Orange Police were dispatched to DSW at 538 Boston Post Road on a shoplifting complaint on Sunday, Sept. 5, at 5:43 p.m.
According to the report, investigation revealed that Anthony N. Barbieri, 31, of East Haven took $245 worth of merchandise without paying for it.
Subsequently, he was taken into custody and charged with interfering with police, resisting arrest and sixth-degree larceny.
Barbieri was released after posting a $500 bond for court on Sept. 21.
Stephen M. Buda III, 56, of New Haven, husband of Roxana Rohrhirsch Buda, suffered a tragic accident on Monday, September 6, 2021.
Born in Bridgeport on August 8, 1965, he was the eldest son of Stefan Buda and Lois Nelson Thompson. Stephen was a Pumper Engineer with the City of Bridgeport Fire Department where he truly loved his job and took great pride in assisting those in need for the past eight years.
Prior to that, he was a volunteer firefighter for the Town of Woodbridge for nine years. He was an instructor for the Valley Fire School for nine years and was currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science at the University of New Haven.
He was a talented craftsman who took pride in building and remodeling homes, boats, bikes, campers and more. But above all, he was a loving and dedicated husband, father, and friend who made time to help everyone.
In addition to his wife and soulmate Roxy, of 31 years, and his parents, survivors include his two daughters, Alexandra and Isabella, his brother, Paul and his wife Kimberly, his sister, Naomi, his mother-in-law, Berta, his father’s wife Trish, nieces and nephews Paul Jr, Ryan, Angelina, Sophia, Lucia, Natalia, Denise and Paula (las sobrinas) as well as his in-law family, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many dear friends. He was predeceased by his father-in-law Joseph Rohrhirsch.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St Patrick’s Church, 851 North Ave, Bridgeport CT, followed by a Mass at 1:30 p.m. Interment will be private.
Stephen was a lifelong learner who enjoyed exploring new subjects, creating something from nothing, and sharing his knowledge with those around him. He was passionate about protecting the environment and found the jungle to be an important resource to preserve.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for a donation to any of the following: MakeHaven, VineTrust, or the University of New Haven Annual Fund (makehaven.org, vinecharityusa.org, give.newhaven.edu). Please specify that your donation is in his honor. To leave an online condolence please visit www.abriola.com.
(facebook)
It was 20 years ago today. The cloudless sky was so amazingly clear and blue that it’s hard to forget. Tuesday, September 11, 2001, was a deadline day for me. I had stayed up until about 3 or 4 a.m. to finish laying out my newspaper, the now defunct “Amity Observer,” and was prepared to wake up around 9:30 a.m. to make my way into the office to sign off on the pages.
My phone rang at around 8:48 a.m. It was Kathleen Schurman, a co-worker from Bethany who cried into the phone – “Did you see what’s happening in New York?”
“Huh? What? No. Why?” I answered
“Turn on the tv,” she said. I could hear the panic in her voice.
“What channel?” I asked.
“ANY channel, It doesn’t matter,” she answered desperately. “It’s the World Trade Center, a plane just hit it.”
Indeed, just moments before, at 8:46:26 a.m.: American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the north side of the North Tower (1 World Trade Center) of the WTC between the 94th and 98th floors. A later investigation revealed that Flight 11 was flying at a speed of 490 miles per hour (MPH).
Now, I’d been to New York City plenty of times, but I’d never even been close to the World Trade Center or paid much attention. I’d seen the towers in the distance, but what they were used for, etc, really meant nothing to me.
But Kathleen, whose husband was a businessman who worked in the city, had dined inside the Towers and she knew all too well the tragedy and panic that must be going on inside the burning building.
We watched silently, both holding our breath. I could hear her quiet sobs as she mourned the thousands of people that she KNEW were inside. I was still a bit clueless as to the loss of humanity.
Her cable went out for a couple of seconds, and as she mentioned it, I said, “Oh my God, this was no accident, A plane just flew into the other building.”
At 9:02:54 a.m.: United Airlines Flight 175 crashed through the south side of the South Tower of the WTC between the 78th and 84th floors at a speed of more than 500 MPH. It was later reported that parts of the plane including an engine left the building from its north side, and were found on the ground up to six blocks away.
She screamed, “What?” as I told her, “This was on purpose, another plane just flew right into the other building.”
Knowing that our newsroom didn’t have televisions everywhere and that everyone was busy working — and not surfing the internet, I called one of the copy editors to let him know that something was up.
When I reached Peter on the phone, I gave him blow-by-blow reports of what was happening in America. He did not believe me when I told him that the South Tower had collapsed.
I had a deep painful hurt in the middle of my stomach. Then I told him that the North Tower was gone. “They imploded, Peter.”
By then the bosses had begun watching the horror on the internet and every editor stopped whatever he or she was working on and was instructed to find a local angle from his or her town to include in a special 911 edition of the papers.
