A Neilsen survey says that, on average, a teenager sends 3,400 texts a month, and a Kaiser Family Foundation study shows that youth from 8 to 18 spend almost eight hours a day in front of electronic screens, according to CNN.com.

"As pediatricians who are trying to help children behave in ways that keep them healthy and safe, we have to pay a lot of attention to what's happening in social media," Dr. David Hill, chairman-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics' council on communications and media, told CNN.com. "This is an uncontrolled experiment we're running right now. How does the human organism — particularly the developing brain — adapt to this kind of input? These are questions we are tackling."                

The media reports almost daily on the foibles of adults who are tripped up by their use of social media. Private messages can be copied for all to see — as in the recent case of meteorologist Geoff Fox— and emails can be the subject of an FBI investigation — as in the case of Gen. David Petreaus.

But what about kids whose frontal lobes aren't quite fully developed. Should they be held responsible for posting or texting something not quite appropriate? Some colleges now say they review the Facebook postings of applicants on top of reading their applications and essays.

Do you worry about what your kids post on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram?

Take our poll and tell us in the comments.

Bags containing the carcasses of 26 were found at an apartment building in Middletown on Wednesday.

According to WFSB, police got a call from a group of Wesleyan University students who were shooting a horror movie in the area of River Road when they noticed the bad smell.

Ray Connors, the state’s chief animal control officer, told NBC Connecticut it’s not clear how the bags were discovered although the remains, including entrails, fleece and heads, were likely the renderings from a slaughter.

See WFSB for video footage of the incident. 

Last Resort, 8 p.m., ABC

I knew it was Cortez. Just sayin’. Tonight, “Marcus brings the islanders and the members of the Colorado together for a feast in the spirit of Thanksgiving; Grace searches for the truth when an essential crew member is accused of a crime.”

The X Factor, 8 p.m., Fox

We would not have sent Beatrice Miller home, would we? Poor little thing with the two moms and the adopted sisters and all that stress and pressure. We would’ve sent Cruella de Frey home in a heartbeat. Tonight, Josh Krajcik returns to sing. Remember him? Exactly.

Project Runway All Stars, 9 p.m., Lifetime

Oh my! I am so far removed from the Project Runway world I did not know there was a season 2 of all-stars! And Wendy Pepper has already been eliminated (I actually would’ve liked to have seen that)! And even though I totally don’t care, I hope Uli wins.

Undoubtedly, the most popular rock group of the "British Invasion" of the early to mid 1960's was the Beatles. However, the Beatles broke up 42 years ago, and the Rolling Stones are still going strong after 50 years. In fact, the average age of the members of the Stones exceeds the average age of the members of the U.S. Supreme Court by nearly 2 years!                     

In their half century of existence, the Rolling Stones have toured Connecticut six times. Their first Connecticut concert occurred on Nov. 4, 1965, in the New Haven Arena. Less than a year later, the Stones appeared in Dillon Stadium in Hartford on June 27, 1966, to promote their new album "Aftermath." The members of the band at the time were Mick Jagger (lead vocals and harmonica); Charlie Watts (percussion); Keith Richards (guitar and leading vocals); Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica, and organ); and Bill Wyman (bass and backing vocals).

Fifteen years were to pass before the Stones returned to Connecticut. They appeared at the Hartford Civic Center on Nov. 9 and 10 of 1981. The tour promoted their new album called "Tattoo You." The tour itself grossed over $50 million and was seen by over 3 million fans — both records for the time.

In 1989, the Stones made arrangements to rent a building at the Wykeham Rise School in Washington, CT, for rehearsal for their upcoming "Steel Wheels Tour." They stayed there for six weeks. The group made a surprise visit to Toad's Place on York Street  in New Haven on Aug. 12, 1989,  and gave a concert there, much to the delight of about 700 patrons. Interestingly, Muddy Waters, a huge musical influence on the Rolling Stones, had also played at Toad's Place; in fact, the group's name is derived from one of Muddy's tunes.

Ten years later the Stones appeared at the Hartford Civic Center on March 28 and 29 in 1999. That stop was one of 25 in North America for the group's promotion of its album called "No Security." This tour was the group's first in 20 years that played only in indoor arenas for audiences of 20,000 or less.

