YOUR WEEKEND FORECAST – DRY ALL WEEKEND! TONIGHT: PARTLY CLOUDY, COOL. LOWS 50-55. SATURDAY: SUNNY, DELIGHTFUL. HIGHS 70-75. SUNDAY: BEAUTIFUL AND PLEASANT. HIGHS 75-80. MONDAY: SUNNY. LOW HUMIDITY. WARMER, HIGHS 80-85.
WELCOME TO AUGUST! AFTER A JULY THAT FEATURED OVER 5 INCHES OF RAIN, 11 DAYS OF 90 DEGREES OR HIGHER, AND ENDING 2.5-DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE, METEOROLOGIST JOE FUREY SAYS AUGUST PUTS ON A WHOLE NEW FACE – COOLER, LESS HUMID AND DRY AFTER THE SYSTEM THAT DROPPED 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN ACROSS MUCH OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER LATE THURSDAY. JOE SAYS THE WEATHER FOR THIS FIRST WEEKEND OF AUGUST AND MOST OF NEXT WEEK IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS AROUND HERE IN MID-SUMMER, AND ANYONE OFF ON VACATION NEXT WEEK PICKED THE PERFECT WEEK! FOR NOW, AS THE RAIN MOVES OUT TO THE SOUTH & EAST, EXPECT SKIES TO CLEAR FOR A PARTLY SUNNY, BREEZY AFTERNOON, HIGHS IN THE MID 70’S AND A COOL NIGHT AHEAD, LOWS IN THE COMFORTABLE, DRY 50’S. SUNNY & PLEASANT CONDITIONS CONTINUE RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK, WITH TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY RISING FROM THE 70’S THIS WEEKEND TO THE MID 80’S BY WEDNESDAY, AND BACK TO THE 70’S BUT DRY THURSDAY & FRIDAY. JOE SAYS THE 1ST HALF OF AUGUST LOOKS COOLER THAN AVERAGE.
THERE’S A POTENTIAL BUYER FOR TORRINGTON’S LONG-VACANT AND DETERIORATING YANKEE PEDLAR INN, BUT MAYOR ELINOR CARBONE TELLS WZBG THE SALE, REQUIRING COURT APPROVAL, IS OPPOSED BY HOTEL OWNER JAYSON HOSPITALITY. THE COURT-APPOINTED RECEIVER – THE TORRINGTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – WANTS ‘PARKER BENJAMIN,’ A FARMINGTON-BASED REAL ESTATE SERVICES & INVESTMENT BANKING COMPANY, TO BUY THE PROPERTY FOR $450,000. A COURT HEARING TO TRY TO CLEAR THE SALE CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6TH. THE CITY’S INTENT IN FILING SUIT NEARLY 5-YEARS AGO WAS TO FORCE THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER’S HAND TO RE-DEVELOP THE GUTTED HOTEL AND RESTORE IT AS THE ‘BEACON OF MAIN STREET’ IT ONCE WAS, OR TURN IT OVER TO A DEVELOPER READY, WILLING & ABLE TO DO SO, WHICH THE MAYOR SAYS ‘PARKER BENJAMIN’ ‘IS.’ THE PLAN IS TO RESTORE THE PEDLAR TO OFFER SHORT & LONG-TERM HOUSING RENTALS WITH PART OF IT STAYING AVAILABLE FOR ITS INITIAL INTENT OF HOSPITALITY, OR HOTEL USE.
LITCHFIELD SELECTMEN MAY CONSIDER REVISITING THEIR 2022 DECISION TO END THE TOWN’S CONSTABLE PROGRAM AND INSTEAD EMPLOY TWO RESIDENT TROOPERS FOR POLICE COVERAGE. THIS TUESDAY, AUGUST 5TH AT 5:30, SELECTMEN WILL TALK TO STATE POLICE TROOP-L COMMANDER LT. JASON SAINT JOHN TO SEE IF THE RESIDENT TROOPER PROGRAM IS STILL THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE COVERAGE. IN 2022, SELECTMEN DECIDED NOT TO REPLACE 2 RETIRING CONSTABLES AND GO WITH 2 RESIDENT TROOPERS AS A COST-SAVINGS. BUT FIRST SELECTMAN DENISE RAAP TELLS WZBG THAT AFTER HEARING A DESIRE FOR MORE POLICE COVERAGE, THE TOWN EARLIER THIS YEAR BUDGETED FOR A 3RD RESIDENT TROOPER, ONLY TO BE TOLD THERE WEREN’T ENOUGH ACADEMY TRAINEES TO MEET THAT REQUEST. RAAP SAYS THAT LED THE TOWN TO RECONSIDER THE PRO’S & CON’S OF CONSTABLES VS RESIDENT TROOPERS. RAAP SAYS IF THEY RETURNED TO CONSTABLES, LITCHFIELD WOULD STILL NEED TO RETAIN ONE RESIDENT TROOPER, WHICH IS A MANDATORY CONDITION FOR ANY TOWN HIRING CONSTABLES, TO HELP MANAGE THE PROGRAM. ALSO, WHEN TWO CONSTABLES COVERED LITCHFIELD, THEY DIDN’T WORK WEEKENDS – STATE TROOPERS PATROLLED THE TOWN. RAAP SAYS SHOULD LITCHFIELD CONSIDER RETURNING TO CONSTABLES, THEY’D LIKELY NEED 4 INSTEAD OF 2 TO FOR ADEQUATE COVERAGE.
