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By Anne M. Amato

OXFORD — An autopsy has determined that Curtiss R. Raymond died from carbon monoxide toxicity, according to a spokeswoman at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The manner of death was deemed “undetermined,” she added. That means it’s still unclear if the death was accidental or a suicide.

Raymond, 60, who was house-sitting for his brother in a Silano Drive home, was found dead on a couch Monday about 1 p.m. after he failed to show up for work.

Three dogs, his brother Garrett Raymond’s pets, were also found dead. High levels of CO were found inside the house, which is heated with propane forced air.

Raymond was last seen alive by a family friend who picked up Garrett Raymond’s 11-year old son on Saturday night to take him to a soccer game.

“The brother came out and said hello to him,” according to a source knowledgeable about the fatality. “He was probably the last one to see him alive.”

It was unclear how long Raymond had been dead before his body was discovered.

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From a press release issued Wednesday:

State representative Linda M. Gentile (D-Ansonia/Derby) and State Senator Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. (D-Woodbridge) welcome the expected passage of a pair of items for Ansonia and Derby when the State Bond Commission meets on Friday.  

Emmett O’Brien Technical High School in Ansonia is set to receive $87,000 for technology upgrades and renovations and improvements to its buildings and grounds, tools and supplies necessary to update curricula.

 “I am thrilled with the funding allocated for Emmett O’Brien,” said Gentile. “These funds will improve the facilities at the technical high school, make learning easier for students and provide the technical education and skills needed to support local businesses and grow our economy.”

 Emmett O’Brien Technical High School is located at 141 Prindle Avenue in Ansonia. The school offers programs in automotive mechanics, carpentry, culinary arts, electronics and machine drafting among others.

 In addition, a separate item on the bonding agenda sets aside $11 million for the rehabilitation of the Route 34 bridge over the Naugatuck River in Derby.  The bridge is at the intersection of Route 115 at the off-ramp of Route 8 at Exit 15.   The bridge will be widened slightly to accommodate a sidewalk.    Construction is anticipated to start in spring of 2014 and continue until the fall of 2015.

 ”I have long maintained that an investment in our state’s vo/tech high school system is a sound investment in our future to yield a well-trained, experienced workforce in Connecticut, so I’m pleased about this funding for the Emmett O’Brien school in Ansonia,” Crisco said. “Likewise, I’m pleased about the planned infrastructure upgrades for the Naugatuck River bridge at the interchange of Routes 8, 34, and 115. We must suitably maintain our transportation network to efficiently move people and goods – the building blocks of a thriving economy – and that crossing is among the busiest in my entire district.”

 The State Bond Commission is scheduled to meet this Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

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From a press release:

The state Department of Transportation has announced that two major traffic shifts are scheduled in the coming weeks to realign Interstate 95 north and southbound travel lanes to allow for the demolition of the existing northbound lanes of the Moses Wheeler Bridge in Stratford and Milford.

The traffic shifts will be completed in phases with the first phase relocating the three southbound travel lanes and is scheduled for the night of Wednesday, Jan. 16.  Southbound traffic will be shifted to the right onto a portion of the completed new superstructure. One lane of traffic will be closed at 7 p.m. so that preliminary work can begin on the realignment efforts which include resetting concrete barrier, adjusting signing and applying pavement markings.  The shift will be completed by 6 a.m. the next morning in time for morning rush hour.

 The second shift for the northbound traffic is currently scheduled for approximately two weeks later on Monday, Jan. 28.  Northbound traffic will be shifted left onto the section of bridge previously occupied by the southbound traffic.  This shift will allow for the next stage of construction which includes demolition of the existing northbound travel lanes and construction of next section of superstructure.

 The project consists of the reconstruction of I-95 in both directions from the overpass for Route 130 near Exit 33 (Ferry Boulevard/Route 1) and Exit 34 (Bridgeport Avenue Route 1) in the towns of Stratford and Milford including. 

The work includes the replacement of the Moses Wheeler Bridge over the Housatonic River and the I-95 bridges over Barnum Avenue Connector, East Main Street/U.S. Route 1 and Naugatuck Avenue.  Local/State roads that will be directly affected by construction activities include Barnum Avenue Cut-Off, East Main Street/U.S. Route 1, Dock Drive No. 1 located in the Dock Shopping Center, and Naugatuck Avenue.

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SEYMOUR – A night of “holiday cheer” will take place on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event, hosted by the Seymour Culture and Arts Commission, will be part of the First Saturday event held downtown and will include a tree lighting at 6:15 p.m. on the corner of Bank and Wakeley streets.

There will be carolers in full Dickens-era costume, strolling through the streets and shops. “Santa” will arrive at the Seymour train station at 7:18 p.m.

Cookies and hot chocolate will be served.

For more information or questions please contact Kim Osgood at 203-888-7880.

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SEYMOUR — More than 50 marching units and floats, including eight drum corps and marching bands, will particpate in the 41st annual Seymour Christmas Parade, according to Seymour Christmas Parade Association president, Robert Lang.

The parade will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, from the formation grounds on Broad and Pine streets, he said.

 A first time unit is the Marching Cobras of New York and the Seymour Tradition, a travel softball program, will return for the third time and have promised ”a holiday spectacular including their ‘traditional’ bead tossing,’ Lang added.

The line of march will include Brownie and Girl Scout troops from the Valley as well as several Valley firefighters. Other youth and adult organizations will also participate.

The parade will conclude with a float from the vicinity of the North Pole with “Santa Claus” onboard.

“Each year the Seymour Christmas Parade Association selects a person to lead the parade who has made an outstanding contribution to the quality of life in our community,” said Lang. The group chose Mary Deming as this year’s grand marshal. Deming is the president of Seymour Pink, and  has led the grass roots organization as it has raised more than $150,000 in the battle against breast cancer.

“Mary has begun something which has taken on a life of its own and continues to fight as long as necessary.” said Lang.

 The parade will follow a line of march from Broad Street to Main Street, then east on Route 67 and turning into Spruce Street where it will disband at the entrance to French Memorial Park.

Preceding the parade at 1:40 p.m. will be a performance of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by the Rita Tottenham Studios at the reviewing  stand at the corner of Main and Bank streets.

The Christmas Parade is the legacy of the late Hermann Mackenstein, a vocational education teacher at Seymour High School when he organized the first one in 1971.

 In case of inclement weather, the parade will be postponed to next day, Sunday, Nov. 25.

For additional information, call Lang at 203-888-6268.

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SHELTON — Police have arrested a Derby man on burglary charges related to a break-in at the Buck Stop Citgo Gas Station last month.

Joseph Palmer, 42, of Silver Hill Road was arrested Tuesday on a warrant charging him with third-degree burglary, third-degree larceny and second-degree criminal mischief, Lt. Robert Kozlowsky said in a press release.

Palmer was being held on $25,000 bond.

On Oct. 15, at about 3 a.m., police responded to the gas station, located at 429 Shelton Ave., for a burglar alarm, Kozlowsky said in an original press release.

“Upon arrival, police notice that the rear door had been forced open, he aid. Police checked the business and the area, but didn’t locate any suspects,” he said.

Detectives responded and processed the scene. Surveillance video showed a small compact vehicle parking by the rear door to the store.

The video also showed two male suspects entering the store, taking cartons of cigarettes and leaving in the vehicle, he said.

Kozlowsky credited the detective bureau’s investigation in leading to Palmer’s arrest and said another arrest may be forthcoming in the case.