2005 Press Releases
November 29, 2005
By JESSICA CIPARELLI
Staff Writer
ROCKVILLE — "Where no adult is left behind." That's the motto of the Vernon Regional Adult Education program.
On Nov. 21, the motto rang true, as the new regional adult center - the former Mecca building - was dedicated and open for business.
The Vernon Regional Adult Basic Education program provides educational service to 18 towns within the region - Andover, Ashford, Bolton, Colchester, Coventry, Ellington, Glastonbury, Hebron, Lebanon, Manchester, Mansfield, Marlborough, South Windsor, Stafford, Tolland, Union, Vernon and Willington. VRABE offers a variety of opportunities for adults over the age of 16, helping them enhance their educational lives.
The adult education program has partnered up with Eastern Connecticut State University, which will hold off-campus classes at the facility, KIDSAFE CT, and Next STEP, a program for students with various levels of disabilities, which helps transition students into the workforce after graduating from special education programs at their high schools.
"It took a lot of time and hard work to bring this collaboration together and make this program a reality." said Richard Tariff, regional supervisor for VRABE.
The building - formerly Zahner's Clothiers and W.T. Grants, has sat vacant for 17 years. It is currently owned by Peter and Nancy Bylykbashi.
"This has [come] full circle." said state Senator Tony Guglielmo. "It's a second chance, and that's what you're talking about with adult education. In the United States, because of adult education, community colleges and state universities, every [one) has a chance to maximize their potential," Guglielmo said.
"This building is being put to good use again and it's being put to use for education. It's a great step toward a great downtown," said state Rep. Claire Janowski.
"Adult education offers more than it did a few years ago," state Rep. Joan Lewis noted. "It is important [thatj we encourage people to enrich their lives and reach the goals they have set for themselves and their families."
"In this region, we have 20,000 persons without a high school diploma," said Dr. Paul Flinter, of the Bureau of Early Childhood, Career and Adult Education for the Connecticut Department of Education.
At least 900 have had the opportunity to go for it," he said, noting that there is still a massive discrepancy in the number that have and have not taken advantage of adult education classes.
"It's a win-win for the town of Vernon," said Peggy Jackie, acting as BOE representative at the ribbon-cutting.
"Eastern Connecticut State University, Next STEP, KIDSAFE - the partnership is wonderful," said Vernon superintendent Stephen Cullinan. "We thank you for allowing us to take this step."
Cullinan also thanked the superintendents of the region for supporting the notion of a new adult education center.
"To the superintendents of the 18 towns to say. 'trust us, it's very good,' this is not directly in their community, but it shows how supportive they are," he said.
"This site is important to me because it's about education," he said. "This facility is going to serve young children, adolescents, young adults, older adults, and
senior citizens."
Sandra Snyder of Manchester is a success story that came out of the VRABE college transition program, which serves students that have their GED or high school diploma and have been out of high school for at least five years. After completing the program, Snyder went on to Manchester Community College, where she is currently enrolled. She was doubly pleased with the new facility, as she went through a VRABE program (which was held at the VRABE office at 883 Main Street in Manchester) and works for KIDSAFE as an assistant group facilitator, parent aide and child care provider for the children's transitional care program.
"It's wonderful to have been a part of it and have our program here," Snyder said.
"The program is important because not only do we offer a refresher in college-level math, English and computer skills, but a large portion of the course is devoted to college survival skills," said Christine Howard, program coordinator for VRABE.
The college transition program is free, and offered in Manchester. It may be offered at the new site in Vernon as well. Classes will be forming in February 2006
- call Howard at 643-2222, extension 11 for more information.
The full array of programs will still take place at area high schools, said Tariff, including Rockville High, Manchester High, E.O. Smith High, Stafford High, Bacon Academy in Colchester, Glastonbury High, and the center in downtown Manchester.
"Some classes will be offered at the new Vernon facility," he said, which will include the GED and ESL programs expected to begin in the next several weeks. "It's going to be an evolving process. By February, we'll be in full operation - at least four nights a week and Saturdays."
Dr. Shelly Gimenez, Dean of the School of Continuing Education at ECSU, said the goal of the partnership is to create a seamless transition from the adult education programming to the college-level courses that Eastern will offer at the site.
"We expect to see the building humming and vibrant - this building will have a heart, and we have a cardiologist to prove it," she joked, turning to Mayor Manner.
