Valley Courier

‘Tis the Season

Shore Publishing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:00:57 GMT

Essex Ladies Garden Club members Gay Thorn, Dee Dee Charnok, and Sandy Meister take part in the club’s ongoing downtown beautification project by decorating for the holidays at the village center.

Photo by Nancy Dionne

Police Incident Report: Nov. 5 to 11

Shore Publishing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:59:55 GMT

The Valley 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.

Chester

Wednesday, Nov. 5

No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.

Thursday, Nov. 6

No arrests were made.

• A larceny at 129 West Main Street was investigated by Trooper Bryan Fahey at 4:46 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 7

No arrests were made.

• Trooper Adam Brown reported that between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7 a burglary occurred at 44 Main Street near Maple Street. Witnesses are asked to call Trooper Brown at 860-526-3605.

Saturday, Nov. 8

No arrests were made.

• At 3:45 a.m. it was reported that a 2002 Honda Civic operated by a 26-year-old man of Cocoa, Florida, struck a 1995 Ford Contour operated by a 22-year-old Haddam man. The Ford was unoccupied and disabled from a previous accident in which it spun into a wire-rope guardrail. No charges were indicated and no injuries were reported.

Sunday, Nov. 9

No arrests were made.

• A suspicious incident on Wig Hill Road near Baker Road was investigated by Trooper Mark Farotti at 4:08 p.m. No details were available.

Monday, Nov. 10

No arrests were made.

• At 5:19 p.m. Officer Belcourt reported that a 43-year-old Guilford woman attempted to make a left turn while driving a 1998 Ford F-150 causing a head-on collision with a vehicle driven by a 49-year-old man of Bates Road. Initially both operators claimed no injuries and then decided to be transported to the Shoreline Clinic for further evaluation. No charges were indicated.

• At 5:30 p.m. Trooper Paul Pederson reported that a residence on Butter Jones Road was burglarized on Nov. 5. No forced entry was made. Coins and assorted jewelry were taken.

Tuesday, Nov. 11

No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.

Deep River

Wednesday, Nov. 5

No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.

Thursday, Nov. 6

No arrests were made

• An 18-year-old Ivoryton man was issued a written warning at 6:47 p.m. for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart after the vehicle he was operating struck the rear of a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old Old Saybrook woman at the intersection of Route 80 (West Elm Street) and Route 154. No injuries were reported at the scene.

Friday, Nov. 7

No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.

Saturday, Nov. 8

No arrests were made.

• A suspicious incident on Cedar Swamp Road was investigated by Trooper Darwin Garnett at 1:40 p.m. No details were available.

• A larceny at 8 Read Street was investigated by Officer Peter Lewis at 11:29 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 9

No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.

Monday, Nov. 10

No arrests were made.

• Criminal mischief at 447 Winthop Road was investigated by Officer Raymond Sypher at 3:52 p.m.

• A motor vehicle accident without injuries in front of 95 Main Street was investigated by Officer Richard Smith at 10:58 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 11

No arrests were made.

• A larceny at 217 Union Street was investigated by Officer Peter Lewis at 6:15 p.m.

Essex

Wednesday, Nov. 5

• A 33-year-old Hartford woman was arrested at 1:47 a.m. and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, speeding, and operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license after being clocked traveling at 84 miles per hour. She was processed and released at 6:15 a.m. to the custody of a 28-year-old man on a $500 non-surety bond pending a Nov. 18 court date.

• A larceny at 11 Andrews Road was investigated by Officer April Pawlow at 7:53 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 6

No arrests were made.

• At 5:43 p.m. Trooper Debra-Ann Turner reported that a 17-year-old Deep River boy had parked a 2004 Ford Explorer in a private parking lot located at 125 Route 153 when it was struck by another vehicle that evaded the scene. Minor damage to the Explorer’s bumper was reported.

Friday, Nov. 7 to Saturday, Nov. 8

No arrests were made and no incidents were reported.

Sunday, Nov. 9

• A 34-year-old man of Winthrop Hill Road was arrested at 7:15 p.m. on warrant charging him with larceny in the sixth degree after he turned himself over to police following an investigation into a shoplifting incident at Ride Aid located at 125 Westbrook Road. He was processed and released at 8:05 p.m. to the custody of a 57-year-old man on a $1,000 non-surety bond.

Monday, Nov. 10

• A man of unrecorded age of a Westbrook Road apartment was arrested and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and evading responsibility in the operation of a motor vehicle following an accident in which there was property damage and/or bodily injury (fleeing the scene). He was processed and released at 3:30 a.m. on a $500 non-surety bond pending a Nov. 19 court date.

• A 63-year-old woman of Main Street and a 39-year-old Moodus man were both issued citations at 5:44 p.m. for unsafe backing. The 63-year-old woman was backing a 2008 VW Beetle from a paved space onto Main Street and the 39-year-old driver was backing a 2008 Mazda while on Main Street when the vehicles collided. The Moodus man had a seven-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy onboard. No injuries were reported.

