"Connecticut Creates" Invites Conversation in Hartford, Bridgeport, Danbury

The grassroots initiative Connecticut Creates continues to extend the conversation, and is looking for people to give voice to what’s happening in Hartford, Bridgeport and Danbury during informal gatherings on Thursday, August 23. Connecticut Creates is a conversation about people who are actively creating a new future for themselves and those around them. The group behind Connecticut Creates sees a future for the state that is designed by the people, for the people. By finding and supporting Connecticut residents who are actively taking charge of their own destiny, the initiative seeks to generate “more hope and possibility in our state and in each other.”

Up next: Thursday, August 23, from 6 to 8 PM there will be talk about plans for the fall and sharing of stories of people who inspire, like Kristin Brooks of Clinton. Those who attend will help us shape Connecticut Creates. Locations are:

• Downtown Yoga: 57 Pratt Street, Hartford, CT 06103
• Melt: 7 Lafayette Circle, Bridgeport, CT 06604
• Two Step Grille: 5 Ives Street, Danbury, CT 06810

Individuals can RSVP on Eventbrite and share the event with friends on Facebook and beyond.

The first open forums took place on Thur., June 7 at: Javapalooza, Middletown, The Grove in New Haven, Bean & Leaf in New London and Fat Cat Pie Co., in Norwalk. For post-event recaps, read the blog post.

Connecticut Creates is in the process of identifying and profiling people (through video and on our blog) in business, government, education, nonprofit and arts/culture/tourism who are designing a new destiny for themselves and, in the process, having a positive impact on those around them. In the works are David Murphy of One Little Boat and Oil Drum Art, and Bun Lai of Miya's Sushi.

Organizers says there’s much more out there, and they’d like to hear about ‘em.   The goal this week:  widen the circle and broaden the conversation.

Gymnastics National Championships to Return to Hartford Next Summer

USA Gymnastics has announced that the 2013 U.S. Gymnastics Championships will return to Hartford’s XL Center next summer a quick follow-up to a very successful debut in the Capitol City in 2010 that featured future Olympians many of whom are now household names. Tickets for the four-day competition, to be held Aug. 14-17 - which are USA Gymnastics' national championships - went on sale immediately, to take advantage of heightened interest in gymnastics in the weeks following the London Olympics.  There was a recent published commentary urging Connecticut to focus on attracting sports-related competitions and tournaments, and the announcement underscored the opportunities now available to the state.

The competition schedule for 2013 in Hartford is: Aug. 14 – men's gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m. and seniors at 6:30 p.m.; Aug. 15 – women's gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m. and seniors at 6:30 p.m.; Aug. 16 – men's gymnastics, juniors at 1 p.m. and seniors at 6:30 p.m.; and Aug. 17 – women's gymnastics, juniors at 2 p.m. and seniors at 7:30 p.m. All-session tickets for the U.S. Gymnastics Championships range in price from $125-$395.

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said, "The U.S. Gymnastics Championships are a signature event for the City of Hartford -- one that I have worked hard to recruit back to Connecticut's Capital City. It's exciting for residents and beneficial for Downtown businesses."

The 49th Annual USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is a three-day event open to the entire gymnastics community. Held in conjunction with the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, National Congress provides a unique opportunity for presentations, demonstrations and educational seminars on a variety of topics and a large exhibitor's hall with additional business opportunities.

Local News Buffeted by Technology, Ownership, Regulators & Courts

The way in which people get their news information continues to evolve rapidly, as reflected in data highlighted by the National Conference on Citizenship, reporting that 23% of adults nationwide get the latest news on at least two mobile devices – and noting that 44% have smart phones and 18% own a tablet – numbers that will surely continue to grow. Of those with digital devices, 70% get their news from a desktop or laptop, 51% from a smartphone and 56% from a tablet device.  The increasing impact of mobile devices and social media in the dissemination of news is outlined at the organization’s – you guessed it – website.

LED BY WFSB

Among those tuning to local television in the region recently, Hartford’s WFSB Channel 3 had a strong Nielsen ratings period for the month of July, according to The Laurel.  Eyewitness News was ranked #1 in the market for each of the station’s newscasts beginning at 4:30 AM and holding top stops from 5-6 AM and 6-7 AM and then at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 PM.

COURANT?

Over at FOX Connecticut, which physically relocated to a joint operation with The Hartford Courant on Broad Street in Hartford when CT1 Media was formed by Tribune Co., owner of both media outlets, the future continues to unfold more outside than in Connecticut.  News reports regarding the long-running Tribune Co. bankruptcy case reached a key milestone last month when U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Carey in Delaware said he would approve a plan that will transfer ownership of the media company to a group of hedge funds and banks.

