The Source

Ready, Set, Snow!

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:50:36 GMT

Tommy Moniello, all of 22 months old, takes his first foray into the world of sledding. Accompanied by his sister Inari, 4, and mom and dad, Tommy was among the sledders who gathered at Madison Town Campus last weekend to enjoy what snow they could find.

Photo by Margi Goldstein

Finance Board Adjusts Senior Tax Relief

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:49:03 GMT

By Marianne Sullivan, Source Senior Staff Writer:

   After a lengthy discussion at its Dec. 17, 2008 meeting–which came only after a longer discussion in a special meeting two weeks earlier–the Board of Finance has adjusted the town’s senior tax relief program, but the step is not as large as an ad hoc study committee had recommended.

   Under the adjusted program, unanimously approved by the finance board, the town’s present three-tier program remains in place, with additional relief granted to each tier.

   The changes are detailed below:

   For households with incomes of $34,263 or under, the previous program deducted $700 from a senior’s property tax bill. Under the adjusted program the deduction would increase to $950.

   For households with incomes from $34,264 to $45,683, the previous program deducted $500 from a senior’s property tax bill. Under the adjusted program the deduction would increase to $700.

   For households with incomes from $45,684 to $57,103, the previous program deducted $300 from a senior’s property tax bill. Under the adjusted program the deduction will increase to $450.

   “We had a lengthy debate about the appropriateness of the tier system,” Kathleen Rossini, chair of the finance board, said.

   The recent ad hoc study committee had recommended a different approach, one that was also endorsed by the Board of Selectmen. The finance board was reluctant to approve the study committee recommendation because of costs “in what will be a very difficult budget year,” Rossini said.

   Under the present plan, the finance board sets aside an allocation of 0.5 percent of the town’s current operating budget to finance the senior tax abatement program. Abatements are determined by the income levels listed above and, for many years now, the abatements granted have been substantially lower than the total allowed under the spending cap. For instance, this year the town spent approximately $178,000 for the abatement program, which was $137,000 below the 0.5 percent cap.

   The ad hoc study committee, and in turn the selectmen, recommended to the finance board a pro-rata system that would use the entire amount set aside in the cap. Using this year as an example, the ad hoc committee’s proposal would divide the full amount set aside for the program–about $315,000–equally across all the applicants.

   “The finance board was not prepared to spend the entire cap,” Rossini said.

   In addition, there was a concern that the pool of seniors applying for abatements might increase in the next tax year because of the economy. More seniors might qualify for abatements because their investment incomes might have sharply decreased, affecting their household incomes.

   Members were also intent, she said, upon providing as much tax relief as possible for those seniors with less income.

   “Although the ad hoc committee’s recommendation had the advantage of simplicity, our board felt that allocating additional funds across the tiers was more equitable,” Rossini said.

   “We were able to reach a compromise and still provide some enhancement to the program. I think it was a step, a gesture in the right direct,” she added.

   The program as now approved by the Board of Finance returns to the Board of Selectmen, which will propose it as an ordinance and will air it at a public hearing. First Selectman Al Goldberg said the hearing and then the final action by the selectmen will take place in February, allowing seniors sufficient time to apply for the town and the state abatement programs, should they qualify.

   Goldberg called the finance board’s decision “A step in the right direction, although I wish it had been a bigger step.” He added, “The finance board was eventually able to move in the right direction. It recommended what I would call an expanded abatement program. It is not a program enhanced to the extent recommended by the either the selectmen or the study committee. Nevertheless, I expect the selectmen will approve it.”

Preparing Senior, Ambulance Proposals for May Vote

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:47:08 GMT

By Marianne Sullivan, Source Senior Staff Writer:

   First Selectman Al Goldberg said last week that he would like to move forward with votes on the proposed senior center and ambulance headquarters projects in May at the same time as taxpayers come out the vote at the 2009-2010 budget referendum.

   The pre-referendum project committee that was asked to evaluate the proposals for these two projects reported jointly to the boards of finance and selectmen in mid-December. Working with East Wharf Architects and with Konover Construction, the project committee completed a design and full cost estimate to present to voters.

   Goldberg said he has met with the Senior Services Commission and representatives of the Madison Ambulance Association and both believe that a May vote will “provide them with sufficient time to make their case to the public, to explain the need for these buildings.”

   At a budget referendum in May 2007, taxpayers rejected a senior citizen center and ambulance headquarters proposal that totaled $6.83 million. The proposal lost by just over 100 votes. The designs for both these buildings as now presented represent a 20 percent cost reduction.

   In earlier presentations, the project committee chair, Tom Scarpati, has said that there had been a general understanding among committee members that he projects had to come in at total costs below the earlier proposals. Design changes to both buildings allowed for the new, lower costs.

   Scarpati told both the selectmen and the finance board recently that “completed design definition at a full-up cost, inclusive of bonding costs” is $5,501,000.

   “This is a $1,334,000 (20 percent) cost reduction from the original proposals,” Scarpati said.

   He has also told the selectmen that the project committee believes the buildings as presently planned meet the program needs of the seniors and the ambulance service, respectively.

   Representatives from both groups have agreed.

   Scarpati explained the project committee’s assumptions in determining final costs. If the referendum in May approves the projects, design and construction would start in August 2009 and run for 30 to 36 months.

   The first building to be constructed would be the senior center, on town-owned property on Bradley Road. Total cost analysis by the pre-referendum project committee equals $3,584,420. With the new senior center completed, the present senior center will be razed and the ambulance headquarters built on that site. Ambulance garage costs are $1,801,441.

   “This committee was not a building committee or an advocacy group. Instead it was an unbiased committee meant to review the two projects, to ensure that the proposals make sense, meet the needs of the town, and determine that costs are properly estimated,” Goldberg said, thanking the group for its work.

   The results of the pre-referendum project committee’s work are three-fold, Goldberg said.

   “First, the senior center size has been reduced from 13,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet. Second, the total costs have been reduced from $6.8 million to $5.5 million. Third, with this proposal there is not need to find a temporary home for senior programs,” he explained.

   The first selectman said he will take the design proposals to the Inland Wetlands Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission for review prior to scheduling the referendum.

   “It may not be a requirement, but I think input from both these commissions will be important,” he said. “I’ll also invite the neighbors in to show them the proposals and hear their comments.”

Police Incident Report: Dec. 17 to 23

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:39:50 GMT

The Source publishes a Police Incident Report to inform residents of incidents, criminal activities, and police responses occurring in Madison and Killingworth. As those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the report does not include names. The report may be edited for size and content.

Madison

Wednesday, Dec. 17
• A 25-year-old Killingworth woman was arrested at 6:30 a.m. on a warrant charging her with failure to appear in the second degree. She was transported to court for arraignment on the same day of arrest.
• A 23-year-old New Haven man was issued a misdemeanor summons at 5:45 p.m. on Boston Post Road for failure to have insurance and operating a motor vehicle while under license suspension.
• Harassment was reported on Woodsvale Road at 10 a.m. No details were available.
• A motor vehicle accident without injuries in front of 508 Durham Road was investigated at 2:52 p.m. No details were available.
• An animal nuisance was reported at 90 Neck Road at 4:53 p.m.
• A motor vehicle accident with injuries on Summer Hill Road near County Road was investigated at 6:02 p.m. No details were available.

