A kitchen fire in Bethel over the weekend was quickly extinguished, but did require a road closure.  Bethel and Stony Hill firefighters responded to Grassy Plain Street Sunday night and confirmed an active fire.  Once extinguished, crews began ventilation and overhaul to confirm the fire was out.  Bethel’s two ambulances and paramedics also were on site, and Bethel Police Department personnel assisted on scene with traffic control and detours.  The fire remains under investigation by the Bethel Fire Marshal's office.

Frontier Communications will be installing fiber optic infrastructure in New Fairfield.  Crews will be installing cable and "hubs" and digging trenches in neighborhoods with underground utilities.  The contractor performing the work is Parkland Utility Construction, LLC.  This is a wired fiber-optic infrastructure project, not a 5G wireless project.  Before working in any neighborhood, they will secure local permits, locate other utilities impacting their facilities and creating a path for the network and set up connection points to bring fiber to customers.

The Easton Volunteer Fire Company has made a donation to the struggling Union Cemetery Committee to pay for maintenance and clean up.  There are 44 former members of The Easton Volunteer Fire Company buried at the Union Cemetery.  $4,800 from the Russ Neary Fund was donated for the work.  Neary was killed in the line of duty 10 years ago while responding to the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.  Fire company member Bob Laskey has been donating a large amount of his time over the last year to cleanup the cemetery. 

New Milford High School students will be able to use two more classrooms that had been closed since a July 5th roof fire. The contractor says the corridor directly under the fire-damaged roof and rooms 3206 and 3207 had air quality testing done on Friday.  The areas passed the testing and were approved for use by the hygienist. Belfor this weekend removed the temporary walls, completed the final repairs, cleaned the areas and waxed the floors.  The school can use the corridor and the 2 rooms as they normally would as of today. 

Drivers through a part of Newtown tonight area being cautioned to expect delays.  Residents should expect heavy delays on Main Street, Mount Pleasant Road, and Church Hill Road in the evening due to a large increase in vehicular and pedestrian traffic related to trick or treating.  Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes if possible, and exercise extreme caution when traveling the roads on Halloween.

A stabbing in Woodbury is under investigation by State Police.  Troopers responded to Main Street in Woodbury Saturday night and found a male with a suspected stab wound to the torso.  The man was transported to the hospital via ambulance, with non-life-threatening injuries.  He is listed as in stable condition.  State Police say this was believed to stem from altercation, was an isolated incident and no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

A Bethel landscaper has been sentenced to prison for tax evasion.  55-Timothy Draper was ordered to 8 months in prison and to pay a $75,000 fine.  Draper owns and operates T&M Lawn & Landscape, and multiple residential rental properties in Bethel and Danbury.  According to court documents, Draper failed to deposit numerous checks from those businesses into his business operating accounts, resulting in underreporting of 1-point-8 million dollars for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 tax years.  Draper also reportedly paid personal expenses out of the business accounts and failed to categorize the payments as income to him.  The underreporting of income resulted in the underpayment of more than $500,000 in income taxes for the three tax years.  Draper has paid the back taxes, interest and penalties and is required to report to prison on January 10th.

The regional planning agency for municipalities spanning from Sherman down to Stamford has been awarded a state grant.  The Western Connecticut Council of Governments was awarded $1.5 million for a Regional Firearms Training Facility.  The funding comes from the Regional Performance Incentive Program.  WestCOG will build and operate the facility for law enforcement agencies.  WestCOG officials say maintaining qualifications and training for police personnel is increasingly difficult due to enhanced training requirements and potential reductions in training capacity at an existing outdoor range in the region.  The regional range would serve 26 municipal police departments, West Conn and other law enforcement agencies. The project was initiated in 2020 with working groups from Bethel, Brookfield, Darien, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Weston, and Wilton. According to the June 2022 draft report on the range, the geographic location with the lowest travel times was Wilton.  The town identified their transfer station as a potential site as it currently offers limited outdoor shooting. The location is moderately remote from residential locations and has been used for 20 years without complaint. 

The Western Connecticut State University Senate met Friday afternoon about proposals to drop several majors from the school, but did not issue any recommendations. The group will meet again next month and is likely to request a 60-day extension for further review. Ultimately, the WestConn president will decide whether to recommend a removal of the degree programs to the Board of Regents. This follows a report that found serious financial difficulties at the university, and a recommendation that the programs be reviewed.  WestConn says enrollment and retention trends found declining registration in majors including economics, anthropology, and social sciences.  If the proposed cuts are approved by the Board of Regents, following a public comment period, students currently enrolled in the degree programs would be able to finish their degrees.  CT Insider reports that the meteorology degree program, the only one of its kind in the state, could also be up for review.  WestConn is considering adding new degree programs including a Master of Science in homeland security and a Bachelor of Arts in digital and interactive media arts.

The 42nd state House District now includes Ridgefield because redistricting. Wilton Selectwoman Kim Healy is the Republican candidate.  She was an auditor with PriceWaterhouseCooper.  Keith Denning is the Democratic candidate.  He is a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.  He has served on medical missions throughout the world first working with Operation Smile and then with PCRF, a medical organization that works throughout the Middle East.

When it comes to affordable housing, Healy says she was part of a grassroots effort that fought for local control over zoning.  She says 8-30g should be repealed, but doesn't think that will happen.  In that case, she wants it reformed adding that housing should not be deed restricted.  Healy also wants to include senior housing in the baseline so towns aren't victims to predatory developers.  Denning agrees that 8-30g isn't working.  But he says towns that do build higher density housing should be rewarded with the infrastructure they need to accomodate that influx of population.

