This Week's Top Stories: Crime, Politics and Real Estate

Board of Finance to Vote on Acquiring 72 Acres

BETHEL — Next week, the will vote on a purchase of 72 acres of forest and meadow that has been owned by the Franc family for many decades. The land is on the corner of Plumtrees Road and Old Hawleyville Road and has been made available to the town at $13,000 an acre. “It's a fantastic opportunity,” said.

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Third Day of Jury Selection Concludes with Five Picked for DaSilva Manslaughter Case

DANBURY — After three days and nearly 100 potential jurors, five people were picked so far to sit on the manslaughter case against Joseph DaSilva, a Danbury landlord.

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Five Properties Change Hands; Highest $400K

BROOKFIELD — 324 Still Water Circle

Grantor: Newbury Village, LLC, Brookfield

Grantee: Patrick and Concetta Hunt, of Brookfield

Date Deeded/Date Filed: December 28/December 28

Conveyance Tax: $875

Sale Price: $350,000

Assessed Value: $109,270

Last Sale Date/Price: N/A

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Town Issues 'Be Ready Newtown' Pamphlet

Following last year's heavy snow storms, Tropical Storm Irene and the Oct. 29 nor'easter, the town has produced a pamphet titled "Be Ready Newtown."

The four-page pamphlet appeared to have been mailed to all residences as well as made available on the Internet in the News and Announcements section of the town's website and for pickup in the corridor of the Municipal Center.

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Planning & Zoning Approves Police Station Building Project

The Monroe Police Department is located on the lower level of the brick town hall building. Its main entrance is in the back of the campus and drivers on Fan Hill Road cannot see the police cars and other marked vehicles in the parking lot as traffic goes by.

When Brian Hume, the architect for the Monroe Police Station building project, first spoke with officers about plans to improve their facility, some told him that a number of residents have a hard time finding them — especially at night.

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Oxford Wrestling Coach/School Board Member Fired, Claims Political Reasons

An member has been fired from his role as an assistant wrestling coach at after an administrator disciplined him a second time for what officials say amounts to conduct unbecoming of a coach.

Gerard Carbonaro, a Republican who was elected to the school board in November, said he was dismissed from the wrestling program after telling a fan and former Pomperaug wrestler to shut up after a match last month (stories vary on whether Carbonaro used foul language during the incident; Carbonaro says he did not). Carbonaro said the teenager was heckling the team after his son, Joseph, lost a match.

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Naugatuck Woman Charged With Selling Prescription Meds

A Naugatuck woman is being accused of dealing prescription pills from her apartment in the complex.

Rebecca Lister, 42, was taken into custody from Unit 10A at 933 Rubber Ave. on charges of illegal sale of a controlled substance and distributing a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school zone.

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Arrests Made in Connection With Local Car Break-Ins

According to Troop L Sgt. Michael Roach, two men arrested in connection with recent car break-ins were processed at Troop L at approximately 8:25 p.m. tonight - Saturday, Jan. 7.

The recent car break-ins occurred throughout New Haven, Litchfield and Fairfield Counties, according to a 7:14 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, press release from Middlebury Police Lt. Richard Wildman.

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Police Blotter: Threatening, Sexual Assault and Strangulation Charges

David Wildman, 50, of Manor Rd. in Southbury, was charged with two counts of breach of peace, two counts of threatening and reckless endangerment after he pointed a gun at a victim on December 16. The argument was based on a car that had been traded for tree trimming services. A BB gun was recovered at the scene. Wildman was released on $2,500 surety bond and later appeared in Waterbury Superior Court.

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