Ives, former teacher and Windsor Locks school board member, dies

By Harlan Levy
Journal Inquirer

Published: Thursday, March 17, 2011 1:06 PM EDT

WINDSOR LOCKS — The town lost a prominent and public-spirited citizen with a superlative record of community service when Brenda Ives, a Board of Education member for the past eight years, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away early Wednesday morning.

Ives, who had just turned 68, was a devoted, respected, and well-loved teacher at the North Street Elementary School for 27 years. She retired in 2001 and won election to the school board two years later and won every election since.

Board of Education Chairwoman Patricia King said Ives will be missed.

“She was an excellent member of the board, colleague, and friend, who was committed to children in their pursuit of education,” King said. “Her perspective was always centered on the education of children, and she always advocated for teachers.”

Middle School Principal Gregory Blanchfield knew Ives for more than 40 years.

“Brenda was one of a kind, a very special person,” he said. “She would be thoroughly embarrassed when I say this, but it’s absolutely accurate and true: She was a true daughter of Windsor Locks. She was funny. She was smart, she was dedicated, and we’re going to miss her very, very much.”

Ives comes from a long line of citizens committed to public service, Blanchfield said, including her father, her brother Cornelius O’Leary, a former state senator and current chairman of the Board of Finance, and her husband, Jeffrey Ives.

“She had an unbelievable commitment to the town,” Blanchfield added. “She always had the kids of Windsor Locks as her primary focus. It’s a huge loss. I’m going to miss her personally and professionally.”

On Wednesday evening the Board of Education was due to present its proposed budget for next year to the Finance Board. The meeting was postponed.

Montgomery Mill Source of Frustration And Hope For Windsor Locks

Foreclosure Sale Scheduled For September Could Lead To New Life For Downtown

By KIM VELSEY,The Hartford Courant

WINDSOR LOCKS —

On a recent winter's day, the only signs of life at the Montgomery mill complex were a set of footprints in the snow, circling one of the burned-out buildings. They might have been left by a developer or investor, but were just as likely made by a vagrant or vandal.

In the 22 years since the wire manufacturer closed its doors, the buildings of the J.R. Montgomery Co. have been ravaged by arsonists, graffiti taggers and scrap-metal thieves. Half the windows are missing, as are the enormous letters that once spelled out "The Montgomery Co. Est. 1871 Decorative and Electric Tinsels."

The town has been trying to foreclose on the property since July 2009 in hopes of recouping hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes and finally transforming the mill from a headache to a catalyst for downtown renewal — a change that may finally come in September, with a planned foreclosure sale on the mill property.

The mill and the train station — the few remnants of the town's once lively Main Street to survive a mid-century redevelopment plan (although the train stop moved) — are now the centerpieces ofWindsor Locks' downtown redevelopment strategy.

Local officials are talking with the state Department of Transportation to find ways to return the station to the downtown area, according to First Selectman Steve Wawruck.

Read the rest of the story here:  http://www.courant.com/community/windsor-locks/hc-windsor-locks-montgomery-mill-031320110312,0,7799393,full.story

The Town of Windsor Locks needs your help!

The Windsor Locks Community Advisory Council is seeking new members. The Windsor Locks Community Advisory Council is responsible for organizing Octoberfest, the Torch Light Parade, Winterfest, and the Spring Festival events. These annual events are a tradition stemming from the 150th celebration of the town's inception. These events are a great way to bring our community together. As a new member you can help us continue the tradition and bring new ideas to keep these events interesting, fun, and entertaining! This is a great way to volunteer and give back to your community. Our meetings are generally held once a month with additional meetings held as needed. If you are interested, please contact Sue Barsanti at 627-1444 or Kate Barnard at 627-1482.

WL Pack 201 Pinewood Derby

Judge postpones auction of derelict WLocks factory

By Harlan Levy

Journal Inquirer

Published: Thursday, March 3, 2011 11:50 AM EST

WINDSOR LOCKS — A Hartford Superior Court judge has granted the owners of the long-vacant Montgomery factory complex a one-time-only seven-month extension in the town’s foreclosure action. The property had been scheduled to be sold at an auction Feb. 19.