The last time that the Stones appeared in Connecticut was at Rentschler Field in East Hartford on Aug. 25, 2005. It was one of the stops on "A Bigger Bang Tour." Like all Rolling Stone concerts, this one, too, was a sellout. The Stones had a seven-story movable stage rigged up and rolled around the field to the delight of the crowd. The cost of a field level seat was $402 — see the photo gallery.

Besides visiting the state for six concerts in the last 50 years, the group has other connections to Connecticut. Mick Jagger's daughter, Karis Jagger, attended Yale University and graduated in 1992. Mick attended the graduation ceremony. Karis is Mick's oldest child and currently works as a production assistant on movies.

Keith Richards' main home is in Weston, CT. An interesting man, Richards yearned to be a librarian as a young man. He has a keen interest in history and reads a great deal. He keeps an extensive library there.

This past Sunday — Nov. 25 — the Rolling Stones kicked off a five-concert celebration of their golden anniversary as a group by having their first of two concerts at London's O2 Arena. The concert tour will continue in December in the New York metropolitan area with a concert in Brooklyn in the brand new Barclay's Center on Dec. 8 and two concerts at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on Dec. 13 and 15. In fact, Stamford, CT, based WWE Corporation will promote the Dec. 15 concert on pay-per-view. Vince McMahon, CEO of WWE, is the husband of Linda McMahon. If the concert goes as well as is expected, Vince will be able to put a big dent in the $47 million cost of his wife's recent senatorial campaign!

Nov. 23

Carlos Saldana, 34, no address given, was cited for evading responsibility, a failure to drive at a reasonable distance and driving without a license on Nov. 23. Court date: Dec. 12.

Nov. 27

Max J. Herman, 24, 159 Lincoln St., Middletown, was cited for driving with a suspended license on Nov. 27. Court date: Dec. 6.

Arthur Janiak, 29, 78 Summer Hill Road, Middletown, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief on Nov. 27. Court date: Nov. 28.

Nov. 28

Krystal M. Cappa, 27, 46 Coventry St., Hartford, was arrested and charged with second-degree failure to appear on Nov. 28. Court date: Dec. 7.

Inquiries from students, teachers, and families began to pour into Sister Mary McCarthy's office almost immediately after Hurricane Sandy tore through the northeast, leaving a wake of devastation in some regions.

"What can we do to help?" the Mercy High School community wanted to know.

McCarthy, Mercy's president, faced a dilemma. "We were already in the middle of our Thanksgiving food drive." Also, she adds, "these kids have collected for about five things since school started, so we wanted to be sensitive" about seeking another round of donations.

Still, McCarthy felt the same compulsion to do something as the rest of the Mercy family, so she began to search for an outlet for its charitable spirit. Then she thought of Catherine McAuley High School in Brooklyn, NY, where she is a member of the Board of Trustees.

Catherine McAuley is located in one of the areas that the hurricane hit hardest. Although the school itself was spared damage, "many families of students and teachers were affected," according to McCarthy. "They lost vehicles, furnishings, and other possessions."

Compounding the difficult circumstances faced by the Brooklyn school is the fact that it is located in a district where median household income is almost $10,000 below state average.

"There's need there," says McCarthy.

Mercy students and teachers are well acquainted with Catherine McAuley, a fellow all-girls school in the Sisters of Mercy network of academies, which comprise almost 80 primary, secondary, and higher education institutions worldwide. Nearly every year, Mercy students travel to their sister school for an event, or its students visit the Middletown campus.   

McCarthy emphasizes that Catherine McAuley's "personal connection with our school," makes this relief project "more meaningful."

"It hits home," she summarizes.  

McCarthy says that thus far Mercy's efforts toward the project have primarily consisted of "a collection jar in the main office" and a notice on the school website, due to the overlap with its other charity drives. However, she plans "more aggressive fundraising next week," having decided to extend the project by a week from its originally scheduled endpoint. 

A check will be presented to Catherine McAuley shortly thereafter. The New York school has not been informed of Mercy's labors on its behalf. 

Although the school has not publicized its endeavor, McCarthy makes clear that Mercy also welcomes contributions to the cause from those outside of its community.

"We'll take any donations," she stresses.  

If you want to help Mercy's effort to aid families from Catherine McAuley High School that are struggling after Hurricane Sandy, contact the school office at (860) 346-6659. The school is seeking monetary contributions only.

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A half billion dollars could have been yours in the latest Powerball drawing. In fact, so many people were checking out the Powerball website Wednesday night that the server was slow to respond and appeared down at times shortly after the 11 p.m. drawing.

