'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death 'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death
'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': 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.…
New CT Eatery Enjoying Success Months After Opening New CT Eatery Enjoying Success Months After Opening
New CT Eatery Enjoying Success Months After Opening Mere months after opening its doors, a new restaurant in Connecticut is already a hit with sushi and ramen lovers.  Since opening in mid-July, Tomo 202, located in the Fairfield County town of Brookfield at 806 Federal Rd., has received plenty of praise for its fresh sushi rolls, ramen, and boba tea.  The eatery is the sister restaurant to Tomo 68 in Naugatuck, Ramen & Bao in Oxford, and Ji Bei Chuan in Orange, all in New Haven County.  Those who stop by the new location can indulge in delicious sushi rolls, sashimi, and tempura, as well as ramen, dumplings, oysters…
Boater Dumped Fuel, Untreated Human Waste Into CT Harbor: Police Boater Dumped Fuel, Untreated Human Waste Into CT Harbor: Police
Boater Dumped Fuel, Untreated Human Waste Into CT Harbor: Police A 79-year-old Connecticut man admitted to police that he dumped diesel fuel and untreated human waste from his boat into Norwalk Harbor last week, authorities said.  Stanley Sikorski, of Norwalk in Fairfield County, was charged with discharging sewage in a no-discharge zone, misuse of a marine sanitation device, and littering in the water, police said on Tuesday, Oct. 15.  Norwalk Police were called to a reported diesel spill just before 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, at Manresa Island. Officers could see a sheen on the water and smell fuel in the air.  They spotted an…
New CT Cannabis Dispensary Holds Grand Opening: Here's Where New CT Cannabis Dispensary Holds Grand Opening: Here's Where
New CT Cannabis Dispensary Holds Grand Opening: Here's Where A cannabis dispensary brand with several stores across Connecticut celebrated the grand opening of its newest location.  Higher Collective held a grand opening for its new Fairfield County cannabis dispensary at 3369 Fairfield Ave. in Bridgeport on Friday morning, Oct. 11.  The store, owned by Connecticut native Keanaha Abrams, will provide cannabis flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers, edibles, tinctures, and more to Fairfield County's largest city.  Abrams said she was "incredibly excited" to open her store in a "dynamic and forward-thinking community."  "I’m proud to …
Support Pours In For Detective In Coma After Brain Tumor Removal Support Pours In For Detective In Coma After Brain Tumor Removal
Support Pours In For Detective In Coma After Brain Tumor Removal A police department in Connecticut is leading an effort to lend help to one of its members who is fighting the health battle of his life following a brain tumor removal.  Detective 1st Grade Mike Rooney, a member of the Greenwich Police Department, is currently in a coma following his surgery at Yale New Haven Hospital to have a tumor removed from his brain, according to Greenwich Police Silver Shield Association President Peter Schmitt.  After the procedure was finished, Rooney's brain began unexpectedly swelling, causing him to enter into a coma, Schmitt said…
Businessman Gets Year In Prison For Tax Evasion, Must Pay $237K: Feds Businessman Gets Year In Prison For Tax Evasion, Must Pay $237K: Feds
Businessman Gets Year In Prison For Tax Evasion, Must Pay $237K: Feds A Connecticut businessman who admitted to hiding cash from the government for a decade was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and had to pay more than $200,000, federal authorities said.  Vishal Dhar, age 56, of New Canaan in Fairfield County, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May and was sentenced on Monday, Oct, 7, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. He must serve two years of probation after he is released.  Dhar was accused of operating multiple entities such as Grey Brown, Inc. (a holding company for several restaurants operating under the name “Oaxaca Taqueria”), West …
Police Respond To Threat At Danbury Fair Mall Police Respond To Threat At Danbury Fair Mall
Police Respond To Threat At Danbury Fair Mall Police responded to a threat involving a popular mall in Connecticut. It happened late Sunday afternoon, Oct. 6 in Fairfield County at the Danbury Fair Mall. Danbury Police say officers responded to a report of a possible incident at the mall at around 4:30 p.m.  The officers quickly determined that the threat was not credible and there was no danger to the public, according to police.  "This incident remains under investigation as a swatting call," according to Danbury Police. The mall reopened for business as usual. 
New Rankings: These Are Connecticut's Best High Schools New Rankings: These Are Connecticut's Best High Schools
New Rankings: These Are Connecticut's Best High Schools Niche released its Best High Schools in the Country list this week, and while no Connecticut school made it onto the national charts, several of the state's public schools scored near the top.  Here is a breakdown of the top 10 rated schools in Connecticut.  Click here for the full list, and click here for a breakdown of the survey's methodology.  10: Glastonbury High School Researchers credited Glastonbury High's teacher-to-student ratio with his solid test scores. With 13 pupils per educator, the Hartford County school allows teachers more time to work with the …
6-Year-Old Dies After Baseball Bat Attack: Police 6-Year-Old Dies After Baseball Bat Attack: Police
6-Year-Old Dies After Baseball Bat Attack: Police A 6-year-old boy who was beaten into critical condition along with his 4-year-old sibling and mother has died, authorities announced on Wednesday, Oct. 2.  The attack happened at a Fairfield County apartment in the 2400 block of Main St. in Bridgeport on Wednesday, Sept. 25, authorities said. Officers were called to the home around 10 a.m. to reports of a vicious assault.  The two children and their 33-year-old mother were critically injured in the beating, police said, but they were later released from the hospital. Bridgeport Police announced on social media that the oldest boy …
Man, 80, Killed After Crashing Into Guardrail On Route 7 Man, 80, Killed After Crashing Into Guardrail On Route 7
Man, 80, Killed After Crashing Into Guardrail On Route 7 An 80-year-old Connecticut man was killed on Wednesday, Oct. 2, after his car slammed into a guardrail in Fairfield County, authorities said.  Fred Hunter, of Wilton, crashed just after noon when his Nissan Altima drifted across three lanes of traffic on the Route 7 connector near exit 2 just before the crash, Connecticut State Police said.  He collided with a guardrail, tearing about 100 feet of the metal off its posts and spreading it along the shoulder.  Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.  Police are not sure what caused Hunter to collide with the bar…
Greenwich Hedge Fund Manager Named One Of America's Richest People; 4 More In CT Make List Greenwich Hedge Fund Manager Named One Of America's Richest People; 4 More In CT Make List
Greenwich Hedge Fund Manager Named One Of America's Richest People; 4 More In CT Make List Forbes released its annual list of the nation's 400 richest Americans this week, and a Connecticut hedge fund manager ranked among the top 40. In all, five billionaires call the Nutmeg State home.  Steve Cohen, who runs Point72 Asset Management headquartered in Stamford, was ranked 39th among the richest Americans, and the richest person in Connecticut.  According to Forbes, the 68-year-old Greenwich resident is worth an estimated $21.3 billion, a massive increase from when he was worth $13.6 million in 2019.   Cohen purchased the New York Mets in 2020.  Related:…
More Than 100+ Cars Takeover Street For Second Time In Week More Than 100+ Cars Takeover Street For Second Time In Week
More Than 100+ Cars Takeover Street For Second Time In Week Police in Connecticut had to break up another illegal "takeover" of a road after more than 100 cars blocked traffic during the weekend, authorities said.  Police in Fairfield County were called to 200 East Main St. in Stratford just after midnight on Sunday, Sept. 29, to reports of a takeover, authorities said.  When police arrived, many of the cars and pedestrians that gathered to watch scattered, but police were able to nab four of the participants, Stratford Police said.  Police arrested Carlos Sanchez Hernandez, age 20, Mailin Perez, age 19, Rodney Gist, age 25, and Tyle…