East Haven Courier

East Haven High School Class of 2009

Shore Publishing — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:12:47 GMT

Two hundred fifteen seniors assembled on Frank Crisafi Field on June 23 to receive their diplomas as members of East Haven High School’s (EHHS) Class of 2009. Student speeches were delivered by valedictorian Kaitlyn Bellucci, salutatorian Jennifer Shames, Class President Tiffany Du, Secretary Stephanie Hill. The guest speaker was EHHS faculty member Raymond Johnson.

* National Honor Society
+ EHHS 2007 CAPT Scholar

Jocelyn Nicole Albarron
Gino V. Appi
Bobby Armour
Nathaniel D. Augustave
Brooke Baptista
Ashley Barbuito
Michele Barker*
Ace Junelo Baylon
Thomas Anthony Beaudoin
Kaitlyn Bellucci
Jennifer Best
Cody T. Bias
Victoria Bonilla*
Shane M. Borzillo+
Kadyleigh Boughton+
Stephanie Barbaera Bowdon
Amber Lynn Brulotte
Alexander Paul Burr
David Burr
Frank Butler
Eusenio Campos
Caitlin Canapinno
Ronnie Cantley
Paula Caputo
Jaimie Carotenuto
Kelli Marie Carr
Chelsea Nicole Chamberlain+
Courtney Lynne Chamberlain+
Matthew Chappuis
Michael Cifarelli
Brian Thomas Coleman+
Christopher Russell Connelly
Ashley Marie Connolly
Marrandia E. Consavage
Alyssa Marie Consiglio
Kellie Consiglio
Shane Jared Crawford
Louis A. Criscio
Stephen E. Cunningham
Jennifer Lynne Cuomo
Gabriela B. Dadario*+
Jaclyn Marie D’Alerbo*
Lindsay DeAngelo
John DeGaetano
Jacob DeMaio
Frank Vincent Dempsey
Rianna DePalma
Gina Marie DeSorbo
Robert Joseph Dest
Jennifer L. DeStefeno
Rosamaria Didiano
Vincent DiNicola, III
Amanda Marie DiNuzzo
Ronisha Janice Dixon
Monica Donato
Michael Mario D’Orlando
Taylor Doughty+
Stephen Dowd
Tiffany L. Du*
Shannon Duffy
Ashley Ann Dynan*
Jamie Elena Dynderski
Michael Kofi Effah
Anthony Eligio
Brittany Ann Esposito
Nicole Esposito
Lauren A. Farrell
Arthur Ray Faulkner, III+
Joseph Richard Ferretti+
Michael V. Ferrigno
Joseph Anthony Ferrucci+
Kaitlynn Nicole Fitzsimmons
Benjamin Michael Franco, III*+
Christina Franco
Nick Fry
Chelsea Fucci
Frank M. Funaro, III
Vincenzo Gagliardi
Christopher Gargiulo
Mike Gentile
Jennifer A. Gertsch
Larissa Nicole Giamette
Kenneth John Gieparda
Jason J. Gomez
Robert Greenspun
Jeff Griffin
Joseph Anthony Grillo
Elizabeth Sokonthy Heng
Mary Higgins+
Stephanie Ann Hill*+
Juan P. Hincapie
Jason Hinckley
Linda Quyen Hoang
Rebecca Marie Holland
Sharon A. Hwang*+
Ginamarie Ianniello
Lisa Marie Ingles
Tony Juliano
Steven Kapinos*+
Christopher Kicak
Megan L. Kirby
Daniel Kownacki
Paul Lalla
Vito Landolfi, Jr.
Brandon Kyle Lane
Kenneth Lane
Jose P. Lara
Briana Aisling Leary
Andrew Lem
Ashley Marie Lennon
Steven Levatino
Timothy Scott Livingston, Jr.
Jennifer Janine Lizondro
Brian Edward Lloyd+
Bianca Lucatino*
Jesse M. Lucatino+
Allyson Elizabeth Lyman
Melissa Magiola
Edward J. Mahon, Jr.
Kirsten Marcucci
Jaclyn Marie Marro
Sara Anne Martin
Zach Martone
Edwin Mera
Taylor Concetta Miessau*+
Hayley Miller
Stephanie Ann Mincey
Paige Nicole Mino
Matthew Modena
Ekaterina Morozova*
Theresa Jean Moscato
Victoria Rose Moschette
Ryan W. Murphy+
Margarita Nieves
Eric Robert Nuremberg
Vanessa M. Nuzzo
Patrick Clark O’Brien*+
Anthony Oddo, Jr.
Mark Robert O’Hare
Anna Urszula Olewicz
Michael Page
Krislynn Pajeski
Anthony Palm+
John Palmieri
Jesse Pannone
Dipesh Manhar Patel*+
Daniel Joseph Patenaude, Jr.
Samantha Pellegrino
Adam Penrod+
Massimo Perciballi
Corey Petr
John Petr
Matt Picagli
Brandon Piché*+
Michaela Ann Piersanti*
Frank Robert Pisano
Stephanie Nicole Pond
Ashley Lynn Puccino
Janica Raquel Quillia*
Cara Nicole Quinn
David Richard Rascati, Jr.
Rosemarie Reed
David Rivera
Mauricio Rodriguez
Samantha Elizabeth Romano*
Tiana Rooks
Luis A. Rosa
LeAnna Rosarbo
John Carl Ruggiero
Matthew Rusnack
Daniel T. Russo
Frank Sacco
Marisa Lynn Sandmann+
Toni Marie Santamauro
Christina Loren Santanello
Justin Sarcione
Cassandra Nicole Savalli*
Taylor Scalia*
Shannon Kirsten Schmidt
Melissa Ann Schwartz
Haris K. Shah
Jennifer Elizabeth Shames*+
Jacqueline Ann Sheltman
Stephen Anthony Simoes
Felicia Smith
Rachel Elizabeth Smith
Sara Emily Sotaski
Tabitha Lashie Souffront
Robin Ericka Squirrell
Samantha Laine St. Jacques
Ashley Marie Stevens+
James Suraci
Christina Susi*+
Kayla Marie Tarantino
Angelia Marie Teyssedou
Phannara David Thy
Katherine Turner
Ceara Lyn Valenti+
Philip Van dar Harten
Michael Vance
Nancy Alejandra Vargas
Anthony Vessicchio+
Mark Vincent
Joseph Vitkovsky
Lorenzo Antonio Voira
Erica Wade
Lindsay Ward*+
Steven Philip Watts
Christopher M. Williams
Monica Nicole Wojnilo
Jiwon Yoo*
Vladimir Daniel Young
Salvatore Zampano
Tiairani Zapata
Heather R. Zukauskas

