325,000 celebrate New Haven St. Patrick's Day parade; reporter gets unique view of the show (photos)

 

Richard Bengivengo of New Haven cuts up before watching the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New Haven. Mara Lavitt/Register

By Phyllis Swebilius
Register Staff
NEW HAVEN — For an Irish-American who grew up watching cowboy shows on TV, it was a rare opportunity to ride on a Wells Fargo stagecoach in the St. Patrick’s Day parade Sunday.
My seat in “the box,” about 10 feet above the ground, provided an ideal vantage point, during the nearly two-hour ride, to watch the crowd: families with portable tables having a picnic; green Mohawk haircuts; folks on blankets.

Read the full story here.

Buying a used car?

One of our Valley reporters is looking for people who recently tried to purchase a used car for under $10,000.

If you have, and are willing to be interviewed about your experience for a story, please contact Phyllis Swebilius at pswebilius@nhregister.com, or at 203-789-5681.

Thanks!

Wildcat Swim Club members recognized

Wildcat Swim Club members show off trophies at West Haven pool. / Contributed photo


On Sunday eight members of the Wildcat Swim Club participated in their first Connecticut Yankee League 8/under  Swimming Championships in West Haven hosted by the West Haven Wizards.
This competitive swim league also includes the Oxford Razors, Bristol Splash, Newtown Torpedoes, Watertown Warriors, Plainville Blue Dolphins, Naugatuck Thunderfish and the New Milford Barracudas.
Several Wildcat Swim Club swimmers took  home ribbons, medals and trophies.
Highlights included 6-year old McKenna Haynes winning both the 25 yard Freestyle (21.41) and the 25 yard Backstroke (24.04) in the 6/under division. Madelynn Orosz, also 6, placed ninth in the 25 yard Backstroke (38.33).
In the 7/8 year old division, Jasmine Thorpe placed 4th in the 25 yard Freestyle (18.77) and 10th placed in the 25 yard Backstroke (24.69); Elaina Angelucci placed 31st in the 25 yard Freestyle (26.42) and 20th in the 25 yard Backstroke (27.96), Kaitlyn McCluskey placed 5th in the 25 yard  Freestyle (19.03) and 9th place in the 25 yard Backstroke (24.21), Sarah Gagaza placed 3rd in the 25 yard  Backstroke (22.14) and 9th place in the 25 yard Freestyle (20.02),  Kelti  Johnson placed 9th in the 25 yard Butterfly (25.31) and 20th in the  25 yard Freestyle (23.37) and Dominique Pierre, the only boy that qualified from the Wildcat Swim Club 8/under team placed 22nd in the 25 yard Freestyle with a time of 30.31.
Two relay teams also placed very well with the team of Jasmine Thorpe, Sarah Gagaza, McKenna Haynes and Kaitlyn McCluskey they placed 4th overall in the 100 yard Freestyle Relay with a time of 1:21.17 and  Kelti Johnson and Elaina Angelucci teamed up with Sarah Gagaza and Jasmine Thorpe to  place 6th overall  in  the 100 yard Medley Relay with a time of 1:36.53.

The Wildcat Swim Club is coached by Jen DeBlasio, Missy Orosz, Dan Walsh, and Kelly Weiler.
The program is open to any Valley youth aged 5 through 17. They train at the Seymour High School pool. If interested in joining, e-mail us at wildcatswim@gmail.com.

The photo and information in this post were contributed by Missy Orosz, one of the team's coaches. 