For me, Tuesday was deadline day, so I didn’t have enough time to find Orange, Bethany, or Woodbridge residents with a personal connection to the tragedy.
(source: https://bit.ly/2cBabrB)
Instead, I wrote a column documenting my day from the time I was awakened by a phone call telling me to “turn on the tv”; to seeing the second plane hit the south tower; to the conversations with my co-worker and his reaction to what I was telling him; and finally the numbness I felt that day.
What I remember most from the 9-11 attacks is just how kind everyone was for nearly an entire week afterward. Drivers were more patient with that slowpoke in front of them and laying on the horn for some idiot move wasn’t even on the radar. Everyone just put their negativity aside and let others get in front of them at the grocery store and so much more.
My children and I answered the call when the donation of heavy work gloves, dust filter masks, bottled water, and socks (to help protect the search and rescue and cadaver dogs’ feet) came out.
In 2001, my kids were 14 and 15 years old. They knew what was going on, they witnessed it on TV at school and, I remember they didn’t need a lot of reassurance. They were upset but didn’t dwell on it.
I have not been back to that particular area of New York since that day and only visited New York twice for surgical procedures at New York Presbyterian Hospital in 2009 and for a work thing in 2010.
For all the kids and early 20-somethings who are now in High School and were too young to remember and for all the children who were born after 2001, here is a timeline of what happened that day 19 years ago:
The North and South towers fo the World Trade Center were struck by passenger planes. Terrorists used the planes as weapons against the United States. (see specifics above)
Then the Pentagon in Washington, DC was hit by American Airlines Flight 77 at 9:37 a.m.
(source: https://bit.ly/2cBabrB)
9:59:04 a.m.: The south tower of the World Trade Center suddenly collapses, plummeting into the streets below. A massive cloud of dust and debris quickly fills lower Manhattan. It is later explained (disinformation) that the collapse was not directly caused by the impact, but the intense heat caused by the fire fueled by the jet’s fuel weakening the steel support beams of the concrete floors. The WTC towers were built to withstand a 707 being flown into them. A 767 carries almost the same amount of fuel as a 707.
The Palisades seismic data recorded a 2.1 magnitude earthquake during the 10-second collapse of the South Tower at 9:59:04 and a 2.3 quake during the 9-second collapse of the North Tower at 10:28:31 a.m.
10:06.05 a.m.: According to seismic data, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, PA, about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Hearing what was going on elsewhere in America, the passengers overtook the hijackers, sacrificing their own lives in order to save others, and the plane went down in a remote area before it could hit its target at Camp David or in Washington DC, perhaps the White House or other significant building.
NOTE: Delta Flight 1989 was in danger of being shot down by American Fighter jets after it could not be determined if it had been hijacked or not. A radio transmission from Flight 93 stating there’s a “bomb on board” was thought to have come from the Delta flight. Thankfully, the Delta plane was re-directed and landed safely in Cleveland with everyone on board safe and sound (although terrified).
Here is a breakdown of the victims:
| Deaths by Area of Attack | Deaths |
| World Trade Center | 2,606 |
| Airlines | 246 |
| Pentagon Building | 125 |
| Hijackers | 19 |
| Total number of people who died in the 9/11 attacks | 2,996 |
| Casualties in the World Trade Center and Surrounding Area | Deaths |
| Residents of New York | 1,762 |
| Persons in North Tower (Tower 1) | 1,402 |
| Persons in South Tower (Tower 2) | 614 |
| Residents of New Jersey | 674 |
| Employees of Marsh Inc. | 355 |
| Firefighters | 343 |
| Employees of Aon Corporation | 175 |
| Port Authority police officers | 37 |
| Police officers | 23 |
| Paramedics | 2 |
| 1 firefighter was killed by a man who jumped off the top floors | |
Talking To Your Kids About 9/11
My granddaughter is 9 (almost 10 years old) and I asked her last year if she knew what 9/11 was all about.
She said she’d heard about it, but “not really.”
I asked if she wanted to know more, and being an inquisitive child, she, of course, said “yes.”
I had found a documentary that I’d DVR’d a few years ago, that I thought would give her a sense of what happened without upsetting her or scaring her too much. It didn’t show the people jumping from the upper floors, or anyone on fire running through the lobby of Tower One. It didn’t dwell on the heartbroken family members pasting photos of their loved ones up on the bulletin boards near the site. Just the basics.
And as she watched it, I shared some thoughts about what she was seeing. I told her that I knew a Paramedic and a Priest from Bethany who helped the people deal with the terrible things they’d seen and the guilt they felt about surviving on that day when so many others died.
She has an appreciation for the first responders who risked their lives to help save others, and the many who gave their lives during that effort.