Thursday, Dec. 18
• An 18-year-old man of Cottage Road was arrested at 9:24 p.m. and charged with threatening. He was processed and released on a written promise to appear in court.
• A 27-year-old New Haven man was issued a misdemeanor summons at 4:25 p.m. for evading responsibility in the operation of a motor vehicle following an accident in which there was property damage and/or bodily injury and using a hand-held cell phone while driving.
• A missing juvenile aged 7 to 15 was reported at 56 Rivers Edge Farms Road at 12:11 p.m.
• A fraud case was investigated at 885 Boston Post Road at 12:54 p.m.
• A fraud case was investigated at 119 Opening Hill Road at 6:18 p.m.
• A fraud case was investigated at 280 Bartlett Drive at 8:45 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 19
No arrests were made.
• A person was questioned via field interrogation at 6:13 p.m. following the report of a suspicious person at 1163 Boston Post Road.
• A motor vehicle accident without injuries in Route 79 near Hunters Trail was invested at 2:38 p.m.
• A motor vehicle accident without injuries in front of 150 Race Hill Road was investigated at 8:59 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 20
• A 46-year-old man of Green Acres Drive was arrested at 7:48 p.m. and charged with disorderly conduct and assault in the third degree. He was processed and released on a $1,000 surety bond pending a court date.
• A brush fire was reported at 563 Durham Road at 2:31 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 21
• A man of unspecified age or address was arrested at 2:49 a.m. on Woodsvale Road near Bartlett Drive and charged with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana and use and/or possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Harassment was reported on Green Acres Drive at 10:43 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 22
No arrests were made.
• Neighbor trouble was reported on Aspen Drive near Route 79 at 7:42 a.m.
• A motor vehicle accident in front of 136 Samson Rock Drive was reported at 11:48 a.m.
• A vehicle fire was reported on Woodland Drive near Route 79 at 2:50 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 23
No arrests were made.
• A motor vehicle accident without injuries in front of 1250 Durham Road was reported at 5:58 a.m.
• A motor vehicle accident on private property at 88 Hickory Lane was investigated at 7:46 p.m.

From Dec. 17 to 23, Madison police also issued 10 written warnings and four citations to motorists.

Wednesday, Dec. 24
No arrests were made.
• Animal bites were reported at 1260 Durham Road at 9:14 a.m.
• A motor vehicle accident without injuries was reported on Durham Road at Exit 61 of I-95 at 12:58 p.m.
• Breach of peace at 633 Boston Post Road was investigated at 12:58 p.m.
• Unlawful discharge of a firearm on Blinnshed Road was investigated at 10:31 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 25
• A youthful offender was arrested at 2:28 p.m. and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief in the third degree.
• A 61-year-old Guilford man was arrested at 9:09 p.m. and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and failure to drive in the proper lane of a multiple-lane highway following a motor vehicle stop on Route 1.
• A stray dog on Nortontown Road was placed in the animal shelter at 10:36 a.m.
• A motor vehicle accident without injuries on Durham Road near Old Toll Road was investigated at 3:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 26
No arrests were made.
• A motor vehicle accident without injuries on Durham Road near Horse Pond Road was investigated at 2:14 p.m.
• A threatening incident on Renees Way was investigated at 11:31 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 27
No arrests were made.
• Vandalism (criminal mischief) on private property at 123 Randi Drive was investigated at 6:25 p.m.
• A case of fraud was investigated at 142 Samson Rock Drive at 9:28 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 28
No arrests were made.
• A motor vehicle accident with injuries on I-95 was investigated at 7:44 a.m.
• The theft of miscellaneous items from 384 Opening Hill Road was investigated at 2:22 p.m.
• The theft of a bicycle from 514 Old Toll Road was reported at 6:20 p.m.
• Breach of peace on Whedon Lane was investigated at 10:44 p.m.
• The theft of miscellaneous items from 100 Bradley Road was investigated at 11:08 a.m.

Monday, Dec. 29
• A 28-year-old man of Westfield, Massachusetts, was arrested at 1:01 a.m. and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• A 35-year-old Bristol man was arrested at 10:30 p.m. and charged with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, use and/or possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle while under license suspension, and improper signal for a turn.
• A misdemeanor summons was issued to a man of an unidentified address who was operating a green 1998 Audi A6 in excess of 60 miles per hour on a road. He was also charged with failure to carry a driver’s license.
• A missing adult age 16 or older was reported on Warpas Road at 4:42 p.m.
• Criminal mischief on private property was reported at 60 Randi Drive at 2:23 a.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 30
No arrests were made.
• A missing adult over the age of 16 was reported on Concord Drive at 7:10 a.m.
• The theft of miscellaneous items from 34 Wildwood Avenue was reported at 4:26 p.m.
• The theft of miscellaneous items from 613 Boston Post Road was reported at 4:35 p.m.
• A burglary at 98 Bartlett Drive was investigated at 6:37 p.m.

Killingworth

Wednesday, Dec. 17
No arrests were made.
• A 16-year-old girl of Cranberry Meadow Lane was issued a written warning at 6:36 p.m. for failure to grant the right of way at an intersection. She was operating a 2005 Chevy when she sideswiped at 2005 Saturn operated by a 44-year-old Clinton woman. The accident occurred in the Route 80/81 traffic circle. No injuries were reported at the scene.

Thursday, Dec. 18 to Sunday, Dec. 21
No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.

Monday, Dec. 22
No arrests were made.
• Police reported found property. On Dec. 3, one ring was located in the area of 494 Route 148. On Dec. 13, two drawers, two fabric pouches, and one earring were found in the area of 290 Route 148. Callers must be able to describe the lost items in detail in order to claim.

Tuesday, Dec. 23
No arrests were made.
• A suspicious incident at 19 Coughlin Road was investigated at 2:16 p.m. by Trooper Joseph O’Connell.

Wednesday, Dec. 24
No arrests were made.
• A 21-year-old man of Route 148 was issued a written warning at 8:19 a.m. for traveling too fast for conditions following a one-vehicle accident. He was operating a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee eastbound on Route 148 west of Roast Meat Hill Road when he lost control of the vehicle on wet/icy road conditions, skidded sideways, and struck a wire-rope guardrail. The vehicle then rolled over when it entered the woods. He was transported to the Shoreline Clinic for treatment of minor injuries.
• At 9:14 a.m. Trooper Francis Whelan reported that a 46-year-old Westbrook man (a state trooper stationed at the Troop F barracks in Westbrook) was operating a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria eastbound of Route 148 west of Reservoir Road when the vehicle skidded on the icy road, spun, and struck a wire-rope guardrail on the eastbound shoulder and was facing westbound in the eastbound travel lane. No injuries were reported.

Thursday, Dec. 25 to Saturday, Dec. 27
No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.

Sunday, Dec. 28
No arrests were made.
• A 57-year-old Clinton man was issued a verbal warning at 9:48 a.m. for failure to maintain the proper lane of a multiple-lane highway following a one-vehicle accident. He was traveling northbound on Iron Works Road 5/10th of a mile south of Jennifer Lane when “he took [his] eyes off the road for a moment,” drifted right, and struck a wire-rope guardrail on the right side of the road. A 14-year-old boy of the same address as the operator and a 14-year-old boy of a different Clinton address were onboard. No injuries were reported.

Monday, Dec. 29 to Tuesday, Dec. 30
No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.

Police correspondent Jason J. Marchi compiles the Police Incident Report

Forging a New Route

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:36:45 GMT

By Jen Matteis, Source Community Desk Chief:

   With a movie lover’s dream job and his first novel published in November of last year, Michael Attebery is forging his own path in the world of media. Mike, a Madison native and a former long-time employee of R.J. Julia Booksellers, entered into the publishing world entirely under his own power.

   “Even if you get published you pretty much have to market your book yourself,” Mike says. “I’ve tried a different route.”

   In November of 2007, Mike founded his own publishing house, Cryptic Bindings.

   “I decided I would set up my own press,” he says. “I’m the guinea pig for it.”

   All 58 chapters of his serial novel, an untitled thriller that Mike describes as his “warm-up novel,” are available for free on the Cryptic Bindings website. The serial novel ran from May to November of last year, and was followed in November by his debut novel, On/Off - A Jekyll and Hyde Story. The novel, a horror story, chronicles the life of a college student who undergoes an experiment to treat his early-onset Parkinson’s disease.

   The novel started out as Mike’s college thesis but took so many turns that he felt he lost the original story he wanted to tell.

   “The story got totally turned around,” he says. “I wanted to go back and do the story I wanted to do in the first place.”

   The finished novel tells the story he originally envisioned, and ended up foreshadowing something of its own. Fiction became fact when Mike’s invented method of treating Parkinson’s—through direct brain stimulation—became a reality shortly after the book was written.

