www.northhavencitizen.com
Volume 16, Number 1
Friday, January 1, 2021
Neighbors united in regard for fallen flag By Nick Sambides Jr. Record-Journal staff
WALLINGFORD — It was Christmas Day and Jay Richardson was deeply distressed. The POW/MIA flag hanging from the pole at his town business had been shredded by 80mph winds the day before. Worse than that, the Stars and Stripes that flew above it was gone. The 60-year-old North Haven resident has a great love for the nation’s flag. His brother, father and grandfather had served in the military, his father for 40 years as a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant – Richardson’s rank, too, as a retired U.S. Army reservist – and his brother Jeff is a Vietnam War veteran. Richardson’s regard for the flag was why the pole was among the first of his almost $400,000 in upgrades to the building on Washington Street when he bought it in October 2019, he said. See Flag, A2
150 new cases reported locally North Haven — like nearly every other Connecticut municipality – is in the coronavirus red zone. The color coded status for cities and towns represents two weeks of cases. The trigger for red status starts at a rate of 15 cases per 100,000 people per day. The state’s most recent report, issued Dec. 24, showed 150 positive cases in North Haven. That works out to an average of 56.1 daily cases per 100,000 people. See COVID, A3
On Saturday, Dec. 19, Santa took a ride on the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department’s Engine 8, making early deliveries to good little boys and girls. Now that Christmas is behind us, the clean-up has begun. berlinfire.org
Earth-friendly holiday cleanup By Joy VanderLek Special to The Citizen
All the wrapping, bows and plastic are another area where alternatives can be considered. Giving and receiving holiday Manufacturers are hearing congifts is a real joy. Unfortunately, sumers want less plastic in after the fact, you may realize all packaging, but there is still a lot that gifting leaves a lot of trash; of it. Recycling eliminates the cardboard and plastic packaging need for virgin materials, thereand miles of gift wrap paper. by eliminating the need for a lot of mining and deforestation. And how about the tree? This in turn has a direct impact Here are few ideas for holiday on wildlife and saves energy, clean-up without throwing it all water and natural resources by in the trash. recycling rather than mining, said Pamela Roach, president One solution is to use your of the Connecticut Recycler’s tree for wildlife. Even if you have Coalition. a small lot, trees can be set in the back corner of your proper- “Most of us know that we ty. Wildlife can use it to hide should first reduce, then reuse from predators or harsh weath- before recycling,” said Roach. er. You can also use it as a com- “However, did you know there bination bird feeder and habitat are actually eight ‘Rs’? They are hideaway. Make a garland of Refuse, Reduce, Re-Use, Repair, peanuts or popcorn or fruit and Re-gift, Recover, Recycle—the place it on the tree for the birds. first and foremost important
‘R’ is ‘Rethink.’ Be mindful of your consumption, your relationship with ‘things’ and your relationship with the earth,” Roach said. An excellent online source of recycling information is RecycleCT.com. The RecycleCT Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established to support, educate and coordinate efforts to increase the amount of recycling in Connecticut. For instance, if you are wondering whether bows and gift wrap paper can go in the recycle bin, RecycleCT has the answer. Those items can be upcycled and reused but cannot be recycled. It is the same with most gift bags, including those you received for wine gifting. Reuse but do not put into the recycle See Cleanup, A2