Duckling rescue brings call for action

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — A day after firefighters rescued five ducklings that fell into a storm drain near Wal-Mart, a top city animal control official said he will ask the owner of the retail site to make modifications to ensure something similar doesn’t occur again.
On Tuesday morning, firefighters from Engine Company 7 went to 1365 Boston Post Road on a report of five ducklings in peril. The ducklings had fallen into a storm drain on the property.
When firefighters arrived, the mother duck was standing guard near the storm drain, making a lot of noise, said Acting Fire Capt. Christopher D. Zak.
Firefighters Daniel Talaneic, Peter Phelan and Brett Corris were able to use nets from Wal-Mart to rescue three of the ducklings, but the other two had fallen farther into the storm drain pipe system.
Zak said the three firefighters quickly were able to remove a cover from another nearby storm drain and used a fire hose to put a small amount of water into the drain. One of the firefighters entered the drain, and the remaining two ducks were caught with a net as they came through the pipe.
The ducks were released into the wooded area behind Wal-Mart.
Assistant Animal Control Officer Rick George said it is unfortunately all too common for smaller animals, such as ducklings, to fall into a storm drain. He said a lot of newer storm drains are engineered in a way to help prevent small animals from slipping through the cracks.
He said he would talk to the owner of the Wal-Mart site, Starwood Ceruzzi, of Fairfield, and ask the company to insert a new screen to ensure no other animals fall into the drain.
George said he was busy himself Tuesday responding to a similar call at City Hall. A goose fell 6 feet into a storm drain, but he was able to rescue the bird without it being harmed.
George said the ducklings the firefighters rescued could have otherwise been in serious danger.
“New ducklings cannot swim and possibly could have drowned and be subjected to predators the further they went down, (the drain)” George said.
He said all city agencies, including police, fire and public works, are very “pro-animal in Milford.” He said the firefighters should be commended for their efforts.
Zak said while not dangerous, rescue of the ducklings is part of the job. “The Fire Department does not just put out fires,” Zak said. “We respond to hazardous material spills and remediation, and respond to a number of water rescues, and even duck rescues. This brings in a whole different realm of the fire service.”

By Christopher Brunau
Special to the Register
MILFORD — Live Oaks Elementary School students Wednesday raised more than $1,000 for Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes.
The student body, along with teachers, staff, Miss Coastline 2008 Corrina Pysa and Miss Connecticut 2006, Milford native Heidi Voight, took a lap around the school grounds. Many of the children walked up to three laps to show their support.
The students raised more than $1,000, with more donations yet to be tallied.
The event was held in conjunction with the Hamden chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Two weeks ago, students were given packs of sneaker-shaped paper and asked to get at least one dollar per sneaker.
By the second day, many students were coming back for more.
Last Friday, there was a pajama night where each student donated a dollar to wear his or her pajamas. The event raised $293.
The sneakers were put on display in the school hallways.
PTA President Darcy Ellis, who coordinated the walk, said there are many more.
“It’s really great to see kids helping kids in this,” said Ellis.
Many students went out in small groups, going door-to-door to raise money.
Live Oaks Elementary School students, Aidan Dugan, 6, and James Coon, 11, both have Type 1 diabetes.
“We really wanted to teach the kids how important it is to maintain healthy eating and exercise habits, and this is a great start,” Ellis said.
A similar event will be held at Orchard Hills Elementary School Friday at 2 p.m.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. can expect to receive a letter shortly urging him to follow through on his plans to improve the efficiency of the long-criticized Building Department.
The Economic Development Commission Wednesday voted unanimously to request that the mayor form a Building Department Commission and start customer service training for Building Department employees.
Chief Building Official Thomas Raucci, however, said customer-friendly procedures have already been implemented and he does not see any benefit from receiving advice from non-experts in the field.
“I’m not in line with a commission of people who don’t know what it takes to run a building department,” Raucci said.
The proposal to send a letter to Richetelli was brought by Economic Development Commissioner Cyrus Settineri. He has been an outspoken critic of the department and said Richetelli agreed to implement improvements in January.
The Building Department now has longer hours, a long-vacant position was recently filled and more applications can be dropped off, greatly reducing lines and waits for permits, Raucci and Richetelli said. Both also maintain the department is one of the busiest in the state.
A state building inspector has observed the Building Department twice and by the second visit, his initial recommendations had already been implemented, Raucci said.
Richetelli said there has been a delay since January because he didn’t want to rush into forming a commission and has been looking for the right people to advise the Building Department.
Richetelli also wants to send all city departments, not just the Building Department, to a seminar to improve their customer-relations skills.
“We have a lot of hard-working departments, but there is always room for improvement,” Richetelli said. “We need to treat our residents like they are customers, because that’s what they are.”
Bringing in a consultant has not been ruled out, but Richetelli said it would be costly.
Raucci said he is in favor of bringing in a consultant who could provide expertise. Depending on which consultant is brought in, the Building Department could also gain accreditation through the evaluation process, Raucci added.
Richetelli would not commit to a timeline for implementing changes.
He said they will be made “within a short period of time, I can’t refine it better than that.”
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 401-3530.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — A 31-year-old local man was arrested this week, four months after police said he struck and killed an elderly pedestrian with his car and left the man “dying in the woods.”
Eric J. Furtado, 31, of 1155 Naugatuck Ave., was arrested Monday on a warrant charging negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, evading responsibility, and failure to use care to avoid a pedestrian.
Police said Furtado struck Jean Suta, 77, while Suta was walking on Naugatuck Avenue near West Rutland Road. Suta lived across the street from Furtado at 1152 Naugatuck Ave. They were less than half a mile away from both of their houses when Suta was struck at 8:57 a.m.
Furtado told police he had been awake for more than 24 hours and had been drinking a combination of beer and whiskey, but had stopped drinking about seven hours before he struck Furtado, according to the arrest warrant. Furtado told police he heard a “thud,” but thought he hit a dog and drove home without stopping. Furtado drank iced tea with his father before they decided to return to the accident scene.
Police, however, believe Furtado knew he struck Suta, as the crushed hood of his Dodge Durango indicates Suta bounced onto the hood before being sent about eight feet into the woods, according to the arrest warrant.
“Mr. Suta was left dying in the woods,” the arrest warrant reads.
Furtado returned to the accident site about 20 minutes after the accident and called 911. Suta was transported to Bridgeport Hospital where he died of his injuries.
About two hours after the accident, Furtado passed a roadside sobriety test, and two Breathalyzer tests revealed he had a blood alcohol level of 0.021 and 0.005. The legal limit for someone over 21 years old is 0.08.
Furtado is free pending his June 19 court date after posting $10,000 bail.
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 401-3530.

