Connecticut Postings

Press release:

Mayor Bill Finch and City officials will join Police Union representatives to break ground on Phase I of the planned Police Officers Memorial to be located on the median across from Bridgeport Police Headquarters.

The ceremony will take place Monday, May 30 at 11 a.m.

“When I became union president in 2009, Officer Brian Pisanelli brought these nearly 10-year-old plans for a memorial to my attention. Since then, I’ve made it my mission as president not to let another 10 years go by before we honor our fallen brothers,” said Sgt. Charles Paris, Local 1159 president. Paris and Pisanelli, along with other police union members, working together with the City Council and the Mayor’s office, then put together a plan to move the memorial construction forward.

“Our police officers put their lives on the line for everyone in the City every hour they are on the job. This memorial will be a fitting tribute to those who have given their life in service to the City,” said Mayor Finch.

Eight City police officers have died in the line of duty. The last was Officer Gerald Di Joseph, 33, who was shot during a traffic stop on James Street in November 1980. His wife and children are scheduled to attend Monday’s event.

The Mayor and the City Council have agreed to split the cost of the memorial with the Union, which has embarked on a fund-raising campaign to cover their half of the costs.

Since last fall, the union has held a car show and a golf tournament, and is selling commemorative T-shirts, tank tops and hats to augment planned fundraising events. In addition, a benefit concert with BandTogether is planned for June 24 at the Klein Memorial Auditorium. So far, they have raised $25,000 toward their goal, according to Officer Brian Pisanelli, co-chair of the Union’s effort. The union also is selling commemorative bricks to help defray construction costs. A 4 X 8-inch brick can be purchased for $50, while 8X8-inch bricks are being sold for $100.

The memorial will be constructed on the median between City Hall and Police Headquarters. Plans call for an “End of Watch” wall containing the names of deceased police officers, as well as a depiction of the City’s police officer badge etched into the granite at the center of the median. The entire project is expected to cost a little over $400,000; the first phase includes all underground electrical work and installation of water lines and footings.

For more information, to purchase an item, or to make a donation, the public can call 203.581.5131. Donation checks should be made payable to the B.R.B.F., and mailed to Bridgeport Police Union 1159, P.O. Box 882, Bridgeport CT 06604. Or, for more information log on to www.bridgeportpoliceunion.com

With the state legislative session drawing to a close, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters released a list of  “pro-and-anti-environment bills” still in play for lawmakers:

LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT

SB 210 – support elimination of the toxin BPA in paper receipts

SB 828 – support a paint stewardship program

SB 1019 – support the municipal green fund

SB 1157 – support restoration of the energy conservation fund

SB 1168 – support electric vehicle infrastructure

HB 6157 – support state forestry programs

HB 6263 – support transition for the Ten Mill program for land conservation

HB 6557 – support recreational use of municipal land

LEGISLATION TO OPPOSE

SB 1196, Sec. 10 – oppose Sec. 10, which contains the Haddam Land swap as part of annual land transfer bill

SB 1020 – oppose rollback of streamflow regulations

SB 1030 – oppose “SLAPP” suits against citizen groups

HB 6400 – oppose present language on stormwater permitting

BUDGET/BONDING

CEQ (Council on Environmental Quality) – support CEQ in DEEP for administrative purposes only, with independence of reporting, and current funding levels.

Clean Water Fund – support Governor’s and Finance Committee’s recommendationsfor the state’s revolving Clean Water Fund

Community Investment Act – maintain dedicated funds

Transportation – support the proposed level of funding for transportation with fuel tax revenue dedicated to the Special Transportation Fund, and a focus on maintenance and repair (“Fix it First”), and public transportation.

SUNDAY, MAY 28

Milford: The Milford Memorial Day parade steps off at 2 p.m. and follows the traditional route from the Daniel Wasson Field parking lot (behind the Parsons Government Center) to the Milford Green. There will also be a wreath laying ceremony in front of City Hall at 10 a.m.

Seymour: Opening Ceremony at reviewing stand at the train station on Main Street at 11 a.m. Parade begins at 11:30 a.m., starting at French Memorial Park, traveling down Main Street and ending at the Seymour Community Center.