Denning says Connecticut is back and growing.  He says housing is scarce and that needs to be addressed.  He doesn't think the diesel tax should be eliminated because of the damage to the environment.  Healy says young people need to prioritize where their income is going, but the state should address energy costs and property taxes. 

On abortion access, Healy is a pro-choice candidate and wants to retain the right to choice in Connecticut.  She thinks government should stay out of all personal health decisions.  Denning agrees.  He says this is not a procedure undertaken lightly and something that women have a right to make.  Denning says there is a risk at the federal level for a ban.

When it comes to early voting, Denning says any restriction limits democracy.  He says one day is not enough anymore.  Healy supports early voting, but is concerned about this referendum because there's not specification on how expanded it would be.  She would support voting on the Saturday before Election Day.  She doesn't agree with the blanket mailing of absentee ballots and wants to clean up the voter rolls.

Mental wellness was also addressed by the candidates.  Denning says the pandemic decimated a lot of health care providers.  He wants to figure out how to incentivize people to get into the field.  He says there aren't enough resources to help people in a crisis situation.  Denning proposed more subsidies for mental health services in schools.  Healy says the lockdowns effected children in a negative way.  She wants to look at licensing requirements to eliminate roadblocks to people getting into the fields to help students.

The candidates were also asked about Paid Family and Medical Leave.  Healy says Connecticut has the most generous plan offered in the country.  She thinks the state would have saved money if an outside firm were to administer the plan, rather than state employees.  She thinks it should be limited to immediate family members.  Denning says there are many families that aren't related, some elderly residents who rely on their neighbors. 

The 2022 Heart of Women Award will be presented to the Danbury Probate Judge Dianne Yamin this week.  She's being recognized by the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce and the Women's Business Council on Thursday for her career in public service.  The Heart of Women Award event is being held at the Amber Room, with tickets still on sale.  She served as the first woman Chairman of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce.  Yamin was first elected as probate judge in 1990 and was the first woman to hold that position in Danbury.  She was also the youngest elected judge in the state at age 29.  Yamin is retiring this year after nearly 32 years in the position.  Yamin says it's been a pleasure to serve the people of Danbury, and to have so many interesting cases and help so many people.  The court mostly handles estates, but also deals with conservatorships, guardianships of the intellectually disabled, psychiatric matters, adoption and children’s matters.  She notes that a growing area is special immigrant juvenile status cases.  Yamin is the President-elect of the National College of Probate Judges and will lead the organization for one year.  She is also active with Lions Club of Danbury and the Age Well Community Council.

The Southbury Police Department is among the local law enforcement agencies participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration's Drug Takeback Day today.  It's a chance for the public to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  No intravenous solutions, injectables, needles or thermometers will be accepted, neither illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.  It's from 9am to 2pm.  In addition to local police departments taking part in the Takeback Day, the Northwest Corner Prevention Network is offering a course on how to administer Naloxone.  Participants will learn how to use the opioid reversal drug to save a life if someone suffering an opioid overdose. Participants will also receive a free Naloxone kit, though supplies are limited.  The training session Saturday is at noon at Kent Town Hall.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is celebrating Bat Week.  It's an international conservation awareness effort focused on the week prior to Halloween.  The cave bat population across North America has declined since 2006 due to the disease known as white-nose syndrome.  DEEP says white-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats across 33 states and seven Canadian provinces.

“Halloween is a great time to dispel myths about bats,” said Jenny Dickson, Director of the DEEP Wildlife Division. “Rather than harbingers of doom, bats are crucial for healthy ecosystems and provide tremendous economic benefits to agriculture and forestry by controlling insects.” 

Some facts about bats:

Bats are the only mammal capable of true flight; they are not flying mice

Bats are adept fliers who do not try to get caught in people’s hair. Bats that fly near people are after insects like mosquitos or moths.

Bats  have good eyesight but rely on echolocation to navigate at night; they are not blind.

Bats’ healthy wings are essential for flight, so bats take care in grooming themselves; they are not filthy or covered in parasites.

There are more than 1,400 species of bats in the world and only three are known as vampire bats. These three species are only found in Latin America and act as parasites of birds and cattle.

“Learning more about bats and the important role they play in healthy ecosystems would be a great Halloween ‘treat’ for this troubled and misunderstood group of animals,” added Dickson. “Knowing why bats matter is an important part of efforts to halt the devastation caused by white-nose syndrome.”

The number of COVID-19 cases reported by most municipalities in the Greater Danbury area to the Connecticut Department of Public Health held fairly steady this week compared to last.  According to the report ending October 27th, there were 30 cases in Danbury, Bethel reported 12, and Brookfield had 10.  There were 0 COVID cases in New Fairfield, 12 in New Milford, and 30 in Newtown, 0 in Redding while Ridgefield had 6. 

Most Greater Danbury area towns reported about 100 to 180 COVID-19 tests to the state Department of Public Health over the last 7 days, but Newtown each reported about 650 tests.  Positivity rates vary in the region from 3.5 to 10 percent. At home tests are not reported. 

New state data released Thursday shows a decrease in COVID-19 positivity compared to last week.  The rolling 7-day average is 8.29 percent, half a percent lower than the week before. There were 2,700 positive COVID cases reported to the state out of nearly 33,000 tests, about the same as last week. The number of people in Connecticut hospitals testing positive for COVID-19 over the last 7 days decreased by 16 from last week.  The inpatient total is 389, with 30-percent not fully vaccinated. The number COVID-associated deaths in Connecticut has grown by 39 since last Thursday.

