Firearms have always been a part of this country’s existence. Without them, the United States of America might not exist at all. They are a tool that has been used throughout history in order for people to protect themselves and the things that they own. But there are days like this past Friday, when 26 people, 20 of which were children, were killed in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, which shine light on a gun control debate that has been going on in the United States almost as long as firearms have been in existence.

Sadly, incidents such as the one that happened in Connecticut are far too common in our country. From the Virginia Tech Massacre in 2007 to the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999, we have seen plenty of incidents when the wrong people get their hands on firearms and use them to commit terrible crimes. But should we be worried about our state laws that allow these types of weapons to be purchased with ease? Or should we be working on a way to get those who are mentally unstable the help that they need in order to live a happy life?

Rules and regulations on how to obtain a firearm vary from state to state. In the state of New York, a handgun can be purchased by someone who is 21 years of age or older and has a valid registration and license. However, you can be 18 years old and purchase a shotgun or rifle; and neither firearm requires registration or a license in order to be purchased. A background check is performed at the time of purchase in order to make sure there are no outstanding warrants or past crimes which can prevent the person from owning a firearm. New York has the most strict gun control policies in the country.

In states like Alaska and Connecticut, neither shotguns nor rifles require a permit in order to be purchased. Handguns are the only firearm in Connecticut that requires a state permit. Alaska even allows anyone to openly carry a firearm without any form of documentation.

But what about the people that commit these crimes? Of course, background checks are performed, but many of the people that would perform such a terrible act on innocent people were never diagnosed with any mental illnesses. After the deinstitutionalization of mental institutions in the 20th century, many people are not being diagnosed for their problems, and are not receiving the help that they need in order to live a normal life. The transition from government-run mental hospitals to community-based alternatives are also preventing many people from receiving the amount of medical attention that they need.

President Obama has been trying to renew a ban on assault weapons in the United States. And after the massacre in Connecticut, it seems as though we will succeed in removing unnecessary firepower from free distribution. In the end, we need to take a step back and look at our country’s firearm laws to make sure they are as strong as possible for preventing weapons from getting in the hands of the wrong people. We also need to look at those who would do such a terrible thing, and make sure that they are receiving the help they deserve.

Hopefully, in our lifetime, we come to a conclusion that takes unnecessary weaponry off the streets, and also helps those who are in need of proper treatment.

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Indianapolis, U.S.A. – Eli Lilly and Company applauded law enforcement officials for their successful investigation and the recovery of more than $70 million in pharmaceuticals stolen from its United States distribution center located in Enfield, Connecticut, on Sunday, March 14, 2010.

“For more than two years, Lilly has cooperated with this criminal investigation – providing important information to federal and local authorities to help piece together the details of the theft,” said Maria Crowe, President, Manufacturing Operations, Eli Lilly and Company.

“We applaud the dedication of the Enfield Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice prosecutors in New
Haven, Newark, and Miami, and the Miami Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force,  who have worked tirelessly to identify and apprehend those suspected of being involved in the March 2010 burglary,” said Crowe.

The pharmaceuticals taken from Lilly’s warehouse have been successfully recovered, preventing them from entering pharmaceutical distribution channels. Lilly plans to destroy the products when they are no longer needed as evidence.

Crowe added that Lilly is committed to partnering with the Food and Drug Administration, law enforcement, and other officials and organizations to help ensure patient safety and the secure distribution of Lilly medicines.

To that end, in addition to strengthening security for its facilities and pharmaceutical transportation, Lilly is one of seven pharmaceutical companies that formed the Coalition for Patient Safety and Medicine Integrity in 2011. Two primary goals of the coalition are to protect patients from risks posed by stolen and inappropriately handled medical products that enter legitimate distribution channels and increase the associated federal criminal penalties for crimes involving stolen medical products.

Image Courtesy of    http://www.lilly.com

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Beckoning visitors to “journey to new depths of discovery,” Sea Research Foundation, operator of Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut, has announced a major new exhibit – ‘Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below’ – at Mystic Aquarium’s Ocean Exploration Center exhibit hall.

The exhibit, opening on April 12, marks the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage and sinking of the celebrated ocean liner. It is the product of a collaboration between famed oceanographic explorer, Dr. Robert Ballard, president of Sea Research Foundation’s Institute for Exploration, who led the 1985 expedition that first located the sunken Titanic, and Tim Delaney, the former Walt Disney Imagineering designer and head of Tim J. Delaney Design.

The Ocean Exploration Center renovation and its inaugural ‘Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below’ exhibit are sponsored by United Technologies Corporation. Sea Research Foundation President & CEO, Dr. Stephen Coan, has called the project “a unique and important collaboration that will give people a chance to experience the Titanic through the eyes of the person who found her, someone recognized as one of the world’s greatest explorers, and through the imagination of a world-renowned exhibit designer.”

Tim Delaney described the exhibit as “a very different approach to the Titanic experience, one that taps directly into the excitement of exploration and discovery. We’ve created something that both adults and children will find thrilling, immersive, interactive, experiential, and memorable. ‘Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below’ takes you there.”

Bringing the legendary vessel’s timeless history to life, ‘Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below’ captivates minds with a glowing iceberg that is cold to the touch, a bi-level adventure area inspired by Titanic’s engine room, hands-on experiences that unfold Titanic‘s lingering mysteries, and modern deep-sea technology that led to the discovery.

“The Titanic sinking is, of course, one of the greatest dramas of the last century,” said Dr. Ballard. “Everything about her conception, construction, launch, passage, passengers, loss, and legend is fascinating. I believe that the excitement of discovery is transferrable and can inspire future generations of explorers and discoverers. That’s what ‘Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below’ is all about.”

