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Thursday, nov 28
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Community Service
Obituaries
Hundreds Take Part In Funeral For Firefighter Killed Battling Blaze: 'He Had Heart Of Gold'
Mourners lined the roads leading to the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford on Monday, Oct. 28, to pay their respects to Robert "Sharkey" Sharkevich Sr. His casket was carried by a fire engine that was preceded by a cadre of police vehicles. His casket, draped in an American flag, was carried to its final resting place by his family and the firefighters who served alongside him. Sharkevich Sr., age 66, was a lifelong firefighter. He served with the Hartford Fire Department for 25 years and the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years. Related Re…
Obituaries
'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Monroe Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death
A Connecticut community is preparing to bury one of its heroes after the longtime Fairfield County firefighter died earlier this week. John "JB" Pyrek-Bennett, of Monroe, was just 55 when he died on Monday, Oct. 14, surrounded by his family at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, his obituary said. His wife of 29 years and three children survive him. Bennett spent his life giving back to his community, his family said. He served as assistant chief of the Glenbrook Fire Department in Stamford and was a lifetime member of the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department.…
Lifestyle
'Divine' Show Shot In CT With Hollywood Legend Ready For Its Debut
It's a show about spreading grace with a famous face and a familiar place. That's the pitch for the new season of "Divine Renovation, Destination: New England," a home renovation show filmed entirely in northwestern Connecticut. The first episode will premiere on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 5:30 a.m. on Fox 61 in Hartford and will air each Saturday for four more weeks. The episodes are also currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Roku, among other platforms. The first season, filmed in North Carolina, can also be viewed on those streamers. Erik Estrada, of "CHiPs" fame, will host t…
News
CNN Anchor From Westport Announces Husband's Death In Heartbreaking Post
Alisyn Camerota, A CNN anchor from Fairfield County, CT and with New Jersey roots is mourning the loss of her husband, she announced in a heartbreaking post on social media. Camerota, who was born in Shrewsbury, NJ said on Friday, Sept. 20 on Instagram that her husband, Tim Lewis, died on July 27, 2024 — two years after being diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Lewis' obituary on the Harding Funeral Home website says that he and Camerota live in Westport, CT. "I cannot imagine any human being soldiering through a devastating diagnosis with more humor, humility and bravery than Tim," …
News
Justin Timberlake Admits Driving While Impaired On Long Island, NY
Justin Timberlake formally accepted a plea deal in his alleged drunk driving case in New York. The former NSYNC frontman, age 43, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of driving while ability impaired in Sag Harbor Village court on Friday, Sept. 13. He was ordered to pay a $500 fine and complete 25 hours of community service within a year. He also agreed to make a public safety announcement about the dangers of drinking and driving. The judge said Timberlake's New York State driver's license will have a 90-day suspension. Earlier Report: NY Judge Suspends Justin Timberlake's Lic…
Obituaries
'We Will Remember': Loved Ones Honor 4 CT Residents Killed In Plane Crash
Communities across Connecticut are reeling following the death of four residents in a small airplane crash on Sunday, Sept. 8, as they returned home from a luncheon in Rhode Island. The victims were: Paul Pelletier, age 55, of Columbia, in Tolland County Frank Rodriquez, age 88, of Lebanon, in New London County Susan Van Ness, age 51, of Middletown, in Middlesex County Delilah Van Ness, age 15, of Middletown, in Middlesex County Pelletier was an aviation teacher at Middletown High School and Delilah Van Ness was his student. Susan Van Ness was Delilah's mother. Ori…
Obituaries
Man Who Died In River After Severe Flooding In Fairfield County Was 'An Easy Person To Love'
A local man who died unexpectedly during the historic flooding on Sunday, Aug. 18, in Fairfield County was known for his kindness, hard work, and caring, according to his obituary. Related: Man Found Dead In Aspetuck River In Fairfield After Police Discover Submerged Vehicle He went missing in the Aspetuck River in the town of Fairfield after his vehicle was located submerged in the water, according to authorities. Divers searched the surrounding waters and located his body in the river in Westport, said Fairfield Police Sgt. Michael Stahl. Robert Neil MacIsaac, age 59,…
Obituaries
Fairfield County Police Department Mourning Loss Of Beloved Officer
The Greenwich Police Department is mourning the loss of one its retired longtime beloved officers. Sergeant Richard Daly Jr., age 76, died on Friday, Aug. 23, the department said. Daly was born on Sept. 11, 1947, and raised in Stamford. Prior to becoming a Greenwich Police officer, he served in the US Army from 1967 to 1971. During his career as a police officer, he served in the Patrol and Detective Divisions before being promoted to Sergeant in 1998. Daly’s file contains numerous citations and commendations for exceptional police work, including many thank you letters from …
Lifestyle
Highway Superintendent Retires After 44 Years With Fairfield County Town Where He Was Born
A Fairfield County native who has worked for the public works department in the town he was born in for 44 years is calling it a career. New Canaan Public Works Highway Department Superintendent Mose Saccary recently retired. The department said Saccary was hired as a laborer for the Highway Department in April 1980 by Director of Public Works Lou Mareno and soon promoted to operator, with responsibility for the streets north of Turner Hill to the New York State line, west to Smith Ridge Road, and east to Valley Road. The Highway Department is responsible for maintaining the town's 125 mil…
