Fundraiser Reaches Goal For Funeral Of Stamford HS Student Found Dead In New Canaan Fundraiser Reaches Goal For Funeral Of Stamford HS Student Found Dead In New Canaan
Fundraiser Reaches Goal For Funeral Of Stamford HS Student Found Dead In New Canaan A fundraiser for a Fairfield County high school student who was found dead in a wooded area has reached its goal to pay for funeral expenses. Related: ID Released For Man Found Dead In New Canaan Woods Santos Eujedo Perez, exact age not provided, of Stamford, was found dead Tuesday, July 9, in New Canaan in a wooded area after working at a construction site. Perez, a quiet but friendly Westhill High School student, was reported missing by family on Monday, July 8, according to the New Cannan Police. "Everyone associated with Stamford Public Schools is devastated by the passing of S…
Traveling Barber Burned In RV Explosion In CT: 'This Will Be Long Recovery' Traveling Barber Burned In RV Explosion In CT: 'This Will Be Long Recovery'
Traveling Barber Burned In RV Explosion In CT: 'This Will Be Long Recovery' A Connecticut barber and tattoo artist known for traveling to his customers faces a long recovery after being severely burned in an explosion inside the recreational vehicle that he worked out of.  New London County resident Joshua Serrano of Norwich, also known as "Mostro," was injured in an explosion on Saturday, Dec. 16 while refilling his propane tank in the Tolland County town of Columbia.  Serrano, the owner of The Barber Express, is known for meeting his clients where they are to make haircuts more accessible to them. To do this, he worked out of his RV, which had…
Thousands Raised For 'Sweet, Gentle' Greenwich Hospital Worker Injured On Vacation Thousands Raised For 'Sweet, Gentle' Greenwich Hospital Worker Injured On Vacation
Thousands Raised For 'Sweet, Gentle' Greenwich Hospital Worker Injured On Vacation Hundreds of people have come together to help out two beloved hospital workers from Westchester who became stuck in Costa Rica after their vacation went horribly wrong.  Westchester residents Fenton Soliz and his girlfriend, Gabby Sandaire, were horribly injured on Saturday, March 25 during their vacation in Costa Rica when the brakes on their rental car failed while they were on their way to the airport to fly home.  To avoid a head-on collision, they swerved and their vehicle went off a cliff, resulting in the couple both suffering severe injuries that involved br…
Hundreds Of Thousands Raised For CT Animal Non-Profit Ravaged By Barn Fire Hundreds Of Thousands Raised For CT Animal Non-Profit Ravaged By Barn Fire
Hundreds Of Thousands Raised For CT Animal Non-Profit Ravaged By Barn Fire After losing dozens of animals in a barn fire in New Haven County last week, people are digging into their hearts – and their pockets – to help one local non-profit recover from the tragedy. A fire ravaged Kelly's Kids Inc., located at 18 Spring Road in Prospect, on Friday night, Feb. 4, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Ashley Kiefer. "The fire grew too quickly to salvage anything else and the barn was quickly engulfed in flames," Kiefer wrote. "The building was completely destroyed, and sadly most of the animals were lost. It is a heartbreaking realization that…
Thousands Raised For Paralyzed Danbury Teen After Suicide Attempt: 'An Awesome Son' Thousands Raised For Paralyzed Danbury Teen After Suicide Attempt: 'An Awesome Son'
Thousands Raised For Paralyzed Danbury Teen After Suicide Attempt: 'An Awesome Son' Community members are rallying to support the family of a 14-year-old Danbury boy who was paralyzed after a suicide attempt.  The support is coming in the form of a GoFundMe page, which has raised thousands of dollars so far to benefit the family of Higor Santos, who attempted suicide by jumping off of a bridge in Danbury on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022.  The attempt came after much bullying that Santos had been experiencing at school, his family said. Luckily, Santos survived the jump, but was paralyzed, which "changed everything in the house," his mother, Idaiane Santos, wrote on the fundraise…
Beloved Ridgefield Restaurant Worker Loses Home In Fire: Thousands Raised From Fundraiser Beloved Ridgefield Restaurant Worker Loses Home In Fire: Thousands Raised From Fundraiser
Beloved Ridgefield Restaurant Worker Loses Home In Fire: Thousands Raised From Fundraiser A beloved Ridgefield restaurant employee and mother of three who lost her home in a fire is now receiving a slew of donations from her community to help her rebuild.  On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Orfa Escobedo-Diaz, a well-known employee of Bailey's Backyard, located in Ridgefield at 23 Bailey Ave., lost her home after a fire destroyed it.  Now homeless, Escobedo-Diaz is looking for a new place for her, her husband, and three daughters to rebuild and start over. However, their community made sure that they will not have to do it alone and started a GoFundMe page to raise money for them.  "Orfa i…