She liked that her mommy and uncle were willing to help donate things that the rescuers needed in the days after the attacks. And she understands so much more than most kids her age without having night terrors about what she’d learned. Just the knowledge and appreciation for those who were willing to help.
You know your children better than anyone else, and you know how much information they can handle. September 11, is a historic event, and one of the most tragic events of our lifetimes. Nearly 3,000 people died on Sept. 11 and scores more have passed away since then as a result.
Knowledge is power. Don’t sweep it under the rug. If you think they can handle it, tell your kids at least something about September 11, because they will see it in history books or on the Internet before you know it.
The late Stephen Buda
On Monday, Sept. 6, Labor Day, Stephen Buda was enjoying his favorite hobby, rock climbing, in the Mohonk Preserve in Gardiner, New York, when he lost his life in a fall.
According to a report by the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department, police and EMS personnel were called to the Trapps Bridge area of the preserve at 5:30 p.m., Monday for a fallen rock climber and they found that Stephen M. Buda III, 56, of New Haven, Connecticut had scaled about 150-175 feet of a popular 200 ft climb when he fell.
Authorities said Buda was not wearing any climbing or safety equipment at the time of the incident.
Police said they suspect no foul play in the incident but it remains under investigation.
Steve, was a member of the Woodbridge Volunteer Fire Department for 5 or 6 years before he was hired as a firefighter for the city of Bridgeport in August of 2013 and served the city for eight years.
The Bridgeport Fire Department announced Buda’s passing on Tuesday afternoon.
The fire department posted on its Facebook Page that Pump Engineer Stephen Buda passed away while enjoying his favorite hobby of rock climbing.
Buda leaves behind his wife and two daughters
Locally, those firefighters and residents who knew Steve remember him as a good guy.
I remember him for his ever-present smile and love of the job.
At 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 1, Orange police responded to Home Depot at 440 Boston Post Road regarding a shoplifting that just occurred with fleeing suspects.
Officers made a motor vehicle stop of suspects matching the description and spoke to Nathaniel D. Moses, 41, of New Haven.
Investigation revealed that Moses was the man who dropped the stolen merchandise and fled the scene when apprehended by the Home Depot Loss Prevention Associate.
Subsequently, he was taken into custody and charged with sixth-degree larceny.
Moses was released on a promise to appear in court on Sept. 13.
On Monday, Aug. 30, Orange police responded to a shoplifting complaint at Target, 25 Boston Post Road at 7:44 p.m.
Investigation revealed that Kyle A. Petrokansky, 34, of Wolcott took $138 worth of merchandise without paying for it.
Subsequently, he was taken into custody and charged with sixth-degree larceny.
Petrokansky was held on a $100 bond and received a court date of Aug. 31.
The answer to the most asked question (here at Orange Live) with a new comprehensive illustration.
The most read story on Orange Live all year long is one that was originally published in Feb. 2013, “What Happens If You Don’t Stop For A School Bus With Flashing Lights?”
Watch out, Bus drivers are keeping an eye out and police responding to complaints of drivers who do not comply with the laws regarding stopping for stopped school busses.
In Aug. 2014, the Orange Board Of Education Vice Chairman said, “Coming soon to Orange: if you pass a bus, a camera will take a picture of your vehicle and you will get a summons.”
From the State Website the whole story, including fines:
You want to know the legislative history of the act requiring police, on receipt of a written complaint from a school bus driver, to issue a written warning or summons to a motor vehicle owner for illegally passing a stopped school bus.
For your information, we also have appended a chart showing the disposition of cases in which vehicles failed to stop for a school bus from 2007 through 2011, according to figures provided by the Judicial Branch. We were unable to determine how many of these cases were based on a bus driver’s written report. Representatives of the Chief State’s Attorney’s office and the Judicial Branch said the state does not track those numbers.
BACKGROUND
A motor vehicle cannot pass a stopped school bus displaying flashing red signal lights, but must stop at least 10 feet before or behind such a bus (CGS § 14-279). Under the law, police must issue a written warning or a summons to the owner of a vehicle who illegally passes a school bus “upon a written report from any school bus operator…specifying the license plate number, color and type of any vehicle” the bus driver sees violating the law. The driver’s report must also note the date, approximate time, and location of the violation.
PA 85-71
A provision allowing police to issue a written warning to a vehicle owner on receiving a bus driver’s written report was enacted in 1985 (PA 85-71, originating as HB 5749). The act also allowed anyone over age 18 to submit such a written report.
The Transportation Committee held a hearing on HB 5749 on February 4, 1985. Several people testified in support of the provision, arguing there was insufficient enforcement of the school bus passing law. A Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) representative spoke against the bill.
Sharon Ward, school transportation safety director for a school bus contractor, said “the statute must be changed so that local police and state troopers are required to make arrests when drivers give an adequate amount of information…the marker number, the color and make of the car.”
