Fall Approaches In Milford

Hard to believe but the kids are back in school and summer is over. Time certainly appears to fly by, and as the coming months arrive so will the splendid beauty of all that fall brings to our great community.

Every fall Milford becomes a mecca of student activity, some from nearby ST. Mary's Catholic School, others from nearby public schools but none are more interesting than the the girls in uniform from Laurelton Hall.

These girls, often seen shopping downtown and dressed in their navy blue and white garb, add a very special relief to the backdrop of our community. Uniforms are special to me because when I was a boy, and in my early years of life, the Public schools of Italy required that I wear a uniform with an emblem patch of the city of Perugia on the front pocket. These uniforms were affectionately known as our "grembulino's"

Since that time I attended public schools in Middle school and High School, and also the New York Military Academy in Cornwall New York. Personally I can see that Milford has much of the same elements of Cornwall N.Y., such as great places to go hiking, lots of water based fun on the Long Island Sound, and some of the best open space in the county.

One special place Eisenhower Park, is not only an attraction for its splendid fall beauty in the coming months, but a unique location that attracts people from many other towns who do not have the blessing of such wonderful recreational and scenic landscapes and facilities.

Eisenhower Park is a nice place to go garden, fishing, horse back riding, walk your dog, exercise, play Golf or Tennis, pic-nic or fly a model airplane. Each year the town also puts on several outdoor events there such as the Fireman's muster. There is also an open air ampi-theater for public seating and entertainment during these events.

This fall is expected to be especially great, because of the on-going improvements to the Milford waterfront that will soon include the longest boardwalk in the state of Connecticut. This boardwalk will connect the local fledgling shopping district of Walnut Beach to the splendor of Silver Sands State Park.

Anyone wishing to enjoy a "Staycation" as our Governor has "dubbed it" should consider Milford this fall. The local Chamber of Commerce (and Milford's Many great water front restaurants) and the downtown business community has deployed a new program to make your future visit as comfortable, exciting, and enjoyable as possible.

Spalthoff Demands Action On Eisenhower Park

It has been over six years since the Mayor appointed the Eisenhower Park Study Committee and over two years since he received the report and he has done nothing with it. It is this type of indecision that he has continually displayed that has prompted me to formally ask him to place the acceptance of the report on the agenda for the next Board of Aldermen meeting in order for them to at least take the next step and adopt the plan as proposed by the committee, otherwise the entire process was a waste of time, money and community effort.

The committee has done an outstanding job in putting together a concise and forward thinking plan of just what might be in the park and how we should go about implementing the steps over many years and to have the report sit in the hands of the Mayor is just another example of him not making the necessary decisions on behalf of the community to move the plan along.

I am not asking that we spend money for the Park renovations at this time, I am only asking that we follow through with what was asked of the committee years ago and at least give them and the citizens of Milford the courtesy of having the plans at least be accepted by the Alderman as a template for what could be done at the Park.

The vision of what is to happen in the Park has already been developed and the proposed plans have been presented to the Mayor many months ago and here we sit having done nothing to make the park a reality. And please do not tell me that “these are hard times” and we need to do this and such. I realize more than anyone that we are in trying times however, without a plan, a goal and a sense of getting something done, Eisenhower Park will languish and we will have accomplished nothing for future generations.

We continually read in the press about various groups who are proposing or doing things in the park that are either; not proper to be doing or have not been approved by the citizens of this community... With better leadership, Eisenhower Park will become yet another jewel in the City as is our Marina at Lyman Landing.

We need to have the plan brought before the Aldermen formally for a vote to be accepted as the Eisenhower Park Study Plan and then the Aldermen can take action on the plan as they see fit. The implementation of this plan can and will only enhance our overall community image and the Mayor needs to step up to the plate today to take a stand on getting the ball rolling with this project.

Peter L. Spalthoff R11;MilfordR17;s Independent Party Candidate

Sierra Club Hosts a “Post-Carbon Economy” Discussion Aug. 5th

What would a “post-carbon economy” be like? This intriguing climate protection issue will be discussed at the South Central (CT) Sierra Club’s August 5th get-together on Wednesday evening from 6 - 8:30 PM, at the Smart Living Center, 297 Boston Post Road, Orange.

Local, regional, national and international initiatives are underway to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere from current levels of near 390 parts per million back down to a more sustainably appropriate 350 part per million. One such initiative which the City of Milford joined a few years ago is the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Program. “Across the country, voluntary coalitions of municipal officials, businesses and residents alike are making measurable progress towards reducing fossil-fuel-based energy consumption,” says Sierra Club staff member Patrice Gilliespie. “We are learning together about what strides individuals can take, and how community-wide efforts can affect national security, and create more choices in energy resources and new ‘green jobs.’ We invite the public and our municipal officials in the region to come to our informal program at the Smart Living Center, and share ideas.”

Refreshments will be served. Anyone interested in attending should contact Diane Lentakis, chairperson of the South Central group, at deerspirit@sbcglobal.net or 203.783.0686 by August 3rd.