While Christians celebrate this day as the birth of Christ, the real date may not be what we think. Experts in history and religious archaeology believe that the true date of Christ's birth is sometime in March, 7 B.C. This may be a surprise to all of you who have a Manger under your tree at the moment.
However, I will not spoil the festivities but invite you not to feel so bad about the commercialization of the holiday. Gift giving can be a guilt driven detraction from the Lord's birthday celebration.
Since we all love Saint Nick ("Santa Claus") and the tradition of holiday gift giving, all us Christians could save our day of prayer and celebration for the later March date.
Until that day arrives just know that holiday gift giving is not really a commercial distraction from anything holy. History and archaeology think differently. Christmas day was established at the Council of Nicea for political reasons and is little more than a date set over 1,700 years ago.
(Photo above of an artifact depicting the Roman Pagan God of war Invictus)
A group of local police officers will hold a fundraiser to benefit the Special Olympics this evening at Buffalo Wild Wings, including a wing-eating contest between local high school students.
Police officer and organizer Jeff Nielsen said about a dozen officers participate in the event, which usually generates more than $1,000.
“We’re trying to raise the awareness level of the community and the younger generation,” he said.
The officers will assist with wait staff at the restaurant. All tip money will be donated to the Special Olympics.
On Sunday night I was at my computer reading the latest blogs coming in off Topix. One blog in particular was very disturbing, it was from an individual who said he was at “the Westfield Mall, and heard someone was brandishing a gun. A large swath of people panicked and scattered down the escalator where the Managers of Target locked the front doors as a security measure for what appeared to be an hour. Shortly after another blogger concurred that he was at the mall and experienced a similar event.
These issues plaguing our mall are not new, and the New Haven Register this morning confirmed what these bloggers experienced but said the man brandishing the gun originated from the bus stop. One report indicates that while at the Bus stop he threatened to “Pistol whip” his girlfriend.” Another at the Post indicates that he made the threat during a group fight in the food court.
Mall police apprehended the individual and consequentially he was charged with gun related crimes. The incident did not make immediate news because the gun he was brandishing was merely a harmless “air gun.” But to the people in the Mall who were frightened by it that did not matter much.
The Westfield Mall continues to be plagued with security problems that stem from out of town kids engaging in lewd and lascivious conduct. Officers have been hit with food from food fights, a chair, assaulted physically, and broken up large fights.
Officers reported that the youth at the mall are so problematic that they neither respect a badge or a gun. However, he did say they all "respect the taser" and it is the best weapon in his arsenal.
A security officer at the Westfield Mall expressed concern, that these problems of violence may be because Milford is considered “neutral” territory. He said "when rivals from Bridgeport and New Haven attend the mall there is a propensity for conflict to occur."
Shop owners fear that these problems are also effecting the retail establishments in the Mall who also pay handsomely to have the traffic and placement that the Mall offers. Lately the violence combined with the economic downturn has resulted in record high vacancy rates and the Mall owners are struggling to stay in business. One shop owner said "if the youth problems persist, people will be reluctant to shop here."
Last year the Westfield Mall ended up in court, and sued the city of Milford over what they said are excessively high taxes. Mayor Richetelli, after the lawsuit settled and said the “Westfield Mall is of vital economic importance to Milford, and the settlement was worth it. Had the city not settled and lost the case the city would have been forced to immediately pay a substantial amount of money to the owners of the property.” The settlement earned the Westfield Mall a 11% tax decrease, one they said was the result of their property being overvalued by the town assessor. The mall also benefits from a Police HQ annex located in the mall next to Panera's.
Reports indicate that the tax savings was desperately needed given the fragility of the commercial real estate market and the shaky economy.
These assertions are being confirmed daily by a website called www.DeadMalls.com. This site lists the growing number of defunct and struggling malls across the country. In Connecticut Seven are listed in the index, including the Bristol Mall in Bristol Ct., and the long defunct HiHo Mall. (Now occupied by The Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport.)
While there appears to be no immediate solution to these youth conflicts at the moment additional changes are being made to the bus policy of the mall. Effective soon fewer buses will be permitted to stop at the mall, and security will be put on high alert to curtail the problem. Loitering will not be tolerated, and aggressive enforcement against shoplifting and disruptive behavior will be engaged.
