REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2012
Local News
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Driver hospitalized after car crashes into church
A woman was hospitalized with injuries that did not appear critical after crashing her car Tuesday into St. Pauls Lutheran Church, according to Fire Chief Ken Hanks. The woman drove her crossover vehicle into the church at Millville Avenue and North Hoadley Street shortly after 1:30 p.m., officials said. The building was not damaged but the car sustained heavy damage, Hanks said. It was towed from the scene, according to police records. Police continue to investigate the cause of the accident and did not identify the driver Tuesday. PROSPECT
Renaissance now at end
Development contract expires amid hope for new partners
BY ALIA MALIK
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Drivers injured, road closed following 2-car Route 68 crash
Two drivers were taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash on Route 68 at Grammer Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, fire officials said. The call came in about 2:45 p.m., said Mayor Robert J. Chatfield, who is the fire departments day commander. Firefighters didnt have to perform extrication, he said. The driver of a blue 4 x 4 suffered what appeared to be head injuries and was taken to a hospital, Chatfield said. The driver of a mail delivery box truck, which wasnt a U.S. mail truck, also was taken to a hospital for aches and pains, he said. It wasnt available which hospital the men were taken to by later Tuesday. Chatfield said the box truck driver allegedly pulled out of a driveway of a business into the path of the 4x4, which was going east on Route 68. The road was shut down for an hour while officials investigated, he said. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. No other information was available later Tuesday. State police at Troop I in Bethany did not have an accident summary available by late Tuesday. HARTFORD
NAUGATUCK Five years ago Tuesday, then-Mayor Ronald S. San Angelo signed an agreement with developer Alexius C. Conroy that was to transform the borough. Conroy was given exclusive rights to develop Renaissance Place, the $707 million project that would improve the fortunes of the depressed former factory town by building condominiums, stores, entertainment and office facilities along the Naugatuck River downtown. Contaminated properties where factories once dumped chemi-
cals into the river would hold structures powered by alternative energy. That was a historic moment, San Angelo said on May 8, 2007, after he, burgesses and members of the Naugatuck Economic Development Corp. signed the agreement and provided a copy to the Naugatuck Historical Society. The development agreement expired Tuesday, under a provision stating that it would expire if no privately funded construction had begun within five years, borough and NEDC officials said. Construction has See DOWNTOWN, Page 7B
DOWNTOWN RENAISSANCE A BUST?
>> Parcel C, at the corner of Maple and Water Streets, was cleaned and ready to be developed into the medical office facility and parking garage that made up Phase One of the plan. >> Environmental assessments of other parcels on General DataComm land and at the train station have also been completed with state and federal funding. >>The borough has spent at least $2 million preparing for the project in addition to legal and administrative costs, which officials set aside $36,000 for in this years budget. >> We remain committed to the concept of planned, smart growth in our downtown, and look forward to working together to ensure a bright and prosperous future for generations to come, Mayor Robert A. Mezzo and Jay Carlson, chairman of Naugatuck Economic Development Corp.
PULLING STRINGS
MUSICAL PROGRAM AIMS AT PREPARING CITY STUDENTS TO GO BEYOND LIMITS IMPOSED BY CIRCUMSTANCES
Police budget approved by panel
BY PENELOPE OVERTON
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Legislative leader cool to plea for mixed martial arts matches
Time may be running out to legalize and regulate mixed martial arts matches in Connecticut. Stacey Scapeccia, an owner of an Oakville business where fighters train for matches in neighboring states, and Nick Newell, a mixed martial fighter, were outside the state Senate chamber Tuesday, hoping legislation they support will be approved. The 2012 session of the legislature ends at midnight today. They may be out of luck. Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams said hes not thrilled with the sport because he says it does damage to fighters. Two lobbyists for Ultimate Fighting Championship also were at the state Capitol Tuesday, lobbying for the legislation. Indian casinos sometimes feature mixed martial arts events, but they cannot be held off tribal reservations. Advocates say the matches will help generate revenue for businesses including hotels and restaurants.