Another 60,000 new Bivalent COVID booster shots have been administered in Connecticut since last week.  Those are the new Pfizer and Moderna shots that are meant to target the omicron subvariants currently circulating in the population as well as the original strain of COVID-19.

More Omicron subvariants of COVID-19 are being detected in cases sent for genomic sequencing in Connecticut, but BA5 remains the dominant strain at 77.2 percent.  Some 13.6  percent were identified as BA4. BF 7 was identified in 5.6  percent of samples tested and 3.1 percent as BQ 1.

On Saturday, the Pumpkin Parade for children to trick or treat at local businesses will be taking place in Wilton Center.  Police say due to the high number of pedestrians the traffic pattern will be altered during the event. Old Ridgefield Road will be closed between the Village Market and Godfrey Place between 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Wilton CERT and Wilton Police will assist with the detours.  Drivers are asked to plan accordingly and to have patience in the area.

CityCenter Danbury, in partnership with Kiwanis Club of Greater Danbury is holding the 30th Annual Halloween on the Green on Saturday, from 1pm-4pm. Children and their families are invited to the CityCenter Green on Ives Street for the event featuring a children’s costume parade, goodie bags, local vendors, music, photo booth, and kid-friendly activities. This is a rain or shine event, in chance of rain please note the Halloween on the Green will take place inside of the Patriot Garage parking level 4.  

Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit formed in the wake of the shooting on 12-14, says some key warning signs have emerged in the investigation of the fatal school shooting in St Louis.  The missed warning signs included the shooter’s self-isolating behavior and a previous domestic disturbance call to his home where his mother found a gun.  The gunman was reportedly blocked from buying a gun after an FBI background check, but purchased the weapon through a private seller.  Sandy Hook Promise cofounder Mark Barden, whose son Daniel was killed on 12-14, says Missouri's lack of an extreme risk protection order laws also led to the gun violence.

The annual drawdown of Lake Lillinonah is underway and will last through November 7th.  The target depth is about 4 to 5 feet below normal.  The Friends of Lake Lillinonah organization says any boats that are not on lifts will likely be resting on the shoreline if not removed.  The group says now is a good time for shoreline residents to perform maintenance on the area, but any changes to the shoreline must first be approved by FirstLight Power and also by the local inland/wetland commission.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Republicans see an opportunity this year to flip a U.S. House seat in blue Connecticut, banking on a candidate who insists he doesn’t fit the mold of many GOP contenders this year who are publicly loyal to former President Donald Trump and the party’s conservative agenda.

George Logan, a former state senator and mechanical engineer, has pitched a message that he isn’t a “typical Republican” in his race against U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, a Democrat seeking a third term. In one of his TV ads, he’s seen standing next to a box with those exact words scrawled across it.

“They’re only coming after me now because I won’t fit in this box,” he says.

By some measures, Logan is right. He’s a rare Republican in favor of abortion rights. In the state Senate, he voted with the Democrats some of the time, including on bills to amend firearms storage regulations and expand absentee voting. He’s also Black, still a relative rarity for a candidate in a party that draws a majority of its support from white America.

But Democrats argue Logan can’t be trusted to be the social moderate he claims to be, especially if he gets to Washington, where one of the priorities of the House Republicans’ midterm election agenda is to “protect the lives of unborn children and their mothers.”

“If anyone in this room thinks that the Congressional Leadership Fund is putting millions of dollars into the campaign of someone that they can’t trust will vote for the things that they would like, then you are all sadly mistaken,” Hayes said during a recent debate.

Logan said he will ”not blindly follow any leadership, Republican or Democrat, in Washington.”

The race between Hayes and Logan is one of several in blue states that have been surprisingly competitive this year.

Outside organizations have so far spent more than $7 million on the race in the district, which covers northwestern Connecticut and a chunk of the state’s center. If Logan unseats Hayes, he would be the first Republican to represent Connecticut in Congress since U.S. Rep. Chris Shays lost a reelection bid in 2008.

The race marks the first time in Connecticut history that two Black candidates from major parties are running against one another for a U.S. House seat. Hayes is the first Black woman to represent the state in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Currently, there are only three Black Republicans in Congress, but Logan is one of 28 such candidates running this year, according to the National Republican Campaign Committee.

Like some other Republicans running in blue states, Logan has walked a cautious line on some issues: On gun control, he has said he’s open to some regulation but is “very, very hesitant” to back legislation that would infringe on Second Amendment rights. Asked whether he subscribes to the unsubstantiated claims that Trump was cheated out of an election win in 2020, he usually says he isn’t interested in revisiting the issue, though he does believe that Joe Biden “is the president.” As for Trump, he hasn’t said whether he’d support him if he runs for president again in 2024.

Despite both candidates being Black, there have been accusations of racism lodged by Connecticut Republicans and Logan, whose parents are of Jamaican descent.

Logan took issue with a tweet sent by the state Democratic Party in May that he claims likened him to the fictional monkey in the Curious George children’s books. The tweet employed the phrase “This is George,” the opening line of the classic book, and included a photo of Logan looking quizzical. He has since referred to it in a TV ad and recently during an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

“The Democrat leadership, they’re throwing everything at us,” Logan told Carlson. “They’re even using racist tactics.”

Connecticut Democratic Party officials strongly denied the accusation, saying the tweet had been misinterpreted, but ultimately apologized and removed it.

Hayes said in May that she didn’t see any racial overtones to the tweet but understood Logan’s perception and apologized. Earlier this month, Hayes criticized her opponent for still bringing it up.

“When you don’t have any issues, those are the types of things you talk about,” she said. “I have three Black sons. I am not going to be party to a conversation that diminishes Black men. I’ve never done it. I’m not going to do it, because once you give permission for that to happen, you’ve opened the door for it to happen.”

