Milford Mayor Richetelli Invites Community to 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

The City of Milford, in conjunction with the Milford Clergy Association, will remember the events of September 11, 2001 on Sunday, September 11, 2011 with a ceremony of song and prayer beginning at 5 p.m. The event will be held at the September 11 Monument on historic City Hall grounds, and Mayor James L. Richetelli, Jr. invites all residents to attend. To begin the event, the honor guards of the Milford Police Department and Fire Department will present the colors. Students from the three middle schools will participate in the short but meaningful remembrance. Sandie James will sing the National Anthem and the Milford Concert Band, music will be provided by the Jonathan Law and Foran High School choirs, the Milford Volunteer Ancient Fife and Drum Corps, and the New Haven County Firefighters Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. In addition, Milford will participate in the National Moment of Remembrance of the 10th Anniversary of September 11th. At 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2011 church bells will ring to begin a silent moment of reflection on the lives that were lost on that fateful day. Mayor Richetelli asks that all residents fly their American flags. And per a suggestion from Milford resident Nancy Cathey, all residents also are asked to place two candles in a front window representing the twin towers on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights.  For Immediate Release
In case of inclement weather, the September 11th ceremony this year will be moved into the City Hall Auditorium. - 30 -

Tonight the Milford Board of Aldermen will vote on whether to authorize the mayor to be able to spend money to purchase items that are necessary for the Hurricane Irene cleanup.

I'm going to the meeting, and will be writing tonight about this. I'd like to hear what residents think of this. Please email me bmccready@nhregister.com, or send me a Facebook message. You can find me on Facebook by searching for Brian McCready.

Thanks,

Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
203-789-5719

Come to Cafe Atlantique, 33 River St., Milford, 6 to 7 p.m. Sept.7 as part our ongoing community engagement. You’ll meet Milford Bureau Chief Brian McCready, who will join Milford mayoral candidates, Democrat Ben Blake, and Republican Bernard “Bob” F. Joy Jr. If you can’t attend but want to ask the candidates questions email bmccready@nhregister.com, he will ask them. Check www.nhregister.com for a recap and videos.

Woodbridge was hard hit by Hurricane Irene and had the highest percentage of residents without power in the region. The Police, Fire Department and Public Works are working together with UI to have electricity restored as soon as possible.
The Town has been in daily contact with officials from United Illuminating concerning the restoration of power to residents and businesses in Woodbridge. As of August 30, 2011, 1,368 residents are out of electricity (45%) which is down from 2,992 on August 29th, or 79%.
The UI has four tree crews and five line crews clearing debris and restoring power. UI anticipates that it will be 5 to 10 days before power is restored throughout Woodbridge. UI has supplemented its crews with crews from out-of-state. Fallen trees need to be removed and wires and poles fixed before power can be restored. It is important residents keep away from all downed power lines until UI can respond. Information on power restoration can be found at the UI website: www.uinet.com.
Homeowners are advised to check the electric service to their homes. If anything appears suspicious they should call the Police (203-387-2511) or the Fire Department (203-389-3400).
TOWN SERVICES
The Town Hall and The Center building offices (the old Center School) are open for business as usual.
The Library is open for regular hours.
The Transfer Station is open Tuesday-Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Brush fees have been waived for two weeks. A permit must be obtained to bring brush to the Transfer Station. Contact the Facilities Office at 203-389-3420.
Water is available 24 hours at The Center building outside faucet on the side of the building near the Town Green (where concerts are held) and at the Town Hall pump house (small white building to the right of Town Hall). Please bring your own containers. Bottled water is also available at the Woodbridge Fire House.
Beecher Road School
Beecher Road School will reopen on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. Please check www.woodbridge.k12.ct.us for more information.
Senior Center
Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – come and visit, play cards, watch TV and charge your electronic devices.
Showers
The Jewish Community Center, 360 Amity Road is open for Woodbridge residents from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. – best time is between 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Planet Fitness (160 Amity Road) also has shower facilities available for Woodbridge residents from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at no charge.
Call Woodbridge Town Hall at 203-389-3400 or 203-389-3401 for additional information

