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Environmental Conservation

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Spotted Lanternfly Located In Fairfield County, If You See One Squish It, Officials Say Spotted Lanternfly Located In Fairfield County, If You See One Squish It, Officials Say
Spotted Lanternfly Located In Fairfield County, If You See One Squish It, Officials Say The dreaded spotted lanternfly, which threatens trees, growing spaces, and urban canopies, has been spotted in Fairfield County. The latest sightings have been in Bridgeport parks and the community garden, according to the Bridgeport Sustainability Office and Parks and Recreation Department, which reported that residents spotted lanternflies in these areas. Both departments are asking residents for their assistance in getting rid of the dangerous pest.  City officials said that if you see a spotted lanternfly (SLF), please kill it; they are an invasive pest. "Look for the spotted red…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Fox Found Trapped In Tire Rescued In Connecticut Fox Found Trapped In Tire Rescued In Connecticut
Fox Found Trapped In Tire Rescued In Connecticut Environmental conservation officers in Connecticut rescued a fox after the animal got its head stuck in a tire over the weekend. Officers in the Northwest corner helped free the animal after it became trapped while it was likely chasing a small rodent, according to an announcement from Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police on Sunday, July 31. Authorities did not share the location where the incident took place. "With the help from the homeowners and a little baby oil, our wardens were able to safely free Mr. Fox," officials reported. "Although I’m sure he was 'tire'd out…

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by Nicole Valinote
Obituaries
17-Year-Old Victim Of Triple-Fatal CT Crash Remembered As 'Loving, Generous, Kind Soul' 17-Year-Old Victim Of Triple-Fatal CT Crash Remembered As 'Loving, Generous, Kind Soul'
17-Year-Old Victim Of Triple-Fatal CT Crash Remembered As 'Loving, Generous, Kind Soul' A 17-year-old girl who died in a crash last month in Connecticut is being remembered for her kindness and generosity.  Megan Nicole Povilaitis, of East Haven, died in a single-vehicle crash in New Haven County on Hosley Avenue in Branford at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, police reported. All three occupants of the vehicle died in the crash. Megan was identified as the driver, and the two passengers were identified as 19-year-old Anthony Dudchik, of East Haddam, and 22-year-old Robert Dudchik, of East Haven. Earlier report - Three Killed In Branford Crash According…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Community Becomes One Of First In Northeast To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Community Becomes One Of First In Northeast To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Community Becomes One Of First In Northeast To Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers In a unanimous and unprecedented decision, officials in a Westchester County municipality voted to ban gas-powered leaf blowers effective January 2022, becoming one of the first communities in the Northeast to take such action.  The Monday, Sept. 21 decision, according to the Village of Larchmont's Board of Trustees, was driven by environmental concerns.  “Larchmont is proud to be a leader in municipal green policy," said Mayor Lorraine Walsh. "Policies such as this, which ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers entirely, are essential if we are going to make meaningful progr…

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by Christina Coulter
News
COVID-19: Plastic Bag Fee Returns In Connecticut COVID-19: Plastic Bag Fee Returns In Connecticut
Covid-19: Plastic Bag Fee Returns In Connecticut After being suspended for more than three months, the plastic bag fee at retailers in Connecticut is back as the state recovers from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed an Executive Order on Thursday, March 26 suspending the $0.10 fee for each single-use plastic bag in an attempt to curtail the spread of COVID-19. That Executive Order expired on June 30, and as of Wednesday, July 1, retailers providing customers with plastic bags will once again be collecting the fee, which goes to the state’s Department of Revenue Services. If a store charges a …

