Connecticut Postings

A Superior Court judge refused to close a Bridgeport food pantry because a store claim it was unfair competition

Superior Court judge Richard Arnold granted Joseph Ganim permission to reapply for his law license

A Shelton woman who said her friend was told to “cover up” while nursing her son at Westfield Trumbull Shopping Mall is planning a “nurse-in” at the mall Tuesday, May 31.

Danielle Elwood, a writer for the website Momotics, mother of three and former Connecticut Post blogger, said her friend contacted her Monday after a security guard at the mall reportedly contacted her as she was nursing her three-week-old son in the food court. He told the friend to cover up. Embarassed and intimidated, the friend eventually left the mall.

Elwood said, when her friend told her of the incident, she was appalled. Under Connecticut law, women are allowed to breast-feed in public. Also, the irony was a little too much for Elwood to bear. “That’s where people eat,” she said. “Why can’t babies eat there too?”

Lisa Herrmann, marketing director for Westfield’s Northeast region, said she wasn’t aware of the incident until media outlets began contacting her. It’s unusual for security guards to approach nursing mothers in Westfield malls, she said. In fact, Herrmann said one key component of the chain is to make shopping family friendly. “Westfield has invested significantly to make mom feel welcome,” she said.

In response to what she sees as an injustice, Elwood is organizing the “nurse-in,” to be held at 12:30 p.m. in the food court. “That seems to be the go-to thing to do” in these situations. So far, she’s gotten eight moms confirmed for the event, and ten “maybes.” Elwood has started an events page on Facebook and is trying to get the word out to more women. Those interested can email her at danielle.elwood@gmail.com.

Superior court Judge Richard Arnold says Ganim can apply to get his law license back.

SEYMOUR — Police have arrested two 16-year-olds who are responsible for setting the May 7 fire at the town’s transfer station, according to Lt. Paul Satkowski, police spokesman.
The fire, which cause about $30,000 damage, was immediately determined to be an arson, he said. “It was intentionally set,” he added.
A criminal investigation was conducted by Seymour police in conjunction with the town’s and the state’s fire marshal’s offices.
After speaking with witnesses immediately following the fire, police identified two juvenile suspects.
About a week later, the state fire marshal’s office received an anonymous tip on its “Arson Tip Hotline,” which named possible suspects responsible for the fire.
The names received from the tip hotline were the same that Seymour police had identified as suspects.
Following additional interviews, Youth Officer Joseph DeNigris secured arrest warrants for the two males.
Both Juveniles, accompanied by a parent, turned themselves into Seymour Police after learning police had warrants for their arrest.
Their names have been withheld due to their age.
They were each charged with third-degree arson, second-degree criminal mischief, and third degree criminal trespass.
They were released to their parents on a promise to appear in Juvenile Court in Waterbury.
No additional arrests are expected.

Bradley School, 155 David Humphrey Road, Derby, will host a health fair from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the school gym. The fair will include a yoga demonstration, tips on oral hygiene, blood pressure tests, nutrition information, car seat safety tips and much more.  The fair is the school’s first ever. To learn more, call the school at 203-736-5040.

 Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF), recently awarded the Bridgeport YMCA a grant for $17,620 in support of the YMCA’s Summer Day Camp Program, which emphasizes educational and recreational achievement while maintaining a safe and fun environment kids can enjoy during their summer vacation.

Specifically, the grant money will be used to facilitate the YMCA’s Summer Day Camp Program which serves children ages 5-12 in Bridgeport’s South End. The program runs for nine weeks, beginning the day after school ends and continuing until the day before school starts in the fall, providing seamless programming for the children of Bridgeport and helping accommodate working parents. In addition to the traditional camp activities, such as arts and crafts and indoor/outdoor recreation, numerous personal growth and development courses will be offered including: conflict resolution, self reliance, role playing and strategies for diffusing power struggles, violence and hostility. Computer Lab time and Reading Library are also incorporated into the daily camp schedule. Summer Day Camp programs run weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 For more information about the Fairfield County Community Foundation, visit www.fccfoundation.org.  For more on the YMCA, visit www.cccymca.org.

At the last Monroe Town Council meeting, Town Council chairwoman Enid Lipeles said a letter to the editor fellow Town Council member Michele Mount submitted to a local news website “made insinuations about the actions of town officials without even providing proof of factual background to numerous statements that you made…You are a member of this Council and your lack of respect not only for other town officials but for members of this Council” might open the town up to litigation.

Mount alleged that Monroe First Selectman Steve Vavrek and members of the Planning & Zoning Commission had closed door meetings with a developer interested in building a recycling plant in Monroe.

Mount was not present when Lipeles made the comments since she was with her mother at the hospital. She was given five minutes to respond to Lipeles on Monday. (She actually spoke for about 15 minutes.)

Above is a clip of her statements. She says Lipeles’ negative comments about her voicing her opinion are a form of bullying.

“I know about being bullied. Ever since I came to politics three years ago, I’ve had unspeakable things happen to me and I haven’t even mentioned them,” Mount says. “When I was first running for state representative, DebraLee Hovey’s husband came into my headquarters, threatened my volunteers, and trashed my literature…Mr. Vavrek has gone around Town Council asking people to shoot me. I asked him to please stop.”