Spending plan provides for special units
Associated Press
CONTRIBUTED
CHESHIRE
Construction to disrupt library services for 6-8 weeks
Renovations at the Cheshire Public Library may disrupt some operations. Beginning Thursday and continuing for six to eight weeks, officials say there may be periodic closures or reduced access to the library, at 104 Main St., due to an interior reconfiguration project. Outdoor book drops will be accessible at all times. Parking capacity will be slightly reduced due to construction vehicles and equipment. For construction updates/closures, visit the librarys website at www.cheshirelibrary.org.
Calida Jones, the newly appointed head of the soon-to-launch Bravo Waterbury! program modeled after a successful music and social uplift program in Venezuela, spent the past few weeks in Baltimore and Philadelphia consulting with similar programs that have started in other cities. BY BRYNN MANDEL
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
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Quilters to gather in Watertown
Quilting artists from the area will be displaying their work Thursday in Watertown at an event to raise money for scholarships. PAGE 5B
rom Venezuela to Baltimore to Waterburys Childrens Community School, a model program that aims to develop well-rounded children through music education will make its debut in the Brass City this summer. Dubbed Bravo Waterbury!, the effort gives the term musical movement a new connotation, with ambitions to not only teach children on instruments, but also to uplift their entire lives in the process. The effort follows in the tradition of El Sistema, a celebrated, free national music training and youth orchestra program that has served
To volunteer for the committee, with the program or to donate instruments or other related supplies, such as music stands or office supplies, call the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra at 203-574-4283.
nearly 300,000 youngsters. Founded by an economist, its primary focus was not to develop budding musicians, but instead to give students foundational skills to become successful adults especially children with odds stacked against them socioeconomically. Its pretty intensive and it will include an academic component and other ele-
ments, said Calida Jones, the recently hired director of Bravo Waterbury! who spent the past month observing a similar established program in Baltimore. Said WSO Executive Director Steve Collins, Its not just another afterschool program, and its not your typical American music education program, either. The announcement of a site to house the program and its impending launch is at once a giant step foward and only a beginning, those involved said Monday. Organizers envision expanding the effort in subsequent years to other city sites, and eventually maybe forging connections in surrounding towns. See MUSIC, Page 7B
WATERBURY The proposed police budget sailed through the Board of Aldermens budget committee Tuesday with only a handful of questions, most of them friendly. Mayor Neil M. OLearys budget proposal gives the department the money needed to continue its proactive crime fighting approach, said Police Chief Michael J. Gugliotti. Most importantly, the department should be able to maintain the specialty units that Gugliotti and OLeary before him thought so vital, such as community policing and school resource officers. The proposed $26.7 million budget is about $1.4 million, or 5.4 percent, more than this years budget. The salary line alone went up $1.3 million, largely due to arbitrated union raises. Staffing levels remain one of Gugliottis chief concerns. A
See POLICE, Page 6B
House may be a mess, not unsafe
Officials find no cause to raze site
BY LARAINE WESCHLER
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Region 14 budget fails vote
Region 14 school district voters rejected a proposed budget that would have increased school spending by 3.2 percent. PAGE 3B >> Woodbury board endorses increase that could reduce tax rate. PAGE 3B
ROLLOVER SENDS DRIVER TO HOSPITAL
A tow truck carries a vehicle westbound on Interstate 84 in the area below the Ichabod Road overpass in Southbury on Tuesday. The driver of the vehicle suffered facial lacerations and a possible broken left arm when the vehicle rolled over. Southbury Ambulance took the driver to Danbury Hospital.
CHRISTOPHER MASSA REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Neighbor stops break-in
Two Litchfield County men have been arrested after a resident confronted them during a break-in at a neighbors house in Wolcott. PAGE 4B
>>> DEATHS ON PAGE 2B >>> BIRTHS ON PAGE 5B >>> HONOR ROLLS ON PAGE 10B
WATERTOWN For five years, Marco Perugini has stared at blight through his kitchen window. In August 2007, the house across from his home erupted in flames. It was boarded up and left to rot. Today, the house at 6 Taft Ave. is charred and material hangs down from the upper level of the raised ranch. The side bulges and weeds grow tall in the front lawn. The chimney is tilted and two skylights blown out in the fire appear to be open to the elements. I am really disgusted with the whole situation, Perugini said.
See BLIGHT, Page 7B
