HAMDEN – Hamden is taking an initiative to get rid of plastic bags at checkouts in all stores.
Starting in 2021, businesses are not allowed to offer plastic bags to shoppers. This doesn’t include plastic bags for meat, seafood, bakery goods, and flowers.
If you don’t have a recyclable bag, it may be time to invest in one. Besides, you are helping the environment by using one moving forward.
“I’m a supporter of it. Anything that we can to get rid of excess plastic. I got my reusable bag. Everyone else can get theirs,” Josh Gudelski said. “It’s the same shopping experience. I’m just not using plastic bags.”
HAMDEN – Quinnipiac University is a great college to work for, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Quinnipiac was one of the 85 colleges that were acknowledged for this achievement.
Quinnipiac earned top honors in categories such as collaborative governance, compensation and benefits, confidence in senior leadership, job satisfaction, respect and appreciation, supervisor-department chair relationship, teaching environment, and tenure clarity and process.
This is the first time Quinnipiac has been recognized in the Collaborative Governance and Confidence in Senior Leadership areas.
HAMDEN – Roberto Casillas was on his way to playing professional soccer in Mexico before a serious injury changed everything.
Casillas would train hard every day, skipping the parties with his friends to focus on his soccer career. A broken patellar tendon would sideline Casillas for two years, and cut his soccer career short. Since then, he’s come to Quinnipiac to pursue a career in becoming a soccer journalist.
“I want to be a soccer journalist or be in sports media covering soccer,” Casillas said. “That’s a part of sports media in the US that is not as competitive, as say, Mexico would be.”
This is only the beginning for Roberto, and he’s excited for what lies ahead.
“Who knows where life’s gonna take me,” Casillas said.
HAMDEN – The owner of Ray and Mike’s deli, one of the most popular spots for Quinnipiac students and Hamden residents, was sentenced to prison on Tuesday for tax evasion.
Raymond George, 53, was sentenced to nine months in prison, which will be followed by a year of supervised release after his prison sentence concludes. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
George pleaded guilty to one charge of tax evasion back in May after failing to deposit all cash receipts into his bank account in 2012 and 2013. He used some of the money to fill the ATM machine located inside the store.
George will be ordered to begin his prison sentence on March 17, 2020.
HAMDEN – Quinnipiac is finding ways to urge students to quit vaping. The university understands that quitting vaping, which includes nicotine and THC, can be hard, so they’re looking for ways to make things easier for students to do just that. The first step? Having students throw out their devices.
On Wednesday, September 18, Quinnipiac Health and Wellness hosted an event where students can visit the Carl Hansen Student Center to exchange their devices for something from the book store. These items included water bottles, hats, and lanyards.
One Quinnipiac student believes it was smart for Quinnipiac to allow students to hand in their vapes with no questions asked.
“There’s a huge epidemic of people juuling these days, whether it’s college or high school as well,” Jordan Amstey said. “Both my parents are English teachers, actually, so they get it all the time in their classroom.
Kevin Parker from the Health and Wellness Department believes this event is a step in the right direction for students who are addicted to vaping.
“We generally just want to capitalize on the momentum of the things that are happening nationally,” Parker said. “Especially when it’s related to some sort of wellness issue that we can help tackle here for students.”
All the Juuls and vapes will be recycled and used for an art piece that Parker can display to students when the university holds future events. He’s hoping this will continue to inspire students to turn in their vapes.
You hungry for a bite? Next week is Restaurant Week in Hamden and below are just a few of the highlighted places to go.
If you want to know what other restaurants there are CLICK HERE!
Aunt Chilada’s
Aunt Chilada’s doubles a spot for students to go on weekends.
WHERE: 3931 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
WHY: This is a Tex-Mex restaurant, with occasional live performances and it holds a great atmosphere. It is known for its drinks and is a very popular Quinnipiac hang out location.
DELIVERY: Yes
DISTANCE: a 5 minute drive and a 38 minute walk
QVHD (Health Rating, see map below): B
B&D Deli Works
WHERE: 3584 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
WHY: B&D Deli Works has a variety of sandwiches and salads. You hungry for lunch? This is a Quinnipiac go-to. It’s close enough to school where you can walk and not have to worry about parking. It’s a small place but has delicious food.
DELIVERY: Yes
DISTANCE: a 3 minute drive and a 20 minute walk
Eli’s on Whitney is a hot spot for all Quinnipiac students.
QVHD: A
Eli’s on Whitney
WHERE: 2392 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
WHY: Eli’s has the perfect location, it has an outside patio for when it is a nice day and you want to sit outside. It has different kinds of food and is made for everyone.
DELIVERY: No
DISTANCE: 8 minute drive and a 53 minute walk
QVHD: B
Ixtapa
WHERE: 2547 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
WHY: Ixtapa is a mexican cuisine restaurant that many Quinnipiac students go to. It is small but tasteful. It’s close to school and the perfect price range for college students.
DELIVERY: Yes
DISTANCE: a 6 minute drive and a 46 minute walk
QVHD: A
Mickey’s Restaurant and Bar
WHERE: 2323 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
WHY: Mickey’s is an urban bistro with Italian food and an outside patio. You can enjoy different kinds of food with family and friends. It has both booths and tables for everyone to enjoy.
DELIVERY: No
DISTANCE: 8 minute drive and a 54 minute walk
Wentworth’s is another Whitney Ave. staple.
QVHD: B
Wentworth’s Homemade Ice Cream
WHERE: 3697 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
WHY: Wentworth’s Homemade Ice Cream is a cute rustic home with a backyard where you can relax outside. There is a patio where you can eat ice cream in front of the house. It has classic and creative flavors for everyone.
