'Gay City Park Reopens, Black Rock Closed all other State Parks Open for the weekend'

In a release, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said:

"Listed below are the state park beaches where water quality is tested by DEEP to ensure that it is safe for swimming. Samples are collected by DEEP staff and are analyzed at the Department of Public Health Lab. Local health departments are responsible for sampling municipal swimming areas.  For information on closures of local swimming areas contact the local public health agency."
 

Water Quality Report 6-28-13

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New Haven Scholarship Fund awards students

NEW HAVEN - One hundred and eighty one students from public high schools in New Haven as well as Achievement First Amistad High School and Common Ground High School recently received more than $298,000 in scholarships in an event at the United Church on the Green, organizers said in a release.

The scholarships were given by the New Haven Scholarship Fund.

"In 1959, Hillhouse High School math teacher Jean Lovell created a scholarship fund to assist students in need with the expenses of post-secondary education," the release said. 

"In 1991, New Haven Public Schools Talented and Gifted program Supervisor Rhoda Spear gifted her entire estate to be used for students planning a career in education. The gift of her estate and the continued support of countless others have significantly expanded the Scholarship’s ability to help more students."

Since it was found, 7,000 students will have received more than $7 million in financial assistance from the New Haven Scholarship Fund, the release said. 

"Jim Barber, president of the all-volunteer New Haven Scholarship Fund, feels that every deserving young person should be given the opportunity, through education, to improve the quality of their lives," the release said. "Our mission is to keep those hopes alive."

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10th Annual Fundraiser for Britton John Broatch Memorial Foundation in Milford

MILFORD-  A fundraiser for the Britton John Broatch Memorial Foundation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. July 13 at Crush Sports Cafe in Milford. 
The event will feature wine, beer and scotch tasting, as well as food, live music and raffle prizes, organizers said in a release.

"The 10th annual fundraiser is in honor of life-long Milford resident and Joseph A. Foran High School graduate, Britton John Broatch (BJB), who died suddenly in 2003 at age 25 of a stroke," the release said. "After nine years of hosting popular Wiffle tournaments on Foran athletic fields, fundraiser organizers opted to switch to the wine, beer and scotch tasting format to keep things fresh." 

"The BJB Memorial Foundation was created by family and friends shortly after Britton’s death and gives annual scholarships to Foran High seniors," the release said. "The 2013 scholarship recipient was awarded to Milford's Nomin Munkhbat, who will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut in the fall."

The BJB Memorial Foundation also donates to local and international charities, such as Crop Walk, Habitat for Humanity, Camdyn's Fund, Tex Kane Sholarship Fund, the Heron Family Fund, the Ralph J. Russo Fund, the Mike Burke Educational Fund, the John Tartaglio Fund, the MS Society, Oxfam, American Red Cross, and others, the release said.

Tickets for the tasting event are $40 and can be purchased by mailing a check or money order to: The BJB Memorial Foundation, PO Box 8, Milford, 06460. Tickets can also be purchased online through PayPal payment to gbroatch@thebjbtournament.com. For more information, contact Kierran Broatch at (203) 623-1193.

In the photo The recipient of the 2013 Britton John Broatch Memorial Scholarship was honored on June 6 at Joseph A. Foran High School in Milford. Nomin Munkhbat (left) will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall, where she will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering. The scholarship was presented to  Munkhbat by Britton's brother Garrett Broatch.

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Volunteer for the Orange Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival

The Orange Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival will be held  from Aug. 1  through Aug.  4, organizers said in a release.

Organizers also noted that "help is again gratefully accepted and needed in the main food tent."

Those who are interested in giving of their for a few hours, should note that help is especially needed on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. for the day shift, or the evening time, beginning at 4 p.m., the release said

Help is also needed on Sunday, beginning at noon and the carnival does not go into the evening on Sunday, the release said.

"We will also need some assistance on Thursday and on Friday beginning at 4:30 p.m.

If your company would like to volunteer together, as a group, that would be great and very much appreciated," organizers said in the release.

Coldwell Banker-Orange volunteers on Thursday night and Weichert Realtors Orang on Friday night, the release said.

"Please remember that aside from having a good time pitching in with your neighbors and friends to help, the volunteer fire  department also helps keep our town taxes lower."

Call or email Denise Mirto to add your name. 203-795-1080  or denise.mirto@gmail.com.

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Connecticut health officials warn outdoor workers about heat stress

The Connecticut Department of Public Health says that "with summer upon us and temperatures over 90 degrees expected over the next few days," the agency urges "all those who work outdoors or in other hot environments to learn to recognize and protect themselves from heat stress."

Read more here:
 

outdoorworkers_heatstress

Sen. Blumenthal gets 'tattoo' to endorse marriage equality

WASHINGTON  – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.,  supported “marriage equality and equal rights” by joining the third annual NOH8 On The Hill photo event, according to a release.

Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich,  D-N.M., “became the first two U.S. Senators to pose in a photo with NOH8’s iconic NOH8 tattoo,” the release said.

“Marriage equality is a human right, and I am committed to ensuring that it becomes a reality,” Blumenthal said, also in the release. “I am proud to stand with NOH8 in their tireless campaign against prejudice and injustice. Government should never disadvantage people on the basis of whom they love.”

Blumenthal previously joined the amicus brief filed in regard to the Defense of Marriage Act case under review by the Supreme Court, arguing that “the law should be struck down,” the release said. He co-sponsored the Uniting American Families Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act , the release said.

UAFA would allow gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their permanent partners for legal residency in the United States; ENDA would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity, the release said.

“Blumenthal posed for the photo to send a message that the fight for marriage equality and equal rights is not over,” the release said.

“LGBT Americans should have the same marriage rights and privileges that heterosexual Americans have, and federal law should not discriminate against LGBT citizens of Connecticut who lawfully exercise their right to marry under the Connecticut Constitution,” Blumenthal said, also in the release. “That is why I am a cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA.”

“This year, the NOH8 On The Hill photo event attracted 64 members of Congress, while in 2012, 26 Members participated, the release said.

NOH8 co-founder and photographer Adam Bouska said, also in the release, “This year’s event really showed how far we have come in so short a time. Equality and freedom appears to be highly contagious.”

The NOH8 On The Hill photos show lawmakers wearing either duct tape over their mouths or the NOH8 tattoo, the release said.

Editor's note: All information and the photos in this post were contributed. Click one of the buttons below to share it. Photos contributed by NOH8 through Blumenthal's office