According to Powerball.com, two winning tickets were sold- one in Arizona and one in Missouri. Connecticut, however, had a $2 million Match 5 winner and a $1 million Match 5 winner. No word yet on where the tickets were sold.

The winning Powerball numbers for the Nov. 28, 2012, drawing are 5, 16, 22, 23, 29 and a Powerball number of 6.

For more on Powerball, visit Powerball.com

Lottery analysis website USA Mega broke down what you could expect to take home after taxes in the $550 million jackpot state by state.

If the winner had been a Connecticut resident, he or she would have taken home $259,403,400 in a lump-sum payment after taxes. If the winner chose an annual payment over 30 years, the net take would have been $396,071,700, or an average annual payment of $13,202,390.              

There were two winning Powerball tickets sold for one of the biggest jackpots in Powerball history, $579.9 million.

The two winning tickets were sold in Arizona and Missouri. The winning numbers, drawn Wednesday night, were 5, 16, 22, 23, 29 and Powerball of 6.

Though the Powerball winners were not in Connecticut, there were two tickets sold for the $2 million Match 5 prize and the $1 million Match 5. No word yet on where the tickets were sold.               

It's still unclear this morning whether the winning tickets are held by individuals or groups. Lottery officials in Arizona had no information this morning on the winning ticket in that state, according to the Chicago Tribune. Lottery officials in Missouri could not be reached for comment, the paper reported.

If the winners are two individuals and choose the cash option payout on the Powerball prize, they would split $379.8 million.

Residents in Connecticut and across the country have rushed to buy Powerball tickets since Sunday, when it was announced that there was no winner in the previous drawing and that the jackpot in the 42-state lottery was expected to push up past $500 million. The prize lured in those who rarely, if ever, buy lottery tickets.

Tickets were selling at a rate of 130,000 a minute nationwide — about six times the volume from a week ago, the Tribune reports.

As Connecticut residents begin festooning their homes with holiday lighting displays Connecticut Light & Power is sharing some tips to help their customers have a safe and energy-efficient holiday season. 

“Over the years, holiday lights have become much more efficient than the old-style bulbs we remember from years past,” said Ron Araujo, CL&P’s manager of Conservation and Load Management.  “With newer technology available in many more options, today’s lighting displays can help lower the amount of electricity a family uses and save money.”           

Light emitting diode (LED) lights, available most anywhere lights are sold, can cost as little as 25 cents to power compared to the six to ten dollars it can cost to power traditional lights over the season.  The degree to which your holiday light displays will increase your electric bill varies by the number of lights used and how long they’re lit.

CL&P is also reminding customers that a good way to keep bills down without sacrificing the spirit of the season is to use timers on their displays. Making  sure your decorations are off before leaving home or going to bed is also a way to cut down on energy use.

The utility offers the following decorating tips for light displays:

• Inspect used lights before plugging them in and discard any lights that are cracked, broken or have frayed or bare wires.
• Use only lights and electric decorations that carry the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety label.
• When decorating outdoors, only use outdoor-approved lighting and look out for overhead power lines before using a ladder. Always stay at least 10 feet away from power lines and anything they touch.

For more tips, check out CL&P’s safe holiday lighting video on YouTube.

Middletown: Edna D. (Donbrowo) Bailey passed away on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012.

Middletown: Shirley Schufer Bednarz, 82, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012.

Middletown are pursuing a “person of interest” after a pile of trash bags containing sheep and goat carcasses were discovered on private property here.

Lt. Heather Desmond, Middletown police spokesman, said there is at least one person of interest in the case and that local police are investigating in conjunction with the state Department of Agriculture — the agency in charge of statewide animal control issues.

Desmond said the Middletown Police Department is looking at the case as both illegal dumping and the improper disposal of animal parts. The case remains under investigation.

Raymond Connors, state animal control officer, said the parts were found in 26 bags on a property at 193 River Road.

Wesleyan students who were shooting a horror film on the property next to an abandoned house discovered the bags, Connors said. He said the students had permission from the property owner to be there and the property owner was unaware of dumped animal carcasses.

Connors told NBCConnecticut that a concern for the department is whether the parts came from out of state.

Check NBCConnecticut for a video interview with the Wesleyan students who found the animal parts.

In 1968, Congress created a National Flood Insurance Program when homeowners found that they could no longer buy private flood insurance.