   “I thought it would sound totally ridiculous and now people are doing it,” Mike remarks. “They’ve had some success in treating Parkinson’s with it.”

   A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Film and Animation and a huge movie buff, Mike originally had his eyes firmly fixed on the world of film production. From discovering that one could get paid to make movies to creating his own films during high school, Mike experimented with both production and screenwriting. Writing gradually took the forefront due to Hollywood’s demands on changing the artist’s vision.

   “Basically, they say, ‘I love the script but rewrite it,’” Mike says.

   In the role of author, Mike has more control over the final product. Writing comes naturally to him, although he emphasizes the need to simply keep working on a project, even if it isn’t coming along as envisioned.

   “I used to have the idea that the first draft has to be perfect, everything has to be perfect,” he says.

   Now, he realizes that it takes persistence, not perfection, to write a novel.

   “I think doing a little bit every day is better than doing it in these big dramatic writing binges,” he says. “Just keep working and see what happens.”

   Mike currently lives in Seattle with his wife Stephanie and two ferrets that the couple rescued from shelters. When he isn’t writing screenplays and fiction, he works from home as the managing editor of High-Def Digest (www.highdefdigest.com), a website focused on news and reviews of Blu-ray movies.

   “I like working at home so much that I don’t want anything to change,” he says.

   Right now, Mike is where he wants to be, waking up at dawn most days to get some writing done before heading to his day job. Currently, he’s outlining his next novel and plans to publish both his own works and those of other authors through Cryptic Bindings.

   “I spent the last year and a half revising—I’m doing editing as my day job, too,” he says. “I’m definitely getting antsy to create some new stuff.”

For more information, to purchase On/Off, or to read Mike’s serial novel (an expanded version will be released in June), visit www.crypticbindings.com. On/Off is also available from www.amazon.com. To check out Mike’s Blu-ray site, visit www.highdefdigest.com.

Pictured: Michael Attebery of Madison forged a route into the literary world by founding his own publishing house, Cryptic Bindings, and recently printing his debut novel, On/Off - A Jekyll and Hyde Story.

Photo by Jen Matteis

To nominate a person of the week, call 203-245-1877, ext. 6119 or email j.matteis@shorepublishing.com.

Appointments Made to Boards, Commissions

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:32:38 GMT

    The Board of Selectmen completed the 2008 calendar year with a series of appointments and reappointments to many of the volunteer boards, commissions, and committees that help conduct the town’s business day to day.

    Acting on the recommendation of the Democratic Town Committee, the selectmen approved the following:

    Appointment of Stephanie Danetz to the Bauer Park Advisory Committee.
    Reappointment of Pam Meier to the Bauer Park Advisory Committee.
    Reappointment of Jeff Rosenberg to the Beach & Recreation Commission.
    Reappointment of Chris Traugh to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
    Reappointment of Heather Crawford to the Rockland Preserve Committee, moving from an alternate to a regular member.
    Appointment of David Colton as an alternate member of the Rockland Preserve Committee to fill the vacancy left by Heather Crawford. Term to expire Jan. 1, 2012.
    Reappointment of Bob Cika to the Shellfish Commission.
    Reappointment of Connie Richer-Fanelli to the Youth & Family Services Board.

    Acting on the recommendation of the Republican Town Committee, the selectmen approved the following:

    Reappointment of Heather Atwater and Jennifer McLain to the Bauer Park Advisory Committee.
    Reappointment of Debra Paduda to the Beach & Recreation Commission.
    Reappointment of Tom MacDonald and Benson Werthan to the Building Code of Appeals.
    Reappointment of Richard Nace and Joseph Oslander to the Rockland Preserve Committee.
    Reappointment of Bruce Joslyn to the Shellfish Commission.
    Reappointment of Michael Docker as an alternate member to the Shellfish Commission.

    Unless otherwise noted, all the terms for these appointments and reappointments expire on Jan. 1, 2013.

DEP to Study Artificial Playing Fields

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:30:35 GMT

By Marianne Sullivan, Source Senior Staff Writer:

   The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says steps are now in place to conduct a study to determine if there are health and environmental impacts resulting from the use of crumb rubber for artificial turf playing fields.

   School districts and municipalities are turning more frequently to the use of artificial turf on playing fields–in Madison there are now two–yet some parents contend the chemicals used in the making of the turf carpet may carry health risks.

   The process for a scientific analysis of the impacts of crumb rubber is contained in an agreement recently reached between DEP, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), and the University of Connecticut Health Center. The study will be funded with $245,000 available to DEP for special projects from the settlement of cases involving violations of environmental regulations.

   DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy said, "This study is being conducted to respond in a credible manner to concerns that many people have raised about the potential impact of the presence of crumb rubber on playing fields."

   "Through this study," Commissioner McCarthy said, “a team of scientists will gather accurate and reliable data that DPH will use to issue a full Health Risk Assessment. This report, expected to be available early next year, will provide valuable guidance to municipalities, school systems, educational institutions, and others who operate or are considering installing artificial playing fields that make use of crumb rubber."

   The study will complement the work of other states in the region currently evaluating these materials.

   Madison installed its first artificial turf at the Daniel Hand High School track and playing field when the new high school was being built. According to town officials, it performed well and was used again when the girls’ softball field was developed at the high school/Polson Middle School campus.

   When a group of private citizens unveiled a proposal to upgrade and renovate Strong Field, a town-owned playing field at the Surf Club, the plan included use of artificial turf.

   “Natural grass fields are problematic for use in the tough coastal climate” of Strong Field, the group said.

   Installation of artificial turf fields has become a more common practice as cities and towns and educational institutions seek to reduce both maintenance needs created by the heavy use of grass fields and demands for water and pesticides needed for care of natural grass.

   One popular design for these fields involves the use of crumb rubber infill, which provides both drainage and a layer of padding that holds the blades of synthetic grass upright. This is the design of both Madison’s fields.

   The DEP study will involve both tests and readings at actual fields and laboratory analysis. Under the agreement for the study, the agencies involved will conduct the following work:

CAES: Laboratory tests to determine the chemical makeup of crumb rubber used on playing fields and to determine what substances may volatilize or leach from crumb rubber.

UConn Health Center: Collection of air samples at playing fields by industrial hygienists–under both stationary conditions and playing conditions–and laboratory analysis of the samples. Samples will be taken under warm weather conditions this summer when there is the potential for maximum volatilization from crumb rubber.

DEP: Perform stormwater sampling and data analysis to detect the presence of any metals or compounds in water that runs off of artificial turf fields containing crumb rubber. The agency will also produce an initial environmental risk assessment based on its sampling data.

DPH: Evaluate data presented in the reports from CAES, the Health Center and DEP and publish a final Health Risk Assessment by January 31, 2010. This assessment will enable parties to fully consider and weigh any risk factors when determining whether to install artificial turf field with crumb rubber.

   Funding for the study was earmarked for this purpose under a settlement announced May 16, 2008, between the State of Connecticut and the developers of Montville Commons Shopping Center.
The settlement resolved violations of state environmental laws in 2005 concerning construction of an illegal dam and the management of stormwater during construction of the shopping center.

Madison Kids Bring Christmas to New London

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:27:45 GMT

By Jen Matteis, Source Community Desk Chief:

   This Christmas, 19 New London families who might otherwise not have received gifts found presents under the tree courtesy of students at Brown Middle School. The holiday program—called “Adopt-a-Family”—is run out of New London by the non-profit Neighborhood Family Alliance (NFA) and organized at Brown by Val Alberti, a parent, and Beth Micciche, a teacher and Student Council Advisor who has coordinated the program for the last three years.

   This year, the program found its success through the generosity of one class at Ryerson School and all of the homerooms at Brown School in Madison, which donated the gifts.

   The recipients are New London families. The families can request any gifts—but necessities are often more in demand than luxuries.

   “They aren’t asking for really big, expensive gifts,” Micciche said. “They’re asking for clothing, earrings, socks, boots—things that the kids here [at Brown] already have.”