Vietnam vet hits road to help heal wounds

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — A year ago, Elliot Storm was like millions of other Vietnam veterans.
Every day served as a reminder of not only the battle fought there, but the mental battle he fights daily.
Storm, 61, was wounded in action three times in Vietnam, receiving three purple hearts.
But what pierced his heart the most was the pain and rejection he received from family and friends upon returning home.
Instead of receiving a hero’s welcome, Storm and a majority of veterans were branded “baby killers.”
“The difference is our scars were not caused by the war. They were caused by the homecoming we saw. We were all ‘baby killers,’” Storm said.
Storm was able to finally obtain some peace a year ago when he penned a book about his ordeal, “These Scars Are Sacred.” In the book, he goes into the issues of post-traumatic stress disorder in relation to Vietnam veterans.
The book, which includes experiences of other soldiers as well, focuses in part on the welcome the soldiers received when they returned home from service. The cruel way the soldiers were treated led to flashbacks and other post-traumatic stress symptoms.
“The book is intended to heal and inform,” Storm said.
Timothy J. Kelly, Department of Connecticut Disabled American Veterans hospital service coordinator, said once he picked up the book, he couldn’t put it down.
Kelly said Storm’s book came out at the right time because the VA sent a memo telling doctors not to treat anyone for PSTD, and to diagnose them as having a personality disorder.
“It’s good we’ve educated people as to what it is,” Kelly said.
Once the book was out, Storm became a regular on the speaking circuit with other veterans.
Storm’s first big break came when he was invited to the Groton Naval Base where he held his first book signing. Storm has been invited to the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. He’s spoken to a group of students and professors from Quinnipiac and Yale universities. Storm also has spoken at the University of Michigan, and an Indian reservation there purchased his books. Storm has also has spoken to the American Legion in Pennsylvania.
At the University of Michigan, he spoke about how a veteran cannot understand a war protester, which he said made the professor nervous.
“You can protest the war, but a veteran sees a protester as being against them,” Storm said. “Those protesters caused our scars, not the war. I see it happening again (to veterans of the Iraq war).”
He’s been invited to the VFW state convention as a guest speaker, and is planning a summer tour of 17 California Border’s Bookstores.
He’s also done several books signings at Border’s bookstores in the state and was invited to Fleet week in New York.When Storm goes to speak or to a book signing, it also includes a lecture and PowerPoint presentation. He begins in the 1960s and explains what post-traumatic stress disorder is, and he said no audience is too small for him.
“Sometimes, I’ll go 40 miles to speak to 10 people, but then those 10 people will speak to 10 more people,” Storm said.
He’s sold more than 2,000 books directly to veteran groups, which does not include sales from book stores and Amazon.
Storm’s wife, Deborah Trumpower, says her husband is definitely a busier man these days, and the book has brought him a level of peace, but “we’re still up in the middle of the night.”
Storm says one of the reasons he has sleepless nights is because he has “survivor’s guilt,” and wonders why he is alive when so many soldiers died.
His wife provides a soothing answer.
“You were spared so you could get this message out that these scars are sacred,” Deborah Trumpower said. “This has helped mellow him. He’s not truly healed. You’re focused on helping people.”
“Any vet who reads my book will find a piece of themselves in it,” Storm said.
Milford Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said the book serves to remind people that regardless of how they feel about the war, they need to support the men and women who are there to defend our freedoms.
“Elliot Storm is a credit to the Milford community. His book expresses his passion for the way veterans were treated,” Richetelli said.
“His book helped make a difference in the way veterans feel about themselves. It’s a straightforward book that at times doesn’t sugarcoat things.”
Storm said he came home in 1969 and was immediately greeted by protestors, and family and friends that once embraced him now shunned him.
“My mom said a crazy person came home,” Storm recalled.
He said most of the Vietnam veterans stayed to themselves, and didn’t want to share their experiences.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The 180 non-tenured teachers who received layoff notices earlier this year can rest easy knowing their jobs are safe, as the Board of Aldermen voted to reinstate $990,000 into the Board of Education budget.
Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky said the almost $1 million that aldermen reinstated from the Board of Finance’s budget reductions will help prevent layoffs.
The Board of Finance in March reduced the school board’s proposed 2008-09 budget by $2.1 million, from $82.9 million to $80.8 million. The final school budget now stands at $81.82 million, a 5 percent increase over the current fiscal year. School officials had sought a 6.1 percent increase.
The aldermen voted 10 to 5 to reinstate the funds with all nine Democrats and Republican Alderman Ray Vitali, R-5, voting for the education budget. Vitali’s vote was integral because adding funds back to the budget requires a two-thirds majority vote.
Vitali retired as Harborside Middle School principal last year. Polansky said even though almost $1 million was reinstated, the school board will still have to make cuts totaling $1.1 million.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. June 2 at the Parsons Government Center to discuss budget reductions.
The superintendent said there will still be fewer personnel next year, but positions will not be filled through attrition; either retirements or departures. He said an exact number is not known, but there will be at least five less positions next year.
Polansky said planned program improvements will be scrapped, including an after-school program for students who do not perform well at the Alternative High School. A planned career counselor post will be eliminated, Polansky said.
Polansky said he was pleased that money was added back to the budget.
“It’s a balancing act. The aldermen did the best they could,” Polansky said. “I’m not going to have to dismantle the school system.”
He said he is disappointed the system will not take a step forward. The school system needed a 5.4 percent increase to maintain current services.
“We’re not making the progress that we’d hope to make. That’s troubling to me,” Polansky said.
But he said he understands that given the state of the economy, the aldermen needed to be sensitive to taxpayers.
Polansky credited the 500 parents who spoke at a budget hearing for the funds being reinstated.

Cityside spending cut, $1M added to schools
By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — The Board of Aldermen has slashed the city side of the 2008-09 municipal budget and restored about $1 million to the proposed Board of Education budget.
The resulting $172,125,308 municipal and Board of Education budget that was approved by aldermen Monday night represents a 1.02 percent spending increase from last year.
The tax rate was set at 28.23 mills: the average property owner will see about a 2.5 percent tax increase, said Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr.
Milford however is entering its third year of a five-year, phased-in property revaluation, and each individual’s tax bill will vary widely depending on how much their property value increased in the latest revaluation.
“It’s the lowest tax increase in recent memory,” said Aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5. “We’re in tough financial times in our community, in the state, and as a nation. ... The taxpayers needed a break this year.”
But Richetelli called the deep cuts to the city side of the budget “just plain irresponsible.” He warned that some of the cuts made to the budget were not savings, but deferrals that the city would pay for later.
The Board of Aldermen cut $2.74 million from the mayor’s budget proposal from the city side of the budget, resulting in a 1.52 percent spending decrease from last year. The mayor had proposed a 2.3 percent spending increase.
The bulk of the cuts came from reducing the amount the city pays into municipal retirement and benefit funds. The “Other Post Employment Benefits” contribution was reduced by $1.4 million dollars from $1.7 million to $300,000.
Alderwoman Judith Toohey, R-2, said that amounted to shifting the burden of today’s taxpayers onto their children and grandchildren.
Blake disagreed and called all the cuts “thrifty” but “responsible and prudent.”
Another $200,000 was taken out of the Public Works budget, resulting in at least one of the three city bulk trash pickups being canceled.
Toohey said the Democrats “devastated” the city side of the budget and are being “penny-wise and pound-foolish.”
Blake however said the cuts were spread throughout different departments and helped create a small tax increase. He said the budget also gave seniors a total of $860,000 in tax relief and helped students by restoring money to the Board of Education budget.
Aldermen added $990,000 to the Board of Education budget from the $2.74 million it trimmed from the mayor’s proposal for the city side of the budget.
The Board of Finance previously trimmed $2.1 million from the superintendent’s proposal of $82.93 million. The final school budget of $81.8 million is a 5 percent increase from last year. Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky originally requested a 6.1 percent increase.

By Elizabeth Benton
Register Staff
NEW HAVEN — Four city schools this year received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star awards, which are granted to energy-efficient commercial building projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Only five such awards were handed out throughout New England, the remaining designation going to Boston’s South Station Office Tower, which was designed by New Haven architect Cesar Pelli.
Energy-efficient designs for Sheridan Communication and Technology Middle School, Bishop Woods Elementary School, Christopher Columbus Family Academy and Metropolitan Business Academy were all granted the “Designed to Earn the Energy Star” award at the American Institute of Architects Convention on May 15
The four schools are all in various stages of construction, part of the city’s $1.5 billion initiative to rebuild or renovate all public schools.
Nationally, 46 new building designs from 19 states earned the designation. The EPA estimates those buildings will save 120 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and $5 million in energy costs annually.
“The Citywide School Construction Program gave us a unique opportunity to design new schools that would be both energy efficient and kind to the environment,” said Superintendent of Schools Reginald Mayo.
“Coming on the heels of Barnard becoming the first public school in the state to earn the LEED gold certification level, we are pleased that our school system is meeting the highest conservation standards available while still providing state-of-the-art learning environments for children.”
Earlier this year, Barnard Environmental Magnet School became the first public school statewide to earn gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green ratings.
Yale’s Daniel L. Malone Engineering Center is the only other building in Connecticut to earn gold recognition. There are 274 such buildings worldwide.