If and when that occurs, new owners would like move to get the company out of Chapter 11, and seek approval from the Federal Communications Commission in Washington to transfer Tribune's TV licenses to them. Because Tribune Co. owns newspapers and broadcast stations in several markets, including Hartford, the FCC must grant waivers from its restrictions on ownership of multiple media outlets in the same city.

Before Tribune Co., which owns 23 TV stations, went private in 2007, the FCC granted a permanent waiver to the company for its Chicago media holdings. The FCC also granted temporary waivers in Los Angeles, New York, South Florida and Hartford.  But new waivers are required with a change in ownership, and some are urging filed the FCC to deny Tribune Co.'s waiver requests, according to media reports.

Connecticut is #26 in Levels of Biking, Walking; #24 in Fatalities

There were 27 fatal bicycling accidents in Connecticut between 2005 and 2010, and the total number of biking-related crashes around the state during that five-year span was 4,276, the Hartford Advocate is reporting, citing official state data.  State officials also report that between 2005 and 2009, there were about 5,300 pedestrian-related traffic accidents in Connecticut The Tri-State Transportation Campaign recently issued an analysis of pedestrian accidents in Connecticut between 2008 and 2010 that showed there were 121 pedestrian deaths in that time frame.

The state’s Department of Transportation is beginning to respond.  The DOT announced recently that a 2.75-mile stretch of Burnside Avenue in East Hartford (part of Route 44), between Main and Mary Streets, will be redesigned to reduce the number of travel lanes for vehicles and to install bike lanes.  Much attention has been paid to the section of roadway following a series of fatal bicycle-car collisions that took the lives of three East Hartford cyclists during the past two years.  The Hartford Courant has reported that the DOT considers the plan the first of its kind in the state – a state road redesign aimed at improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety.

Earlier this year, Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report, produced by the Alliance for Biking & Walking, ranked all 50 states (and the 51 largest U.S. cities) on bicycling and walking levels, safety, funding, and other factors.  Connecticut ranked #26 among the states in levels of bicycling and walking.  In fatalities, the state ranked #24.  Among the reports noteworthy statistics:

• Seniors are the most vulnerable bicyclists and pedestrians. Adults over 65 make up 10% of walking trips, yet comprise 19% of pedestrian fatalities. This age group accounts for 6% of bicycling trips, yet 10% of bicyclist fatalities.
• Bicycling and walking projects create 11-14 jobs per $1 million spent, compared to just 7 jobs created per $1 million spent on highway projects. Cost benefit analysis show that up to $11.80 in benefits can be gained for every $1 invested in bicycling and walking.
• While bicycling and walking fell 66% between 1960 and 2009, obesity levels increased 156%.
• On average, the largest 51 U.S. cities show a 29% increase in bicycle facilities since the 2010 report.

All of which underscores the need to improve bicycling safety, as biking becomes more popular across the country.

New Focus on Attracting Sports Tournaments, Conventions to CT

The newly formed Connecticut Convention and Sports Bureau (CCSB), which brings together the former Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau and the State Department of Economic and Community Development - now with  oversight responsibility for state tourism programs - could be the key for a renewed effort to attract events to the state.  The convention and sports bureau is a private, nonprofit agency, funded by $1.3 million in state funds, with  a 40-member sports advisory board, already established by state law.  An op-ed in The Hartford Courant Sunday proposed a reinvigorated effort to attract sports-related tournaments and conventions, including use of state natives whose athletic success has been noteworthy (such as NHL Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick of Hamden).   Also in the news:  AEG Facilities’ Chuck Steedman, Senior Vice President & General Manager of the XL Center, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the CCSB and the Chair of the commission’s sports marketing arm.  And a longtime activist in encouraging sporting events in the state, Jay Sloves of the marketing firm Elkinson & Sloves, was among those receiving recognition in the final awards ceremony of the GHCVB last month.  Also recognized were Robert J. Martino of the law firm of Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. and Neletta Cochrane of CTTransit.