2nd voter forum draws dozen concerned citizens

By Patricia Villers
Register Staff
pvillers@nhregister.com

    MILFORD - About a dozen civic-minded area residents gathered Wednesday night at the Margaret Egan Center for a New Haven Register-sponsored Citizens’ Agenda Voter Forum.   
    This was the second forum co-hosted by New Haven Register Community Engagement Editors Angi Carter and Ed Stannard. They held a similar event last month in New Haven.
    Participants hailed from Ansonia, Derby, Milford, New Haven, Trumbull, and Woodbridge.
    Stannard said the newspaper has “a new focus to reach out to the community,” which includes live daily news meetings that can be viewed online at www.nhregister.com.
    Carter said the idea is to create “a partnership between the Register and the people we rely on to read our news.”
    Woodbridge resident Kim Hynes represented the nonprofit Common Cause and the New Haven Votes Coalition. She said the coalition is “a group of nonprofits (working) to get out the vote in New Haven” and “get people excited” about municipal elections.   
    Hynes may be reached at khynes@commoncause.org/ct.
    Derby resident Judy Szewczyk, who served as campaign manager for incumbent Republican Mayor Anthony Staffieri, also was on hand. She recently launched Clearly Derby, a blog to inform Derbyites of the happenings in their hometown.
    She said social media played a big role in the November election and she launched the blog because she didn’t want to lose that connection with voters.
    Szewczyk said she realizes it is difficult for working people who are busy raising children to find the time to get involved in local politics. She said the blog and a Facebook page are set up to inform citizens about the process. “We’re trying to bring it to the people,” Szewczyk said.
    She said credibility is a big issue in politics, since many people see it “as a game.” 
    Trumbull resident Jean Rabinow, an administrator in the Hamden League of Women Voters office, said even though it’s February the election season has started.
    She said the LWV asks candidates about issues that matter most to voters. They include the economy, unemployment, health care, national debt and reform of the financial services industry.
    Several citizens voiced concern about the amount of money needed to run for elected office. Rabinow said the more money a candidate spends on campaigns, the more the average voters “become detached from that person.”
   She contends that seeing candidates on television commercials “adds celebrity to that person, like they are different from us.”
    For information about upcoming citizens’ forums, contact Stannard, estannard@nhregister.com, 203-789-5743 or Carter, acarter@nhregister.com, 203-789-5752.

Students from several area high schools gather at Ansonia's Emmett O'Brien Technical High School for a financial reality fair

By Patricia Villers
Register Staff
ANSONIA — Setting up a budget, applying for a loan, understanding the importance of credit scores: taking care of financial matters takes practice.
Hundreds of high school students got the opportunity to do just that Wednesday at a financial reality fair hosted at Emmett O’Brien Technical High School.

Read the full story here.

2001 anthrax attacks were a wake-up call, with efforts continuing today (video)

By Ann DeMatteo
Assistant Metro Editor
The anthrax attacks of 2001 burst into our lives unexpectedly, changing the landscape of emergency and public health response in the weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Read more here.

9/11: Events throughout New Haven area commemorate anniversary

By the Register Staff

SEPT. 8

NEW HAVEN: The 92nd Street Y’s educational and cultural programming will be broadcast live via satellite to the Shubert Theater at 8 p.m. “9/11 A Decade Later: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges” is a panel discussion by former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey and radio host and author Michael Medved. They’ll address questions such as, Is the United States safer today than it was 10 years ago? What went on inside the White House on that terrible day? How effective has the American response been? The event is co-presented with the Jewish Policy Center. Tickets are $10 at the door or call 203-624-1825 for reservations.

Read the full story here.

Derby announces school bus routes

Here are the bus routes for the 2011-2012 school year:

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL -- 51     BEGINS AT 6:50 AM               
33 Roosevelt Dr. & Third St. (condo), Roosevelt Dr. & Camptown Ave., 43 Park Ave., Park Ave. & D St., Park Ave. & F St., Roosevelt Dr. & F St., Roosevelt Dr. & Cedric Ave., 503 Hawthorne Ave., Joyce Ave. & Donna, Derby Neck Rd. & Silver Hill Rd., 74 Silver Hill Rd., 230 Silver Hill Rd., 241/251/269 Silver Hill Rd. (1 stop), 275 Silver Hill Rd.

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL -- 52     BEGINS AT 7:08 AM   
Elizabeth St. & Thompson Place., Elizabeth St. & Fifth St., Elizabeth St. & Cottage St.