By Mary E. O’Leary
Register Topics Editor
NEW HAVEN — Almost one year after it was originally proposed, Albertus Magnus College and its East Rock neighbors have reached a compromise on expansion of some parking lots.
The issue had soured a longtime cordial relationship.
Philip Langdon, president of the Edgehill-Ronan Neighborhood Association, said that they finalized changes in the college’s plans Monday evening, the second of two recent meetings where he said there was real dialogue between the parties.
Albertus scaled back proposed increased parking at Nilan and Sansbury halls and scratched plans for changes at Mohun Hall.
At Nilan, on East Rock Road, Langdon said the college agreed to put in 17 parking spaces, up from the current eight, but it scaled back the width of the driveway to 15 feet and agreed to work out a landscape plan with Larry Shanbrom, whose property at 711 Prospect St. borders Nilan.
Shanbrom, one of the neighbors most directly affected by the college’s plans when Albertus removed a large stand of trees that provided privacy, said “At the end of the day, everything being equal, it is a reasonable conclusion.”
He added, however, that it was “unfortunate it (the process) had to be as laborious as it was,” while Langdon said in the future. he felt Albertus will reach out to neighbors for input.
Albertus will also re-establish buffers of vegetation at Mohun Hall, while it promised to adjust lighting at Nilan to prevent glare from affecting the neighbors.
For Sansbury Hall, Albertus cut the additional parking spaces to five, for a total of 13, but it rejected the neighbors’ suggestions to place them around the corner of the building, rather than in front, since it would delay construction.
Langdon said the neighbors were pleased that the parking at Sansbury is now 60 feet from the street, rather than 25 feet.
In the end, Langdon said it is still a parking lot, “but it will be small and ugly, rather then large and ugly.”
He said all the agreed upon adjustments “will be good for the appearance of the neighborhood and for the college. They will enhance the aesthetics of the college rather than detract from them.”
Langdon thanked the City Plan Commission for insisting that Albertus talk with the neighbors, who complained that the college did make some initial adjustments, but presented them as a done deal that didn’t address all the problems.
The association represents some 220 homeowners between Edwards Street and the Hamden line and between Whitney Avenue and Prospect Street. Langdon said these kinds of disagreements happen a lot when institutions are in residential neighborhoods.
“It takes some negotiations and good will to resolve then,” Langdon said. City Plan is expected to conclude a public hearing on the lots Wednesday and approve the revised plans.
Mary E. O’Leary can be reached at 789-5731 or moleary@nhregister.com.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — A total of 31 high school students are in danger of not graduating because they have either not passed the district’s graduation requirements or have failed to earn enough credits, school officials said.
Of 23 seniors at the Alternative Education School, four are in danger of not graduating, and of 487 seniors at Joseph A. Foran and Jonathan Law high schools, 27 are in peril of not earning a diploma.
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Michael Cummings said students will have the opportunity to improve their performance requirements by attending extra help sessions with teachers and tutors. Also students will be able to take more assessments in order to pass the requirements.
The school system has five performance graduation requirements students must pass in the following subjects; mathematics, writing, technology, Algebra, and literacy. The class of 2008 is not required to pass the literacy requirement, a mandate that begins with the class of 2009.
Cummings said the students are all on their way to passing the Algebra graduation requirement, and Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky said the numbers will definitely change and the goal is that everyone will graduate.
Cummings said if a student does not pass the written test, he or she will be given an oral math prompt, which the student must pass.
“That’s the last shot,” Cummings said.
Cummings stressed students cannot simply skip the written tests to just receive the oral exam.
School board member Pamela Staneski, R-5, questioned when the administration begins administering the assessments. Cummings said if the students score high enough on the Connecticut Aptitude Performance Test, they can be exempt from taking the assessment.
He said if the students fail to score high enough, then the guidance counselors are informed, and they will be offered tutorial assistance.
Polansky also said letters are sent home to parents informing them if their child did not perform well on the CAPT test, and that they must pass the graduation requirements.
“Our staff is committed to providing as many opportunities as possible,” Polansky said.
But Polansky said sometimes students are slow to realize how serious the graduation requirements are. “These are our toughest challenges to get students to realize you have to complete this requirement,” Polansky said.
The math requirement states students must complete multi-step math problems, which require demonstration of basic math operations including, but not limited to fractions, decimals and percents.
The students must also explain their answers to show true comprehension.
A student passes the graduation requirement for writing by producing a clear essay that will be edited for proper English; the technology requirement states students simply must demonstrate they can use several forms of technology in specific subjects.
Students must also demonstrate they have achieved Algebra 1 skills, and the literacy requirement states students will show an overall understanding and comprehension of the written text.

By Pamela McLoughlin
Register Staff
MILFORD — Mayor James Richetelli Jr. dedicated his State of the City address Friday to the memories of four teens killed this year in two motor vehicle accidents, saying the tragedies “have broken the heart of the small city with a big heart.”
It was a while before Richetelli got to comments on the budget, but when he did, the news was encouraging locally despite national economic woes.
“It’s obvious that our national and state economies are not in great shape — foreclosures, skyrocketing energy costs, ever-growing state budget deficits — the news just keeps getting worse and worse. This, undoubtedly, has a great effect on the city, local businesses and our citizens,” Richetelli said.
But then he had good news about the city’s finances and referred to Milford as “the envy of Connecticut.”
“Fortunately, we have positioned ourselves to deal with these challenges, but it has not been easy and it comes at a cost. We need to continue to look for innovative ways to become more efficient, ... to provide the same services in a less costly way. We have worked hard at this and the result is good, prudent, responsible financial planning and management — management that is recognized by the bond rating agencies’ analysis of the city of Milford.”
But he warned that doesn’t mean there won’t be a tax increase.
Richetelli said he never made that promise at election time, because, “I could not make such a promise that I know could not be delivered without a dramatic cut in city services or an ostrich-like view of future needs.”
On Monday when the Board of Aldermen begins voting on the budget, he hopes members will look at the long-term because “falling into the trap of short-term fixes, which will make the budget look good this year, will even look politically correct, will eventually lead us to financial despair and ultimate disaster in the years to come.”
Richetelli delivered his address at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon where more than $25,000 in scholarships from various businesses and organizations was given to 26 high school seniors from the four public and private high schools in the city.
White Glove Awards from Milford Pride, given to businesses that significantly spruce up a public parcel were given to Pilgrim Furniture City, which just opened, and Bridge House Restaurant.Richetelli said that in Milford folks are blessed with beautiful natural resources, a rich colonial heritage and history, and an excellent mix of industrial, commercial and residential areas that compliment each other...”a breathtaking harbor, a vibrant, charming and rejuvenated downtown, wonderful, unique neighborhoods from Rivercliff to Woodmont, an excellent transportation infrastructure, outstanding schools, parks, recreation programs…the list goes on and on – we really have it all – but our greatest asset of all is our citizens.”
Then he raved about the city’s citizens, saying they’re “the best.”
“They are civic-minded, kind and compassionate people – who get involved because they care about their neighbors and want to make their hometown the best that it can be,” he said.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The state is poised to take ownership of the courthouse on West River Street, meaning the city will receive a greatly reduced payment from the state.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said a decision was made 20 years ago to have the state take over the Superior Court building, a former police station.
“It made sense back then,” Richetelli said. “Twenty years later, I don’t necessarily like the idea of turning the courthouse over to the state for one dollar. Do I like giving up the courthouse and parking area? No. But at the time, the legal and business community really wanted the courthouse downtown, and it was the only way to do that.”
Richetelli said the state’s $650,000 annual rent will end. He said the city will get some funds from the state because the building will no longer be on the tax rolls. An exact dollar amount is not known, the mayor said, but it will be significantly less than the $650,000.
He said the agreement between the city and state required the state to pay rent for the first 20 years. The city converted the former police station into a courthouse, and the $650,000 payment helped pay off the bond debt.
Richetelli said the debt has been retired for awhile, and the city was benefiting from the $650,000 payment.
The State Bond Commission recently approved $250,000 for a feasibility study concerning expanding the courthouse. Richetelli said he is still hopeful the courthouse expansion will include the adjacent post office building. The post office needs to be relocated elsewhere downtown.
City officials are also hoping the state will pay for a parking structure downtown behind the courthouse. Business and community officials have raised concerns about a lack of parking downtown. The garage is estimated to cost $10 million. No firm estimates have been given for the courthouse expansion.
“The state would be hard-pressed to expand the courthouse without providing adequate parking,” Milford Chamber of Commerce President Kathy Alagno said.