Eastern will be offering a number of classes, including two classes that will begin on Jan. 3 - environmental issues and education psychology - both running from Jan 3-20 as three-credit courses.
The spring session will include seven courses - six of which are 300 level and one 400 level course. The 400 level course is psychological tests and measurements: the 300 level classes are urban anthropology, organizational behavior, human resources management, environmental issues, film appreciation/world cinema and health psychology.
"These are the very same classes offered on-campus," Gimenez said. She noted that credits earned are transferable to other regionally accredited schools - public or private.
If you are interested in taking one of these upcoming classes at the Vernon site, call ECSU at (860) 465-0206 to sign up.
For individuals who already have 60 college credits from a community college program, a bachelor's degree can be obtained within 18-24 months - but they need to speak to an advisor and plan an individual plan of study. To make an appointment to speak to an advisor, call 465-0206 or 465-5125.
"We will be adding academic advisement in Vernon as well." said Gimenez. "We're trying to make it very convenient for the working adult."
Gimenez noted that these are the classes currently being offered at the off-campus site, but if there is a demand for other classes to be added to the ECSU roster in Vernon, they would do what they could to accommodate those requests.
Next STEP will begin programming in January at the new site. KIDSAFE will move its education programs to the new site in the next week.
KIDSAFE Executive Director Angela Atwater said that the organization will continue using their three-story Victorian on Elm Street, but they needed more space.
"We're getting so crowded, especially when it comes to parent workshops," she said. "We felt it was time to move our education programs to another location, and close-by."
The different organizations are renting the space from the building owner.
"We're just tenants," said Tariff. However, he noted that the organizations were allowed to work with an architect to design what they wanted the building to look like.
The building is entirely handicap-accessible, and includes four full-size classrooms and one half-size classroom; a kitchen for student use and a separate kitchen for KIDSAFE and Next STEP, shared office space for college counselor's use, and a shared, large room for KIDSAFE and Next STEP. There is closed-circuit security throughout the building and state-of-the-art technology in the classrooms.
Officially open for business, (from left to right) Dr. Paul Flinter, chief of the Bureau of Early Childhood, Career and Adult Education for the state Department of Education. Vernon Board of Education representative Peggy Jackie, state Senator Tony Guglielmo (back), state Rep. Joan Lewis, state Rep. Claire Janowski, Mayor Ellen Manner, Dr. Shelly Gimenez, Dean of the School of Continuing Education at ECSU, Peter Bylykbashi (back), owner of the building, Richard Tariff, regional supervisor for VRABE, and Vemon Superintendent of Schools Stephen Cullinan, cut the ribbon on the new regional adult education center in Rockville on Nov. 21.
(Photo by Jessica Ciparelli)
October 19, 2005
By GAIL ELLEN DALY
Chronicle Staff Writer
STORRS — Don't call the road Route 195 any longer. Following Tuesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, a portion of the state highway from Exit 68 on Interstate 84 through the University of Connecticut campus to the corner of Dog Lane is now "UConn Husky Way."
A sign has been placed in front of the new Big Y in Tolland and a second sign is at the corner of Dog Lane. Additional signs will be placed along the highway at a later date.
The move to change the road's name was initiated by state Rep. Claire Janowski, D-Vernon, after Vernon resident Amarjit Buttar suggested the name change. Buttar, a UConn women's basketball enthusiast, is also a member of the Vernon Board of Education.
"Both of his sons attended UConn and he is an avid fan," Janowski said. "They attend all the basketball games."
Janowski, a member of the transportation committee, introduced legislation to that effect, which was unanimously approved by the General Assembly during the last session.
“I had (state Rep.) Joan Lewis (D-Coventry), (state Rep.) Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield), (state Rep.) Michael Cardin (D-Tolland) and (state Sen.) Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford) co-sponsor the bill as the road goes through their districts," she said.
Although Route 195 was also known as Storrs Road, the UConn Husky Way designation is a permanent name change.
Janowski thanked the state Department of Transportation for getting signs put up in time for the dedication.
Buttar joined Janowski, Lewis, Guglielmo, UConn President Philip E. Austin and Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway for the dedication ceremony.
He was also presented with a legislative citation for bringing the idea forward.
"This shows the pride we feel in our university by marking a path to this outstanding university for many years to come," Lewis said.
Janowski said renaming the highway is in recognition of the university's "academic excellence and athletic achievements."