Edward Maum Sheehy
First Selectman

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
bmccready@nhregister.com
Students attending schools in the Orange elementary schools and the Amity Regional School District comprising Bethany, Orange, and Woodbridge will not be reporting back to school until Tuesday, Sept.6 due to Hurricane Irene.
Amity Superintendent of Schools John Brady said he has been strongly advised by town emergency and Department of Public Works personnel that many roadways throughout the district remain “unsafe.”
In some instances, trees are still resting on power lines that could give way,” Brady said.
Amity has power at the Orange Middle School and at the High School in Woodbridge, but the middle school in Bethany remains without power, the superintendent said.
“It is anticipated that these conditions will persist throughout this week,” Brady said.
Amity will operate this first day with a delayed opening for grades 10-12 students at the high school and for grade 8 students at the middle schools with arrival at 9:30 a.m. Grades 9 and 7 students will follow their previously published day 1 schedule arriving for orientation at 7:30 a.m.
Brady said he is still planning on how to make up for the lost school days.
“We regret any inconvenience this change will cause families, but find it unavoidable,” Brady said.

The good news is Irene said good night to the region Sunday, but the bad news is the destruction left behind. I've been chronicling the damage as best I can the past couple of days with video, pictures, and stories that are all at www.nhregister.com.

However, I'm sure there are numerous other compelling stories I missed, and if you have anything to share please email me at bmccready@nhregister.com

The big story now seems to be the 8,000 Milford households without power, and the fact a majority of Orange and Woodbridge continues to operate in the dark. If you have any interesting lack of power stories to share please email me, and I'll use them in an article I'm writing.

Also in Milford we're expecting to learn when back to school will occur, and you can get the latest by following me on Twitter @nhrbmccready

Thanks,

Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
203-789-5719

Today, I drove around Point Beach Drive in Milford and saw something resembling a war zone. Debris was strewn everywhere. Homes were missing the first floors, and decks were blown half way across the street. Power still is out to 38 percent of residents, and several roads are impassable.

I obviously, haven't spoken with all residents, but if anyone has any information or pictures they'd like to send me letting me know about their Hurricane Irene experience please email me at bmccready@nhregister.com, and find me on Facebook Brian McCready. I have two accounts the one with me and a baby is my work account where I post often regarding Milford. You can also follow me on Twitter @nhrbmccready.

Also the start of school was planned for Wednesday but that is not happening anymore. A new start date has yet to be decided.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.