Canal Benk Realty, the owner of the three-structure eyesore on 3½ acres on Canal Road, will have until Sept. 9 to pay $300,000 for back taxes and town equipment losses from two fires. If the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based company can pay the town, the foreclosure will be dropped. Otherwise an auction of the more than 100-year-old former wire product manufacturer will go on, with the town reaping the proceeds.

Town officials began the foreclosure a year and a half ago. The seven-month delay is just part of the process, First Selectman Steven Wawruck said this week.

“They had the legal right to stay the foreclosure,” Wawruck said. “We put our faith in the court system, and we’ll continue on the same path and pursue all legal means to recoup the expenses owed the town.”

The property is worth $900,000, according to a town-funded independent appraisal. The court’s appraisal valued it at $1 million.

Brooklyn-based Mountain View Equities bought the complex in 2004, aiming to convert the space into luxury condominiums, but failed. Since then the investment group has amassed an unpaid tax bill of more than $217,000.

In late April three local teenagers were charged with arson in connection with a suspicious fire on April 11 at the compound, which took firefighters from half a dozen towns more than eight hours to quell. The fire badly damaged the former Fuller Russell Tobacco sorting house on the east side of the main building. In July 2006, another arson fire devastated the northern portion of the complex. The town lost $51,000 of the Fire Department’s equipment in that blaze, and a lien was placed on the building because it was uninsured.

If an auction takes place in September, the timing could be favorable, Wawruck said.

“The economy is rebounding, and we could hit it at the right time when there’s an upturn in the economy and there’s a lot of interest,” he said, “but I don’t know what the times will be like in September.”

Girls Strike Back!

Girls Strike Back

Windsor Locks High School Senior and Junior Girls

enjoy a special presentation of

Girls Strike Back

Sponsored by Bearingstar Insurance www.bearingstar.com

is a realistic self-defense approach for women. It's not martial arts, it doesn't teach you to fight like a man, and it's not "carry your keys and walk aggressively in a parking lot." Who wants that? The IM-SAFE instructors will transform "NOW WHAT?" in to confidence with a concrete plan for escape. Did you know that 45% of all teens know a victim of dating violence or that almost half of all female college freshman and sophomores will be assaulted on campus between September and coming home for Thanksgiving? These are just some of the reasons that Bearingstar Insurance is currently working with a company called IM-SAFE and began offering a women’s empowerment series called Girls Strike Back.

Girls Strike Back

is open to Windsor Locks H.S. Senior and Junior girls. A female legal guardian must be present for student to participate. Girls will need to complete registration forms & waivers from the Windsor Locks Youth Services Bureau to participate in this event. Guardians will need to sign an adult waiver from the Windsor Locks Youth Services Bureau to participate in this event. Please contact Kate Barnard, Windsor Locks Youth Services Director at kbarnard@wlocks.com to obtain the forms or call 860-627-1482 to have them sent to you by mail.

Please note: there are further registration instructions, please read below.

Wear:

• Athletic attire, T-shirt, yoga or sweatpants • Bring a bottled water or non alcoholic bev. of your choice • Mats can be slippery, so be prepared to be barefoot.

When: Wednesday, March 30th at the Windsor Locks Town Hall

6:30 – 8:30

Please RSVP by March 23, 2011 to

Pamela.Horton@Bearingstar.com

Please mail a $15 check/money order (per family), donation registration fee, by March 23rd, made out to Windsor Locks Youth Service Bureau

50 Church Street Windsor Locks, CT 06096

Participants will receive their check back the night of the class. If you are unable to attend the class, your money will be donated to the Windsor Locks Youth Service Bureau.

Girls Strike Back classes fill quickly. We have openings for 24 participants. Guardians are more than welcome to observe the class OR participate with the student. We have room for those of you who prefer to observe.

"The class gave information and statistics regarding common assault scenarios and techniques on how to keep your self safe. I think that the most beneficial part of the class was that participants were given a hands-on learning opportunity to practice escape techniques with their partner and with a trained staff person who created the simulation of a realistic assault. I was amazed with what I learned from this class! I believe that both the participants and I walked away better prepared to defend ourselves if a worst case scenario was ever to happen. I would highly recommend the Girls Strike Back class! "

Kate Barnard, Windsor Locks Youth Services Director