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Marcia Chambers | Aug 5, 2017 8:00 am
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Branford P.D.
A 36-year-old East Haven man, who allegedly rammed a Branford police officer’s cruiser as he was fleeing a parking lot in his car following a tire theft at Al Mac Motors II, was taken into custody Wednesday on an arrest warrant, police said.
The tire theft took place on July 5 at the tire store, at 117 North Main St. According to Branford Detective Lieutenant John Finkle, the suspect, identified as Janssen Padilla of East Haven, was driving his gray Jeep Cherokee when he rammed into the officer’s cruiser as it was entering the parking lot.
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Marcia Chambers | Aug 4, 2017 8:15 am
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When it comes to summer, there’s nothing better than fresh corn. Corn (and potatoes) will be king at the Potato and Corn Festival this weekend in Northford. The family event opens tonight and runs through Sunday. Art and music are on the agenda in the upcoming week and, looking ahead, Cosgrove Shelter’s annual Woofstock Music Festival proves that dogs are indeed our best friends. The Shoreline Wine Festival features fruits of the vine from Connecticut Vineyards. Raise a glass to our bountiful state!
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Marcia Chambers | Aug 4, 2017 7:46 am
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With Permission
Town Planner Harry A. Smith announced this week that the town is studying opportunities for transit-oriented development (TOD) in the area around the Branford Shoreline East Train Station. This study is an integral part of a town and regional initiative to promote neighborhood scale growth and redevelopment that recognizes the potential benefits of a transit asset.
A public survey has been developed to gather opinions from the diverse range of people who live, work or own property in Branford, on the key issues facing the train station and waterfront area and how they envision its future. The survey can be accessed at: survey
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Marcia Chambers | Aug 3, 2017 9:06 am
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Bill O’Brien Photo
Percussionist Obanilu Illande.
The Branford Green was jumping on Friday night when the New York Latin Jazz ensemble Peliroja put on a lively program of music inspired by the sounds of Cuba, Ethiopia, the Dominican Republic, and the Congo. Rain had postponed the concert, originally scheduled for July 13.
Bill O’Brien Photo
The stage was crowded with nine members of the group, which encouraged the smaller than usual crowd to get up and dance to their spirited music.
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Marcia Chambers | Aug 2, 2017 7:54 am
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Sally E. Bahner Photo
The specter of Connecticut’s fiscal crisis in relation to the Walsh Intermediate School project was finally raised at a special meeting of the Public Building Commission Monday night.
Charles Warrington, Jr., senior project manager for Colliers International, owner’s representative, reported that the cap of the bonding used for school projects statewide through the Office of School Construction Grants and Review (OSCGR) may be halved, from $700 million-$800 million to $400 million.
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Marcia Chambers | Aug 1, 2017 8:15 am
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A Jazz Evening in Branford
Those jazz fans who ventured to the Branford Green on Thursday, even with a slight threat of rain, were treated to a relaxing night of captivating sound with vocal artist Shawnn Monteiro and her trio including the legendary 88-year-old Jimmy Cobb on drums, saxophonist Javon Jackson, rising newcomer Matt De Champagne on keys, and veteran Dave Zinno on bass.
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You didn’t have to come from that golden era of music in the ‘40s and early ‘50s with vocalists like Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald to remember some of the hits back then with songs like, “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” and “Somewhere There’s Music.” So when Shawnn performed them on Thursday it brought back fond memories of that bygone era. Here she sings “I Didn’t Know What time It Was.”
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Marcia Chambers | Jul 31, 2017 7:29 am
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Diana Stricker Photo
(L-R)Town Planner Harry Smith and Town Attorney Bill Aniskovich
The developers of the 44-acre Planned Development District (PDD) and Master Plan at Exit 56, where Costco once planned to build a warehouse, have one more year to submit site plans — maybe.
Diana Stricker Photo
The Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission (pictured) voted 3-2 to grant a one-year extension, but Town Attorney Bill Aniskovich warned that the decision could be appealed. Zoning regulations say a site plan must be submitted within 24 months of Master Plan approval, or the plans are null and void. However, the regulations do not address the possibility of extensions. The deadline was July 30.
