Monday, December 8, 2008
Little-Noticed Neighborhood Landmark Is, Um, Noticed
Read all about Connecticut's (supposedly) smallest public park that you totally didn't even know existed even though you've driven right by it, like, a gazillion times! The truth will set you free: http://www.connpost.com/ci_11156533
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tour Historic Homes
It's this Sunday — the second annual Historic Home Tour to benefit Sterling House Community Center. See some of our neighborhood's most distinguished homes in all their holiday finery! The event is noon to 3 p.m. Sunday (12/7), and tickets are just $25 if you buy them today (they'll be $30 day of event). Call Sterling House at 378-2606.
Lawsuit Looms over 12-step House
The Connecticut Post reports: About a dozen current and former residents of an East Broadway half-way house for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts clashed with neighbors this week at a public hearing over whether more than just the 15 house residents can attend 12-step meetings in a new barn on the property.
Residents of the Harry Rosen House and their sponsors made impassioned pleas to the Board of Zoning Appeals late Tuesday asking that the 12-step meetings be open to more than the 15 house residents allowed under BZA approval granted in September. They asked that as many as 35 sponsors, alumni and guests also be allowed at the meetings.
The board, however, voted 4-1 to deny the request without prejudice.
As result, Rosen House officials now plan to "file legal action in federal court under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Federal Fair Housing Act that I believe we will prevail on," said John Colleran, the lawyer representing the house at 859 East Broadway.
To read the full article, go to http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_11139693
Residents of the Harry Rosen House and their sponsors made impassioned pleas to the Board of Zoning Appeals late Tuesday asking that the 12-step meetings be open to more than the 15 house residents allowed under BZA approval granted in September. They asked that as many as 35 sponsors, alumni and guests also be allowed at the meetings.
The board, however, voted 4-1 to deny the request without prejudice.
As result, Rosen House officials now plan to "file legal action in federal court under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Federal Fair Housing Act that I believe we will prevail on," said John Colleran, the lawyer representing the house at 859 East Broadway.
To read the full article, go to http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_11139693
Thursday, December 4, 2008
OSNA organizes Crime Watch for the Historic District
Stratford Crime Watch President Jack Cratty and Officer Bobby Ramos - Police Department Liasion will hold a Crime Watch organizational meeting hosted by OSNA Tuesday, December 9 at 8:00PM at Christ Church on Main Street.
I attended the Crime Watch meeting at the police station last night and the buzz was all about the recent rash of crime in our neighborhood. Since the early part of October there have neen several break-in, numerous reports of strange persons trespassing at night in peoples yards, cars broken into, etc. Even last night a car was broken into at the Milford Bank parking lot, clearly visible only about 15 feet from Main Street!
Please, tell your neighbors and friends to attend this meeting (lock your house and car when you come!). A safe neighborhood won't happen unless we're all involved. If you are unable to attend but would like more information on this issue, please email me. We will be compiling a phone list for a calling tree and an email list for additional up to date info.
Crime Watch says:
Remember: Our recommendation to all citizens who see a crime in progress or notice suspicious activity is to observe and report from a place of safety. We strongly suggest that you not confront an offender unless you are in immediate danger. This applies to you and your neighbors. We do not want anyone to get hurt or injured trying to apprehend an offender or interfering with an incident other than to report the activity to the police. If you or your neighbors witness a crime in progress call 911 (emergency) or if suspicious or unusual behavior is observed, 385-4100 (non-emergency).
I attended the Crime Watch meeting at the police station last night and the buzz was all about the recent rash of crime in our neighborhood. Since the early part of October there have neen several break-in, numerous reports of strange persons trespassing at night in peoples yards, cars broken into, etc. Even last night a car was broken into at the Milford Bank parking lot, clearly visible only about 15 feet from Main Street!
Please, tell your neighbors and friends to attend this meeting (lock your house and car when you come!). A safe neighborhood won't happen unless we're all involved. If you are unable to attend but would like more information on this issue, please email me. We will be compiling a phone list for a calling tree and an email list for additional up to date info.
