Stretch Zone, a practitioner-assisted stretch studio, opened today at 417 Post Road East in the Compo Shopping Center. Ridgefield resident Kyle Hargett (above), franchise owner, said the Westport location is Stretch Zone’s first in the state. According to Tony Zaccario, VP operations of the Ft. Lauderdale-based business who was present for the opening, the Westport location is its 69th in 18 states. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
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Gallery: Progress Being Made on New Senior Living Facility
Scenes from the construction of the LCB Senior Living site, 1141 Post Road East. The 96-unit, three-story facility will be completed by July 2020, according to Marc Lyons, LCB project manager. It will offer a range of accommodations comprised of independent, assisted living and memory support units. LCB owns or operates 23 sites, including four in Connecticut — South Windsor, Avon, Stamford, and Darien. The site was formerly home to Kowalsky Brothers Construction. It is the first senior living facility to come to town since Westport Health Care Services and its predecessors was built in 1964 at 1 Burr Road. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Couple Sues to Block Release of New, Statewide Vaccination Data
By Jenna Carlesso
www.ctmirror.orgA couple with a 7-year-old son is suing to block the release of statewide data that highlights what percentage of children at each Connecticut school are unvaccinated, citing a flood of recent harassing comments made against anti-vaccine parents.
The state Department of Public Health, named as a defendant in the case, in May released the first school-by-school assessment of child immunization rates. The data from the 2017-18 year show 102 schools where fewer than 95 percent of kindergarten students were vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella – the threshold recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The release of the data sparked outrage among politicians and an aggressive, last-minute push to repeal the state’s religious exemption to vaccines. Lawmakers ultimately agreed to shelve the issue until next year.
Legislative leaders said last month that they were awaiting the 2018-19 school year data, expected to be released by DPH sometime in June.
Pancreatic Cancer First of Health District’s ‘Chat’ Series
The Westport Weston Health District (WWHD) announced today the start next month of an onsite series of talks on health related topics titled “Let’s Chat.”
The first Let’s Chat set for Wednesday, July 10, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. focuses on diabetes and pancreatic cancer and will be led by Tammy Lo, a Norwalk Hospital researcher and nurse practitioner.
The incidence of pancreatic cancer has been rising about 1.2% annually over the last 10 years, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. It is also projects that by 2020 pancreatic cancer will be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
“Pancreatic cancer research and screening is critical to increase survival rates,” the WWHD announcement said.
Winners and Losers: The 2019 Legislative Session
By CT Mirror Staff
www.ctmirror.orgThe 2019 legislative session ended at midnight Wednesday. As usual, some folks came out of the process happy. Others are already plotting their strategies for next year.
The impact of these decisions will take years to determine. But here’s an early assessment of who came out ahead and who didn’t.
Winners
Cities and towns: The state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 slightly increases the $2.3 billion in aid that cities and towns get each year. The education grant program that accounts for most of the state’s municipal aid will rise by 2 percent next year. And Gov. Ned Lamont’s plan to send some towns a bill to help cover teacher pension costs got shelved.
State employees: After granting concessions in 2009, 2011 and 2017, unionized state employees were asked by Lamont to accept new limits on the annual inflation increase for their pensions. They declined that request.
Comings & Goings: Live in the Now Wellness Opens
Rae Suba, an occupational therapist and registered yoga teacher, has opened a mental wellness therapy studio, Live in the Now, at 46 Post Road East, second floor, next to Tiffany. A seasoned pediatric occupational therapist of more than 25 years in private practice, Suba said she is expanding her services to include wellness and yoga services to all age groups. The daughter of well known public figure Joe Mioli, Suba said, “My successful longtime therapy career has grown by word-of-mouth.” She adds, “Lke my dad and uncle Mel, I’m sort of the Westport Pizza of wellness therapy.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Tobacco 21 Wins Passage in Senate, Heads to Governor for Signing
By Jenna Carlesso and Maya Moore
www.ctmirror.orgConnecticut is poised to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 with an overwhelming vote today in the state Senate endorsing the bill.
The bill won passage in the House earlier this month and now heads to Gov. Ned Lamont, who has pledged to sign the measure. The law would take effect in October.
The Senate voted 33-3 in favor of the proposal, with three Republicans dissenting.
“Increasing the age of being able to purchase tobacco products … is going to dramatically cut the number of young people who start smoking in our state,” said Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly, a key backer of the measure.
Ignoring Clash With Lamont, Senate Passes Family Leave
By Mark Pazniokas
www.ctmirror.orgSetting aside the 11th-hour threat of a gubernatorial veto, the state Senate voted 21-15 tonight to pass a Democratic bill that would create a paid family and medical leave insurance policy, a step toward a long-sought goal of labor progressives.
Passage ignited a celebration in the Senate chamber and gallery, but its final path to becoming law requires a victory in the House and the passage of a separate bill addressing Gov. Ned Lamont’s demand that the measure be revised to encourage private insurers to bid on the new line of business.
The disagreement with the governor was largely ignored during the debate of six-plus hours, a tactical decision by Democrats who focused on their common ground with the governor, leaving for another day a discussion about what separates them.
“The really good news here is that we agree — with the governor, with the House — on the fundamental elements of this bill,” Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, said before the debate began. “This bill will provide working families with time off to take care of their kids with wage replacement, so that they don’t have to pick between their family members and a paycheck.”
Bill Would Stop Restaurants’ Use of Styrofoam Containers
By Kathleen Megan and Keith M. Phaneuf
www.ctmirror.orgTwo years from now, restaurants and caterers would no longer be able to use single-use “expanded poly-styrene” or Styrofoam containers under a bill passed today by the House.
“This bill is introduced to reduce litter in our parks, in our urban centers and our water streams and it is because Styrofoam takes over 200 years to break down in our landfills and it takes up 30 percent of our landfills,” said Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, a member of the legislature’s environment committee.
She said she’d be remiss if she did not also mention that a health report in 2011 said the material can break down and become carcinogenic when it comes in contact with hot, oily, acidic food. “So I think there are two benefits to this bill,” she said.
The House voted 121 to 23 in favor of the bill with almost all the no votes from Republicans. The bill, House Bill 5384, now moves on to the Senate.
House Passes Bill to Ban Sale of E-Cigarettes to Youths Under 21
By Kathleen Megan
www.ctmirror.org
Rep. Jonathan Steinberg of Westport: one of the most important bills to be considered this year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) CTMirror.org photo
After more than three hours of debate, the House today approved a bill that would raise the age from 18 to 21 for anyone purchasing cigarettes, tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems.
Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport and co-chairman of the legislature’s public health committee, said the bill was one of the most important to be considered this year.
“This bill seeks to address what has become a national epidemic — this scourge of nicotine addiction and vaping among young people,” Steinberg told his colleagues.
“You don’t have to take my word for it. After a 78 percent increase nationally in youth’s e-cigarette use, the surgeon general dubbed this a national epidemic.”
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