East Haven High School Honors and Recognitions

Shore Publishing — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:11:11 GMT

Valedictorian: Kaitlyn Bellucci
Salutatorian: Jennifer Shames

Honors with Distinction

Kaitlyn Bellucci
Taylor Doughty
Ashley Dynan
Benjamin Franco
Sharon Hwang
Steven Kapinos
Bianca Lucatino
Patrick O’Brien
Dipesh Patel
Jennifer Shames
Christina Susi
Anthony Vessicchio

Honors

Ace Junelo Baylon
Michele Barker
Caitlin Canapinno
Chelsea Chamberlain
Courtney Chamberlain
Brian Coleman
Kellie Consiglio
Gabriela Dadario
Rianna DePalma
Rosa Didiano
Tiffany Du
Jamie Dynderski
Nicole Esposito
Joseph Ferretti
Mary Higgins
Stephanie Hill
Christopher Kicak
Timothy livingston
Jennifer Lizondro
Jesse Lucatino
Melissa Magiola
Daniel Kownacki
Taylor Miessau
Ekaterina Morozova
Mark O’Hare
Anthony Palm
John Palmieri
Brandon Piché
Michaela Piersanti
Janica Quillia
Cara Quinn
Samantha Romano
Cassandra Savalli
Taylor Scalia
Melissa Schwartz
Rachel Smith
Robin Squirrell
Kayla Tarantino
Ceara Valenti
Jiwon Yeo

Class Officers

President: Tiffany Du
Vice President: Bianca Lucatino
Secretary: Stephanie Hill
Treasurer: Taylor Miessau
Historian: Jesse Lucatino

New Alliance Bank Robbed at Gunpoint: Police Seek Lone Suspect

Shore Publishing — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:08:28 GMT

By Jason J. Marchi, Courier Correspondent:

Police are hot on the trail of a gun-wielding man who robbed the New Alliance Bank at 50 Frontage Road last Wednesday and made off with an undisclosed sum of money.

On June 24 at approximately 10:30 a.m., a lone man entered the bank, displayed a handgun and demanded money, according to Lt. Joseph Slane of the East Haven Police Department’s Public Information Division.

The suspect was described as a black male in his 20s or 30s, sporting a mustache and wearing a dark blue sport jersey displaying the number “39” and a baseball cap with the letter “B” printed on the forehead.

After exiting the bank, the robber fled the scene in a white van or SUV and headed onto I-95 northbound. No one at the bank was injured during the robbery.

If anyone has information regarding this incident, contact the East Haven Police Department at 203-468-3820.

On a Wing and a Memory

Shore Publishing — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:04:36 GMT

By Jason J. Marchi, Courier Correspondent:

It was the time when most homes had ice boxes instead of refrigerators and a block of ice cost 15 or 20 cents and lasted two days. It was the time when there was no television, movies were 25 cents for a double feature (including a cartoon and a newsreel), and all other news was communicated by newspapers and radio. It was the time of WWII and, while most young American men where fighting the Germans in Europe or the Japanese in the South Pacific, the women left at home in the states kept the country running.

