Milford Living Spring 2023

Milford

Eye

At

Historical

Milford’s

Greetings

Congratulations

About the cover: Milford’s duckpond and falls in springtime.

Photo by Cathy Leite. You can view Cathy Leite’s portfolio at cathyleitephotography.com

Cindy Papish Gerber

Shaileen Kelly Landsberg

SPRING 2023

VOLUME 20 • ISSUE 1

Publisher/President

Suzanne Cahill

Suzanne@milfordliving.com

Editorial Director

Ann McGuire

Art Director

Ryan Swanson

Associate Publisher

Susan Carroll Dwyer

Advertising Director

Joy Haines

Contributing Photographers

Suzanne Cahill, Bill Canfield, Susan Carroll Dwyer, Cathy Leite, Maryalice Manning, Nell Moll, Robert Creigh

Contributing Editors

Tracy Farricker

Contributing Writers

Angela Arpino. Susan Carroll Dwyer, Tim Chaucer, Frank Farricker, Taghg Hannon, Shaileen Kelly Landsberg, Jason Marchi, Marilyn May, Ann McGuire, Gerry McGuire, Cindy Papish Gerber, Maya Rossado, Katie Servas

Production Assistance

Kevin Maher, Wendy Macomber, Todd Manning, Tamara Simpson

Interns

Bridget Dwyer, Maryalice Manning

Milford Living Magazine

162 Bridgeport Avenue Milford CT 06460 203-283-5290

http://www.milfordliving.com

Milford Living Magazine (ISSN 1547-4429) is distributed quarterly by Red Mat Publishing. P.O. Box 2387 Milford, CT 06460. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the Publisher. Subscription Rates: U.S. $23.96. Newsstand: $5.99. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Milford Living Magazine P.O. Box 2387, Milford, CT 06460. Please allow six to eight weeks for subscription processing. Copyright 2003-2023 Red Mat Publishing.www.redmatpublishing.com

Opinions expressed in Milford Living Magazine articles and advertisements are those of the authors and advertisers, respectively, and should not be considered as expressions of management or official policies of Milford Living Magazine.

ADVANCED PRIMARY CARE • WALK-INS WELCOME

ALL INSURANCES ACCEPTED INCLUDING MEDICAID (HUSKY) & MEDICARE

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

OTHER

LOCATIONS: HAMDEN 215 SHERMAN AVE NEW

St. Mary School

Growing in Strength and Knowledge

Greetings, dear friends!

We are fortunate to be encompassed by the magnificence that spring bestows us. From the depths of the earth to the sky, there is an eruption of beautiful colors and fragrant blossoms that tantalize our senses. Spring is a time to enjoy the natural beauty of the world and a universal reminder to appreciate the changing seasons and be grateful for everything we have. With the promise of new beginnings, we can remain hopeful for what the future holds.

This issue is a special one: it’s our 20th anniversary! In celebration we’re pay homage to Milford’s treasured history and highlighting some special places in town that are dear to all of us. Plus, we look back at how Milford Living came to be and share recollections from a few of our long-time staffers. On the opposite end, we send a warm welcome to a few fresh faces in Milford, new neighbors who share a little about why they chose to make Milford their home.

As we celebrate our 20th year of publication, we want to thank you all for your continued support! Remember to renew your subscription (a handy card is enclosed.) As always, we enjoy hearing from you, so drop us a line with your story suggestions and pictures you’d like us to share.

We hope you and those you love enjoy this issue and take part in celebrating our wonderful Milford community.

We wish you all the beauty and blossoms this season has to offer!

Come discover the difference a St. Mary School education can make in your child’s future.

Celebrating over 60 years of educating minds, hearts & souls! Now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year!

Kathy Anderson

Sandy Burnell

Peter Chapman

Judie DiFranco

Sue DuBrow Kelly Durrschmidt Lisa EnglishSarah Ferrante Kelly Hill-Mihalyak

Donna Howe

Ruth Korpita

Beth Lopez Debi McGinley Sophia Messore

Laura Kelleher-Nichols Lorna Nichols

Barbara Oliver

Christine Shaw

Victoria Stillings

Donna Tartagni

Colleen Zacarelli

Katie Anderson

readers’ letters

I always enjoy reading Milford Living from cover to cover. Especially enjoyed the story about other Milfords. During the 350th celebration of Milford, we contacted the other Milfords in the U.S. and received some interesting information. Then at some point I received an email from Colin Langhorne from Milford Haven in Wales. We corresponded for a few months. I sent him some info about our Milford, and he sent me a book about Milford Haven. But my best experience with other Milfords was the time I took my part-Kiwi granddaughter back to New Zealand to go to college. We took a tourist boat on Milford Sound. In the middle of the Sound, they let us out in kayaks and as we were paddling around

the leader got a call saying the dolphins were coming in. Sure enough the dolphins did come in, and must have been curious about these other creatures in their sea. They mingled with the kayaks so close you could reach out and touch them. Quite a time!

—Robert

Gregory, Milford, CT

Thank you for adding even more to our winter story on Milford towns around the world. We look forward to gathering more tales of travels from our readers to help keep us all connected. It’s a small world after all.

I was recently looking at an old map of

Milford hanging in my doctor’s office where it referred to Woodmont as Merwin Point. I was wondering where that came from because I know the Merwin Farm was in Morningside. Maybe you can write about the Merwin history next time.

—Pat LaPaglia, Milford, CT

Great idea Pat. There is so much history in Milford that even though we’ve been covering it for 20 years, the well is barely touched. As an FYI: the spot in question is named for Miles Merwin who arrived in Milford in 1645. His farm was nearby, but there doesn’t seem to be any specific reason why this spot was named for him.

We are excited to

40 years in practice

We strive to maintain the very same values that were present on We want your famil to be a part of our happily accepting

We look forward to welcoming you to the Brush & Floss

We are excited to

40 years in practice

We strive to maintain the very same values that were present on We want your famil to be a part of our happily accepting

We look forward to welcoming you to the Brush & Floss

Celebrating 20 Years!

With this issue, Milford Living is elated to mark the magazine’s 20th anniversary. For two decades, Milford Living has been invited into the homes of Milford’s readers, sharing stories about the people of Milford for the people of Milford. The magazine has been a labor of love, dedicated above all to celebrating this unique and vibrant community. At this wonderful milestone, the creators of Milford Living are humbled by the support the magazine has enjoyed and remain committed to bringing their readers the best that Milford has to offer.

That mission began some 20 years ago with Suzanne Cahill, a publishing industry veteran and Milford resident, who felt that the community engagement and enthusiasm she saw on display in Milford was going sorely unnoticed. “I thought about ways I could improve that,” says Cahill. “Kind of naturally from there I said, ‘Well, I’ll start a magazine.’ Milford Living was born.”

Cahill found that others shared her zeal, and her idea was met with an immediate response. Production designer Ryan Swanson helped her create a layout for the future publication. Armed with a prototype, Suzanne posted an ad online seeking prospective contributors. Ann McGuire, a magazine writer and fellow Milford transplant, answered. The two met for the first time at Café Atlantique and built the roadmap for the types of stories the magazine would tell. McGuire is still with Milford Living, serving as the magazine’s editorial director.

Milford Living offered a chance to “spotlight all of the hidden talents and abilities of the people of the city,” says McGuire. “We wanted to highlight the good work being done in the community. We have always made sure to look at the city from a positive perspective, to focus on the bright spots.”

From there, Suzanne paid a visit to Nell Moll at the Milford Chamber of Commerce.

“She introduced me to a number of lifelong residents, and from there I was able to glean some historical information that I needed

to absorb, knowing that the identity of the magazine had to come from that place. A place of civic pride, responsibility, respect, and wonder,” says Cahill. Moll introduced Cahill to local photographer Mary Hegarty Neschke, who would go on to shoot many of the magazine’s covers in the early years. “Soon, we took up shop at 162 Bridgeport Avenue, and Susan Carroll Dwyer joined us, and brought with her a new level of wit, organization, and historical context to the publication,” says Cahill. “Susan now serves as our associate publisher. As we began to grow in pages and subscribers, I needed some help with sales.

Luckily I ran into advertising veteran Joy Haines on a trip to the post office!

Our core team has weathered some growing pains, but we did it together.”

It is the efforts of local creatives and supporters that have allowed Milford Living to thrive these 20 years. In the beginning, the fledgling publication faced the inevitable financial hurdles facing

TAMI JACKSON

The Milford Bank is now a proud member of the Allpoint™ ATM Network. With a Milford Bank Debit or ATM card, you get access to over 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs globally.

Above from left: Associate publisher Susan Carroll Dwyer, advertising director Joy Haines, publisher Suzanne Cahill, and editorial director Ann McGuire.

any new enterprise, but support never wavered. “The first five years were tough,” says Cahill, “But the community took to it right away.” Cahill credits the letters she receives from readers with keeping her going.

“We built up a robust subscription following by attending events, knocking on doors, fairs, festivals, and taking the time to meet people in the community. When you see those subscription cards about town, be sure to fill one out,” reminds Cahill. Local institutions and business owners were quick to offer their financial support, and many continue to sponsor the magazine to this day. Engagement with the community is what keeps the magazine alive. Cahill says, “Our

editorial today is shaped by the comments and suggestions we receive from our readers.”