The federal government now partners with private insurers to offer flood insurance, but according to an op-ed piece in Thursday's New York Times, the federal government bears the risk to the tune of "$527 billion of vulnerable assets in the nation’s coastal flood plains."

The Times piece says the program has paid out more than $24 billion in coastal flood plain claims between 1978 and 2011, with Hurricane Katrina alone counting for $16 million. Early estimates for Hurricane Sandy payouts are about $7 billion, and the program is already $18 billion in debt, the Times said.

Some say it's time for the federal government to stop backing up flood insurance, which essentially subsidizes homeowners who choose to live in risky coastal flood-prone areas.                

Do you agree?

Take our poll and tell us in the comments.

Middletown scored the number 2 slot in the list of cities and towns with the highest voter turnout this past election.

According to Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, 89.86 percent of registered voters in Middletown cast ballots in the 2012 election on Nov. 6. Only one community, the small town of Bridgewater, had a higher turnout of 94.75 percent.

The city has 24,032 registered voters and, by calculating the above rate 21,595 people turned out at the polls.

Middletown Mayor Dan Drew told CTNewsJunkie.com that the results “showed we have a really engaged electorate that really cares about their city, state and country.”

“The people of Middletown should be proud,” Drew told the news site.

Merrill, who released the certified results on Wednesday, reported that the state turnout was at 74 percent, lower than the 78.14 percent turnout in the 2007 election. In 2012, Connecticut came in seventh overall in terms of registered voter turnout.

“Despite the challenges we faced following Hurricane Sandy, Connecticut voters came to the polls with a very strong turnout on Election Day,” Merrill said.

Here are the top 10 municipalities in CT for Voter Turnout in 2012 (as a percentage of registered voters):

1. Bridgewater – 94.75%
2. Middletown – 89.86%
3. Ridgefield – 89.42%
4. Washington – 88.35%
5. Woodbridge – 86.94%
6. Granby – 86.22%
7. Bolton – 86.20%
8. Roxbury – 85.92%
9. Wilton – 85.57%
10. Killingworth – 85.35%

I discovered Bob Bigelow by accident one day several years ago. His opinions regarding youth sports convinced me that I wasn’t a complete idiot. And I wasn’t that parent — the one who complained and questioned coaches and organizations just to hear his own voice.                      

I decided instead that I was an incomplete idiot; imperfect in my approach maybe, but not entirely foolish in thinking that I could advocate for change within the usually inflexible youth sporting establishment.

On Monday night Farmington Recreation brought Bob Bigelow in to speak. So after about a year of corresponding by phone and email, I was finally able to shake his hand and thank him for justifying my youth sports battles.

Bob Bigelow is a man who can back up any idea, fact, or statement with a flurry of life experiences and a bevy of studies. No notes are needed. There’s no hesitation in the cadence of his thunderous voice. He fires his thoughts like a cannon, but with the aim of a sharpshooter.

The crowd should have been 10 times its size. It didn’t matter. I suspect he’s the same guy whether in front of 50 or 5,000 people. More than anything, I was sorry for the children who will be playing for coaches who have never crashed head-on into Bigelow’s cache of youth sporting philosophies.

I was surprised by a few of the faces who were in attendance, although some would leave before being fed the good stuff. I suppose many didn’t have the fortitude to look themselves in Bigelow’s mirror long enough to see past their own reflections.

There were parents in attendance. Regular parents. I spoke to a few afterward. Funny how they all knew the same names in town: the ones who needed to be at the lecture but were not, as well as those who should be released from all coaching duties immediately.

It’s like that in every town. And it’s sad when politics and a lack of common sense allow the knuckleheads to carry on as usual.

Bigelow on giving up on a player too soon:

He tells of a kid whose two favorite sports in junior high were baseball and football. Who as a 5’9”, 155 lb. high school sophomore was cut from his varsity basketball team. Who grew six inches and made the varsity team as a junior. Who by his freshman year in college had grown nine inches and gained 50 lbs. Who in six years had gone from being cut from the varsity team at his high school to becoming one of the top five players in the NBA. His name? Michael Jordan.

The voice booms to the wall and back, “We will get rid of no athlete at any age, before — at earliest, 16 or 17 years old.”

Bigelow on winning:

He refers to a 1992 Michigan State report that asked athletes between the ages of 5 and 19 why they play sports. At the top of the list was: to have fun/playing time. In the 12 and below age group, winning ranked #12; for the older kids, it ranked 9th on the list. Children want to play.