Tuesday, Nov. 11

No arrests were made.

• A larceny at 1 Cove Hill Road was investigated by Officer Marc Pisciotti at 9:23 a.m.

Police correspondent Jason J. Marchi compiles the Police Incident Report

Update: Debra Schaefer

Shore Publishing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:58:28 GMT

By Rita Christopher, Courier Senior Correspondent:

Mao Tse-tung once said that all power comes from the barrel of a gun. Former Valley Courier Person of the Week Debra Schaefer of Deep River knows there is enormous power from something far less intimidating: the taste of a home baked cookie. That’s the reason why Debbie and her volunteer cookie makers are still baking for U.S. service personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.

“I get letters and emails from soldiers and their parents saying how grateful they are,” she says. “You bite into a cookie and it brings you a little taste of home. It’s all worth it to bring a smile to a soldier’s face. That’s why we are doing this.”

On Saturday, Nov. 22, Debbie and a host of volunteers will package holiday cookies at the Deep River Firehouse and she still needs additional helpers.

It’s a big job; each small plastic tub contains a dozen cookies, separated with squares of wax paper; each tub is sealed with plastic wrap to keep in the freshness before the lid goes on. The cookies are then packed in cardboard mailing boxes–medium-sized cardboard boxes contain five cookie tubs, large mailing boxes have 12.

Each box is addressed to a soldier serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kuwait. Deb receives the names of soldiers through relatives, Internet contacts, or other service personnel.

Last year, Deb and her volunteers sent 232 boxes of cookies; this year she already has names and addresses for 280 boxes and is still receiving more. That will add up to some 18,000 cookies in all.

Postage costs, Deb says, ordinarily run around $500 for a monthly shipment, but for the holiday shipment, Deb estimates they will go as high as $2,000. Contributions help defray these expenses, though Deb admits she also uses her own funds to cover costs.

Although Deb says her own oven is going six days a week, she has volunteer bakers, including a number of young people who participate through their schools, throughout the state. Her champion baker, she says, is a woman in Shelton who has delivered up to 3,000 cookies a month.

Deb’s work isn’t just about the cookies–it’s about everything from filling out customs forms for each package to including a holiday message in every plastic tub along with a snowman and a little bag of candy for each cookie recipient.

Deb started what she then called the Cookie Brigade when her own son, Christopher Scholfield, was deployed to Afghanistan. Now Chris has finished his tour in Afghanistan and is stationed in Italy and the group that Deb formed is currently called the Cookie Platoon (a woman in Wisconsin was using the name Cookie Brigade, accounting for the change).

In addition to the Cookie Platoon, Deb is helping organize Help Our Homeless Veterans a benefit for ex-service personnel in Connecticut. She urges people to drop off everything from clothing to linens and towels at the Old Saybrook Fire Department between Dec. 3 and 10.

“It’s a way of helping these people get out of shelters and get back on their own,” she says.

Deb has been so busy she hasn’t even had a chance to think about her own plans for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

“I don’t really know what we’ll do. I haven’t thought about cooking anything,” she says.

Still, she knows what she would like to do.

“If somebody told me there were some veterans in Connecticut that needed someplace to go for a Thanksgiving dinner, that’s something I’d like to organize,” she says.

To find out about helping the Cookie Platoon, call Debra Schaefer at 860-526-2789 or visit www.cookieplatoon.com. Contributions can be sent to: Cookie Platoon, P.O. Box 635, Chester, CT 06412.

Scotty Bloch: All the World Is a Stage

Shore Publishing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:53:20 GMT

By Rita Christopher, Special to Living:

Scotty Bloch is making a concession, albeit a very small one, to age: she is letting three grey streaks run through her auburn hair. But that doesn’t mean, after more than half a century in the theater, that she’s giving away anything else.

In fact, she has just had new pictures taken for her agent to distribute.

“I want to do more work on Broadway,” she explains.

Scotty, along with veteran actor Peter Walker, will be appearing in a stage reading of the classic George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart comedy, The Man Who Came to Dinner, produced by the Margreta Stage Company on Nov. 22 at the Ivoryton Playhouse.

In her long career, Scotty has acted roles as diverse as Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter, and the mother of Jane Curtin, who played the role of Allie, in three episodes of the television series Kate and Allie. Her film credits include appearances in four Woody Allen films, but it was a ten-minute short, The Lunch Date, in which she played one of the two characters in the movie, that earned her a trip to the Academy Awards ceremony. The film won for best short subject.

Scotty remembers what she wore for the occasion.

“It was a satin cowboy shirt with a lot of rhinestones, and black pants,” she says. She was planning to wear what she describes as her “nothing of a fur coat,” but when the furrier, to whom she had taken it for repair, heard that, he promptly lent her one for the occasion.

“It was a mink shawl, with fox at the edges; I slung it over my shoulder–quite extravagant,” she recalls.