News
Ex-NY Nurse May Dodge Jail After Making $1M Selling Fake Vaccine Cards, Prescriptions
A former pediatric nurse from Long Island could avoid jail time after confessing that she raked in over $1 million selling forged COVID-19 vaccine cards and opioid prescriptions. Julie DeVuono, age 51, of Amityville, pleaded guilty to filing forged vaccination record cards, laundering the criminal proceeds from selling the cards, and filing false prescriptions for opioids in Suffolk County Court in September 2023. According to prosecutors, DeVuono charged her customers $220 or $350, depending on the year, between June 2021 and September 2022 for entering their false vaccine information into…
Obituaries
Longtime Firefighter, Baseball Coach Born In Greenwich Dies
A beloved firefighter, baseball coach, and Navy veteran from Northern Westchester is being remembered for his longstanding dedication to helping his community. Banksville resident Preston Pratley died on Monday, May 27 at the age of 79, according to his obituary. Born in 1944, Pratley was born in Greenwich and later moved to Banksville after marrying his wife, Geraldine Kerslake, in May 1968. A graduate of St. Mary's High School in Greenwich, Pratley was a Navy veteran who also became a proud member of Local #38, Sheet Metal Workers. He was also…
Schools
US Presidential Scholars: 3 Fairfield County High School Seniors Earn Top Honor
Several Connecticut high school seniors have received one of the nation's highest honors for students. The three, all from Fairfield County, are among only 161 students across the entire US to be selected as 2024 US Presidential Scholars, the US Department of Education just announced on Thursday, May 9. The US Presidential Scholars Program was created in 1964 and recognizes a few of the country's most distinguished graduating seniors. Scholars are chosen based on academic success, excellence in the arts and technical education, and commitment to community service and leadership.…
News
CT Resident Who Embezzled From Family Company Sentenced
A Connecticut man has been sentenced in a scheme to embezzle more than $927,000 from the company where he worked. New Haven County resident Matthew Blackwell, age 41, of Woodbridge, was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for tax evasion, according to Leonard Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and perform 120 hours of community service during his supervised release, Boyle said. Blackwell was the vice president of operations and a family-owned food company that is based in Or…
Obituaries
Beloved HS Teacher, Coach Who Was College Standout In Connecticut Dies
A lifelong Hudson Valley resident who was a beloved high school coach, and teacher, as well as the chief of a local fire department, and a standout college athlete in Connecticut, has died. Northern Westchester resident Michael Repp, of Somers and formerly of Katonah, died on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at age 82 at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco. He was born in Orange County on May 15th, 1939, in Cornwall, to the late Michael and Irene Repp. He was raised in Katonah, attended Saint Mary’s School in Katonah, and was a member of the first graduating class from John Jay High S…
Politics
Proposed Bill Would Fine CT Residents For Not Voting
Lawmakers in Connecticut have proposed a new bill that could force state residents to vote, or else face a fine. Mandatory voting with a potential $20 fee for violators who cannot provide a valid reason for not heading to the polls was one of more than two dozen election-related bills that have been submitted to the state’s General Assembly. If approved, beginning in 2024 the Secretary of State would mail all qualified voters who did not cast a ballot with a form inquiring as to why no vote was made. If approved, beginning with the 2022 state election, each ballot would include a notice a…
Police & Fire
New Haven Police Chief To Step Down
The Chief of the New Haven Police Department will retire later this year, according to the New Haven Mayor's Office. Mayor Justin Elicker made the announcement on Tuesday, Jan. 5, that Chief Otoniel Reyes will retire this spring, although an exact date has not been chosen. “Over the past year, I have worked closely with Chief Reyes and gotten to know him well," said Elicker. "The Chief has provided consistent and guiding leadership to our Police Department through one of the most challenging years in recent history." The Mayor went on to say New Haven has been fortunate to benefi…
Police & Fire
Sign Of The Times? CT City Starts Community-Service Police Unit
Amid the terse, national debate on police operations, a Connecticut city has developed a new law enforcement unit dedicated to community service. The new unit appears to address two sides of the policing debate: the demand for more community services - something the Defund the Police movement has championed - without cutting funding for police - which is something the Back the Blue campaign has promoted. On Monday, Nov. 9, the new Community Impact Unit of the Wallingford Police was announced. The goal of the unit is to free up patrol officers from responding to less-intense pol…
News
Lori Loughlin, Designer Husband Sentenced For College Admissions Scam
Long Island native Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, will spend time behind bars for paying bribes in the so-called "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal. Loughlin, the former “Full House” star, was sentenced to two months in prison on Friday, Aug. 21, while her husband was sentenced to five months for their roles in conspiring to pay a half-million-dollar bribe to get the couple’s two daughters into the University of Southern California. The two had been engaged in a legal battle over the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scam for…
Business