Another witness, Robin Leeds, executive director of the Connecticut School Transportation Association, said the bill “represents an attempt to address the most serious problem in school transportation, the danger in the unloading zones. Not only do all our fatalities occur here, but our most severe injuries as well. Already this winter, we have seen at least five children hit and seriously injured by motorists who did not stop for the flashing red lights of the school bus. In two of those instances, the motorist said to the officer…I didn’t know I was supposed to stop.”
“It is safe to assume,” she continued, “that those motorists had passed a school bus before. If their license numbers had been turned in by a bus driver and accepted by a policeman…who then sent a written warning…they would have known they were supposed to stop before they hit the children.” She said 20 states already had similar laws.
John O’Connell, DMV’s public transportation administrator, opposed the bill, saying the department had “some…concerns regarding the question of constitutionality and an abuse of such a statute about drivers picking up the plate numbers…”
The House of Representatives considered the bill on April 10, 1985, and passed it after amending it by voice vote to allow, rather than require, police to issue a written warning on receipt of a bus driver’s written report (LCO # 5478).
Speaking in support of the amended bill, Representative Wilber said “the feeling of the [transportation] committee was that most people do not pass school buses intentionally, but they do it forgetfully, and if a warning is issued, they probably will not do it again, or not so likely to do it again.”
Representative Frankel opposed the bill, saying its “fatal flaw” was that it was directed at vehicle owners, rather than the person driving the vehicle when the violation occurred. But Representative Ward, arguing for the bill, said school bus drivers “faced…a dilemma. They see a vehicle pass them illegally…They do not know who the operator is, but they clearly can get a marker number.”
“Nothing in this bill prevents a ticket, if you know who was the driver,” Ward said. “It takes the extra step, however, of allowing a warning to the owner of a vehicle when you cannot identify the operator.”
The House passed the amended bill by a 117 to 32 vote.
The Senate debate occurred on April 17, 1985. Senator Giulietti opposed the measure, saying it did not “really have any teeth” because it allowed, rather than required, police to issue a warning. He also objected to “making school bus drivers or any other person over 18…policemen.” Senator Consoli also objected to giving “non-police personnel” the authority to make a complaint in these cases.
Senator Morano, speaking on behalf of the bill, argued that “any tool…to teach people not to go racing by stopped school buses would be good legislation.” Senator DiBella, also speaking on behalf of the bill, said it would allow a policeman “to issue a warning without being on the scene.”
The Senate passed the bill, as amended by the House, by a vote of 30 to 3.
SUBSEQUENT CHANGES TO THE LAW
PA 85-71 was codified in CGS § 14-279. The statute has since been amended several times, as follows (excluding technical changes):
PA 86-155 changed the law by (1) explicitly requiring vehicles to stop for stopped school buses displaying flashing red signal lights on any highway, private road, parking area, or school property; (2) eliminating the ability of “other persons 18 years of age or over” to submit written reports of vehicles failing to stop; and (3) requiring, rather than allowing, a police officer to issue either a written warning or summons on receiving a school bus driver’s written report.
PA 01-192 expressly required emergency vehicles, such as fire department and police vehicles, to stop at least 10 feet from a school bus displaying flashing red signal lights.
PA 11-255 replaced the fine for a first offense of between $100 and $500 with a $450 fine and allowed video evidence of failing to stop for a school bus.
(originally published 2016)
On Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 10:26 p.m. officers were dispatched to the area of 340 Boston Post Road (near the Shell Food Mart) on a report of an erratic driver.
The car was stopped and police spoke to the driver, Sean Naughton, 31, of Westbrook who reportedly refused to produce his driver’s license and presented to be under the influence of a substance.
He was asked to perform Standardized Sobriety Field Tests.
Subsequently, he was taken into custody and charged with interference/resisting arrest, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and use of an improper lane.
Naughton was released on a promise to appear in court on Sept. 2.
Officers responded to Webster Bank at 247 Boston Post Road for a complaint of an individual attempting to cash a fraudulent check on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 12:48 p.m.
Investigation revealed that William McDuffie, 36, of New Haven reportedly attempted to cash a stolen check and was in possession of a controlled substance.
He was taken into custody and charged with third-degree forgery, sixth-degree larceny, criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny and possession of a controlled substance.
McDuffie posted a $500 bond and is to be in court on Sept. 2.
Orange Police responded to a shoplifting complaint at Home Depot, 440 Boston Post Road, on Monday Aug. 23 at 2:35 p.m.
Investigation revealed that Calvin L. Lewis, 52, of Bridgeport, reportedly took $1,054 worth of merchandise without paying for it.
Lewis was taken into custody and charged with fourth-degree larceny.
He was held on $1,000 bond for court on Aug. 24.