By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — If Robert Gregory received royalties for coming up with Milford’s slogan, "A Small City with a Big Heart!" he would be a rich man.
The phrase was thrown around liberally at a press conference this week to announce the kickoff of the second annual "Butternut Buddy Month" fundraiser to help the Beth El Shelter.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. and the owners of Bobette’s Take Out, Bobette Moore and Gary Caulfied, held the press conference with Beth El Executive Director Toni Dolan.
Last year, Bobette’s raised about $2,000 for the homeless shelter by selling their popular "Butternut Buddy" soup.
"This is a great program," said Richetelli, who was decked out in a Bobette’s T-shirt, publicizing the event.
"To raise $2,000 the first year is tremendous. Milford is a giving community. It’s people like Bobette and Gary and their customers that make Milford so caring. They live it. Milford really is a small city with a big heart."
Caulfield said he is grateful to Richetelli for helping to publicize the fundraiser, and declaring February "Butternut Buddy Month."
"This is so cool. We’re just blown away," Caulfield said. "It’s the best place to be."
Starting today, aThursday,nyone who frequents the 93 Boston Post Road deli can purchase the Butternut Buddy soup.
For every cup purchased, $1 will be donated to Beth El, with $2 donated for a bowl and $3 for a quart. T-T-shirts may be purchased for $20 along with bracelets.shirts and bracelets may be purchased for $20 each.
"People love the butternut bisque, and it not only helps the Beth El, but people get a great soup," Caulfield said. "We wanted to make it a win-win."
Moore said she and Caulfield came up with the idea because they feel blessed by their successes and just "want to give something back to Milford."
Dolan said money that comes through such fundraisers is integral to the success of the agency.
TWith state funds shrinking and more non-profits popping up, fundraisers are necessary to help fund programs.he funds raised help the agency provide a parenting program, or to purchase books or games for children.
"With something like this, it’s the community connectedness," Dolan said. "We’re recognized by being a part of the community. This helps out truly those who are less fortunate. It speaks the spirit of this community."

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — After recently encountering several homeless people searching for shelter on deadly cold winter nights, city officials are exploring the possibility of creating a "no freeze" emergency homeless shelter.
An interagency task force was formed to figure out how great the need is for an emergency shelter and to eventually decide whether creating one is feasible for the city, Fire Chief Louis LaVecchia said Thursday.
"We know there is a need, we just don’t know how much of a need," LaVecchia said. "But that’s what we’re looking at, and it’s something that can’t wait."
But Human Resources Development Director Lisa Diamond-Graham, who is spearheading the effort, was quick to point out that the city is currently only trying to determine the level of need and no specific plans have been made.
She declined to comment further on the effort and said, "It would be irresponsible to talk about it before we know what the issues are."
The interagency task force was formed at the end of December and has met three times. It includes representatives from the Board of Health, Fire Department, Mayor’s Office, Department of Public Works, HRD and the Beth-El Center for the homeless.
The task force was formed after homeless people tried to find shelter on a cold December night at the fire station on New Haven Avenue, LaVeccia said. The Fire Department called the nearby Beth-El Center, but the 32-bed shelter that offers transitional housing had no room.
"Part of what we do at (HRD) is outreach work, and from time to time we have incidents when we need to place people in shelters and there have been times in our town where there were no openings," Diamond-Graham said. "The last incident was during (this) winter and on a Friday afternoon and the person didn’t want to leave Milford. That made me begin to wonder what happens to these people."
The Beth-El Center is typically full during winter months as its residents can stay up to three months. People usually choose to stay for the full time allowed during the coldest months of the year. The Beth-El Center doesn’t offer emergency shelter and people must first fill out an "intake request." It is extremely rare for someone to be accepted the day they apply and beds become available infrequently during the winter months, said a representative from the center.
People who need emergency shelter are given transportation to "no-freeze" shelters in New Haven, Bridgeport or Derby, said police spokesman Officer Vaughan Dumas.
The initial goal was to create an emergency shelter in Milford immediately, but it quickly became clear that logistical hurdles were too difficult to make that possible, Mayoral Assistant John H. O’Connell said. There is no timeline set for a decision on whether a shelter will go forward, but O’Connell said that by the time extreme temperatures hit the area in the late fall is "more realistic."
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 876-3030. Visit the All About Milford blog at www.nhregister.com, click on Blog Central.