Tuesday, May 1, 2018

House passes safety helmet bill introduced by Klarides sisters

From left: state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, Jason Klein, House Republican Leader Themis Klarides./ Contributed photo 

HARTFORD - The House Monday unanimously passed legislation, introduced by House Republican Leader Themis Klarides and state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, which will provide consumers with better information regarding the safety of sports helmets. 

The Klarides sisters brought this legislation forward after Jason Klein of Force3 Pro Gear, a local Derby business, expressed his frustration that his company and others were unable to share their helmet safety test results with the public. 

According to Klein, sports safety helmets are tested by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. The NOCSAE helmet standard uses a pass/fail threshold to determine whether or not a helmet meets the standard performance criteria. The NOCSAE pass/fail threshold is 1200 Severity Index units or SI. A helmet must test below 1200 SI in all 16 designated and random impact locations, including impacts at a helmet in ambient, high and low temperatures. 

Klein said in testimony, "There’s been no place for an athlete or parent seeking helmet safety information to turn and no way for them to compare results with other helmets currently on the market."

Klarides and Klarides-Ditria said in a joint statement, "Helmet manufacturers should be able to tell the public that their protective equipment is tested and safe. We want to thank Jason for bringing this forward. This legislation will keep athletes of all ages safe." 


The bill now heads to the Senate.


This is a press release from Spencer Rubin, House Republicans.

'Turnback Tuesday' features Derby mansion with an interesting history

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" looks at the Singer/Yudkin Mansion in Derby. 
Built in 1927 by Walter Randall & Olive Whitlock Randall on 200 acres of farmland, this impressive stone structure is over 4,000 square feet with five fireplaces. 
Olive’s grandfather, Isaac Merrit Singer, was the inventor of the first practical sewing machine for home use. If you look at the chimney tops, they are decorated with spools of thread. (Photo courtesy of Marian O’Keefe)


Thanks go to the Derby Public Library for sharing interesting local history. 

Recuperation journey: Time for some sun for our son

This morning our son hopped aboard a jet headed for a sunny clime. 

Cameron is going to a tropical resort that sounds delightfully relaxing.

He has been working long hours for months on a software development project and we're glad he can get a much-needed break. 

(Can you tell I'm proud he's a software developer? I have no idea what he does.) 

Even though I don't care for flying, I kinda wish I were going with him! Doing nothing for a few days sounds lovely.

He'll be back in time for a small party I'm throwing myself to celebrate the first anniversary of my kidney transplant. 
My kidneyversary is May 9. 

I decided against getting a kidney-shaped cake like the ones I've seen online. A regular one will do just fine! 

Support your favorite nonprofits today, tomorrow

 
Over the next 36 hours, from 8am on May 1 through 8pm on May 2, your tax-deductible gifts to benefit our local nonprofits will help them win thousands of dollars in matching funds and prizes. Give Local. Give Generously. Give Now.
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