Dog Park Location Debate

Dog park supporters divided on the location
By Wynne Parry Staff Writer 03/21/2008

STAMFORD - Residents were unanimous this week in supporting an effort to create Stamford's first dog park.

But, during a public hearing Wednesday night at city hall, dog owners and others had many opinions about where to put it.

The city is considering four sites - Czesick Park on Shippan Avenue, the Hunt Complex on Courtland Avenue and two sites in Kosciuszko Park on Dyke Lane.

"None of the locations are perfect. Each has advantages and drawbacks," said city Rep. Arthur Layton, R-17.

Layton and city Rep. Eileen Heaphy, D-8, hatched the idea and formed the nonprofit Friends of the Stamford Dog Park about a year ago. They hope to raise $40,000 to create it.

Resident Coleen Banks, 49, said her visits to the prospective sites left her strongly against one - the Hunt Complex - the least expensive option and a city favorite.

The site near Exit 9 of Interstate 95 is isolated, she said.

"I was uncomfortable being there," she said. "I just think that if you are going to provide something for the dog owners of the city of Stamford, it would be rather insulting to give them this rather unparklike setting."

Resident David Winston, 58, spoke in favor of the Hunt Complex.

A Cove resident and cat owner, Winston said he would like to attract dogs and their owners to the area.

"That kind of activity is going to encourage a neighborhood environment," he said.

Other speakers addressed the two remaining sites. Czesick Park drew concern because of the traffic the dog park might generate and the controversy embroiling the neighborhood over proposed artificial turf fields at West Beach across the street.

Kosciuszko Park has a high water table, making it muddy, and it is more remote, said a resident, Jan Goldfluss, 50.

The Parks and Recreation Commission plans to decide at its next meeting, scheduled for April 16, said Mickey Docimo, director of parks and recreation for the city.

Once the department approves the park and selects a site, the Friends of the Stamford Dog Park must come up with the money for a fence, benches and other items.

The group has raised about $2,300, Heaphy said. Click here to read more.

Headless Chicken Investigation Continues

Town still investigating six headless chickens--March 22, 2008

Greenwich Animal Control officers are investigating six beheaded chickens found behind a Mason Street bank Thursday afternoon, considering whether the birds were killed as part of a religious ritual, Greenwich Police Lt. Richard Cochran said Friday.

Over the years Greenwich Police officers have collected dismembered carcasses of chickens and other animals that appeared to be ritually killed, Cochran said.

The killings also could be a disturbed individual's idea of a prank, Cochran said.

"Whether it was linked to Holy Week or some other event we're not sure," Cochran said. "It could also just be a stupid prank."

The perpetrators could face animal cruelty charges, Cochran said, which under state law is a felony that can carry up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, depending on the circumstances.

The chickens were found by passersby under a tall hedge in the parking lot behind Putnam Trust Bank at 10 Mason St. Thursday afternoon.

Cochran said police checked security cameras on the property, but the devices did not record the area where the animals were left.

"Anybody with information about this should call us," Cochran said.

Residents with information about the chickens should call the Animal Control Division at 622-8299.

--Martin B. Cassidy

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Advocate: School Closing Decision Delayed

Panel votes to close elementary school; decision delayed on which building
By Donna Porstner, Staff Writer --March 20, 2008

STAMFORD - The Board of Education Redistricting Committee last night voted to close an elementary school in 2009 but delayed a decision on which one for at least a month.

The move freezes a controversial plan to close Toquam Magnet Elementary School - at least for now.

The committee has been discussing whether to close Toquam when the new interdistrict magnet school opens in the Cove in 2009.

Board members agreed to the one-month delay to give Mayor Dannel Malloy time to talk to state officials about how the new school may be populated. Members were told the magnet school couldn't have a traditional attendance district, in which children are assigned to a building based on where they live.

Malloy asked members to "pause" so he could have a "broader dialogue" with the state about the new magnet school.

"He's going to be a great advocate," Board of Education Vice Chairman James Rubino said. "He's a man of great influence."

Malloy and board members were vague about what they hope to get from the state.

