Milford News Archives

For 40 years, members of the old Myrtle Beach Methodist Church have been part of the congregation at Mary Taylor Memorial Church downtown.

Except for the untouched trays of cookies in the foyer, it was business as usual Friday at Milford Fabricating Co.

A 39-year-old Salvadoran national who worked for a Columbian drug gang that supplied heroin and cocaine to a New Milford-based ring was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a federal court judge Wednesday.

Tae Duffy, dressed as a white-faced vampire, walks through her Sun Pond Lane front yard to show off the crowning touch of her ghoulish Halloween decor: a "haunted'' black hearse with a makeshift coffin.

Toni Dessereaux sees giving to the United Way of Western Connecticut as the best way to ensure charity dollars are spread around to those most in need in southern Litchfield County.

Little more than 24 hours after Bank of America was robbed, Fairfield police had a suspect in custody.

Some people celebrated Diwali, a major Hindu holiday known as the festival of lights, with a day of chanting ancient Vedic mantras.

An old proverb says, "Be careful what you wish for.'' Several times in the past 20 years -- and as recently as 2005 -- voters here had only one candidate for mayor.

A "Hotel for Dogs'' will be coming to Gulf Street, offering pooches posh treatment and around-the-clock care.

Some residents of a condominium complex in Milford, Conn., said that they are opposed to the opening of a new dog day care , Hartford television station WFSB reported.

This shore line community was the picture of a quaint New England town in the 1950's 1960's and 1970's. Milford Connecticut had many surprises, like our cop in the bucket in the center of town.

By Brian McCready, Milford Bureau Chief MILFORD — When it comes to fundraising for candidates, city Republicans are outpacing Democratic and independent foes. Republican Town Chairman Thomas Jagodinski said the hefty advantage will help the GOP get its message to voters in the final stretch. But Democratic Town Chairman Richard Smith said the numbers are not surprising as the GOP receives a lot of money from special interests and people doing business with the city. Prior to release of third quarter fundraising numbers last week, the Republican Town Committee had raised $19,392, Democratic Town Committee, $10,792, Republican Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr., $7,950, Democratic mayoral candidate Genevieve Salvatore, $6,500, and Milford Independent Party mayoral candidate Peter Spalthoff, $6,790. After third-quarter numbers were factored in, the Republican Town Committee raised $33,286, for a total of $52,678. The Democrats raised $11,175 during the third quarter, for $21,967. Spalthoff raised $10,660, for a total $17,450. Independent mayoral candidate Timothy Chaucer raised less than $1,000. “It’s also an indication of the enthusiasm people have for the town committee and the mayor. We’ve never seen this many people or this much enthusiasm.” “Unlike the Republicans who sit in their offices calling fat-cat contributors, Genevieve is out taking her message out to the front porches, living rooms and backyards of Milford’s voters. Smith noted developers Robert Smith, of Smith Craft Real Estate Corp., and Louis D’Amato, two of the city’s largest taxpayers, contributed to the mayor’s campaign, as did architect William Silver, who has designed several school construction projects. City Attorney Win Smith Jr. also contributed $1,000 to Richetelli’s campaign, Richard Smith said. Richetelli appointed Win Smith as city attorney in January.

By Frank Juliano STAFF WRITER Updated: 10/19/2009 05:51:22 PM EDT MILFORD -- When the city sells general obligation bonds and short-term bond anticipation notes later this week, it is likely to draw near historically low interest rates, officials said Monday. Fitch's Rating Service on Monday assigned an AA rating to the $15.1 million in 20-year bonds that Milford will issue Thursday, and an F1+ rating to the $15.4 million in short-term notes that will fund, among other projects, a $3.6 million addition to Jonathan Law High School. The ratings maintain the same levels the city received when it last sold bonds and notes last April, representatives of the New York based service said in a statement. "We definitely expect rates lower than we've gotten before,'' Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said. "Milford continues to get high marks from the rating agencies; we do far better than some comparable cities.'' Standard and Poor's rated the city's April bond issue as AA+; the company uses a different formula than Fitch's. Milford financial stability "across economic cycles and despite relatively flat state aid'' earned it the high rating, the Fitch report said. The rating agency said that the city had Matthew Spoerndle, managing director of Phoenix Advisors LLC, the city's bond consultant, said the rating report "is status quo. Interest rates are at an historic low, frankly at levels we've not seen before.''

