Milford Mayor Blake Touts New Businesses In State Of City Address

MILFORD, CT — Mayor Ben Blake highlighted Milford's new businesses and continued infrastructure upgrades in his State of the City address.

Blake touted Sustainable CT’s recognition of the city's green efforts, including a $6 million microgrid project that will help keep the lights on at government buildings in the case of a large power outage.

The city has made several infrastructure and recreational improvements, including new pickleball courts at Howard Court, upgraded turf fields at the high schools, improvements at Lisman Landing and several refurbished playground projects.

Milford continues to add about 500 new businesses a year, Blake said.

Read the full State of the City address below:

Ladies and Gentlemen, when it comes to capturing the essence of Milford, there’s no landmark more iconic than Charles Island.
For a lot of us, there’s a magical gravitational pull that draws locals out over the rocky tombolo and onto the 14-acre sanctuary.

An enchanted island with a disappearing, reappearing sandbar – it’s straight out of a fairy-tale.

The colorful and irreverent history of Milford’s favorite island has inspired poets, bards, and the playwright from last season’s Pantochino Production of “Checking in on Charles.”
So, with the unsinkable Charles Island as our scenic backdrop for today’s State of the City, here’s a few stories that I was told as a kid about the famous island that’s just a short paddle away.
So, let’s paddle back to 1639, when our Founding Fathers first purchased the area known as the “Wepawaug” from the Paugussets – at that time, the Sachem Chief Ansantawae was willing to part with most of the land we now know as Milford, but he was unwilling to relinquish camping and fishing rights to the island he called “Poquahaug.”

In 1657, the island acquired its most recognized name when Charles Deal bought this shoreline real estate to establish a tobacco plantation.
In 1699, the notorious buccaneer, Captain William Kidd, supposedly buried treasure on the island before sailing to Boston to face piracy charges.

By 1852, the island was a summer hotel and resort bustling with activity until 1868 when a manufacturing plant leased out a portion of the island to produce a foul-smelling fish-oil fertilizer that drove away island visitors.

In 1870, Charles Island hosted prize fights that brought crowds of boxing enthusiasts from New York City into town by steamboat. Once the visiting fight fans arrived, they smashed windows, vandalized homes, and behaved so poorly that Connecticut’s Governor dispatched five militia companies to Milford to reestablish order and arrest those violating the law.
This excitement ultimately led to the creation of Milford’s first paid police force consisting of two salaried law enforcement officers.

In the 1920s and 30’s, Charles Island was home to a Catholic retreat christened the Aquinas Chapel, and relics from the religious shrines can still be found around the island’s interior.
Today, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection maintains the island as a Natural Area Preserve for nesting herons, egrets, and other waterfowl.

While it’s still an important aviary for birders, Charles Island has unfortunately lost much of its lush vegetative splendor which made it so recognizable from navigation points across the Sound.

The once abundant greenery has been attacked by a host of adversaries - Storms Irene and Sandy downed mature trees, a menacing fungus destroyed the roots of island vegetation, an invasive “mile a minute” vine choked out small saplings, and deer and other animals have nibbled away at new plant growth.

Responding to a call to restore the once-prominent tree canopy, a group of local volunteers formed “Charles Island Reforestation LLC” and have been working with DEEP and the City to plant special trees, resistant to the difficult coastal growing conditions.
The reforestation project is characteristic of the positive efforts undertaken by Milford residents who will recognize a challenge, step-up, and work with all their might to make our community better. As we know, where there’s a will, there’s a wave.

This is the first State of the City luncheon since the start of the pandemic – so, long time, no sea.

I missed being shoulder-to-shoulder with everyone and shell-abrating the Small City with a Big Heart. We’ve accomplished a lot these past few years, even as our primary focus was on keeping our community healthy and our families safe.

As the pandemic hit, we reinvented our city government. Our employees and educators performed countless miracles keeping critical functions - functioning, local services - servicing, and our schools – schooling, all through a nonstop whirlwind of changing health protocols. And in the waves of change, we found our true direction.

Across the city, there’s so many stories of citizens seas-ing opportunities to help others. Our volunteers, teachers, and dedicated city crews - our healthcare professionals, small businesses, and parents - all going above and beyond to ensure we were successful.
Ladies and Gentlemen, when you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine – and that’s what kept our Milford team motivated over the past two years and it’s still what inspires us.