If you were a teenager at the time like Eileen Lawlor was (she was Eileen Purcell at the time) and were too young to join the military but still wanted to help the American war effort, you could join the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Eileen did just that.

“My parents were not happy that I liked flying,” Eileen admits, though flying wasn’t her only interest at the time. “I was in the rifle club, and we met every Thursday night at Winchester’s. I’d get all decked out in my uniform, with my rifle over my shoulder, walk down to the corner, get on the trolley car, and not a soul would even look at me twice. Today I’d get arrested!”

When not flying or attending shooting classes, Eileen trained for search and rescue operations as part of her CAP duties.

“There was a winter day [when] we got a call to go find a small plane that went down on the Sleeping Giant. Groups of cadets were ordered to cover different areas and to come back by 3 o’clock. It was very cold and the snow was a foot deep and they gave me the compass—one other girl had a compass.

“Well, we got lost,” Eileen continues. “So the first girl took out her compass and dropped it because she took off her mittens and her hands were cold. It dropped right down in front of her [in the snow] but we couldn’t find it. So I got my compass in hand and I was very impressed with myself. I walked this way and a branch knocked the compass right out of my hand. We couldn’t find that one either. Another search unit had to come and find us.”

Eileen’s CAP service was a time of excitement and purpose for a young person thrilled with airplanes, and yet, when the war ended, any sense of urgency to remain in the patrol ended. That’s when Eileen finally obliged her father’s wishes by not seeking any type of career that would have her working inside of airplanes.

“I went to work for the phone company making great money at the time,” Eileen says.
She remained there for nearly 11 years until she married and started a family.

Her interest in aviation rubbed off on her son, Kevin, who grew up longing to follow in his mother’s inspiring footsteps. Once old enough, he joined CAP. Another of her sons, Michael, has risen to different heights as East Haven’s state representative.

Eight years ago Kevin (today a state’s attorney), along with his brothers and father, gave Eileen as a present a chance to return to the skies in a WWII era AT-6 flight-training plane.

“You should have seen the look on the young pilot’s face, with Methuselah climbing up on the wing,” Eileen says with a laugh. “I got in and it was heaven. He let me fly it. [I had] the super-deluxe package and the pilot kept asking me, ‘Are you ready for this?’ and I said ‘I’m ready, I’m ready.’ He flew us upside down and inside out and it was absolutely incredible.”

To nominate a Person of the Week contact Jason Marchi at j.marchi@shorepublishing.com or 203-245-1877 x6166.

Pictured: East Haven resident Eileen Lawlor, who served in the Civil Air Patrol as a teenager, raised three sons—one of whom also joined the Patrol—and another who became a Connecticut state representative.
Photo by Jason J. Marchi.

Police Incident Report June 17 to 23

Shore Publishing — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:01:11 GMT

The East Haven Courier publishes a Police Incident Report to inform residents of incidents, criminal activities, and police responses occurring in town. As those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the report does not include names. It may be edited for space and content.

Wednesday, June 17
• A 26-year-old man of Henry Street was charged with larceny in the fourth degree.
• A 33-year-old woman of Hemmingway Avenue was charged with breach of peace in the second degree.
• A 38-year-old woman of Joyce Road was charged with assault in the third degree and disorderly conduct.
• A 31-year-old woman of Burr Street was arrested on a warrant charging her with two counts of failure to appear for a motor vehicle summons.
• A 44-year-old woman of Hemingway Avenue was charged with breach of peace in the second degree.

Thursday, June 18
• A 29-year-old Bridgeport man was arrested on a warrant charging him with failure to appear in the second degree.
• A 34-year-old man of Thompson Avenue was charged with larceny in the second degree.

Friday, June 19
• A 31-year-old New Haven man was charged with larceny in the fifth degree and illegal use of credit card.
• A 44-year-old New Haven woman was charged with larceny in the sixth degree.
• A 19-year-old man of Phillip Street was charged with harassment in the second degree. He was arrested again and charged with interfering with a police officer, larceny in the second degree, and operating a motor vehicle without a license. In the same incident a 20-year-old Milford man was charged with conspiracy to commit larceny in the second degree and interfering with a police officer.
• A 31-year-old man of Charnes Drive was charged with simple trespass and breach of peace in the second degree.

Saturday, June 20
• A 22-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman of the same Elm Court address were charged with disorderly conduct.
• A 19-year-old woman of North High Street was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of narcotics, failure to have insurance, and failure to keep prescription drug in original container.

Sunday, June 21
• A 37-year-old Branford man was charged with assault in the third degree, strangulation in the second degree, and using or tampering with a motor vehicle without permission.
• A 34-year-old man of Lexington Avenue was charged with larceny in the sixth degree and illegal use of a handicap space.
• A 41-year-old woman of Morris Road was charged with breach of peace in the second degree and interfering with an officer.
• A 25-year-old West Haven man was charged with larceny in the sixth degree.
• A 35-year-old Hamden man was charged with criminal mischief in the third degree and disorderly conduct.

