The carnival is an annual event sponsored as a fund-raiser by New Haven Sheriff’s Association. It is scheduled to run through June 10.
This is the first time that the carnival has used the Legion Avenue location. Last year it set up on the Southern Connecticut State University campus; two years ago it used a large shopping center parking lot off Peat Meadows Road.
Twenty parents walked the edge of the carnival in the twilight Thursday with signs that read, “Why Here?” and “The West River Neighborhood cares about its children.”
They said they weren’t appeased by the heavier-than-normal police presence at the carnival. They want it shut down and move somewhere they consider more appropriate, a shopping center parking lot, for example.
“All of a sudden, we looked out the window and there it was, said Linda Bolduc, a parent who lives across the street from the site. “This is a residential neighborhood. You don’t stick something like this here.”
Poole, who lives on George Street, said posters advertising the carnival were tacked up days ago in Hamden and throughout New Haven but not in the West River section.
Had the neighbors known about the carnival, Poole said, they would have told city and state officials that Legion Avenue and Route 34 were too wide and too busy to assure the safety of children, and that people from several city neighborhoods would cut through the West River section on their way to the carnival.
Healey could not be reached for comment on Thursday, but an aide, Gail Egan said the neighbors concerns about safety were valid. But she said that she had understood that signs announcing the carnival had been posted in the neighborhood.
VOCABULARY
appeased
appropriate
officials
carnival
protest
Points to Ponder
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1. Did the protestors have valid reasons for opposing the carnival site?
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2. Who should ultimately decide on the location of the carnival? Why?
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3. Where would be the most appropriate location for the carnival?
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4. Was the posting of advertisements the best way to inform the community residents of the impending carnival?
Map-Locations
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1. Locate Legion Avenue and Route 34 on a map of New Haven.
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2. Identify an ideal location for the placement of the carnival.
(figure available in print form)