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL -- 53     BEGINS AT 6:50 AM
Pleasant View Rd. & Sherwood Ave., Kings Court & Hillcrest Ave., Hillcrest Ave. & Sunset Dr., 1 Lilac Circle, Sunset Dr. & Hickory Rd., David Humphreys & Dirienzo Heights, Selma Ave. & Franklin Ave.,          40 Franklin Ave. & David Humphreys, 255 David Humphreys, David Humphreys & O'Sullivan Rd.

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL -- 54     BEGINS AT 6:55 AM
New Haven Ave. & Shelton St., New Haven Ave. & Ashwood Terrace, New Haven Ave. @ Daisy Hill Condo,
Old New Haven Ave. & Rockwell Place, Old New Haven Ave. & Yochers Lane, Old New Haven Ave. & Prospect St., New Haven Ave. & Bank St., Derby Ave. & Mt. Pleasant St., Derby Ave. @ Birmingham Condos, Derby Ave. & Academy Hill

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL -- 55     BEGINS AT 6:55AM
30 Water St., Seymour Ave. & Mason St., Seymour Ave. & Summer St., Coon Hollow Rd. & Misty Vale, Hawthorne Ave. & Coon Hollow, Hawthorne Ave. & E. St.

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL -- 56     BEGINS AT 7:00 AM
11 Academy Hill, 28 Academy Hill, 53 Academy Hill, Academy Hill & Paugassett Rd., Sentinel Hill &
High St., Sentinel Hill & McLaughlin Terr., Sentinel Hill & Laurel Ave., Sentinel Hill & Sherwood Ave., 258 Sentinel Hill, Sentinel Hill & Turner Ave., Sentinel Hill & Lombardi Dr., Sentinel Hill & McKinley Ave.

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL -- 57     BEGINS AT 6:50 AM
New Haven Ave. & Chapel St., 15 Sodom Ln., Sodom Ln. @ Orangewood West, Sodom Ln. & Shagbark @  Orangewood East, Howard Ave. & Jeanetti Dr., Coe Lane & Toro Lane, Marshall Lane & Chestnut Dr., Marshall Lane & Howard Ave., Marshall Lane & Florence Ave., Marshall Lane & George Ave., Marshall Lane & Albert Ave., Marshall Lane & Sodom Ln.

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL -- 58     BEGINS AT 7:15 AM
E. Ninth St. & Hawkins St., Ninth St. & Smith St., Emmett Ave. & Bluff St.

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL -- 59     BEGINS AT 6:50 AM
Mt. Pleasant St. & Highland Ave.

OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS

EMMETT O'BRIEN TECH -- 52     BEGINS AT 6:30 AM
Coon Hollow & Misty Vale Rd., Cedric Ave. & Roosevelt Dr., 402 Roosevelt Dr., Park Ave. & E St., Park Ave. & B St., Hawthorne Ave. & Cherry St., Cherry St. & Smith St., Smith St. & Tenth St., Emmett Ave. & Eleventh St., Emmett Ave. & Mountain St., Emmett Ave. & Bluff St., Seymour Ave. & Mason St., Seymour Ave. & E. Ninth St., Elizabeth St. & Cottage St., Elizabeth St. & Fifth St., Elizabeth St. & Thompson Place

EMMETT O'BRIEN TECH -- 58     BEGINS AT 6:31 AM
Derby Ave. & Mansfield St., Derby Ave. & Bank St., Bank St. & Gilbert St., New Haven Ave. & Chapel St., Shelton St. & New Haven Ave., Sentinel Hill & New Haven Ave., 101 Sentinel Hill, Sentinel Hill & Pleasant View Rd., Sentinel Hill & Sherwood Ave., High St. & McLaughlin Terr., Sentinel Hill & Laurel Ave., David Humphreys & Kings Court, Hillcrest Ave. & Kings Court (Top), Sunset Dr. & Hickory Rd., David Humphreys & Dirienzo Heights, David Humphreys & Franklin Ave., Sodom Ln. & Krakow St., Marshall Lane & Albert Ave., Marshall Lane & George Ave., Marshall Lane & Florence Ave.