Event will provide family fun and help area charities
The Junior Woman’s Club of Milford, Inc. has the privilege of sponsoring its Third Annual Touch a Truck Fundraiser for families in the Milford area, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1, rain or shine at Eisenhower Park. Tickets are $4 in advance or $6 at the door.
The event will include 12 different big-rig trucks, a rock wall, sand art, sand digs for treasure, bowling, ring toss, face painting, tattoos, and more. The Milford Rotary will make child safety ID Cards, and the 1st one is free for each family.
The Junior Woman’s Club of Milford, Inc. has dedicated itself to many worthwhile charities, causes, and community events throughout Milford, club officials said. Some of its charities include; Beth-El Shelter, Rape Crisis Center of Milford, Literacy Awards, fifth and sixth Grade Spelling Bee, Milford Library, Milford Hospital, Boys and Girls Village, Kids Count and more. It is our goal to provide families with a fun-filled afternoon while contributing to these local charities.
For more information, or pre-sale tickets call Barbara Zink at 878-8345.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — The Police Department has flatly rejected the idea of turning part of a public road into a residents-only gated community.
Residents who live along East Broadway have grown increasingly frustrated with people parking on the street to use the nearby Silver Sands State Park, and asked that a gate be put across the portion of the road near Surf Avenue.
But the Police Department rejected the idea of restricting access to a public road, and does not support the idea of making the street open only to resident parking, according to a recently completed traffic study.
“The concept of gating East Broadway as a gated community, which serves numerous other streets, should be denied,” the study states. “The concept of restricting city and state roads in this vicinity to resident parking only should be denied.”
There are currently no public roads in Milford restricted by gates, nor are there any roads that restrict parking to residents only, police said.
“It’s my belief that public roads should be open to the public,” Police Chief Keith Mello said.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Joseph Della Monica Jr. has a frank assessment of East Shore Middle School: “It’s just nasty.”
Della Monica, a city police sergeant and the father of two children who attend the school, backs up his blunt critique by saying the school is overcrowded, has stained ceiling tiles, mismatched color floor tiles, and is permeated by the smell of raw sewage.
“Fix the ... school,” Della Monica said. “I don’t live here for a substandard school. I’ll be all over these people until they correct the problems. There will not be one day of peace until it’s all corrected.”
At a Board of Education meeting this week, Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky addressed concerns raised by school staff and parents.
Polansky said the district spent about $12,000 to eradicate the smell in the school. He said the odor came from the kitchen’s grease trap, which was cleaned.
The building tiles were installed in 1952, and when they break, they are replaced. Polansky said it’s not always possible to match the tiles’ color. He added that the floor tiles contain asbestos and cannot simply be removed.
Polansky said the roof has leaked and has been repaired and re-patched several times over its 56-year lifespan. He said maintenance responds whenever a leak is noticed.
The temperature throughout the school can vary because only part of the school is exposed to direct sunlight, he said.
Della Monica, a former Republican town chairman, said once a letter on the matter appeared in last week’s Milford Weekly, about 13 maintenance workers arrived at the school the following day.
East Shore is overcrowded and students are forced into classrooms that are smaller than they were in elementary school, he said.
The middle school has about 70 more students than the city’s two other middle schools.
Della Monica said school officials must ask the city for bond authorization to complete improvements.
School officials have said East Shore needs renovations, but upgrades to the city’s two high schools are the top priority.
Della Monica said the overcrowding is best chronicled by the fact that students have to walk outside after lunch because the hallway is too crowded.
Polansky said there are three lunch waves at East Shore, each of which is 25 minutes long, and nearly 200 students and staff occupy the cafeteria in each wave. School officials believe that since students enter and exit the same hallway, it was best to allow them to go outside and walk 25 yards to another door at the end of the building.
School officials said students are monitored the entire time by staff and do not go outside on days when there is snow on the ground or if it’s raining.

Slossberg, opponent both agree it’s about taxes and state budget

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — Sen. Gayle Slossberg picked a unique venue to illustrate why she is running for re-election for state Senate.
Instead of rolling out the party leaders on the steps of City Hall, Slossberg, D-Milford, announced Monday she is seeking to represent the 14th District for a third term from the home of a grateful constituent, Rosemarie Civitello.
Civitello, of Cleveland Avenue, explained that she was diagnosed with breast cancer May 22, 2007. After two surgeries and radiation treatment over the course of six months, she was told she was 99 percent cancer-free. Civitello, 50, however, has no health insurance and said she accrued more than $80,000 in medical bills.
“I was afraid I could lose everything,” Civitello said. “I made myself sick worrying.”
Not knowing what to do, Civitello, a single mother of two, contacted Slossberg, whom she had only met once when Slossberg knocked on her door while campaigning.
Civitello said Slossberg accompanied her to St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and helped her get through what can be a daunting and onerous task of filing paperwork with the hospital for financial assistance. Civitello said through Slossberg’s advocating on her behalf, her $47,000 bill at St. Vincent’s was erased.
“Sometimes, life knocks you for a loop and you need someone to fight for you,” Slossberg said.
Civitello said she is unendingly grateful to Slossberg. “There are no words I could use to ever express what this woman did for me,” she said through tears.
Slossberg said Civitello’s issue “highlights the problem on a national level,” and she wants to return to the Senate to fight for people like Civitello.
“It’s about working for the people and getting things done,” Slossberg said. In order to keep others from finding themselves in the same position as Civitello, Slossberg said the state should take steps to make health care more affordable.
Slossberg, who formerly practiced law in New York, goes up against Vincent Marino, Orange town attorney. The 14th District includes Milford, Orange and parts of West Haven.
“I think the residents deserve a better leader,” Marino said.
Marino, a Republican, has blasted Slossberg for what he sees as her inability to fulfill a campaign promise to pass ethics reform.
Slossberg scoffed at that assertion and cited a letter from Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, commending her on her work to pass the Clean Contracting Standards Bill. The bill made the way state contracts are rewarded more transparent.
Slossberg has called on Rell and other state leaders to call the legislature back for a special session to approve a bill that would block corrupt municipal officials and employees from receiving their pensions.
Richard Smith, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, said Slossberg is a candidate who “in four years earned the respect from both sides.”
Both Marino and Slossberg said not raising taxes and tightening the state budget during difficult economic times are among their top priorities.
Marino, a former Republican town chairman in Orange, has spent more than two years as the town attorney. Marino is an attorney with the law firm of Cohen and Wolf.
Slossberg earned her law degree at the New York University School of Law. Slossberg served as minority leader of the Milford Board of Aldermen from 2001 to 2004.
The Republican convention is today and the Democratic convention is Monday.

Foran may go green with addition of solar panels

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The Board of Education is exploring the feasibility of having Joseph A. Foran High School go green to help save the taxpayers electricity costs.
The school board is applying for a grant with the state that would pay half the costs associated with installing solar panels on the roof of the school along with wind turbines.
Officials said there would be no costs to the school board, and a company would install the solar panels.
School administrators will complete an energy audit of the school to determine if the energy costs would be lowered by using renewable energy sources.
A 20-year commitment is required if the city receives the state grant.
Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky cautioned the board that despite installing the solar panels and wind turbines, it’s still likely that some electricity will have to be purchased to “bridge the gaps.”
Deputy Superintendent of Operations Philip G. Russell said he’s projecting a 15 percent energy reduction cost savings at Foran, though it’s too early to define an actual dollar amount.
Russell said besides the financial implications, having a green building will provide “significant environmental upgrades” and will result in a major “reduction of pollutants.”
He added that school officials want to take renewable energy and use it as a teaching tool.
Russell said Foran High was chosen as the site because it’s the largest school, and the “worst energy hog.” Foran has a swimming pool and air conditioning.
Russell told board members that other school systems are looking at a similar program, and the grant will be awarded by the state on a competitive basis.
Milford needs to be one of the first 10 schools statewide to apply to have the best shot at receiving the grant, Russell added.
“I applaud your efforts on staying up late at night and trying to save the taxpayers money,” said school board Chairman David Hourigan, D-4.
Russell said the schools receive their electricity from TransCanada, and the utility supports such a program because it is required to meet a federal mandate that 10 percent of its energy come from renewable sources by 2015.
Russell added that if the equipment breaks down, the company will maintain it at no cost to the taxpayers.
Hourigan suggested if this experiment works at Foran, the board may want to consider renewable energy sources for all of its schools.
“We’re seeing more of this because we’re at $4 a gallon,” Polansky added.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Top Board of Education and school officials say they are worried the final budget for 2008-09 will be approved too late to retain current first-year teachers or to help recruit the best candidates for necessary positions.
School board Chairman David Hourigan, D-4, told board members Monday night that the Board of Aldermen may not vote on the school budget until May 29, which would put the school board in a “bad situation” because it then would be hard to “hire people.”
School officials are anxiously awaiting aldermanic action on the district’s budget. The Board of Finance in March reduced the school board’s proposed budget for next fiscal year by $2.1 million, from $82.9 million to $80.8 million. Polansky has said to maintain the same level of services for next year would require a 5.4 percent increase in spending.
After the Finance Board reduced the school board’s budget increase from a proposed 6.4 percent to 3.7 percent, Polansky said the district would have to reduce staff and programs. Also fanning the flames were the layoff notices sent to 180 non-tenured teachers, which occurred following cuts to proposed spending.
School officials are lobbying aldermen to reinstate at least $1.3 million to the budget, which would ensure current services are maintained. Some Democratic aldermen have expressed a willingness to reinstate $1.3 million, but because it would require a two-thirds majority vote, at least one Republican would have to support such a measure.
Hourigan said the “major hardship” is on the 180 teachers who received their layoff notices.
“It’s a very stressful time for them,” Hourigan said. “It leaves them hemming and hawing about whether to look for jobs elsewhere or to take jobs elsewhere.”
He also said it’s difficult for the district to recruit new teachers for shortage areas such as special education and world language.
Aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, said aldermen would begin budget deliberations Monday, and also have scheduled meetings May 21, 27 and 29. Blake said he hopes the budget will be wrapped up May 21, but the school portion is the last item to be addressed.
All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Blake declined to say definitively whether all nine Democrats support reinstating money requested by the school board.
“The Democrats are looking to strike the right balance that meets the needs of our school children and the remainder of our taxpayers,” Blake said. “We’ve addressed some of the needs of our senior citizens through additional tax relief.”
Alderman Scott Willey, R-4, said he would advocate for the school budget to be the first line item reviewed.
He said it makes sense since the Democrats are discussing reinstating funds, and it can lay a foundation for the rest of the budget.
Willey declined to comment on whether Republicans would support reinstating proposed education spending, but he again said it was Democrats who promised during the recent election to cut taxes.