In addition to the appearance in the Oscar-winning short, Scotty has also won the Laurette Taylor Award for her performance in The Goldberg Variations, the Dramalogue Award for The Stand-In, and the Barrymore Award for Three Viewings.

Scotty’s theatrical career began in a Halloween play in kindergarten when all the girls in the class were asked to say the line, “What have you come for?” Scotty won the part.

In junior high school in Westchester County, she regularly appeared in school plays.

“Somebody said to me, ‘I suppose you’re going to be an actress,’” she recalls. “So there it was; I supposed I should.”

Her Broadway debut at the age of 18 was in a play called Craig’s Wife, in which she played the ingénue’s role. She says that a well known producer saw her in the theater and asked if she wanted to be an actress. Scotty had an answer ready: “I told him I already was an actress,” she says.

Scotty has made the transition from ingénue to leading lady and later to a character actress.

“That’s what they call it, character; they don’t say old,” she explains.

Still, Scotty says that age has made her a better performer.

“I don’t think I was a good ingénue,” she says. “I was pretty and I spoke well, but I wasn’t too imaginative. When I was older, I began to learn more about acting,” she says.

Scotty points to a recent performance in Old Saybrook of Tea at Five, based on the Katherine Hepburn’s autobiography. She says she didn’t want merely to imitate Hepburn’s style. One of her two grown sons, a director himself, told her to leave herself loose to find the spirit of Hepburn.

“If I’d been 25 or even 45, I don’t think I would have known what the heck he was talking about,” she says.

Scotty met her husband Dan after she came back from a post-World War II tour of Europe, playing the title role in My Sister Eileen. She was performing at the University of Delaware, where Dan was a student.

“We did the jitterbug and we’ve been together ever since,” she says.

After she married, Scotty, born Belle Scott, could employ what had been her nickname without causing confusion between her first and last name.

“Everybody had always called me Scotty, but I just couldn’t use it before that,” she explains. Scotty Bloch is the name by which she has become widely known in the theater.

Scotty and Dan first bought a weekend house in Old Saybrook then lived in Deep River for 20 years. Several years ago they moved to Chester.

Scotty has no plans to retire.

“Acting is what I love doing,” she says.

She would like to play Eleanor of Aquitaine again and appear in a full stage production of A.J. Gurney’s The Cocktail Hour, a play she has done as a reading.

Dan, she says, sometimes asks about what role she is playing. “He wants to know if the part is tough or emotional.”

Though Scotty says she has no trouble separating life from art, she admits that Dan sometimes sees the two merge: “He says that when I’m in a play, he can sometimes find the qualities of the character in me.”

The Man Who Came to Dinner, produced by the Margreta Stage Company, is on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street. For tickets, call 767-8943.

Pictured: Broadway veteran Scotty Bloch of Chester stars in Margreta Stage’s first production, The Man Who Came to Dinner, on Nov. 22 at the Ivoryton Playhouse.

Photo by Rita Christopher

Town Meeting Confirms Board Appointments

Shore Publishing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:48:32 GMT

By Marianne Sullivan, Courier Senior Staff Writer:

ESSEX:

The Nov. 17 Annual Town Meeting approved a series of appointments, filling seats on several boards and commission.

The town meeting approved four appointments by First Selectman Philip Miller to the Conservation Commission. These are Maryann Pleva (D), Gundrun Lelash (D), and Pamela Bernardini (unaffiliated), with terms to December 2011. William Reichenbach (R) was approved for a term to run to December 2010.

Three appointments by the first selectman to the Inland Wetlands Commission were also approved. They were Claire Tiernan (D) and Steven Knauth (D) for terms to expire December 2011, and Fred Szufnarowksi (D) for a term to expire December 2009. Tiernan will serve as the Planning Commission’s representative to this commission. The appointment by Miller of Alan Kerr to the Planning Commission for a term to expire in December 2013 was also approved.

The remainder of the appointments–many of which are reappointments–were approved by the Board of Selectmen and presented to the town meeting for ratification. They are listed below.

Economic Development Commission–Republican John Beveridge, Republican William Foster, Democrat Alan Kerr, and David Winstead (unaffiliated), all serving terms to December 2010. Kerr is the Planning Commission’s representative on this board.

Harbor Management Commission–Democrat Walter Wiegert and Republican Mark Faulstick, both to serve to December 2011. Faulstick will serve as an alternate member.

Park and Recreation Commission–Democrat Douglas Senn, Republican Jack Lima, and Republican Stacie Libby, all to serve until December 2011. Lima and Libby will serve as alternate members.

Sanitary Waste Commission–Republican Eric Bierrie, Democrat Alvin Wolfgram, Democrat Robert Nussbaum, and John Moran ( unaffiliated), all serving to December 2011. The same four were also appointed to the Water Pollution Control Authority for terms through 2011. Nussbaun will serve as an alternate on both commissions.