In addition to targeting Hayes, national Republicans have also put resources into trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, the Democrat who has represented part of eastern Connecticut since 2006. He’s being challenged by Republican state Rep. Mike France, a retired U.S. Navy officer and chair of the General Assembly’s conservative caucus.

A new poll is out from Emerson College of Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District race.  With 4-percent undecided, Republican challenger George Logan has 48-percent support and incumbent Democratic Representative Jahana Hayes has 47-percent support for re-election. The undecided voters’ support splits evenly between the two candidates when undecided voters are asked which candidates they are leaning towards.

But more respondents have a favorable opinion of Hayes than of Logan.  51-percent have a favorable view of Hayes, with 46-percent unfavorable. 3 percent are unsure of their opinion of Hayes. 45-percent have a favorable view of Logan, with 36-percent unfavorable. 12-percent are unsure and 7-percent have never heard of Logan.

The economy is the most important issue for 46-percent of Connecticut 5th District voters, followed by abortion access at 16-percent, and threats to democracy at 14-percent.  51-percent of 5th District voters think the state is on the wrong track, while 49-percent think it is headed in the right direction.

Half of 5th District voters say the overturning of Roe v. Wade makes them more likely to vote in November, while 47-percent say it makes no difference on their likelihood to vote. 4-percent say it makes them less likely to vote.

Emerson College Polling Executive Director Spencer Kimball says there is a stark gender divide among 5th District voters: 55-percent of women plan to vote to re-elect Hayes whereas 57-percent of men plan to vote for Logan.

State Representative Patrick Callahan is running for reelection in the 108th District serving New Fairfield and Sherman.  Democrat Jeff Ginsburg is looking to unseat him.  Ginsburg grew up in Danbury and retired in Sherman.  He's active in a number of local organizations.  He lives on Squantz Pond and was on the Candlewood Yacht Club Board of Directors. Callahan was Chief of Probation in Danbury for many years and notes that the City had the lowest recidivism rates in the state and the country.  He wants to continue working to create more accountability among juveniles who are committing crimes. 

Callahan touted work on a bipartisan bill that passed in the last session to protect minors from online grooming.  The measure, approved unanimously, would protect minors from being stalked online by adults and using language to lure them into human trafficking.  Callahan is a member of the Juvenile Justice policy and Oversight Committee, which meets monthly. 

Ginsburg says Sherman allows for in-law suites to help seniors stay in the community and near their families.  He would like to see more initiatives to help people age in place, but doesn't think the state should get involved in zoning issues.  He believes zoning should remain under local oversight.  His top priority if elected would be to focus on education and children's mental health.  Ginsburg says school-based services should be expanded.  He says offering more services could also help cut down on crime and prevent domestic issues.

Callahan wants to reintroduce legislation to make vehicle theft its own crime, taking it out of the category of larceny.  He says vehicles are lifelines for families and wants to tackle the juvenile crime issue.  After the loss of qualified immunity in the 2020 Police Accountability Bill, Callahan says officers are leaving and there's a lack of staff to enforce laws.  He notes that Danbury is putting Detectives out on patrol because they can't fill shifts and be proactive.  He doesn't understand why Connecticut punished the good officers of Connecticut for the acts of an office halfway across the country, referring to the George Floyd shooting. 

Ginsburg supports recent public safety measures approved by the General Assembly, including increased funding for police training, resources for the court to address backlogs and more youth prevention programs.  He would support toughening policies to stop crimes before they start. 

When it comes to gun measures, Callahan says most crimes in the state are committed with handguns, and illegal handguns.  He says he's willing to listen to pragmatic proposals that will prevent crime, but says criminals don't care about laws. 

Callahan says protecting water quality is a priority.  He is concerned about the loss of native vegetation in Candlewood and Ball Pond.  Callahan says another issue that came up this summer was so-called Uber Boating people to the islands and leaving behind garbage and human waste, which resulted in the New Fairfield Health Department shutting down an island.  He wants to look into regulations stopping private boats from being used as commercial entities. 

Ginsburg says the use of wake boats is increasing and having an impact on the shoreline.  He thinks state troopers are doing a good job in controlling crowds.  Ginsburg says WCSU did a study years ago that found 40-percent of the area's economy is related to the lake.  He wants to create an economic council to coordinate activities around the lake. 

When it comes to walk-ins at state parks, Ginsburg doesn't support a ban but would support a fee for adult users in order to help maintain the park.  Callahan also wants to try again to change walk-in regulations at state parks due to overcrowding at Squantz Pond.  He says pedestrians are walking down a state road with no shoulders and creating a hazard. 

Callahan supports continuing the gas tax holiday.  He would repeal the highway use tax on trucks and the increased diesel tax.  Ginsburg would support the 25-cent gas tax holiday, but also supports the highway user fee set to take effect for large trucks.  He says that will help pay for some infrastructure projects. 

The Newtown Police Department is seeing an increase in "Check Washing" scams and check fraud complaints.  As a best practice, people are urged to avoid mailing checks.  If it is necessary to mail a check, the Postal Service is taking steps to make their traditional blue boxes more secure.  Newtown Police say the safest way though is to drop the check with the outgoing mail inside the local postal branch.  The U.S. Postal Inspection Service recommends depositing outgoing mail in blue collection boxes before the last pickup or at the local Post Office and to never leave mail in a home mailbox overnight.  If a resident will be out of town, it's recommended having mail held at the Post Office or picked up by a friend or neighbor.

