www.northhavencitizen.com
Volume 12, Number 24
Friday, September 6, 2019
Police settle into new home By Everett Bishop The Citizen
After 18 months of construction, North Haven police have settled into their newly-renovated building on Linsley Street. The entire project cost approximately $18 million and included an addition of “11,000 square feet” and “a new town-wide radio system,” according to Kevin Glenn, deputy chief of police.
lockup and garage. “The biggest improvement to the building is the space,” Glenn said in an email. “We added 11,000 square feet, and renovated the old building to use the space we had more efficiently. We brought all of our technology into one room, and created workspace for patrol officers and supervisors that they did not have in the past.”
Renovations began in early 2018 and were supposed to The addition was made to the west side of the building be completed in February and includes new sally ports,
See Police, A9
Officers pose in front of the newly-renovated police department on Sunday, Aug. 25 at the building’s re-commissioning ceremony. Photo courtesy of the North Haven Police Department
Local girl named ‘pediatric hero’ by state Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation By Everett Bishop The Citizen
Emelia Brandi, a local 10year-old, has been named the pediatric hero for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Connecticut chapter’s annual Take Steps Walk.
school and, at one point, was “going to the bathroom upwards of 30 times a day.” Sarah Brandi, Emelia’s mother, said it took five months for the family to get a diagnosis.
“When I first got it, I was really nervous because I was like ‘Oh my God, why am I The chapter chose Brandi af- feeling this way?’ But once I ter hearing the story of how started taking the medicines, she was diagnosed when she I started feeling much better was just 6 years old. and healthier,” Emelia Brandi said. “In the spring of first grade she started to show sympShe now plays travel hockey toms,” said Todd Brandi, as well as softball and waterEmelia’s father. “We went to sports, such as paddleboarda pediatric gastroenteroloing, wakeboarding, waterskigist and initially it didn’t go ing and is learning how to right to ‘You have ulcerative surf. colitis.’ Then things got progressively more symptomat- Brandi said that being named the pediatric hero ic.” makes her and her family She wasn’t able to go to “feel pretty good.” She gave a
speech at the kickoff to fundraising in June and will give another at the Take Steps Walk. “I get to help other kids know that it’s going to be fine because I could get through it, so you can get through it too,” she said. Ulcerative colitis is one of two main inflammatory bowel diseases, the other being Crohn’s disease, that effects one in 200 Americans, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation in the colon or large intestine whereas Crohn’s typically targets the colon or the last part of the small intestine, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms can include abdominal and rectal pain, diarrhea, fatigue and weight loss.
The Brandi family: Todd, Emelia, center, and Sarah. Photo courtesy of Sarah Brandi
Symptoms can vary depending on the person.
stomach symptoms associated with Crohn’s.”
“I had joint pain for four years and arthritis is also an auto immune disease,” said Pamela Bergantino, a volunteer lead for the Connecticut chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. “So they were treating me for arthritis. The medication was hiding the typical
The goals of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is to find a cure and to improve the quality of life of those who suffer from the diseases. The Take Steps Walk will be held Sept. 14 at Hammonassett State Park in Madison, See Emelia, A10