By Frank Juliano STAFF WRITER Updated: 10/19/2009 05:24:33 PM EDT MILFORD -- Local Republican and Democratic leaders swapped charges Monday, with the GOP charging that Democrats endangered public safety by cutting a police officer position from the budget. The charges are on a website, www.no2dems.com, and advertised on roadside signs reading Dems Copped Out. But the Democrats have been noting that Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. has taken credit, in debates and on direct mail pieces, for the tax decrease that the Democratic majority on the Board of Aldermen pushed through. Republican aldermanic candidates Greg Smith and Paula Smith called Monday for a special meeting as soon as possible after the new board takes office next month, to restore the police officer position. "Republicans are ... well, they're lying or very confused and yet the press does not call them on it,'' Rich Smith said. "They criticize us for undermining public safety and yet the mayor's most recent mail piece claims that he enhanced public safety. Chief Keith Mello said that the department does have three open positions, but that two candidates will begin their training in December. Paula Smith said that the Democrats on the board of aldermen also pushed through a cut to the Community Oriented Policing Sub-Station program, which is especially important in beach neighborhoods. "The program is operating, but at a reduced level,'' the chief said. Richard Smith said the press has not adequately challenged Richetelli's assertion that he cut taxes. "I know shiny things and colorful signs catch the public eye, but actual issues may serve a higher public purpose,'' he said. The mayor's original proposed budget called for a 6.7 percent increase in spending; the budget he collaborated on with the Board of Finance was basically flat. Richetelli said Monday the Democrats were able to cut taxes because of the "solid, prudent fiscal management'' of his administration, including building up the fund balance, or "rainy day'' account to the point where it could provide $3.75 million for the current year's operations.

By Frank Juliano STAFF WRITER Updated: 10/18/2009 11:56:05 PM EDT MILFORD -- The local election here has two hallmarks, candidates said: a crowded field of friends and neighbors, and the increased use of technology. Joining the four mayoral candidates is an underticket that has seven people seeking one of three seats on the Board of Aldermen in the 1st District. There are six running in the 5th District, including two from the Independent Party. A regular at aldermanic meetings here for the past several years, Prisco garnered nearly 500 votes as a petitioning candidate in 2007. The entry of the new Independent Party into local politics has led to more choices for voters, standard-bearer Peter Spalthoff said. The slate headed by Spalthoff also has political newcomer Michael Konopka running for city clerk, five aldermanic candidates, three for the 10-member Board of Education and one seeking a Planning and Zoning Board seat. Konopka has made technology the centerpiece of his campaign to become the first new Milford city clerk in a generation, promising to modernize an office that still heavily depends on paper files. The GOP is turning to Linda Stock, the city's zoning enforcement officer after years of cross-endorsing Jepson. Konopka is asking voters to treat the election like a job interview; to put aside their political affiliations and leanings and consider who will do the best job. An engineer and manager, Konopka said that he intends to preserve history while modernizing government. Digitizing records and documents, and providing electronic versions of standardized forms would be one way to do that, the Independent Party candidate said. Stock, who has also served for many years as an official of the Milford Oyster Festival, said that she sees the city clerk's office as another opportunity to provide customer service to residents. Many candidates are using Facebook, Twitter and blogs to reach voters. Rocco Frank of the Independent Party blogs daily on city political news, and Michael Brown, a Democrat running for the Planning and Zoning Board, said he makes use of a web site, www.seeclickfix.com to track complaints of potholes, burned out streetlights and other constituent complaints. Steven Borer, who as a private citizen has videotaped meetings and filed Freedom of Information complaints to get material he felt was being improperly withheld, is running as an Independent candidate for the Board of Aldermen.

Twelve hours after Thomas J. Lauro was scheduled to appear before a judge in Norwalk Friday to face a charge of violating probation in one case, he showed up -- close to midnight -- at the home of a Fairfield ex-girlfriend. Things went downhill from there.