Boston Man Flew His Family To Connecticut For Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: Report Boston Man Flew His Family To Connecticut For Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: Report
Boston Man Flew His Family To Connecticut For Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: Report It's hard to be a Krispy Kreme lover in the land of Dunkin' Donuts. For one Boston man, it meant loading his family in a plane bound for Connecticut to score his favorite sweet treat.  A man only identified as Chase said he was stunned when he realized there were no Krispy Kreme stores in Boston, NBC reported. There are none in Massachusetts, Vermont, or New Hampshire.  The closest is in New London County, Connecticut, in Uncasville, a rural area known mostly for the Mohegan Sun casinos and resort hotel. That's more than a two-hour drive, but Chase wasn't about to give up that eas…
Daily Voice Founder Shares "A Lifetime of Work" in His New Book Daily Voice Founder Shares "A Lifetime of Work" in His New Book
Daily Voice Founder Shares "A Lifetime of Work" in His New Book Ten years after founding Daily Voice, Carll Tucker is bringing out a new book called Collected Words. We sat down to talk to him about his book, Daily Voice, and what he’s been doing since his retirement in 2019. DV: So what is Collected Words? Tucker: Collected Words is five books I’ve written during the last thirty years. The first, Good Morning, was mined from the daily email missives I’ve been sending to my friends every day for eight years. Our Rift is a book of poems. Paddle’s Last Gift is a memoir of our beloved family dog. Dear David is a letter I wrote to my youngest son on his bar…
Candidate Accused of Domestic Violence, Dropped Out Of Race, May Still Win GOP Nomination Candidate Accused of Domestic Violence, Dropped Out Of Race, May Still Win GOP Nomination
Candidate Accused of Domestic Violence, Dropped Out Of Race, May Still Win GOP Nomination Early voting results indicate that a man who was arrested and then dropped out of the primary election for Congressional Second District could win the nomination. As of Wednesday, Aug. 12, morning, Republican Thomas Gilmer, who had dropped out of the race on Monday, Aug. 10, was leading Justin Anderson by just a handful of votes: Gilmer: 7,875 Anderson: 7,797 Gilmer, 29, of Madison, was arrested Monday, Aug. 10, and charged with first-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree strangulation, police said.  The Connecticut GOP confirmed Aug. 11 that Gilmer had been arrested and drop…
New Flu-Related Death Reported In Connecticut New Flu-Related Death Reported In Connecticut
New Flu-Related Death Reported In Connecticut There has been another death related to influenza in Connecticut reported the past week, bringing the total to 78 in total during the current flu season. The Connecticut Department of Health issued its report for the week ending on Saturday, May 11, and the virus continues to spread throughout the state. The 78 deaths are still less than at this time last year. The CDC said that reported cases tend to increase in November before peaking between December and February. Flu season typically lasts through the middle of the spring and has been tapering off in recent weeks. The organization esti…
11 More Flu-Related Deaths Reported In Connecticut 11 More Flu-Related Deaths Reported In Connecticut
11 More Flu-Related Deaths Reported In Connecticut There have been 11 more deaths related to influenza in Connecticut reported the past week, bringing the total to 55 this flu season. The Connecticut Department of Health issued its report for the week ending on Saturday, March 16 and the virus continues to spread throughout the state. Despite the high body count, it is still fewer deaths than this time last year. Officials from the Connecticut State Health Department announced this week that the flu is spreading rapidly throughout the state, with some hospitals reportedly limiting visitation to prevent the spread of the virus. Flu season k…
DEC Provides Guide To Help Avoid Conflicts With Coyotes DEC Provides Guide To Help Avoid Conflicts With Coyotes
DEC Provides Guide To Help Avoid Conflicts With Coyotes With winter slowly transforming to spring and temperatures warming up, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has released its annual guide on how to avoid conflicts with coyotes. DEC officials released the guide on Monday as warmer weather will soon bring coyotes out from the wild to set up dens for pups that will arrive during the spring. "This time of year, DEC sees an uptick in questions from New Yorkers regarding coyotes and their behavior," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in the statement. "While coyotes are an integral and beneficial part of our natural ecosys…
Fairfield County Residents Charged With DWI In NY State Police Stops Fairfield County Residents Charged With DWI In NY State Police Stops