The pages of Milford Living have featured everyone from musicians and artists to Joan Sapitowicz Allen, a beauty queen who represented Milford at the 1954 Miss USA competition. Everyone from entrepreneurs, teachers, firefighters, fishermen, police officers, and business owners, to the fine people at the city’s wastewater treatment

plant, have been spotlighted. Milford

Living has consistently sought to engage with people from every corner of the community. “We’re always looking for more history,” says McGuire, who recalls staging a 1950’s themed BBQ photoshoot and reporting on a Cold War-era nuclear alert system on Milford’s Zion Hill.

“The work continues to be an adventure,” says Susan Carroll Dwyer. “Milford Living has afforded me access to incredible people, places, and more. I have played with tiger cubs, rode in the pilot house of the Port Jeff Ferry, and gone curling…it’s much harder than it looks. I’ve climbed into the clock towers at City Hall and The First Church: the history and the views were remarkable,” Carroll Dwyer

recounts. “Memorable stories about giant pumpkins, horseshoe crabs, UFO sightings, glass blowing, checking out super cool classic cars, and spotlighting garage bands from back in the day achieving long-deserved notoriety has been a blast. Our annual Kite Fly has been fun event with kites aloft and spirits high.” In fact, Carroll Dwyer continues, “I look forward to each new experience. Every time the latest issue arrives from the printer it is still a thrill.”

Longtime contributor Cindy Papish Gerber has been all over town on behalf of Milford Living.

“I’ve received VIP tours at Milford’s Senior Center, an aeronautics facility, Fire Headquarters Station 1, and climbed aboard the Milford Marine Unit vessel. I also got to sample pizza from some

neighborhood establishments. Tough gig, but somebody had to do it,” says Gerber. When asked for her favorite Milford Living pieces, Cindy echoes the thanks felt by all at the magazine. Her favorite stories are “those that allowed me to explore the depth of Milford’s history and articles that allowed me to meet so many wonderful people. It’s been extremely gratifying to get to know them and receive heartfelt thanks for sharing their personal stories.”

Twenty years on and Milford Living is proud to still be going strong. The magazine has recently moved into new offices downtown and boasts more reportage and photography than ever before. Gerber notes that “the magazine has forged a huge connection for

readers to the place they fondly remember or presently call home. It’s become an essential part of the Milford community… and beyond.” It is a place where people can go and be proud of their city. That, says Cahill, is “why we do the magazine; to give residents something they can always be proud of and where page by page readers know that the Little City with the Big Heart will always be cherished.”

—Tadhg Hannon

Spring Wildflowers in Milford

People anticipate the joys of spring for many reasons. High on the list is the search for nature’s emerging jewels called wildflowers. Eisenhower Park, the Solomon Tract on West River Street, Mondo Ponds, and other woodlands in Milford are great places to look for wildflowers

Trillium (Trillium erectum) in the lily family comes in several varieties including red, white, and painted. Trillium comes from the Latin word meaning three, as trillium has three petals, three leaflike parts called sepals, three leaves, and a three-chambered pistol.

Red trillium is maroon and sometimes called Wake Robin as it flowers when robins return north. Trillium’s underground stem or rhizome was chewed by native Americans and early settlers for treatment of gangrene; it was also used as an astringent and as an anesthetic for snakebite and other maladies. Red and White Trillium are found locally, while Painted Trillium is found in more northern areas.

The wildflower Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) possesses a curved and purple lined spathe which resembles a pulpit. Inside the spathe is a cluster of tiny white flowers in the form of a spadix shaped like a stick figure, which we call Jack. In the fall, the tiny flower cluster is replaced by glossy red berries which the native Americans would eat. The early American colonists also ate these berries as a

substitute for pepper. The crystals of oxalite provided a counter irritant to bronchitis or sore throat.

Spring is also the time of year to look for yellow-orange Marsh Marigolds (Calustra palustris) in the inland wetland (swampy areas) of Eisenhower Park or the Solomon Tract. Medieval church festivals used this flower to celebrate the Virgin Mary, hence the name marigold. The leaves are very rich in iron and, when cooked, were used to treat anemia. If uncooked and ingested, they can be harmful.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) forms a solitary white flower on a leafless stem. The un-

derground root contains a reddish juice thus the name bloodroot. Native Americans used the juice as an insect repellant, a dye for clothing, baskets, and warpaint.

Orchids in Milford? Pink Lady Slipper, a wild orchid (Cypripedium acaule) may be found in local woodlands in highly acidic soil. Sometimes called moccasin flower, the name stems from the Greek word cypris, which refers to a myth of Aphrodite, and pedelon, which refers to the saclike petal or “slipper”.

Insects seeking nectar fall into the “sac” and

From top: Jack in the Pulpit, Trillium, Marsh Marigolds, Bloodroot, Lady Slipper.

brush against reproductive organs, causing pollination as they exit. Native Americans dried the leaves and made a tea which was used as a tranquilizer and a cure for insomnia, according to folklore. A yellow lady slipper exists but is not as common.

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is fun to discover in Milford’s woodlands. The mottled purple/brown leaves are said to resemble a brook trout, thus the name. Trout Lily has also been called Fawn Lily because in the spring the pointed leaves resemble a fawn’s ears as they emerge. Young leaves were cooked as greens and

added to soups and stews. Leaves were also made into a poultice and used for swelling and ulcers. Native peoples also ate the small underground bulbs of this wildflower.

Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) reminded early colonists of pantaloons hanging upside down on a clothesline. Look for these white spring wildflowers in the woods in rocky drier areas.

Want to go hunt for yourself? Find a good wildflower guidebook, study up, grab your camera, and enter the woods to search for natures emerging spring jewels!

—Tim Chaucer

From left: Trout Lily, Bleeding Heart.

around town

Play the Game

Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of healthy competition? Spending an afternoon or evening with family and friends engaged in a contest can create memories you’ll remember for decades to come. Remember when Uncle Fred got that bullseye to win the match? Or the time Aunt Wilma clinched the final round in trivia by knowing the name of the alien on “The Flintstones,” The Great Gazoo. Whether teaming up with kindred spirits just for fun, or let’s face it, to win, there is something unique about the chance to make family history by engaging in a test of coordination or brainpower.

projected onto the board. As you hit the mark the target will disappear, easily keeping track of who is ahead. Between games you can grab some food and drinks in the lounge. Crazy Horse also allows you the chance to channel your inner pool shark. Time to chalk up your cue!

Bingo VFW POST 7788

422 Naugatuck Avenue

VFW7788.org

203-874-9982

Axe Throwing

CRAZY HORSE AXE THROWING

975 Bridgeport Avenue

Crazyhorseaxethrowing.com

203-870-1010

Crazy Horse Axe Throwing and Lounge opened in the fall and Milfordites are loving it. There are a nine axe throwing lanes, offering the classic bullseye as well as variety of target games

If you drive down Naugatuck Avenue on a Thursday night and wonder what all the cars are doing there—it’s Bingo Night!

VFW Post 7788 in Devon has been hosting bingo for decades. They sell coffee and food to

keep you on your game. Check your daubers for ink and head on down so you can yell BINGO when you win!

Bowling BOWLERO

1717 Boston Post Road

bowlero.com/location/ bowlero-milford

Break your wacky bowling shirt

out from the back of the closet

and head to Bolero. They have 54 lanes and offer glow bowling at night. Join a league (if you are serious), visit the arcade, and enjoy the food and drink. Bolero has a sports bar so you can cheer on your favorite team. The pro shop can help you up your game with a new ball, gloves, or a less wacky bowling shirt as you strive to roll that perfect 300 game.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DOCKSIDE

Trivia

Trivia is a great night out at a number of Milford locales. Get your team together and try them all!

FLIPSIDE

1 Schooner Wharf

Flipsiderestaurant.com

203-283-7282

Flipside offers family friendly Hot Fingers Trivia with Amber every Wednesday night. You must be quick as you answer via your phone. The points scored drop as

have a drink by the harbor. It’s a great spot to get your trivia on.

DOCKSIDE BREWERY

40 Bridgeport Avenue

Docksidebrewery.com

203-693-3900

Dockside offers trivia every Wednesday night as well. Another great spot to have some food, drink, and fun with a great view of the Housatonic River. Get there early, there is a limit on how many people can

HAIR OF THE DOG

128 Bridgeport Avenue Hotdmilford.com

203-283-7282

Hair of the Dog’s games are run by Sandra. She likes to mix things up. They offer Cards Against Humanity, Never Have I Ever,

that Tune. The games are best suited for adults. Order some food, have a cocktail, and enjoy the fun.

Be sure to follow these entertaining establishments on social media to keep up to date on the latest gaming opportunities.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLIPSIDE

A WellPainted World

Susan O’Neill is a mainly self-trained painter whose whimsical portraits of the world exude all the depth and grace of a Grandma Moses Americana canvas.

At first glance, one cannot help but be captivated by O’Neill’s vibrancy of colors and fun perspectives that suggest those luscious worlds that grace the pages of children’s picture books. Although O’Neill has not yet illustrated a children’s book, her paintings

Susan O’Neill’s bright paintings immediately suggest children’s picture book illustration. O’Neill often includes animals in her whimsical paintings to reflect the abundant wildlife in Milford.

are known and admired by fans stretching from Florida to her beloved Milford.

O’Neill was formally educated in architecture, first at the University of Pennsylvania before transferring to the Rhode Island School of Design in their five-year program. “I got right into the architectural program and that’s all I did when I was there. I did not take one fine arts course the entire time,” says O’Neill.