A $2.9-MILLION DOLLAR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT ON ROUTE 202 IN BANTAM IS NEARLY COMPLETE AFTER 7 WEEKS AND SHOULD RE-OPEN TO TRAFFIC SOMETIME TODAY. ‘LITCHFIELD.BZ’ REPORTS THE BRIDGE OVER A SMALL STREAM BETWEEN CATHOLE ROAD AND BANTAM TERRACE WAS EXPECTED TO OPEN WELL AHEAD OF THE ORIGINAL AUGUST 31ST DEADLINE. THAT MEANS RESTAURANTS, SHOPS & OTHER ROUTE 202 BUSINESSES EAST OF THE WORK SITE SHOULD SEE A MUCH-WELCOMED UPTICK IN BUSINESS WITH TRAFFIC FLOW BACK TO NORMAL. DAYTON CONSTRUCTION WORKERS HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN BY PUTTING IN LONG HOURS WEEKDAYS AND WORKING SOME WEEKENDS. NEXT, THE D-O-T WILL FACE 6 TO 8 WEEKS OF LANDSCAPE WORK, REQUIRING ALTERNATING LANE CLOSURES.
A SECTION OF BRUSH HILL ROAD IN LITCHFIELD WILL BE CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC AROUND THE CLOCK FROM THIS COMING MONDAY AUGUST 4TH THRU 25TH WHILE A BRIDGE IS REPLACED. THE BRIDGE IS LOCATED BETWEEN DUCK POND ROAD AND ROUTE 202. THE $476,000 PROJECT WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY DAYTON CONSTRUCTION OF WATERTOWN, THE CONTRACTOR WHICH JUST REPLACED THE BRIDGE ON ROUTE 202 IN BANTAM. LITCHFIELD TAXPAYERS ARE FUNDING THE ENTIRE COST OF THE BRUSH HILL ROAD PROJECT. ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT LITCHFIELD’S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AT (860)567-7575.
THE 92ND ANNUAL LITCHFIELD COUNTY 4-H FAIR WILL BE HELD TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY AT THE GOSHEN FAIRGROUNDS. TODAY’S HOURS ARE NOON TO 7, SATURDAY’S ARE 8 TO 4 AND SUNDAY’S ARE 8 TO 3. ADMISSION IS FREE. OVER 300 4-H YOUNGSTERS REPRESENTING 31 LITCHFIELD COUNTY CLUBS ARE PARTICIPATING. ‘LITCHFIELD.BZ’ REPORTS THEY’VE WORKED FOR MONTHS TO PREPARE FOR THE FAIR AND TO HAVE THEIR SKILLS EVALUATED BY JUDGES. THEY’LL BE DISPLAYING DOGS, RABBITS, BEEF AND DAIRY CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, PIGS AND POULTRY AS WELL AS CREATIVE ARTS ENTRIES IN CLOTHING, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PHOTOGRAPHY, BAKED GOODS, CRAFTS, FLOWERS AND ART. THERE WILL BE GARDEN TRACTOR AND LARGE TRACTOR DRIVING CONTESTS AND ANTIQUE AND GARDEN TRACTOR PULLS. SEVERAL FOOD TRUCKS WILL BE AT THE FAIR.
