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Teachers Face Tougher Evals Based on Student Work

News

HARTFORD, Conn. – Student achievement will play a dramatically larger role in evaluating teachers across Connecticut under new guidelines approved by a panel that represents teachers, school administrators and public school boards.

The state’s 10-member Performance Evaluation Advisory Council agreed this week on a new teacher evaluation process after two years of contentious meetings over how much emphasis should be placed on student performance.

“Connecticut has taken a major step toward a meaningful teacher evaluation system. This is a milestone in what I expect ...

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Schools

Norwalk's Teens: High School Should Be Tougher

By Nancy Guenther Chapman

NORWALK, Conn. – A group of Norwalk teenagers weren't afraid to give their elders some advice Thursday.

"A lot of teachers feel like they don't want to invest the time with students. They just kind of pass them along," said Melissa Rojo, a Norwalk High School senior. "(They think), 'Let the next teacher deal with you.' It's not smart. It eventually catches up with the student."

Edwin Rosales, a Norwalk High junior, said, "I think besides raising the bar for students, we also have to raise the bar for our teachers."

The students were part of "Youth Forum – Mind ...

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News

Soundkeeper Sails to Big Win in Court Case

By Luke Lavoie

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Connecticut Soundkeeper Terry Backer was thrilled that the New York Supreme Court found that the state Department of Environmental Conservation's was too lenient in its management of stormwater runoff into Long Island Sound.

"This is a big win," Backer said. "Stormwater runoff is one of the critical and serious problems facing both the Sound and other area waterways."

The court ruled that the department was too lax in its certification and must "issue revisions" consistent with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water ...

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News

Seized Easton Horses Doing Well Under State Care

By Erin Lynch 01/27/12

EASTON, Conn. – The five horses seized from Pee Wee Horse Farm in an animal cruelty investigation are thriving in their new home in a Niantic facility, said Ray Connors, the supervisor for the state Animal Control Division.

The owner of Pee Wee Horse Farm, Apollonio “Paul” Vittorio, was arrested Thursday by the Easton Police Department and charged with six counts of animal cruelty in a state arrest warrant.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by state animal control officers, who say they received several complaints about the condition of the ...

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Sports

Norwalk's Cranbury League Plans Registration

By Tom Renner 01/27/12

NORWALK, Conn. – Cranbury Baseball will hold registration on Monday, Jan. 30 at the Norwalk City Hall atrium. Players can also register online at the league’s website.

Monday’s in-person registration runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Players can also meet members of the Cranbury Baseball board during the registration process.

The Cranbury league is open to players ages 4 to 12 in Norwalk and surrounding communities. It is affiliated with PONY Baseball. Opening day is scheduled for April 14 at Tim Devine Field, where state Sen. Bob Duff will throw out the first ...

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Sports

High School Boys Ice Hockey Standings

By Eric Gendron 01/27/12

Fairfield County Interscholastic Conference Boys Ice Hockey Standings - Through Jan. 26

East Division Conference Record Overall Record

Ridgefield 5-0 10-1

Darien ...

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News

Norwalk Shelter Struggles to Fit All the Homeless

By Nancy Guenther Chapman 01/27/12

NORWALK, Conn. – Updated, 11:12 a.m., Jan. 27. Bill Okwuosa left work to head home Thursday, his heart hardened and prepared to do the worst – or so he thought.

The director of Norwalk's Open Door Shelter had decided to turn people away because of overcrowding. But he couldn't do it.

"I just got in the car to leave and come home, and I'm noticing there's quite a few people outside the shelter that can't get in because we are beyond our capacity. And I told you I was going to stop letting them come in," Okwuosa said in a voicemail. "I can't do it. I ...

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News

Lawmakers Hedge Bets on Online Gambling

By Richard Weizel 01/27/12

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is betting that online gambling “is inevitable” in Connecticut and would raise significant revenue for state coffers. But Republican state legislators are wagering against him.