Ansonia: The 105th Ansonia Memorial Day Parade starts at 2 p.m. at Nolan Field and proceeds along Wakelee Avenue, down Jackson Street passing in review at City Hall and proceeding to Big Y Shopping Plaza on Main Street. A brief ceremony will be held at the front of City Hall to honor veterans and former Ansonia mayor and Air Force veteran Lester Hale.

Monroe: Beginning at 2 p.m. on Elm Street and Route 111 and proceeding to the War Memorial on the corner of Fan Hill and Route 111 where ceremonies will be conducted. In case of rain the ceremonies will be held in the Monroe Town Hall Council Chambers at 2 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 30

Bridgeport: 9 a.m. flag raising at Veterans Memorial Park (Park Avenue entrance).11 a.m. police memorial groundbreaking, Police Headquarters, 300 Congress St.1 p.m. Memorial Day ceremony, Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Seaside Park,  followed by a Wreath Laying Ceremony, War Memorials outside McLevy Hall (Broad and State Street.2 p.m. Cookout on the Plaza “Saluting our Veterans” hosted by Mayor Bill Finch, City Hall Annex Plaza, 999 Broad St.

Derby-Shelton: Starts at 9 a.m. in Derby at Cottage and Elizabeth streets. It will go down Elizabeth Street to Main Street then on to Bridge Street. There will be a pause on the bridge for a ceremony where a wreath will be dropped into the Housatonic River in memory of all those lost at sea, who never received a proper burial.The parade will reform and will turn right off the bridge onto Howe Avenue in Shelton. The parade will then go left onto White Street, left onto Coram Avenue, left onto Center Street and right onto Howe Avenue, ending at Cornell Street.Following the parade there will be a memorial service at the Sutter Terlizzi Post 16 American Legion.

Seymour: Emil Senger Post 10 will conduct Memorial Day services on at 9 a.m. on the Bank Street Bridge to cast a wreath in honor and memory of veterans lost at sea. Services will resume at 10 a.m. at Veteran’s Grove at French Memorial Park to honor war dead.  Participation is open and welcome for all Veterans Groups, as well as the public. The post quarters will be open for coffee and pastry before and after the services.

Oxford: Third annual Memorial Day 5K Freedom Run/2 mile fitness walk/Kids Rock Hopper Run starting at 8 a.m. at Town Hall on Route 67. Note Route 67 will be closed starting at Great Hill Road at 8 a.m.Parade starts at 11 a.m. from Pleasant Valley Shopping Center on Route 67 to Town Hall. A ceremony will follow.

Fairfield: Parade begins at 10 a.m. The line of march will be East from South Pine Creek Road along Post Road to the Library; south along Old Post Road; East along Old Post Road passing the Town Green and continuing beyond South Benson Road. A picnic at the Fairfield Historical Society from noon to 4 p.m. takes place after the parade.

Stratford: Memorial services begin at 1 p.m. on Academy Hill. At 2:15 p.m., the parade steps off heading north on Main Street to the reviewing stand at Main Street and Hurd Avenue, ending at Paradise Green.

Trumbull: Begins with a ceremony at the Town Hall at 12:30 p.m. to honor veterans and presents wreaths past wars. The parade begins at 2 PM in front of Marissa’s Ristorante on Route 111 (Main Street). Marching will be the Milford Volunteers Ancient Fife and Drum Corps along with marching bands from the military, Trumbull High School, and Madison and Hillcrest Middle Schools. This year’s theme, “Honor the Sacrifice” was submitted by 4th grader Patrick Gasparrini who will be marching with the Grand Marshal.

Westport: Parade begins at 9 a.m. at Saugatuck Elementary School and travels up Riverside Avenue, over the Post Road and on to Town Hall. There will be coffee and doughnuts available at the starting point of the parade from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. which will be provided by the Westport Kiwanis Club.