Crime Watch says:
Remember: Our recommendation to all citizens who see a crime in progress or notice suspicious activity is to observe and report from a place of safety. We strongly suggest that you not confront an offender unless you are in immediate danger. This applies to you and your neighbors. We do not want anyone to get hurt or injured trying to apprehend an offender or interfering with an incident other than to report the activity to the police. If you or your neighbors witness a crime in progress call 911 (emergency) or if suspicious or unusual behavior is observed, 385-4100 (non-emergency).
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Red Alert! It’s a time for giving…. Not taking!
Lock up your doors, your cars and anything of value! If you worked for it; you purchased it; and you own it, it looks like they’ll steal it. Watch for a group (or groups) of kids in the neighborhood that don’t belong there.
I came home Monday night to find 2 Hispanic kids (I saw them clearly) coming out of my backyard and then the motion sensor light I installed went on, meaning they didn’t go into the yard they were coming out of it! Where they were coming from I don’t know- another yard or another street, it doesn’t matter. They shouldn’t have been in my backyard! When they saw me, they ran and met up with 6 -7 others who all ran up White Street and disappeared into the maze of backyards between Broad and Judson.
When police were summoned by me, my wife and the Griffins (White Street) they finally showed up about 15 minutes later. No sign of the kids even though I was following 2 of them I caught up to on East Broadway. I lost sight of them behind Colonial Plaza when I went to get the cops and let them know where they were.
This is on the heels of several robberies (totally unpublicized!) as well as the arrest of one person for trespassing on vacant property in the neighborhood!
Join me tonight, 12/3 at 7:00 pm, at the Crime Watch meeting at the Police station, 900 Longbrook, 2nd floor training room. Crime watch group or vigilantes- we need to start protecting or homes!
(Read more about the most recent break in at: http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_11121937 )
I came home Monday night to find 2 Hispanic kids (I saw them clearly) coming out of my backyard and then the motion sensor light I installed went on, meaning they didn’t go into the yard they were coming out of it! Where they were coming from I don’t know- another yard or another street, it doesn’t matter. They shouldn’t have been in my backyard! When they saw me, they ran and met up with 6 -7 others who all ran up White Street and disappeared into the maze of backyards between Broad and Judson.
When police were summoned by me, my wife and the Griffins (White Street) they finally showed up about 15 minutes later. No sign of the kids even though I was following 2 of them I caught up to on East Broadway. I lost sight of them behind Colonial Plaza when I went to get the cops and let them know where they were.
This is on the heels of several robberies (totally unpublicized!) as well as the arrest of one person for trespassing on vacant property in the neighborhood!
Join me tonight, 12/3 at 7:00 pm, at the Crime Watch meeting at the Police station, 900 Longbrook, 2nd floor training room. Crime watch group or vigilantes- we need to start protecting or homes!
(Read more about the most recent break in at: http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_11121937 )
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Public Forum on Shakespeare Theater: Wednesday, December 3
This Wednesday, December 3rd, at 7:30pm at Christ Episcopal Church, the Arts Commission will be holding a public forum concerning the Shakespeare Theater. The Commission will be discussing the issue of the request for more bonding and contract negotiations with the developer. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Monday, December 1, 2008
ALERT: Major Neighborhood Crime
The 1745 Curtis home at 2134 Elm Street (otherwise known as the "leaning house" -- the red house on the southeast corner of Elm and Broad) was broken into Friday night (11/28-29). Virtually everything portable item of value was stolen: heirloom jewelry from three generations of Nancy Monk's family, more than $10,000 worth of musical instruments and many electronic items including computers, and XBox 360, cell phones, modems, a DVD plater, games, DVDs and more.
The thieves apparently knew that owners Nancy Monk and Michael Bingham were out of town, because they took their time ransacking the home, going through every drawer of every desk and bureau in the house. Entry was apparently gained by breaking down the back door.
The crime was discovered when the owners returned home about 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Bingham-Monks are offering a reward for information leading to recovery of the missing items or the apprehension of those who committed the crime.
The Elm Street crime follows close on the heels on previous attempted break-ins in the neighborhood (see previous posts below).
If you have any information about this crime please call Michael Bingham or Nancy Monk at 378-7725.
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