The mall management has expressly indicated that they are committed to delivering a calm safe environment where shoppers can go and enjoy themselves. While they regret the problems induced by local youth at the Mall they assure the public that every reasonable effort is being made to stem the tide of mischief.
MILFORD -- A facade at the Westfield Connecticut Post mall partially collapsed Monday morning, slightly injuring a shopper and forcing several stores to close.
About 200 linear feet of a dry wall facade fell on the shopping center's upper level about 11:15 a.m., striking a 27-year-old male shopper, said Capt. Chris Zak, spokesman for the Milford Fire Department. The man suffered minor abrasions on his back, and was treated at the scene by firefighters. He was later transported to Milford Hospital, officials said. His name was not immediately available.
The façade has a metal frame behind it, and has "substantial weight,'' Zak said. Wires hung from the framing and broken pieces of drywall were lying on the floor in front of PCX, a youth apparel store that had opened July 1.
The façade had also peeled from the front of three adjoining stores: Motherhood Maternity, Gymboree and Hot Topic.
Thomas Raucci, the city building inspector, ordered the fifth store in that area, Lane Bryant, closed as a precaution.
Raucci inspected the section of the mall for structural damage Monday afternoon. The four stores would be allowed to reopen as soon as the debris was removed and the area determined to be safe, officials said. That could happen as soon as Tuesday morning, Assistant Fire Chief Robert Healey said.
The section of the mall where the facade fell was last renovated prior to 2000, mall spokeswoman Lee Sterling said. "The cause is under investigation and the mall is cooperating fully,'' she said.
The rest of the mall remained open for business as usual, she said.
Yellow caution tape blocked off a set of stairs leading to the affected stores from Door 4, the closest mall entrance, but a seating area and an escalator at that entrance were available.
A series of kiosks in the center of the lower level, below where the drywall had fallen, were also cordoned off for safety reasons. That area included a T-Mobile counter, a photo booth and beverage vending machines.
Zak said that a row of columns that flank the corridor in front of the five affected stores will be checked to make sure that no structural damage occurred. The columns appear to support the skylight and dome that enclosed the mall in the late 1980s.
There was no construction going on in the area where the section of facade collapsed on Monday. A man-lift was in the center of the mall, enclosed by metal gates, as part of a project to remove an escalator that led to the old food court, mall officials said. A new food court was built as part of the 2006 expansion.
Plastic sheeting covered a portion of the damaged wall in front of the affected stores on Monday, as air handlers removed dust from the area.
Most shoppers appeared to be unaware of the incident.
The city and its largest taxpayer, Westfield Connecticut Post mall, have struck a deal on its taxes, which will result in the mall paying the city $1.2 million less over the next three years, said Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr.
Westfield appealed its 2007-08 tax assessment. The 1201 Boston Post Road mall was valued by the city to have a full market value of $251 million, but Westfield officials felt the true value was just $151 million.
Assessor Dan Thomas said the mall and the city reached an out-of-court settlement, which is essentially down the middle at $200 million. Sources said if the city had gone to court and lost, then it could have been forced to pay Westfield $2.4 million immediately.
That $2.4 million figure equaled the two years of taxes that they would have had to repay, if the $151 million valuation was upheld. By settling, the city will not have to write the mall a check.
Thomas said over the next three years, Westfield will have a tax credit of $400,000 per year for a total savings of $1.2 million. Westfield pays the city $3.8 million annually in taxes.
Thomas said it’s normal for tax appeals to result in a 10 percent adjustment, and Westfield’s reduction is 11 percent.
“I’m satisfied with the $200 million figure,” Thomas said.
Thomas said since the city has decided to freeze the phase-in of its revaluation over three years, the mall’s assessment is frozen at $125 million.
Richetelli said the tax agreement with Westfield was important to both the mall and the city’s long-term economic future.
“Westfield is our largest taxpayer. It’s vitally important to the community that the mall and retail remain viable,” Richetelli said. “The settlement is fair to both sides. It’s a good compromise.”
Richetelli stressed Westfield did not receive a special deal because it’s the city’s largest taxpayer.
“This avoids a very costly and drawn-out litigation,” Richetelli said. “This protects and enhances the viability of the mall to attract good tenants.”
Richetelli said Westfield’s tax credit will not hurt next year’s budget because the spending plan, which was approved in May, took into effect the $400,000 tax reduction.