PLATT TECH -- 60     BEGINS AT 6:30 AM
Seymour Ave. & Mason St., Seymour Ave. & E. Ninth St., Elizabeth St. & Fifth St., Bank St. & Gilbert St.,
New Haven Ave. & Chapel St., Shelton Ave. & New Haven Ave., Sentinel Hill & Danielle Court, Sentinel Hill & Pleasant View Rd., Academy Hill & Paugassett Rd., Academy Hill & Mansfield St.,  Marshall Lane & George Ave., Sodom Lane  @ Orangewood West

NONNEWAUG HIGH SCHOOL -- VAN 82     PICKUP AT 6:20 AM
41 Derby Neck Road          Note: Rides Van 50 home from school.

SOUND SCHOOL -- VAN 87      BEGINS AT 6:55 AM
Derby Ave. @ Beau-Vue Condos, 173 Elizabeth St., 38 Mohawk Ave.


BRADLEY SCHOOL

BRADLEY SCHOOL -- 51     BEGINS AT 7:30 AM
38 Great Hill Rd., 28 Cedric Ave., Park Ave. & E St.    Note: PM done with Bus 53 & Bus 55


BRADLEY SCHOOL -- 53     BEGINS AT 7:35 AM
21 Harold Ave. & Albert Ave., Harold Ave. & George Ave., Harold Ave. & Florence Ave., Harold Ave. & Howard Ave., Howard Ave. & Strang Rd., At end of cul de sac of Jeanetti, 12 Jeanetti Dr. & Howard Ave.,
Jeanetti Dr. & Coe Lane, Marshall Lane & Chestnut Dr., Marshall Lane & Caldwell Dr., Marshall Lane &
Pine St., Marshall Lane & Florence Ave., Marshall Lane & George, Belleview @ Loop, 120 Marshall Lane, Marshall Lane & Albert Ave.

BRADLEY SCHOOL -- 54     BEGINS AT 7:30 AM
218 New Haven Ave., New Haven Ave. @ Daisy Hill Condos, Old New Haven Ave. & Rockwell Place,
Old New Haven Ave. & Orchard Lane, Old New Haven Ave. & Prospect St., Bank St. & Jennings St.,
Bank St. & Crescent St., Derby Ave. & Bank St., 165 Derby Ave., Derby Ave. & Mt. Pleasant St., Derby Ave. @ Beau View Condos, Derby Ave. @ Birmingham Condos, 341 Derby Ave., Derby Ave. & Academy Hill

BRADLEY SCHOOL -- 55     BEGINS AT 7:15 AM
Hawthorne Ave. & Talmadge, Hawkins St. & Sixth St., Hawkins St. & Seventh St., Hawkins St. & Eight St., Tenth St. & Smith St., Smith St. & Cherry St., E. Ninth St. & Olivia St., E. Ninth St. & Seymour Ave. (AM Only), Elizabeth St. & Cottage, Fifth St. & Olivia St. (Learning Studio), Chapel St. & New Haven Ave., 187 New Haven Ave., Homestead Ave. & Shelton St., Sentinel Hill & Danielle Court, 81 Sentinel Hill

BRADLEY SCHOOL -- 56     BEGINS AT 7:25 AM
11 Academy Hill, Academy Hill & Mansfield St., 28 Academy Hill, 55 Academy Hill, Academy Hill & Paugassett Rd., Academy Hill & Prindle Ave., Academy Hill & Ridge Rd., 119 High St., McLaughlin Terr. & High St., McLaughlin Terr. & McLaughlin Terr., 10 Laurel Ave., Laurel Ave. & Kindle Lane, Sentinel Hill & David Humphreys, Sentinel Hill & Sherwood Ave., 258 Sentinel Hill, Sentinel Hill & Turner Ave., Sentinel Hill & Washington Ave., Sentinel Hill & Lombardi Dr., McKinley Ave. & Grandview Blvd.