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Marcia Chambers | Jul 28, 2017 9:02 am
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We have a jazz bonus this week. Peliroja, which was rained out a couple of weeks ago, will perform Friday night. But the weekend belongs to trolley aficionados, cat lovers, and history buffs. If you miss the Alps Farmers Market, check out the pop-up farmers market on the green Tuesday night; it’s held in conjunction with the Community Dining Room’s Kids’ Night. Read on – there are lots more cool events coming up. If you have a cool event you’d like listed, email sebahner@snet.net by Wednesday noon.
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Marcia Chambers | Jul 28, 2017 7:18 am
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Bill O’Brien Photo
Members of the Seabreeze team include: L-R 1st row Levi Burton, Wyatt Verillo, Blake Barnikow, Chris McKittrick, Tyler Snider, Aidan Loomis and Noel Gallagher. 2nd row L-R Aidan Bates, Cody Weiland, Jacob Walkley, Bo Barrett and Trey Warnaka. Rear are Head Coach Ken Burton (L) and assistant Brian Gallagher. Not present for photo was assistant Kevin Barnikow.
The Branford Little League provides baseball to youngsters of all ages beginning with T‑Ball for boys and girls between 4 and 6 years of age. That’s where the ball is put on top of a tube and the batter hits the ball and runs to first base. It is intended as an introduction for boys and girls aged 4 to 6 to develop ball-game skills and have fun.
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Bo Barrett slides under the tag at third base.
The next level for players age 7 and 8 is called “coach pitch” where an adult pitches to the batter from the front of the mound and lobs it more than pitching it hard to the batter. The boys and girls who play in this age group called the Seabreeze Division build their confidence because the pitching is more consistent and their coach is throwing the ball so the players can hit it.
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Marcia Chambers | Jul 27, 2017 8:01 am
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The 2017 team.
Even though the high school baseball season ended several weeks ago, the honors are still accumulating for the 2017 Branford Hornets.
Jordan Botte slides into second base and breaks up a double play.
Not since the 2012 season, when they finished 14 – 6, has Branford had a winning record. Over the past four years they have won no more than nine games in any year. This past year was a break-out year when coach Steve Malafronte and the Hornets finished with a record of 18 – 7 that included a 12-game winning streak to close out the regular season.
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Marcia Chambers | Jul 26, 2017 7:15 am
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JJ and Oli jam.
The sky began to change near the start of the Oli Silk and JJ Sansaverino jazz concert on the Branford Green last Thursday night. One look at the Weather Channel website on your cell phone indicated thunderstorms might well play a role in the fourth scheduled concert of the Branford Jazz Series.
Bill O’Brien Photo
Turned out there was no rain or thunder, but Oli and JJ made sure there was plenty of lightning with their dynamic music. A large crowd filled the town green from Branford and beyond.
More details about the Walsh Intermediate School project were ironed out last week with the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission, and the public hearing will continue at a special meeting Thursday at Fire Headquarters.
In other actions, the commission unanimously approved new zoning regulations for R-1 and R-2 residential zones last Thursday.
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Marcia Chambers | Jul 25, 2017 7:44 am
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Rep. Larry Butler, chair of the Housing Committee.
UPDATE — Without a vote to spare, the state legislature voted in special session Monday to override the governor’s veto of a bill to upgrade the state’s Affordable Housing statute. The House of Representatives needed 101 votes — and that’s what they got yesterday afternoon. The Senate needed 24 votes, and that was the outcome last night.
Rep. Lonnie Reed (D‑Branford), has worked for many years to upgrade the state’s Affordable Housing statute 8 – 30g. She was one of the co-sponsors of the bill that will now become law.
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Marcia Chambers | Jul 24, 2017 7:30 am
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Bill O’Brien Photo
The 23rd Annual Branford Recreation Department’s “Skyhoundz Canine Frisbee Disc Contest” for dogs was held recently at Young’s Pond Park. And here is the contest winner “Sir Prize” making a great catch.
Bill O’Brien Photo
The competition gave a new meaning to the Dog Days of summer. Here “Puck,” owned by Mary Champagne of Lyme, grabs his owner’s toss.
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Marcia Chambers | Jul 24, 2017 7:23 am
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Diana Stricker Photo
Greg Stroud (pictured), who led shoreline opposition against railroad expansion plans for 18 months, told Branford residents it’s time to celebrate a victory, but more importantly, it’s time to stay involved as a new capacity study begins.
Stroud, who is director of special projects for the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, recently told a small gathering at the Branford Fire Headquarters that the threat of railroad expansion in sensitive areas of Coastal Connecticut will not truly disappear “until we find better solutions.”
