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Marcia Chambers | Jun 11, 2018 7:30 am
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Adrian F. Bonenberger
It’s a whole new race as a potential Democratic candidate for the 102nd State Representative seat decides not to pursue a primary challenge.
Adrian F. Bonenberger (pictured above,) a Branford native and former infantry officer, will announce on Facebook this morning that he is ending his campaign. His decision comes on the eve of the deadline for filing required signatures for a primary race.
(L-R): Robin Comey & Lonnie Reed
That means Robin Comey, who was endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) May 29, will not have to face a primary challenge in August. Comey is hoping to succeed Democratic State Rep. Lonnie Reed, who decided not to seek re-election after serving the 102nd District for 10 years.
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Marcia Chambers | Jun 11, 2018 7:28 am
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File Photo
Attorney Tim Hollister
The town’s Housing Authority and a developer hired to redevelop Parkside Village have asked a Superior Court judge to reverse a Planning & Zoning denial of the project, declaring a protest petition by neighbors does not apply to the Affordable Housing Act. And, they added, the town’s attorneys knew that or should have known that when they advocated on their behalf.
In January, the Parkside Village 1 affordable housing project was defeated at a special Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission meeting when one aspect of the proposal failed to gain a “super majority” vote. Although the P&Z voted 3-2 in favor of the Parkside project, one of the three applications — a zoning map change —did not get a super majority vote of 4-1. They said that meant the entire project failed.
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Marcia Chambers | Jun 8, 2018 2:02 pm
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Some fun events leading up to the 34th annual Branford Festival. If you haven’t checked out either of the town’s breweries – Thimble Island and Stony Creek –now’s a good time. There are always some fun events held in conjunction with some great brews to sample. Farmers’ markets are reving up for the season and the Dudley Farm in Guilford has locally made goodies along with fun activities – check it out. And don’t forget the Strawberry Festival in Stony Creek! Got a cool event? Email sebahner@snet.net by Wednesday noon.
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Marcia Chambers | Jun 7, 2018 8:31 am
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File Photo
Alex Palluzzi, Jr.
Maintaining sports schedules and school and town athletic fields in light of two major construction projects – renovation of the Walsh Intermediate School and the Community Center – is a big juggling act.
Recreation director Alex Palluzzi, Jr., a self-described “field guy,” takes pride in his hands-on approach toward the fields; it’s a cooperative effort between the schools, the Recreation Department, and the Public Works Department.
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Marcia Chambers | Jun 6, 2018 10:00 am
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(L-R): Robin Cpmey and State Rep Lonnie Reed.
Candidates are knocking on doors as the election season heats up — with potential primaries in both the race for Branford’s State Rep and the 12th District State Senate. Democrats and Republicans have endorsed their candidates, but challengers are hoping to get their names on primary ballots by collecting enough petition signatures before June 12.
Democrats are expected to face a primary Aug.14 for the State Rep seat in the 102nd District, and also for the 12th District Senatorial seat. However, no primary challengers have stepped up to challenge the endorsed Republican candidates in either race.
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Marcia Chambers | Jun 5, 2018 9:25 am
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Minsok Lee shows how to get close to the pin.
The Branford boys’ golf team won two matches last Monday at their home course, the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club. With a score of 162 they defeated Foran, whose score was 177 and East Haven with 204. The two wins brought the Hornets record to a 9 – 9 at the time.
Team members include (L-R): Lian Dean, Eunhee Le, coach Jen Kohut, Max Bunton, David Engstrom, assistant coach Gary Gravina, and Minsok Lee.
The 162 was the lowest score recorded for the year for Branford whose previous low was 170 in their last match against Fairfield Prep.
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Marcia Chambers | Jun 5, 2018 8:17 am
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Alternate 2 — the Preferred Plan.
Branford is looking at a new study with three alternate proposals to fix the incomplete interchange of I‑95 at Exit 53. Efforts have been ongoing since at least 1992 to address safety concerns and spur development.
The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) and engineers from BL Companies in Meriden presented information at a public session last week. About 17 people attended the meeting at the community room of Branford’s Fire Headquarters.
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Marcia Chambers | Jun 4, 2018 9:15 am
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Bill O’Brien Photo
Senior Brad Stutzman hits a shot to Xavier’s Khi Ton.
The Branford boys’ tennis team has been on a steady climb over the past four years: from eight wins in 2015, to 10 in 2016 , and 11 last year. This year the Hornets, under coach Matt Fraenza have won 12 matches including six of the last seven.