Amarjit Buttar of Vernon, right, an avid fan of the University of Connecticut and the women's basketball team,
holds a legislative citation for his idea of designating a portion of Route 195 as 'UConn Husky Way.'
Also on hand were state Sen. Tony Guglielmo, R-Stafford, state Rep. Claire Janowski, D-Vernon,
and state Rep. Joan Lewis, D-Coventry. (photo by Fran Funk)
October 12, 2005
By HEATHER LAKE
Chronicle Staff Writer
WILLIMANTIC — When it comes to eliminating homelessness, some say that awareness is key.
"On any given night they say there are 33,000 homeless in Connecticut and 13,000 of those are children," said Tabitha Harkin, project director for a forum scheduled for Thursday night to address the issue.
The forum is one of four being held around the state to increase awareness. Others will be held in Norwich, Norwalk and Danielson.
The forum is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the First Congregational Church, 199 Valley St., Willimantic.
"It's a push on our part to raise public awareness of homelessness," Harkin said, adding The forums were scheduled at a time of heightened awareness due to the devastation in the Gulf Coast region.
Area residents are encouraged to attend the forum in the hope they will help spread the word that homelessness really does exist in the area.
"We really want people who aren't always in on the issue, not just service providers," Harkin said.
A number of area service providers are expected to attend and some local legislators, including state Rep. Joan Lewis, D-Coventry, have been invited.
"It's something I feel is a concern and I want to be there to see if there's anything I can do to help and to learn more about the situation," Lewis said, noting the array of services available in the Willimantic area for the homeless.
Attendees will hear first-hand from people who have experienced homelessness, as well as from representatives from programs targeting the issue.
The CT Coalition to End Homelessness and the Windham Continua of Care are co-sponsoring the forum. Admission is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served. For more information go to www.cceh.org.
June 30, 2005
State Representative Joan Lewis (D-8) announced today that funding of $350,000 for a sand/salt storage shed for Coventry was included in the bond package passed by the Legislature.
“The current storage facility is literally falling down.” Rep. Lewis said, “It is so undersized that only salt for one or two storms can be stored in it and there is no room for the sand/salt mix pile.”
Rep. Lewis continued, “This funding will assist the town in meeting a pressing need and help assure that our roads will be safe for Coventry’s citizens during winter storms.”
The funds will be allocated by the State Bond Commission.
Rep. Lewis represents the 8th Assembly District and serves as Vice Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, and is a member of the Appropriations, and Planning and Development Committees.
June 8, 2005
State Representative Joan Lewis (D-Columbia, Coventry and Vernon) announced House passage of a state budget deal that will yield millions in state aid for the towns of Columbia, Coventry and Vernon. The budget, which was approved by a vote of 100 to 50, earmarks $28,311,356 in statutory grants (ECS, PILOT, TAR) for the three towns. This is more than $964,062 above the current fiscal year’s appropriation and represents $426,584 over and above what Governor Rell proposed in her February budget address for the towns of the 8th District.
Rep. Lewis said “I am extremely pleased to bring this much needed increase in funding for the towns I represent. As Vice Chairman of the Higher Education Committee, I was delighted that this budget also has a significantly higher level of funding for higher education than what the Governor proposed. The budget compromise also saved the HUSKY health insurance programs for adults and eliminates the $3 co-pay for prescription drugs and the $3 co-pay for doctor visits for Medicaid recipients.”
Town-By-Town Breakdown Of Budget:
|
FY 05-06
Appropriations |
Difference
from Current FY 05 |
Difference
from Governor |
Columbia |
$2,457,912 |
$142,167 |
$55,283 |
Coventry |
$8,351,320 |
$276,324 |
$121,893 |
Vernon |
$17,502,124 |
$545,571 |
$249,408 |
Rep. Lewis also noted that Democrats were able to craft a budget deal that excluded the governor’s regressive tax proposal on tobacco, and alcohol that targeted working families. The compromise includes the use of surplus funds, the corporate tax and a tax on estates over $2-million.
“I am proud of the work that we accomplished on this budget. This budget reduces the tax burden on working families and the middle class and avoids hurtful taxes like the gas tax. The Democratic budget also saves hundreds of families in my district and around the state who would have lost their healthcare coverage with the governor’s original proposal,” Rep. Lewis said.
Rep. Lewis shares the Town of Vernon with State Representative Claire Janowski.
Rep. Lewis represents the 8th Assembly District and serves as Vice Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, and is a member of the Appropriations, and Planning and Development Committees. |