BRADLEY SCHOOL -- 57     BEGINS AT 7:30 AM
852 Baldwin Rd., 15 Sodom Ln., Sodom Ln. @ Orangewood West, Sodom & Shagbark @ Orangewood East,
Sodom Ln. & John Street, 345 David Humphreys Rd., O'Sullivan Rd. & Lanzieri Court, David Humphreys Rd.& General Wooster Rd., David Humphreys & Benanto Dr., 42 Franklin Ave., Franklin Ave. & Selma Ave., Franklin Ave. @ Cul-de-sac, 101 Sunset Dr., 32 Ianotti Lane, 1 Lilac Circle,

BRADLEY SCHOOL -- 59     BEGINS AT 7:25 AM
181 Mt. Pleasant St., Mt. Pleasant & Highland Ave., 104 Mt. Pleasant St.


DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL -- 51     BEGINS AT 7:55 AM               Note: PM done with Bus 58 & Bus 60
33 Roosevelt Dr. & Third St. (condo), Roosevelt Dr.& Camptown Ave., 43 Park Ave., Park Ave. & D St.,
Park Ave. & E St., Park Ave. & F St., Roosevelt Dr. & Cedric, Joyce Ave. & Patty Ann Terr., 38 Great Hill Rd., 74 Silver Hill Rd., 241/251/269 Silver Hill Rd. (1 stop),

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL -- 52     BEGINS AT 8:10 AM
Elizabeth St. & Thompson Place, Elizabeth St. & Fifth St.

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL -- 53     BEGINS AT 8:00 AM
Pleasant View Rd. & Sherwood Ave., Kings Court & Hillcrest Ave., Hillcrest Ave. & Sunset Dr., 1 Lilac Circle, Sunset Dr. & Hickory Rd., David Humphreys & Dirienzo Heights, Selma Ave. & Franklin Ave., 30 Franklin Ave. & David Humphreys, David Humphreys & Franklin Ave., David Humphreys & O'Sullivan Rd.

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL -- 54     BEGINS AT 8:05 AM
New Haven Ave. & Shelton St., New Haven Ave. & Ashwood Terrace, New Haven Ave. @ Daisy Hill Condo,
Old New Haven Ave. & Rockwell Place, Old New Haven Ave. & Prospect St., New Haven Ave. & Bank St., Derby Ave. & Bank St., Derby Ave. & Mt. Pleasant St., Derby Ave. @ Birmingham Condos, Derby Ave. & Academy Hill

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL -- 55     BEGINS AT 8:00 AM
70 Water St., Factory St. & Main St., Elizabeth St. & Cottage St., Seymour Ave. & Mason St., Seymour Ave. & Summer St., Coon Hollow Rd. & Misty Vale, Hawthorne Ave. & Coon Hollow, Hawthorne Ave. & E. St.

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL -- 56     BEGINS AT 8:00 AM
New Haven Ave. & Chapel St., 241 New Haven Ave.,  91 Sentinel Hill, Sentinel Hill & Lombardi Dr., 258 Sentinel Hill, Sentinel Hill & Sherwood Ave., Sentinel Hill & Laurel Ave., Sentinel Hill & McLaughlin Terr., Sentinel Hill & High St., Academy Hill  & Prindle Ave., Academy Hill & Paugassett Rd., 53 Academy Hill, 31 Academy Hill, 11 Academy Hill

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL -- 57     BEGINS AT 8:00 AM
852 Baldwin Road, 15 Sodom Lane, Sodom Ln. @ Orangewood West, Sodom Ln. & Shagbark @ Orangewood East, Marshall Lane & Belleview Dr., Howard Ave. & Jeanetti Dr., Coe Lane & Toro Lane, Marshall Lane & Chestnut Dr., Marshall Lane & Howard Ave., Marshall Lane & Florence Ave., Marshall Lane & Albert Ave., Marshall Lane & Sodom Lane

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL -- 58     BEGINS AT 8:10 AM
E. Ninth St. & Hawkins St., Ninth St. & Smith St., Emmett Ave. & Bluff St., 220 Emmett Ave.

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL -- 59     BEGINS AT 8:08 AM
MT. Pleasant St. & Highland Ave.