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by Zak Failla
News
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US As if a global pandemic and worldwide economic crisis aren't enough to occupy us, there's now news of the arrival of a vicious, freakish-looking hornet with a venomous sting in the United States for the first time. Asian giant hornets can use shark-fin shaped appendages to destroy a beehive, decapitating its victims in a matter of minutes. “It’s a shockingly large hornet,” said Todd Murray, Washington State University's Extension entomologist and invasive species specialist. “It’s a health hazard, and more importantly, a significant predator of honey bees.” That's especially concerning sin…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Styrofoam Ban Approved For Norwalk Styrofoam Ban Approved For Norwalk
Styrofoam Ban Approved For Norwalk Styrofoam packing will soon be a thing of the past for one of Fairfield County’s largest cities. In an effort to aid the environment, the Common Council voted unanimously this week to ban styrofoam in Norwalk, effective as of April 22, 2020. According to studies, styrofoam is responsible for approximately 30 percent of all landfill volume nationwide and 20 percent of the litter in bodies of water. The chemicals used to make styrofoam have also been linked to cancer and neurological issues in humans. In Norwalk, the new ordinance will ban retailers from serving, selling, distributing or pro…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Rare Sighting: Man Walking Dog Captures Photo Of Beaver In NYC Rare Sighting: Man Walking Dog Captures Photo Of Beaver In NYC
Rare Sighting: Man Walking Dog Captures Photo Of Beaver In NYC A New York attorney out for a walk with his dog Hunter was enjoying the view of the Hudson River near West 70th Street in Manhattan when he spotted a fun and rare sight, a beaver out for a swim. At first Ralph Stone, 53, thought the little guy, or maybe girl, was a log floating near other pieces of wood in the area, then he saw it's head move.  Being the official New York State animal, and a rare sight, Stone did what all would do, he whipped out his phone around 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 5, and snapped a few shots of the beaver swimming along enjoying the morning.  A rare sighting: A beav…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Stop & Shop To Ban Plastic Bags At All CT Stores Stop & Shop To Ban Plastic Bags At All CT Stores
Stop & Shop To Ban Plastic Bags At All CT Stores In just days, Stop & Shop will become the latest retailer in Connecticut to ban the use of single-use plastic bags. After Big Y announcing that it is eliminating the use of plastic bags in its Connecticut stores, Stop & Shop said that that, beginning on Thursday, Aug. 1, stores will begin eliminating the use of plastic bags at checkout. The store also announced that it will begin charging 10 cents per paper bag as of Tuesday, Sept. 3. The move is part of a statewide effort. “We know that the environmental impact of plastics is something our customers and communities care about he…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Plastic Bag Ban To Take Effect At Prominent Connecticut Grocery Store Plastic Bag Ban To Take Effect At Prominent Connecticut Grocery Store
Plastic Bag Ban To Take Effect At Prominent Connecticut Grocery Store Plastic bags will soon be a thing of the past at a prominent Connecticut grocery store, as they begin phasing them out as part of efforts to become more economically friendly. Big Y announced that as of Thursday, Aug. 1, it will be eliminating single-use plastic bags from more than 80 markets and specialty stores located in Connecticut and Massachusetts.  "By working with shoppers, Big Y aims to further reduce consumption to make a difference across New England," the company announced. "As laws and regulations across the local communities that Big Y serves continue to change, the groce…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In The Area Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In The Area
Video: Curious Black Bear Caught On Camera Making The Rounds In The Area A  family enjoyed an unexpected guest when a black bear was caught taking an afternoon stroll through their backyard and into the woods. The bear was caught on surveillance camera in Putnam County at approximately 8:11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, in the backyard of a home in the Millpond Lane area in Kent, the family said. It could be seen sniffing along the ground as it made its way through the yard. In the video, the bear leisurely takes in the lay of the land, looking around while heading towards the trees in the backyard. Other recent sightings in the area have happened in North Cas…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Severe Storms Bring Big Change In Weather Pattern Severe Storms Bring Big Change In Weather Pattern
Severe Storms Bring Big Change In Weather Pattern The latest round of severe storms accompanying a cold front to move through the region has led to a big change in the weather pattern. It will become gradually less humid on Sunday, July 7 as clouds gradually give way to sun. The high temperature of around 82 degrees will be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Saturday.  Sunday will also start a stretch of dry days. Monday, July 8 will also be mostly sunny with a high temperature around 80 degrees. It will get warmer on Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10 with a high temperature in the upper 80s and plenty of sunshine both days. The…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Storm System Winds Down With Big Change In Weather Pattern Coming This Week Storm System Winds Down With Big Change In Weather Pattern Coming This Week
Storm System Winds Down With Big Change In Weather Pattern Coming This Week A storm system that brought a mix of snow, sleet and rain to the region will move out by midday, starting a week that will see a big change in the weather pattern. Precipitation will wrap up around noontime Sunday, March 10 on a cloudy and windy day in which the high temperature will be in the low 40s with a wind-chill factor between 25 and 35. Here's how the rest of the week shapes up: Monday, March 11: Mostly sunny with a high in the mid 40s. Tuesday, March 12: Sunny with a high in the low 40s. Wednesday, March 13: Sunny with a high in the mid 40s. Thursday, March 14: The ch…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Dutchess Will Become One Of Few Counties In NY To Ban Plastic Bags Dutchess Will Become One Of Few Counties In NY To Ban Plastic Bags
Dutchess Will Become One Of Few Counties In NY To Ban Plastic Bags Dutchess County is going green, and plastic bags will soon be a relic of the past at area retailers. Elected officials in Dutchess County have voted to eliminate single-use carryout bag at retail stores, joining several other counties in New York looking to ban plastic bags. The ban will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. Between 500 billion and one trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Less than 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled in the United States and they are not acceptable at certain recycling centers. "T…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Aw, Shucks: Oyster Found In Hudson River Described As 'Largest Ever' Aw, Shucks: Oyster Found In Hudson River Described As 'Largest Ever'
Aw, Shucks: Oyster Found In Hudson River Described As 'Largest Ever' Just in time for National Oyster Day on Sunday, Aug. 5 comes word that a massive oyster “the size of a small shoe” was picked up under a pier in the Hudson River. The River Project, an organization that works to provide the Hudson River, posted a picture of a 22-centimeter oyster, which was found by a construction worker working on Pier 40 near the Hudson River Park. On Facebook, the organization shared photos of the oyster, which easily trumped the size of a standard oyster found in a restaurant, which can be seen above. Officials said that the increase in marine wildlife shows that the wa…

