Madison News Roundup

John Charles Drumm, formerly the Groton/Long Point chief of police and an executive officer in the Hartford and Westbrook Connecticut state police barracks, was sworn in Monday as the Madison chief of police. Drumm, 54, will officially begin his 5-year contract with the town on Jan. 1. His first-year salary is set at $101,147. Drumm assumes command of a department that has been in turmoil in recent years, with numerous firings, internal investigations, and lawsuits. Read Marianne Sullivan’s account in The Source and Amanda Pinto’s story in the Register.

FRIDAY:

• 12-7:30 p.m., Madison Wine Shop – 734 Boston Post Road Madison, CT — Free Wine Tasting. Free! Informative and fun wine tasting every weekend Fridays and Saturdays 12:00pm-7:30pm. Visit their website www.rickspicks.com to sign up for our emails informing you on what wines will be tasted …
• 7-8 p.m., Christ Chapel Church, 1185 Durham Road, Madison — Yo Christmas Tree. Yo Christmas Tree, A Zany Christmas Musical perfect for the entire family. Dessert Theatre style. All proceeds will benefit the Taryn House used for emergency temporary housing in conjuction with Madison Social Services. Reserved seating only, tickets $7.00. NO TICKETS ~ will be sold at the door. Mark your calendar for December 17th, 18th and 19th at 7pm for this one hour performance. Location 1185 Durham Road, Madison at Christ Chapel Church. To purchase tickets, call the church office at 203-421-4667.

SATURDAY:

• 10 a.m., Scranton Memorial Library – Grandparent Tea. Bring your favorite Grandparents to a special Holiday Tea. Gayle Byrne, Children’s Librarian Killingworth Public Library will read her new book:”Sometimes It’s Grandma’s and Grandpas: Not Mommies and Daddies.”Refreshments, craft and book signing included.
• 4-5:30 p.m., Savvy Tea Gourmet – 28 Durham Road Madison, CT – Tea Tasting. www.savvyteagourmet.com – Come learn and explore the world of leaf specialty teas. Compare and taste 10-12 teas either by tea type – Whites, Greens, Oolongs, Blacks, Pu’er’s or Herbals and Uncaffeinated OR by Country.
• 7 p.m., Daniel Hand High School Dining And Assembly Hall – DHHS Homecoming Dance.
• 7-8 p.m., Christ Chapel Church, 1185 Durham Road, Madison — Yo Christmas Tree. Yo Christmas Tree, A Zany Christmas Musical perfect for the entire family. Dessert Theatre style. All proceeds will benefit the Taryn House used for emergency temporary housing in conjuction with Madison Social Services. Reserved seating only, tickets $7.00. NO TICKETS ~ will be sold at the door. Mark your calendar for December 17th, 18th and 19th at 7pm for this one hour performance. Location 1185 Durham Road, Madison at Christ Chapel Church. To purchase tickets, call the church office at 203-421-4667.

SUNDAY:

• 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Savvy Tea Gourmet – 28 Durham Road Madison, CT — Brunch. www.savvyteagourmet.com – Enjoy a fine brunch at Savvy Tea Gourmet. Made with fresh and often organic ingredients, enjoy a weekly changing menu of made-to-order omelettes, stratas, frittatas, French Toast, Monte Cristo …
• 7 p.m., First Congregational Church of Madison 26 Meeting House Lane, Madison, CT — Handel’s Messiah. Chronicling the life and death of Jesus Christ, Messiah is noted for its magnificent power, and brings audiences to their feet with its climactic Hallelujah chorus. Join the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Music Director William Boughton, and special guests, The Cathedral Choir of St. Joseph, in a performance of the Christmas portion of Handel’s epic masterpiece. For more information or to purchase tickets for this event, contact the NHSO box office at (203) 865-0831 or visit www.newhavensymphony.org.

Essex Savings Bank opened a new Madison, CT branch Monday at 99 Durham Road. In addition to the retail bank branch, the building also houses Essex Financial Services. The new building offers retail banking on the first floor and will house the bank’s growing investment and trust operations on the second floor. Essex Savings Bank is an FDIC-insured, state-chartered, mutual savings bank.

After changes planned for the proposed Madison Senior Center were denied by the Madison Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) earlier this month, the committee overseeing the project will come back to the ZBA with requests for cosmetic changes to the proposed center, consisting mainly of alterations to the roof that would make the building look less bulky. Denial of the requests at the ZBA’s January 5 meeting could raise serious concerns about $5.5 million project, in which the ambulance garage and senior center would swap premises and undergo new construction. Read Amanda Pinto’s account in the Register.

FRIDAY:

• 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 500 feet east of Hammonasset Beach State Park entrance on Rte. 1, Madison – Friends of Hammonasset Christmas Tree Sale.
• 12-7:30 p.m., Madison Wine Shop – 734 Boston Post Road Madison, CT — Free Wine Tasting.  Free! Informative and fun wine tasting every weekend Fridays and Saturdays 12:00pm-7:30pm. Visit our website www.rickspicks.com to sign up for our emails informing you on what wines will be tasted …

SATURDAY:

• 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 500 feet east of Hammonasset Beach State Park entrance on Rte. 1, Madison – Friends of Hammonasset Christmas Tree Sale.
• 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Hammonasset State Park 1-95, exit 62 1-95, exit 62 Madison, CT — 1st Annual Snowflake 5K Charity Fun Run, Kids’ Jinglebell Jaunt. The 1st Annual Snowflake 5K Charity Fun Run, Kids Jinglebell Jaunt. Charities to be supported will be the CT. Food Bank, Madison Arts Barn, ABC House and The Cove.
• 4-5:30 p.m., Savvy Tea Gourmet, 28 Durham Road Madison, CT — Tea Tasting. http://www.savvyteagourmet.com – Come learn and explore the world of leaf specialty teas. Compare and taste 10-12 teas either by tea type – Whites, Greens, Oolongs, Blacks, Pu’er’s or Herbals and Uncaffeinated OR by Country …
• 6 p.m., First Congregational Church Of Madison – 26 Meetinghouse Ln. Madison — Christmas Song & Feast III. Hubley Hall. $5 for children under 12; includes gourmet meal. Benefits mission projects by church youth in the Dominican Republic and New York City.

SUNDAY:

• 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 500 feet east of Hammonasset Beach State Park entrance on Rte. 1, Madison – Friends of Hammonasset Christmas Tree Sale.
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Savvy Tea Gourmet – 28 Durham Road Madison, CT — Brunch. http://www.savvyteagourmet.com – Enjoy a fine brunch at Savvy Tea Gourmet. Made with fresh and often organic ingredients, enjoy a weekly changing menu of made-to-order omelettes, stratas, frittatas, French Toast, Monte Cristo …
• 2 p.m., Scranton Library – 801 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT — Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas. Fancy Nancy is back and trying hard to make this the most sparkly, glittery Christmas ever – can she do it? Join the wonderful Jane O’Connor as she presents Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas. Ages 3-6. This event begins at 2 pm and will be held at the Scranton Library. Tickets for this event are $5.00, which may be used toward the purchase of the book.
• 5-7 p.m., Deacon John Grave House, 581 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT – Members Holiday Open House at the Deacon John Grave House.

An 18-year-old Rhode Island man is suing the Madison, CT police department, claiming the department identified him in its online arrest log when he was 17 — a violation of state law. The defendant, identified only as John Doe, was arrested on assault charges in September 2008 when he was a student at the Grove School. His name appeared in the Arrest Log-Adult section of the Madison police website. In October 2008, Doe’s attorney asked town police to remove the name, but it remained online through September 2009, the suit alleges. The suit may be the first of its kind in Connecticut, according to Doe’s attorney, Diane Polan. Read Amanda Pinto’s story in the Register.

The sun came out to shine on Madison’s Christmas Parade, hayrides, tree lighting, and a personal visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. A special weekend with lots of special events. We have a photo gallery here.

There are three newly scheduled H1N1 flu clinics, for which some Madison residents are eligible:

• December 9, 2009 in East Haven
• December 12, 2009 in Madison
• December 12, 2009 in Branford

Reservations are required and only certain age groups and occupations are eligible. Visit http://www.madisonct.org/Health_Dept/flu/flu2009.htm for reservations and instructions.

There will also be a seasonal flu clinic from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, December 11, 2009, at the Madison Town Campus. Details will be listed on the the Madison website early next week. This is a walk-in clinic with no requirement for advance reservations. It is open to anyone over 18 years old. Please bring your card for Medicare Part B or Managed Medicare if you are over 65 or for Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Connecticare, Healthnet, or Oxford commercial insurance plans for members who are under 65. For those without insurance coverage or without their insurance card, cost is $38 (cash or check – made payable to VNA Services, Inc.).

Keith Kenyon, former director of athletics and head football coach at North Kingston, RI, High School, will be the guest speaker at Madison’s Winter Sports Night, scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8, in the dining and assembly hall of Daniel Hand High School.

All student-athletes are asked to attend, and parents are strongly encouraged to join them.

During Kenyon’s tenure, North Kingstown won more than 92 varsity state championships and 210 division or class championships. The Athletic Department received the “School of the Year Award” from the Rhode Island Interscholastic Administrators Association five times, and Kenyon was named RI Athletic Director of the Year in 1991.

Kenyon now works for the American Athletic Institute, an organization that works towards educating student-athletes about drugs, alcohol, and other temptations they will inevitably encounter at the high school level. His presentation covers a variety of chemical health issues, including drug and alcohol use, along with facts concerning supplements, energy drinks, and the necessity of proper sleep to increase athletic performance. His appearance is sponsored by Madison Alcohol and Drug Education (M.A.D.E.).

Following Kenyon’s presentation, the winter sports coaches will have mandatory meetings with parents to outline the upcoming season. Room assignments will be available at the conclusion of the presentation.

A broadcast email from Madison, CT Director of Health John Bowers warns residents about a “phishing” scam (personal information gathering scheme) relating to the H1N1 flu vaccination program. Bowers said that the town has been informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that some recipients of the H1N1 vaccine may receive a fraudulent email referencing a CDC website. “Please be careful about opening any such email and particularly following any links contained in this email,” Bowers cautions. The full alert from the CDC IT security team follows.

“The CDC/OCISO Cyber Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) has received reports of fraudulent emails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program.

“The messages request that users must create a personal H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov website. The message then states that anyone that has reached the age of 18 has to have his/her personal Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov site.

“The CDC has NOT implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration on www.cdc.gov. Users that click on the email are at risk of having malicious code installed on their system. OCISO reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:

-Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages.
-Use caution when visiting un-trusted websites.
-Use caution when entering personal information online.”