Help Protect Your Child Milford Masons Hosts CHIP Event

The CTCHIP program is a comprehensive child identification tool designed to give families a measure of protection against the ever increasing problem of missing children.The Connecticut Freemasons are bringing this fine program to communities throughout Connecticut at no cost to the families.

The Connecticut Freemasons Foundation working with other partnering organizations/agencies have upgraded CTCHIP equipment technology from VHS recording tapes to digital recording on mini-DVD-RAM discs as part of our ongoing commitment to children and families.This program will continue to be brought free of charge to every Connecticut family who wish to participate. This upgrade allows the re-packaging of the identifying items generated at CTCHIP Events into a smaller easy-to-carry and take-on-vacation "PURPLE PACK".

The Purple Pack includes a DVD Ram disk which has a video of your child and a still photo, your child's fingerprints, a dental impression and a dental swab.

To date the program has held over 350 CTCHIP events and has provided the parents of more than 40,000 children with identification packets. It is our sincerest hope that no family will need the resources provided in our packets, but if the need should arise, we believe the information contained in our "Purple Pack" will be instrumental to law enforcement agencies in recovery of missing children.

The Connecticut Freemasons schedule and bring this fine program to communities throughout Connecticut.

CTCHIP is a part of the National Masonichip network (www.masonichip.org) sponsored by the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America. All identifying items generated at CTCHIP Events are placed in a "purple pack" and given to the parent or guardian to take home for safe keeping.

If their child becomes missing, the pack can then be provided to law enforcement to aid in recovery and identification. The Connecticut Freemasons keep nothing but the permission form signed by the parent prior to participation in the event.

The Event will be held at Calf Meadow School from 2:00 - 4:00.

Second Teen Goes Missing

Police are looking for a second 17-year-old girl who may have joined another 17-year-old who has not been seen since last week, police said.

Police detectives said Wednesday that Marissa Mignacco was reported missing by her foster parents after she left home Tuesday and did not return.

Mignacco may have joined Felicity Costin, who has been missing from her Merwin Avenue home since last Wednesday. That girl was reported missing by her foster parents Friday.

Mignacco is described as a white female, about 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds. She has brown hair, green eyes, and a tattoo on her chest that reads, "Beautiful Disaster," with a star in the middle.

Costin is described as African-American, about 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing about 110 pounds. It's believed that she may have gone to New Haven, where she has friends.

Anyone with information about either girl's whereabouts is asked to call police Detective Sgt. Antonio Vitti at 203-783-4766.

Police Seeking Missing Teen

MILFORD — Police are seeking the public’s help in finding a 14-year-old city girl who has not been seen since Sunday.

The teen, Maria Iabone, shown, is described as a white, 5 feet 3 inches tall and about 115 lbs. She has long brown hair, brown eyes, and is wearing braces. She was last seen wearing leopard print tank top, dark colored sweatshirt, and jeans, police said.

Maria is possibly in the company of Nicholas Thiel, 18, who operates a 1998 green Chevy Camaro, bearing the Connecticut temporary plate 448K6, police said. Maria was last seen Friday at her home in Milford. Police did not provide the location of the home. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Sgt. A. Vitti at the Milford Police Department Special Investigations Unit, (203) 878-6551 or 783-4766.
posted by Helen Bennett Harvey

Milford Girl Goes Missing

Last night I traversed up North Street here in town and headed toward Eisenhower Park. Upon approach to the park I was awestruck by scores of 11X17 posters attached to every utility pole along the road.

The poster bears the image and message that a 17 year old girl that has gone missing since last week. The poster indicated that she was reported missing on July 24Th 2008. Her name is Brittany, she is 5'4" tall with hair locks. Her hair color is dark, either brown or black, hard to tell from the photo. She attended Foran High School and would have been with the class of 2008.

An interview I personally conducted with some of the high school kids who knew of her indicated that they were not really surprised that she had gone missing. They indicated that it is more likely that she ran away rather than having been kidnapped. Brittney was described by kids who knew her as being mixed up with the wrong crowd. Many were saddened by her absence and are all hoping she return home safe so those who are close to her, and love her, can gain some peace and happiness.

Brittney marks the second young kid gone missing this year, the last girl was Samantha Riso later located in New Haven and was safely returned to her home in Milford.

(Photo above posted this evening on a utility pole at Eisenhower Park)

SCHIP Comes To Jonathan Law

SCHIP or the State Child Identification Program was recently held at the Jonathan Law High School last week. This program hosted by the Milford Ansantawae Freemasons, was a popular program brought to CT by Former Grand Master Walter Kaechele in 2002. Since then nearly 40,000 kids have been run through the program.

The scope and purpose of the program is to aid in the prevention and apprehension of felons who kidnap children. According to the schip website nearly 100 children are abducted and murdered each year. This program collects vital information that parents hold, and can provide to law enforcement in the unfortunate event their child goes missing.

The Schip kit, includes a DNA sample, a video of your child on CD, fingerprints, and suggestions on how to keep your child safe. This program does not support or endorse the placing of a microchip in your child, nor does it violate the privacy of your child's personal information. This program has won the approval and support of Governor Rell who called it a "wonderful program" when she was the guest speaker at the statewide Connecticut meeting of the Freemasons.

Thus far the program has been a mutual success to the public safety, community security, Masons, and Masonry alike. For a full list of upcoming scheduled events visit the state of CT website www.ctchip.org.