   Students and staff sign up to fulfill the requests. The families remain anonymous; each is assigned a number, and students only see the first names of family members.

   “We explain that these are families in need and that without our help Christmas would be [just like] any other day,” Micciche commented. “It’s a great way for the kids to see what Christmas is about—giving.”

   The kids are under no obligation to buy gifts, but most participate, with some students making purchases that aren’t on the wish lists.

   “They signed up immediately for everything,” Micciche said. “I’ve had kids buy extra gifts just because they thought the families would like it.”

   The students also contribute money for grocery gift cards, which help out kids who receive free meals at school but come home to bare cupboards.

   Members of Brown’s Student Council helped load the presents into vans on the morning of Dec. 15 for their transport to New London. The gifts filled a total of four vans, and fulfilled the Christmas wishes of more than 50 people—but that’s not quite the end of the story.

   “We always get thank you notes from the families,” Micciche remarked. “It’s always nice when the letters come back.”

   The students who participate also gain more than the appreciation of the families they have helped.

   “Most kids here [at Brown] are very fortunate,” Micciche said. “It helps them realize what they have and realize that they can help other people.”

For more info about the NFA, call program coordinator Joni at 860-443-0458.

Shirley Is Final Piece in Puzzle That Is Madison Soccer Success

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:21:40 GMT

By Holly D’Addio, Source Sports Writer:

   For Dan Shirley, growing up competing with his brothers made him the soccer player he is today. The All-SCC player plays the sport year-round and is looking at continuing his soccer career into college next fall, while also finding time to help the community.

   Dan started playing soccer when he was a toddler and grew up playing on the Madison Recreation team, as well as with Madison travel. He also played at the middle school level before coming to Hand.

   “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t play soccer,” says Dan. “I think we basically started around three years old and haven’t stopped.”

   Dan made varsity at Hand his sophomore year and played right midfield for two years before moving to defense this past season after the coach expressed a need for defensive players. The Tigers have improved over the years and made it the furthest in the state tournament this season—the first time in eight years a Hand team has made it to the quarterfinals.

   “That milestone was very exciting for us,” says Dan. “It’s a great way to be remembered—as the team that made it that far.”

   Dan earned All-SCC honors and the Coach’s Award this season, but what stands out to him is the chemistry and bond he had with his brothers on the team.

   “It’s been really beneficial playing with them over the years,” says Dan. “We pushed each other and were competitive—when you see your brother doing better, you want to be better yourself. We all just got to the point where we formed chemistry together—we didn’t have to talk on the field, we just knew what the other was thinking.”

   Once the fall high school season ends, Dan and his brothers start up indoor soccer with the Madison Indoor League. Dan has been playing for about 10 years, mostly out of Oakwood, and competes against Premier teams.

   “Indoor soccer is a bit more lax than high school soccer,” says Dan. “I feel it gets super hard towards the end of the fall season—my body starts wearing down and I feel more injury-prone. I’m so tired after practices, but once the offseason begins and we start indoor, the desire to play builds up all over again. There’s not as much pressure and there’s no legit record anyone’s watching—it’s more lax and more fun.”

   Besides soccer, Dan finds time to help out the community, specifically during the summer. As a member of the Madison Congregational Church, Dan and his brothers participate in Homeowners Organization for More Employment and have traveled to Maine the past two summers to build homes, paint and perform carpentry work for people less fortunate.

   “The people up there really appreciate it,” says Dan. “It’s really rewarding to see them happy because they’ve had tough lives.”

   As a big chapter in Dan’s life slowly winds down, Dan plans for the next chapter—college. He has already been accepted to Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania and is still waiting to hear back from his other choices: Bryant University, Roger Williams University, and Hofstra University. He plans to major in business and hopes to play soccer. Dan has been in contact with some coaches and will be playing at a soccer showcase at Lynchburg College in a few weeks.

   “This showcase is a way for college coaches to see you in action,” says Dan. “If I go to a Division I school, chances are I’ll make my main focus my major. But if I can play soccer for Division II or III, I would love to continue that part of my life.”

Sidelines with Dan Shirley

What is your most memorable sports moment?

Probably this season when we played Cheshire at home. We were in overtime and down a man because one of our guys got a red card. I scored the go-ahead goal to win it 1-0—it was a very exciting game.

Who would you like to thank?

My parents for always being so involved with us—they are a part of the Booster Club and very involved in the soccer program. I also want to thank my friends for being so supportive, as well as my older brother, Mike, because he was the one who introduced us to soccer when we were young. And of course I want to thank Jack and Kevin because without them, I wouldn’t be nearly as good as I am now—they’ve taught me a lot.

Pictured: Dan Shirley has been playing year-round soccer for much of his life and earned All-SCC honors this past season at Hand.

Photo courtesy of Doreen Shirley

Hand Girls’ Hockey off to Shaky Start

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:39:14 GMT

By Jennifer Small, Source Sports Editor:

Six games into the season, the Hand girls’ hockey team is winless at 0-5-1. While the Tigers fell 6-0 to powerhouse rival Guilford, the remainder of the losses were one-goal games with a 2-1 loss at West Haven on Jan. 3 being the latest.

“Besides Guilford, where we never gave up, we had a shot in the rest of those games,” said Hand Coach Rick Gedney. “This was the fourth game that we’ve come out soft in the first period and spotted the opposition a couple of goals and tried to climb back out of it.”

West Haven certainly took advantage of the Tigers’ soft start as the Blue Devils were up 2-0 within the first five minutes. Hand started to show signs of life on offense behind Neiha Kidwai, Haley Foye, and Leslie Allen. Carly Floyd also worked the puck through West Haven’s defense for a clear shot, but the goaltender came up with the puck.

The Blue Devils didn’t let up, testing the defensive lines of Abby Blundon and Lauren Oswald and Meghan Cummings and Catherine Chatillon in front of freshman goaltender Amanda Pomeroy, who came up with some key saves to keep Hand within striking distance.

The Tigers showed marked improvement in the second period, pushing the puck into the West Haven zone and working for shots to outshoot West Haven 11-7 in the frame. Maggie Lenahan, Jess Hopper, and Kelly D’Ancicco challenged the net in the opening minutes, while Kidwai’s wrap-around shot was knocked away at the halfway point of the period.

“At that point, it’s nothing that words were going to do—it’s nothing they haven’t heard before—but they got themselves more in the game mode,” said Gedney.

Hand then saw several shots go just wide as Cummings, Marykate McNulty, D’Ancicco, and Chatillon all created opportunities. West Haven turned it around to again test Pomeroy from point-blank range, but she and her defense cleared the threat.

The Tigers’ best opportunity came with 5:45 remaining in the second period as they sent a barrage of shots on goal. Kristen Cardarelli went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and her shot was deflected. Cummings collected the puck and slapped a shot from the blue line that the goalkeeper dove for. With a crowd of Hand players fighting for the puck, the goalie finally cleared it from the ground, but Chatillon snagged it and sent another shot on net. The goalie got up just in time for a glove save to preserve her shutout.

Hand carried the momentum in the final quarter and the pressure finally paid off. After pushing toward the West Haven net in the opening minutes, McNulty collected the puck in front of the net and slammed it home to put the Tigers on the board.

Despite several other solid chances created by Hopper, Marissa McCann, and McNulty, the West Haven defense held firm, securing the 2-1 win. Hand’s defense also buckled down, keeping West Haven out of its zone.

After the slow start—West Haven outshot Hand 8-3 in the first period—the Tigers came back to outshoot the Blue Devils in the second period (11-7) and keep it even in the third (6-6) as Pomeroy notched 21 saves.

“We’re still trying to build skills so we rely on our athleticism and determination and if we come out slow or come out soft, we’re in for a long night,” said Gedney. “If we don’t bring some intensity, then we don’t give ourselves a chance to win.”

Pictured: Marykate McNulty gets ready to slam home Hand’s only goal in the Tigers’ 2-1 loss to West Haven on Jan. 3.

