Here are some of the meetings I'll be checking out this week in Madison in Guilford. Follow me on Twitter @dcecelia for live updates from these meetings, or, better yet, attend a meeting and come say hi. Is there any particular issue you're following this week? Let me know in the comments.

Guilford Board of Finance Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 16, Community Center (Agenda)
This looks like a fairly standard Finance meeting, according to the agenda, but if you're interested in seeing just how money is spent by the town, this is the place to be.

Guilford Budget Referendum, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, all five polling locations (Budget)
Not a meeting, but still important to note. If you're out voting and see me at a polling place, let me know what you think of the budget. Or, contact me at cmartinez@nhregister.com, 203-789-5734 or through Twitter or Facebook. (Smoke signals, carrier pigeons and bike messengers are also acceptable forms of comment.) There are a number of informational videos posted on the Town of Guilford website regarding the budget, if you're interested.

Guilford High School Building Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, Community Center (Interactive Schematic Design)
Another week, another meeting about the new Guilford High School. This meeting will feature the 100 percent schematic design presentation from project architects Tai Soo Kim and is also the deadline by which the committee has to make a recommendation to the architect regarding the design so that they can move into the next project phase, design development.

Madison Planning and Zoning Commission Special Meeting, 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, Town Campus (Agenda)
This is a special meeting called by the PZC to specifically address a special permit application by the town for proposed development at the recently-named Constitution Park. The changes went before the ACCA last week, and will be the topic of discussion at a public hearing later this week. (See below)

Madison Board of Finance Meeting, 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 18, Town Campus (Agenda)
The agenda isn't up yet for this month's Board of Finance meeting, but, like I said earlier, it's a good one to attend if you're into following the money.

Guilford Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 18, Community Center (Agenda)
I've written a couple stories now about the proposed propane tank installation at J.J. Sullivan Fuel Oil in Guilford, and this will be the third public hearing on the topic. The public hasn't had much of an opportunity to speak so far at these hearings, so maybe the third time is the charm.

Madison Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing, 7 p.m., Thursday, April 19, Town Campus (Agenda)
This is the regular PZC meeting, which includes a public hearing for the aforementioned changes to the former Griswold Airport site, now Constitution Park

Am I missing anything? Something else I should be covering? Let me know in the comments or at cmartinez@nhregister.com.

Here's a congratulations to all the middle school students who were named to the Effort List and/or the Academic Honors List at The Country School in Madison for the first semester of the 2011-2012 school year. Here they are, listed by town:

Madison

Grade 6
Academic Honors: Alexander Deman, Jack Fuchs, Caleb Hastings, Nina Hastings, Ashton
Howey, Julia Jackson, Maggie Keeler, Lizzy McGrady, Susanne McGrady, Sarah Platt, Joey
Waters
Effort List: Alexander Deman, Jack Fuchs, Caleb Hastings, Nina Hastings, Julia Jackson,
Maggie Keeler, Lizzy McGrady, Sarah Platt 
Grade 7
Academic Honors: Matthew Aranow, Isabel Chobor, Andrew Epprecht, Jake Jorgensen,
Gabrielle La Torre, Tara Maloney
Effort List: Isabel Chobor, Andrew Epprecht, Jake Jorgensen, Gabrielle La Torre, Tara
Maloney, Drew Penn 
Grade 8
Academic Honors: Maria Boyle, Cashen Keeler, Kathleen Neustaetter, Michael Waters,
Gwen Wheeler
Effort List: Maria Boyle, Ashwin Dcunha, Cashen Keeler, Kathleen Neustaetter, Michael
Waters, Gwen Wheeler

Guilford

Grade 6
Academic Honors: Annabella Capaccio, Rob Gillis, Oliver Zane
Effort List: Annabella Capaccio, Rob Gillis, Oliver Zane 
Grade 7
Academic Honors: Caleb Firth, Ryan Kish, Jimmy McNiff, Noah Rothberg, Paul Stelben
Effort List: Caleb Firth, Connor Lemieux, Jimmy McNiff, Lucy Noel, Noah Rothberg, Paul
Stelben 
Grade 8
Academic Honors: Sonny Capaccio, Wesley Cooper, Anna McNiff
Effort List: Sonny Capaccio, Wesley Cooper, Matthew Murchison, Charlie Zane

Old Lyme

Grade 7
Academic Honors: Eli Griswold
Effort List: Eli Griswold

Lyme
 
Grade 7
Academic Honors: Alexandra Hubbard- Gourlay
Effort List: Alexandra Hubbard- Gourlay 
Grade 8
Academic Honors: Honor Clements, Henry Hunt
Effort List: Emily Ballard, Honor Clements

