Friday, March 17, 2023
www.towntimes.com
Volume 29, Number 11
Thousands of tires removed from property
TEAMWORK
By Nicole Zappone Town Times
Following years of complaints from neighbors, thousands of tires have been removed from a private property on Ross Road in Middlefield. In addition to violating zoning codes, local officials say the tires posed a health and environmental hazard. The home is currently in foreclosure. Robotics Team 8167 from Coginchaug Regional High School placed a solid 15th in a First Robotics New England district event held this past weekend in Waterbury. "For the first time in team history, they were chosen as part of an alliance in the playoffs but were eliminated in Round 2," CRHS stated in a social media post. "Congratulations to all team members!" Team 8167 will be back in action next month in Hartford. CRHS, Facebook
First Selectman Bob Yamartino said the town began the process of cleaning up the site after a superior court injunction ordered that the tires be removed. See Tires, A9
Police departments embracing ‘Walk with Derek’ By Nicole Zappone Town Times
“When we moved to Naugatuck, a 16-year-old autistic individual took off on his NAUGATUCK – Four years parents from Naugatuck on ago, Jennifer Harding had a foot and ended up picked up scare no mother should have in Oxford by state troopers,” to experience. Her son, Harding said. Derek, who was 8 years old at the time, disappeared one “Once that happened, I knew I had to get this day. The boy, who is on the done,”she added. autism spectrum, walked away from his grandfather’s What Harding did was design house with his mother’s a simple tool that members phone in hand, wearing of law enforcement can use nothing but a diaper. should an autistic child in Derek was found safe soon after, but Harding knows this situation could have had a tragic outcome. Sadly, such incidents are not uncommon for parents raising autistic children.
their community go missing.
The “Walk with Derek” Autism Safety Alert Form form Harding conceived of in 2022 allows parents to deSee ‘Walk with Derek’, A2
Jennifer Harding and her son, Derek Harding, 12, inside their Naugatuck home. Nicole Zappone, Town Times