Photo by Jennifer Small

New Year’s Ushers in the First Good Ice

Shore Publishing — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:18:53 GMT

    A cold front was eminent and, while the sun promised to keep us somewhat warm, temperatures were in the mid-20s. Wind from the previous day subsided and we were looking for a catch of panfish. As the ice season was young and these little scrappers were figured to be in the shallows where vegetation was prevalent and forage staged (especially in view of the impending weather), we proceeded to drill a few test jigging holes.

   The arsenal was simple. Light jigging sticks, two-pound test, a variety of micro jigs, grubs, a few pimples, and a couple of favorite chubby darters were made to fit nicely into a small backpack/seat along with a skimmer. Being familiar with this particular lake, we knew that our first attempt positioned us over a point adjacent to a gradual drop off.

   When jigging for small fish, it’s best to establish a smooth, slow, steady routine—jig up for about 15 seconds or so and then down. Since panfish often take bait lightly, any interruption should be met by a hook set. You’ll find that most hookups will come on the drop so stay alert. Keep in mind also that fish react to stimuli and will move accordingly. Food, temperature, weather conditions, oxygen, cover, etc., all play an important role in locating them. They may be bottom-feeding, top-feeding, or suspended.

   These conditions, in part, determine whether the fish caught this time last season or yesterday are in the shallows or have moved to deeper water. As panfish grow, their diets change—going through a spectrum of insects, plankton, shiners, crustaceans, and other assorted invertebrates. Understanding that small fish school and larger ones usually run solo and are often timid, fishing techniques should change accordingly.

   Panfish migrate and being successful in locating them means an understanding of the lake/pond and its bottom structure. An overcast cloudy day during a warm front may, for example, concentrate panfish in the shallows. As the weather changes, they may scatter or go deep. Knowing what their routes may be as dictated by points, dropoffs, natural/unnatural bottom structure, etc., will assist in locating a school or prize catch.

   Add more fish to the cooler by tipping jigs with a grub, worm, or partial shiner, threading a red bead, or adding a shiny spoon above your baited hook or jig for extra weight and flash. It worked for us this day. Fish smart and be safe by not walking on ice thinner than 3½ to 4 inches.

On the Water/Ice

   Happy New Year to all and hello winter, ushering snow, sleet, wind, and frigid temperatures down the aisle, offering more than a tease to shoreline ice anglers. Areas that were relatively protected were able to build ice, enough to sustain light hole-punching and a handful of fishers. Limited spots, however, did manage in excess of four inches where near-shore fishing was productive.

   First ice, so to speak, saw intermittent black crappie bites along with some largemouth bass and yellow perch action. For the most part though, southern Connecticut weather needs to stabilize for more consistent results. Northern Connecticut lakes, ponds, and coves, on the other hand, did bring out more tipups and jigging sticks and northern pike was added to the above catches.

   Prior to the cold fronts moving in, several key rivers were dotted with trout anglers both in the catch and release zones and those open to creel limits. Wind was a key factor but in between blows, fish were more than cooperative. Atlantic salmon fishing in the Shetucket River was on again/off again. At times, the broods were “porpoising,” ignoring everything but their frolic, frustrating anglers no end. Patience paid off and, when the bite was on, 12- to 15-pound fish hooked up.

   Captain’s thought for the week: “A fisherman with little patience catches trees; one with too much catches bottom.”

   Upper reaches of the Thames, CT, and Housey rivers are the places to be for striped bass action. Soft plastics, small jigs, and lightweight deep trolling are the go-to tactics to use. Stripers are usually stacked up this time of year and fishing for them is usually best before a cold front moves in. Go deep and keep the retrieve/troll slow. Remember, you’ll need your 2009 fresh water license to fish this far up.

   Note: Captain Morgan’s has all 2009 fishing, hunting, trapping licenses/permits (rifle, shotgun, archery, muzzle loader, HIP, CT duck stamps, etc.) available including shellfish licenses for Guilford and Madison. Don’t wait until opening day. Git’er done now!

   Time to welcome in the 2009 fishing season so think Captain Morgan’s for all things fishy, including the latest gear, bait, flies/flyfishing, rod/reel repair, clam/crabbing supplies, ice fishing, and licenses/permits. Swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

Tight Lines,
Captain Morgan

And the Winner Is...

Shore Publishing — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:59:34 GMT

From left, Clark Kniceley of Operation Music Aid, Senator Edward Meyer, Representative Deborah Heinrich, First Selectman Al Goldberg, and George Hauer of Operation Music Aid display a few of the instruments raffled off at the Operation Music Aid drawing on Dec. 22 at Madison Music. Lil Preston of Madison walked away with the grand prize—a $4,000 Michael Tobias bass guitar and Orange amplifier. Other prizes included a handmade Native American flute, a Yamaha guitar, and a variety of gift cards. For more on Operation Music Aid, visit operationmusicaid.org.

Photo by Jen Matteis

Madison Year-End Round Up

Shore Publishing — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:57:05 GMT

By Marianne Sullivan
Source Senior Staff Writer

For Madison, 2008 was a year of surprising and shocking announcements, a year of twists and turns that brought a score of changes and new faces. Some might say the surprises and changes actually began in early November 2007 when voters elected a new first selectman, a Democrat, who brought changes with him into the new year. And although the Police Department’s issues had begun to brew in 2007, they exploded into the open in January and continued throughout the year. There was a newly appointed superintendent of schools and tests results showing higher than recommended levels of uranium in drinking water at two schools. And 2008 was the year in which the state Department of Environmental Protection granted the long awaited and controversial permit to Leyland Alliance for its proposed wastewater treatment system. And there was much more…

January

The year opened with hearings before the Board of Police Commissioners. Sgt. Timothy Heiden faced departmental charges, among them charges alleging Heiden interfered with a Connecticut State Police investigation of Joseph Gambardella, a police officer on the midnight shift and under Heiden’s direct supervision. Gambardella was charged with theft from local businesses, including seafood from a local restaurant.
The Board of Police Commissioners, in a 3-1 decision, sustains four of five departmental charges brought against Sgt. Timothy Heiden and terminates his 17-year career within the department.
During the course of those hearings, the Police Department made public an internal affairs investigation that alleged another officer, Bernard Durgin, was meeting regularly with prostitutes while on the job and working the midnight shift. Durgin had already been placed on leave, facing other charges. The Police Department contended Durgin and three other, unnamed police officers had met with prostitutes while on duty on the midnight shift.
As the Police Department continued to bring additional charges forward in its continuing internal investigations, the Police Commission spent less than 30 minutes deciding the fate of Officer Bernard Durgin, a seven-year veteran facing 50 charges against him. The commission unanimously voted to terminate him.
The commission also terminated Officer Matthew Sterling, a former advisor to the Police Department’s Explorer Post. Sterling was charged with offering misinformation to officers conducting an investigation, failure to report police misconduct, and a half dozen other charges.
In the midst of all the Police Department’s hearings and terminations, the Police Commission hired two new officers. One was Justin Stysly, a new recruit, and the other was Rebecca Ricciuti, who had previously served four years as a police officer in South Windsor. After 22 weeks training at the Connecticut Police Academy, Stysly began his field training in Madison and then resigned.
Rabbi Howard Sommer celebrated 25 years as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Tikvah.
After a sometimes emotional debate that seemed to pit two neighborhoods against each other, the town, a cell tower developer, and representatives from both neighborhoods all appeared at a special town meeting to overwhelmingly endorse development of a communication tower at Ridge Road along Route 79.
At the same special town meeting, residents frustrated and angered by the series of events unfolding within the Police Department balked at a request for a special appropriation to pay Police Chief Paul Jakubson $84,227. “Can we fire the chief?” some asked. The payment was a negotiated settlement between Jakubson and town for payment under the state’s heart and hypertension program.
The Board of Police Commissioners also opened hearings disciplinary hearings for Officer Daniel Hedges. Hedges faced charges of conduct unbecoming an officer, repeated violations of department rules and regulations and more. His charges were unconnected to any of the previous hearings underway for other suspended and terminated officers.
Exerting their muscle after gaining control of the first selectman’s office and a majority on the Board of Selectmen, the Democrats named one of their own to the Board of Police Commissioners. Ed Kritzman replaced Republican Thomas Cartledge over the strenuous objections of Republicans.
A controversial proposal to develop 24 units of mixed income housing on property near Exit 62 and the Hammonasset Connector was withdrawn by property owner William Millard.