In the back of her mind, however, she thought about being a painter, yet the need for a reliable career took center stage in her life. So, with degree in-hand, O’Neill worked as an architectural designer. “I was in the remodeling

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUSAN O’NEILL.(3)

industry most of the time in Norwalk, and I was on Nantucket for about four years,” says O’Neill. “I designed houses out there, but most of the time I was in the remodeling industry, and I wanted to be a painter.”

With that ever-growing desire to paint tugging at the back of her mind, it wasn’t until O’Neill reached the age of 40 that the fear of a lifetime of unfulfilled creative desires made her realize that if she was ever going to be a painter, she had better start soon.

“I took a night course in 2007 and that’s when I started painting,” says O’Neill. “Then I just kind of started painting on my own and I decided that I really wanted to go for it. The economy crashed in 2009 and that helped me make my decision

because pretty soon there was no work left in my field.”

With her old career on ice, O’Neill thought, “Well, I’ll just move to Key West and see if I can make a living painting.” That decision worked out splendidly.

For the next seven years—from 2011 to 2018—O’Neill painted in Key West, where she began painting plein air, which means outside

in the open air, because of the balmy weather. She even formed and led a group called the Key West Plein Air Painters.

“I did that for about four years, and we painted on the streets and on the beaches every single Wednesday all year round,” she recalls. “I had a pretty big group in the winter. We had almost 20 people. And in the summer, it was really only a couple of us because it was so hot. We’d sit in the shade, have a beer, paint, and have a good time. It was really, really fun.”

During her time in Key West—in Ernest Hemingway country—O’Neill became a member of a co-op gallery and sold many paintings, including prints of her works at the

“It was a great way to meet people,” O’Neill says about her years of plein air painting in Key West.

arts + artisans

Hemingway House Museum. Of those years in Key West, O’Neill says she did very well creatively and financially (for an artist, that is), but she missed her son, and she missed her Milford home.

“I came back here because my son Sean was here,” admits O’Neill. “He had chosen Milford as a place to live and a place to start his business— he has a brewery here in Milford with his two partners, Tribus Beer Company.”

O’Neill no longer does plein air painting since Connecticut weather is naturally less cooperative compared to Key West, and she switches back and forth between oils and acrylics depending on her mood. “I began using oils in Key West because they did not dry fast in

the heat like acrylics,” she explains. Now that O’Neill paints daily in her Milford studio, she uses acrylics once again, but only for certain reasons. “I use the acrylics when I’m in a big hurry and don’t like waiting around, because they dry a lot faster.”

Today, O’Neill paints from her imagination, rather than the live scenes she used to focus on. “I’ve started to paint the four seasons too,” she says. “I really missed them while I was in Key West. Most transplants miss it when they go do there. The endless summer isn’t what

Although O’Neill paints from her imagination, you can easily spot the Milford inspiration in this piece, entitled “Turkey Day at Duck Pond.”

it’s cracked up to be.”

Fans of O’Neill’s work are thankful she took that plunge into painting just over a decade ago after her long career in architecture. And those who are witness to her extraordinary talent hope to one day see her whimsical illustrations in a children’s picture book.

—Jason Marchi

To learn more about Susan O’Neill and her paintings, visit her website at https://www.susanoneillpaintings.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN O’NEILL

at home

The ABCs of P&Z

One of the more mysterious jobs of our local government is “land use”. While we own our homes and as citizens we have the right and power to elect our representatives, we often must rely on groups like the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals and their staff regarding what we can do with the land we own. We often wonder why they make the decisions they do, especially when it comes to thorny issues like giant houses and affordable housing.

Almost all decisions regarding the use of land in Milford come from the Zoning Regulations, which is a document that you can find at ci.milford.ct.us/planning. While the reading can be dry and technical, anyone can understand the basic gist of how decisions are made on everything from a home remodel to a new shopping mall. These regulations are the “rules in place to protect everybody, and when the regulations allow something, it will be permitted,” says David Sulkis, the city planner of Milford.

Who permits something to happen with a property depends on what someone wants to do with a piece of land. A homeowner may want to make changes to their house, like a new deck or an addition. To do any work, the property owner would need a permit from the city to safely proceed. When reviewing the work to be done, however, a permit inspector may note that the project may not be permitted by the Zoning Regulations. If that’s the case, an owner may ask for what is called a “variance” from

the Zoning Board of Appeals, which is just to allow a reasonable exception to the rules.

The Zoning Board of Appeals is a board of fellow Milfordites selected jointly by the mayor and the Board of Aldermen for five-year terms. They review the situation to determine whether the work to be done is reasonable enough to be granted an exception to the rules. If so, the property owner is invited to a hearing at City Hall, which is open and noticed to the whole community, to present their case. The Zoning Board of Appeals members vote whether

to approve or deny. A lawyer can be engaged if desired, but many times it’s not necessary. Just make sure to consult with someone that has experience with the process, such as your contractor, the staff of the Zoning Board of Appeals at City Hall, or a friend who has completed the process.

The Board meets monthly, so that would be the shortest time to completion, but budget at least another month should unknown issues emerge, or the Board need clarification on details. If the Board votes in favor of the variance, the work becomes legal forever.

Big land use questions are answered by another citizen board, which is the Planning and Zoning Commission. Voters elect the members to four-year terms. They are entrusted with making sure that the Zoning Regulations are followed, as well as making plans for any possible use of land

within the city. For example, even if a part of the city government wanted to build a new school, they would need the permission of the Planning and Zoning Commission. It can be very complicated because the commission is also required to follow additional laws that come from Hartford, relating to

at home

environmental issues, as well as those we enact here in Milford.

But like the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Planning and Zoning Commission is first required to follow the rules as they are written. There have been many decisions over the years that have been controversial, and many residents have disagreed with them. But if the Commission were to turn down a builder because they thought it was the “right thing to do” even though the regulations permit it to occur, that person could appeal to the state courts, and a court could reverse that decision and

impose a decision that could be even worse. Milford commissioners must balance the feelings of the community with the rights of builders and find the right solution.

Since we live in a democracy, if you feel the rules could be better for Milford, you have power in your hands. Any resident can propose new rules for Planning

and Zoning. The City Planner or your fellow residents serving on these boards can help fill out the forms and guide you through the process to try and make those changes. You can run for Planning and Zoning as a candidate or ask the Mayor or your Alderman to keep you in consideration for a seat on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Serving in these positions requires no specific experience in anything other than common sense and desire for Milford to be the best place you hope it to be.

—Frank Farricker

Attorney Joseph Tramuta

Going Clubbing

Milford Public High School’s students are offered a variety of different clubs to participate in during and after school hours. Students are encouraged to find something they are passionate about and meet others with similar interests. The schools offer volunteering and academic clubs, clubs about advocacy, and some simply for fun. Jonathan Law and Joseph A. Foran High School share many of the same clubs, from National Honor Societies, theatre, skiing, gaming, multicultural clubs, and many more.

A handful of clubs are specific to each school, and were started by current students. Beginning a club is as simple as finding a teacher willing to advise the club and allowing access to their room. Aislinn Burns, a senior at Jonathan Law High School, began a Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club in the fall of 2022. SAVE Promise Club is the student leadership initiative of Sandy Hook Promise. This student-led organization encourages young people to take charge of safety within their schools and communities.

Jonathan Law students Gemard Guery and Ikeoluwatomiwa Opayemi, founded the Black Student Union (BSU) to create a welcoming space for black students in Milford. The club strives to advocate for the black community through weekly meetings and schoolwide events.

At Foran High School, new clubs hope to serve the community, including the Clothing the Community Club. The club was founded by juniors Elle Philpott and Izze Fallon. Clothing the Community aims to provide basic needs

to local community members by collaborating with various local organizations such as the Beth-El Center, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Salvation Army.  One club that both schools share is Key Club. Key Club members around the world learn to lead and voice their opinions through service and volunteerism. In partnership with their local Kiwanis club, these students spread positivity as they serve their school and community. This year, they were involved in the nationally-recognized Salvation Army Red Kettle Project, the National March of Dimes World Prematurity Day, and fundraising events for St. Jude Hospital. Members have volunteered at local events such as the Pumpkins on the Pier event, the Thanksgiving Food Drive, Poinsettia Sale, Keeping Milford Warm events, Cards for Veterans, Easter Flower Sale, Trick or Treat UNICEF collections, the Leprechaun Leap, and more. In addition to their accomplishments, Law senior Caroline Doyle was elected “District Governor” for the 2022-23 school year, a high honor for students in the service organization.

The Foran High School Model U.N. club attends a conference at the University of New Haven.

The Foran High School Broadcast Journalism Class Morning News gives students the scoop on what’s new.

Both high schools host a Debate Club and a Model U.N. Club. Model U.N. allows students to role play as delegates from around the world to debate historical and current events. This club highlights international relations and provides students the opportunity to attend a conference in New York City with participating students from around the world to debate different research topics.

Another club shared in both the Law and Foran communities is the Future Business Leaders of America Club (FBLA). FBLA prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in society through career preparation and leadership experiences.