A Danbury man has been arrested on drug related charges.  Detectives carried out search warrants yesterday, granted as part of an investigation of fentanyl sales in the City.  42-year old Luis Yupangui-Sigua was the subject of the investigation.  During a search of his apartment, Police found fentanyl, crack cocaine, Xanax, and a large sum of cash.  He was charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.  He was held on 50-thousand dollars bond.  Danbury Police say this is part of a continuing operation in partnership with the DEA to crackdown on Fentanyl sold in the City to reduce overdose deaths.

An Ecuadorian national last residing in Danbury has been charged with illegal reentry into the United States. 47-year old Luis Salto Saico was indicted earlier this month and pleaded not guilty. Saico has been detained since his arrest September 26th.  According to court documents, he was arrested in Ohio in 2006 for aggravated vehicular assault, pleaded guilty to that charge and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  After serving approximately eight months of imprisonment, he was removed to Ecuador in July 2008.  In July 2022, ICE learned that Saico was living in Danbury after he was arrested for sexual assault and disorderly conduct.

Acting Bethel First Selectman Rich Straiton is running in the special election in February to officially take the role leading the town.  He was unanimously selected at the Democratic Town Committee caucus this week to be the candidate to face off against Republican Dan Carter.  Straiton says he's pleased the committee has the confidence in him to fill the role.  He worked alongside Matt Knickerbocker, for 13 years, before Knickerbocker resigned to take a job in Wilton last month.  The special election has been set for February 7th.

A Danbury City Councilman has been sent a cease and desist letter from the Environmental Impact Commission, in coordination with the city's health department, over alleged illegal dumping of refuse on city-owned wetlands.  On their meeting agenda Wednesday was the letter sent to Michael Halas about the Barnum Road property.  The order requires Halas to submit an environmental restoration plan to clean up the materials to clear up the violation of the city's Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Regulations.  EIC chair Bernard Gallo says they recently became aware of what was called an “ongoing” issue involving the dumping of shrubs, old pumpkins, and other items doing damage to the watershed.  Halas did not respond to the letter by the October 26th deadline and did not appear at the meeting that night.

Local student volunteers of the Regional Hospice Youth Project are hosting a Color Run to raise funds for the organization.  The event Sunday at Tarrywile Park will support children and adults being cared for at the end of life.  People can register as an individual or as part of a team.  The fundraising goal for each participant is $250 in donations or sponsorships.  The Team that raises the most money will start off the run at 9am.  Managing Director of Philanthropy Jennifer Matlack says registration for the event is $25.  Regional Hospice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  They have a team of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors and hospice-trained volunteers has that care for patients and their loved ones in their homes, assisted living and nursing facilities, at the residential Center for Comfort Care & Healing in Danbury or in dedicated, private hospice suites at New Milford Hospital.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Most people today know artist Maurice Sendak as the creator of children’s book classics such as “Where the Wild Things Are” and “In the Night Kitchen.” A new exhibition of his work looks at that reputation and a less well-known side of his immense output: his work as a designer for opera, theater, film, and television.

“We wanted people to understand that Maurice was actually a serious artist,” said Lynn Caponera, executive director of the Maurice Sendak Foundation in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Though most knew him as an illustrator and picture book artist, “they didn’t see beyond the fact that he did a lot more than that,” she said.

“Wild Things are Happening” opened this month at the Columbus Museum of Art and runs through March 5, 2023. It’s the first major retrospective of Sendak’s work since his 2012 death and the largest and most complete to date.

The exhibit takes its name from a 1990s advertising campaign Sendak did for Bell Atlantic that featured Wild Things characters promoting “a fast, dependable Internet service.”

The exhibit features more than 150 sketches, storyboards and paintings of work Sendak did for his own books, including “Higglety Pigglety Pop!,” which he based on the fatal sickness of his beloved Sealyham terrier Jennie. The show also displays some of Sendak’s most celebrated illustrations of other writers’ work, such as Else Holmelund Minarik’s “Little Bear” books.

To commemorate Sendak’s affinity for Mickey Mouse — who first appeared in 1928, the year Sendak was born — the exhibit includes an illustration that TV Guide commissioned in 1978 for Mickey Mouse’s 50th birthday featuring Sendak, also 50, waving at a mirror as the cartoon character waves back.

In the late 1970s, Sendak embarked on a second career as a costume and stage designer. His design work for operas included Krása’s “Brundibar,” Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and “The Goose of Cairo,” and Proko?ev’s “The Love for Three Oranges.” A video on repeat at the exhibit features the design work Sendak did for a new production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker commissioned in 1981 by the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Sendak also designed sets and costumes and wrote the book and lyrics for the musical “Really Rosie” based on his book of the same name, with music by Carole King.

And then there is “Where The Wild Things Are,” featuring the fantastical nighttime adventures of a boy named Max on an island of monsters. Since its publication in 1963, the book has sold more than 50 million copies and been translated into 40 languages.

The exhibit includes rarely seen “Wild Things” sketches and completed paintings, and traces the book’s history from early 1953 drawings to its publication. Also on display: costumes from Spike Jonze’s 2009 movie “Where the Wild Things Are” based on the book.

Adults troubled by the scary nature of Max’s fantasy “forget that my hero is having the time of his life and that he controls the situation with breezy aplomb,” Sendak said upon accepting the 1964 Caldecott Medal for the book.

Sendak was an admirer of many artists and illustrators, including William Blake, Walt Disney and Beatrix Potter, a devotion that the exhibit tries to get across, said Jonathan Weinberg, an artist and curator of the Maurice Sendak Foundation, which is housed in the home where Sendak worked and lived from 1972 until his death. Most of that time he lived with his partner, psychiatrist Dr. Eugene Glynn.

