State Representatives Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) and David Labriola (R-131) today joined their House colleagues and voted unanimously to allow school boards to award diplomas to Vietnam War Era veterans who were unable to complete high school due to military service.

“The men and women who put their civilian lives on hold and donned a uniform to protect our country deserve our thanks and respect and this legislation honors their commitment and sacrifice,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “I’m sure our school boards will see fit to grant diplomas to all qualified veterans.”

“We must honor the sacrifices that Vietnam era veterans made on our behalf, and allowing them to receive their high school diploma is the right thing to do,” Rep. Labriola said.

S.B. 386- An Act Concerning Honorary Diplomas for Vietnam Veterans  allows local and regional school boards to award high school diplomas to Vietnam era veterans who left high school before graduating for military service. Current state law already allows boards to do this for World War II and Korean War veterans but this bill covers honorably or generally discharged veterans who served actively from February 28, 1961 to July 1, 1975 in the U. S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Air Force or any of their reserve components, including the Connecticut National Guard.

The unanimous vote in the House followed a unanimous vote in the Senate.

CT Beer Week 2013 will take place from May 11-18, 2013. The week is a collaboration of events hosted by brewers, wholesalers, retailers and restaurants throughout Connecticut.

The 2013 CT Beer Week is focused around the “Brew & Buy Local” campaign created by the Connecticut beer industry to celebrate the vibrant beer industry in Connecticut. The campaign’s message is simple: from breweries to restaurants, our industry produces fabulous products and contributes a significant amount to the local economy. So, when you are making a choice, we ask you to choose to support local Connecticut companies.

The mission of Connecticut Beer Week is to inform policy makers of the significant contribution the three-tier system makes to Connecticut’s economy. This week long, statewide event was created to celebrate the vibrant beer industry in Connecticut.

The campaign’s message is simple: from breweries to restaurants, our industry produces fabulous products and contributes a significant amount to the local economy. So, when you are making a choice, we ask you to choose to support local Connecticut companies. Together we’re brewing something good for Connecticut.

Our newly introduced “Brew & Buy Local” campaign will promote all segments of the industry responsible for the safe distribution and sale of beer.

For More Information go to  ctbeerweek.com

State Representatives Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) and David Labriola (R-131) applauded an announcement from Governor Malloy’s office that the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation will receive a $975,000 grant for remediation work on 11.7 acres at 6 Rubber Avenue, a downtown location used since the 1860s primarily to manufacture rubber.

The funding will aid a $2.4 million cleanup project to prepare the site for conversion into a mixed-use development that meets transit-oriented development and sustainable criteria.

“I would like to thank Governor Malloy and Commissioner Smith for their commitment to Brownfield Redevelopment,” Rep. Rebimbas said. “These funds will be helpful in the transition of the future economic state or our Borough.”

“Cleaning up brownfield sites and transforming them into useful pieces of property will be a tremendous boon for the citizens of Naugatuck,” Rep. Labriola said.

“State and local governments can and should work together to restore blighted properties—sites that have tremendous potential for commerce, housing, and retail that will create jobs,” said Governor Malloy.  “There are hundreds of properties across the state—abandoned factories, warehouses, rail yards and mills, that were once the center of economic activity but now just contribute to urban decay.  With the right investment, these properties can bolster our economy and add to our quality of life.”

“Governor Malloy’s commitment to remediate and redevelop brownfields has greatly benefited the municipalities that are searching for ways to improve commerce, address blight, and increase the tax base,” said Commissioner Smith.   “In the last year, DECD has awarded more than $34 million to clean up polluted sites in communities throughout Connecticut—an investment that has leveraged about $480 million in private and federal funding to revitalize local economies and restore community assets.”