Clubs grant students the opportunity to engage with their communities and teach youth advocacy. Each high school produces student news shows that are broadcast on social media. For the past 17 years, Law’s

morning news show, Eagle Eye News, has been streamed live on YouTube each morning. Eagle Eye News features daily announcements, interviews with students and faculty, news stories, and athletic

Living, working and supporting the Milford

(Left) Jonathan Law High School SAVE Promise Club at an officer training event. (Right) Law High School Black Student Union Club at a Black Panther movie night selling concessions.

education notebook

highlights produced by Law’s Broadcast Journalism class. Foran’s morning news show is recorded by their Video Production class. They edit the footage and upload it to YouTube and Instagram each day. Law and Foran’s journalism classes also produce student-run online newspapers, The Advocate and The Main Street Mirror, where staff reporters and editors write articles about school news, sports, reviews, and editorials for their website and social media accounts. These newspapers are easily accessible to families and keeps them up to date with school activities. Even though these are not traditional “clubs”,

they still grant students the opportunity to voice their opinions and report on events happening at school.

Through all of these clubs, students in

the Milford Public Schools can explore their interests and expand their connection to the school and local communities.

—Katie Servas & Maya Rosado

•

•

Guglin, MD FACS and Francesca Guglin

Pictured above is the Jonathan Law High School broadcast journalism class/morning news.

milford morsels

Truckin’

With Spring upon us, a wide array of food trucks will be hitting the road and taking their mobile goodies to Milford’s beaches, farmer’s markets, breweries, weddings, graduations, and birthdays. But before we talk about that…lets travel back to understand the origins of our collective affection for food on wheels.

From the very minute we come into existence, we are born reaching out for sustenance, to be satiated. From liquids to veggie slurries to solids, moving up the food ladder are a child’s first milestones. We eventually learn that Mom or Dad goes to the store, buys food, brings it home, and cooks it. We like that set up; it works. Then one day, something magical happens. Maybe we’re playing in the yard or on a swing at the park. All is calm until we hear, very faintly, the sound of music. It sounds kind of warped and muffled as if it is coming from a broken toy. It’s an old nursery rhyme, it’s on repeat, and it’s getting closer. You see the other children, as if in a trance, start to stumble toward the direction of the music, until finally one of the older kids shouts out in knowing, rapturous glee, “ICE CREAM MAN!” A sudden stampede raises clouds of dust that waft around the

parked truck, pictures of ice cream ringing the window. Children clutching wrinkled dollars and annoyed parents form a rough line. A man steps away from his seat, slides open the window, and says to the first kid, “Ok, whaddya want?” Delicious food from a truck, your life is forever changed.

While the humble Bomb Pop, Choco Taco, and ice cream sandwich will forever hold a place in our hearts, the world of food trucks has evolved to incorporate every type of cuisine. If it can be cooked in a tight space, someone has put it on wheels.

THE MELTING TRUCK

www.themeltingtruck.com

Facebook @themeltingtruck

One food truck well-known to Milford’s residents is The Melting Truck, which

specializes and elevates a very homey comfort food: the grilled cheese sandwich. Founded in 2020 by partners Tim Bristol and Michael Young, the Melting Truck itself originally began as a humble FedEx truck. The original concept was a lobster roll truck, but as the price of lobster soared during the first year of the pandemic, the idea of something down to earth like grilled cheese made more financial sense. It’s simple, cost efficient, and more important, unique around here. The most popular sandwich the Melting Truck serves is the classic grilled cheese with American and cheddar cheese. Some of the possible add-ons include jalapenos, kielbasa, chicken, pepperoni, avocado, bacon, pickles, Irish sausage, sliced apples, mushrooms, pulled pork, peppers and more. They also serve an assortment of soups and mac and cheese. Want to find them? Check out their Facebook page.

COURTESY OF THE MELTING TRUCK

The Melting Truck offers cheesy goodness including grilled cheese sandwiches, soup, chili, and of course, mac & cheese. Follow them on Facebook to see where they’ll be.

SILVER SANDS PIZZA TRUCK

www.silversandspizzatruck.com

One of the most popular foods that would seem difficult to replicate from restaurant to truck, is pizza. Incorporating a large pizza oven into a truck, while maintaining enough space to prep the dough and create the pizza, is a struggle. For this reason, pizza trucks can either go small with a just a portable pizza oven on a trailer, or go big with a large trailer sporting a full pizza oven and plenty of space for prep. This is the case with Silver Sands Pizza truck. The offshoot of two brick and mortar pizza restaurants in Stratford and Wallingford, Silver Sands Pizza Truck is a large wood fired pizza restaurant on wheels. Owner Osman Tunali

has been bringing his pizza truck to events around Milford for more than six years. From farmer markets and festivals to weddings and

corporate functions, the Silver Sands Pizza Truck is always in high demand so if you’re interested, book early.

Silver Sands Pizza and it’s delicious wood fired pizza is a regular at events all around Milford.

COURTESY OF SILVER SANDS PIZZA

milford morsels

WALNUT BEACH CREAMERY

www.walnutbeachcreamery.com

While food trucks might be expanding the realms of mobile cuisine, there’s nothing like returning to the simple delights of childhood, and nothing makes people happier than the sight of an ice cream truck coming around the corner. In this case, when people see the bright avocado green Walnut Beach Creamery truck pulling up, they know Susan Patrick has come to bring the yum!

Expanding the reach of the Walnut Beach Creamery in Milford, Patrick has been driving her gourmet ice cream truck to weddings, birthdays, and graduations from Westchester to Northern Connecticut for a decade. With

unique flavors like Lavender and Fig, Sour Cherry and Peach, as well as staples like Cookies & Cream, the popular Walnut Beach truck keeps Patrick and her staff on the road and her customers coming back for more.

THE RAMBLING INN

www.ramblinginn.com

While ice cream may always make our hearts go pitter pat, as we become big boys and girls something else begins to tickle our fancies…

Offering some of the best handmade ice cream around, book the Walnut Beach Creamery truck for sweet treats.

booze. If you enjoy the odd drink, there’s a truck right up your alley.

The brainchild of Damian Cashman and Troy Stuckey, The Rambling Inn is a mobile Irish pub that rolls up to your house or function, opens its doors, and let’s the good times and the Guinness flow. A native of Tipperary, Ireland, Cashman was a consultant for Irish whisky companies when the idea of a mobile pub began knocking around. He and Troy renovated an old camper in the style of an Irish Pub, threw some sawdust on the floor, and opened it up. With a kitchen for Irish foods, music, whiskies, and beer, The Rambling Inn can fit up to 26 people and is aways ready to deploy for weddings, birthdays, funerals, and any other function a

mobile Irish pub is necessary.

The choices available for both food truck owners and customers are always expanding. As long as someone can dream it up and fit it on wheels, the whole idea of dining out or creating a new food experience for customers is limitless. Whether it’s a French patisserie

on wheels or an Irish pub rolling down a highway, there’s something fun and special about food trucks. It brings us back to that first truck and buying that first Bomb Pop, with enough change leftover to get a piece of Bazooka Joe.

—Gerry McGuire

The Rambling Inn, your local Irish Pub on wheels. COURTESY OF THE RAMBLING

BY SHAILEEN KELLY LANDSBERG

TThere are two kinds of people in the world: those who live in Milford, and those who wish they lived in Milford. Our Small City with a Big Heart has so much to offer it’s no wonder people fall in love with it. As the past few years have brought many new faces to town, we began thinking about why they chose Milford to make a home. So, what do newcomers to one of Connecticut’s oldest communities think once they arrive? As these folks can attest, Milford has much to offer and is a great place to move to!

Small Town Feel

Shannon Buckley has had the opportunity to live in several different places throughout her life. Originally from Oswego, New York, she attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, for her undergraduate degree, then moved to Montreal, Canada, to complete her Ph.D. at McGill University. She then came to Connecticut.

“My first job after graduating was in Southport, and I really liked this area of Connecticut. After renting for a time in Black Rock, I wanted to buy a house in a coastal town between Fairfield and New Haven. I found a cozy house near downtown Milford and loved it,” shared Buckley.

After moving into her new home, Buckley, who works in medical education, fell in love with Milford. “It is very welcoming, with a

small town feel. I love that everyone goes to the events in town, like the fairs and Tree Lighting, and there is a lot of community participation. Everyone I’ve met has been very nice. The fact that there are many beaches, including a state park beach, is great, and being on the train line makes it easy to get to NYC and New Haven for shows and dining.”

Shannon was drawn to Milford’s shoreline and its easy commute to New York City.

Neighbors

U.S. Army veteran Nathaniel Stormont is originally from New Hampshire, but moved with his family to Rhode Island at the age of ten. He had the opportunity to travel to many different locations with the military, and when he got out of the Army he wanted to not only be relatively close to family in Rhode Island, but also to friends from the military who live on Long Island.

“Initially, I rented an apartment downtown and fell in love with Milford,” Stormont says. “Since I had bought a boat when I got out of the Army, I needed a marina to dock it and found Milford Harbor to be more affordable than some of the surrounding areas. Plus, I could walk to it when I lived downtown.” Another plus? “There’s always something going on in Milford,” says Stormont. “It has a good nightlife, and movie night behind the library, fairs on the Green, and Oyster Fest are great.”

Stormont’s sister came to visit and also fell in love with Milford, describing our city as ‘being like a Norman Rockwell painting,’ and that being in the center of town felt like walking in a different time period. She liked Milford

and became such a frequent visitor with her two children that Stormont realized he needed more space than his downtown apartment. Connecting with realtor Barbara Zink, he began the search and wound up finding the perfect home.