IRVING SCHOOL and ST. MARY’S & ST. MICHAEL’S SCHOOL

IRVING SCHOOL and ST. MARY'S & ST. MICHAEL'S -- 51     BEGINS AT 8:25 AM
33 Roosevelt Dr. & Third St. (condo), Roosevelt Dr. & Camptown Ave., 43 Park Ave., Park Ave. & D St., Park Ave. & E St., 167 Park Ave., 504 Roosevelt Dr., Lakeview Terr. & Loop, 43 Lakeview Terr., 65 Lakeview Terr., Hawthorne Ave. & Cedric Ave., Hawthorne Ave. & Talmadge St., Coon Hollow Rd. & Misty Vale, Hawthorne Ave. & Coppola Terr.

IRVING SCHOOL and ST. MARY'S & ST. MICHAEL'S -- 52     BEGINS AT 8:33 AM  
Joyce Ave. & 1st. Donna Ave., 12 Joyce Ave., Hawthorne Ave. & Eighth St., Hawthorne Ave. & Cemetery, Caroline St. & Fifth St. (AM only), 267 Caroline St. (AM only), Sixth St. & Anson St. (PM only)

IRVING SCHOOL and ST. MARY'S & ST. MICHAEL'S -- 53     BEGINS AT 8:30 AM
Seymour Ave. & Summer St., Maple St. & Lewis St.,  Maple St. & Spring St., Atwater St. & Lewis St., Seymour Ave. & Mason St., Spring St. & Mohawk Ave., Mohawk Ave. & Bluff St., Emmett Ave. & Bluff St., Emmett Ave. & Fall St., Emmett Ave. & Eleventh St., Tenth St. & Emmett Ave.

ST. MARY'S & ST. MICHAEL'S SCHOOL -- 54     BEGINS AT 8:35 AM
Academy Hill & Academy Hill Ext., 23 Stephens St., 232 Sentinel Hill, Bank St. & Crescent St.

IRVING SCHOOL and ST. MARY'S & ST. MICHAEL'S -- 55     BEGINS AT 8:35 AM
272 Silver Hill Rd., 255/251 Silver Hill Rd., Hawthorne Ave.& Nutmeg Ave., Cherry St. & Summit St.,
Smith St. & Cherry St., Smith St. & Ninth St. (Noah's Ark), Smith St. & Tenth St.

ST. MARY'S & ST. MICHAEL'S SCHOOL -- 57     BEGINS AT 8:27 AM
26 Prindle Ave., Kings Court & Bradley Terr., Selma Ave. & Franklin Ave., Marshall Lane & Chestnut St.,
46 Belleview Dr.          Note: PM done with Bus 54

IRVING SCHOOL and ST. MARY'S & ST. MICHAEL'S -- 59     BEGINS AT 6:50 AM
TBA

IRVING SCHOOL -- 60      BEGINS AT 8:40 AM
Anson St.& Lafayette St., Fifth St.& Olivia St. (Learning Studio), Fifth St.& Minerva St.,
Caroline St. & Fifth St. (PM), 267 Caroline St. (PM)


LATE BUSES

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL & DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL

DERBY HIGH SCHOOL TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS @ 3:30 PM

DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL   MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS @ 3:30 PM

Passes required and Late Buses do not operate on Early Dismissal Days.


LATE BUS -- 56                                  WESTSIDE

Seymour Ave. & Spring St., Seymour Ave. & E. Ninth St., Elizabeth St. & Fifth St., Roosevelt Dr. & Third St.,
Roosevelt Dr. & F St., Roosevelt Dr. & Lakeview Terr., Roosevelt Dr. & Cullen's Hill, Roosevelt Dr.& Buckingham Rd., Derby Neck Rd. @ Students Homes, Hawthorne Ave. & Patty Ann Terr., Silver Hill Rd. @ Students Homes



LATE BUS -- 58                                     EASTSIDE

New Haven Ave. & Chapel St., New Haven Ave. & Derby-Milford Rd., Sodom Lane & David Humphreys,
Marshall Lane & Sodom Lane, Marshall Lane & George Ave., Marshall Lane & Howard Ave., Marshall Lane & Coe Lane, Sunset Dr .& Hillcrest Ave., Sunset Dr. & David Humphreys, David Humphreys & Sentinel Hill,
Sentinel Hill & New Haven Ave., New Haven Ave. & Old New Haven Ave., New Haven Ave. & Gilbert St. (Bank St.), Derby Ave. & Bank St., Derby Ave. & Mt. Pleasant St., Derby Ave. & Academy Hill