Zoning Board of Appeals–Republican Doug Demarest and Republican William Timothy Furgueson, both for terms through December 2011. Furgueson will serve as an alternate.

Zoning Commission–Democrat Alvin Wolfgram, Republican Jeffrey Woods, Republican Lillian Mosa, and Democrat Larry Shipman, all to serve to December 2011. Mosa and Shipman will serve as alternates.

The Board of Selectmen recently named Ellen Whaley Wexler and Fred Vollono to serve as Essex representatives to the Connecticut River Gateway Commission until July 2010. Those appointments do not require approval from a town meeting. Also, Miller has reappointed Mary Beth Stebbins to the Essex Housing Authority.

Annual Report Dedicated to Schellens, Morris

Shore Publishing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:45:50 GMT

By Marianne Sullivan, Courier Staff Writer:

ESSEX:

What would you like to know about Essex? You might very well find the answer in the town’s latest annual report. Births and marriages, schools and seniors, community organizations and official town meeting minutes, death and taxes–it’s all there.

Over the years the Board of Finance, which is responsible for publication of the annual report, has chosen to dedicate each annual report to outstanding members of the community. This year there are two, Elizabeth Schellens and Andrew Morris. Both are long-time volunteers within the community. At a reception in the Town Hall last week, Joel Marzi, vice chair of the Board of Finance, thanked Schellens and Morris for their “generous volunteerism to this town.”

On the Nov. 4 ballot, Betty Schellens did not stand for reelection as Republican registrar of voters. It marked the end of an era. She has served as registrar for 35 years. She has also served her town in many other ways. She was a clerk in Probate Court for four year, a member of the Planning Commission for 10 years, a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, chair of the Essex Library Association Board, 40-year member of the Essex Garden Club, and deacon and trustee at the First Congregational Church of Essex.

In presenting a brief description of her volunteer efforts in Essex, Marzi joked, “It is easier to list those things you have not done.”

First Selectman Philip Miller thanked her for her contributions, including her work with the town and garden club in the creation of Main Street Park.

“She is a modest and humble person, and because of that, there are many good deeds and efforts we do not see. She is a special woman,” Miller said.

Morris retired to Essex after a career in Wisconsin. His business background and desire to serve his community led him to six years as a Board of Finance member and two years as chair. He has served as a board member of Child and Family of Southeastern Connecticut, the Essex Winter Series, and the Connecticut River Museum.

Accepting his copy of the annual report, Morris said he was particularly pleased to share the dedication with Schellens.

“This is a wonderful town and I believe each of us has an obligation to do all we can to make it better,” he said.

Miller complimented Morris on his work on building projects with the Connecticut River Museum, Episcopal Church and the Town Hall.

“You can find Andy’s footprints all around town,” Miller said.

Information Inside

The annual report’s dedication to these two volunteers has already introduced the reader to an important clue into the character of the community. What more can be learned? In 46 pages, plus a six-page financial insert, readers get a brief summary of the town’s history as well as lists of elected officals, town officials and town services.

There are annual reports from town boards–from the Board of Assessment Appeals to the Zoning Commission. There are reports from town departments–the Building Department, the Health Department, the Town Clerk. There are minutes from every town meeting held during the year.

Learn about community and services organizations–everything from the ambulance association to the two library associations to the visiting nurses. The financial information discusses revenues, expenditures, the previous year’s budget, fund balances and taxes. There are also summaries about the schools, including a report from the Essex Elementary School Building Committee.

Finally, the inside back cover provides readers with the departments, names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of all town departments.

The newly published 2007-2008 annual report is available at Town Hall and the libraries.

Pictured: This year Essex has dedicated its annual town report to two volunteers who have given generously of their time and talents. They are Andrew Morris at left and Elizabeth Schellens. Joel Marzi, far right, is vice chair of the Board of Finance, which publishes the annual report and selected Schellens and Morris to honor this year.

Photo by Nancy Dionne

Essex to Offer Eagles and Events This Winter

Shore Publishing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:43:50 GMT

By Marianne Sullivan, Courier Senior Staff Writer:

ESSEX:

When the Connecticut Audubon Society last week announced the cancellation of its 2009 Eagle Festival, Essex town officials, local businesses, and merchants were not surprised. They were too busy planning a series of local events they believe will continue to draw visitors, shoppers, and eagle-watchers to Essex.

“We still have eagles,” First Selectman Philip Miller said. “Essex remains the best place to see wintering bald eagles in their natural habitat…This winter we won’t have one intensive weekend of events. Instead, we have the opportunity to welcome visitors to Essex over four to six weeks with special local events each weekend.”

Last Thursday the Connecticut Audubon Society announced it would suspend its annual eagle festival, which was originally scheduled for Feb. 14 and 15, 2009.

“This year the national economic downturn has prohibited the depth and breadth of support that we usually enjoy from corporate sponsors,” said Robert Martinez, Connecticut Audubon Society’s president.

