
Gilmor's Raid (MD)

July 25-26
Civil War Days at the Grove (IL)

Connecticut residents can view artifacts relating to the state's contribution to the Civil War at the Museum of Connecticut History at The Connecticut State Library in Hartford. On display are uniforms and weapons; an original diary and other mementos preserved by Connecticut soldiers in the infamous Andersonville prison.

Top image, CivilWarTraveler.com

$17-Million Main Runway Upgrade Complete

The main runway at Bradley International Airport (BDL) main is ready for take-offs and landings after a two-month, $17 million reconstruction project.

Runway 6-24 handles about 210 of the 350 daily flights at Bradley, located in Windsor Locks, about 15 miles north of Hartford.

State Department of Transportation crews milled, resurfaced, grooved and painted the 9,510-foot-long and 250-foot-wide runway. Upgrades included a water main crossing and new wiring for the runway lights.

The project was funded through an FAA Airport Improvement Program grant along with funds from the airport's capital improvement budget. The Connecticut Department of Transportation owns and operates the airport.

Manufacturing Means "To Make"

Manufacture
1. To make (wares or other products) by hand, by machinery, or by other agency . . . 2. To work, as raw or partly wrought materials, into suitable forms for use . . . - Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Housatonic Community College (HCC) students David Curtis of Trumbull (center) and Steven Vereb of Stratford (right) discuss their recently completed CAD Mechanical AutoCad class with Donald Janezik of Cheshire (left), treasurer of the Manufacturer’s Association of Southern Connecticut. The group awarded a $5,000 grant to HCC for scholarships to industrial technology, technological studies and engineering science students. Curtis, Vereb and Livingston Thomas of Bridgeport received scholarships for the AutoCad course.

MASC made the award as part of its efforts “to preserve, promote and protect manufacturing jobs in Southern Connecticut.” HCC is now accepting applications for another round of scholarships.

For information, contact Bill Griffin at (203) 332-5056 or wgriffin@hcc.commnet.edu

M&A Firm Opens Branch in Canada

The Woodbridge Group has opened of its first Canadian office in Toronto, Ontario.

Woodbridge Group provides sell- and buy-side, financing and distressed company mergers and acquisitions services to businesses with $5 million to $50 million in sales.

The firm operates out of 11 offices in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Georgia, Texas, Washington, D.C., Toronto, the Netherlands and Brazil.

For more information (905) 536-6325. Robert Koenig is president of the firm.

Offshore Finance Forum, Oslo, June 11

David Mullen, CEO of Ocean Rig, will serve as chairman of the Norway Ship & Offshore Finance Forum that is set for June 11 in Oslo.

Mullen will speak on a panel focused on deepwater drilling that also includes Trond Brandsrud, CFO of Seadrill, and Jan Erik Tveteraas, CEO of Sevan Drilling. Topics include the oil market, supply and demand, reserves investment, drilling, reduced access to capital, equity research and more.

For a full list of the event's offerings, corporate sponsors, last year's attendees or registration information contact Marine Money International at (203) 406-0106, ext. 3712; e-mail afarrison@marinemoney.com, or visit www.marinemoney.com.

Marine Money International is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.