Hurricane Irene: Greater New Haven towns set up emergency shelters

A number of Greater New Haven communities have set up emergency shelters, if needed, in advance of Hurricane Irene. Here's a rundown:

ANSONIA

Ansonia High School, 20 Pulaski Highway, is a designated area for emergency shelter if needed. If it is used, only service animals will be allowed in the building. In the event people are evacuated, pets would be sheltered at John C. Mead Elementary School. Both schools are in the city’s Hilltop section.

BRANFORD

Shelter will open at Mary T. Murphy School, 14 Brushy Plain Road., the only large municipal building that is outside areas that could flood in a category 1-4 hurricane, and Branford High School, 185 East Main St. Separate areas will be available within the schools for Branford and North Branford residents with pets. Pets should be in a kennel, cage or carrier and owners should bring food for their pets.

CHESHIRE

The town’s primary shelter will be at the Cheshire Senior Center, which is located at 240 Maple Ave. Town Manager Michael Milone said the shelter will open at 7 a.m. on Sunday. If the number of people seeking shelter is great enough, Milone said a second shelter will open at Cheshire High School. The emergency shelters will not be providing food so Milone encouraged residents to bring their own food as well as any medications they might need. The Senior Center’s bus will be available for emergency transportation only, Milone said.

DERBY

Temporary shelters will be set up at the Derby Middle School, 10 Nutmeg Ave., and at Bradley School, 155 David Humphreys Road, Derby. If you are ordered to evacuate by emergency personnel, these shelters will accommodate people until it is safe to transport them to a state shelter. If you have pets and you are evacuated, please make sure that you have a crate and an adequate amount of food for at least a day with you. As of Friday, the only voluntary evacuation area is the McConney Grove area, as it is expected that there will be a major impact due to the Housatonic River as a result of the storm.

EAST HAVEN

A shelter and designated evacuation area is being set up at East Haven High School on Wheelbarrow Lane off Route 80. Officials are taking “precautionary steps” to set it up, but no time has been set for when it might open. The shelter will have designated areas for people with pets. Pets should be in a kennel or carrier. East Haven also will have two buses available if needed to help with any evacuation efforts.

GUILFORD

A shelter will first be operating out of the Nathanael B. Greene Community Center on Church Street near the Green starting at noon Saturday. The facility is prepared to accommodate 180 people for up to three days. When it becomes full, Guilford High School will open as a secondary shelter. Community center cooks will be on hand, and bus drivers will be available to help bring people to the shelters. People can bring pets in cages, but they will probably be put in another area or at the center’s loading dock.

HAMDEN

Hamden High School, 2040 Dixwell Ave., is opening at 7 p.m. Saturday as an emergency shelter. People should bring basic supplies and toiletries, medications, non-perishable foods and a change of clothing. Cats and dogs allowed in carriers with their own food.

MADISON

The town will open a shelter at the town gym, located on Campus Drive, around noon on Saturday. Residents are urged to bring blankets and pillows to the shelter, as well as toiletries and towels, because there are showers at the gym. Water and snacks will be offered. Those using the shelter can bring pets as long as they are on leashes or in cages.

MILFORD

A shelter is set to open Saturday at 6 p.m. at Jonathan Law High School, but officials are recommending that anyone with special medical needs stay at the home of a family member or friend.

NEW HAVEN

The city will have two emergency shelters open starting Saturday. Benjamin Jepson School, 15 Lexington Ave., will open as a shelter noon. The James Hillhouse High School Field House, 480 Sherman Parkway, will open as a shelter at 6:00 p.m. Crated pets will be allowed in city shelters.

NORTH BRANFORD

North Branford Intermediate School at 654 Foxon Road will open at 6 p.m. Saturday as a shelter and house people first in the cafeteria and gym. Residents with medical conditions or senior citizens are encouraged to seek private shelter with friends and family. Residents with pets will be directed to the Branford shelter at Mary T. Murphy School, 14 Brushy Plain Road. Anyone who wants to volunteer for the effort is also welcome.

