The North Haven
Cit itiz ize en Your Town, Your News
Volume 6, Number 42
Project representatives discuss firehouse renovation By Kyle Swartz The North Haven Citizen Local firefighters are requesting that voters approve a $9.2 million bonding package for major renovations to North Haven’s one professional and three volunteer firehouses. The suggested bonding will be one part of the $14 million total for various proposed capital projects on the next town referendum ballot, whose date has not been set. According to Fire Chief Vincent Landisio, North Haven’s four firehouses have become dangerously outdated and dilapidat-
ed. Recently, the Citizen sat down with Landisio, town firefighter Lt. Paul Januszewski and Jim Buck, town resident and secretary of the building committee which reviewed the firehouses. Q: When did planning for these proposed renovations begin? Landisio: About four years ago we put together a long-term capital plan for the fire department. We’ve been talking with the Board of Finance and the Fire Commissioners Board. Late last year, we finally got the go-ahead for the building committee to
Friday, October 21, 2011
Another game, another victory for NHHS football By Kevin Pataky Citizen Contributor North Haven High School varsity football improved its 2011 record to 5-0 with a dominating 47-6 victory over East Haven at home on Oct. 14. Six different players scored during the romp. In the first quarter, the In-
dian offense racked up 28 points on four touchdowns to put this game out of reach early. Senior quarterback Joe Schwab ran in North Haven’s first touchdown from 10 yards out, and then junior Jalon White returned an interception 50 yards for a
See Football, page 19
See Fire, page 8
It’s always the graveyard shift when you work at the Fear Factory By Russell Blair Guest to the Citizen
Courtney Billings has always loved Halloween, but
she never thought she’d be opening her own haunted house. “The idea was born on my deck in mid-July, and we did-
Sarah Nathan / Record-Journal
Makeup artist Jenna Keller applies a lurid clown smile to Britny Gildersleeve before Fear Factory showtime. Britny plays a jack-in-the-box in the clown-themed room.
Election opinions See page 12 for the latest political support letters in the Citizen’s opinion section.
n’t start construction until August,” said Billings, who opened Fear Factory, at 375 Washington Ave. in North Haven, late in September. Billings, of Northford, and her partner, Vincent Valentino, of North Haven, took advantage of a vacant office building with an attached warehouse and transformed it into a spook-filled, indoor haunt. “Vincent’s a contractor, and I’m an entertainer and producer; it was the perfect match,” she said. “He builds it, and I make it come alive.” About 55 volunteers fill the space on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Billings said the money raised by the attraction will go to the American Cancer Society. “We want the money to stay local, to keep it in Connecticut,” she said. Bobby Arel, 19, of Wallingford, is one of the volunteers
Citizen photos by Kevin Pataky / Kevin Pataky.com
Top: sophomore Mike Halloran tries to make it around the corner. Bottom: seniors Spencer Oakes (with ball) and Dan Maldonado celebrate in air after Oakes See Fear, page 9 caught an 11-yard pass for a touchdown.