East Lyme

Grade 7
Academic Honors: Ellen Wei
Effort List: Ellen Wei

Branford

Grade 6
Academic Honors: Tory Rudden
Effort List: Tory Rudden 
Grade 8
Academic Honors: Ashley Luchini, Michael Luchini
Effort List: Ashley Luchini, Michael Luchini

Wallingford

Academic Honors: Marja van Mierlo
Effort List: Marja van Mierlo

Essex

Grade 7
Academic Honors: Roald Osborne
Effort List: Roald Osborne

Killingworth

Academic Honors: Emma Cowper, Katelin Gochberg, Madie Leidt, Patrick O’Leary
Effort List: Emma Cowper, Katelin Gochberg, Madie Leidt, Patrick O’Leary

Old Saybrook

Grade 8
Academic Honors: Robby Gadon
Effort List: Robby Gadon

Here are some of the meetings I'll be checking out this week in Madison in Guilford. Follow me on Twitter @dcecelia for live updates from these meetings, or, better yet, attend a meeting and come say hi. Is there any particular issue you're following this week? Let me know in the comments.


Madison Board of Selectmen Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 9, Room A, Town Campus (Agenda)
There is as lot happening at this meeting, including the approval of three new hires, the awarding of a contract to repair the sea wall in front of the Surf Club and a proposed modification to the Town Ordinance involving tax relief for seniors.


Madison Advisory Committee on Community Appearance, 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, Room A, Town Campus (Agenda)
At this meeting, the Town of Madison is applying for a Special Exemption Permit to develop the newly-named Constitution Park at the former Griswold Airport site. According to the agenda, the developments will include "3 multi-purpose turf grass playing fields, conservation areas, constructed wetland, coastal grassland habitat areas, shared use path and trail system that includes overlooks, an elevated walkway and canoe and kayak launch, an existing hangar building to be adapted for re-use, proposed concession and restroom building, picnic area, natural amphitheater and access driveway and parking areas for 154 vehicles." The application for the permit isn't surprising, but it may be interesting if the committee gets more detailed plans from the city regarding the future park.

Guilford High School Building Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, Community Center (Website)
There will be a presentation of the 100 percent completed schematic design, but more importantly, a presentation of the cost estimates from the construction manager. This will determine what elements they committee will be able to keep and/or how much the potential reimbursement may be reduced.

Guilford Board of Education Special Meeting, 7 p.m., Thursday, April 12, Library, Baldwin Middle School (Agenda)
Just in case you don't get enough high school building action, this meeting Thursday might provide more insight from the Board of Education perspective, particularly regarding the cost estimates.

Am I missing anything? Something else I should be covering? Are you sick of hearing about the Guilford High School Building Committee? Let me know in the comments or at cmartinez@nhregister.com.

Thanks for visiting the new Shoreline Scoop blog from the New Haven Register! I'm Cecelia Martinez, the new Madison and Guilford reporter here, and I'll be using this blog to bring you additional coverage of these shoreline towns. Here are some examples of what you can expect from this blog:

- Details from public meetings that may not have made it in the newspaper
- Advanced notice of meetings you may want to attend
- Information about upcoming community events and fundraisers
- Recognition for students and others who achieve academically and are making a difference in their community
- Photos taken around Madison and Guilford (feel free to submit your own to cmartinez@nhregister.com)
- Information about events, specials and sales going on at area businesses
- Guest posts from Madison and Guilford residents

A little about myself: I recently moved to the New Haven area from Upstate New York where I worked as a reporter at the Troy Record. I have also worked at Metroland in Albany, N.Y. and was editor of my college newspaper. I now live with my family in North Haven, and am excited to get to know everyone in the shoreline area and dig into the many exciting stories happening in Madison and Guilford.

If you have any ideas for this blog, please comment or drop me a line at cmartinez@nhregister.com. I'm also looking for anyone interested in writing guest posts on any topic related to the shoreline -- great fishing spots, your favorite restaurant, a new program at a local school, etc. Also, I'll be posting photos to this blog while I'm out reporting, and encourage you to send in any pictures you take. Spring is here, why not submit some pictures of the beautiful blooms downtown? Help me make this blog a part of your own community.

You can find the Shoreline Scoop on Facebook at facebook.com/registershorelinescoop, and friend me personally at facebook.com/cmartinezregister. I'm also on Twitter @dcecelia at can be contacted at 203-789-5734.