5K walk, 10K run and $100G in sights for Cooke Trek Sunday May 18

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD —The Bob Cooke Memorial Trek Against Skin Cancer has reached its fifth year, and it’s quite possible the five-year total will exceed the $100,000 mark by the end of Sunday’s event.
In the first four years of the trek, which is dedicated to the memory of Robert N. Cooke, known as “Mr. Milford” because of his record of community service, about $80,000 was raised.
The trek is the result of a mission by Cooke’s daughter, Sherrill, to shine a spotlight on the disease that killed her father four years ago.
The event will be held at 2 p.m. at Milford’s Lisman Landing. The trek features a 5K walk and a 10K run or bike ride that starts at Lisman Landing and takes a scenic beach route to Fort Trumbull and Silver Sands State Park.
Sherrill Cooke said research shows that one in five Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime, and one person dies every 33 minutes from this disease.
“This initiative serves to increase both funding and public awareness of a cancer that affects so many. My dad fought a courageous 11-year battle with skin cancer, yet through it all maintained the incredible sense of humor that he was well-known for. The trek is a tribute and honor to him and a way to help others that are faced with this illness,” Sherrill Cooke said.
Bob Cooke served as vice president of Fleet Bank, now Bank of America. He helped found the Milford Oyster Festival, initiated Milford’s Pride, served as president of the Milford Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross chapter and of Kiwanis, chairman of the United Way, and served on the board of Boys Village and as a member of the Milford Club. He was also a deacon and trustee of the First United Church of Christ Congregational.
Diane Hayden, co-chair of the event, stressed that early detection is the key in surviving skin cancer.
“The most important thing that we can do for the community is to educate them on the dangers of tanning beds, especially our youth. The foundation and the awareness that it provides can make a difference in the lives of everyone in the community and perhaps even save some lives,” Hayden said.
Entertainment will include live music, a raffle, a silent auction, wine, beer and cheese tasting and prize giveaways. Free dinner, drinks, T-shirts, gift bags and games for the kids will round out the day.
The trek is sponsored by Maui Jim, Connecticut Dermatology & Dermatologic Society, Subway, the New Haven County Medical Association, STAR 99.9 and The Milford Kiwanis Club, will benefit skin cancer research.
For more information, visit www.RNCwalk.com.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The Planning and Zoning Board recently heard from two former members who offered the board divergent opinions on a developer’s proposal to construct nine townhouses in three buildings on Melba Street.
Acquisition Trust LLC, owner of the parcel at 180 Melba St., is seeking to add nine two-bedroom units in three buildings on land that served as parking for the former dilapidated apartment complex. The entire parcel consists of four acres.
The former 53-unit apartment complex at 180 Melba St. was condemned for numerous health and building code violations, including failing air quality tests and lacking structural integrity. Acquisition Trust LLC is in the process of renovating the former apartment complex into 41 upscale units.
The city spent about $110,000 relocating the residents including paying for a portion of their rent and providing emergency housing, which is supposed to be repaid by the building’s owners.
At a recent zoning meeting, Alderman Philip Vetro, D-4, a former PZB member, spoke in favor of the application, saying the developer has turned around the site that was a “big nuisance” for the neighborhood.
“It’s a gigantic improvement aesthetically and pleasing to the eye,” Vetro said. “The big question I hear from residents is when it will it be finished.”
But after Vetro spoke, former PZB vice Chairman Mark Lofthouse, R-5, said the developer is seeking a bedroom number waiver, and that it is the members’ duty to uphold the zoning regulations.
The developer needs a special permit to increase the number of bedrooms proposed for the site. Currently, zoning regulations allow for 16 bedrooms per acre, and the revised application would increase that to 20.5 bedrooms per acre.
“You’re being asked to play Santa Claus on the density bonus. This area is already dense enough,” Lofthouse said. “I’d like you to stand by your election promise. Please don’t forget your promise.”
In the more recent local election, Democrats won all five available seats on the PZB, and they campaigned on a platform that the city was too overdeveloped.
Attorney Steven Studer, who represents the developer, said his client has been very upfront about asking for the density waiver.
“We’re not playing any games,” Studer said.
Lofthouse countered that the developer is asking the PZB to “throw your regulations out the window. ... Don’t fall for it,” he said.
Studer said his client is “doing the right thing for the city” by renovating the condemned apartment buildings, and has made a large financial investment in the site.
The board will vote on the plans May 20.

Milford PZB votes unanimously to let family keep animals

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Debra Bourt and the entire Bourt family can rest easy: Their extended “family” will remain intact.
Bourt said that although her nerves have been frayed for more than a year worrying about whether she should would have to give up her three adult goats and 10 chickens, the animals can now bleat and cluck in peace.
The Bourts raised chickens and goats for close to seven years on their property at 148 Clark St. They say their little farm has blended well into the community, but the Bourts’ world was turned upside down earlier this year when anonymous letters appeared that appeared to personally attack them and raised issue with their animals.
It sparked a review by the Planning and Zoning Office, but the Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to allow the small herd and flock to remain. The Bourts will have to reapply in three years, and can only keep three adult goats and 10 chickens.
After the vote, Debra Bourt reacted by saying, “It’s great. I’m excited, a little speechless.”
“This has been going on for a year. It’s been awful,” Bourt said. “My whole family can rest easy. We’ve been on edge (about) whether we’d have to move or if we’d have to give up our animals.”
PZB member Kevin Liddy said he recalls campaigning at the Bourts and could personally attest that there was no smell emanating from the property. PZB Vice Chairwoman Kim Rose said the neighborhood has benefited from the Bourts and they are clearly “very responsible” about maintaining their property.
PZB Chairwoman Jean Cervin added that she has heard numerous positive comments from neighbors about the Bourts. During a recent public hearing, close to 20 neighbors and residents spoke in favor of the Bourts. No one spoke in opposition.
But Cervin also expressed concern that the PZB might be setting a precedent, noting it will have to take each case on an individual basis.
PZB member Frank Goodrich said 99 percent of the time, the PZB will not make everyone happy, but this was a rare exception.
“This is the opposite of development. It’s going back to our roots,” Goodrich said.
Liddy added that he did not want to limit the number of animals the family is allowed, since the Bourts have proven to be so responsible.
“What if they have 11 (chickens)? Do they have to cook it or fry it?” Liddy asked.
City Planner David Sulkis told board members that the application they were reviewing is a land use matter, but not about the Bourts.