Market "En Plein Air" in Old Lyme Celebrates CT’s Harvest

As the saying goes, Connecticut is Still Revolutionary.  And as history buffs will remind you, at the time of the Revolutionary War, France was on our side.  Which brings us to Saturday, July 28 (from 9am to 3pm) when the abundance of a French country market comes to Connecticut.  For the 14th year, the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme hosts Market En Plein Air, a place for artisan bakers, organic farmers, and specialty food producers to show off their specialties. Last year, over 6,000 people attended the event, part of Old Lyme Midsummer Festival. A chefs’ competition, an artisan craft fair, dog contest, book signings, and hands-on activity area round out the food-focused experience! Modeled after the outdoor markets found in villages throughout France, Market En Plein Air features fresh organic fruits and vegetables, flowers, breads, fine cheeses, herbs, and specialty foods  -- all of the highest quality and all produced in Connecticut.  There will be 28 specially selected vendors on hand with items to sample and take home. Festivalgoers can enjoy a prepared lunch by Gourmet Galley and stroll the Museum’s 11-acre historic site along the banks of the Lieutenant River.

Next to the Market on the grounds of the Museum is Hands-On/Minds-On, where visitors of all ages enjoy fun, creative projects provided by area cultural organizations from 10am to 3pm.  At 12pm the Bee and Thistle Inn and Spa presents BEAT Shoreline Chef Competition. Just like on TV, four local chefs are given secret ingredients selected from Market En Plein Air vendors. Using those items, they prepare a dish to be judged on taste and presentation. Spectators watch as the chefs prepare their items. The winner will be selected at 1:30pm.

Entrance to activities is free. Admission to the Museum and riverfront gallery, which features the special exhibition, On Hudson: Highlights from the Albany Institute of History & Art will be reduced to $5 for the day. The Florence Griswold Museum exit 70 off I-95.  More info at (860) 434-5542 and www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org.

Hartford's Way Forward: Blue, Green and Walkable

Hartford’s status as one of the nation’s most promising triple-threat cities of the 21st century will be on full display in the coming months.  EnvisionFest in September and Riverfront Recapture’s annual Big Mo’ Block Party in  October will celebrate  a city where (1) America’s first National Blueway meets the (2) Greenway of one of the nation’s (3) most walkable cities. First National Blueway

This spring, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar established a National Blueways System and announced that the 410-mile-long Connecticut River and its 7.2 million-acre watershed will be the first National Blueway— covering areas of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut.  In ceremonies at Riverside Park in Hartford, Salazar said that partnerships along the Connecticut River provide an example for the rest of the nation.

"The Connecticut River Watershed is a model for how communities can integrate their land and water stewardship efforts with an emphasis on 'source-to-sea' watershed conservation," he said. "I am pleased to recognize the Connecticut River and its watershed with the first National Blueway designation as we seek to fulfill President Obama's vision for healthy and accessible rivers that are the lifeblood of our communities and power our economies."

The new National Blueways System is part of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to establish a community-driven conservation and recreation agenda for the 21st century. Establishment of a National Blueways System will help coordinate federal, state, and local partners to promote best practices, share information and resources, and encourage active and collaborative stewardship of rivers and their watersheds across the country.

Walkable City

Earlier this year, Prevention magazine rated Hartford as the #13 most walkable city in the nation, stating that “Car-free recreation is one of the city's selling points—and proof that it's taken full advantage of state funding for safer, better pedestrian access. From wide promenades to intersections that take pedestrians out of the periphery and into easy view, Hartford is more walker-friendly than ever.”

The designation also noted that walkers can “Hop between attractions like the Riverfront and the Arts and Entertainment District, as well as the city's abundant parks—and know that you're never going to ‘run out’ of sidewalk, or safe places to cross.”

First EnvisionFest is September 29

Those features will be on prominent display on September29 during EnvisionFest, Hartford’s newest celebratory event that is being designed to showcase and celebrate the ingenuity of the city’s and state’s industries, artists and people, providing a glimpse of the city’s future by encouraging people to experience the recently developed iQuilt Plan through walking, culture and innovation.

Hartford cultural institutions, Connecticut industries and artists will celebrate their vision of the future through interactive displays, exhibits, performances and activities in open houses and public spaces throughout downtown, all connected through walking and biking routes.

iQuilt Greenway

The iQuilt vision will be displayed on September 29 along the GreenWalk, along with sidewalk activities and prototypes of seating, lighting and signage. Walking throughout downtown will bring you to various Hartford destinations connected with food, drink, music, artists and activities.

Downtown Hartford is an unusually compact historic district packed with more than 45 cultural assets and destinations within a 15-minute walk: museums, performance spaces, historic landmarks, modern architecture, and public art.  The iQuilt Plan links those assets with a vibrant and innovative pedestrian network. Its centerpiece is the GreenWalk, a one-mile chain of parks and plazas connecting the gold-domed Capitol in Bushnell Park to the waterfront of the Connecticut River.

