Wallingford News

WALLINGFORD — Some local veterans and town councilors are irked with Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. over his decision to not allow them to use the town’s mobile bandstand stage for Monday’s annual Memorial Day parade. The town’s Veterans Memorial Committee sent a letter to Dickinson and town councilors this week asking the mayor to reconsider a prior decision to deny them the use of a canopied “showmobile” that the town owns and uses to hold bands and orchestras for municipal events, such as the town fireworks display, instead of an aluminum “reviewing stand,” a smaller platform that the vets have traditionally used. At the Memorial Day event, the stage is used by local veterans at Doolittle Park during a post-parade military ceremony. The committee said the showmobile stage would be able to hold more people and its shade would keep older veterans out of the sun. The committee had used the showmobile once, in 2010, for this purpose. “We just thought it was safer for the older people,” said Elise Gallup, secretary of the committee, who sent the letter. The letter was taken up by the Town Council at the end of Tuesday’s meeting and caused some heated debate between the mayor and councilors, along with veterans in the audience. Republican councilors Craig Fishbein and John LeTourneau respectively made and seconded a motion to vote to approve the use as a ceremonial nod of support to the veterans (the council can’t compel the mayor to allow use of the stage) but it never came to a vote. “We’ve always used a reviewing stand,” Dickinson said. “It’s been safe for many years. I just don’t see a need to change what our protocols and procedures are.” Vietnam veteran Jerry J. Kennedy has been on the committee since 1973, and said the mayor helped him secure the showmobile in 2010. "Two years ago, we thought about it — 'You know, it would be a much better venue to be in,’ ” Kennedy said. "That worked out real nice. It was a hot day. Kids on the field were dropping, but the ones on the stand were cooler." Kennedy said the need for a place for older vets to sit has increased — they're not just talking about World War II veterans. "You have to realize, your Vietnam vets are in their 60s and 70s now," Kennedy said. Kennedy said he hoped the mayor would reconsider the request someday. lsalerno@record-journal.com (203) 317-2235

WALLINGFORD – For the first time in recent memory, two Republicans are seeking the party’s nomination for the 85th state House District, looking to oust longtime Democratic incumbent Mary Mushinsky. Greg Bachand, 62, and Shauna Simon-Glidden, 27, are vying for the Republican nomination to the seat. A caucus is scheduled for Thursday to choose the party’s nominee. Any registered Republican in the 85th District can vote. Mushinsky defended her vote for Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget, which raised taxes by $1.8 billion. She said constituents surveyed didn’t want to see cuts to such services as education funding, rental assistance and programs for the elderly. A 20 percent drop in revenue due to the recession meant that increases in taxes were needed to close the state’s budget gap, Mushinsky said. “We had to balance the budget, and I think we did it in the most efficient way possible,” she said. Both Republican candidates said they have already begun hitting the campaign trail ahead of the caucus. Simon-Glidden said she has been going door to door throughout the district and making phone calls to registered Republicans. If the loser of the caucus gets at least 15 percent of the vote, he or she can force a primary. Simon-Glidden said her decision to primary will depend on Thursday’s turnout. Bachand said he too has been going door to door as well as sending out mailers to Republicans in the district. He said he was pleased that two people were seeking the nomination, and was looking forward to Thursday’s caucus. “This is what democracy is all about,” Bachand said. The people in the district should be able to choose.” Bachand said that he plans to force a primary if he loses Thursday’s caucus, regardless of the margin. If he doesn’t get enough support for a primary, Bachand said he will petition his way onto the November ballot. Both hopefuls are making their first run for elected office. Many have tried to defeat Mushinsky since she was first elected in 1980. In the last two elections she was challenged by Michael Vitali, who failed to come within 750 votes. Jerry Farrell, Jr., a popular Republican town councilor, ran against Mushinsky in 2000 but lost by more than 1,400 votes. In other years she has had no challenger at all. Thursday’s caucus is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Brothers Restaurant, 33 N. Cherry St. rblair@record-journal.com (203) 317-2225

The Postal Service announced Thursday that two mail processing facilities -- one in Stamford and one in Wallingford -- would remain open this year.

A 5-year-old Wallingford, Connecticut boy helped his family and neighbors escape from a house fire on Tuesday morning.