Independent seeking Amann’s seat

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — There is at least one name confirmed on the ballot for this November to possibly succeed state House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford.
It’s neither a Democrat nor a Republican: Independent candidate Rocco J. Frank Jr. is the first officially to declare for Amann’s 118th District seat.
Amann announced last month that he is retiring after 18 years in the General Assembly, including two terms as speaker of the House. Amann said he is retiring so he can spend all of his time campaigning for governor.
Former Miss Connecticut Heidi Voight also has expressed interest in a possible run for the seat.
Frank, CEO of ComputerFox Stores, a Milford computer repair chain, said he has received the endorsement of the Independent American Party, and his campaign is viable because most people register as independents.
Frank has ties to the Republican Party. He worked for former President George H.W. Bush’s campaign in 1988, and was a member of the Connecticut and the National Federation of Young Republicans.
But Frank said neither the Republican nor Democratic party appeals to him.
“The Republicans are a party that represents the wealthy elitists that make up less than 5 percent of my district,” Frank said. “The Democrats have dropped the ball and exported all of the jobs overseas.”
He said it’s very important to have a choice between Democrats and Republicans. He said the Republican Party did not challenge Amann in the last election, and there was no choice for voters.
“To have one candidate on the ballot is not serving the public interest,” Frank said. “People do deserve a choice.”
Frank first said more than a year ago that he planned to seek the 118th District seat.
Frank said his campaign platform would focus on “quality of life” issues. He said he wants to advocate affordable health care, a top notch educational system, and safe communities.
Democratic Town Chairman Richard Smith said several Democrats have discussed running for the position, including himself. No final decision has been made. Smith said Frank has advocated for some “strange things” and he would think voters might have serious reservations about voting for him.
Republican Town Chairman Tom Jagodinski said Aldermanic Minority Leader Vincent Ditchkus Jr., R-3, and Alderwoman Judith Toohey, R-2, are interested in the seat, as are a few other unnamed candidates.
Jagodinski claimed even should Frank somehow win, he’d have a tough time working in Hartford and getting anything accomplished.

Don't use the word 'old' here

By Pamela McLoughlin
Register Staff
WOODBRIDGE — Gertrude Noone may be 109, but when she answered the question, “Have you been following the 2008 presidential race?” she passed the litmus test for perfect lucidity.
“Who couldn’t be following it? It’s been going on the news every minute,” she answered.
Noone, shown at right, believed to be the oldest Connecticut resident, was a standout of sorts Wednesday in a room of standouts: folks 100 and over who were honored at an annual luncheon held by the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut. The luncheon is held in the beginning of May as a kick-off to Older Americans Month.
Neysa Stallman Guerino, executive director of the agency, said many are under the misconception that older Americans are “all sick and in bed and not leading active lives.”
Guerino gestured toward the room full of guests at the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven and said, “They’re certainly an inspiration to what people can do.”
There was Angelina Karlon, 101, who was friends with Babe Ruth’s wife, as her hubby, the late John Karlon was a catcher and outfielder for the Yankees. Flo Diehl, 104, had hip replacement surgery two weeks before her 101st birthday, the oldest person ever to have the procedure and she attributes her longevity to clean living and eating lots of vinegar and onions. Mildred Johnson, 100, says her long life is due to close relationships and fellowship in her church; Adelaide DeLucia, 100, was the first dietician at the Hospital of St. Raphael; Ralph Materessa, 101, says he has good genes and if he could go back and grab one item from his past it would be his youth. Flora Harriet Phifer, 101, still enjoys reading her Bible, sewing, crossword puzzles and watching, “The Price is Right.”
Noone, a member of the Women’s Army Corps during World War II, never married, takes no medication and only stopped driving in 1990. She lives at Carriage Green in Milford, an assisted living facility, and except for some compromised hearing and sight, enjoys great health.
Still a stylish dresser who has her nails and hair done regularly, Noone prefers talking politics and stock market to pondering what it is that kept her alive all these years, but she does admit having “good health and plenty of money,” is a plus if you’re going to live so long.
Noone’s favorite president of all time was Harry S. Truman.
“He saved my life and everybody else’s when he dropped that bomb,” she said, referring to the atomic bomb dropped on Japan in the summer 1945. Noone still cherishes the memory of meeting Bess Truman who had a “nice, soft handshake.”
So far in the current election she favors John McCain because she feels there’s something “presidential” about him.
One drawback to McCain being president?
“He’s a little old,” she says.
Barack Obama is smart, she said, but makes too many promises about how everything would be perfect under his presidency. As for Hillary Clinton, Noone wonders how the senator looks so rested and keeps her face in such great shape despite long, long hours on the campaign trail.
“They’re all putting on a good show, promising to give you everything they have instead of taking care of their friends (poltically)...It’s all about money,” Noone said. “The world is changing - you have to take things as they come.”
As for the stock market Noon advises: Let the money stay in when the market goes up, as well as when it comes way down.
Although not one to dwell on her age, Noone does quickly add that she’s 109 and “four months.”
“What can I do about it? Life goes on,” she said.

Orange attorney throws hat into the ring; Milford attorney who hold seat says focus remains on current session not election


By Bridget Albert
Special to the Register
It may be lawyer versus lawyer as Orange Town Attorney Vincent Marino on Tuesday officially declared his candidacy against two-term state Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford.
Marino, above right, a former Republican Town Committee chairman who has spent more than two years as town attorney, said he’s running because “this is a critical election for working families and small businesses.”
The 14th senatorial district includes Milford, Orange and parts of West Haven. Marino said Democrats have failed in Hartford and it’s time for new leadership.
“This week the legislature concluded its business for the year having failed to pass a true three strikes law for repeat violent criminals; having failed to enact the ethics reforms Ms. Slossberg and her colleagues promised; and having failed to provide any economic relief for working families and small businesses who are paying record-high prices for everything from gasoline to groceries,” Marino said in a prepared statement.
Slossberg, above left, who is a former practicing attorney, declined to comment on whether she is seeking reelection except to say “right now there are 48 hours left in session and I’m focused on passing good legislation that helps the people of Milford, Orange, West Haven and the state of Connecticut.”
Marino said if elected he will work to reduce government spending, seek to revitalize the economy and work to lower taxes.
“In fact, I believe the legislature should convene in special session now to provide immediate, needed relief to working class families by reducing state gas taxes,” Marino said.
Marino said improving education and public safety will also be top priorities.
“Unlike my opponent, I believe that three-time violent criminals like rapists, kidnappers and arsonists should go to jail for life, no ifs ands or buts,” Marino said.
Orange First Selectman James Zeoli said Marino has “always worked to the highest standards as counsel for the town of Orange, working for the people’s best interest.”
“Vin Marino understands the needs of the cities and towns in Connecticut,” said Milord Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. “I am confident that he will be an outstanding candidate and represent the needs of Milford, Orange and West Haven with distinction.”
Milford Democratic Chairman Richard Smith said he is shocked that someone has come forward to challenge Slossberg.
“I’m a bit disappointed that the Republicans are putting someone up at all. When you have a state Senator who works as hard for her district as Senator Gayle you would kind of hope that interests of the people of the district would outweigh political party interests and Republicans would have cross-endorsed her,” Smith said.
“Since that seems not being the case, we’ll let Gayle’s record of tireless commitment to the people of the 14th Senate district speak for itself. I know you would have to look long and hard to find any state senator who works harder or is more committed to her work than Gayle,” Smith added.
Marino is an attorney with the law firm of Cohen and Wolf. He and his wife, Debra, have two children, Lauren, 6, and Jason, 4.
Slossberg earned her law degree at New York University School of Law. She and her husband, David, have three children, Jeremy, Alex, and Rebecca. Slossberg served as minority leader of the Milford Board of Alderman from 2001 to 2004.
The Republican convention is May 13 and the Democratic convention is May 19.
Milford Bureau Chief Brian McCready contributed to this story.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The urgency to initiate major redistricting citywide has “definitely lessened” after it appears relocating about 100 kindergartners from Mathewson School to Pumpkin Delight School has solved the issue, according to a top school administrator.
Deputy Superintendent of Operations Philip G. Russell said the decision to continue for a second year sending the estimated 100 kindergartners from overcrowded Mathewson to Pumpkin Delight, and information that enrollment is not likely to spike, has decreased “the urgency” to complete a school census.
The school board has under taken a school population study, and after the first mailing to about 17,000 dwellings, 50.3 percent of questionnaires were returned. A second mailing resulted in an additional 600 responses, which then boosted the percentage returned to 57 percent.
But Russell said more recently the responses surpassed 60 percent, and the goal is to hit a 70 percent response rate.
School officials are asking parents how many children they have and the children’s ages. It’s most important that the district determine where children from birth to 4 are located, officials said.
The board has until February to make a decision.
School board Chairman David Hourigan, D-4, and Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky recently met with City Planner David Sulkis, who said there are 273 acres of undeveloped farmland in Milford. It will not likely be developed for at least 10 years, Hourigan reported.
The chairman said if the land were fully developed, it could yield more than 200 houses. But he said it’s unlikely the enrollment would then spike significantly.
Russell said the housing information was a critical piece in the redistricting puzzle. “Future housing developments are the biggest impact on the system,” he said.
Polansky has stated that there would be no new redistricting plan adopted for the next school year, and if there were one, it wouldn’t be until 2009-10 at the “earliest.”
The school board is discussing the issue of redistricting due to overcrowding at Mathewson Elementary School.