Connecticut Audubon Society calls the event “the largest birding festival in North America” and Martinez said, “We look forward to continuing and revitalizing this popular event as soon as the economy allows.”

The festival, which has been located in Essex since its inception nine years ago, draws up to 15,000 visitors to town over the two-day period in mid-February.

“This may be a blessing in disguise,” said Lee Thompson, chair of the Economic Development Commission and president of the Board of Trade, the local merchants’ association.

In past years, the very large number of visitors at times strained town resources, including parking and traffic control.

“We now have an opportunity to celebrate both the eagles and Essex. In cooperation with our churches, non-profit organizations, and businesses, I believe we can plan a series of events over a four- to seven week period that will bring visitors into Essex to see the eagles and then enjoy Essex,” Thompson said.

He already had a list of possibilities.

“We can still feature ice sculptures, offer a jazz fest. Child and Family Services does a successful house tour every two years. The Incarnation Center each year offers demonstrations in maple syrup making. There are the Rotary Club, Lions Club, our churches and other groups who could offer events,” he noted.

Thompson also repeated Miller’s remark: “There will still be eagles to see.”

He said Connecticut River Expeditions, owners of RiverQuest, now have two excursion boats that offer river tours daily.

“They certainly know the river and have been doing eagle boat trips for years,” Thompson said.

The very large crowds generated by the Eagle Festival did not always spill over into an economic boom for local merchants.

“It certainly generated good business for our restaurants and coffee shops like mine, but not for our merchants on Main Street,” Thompson said. “Big crowds, families with small children, will perhaps stop to look in a shop window but it wasn’t translating into sales…Perhaps the festival introduced Essex to visitors who then came back in the following weeks or months to do some shopping, but I’m not sure.”

That is the visitor, shopper, tourist, eagle-watcher that Thompson, town officials, and merchants now see the opportunity to capture. Without the huge crowds and with smaller, localized events of interest, Essex is hoping to attract eagle enthusiasts who will linger a little longer, wander through the streets and shops and make a few more purchases.

Essex Still Best Place to View Eagles

Shore Publishing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:41:36 GMT

ESSEX:

The Connecticut Audubon Society has suspended its 2009 Eagle Festival, but Essex First Selectman Philip Miller reminds birdwatchers and eagle enthusiasts, “Essex is still the best place to see wintering bald eagles in their natural habitat.”

In recognition of that established fact, town officials and local organizations are inviting visitors to come to Essex throughout February to view eagles and enjoy a variety of locally sponsored events.

Connecticut Audubon Society said it will continue to provide eagle viewing opportunities, although the festival has been suspended. The society’s EcoTravel Program will continue to offer guided eagle-viewing boat tours in 2009 on the Connecticut River aboard RiverQuest, a year-round excursion boat docked at the Steamboat Dock at the foot of Main Street in Essex.

Through this Audubon program, trips begin Saturday, Feb. 17 and continue through Sunday, March 22. Trips take place Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and starting Feb. 19 on Thursdays at 10 a.m. Tickets are $40 and must be reserved in advance. Seats are limited. Visit http://ecotravel.ctaudubon.org or call 860-767-0660 for more information.

In coming weeks look for additional information about local Essex events during February through mid-March by visiting the town website at www.essexct.org or the Board of Trade website at www.essexct.com.

A Trooper’s Advice: ‘Lock Up’

Shore Publishing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:39:31 GMT

By Marianne Sullivan, Courier Senior Staff Writer:

Yes, Chester, Deep River, and Essex are lovely communities in which to live–small, neighborly, and safe. They are not, however, completely crime free.

“Take my advice. Just use common sense. Lock up,” Chester Resident State Trooper Adam Brown says.

Brown’s comments were echoed by Deep River Resident State Trooper Christopher Cope and Essex Selectman Norman Needleman.

“This is a common problem. Residents do not lock their doors or their cars. They should,” Brown said.

As an example, he said there have recently been three separate burglaries in Chester, all at homes left unlocked during the day.

“I’m investigating two of these. Another trooper is handling the third. None of the owners were home at the time of the burglaries. No one was harmed. But at all three, the homes were left unlocked,” Brown said.

He added he has “strong leads” on the two incidents he is investigating and expected to wrap up the cases within two weeks.

“In Chester we average about 10 burglaries a year–not a high number, but some of those could be prevented by locking doors,” he said

Brown extends the advice to motor vehicles.

“Residents need to lock their car doors, even when those cars are parked in their driveways or in front of their houses. Don’t leave game boys or iPods or a purse or a cell phone on a car seat in an unlocked car,” he added. “It’s an invitation to theft.”

Needleman cautioned the same after hearing of incidents within the past several weeks in Essex about thefts from cars.

“People should be locking their doors and their cars [and] not leaving house keys or a purse inside a locked car or a cell phone or credit cards,” he said.

These items are being stolen out of unlocked cars at night, as the vehicles sit in front of home.

If a resident is parking their car for the night, lock it up, Brown said.