Mayor James L. Richetelli, Jr., joined by his team of emergency managers, today issued strong warnings for residents to prepare and make adequate plans for the approaching hurricane.
At a 1 p.m. press conference in City Hall auditorium, the Mayor outlined the results of his meetings to date with emergency managers, a timeline for the availability of services for city residents, and emphatic warnings about storm preparedness.
“The latest forecast models show that Hurricane Irene has accelerated,” Mayor Richetelli said. “We are now expecting heavy rain Saturday afternoon through the evening. Tropical force winds are expected to arrive by midnight, with hurricane force winds whipping in by daybreak Sunday and City of Milford continuing through early afternoon. With this storm, we are expecting seven to nine inches of rain, which will cause moderate to major coastal flooding and major urban flooding.”
With the safety of Milford residents in mind, Mayor Richetelli advised the following:
• All City residents should immediately review their emergency plans with family members and prepare for the possible interruption of electrical power for an extended period of time.
• Information on preparing your home and property for a storm of this magnitude is available at www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org.
• Residents with special medical needs and/or life support issues should prepare TODAY by identifying and securing back-up power sources to meet their needs.
• Shoreline residents, as well as residents who live in flood-prone areas throughout the City, are encouraged to leave their homes by Saturday afternoon, when heavy rains are expected to begin. When tropical force winds begin as anticipated Saturday night, it may be too late to evacuate.
• Vehicles in shoreline or flood-prone areas must be moved to higher ground. School parking lots throughout the City may be used for this purpose for the duration of Hurricane Irene.
• Residents who evacuate their homes are encouraged to first seek alternate shelter with family and friends but, if this is not feasible, they should plan to use area hotels or the emergency shelter.
• In coordination with the Board of Education, the City has designated Jonathan Law High School, 20 Lansdale Avenue, as its emergency shelter.
• The emergency shelter will open at 6 p.m. Saturday, August 27th, and will be managed by the American Red Cross in conjunction with the City Health Department. Residents using the emergency shelter should bring enough clothing, personal items and necessary medical supplies or medications to last for an extended period of time. Elderly residents who have live-in aides should bring their aides to shelter also, as the emergency shelter staff will be unable to provide assistance of that nature.
• A pet shelter, managed by the city Animal Control Department, will be available at the Jonathan Law High School emergency shelter also. Pet owners should bring enough food to last their pets for an extended period of time. It is anticipated that the impact of this storm will be days or weeks – not hours.
• Residents who have questions about storm-related issues or who
want to report a non-emergency storm-related incident may call the Emergency Operations Center at (203) 874-6782. The Emergency Operations Center is open, and is being staffed appropriately by City personnel.
• General information about storm resources is available by calling the State Info Line, 211, or the City storm hotline, 8-STORM-2. The City website, www.ci.milford.ct.us, also will carry storm updates and information.
• To report downed wires during the storm or any other emergency, residents should dial 911.
• Power outages at residences may be reported by calling United Illuminating at 1-800-722-5584. To view outage maps and the progress toward restoring power, please consult www.uinet.com/outagemap.
• Residents who do not evacuate their homes and are not essential personnel are encouraged to STAY HOME FOR THE DURATION OF THE STORM AND THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH to allow emergency personnel, utility workers and clean-up crews to safely perform their jobs.
Mayor Richetelli said, “Residents should remain calm and use common sense as they prepare for this storm. However, this hurricane must be taken very seriously, and I urge all residents to heed the warnings and take necessary precautions now.”

The money will be used to support 'Books for Kids Read at Home'

Read to Grow, a statewide early literacy nonprofit, has received a $38,600 award from United Way of Coastal Fairfield County to fund year two of the “Books for Kids Read at Home Initiative,” according to a statement.

"The initiative is a partnership between Read to Grow and United Way, developed to ensure that children in United Way's 12-town region have age-appropriate books to read at home," the statement said.

Myra Healy, who is is responsible for recruiting book drive sponsors, developing community collaborations and building awareness of literacy resources available to families in the Greater Bridgeport and Greater Norwalk areas, as well as coordinating book distribution, will continue as project coordinator, the statement said.

"During the partnership’s first year, more than 20,000 new and gently used books were distributed to children through child care programs, health care facilities, school and community organizations, such as the South End Community Center, Optimus Health Care, Cesar Batalla Elementary, Geraldine Johnson School, The Open Door Shelter, and the Norwalk Housing Authority Learning Centers," the statement said. "Many of these books were donated to the initiative through book drives run by individuals, schools, sports teams, companies and others interested in supporting early literacy."

To run a book drive or donate books to support children’s literacy, call Read to Grow at 203-488-6800 or visit www.readtogrow.org.

 

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.

The event will include "special guests" from across the area, organizers said.

MILFORD — A reception for Democratic mayoral nominee Ben Blake will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at Carmen Anthony Steakhouse, 660 State St., New Haven.


Hosts of the event are Jay Arcata, Edmund Q. Collier, Ben Gettinger, Chris Nelson and Giovanni Spennato.

Special guests are state Attorney General George Jepsen, U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5, state Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, state House Majority Leader J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, and state Rep. James M. Albis, D-East Haven.

To RSVP, email gettinger@blakeformilford.com.
Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed. It is posted here as public information.