Members were expected to chose one of four options last night: keeping all schools open, closing Toquam and redistributing those students to their district schools, closing Toquam and moving those students to the new magnet school while retaining the curriculum, or closing Toquam and moving its students to the new school with the new environmentally themed curriculum.Ê

Instead, members voted in favor of closing an elementary school and tabled the three other options.

Because of declining enrollment and a limited budget, school officials are considering the closure of an elementary school when the new school opens. The school district is expected to lose about 700 students over the next seven years.

Closing a school would save about $5.4 million annually.

Malloy, a non-voting member of the school board, said his first choice would be to keep all schools open.

But board members said adding a 13th elementary school would necessitate cutbacks in other areas.

"I've often heard the schools ought to run in a more business-like fashion," Board of Education President Richard Freedman said. "What business people do is assess risk that could cost you dearly, and paying for a 21st school could cost us dearly."

Parents were stunned Toquam was targeted for closure because it is one of only two public elementary schools in Stamford to meet all federal No Child Left Behind standards this year without requiring remedial action. They launched a "Save Toquam" campaign and put signs with the motto on their cars and all over the city.

With redistricting, the board is trying to alter the attendance districts to ensure all schools have a similar balance of students, factoring in race and family income.

Toquam parents attending last night's meeting said they were relieved the closing has been put on hold.

"I am cautiously optimistic," parent Beth Covino said. "It still feels like limbo."

Redistricting Committee Chairwoman Susan Nabel asked Malloy to report back in four weeks so the committee could decide.

"It isn't in any of our common best interest to keep the tension going," Nabel said.

Toquam parents were thankful Malloy intervened. Had it not been for the mayor, the committee likely would have voted to close Toquam last night, said Astrid Olsen, who has two children at Toquam.

"We probably would have left here even more depressed than we are now," Olsen said.

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Stamford Times: Toquam Decision Delayed

BOE halts redistricting; seeks to come up with new plan (Thursday, 4 p.m.)
By A.J. O'CONNELL March 20, 2008

STAMFORD — The board of education halted their redistricting effort and said on Wednesday night that they would reconsider the closing of Toquam Magnet School.

The decision comes after Mayor Dannel Malloy cut funds from his capital budget that would have gone towards the construction of the new intradistrict magnet school. Malloy this month cut $2.8 million from his capital budget for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) for the new Intradistrict Environmental Magnet School, effectively derailing the board of education's plans to open the new magnet school in September of 2009. Malloy said he hoped the cut would stimulate discussion, and cause the board to spend more time developing a comprehensive redistricting plan.

On Wednesday that is exactly what happened.

Malloy, a non-voting member of the board of education, told the board at a redistricting committee meeting that more dialogue with the parents, the state and with the community is needed before the board can decide which school to close.

"Taking up any of the remaining motions would be a mistake at this time," he told the committee.
A motion to keep all the existing schools open while opening the new magnet school already failed 3-1 in committee. Board member Robert King voted in favor of operating 21 schools.

The three motions to which Malloy referred would have closed Toquam Magnet School, and either sent its students back to their districted schools or to the environmental magnet.

Malloy offered to work with the board of education and the state in order to come up with a different redistricting plan.

"While I'm not happy that 13 months after this committee started, we're coming to a halt for a while, I'm happy to have the help in coming up with (a redistricting plan,)" said board member Rosanne McManus.

The decision will push back the magnet lottery, said Superintendent Joshua Starr. The lottery was supposed to occur on Monday, but will instead take place in May.

Redistricting committee chairwoman Susan Nabel said that she will expect a report from Malloy in four weeks, on April 10.

Parents from Toquam Magnet School, who crowded the board room, applauded as the mayor left at 7:30 p.m. to attend another meeting.

"I'm so pleased that the discussion isn't over," said mother Dana Patashnik, whose two sons are in kindergarten and second grade at Toquam.

Other Toquam parents were cautiously optimistic after Wednesday's vote.

"I'm glad they didn't close our school tonight," said Toquam mom Ida Morris, "but they did decide to close one school."

Parents from other schools were equally concerned.