“It is clear online gambling will become a reality, given the federal decision, and now (we) must decide how to address it,” Malloy said during a news conference in Hartford earlier this month.

The online gambling debate was fueled after the U.S. Department of Justice released a legal opinion several weeks ago that New York and Illinois ...

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News

Spanish Report: Murder Suspect Hanged Himself

By Vanessa Inzitari 01/26/12

WESTPORT, Conn. – A Barcelona-based newspaper reports that Andrew Robert Levene, the suspect in the Dec. 8 murder of Westport jeweler Yekutiel Zeevi, hanged himself in his prison cell with clothing.

The Associated Press reports a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Madrid said American officials were notified of Levene's death Thursday but did not say how he died. The statement said Spanish authorities were investigating his death.

La Vanguardia, a Spanish-language newspaper headquartered in Barcelona, reports that Levene, 41, was found dead in his cell at Barcelona's ...

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Sports

Mad Bull Wrestlers Strike Gold in Oxford

By Tom Renner 01/26/12

NORWALK, Conn. – The Norwalk-based Mad Bull wrestling team grabbed 11 gold medals and two bronzes in the beginner’s tournament last weekend in Oxford.

The Mad Bulls are a second-year team coached by Randy Haus, assisted by Art Schad and David Slapin.

The victories at Oxford were the continuation of a strong season for the young grapplers, who also had strong showings in Danbury and Berlin earlier this month.

The Mad Bull wrestlers return to action this weekend with a tournament in Southington. The team hosts Fairfield in a dual match on Feb. 4 at Marvin ...

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Community Calendar

8:00 am

Wilton Y Wahoos Winter Invitational
9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cruise planning
9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Norwalk Cal Ripken Baseball Registration
10:00 am - 11:30 am

MS Word 2007
10:00 am

Walter Wick: Games, Gizmos and Toys in the Att ...
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Timetravel with Jack & The Bean Stalk at Ridge ...

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News

Easton Horse Owner Faces Criminal Charges

By Erin Lynch 01/26/12

EASTON, Conn. – The owner of Pee Wee Horse Farm in Easton was arrested on multiple counts of animal cruelty Thursday morning. The arrest followed an investigation in which state Animal Control officers seized five horses, police said.

Apollonio “Paul” Vittorio, 75, turned himself in to Easton Police minutes before 11 a.m. Thursday after police notified him that the state had issued an active warrant for his arrest, according to Chief James Candee. Vittorio was released on a written promise to appear in court.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by state ...

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News

Free Tax Centers to Open in Norwalk

By Staff Report 01/26/12

NORWALK, Conn. — Some Norwalk residents can get their taxes done for free starting next month.

The centers should open the first week of February at Norwalk Community College and NEON Inc. Households earning less than $50,000 per year are eligible to have their taxes prepared by volunteers certified by the Internal Revenue Service. People can also learn about free services such as matched savings accounts and financial education.

For more information about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, visit www.ctfreetaxhelp.org. Norwalk Community ...

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Fog, rain and unseasonably warm temperatures settled over Norwalk on Jan. 27 Photo Credit: Fenella Pearson

One plow stuck trying to clear Woodacre Road in Norwalk. Photo Credit:

Two plows stuck on Norwalk's Woodacre Road. Photo Credit:

Artwork under I-95, along the railroad tracks. Photo Credit: nchapman

An etching at Calf Pasture Beach. Photo Credit: nchapman

Demolition proceeds in the Waypointe area. Photo Credit: nchapman

Izzy plays around with her wiffle ball and bat. Photo Credit: Miguel Cruz

Two Butterballs at the Chapman residence. Photo Credit: nchapman

Frisbee players include Carly Cappello, Dan Faugno-Fusci, Bobby DeSimone, Gilbert Ryan, Gavin Schuerch and Colin Jenkins at NHS. Photo Credit: Sharon Cadden