Check out what's new; admission and parking are free

ORANGE — St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 480 Race Brook Road, will present Odyssey: A Greek Festival Sept. 2-5, featuring Greek food, music, marketplace and dancing, rain or shine.


New this year is the “Meze Grill,” with gourmet appetizers (meze), including saganaki (cheese flamed with brandy), grilled seafood, and live Greek and Anatolian music.

Also, there will be cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, bookstore, flea market, lectures on Greek culture and religion, and tours of the church.

For children, there will be rides, games and a magic show.

Raffle prizes, include a 2011 Chevrolet Aveo sedan.

Senior citizens get at 20 percent discount on meals from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 2.

Festival hours are noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 2-4, and noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 5.

Admission and parking are free.

For details, call 203-795-1347 or visit http://www.saintbarbara.org/

The Milford Republican Town Committee will officially open its 2011 Campaign Headquarters on August 25, and invites the public to snack and chat with the candidates.
Free food will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Headquarters, located on the Boston Post Road adjacent to K-5 Arms and across from the former Cinema site. Top of the ticket Republican candidates will be on hand, including mayoral candidate, Alderman Bob Joy, and City Clerk Linda Stock. The event will be a great opportunity to hear the Row B candidates’ views on important issues and to let them know what your concerns are.
After snacking and chatting, the public is invited to stay at Headquarters to attend the open MRTC monthly meeting. The meetings feature financial updates, campaign news and lively political dialogue about the upcoming municipal election on November 8th. Meetings typically last less than an hour.
Further information about the Milford Republican Town Committee is available at www.MilfordRepublicans.org. The MRTC Chairman is Tom Jagodzinski.

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed. It is posted here as a public notice only.

The class satisfies Connecticut licensing requirements

MILFORD — Coast Guard Auxiliary 24-3, 1 Helwig St., is offering About Boating Safety course Aug. 13.


For advanced registration, go to http://a0142403.uscgaux.info/. Walk-ins are welcome.

Class starts at 8 a.m. Instruction will cover the basics involved in the safe operation of recreational boating and seamanship and safe personal watercraft operation.

Completion of the eight-hour course satisfies state licensing requirements for both boats and personal watercraft. Cost: $60.

For more information, call 860-663-5505, or visit http://a0142403.uscgaux.info/.
 
Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.

STRATFORD — The second weekend of Festival! Stratford 2011 will be held rain or shine Aug. 18-21, on the grounds of the American Festival Theatre, 1850 Elm St.


Professional companies, community theater, regional artists, musicians and more will perform rain under a tent. In between shows, attendees have a chance to see part of the theater or peruse the artists’ showcase. Food will be provided by local vendors.

For a calendar, go to www.festivalstratford.org or email festivalstratfordct@gmail.com.

There is more than one way to vote

STRATFORD — The CRRA Garbage Museum, 1410 Honeyspot Road Extension, is looking for votes to help save it from closing.


Jaimie McCarvill, a museum educator, put the museum in competition for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant to help fund the museum’s environmental education programs.

Grants are awarded based on the results of online voting.

The museum, which has taught more than 350,000 people about protecting the environment since 1995, is on the brink of closing because of lack of funding.

Go to www.refresheverything.com/save-the-garbage-museum and voting can be done once a day. Those who register as “power voters” can enter the 10-character alphanumeric codes found on specially marked Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and Pepsi Max products, and their votes will be multiplied by a random factor of 5 to 100.

Votes may also be cast by text-messaging 108024 to Pepsi (73774). Voting ends Aug. 31.

The museum will be notified the next day if it is a finalist.

The museum needs to raise $100,000 before the end of the month in order to keep its doors open for fiscal 2011-12, according to Paul Nonnenmacher, director of public affairs for CRRA.

The museum has a projected budget of $340,000.

For more information, call 203-381-9571 or find the museum on Facebook. Admission is $3 per person, free for children age 2 and under.
Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.