This park offers scenic views of the Connecticut River, funky public sculptures, picnic tables, benches and lots of grass. This is a good place for quiet contemplation (there's also fishing off the boardwalk). Just downriver are boathouses for the Wesleyan University and Middletown High School crew teams, whose slender sculls can be seen slicing the water in season. It's not all serenity, though; Harbor Park is also the scene of the annual July Fourth festivities and other events.
Started in 1983, Madison Youth and Family Services delivers a wide range of services to the town's youths and their families. The goal of the agency is to "foster the healthy development of the children of Madison and their families through progressive programs that offer prevention, community coordination and treatment services." Youth programs offered by the organization include Peer Advocates, Peer Helpers, the AIDS Awareness Project, Safe Rides, Perspectives, Girls Group and School-Based Mentoring. Parenting education classes and school-based programs are offered as well.
The goal of the Madison Police Department is to work in partnership with the community to provide "high quality, professional and effective police service with courtesy, integrity and respect." In addition to patrolling the streets and solving crimes, the Madison Police Department conducts public fingerprinting sessions and engages in crime prevention strategies such as motor vehicles stops, fighting hate crimes, and distributing free gun locks to local residents as part of a firearm safety program called Project HomeSafe.
The Madison Animal Control Department is part of the Police Department.
Chief John "Jack" Drumm is the head of the department. The mission of the Police Department is to "consistently seek and find ways to affirmatively promote, preserve and deliver a feeling of security, safety and quality services to members of our community." For information or questions about the police department, email [email protected].
This department is responsible for the upkeep of the town's eleven parks and the development of recreational activities for citizens. Activity booklets are available from the office on Main Street South, which details parks and recreation events like the Southbury Summer Series, Memorial Day picnic and Easter Egg hunt. Diane Schaefer is the director of the department.
The Senior Center is peacefully tucked away on Wheeler Street. It has a warm, inviting atmosphere with plenty of rooms and space for all kinds of fun activities. There is also a large lot with plenty of space for parking. The Senior Center hosts tons of events from bake sales to holiday parties to birthday celebrations, and offers educational courses like beginner's computer classes. You can also register for trips at the Senior Center; upcoming trips include a Mohegan Sun Casino overnight stay and a Caribbean Cruise.
The town clerk keeps records for Southbury. The office issues and records documents such as marriage licenses, dog licenses, board agendas and minutes, land records and birth and death certificates.
Virginia Salisbury is the Town Clerk. The office is located on the second floor of the Town Hall.
Located less than a block away from the Meriden Waterbury Turnpike in the Milldale section of Southington, the Milldale Post Office provides various mail and package delivery options for local residents as well as supplying P.O. boxes upon request. The post office also handles government functions including allowing area residents to pick-up tax forms and apply for a passport.
The Shelton Animal Shelter's mission is to help abused, abandoned and neglected dogs find permanent, loving homes. Animal Control Officer Sheryl Taylor has been serving the community and saving animals for nearly 20 years. The shelter is able to continue these heroic efforts largely through public donations, whether monetary or food, washing and toy supplies. Adoption applications and small fees do apply, which go to the city and the state spay/neuter program. The dogs are wonderful, adorable friends just looking for a family! Stop by to meet some of them and you'll fall in love instantly!
The town clerk's office is the custodian of records for all land transactions and maps in Middletown — some dating back to the 1700s. Services also include justice of the peace, notary public and state licensing of trade names and liquor stores. The town clerk's office also has election duties, including the preparation and issuance of absentee ballots. It's the public repository for meeting notices, agendas and the minutes of meetings for various municipal boards, commissions and the common council.
City of Middletown Health Department conducts several ongoing programs. Community health education, immunization clinics, and health inspection of local apartment buildings such as apartments, restaurants and child-care centers. It also offers health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Also, it handles records including birth, death, marriage and divorce certificate.
This no-kill shelter has been bursting at the seams since the economy turned sour in 2008, according to animal control officer Lisa Seyler, with 2010 being the busiest year so far. Since the 1960s, the shelter has taken in mostly dogs and cats, although it also houses other household pets. Adoption fees are $5 for spayed and neutered cats and dogs and $50 for others, including a state voucher for the operation. Animals are only euthanized in the case of their being a danger to the public. The shelter is always in need of food donations and receives contributions from members of the community and local schools and organizations. Volunteers can sign up to walk dogs. Animals are listed on petfinder.com as well as on the community board at the Petco in town.
Pine Rock Park Volunteer Fire Co. No. 4 is an all-volunteer organization that has been preserving life and property in Shelton for nearly 80 years. Founded in 1933 by a group of Pine Rock Park residents, this fire company is committed to providing the "highest level of life safety and property conservation." Through fire education and fire-prevention programs, the volunteers here at "The Rock" are dedicated to keeping Shelton residents safe. The company is headquartered in a spacious green wooden facility with a three-bay garage, along a scenic yet remote stretch of Long Hill Avenue.
The Assessor's office is tasked with discovering and assigning value to all taxable real estate, motor vehicles and businesses in town as of October 1st. After compiling a database, their Board of Assessment Appeals conducts hearings and adjusts values accordingly.
Michael Moriarty is the Assessor of Southbury. The office can be found on the second floor of Town Hall. Their Web site features information on the current mill rate and property values.
The town's Office of Emergency Management manages the town's response to emergencies of natural or human origin that have the potential to affect public health, life and property. The office is run by John Bowers, the town's director of public health. If there is a bio-terrorist event, pandemic or other large-scale public health emergency, the town would coordinate a response with surrounding towns that make up the Region 21 health district, which includes Madison, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, and North Branford. These towns are served by the East Shore Health Department District, the Guilford Health Department and the Madison Health Department. The Region 21 public health response team accepts volunteers. To find out more, visit the town's website or submit an application.
Middletown Area Transit, or MAT, is a public bus system serving nearly all of Middletown. It also links with bus lines to Meriden, New Britain, Durham, Portland and East Hampton. Tickets are sold as a single trip, by the day, or by blocks of 10, 20 or 31 days. Children up to age 6 ride free; people who are handicapped or 65 years and older ride for half-price. Routes, schedules and other helpful information can be obtained from MAT's website or by calling the customer service office. The Middletown Transit District, which oversees MAT, is funded in part by the Federal Transit Administration, the state Department of Transportation and the City of Middletown.
