Blaze at playscape not accidental

The damaged playscape at the Vincentena Kobasa Recreation Area behind Anna L. LoPresti School in Seymour. Patricia Villers/Register

    SEYMOUR - The cause of a fire Friday that damaged a playscape at the Vincentena Kobasa Recreation Area behind Anna L. LoPresti School is being “actively investigated,” Fire Marshal Paul Wetowitz said.
    Citizens Engine Company responded to the fire, which was reported at 12:41 p.m., Wetowitz said.
    Half a section of a plastic slide area was burned and he said it appeared there had been a roof over the slide, which is also gone. Wetowitz was waiting to see a photo of the playscape to get a better idea of how it looked before the fire. “Radiated heat affected plastic chairs that were there,” he said.
    “I can say it’s not an accidental fire,” Wetowitz said. An arson-sniffing canine from the state fire marshal’s office was brought to the scene. No injuries were reported.
    School starts Tuesday in Seymour.    

Seymour cops seek tips on break-ins

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent
SEYMOUR — A rash of car break-ins in the Colony Road and South Main Street area has prompted police to ask for the public’s help.
According to Lt. Paul Satkowski, things have been stolen from cars parked overnight in driveways and on the road.
The vehicles were mostly unlocked.

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Derby Public Works employee's suspension rescinded

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Naugatuck Valley Bureau Chief
DERBY — The Department of Public Works director said Friday he has rescinded the recent suspension of one worker, after a second suspended employee took full responsibility for an unauthorized private painting job.
City officials said this week that employees Kelly Dunne and Shaun Wheeler had received one-day, unpaid suspensions.
The two had been accused of striping parking spaces, while working for the city, at the lot of a business owned by a police officer who is chairman of the Derby Parking Authority.

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Water main breaks in Ansonia

    ANSONIA - Construction crews from the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority are in the process of shutting the water off to a damaged 8-inch water main on High Street.
    Until the shut down is completed, residents may experience reduced pressure or discolored water. Once the main is shut, pressure should return to normal. Discolored water may continue until the repair is completed. The repair is expected to be completed by the end of the day.

Shelton police to do DUI checkpoint tonight

SHELTON - The Shelton Police Department will conduct a DUI enforcement checkpoint on Friday, Sept. 2, from 6:30 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. The checkpoint will take place on Bridgeport Avenue, River Road, and in the downtown area. The checkpoint location is subject to change.
The checkpoint will be headed by the Shelton Police Traffic Division with assistance from the patrol division. It is being partially funded by a grant from the state Department of Transportation. The goal of the checkpoint is to make the roads in Shelton a safer place to drive. Drivers are reminded that drinking and driving do not mix, police said.

Report Irene damage to aid in Connecticut request for FEMA funding, Blumenthal says (video)

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Naugatuck Valley Bureau Chief
and Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent
Anyone with property damage from Hurricane Irene should report it, to help the state get funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., urged residents Thursday.
“This information is critically important, as it forms the basis for the amount of money that FEMA will give,” said Blumenthal. “People should document and report damage as quickly as possible.”
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has submitted an application, and the congressional delegation has written to FEMA to support it, according to Blumenthal.


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Society to host living history day

 

    SHELTON - Everyone from privates to the President (Lincoln, that is) will be at the Civil War Living History Day Sept. 10 at the Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road.
    The event will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
    Several members of Company F, 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry will portray the original regiment, give firing demonstrations, set up their camp and its accoutrements, and answer questions for the public. Of all the regiments Connecticut sent to the Union armies in the Civil War, the most famous was the 14th. 
    The regiment marched and fought with Lincoln’s Army, the Army of the Potomac, and participated in 34 battles and skirmishes. The 14th lost more men killed in battle, in proportion to its size, and captured more prisoners, cannon and battle flags than any other Connecticut regiment. More information about Company F is available at www.cof14thcvi.com.
    Company F offers both the military and civilian aspects of the Civil War era.  In addition to presenting the life of the common soldier, Bill Mellow, a retired pastry chef, portrays a company cook, and demonstrates period cooking over an open fire.  Its civilian re-enactors present the contributions of the US Christian Commission and those of the home front to the success of the Union armies. 
     A popular misconception of the Civil War is that it was fought exclusively by white Anglo-Saxons, but many ethnic groups took part in this great struggle. However, few people are aware that the Chinese were among them and the highest ranking of those, Joseph Pierce, fought with the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.
    Irving Moy, who portrays Cpl. Pierce, explains why he participates with his fellow Civil War enthusiasts, “Though our living history events and classroom presentations where our audience can see and touch the uniforms and equipment and be able to hear and ask questions about the contributions of both civilian and military and events that shaped that conflict, we hope to spark an interest where they
will want to learn more about the Civil War and ultimately our Nation’s history.” Also appearing at Shelton History Center will be Steve Wood of Claremont, N.H., who bears an uncanny resemblance to President Abraham Lincoln. He will review the troops and make a speech or two.  Mr. Wood’s interpretation of
    Several civilian women will be presenting throughout the day on the effects the war had on the home front and the work that was done at home to support the North. 
Children will be able to play the kinds of games that youngsters enjoyed in the 1860s. 
    Representatives from Civil War Monument, Inc., Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Wooster-Russell Camp #22, and the 20th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and Ladies Auxiliary will attend.  Military books and refreshments will be available to purchase. 
    Admission is $5 a person or $15 a family. Proceeds benefit the Shelton Historical Society and its programs.
    The Shelton Historical Society owns Shelton History Center, a museum complex of six historic buildings located just north of the Huntington Green, and strives to provide programs of historical interest to the community.
For information, call 203-925-1803 or visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org.