Thumbs up, thumbs down
Thumbs up and congratulations to Mary Jean Rebeiro, CEO of the Danbury-based NYCONN Corp. electrical contracting group, for receiving the prestigious Cecil J. Previdi Award from the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. Succeeding in a male-dominated industry, Rebeiro is a philanthropist who makes time to serve on the boards of the Chamber’s Women’s Business Council, the Western Connecticut State University Foundation and Union Savings Bank. The 30th annual Previdi award was presented at the chamber’s sold-out leadership luncheon on Friday. Rebeiro’s father, Anthony Rizzo, won the award 25 years ago.
Thumbs up to Dr. John Murphy, president and CEO of the Western Connecticut Health Network, which includes Danbury, New Milford and Norwalk hospitals, on his recognition as one of the country’s top physician leaders by Becker’s Healthcare business journal. Murphy was cited for his “healthcare leadership, business acumen, and his community and industry volunteerism.” While running a $1 billion-plus organization, Murphy also serves as the new executive committee chairman of the Connecticut Hospital Association and continues to see under-served patients in the local specialty clinic.
Thumbs down to a significant boost in the cost of power in Connecticut, as electricity customers face a rise of between 19 and 24 percent in the first six months of 2019, which translates to about an additional $12 monthly. Eversource customers are expected to see “standard service” increase from the current 8.53 cents a kilowatt hour to 10.14 cents.
Thumbs down to increased marijuana use by teens in states where recreational marijuana is legal. While this is not surprising, the findings in a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, which is part of the U.S. Health and Human Services department, are disturbing. Almost 8 percent of Colorado teens admitted to using cannabis for the first time last year and pastmonth usage was 45-percent higher in the 12- to 17-year-old category compared to non-legal states. The study, highlighted by the Smart Approaches to Marijuana organization, should give pause to the upcoming Connecticut General Assembly when the notion of legalizing recreational marijuana — as Massachusetts has done — comes up.
Thumbs up to Jahana Hayes, recently elected to serve in Congress for Connecticut’s Fifth District, for quickly moving ahead on one of her top issues in this year’s campaign. The representative-elect is joining the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, its chairman announced this week, following up on an issue she said she heard plenty about in advance of November’s vote. With a district that includes Newtown, Hayes is wasting no time in taking action on an issue of special importance to her constituents.
Thumbs up to the anonymous donor who has pledged a generous $10 million to build a track and field center at Bethel High School. The 48,000-square-foot center will be used throughout the week and weekends by students in physical education classes, athletes and the public, particularly with the indoor 200-meter track. The Board of Selectmen approved the lease for the land next to the tennis courts last week and the agreement with the donor. Once the center is completed next year, ownership would revert to the town.