“The pure fact of the matter is this: Ask any kid playing a contest, during that contest, do they want to win. They will all say “Yes, I want to win.” They are not going to say, “You know, Mr Bigelow, today I prefer to lose.” But ask them later why they play basketball, why they play soccer, why they play hockey, why they play tiddlywinks, and I guarantee you, “I play to win and I play to win only,” will never cross their lips.”

“And how do I prove this to you? Simple. You have 40 million of them playing. Don’t you think if winning was so important to these kids, we’d be losing them left and right from these sporting events? Because let’s face it, every time you play a game someone wins and someone loses. And math will tell you that some of these kids are going to lose a lot of games. If it was really so painful, and all they did was play to win, we’d be lopping them off at a great rate. But for some reason, kids keep coming back — even if they lose games.”

Bigelow busting the myth:

“This is the bubble-burster. So many adults whose 7-year-olds, 9-year-olds, 13-year-olds seem to be ahead of the pack athletically — and because they are, this, of course, is a good predictor of how good this kid is going to be when he or she is 16, 18, 20 — high school varsity status — college scholarship … maybe. This is where I don’t let anybody in this country down easy because the science has been done for a hundred years. Your child, my child, anybody’s child — his or her athletic ability prior to puberty is a meaningless indicator of that same child’s athletic ability post-puberty. Meaningless!"

“More, more, more, better, better, better means greater, greater, greater, later, later, later. It’s the biggest myth and the biggest freaking crock of all. My professional mission the past 20 years has been to throw harpoons at that myth.”

Next Week: Part Two — When parents, who only want to win, enter the equation.

What’s On Tonight: Fade To Black

Dear TV Friends: Today is the last edition of ‘What’s On Tonight.’ I first started writing a TV column for The Day newspaper in 2001, when I was named features editor at the paper and we launched a daily TV page. Back then it was called The Remote, and I had the best time ever writing it. When I left The Day in 2010 and came to Patch, I kept it going, renamed What’s On Tonight. Eleven years of a daily TV column = 4,015 columns. 4,015 x 3 shows per column = 12,045 shows. My love of TV runs deep. The fun I had – and the friends I made – have been by far the most rewarding parts; if I got to watch some great TV along the way, well that was just gravy. Thank you to all who have read this little piece over the years. It’s been a blast.

Nov. 13

Rosemary Crabbe, 55, 16 Boston Post Road, Old Lyme, was cited for a failure to renew a registration, driving without insurance and driving while using a cell phone after police on Nov. 13. Court date: Nov. 30.

Nov. 20

Alex D. Banning, 19, 4 Smith St., East Hampton, was charged with sixth-degree larceny after police said he tried to shoplift a pair of $72 Nike sneakers from Bob’s in Middletown on Nov. 20. Banning was released on a $1,000 non-surety bond. Court date: Dec. 4.

Nov. 28

Joseph E. Hills, 27, 37 Warwick St., Middletown, was charged with second-degree failure to appear and operating under suspension on Nov. 28. Hills was released on a $1,000 surety bond. Court date: Dec. 12.

Nov. 29

Carlos Tapia, 28, 274 East Main St., Middletown, was cited for driving with a suspended license on Nov. 29.

Cedric Shevon Bass, 32, 222 Pearl St., Middletown, was charged with two counts of first-degree failure to appear on Nov. 29 after turning himself in to police. Bass was held on a total $50,000 bond stemming from two warrants. He was due in Middlesex Superior Court on Nov. 29.

Residents with a spare hour this weekend could find less enjoyable ways to spend it than by watching a competent cast of middle-school thespians perform Eric Coble's Huck Finn at Oddfellows Playhouse.

The playwright has referred to his theatrical adaptation and condensation of Mark Twain's classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, as "my short play." He does not exaggerate.

Just over 60 minutes passed between the initial dimming of the lights to begin the production and the final bows by the sixteen-member cast from the Junior Repertory Company. The elapsed time included an intermission of at least 15 minutes.

Still, the action during the pair of abbreviated acts was lively and fully commanded the audience's attention. Protagonist Finn helps friend Jim escape from slavery — twice — as he launches his raft upon the Mississippi River, picks up other castaways, flees angry mobs, dodges bullets, hacks out underground escape passages, cross-dresses to disguise himself, steals money back from thieves, and impersonates pal Tom Sawyer — while Sawyer pretends to be his own cousin in order to maintain the ruse.