Fairfield County Residents Charged With DWI In NY State Police Stops New York State Police troopers busted nearly two dozen local motorists who were allegedly driving while impaired in the area over the past week. The local residents charged were: Dutchess County On Friday, Jan. 11, State Police troopers from Rhinebeck arrested Gerard V. Ollis, 43, of Poughkeepsie, for DWAI Drugs. He was traveling on Route 9 in Rhinebeck, when he was struck a mailbox and then left the scene. Ollis was stopped on Mills Cross Road in Hyde Park, the investigation revealed that he was impaired by drugs, and he was subsequently arrested. On Saturday, Jan. 12…
Bridgeport Radio Host Is Third Trans Contestant In 'Jeopardy!' History Bridgeport Radio Host Is Third Trans Contestant In 'Jeopardy!' History
Bridgeport Radio Host Is Third Trans Contestant In 'Jeopardy!' History This is one of the most popular stories of 2017 in Fairfield County. The fourth time’s a charm for former WPKN-FM radio host Fran Fried, who had a quartet of auditions over 13 years before she finally snagged a spot as a contestant on TV’s “Jeopardy!” Fried, who is only the third transgender contestant ever to pick up a buzzer on the ABC game show, will appear on Tuesday night’s episode. “It’s all been like an out-of-body experience,” said the Prospect resident who spent 13 years as a host of WPKN’s “The Sleep Deprivation Experiment” and “Franorama.” Fried first tried out for the game sho…
Waveny LifeCare Network Names Barksdale President And CEO Waveny LifeCare Network Names Barksdale President And CEO
Waveny LifeCare Network Names Barksdale President And CEO Russell R. Barksdale, Jr. MPA/MHA, FACHE, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Waveny LifeCare Network. In his new position, Barksdale will be responsible for managing the strategic growth, operations, development and future direction of Waveny’s comprehensive continuum of healthcare. The New Canaan-based nonprofit eldercare organization includes 76 skilled nursing beds at Waveny Care Center, 50 assisted living apartments for memory care at The Village, 37 independent living apartments at The Inn, a robust and growing home-based services division that includes Waveny Home …
Waveny Residents Clown Around At Main Street Circus Waveny Residents Clown Around At Main Street Circus
Waveny Residents Clown Around At Main Street Circus On Friday, September 21, Waveny’s “Main Street” at The Village was transformed into a 3-ring circus. Circus acts included a professional stilt walker, hula hoop performer and Waveny’s volunteer pet therapy dog, Meca, as “the gentle lion.” Even Waveny’s residents, short-term rehab patients and Adult Day Program participants tried their hands at some tricks of their own. For more information about Waveny’s Adult Day Program, which provides free local door-to-door transportation throughout most of lower Fairfield County, call 203.594.5429 or visit waveny.org.
Waveny Celebrates Dog Days Of Summer With Furry Friends Waveny Celebrates Dog Days Of Summer With Furry Friends
Waveny Celebrates Dog Days Of Summer With Furry Friends Every dog had its day at Waveny LifeCare Network’s annual “Dog Days of Summer Dog Show,” one of the nonprofit eldercare organization’s most awaited therapeutic programs of the season. Fifteen 4-legged friends of all sizes and breeds paraded down “Main Street” at The Village with their owners, to the delight of Waveny’s residents, short-term rehab patients and Adult Day Program participants. Waveny’s seniors awarded each dog with a unique title, a hand-made certificate and homemade dog biscuits they baked just for them. For more information about Waveny’s Adult Day Program, which provides fr…
Stamford Seniors Celebrate National Puppy Day With New Community Dog Stamford Seniors Celebrate National Puppy Day With New Community Dog
Stamford Seniors Celebrate National Puppy Day With New Community Dog In the spirit of National Puppy Day on Friday, March 23, seniors in Stamford have adopted the newest member of their community, who was rescued from a high-kill shelter. The residents and staff of the Edgehill retirement community in Stamford welcomed Savannah, a 3-month-old Chesapeake Bay retriever to their community as they get set to celebrate National Puppy Day, which is being observed on Friday around the country. Residents at Edgehill noted that Savannah was rescued from a high-kill shelter in Mississippi and adopted from the SPCA of Westchester County. She will now call Edgehill her …
Community Rallies Around 9-Month-Old Daughter Of Fairfield Businessman, 47 Community Rallies Around 9-Month-Old Daughter Of Fairfield Businessman, 47