Bill O’Brien Photo
Coach Matt Fraenza (R) brings the team together as the match is about to start.
“It’s nice seeing our program get better each year,” Fraenza said. “The boys are committed to playing hard, and it’s been showing more and more in the results. We have been playing pretty well this year.”
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Marcia Chambers | Jun 4, 2018 8:30 am
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Sally E. Bahner Photo
(L-R):Grove, Hawley and Kendrick.
The dual renovation projects – at the Walsh Intermediate School and the Community Center – are resulting in the need to juggle sports schedules. Now it turns out that virtually all the fields at Walsh have been removed and at this juncture there are no funds to revive them.
This latest turn of events came to light at a recent Public Building Commission (PBC) meeting as PBC members, wading through the details of both projects, learned about the overall condition of both the Walsh and the town’s fields. The PBC has discussed sports schedules over the past year.
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Marcia Chambers | Jun 1, 2018 8:48 am
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Is it summer yet? We had a taste last weekend. Summer activities are lining up, so all we need is the accompanying weather. In the lineup, however, are trifecta of town favorites… the Branford Festival, Fireworks, and Branford Jazz on the Green. If you’ve wondered what goes on at the state-of-the-art Fire Headquarters, now’s your chance. The open house on Saturday includes a full tour of the facility. Got a cool event? Email sebahner@snet.net.
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Marcia Chambers | May 31, 2018 9:29 am
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Diana Stricker Photo
(L_R):DTC Chair Lynda Mollow and Robin Comey.
Robin Comey won an overwhelming victory Tuesday over two other candidates vying for the endorsement of the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) for the 102nd State Representative seat. Comey earned 35 votes at Tuesday’s DTC meeting, John Prins took 13, and Adrian Bonenberger took 8 votes.
Diana Stricker Photo
Comey was also endorsed by State Rep. Lonnie Reed, who recently announced her retirement from the post she held for 10 years.
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Marcia Chambers | May 31, 2018 9:00 am
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Bill O’Brien Photo
}For those who woke up early on Memorial Day and looked out the window they might have said, “Not again,” seeing the light mist that was falling. The past two years the Memorial Day Parade had been cancelled because of rain. Here the Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corp march down Main Street.
Bill O’Brien Photo
But those overcast skies didn’t stop the members of the Branford Veterans Committee who met, as they do every year rain or shine, at the parking lot at Montowese and South Main Streets at 6:30 a.m. to begin their annual walk to the seven cemeteries in town where they conduct services for the 1,749 veterans buried there. Hundreds marched in the Stony Creek Parade from the flag pole to the cemetery
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Marcia Chambers | May 30, 2018 8:34 am
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With Permission
The last-minute elimination of a song from Sliney Elementary School’s spring concert last week has dismayed a number of parents and children. It has also raised questions about why the choir director agreed to let one parent influence the fate of a song.
Songs from the musical “Sing!” were on the program, including the well-known “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, but a day before the performance, “Hallelujah,” was pulled. According to a parent, who heard the news from her child, one parent objected to the song due to its religious content and based only on that parent’s objection, the school administration agreed to ban it. The children and some parents were told that it was school policy. These parents had different views.
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Marcia Chambers | May 29, 2018 4:34 pm
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Sam Stricker Photo
(L-R): Marcia Chambers, Sally E. Bahner, Diana Stricker & Bill O’Brien.
The Branford Eagle took home 11 awards last week at the Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards for 2017. The Eagle’s stories covered a range of topics, including affordable housing, politics, the opioid crisis, and the death of a Branford boy.
The Eagle’s Diana Stricker won first place in the hyperlocal category for continuing coverage of Branford’s Housing Authority efforts to rebuild an outdated housing complex that houses low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
Eagle Editor Marcia Chambers took first place for audio storytelling. Her story “Klau: We Need Leakers” centered on an interview with Attorney Dan Klau who voiced concern when President Donald Trump called journalists “the enemy of the people.” Klau made his observation on WNHH radio’s “Legal Eagle” program.
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Marcia Chambers | May 25, 2018 8:15 am
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Memorial Day weekend is the gateway to summer. According to US Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, 558,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were alive in 2017. Branford is lucky to have six of them participating in this year’s Memorial Day Parade. Head into town and pay your respects to these heroes. In Stony Creek, the tribute begins at 8:30 a.m. In town, people will gather on the green at 10 a.m.