The sense of community in Milford has made an impression on Stormont, who shared that, “I actually know all of my neighbors, and everyone pitches in to help each other. I’ve never experienced that anywhere I’ve ever been before, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

A Sense of Community Beach Life

Originally from Australia, attorneys Keira Morse and her husband Charles, who is from Canada, met at a holiday party for the New York City law firm where they worked. They were paired up to do a presentation, each felt a spark, and the rest is history for the happy couple.

Both Morses love the beach, and the couple considered purchasing a home near the water. “Being from Australia, I am quite picky about the beach, with exacting standards, and I knew what I wanted,” shares Morse. “My

Nathaniel enjoys boating as well as getting to know his neighbors and frequenting local events.

CHRISTOPHER CARVETH

SEAN LEWIS

husband had previously lived in Fairfield, so he was familiar with the area. We were driving through Milford, decided to have a look, and found a house right on the water.”

The couple purchased the house in December of 2021, and they and their two children have been welcomed into the Milford community. “We know all of our neighbors,” says Morse. “They made us feel welcome, and even brought us housewarming gifts!”

When asked about her favorite things about Milford, she shared that our city “is a

perfect size; still suburban but not too much. We love all the community gatherings like the Tree Lighting and Oyster Festival, and the ability to be involved, and feel that we’ve been assimilated into the community. Milford has great local shops, and we love the Giggling Pig, Walnut Beach Coffee House, and Colony Grill, among others. There are so many options for things to do, and we

often take the kids to the public library, the Audubon Coastal Center, and of course, to walk along the beach.”

Keira, Charles and their adorable daughters have embraced Milford and love spending time at the Giggling Pig.

Business and Boats

Steven Komorowski, a U.S. Navy veteran from North Jersey, and his wife Sonya, originally from western North Carolina, met when Komorowski was a corpsman stationed at Camp Lejune. They fell in love and married, and after many moves, landed in New York, where Sonya had always wanted to work.

At the beginning of the pandemic, they made the decision to leave New York and began exploring towns on the train line along

the coast. They found our city to be perfect for them. “Milford was the first town that was not like New York,” says Komorowski. “We liked the laid-back beachy vibe and decided to move here.”

“Milford is a nice, happy medium—a normal town that has everything,” he continues. “We are big boaters, so Milford is perfect for us. We have our boat and belong to the yacht club. We love the Milford Arts Center, and the beaches are awesome.”

Komorowski, who had been working as a respiratory therapist in New York, had

always had an interest in fitness, and had previously taught Phys-ed at a Montessori school. Once settled in Milford, he founded a personal training studio, Fit Forever, located at 7 River Street. Sonya rides the train for her commute to New York. The couple are often out and about, exploring and learning all about everything Milford has to offer!

Sonya and Steven Komorowski love to be active and Milford offered them a boaters paradise.

A Historic Walking Tour of Downtown Milford

First United Church of Christ Congregational

34 West Main Street

Stowe maintains that “This church started Milford…and it was the founding center from which everything grew around it—a school, town hall, mill, farms, wharf and more. So, it’s a fitting place to begin our walk.”

The church was organized August 22, 1639, by Reverend Peter Prudden and a company of 15 families. During the pre-colonial period, members attended services in “the Common House”, once located at the about 150 yards south. A marker out front reads: Near this site stood the first Meeting House erected in Milford 1641.

By Cindy Papish Gerber

According to Milford city historian Arthur Stowe, “Virtually all of American history can be uncovered by walking around downtown Milford. Within a short stroll, one can discover how our landmarks mirror those of our nation…and actually see how history evolved.”

I met Stowe in front of the Parson’s Building to embark upon an abridged version of “A Walk Through Time,” a tour he gives as a volunteer for the Milford Historical Society (MHS). “There are many different types of tours out there,” he explains, producing copies of A Tour Guide Book of The Colonial Houses of Milford Connecticut, by the Milford Bicentennial Observance Committee, and A Walking Tour of Historic Milford Connecticut, by Milford’s first city historian Rutheva Brockett. Both booklets are currently available for purchase at MHS Country Store (34 High Street).

On a personal note, I had the privilege of meeting with the late MHS docent, educator, and Milford Living Treasure Ardienne Damicis

at her home. She curated numerous walking, bus, and combo tours for school children, teens, and adults that covered the breadth of Milford history, including one “very long” (in her words) guide that includes over 38 tour stops. Her files, which I reference here, will be archived at the MHS for future generations. Please keep in mind that our itinerary is by no means definitive, but hopefully serves as a good intro. As Rutheva Brockett suggested, “Whether your walking tour originates from an abiding interest in history, researching early houses, or just spending a pleasant day retracing the paths our ancestors took,” we hope it will offer readers “a way to make your journey though old Milford more enjoyable.”

The present version (the 3rd), built by Captain Michael Peck in 1823-24, is a prime example of a two-story Federal-style church with a looming steeple. It was constructed to replace the “Second Church” or Plymouth Building, located across the river.

Plymouth Building

18 W. Main Street

While currently used for educational/community purposes, after construction in 1834, this building was remodeled in 1861, used for many years as a theatrical playhouse, then razed and replaced (1951-52). Notably, Aaron Burr (yes, that third U.S. Vice President and infamous Hamilton-duelist) was apprehended here while hastily driving his carriage in blatant disregard of the law banning Sunday travel. Unsurprisingly, the deacon sent Burr to Clark Tavern (more about that establishment later) until sundown.

The Reverend Samuel Andrews House

124 North Street

Built by Robert Treat in 1685 for his daughter and husband, the Reverend Andrews, who was third pastor of the First Church and an original trustee of Yale College. During a cold

The current building housing the First United Church of Christ, Congregational, is the third since the church was founded in 1639.

winter, Damicis noted that Andrews held Yale College study sessions in his living room. Facing the house, you will notice a picturesque wooden bridge over the Duck Pond. Formerly known as the North Bridge or Jehiel Bristol Bridge, and commonly known as The Kissing Bridge, Damicis noted that at one time, “this was on the outer limits of town. Young lovers would purportedly meander over to steal a kiss.”

Sanford-Bristol House

111-113 North Street

This 1790 half-saltbox New England Colonial represents a rare example of a two-family house. Previous walking tours remark upon the “worn steppingstones at the front entrance,” three dormers, long veranda, and “old water well next to the back door.” In 2018, this home was saved from demolition and updated. A marker attached attests to its’ provenance: Near this site stood the home of Robert Treat A founder of Milford Deputy Governor and Governor of Connecticut 1676 – 1708 Founder of Newark, New Jersey 1665 – 1672.

According to the Historical Marker Database (www.hmdb.org), “At least 8 other markers are within walking distance” of this one. Some are prominently displayed; others are hiding in plain sight. In 2007, 17-year-old Peter Eason wrote The Founding Fathers Footsteps, a tour booklet detailing 20 of these sites.

Peter Prudden’s Home

67 Prospect Street

According to Damicis’ instructions: “After walking across Cherry and down Prospect, you will pass the former ‘Sabbaday House’ where traveling churchgoers could stop and get a good meal between services. Look for the opening in the hedge near the driveway for a marker concerning Peter Prudden.”

The marker was placed in May 2017 by the local Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter of the Daughters of The American Revolution:

Above: The Sanford Bristol House was built in 1790 and is a rare example of a two-family house from that era. Below: Milford City Hall was built after the previous building was destroyed in a 1916 fire.

ANNA DOWNS

ROBERTCREIGH

On this site was the original home lot of the Rev. Peter Prudden (1601-1656), leader of the Hertfordshire Group that founded Milford in 1639 and first pastor of the First United Church of Christ. His group left London, England in the spring of 1637 and landed in Boston. The following year they accompanied the Davenport/Eaton group to the mouth of the Quinnipiac River and founded New Haven. During that period in history, Prudden attracted more followers from Dorchester and Roxbury in Massachusetts Bay, and from Wethersfield. The home’s backyard was the also the town’s first burying ground and likely Prudden’s final resting place.

City Hall

110 River Street

Walk back to the center of town, cross The Jefferson Bridge, and approach Milford’s Municipal Complex, with City Hall as its centerpiece. This Greek Revival building, modeled after Jefferson’s Monticello, was constructed in 1916 after a fire destroyed the previous edifice built in 1831. Alert: It’s hard to believe that this scenic spot with a terrace overlooking the scenic Duck Pond, river, waterfall, and First Church was once blighted by debris from adjacent mills and tanneries.

Doughboy Statue

10 River Street

“On the plaza in front of City Hall is the World War I Memorial, a bronze figure of an infantryman on a granite pedestal, dedicated to the soldiers who died in that war,” wrote Rutheva Brockett. Sculpted by Joseph P. Pollia, and unveiled on Veterans Day 1921, the accompanying plaque reads: “May every generation of young Americans be given power to translate their lives in terms of sacrifice for mankind.” A threesided September 11th memorial monument is located nearby.

Milford Post Office

6 West River Street

Passing by the Court House, the next building in our Municipal Complex is the United States Post Office on the corner of West River Street and Darina Place. Milford’s first post office opened in 1796, with William Durand appointed postmaster, conducting business out of his Cherry Street home. At the intersection of Cherry Street and Plymouth, a stone marker reads: “Site of Store In Which Was Located An Early Post Office 1824 – 1841”. Damicis wrote, “It is believed this store was owned by a man named Tibbals, no doubt a descendant of the Thomas Tibbals,” who first informed Prudden about the prospective settlement at the mouth of the Wepawaug.

