The Housatonic Valley Economic Development Partnership met at CL&P in Newtown on December 3 and heard a presentation by David Russell of the state’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM) on a report of the “issues, relationships, and resources necessary to compete in a global economy.” The report was prepared by a planning firm for the Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century, a coalition of public, private and institutional leaders, as part of the process of encouraging economic development in the region. From left: Bill Stax, general manager of CL&P’s New Milford/Newtown region; Michael Ryer of Ridgefield, HVEDP co-chairman; HVEDP Director Peg Daley of Newtown; David Russell; Arthur Peitler, HVEDP co-chairman and mayor of New Milford.                –Bee Photo, Valenta