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by Zak Failla
Business
$34.5M Plan To Replace IMAX Theater At Maritime Aquarium Still Alive $34.5M Plan To Replace IMAX Theater At Maritime Aquarium Still Alive
$34.5M Plan To Replace Imax Theater At Maritime Aquarium Still Alive A subcommittee of the Norwalk Common Council has endorsed a settlement agreement under which the state of Connecticut would pay The Maritime Aquarium $34.5 million to replace its popular IMAX Theater. Under the agreement, the state Department of Transportation would pay the aquarium to replace the theater and lost exhibit space due to the upcoming replacement of the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River, according to news reports. The legal settlement  covers replacement of the aquarium’s 20,000-gallon seal tank with a 150,000-gallon tank that meets modern standards and guidelines. According …

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by Jon Craig
Neighbors
Norwalk Land Trust Starts Drive To Preserve Historic White Barn Property Norwalk Land Trust Starts Drive To Preserve Historic White Barn Property
Norwalk Land Trust Starts Drive To Preserve Historic White Barn Property NORWALK, Conn. — The Norwalk Land Trust has launched a campaign to raise $4 million to purchase the White Barn Property and preserve the 15.4-acres as woodlands, wetlands, and meadows with the eye-catching Stony Brook running through it.  The historic property is located on the Norwalk/Westport border and plays an important role protecting both the quality and quantity of drinking water for the local watershed. “Saving this beautiful property,” says Julian Henkin, a member of the Norwalk Land Trust’s board of directors, “is essential to protect a critical habitat for wildlife and a precious…

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by Daily Voice