The exhibit opens to the public on April 12 at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/mysticaquarium

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For those who were thoroughly confused after watching Inception, then your mind will be blown away after watching A Moment in Time, written, directed, and produced by George Woodbridge. Woodbridge is a popular Latin teacher at Foran High School in Milford, Connecticut. He was also my Latin teacher for all four years.

Ten minutes before the premiere, the theater was packed as suspense filled the air. Aside from the actors, no one seemed to have a clear grasp as to what the movie was about. At 8 p.m. Woodbridge entered to an overwhelming applause. Before beginning the movie, Woodbridge told us to keep four questions in mind while watching: what’s real, what’s a dream, what’s past, and what’s present. He also told the audience to be mindful of color as opposed to black and white. When he finished addressing the crowd, audience members murmured of “This is like Inception” as the movie began.

A Moment in Time is a murder mystery partly set in 1920s Milford, Conn and partly in contemporary, 21st-century Milford, Conn. There are three villains, playing vital roles. Dr. Sarkopolis is a German doctor obsessed with the Taoist quest for immortality. His countess is Helwig von Wolkenstein, a fabulously wealthy Austrian who contributed to Dr. Sarkopolis’ research in Vienna and fashions herself a cabaret singer. Finally, Hans the Butler was the former first violinist at the Budapest Opera. However, he was forced by circumstances to work as a butler. Now, he lives a strange existence under the psychic influence both Dr. Sarkopolis and Countess Helwig. There are also references from T.S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets,” I Ching Hexagram 64: Wei Chi “Before Completion”, The Secret of the Golden Flower, a Chinese Taoist book about meditation translated by Richard Wilhelm, and finally Martin Heidegger’s ’Sein und Zeit (Being and Time).”

When I asked George what his inspiration was behind this, he simply stated that it came from “classic silent films, Luis Buñuel, Ingmar Bergman, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, and David Lynch.”

He continued to say that he wished to produce a movie “tightly based on my screenplay with the visual and sound special effect I had originally imagined. I feel Wes Sanchez, my cinematographer and editor, did a fantastic job helping me realize my expectations.”

George intended to create a movie that “made people think and question their assumptions about what they saw.” His expectations were met with precision. As the movie ended, the main question on everyone’s mind was: what just happened? One actress said, “I read the script and I still was lost.”

While I watched the movie, I couldn’t help but find some flaws. For instance, in some scenes it was clear that the actors were reading their lines from a piece of paper. Their eyes would shift from paper and back up. Lines should be memorized to keep the flow of the storyline and when it was clear the lines were being read off, the flow was staggered. Also, there were some parts where the actors and actresses’ voices were not loud and clear. In one shot the voice was crystal clear and when the shot changed the voice became quieter then back to loud. Lastly, while Woodbridge had intended on leaving the audience in a state of confusion, I feel he may have overdone it. After leaving the theater, I asked around to see the reactions. While some thoroughly enjoyed it, others could not explain how they felt because they could not understand what had occurred.

Later on, I asked George if he had any intentions of releasing the film on DVD, and as of now, he does not plan to. However, viewers may have another chance of seeing this movie in the fall at Foran High School. When asked if he had any plans to send his movie to any future independent film festivals, he replied “I am going to send it to the Sundance Festival in the fall.”

On the whole, the movie was excellently put together. The actors and actresses had done a magnificent job presenting their roles. The cinematography was also done with precision. The best part was that the actors and actresses clearly enjoyed themselves. If you have a chance to attend the Sundance Festival this fall, keep your eyes open for this film.

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November 8, 2011 “Election Day,” will be an important day in Milford, Connecticut, after Mayor James Richetelli declines re-election. He has been this city’s mayor for ten years, making him the ninth mayor. Instead of re-electing for his sixth term, Richetelli has accepted the position of “Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations,” beating about thirty applicants despite having minimal experience in education. However, he may encounter a problem even before stepping foot in his new position.

State Department of Education states that Richetelli lacks the required state certification for his new job as the school department finance director. The School Business Administration Certificate requires experience and background in finance and related areas that cannot be acquired through job experience. Nancy Cole, president of the Connecticut Association of School Business Officials, said that it is “college-level course work that determines whether a person can be certified for the job. The requirement is at least a bachelor’s degree with the following core courses: education law, education finance, collective bargaining and personnel” (CTpost).

Though the contract has not been signed, if he is accepted into this position, he would be earning a salary of $133,000 a year, a $40,000 increase over his salary of $93,500/year as mayor. The only downside is that Richetelli will not be part of the teachers’ retirement program on the fair basis that he will not be a teacher, though with a salary that high, there should be no problem. While this could be a big thumbs-up for the Richetelli family, Milford residents are less than positive of this news. For someone of his statue, residents are skeptical as to why he would give up being a mayor for a school administration position. Also, they are worried that while he may have the job experience in finance with mayor position, becoming the deputy superintendent of finance and operations is a completely different role, meaning that now he has the school department’s finances to handle. Local Democratic party chairman, Richard Smith, feels that by staying as the mayor, Richetelli has the power to help improve the 2011-2012 school budget by initiating transfers to the Board of Education.

Personally, I’ve always liked Mayor Richetelli. He has transformed the city of Milford in a magnificent place to live. He has always been approachable and willing to talk to his residents. For as long as I can remember, he has been the mayor of this city and to see him leave is a tremendous loss. However, I think that he should been given special privileges in taking his new position. There is a reason why there is a criterion for such a position and to disregard it based on the fact that he has been a mayor just falls back on giving special treatment to those with the power. Superintendent Elizabeth Feser stated that “we have a clearly defined process, and there was not a single modification made for the mayor” (CTpost). I just hope that she stands by her statement and/or Richetelli gets the credentials before he takes the position or there may be more residents upset.

Image Courtesy: Mayor James Richetelli

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