SEAT PREPARES TO CUT ROUTES
The Southeast Area Transit board of directors has identified cuts it will make if the state trims the public bus operator to the tune of $670,000. Route 10 in Stonington, the Three Rivers Express bus and all-night and Sunday service would be cut. The ideas will go to a public hearing next month with a board vote expected April 18th. SEAT is facing a 15 percent cut in state aid beginning July 1st unless more money is found to shore up the state’s Special Transportation Fund.
POLICE TWEEK SCHOOL PATROL
Groton Town Police is tweaking its patrolling of schools. The new approach is called “Every School, Every Day” and has all 41 officers stopping in at least once per shift. Right now, officers stop at schools every now and then. The new policy was discussed last night at a forum on school safety at Fitch High School.
TRIBES NOT INTERESTED
(Bridgeport, CT) — The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes are not planning to pursue a Bridgeport casino if the state seeks proposals. The tribes say they have binding compacts with the state that gives them the exclusive right to run casinos in Connecticut. The tribes indicate that they are interested in running a Bridgeport casino, but not if it involves a competitive bid process. MGM Resorts is calling for the state to open the bidding process in an effort to build a 700-million-dollar casino in Bridgeport.
GARAGE MAKEOVER
Improvements will start to be made Monday on a downtown New London parking garage. Entrances and exits will be modernized, and stairwells improved. The $125,000 worth of work at the Water Street garage will also allow the Atlantic Street entrance to be turned into an exit when the garage is full or near capacity. Work will continue until mid-May.
ILLEGALS HUNKER DOWN IN CHURCH
(Old Lyme, CT) — A New Britain couple who stayed in Connecticut after being ordered to return to Pakistan is taking sanctuary in an Old Lyme church. Malik Naveed Bin Rehman and Zahida Altaftake are at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. The couple was ordered to get on a plane to Pakistan on Monday, but they defied the order. Their five-year-old daughter is being cared for by friends in New Britain.
FAMOUS HORSES VISIT FOXWOODS
For the first time ever, the famous Budweiser Clydesdales make an appearance in southeastern Connecticut. The eight horses were harnessed in front of the Grand Pequot hotel on Thursday before marching across the entire resort property. Foxwoods President and CEO Felix Rappaport says you can’t help but admire the massive Clydesdales. He’s hoping to make their appearance an annual event. Several hundred Foxwoods patrons gathered to watch and take pictures of the Clydesdales. They’ve been featured in Budweiser commercials since the mid-1980’s. The Clydesdales have been the trademark symbol for Anheuser-Busch for 85 years.