“Maurice had this unbelievable range,” said Weinberg. “And if he couldn’t do something, if he didn’t have that style at that moment for what was needed, he would figure it out and learn.”

When it came to his work for children, Sendak never preached or tried to instill a stuffy moral, Caponera said. Instead, he understand that, as sometimes happens in real life, children are the brave ones, the ones who triumph and are in control.

“Maurice used to say that a good children’s book is sort of like creating an act of guerilla warfare,” Caponera said. “You put things in there that the kids see, and the kids get, and then the kids have to sort of explain to the parents, ‘Oh, no, this isn’t scary.’”

A restaurant fire was reported in Monroe yesterday.  The Monroe, Stepney, and Stevenson Fire Departments responded to the Village Square Shopping Center yesterday morning for a reported fire out, with a smoke condition in a restaurant.  Firefighters found a heavy smoke condition in the dining room, and kitchen area. Fire Marshal William Davin says an employee had a pan of oil on the cooking range top when the oil caught fire, the kitchen fire suppression system activated, and the employee also use a, extinguisher to put out the flames. Damage was contained to the range, hood, duct work, and the exhaust fan for the kitchen hood.  Several fans were set up to ventilate the area.  Firefighters were on scene for about an hour.  Davin urged all business owners to have their employees trained in fire extinguisher usage and know where all the safe guards of the business are.

Danbury Firefighters Local 801 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have teamed up to collect old, damaged or retired American flags next month. Anyone wishing to drop off a flag may do so at any of the City fire stations in the month of November. At the end of month, the flags will be turned over to the VFW for proper honors and retirement ceremony.  The City fire stations are located at 19 New Street, 210 Osborne Street, 36 Eagle Road, 171 South King Street and 75 Kenosia Avenue Extension.

A longtime Danbury dispatcher passed away unexpectedly Monday and is being remembered by the Police and Fire Departments.  Martin Robert Nelson started with Western Connecticut 911 Center, IXP Danbury, as one of the original hires in 2014. In addition to his primary duties as a 911 Call Taker, the 59-year old was certified as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher and on countless occasions was able to provide medical instructions such as CPR or Narcan administration to callers in need.  Calling hours will be held at Beecher Funeral Home in Brewster on Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm.  

There was a contentious discussion among the two Bethel Board of Selectmen  members when it comes to the way to fund requests made by the two volunteer Fire Departments in town.  A number of items were on the agenda for their last meeting, with the proposals to be funded from the capital non-recurring  fund. 

"These are the types of projects that  should either be included in their budget, or should be paid for this year with American Rescue Plan Act dollars," said Selectman Bryan Terzian. 

The request was approved to spend little more than $16,000 to replace AEDs at Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Department over the next year. Terzian noted that he did so under protest, but in the interest of public safety. 

The matter was sent to the Board of  Finance. 

The other items, a new truck for the Stony Hill Fire Chief and new motors and Red/Green light safety system for the bay doors at Bethel Fire  Department, were put off to a future meeting. 

"The truck was supposed to  go through as part of a capital budget plan, but kept getting pushed back," said Stony Hill Chief John Baker.  

He tried to put the AEDs through as an ARPA request and was turned down. As the equipment become obsolete, it's become an emergency request. 

Comptroller Brad Heering suggested getting a full list from the Fire Commission of all their requests to be dealt  with at one time.  Officials could then review the CNR fund and ARPA  funds.

Democratic incumbent Ken Gucker is seeking another term representing the 138th House District.  He is being challenged by Republican Rachel Chaleski, the Danbury Board of Education chairwoman.  She was working in corporate finance and then a stay at home mom. 

Gucker says there was a lot accomplished in the last session, including making the social security tax free for seniors. 

As for affordability of everyday living, Chaleski says Connecticut is the second highest taxed state in the country, behind New York.  She thinks more can be done at the state level to alleviate that burden especially when it comes to food tax, car property tax and gas tax.  Chaleski called for real, sustained change. 

Gucker touted a bill approved last session to improve the water quality of Candlewood Lake.  The measure has raised over $440,000 so far through a user fee on boat registration.  The $5 per year for residents, $20 for out-of-state residents, helps to combat invasive species issues.  It was expanded to cover rivers and other water sources.  He notes that Candlewood Lake's zebra mussel issue actually comes from the Housatonic River. 

When it comes to environmental issues, Chaleski says Candlewood Lake is an asset that should be protected.  She has a degree in biology and wants to see the water quality protected. 

During her time on the Board, Chaleski got a firsthand look at the state Education Cost Sharing formula and the state budget process.  She says for a long time municipalities received block grants, so it was static funding, despite the fact the Danbury's student population grows by 1 to 2 percent every year.  While she says the state has made some progress toward a more fair funding system, it's a phased in approach over the course of 10 years, something she says doesn't make sense from a business standpoint. 

Gucker says he heard there was an agreement in place before he joined the legislature to steadily increase the Education Cost Sharing formula allocation for Danbury, but when Governor Lamont took office he froze ECS and put the state on a debt diet.  He says Danbury has been underfunded in the past and while there have been increases, it's not enough.  He touted the delegation's effort to secure 80% reimbursement on eligible costs for the proposed Career Academy. 

Chaleski supports the state-funded public Charter school trying to become established in the City. 

Gucker says the public school district would lose out on $10.34 million, not including any cost the Board of Education would have to pick up.  He is concerned that the current year's budget was filled with a lot of one time funding through APRA and other pandemic-era bills. 

As for public safety, Gucker says the issue of catalytic converter theft was addressed with a recent bill, which needs time to take effect.  But he says it's not juveniles committing these offenses, it's crime syndicates.  Gucker works in the automotive industry and was critical of illegal chopshops.  Gucker wants to take further action on gun safety, especially in terms of domestic situations. 

