The Stand Juice Company, “a vegan cafe with a homey feel,” according to Lead Juice Jockey Alina Choquette (above), has opened at 1200 Post Road East, behind Crate & Barrel. Choquette said the Stand Juice Company, founded by Mike and Carissa Hvizdo, who also own the Hideaway Farm in East Haddam, sources many of its vegetables, herbs and fruits from the farm. The Hvizdos opened their first store on Norwalk’s Wall Street in 2005, in Fairfield in 2011, and will soon open its fourth in Greenwich in November and another later in Stamford. Choquette, a Bridgeport resident and staff member for two years, said, “Everything is recyclable and local. We’re all about sustainability.” Stand Juice Company’s range of offerings includes baked goods, juices smoothies and salads. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Sponsors
Harvesting Oysters on Mill Pond
Workers for Westporter Jeff Northrup’s aquaculture firm harvest oysters on Sherwood Mill Pond. The oysters end up at Connecticut and New York fine restaurnts. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Malloy Makes $103M in Emergency Cuts
By Keith M. Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas
Responding to a weak stock market, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today ordered $103 million in emergency cuts, including a major hit in Medicaid payments that ultimately will cost hospitals about $190 million in state and federal funds.
Benjamin Barnes, the governor’s budget chief, said lower-than-expected income tax receipts and the drop in the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index for the first nine months of 2015 prompted the reductions just three months into the state’s fiscal year.
The administration also announced that Connecticut must go forward with at least $15 million of a previously approved $20 million reduction in this year’s non-education aid to cities and towns.
Those cuts, Barnes said, would come from a program that reimburses communities for a portion of the funds they lose because state properties, colleges and hospitals are exempt from local taxation. But the budget chief also said those reductions were modified somewhat to lessen cuts to poorer communities.
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State Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.3 Percent
By Keith M. Phaneuf
The state’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in August, falling from 5.4 to 5.3 percent as Connecticut added 3,200 non-farm jobs last month, the Department of Labor reported today.
August marks the fourth consecutive month Connecticut has gained jobs, and the state now has added 33,200 jobs over the year. The state has recovered just over 88 percent of the 119,000 jobs it lost between March 2008 and February 2010.
Average hourly earnings stood at $29.24 in August, up $1.26, or 4.5 percent, from one year ago.
The 5.3 percent unemployment rate is the lowest since May 2008.
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Honoring Our Heritage: 323 Main St.
The newest recipient of an historical plaque from the Westport Historical Society (WHS) is the owner of the 323 Restaurant whose business occupies the 1884-built building known as the Thomas R. Lees House, 323 Main St. Taking part in the plaque presentation were (l-r) 323 Restaurant owner Adam Faillace, staff member Emily Clayton, general manager Joe Arciola, and Bob Weingarten, Westport Historical Society house plaque historian. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Comings & Goings: Rich Dean Boxing Fitness to Bay St.
Rich Dean Boxing Fitness has opened at 10 Bay St., lower level next to Post 154 restaurant. Owner Rich Dean, 45, born in the Bahamas and raised in Yonkers, N.Y. is a three-time Golden Gloves champ (1987, 1994, 2000) as a featherweight and then junior welterweight, an Olympic boxer in 2000 in Sydney, Australia and two-time gold medalist in the Empire Games, 1999 and 2000. He said he is the only certified boxing fitness trainer in Fairfield County. His business offers one-on-one personal training “Olympic-style” and also conducts small Olympic boxing style fitness classes for both men or women. “It’s light sparring without the bruises,” Dean said. “We’re a fitness gym in a boxing environment.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Comings & Goings: Villarina Pasta Closing Sept. 17
Villarina Pasta, 417 Post Road East in the Compo Shopping Center, will close on Thursday, Sept. 17, according to co-owners Lynn Sclafani (above) and son Robert. “The rent has gone way, way up,” said Lynn,who took over the store in 2004. “Westport is not a good town for small businesses. The rent now is four times more than our limit. The landlord has been very good to us. He’s worked with us over time to help make a go of it. But we should have moved five or six years ago.” She said other Villarina stores are independently owned and located in New Milford, Southbury and Newtown. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Bridgewater to Relocate 400 During Renovations
Westport-based Bridgewater Associates, the town’s largest employer, says it will temporarily relocate about 400 employees to Stamford during renovations to its Glendinning/Ford Road complex.
A Bridgewater Associates parking lot at its Glendinning headquarters flooded in a March 2011 storm. Proposed improvements are intended to alleviate the flooding potential. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Neil Engler for WestportNow.com
The hedge fund, with more than 1,200 employees in Westport, had threatened to leave Westport for Stamford in 2012 only to change its mind a year ago. (See WestportNow June 27, 2014)
In a statement, Bridgewater said approvals are still pending for work on its 21.7-acre campus near the Weston line.
“As a result of this renovation, Bridgewater would need to relocate approximately 400 employees for up to two years,” the statement said. “To accommodate this potential relocation, the firm plans to secure 135,000 square feet of temporary swing space in Stamford.”
Comings & Goings: Walin & Wolff Closes
Walin & Wolff, 30 Post Road East at the corner of Taylor Place, which closed in early summer, will re-open on Wednesday at 293 Pequot Ave., Southport, according to an employee in the New Canaan store. The group of women’s stores featuring handbags, shoes and accessories opened in Westport in February 2013 and also operates a store in Rye, N.Y. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Anthem Individual Rates to Rise 2.4%, ConnectiCare’s 8.5%
By Arielle Levin Becker
Premiums for the 55,000 people who buy Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield health plans through the state’s individual market will rise by an average of 2.4 percent next year, while ConnectiCare Insurance Company’s 34,400 customers will see an average rate hike of 8.5 percent.
Both companies sought higher increases, but the Connecticut Insurance Department deemed their proposed rates excessive and required the companies to revise their proposals.
Similarly, Golden Rule, which covers 3,414 people, sought an 18.5 percent rate hike but, after revising it based on the regulator’s findings, will instead raise rates by 1.1 percent.
The requests by Anthem, ConnectiCare and Golden Rule were subject to a July public hearing.
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