dlyon  Jan 19 2005 - 8:31am  Local News   

By SEAN O’LEARY
Chronicle Staff Writer
COLUMBIA — The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department came to the board of selectmen Tuesday with a letter stating it is opposed to a walking trail in Fireman’s Field because of possible legal violations.
The letter, on behalf of the entire department and read aloud by the department’s president, Mark Vining, stated the conservation commission’s proposal for a walking trail may violate the deed restrictions on the 11.8-acre parcel agreed to by the town and the department in 2000.
The language in the deed states the land is open space that “shall be maintained in its natural, scenic and open condition subject to sound forestry maintenance practice,” according to the letter.

dlyon  Jan 19 2005 - 8:30am  Local News   

By MATTHEW L. BROWN
Chronicle Staff Writer
WILLIMANTIC — The folks who want to take over Windham Mills claim the complex would make a good energy technology and energy policy center.
“Pies in the sky,” according to Selectman Donald White, but perhaps the last hope for the Windham Mills Development Corp.
Although National RE/sources of Greenwich brought framed, matted photographs of successful projects around the country, selectmen quickly grew tired of the photographic resume routine during their meeting Tuesday.
“What does this have to do with the bankruptcy with the Windham Mills?” Selectman Tom DeVivo asked. “Is this just a dog and pony show so that we’re in favor of this when they go before a judge?”

dlyon  Jan 18 2005 - 9:05am  Local Sports   

MIDDLETOWN — ECSU junior David Pavia and sophomore Matthew Zagura each won two events Saturday at the Wesleyan University Invitational Track and Field meet at Bacon Field House.
Pavia won at both 55 meters (6.65) and 200 meters (23.11). Zagura won both the shot put (46-7¼) and weight throw (47-3½) in the same meet for the fourth time in his indoor career.
The non-scoring meet was the Warriors’ first official competition in over a month.
Pavia was clocked at 6.61 in the preliminaries of the 55 dash, just off the program’s 11-year record of 6.59. At 200 meters, he out-ran a field of 21 in a personal-best time.

dlyon  Jan 18 2005 - 9:03am  Local Sports   

Panthers ice NFA
STORRS — Nick Lankford popped in a pair of third-period goals to snap a 1-1 tie and Chris Kacy added an insurance tally as the E.O. Smith ice hockey team skated to a 4-1 victory over visiting Norwich Free Academy on Monday at the University of Connecticut Ice Arena.
E.O. Smith’s Tony Pacelio provided the Panthers (2-7) with a 1-0 lead when he converted teammate Brian Bohn’s pass into a goal at the 4:31 mark of the second period.
NFA’s Josh Thomas tied matters just 20 seconds later with the help of an assist from Doug Pimm.
Lankford then netted goals at 2:29 and 5:36, respectively, of the third period, Evan Lake assisting on the first and Ben St. Martin and Aaron Machado assisting on the second.

dlyon  Jan 18 2005 - 9:02am  Local Sports   

By JASON VRABEL
Chronicle Sports Writer
HEBRON — In its last two games, the RHAM High boys basketball team has let first-half leads disintegrate into second-half losses.
After dropping their sixth consecutive decision on Monday night, a 52-47 non-conference loss to visiting Ledyar, the Sachems are still looking to play a solid 32 minutes of quality basketball.
In a key battle against Northwest Conference-leading Middletown on Saturday, the Sachems led 29-16 at the halftime break only to see that lead evaporate and turn into a 59-46 loss.
It was more of the same against the Colonels (9-1) as RHAM (3-7) watched a 10-point, 32-22 halftime lead disappear as the visitors out-scored the Sachems by a 17-8 margin in the third quarter.

dlyon  Jan 18 2005 - 9:00am  Local Sports   

The Sports Network
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Josh Boone scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked three shots to lead No. 16th nationally-ranked Connecticut to a 77-68 Big East Conference men’s basketball win over Seton Hall at Continental Airlines Arena on Monday night.
Freshman Rudy Gay had 18 points and Charlie Villanueva contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Huskies (11-3 overall, 3-1 Big East), who have won two straight games.
Andre Sweet scored a game-high 22 points and ripped down eight boards for the Pirates (8-7, 0-4), who have dropped four consecutive contests and are still looking for their first conference win of the season. J.R. Morris and Kelly Whitney both added 13 in the setback.

dlyon  Jan 18 2005 - 8:58am  Local Sports   

HARTFORD — Progress is good.
Webster’s Dictionary defines progress as the following: A moving or going forward; a proceeding onward; an advance…….
What is progress, according to University of Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma?
Watching freshman Charde Houston do something that she wouldn’t have done two weeks ago.
It was midway through the second half and Houston had just mis-fired on a jumper, her first miss of the second half after six consecutive made field goals.
Texas started the fast break and, with guard Nina Norman nearing the basket for a layup, Houston ran at full sprint from behind and knocked the ball out of bounds.

dlyon  Jan 18 2005 - 8:57am  Local Sports   

Last year was an exciting season for the Connecticut Sun.
They captured their first Eastern Conference Championship by sweeping the New York Liberty, 2-0, to advance to the WNBA Finals where they lost to Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm in the decisive third game.
Several members of the Sun are currently having successful seasons playing in Europe.
Katie Douglas is leading the FIBA EuroLeague in scoring (22.3 points) and is tied for first in 3-point field goals made (22) for Group A member Lietuvos Telekomas Vilnius of Lithuania.
Lietuvos, which finished last season 5-9 in the preliminary-round competition and failed to make the playoffs, is leading Group A with a 7-2 record.

dlyon  Jan 18 2005 - 8:53am  Opinion/Editorial   

Gov. M. Jodi Rell and the Senate Democrats have both proposed sweeping plans to improve state ethics.
Rell’s proposal would tighten campaign contribution rules, prohibiting contributions from contractors who do business with the state and lobbyists or any committees financed by either.
Her plan would also tighten the rules on the type and value of gifts that may be accepted by state officials and, if a state official is found guilty of corruption, allow the government to confiscate the culprit’s pension.
The Senate plan, orchestrated in part by Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn, would eliminate gifts altogether and allow the state to reduce pensions of officials found guilty of corruption.

dlyon  Jan 18 2005 - 8:50am  Local News   

By MATTHEW L. BROWN
Chronicle Staff Writer
WILLIMANTIC — A city man accused of hitting an 11-year-old with his car while talking on his cell phone and driving is scheduled to appear in court next week.
According to police, Travis Brueckner, 20, of 71 Windham Road, was arrested and charged Thursday with reckless driving.
He was released from police custody on a promise to appear at Danielson Superior Court on Jan. 26.
Police say Brueckner was talking on his cell phone as he headed down Milk Street in heavy fog at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
A school bus bringing students home from after-school programs was stopped on Milk Street delivering home an 11-year-old Windham Middle School student.