By Frank Juliano.Conn Post .... City officials are prepared to name an interim land-use director before Election Day. The new position was created last week by the Board of Aldermen in an ordinance that adopts the Kimball Report Implementation Team's recommendations. Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. and Ben Blake, D-5, chairman of the Board of Aldermen, said they have discussed appointing a director of permitting and land use as soon as possible, who would oversee the reorganization of several municipal departments. "The reality is that there is an election in three weeks, but it is also true that the business of the city doesn't stop,'' Richetelli, a Republican seeking re-election, said Friday. " The new director, who will oversee the combined planning and zoning, building inspection and inland wetlands departments, does not have to be a city resident. Blake and Richetelli said that they want to avoid having politics figure into the selection process. But Richetelli said whoever is named the interim director would be allowed to apply for the job permanently. No salary range has been set, but the new employee would be paid by consolidations and savings elsewhere in the department. Richetelli said that although he and Blake have discussed a number of people who have expressed an interest in the job, "We are not at a point where we can discuss names.'' Democratic mayoral candidate Genevieve Salvatore said at this point the appointment is an administrative issue. Tim Chaucer, the petitioning candidate, said it might be a good time to move slowly, carefully interviewing candidates to find the best one. "What's the rush, unless it is political?'' he asked. Independent mayoral candidate Peter Spalthoff also questioned the timing. "Why not wait for another month to let the new people who will have to live with the decision made by this mayor and this aldermanic chairman be allowed to help make the new hire?'' Spalthoff asked.

Milford Connecticut in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's Charles Island Still Mysterious If you lived in Milford Connecticut you have taken a walk at low tide out to the mystical Charles Island.

Two more suspects have been arrested in connection with a drug-related killing on Zion Hill Road here in August.

MILFORD, Conn. - Milford police say they arrested a 17-year-old boy after he threatened in a Facebook posting to bring a gun to Jonathan Law High School and start shooting.

Police are looking for help in catching the trio who robbed the Sikorsky Federal Credit Union in Milford, Conn.

Trumbull resident Alexander Askalsky, founder of the Metropolitan Dental Laboratory LLC, and Michelle Bravo, partner in the Milford company, go over their business plan last Wednesday in Bravo's office.

A West Haven man waived his right to a probable cause hearing and entered pro forma not guilty pleas Tuesday to felony murder, kidnapping and conspiracy charges.

Milford Connecticut has a piece of land just one mile off its coast that is rich in legion.

A body found in Long Island Sound on Monday morning is not that of a kayaker missing since Sept.

Thirty-two years ago, a young Andy Vargo was pounding the pavement and flipping pancakes with other Explorer scouts to raise money to buy a canteen truck for the Milford Fire Department.

A Mexican citizen was convicted Thursday of kidnapping and attempting to sexually assault a young girl in a local hotel as he was smuggling her into the country.

A Connecticut jury has convicted a Maryland man of kidnapping and trying to sexually assault a 12-year-old girl at a Milford, CT hotel while smuggling her into the country.

The city's four mayoral candidates sounded off on the environment Tuesday evening, each fielding a variety of questions about how he or she would, if elected, make Milford a greener city.

A man is charged with bursting into a woman's home Monday night and threatening her at knifepoint in a dispute involving a mutual friend, police said.

Published: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 By Brian McCready, Milford Bureau Chief MILFORD — Democratic Town Chairman Richard Smith says he wants residents to have a chance to watch the recent mayoral debate on public access television. The four mayoral candidates, Republican incumbent James L. Richetelli Jr., Democrat Genevieve Salvatore and independents Peter Spalthoff and Timothy Chaucer, debated last month. The debate was not televised, as Milford’s Government Access Television provider had a conflict and could not tape the debate. But Milford Independent Party member Steven Borer, who is running for the Board of Aldermen, videotaped the event. Smith claims that after the debate, Democrats asked Borer for the tape. But Spalthoff, who owns the tape, declined to make it available. Spalthoff, co-founder of the Milford Independent Party, however, insisted no one ever asked him personally for the tape. Smith said he is disappointed Spalthoff has refused to make the tape available so all 53,000 residents would be able to watch the debate. Smith said the Milford Independent Party claims it is “not beholden to party politics,” but the refusal to make the tape available belies that credo. “It is entirely ironic that the party that says it has no party is controlling and telling their candidates what to do,” Smith said. “It’s completely contrary to everything Peter Spalthoff is spouting.” “This is an opportunity for the people of Milford to see a debate between the four candidates,” Smith added. “I love it that everyone involved with the debate didn’t see the need to, or completely missed the boat, in taping the event except the good old Independent Party.” Spalthoff also noted that Borer taped the debate on his behalf, and gave him the tape the next day. He said the tape also contained some personal interviews, and was never done so with the intent to be used on television. Brian McCready can be reached at briannhregister@gmail.com or 789-5719.