St. Peters Episcopal Church

71 River Street

Formally organized in 1764 when it was known as St. George’s, the present edifice (1851) was designed by prominent architect Frank Willis. Constructed out of brownstone

Inset: The Doughboy monument outside City Hall commemorates those who died in WWI.

Above: The main Post Office Branch on West River Street.

ROBERTCREIGH

MARY HEGARTY NESCHKE

from Portland, CT, it is considered one of the best examples of Victorian Gothic architecture in our state. Featured are several beautiful stained-glass windows, with one attributed to Tiffany.

Regicides, J Law, and Washington

38 West River Street

Walk down to where West River meets River Street and stop in front of “The Yellow Building.” Today, River Park Apartments houses seniors, but formerly welcomed freshmen, sophomores, and juniors as Milford’s first high school. Prominently displayed on the front lawn is a marker presented by the MHS Class of 1937: The Regicides Whalley and Goffe Were Hidden In A House Located on This Site. Regicide reminder: Whalley and Goffe were two British judges who fled from England to Boston in 1660 after signing the death warrant for King Charles I. After hiding out in the caves of New Haven (West Rock), they ultimately found lodging for

three years in the cellar of Micah Tompkins’s Milford home.

Facing the river, you’ll find this marker: Near This Site Stood The Home of Jonathan Law Governor And Deputy Governor Of Connecticut 1714-1750. Jonathan Law High School in Milford was named in his honor.

Turn around and walk five minutes to the Parson’s Center to see this hashtag-worthy marker encased in stone: Washington was entertained here at ‘Ye Old Clark Tavern November 1789. We cannot tell a lie! Washington (reportedly) breakfasted at the very same Clark Tavern where Vice President Burr was detained some 30 years later.

Milford Memorial Bridge and Tower

Broad Street

It’s all downhill from here, but in the very best way. We quickly arrive at a stone bridge built in 1889 to commemorate Milford’s 250th anniversary. “It is built of granite blocks, 44 of which contain the names of the original founders,” wrote Damicis. The text of Peter Prudden’s first sermon preached in the New Haven Colony is engraved in the largest stone. Carved into the tower’s keystone is a representation of Paugasset Sachem Ansantawae—his bow and arrow mark confirming the land purchase.

Rutheva Brockett describes this spot as, “A landmark and symbol of Milford’s historic past. The exact burial places of these early settlers have been forgotten, but their descendants found a permanent way to memorialize them.”

The Milford Green

The second longest green in New England, it was added to the State Register of Historic Places in 2018. Comprising 3.5 landscaped acres in the center of town, the Green was used as a cow pasture during colonial times, and a militia training ground during the American Revolution.

Above: The Civil War monument as seen in silhouette; Below: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, built from brownstone quarried in Portland, CT.

ROBERT CREIGH

MARY HEGARTY NESCHKE

Several war memorials are found here. Entering the Green from the south (Broad Street) is a sign erected by the MHS Bicentennial Committee that briefly summarizes the history of Milford

Four monuments are dedicated to U.S. Veterans. The oldest is a stone Civil War Monument of a Union solider (1880). Other monuments include a Vietnam and Korean War memorial (1986) featuring two bronze service men facing in the opposite direction on top of a granite base; a flagpole memorial (1954) honoring those who died in WWII (Vietnam

and Korean War names were subsequently added), and a newer WWII memorial displaying bronze figures representing the men and women who served in all the five branches of the military. Further east is a granite memorial bell commemorating Milford Firefighters and an octagonal bandstand used for town celebrations.

Above: The Memorial Bridge and Tower was built in 1889 to celebrate Milford’s 250th anniversary. Left: The Korea-Vietnam Memorial on the Green. Below: the Gazebo/Bandstand on the Green.

(LEFT) ROBERTCREIGH (RIGHT) MARYALICE MANNING

Several historic homes line The Green on the Broad Street side:

Taylor Memorial Library

5 Broad Street

Gifted to the town by local philanthropist Henry Taylor in 1895 as a memorial to his mother, the imposing fieldstone, red sandstone, and yellow brick “Richardsonian Romanesque” building features a conical turreted roof, massive arches, detailed masonry, and jalousie windows. For many years, it housed the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Charles Hobby Pond House

69 Broad Street

Pond, who served Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor (1850-1853) and Governor (1853-1854) was born in Milford in 1781. His pre-Civil War period Greek Revival house, built in 1845, became the Cody-White Funeral Home in 1956.

Simon Lake House/ Smith Funeral Home

135 Broad Street

From 1935-2020, this was known as The Smith Funeral Home. It was built in 1853 by Daniel Buckingham Jr. for Judge John Fowler, who later remodeled it to resemble an Italianate villa. Simon Lake, the father of the modern submarine, purchased it in 1900, adding a laboratory behind the main residence.

Milford Historical Society

34 High Street

The Wharf Lane Complex is the next stop on our tour. The non-profit MSH maintains three historic houses here, on a street that once ran from the town dock to the Green. All three homes are filled with 18th century locally sourced furniture, collectibles, and artwork.

The Eells-Stow House (c.1700)

Believed to be the oldest house in Milford, it passed from Col. Samuel Eells to his son Nathaniel who later sold it to Stephen Stow (husband to Freelove Baldwin). During

the Revolutionary War, their son, Captain Stephen Stow, gave his life while nursing 200 smallpox-stricken American soldiers. In 1930, the house was saved from destruction by the Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter of the D.A.R. and has been impeccably maintained since then.

The Clark-Stockade House (c. 1780)

This house was originally built in the vicinity of Milford Hospital in 1659 by Deacon George Clark. It was the first Milford house situated outside the stockade which protected colonists from Native American attacks. Records indicate builder Michael Peck, (with

Above: The Taylor Memorial Library at 5 Broad Street.

Below: The Eells-Stow House is believed to be the oldest complete house in Milford, dating to circa 1700.

The three houses that comprise the Milford Historical Society complex are situated on Wharf Lane, a nod to the nautical area it calls home.

MARYALICE MANNING(3)

his assistant David Camp) dismantled and rebuilt it in 1780 for Nathan Clark, using many of the pieces (supporting beams and framework), that exist today.

The Bryan-Downs House (c. 1785)

Capt. Jehiel Bryan built this six-room saltbox on the Post Road between Milford and New Haven following his wedding to Mary Treat. In 1977, the MHS dismantled and reconstructed it at its current site. In the mid-1800’s, owner Ebenezer Downs, Jr., enlarged the exterior footprint, removed the stone chimney, and altered the interior, using some of the original materials. This house also contains a reference library, gift shop, meeting room, and the Claude Coffin Indian Collection.

The MSH historic houses will reopen for guided tours in June. General hours are Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-4:00pm, June-October,

but please check the website for information about special programs and events. http://www. milfordhistoricalsociety.org

The Bryan-Downs House, c. 1785.

MARYALICE MANNING

eye on business

Breakout of the Local Brands

Milford is home to many a splendid thing. Among them are its entrepreneurial residents and the innovative products and services they’ve created that succeed not just within city limits, but regionally, and in some cases, nationally and internationally. Here is a look at six such companies and the people behind them.

The Growing Strength of Strong Sauce

The night that Elissa Brown was at a loss over what to make for the family dinner became the inspiration behind Strong Sauce (https://strongsauce.com). She texted close friend Callie Bundy stating she only had pasta to serve. Bundy, a fitness model who believed in good nutrition, jokingly suggested, “Just throw some protein powder on it!”

The next morning, Bundy realized just how great of an idea she’d hit upon. Instead of adding ground beef or quinoa to pasta sauce for protein, she imagined sauce with the protein already in it, making for a healthier ready-toserve option for busy family cooks.

Sharing her idea with Brown resulted in the duo crossing paths with Chef Stephen Roth who became equally enthused. Guided by Bundy and Brown’s vision for a high-protein, plant-based, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-sugar pasta sauce, Roth formulated sauce recipes until the trio settled on the perfect blend.

“We knew we had the right recipe when kids were asking for seconds,” states Brown. “They didn’t care about how healthy and strong our sauce was, they only cared about how it tasted!”

SedMed Lifts the Bodies—and the Spirits—of Aging Loved Ones

According to company CEO and co-founder Jeremy Bronen, SedMed is a mobility products company dedicated to improving the safety and independence of those who struggle with the activities of daily living (www.sed-med. com). The company’s first product, the Toilet Lift Assist, helps older adults and those with mobility challenges access and dismount from a toilet with minimal effort.

It was Bronen’s friend Timothy Krupski

who conceived the idea of the Toilet Lift Assist after witnessing an older woman with whom he was close friends struggle with the physical aftereffects of a stroke. Bronen and Krupski partnered to form SedMed and co-develop its first product with the help of a third executive team member, Glenn Bayer, and an advisory board of medical and business experts.

SedMed’s Toilet Lift Assist “lifts up to 80 percent of somebody’s weight when getting on and off the toilet,” says Bronen. The device also helps caregivers avoid injury when helping patients.

As the company moves forward, Bronen and his team are developing additional products to help those with limited physical mobility.

Like Swimming in the Skin You’re In

Hayley Segar, founder of body-forming swimwear for women known as onewith (https://onewithswim.com), says she’s been athletic all her life and spent years searching for a swimsuit that would allow her to move freely

The founders of Strong Sauce state they produce the only high-protein, all-natural, plant-based pasta sauce on the market.

Jeremy Bronen models the SedMed Toilet Lift Assist, an idea conceived by his business partner Tim Krupski.