In the process, Finn grapples with his own nature and sense of right-and-wrong. He is told repeatedly by adults that he is "bad," a lesson that he has deeply internalized and causes him to second-guess his actions on Jim's behalf. Yet, he ultimately decides that he would rather be "no good" than fail to interdict an action that seems so wrong to him, the enslavement of his good friend.

The brightest star on the stage was clearly leading man Seamus Doyle. Not only did his Finn have by far the most dialogue, he also functioned as the play's narrator, yet the actor never once stammered or struggled through his plethora of lines. Further, he displayed the stage instincts of a player far beyond his years, pausing at appropriate times for effect and covering occasional flubs by his cast-mates by seamlessly moving on to his own next line in the script.

Atlee Myers's Aunt Sally was the closest thing to Doyle's match on the stage. Her delivery was arresting, and she brought out a distinct humor in her lines, while her southern drawl was easily the most believable among the cast. Other standouts included Emily Farnsworth as Aunt Polly, Allan Cunningham as "the King," Jacob Sayers as "the Duke," and Ryan McConnell as Uncle Silas.

The set was spare, but a couple of props were noteworthy for their sophisticated design. Artificial ends of logs were affixed to the ends of a wheeled riser, which was then covered with plywood planks to create Huck's authentic-looking river raft. And a drawer from an over-sized armoire was credibly converted into a coffin.

Director Lorra Webb added some nice flourishes. Having her actors retain statuesque poses while they were in a scene, but not involved in those specific parts of it, eliminated the distraction that would have been caused by a constant stream of kids traipsing on and off stage. And the cast's recitation of their lines in brisk succession demonstrated her keen grasp of pacing.

Of course, Coble's production epitomizes the description "brisk." In the play's final line, Finn, having decided to sail away once more, tells the audience, "I'll see you out on the river."

Yes, but not for very long, Huck.

Performances of Huck Finn will continue through Saturday, Dec. 1. All shows start at 7 p.m. and cost $15 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. A $2 ticket deduction will be given in exchange for bringing a canned item to be donated to Amazing Grace Food Pantry. Oddfellows Playhouse is located at 128 Washington St.

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Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will seek $3.2 billion in federal funds for cleanup efforts related to Hurricane Sandy.

In a conference call Thursday with the state’s congressional delegation, Malloy officials said they would seek $620 million for the state and its municipalities for storm prevention and mitigation measures ($495 million for municipalities and $125 million for the state). The additional $2.5 billion would go toward upgrading power transmission systems; replacing and improving the current electrical grid infrastructure, relocating some power lines underground and the establishing micro-grids in selected high-density areas.                     

Connecticut’s request for federal funds is part of some $81 billion being sought by Connecticut, New York and New Jersey for rebuilding after Sandy. New York is seeking $41 billion and New Jersey wants $36.9 billion, according to a report in the Hartford Courant.

“While our state was not impacted as severely as New York or New Jersey during Storm Sandy, we have seen substantial damage from three storms now that occurred in a little more than a year’s time.

“Changing weather patterns are a reality, and we must assume that the worst Mother Nature can throw at us hasn’t happened yet. This funding would allow us to invest in a few areas that would put us in a better position to handle the inevitable when it occurs. It would allow us to revamp our power distribution system by expanding the use of microgrids and burying power lines in high-density areas. It would give us the chance to fortify our coastline in a way that will protect us from future flooding while doing nothing to diminish the beauty of our coastline. And it would give us the ability to mitigate future environmental damage by investing in the sewage treatment plants that spill over into Long Island Sound with disturbing regularity during weather related events,” Malloy said.

Combined, Connecticut sustained more than $1 billion in damage from Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, the October nor’easter last year and Storm Sandy, Malloy said.

Middletown: Alice Gawlak, 96, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012.

Middletown: Virginia Halstedt Merriam, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012.

A Middletown police cruiser collided with a pedestrian around 5 a.m. on Friday, according to a police news release.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Washington Street and Newfield Street, or Route 3, right across from the Wesleyan University campus.

According to police spokesman Lt. Heather Desmond, the pedestrian suffered non-life threatening injuries and was hospitalized.

The person’s condition is unknown at this point, Desmond said.

Police did not name the pedestrian or the officer in the cruiser.

Desmond said there is an ongoing investigation that will be handled by the Middletown Police Traffic Division.