Monday, June 22
• A 28-year-old woman of Sidney Street was charged with risk of injury to a minor.

Tuesday, June 23
• A 51-year-old Wallingford woman was charged with disorderly conduct.
• A 23-year-old man of Hemingway Avenue was charged with larceny in the sixth degree and possession of less than four ounces of marijuana.

Police correspondent Jason J. Marchi compiles the Police Incident Report.

Taking a Swing at It

Shore Publishing — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:48:34 GMT

B&A Alarms squared off against Torniero Painting last weekend during the final week of regular season play before the Little League play-offs and all stars games. Here, Santino Sciambiatti swings for B&A Alarms while Dylan Scheibel catches for Torniero Painting.

Photo by Adam Coppola

East Haven Prepares to Party

Shore Publishing — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:45:22 GMT

By Robert Kilpatrick, Special to the Courier:

The “rockets’ red glare” will be seen over the shores of East Haven Sunday night when the town celebrates the 233rd birthday of the United States of America.

“We’re asking citizens to pray for good weather,” said Annarose Russo of event co-sponsor Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 484.

In the event of rain, however, the celebration will be held Monday, June 29.

The vets and the Town of East Haven are again co-sponsoring the all-day celebration of Independence Day early this year, marking the ninth year of their partnership. The party begins at noon at the Town Beach and features food, music, live entertainment with the grand fireworks finalé at about 9 p.m.

“We’re using a smaller barge to get closer to the shore this year,” observed Paul J. Hongo Jr., deputy director of town affairs. “It’ll be a fantastic show.”

Musical acts include No Big Deal, One Way Ticket, Rhapsody, and the feature musical performance by Beatles tribute band British Beat. For those who cannot make it, WPLR-99.1 will broadcast the action live from the beach.

Food vendors and concessionaires are welcome; however, permits will be issued on a first come, first serve basis. Food will also be available from the Sandpiper and Beachhead Restaurants, both of which are located on Cosey Beach Avenue.

Organizers alerted motorists that street access to the beach will be limited beginning at 8 a.m. Cosey Beach Avenue will be closed from the intersection of Second Avenue to Philips Street. Similarly, Coe Avenue will be closed from the Bradford Street intersection to the beach. The East Haven Police Department will post notices and direct motorists in and around the general vicinity of the town beach.

Historically, the event has attracted 13,000 to 15,000 people, Hongo noted. It’s open to all, he said, and has been traditionally scheduled early so as “to be respectful to our sister communities” in terms of coordinating multiple fireworks displays.

The current economic distress did not deter the organizing committee.

“We worked a little harder this year,” Russo recalled. “This year was hard with the economy being what it is. I felt so bad asking people for contributions. We met our goal...I’m so proud of this town.”

Although the fireworks are presented in a cooperative effort with the Vietnam Veterans and the Town of East Haven, the majority of funding is obtained from private businesses and personal donations. Hongo said that title sponsors have not been forthcoming for the past two years.

“Even though we met our goal, Russo said, “we’re still accepting contributions and if there’s any left over, we’ll put it toward next year, which will be the 10th anniversary. Next year will be bigger and better.”

Donations may be mailed to VVA Fireworks 2009 c/o Bernie or Annarose Russo, 41 Hobson Street, East Haven, CT 06512, or delivered to the Mayor’s Office, 250 Main Street, East Haven, CT 06512.

The Art of Pharmaceutical Science

Shore Publishing — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:44:08 GMT

By Jason J. Marchi, Courier Correspondent:

While growing up in East Haven and excelling in high school football and baseball, Scott Mitchell also pulled in the grades that kept him in the top 10 of his class academically and it was in high school that Scott discovered his early interest in science through a love of mathematics.

“I was taking second level college math in high school,” he says, “but as I matured I found I was more interested in the application of science than in math or engineering.”

Today, Scott is one of a select group of pharmaceutical research scientists to have developed an anti-cancer compound currently in phase one clinical trials and thus on its way to becoming a new cancer-fighting drug.

While earning his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Trinity College, Scott had the great fortune to work with Bruce Merrifield, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1984.
“I got accepted to work under him in his lab for three years and I published papers as a co-author with Bruce and other scientists at the Rockefeller University in Manhattan,” Scott says.

Although Merrifield hoped that his protégé would continue to work with him in biochemistry, Scott says he realized he didn’t want to make chemistry his career.

“I really wanted to be in pharmaceuticals,” Scott notes and, like a good mentor, Merrifield let his apprentice follow his own career path toward greatness.

After Trinity, Scott considered entering medical school, “but it just didn’t click with me,” he says. “I was more interested in coming up with science that would help people than in dealing with the death and dying portion of medicine.”

And thanks to the prestige that working with Merrifield had earned him, Scott was able to land a job at generic drug maker Sandoz for two years before earning a doctoral degree in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Arizona in 1999.