PHOTO COURTESY JEREMY BRONEN

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELISSA BROWN

without binding or pinching while at the beach or the pool. Unable to find such a suit, Segar decided to develop her own line of products and after more than two years of development launched onewith in 2021.

During the product development phase, “I prototyped and conceptualized everything myself,” states Segar. “When it came time to put my design into a language that factories could understand, I hired a technical designer.”

With patents-pending on the unique use of existing fabrics, Segar has created what she describes as “dig-free elastic-free and edgeless body-forming swimwear that fits like no-show underwear.”

Segar’s onewith swimwear has been featured in over half-a-dozen media outlets and her sales have been a splashing success since hitting the market. Her product line has gone viral on the social media platform TikTok several times, and her products are now selling internationally.

Handcrafted Ice Creams at Walnut Beach Creamery

Each summer for the past 17 years, beachgoers in the Walnut Beach neighborhood of Milford line up for the gourmet ice cream founder Susan Patrick and her staff serve on hot summer days (www.walnutbeachcreamery.com).

When Patrick first moved to Milford

Hayley Segar developed her swimsuit line to fit the body as comfortably as underwear.

Walnut Beach Creamery serves up nearly 30 flavors of handmade gourmet ice cream and toppings.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAYLEY SEGAR

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN PATRICK

nearly 25 years ago, she found the area around Walnut Beach “to be pretty run down at the time,” she says. “At the turn of the century up until about the 1960s, Walnut Beach was a great beach town with a lot of shops and an amusement park.”

Each time Patrick drove by the small building located at 17 Broadway—which first served as a post office and then a tooling shop—she thought of doing something with the building. On the day she spotted a ‘For Sale’ sign out front, she returned to memories of the pizzerias her father ran in New York during her childhood. She bought the building. Someone suggested it would be a great place for an ice cream shop since it was situated just a block from the beach.

At first, Patrick looked for ready-made ice cream to resell, but due to her careful approach to all projects she undertakes, making her own became the logical choice. Now, Walnut Beach Creamery is a Milford institution known for its small batch gourmet flavors.

“I can’t believe it’s been 17 years,” states Patrick, and she thanks all her customers through the years.

Adoring Kathy’s Famous Cookies

If the old saying “that’s the way the cookie crumbles” has any application to Kathy Klein, it’s an explanation of how she turned a negative moment into unbridled success, selling delicious cookies and other baked goods to retail locations around Connecticut and beyond

(www.kathysfamouscookies.com).

Klein started her cookie company in 2000 when the stark reality of corporate downsizing forced her to rethink her life and career. On the day she was handed a pink slip at the

Klein sells her cookies through wholesalers, a retail store, and now through online orders with delivery.

advertising agency she’d worked at since college, Kathy says, “I said to myself I would get my bakery license since I had a great love for baking.”

That was May 1999, and Klein had a 3-month-old and a 2-year-old at home. “During nap times I called and researched information for selling cookies wholesale,” recalls Klein. After procuring a commercial kitchen, getting her bakery license, and having a label produced, Klein was on her way.

Today, Kathy’s Famous Cookies is a wholesaler to grocers and coffee shops around Connecticut and beyond, and there is also a retail shop located at 1365 New Haven Avenue in Woodmont.

“If the OPEN sign is up, we are here!” states Klein.

Legrify candles and products are also used as corporate gifts and for community fundraising events.

Illuminating with Legrify Candles

Over the past three years, Milford native Juliana Shabarekh and Stratford’s Joe Carrano have combined their creative and business talents to do their part lighting up the dark of night through their all-natural candles. The idea for Legrify Candles (www.legrify.com) came about after the couple left corporate America to pursue their own joys and passions.

From their studio, the couple—along with occasional help from friends and family—

produce all-natural, U.S.-farmed pure soy wax candles containing essential oils which, according to Shabarekh are scented with toxin-free fragrance oils and use cotton wicks “so the candles burn slow and clean,” she notes.

“We also produce lip balm and hand creams,” says Shabarekh, and they sell their products, mainly wholesale, to nearly 60 stores throughout Connecticut.

“We love working business-to-business,” notes Carrano, harking back to their corporate days. They have a goal of supplying to over 100 retail stores by the end of 2023, and expanding their handmade offerings well beyond Connecticut.

—Jason J. Marchi

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOE CARRANO

Summer Camps

Summertime for most children and teens today does not include lazy days on a sofa or a Milford beach with phone in hand. Instead, they get to explore their talents and interests in imaginative and creative ways by attending summer camps focused on whatever makes them happiest.

“Parents like the interaction with other kids, the full-day timeframe, and the activities that keep their children moving throughout the day,” says Mike Dooling, recreation supervisor for the City of Milford and coordinator of their Summer Playground programs. “They are not stuck inside all day,” he adds.

Tim Chaucer, director of the Milford Marine Institute, agrees. “So many kids are involved in their phones and electronics, but our summer camps are all hands on.

We’re on the beach with mollusks in our hands.”

Being inside is not necessarily a bad thing, though, if your child loves to sing, dance, or act. “The goal is fun, and kids are the focus,” says Bert Bernardi, co-producer for Pantochino Productions, which runs a theater camp for the Milford Arts Council.

Camps are available for children of all ages, abilities, and challenges. So which Milford summer camp best fits your child’s interests, talents, and imagination?

ARCHAEOLOGY AND NATIVE CULTURE CAMP

Milford Marine Institute and Milford Recreation Department

WHAT DOES IT OFFER? For 40 years, this camp has provided kids aged 6-14 an opportunity to participate in several days of archaeological digs at sites rich in artifacts from the area’s Paugussett peoples. It takes place at the Gulf Pond Museum, 138 Shadyside Lane.

WHEN: Two 1-week half day sessions (9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

July 10-14 and July 17-21.

COST: $175 per session, per child

INFORMATION: MilfordMarineInstitute.org, (203) 988-0918, or director Tim Chaucer at (203) 874-4000, tchaucer@msn.com

REGISTRATION: https://milfordct. myrec.com/info/

BIRD IDENTIFICATION CAMP

Milford Marine Institute and Milford Recreation Department

WHAT DOES IT OFFER? Milford is one of the premier towns in Connecticut for bird watching because of its coastal and riverside habitats. For 40 years, this camp has offered kids aged 6-14 an opportunity to observe and learn about bird life in each habitat. It takes place at the Gulf Pond Museum, 138 Shadyside Lane.

WHEN: A single 1-week half day session (9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

July 3-7.

COST: $175 per session, per child

INFORMATION: MilfordMarineInstitute.org, (203) 988-0918, or director Tim Chaucer at (203) 874-4000, tchaucer@msn.com

REGISTRATION: https://milfordct. myrec.com/info/

Keeping cool and having fun is what summer camp is all about.

Archaeology and Native Culture Camp, Bird Identification Camp, and Marine Biology Science and Art Camp are offered at the Milford Marine Institute.

COURTESY OF MILFORD RECREATION DEPARTMENT

TIMOTHY CHAUCER

CAMP HAPPINESS

Milford Recreation Department

WHAT DOES IT OFFER? Camp Happiness has been providing Milford residents with special needs summer camp activities for 58 years. Participants range in age

from those entering kindergarten in the fall through 6th grade. Located at Foran High School, the camp is open to children who have an individual education plan (IEP) through the city of Milford.

WHEN: Six 1-week full-day sessions

run from June 27 through August 3

COST: $125 per session, per child

INFORMATION: Marlene Sanchez, director, at (203) 783-3280, ext. 8, or masanchez@milforded.org

REGISTRATION: https://milfordct. myrec.com/info/

Camp Happiness has been providing summer camp activites for 58 years.

MARINE BIOLOGY SCIENCE AND ART CAMP

Milford Marine Institute and Milford Recreation Department

WHAT DOES IT OFFER? For 40 years, this camp has offered kids 6-14 “hands-on science” where they hold actual items like whale baleen or mollusks from Long Island Sound. It takes place at the Tri-Beach Center, 170 Hillside Avenue and on Milford beaches.

WHEN: Two 1-week half day sessions (9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

Campers can have summer fun indoors or outdoors. Keeping busy, educated, and active is a great way to spend the summer months.

June 19-23 and June 26-30.

COST: $175 per session, per child

INFORMATION: MilfordMarineInstitute.org, (203) 988-0918, or

Tim Chaucer, director, at (203) 874-4000, tchaucer@msn.com

REGISTRATION: https://milfordct. myrec.com/info

MILFORD PLAYGROUND PROGRAM

Milford Recreation Department WHAT DOES IT OFFER? Sessions feature sports and craft activities, theme days like “Olympic Day” or “Halloween Day,” special

visitors like magicians or Milford First Responders, and more. The program takes place at four different locations in the city.

The Milford Fire Department visits local camps to teach kids about fire safety.

WHEN: Six 1-week, full-day sessions from June 26 through August 4.

COST: $150 per week, per child

INFORMATION: https://milfordct. myrec.com/info

REGISTRATION: https://milfordct. myrec.com/info

SUMMER THEATER CAMP Milford Arts Council through Pantochino Productions

WHAT DOES IT OFFER? Pantochino’s award-winning Summer Theatre Camp is presented by professional theatre artists working in

the industry—actors, directors, composers, dancers, designers— who share their experiences with young people. Kids aged 8-12 learn, rehearse, and perform an original musical in five days.

