Downtown Citizen's Bank Robbed

Police are investigating an armed robbery Friday morning at the Citizen's Bank branch downtown.

Brandishing a gun, a man wearing a bandana demanded cash from a teller at the bank, at 123 Cherry St., shortly before 9:30 a.m., according to Officer Vaughan Dumas, police spokesman.

The robber fled on foot with an undetermined amount of cash, heading south on Gulf Street toward Milford Cemetery, Dumas said.

Described as 6 feet tall with a slender build, the suspect was wearing khaki pants, a gray hoodie and a dark baseball cap, police said. He disguised himself by wearing a blue-and-white bandana and mirrored aviator-style sunglasses and held a small black weapon in his right hand, witnesses told police.

Police have released photographs and video surveillance images from bank security, hoping anyone who recognizes the suspect will come forward.

Spalthoff Challenges Mayor's Commitment To Jonathan Law's Students

Mayor Richetelli’s sense of priorities and judgment continue to frustrate and confound me. I spent July 6Th at the Milford Aldermanic meeting along with other fellow tax payers. We were all there to speak up in favor of moving forward with the existing plan and proposed bonding for completing important and long needed renovations on Jonathan Law High School. This is a project that was previously approved and committed to by the Mayor. To date, tens of thousands of dollars have been spent. I, along with other Milford taxpayers at the meeting, spoke out in favor of completing the project, and adamantly objected to leaving important renovations to this school unfinished at a time when our community needs the investment most.

The contractor has decreased the project’s cost by nearly 25%, which will, if we move forward, save the City almost $750,000.00. In addition, the current interest rate on the bonds are likely lower now than they will be in the future, and completing the project now would most certainly bring a larger reimbursement from the State as a high priority infrastructure project. But, all the numbers and logical arguments aside, Mayor Richetelli made a commitment to the citizens of Milford, and to the students and faculty at Jonathan Law. A commitment that he is now not ready to follow up on.

Sure, these are difficult economic times-and some projects, even important ones, will have to go on the back burner. But just a few days after the Aldermanic meeting, the Mayor got word from Governor Rell that she was standing by her commitment to the Silver Sands boardwalk project. Ironically, Governor Rell noted that “the State should honor its promise to extend the boardwalk. “Not surprisingly, Mayor Richetelli agreed with her, calling her decision “wise” because construction costs are low and significant money has already been spent. Sound familiar?

Fortunately, by the end of the July 6th meeting, the Aldermen did pass the resolution to raise the bond money and finish the Jonathan Law renovations-despite the five republicans voting against it, and Mayor Richetelli’s personal recommendation to vote against it as well.

The most confusing and frustrating part of Mayor Richetelli’s inconsistent opinions is that it would appear our Mayor is more strongly in support of extending a boardwalk than investing in our schools. This, my friends, is completely unacceptable.

I do want to thank Governor Rell for standing by her commitments to Milford's infrastructure projects, and to the Aldermen who made thoughtful and logical judgments in favor of the Jonathan Law bonding proposal. And, an extra-special thank you to all of you who took time out of your day to make your voices heard at the Aldermanic meeting. It is largely your voices that moved the project forward and gained the Aldermen’s support.

Peter L. Spalthoff

Independent Party Candidate for Mayor 2009

Woodmont Day 2009 Will Honor The Late John Volk

Woodmont Day will be a homecoming of sorts for the late John H. Volk.

The director of the aquaculture division of the state Department of Agriculture for 21 years, Volk is credited with improving the cleanliness of Long Island Sound and the farming of shellfish.

A resident of the Woodmont section of the city more than 40 years, Volk died in November 2007. But the state lab's research vessel has been renamed the John H.

Volk and borough residents will unveil a memorial bench and plaque on July 25.

State Rep. Richard Roy, D-Milford, and a neighbor of Volk's, pushed the bill through the Legislature this spring. It was signed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell last month.