Fast forward 10 years and Scott is now senior research fellow in chemistry at CGI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Branford and one of the anti-cancer drugs Scott developed there is now in phase one clinical trials.

That’s a big deal, considering that “Very few chemists in the world can say they’ve designed and made a compound that is in clinical trials,” Scott notes, adding, “I saw every scale of that molecule, from the first lot [of molecules] all the way up to the clinical lot of molecules that people can take.”

To create such molecules in the first place takes a special mind that can understand the language of chemistry—and that molecular language is as much a part of Scott’s everyday mental makeup as are words for a philologist.

“I love that, every day, I can come up with an idea and make something that’s never been made and it can have a chance to become a drug to help someone,” Scott says.

An admittedly high-energy personality, when he’s not thinking about chemical compounds, Scott coaches youth football in East Haven. He’s now in his fifth year as a cub master for Cub Scout Pak 412 in Foxon, of which his son, Christopher, 9, is a member.

Scott and his wife of 20 years, Jessica, also devote a great deal of time to their 7-year-old daughter Amelia, and together they believe in teaching their children to be both psychically active and mentally inquisitive.

“I teach three principals to my kids and the scouting kids,” Scott concludes. “One, never stop learning because life is a journey. Two, be as fair and honest every day as you can. And three, be a kid and have fun, don’t stress out, enjoy life and be in awe of everything.”

To nominate a Person of the Week, contact Jason Marchi at j.marchi@shorepublishing.com or 203-245-1877 x6166.

Police Incident Report June 10 to 17

Shore Publishing — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:41:49 GMT

The East Haven Courier publishes a Police Incident Report to inform residents of incidents, criminal activities, and police responses occurring in town. As those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the report does not include names. It may be edited for space and content.

Wednesday, June 10
• A 43-year-old New Haven man was arrested on a warrant charging him with failure to respond to a citation.
• A 36-year-old woman of River Road was charged with failure to have insurance and four additional motor vehicle violations.
• A 43-year-old New Haven man was charged with failure to have insurance and four additional motor vehicle violations.
• A 22-year-old man of Main Street was charged with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana and illegal manufacture, sale, or distribution of marijuana.

Thursday, June 11
• A 46-year-old Wallingford man was charged with violation of probation.
• A 27-year-old man of Cortina Drive was charged the violation of probation.
• A 20-year-old Hamden woman was cited for unsafe start and operating a motor vehicle without a license following a one-vehicle accident. At approximately 10:19 a.m. the accused exited the parking lot of Guiterrez Bakery, lost control of her vehicle, crossed over both lanes of traffic, struck an unoccupied parked vehicle, and finally came to rest atop the guide wires of a telephone pole in the parking lot of Goody’s Hardware. Main Street was closed to traffic in both directions for approximately three hours while utility crews repaired downed wires. The driver was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for minor injuries.

Friday, June 12
No arrests were made and no significant incidents were reported.

Saturday, June 13
• A 27-year-old man of Strong Street was charged with failure to have insurance and three additional motor vehicle violations.
• A 40-year-old North Branford woman was charged with disorderly conduct.
• A 27-year-old man of Thompson Avenue was arrested on a warrant charging him with three counts of failure to appear in the first degree and one count of failure to appear in the second degree.
• A 29-year-old man of Frank Street was charged with reckless driving and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Sunday, June 14
• A 35-year-old man of Dale Street was charged with failure to have insurance and four additional motor vehicle violations.

Monday, June 15
• A 28-year-old New Haven man was charged with failure to have insurance and three additional motor vehicle violations.

Tuesday, June 16
• A 19-year-old New Haven woman was charged with disorderly conduct and assault in the third degree.
• An 18-year-old man of Main Street was charged with criminal mischief in the second degree.
• A 27-year-old man of Borrmann Road was charged with disorderly conduct, interfering with an emergency call, and criminal violation of a protective order.
• A 35-year-old man of Meadow Street was charged with interfering with a police officer. He was also arrests on an outstanding warrant out of New Haven charging him with failure to appear in the second degree, and two warrants out of North Haven charging him with violation of probation and interfering with an officer (See “Sex Offender” on page .)

Police correspondent Jason J. Marchi compiles the Police Incident Report.

Schools Move to Layoffs

Shore Publishing — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:38:52 GMT

By Kristen Archibald, Special to the Courier:

East Haven’s Board of Education (BOE) made a bold move in its ongoing effort to balance its budget last week, sending out layoff notices to 24 school employees, among them 10 teachers, a move that will save the town $438,000. In addition, 14 senior teachers have accepted a retirement package with medical insurance incentives amounting to $925,000. The proposed cuts still leave the BOE $500,000 shy of balancing its budget.

“We are looking at potential areas to lower the budget and are still working on it,” said BOE Chairman Marilyn Vitale. “We don’t want to lay people off.”