“It’s not difficult for someone to drive along, stop at a parked car and try the doors,” he said. “If the car is unlocked, well, it’s an invitation.”

Trooper Cope said Deep River has seen less than a handful of such incidents over the past few months but is not immune.

“What we tell everyone is simple, sound advice,” he said. “Lock your car when you are not in it. Keep your home’s doors locked all the time.”

Plagued by Injury, Valley Girls’ XC Finishes Successfully without No. 1 Runner

Shore Publishing — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:27:21 GMT

By Holly D’Addio, Courier Sports Writer:

It was a bug that was biting each and every member of the Valley Regional High School girls’ cross-country team one by one throughout the 2008 season: the injury bug. Despite the fact that not once during the season did the team run as a whole, the Warriors worked and ran hard to finish an impressive fifth in both the Shoreline Conference and Class SS.

“We finished very well,” said Coach Lou Luciani. “We had a lot of injuries, but I was pleased how everyone came through and worked hard despite those setbacks.”

Possibly the biggest blow of the season was losing No. 1 runner and senior co-captain Dana Callahan in the preseason, followed by up-and-coming freshmen Annie Kingston and Liza Jones who were both injured for the entire season.

“Dana was injured the whole season, but she was always there for support,” said Luciani. “This was a spectacular bunch of kids that really worked through the season despite injuries.”

Leading the pack alongside Callahan was senior captain Brenna Kelly, who brought a “cohesiveness and incredible work ethic” to the team, according to Luciani. Also adding to the successful mix was senior Brittany McConnell, who broke a school course record at John Winthrop Middle School during the season and earned Second Team All-Shoreline honors, and senior Kim Shepherd, who earned the Coach’s Award and also had a solid season for Valley.

“This group of seniors gave a sense of everything that had to be done would get done,” said Luciani. “Nobody ever complained and they did what needed to be done. Kim brought so much determination—whatever this girl had, she gave and she was always finishing in the top three or four. Brittany took over as our No. 1 runner after Dana’s injury and set our school record for the 5,000-meter course. All four seniors just had a lot of experience and will be missed.”

It was quite possibly the underclassmen that shone the brightest this season for the girls’ team. Most Improved runner and sophomore Liza Dee was a mainstay in the top 20 throughout the season’s races, including the shoreline and state meets, during which she earned Second Team All-Shoreline. Dee has also been named a co-captain of the 2009 team. Best First-Year Runner recipient and sophomore Megan Callahan also impressed, as well as junior Amelia Haney, who will also lead the team as a captain next season.

“These young kids had a lot of pressure on them throughout the season to conform and they’ve come so far in a year,” said Luciani. “If we’re healthy next season, we’ll be better for sure—we just never had a healthy day all season this year. These girls are starting to believe in themselves and it becomes infectious so hopefully next August, everyone will come healthy and ready to work.”

Valley Girls’ Cross-Country SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Season in Review

Record: 9-6, finishing fifth in both the Shoreline Conference and Class SS.

Captains: Dana Callahan and Brenna Kelly

Seniors: Dana Callahan, Kelly, Kim Shepherd, and Brittany McConnell

Biggest Accomplishment: The team placed in the top five in Class S despite running without Dana Callahan.

MVP: Kelly

Best First-Year Runner: Megan Callahan

Most Improved: Liza Dee

School Record Award: McConnell

Coach’s Award: Dana Callahan and Shepherd

Second Team All-Shoreline: McConnell and Dee

Next Year’s Outlook: The team will look to its youth next season after graduating several key runners, but with health on their side, the Warriors should prove to be one of the top in 2009.

Pictured: Senior co-captain Brenna Kelly had a solid season for the Warriors in 2008.

Photo by Nancy Dionne

Valley Boys’ XC Finishes Successful Season Despite Hurdles

Shore Publishing — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:24:06 GMT

By Holly D’Addio, Courier Sports Writer:

Having an overall successful 2008 season, the Valley Regional High School boys’ cross-country team still had obstacles to overcome, particularly at the season’s beginning and end. Beginning the season with injuries, the team slowly climbed to the top throughout the season finishing third in the Shoreline Conference and ninth in Class S.

The Warriors counted heavily on top runners and captains Sam Haney and Rich Gilliland, as well as junior Darren Walden. Walden began the season with an injury and missed the first few weeks but was able to overcome and place high in meets the rest of the season. Haney finished uncharacteristically low in the state meet after suffering an illness and the team fought to finish high without its top runner and succeeded.

Haney, a senior, characteristically finished in the top five in the majority of his races this season. He set a new course record at John Winthrop Middle School on Oct. 3 and finished in first place and also finished first in the Husky Run later in the month. Haney was a repeat MVP candidate this season and won the Shoreline meet outright to give him First Team All-Shoreline honors. His only falter was the state meet during which he finished 36th after suffering the flu that entire week.