Community Rallies Around 9-Month-Old Daughter Of Fairfield Businessman, 47 A GoFundMe fundraising campaign has been created for the daughter of a Fairfield County businessman who hails from the Hudson Valley who suddenly passed away last week. Edward “Ted” K. Dell’Abate, a native of Pound Ridge and founder of Phaedrus Technologies in Manhattan, died on Feb. 12 after a brief battle with cancer. He most recently worked at Bridgewater Associates in Westport, Conn. In response to his death, the fundraising campaign was started for his infant daughter, Matilda, who is 9-months old. In one weekend, more than $3,000 was raised. “Ted was overcome after a very brief battl…
Our Lady Of Fatima School Teacher Battling Cancer Our Lady Of Fatima School Teacher Battling Cancer
Our Lady Of Fatima School Teacher Battling Cancer Geri Galasso says she’s not special. But her students are quick to disagree, according to a story reported at www.thehour.com. In fact, they say the cheery mathematics and eighth-grade homeroom teacher is the one who makes Our Lady of Fatima School in Wilton special.  She helps them understand how to add and subtract integers, with her Galasso Golden Rule: “Keep, Add, Change.” She exemplifies the “Fatima Difference” by exhibiting faith, knowledge and respect. And she is readily available to listen and to offer encouragement, like the time Anthony broke his foot a few days before the 11th an…
Fairfield Dog On Wheels Captures Hearts Across The World Fairfield Dog On Wheels Captures Hearts Across The World
Fairfield Dog On Wheels Captures Hearts Across The World FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- A paralyzed Fairfield dog has captured nearly 100,000 hearts on Instagram. Albert -- or @albertonwheels -- could get even more famous, as he's in the runnings for a prestigious Shorty Award, which honors the crem de la crem of social media. Past winners include Taylor Swift, Tyler Oakley, Casey Neistat, Hannibal Buress, Malala Yousafzai, Jenna Marbles, J.K. Rowling, Adele and DJ Khaled. The 8-year-old Shih Tzu-Poodle mix aims to show that special needs dogs can live life to the fullest.  He is paralyzed from the hips down -- likely in a car accident -- and was rescued …
New Court Honors Late Fairfield County Athlete, 26, Killed In Crash New Court Honors Late Fairfield County Athlete, 26, Killed In Crash
New Court Honors Late Fairfield County Athlete, 26, Killed In Crash Emmanuel Omokaro of Danbury has been thinking of ways to keep Joe Neumuller's name alive ever since he was killed in a 2016 car crash. Last October, the idea to build a basketball court in Neumuller's came to Omokaro. He is currently seeking a playground permit from the city so construction can begin at St. Gregory The Great School on Great Plain Road. Neumuller was a parishioner of the church. Omokaro says the court will solve two positives. "Everyone always looking for somewhere to play basketball in Danbury," the 28-year-old told Daily Voice. "That gives people a new spo…
#MikeyStrong: $165,00 Raised For Norwalk Boy Fighting Stage 4 Cancer #MikeyStrong: $165,00 Raised For Norwalk Boy Fighting Stage 4 Cancer
#MikeyStrong: $165,00 Raised For Norwalk Boy Fighting Stage 4 Cancer NORWALK, Conn. -- More than $165,000 had been raised as of Tuesday evening on a GoFundMe site launched last week for a Norwalk boy battling cancer. Earlier this month, Michael Schneider was diagnosed with Metastatic Neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system growing in his adrenal gland.  In an effort to aid the family, Heidi Rieger LaFreniere launched the fundraiser. "People who know him will tell you that he is one of the most fun-loving, goofy, polite, caring, smart, athletic and tough kids that they know," she wrote.  "Mikey will fight. He is the true definition of a…
Fairfield County Lottery Winner Was Gifted $1,000,000 Ticket For Holidays Fairfield County Lottery Winner Was Gifted $1,000,000 Ticket For Holidays
Fairfield County Lottery Winner Was Gifted $1,000,000 Ticket For Holidays David Sanchez of Bridgeport's holiday gift from an employee won him millions. After being gifted a CT Super Draw ticket, Sanchez realized he was the winner. HIs ticket number – 193232 – proved to be an exact match to the Jan. 1, 2018, $1,000,000 top prize winning ticket. “We found out the ticket was a winner on Jan. 3, and had kept it on our fridge,” said Sanchez, whose ticket was purchased at Snaxx Plus in Stratford. “It took us a couple minutes to check it out”  In fact, Sanchez’ wife called their son for an extra set of eyes.  “We woke up our son—to come check the ticket,” Sanchez de…
Poll On Tolls: AAA Releases Results Of Transportation Funding Survey Poll On Tolls: AAA Releases Results Of Transportation Funding Survey
Poll On Tolls: AAA Releases Results Of Transportation Funding Survey FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — Nearly half of state motorists support adding tolls to interstates over other ways to fund transportation costs, according to a new AAA poll. In addition, motorists “strongly support” a constitutional amendment for a transportation lock box, according to the poll of 980 state drivers. The survey was conducted by AAA Allied and AAA Northeast, the two clubs that serve Connecticut. About 47 percent of respondents said they would support tolls, while another 16 percent favored increasing federal and state gas taxes. Five percent supported charging a fee based on annu…