The BOE is still struggling to trim its budget after its request for a $1.7 million increase in funds over last fiscal year’s budget was denied during budget season. The Town Council ultimately backed Mayor April Capon Almon’s call for a flat budget. Since then, the teachers union has declined repeated calls for concessions including furloughs and a freeze on salaries. This forced the BOE to reduce its personnel.

Capone Almon has met with the BOE to discuss ways to balance the budget. The mayor’s office has been successful in negotiating with six town-employee unions; the teachers’ union has yet to compromise. The union rejected furloughs as an alternative to three-percent raises.
“My office has shown the Board of Education what they can do to make cuts without affecting students,” Capone Almon said. “At this point, there has been no movement.”

Members of the town’s non-education unions have already agreed to give up raises for next year. The mayor said the BOE budget can be stabilized without teacher layoffs.

“I am not asking anyone to make a sacrifice I wouldn’t make,” said Capone Almon. “The Board of Education has a budget and needs to make it work.”

In addition to teachers and other administrative personnel, the BOE discussed a 50-percent reduction in hall monitors and lunch mothers as well as a 30-percent decrease in stipend positions. Eliminating freshman and middle school sports is another possibility.

“Extracurricular activities and sports are often a way for students to stay interested in education,” said BOE member and Republican mayoral candidate John Finkle.

He said removal of these programs would be a disappointment and leaves kids short of being well-rounded.

Finkle sees layoffs and eliminated programs as a major blow to the town’s progress.
“It’s a big hit,” he said, “and we are still short of where we need to be.”

Another concern is having a staff nurse at every school. Superintendent of Schools Tony Serio said the town was looking into different options, including a rotational schedule to ensure coverage for all locations.

“No school would be left without nursing services,” he said.

The BOE is also looking into ways to increase funds, including programs that would bring revenues into the community.

“We still have time. We may have to rethink the way we do business,” said Vitale, adding that the BOE was also exploring ways to streamline maintenance and operational costs in an effort to save money.

Vitale said she didn’t know where the rest of the cuts would come from.

“We may need to get creative,” she said.

According to Vitale, reducing staffers’ hours or offering part-time work remains a viable option for cutting costs.

At press time, the BOE planned to hold a special meeting to continue budget discussions. It will notify teachers of a decision before the start of the next school year.

“No question,” said Serio. “We have a lot to do.”

Batts; Back in Action

Shore Publishing — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:35:25 GMT

By Charla Puccino, Special to the Courier:

After a successful career wrestling professionally in Tampa, Florida, for both Total Non Stop Action Wrestling on Spike TV and World Wrestling Entertainment, Michael Altieri formerly known as Mikey Batts has returned to East Haven. He plans to focus on expanding his career and skill level in the mixed martial arts aspect of fighting.

“I have decided to switch from the entertainment aspect of the sport and get into the legit fighting game,” says Michael. “I don’t want someone dictating my future in regards to predetermined outcomes any longer.”

After wrestling on national television, pay-per-view, and getting released from his WWE contract he now trains under American Top Team with help from Gold’s Gym located in New Haven.

“American Top Team is a team of fighters with some of the best coaches from around the world,” says Michael. “Gold’s Gym helps me get my body to its physical peak,”

For the past six months, he has been weight training at the gym and practicing the art of different submission and boxing techniques at AIKI which is a school that specializes in martial arts training as well as the American Top Team facility. The training is continuously being conducted for different submission tournaments such as the one he entered held at the Twin River Casino in Rhode Island. This tournament was held by the North American Grappling Association better known as NAGA and is headlined by UFC’s Gabriel Gonzaga vs. American Top Team’s Luigi Mondelli.

“Six months is a small amount of time to train when entering into a nationally ranked tournament,” says Michael. “But I wrestled professionally for five years and wrestled varsity throughout my high school career.”

He says his wrestling background an experience in practicing different submission moves will help his chances of doing well in such tournaments. Furthermore; he says competing and doing well in these competitions will help him gain the confidence to push himself to become not only an entertainer, but a legitimate and well-respected fighter.

“My training regiment is extremely rigorous,” says Michael. “I want to test who I am as a professional athlete and really know who I am as a fighter.”

He said he was always a huge fan of wrestling growing up and wanted to see what success he would have in the business.

“I never grew out of it,” says Michael. “I wanted to follow n my cousin’s [Billy Kidman’s] footsteps but make my own mark in the industry.”

Recently Michael picked up a sponsorship from Elm City Ink tattoo and body piercing located in East Haven. Although he left the entertainment aspect of wrestling, he still has a goal to get back on television and be involved in cage fighting. He says one of his biggest influences and motivators was his cousin and former WCW and WWE Cruiser Weight Champion Billy Kidman.

“He made me believe you can truly discover any dream possible as long as you are willing to make sacrifices and work hard,” says Michael.

For booking and sponsorship inquires, contact mikeybatts1@aol.com.