Walk the Walk(s)

Riverfront Recapture is a non-profit organization dedicated for three decades to restoring public access to the riverfront along the Connecticut River in Hartford and East Hartford.  It's annual Big Mo fundraiser on October 12 will mark the 10th anniversary of the Riverfront Boathouse in Hartford.  The organization’s four parks, which cover four miles of pristine shoreline and 148 acres, are connected by a growing network of riverwalks.  In addition to physically constructing the parks, Riverfront Recapture is also responsible for managing, maintaining and programming the parks, producing events and offering activities. In 2010, Riverfront Recapture set an attendance record with more than 960,000 people coming the Riverfront to enjoy the parks and the many festivals, concerts, and sporting events.

How Does Your Historic Garden Grow? 14 CT Sites Answer

Next Sunday, June 24 is the 9th Annual Connecticut Historic Gardens Day – a perfect day to visit one or several of 14 historic gardens across Connecticut. Each site offers special activities emphasizing their site and its unique history.  Connecticut residents (and visitors from beyond the state’s borders) are urged to visit a site or two in their immediate area, or make a day of it and head off to explore another part of the state.   The 14 historic sites are throughout the state, from Wilton to Old Lyme, Bethlehem to Woodstock. Connecticut's Historic Gardens raises awareness of distinctive historic sites and gardens within Connecticut's borders. By pooling funding, design, marketing and volunteer resources, the organization increases programming opportunities, offering the public experiences rich in beauty and history, and brings greater recognition and visitation to member sites.

Connecticut's Historic Gardens was started in 2002 by a small group of historic sites with gardens that pooled resources to participate in the annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show held in Hartford. Out of this collaboration came the development of a comprehensive brochure, funded by a grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, that has been distributed in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, and is available online. The group also participates in the New England Flower Show in Boston.

Programs and fees vary at each of the historic sites; hours are 12 noon to 4 pm unless noted on their respective web sites.  The 14 locations are:

• Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, Bethlehem
• Butler-McCook House & Garden, Hartford
• Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme
• Glebe House Museum, Woodbury
• Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford
• Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Hartford
• Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington
• New London County Historical Society and Shaw Mansion, New London
• Osborne Homestead Museum, Derby
• Promisek at Three Rivers Farm, Bridgewater
• Roseland Cottage, Woodstock
• Thankful Arnold House Museum / Haddam Historical Society, Haddaam
• Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, Wethersfield
• Weir Farm National Historic Site, Wilton

CT's "Still Revolutionary" Tourism Backed with $27 Million

Tourism in Connecticut generates about $11.5 billion in spending, $1.15 billion in state and local tax revenue and employs nearly 111,000 workers, according to 2011 statistics.  But for the Malloy Administration, that's not nearly enough.  A new  two-year, $27 million dollar initiative to bolster tourism, to include TV, radio, print, and digital advertising, with the theme "Connecticut: Still Revolutionary" is being launched.  The new logo is already appearing on the state's social media channels. "Still Revolutionary speaks to Connecticut's deep roots in the founding of this country and reminds us that we still have that independent, revolutionary spirit," Malloy said.   "For centuries we have been the home of literary greats, innovators and natural wonders — an incredibly diverse array of products and talent, all right here in Connecticut.  We are a beautiful state, and we are very proud of our history, even as we look toward our future.  It's time we did a better job of telling that story."

My Connecticut Story: Signs and Stories Run Through the State

How long does it take to visit all of Connecticut's 169 towns?  In the case of one resident, 13 years.  And that individual not only stopped by each town, he ferreted out the official town sign - you know, the large blue signs with white lettering that often appear on town greens.  Thomas Fatone's odyssey began in Trumbull in 1997 and continued  across the state through 2010. Visiting is fine, but how long does it take to run in all 169 towns?  Longer.  Nonetheless, it is becoming a popular goal.  So much so that a society of runners dedicated to running through every town in Connecticut has been formed, and they have a website to track their exploits.  DEBTiCONN.org, which stands for Do Every Blessed Town in Connecticut, has a motto:  "All you have to do is show up and run."

Now, Fatone and Adam Osmond (one of the runners) are among a growing number of Connecticut residents telling their stories as part of the state's new tourism website, which encourages such homegrown stories and holds out the possibility of the story-tellers winning prizes and their stories influencing the state's new $22 million tourism campaign.    By the way, The Signs of Connecticut will soon be published as a book.  Osmond, at last check, was still running.  The contest, operated by the Department of Economic and Community Development, ends on May 25, 2012.