WHEN: Four 1-week sessions July 10 through August 4

COST: $230-$295 per session, per child

INFORMATION: http://www. pantochino.com/theatre-camps

REGISTRATION: This camp is already sold out but there is a waiting list. https://milfordarts. org/summer-camp-reservations

Theater camp is an excellent way for kids to channel their enthusiasm in the performance arts.

COURTESY OF PANTOCHINO PRODUCTIONS

family time

Day Camp, kids are in a welcoming environment where they can belong, build relationships and lasting friendships, develop character, and discover their potential. Camp takes place at 631 Orange Avenue.

WHEN: Ten 1-week full-day sessions from June 19 through August 25; before and after care available.

COST: $142-$360 per session, per child, depending on age, activities, and membership status.

WOODRUFF FAMILY YMCA, CAMP WEPAWAUG

Central Connecticut Coast YMCA

WHAT DOES IT OFFER? The Woodruff Y provides exciting and educational camp programming

for children and teens and their parents at their traditional day camp, Camp Wepawaug. At YMCA

INFORMATION: Susie Marklinsky, camp director, (203) 878-6501; www.cccymca.org

REGISTRATION: https://cccymca. org/locations/woodruff/camp/

Classic outdoor summer activities for adolescents and teens can be found at Camp Wepawaug through the Woodruff Family YMCA.

“If your car doesn’t say Napoli on it, you paid too much.”

Lenny Napoli

The Lamp that Heals

Throughout the ages, healers have been called to care for the sick. These selfless caregivers worked with varied skills passed onto them by others who had studied nature, illness, and the human body. Florence Nightingale took it upon herself to train nurses during the Crimean War. Her knowledge raised nursing standards, improved hygiene, and reduced death rates significantly. She was revered and referred to as “The Lady with the Lamp” by Victorians. The lamp she carried became a symbol of her healing, tending to those in need of care. Nightingale worked to create the first professional nursing program in 1860 at St. Thomas Hospital in London. As the founder of modern nursing, the Nightingale pledge is an oath spoken by all nurses.

In 2003, The Nurses Honor Guard was formed in Kansas to offer tributes to nurses who have passed away. Julia Godby Murray learned of the Honor Guard at a conference. “New chapters have been founded, and social media has helped us increase our members.” Murray is now coordinator of the National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition. “Nurses are natural healers. We offer another opportunity to do what they love to do and that is to heal.”

In spring 2021, Shaina Hamel, Athena Mains, and Maria Cusano-Sanzo met and formed a Nurses Honor Guard chapter here in Connecticut. By September, they had performed their first tribute. Tributes have been performed all over the state with volunteers of both retired and currently practicing nurses.

“The Nurses Honor Guard pays tribute to nurses at the time of their death by performing the Nightingale Tribute at the funeral or memorial service. This service is similar to a military tribute and officially releases the nurse from their nursing duties,” explains founding member Maria Cusano-

Sanzo. The Nurses Honor Guard dresses in the traditional white uniform complete with cap and cape. The ceremony is brief and consists of the Honor Guard reciting the Nightingale Tribute and laying a white rose on the casket or next to the urn, symbolizing the nurse’s dedication to the profession. After the Nightingale Tribute is recited, the nurse’s name is called three times and a triangle is rung after each call of the name. After the role, the nurse is officially released from their nursing duties. A lit Nightingale lamp is carried up at the beginning of the ceremony and is then extinguished and presented to the family with personal condolences made.

Milford resident Lynn Veccharelli, a registered

The Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard attends funerals of nurses to honor their service with the Nightingale Tribute.

SUSAN CARROLL DWYER

nurse at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, joined the Honor Guard last year. “I learned about the Nurse Honor Guard by word of mouth from other nurses,” says Veccharelli, who tries to attend as many ceremonies as she can. “It is my honor to recognize our colleagues who have passed,” she continues. “Often times, family, friends, or colleagues seek us out after our tribute to thank us and express how moved they were. Frequently tears are shared along with a comforting hug.”

Cody-White Funeral Home has had the Honor Guard at ceremonies, and informs families of nurses who have passed about the tributes. “The families love it; tributes provide recognition for nurses who served with dedication and selfless service,” says

Amanda Veccharelli, a managing director at Cody-White. “Nurses are away from their families at all hours. These ceremonies are

appreciated by the families like nothing we’ve ever seen before.”

Cusano-Sanzo particularly recalls one special encounter. “We were sitting in the last pew of a church where we regularly meet. A woman walked in with a walker, saw us, stopped, and asked who we were. It turns out she was a retired nurse. When we explained what we do, she said, ‘Well, you take caring to the next level.’ Chris Herrity, a fellow Honor Guard, was sitting beside me. She leaned in and whispered in my ear, ‘That can be our tag line.’”

All of the members are volunteers and 100 percent of donations go to purchase lamps, roses, cards, etc., for tributes. For more information visit them at ctnurseshonorguard.org.

—Susan Carroll Dwyer

Milford Resident Lynn Veccharelli attends as many tributes as she can.

SUSAN CARROLL DWYER

Here Comes the Bridal Gown Exhibit

You are cordially invited to a celebration of weddings this summer when the Milford Historical Society opens the weekend of June 3-4 with a display of “Wedding Gowns Through the Centuries.” Some dresses date back to the late-1800s with more modern ones worn in the 20th century. The first thing you’ll notice at the exhibit is that gowns were designed in many different colors. It was quite acceptable for early brides to wear blue, brown, pink, red, or even black. White was usually reserved for mourning. Many of the colorful gowns were not worn just for a few hours on one special day but became each bride’s best dress that was worn on a number of formal occasions.

Then one wedding changed everything. When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, the Queen was resplendent in a pure white silk-satin gown with lace. She chose white to set off the intricate lace on her dress and thereby support the lacemakers of England.

The Milford Historical Society’s exhibit: “Wedding Gowns Through the Centuries” will run from June 3rd through October 1st.”

Queen Victoria was not the first royal bride to wear white, but once she did, every woman wanted a white gown and that set the fashion that continues for most brides to this day.

One of the dresses on display at the Milford Historical Soceity was worn in April 1963 by Joan Barbara Casey for her marriage to Charles Duncan of High Street. The gown has an ivory

MARYALICE MANNING

re-embroidered lace bodice, scalloped neckline, and long sleeves with five fabriccovered small buttons. The back closure has 28 matching buttons. The scalloped edge lace overskirt is worn over two white taffeta tiers.

Another dress is believed to have been worn by Nathalia Clark, who married Harold Greely in 1904. The bodice of this dress has a high choker collar and appliques of lace. It has full sleeves with tight cuffs and tatted lace trim. It has a

pleated cummerbund over a long A-line skirt. The back closure has pearl buttons. The Milford Historical Society is located at 34 High Street. Weekend hours for viewing are 1:00-4:00 pm, and neighborhood on-street parking is suggested. The exhibit at the BryanDowns House is fully accessible to the handicapped by way of a ramp leading to a side entrance. Admission is free, but freewill donations are gratefully accepted. Oct. 1 is the last day for the exhibit. For more information, visit milfordhistoricalsociety.org or telephone (203) 874-2664.

MARYALICE MANNING

milford’s attic

Fans of “Downton Abby” will certainly remember seeing Lady Mary Crawley sitting at her dressing table as Anna, her lady’s maid, combs her hair and gets her ready for an evening event. With some imagination, you can also picture Cleopatra at her dressing table having her hair done and makeup applied. Dressing tables have a very long history.

A dressing table was typically of horizontal design with drawers on the sides and a few smaller drawers on top. They were often placed by a window to get the best lighting. Not all had attached mirrors.

Dressing tables have been used by the well-to-do in this country as early as the 17th century all the way up through the Victorian times and the Art Deco years (1919 – 1939). During World War II, dressing tables fell out of fashion, but became popular again in the 1960s and remain so today.

The dresser in this photo is a 19th century American Federal Classic piece with burled walnut styling. It was donated to the Milford Historical Society by the Platt family.

Have a seat at this table. You will find a brush and comb adorned with sterling silver, along with your perfume and pearls. If you are wearing a hat, you will need to secure it with a hat pin from the container at the top right. And don’t forget to take your white feathered fan and your all-important evening gloves!

—Marilyn May

Photographer: Maryalice Manning

Tag! You’re it!

iven the prominent “MISSENT” stamp, it’s unclear if Mr. Wright ever received the postcard from his Auntie thanking him for the chestnuts and sharing her excitement about her new hot water heater. What we do know, is that two short months prior to mailing, on August 7, 1910, New Haven silversmith Gen. George Hare Ford unveiled a new feature on the Milford Green. Dedicated to his puritan forebearer Thomas Hare Ford, who helped settle the town in 1639, the “Ford Fountain” was constructed of field stones taken from the Ford farm and boasted a “Paul Revere” lantern in the center. Clearly the new addition became an object of fascination for the local kids, who could hardly resist splashing each other and no doubt used it as home base for a regular game of tag.

Ann McGuire

Congratulations to the Milford Police Department on their newest recruit, K-9 Officer Winston, who will serve as the department’s first emotional support dog. Winston was raised and trained by incarcerated individuals through the Puppies Behind Bars Program.

PFC James Cox will be his partner and the duo will supplement efforts to engage the community by offering empathy and emotional support during times of crisis. Winston will also provide emotional support and overall officer wellness to the staff at the Milford Police Department. Follow him @k9winston_mpd.