Thursday, May 17, 2012
From a rash of home burglaries to the potential regionalization of emergency communications, Patch account-holders share their take on the day's news.
Middlebury "I need a bigger dog," Leenie Beattie Smith said on our Facebook page, when she learned that police are warning residents in regard to a recent rash of home burglaries. North Branford "This is beyond a bad idea!" john carter turns to his knowledge of how things work on the emergency communications front in a neighboring town to share his opinion about North Branford's possible regionalization. East Haven "The judicial system needs to start taking animal abuse crimes much more seriously." That's what Lesley Simoni (EH Animal Shelter volunteer) says in response to news that the Branford man who allegedly killed his dog was previously arrested on charges that he strangled his ex-girlfriend .
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Patch account-holders weigh in on the day's news, from an impending pension fund crisis to the killing of a black bear and pedestrian safety.
Cheshire "And would the DEP charge the black bear with murder if the bear killed this man's family? Is this man really a criminal for killing the bear?" Chris Cioffi poses these questions in response to the arrest of a Burlington man for killing a black bear that came onto his property. Stratford "People need to slow down for a few minutes and pay attention." This, jmf says, will lead to safer streets for pedestrians. The comment is one of many as residents discuss the fact that there have been seven pedestrians struck by vehicles so far this year — three shy of the number for all of 2011. Hamden "You don't have to be an accountant to figure this one out..." Dr. Alfred C. Whitehead diagnosis the problem and provides a prescription to …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Patch account-holders weigh in on the day's news, from the now infamous cover of Time magazine to the fading numbers of public pay phones and a budget referendum.
Cheshire "Just not another pharmacy!!!" Michelle Scavetta Phillips shares what she thinks should not go in to a vacant lot in downtown Cheshire, on the Cheshire Patch Facebook page. "Or pizza place or bank!!!" adds Marilyn Raines. "Or liquor store!" chimes in Cindi Anthony Lerner. Milford "Let's face it, pay phones are as obsolete as cassette tapes and VCRs." Rich offers this observation into modern living in response to a community discussion about the diminishing presence of public telephones in Milford. Stratford "This picture is absolutely appalling. And with her pose it almost borders on perversion!" That's what Heidi Ernst Manente thinks of the cover of Time magazine featuring a 3-year-old breast feeding. She shareds her thoughts on…
Monday, May 14, 2012
Patch account-holders weigh in on the day's news, from a proposed increase in fines to a major accident that injured more than a dozen people.
Oxford "I'm surprised the free traders haven't suggested making them cheaper in China." A comment from Will Wilkin about Canada's decision to stop printing certain currency and if the U.S. may follow suit with pennies. Southbury "Sounds like another way for Government to raise money." That's what RU Kidding thinks of a proposal to increase the fine for ordinance violations from $150 total to $150 per day. East Haven "Just another person not paying attention." Rosie expects this may be the sad truth about an accident involving a bus and a tractor-trailer that sent dozens to the hospital.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Do news organizations that publish 911 call audio help or harm the communities they serve?
The initial shockwave that swept through Fairfield County last week after the Ramsey family tragedy changed to disgust following the decision of area news outlets to publish the graphic 911 recording, during which a woman police identified as Mrs. Ramsey told the dispatcher that her husband was lying dead "in a pool of blood." Patch received access to the tape but did not publish a link to it. As an American writer who considers the First Amendment our most cherished right, I believe that making 911 tapes available to the public is essential to community safety; however, are we not also human beings? Did the tape need to be released so soon after Mr. Ramsey's tragic demise? And how -- if at all -- did the tape's release advance the public'…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Patch account-holders weigh in on the day's news, from a town's budget approval to online comments.
Stratford "Count on my vote flushing many incumbents 'down the drain' next election." max casts his ballot upon learning of a sewer use fee increase. Woodbury-Middlebury "Marriage should only be between opposite sexes!" That's what Ric Vargoshe thinks about President Obama's announcement that he supports Americans' right to gay marriage. Naugatuck "...he (or she) appears to be one of those rare individuals who enjoys paying higher taxes." Don Carten is not. He prefers lower taxes, he says, in regard to a subcommittee's statement that it's recommending the town contract with an ambulance company whose bid came in $200,000 less than another company. East Haven "Think before you hit 'enter'. You're representing not just yourself, but your …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Patch account-holders weigh in on the day's news, from a 3.68 budget increase proposal to road construction and plans for an affordable housing development.
North Haven "Let's not stoop the level of calling groups names or labeling people with stereotypical names as it is not called for and does not help either side of the issue." Brian Testa attempts to simmer down a heated debate as the town considers a land use proposal that would set the stage for an affordable housing development. Orange "Amity should not be Orange's budget problem scapegoat." So says Jessie Brown upon learning that the tri-town school budget was approved by voters despite it failing in Orange -- a local result that was supported by the town's first selectman. Southbury "Going to miss the common sense logic of Lieberman. He is one of the few Democrats that I ever voted for more than once. I am not saying that I agree …
Wilton’s patricide story proves the news media adage -- 'If It Bleeds, It Leads' -- but how many gory details and rumors are too many?
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! And I mean ALL about it. If you wanted to find out all the gory details about last week's horrific killing in Wilton, Conn., it was extraordinarily easy to do so. Read how a father, found brutally slain, was lying 'in a pool of blood.' Listen to the 911 call to hear the anguish of the wife of the victim -- also the mother of the accused. Learn how the victim's son admitted to police that he committed the act, and all the things he was rumored to have said after his arrest. Inquiring minds want to know! Rumblings started happening almost immediately, as the first 'breaking news' alerts began hitting the Web just a short time after the actual murder took place -- perhaps only an hour or two after at the most…
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Patch account-holders weigh in on the day's news, from Connecticut's new liquor law and the Senate's approval of medical marijuana to dog parks.
Bethwood "we'll need to be stoned to survive the mental torture of more of this crap from hartford," says Edward Walsh, on the Bethwood Patch Facebook page about the state Senate's approval of a medical marijuana bill. Milford "A law that is not enforced has no teeth and, therefore, is ignored." A poll on whether the city should ban dogs from all parks has opened up a community conversation about the town's parks, dogs and, well, poop. This was James Kelly's take on the matter, in reference to the law requiring people to clean up after their dogs. Woodbury-Middlebury "I mourn the demise of a blue law. We should stop living the 24/7 life. It is going to kill all of us in the end." If Frederick Wasser had his way he would slow …
Monday, May 7, 2012
Patch account-holders weigh in on the day's news, from a police investigation involving a local political party chairman to the arrest of a man for allegedly killing his dog.
East Haven "Just another example of a public figure lying and cheating the people, and then calling out others. WOW, what a joke" Luigi (Jan 18th 2011) the original offers that reaction to news that a police investigation revealed that the town's Democratic Town Committee Chairman created an "alias" account on Patch to discredit and provoke a vocal opponent of the town's Democrats. Woodbury-Middlebury "I drove the husband home that night after the fatal accident in Stratford that killed his wife. No tolls. Never again. Never!" This personalized perspective comes from chip in regard to a state representative's push to create tolls on Connecticut's highways. Branford "It just baffles me how people can disrespect their pets." victoria …
Hal Baird
8:04 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Rich from Milford is correct. AT&T loses money on pay phones especially in the maintenance area. There aren't many competitors who want the bother, either. The mindset is everyone carries a cell phone (not true) so they are not worth the bother. more ›