Chaleski says public safety would be a priority if elected.  She called the Police Accountability Bill a rushed process.  While she sees some good aspects, there are provisions that make the job more dangerous, more difficult and less appealing.  She supports Connecticut's gun laws as they are and would support closing loopholes by keeping guns out of the wrong hands. 

While Connecticut is one of only four states without early voting, Chaleski says there should be some restrictions around the concept if its to be enacted here.  Gucker supports the ballot initiative to amend the state constitution to allow for early voting.  Gucker says whatever makes voting more accessible, should be done.  If Connecticut's fiscal house remains in order, he'd support continuation of the 25-cent gas tax holiday. 

An irate driver dragged a City of Danbury employee with his car after reportedly being told he could not go through the construction zone.  Danbury Police responded to King Street on a report of a pedestrian hit by a car yesterday around 1pm.  The City employee received minor injuries.  Eastbound traffic was being detoured and a resident allegedly shouted profanities at one of the workers and was told not to go through, but proceeded to drive. The city employee thought he was going to be hit and grabbed onto the car at which point he was dragged more than 40 feet before falling to the ground. Joseph Adducci was charged with Assault, Breach of Peace, Criminal Mischief, Failure to Drive Right, Reckless Driving and Endangering a Highway Worker.

Both Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and Republican challenger Leora Levy were in Danbury yesterday.  Blumenthal met with City officials to announce a $250,000 federal grant for the Housing Authority  to install intercom systems and surveillance cameras at two senior housing complexes, Wooster Manor and Putnam Towers.  The funding awarded through the U-S Department of Housing and Urban Development will allow residents to screen visitors before granting them access to their building.  He was joined by Mayor Dean Esposito, Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour and others.  Levy held a Law and Order Roundtable discussion at Danbury Library.  She met with Connecticut Fraternal Order of Police President John Krupinsky, a member of the Danbury Police Department; Lisa Dean who is the founder of Demand Zero; retired NYPD Detective Ralph Friedman and others.  They discussed anti-police sentiments, rising crime surrounding fentanyl, and qualified immunity for officers at the federal level. 

A missing persons case involved a large police presence on Danbury's westside Tuesday night and the investigation has concluded.  Police say the individual has been found.  The report of a missing distraught man prompted a large police presence near Middle River Road and Aunt Hack Road Tuesday.  Patrol officers and K-9 units conducted the search.  The man was found safe just over the state line in New York around 10pm.

The New Milford Town Council will hold a public hearing next month about a proposed ordinance that would lead to fines for people found smoking or vaping marijuana on or inside town properties.  The hearing is set for November 14th at 6:30pm.  There was an effort last year to create such an ordinance, but it wasn't taken up.  The state has changed how municipalities can ban cannabis use.  There can be a vote, a townwide ordinance or enactment of zoning regulations. The New Milford Town Attorney noted that the proposed ordinance is consistent with the town’s regulation of cigarette use.

An inert grenade was found in Watertown yesterday.  A report of a “suspicious item” on Wednesday shut down parts of Main Street in Watertown.  A utility worker and an officer found a grenade, and the Connecticut State Police bomb squad was called in to evaluate.  The area between Cherry Avenue and Trumbull Street was closed for investigation, but reopened by 9pm. The real grenade did not have any explosives inside.

A former Danbury priest has been sentenced for a sexual assault charge and risk of injury to a minor.  54-year old Jaime Marin-Cardona was ordered to 10 years in jail, suspended after one year and 5 years probation.  His arrest warrant alleges that he groomed two boys over the course of four years, beginning in 2014, and sexually abused one of them.  He was a priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and placed on administrative leave in December 2019. Marin-Cardona originally pleaded not guilty to three counts each of sexual assault, risk of injury to child and illegal sexual contact.

Bethel Library is hosting a virtual event tomorrow afternoon as part of their Community Economic Development Fund webinar series for small business owners.  Tomorrow is the 4th event and is about Planning a Successful Business Exit.  Only a small percentage of businesses outlive their owners. Some owners sell, others transfer interests to family or partners and some close up permanently.  A company dedicated to helping small companies manage their business will lead the discussion and says the time to start thinking about the financial aspects of exit plans is now, not when unforeseen events or adverse circumstances narrow the choices.  Registration is required for tomorrow afternoon's virtual event.

The Danbury Police Department is holding their annual Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.  It's a time for residnets to clean out medicine cabinets and drop off unused medicines in the front lobby between 10am - 2pm. Medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisoning, and flushed or trashed medicines can end up polluting the waters.

An emergency training drill has been held in Bethel.  The Fire Marshal recently teamed up with Bethel Health Care Command staff, Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company Chief & EMS Captain and the town's Health Director for the exercise to relocate residents of The Cascades Assisted Living facility in the event of a loss of use of the healthcare facility.  This exercise was in coordination with the Connecticut Long Term Care Mutual Aid plan and the state Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  Fire Marshall Tom Galliford says meeting with private partners such as Bethel Healthcare helps emergency responders to fine tune plans and make them better prepared for any event that may happen.

There is a vacancy on the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission and First Selectman Dan Rosenthal is looking to fill the role.  The opening is for a Democrat or unaffiliated voter. The last day to apply is November 4th.  Those interested can send a letter of interest and a resume to the Executive Assistant in the First Selectman's Office. 

The Immaculate High School Girl's Volleyball team has raised funds to support the work of Regional Hospice.  They raised $366, and donated it to patients at the pediatric wing and their families.  Regional Hospital officials say the girls had a great time playing games and selling baked goods to raise money for the cause.