NORTH HAVEN

A shelter will open at North Haven High School, 221 Elm Street Ext., at 6 p.m. Saturday. Residents in areas prone to flooding are urged to use it. About 60 cots will be available for use and people are encouraged to bring blankets and pillows if they use the shelter. People can bring food; there will be water, juice and snacks. People may bring pets in cages but must bring their leashes and food.

OLD SAYBROOK

Old Saybrook Senior High School, 1111 Boston Post Road, will open as the town’s emergency shelter at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. Officials ask that residents make arrangements for their pets, rather than bringing them to the shelter, since some people may be allergic.

SEYMOUR

If needed, Seymour Middle School on Mountain Road will be used as an emergency shelter, especially in the event of any evacuations.

SHELTON

Shelton High School on Meadow Street will be a temporary shelter, as needed. Pets must be in a kennel or cage.

As of Friday evening, officials were asking for a voluntary evacuation of residents of the Maples and the Birchbank areas, and any other areas that have experienced flooding in the past.

WALLINGFORD

Sheehan High School, which is located at 142 Hope Hill Road, has been designated at the town’s emergency shelter. But as of Friday evening, town officials had not decided if or when the shelter would open.

WESTBROOK

Daisy Ingraham School, 105 Goodspeed Drive, will be used as a shelter starting at 8 p.m. Saturday. Snacks, water, cots and blankets will be available. People are urged to bring the bare necessities but can bring pets if they are crated. Those who use the shelter at the school should park in the Middle/ High School parking lot.

WEST HAVEN

The city will announce its shelter location at 10 a.m. Saturday with a reverse 911 call to homeowners. It is expected to be at Carrigan Middle School, Tetlow Street.

HURRICANE IRENE: Connecticut prepares for wrath of storm; Gov. Malloy declares civil emergency

By Ed Stannard
and Mary O'Leary
Register Staff
HARTFORD — Hurricane Irene is expected to hit coastal Connecticut  Sunday as a Category 1 storm, so residents should prepare for high winds and rain, Peter Boynton, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection told reporters in a conference call Thursday.
The brunt of the storm is expected to affect Connecticut from about 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, News 8 meteorologist Gil Simmons reported.

Read the full story here.

Car, motorcycle event to benefit scleroderma research

By Patricia Villers
Register Staff
ANSONIA — Warsaw Park will be abuzz with motorcycles and classic cars Saturday for a show to raise funds for scleroderma research.
The show will run 1 to 5 p.m at the park on Pulaski Highway, said Derby resident Dick Lupkas, an organizer. Check-in for the bikes and cars will be noon to 1 p.m. Rain date is Sunday.
Lupkas organizes motorcycle benefits, including three annual bike nights at the Valley Diner in Derby to help an East Haven boy with gastrointestinal disorders.

Read the full story here.

Entertainer to appear at nature center

ANSONIA - The P.A.C.K. (Parents and Communities for Kids) program will present award-winning singer/songwriter Chris Rowlands at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road.
Rowlands, who is currently touring the United States, blends music, comedy, and education in a fast-paced show which teaches and inspires young people. The free show is for families with children ages 5-11.
P.A.C.K. is supported by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.
To register call 203-736-1053.

Birmingham Group Health Services in Ansonia and Harbor Health Services in Branford plan to merge

By Cara Baruzzi
Register Business Editor
Two Greater New Haven health care nonprofit organizations aim to join forces, with the announcement Friday that Ansonia-based Birmingham Group Health Services Inc. and Branford-based Harbor Health Services Inc. plan to merge.
Officials at the groups said a due diligence process and “integration plan” are slated to be completed for board members’ review by October. If the merger ultimately is approved, the new unified group would begin operating in January as a regional provider of behavioral health and domestic violence services.
Both Birmingham Group Health Services and Harbor Health Services are private, nonprofit corporations. If the merger is approved, they will gradually combine into a single organization and brand over the next year.

Read the full story here.