Goodwill stores are in urgent need of donations, according to Dorothy H. Viets, director of Community Relations. She said donations are currently not keeping up with the increased need for Goodwill’s employment services, as well as the increased demand for low cost merchandise. Goodwill is asking people to donate clothing, furniture and household items such as dishes, small appliances, books and cookware, she said in a press release today.
Since Goodwill stores rely heavily on donated items, it is crucial to Goodwill’s mission of helping people train for and find jobs that donations keep coming in, she added.
Donors may drop off items at local Goodwill stores and attended donation centers located at a number of locations throughout the state.
A Goodwill staff person will help the donor unload items and provide a donation receipt for tax purposes.
Proceeds earned by Goodwill stores help the community by supporting programs that help people with disabilities, those who lack education or work experience and other job seekers earn paychecks to support themselves and their families.
Last year Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut provided services to over 10,000 people.
Call 1-800-423-9787 or visit www.goodwillwct.org for a list of donation locations near you or for further information.
Archive for February, 2010
Increased demand leaves Goodwill stores in need of donations
Seizure-prone Stratford cop out sick during week of town-physical exam
With Stratford Police Officer Justin LoSchiavo’s town physical exam just two days away (Feb. 18), the officer who crashed his patrol car into four vehicles last June while having a seizure is out sick for the week, town officials say.
LoSchiavo, the son of former Deputy Police Chief Joseph LoSchiavo and Human Resources Assistant Linda LoSchiavo, was placed on “light duty” in the department’s Records Division last August after his license was seized and suspended for six months.
With his 180-days of light duty — required under the union contract – running out Feb. 22, and LoSchiavo having had his license restored, the town has to make a decision whether to terminate the officer or put him back on patrol.
With a report by LoSchiavo’s personal physician “not entirely clear” about whether the officer can return to active duty, Mayor John A. Harkins says the only way he will be put back in a patrol car is if an independent doctor hired by the town clears him.
“This officer was hired by the previous (James A. Miron) administation, and that guaranteed him all of the rights afforded to any union member and we are getting to the end of that process,” Harkins said.
LoSchiavo was hired by Miron in June 2006 despite the warnings of two doctors, including one hired by the town, and top town officials, not to do so, citing the applicant’s long-standing seizure disorder they said could put the public, other officers and even himself at serious risk.
Snowed out: Stratford meeting on animal shelter
Tonight’s meeting on the possible downsizing of plans for a new Stratford animal shelter has been cancelled because of the snowy weather.
The Town Council’s Building Needs Committee had been scheduled to meet to discuss revising the $3 million project off Main Street with the goal of reducing the projected price tag.
No date for a future meeting on the plan has been scheduled.
The town’s Zoning Commission has also cancelled its meeting scheduled for tonight.
Bridgeport’s website is down. But who could tell?
The city of Bridgeport’s website — http://ci.bridgeport.ct.us/ — is offline, and has been for the last several days.
But, honestly, it’s a miracle that anyone could tell.
Without doubt, the Bridgeport municipal website is THE worst in the state. Lacking features that even the smallest communities have had on their websites for years as a service to their citizens, the Bridgeport website also is loaded with outdated information and bereft of efficiently (and legally required) updated data and records.
And, as the electronic “face” that Bridgeport presents not only to its own residents, but also the rest of the state — even, the nation and the world — the site is an utter embarrassment for a municipal administration that claims to put a high priority on attracting new business and industry.
It might be better to just let http://ci.bridgeport.ct.us/ stay offline until the long, very long promised overhaul can be posted in its place.
It’s official: Lamont announces candidacy for governor
Ned Lamont made it official just minutes ago when he announced his candidacy for governor before about 200 enthusiastic supporters in the Old State House in Hartford.
He said today he would snap Connecticut out of its economic doldrums, if elected governor.
Cutting state spending, focusing on job creation and retaining young people graduating state colleges and universities are among his goals.
He said the state is in a “crisis of confidence” and has to invest in its future.
Call about “white powder” turns up nothing suspicious
Shelton police and fire personnel responded to Pitney Bowes on Waterview Drive this morning after a call was received about “white powder” found at the building. Those responding were unable to locate anything suspicious, said Detective Ben Trabka. However, as a precaution, the state Department of Environmental Protection has been called to the scene.
Protest grows over Evans’ dismissal
A group plans to hand-deliver a letter to Mayor Bill Finch protesting his recent sacking of Health Director Marian Evans.
Evans was shown the door by the mayor over management issues that he and his staff refuse to discuss publicly.
Since then, however, there has been a growing chorus of criticism over Evans’ sudden dismissal and replacement with William Quinn, the recently retired health director of New Haven.
More than 20 political and civic figures signed a letter last week criticizing the change, and today representatives of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Bridgeport plan to deliver a letter of protest to the mayor’s office in City Hall Annex.
It’s not clear whether the mayor will agree to see to the group, however, or even if he will be there. He had minor surgery last Friday and may not return to work as soon as today.
Ansonia mayor recovering from heart surgery
Ansonia Mayor James Della Volpe was resting comfortably Monday evening after undergoing quadruple bypass surgery, his assistant Beth Lynch said.
The mayor was admitted to the Hospital of St. Raphael’s in New Haven Friday after a stress test found a blockage an artery, Lynch said.
The mayor suffered a heart attack in 1991 and has since then had physicals an stress tests done yearly.
The operation went well and the mayor’s doctors said he was doing fine after coming out of surgery about 5 p.m., Lynch said.
Della Volpe is expected to be out of work for the foreseeable future, and in his absence Board of Aldermen president Steve Blume will take over as acting mayor.
