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Fired up Friday, March 27, 2015
Bill ignites controversy among residents, officials By ERICA SCHMITT STAFF WRITER
Volume 55, No. 13
Free
Kevin Bartram | Staff
Barbara Vassar works with kindergarten students as part of the senior reading volunteer program at Ruth Chaffee Elementary School in Newington.
strong opposition from lawmakers across the state, the section is now being amended. Changes will require the CTDA to enter into a memorandum of understanding with towns, ensuring local zoning boards have ultimate control over any development projects. In addition, a town’s chief executive officer would weigh in on projects the 11-member, politically-apSee RESIDENTS, Page 2
‘Buddies’ bond over books By ERICA SCHMITT STAFF WRITER
NEWINGTON — Friendship knows no boundaries. No matter what age, people have the ability to form a special bond. And at Ruth Chaffee School in Newington, senior citizens have done just that.
A half dozen seniors have befriended kindergarten students in Patti McAndrew’s class. Every other Thursday afternoon, the “buddies” meet up to read a story and do an activity together. It’s a program McAndrew began when she was studying for her sixth year certificate in reading and language
arts at Central Connecticut State University. “It started as a research study on the effects of children reading with seniors,” McAndrew remembered. Now 17 years later, it is still going strong. “There are so many benefits,” See READING, Page 4
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NEWINGTON — A newly-proposed House bill sparked a firestorm recently, endangering the trust between residents and Newington’s elected officials. H.B. 6851 would create the Connecticut Transit Development Authority, an agency charged with spurring development along bus and rail stations across the state. Original language in the 26-page document permitted the group to seize property within a half mile of stations by eminent domain, in pursuit of their cause. This particular piece was what triggered a controversy. Due to
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