DELIVERY: No
DISTANCE: 4 minute drive and 24 minute walk
QVHD: N/A
The map below gives a complete list of restaurants in Hamden and they are sorted by their health rating.
This week on QNN, see the unique way the university is trying to stop students from vaping, why plastic bags are a thing of the past in Hamden, and why a soccer player good enough to go pro ended up playing at QU instead! Those stories are more are in this week’s QNN newscast.
U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill sentenced Ray George to prison for tax evasion on Tuesday.
George, who has owned and operated Ray & Mike’s Deli for nearly 22 years, was sentenced to nine months in prison, one year of supervised release and fined $5,000, according to a press release.
In the 2012 and 2013 tax years, George underreported his income, failed to pay over $200,000 in taxes and used the Ray & Mike’s business account for personal expenses. He pleaded guilty to the charges in May.
George has paid the IRS approximately $480,000 and is scheduled to report to prison on March 17, 2020.
Letters from employees and friends, addressed to Chief Judge Underhill, paint a different picture of George.
One employee, who has been working at Ray & Mike’s for 19 years, wrote about George sponsoring events and teams in the Hamden community.
“For the past five years, Ray has been a sponsor and done Survivor Lunch for the Relay for Life in Hamden,” she wrote. “[Ray & Mike’s does] a softball game fundraiser every October for breast cancer, and Ray donates all the food and drinks.”
Carl Sargolini, former president of Hamden Youth Hockey and current vice president of the Hamden Fathers Baseball/Softball Association, has known George for over 15 years, according to his letter.
Ray & Mike’s Dairy and Deli, located at 3030 Whitney Ave.
“Anytime either organization has needed support, all we had to do was ask Ray and he provided it,” he wrote.
But George’s impact on the community applies to more than sports. He creates jobs for many young adults that are looking to find their passion. Christopher Ford, who has known the George family since Ray & Mike’s opened, wrote:
“[Ray & Mike’s] has always been a place where Ray gave young adults a place to work and grow while they take the time to figure out what it is in life that they want to do,” Ford said.
Jason Silvestri, who has worked for at the deli since 2007, wrote about Geroge’s character.
“Now, 12 years later I am employed at Yale New Haven Hospital,” Silvestri wrote. “However, I am still working at Ray and Mike’s Deli for the sole reason that Ray is a great guy and is always there for his community and employees.”
In its sentencing memorandum, the government asked Chief Judge Stefan R. Underhill to impose a period of incarceration on Ray George, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May.
George is facing between 12 and 18 months in prison, a fine between $5,000 and $55,000 and up to three years of supervised release, according to the memorandum.
The government’s request is that George receives a period of incarceration of up to 15 months. Additionally, the government is asking that George pays full restitution for the taxes he failed to report in addition to a period of supervised release after prison.
“George’s crime was certainly not a crime borne of necessity,” the prosecutors wrote in the government sentencing memorandum.
George, 53, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May. The deli owner could be facing over a year in prison after failing to report $638,170 in earnings.
The government pointed out in the memorandum that the Ray & Mike’s owner is a multi-millionaire with an investment portfolio worth over $3 million. George’s real-estate and rental holdings are worth over $1.7 million. Ray & Mike’s Deli was also valued at over $500,000, according to the memorandum.
The memorandum also states that George’s net worth is $4.3 million. The government uses all of these figures to demonstrate how George’s “scheme” was deliberate and not borne of the need for cash.
The government argues in the memorandum, that a prison sentence for George would not cause Ray & Mike’s to close. The prosecutors suggest that George could make arrangements to keep the deli open.
These suggestions include hiring new employees to act as managers or promoting a current employee to act as a manager. Either of these options, according to the government, could be paid for by George’s $240,000 salary.
The government uses the extended duration of George’s offense as grounds for incarceration.
“[George’s] crime was not one of limited duration,” the memorandum states.
During the 2012 and 2013 tax years, George failed to report $638,170, according to the memorandum, which resulted in a tax loss of $220,663.
“If tax evaders were to face no real incarceration, then criminal tax fraud would amount to basically a loan from the Government,” the prosecutors wrote.
George is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 17. Stay with HQ Press for updates on George’s sentence.
George, 53, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May. In 2012 George underreported his income by over $365,000 and in 2013, he underreported by nearly $275,000, according to a press release from the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. George also failed to pay approximately $220,000 in taxes.
The Federal Sentencing Guidelines suggest a sentence of 12 to 18 months for George’s offense. The Guidelines also suggest a fine between $3,000 and $30,000 and up to three years of supervised release. The Guidelines also states that, in 2018 “roughly half of all tax evaders were sentenced to probation without imprisonment.”
George is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday. The 53-year-old deli owner pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May.
In his sentencing memorandum, George’s attorney proposes a sentence less than the guidelines suggest. In fact, George’s attorney requests no sentence and no further fines, and gives multiple reasons explaining the request.
George paid the penalty for his offense, along with interest, which totaled to over $479,000, according to the defendant’s sentencing memorandum. Therefore, the attorney reasons, an additional fine is unnecessary.
Since George is a first time offender, his attorney argued that the likelihood for re-offense is low and that George is not a danger to his community. Not only did he accept responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty, he has also been cooperative with the IRS throughout the case, according to the defendant’s sentencing memorandum.
The last reason George’s attorney requests no prison sentence is because of the effect it would have on his employees. George has owned and operated the deli for almost 22 years. His employees would experience “severe financial hardship” if George was to be imprisoned, according to the memorandum.