Also having a successful season for the Warriors was senior captain Gilliland, who received the Coach’s Award for the second year in a row and who ran several solid races throughout the season to give the team the points and support it needed.

“Both Sam and Rich had the experience entering the season,” said Coach Dawn Silver. “They were both strong leaders and they got done what needed to be done. They were a very cohesive team working together.”

Walden, a junior, was a quiet strength for the team. He started the season with an injury suffered in a road race over the summer but fought hard to come back by late September to finish in the top 10 for both the dual meet and shoreline meet and earn First Team All-Shoreline honors. He also placed in the top 30 individually in the state meet.

Junior Rodney Mosier, who was chosen as captain for next season, was a top-20 finisher for Valley throughout the season, running his best at the dual and shoreline meets. Freshman Glenn Holmes, who was predicted to be a “shining star” by Silver before the season began, fulfilled his status by earning Second Team All-Shoreline honors and running solid races throughout the season.

“Glenn had some of the best times I’ve seen for a freshman in a long time,” said Silver. “Early in the season, he was running very well so I knew as long as he stayed healthy, he’d be someone to keep up with.”

The Warriors will graduate several key seniors but will return several runners who have the potential to take the team far once again.

“We’re losing a lot of valuable runners and we’ll have to rebuild next season,” said Silver. “But we still have a very good team and we’ll have to go from there.”

2008 Valley Boys’ Cross-Country Season in Review

Record: 3rd in Shoreline Conference, 9th in Class S

Captains: Sam Haney and Rich Gilliland

Seniors: Haney, Gilliland, Eric Kaufman, and Matt Harrigan

Biggest Accomplishment: Placing third in Shoreline Conference and sweeping a meet earlier in the season held at John Winthrop.

MVP: Haney

Coach’s Award: Gilliland

Most Valuable First-Year Runner: Glenn Holmes

Most Improved: Kevin Dango

First Team All-Shoreline: Haney, Darren Walden

Second Team All-Shoreline: Holmes

Next Year’s Outlook: The Warriors will lose several valuable runners and will have to rebuild next season, but will still have the talent with returning runners Rodney Mosier and Walden, as well as the group of underclassmen that excelled this season.

Pictured: Senior co-captain Sam Haney had yet another stellar cross-country season after setting a couple of school records and winning shorelines.

Photo by Nancy Dionne

Doane Perseveres through Injury to Make Statement on Field

Shore Publishing — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:57:32 GMT

By Holly D’Addio, Courier Sports Writer:

It was an unexpected turn in his football career, but Tucker Doane took it in stride. After a knee injury sidelined him for his entire junior season—the first year he was to start on varsity—Tucker took it upon himself to aim to play his best season yet for the Valley football team his senior year—a season where the Warriors so far hold a 5-3 record.

“The biggest part of our success so far is that our whole team meshes well and we’ve all played together since junior varsity,” says Tucker. “Coming into this season and up until now, there has been a lot of teamwork and everyone has the same goals.”

Tucker, who has played football since his middle school years when he was a member of Tri-Town Football, had surgery on his knee last year after the injury but was able to heal fast enough for lacrosse season in the spring, which just goes to show his work ethic and determination to heal.

As a center, Tucker has trained hard at summer football camps over the years, including a camp at Rutgers University this past summer, a 2007 Special Teams Solutions Camp at UMass Amherst and then Cornell, and a 2006 UConn camp.

“So far, we are in the running for the playoffs,” says Tucker. “It’s been awhile since the Valley football team has made some noise in the postseason so we’re playing hard and hoping for the best.”

Just three years ago, Tucker joined the Valley lacrosse team, which was only a junior varsity team before becoming varsity for the first time his sophomore year. The Warriors made the state tournament last season—the first time since the team’s beginning—and Tucker worked on his skills at the North Branford Sportsplex at a winter camp for the past two years.

“Lacrosse was one of those sports that I was initially dragged into,” says Tucker. “It looked interesting so I went along with it and now I love it.”

Besides sports, Tucker focuses his time on being a part of the Youth Advisory Council at Valley Regional High School and is an unofficial member of the Lions Club where his dad is a member. He attends all their fundraisers and helps out where he can, such as with the Lobster Bake over the summer and Thomas the Train event at the Essex Steamtrain.

College is fast-approaching for Tucker, whose first-choice school is the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kingsport, Long Island.

“I would really like to get into a marine engineering systems degree,” says Tucker. “If I get accepted, I’d like to try and continue to play football.”

Sidelines with Tucker Doane

What is your most memorable sports moment?

Our Thanksgiving game last year at HK, it was the only game I played last year because of my injury and I went out there and made a good block so we had the opportunity to score.

Who would you like to thank?

All the coaches for putting the time and effort into getting me ready physically and mentally for the season. I also want to thank my parents for pushing me. I want to mention that I am playing next to my younger brother and it is a very rare experience and I am proud to be able to stand with him on the field. I also want to thank my fellow linemen for battling it out with me every day.

