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Friday, dec 27
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Community Service
News
How The Grinch Lit Up A Trumbull Neighborhood To Create 'Santa's Runway'
What started as a neighborly idea to spread Christmas cheer during a national low point has become a dazzling community tradition that draws fans from across Connecticut. It's called "Santa's Runway" and consists of about two miles of lights and decorations across some 90 homes beginning along Sterling Road in Trumbull. The project started in 2021 as the brainchild of Zoli Szabow (pronounced Zay-bo), a lifelong Fairfield County resident and firefighter. "It was the height of the pandemic. Everyone was trapped in their houses, and we just wanted to give the community something to ride around…
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': 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 News Anchor From CT 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
CT Man Who Died In River After Severe Flooding 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,…
Lifestyle
Highway Superintendent Retires After 44 Years With CT 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…
Police & Fire
Family Killed In Western Mass Murder-Suicide ID'd
Police have identified the three people found shot to death inside a Western Massachusetts home as a mother, her son, and her domestic partner. Sima Pariseau, age 56, Dylan Pariseau, age 27, and Peter Donaldson, age 56, were found dead Tuesday morning, June 18, after police were called to perform a welfare check, the Hampden District Attorney's Office said. Police saw Donaldson's body through a window and forced their way inside. They found Sima and her son in the basement. Both had been shot multiple times. Donaldson, who was found in the living room of the 851 Main St. …
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…
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.…
Police & Fire
Driver Who Killed 2 In Western Mass Avoids Jailtime — With Stipulations: DA
A 65-year-old man accused of crashing into and killing a couple in Hampshire County last year admitted to his role in their deaths on Wednesday, Oct. 25. He will avoid going to jail if he meets the judge's conditions. Stuart A. Larkin, 65, of South Hadley, pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent motor vehicle homicide in the deaths on Northampton Road (Route 10) in Easthampton, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Northampton District Court Judge Jacklyn Connly said that Larkin showed remorse for the killings and had cooperated with investigators at every turn. Fo…
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 High School Teacher, Coach In Northern Westchester 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…
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