Photographer Writing Book On Weir Farm — Connecticut’s First National Park Photographer Writing Book On Weir Farm — Connecticut’s First National Park
Photographer Writing Book On Weir Farm — Connecticut’s First National Park WILTON, Conn. — The first book about Weir Farm National Historic Site, Connecticut’s first national park unit and the only one dedicated to American painting, will be authored by Xiomaro, a visiting artist at the park.  About 150 of Xiomaro’s photographs will be accompanied with captions that, he said, “tell the big story of a small park.”  The 60-acre national historic site, nestled in Wilton and Ridgefield, is where J. Alden Weir (1852-1919), the father of American Impressionist painting, lived and created iconic works now seen at the Met, the Smithsonian and other world-class museums. “…
Weston's Christopher Plummer, Westport Native Justin Paul Score Oscar Noms Weston's Christopher Plummer, Westport Native Justin Paul Score Oscar Noms
Weston's Christopher Plummer, Westport Native Justin Paul Score Oscar Noms WESTON, Conn. -- Weston resident Christopher Plummer was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on Tuesday, while Westport native Justin Paul was nominated for Best Original Song. Plummer was nominated for his role as J. Paul Getty in "All the Money in the World." The role had previously been played by Kevin Spacey, but when sexual misconduct allegations against Spacey surfaced in the fall, director Ridley Scott re-shot his scenes with Plummer. Plummer, 88, was nominated for a Golden Globe for the role, but lost to Sam Rockwell. Paul, a 2003 Staples grad, was nom…
Wilton Woman Crafts Stories On Page and Screen Wilton Woman Crafts Stories On Page and Screen
Wilton Woman Crafts Stories On Page and Screen Megan Smith-Harris is all about telling important stories. By day she's the editor of Wilton Magazine but after hours, before hours and weekends, she wears a different hat: That of a filmmaker. In her 25+-year career, Smith-Harris has produced 30 films -- 24 short documentaries on famous people in the arts in Canada and six long-form documentaries in the U.S. The Wilton resident is also a playwright, a screenwriter, and is in the midst of developing a television series.  "My friends think I’m a little crazy because I’m always juggling various projects, but once again, everything is re…
Fairfield County Hospice House Opens Its Doors In Stamford Fairfield County Hospice House Opens Its Doors In Stamford
Fairfield County Hospice House Opens Its Doors In Stamford Stamford, Conn. – Fairfield County Hospice House, the first residential home in the state for individuals receiving home hospice care, opened its doors to residents on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Fairfield County Hospice House is located at 1 Den Road in Stamford, and is dedicated to filling a need for those receiving home hospice care in Fairfield County. The house provides 24-hour private assisted living services for people receiving home hospice care from an accredited hospice agency, and offers people a place to find meaning and joy in their final days. The 10,000-square foot home is located in…
Stratford Native Seeks Donor For Life-Saving Kidney Transplant Stratford Native Seeks Donor For Life-Saving Kidney Transplant
Stratford Native Seeks Donor For Life-Saving Kidney Transplant STRATFORD, Conn. — Stratford native Patrick Pantalone, a 1997 graduate of Stratford High, is reaching out to his hometown in hopes of finding a kidney donor for a life-saving transplant. Pantalone was diagnosed nearly four years ago with IgA nephropathy, also known as Berger's disease. He must undergo dialysis treatment two to three days per week for five to six hours at a time.  He has an artificial vein in his arm because his veins could not handle the dialysis, and he also suffers from blood clots that require surgery.  Pantalone has been on the waiting list for a kidney for three years,…
Senators Fight To Save Tax Break For Newman's Own Foundation In Westport Senators Fight To Save Tax Break For Newman's Own Foundation In Westport
Senators Fight To Save Tax Break For Newman's Own Foundation In Westport WESTPORT, Conn. — Over the past 25 years, Newman's Own Foundation in Westport has donated $512 million to charities. But a provision in ongoing federal budget negotiations could force the nonprofit founded by actor Paul Newman to close its doors due to a disastrous tax. U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) have written to Senate leaders for help for the nonprofit. When Paul Newman died in 2008, ownership of the actor’s eponymous food company, Newman’s Own, was turned over to the nonprofit foundation. It donates 100 percent of its profits after taxes to charity.  Because…