Eversource Ranks No. 1 Among Nation's Most Responsible Energy Companies, Newsweek Says
Eversource has been named America’s Most Responsible energy and utility company by Newsweek. In a new study, Eversource was recognized on the magazine’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies.” It ranked first in the energy and utility category and was 72nd out of 2,000 companies that were evaluated. Newsweek partnered with global data research firm Statista Inc. to publish its first ranking of America's Most Responsible Companies. Statista worked from a universe of 2000 public companies to determine which firms were tops when it came to doing good. According to Statista, the m…
News
FCI Danbury Employee Sentenced For Smuggling Phones Into Prison
A former employee at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury will avoid time behind bars after being busted bringing phones inside the prison. Eric Williams, 38, of Danbury, was sentenced to two years of probation and must complete 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty to providing contraband in prison over the summer. On July 9, 2017, Williams - who worked in the Food Service Department at FCI Danbury - attempted to smuggle four mobile phones and an electric beard trimmer into the prison by hiding the items in the hat as he entered the staff entrance," U.S. Attorney …
News
'Donut Boy,' 11-Year-Old Who Gives Out Treats Nationwide, Makes Stop For Cops In Norwalk
An 11-year-old boy from Alabama who loves to travel around the country handing out donuts to police officers is making a stop in the area. He was in Norwalk on Thursday, May 2 handing out donuts to show his thanks for the work they do. Tyler Curach, known as "Donut Boy," began handing out donuts to police across the country after giving a few to officers in his hometown while grocery shopping with his mother. When he asked her why they were so happy, she explained that police are not always appreciated or respected. Tyler thought about that for a while and decided he wanted to…
Lifestyle
Norwalk Senior Wins $100K College Scholarship
When Norwalk High School senior Emilia Cuevas found out she had won a $100,000 college scholarship, the young woman said she was speechless. Cuevas, this year’s winner of the 23rd annual Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship for Norwalk High School students, named after Kevin M. Eidt, who was an 18-year-old Boston College freshman when he died suddenly in 1997 from cardiac arrest while playing in a basketball game. "I was so overwhelmed at the thought that I had won," Cuevas. "All of the other finalists were so qualified and have such amazing accomplishments so it is an ho…
Lifestyle
Happy Elves Gift-Wrapping Fundraiser Benefits Weston Social Services
Want to enlist the help of Santa’s elves to finish your holiday gift-wrapping while making a positive difference in the community? Weston High School Key Club’s “Happy Elves” event has got you covered. Stop by Norfield Church (64 Norfield Road) Saturday, Dec. 22 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. with your gifts in hand to get them professionally wrapped and taken out to your car. Each gift costs just $2 to wrap, and the money raised will go directly to a great cause. “The supplies were donated by Weston Progress Fund, so all the money we raise will go directly to Weston residents in need,” said W…
News
Former CT Police Officer Who Distributed Steroids Sentenced
A former police officer in Connecticut has been sentenced after admitting to distributing steroids. East Haven resident Bryan Kelly, 46, a former member of the Hamden Police Department, has been sentenced to three years of probation, the first six of which must be served in home confinement with location monitoring, after pleading guilty to distributing anabolic steroids. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and must perform 100 hours of community service as part of his sentence. In December last year, the Statewide Narcotics Task Force West executed a court-authorized search of Kelly’s…
Schools
Longtime Police Dispatcher Launches Career In Security At School In Fairfield County
A longtime 911 dispatcher is beginning a new career in private security for a school in Fairfield County. Monday marked Ridgefield Police Dispatcher Isabel “Issy” Caporale's last day on the job after 11 years on the job before launching her new career at St. Mary's School in Ridgefield, the department. Caporale is a lifelong Ridgefield resident and has been described as the ideal definition of a “townie.” In her free time, Caporale is very active in the community in addition to spending hours as a referee for youth and college-level lacrosse, field hockey and basketball teams. Prior to d…
Lifestyle
New Canaan Residents To Serve Missions In Mexico, Germany
Two New Canaan High School graduates have been invited to serve missions in Mexico and Germany beginning this spring. Francesca “Chessie” Guynn has been called to serve an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guadalajara, Mexico. She will enter the Missionary Training Center in Mexico City on May 22 where she will have six-week training course in Spanish before starting her service in Guadalajara. In Guadalajara, she will be involved in proselyting, community service and leadership training. “I’m grateful for the support from my family and friends,” Guyn…
Police & Fire
Wilton Man Accused Of Killing Black Bears Gets Probation
WILTON, Conn. -- A Wilton man accused of killing two black bears in September was placed on a special probation that will see the charges dismissed if he does not commit a crime in the next two years, according to the Wilton Bulletin. Antonio Lio, 28, of Wilton had been arrested along with 34-year-old Daniel Moran of Wilton after Environmental Conservation Police said the pair had shot and killed two bears on Sept. 16. Police said that they received a tip and responded to a private property in Wilton to find Lio and Moran carrying a bear skin, head and paws in a backpack. Related story: Two…
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