February
Opponents of Madison Landing, the active adult community proposed for the former Griswold Airport, filed a series of exceptions to the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) decision to grant approval of the development’s wastewater treatment system. It was the next step in a series of appeals, leading to a final decision from the commissioner.
The Board of Education proposed a 2008-2009 school budget that totaled $47 million, a 5.98 percent increase when compared to the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
The E. C. Scranton Library Board of Trustees and the Board of Selectmen took the first steps toward bringing a library expansion request before the voters. The trustees and the selectmen formed a committee to begin drafting an agreement between the town and the private library corporation.
Presidential Preference Primary results: Obama for the Democrats, McCain for the Republicans.
Republican Selectman Tom Scarpati, the former first selectman defeated in November by Democrat Al Goldberg, resigned his seat on the Board of Selectmen. Scarpati decided to reopen his consulting business and expand it to government agencies and municipalities. The Republicans search for a replacement.
The Republicans select Joseph MacDougald, chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, to fill Scarpati’s seat on the Board of Selectmen. He joined fellow Republican Noreen Kokoruda as a minority member of the board.
Governor M. Jodi Rell announced approval of a $500,000 grant to replace light poles at Hammonasset State Park “We continue to invest in our state’s largest and busiest state park,” she said.
David P. Coulombe of Milford stabbed ex-girlfriend, Michelle Wooley to death in a Killingworth cottage she was renting with her boyfriend. Coulombe then fled the scene and hanged himself from a tree in a wooded lot behind Christ Chapel Church in Madison.
Madison’s second voting district was randomly selected by the Secretary of State’s office to conduct a recount of the presidential primary vote. That primary was the first time the state’s municipalities had used new optical scanners to tabulate vote totals. The recount took just about an hour and the totals for each candidate matched perfectly with the totals from primary day.

March
In sharp contract to past years, the Board of Selectmen unanimously recommended a $47 million 2008-2009 education budget to the Board of Finance. The selectmen’s recommendation included no cuts in the requested school budget.
Madison resident Ryan Suerth announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for state senator from the 12th District. He would oppose Democratic incumbent State Senator Ed Meyer, who was seeking his third term.
The WPA-era mural at the Madison Post Office was restored by a Chicago-based company with expertise in mural conservation and restoration.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved and sent to the Board of Finance a proposed 2008-2009 budget for town operations totaling $19.5 million.
David Klein was named superintendent of schools. He replaced Dr. H. Kaye Griffin, who retired. Klein was previously the superintendent of the Lyme-Old Lyme school district.
Through most of March, Meigs Point Nature Center Director Ranger Russ Miller led seal walks at Hammonasset State Park.
DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy heard oral arguments from both developer Leyland Alliance and its opponents in the long-running controversy over development of the former Griswold Airport. DEP had given Leyland approval to install a Zenon wastewater treatment system. Opponents had raised objections and made their final arguments this month before the commissioner.
Proposed budgets for the 2008-2009 fiscal year–$19.4 million for the town and $47 million for the schools–drew few residents to a public hearing. Town officials were somewhat surprised.
The Madison Foundation and Madison Senior Services joined with their Guilford counterparts to help initiate The Shoreline Institute of Lifelong Learning. The institute offers intellectual courses during daytime hours to retired and semi-retired residents.
A Superior Court judge dismissed all criminal charges against former building inspector Alfred Astorino and Robert Kuchta, the town’s inland wetlands officer. Both had been charged with violations of the state building code after a town investigation found Kuchta had improperly conducted certain building inspections at the request of Astorino.
DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy postponed her final decision on Leyland Alliance’s request for a permit to install a Zenon wastewater treatment system at the proposed Madison Landing development. McCarthy sent the matter back to a departmental hearing officer for additional consideration.
Jason Dolce, 22, a Stonington native, was sworn in as the newest member of the Madison Police Department.
Madison became one of 19 communities across the state to be recognized with a 2008 Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Award. Approximately 200 households had signed up for the clean energy option on their utility bills, making it possible for the town to receive two free solar panels.
Helen Burland, who held the position of assistant for administration with the selectmen’s office, formally resigned. The decision shocked and surprised fellow town employees and members of boards and commissions who had worked with Burland since her appointment by former First Selectman Tom Scarpati.
The Board of Selectmen named five members and three alternates to the Historic District Commission. Although creation of the commission had gained approval from the selectmen a year previously, no members had been appointed.
The town awarded an $86,000 contract to a West Hartford company to replace the playground at Memorial Town Hall. It is one of the most used playgrounds in town, William McMinn, director of facilities said.

April

The Board of Education and its Planning Committee reaffirmed its earlier decisions endorsing a four-school model for elementary grades, a model that includes reopening, renovation, and addition to the Academy School.
The Board of Selectmen named a project committee to review proposals for a senior center and an ambulance facility. Although the projects had been defeated at a May 2007 referendum, the selectmen said they believed the projects were still needed.
The Police Commission made a special plea to the Board of Finance, asking the board to reinstate reductions made in the Police Department budget, including funds for additional officers. The finance board remained unconvinced.
The special town meeting called specifically to approve an $84,227 appropriation to fund Police Chief Paul Jakubson’s heart and hypertension settlement–an issue that had created such a furor in January–was adjourned without a vote. Because a sufficient number of voters did not appear, according to the town charter the request was automatically approved.
The Madison’s Farmer’s Market, established on the Green in 2007, returned this year.
The Board of Finance took a total of $130,000 from the school board’s requested $47 million budget request. No reductions were made in the requested $19.2 million town operating budget.
The Police Commission voted unanimously to place Chief Paul Jakubson on paid administrative leave until the conclusion of several internal affairs investigations underway and pending a Connecticut State Police investigation into his own conduct.
The Police Commission named Robert Nolan, retired chief of the Hamden Police Department, to replace Jakubson until the completion of a state police investigation and further possible action by the commission.
Rita Umile was named manager of human resources. She was previously an administrative and financial manager with the city of New Haven.

May
More than 750 avid fans lined up outside R. J. Julia Booksellers to meet Barbara Walters and have her sign their copy of her autobiography.
Just days after retiring with 20 years as a Connecticut State trooper, Madison resident Scott Pardales joined the Madison Police Department.
The first annual Joe Manganello Regatta was held at the Surf Club. Manganello was instrumental in starting the Sharing the Wind Sailing School at Garvan Point.
The Democrats and the Republicans nominated their candidates for state representative. Democrats nominated incumbent Deb Heinrich, who was seeking her third term in the General Assembly. Republicans nominated Jeanne Stevens as their candidate for the 101st district.
Voters approved both town and school budgets at a referendum and the Board of Finance set a new tax rate at 17.84 mills, a 5.2 percent increase in taxes.
The Chamber of Commerce announced plans to clean up and revitalize Tuxis Pond and committed $2,000 to the effort.
Operation Music Aid, a Madison-based organization, donated its 1,000th instrument, in this case a guitar, to a veteran wounded in combat in Afghanistan. The organization also recognized 10-year-old Meilia Ann Picquet who raised $2,725 by playing her violin on Sundays for shoppers at Stop & Shop.
The Board of Police Commissions, in a special meeting, voted unanimously to terminate Daniel Hedges, a 17-year veteran of the Police Department.

