"America's Oldest" The Maine Windjammer Project

"America's Oldest" by Doug Mills

America's oldest schooners Lewis R French and Stephen Taber, both built in 1871, race westward on Penobscot Bay.

www.shootmainestudios.com

EXCLUSIVE Musician Spotlight: AJ Bishop, Rising Singer

AJ Bishop from Portland, Oregon is a 15-yr-old singer/dancer/actor who has been performing professionally since she was 8. Starting in musical theater, she has been lucky enough to perform on numerous stages over the last 5 years in musical theater, dramatic and operatic productions. Now Anna has expanded her repertoire to include Pop and Country music. She is currently in a development and production contract with well known LA producer Kevin DeClue and Dominion Entertainment (new label) and recording and working on original music. Follow her by subscribing on YouTube, Twitter, becoming a fan on ReverbNation, liking her on FB, and downloading her songs for FREE on ReverbNation or Bandcamp!!

Bishop is a beautiful young lady with a wonderful singing voice that puts her own style in every song. We recently had the pressure of interviewing this fifteen year old singer. Here is what she had to say to us about being a normal teen, education and of course her music.

When did you start singing?
I started singing in a musical theater camp at a local children's theater when I was about 8, and I immediately was hooked. After that, I performed in musicals all over Portland until I added in opera at age 11, which I really enjoyed. Opera introduced me to choir, and eventually, recording (what I do now)!

Was it your dream to be a singer?

GOV. MALLOY: SIX CONNECTICUT MUNICIPALITIES TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROJECTS

$277 Million in Grants and Loans Approved for Projects in Hartford, Rocky Hill, Norwich, Middletown, New Haven, and Bristol
Hartford, Connecticut - Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that nearly $277 million to provide grants and loans for local and regional wastewater treatment projects in Hartford, Rocky Hill, Norwich, Middletown, New Haven, and Bristol was approved Friday by state Bond Commission.  It is estimated that the projects will create or retain approximately 5,700 jobs in the manufacturing, engineering and construction industries.

“As a result of the state’s strong financial support for municipal wastewater treatment projects, Connecticut’s rivers and streams and Long Island Sound are cleaner and more appealing than ever,” said Governor Malloy, who serves as chair of the commission.  “We want to build on our historic commitment to clean water with a strong new round of funding for these projects, which will improve our environment and enhance our communities while putting our citizens to work designing and constructing these critical facilities.”

A total of $94 million in General Obligation Bonds and about $183 million in Revenue Bonds were approved to finance wastewater treatment projects through Connecticut’s Clean Water Fund (CWF).  The General Obligation Bonds are used to provide grants for certain portions of these projects, while the Revenue Bonds are used to provide low-interest loans of two percent over 20 years for the remainder of the costs.

Projects to be funded with this new allocation include:

The continued rollout of modernization and upgrades by the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), which provides wastewater treatment services for Hartford and several surrounding towns.
The CWF funds will support work at MDC’s water pollution control facilities (WPCF) in Hartford and Rocky Hill and allow work to proceed on a conveyance and storage tunnel in South Hartford.  A major focus of the MDC project is addressing Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) after major storms that leads to the discharge of sewage into the Connecticut River.

Denitrification improvements at the Norwich treatment plant.

Pump station improvements to support the consolidation of Middletown’s treatment plant into the Mattabassett District.

Continued collection system improvements in the system operated by the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority to eliminate CSOs in New Haven.

Phosphorous removal improvements at the Bristol treatment plant.

Funds for these projects will be released from the CWF once contracts for construction have been awarded and all statutory and administrative requirements have been met.

“Connecticut’s Clean Water Fund is a model of state and local cooperation that has achieved very real results in protecting our natural resources and improving the quality of life in our state,” said Rob Klee, Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which administers the program.  “Through this program we have made investments that benefit all of us now as well as future generations of residents.”

The CWF was established in 1986 to provide financial assistance to municipalities for planning, design and construction of wastewater collection and treatment projects. Since that time it has provided $2.7 billion in grants and loans for projects in 95 communities.