Debt costs expected to boost tax rate Published: Friday, March 27, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King, Register StaffNORTH BRANFORD — The town is proposing a 2009-10 budget with a zero percent increase, but the tax rate is still projected to rise about 5.5 percent, due largely to debt incurred from several building projects.The $11.8 million budget would cover town government operations. The school district is proposing a budget of...
Earmark funds may help town’s 1st responders stay linked Published: Tuesday, March 24, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King, Register StaffNORTH BRANFORD — Between Totoket Mountain and the Farm River, North Branford’s topography can make it difficult to receive radio signals in all areas of town.Fire Chief William Seward III said that emergency personnel, including police officers and volunteer firefighters, sometimes do not receive messages on their pagers because they...
Hair salon offering jobless a kinder cut on Tuesdays Published: Monday, March 16, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King, Register StaffNORTH BRANFORD — With a recession in full swing, many local families have been scrimping on luxuries, perhaps cooking at home more, or swapping a night out at the movies for a rental.Christina Pepe, co-owner of La Bella Hair Salons on Branford Road, said she has noticed another symptom: clients...
Investigation continues in Sound plunge Published: Friday, March 13, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King, Register StaffBRANFORD — Police are still investigating an accident that killed a Guilford man when a Jeep he was riding in plunged into Long Island Sound early Wednesday, although they said the incident does not appear to have involved foul play.Investigators are waiting to conduct an in-depth interview of the driver, who survived the accident....
7 students arrested in drug raid at SCSU Published: Thursday, March 12, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King and William Kaempffer, Register StaffNEW HAVEN — A months-long police investigation into an alleged drug ring on the Southern Connecticut State University campus culminated Wednesday in the arrest of seven Southern students, authorities said.All the students arrested were placed on interim suspension, according to the university.SCSU police and officers from the Statewide...
Guilford middle school to test buzzer access for visitors Published: Wednesday, March 11, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King, Register StaffGUILFORD — School officials are planning to test-drive a system in the next month that would require buzzer access for people visiting Abraham Baldwin Middle School.The district has been improving its security systems in recent months, installing cameras and key-card access to allow teachers to keep side doors locked during...
Teacher takes pledge to heart, shaves head Published: Monday, March 9, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King, Register StaffNORTH BRANFORD — David Carpenter, physical education teacher at Totoket Valley Elementary School, has been feeling a little colder lately after he shaved his head in front of the entire school last week.Carpenter told his students he would shave his head if they raised more than $10,000 in the school’s first Jump...
Kids hit car with snowballs; driver arrested Published: Saturday, March 7, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King, Register StaffGUILFORD — A town man is facing four felony counts after he allegedly confronted a group of children who were throwing snowballs at his car.Police said Giuseppe Liguori, 23, was driving on North Fair Street this week when four youths threw snowballs at him. Liguori allegedly swung his car around, drove the...
PZC OKs ‘Schanz Farm’ subdivision Published: Friday, March 6, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King, Register StaffNORTH BRANFORD — The Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday approved the "Schanz Farm" subdivision of 30 houses on 64 acres along the Farm River.The plan passed by a 3-1 vote, with Commissioner William Galdenzi dissenting. Commission Chairman Harry Dulak did not vote because he had not attended earlier meetings on the topic.The commission...
North Branford votes to reduce sewer fees Published: Thursday, March 5, 2009By Rachael Scarborough King, Register StaffNORTH BRANFORD — Less than a year after raising the sewer connection fee to a flat level of $12,300 per unit, the Town Council this week voted to reduce the fee for businesses and age-restricted housing.The council is also considering refunding tens of thousands of dollars that three new businesses owe in...