OXFORD — Police are investigating the untimely death of an Ansonia man, according to State Police Sgt. Dan Semosky, spokesman.
He said the body of the man, in his mid-30′s, was found in a wooded area near Silano and Punkup roads Wednesday afternoon, around 3:30 p.m.
“It’s a non-suspicious, but untimely death,” Semosky said. He said it appears to be a suicide.
He said a police officer spotted a car in that area and searched the surrounding area and discovered the body. The name of the deceased was not immediately released.
Semosky said anyone who might have noticed any activity in that area Wednesday afternoon, prior to the body being discovered, should contact his office at 203-888-4353.

STRATFORD –– The Bunnell High School Marching Band wears uniforms that are more than 20 years old, and those connected with the band say that if enough people “vote” for the band on a Pepsi-sponsored website, the school will get a grant for new ones.

New uniforms cost about $300 to $400 each, and the band would need at least 120 uniforms to properly outfit its 110-member band. The price for all of this is between $40,000 and $50,000.

The Pepsi Refresh Project has $1.3 million to donate to nonprofit organizations and causes every month, and the band hopes to get some of that money.

So, here’s how to vote:

1. Visit the website www.refresheverything.com

2. Click on the $50,000 category and select the “Near You” item on the drop-down menu.

3. The Bunnell High band will be at the top of the list. Voting ends on Tuesday, May 31, and you can vote for the band once per day.

4. Band supporters can also vote on Facebook by typing “Refresh Everything Bunnell” in the search function.

5. There’s also 100 “power votes” available under some Pepsi bottles with yellow caps.

Bridgeport will allow Mark IV Construction to continue dumping in East End property on Seaview Avenue until after election day according to proposed court deal. Residents in an uproar. More information coming soon. Follow @dantepfer on Twitter for information from the scene of the proposed agreement.

BRIDGEPORT — Zoning Official Dennis Buckley is again the subject of an investigation by the city’s Labor Relations Department.
When asked Wednesday, city spokesperson Elaine Ficarra confirmed that Buckley is under investigation once more — only one year after he was suspended for several months as a result of a previous investigation into multiple allegations of sexual harassment.
This time, Buckley, who is still on the job, is being investigated for a potential violation of work rules.

After enduring months of snow and rain, we finally got some sun today. But, lest we forget, the glowing ball of gas in the sky brings with it a whole new set of issues — not shoveling or leaky roofs, but the fear of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, accounting for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. Fortunately, skin cancer is largely preventable if you protect yourself from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Now that warmer weather finally seems to be upon us, David J. Leffell, chief of dermatologic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine said it’s important to be sun-smart, particularly with Memorial Day right around the corner.

“Memorial Day weekend is the iconic beginning of the summer sun season,” Leffell said. “And it’s a great opportunity to do some things to protect ourselves from the harmful effect of the sun while still enjoying the great outdoors.”

Here are a few of his tips for sun safety:

•  Take a break from the outdoors: Though the sun in the sky might fill you with dreams of dashing outside to enjoy the warm weather, Leffell said you should try to avoid being outside between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The sun is brightest during this time period, Leffell said, you’re better off saving outdoor activities — swimming, walking on the beach, playing sports — for the early morning or late afternoon and evening. “There’s no reason that you need to be out in the middle of the day,” he said.
• Apply (and reapply) sunscreen: Most people know the importance of applying sunscreen (Leffell recommends using one with UVA protection and an SPF of 30), but they might not know the value of re-applying. Leffell said outdoor enthusiasts tend to apply sunscreen once, and think they’re safe for the day. Not true, he said. “If you’re, swimming, biking, kayaking, playing tennis (or doing something else that causes you to sweat) you need to reapply,” he said. That’s true even if your sunscreen is waterproof. Also — and you probably already know this — it’s of the utmost importance to put sunscreen on children. “The majority of sun damage occurs before you reach age 18,” Leffell said.
• Wear a hat. Even if it looks stupid: Like wearing sunscreen, wearing a hat in the sun is a well-known safety precaution. But you might not know that a baseball cap doesn’t offer enough protection. Leffell said you need to wear a hat with a two-inch brim all the way around. That goes for men as well as women. Leffell said many men are reluctant to wear a wide-brimmed hat in public, but he suggested they put it in perspective. “Wearing that hat is a lot less unpleasant than dealing with skin cancer,” he said.

For more of Leffell’s tips on sun safety, visit his website, www.totalskinandhealth.com.