"When John and I were young, you could walk into Long island Sound up to your knees and still see your feet,'' Roy said. "Then for many years you couldn't, but the Sound is much cleaner again, largely thanks to John. You can see your feet again.'' Volk began his career as a biologist for a local oyster company, and did much research into how to increase the yield of bivalves in state waters. He was also part of a team of scientists that identified the parasite that decimated the local oyster crop in the late 1990s.

Woodmont Day Co-chairwoman Kelley Cummings said the plaque and bench will be at the foot of Belmont Street, next to the fishing groin.

"We'll dedicate it near the end of the Woodmont Day Parade, as the marchers reach that spot,'' she said.

The parade steps off at 9 a.m. July 25, and will take about 30 minutes to reach the memorial, organizers said.

The boat named for the late scientist will also be part of the day's events, moored just off the Woodmont shore.

The vessel is due to be replaced in a few years, but Roy's measure includes naming the new craft for Volk as well, for up to 20 years.

The theme of this year's neighborhood block party is "Woodmont Goes Green,'' an idea that would have pleased the local environmentalist.

"We'll have information booths on recycling, composting, solar heating and other things that people can do to protect the environment,'' Cummings said.

John H. Volk He lived in Woodmont section of Milford more than 40 years. He was the principal biologist for Long Island Sound Oyster Farms from 1978 to 1982. Volk was the director of the Bureau of Aquaculture of the state Department of Agriculture from 1982 until his retirement in 2003. He served as an advisor in the development of vocational-technical aquaculture programs for high school students. He published research on shellfish growing and harvesting, and was a co-author of a study of a parasite that devastated the oyster crop along the Connecticut shoreline in the late 1990s. The study is available on-line at http://www.sciencedirect.com. Volk died Nov. 12, 2007, after a long illness. Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed a bill in June that names the state aquaculture lab's research vessel the "John H. Volk.'' The boat is docked at the state aquaculture lab on Rogers Avenue in Milford.

Original Story By Frank Juliano CLICK HERE

Photo from http://woodmontonthesound.org/Feature_Articles.html

Bookworm's Delight Saint Ann Hosts Benefit

Bertha the Bookworm invites all voracious readers to Bookworm’s Delight, a used book sale, on August 1, 2, 8 and 9, at the Saint Ann School Hall, 499 Naugatuck Ave.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. August 1 and 8, and 8:30 a.m. to noon August 2 and 9, organizers said. All proceeds will benefit Relay for Life of Milford. The public is invited.

Bertha, who sources says really loves books but would never really eat one, says the stock is "delightful," including thrillers, military books, best sellers, classics, cookbooks, romance, books for children and more. For more information call (203) 874-0634.

Richetelli Budget Cuts Nix Milford Bike Patrol

There are three fewer police officers patroling the city since the fiscal year began July 1, and Police Chief Keith Mello says it’s beginning to have a tangible effect.

The Board of Aldermen voted to eliminate an officer position from the budget, saving $52,000, and the police union was the only municipal bargaining unit to not accept a wage freeze as part of a new contract, resulting in two positions not being filled this year.

“Being down three positions, there has to be a reduction in some areas,” Mello said.

One popular program being “temporarily discontinued” is the downtown bike patrol, he said.

On weekdays, an officer on a bicycle was downtown to help with pedestrian safety, traffic enforcement and to provide high visibility for businesses.

Mello said the officer also helped provide enhanced safety for the thousands of residents using the train station.

Mello stressed there is still coverage downtown being provided by regular police patrols.

The bike patrol was instituted several years ago at the request of downtown business leaders, who wanted more police presence.

This past year, the downtown officer has written 10,000 tickets, the chief said.

Mello also said this year there may be a marginal increase in the response time for “low-priority calls,” but “high-priority calls will still receive immediate and appropriate response.”

Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said there are three vacancies in the Police Department, but two of those positions could be filled at any time if the police union agrees to a new two-year contract, which would include a no-wage increase this year, and a 2 percent increase in the second year.

Seven other municipal unions agreed to a similar deal, saving the city about $700,000.

Richetelli said talks between the police union and the city are in the “beginning stages.”

The mayor said he has been in talks with Mello to ensure the three vacant positions will not hurt on public safety.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE Brian McCready