IN THIS ISSUE

CT Hospitality Expo

URGENT!
Legislative Meeting

CT Chef wins NRA National Award

Tap 4 Water
on Earth Day

THE ONLINE NEWSLETTER OF CONNECTICUT'S FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY
April 3, 2008

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URGENT LEGISLATIVE MEETING SCHEDULED IN STAMFORD,
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 10:00 AM, SBC RESTAURANT
131 Summer Street, Stamford, CT 06901 directions » » »

Discussion will center on a number of bills before the Connecticut legislature that could directly impact your business. WE NEED YOU THERE TO LEARN WHAT WE CAN ALL DO TO PROTECT OUR BUSINESSES!

Of particular concern are the following:

SB 689 AAC BREATH ALCOHOL TESTING IN BARS
link to bill » » »

This bill would reduce a seller’s liquor liability (dram shop) from $250K to $100K if the seller makes a breathalyzer available for customers’ use.  In addition, the judiciary committee added an amendment to the bill which would extend the current 120 day notice requirement for up to one year in dram shop cases.  Current law provides that if an injured person wants to bring a civil action against a bar/restaurant under dram shop, that the person give notice to the bar/restaurant within 120 days of the injury.  The bill would now permit the notice to be given 1 year and 120 days from the date of injury, for the police investigation to be completed.  Clearly this would put restaurants/bars at a distinct disadvantage in investigating the allegations made in the complaint. 

and, SB 217 AAC MANDATORY PAID SICK LEAVE
link to bill » » »

This bill requires all employers with 25 or more employees to provide their employees with paid sick leave accruing at a rate of one hour for each 40 hours worked. Once employed for 90 days, employees are eligible to use the time and may use up to 52 hours of accrued sick leave a year. The leave can be used for an employee's or the employee's child's illness, treatment of an illness, diagnosis, and preventive medical care. It can also be used for reasons related to the employee being a victim of family violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Current law does not require employers to provide sick leave, whether paid or unpaid.

Chef Jerry Reveron named a Top 20 National Finalist,
National Restaurant Association "Faces of Diversity" Award.

The National Restaurant Association has announced that Chef/Owner Jerry Reveron, The Woodward House, Bethlehem, CT, has been named a national finalist of this prestigious award. www.thewoodwardhouse.com

Jerry serves the CT Hospitality Industry as a member of the CRA Board of Directors, and has devoted countless hours as Chef/Mentor of the New Britain High School ProStart hospitality management program. For the second year, Jerry will accompany "The Hurricanes" to the National ProStart Invitational NPSI info » » », to be held in San Diego later this month. GO HURRICANES!!

In the community, you'll find Jerry generously donating his time and talent to many worthy causes, just a few of which are Main Street Waterbury, the Palace Theater, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, and the Connecticut Farmland Trust.

Congratulations, Chef Jerry!

Chef Jerry Reveron, with his wife and business partner, Adele, and Peaches.

Your restaurant can be a part of Tap 4 Water 2008 on Earth Day, April 22nd, to benefit a worthy cause. The Connecticut Restaurant Association has been named an underwriting sponsor.

Tap 4 Water is a charitable promotion designed to enhance Water 4 Water, a grassroots fundraising program developed by Glastonbury teacher Katherine Grabowski Clark to provide community water pumps for African villages lacking clean water supplies.

Please do your part to help on Earth Day… get details here » » »