Community Corner

Creating Citizen Cops; Hope in the Face of Tragedy; Two Visions for Contaminated Property; Colorful Kites Take Flight

"The Towns Around Us" takes a look at what's making headlines in neighboring communities.

MILFORD – Kilmer the K-9 cop sniffed drugs out of a purse during the final class of the Milford Citizen Police Academy this week. The drugs were planted there by a police officer.

This was but one exercise the citizens participated in during the three-month long course that is designed to education residents on police work so they have a great appreciation for public safety officers, and so the citizens can then go back to their neighborhoods and contribute to a safer community with their newfound level of informed vigilance.

Click here to read more about the program and to watch a video of Kilmer doing his thing. 

Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

NORTH BRANFORD – Sometimes it’s through tragedy that a community’s true colors shine through. That was the case this week as more than 400 people representing a complete cross-section of the town came together and raised more than $6,000 for Troy Andrzejewski, who was involved in a serious car accident on April 3.

“Ball Out For Troy” was a March Madness-style basketball tournament in which 15 teams competed. The event also featured raffles with prizes donated by local businesses. Funds raised will help pay for Troy’s medical bills.

Find out what's happening in East Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Check out the story, complete with photos and videos, for more on this heart-warming story. 

STRATFORD – A private consultant’s newly created conceptual plans for the contaminated Raymark ballfield present two distinct options. One would convert the site into a predominantly recreational space to be enjoyed by the community and the other would create more of a commercial parcel that could have a positive return from a tax perspective.

Ultimately, the decision of what to do with the contaminated property will be up to residents and their elected officials. In the meantime, both parties now have “promising” conceptual plans to consider.

Read more about the plans by clicking here

CHESHIRE – Flying a kite. It’s a timeless activity enjoyed by folks young and old and that signals the start of spring and summer. And there’s just something entrancing about watching the colorful kites floating freely in the wind. Find out for yourself by watching this video


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