Photo courtesy of Mike Altieri

Boys’ Tennis Gains Experience in 2009

Shore Publishing — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:13:43 GMT

By Jennifer Small, Courier Sports Editor:

The East Haven boys’ tennis team came into the 2009 season with only three players with varsity experience and only two seniors in captain Anthony Vessicchio and Anthony Oddo. Despite this challenge, the younger players stepped up to finish 6-10 (5-3 Oronoque).

The season was highlighted by a 4-3 home win over Hand that was tied 3-3, coming down to the No. 2 doubles team of Oddo and Mike Vessicchio.

“They had lost the first set but came back to win the next two to seal the deal,” said Coach Kevin Breuler.

The No. 2 doubles team was strong throughout the season as it qualified for the state tournament along with the No. 1 doubles team of Anthony Vessicchio and Bobby Noonan, which went 15-1 and made All-Oronoque. Vessicchio also earned MVP honors with Noonan winning the Sportsmanship Award and being named 2010’s senior captain and Oddo taking home the Coach’s Award.

“Anthony Vessicchio brought leadership, the team respected him, and his playing ability was there as well,” said Breuler. “Anthony Oddo was quiet but enjoyable to have on team and his tennis game came a long way as well.”

While the team will miss its two seniors, the rest of the lineup gained valuable varsity experience this season. Evan Moore, Jack Brereton, and Kevin Yoo rotated in the top three singles spots with Dave DiNicola and Anthony Inguggiato rounding out the singles lineup.

With off-season work and the experience gained this season, the Yellowjackets are aiming for at least a .500 finish next year to qualify for states as a team.

“Singles was tough this year because of inexperience, but we’ll have a lot more experienced players in the lineup next year,” said Breuler. “This was an enjoyable season overall and they were all well-behaved and got along as a team. As a coach, it was really enjoyable that way. They wanted to learn and made practice fun. This was definitely a team that wanted to be there.”

Boys’ Track Sprints to a Strong Season

Shore Publishing — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:12:46 GMT

By Jennifer Small, Courier Sports Editor:

The East Haven boys’ track team boasted five of the school’s fastest athletes in 2009 in Jesse Gallo, Chris Young, Emilio Maldonado, Carlos Maldonado, and Anthony Sandella, who was out with a calf injury for the last five weeks. The five contributed the majority of the points to the team’s season with sprints, relays, and hurdles as the biggest strengths.

Young continued his strong season to the CIAC State Decathlon Championship where he placed ninth with 5,153 points joining an elite list of 5,000-plus scorers including Anthony Russell (1995), Kevin Glenn (1996, 1997), Mike Boney (1998, 1999), Joe Glenn (2000, 2001), Rashaad Roach (2001), and Rob Coates with more than 6,000 (2004, 2005).

“Chris had a great finish to his 2009 outdoor season,” said Coach Rusty Dunne. “He is in pretty good company as East Haven has a tremendous decathlon history. “

At the decathlon, Young ran a 51.16 in the 400 and John Wynne cleared 5-11 ½ in the high jump with both finishes being personal-bests.
“Young will break 50.0 next year in the 400 and the sky is the limit for John Wynne,” said Dunne. “Coach Bob Davis thinks Wynne will be over 6-0 in the high jump by the indoor season.”

Pannone, whose specialty was the hurdles, earned Most Valuable Athlete as the team’s top points-scorer with 132 ½ points. Young scored 127 ½ points for the Coach’s Award and Gallo took home the Sportsmanship Award with 103-0 ¼ points.

Rounding out the top-10 point-scorers were Wynne (64 ¼), Emilio Maldonado (54 ¾), Klevor Cordova (33 ¾), Carlos Maldonado (33 ¼), Sandella (30 ½), Sean Chmielewski (25), and Luan Silva (20 ¼).
“These guys were committed to the weight room all year long and it equates to speed,” said Dunne. “If you are not strong and fast, you cannot win.”

Young and Wynne were multi-event athletes and Emilio Maldonado was versatile in anything from the 100 to 800. The middle distance and distance group scored points and improved greatly led by Cordova (800), Marco Morocho (800 and 1,600), Ryan Jones (1,600), Matt Bradley (1,600), and Silva (3,200). Junyi Pierce, Albert DeCaprio, and Elliot Schneer were steady and Tyler Miller and Dave Moore also showed improvement.

Also showing potential were Sochetra So in the high jump; newcomers Chris Johnson and Matt Winfield in the sprints; Ron Mennone in the 800; and Mikhail Morozova, Sean Chmielewski, and Dylan Vaspasiano in the throws.

“The weight room will be the key for these guys, as it will for the entire East Haven track team,” said Dunne.

Pictured: Anthony Sandella and Emilio Maldonado were two key contributors to the Yellowjackets’ success this season.
Photo by Nancy Dionne

What’s Up with the Sound’s Summer Striper Bite?