June
Police Lt. Michael J. O’Connor was officially notified that the Board of Police Commissioners set a date for his disciplinary hearing. O’Connor, a veteran with almost 20 years of service, was charged with a series of violations of departmental rules and regulations. Although the letter specifying the charges against him recommended termination, it also recommended he remain on active duty until the commission had concluded its hearing and taken action.
Four veteran teachers retired at the end of the school year. They were Sandra Brand, Raymond Dudley, Patricia McCahill, and William Ostrander.
Opponents of Madison Landing, the proposed development at the former Griswold Airport, presented the Board of Selectmen with a petition seeking a town meeting to be called to enact a new ordinance governing community wastewater treatment systems, such as the one proposed for Madison Landing. The board turned it aside, based on the legal opinion of the town attorney.
The Valley-Shore YMCA Madison Mile, in addition to hosting its annual competition, this year also hosted the U.S. Masters Swimming One-Mile National Competition at the Surf Club.
Of the 320 graduates of Daniel Hand High School, perhaps none was more pleased or proud that Ray Allen, 81, who was awarded his high school diploma after a 60-year delay. Allen was drafted into World War II before completing his senior year at Hand.
The Hand graduation was also delayed. On June 18, just as the ceremonies were about to begin, the skies opened up. The graduation was rescheduled for the following morning, when the sun shone brightly.
The Scranton Library Board of Trustees convinced the Board of Selectmen to place the library’s request for $13.1 million before voters on the Nov. 4 ballot at the presidential election date.
The first selectmen from the towns of Madison, Guilford, and Durham gathered on a promontory in Rockland Preserve to mark the spot where the three towns meet. They revived the historic practice of “perambulating.”
Gina Tracy of Guilford succeeded in gaining sufficient signatures to call a Democratic party primary for the state representative seat. She challenged incumbent State Rep. Deborah Heinrich for the party nomination.

July
Paul C. Lirot Jewelers on Wall Street was robbed. Two armed men entered the store around 12:30 p.m., tied up the employees and stole an estimated $100,000 in merchandise. No one was injured. The case remains open.
Democrats and Republicans sparred over appointments to boards and commissions, including a seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Madison Police Department arrested one of its own officers, Ernest J. Boggs, Jr., on three motor vehicle charges related to his failure to properly register a recently purchased car.
Friends of the Scranton Library collected, sorted, displayed, and sold literally thousands of books at its annual used book sale.
Ten-year-old resident Kyle Ericson traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak about life threatening food allergies to members of Congress.
Scott Harrington, a member of the Police Department’s Explorer Post, became the town’s new community service officer walking the beat in downtown Madison. The position was funded in part by a $2,400 contribution from the Chamber of Commerce.
Police Chief Paul Jakubson, placed on paid administrative leave at the end of April, presented the town and the Police Commission with a retirement offer. He is a 34-year veteran of the department.
The new, improved and relocated $6 million Shoreline East Train Station opened with a total of 199 new parking spaces.
The Police Commission requested the Connecticut State Police and federal agencies step in to complete investigations into open internal affairs investigations within the Police Department. It included an internal investigation of the chief.
The Madison Historical Society opened its exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of the construction of Interstate 95. Called A Road Runs Through It: How the Turnpike Transformed Madison, the popular exhibit drew visitors from near and far, including Governor M. Jodi Rell.
The town became the backdrop for an independent film titled Once More With Feeling and starring Chazz Palminteri, Drea de Matteo, and Linda Fiorentino.
The ad hoc committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen to look into a tax freeze for seniors told the selectmen that such a plan seemed “problematic” and was no longer under consideration.

August
The project committee reviewing plans for a future senior center and ambulance headquarters told the Board of Selectmen it needed additional time to complete its work and announced that it would not be prepared to place a recommendation on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Rachel S. Weiss was named assistant principal of the J. Milton Jeffrey Elementary School.
At a public hearing prior to a planned referendum vote, several residents stepped forward to raise concerns about the cost of the planned library expansion. Most were seniors who said tax increases were making it difficult for them to remain living in Madison.
The Police Commission tabled the retirement offer put forward by Police Chief Paul Jakubson, saying it was inappropriate to discuss “at this time.” The commission said it would wait until the close of the Connecticut State Police investigation of Jakubson before taking any action.
In a Democratic primary for state representative, incumbent Deborah Heinrich won easily–858 to 78–over her opponent, Guilford resident Gina Tracy.
The Madison Land Conservation Trust “burned the mortgage” in recognition of a final loan payment to purchase 69.7 acres of open space known as the Neck River Uplands northern parcel.
Stew MacMillan, Madison’s first town engineer, announced his retirement after almost 36 years in the Town Hall. “I have had a great time,” he said.
The project committee studying the future senior center and ambulance facility asked for more time and the services of an architect; the Board of Selectmen agreed.
The Madison Police Department hired Patricia Smith, a U.S. Army veteran. She became the fourth female officer in the department. She headed to the Connecticut Police Academy for 22 weeks of training.
First Selectman Al Goldberg asked the Board of Selectmen for an additional $250,000 to cover additional anticipated legal fees for the fiscal year just begun. Investigations in the Police Department and legal challenges filed following the property reassessment created the additional need for funds, he said.
The town was awarded a $125,000 Drug Free Communities Grant from the Office of National Drug Policy Control to address problems of alcohol and drug abuse among Madison youth.
The first day of school was Aug. 28.

September
The Police Department donated two sets of pet rescue oxygen masks to the town’s fire companies. Animal Control Officer Fran Fellows, after receiving a check from a grateful dog owner, decided to put the funds to good use for the welfare of animals.
Ric and Dawn Duques, owners of the Madison Beach Hotel, appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals seeking approval of plans to raze the present hotel and restaurant on West Wharf and to build a new complex on the same site.
Harvest, a film written in part about Madison and with scenes specific to Madison, began filming in town. The writer, director, and co-producer, Marc Meyers, spent his summers on the shoreline as a child.
The Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society installed its new minister, Rev. Claudia Elferdink.
Human Services Director David Melillo asked the Board of Selectmen to earmark a $38,000 refund check to finance a special energy assistance fund to help residents in need meet heating bill costs this winter.
On the Green and throughout a weekend plagued with fierce rain, Madison Cares started and completed its framing for its latest Habitat for Humanity project.
Heather Castrilli, the town’s municipal agent for the elderly, put out an urgent call for volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels to homebound residents.
Joseph Gambardella, the former Madison police officer charged with stealing frozen seafood, equipment from a marina, and town gasoline, pled guilty to third-degree burglary and fourth-degree larceny in Superior Court. He was given two years of a suspended sentence and two years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $4,529.30.
The ad hoc committee studying senior tax relief recommended against a senior tax freeze and instead offered an enhanced tax abatement program to the Board of Selectmen.
Reaching appropriate staffing levels within the Police Department remained a problem after a new recruit resigned and a veteran detective, James Daniels, retired.
The town and the Board of Education announced plans to begin a joint study of all school and municipal space utilization and future needs. They said they would hire a consultant to begin the analysis by the end of the year.
Three members of Madison’s Boy Scout Troop 491 received their Eagle badges. They were Eric Curtis, Alex Liccussi, and David Royston.
Leyland Alliance received a final decision from DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy, who granted the developer the water discharge permit it sought for Madison Landing, the controversial 127-unit adult condominium community proposed for Griswold Airport.
Madison Land Conservation Trust accepted a GreenCircle Award from DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy, honoring the trust for its land preservation efforts.