State agency defends itself over graffiti gripes
By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The state Department of Transportation has been unfairly vilified for not removing graffiti in a timely manner from its Old Gate Lane railroad bridge, an agency spokesman said.
DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick said criticism the agency received from some city officials was unjust, as state officials learned of the graffiti on a recent Monday and by the end of that week it had been power-washed away.
“We have a longstanding good neighbor policy,” Nursick said. “We take care of issues like that.”
While the DOT removed graffiti from its property, the city is dealing with graffiti on some road signs, buildings and playgrounds.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said Department of Public Works officials had previously notified DOT employees in Milford about the graffiti, but added it’s possible that information was not passed on to the DOT in Hartford.
Alderman Robert Nunno, D-5, and aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, both publicly raised concerns late last month that the DOT had not removed graffiti from the Old Gate Lane railroad bridge.
Nunno and Blake questioned whether the DOT might be in violation of the city’s new graffiti ordinance that mandates property owners remove graffiti or face possible fines.
Yet Nursick said neither city official’s public comments nor the city’s graffiti ordinance had anything to do with the agency removing the bridge graffiti. He said the DOT maintenance staff reviews properties to ensure removal of graffiti from structures.
“We can’t do something about it unless we know about it,” Nursick said. “Folks need to give us a fair shake. This was a pretty quick turnaround.”
He said the DOT is responsible for 10,000 miles of roads, along with the railroads and bus routes.
Richetelli said graffiti is a “priority” for the city, and when it’s spotted, cleanup crews are immediately sent out.
“If it’s private property, it’s our hope that the person will have enough pride to remove it,” Richetelli said. “If not, we’ll remind them.”
Blake said graffiti on the Old Gate Lane railroad bridge had been there for some time.
“It doesn’t seem realistic that the DOT was not alerted to it,” Blake said. “There are DOT folks down there all the time.”
But Blake added that the city also must be responsible in ensuring graffiti is removed from it’s properties.
“We want to make sure our government is held to the same standard as our private businesses are,” Blake said.
Richetelli said overall the city has been successful in cracking down on graffiti.
“There’s been a marked decrease in graffiti from this year to last year,” Richetelli said.

Oyster Festival’s future at risk

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The wildly popular Oyster Festival may not make its 35th anniversary as organizers say the city’s request to pay for police officers would force the annual event to end after this year.
Milford Oyster Festival Committee members addressed the Board of Aldermen Monday night, urging members to reconsider having the nonprofit pay the $26,000 neeeded to hire police.
Committee member Paula Smith and President Jay Pinto said if the city does not continue to pay for the police, the festival will end. The Oyster Festival is the city’s most popular event, drawing more than 50,000 people downtown each August.
Aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, said no formal request has been made, and the issue arose when the aldermen began discussing the police budget. He said because of the economy, the aldermen are looking to save money wherever possible.
Blake pledged if there is a reduction in funding, it will be done in a way to ensure the festival continues.
“No way, no how (will the festival end),” Blake said.
Smith said the city has always been very supportive, and provided police coverage.
“If that support is cut, the festival will be in trouble,” Smith said. “This will probably be its last year.”
Smith said the committee can’t come up with the funds. This year the committee is expected to take in $174,000 and has bills totaling $180,000.
She said loyal sponsors are already spread too thin. Smith produced the festival’s financial history, which shows that from 2002 through 2007, the largest profit for one year was just $13.
The 34th Oyster Festival will be held Aug. 16. Foghat, a group known for such hit singles as “Slow Ride” and “Fool for the City,” has been signed as the headliner.
Smith said not having an Oyster Festival would be unfathomable.
“It’s one of the things that makes Milford what it is,” Smith said. “It brings the community together. It’s a town party. It would be a huge loss to the character of the town.”
Pinto said he hopes to educate the aldermen concerning the committee’s financial picture. He said canceling the festival would be a “travesty.”
Blake said he disagrees that having the festival pay for the police officers would result in the annual event being discontinued. He said other nonprofits like the Irish Festival pay for police officers.
Blake said the aldermen will work with festival organizers to ensure the popular event continues.
“The Oyster Festival is part of the cultural fabric of our city,” Blake said. “I’ll do what I can to ensure it carries on.”

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — On a day of birthday surprises for 95-year-old Dorothy Paul, her family saved the biggest one for last.
Paul, a Milford resident, received a surprise visit at her birthday celebration Friday from her great-grandson, who is serving in Iraq with the Marine Corps.
With the help of the nonprofit organization Freedom Calls, Carriage Green at Milford and the tireless work of Paul’s granddaughter, Sgt. Chris Davis was able to join the party by way of a video conference from Al Asad Air Base in Anbar province.
Paul’s face lit up with shock when she saw her great-grandson pop up on the computer screen in front of her.
“I have to punch myself to make sure it’s real,” Paul said of seeing Davis for the first time in more than a year.
Quick with a joke to break the ice, Paul asked the 26-year-old Marine, “Do you like all the sand?”
Davis laughed and replied, “No, there’s too much of it. But I’ll probably come home with plenty. It gets everywhere.”
Paul could hardly believe it was possible to be able to see and talk with her great-grandson while he was serving in Iraq.
“I remember when it was a big deal to make a telephone call,” she said after speaking with Davis. “To me, this is almost unbelievable.”
Davis assured his great-grandmother and family, all eager to talk with him during the one-hour video conference, that “so far it hasn’t been that bad.” He exchanged some friendly ribbing with his older brother, Matthew Eckman, before receiving words of love and luck.
“You don’t know what a treat this is to see you,” said Davis’ mother, Kyle Eckman. She said her son left for Iraq two months ago.
Freedom Calls is a nonprofit organization that provides free video conferences via satellite hookups so servicemen and -women can connect to their families back home.
The video conference capped a day of surprises for Paul, who had thought she was only going out to lunch with a friend.
When she returned to Carriage Green, she was treated to a poem by Kyle Eckman titled “My Grandmother’s Garden.” At its conclusion she was presented with flowers from her five granddaughters, who drove up from Virginia and Georgia for a surprise visit.
The surprises kept coming with a proclamation from Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. declaring Friday to be Dorothy W. Paul Day.
Paul graduated from Milford High School in 1931 and still manages to make it to most of the reunions, her family said.
But Friday, it was a family reunion of sorts with Paul’s five granddaughters and most of her 15 great-grandchildren joining her for her birthday.
“To have all my family here, it’s such a special treat,” Paul said. “It’s the biggest, nicest birthday surprise of my life.”
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 401-3530.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — City Clerk Alan Jepson wants to see the Milford Hall of Fame materialize within the year, and is calling on help from city high school students to get it done.
Jepson announced a competition to design the plaque that will honor residents at the Milford Hall of Fame.
“The contest is to stimulate the interest of our high school students,” Jepson said. “It’s a chance for young people to get involved.”
He said a similar contest was used more than 30 years ago to come up with the design for the city flag, which is still in use.
The winner of the current contest will win $100, said school spokeswoman Kathy Bonetti.
Any student at the public or private high schools in Milford can submit an 8½-by-11-inch design that allows space for the honoree’s picture and about 40 words of text with a 1-inch border. Designs must be submitted to the superintendent of schools’ office by May 16.
So far, no nominees for the Milford Hall of Fame have been announced, but a committee has been formed to select individuals who had a significant impact on the city.
Jepson Friday remained tight-lipped about who was even being considered. “That’s for the committee to decide,” he said. “Much of this project still needs to be decided.”
A home for the Milford Hall of Fame has not yet been determined, either.
About six honorees will be chosen for the first class, officials said.
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 401-3530.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Heidi Voight knows firsthand how bad the economy is getting.
Voight, 25, recently lost her job at Eos Airlines as a flight attendant when the company filed for bankruptcy.
“There was no warning, no severance,” Voight said. “I know ... how the economy stinks. I know it’s a struggle to pay back student loans. I understand the real world implications.”
Now Voight, Miss Connecticut in 2006, has her eye on a new job.
She is considering a run for the House seat held by retiring state House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford.
“I have boundless energy,” Voight said. “This would be my full-time priority.”
Others interested include Democratic Town Chairman Richard Smith and aldermen Barbara Lambert and Martin Hardiman.
Amann said Voight is just “great,” adding that the Democratic Party has many wonderful candidates.
“She’s worked up here on domestic violence issues and Heidi did a great job as Miss Connecticut and I’m very proud of her,” Amann said.
Voight said it’s “sad to imagine the House of Representatives without Jim Amann,” whom she called a “mentor.”
Smith said the party would consider running Voight for Amann’s seat, but stressed no decisions have been made. A final decision must be made in time for the May 27 nominating convention.
Voight, who has never held an elective office, said she feels it’s her unique personal story that helps qualify her for the job. Growing up in Milford, Voight and her family sometimes relied on groups like the United of Way of Milford for assistance due to financial struggles. Voight said she was sexually assaulted at age 15, and credits services from local agencies for helping her through difficult personal times.
Voight said her interest in running was sparked when a town committee member called her Sunday and asked her if she was interested in the job.
Voight said her love of public service grew after she won Miss Connecticut. She spent most of her time in Hartford pushing for legislation for victims of sexual and domestic violence. She was also concerned with veterans’ issues.
“Quite simply, the time I spent in the Capitol was the most significant impact I could make on my community,” Voight said. “I simply have a desire to give back to a community that gave back so much to me.”
“Milford helped cradle me and shape who I am as a person today,” she added.
Voight said she believes the title of Miss Connecticut and some of the stereotypes that come with it may serve as a temporary obstacle for her. “The stereotypes are undeserved,” Voight said. “I’ve earned a reputation through hard work. I’ve proven them wrong. I broke the mold and used the title to make a difference.”If elected, Voight said she would make keeping families and children safe her top legislative priority. She would also work on strengthening domestic violence and child sexual predator laws.
Voight said something needs to be done concerning property taxes. She said her grandparents recently sold their Point Beach home because they could not afford the taxes.
She said she is also passionate about veterans’ issues because several men in her family have served in the armed forces. She said some members of her family were never the same after the Vietnam War.
Voight has served as a rape crisis center counselor and volunteered for The American Legion Missing in American Project.
Voight said if she does not receive her party’s nomination, she will become more active in the town committee and would be interested in serving on the Board of Education.