"It leaves the possibility that that other schools may close," said Hart mother Chris Kanaris.

"Anything is possible the way this project has been going," said Jennifer Adams, also a Hart parent. Click here to read more.

Headless chickens found behind bank

Headless chickens found behind bank
By Martin B. Cassidy Staff Writer March 21, 2008

Six blood-spattered fowl with their heads cut off were found behind a Mason Street bank yesterday afternoon, disturbing customers and prompting calls to police.

Police said they didn't know anything about the decapitated birds, which appeared to be chickens, left strewn under a tall hedge along the parking lot of the Putnam Trust Bank. Calls to the Animal Control Division were not returned yesterday.

Several bank customers stopped to lament the birds. David Tovar, a Greenwich resident, said he was sickened by the grisly sight of the dead birds when he spotted them after making a deposit at the bank.

"I just think it is really kind of strange for these chickens to be left here," Tovar said. "Somebody should come quickly to pick them up or bury them. Children come to the bank with their mommies."

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Scary Robberies at Stamford Mall

2nd teen in a week robbed at knifepoint near mall
By Zach Lowe Staff Writer March 14, 2008

STAMFORD - Four suspects robbed a city teen at knifepoint Wednesday night in a glass enclosure that leads to the Stamford Town Center parking garage, authorities said.

It was the second knifepoint robbery at the mall in the past week. On Sunday, an unknown assailant stabbed a 17-year-old city boy in the shoulder during a robbery in a men's bathroom on the mall's fifth floor, police said.

No arrests have been made in that case. Police arrested one suspect in Wednesday's robbery after a brawl that left one officer with a broken ankle and another with a torn hamstring, said Lt. Sean Cooney, a department spokesman.

The other three suspects remain at large.

Police were looking into whether the two robberies are linked, said Sgt. Paul Guzda, a supervisor in the detective bureau. They are reviewing surveillance video from both crime scenes, he said.

The victim Wednesday was listening to his iPod when the four men approached him in the glass enclosure off Veterans Park on Atlantic Street, next to the mall, Guzda said.

One suspect held a knife to the victim's throat as the others swiped his iPod and took a small amount of cash from his backpack, Guzda said.

The victim, 16, ran to a Dunkin' Donuts and called police with a customer's cell phone, Guzda said.

Patrol officers spotted the four suspects near Columbus Park, Guzda said.

The suspects fled, and two officers chased a 17-year-old down Atlantic Street and caught him near Bank Street, police said.

The suspect, whom police did not identify because he is under 18, resisted arrest and punched the officers before they tackled him, Cooney said.

One officer's ankle got caught between a concrete planter and a post that holds up an awning for the Safavieh home furnishing store at 230 Atlantic St., Cooney said. The officer broke his ankle and was treated at Stamford Hospital, he said.

Officers stunned the suspect with a Taser at least twice to subdue him, police said. He was charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, two counts of assaulting a police officer and interfering with police.

He was being held on $300,000 bond and was scheduled to appear March 27 at state Superior Court in Stamford, police said.

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.

Robbery At Stamford Mall: Incident #1

Teenager stabbed during robbery attempt at mall
By Angela Carella Assistant City Editor March 10, 2008

STAMFORD - A 17-year-old Stamford youth was stabbed in the shoulder yesterday during an attempted robbery in a restroom at the Stamford Town Center mall.

The young man was expected to be released from Stamford Hospital after a few hours, Sgt. Richard Phelan said yesterday evening.

The knife "just missed an artery," Phelan said. "He's very lucky."

The incident occurred at about 5:25 p.m. when the teen walked into the men's room on the fifth floor of the mall, outside the Saks Fifth Avenue store, police said.

"He was followed in by two males who announced it was a robbery," Phelan said. "They demanded his wallet and they had a knife."

The teen called out to his friend, who was in the men's room, and one of the robbers stabbed him once in the right shoulder, Phelan said.

No other details were available yesterday evening as police pursued two male suspects in their late teens.

Police were reviewing videotapes from mall security cameras to obtain more information, Phelan said.

Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Click here to read more.