Shore Publishing — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:17:36 GMT

It was foggy and humid with air quality like the tropics. There was no wind and the only relief, if any, was from a saltwater breeze created by the forward motion of our vessel. We’ve all just about had it with the constantly changing weather and uncertainty it brought to plans. The spring season was odd and summer started off in the same vein. But what else is expected in New England?

Yet hopes were high that the striped bass bite would be on and rods would bend once a big ol’ linesider engulfed the fresh live bait. After all, earlier in the week, both stripers and blues were feeding heavily on an influx of bait. Those hopes held on for most of the tide before dwindling. Changing reefs and shoals several times was to no avail and looking for a school of big bass turned out to be a challenge, especially since the Sound has so many stripers schooled up.

On the surface, the Sound was noticeably void of activity. Gulls were placid and no swirls of bait were evident even though earlier in the week pods of sand eels and herring were “balling.” From time to time, distant scenes of some form of surface-breaking activity popped into view. Overall, the scene was eerie!

Still no bass! In fact, not one bite from any fish species. Something flipped a switch very reminiscent of when a dominant predator enters the area. Speculation continued but still no answers and no fish. Then word came.

A pod of hundred or so bottlenose dolphins had entered the Sound, an occurrence that happened a few seasons ago and was covered in this column. They were following their food source, herring. Whenever dolphins or seals are feeding around your favorite fishing spot, or any spot for that matter, you can bet that the bite will stop. Could this event be the cause of such a quiet morning? My guess is yes!

On the Water
Summer temperatures arrived along with high humidity and little wind driving mid-Sound water temperatures to 66 degrees. During the early morning hours, fog hung just above the waterline, creating dense banks. Perhaps, to some anglers, these were ideal conditions to fish in tight. Unfortunately, with buckets of rainfall over a short period of time, much of the baitfish departed from the tidal rivers. In fact, only a few pockets of menhaden could be seen at any given time throughout Long Island Sound. Just in the western part of the Sound in and around Norwalk did schools of this bait seem to hold.

Of late, our weather patterns were unpredictably predictable at best. Late-day thunderstorms precluded opportunities to fish the evening tide. Filling gill nets posed an issue for live baiters and short fluke catches disappointed many anglers. Sure, there were catches on any given day of fish in excess of the 19 ½-inch size limit, but many drifts resulted in fish just short.

Schools of fluke bounced from Long Sand Shoal, Six Mile Reef, and at times, south of Faulkner’s in about 60 to 70 feet. Striped bass in the 30- to 40-pound range ran through Six Mile, some settling for a short time at the edges of Southwest Reef and the Ledge before they developed lockjaw—still plenty of schoolie action in the lower tidals. Black sea bass might have been the exception. There was a bite in about 90 feet of “humpback” territory where flagship catches were produced.

A few energized bluefish schools did manage to stir some boaters around the Faulkner Island haunts and by Kimberly Reef on the ebb. And overgrown scup/porgies in excess of 15 inches were caught not only on local inshore reefs but also from shore wharves and jetties. The summer-like weather rejuvenated anglers of all ages along shoreline communities and beyond.

Rainfall and low pressure again negatively affected trout fishing in the rivers and streams. The largemouth bass and panfish bite continues to be good, but smallie catches have only been fair and catfish better than that. Northern pike action has been on and off again in rivers and lakes while pickerel are chasing baits.

The rains also affected shell fishing with many bed closures. Those few that remained open did so because they weren’t in close proximity to runoff from adjacent land. And speaking of shellfish, could there be a rebound in blue crabbing this year? Sporadic sightings of young crabs have occurred in the Madison/Guilford tributaries. Hopefully, they will survive both the elements and the hungry jaws of predators.

Note: Having a hard time finding or obtaining a sportsman license? Captain Morgan’s has “all” 2009 fishing, hunting, trapping licenses/permits (rifle, shotgun, archery, muzzle loader, HIP, CT duck stamps, etc.) available including shellfish licenses for Guilford and Madison.

Whenever and wherever fishing, think Captain Morgan’s for all things fishy including the latest gear, bait, flies/flyfishing, rod/reel repair, clam/crabbing supplies, and licenses/permits. Swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

Tight Lines,
Captain Morgan

Pictured: Art Stoner of Killingworth hit it right when he brought up this pair of Long Island Sound sisters “humped” in 90 feet o fwater. Both of these colorful, twin, black sea bass measured 22 inches and weighed in at 5.3 pounds.
Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Planting Memories

Shore Publishing — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:14:46 GMT

The skies parted and the sun reappeared last Friday night, just in time for the dedication of Miss Carolyn’s reading garden at the Hagaman Memorial Library in honor of late Children’s Librarian Carolyn Siedzik. Miss Carolyn’s garden features a variety of Siedzik’s favorite flowers and plants. In addition, participants in the dedication ceremony released butterflies into the garden.
Here, David, Audrey, and Nicolas Rivetta take a closer look at the new plantings as onlookers remark that the late librarian would have loved to see children playing in her garden.

Photo by Adam Coppola