By Frank Juliano STAFF WRITER Updated: 10/04/2009 09:37:27 PM EDT

It's not as bad as the famous silence on Richard Nixon's secret White House tapes, but audio problems have kept video of the first mayoral debate here from being broadcast.Some pundits had half-jokingly suggested a "conspiracy" was keeping Milford Government Access Television from airing the debate, held Sept. 22 at the First United Church of Christ. Not true, MGAT Chairman Michael Manente Jr. said Saturday. "We're looking for a good-quality copy, but so far the ones I've seen have terrible audio," he said. "And in a program like that, if the video is not perfect you can get away with it easier than if there's a problem with the sound." Although MGAT did not have its own crew at the first debate, it will staff the second, Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Parsons Government Center, Manente said. "The stuff we shoot ourselves is better, but we can use video submitted to us if the quality is good." Steve Borer, a Board of Aldermen candidate in the 1st District, recorded the September debate, which was sponsored by the Plymouth Men's Club. Although Borer has recorded a number of public meetings in recent years, including the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Recreation Commission, he did not submit the debate video to MGAT. Borer is running on the Independent Party ticket, headed by Peter Spalthoff, and he said that he recorded the debate at Splathoff's request. "I asked Peter if he wanted me to give the tape (to the cable channel) but he said no. Peter owns the tape and he is chairman of my party."

(Editorial opinion in the Connecticut Post Oct 4th 2009) Opponents of Milford Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. are walking a very fine line.Criticizing the incumbent in a political campaign is expected and proper. But they'd be wise to stick to the issues. Richetelli, facing three challengers as he seeks another term in office, made news earlier this year by decamping to a Maryland treatment facility from Jan. 17 until Feb. 14, where he recovered from what he said was a dependency on an anti-anxiety drug. His opponents are well within their rights to say the episode was handled poorly. Indeed, for much of his time away from office, many people in town had no idea where the mayor was. This is not acceptable behavior for a chief executive. But that's not what opponents are saying. Democrats, including Town Committee chairman Richard Smith, say the mayor failed to apply for federal stimulus money when it was available last winter because he was dealing with his dependency or in treatment. Democrat Michael Brown, an adviser to mayoral candidate Genevieve Salvatore, said that Richetelli's "timing may have been off" in applying for stimulus funds. If Smith, Brown or anyone else has a specific instance of wrongdoing or a missed opportunity under Richetelli's watch, they need to say so. Instead, they seem to be trying to indirectly remind voters of the mayor's dependency problem while claiming they aren't actually making an issue of it. The tactics aren't fooling anyone. The burden is on those making the accusations to come up with something concrete. If anyone wants to make an issue of the mayor's personal problems, they must say so. Innuendo and implications have no business in this campaign. It may be there is a legitimate case to be made. If so, the time to make it is now. If, on the other hand, opponents want to say the mayor should be voted out because of his dependency, they must be upfront about it. But they can't have it both ways.

The city will not receive a federal grant that would have allowed the hiring of up to three police officers, according to Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr.

The city's being urged to come clean Saturday. Old electronics, propane tanks and hazardous materials will be collected at three different sites in Milford, making the day particularly useful for people with attics, basements and backyards stuffed with unwanted and potentially dangerous items.

Two West Haven teens are accused of raping their dates while the couples were parked in the lot of Joseph A. Foran High School earlier this year.