The Connecticut Post Mall triggered three fire alarms over the weekend. At the time these alarms went off I was with my kids over at the new Kidz Zone arcade located near Sears. The fear and frustration from confused patrons and the youngsters at the arcade was emblematic of the post 9/11 world we built.
When the first alarm tripped the entire arcade blacked out, every game went dead and an ominous voice came over the public announcement system broadcasting an emergency within the mall. Even more creepy the announcement was accompanied by what sounded like an emergency siren.
This went on about every thirty minutes for about an hour and a half. Finally, I was really interested in what was causing these back to back alarms. First the announcements said there was an issue of concern, and then the all clear was given every time. Perhaps I thought what could this be? The mall was filled with young kids as it was the weekend and the mall is a hot spot for the youngsters, maybe I thought some prankster was pulling the fire alarm.
Finally I did get the answer, my young daughter and I saw the Post Mall concierge on the lower level of the mall, over by the main elevator. When I asked her what was the emergency she said that "had there been an emergency she would have been out of there immediately." However that was not the case, the problem was that a construction crew working at Abercrombie and Fitch kept tripping a sensor that was connected to the fire alarm. The manager of the kids place arcade, who actively engaged in processing customer refunds was needless to say frustrated as the consequential power outages "cost him $1,600.00" in losses for the day.
Part of what I said about 2008 and the economy is becoming a local reality. Lin's a newly established restaurant at the Post Mall has "thrown in the towel." This knowledge came to me when I arrived at the Milford mall last night and noticed a curtain draped across the windows.
Curious as I am, I decided to check their hours posted on the door inside the mall and sure enough they were closed when the hours claimed they should be open. I walked up to a couple places and peeked behind one of the drapes and noticed there were no tables to be seen. I got the feeling that the entire restauraunt was emptied and the curtains just kept "busy bodies" like me to mind my own business.
Certainly I wanted to know what was going on, and since I had some business at the the AT&T store I thought I would casually ask the clerk. To my amazement I found a person who said he "loves chinese" food. However, he indicated he never ate there. I suppose we could imagine why. My partner at home, also a chinese food fan, (I have all the tupperware to prove this) made a similar snied remark.
My experience with Lynn's was at the chamber of commerce here in Milford where I remember them attending many meetings. One meeting in particular at the Daniel Street Pub was the most memorable. Lynn was very well dressed friendly and polite and we all wished him good fortune. The chamber being the activists they were also did a good deal of promoting for them.
While I cannot say for certain what led to Linn's closing, I will say that the Milford Mall is a very expensive place to do business, and food is very competitive. Lynn's being far removed from the food court, and occupying a rather expensive large parcel of space, may have hindered its ability to effectively compete with the upstairs food court. It may also have been economic circumtances surrounding the woes of the greater economy, or perhaps a little of both. In either case it always pains me to see bad fortune come to fledgling businesses and often wonder what could be done to incubate startup's from the high risk of "going under."
At 6 A.M. this morning I received news of a horrible tragedy from the town kids. They were very saddened and upset by the news. The school indicated that they were responding with Grief counselors today at both High Schools and the Middle Schools to help affected kids with their sorrow.
As I understand it, this horrible tragedy occurred, at approximately 7:30 P.M. Last night two teenagers were killed, and another teen was seriously injured after Shaw Foley's 1990 Nissan 240SX crashed into a utility pole in the parking lot of the Connecticut Post Mall.
Also involved in the accident was Jonathan Dolceacqua, 18, and Michael Vicino, 16, both students from Milford's Jonathan Law High School.
Michael Vicino, 16, the only survivor is also from Milford, is currently in critical condition at Bridgeport Hospital. Vicino is a student at Bullard Haven Technical School in Bridgeport.
The Accident occurred when Foley, who was traveling from the front of the mall to the back and lost control of his vehicle. Police reports indicate that Foley tried passing another car as they approached a curve by "Target." Foley's car then hit a utility pole that demolished the vehicle.
The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Milford Police at (203)878-6551. Also there will be a 2:00 Press conference today at the Milford Police Department. The conference will be led by officer Dumas. The vehicle is also in police custody pending the completion of their investigation.
All three students will remain in our prayers and I offer the deepest of sympathy and sorrow to the parents who have lost their children last night.
The movie is in the theaters as we speak, but few know that Invictus is the Roman god of war, a pagan holiday embraced by Constantine to bring good fortune to the Roman soldiers fighting invading Barbarians.