City resists state’s curriculum-reform plan
By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — School officials criticized a state Department of Education proposal to revamp high school curriculums as an unaffordable idea that could make the state’s achievement gap worse.
The Board of Education met Tuesday night to discuss state Department of Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan’s proposed high school curriculum reforms. Board members said it would cost taxpayers more than $2 million to implement.
McQuillan’s proposed plan is designed to improve high schools, increase graduation rates and to better prepare graduates for careers.
The proposal would require hiring numerous teachers and force the district to expand its facilities, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Michael Cummings said the proposal may lead to a widening achievement gap between suburban and rural/urban schools, because of the cost to less-affluent districts.
Law Principal Janet Garagliano said the proposal includes requiring all students take and pass a state-developed math exam. Also, in order to graduate, a student must pass two years of world language.
Cummings said there is also talk of reducing certifications for world language teachers, which could lead to “unqualified” people teaching.
State Department of Education spokesman Thomas Murphy said the proposal includes budgeting money to help local communities implement the effects of the plan.
“This is not designed to be an unfunded mandate,” Murphy said.
Cummings said if the state’s proposal is adopted, local school systems would be forced to adopt a state-mandated curriculum. “The legislature cannot go into this blindly. There is a cost involved,” Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky said.
Murphy said Connecticut must improve its education curriculum or it will fall behind the rest of the country.
“We are hearing loud and clear from the business community that our students are simply not making the grade,” he said.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — The school board has long fought for more money through the statewide education cost sharing program.
But as the General Assembly’s budget deliberations draw to a close, school officials were told by state House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, not to expect any increase in ECS funds this year.
At a meeting Wednesday in Amann’s Hartford office, Amann said Milford will not receive any additional ECS funds this year because of a projected $15 million state deficit, but he also said the district will not receive a reduction from last year’s amount.
“It’s a bad economy,” Amann said. “We’re in a deficit mode. We’re much better off than surrounding states. The best thing we can do is not raise taxes.”
Amann said every year lawmakers hear the same thing from education officials concerning the ECS formula.
“Everyone says the formula is not fair,” Amann said. “Milford says it’s not fair. Bridgeport and New Haven say the formula is not fair.”
School board Chairman David Hourigan, D-4, said they discussed ECS money but, “there’s not much that can be done with that formula.”
Board of Education members and Superintendent of Schools Harvey Polansky also aired their concerns about proposed high school reforms that school board members said would put further economic strain on the school system.
“We’re concerned it’s going to add expenses,” Hourigan said. “When you add classes you add teachers and space. And that all costs money.”
Polansky said the conversation with Amann was “wide ranging and free flowing,” but the biggest concern on his mind was finances.
“The economy is hurting everybody,” Polansky said. He added, “The speaker has a deep commitment to the city of Milford.” But added, “we didn’t leave with a check or a promissory note.”
Amann said local education officials’ concerns about high school reforms are “legitimate.” The state’s proposal appears to be widening and not closing the achievement gap, he said. He’d like to see superintendents from around the state meet for breakfast this summer so they can share their concerns.
Amann said it’s possible that opposition from superintendents will ensure legislators do not act on the proposed legislation.
The proposed high school reforms would require students to take more state tests and gain more credits before graduating.
“It’s an excellent idea for some state legislators to feel the superintendents’ pain,” said David W. Steinlauf, D-2, of the proposed meeting. “It’s a positive step and should heighten the awareness of the legislators, and it’s good to hear from legislators what is on the horizon.”
When asked what is coming on the horizon, Steinlauf said, “Well that’s hard to say. It’s going to get harder.”
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 401-3530.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky said when he was hired a year ago, it was never his intention to “dismantle the school system.”
Polansky formally requested Wednesday night that the Board of Aldermen restore $2.1 million previously cut by the Board of Finance.
Polansky told the aldermen the future of the district is in their hands, and if the cuts are restored, there will be no teacher layoffs.
“I come here tonight to ask you to restore the funds so nobody gets laid off and class size remains the same or even gets better,” Polansky told the aldermen at City Hall.
The Board of Finance last month reduced the school board’s budget by $2.1 million, from $82.9 million to $80.8 million. Polansky has stated in order to maintain the same level of services next year, the schools would require a 5.4 percent increase.
After the finance board reduced the schools’ budget increase from a proposed 6.4 percent to 3.7 percent, he said the district would have to reduce staff and programs. Also fanning the flames was the fact that 180 nontenured teachers received layoff notices.
Last month, about 500 people packed City Hall, with a majority advocating that the education funds be restored.
Polansky said 50 percent of the total increase, or $2.5 million, is due to an arbitration award the teachers’ union received. He also said the rising costs of fuel, along with special education, and health insurance increases are to blame for the seemingly significant budget increase.
Polansky also said the district lost $230,000 in federal funds, which now must be absorbed in the school budget.
Polansky said since salaries and benefits comprise 80 percent of the district’s budget, he will have no choice but to lay off some staff if a majority of the budget reduction is not reinstated.
“There are not enough paper clips to bridge that difference,” Polansky said. “I did not come to the school system to dismantle it.”
Polansky also told the aldermen he is appreciative of the $7.5 million the schools received for capital projects this year, but if he received a $100 million check today he could easily spend it on improvements to both high schools.
He also said Simon Lake, Pumpkin Delight and East Shore Middle School need significant repairs.
Alderman Scott Willey, R-4, a father of four children, including an autistic son, said he cannot say enough good things about the education system. Willey said he never appreciated the special education program until his son needed the services. He said he has a great appreciation for how much taxpayer money is spent on his son alone.
“It’s overwhelming,” Willey said. “The first thing I say as a father of an autistic kid is to give you whatever you want.”
But Willey said as a taxpayer, the school budget continues to far outpace the city side, and the taxpayers cannot simply keep up. He said it’s forcing departments like police and fire to not grow at a time when the city’s commercial base is booming.
Polansky said it’s unlikely that school budgets will decrease as long as arbitration awards are handed out at over 4 percent, and the costs of fuel continue to skyrocket.
“I wish I had a better answer,” Polansky said.