Fishing the Curl at Season’s End

Shore Publishing — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:55:36 GMT

Constant wind and wave action made for extremely difficult holding of ground tackle–no matter the scope. It was one of those “should we or shouldn’t we” types of decisions that was pondered over. Although safety is always first concern, it really didn’t figure in here as much as knowing that the trip was going to be wet, bouncy, and very salty.

If the season wasn’t waning so quickly and holiday gears weren’t forcibly meshing, the day would’ve been chalked off in favor of a pigskin game. But there were still blues lingering in the mid-50 degree water, stripers just aching to be caught, and togs, although deeper, still well within reach. A somewhat reluctant decision was made to uncleat and head out. And so we did.

Normally this time of year, mooring lines have already begun to stiffen while outboards begin to develop that early morning cough and shake. Soon that will be the case but not just yet. Knowing that in one week this could all change, we loaded hot thermoses to offset the gloomy day and ice chests optimistically reserved for the tide’s catch on board.

A little bit of this bait and a little more of that, we steamed ahead with the thought of letting Mother Nature dictate our game plan. Other than fishing, there was none. If conditions allowed for tautog then we’d drop a hook but if drifting or trolling seemed more productive, we had that covered as well.

When a couple of old salts get together, there can either be non-stop conversation or few words spoken. Often though, it’s an expressive glance that tells the story. That was the case here. With limited options, trolling and rolling the rips was the only logical choice–going with the flow, so to speak. Somehow the fish didn’t mind as much as, quite honestly, we did.

In the curls, as port and starboard gunwales slapped the water, fish could be seen. There was a mix of striped bass and bluefish chasing heavy chromed spoons. Wiping spray and the occasional peak wave from our brows was effort enough but cranking in line while maintaining sound footing was the absolute chore–let alone de-hooking and releasing fish. A few fish were kept for the cooler. The hot thermoses? They weren’t even touched until the vessel was once again secured to the dock. And, that’s the way one of the last trips of a season can take place.

On the Water

Warm water temperatures have somewhat stalled the fall migration of blues and bass, giving us plenty of fishing but unfortunately winds and subsequent wave action have closed many windows of opportunity. When the weather chose to cooperate, fishing proved to be fantastic with schools of both bass and blues becoming seasonally aggressive.

With little time left before Thanksgiving and anglers beginning to focus on year-end events, precious bonus days have been few and far between. Nevertheless, striped bass are here in numbers, schools of blues continue to linger and blackfish/tautog are heading for deeper water beckoning ‘toggers to follow. In fact, bluefish blitzes have occurred within casting distance from shore just a few short days ago.

With cows either moving in from the Rhode Island coast or splitting ranks to follow the Atlantic coast, anglers are looking for that 50- to 60-pounder that’s been eluding them–in some cases, for a lifetime. Now is prime time to try for that record-buster as the big gals cruise the inshore reefs, move across Long Sand Shoal, linger around Southwest Reef, and head west and, in a few cases, move up along tidal rivers to hang out for the winter season.

Hints are that we’re in line for impending cold front(s), which ought to tighten the window on remaining blues. But look for striper action to continue a bit longer and, if another bonus day or two were to materialize, there should follow an arm-weary top water session or two. For those surf casters, jetties, some beaches, and a few of the wharves are producing fish on plugs, chunks, and eels. For these guys and gals, the season will continue–longer if you follow the striper coast.

As water temperatures continue to drop, Atlantic broodstock salmon in the twelve-pound range are becoming more active. Single hook spoons and small spinners have been connecting along with mixed-colored and dark streamers. These, along with trout in CT’s stocked rivers, have been offering decent fall fishing when the winds beg off.

Largemouths have not been very active but ‘smallie’ fishing has been hot, joining the good pre-front bite for northerns and black crappie. Carp are being caught in the main rivers while both river/lake catfish taking bottom baits. It seems that certain labrador retrievers have taken a liking to cheese/blood baits so watch your frisky outdoors pal. Tom Megargee (DEP fishing instructor, avid freshwater angler and excellent fish chowder creator) landed this colorful CT River cove 40½” 15.7Lb northern pike using live bait.

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. Swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days, located on 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

Making a Contribution in Essex

Shore Publishing — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:42:06 GMT

The Essex Lions Club is well known for its hugely successful lobster bakes each August at the Main Street Park. That’s not the only time the club spends at the town-owned park. It donated the original gazebo and last year, as the park was undergoing some renovation, the Lions renovated the gazebo as well. Recently, it installed a new, working drinking fountain at the park, a replica of the drinking fountain installed many years ago by Phil Lombardi, a local plumber and Lions Club member. Today his grandson Michael is president of the club and is pleased to see the park’s drinking fountain returned–and looking just like the one his grandfather installed. Here at the fountain are, from left, Denise Dudek, regional chair of the district Lions Club organization; Lombardi; and Bruce Lawrence, immediate past president of Essex Lions Club.

Photo by Marianne Sullivan