Connecticut
Fifty Years Have Passed, and Little Has Changed for Connecticut's Beaches
To the Editor:
I grew up in Old Saybrook but spent my summers in Old Lyme. My grandfather had built a cold-water cottage at Old Lyme Shores in 1953 so, my summers and summer friends were formed around the private beach association of OLS. I knew it was a private beach. There were gates, and the private beaches of Old Colony and Edge Lea flanked us. And it did not seem odd to me that one could list all the OLS Irish families from the tops of the streets down to the sea wall. Until it did seem odd.
While researching material for a historical novel about the origins of Connecticut’s private beach associations, I discovered a father and son realty company had built these private beaches from old coastal farmland. Then they got the state legislature to grant the associations special charters to set their own zoning and taxes. It was an effective development strategy. By the time Governor John Dempsey warned in 1961, “The time is not far off when the last remaining open area on Connecticut’s shoreline is usurped for some private purpose,” it was already too late. For most of the state’s residents, Connecticut had become a state without an accessible, public coastline.
The charters also contained restrictions on cottage construction and other activities, including who could buy or rent an association cottage. In my novel, the protagonist—David Enders—asks the Old Lyme town clerk about the deed from a beach association he’s helping build. “Is this common language for properties around here? ‘…properties herein conveyed shall not be sold, leased, or rented in any form or manner directly or indirectly to any person or persons: (1) who are not of the Caucasian Race; (2) who are not acceptable either to the Grantor or to the Directors of the Beach Club Association…’” The clerk assures him it is, to which Enders replies, “…it seems like wording that might lead to all kinds of trouble down the road.” Surprisingly, it did not. Not for fifty years.
In the early 1970s, activist Ned Coll began busing Hartford kids to private beaches in Saybrook and Old Lyme to highlight the public’s lack of access to a once-open shoreline. For some of my family and neighbors, it was their Pearl Harbor. In response, OLS and other beaches were hardened with better fences and gates, festooned with No Trespassing and Private Property signs, and guarded by summertime busybodies checking the comings and goings of residents and suspect guests.
Now another fifty years have passed, and little has changed. There is the occasional court case about beach access — Leydon v. Town of Greenwich, for example. Local arguments about fence lines and the definition of “mean high tide” boundaries periodically erupt and fade away. What has changed is the character of the private beach associations.
Those communities of seasonal cottages for a few lucky middleclass families are now year-round, gated retirement communities for the grandchildren of the original cottage owners. Public water and sewers came to the associations, and those simple summer cottages were remodeled or razed to become expensive McMansions. Now the beach associations are defended year-round by retirees with time and money on their hands.
In my novel, a lawyer for the NAACP asks David Enders, “What do you think is going to happen to all this once-open coastline?” Enders reluctantly admits, “I guess some people will enjoy the beach and some won’t. Just like always.”
Edward McSweegan is a writer in Rhode Island where most beaches are public.
Connecticut
State opens investigation into former New Haven police chief amid stolen money allegations
Connecticut State Police and the Chief State’s Attorney have opened an investigation into former New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobsen and allegations that he misused public funds.
The City of New Haven reported the allegations to State’s Attorney John Doyle on Monday.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Monday Jacobson admitted to stealing money from a fund used by the New Haven Police Department to pay for an support its confidential informant program.
Several officers flagged irregularities in the account and notified the three assistant chiefs in the department, according to Elicker. It was then that the assistant chiefs confronted Jacobson on Monday morning.
Elicker said after being confronted, Jacobson admitted to taking the funds. The assistant chiefs then notified Chief Administrative Officer Justin McCarthy, who then notified Elicker.
Jacobson was called in for a meeting with Elicker, where he was to be placed on administrative leave. Elicker said that before the meeting, Jacobson handed in his paperwork to retire, effective immediately.
The mayor was unable to share additional details on how much money was reportedly taken or for how long due to the ongoing investigation.
Assistant Chief David Zannelli has been appointed as the acting police chief.
State police will conduct the investigation and Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin has appointed New Britain Judicial District State’s Attorney Christian Watson to oversee the investigation to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
The Greater Danbury area isn’t exactly known as a buffet hotspot, but if you’re willing to venture beyond your zip code, the state delivers some awe-inspiring all-you-can-eat experiences. A recent “Only In Your State” feature crowned one buffet as the best in Connecticut — and that raised a very local question: Do any buffets near Danbury compare?
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The Top 5 Buffets in Connecticut
Topping the statewide list is the Pacific Buffet & Grill in Wallingford, celebrated by Only In Your State as Connecticut’s best. This place is the gold standard, known for its huge seafood selection, sushi bar, hibachi grill, and sheer variety. Crab legs, shrimp, steak, noodles — it’s all here, and it’s why people happily drive across the state for it.
Other standout buffets earning consistent praise include Osaka Hibachi Buffet in Stratford, loved for its cleanliness and sushi options, and Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet in South Plainfield, which boasts hundreds of rotating items and a popular cook-to-order hibachi station. Rounding out the top five are Imperial China Buffet in Watertown a dependable classic, and Royal Buffet Sushi and Grill in New Milford, which is especially important for Greater Danbury diners.
So… What About Buffets Near Danbury?
Here’s the honest truth: Danbury doesn’t have a Pacific-level buffet. But there are a couple of respectable local options. Grand Century Buffet at 1 Padanaram Road remains the city’s most familiar buffet, offering a wide selection at reasonable prices. It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done.
Meanwhile, Agogo Asian & Sushi Buffet, 15-19 Backus Ave., has earned strong reviews for quality — especially sushi — even if the buffet itself is smaller than the state’s heavy hitters.
The Bottom Line
If you’re chasing Connecticut’s best buffet, it’s worth the drive. But if you’re staying local, New Milford and Danbury still offer solid options that satisfy the all-you-can-eat craving without a road trip.
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