THE 22ND ANNUAL ‘TOUR OF THE LITCHFIELD HILLS’ IS THIS COMING SUNDAY AUGUST 3RD, STARTING AND ENDING AT TORRINGTON’S COE MEMORIAL PARK. FOR BICYCLISTS, THE TOUR OFFERS NON-COMPETITIVE 12, 30, 55, 75, AND 100-MILE ROUTES THROUGH THE SCENIC LITCHFIELD HILLS FOR RIDERS OF ALL ABILITY LEVELS. FOR WALKERS, THE TOUR OFFERS 2.4, 4.2, AND 6-MILE ROUTES THROUGH DOWNTOWN TORRINGTON. ORGANIZERS CALL THE TOUR A ‘RIDE WITH A MISSION,’ WITH REGISTRATION PROCEEDS SUPPORTING THE ‘CANCER CARE FUND OF THE LITCHFIELD HILLS,’ WHICH HELPS CANCER PATIENTS LIVING, WORKING, OR RECEIVING TREATMENT IN NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT WITH RENT, MORTGAGE, FOOD, GASOLINE OR OTHER FINANCIAL NEEDS. LAST YEAR’S TOUR RAISED OVER $80,000 FOR THE CANCER CARE FUND, REGISTER FOR THE SUNDAY, AUGUST 3RD EVENT AT WWW.TOUROFTHELITCHFIELDHILLS.COM, OR REGISTER ON TOUR DAY. DEPARTURE TIMES AND RECOMMENDED REGISTRATION TIMES DEPENDING ON THE ROUTE YOU’RE TAKING ARE ALL ON THE WEBSITE.
TORRINGTON PLANS AN OBSERVANCE NEXT WEEK TO RECOGNIZE ‘NATIONAL PURPLE HEART DAY.’ TORRINGTON BECAME A ‘PURPLE HEART CITY’ IN 2018, AND IS ONE OF 16 IN THE STATE SO RECOGNIZED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO HONOR & REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES OF LOCAL SERVICE PERSONNEL WHO WERE WOUNDED OR KILLED IN COMBAT. MAYOR ELINOR CARBONE SAYS TORRINGTON JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO BECOME A PURPLE HEART CITY, FEELING A DUTY TO REMEMBER ITS SONS’ & DAUGHTERS’ SACRIFICES. THE PURPLE HEART DAY OBSERVANCE IS THURSDAY, AUGUST 7TH, AT 9:30AM IN FRONT OF CITY HALL. IT’LL INCLUDE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, RAISING OF THE PURPLE HEART FLAG, AND READING THE NAMES OF THE 64 PURPLE HEART VETERANS WHO ENLISTED FROM TORRINGTON.
TORRINGTON’S SUSAN B. ANTHONY PROJECT WILL HOST A FREE PUBLIC EVENT TITLED “GET CONNECTED!” ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 8TH, FROM NOON TO 3PM AT COE MEMORIAL PARK, FEATURING COMMUNITY RESOURCES, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES, AND 500 FREE SCOOPS OF BEN & JERRY’S ICE CREAM. THE EVENT SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THE SUSAN B. ANTHONY PROJECT, ITS SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. SPOKESPERSON TINA DEPAUL SAYS THE AGENCY’S HOPE IS FOR EVERYONE TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUSAN B. ANTHONY PROJECT AND THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE. SBAP PROVIDES 24/7/365 CRISIS & SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING A 24 HOUR CRISIS LINE. “GET CONNECTED!” WILL FEATURE RESOURCE TABLES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM COUNSELING AND SUPPORT GROUPS, COURT & MEDICAL ADVOCACY, PREVENTION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, AND MORE. IN ADDITION, THE EVENT WILL INCLUDE PUPPET SHOWS, YARD GAMES, TRIVIA, AND OTHER ALL-AGE ACTIVITIES. THE FRIDAY AUGUST 8TH EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT COE PARK, RAIN OR SHINE. FOR INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.SBAPROJECT.ORG OR CALL (860)489-3798. THE 24-HOUR CRISIS LINE IS 860-482-7133.
CONNECTICUT’S ‘SALES TAX FREE WEEK’ HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY PLACED ON THE CALENDAR. THE ANNUAL BREAK FROM SALES TAX ON A NUMBER CLOTHING AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL ITEMS IS NOW SET FOR AUGUST 17TH THRU 23RD. FOR THE WEEK, CERTAIN CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR WHICH COST LESS THAN $100 PER ITEM ARE EXEMPT FROM THE 6.35% STATE SALES TAX. THE EXEMPTION APPLIES TO PURCHASES MADE FROM RETAILERS LOCATED IN CONNECTICUT AS WELL AS FROM ONLINE RETAILERS. THIS YEAR MARKS THE STATE’S 26TH YEAR OF HOLDING ITS SALES TAX FREE WEEK.