October
The Madison Historical Society’s program In Their Own Words: Tales from West Cemetery featured re-enactors recounting real life tales of earlier Madison residents.
The Board of Police Commissioners, after three hours a closed door discussions, recommended a proposed settlement between the town and Timothy Heiden, the former police sergeant terminated by the commission in January. Heiden appealed his termination to the State Labor Board and the state Board of Mediation and Arbitration. The terms of the proposal were not disclosed.
Daniel Hand High School students Christopher Chen, Ruiqi Li, Luke Taylor, and Ryan Thomas were all named semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Mark Hershnik, Polson Middle School English teacher and the school district’s 2009 Teacher of the Year, died at his home. Two generations of students mourned his loss.
Just 3 1/2 months into the fiscal year, the boards of finance and selectmen worried publicly about budget pressures and cost savings. It’s the economy.
The Board of Selectmen requested an additional $250,000 to cover legal fees for the eight months remaining in the fiscal year. The special appropriation was in addition to the $165,000 in the budget. Lawsuits filed after the revaluation and continuing issues within the Police Department were cited as the reasons for the request.
Madison introduced new and improved polling places and procedures in preparation for what was expected to be a record voter turnout for the Nov. 4 presidential election. Town Clerk Dorothy Bean reported higher-than-ever absentee ballot requests.
One week before the presidential election, students at the Brown Middle School held their own election complete with voter registration, voter check-in, balloting, and ballot counting. The winner was Barack Obama with 57 percent of the vote.
The Board of Selectman unanimously turned aside a proposed settlement with former Madison police officer Timothy Heiden, who was terminated in January. The proposal, never made public, was termed “inconsistent” with the requirements of the town’s police pension plan.
Eric S. Anderson, son of Carol and Steve Anderson, attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

November
The Connecticut Horse Council, a volunteer horse patrol unit, joined walkers and hikers for a trek through the trails at Rockland Preserve. The council will help the Beach and Recreation Commission with patrols of the 600-plus acre preserve and its Share the Trails program.
Voters turned aside a $13 million bond request from the Scranton Library Board of Trustees. Board Chair Ted Mallory said, “The economic fears were too great and we failed to convince enough people of our reasoning.”
David Youngerman resigned from the Board of Finance. The Democrat’s family moved to Colorado and there was a “For Sale” sign on his front lawn. The Democrats nominated and the Board of Selectmen approved his replacement, Margaret Lyons, who holds a MBA from The Wharton School.
The Zoning Board of Appeals approved plans for the new Madison Beach Hotel and Restaurant. The new facility will rise on the same property as the present series of structures, which will be razed at the end of the 2009 summer season.
With 80 percent of registered voters turning out to the polls, Madison cast 6,097 votes for Obama; 4,727 for McCain; and 106 for Nader.
Tests of the drinking water at the Ryerson Elementary School and the Brown Middle School showed levels of uranium higher than the standard set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Bottled water was brought into the schools. Town and school officials brought in state agencies to help determine next steps and to talk with concerned residents.
Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz hosted the State of Connecticut World War II Veteran Public Service Awards at a ceremony at Polson School. More than 100 veterans and their families attended.
An electrical fire damaged a guest building at the Dolly Madison Inn & Restaurant. No one was injured. The building, which contained five guest rooms, was a total loss. The restaurant remains open for business.
The Board of Education and the district’s 14 school administrators agreed to a three-year contract that grants the administrators 3.25 percent increases in each of the three years.
The Shoreline Greenway Trail accepted a donation of $100,000 from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation. The grant, the largest corporate donation received in the trail’s history, will be used to build the Hammonasset Beach section of the trail.
The Board of Selectmen named seven residents to an Ad Hoc Ethics Program Committee.
The state Department of Transportation officially designated a 2.3-mile section of the Boston Post Road from Neck Road east to Lovers Lane as a scenic road.
After waging a quiet legal battle for more than a decade, the town took possession of 85.54 acres of open space in the neighborhood around Bartlett Drive.
The New Alliance Bank branch at 724 Boston Post Road was robbed. A lone male entered the branch, handed over a note and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

December
The Madison Community Services Food Pantry moved to new quarters at the First Congregational Church’s Franklin Bower Church House, expanded its offerings to include perishables and opened on a new day, Wednesdays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Board of Education named Cynthia Schneider as Daniel Hand High School’s new assistant principal. She was the school’s library media specialist. She replaced Fran Thompson who left to become principal of Derby High School.
Former police officer Daniel Hedges filed a complaint with the Connecticut Commission of Human Rights and Opportunities alleging discrimination on the part of the Police Department. Hedges’s attorney also filed a notice of intent to sue in a letter to First Selectman Al Goldberg. The 17-year police veteran was terminated by the Police Commission at the end of May.
The Environmental Club at Daniel Hand High School filmed a video, 19 Bathrooms, and entered it in CL&P’s “Live Green – Win Green” contest. The winning school will receive $20,000. The club wants to replace paper towels with energy efficient hand dryers in the school bathrooms.
The Police Department hired a new officer, Thomas Bull, a local resident who served for 22 years as a conservation officer with DEP, the last three as the sergeant with an administrative command at Hammonasset State Park.
A group of private citizens announced a plan to renovate and upgrade Strong Field at the Surf Club. As presented, the estimated $3.4 million project will be funded through private donations.

Source Correspondent Jason J. Marchi contributed to this story.

Killingworth in 2008

Shore Publishing — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:56:19 GMT

Rotary, roundabout–whatever you want to call it, state work on the intersection of routes 80 and 81 took center stage in Killingworth in 2008. Preliminary work preceded the new year and commuters were able to get plenty of good, slow looks as construction proceeded into August. The end result? A tighter, more restrictive, and quite different-looking traffic circle that seems to have had its desired effect: slower traffic.
Another “big” story came courtesy of Artful Living. The group began its production of Big–The Musical in May with auditions for local talent, finally staging the musical in late July at the Haddam-Killingworth Middle School. Not only was the event a theatrical success, it also provided a $1,000 donation to the Healthy Communities-Healthy Kids Coalition, a program of Youth and Family Services of Haddam Killingworth, Inc.
A new tax year also got its start in May with the approval at town meeting of a roughly $21 million town and schools budget. The new budget saw taxpayers’ mill rate drop from 21.2 to 21.
The state came to Killingworth in June as the Connecticut Forest & Park Association Trails Day highlighted three activities in Killingworth: two hikes and a beginning orienteering/geocache class.
Outdoor activities stayed at the fore through June. On International Skateboarding Day, the HK Skate Park Rally and Kick-Off Meeting joined adults and kids in support of a Haddam-Killingworth skate park.
June ’08 will also loom large in 76 residents’ memories: 76 Killingworth students graduated from Haddam-Killingworth High School on June 16.
At the request of the Town of Killingworth, in July the Humane Society installed a “beaver baffle” device through two beaver dams located at 272 Roast Meat Hill Road to reduce flooding caused by beavers.
The circa-1835 Parmelee Farmhouse and Barn was among the winners of the 2008 Historic Preservation Technical Assistance Grant, awarded by the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation in October. The $8,460 grant was conferred to the Town of Killingworth to conduct a feasibility study of farmhouse and barn. The town hopes to return the pair, located on an historic farm site, to their original agrarian use.
As the year wound to a close, Connecticut State Police responded to a rash of burglaries that continue to be reported in Killingworth and Haddam. Chester, Deep River, and Madison have also reported break-ins recently. Police continue to seek leads and have simple advice for residents: Lock your doors.
Despite burglaries and an economy gone bust, the Killingworth community came together for the holidays with the fifth annual Christmas in the Village, a joint venture between the Killingworth Chamber of Commerce and the Killingworth Village businesses, on Dec. 14. The evening of holiday fun provided the perfect opportunity for families and friends to gather to celebrate the season and hope for a happy new year.

Source Correspondent Sue Cornell contributed to this story.

Old Saybrook Police Arrest Alleged Bank Robber

Shore Publishing — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:55:33 GMT

By Izaskun E. Larrañeta
Special to the Harbor News

OLD SAYBROOK

Police arrested a Shelton man Dec. 22 in connection with a Dec. 8 robbery at the Bank of America branch in town.
Jeffrey DeAngelis, 28, is also suspected in other bank robberies in Seymour, Madison, and Hamden, police said.
Old Saybrook police executed a search warrant at DeAngelis’s home at 183 Long Hill Avenue in Shelton. Police seized several items, including a vehicle.
DeAngelis was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, and second-degree threatening.
Police Deputy Chief Michael Spera said since the robbery his officers have been working tirelessly on following every tip they received. He hopes that the arrest will bring an added sense of ease to residents.
Spera also said police worked with their colleagues in the FBI, Shelton, Madison, and Seymour police departments to chase down leads that led to DeAngelis’s arrest.

This story originally appeared in the Dec. 24 issue of The Day.