And now that we’re all battle-tested, there’s more to accomplish, more to get done - more oceans to cross, more boats to float.

I’m here to tell you that the pandemic strengthened our already thriving community, and the State of our City is fine and sandy.

We’re now finished with covid-cancellations and pandemic-postponements, the wind is now at our back with fun, sun, and a return of community celebrations – not just this Chamber luncheon, but Woodmont Day, Pirate Day, Lobster Bake, the Duck Race, Oyster Festival, parades, concerts, carnivals, summer fireworks and much, much more.

All these good times and tan lines make residents ask why anyone would choose to vacation at a far-away island - it seems silly to summer anywhere else when we’re already living in paradise.

Speaking of seaside serenity where life is better barefoot, Milford was again named to Wallethub’s list of Best Beach Towns to Live In.

This accolade has much to do with our 17.5 miles of pristine shorefront, but the recognition is also an acknowledgement of our environmental stewardship and how much we care for our beaches.

We strive to be eco-friendly in all that we do. We are committed to protecting our natural resources and keeping our local ecosystems safe.

Milford’s “think globally, act locally” philosophy is well-known, and we were among a small handful of communities to be awarded Sustainable CT’s highest program designation earlier in the year.

Our sustainable initiatives have paid dividends many times more than the rate of our initial outlay.

Our $6 million microgrid project went online this past September and has already yielded big energy savings. More importantly, the microgrid’s sustainable CHP power system strengthens our resiliency and helps to keep critical infrastructure up-and-running if the electric grid ever goes down – now, our only worry in the world is if the tide’s gonna reach our chair.

Another sustainable local investment has been our annual Arbor Day Giveaway where we provide 500 free trees to neighborhoods across town in exchange for crucial shade, clean air, and improved storm water runoff (Remember the proverb: the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the next best time is today).

As part of our sustainable planning, we continue to invest in our parks, beaches, and recreational facilities that improve the quality of life for our residents.

Since everything is fine with sunshine and pickleball, we’ve added new pickleball courts at Howard Court, and refurbished playgrounds at Grove Circle, Fannie Beach, Welchs Point and other pocket parks around town.

We built new, world-class turf fields at Foran and Law, turning once dangerous playing pitches into fanta-sea athletic facilities.

We’ve improved Lisman Landing Marina and the boat launch with new pavilions, shade canopies, patios and walkways that enhance the beauty of a very-well used downtown destination.

Soon we will be dredging the channel and surrounding anchorage to ensure safe passage for all vessels that make port in the State’s most popular recreational harbor – a big thank you to Milford’s federal delegation for securing a $5 million infrastructure grant that will fund this beachy keen project.

Since happiness comes in waves, our federal delegation was kind enough to make an additional $2.5 million investment toward our Tudor Road makeover that aims to renovate the former Saint Gabes School into a new home for our Boys and Girls Club, and a new hub for our Recreation Department.

And on top of the Congressionally Directed Spending projects, Milford also received $29 million from the American Rescue Plan to finance activities that will have a lasting impact on the town.

With sunshine on the mind, the ARPA Working Group has proposed a series of terrific initiatives focused on transforming our community and growing our local economy.

Incidentally, Milford’s economy is already booming with sandy toes and a sun-kissed nose. We continue to attract about 500 new business starts to town each year.

From quaint art studios like the Giggling Pig, to Revolution Basketball and Fit Forever, to Isabella’s Bakery and Walnut Beach Coffee House, to Captain Tack’s charters and Pedal Cruise Connecticut, to great big breweries like Athletic whose lagers, pilsners and ales are enjoyed around the world - not just as the market’s premier NA beer but the best tasting pint, period.

This tidal wave of business development has helped to buoy the Milford community with high tides and good vibes.

So, to all the businesses and people in this room who have contributed to Milford’s success, thank you for the island rays and sunny days we’re now enjoying thanks to you.

And to everyone who came out for lunch with a view of Charles Island, I hope the island’s legends and lore continue to inspire us to be Brave and Free and Wild as the Sea.

I’m happy to answer any questions. It continues to be an honor and a privilege to serve as your Mayor - Mayor of the greatest city on earth.