A committee has been formed in Redding to advise the Board of Selectmen on matters related to the Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill redevelopment.  The committee will help the town with future steps of the process and provide  reports or updates to the Board of Selectmen as needed. The committee includes a representative from the Water Pollution Control Commission, Planning, Zoning, Conservation, Board of Finance and the Historic Review Committee.  An environmental attorney, a landscape architect/preservationist and other members of the community with subject matter expertise are also part of the group.  They will serve for one year.  First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton will serve as an ex-officio member.

An attorney for Target will present plans for a new store to the Danbury Environmental Impact Commission at its meeting tonight.  The two level store is proposed for the empty Sears location at the mall.  The 126,000 square foot space will add to its footprint in the region, with the Bethel store remaining open.  In the Danbury application, attorney Tom Beecher said that the parking lot is close to Miry Brook and the Still River, requiring EIC review.  Plans call for the installation of four shopping cart corrals, a new loading dock area, and creation of some green space.

The Region 12 School District has named a new Superintendent.   Marc Gosselin Jr has been appointed to the position leading the schools in Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington.  He will start in January and take over from retired Newtown superintendent Lorrie Rodrigue, who has been serving as interim Superintendent. Megan Bennett resigned at the end of last school year.  Gosselin was a 4th grade teacher in Pennsylvania and most recently served as superintendent of Schools in Lenox, Massachusetts.  He has experience as a special education supervisor, curriculum supervisor and principal at multiple schools. 

In the 111th House District, Democratic incumbent Aimee Berger-Girvalo is seeking reelection.  In making the case for another term, she talked about her background working in the public school system, with small businesses and organized advocates.  Republican Selectman Bob Hebert is looking to unseat her.  He says people are tired of politics over people, and want representatives who will listen to others and work together for the good of the people.  He has a background in finance and banking.

When it comes to affordable housing, Hebert says he would abolish the 8-30g law if he could, but doesn't think that's realistic.  He'd support revisions to the law which currently allows developers to bypass zoning regulations.  Hebert says a one-size fits all policy doesn't work for Connecticut.  Berger-Girvalo says affordable housing means 30-percent of income, so someone making $80,000 a year still needs $2,000 for housing costs.  She says seniors, police, teachers, firefighters and young grads need to be provided opportunities to live in Fairfield County.  She agrees that 8-30g does need to be reformed. 

Berger-Girvalo says they also have to look at transportation and infrastructure.  She also wants lawmakers to look at supporting walkable communities.  She gave the example of the Branchville redevelopment to make it a more liveable, mixed use neighborhood.  Hebert says in order to attract young families and keep seniors here, it comes down to taxes.  He notes that Connecticut is the 2nd most expensive state in the country to live in.  He did agree that more walkable communities would make it an attractive place for people to live.  He wants to reform the corporate tax structure and repeal the prepared meals tax.

On abortion access, Hebert says he is concerned about women's overall health.  He says the Supreme Court decision didn't take away abortion in Connecticut, where it's codified in state law.  He doesn't see it as an issue at the state level and doesn't think the General Assembly would vote on it.  His personal belief is that every life is sacred.  He does understand that abortion should be safe, legal and rare.  Berger-Girvalo has spoken openly about her own abortion and supports reproductive access.  She says it's not settled law and if it's banned at the federal level, that will impact Connecticut.

When it comes to early voting, Berger-Girvalo says Connecticut is one of only four state that doesn't allow early voting.  She notes that in the House this past session, 23 bills were introduced to limit voting.  Herbert supports early voting, but with limitations.  He believes there's fraud in the elections system elsewhere in the state.

Mental wellness was also addressed by the candidates. Berger-Girvalo says there's a health disparity.  She was endorsed by the National Association of Social Workers and says teachers also need support in helping to pull students from the COVID abyss.  Hebert says COVID has exacerbated the issue in every profession.  He says isolation among the youth population became a crisis situation that needs to be addressed.

The first round of grant awards for the Sustainable Materials Management Grant program have been announced by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The program supports the development of food scrap collection and unit-based pricing pilot programs, the type of waste diversion efforts recommended by the Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management-- a coalition of over 100 municipalities across the state working on ways to reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling.

15 municipalities and 3 regional groups have been notified of the Department’s intent to award funds for their pilots.  Grants have been approved for Newtown, Seymour, and Woodbury among other towns. Regional support will be provided by the Housatonic Resources Regional Authority.  

HRRA Executive Director Jennifer Heaton-Jones says on behalf of Bethel, Kent and Newtown, they can now create and implement waste reduction programs that are truly impactful. She says they promote Unit Based Pricing and Food Waste diversion that can offset disposal tonnage and cost.  She added that the goal is to empower residents to change their disposal habits through the experience of cost savings using Unit Based Pricing and Food Waste Recycling.

According to Connecticut’s most recent waste characterization study, 41% of what residents throw away is organic material—such as food scraps, and yard waste—that can be composted, converted to energy through anaerobic digestion or processed into animal feed. Food scraps alone represent 22% of residential trash. Food scraps are one of the heavier materials regularly thrown away at the residential level and removing them from the waste stream reduces the costs of disposal as municipalities pay by weight.  

Construction work is continuing by the state Department of Transportation on the Exit 11 ramp and intersection improvement project.  This week crews are working on installation of piles for walls along Route 34, the permanent retaining wall there and drainage work along Wasserman Way.  Crews are also installing new sidewalks on Wasserman Way at the commuter lot and the demolition of the old I-84 exit 11 eastbound ramp.

The Danbury Exchange Club will be honoring 5 area veterans during an event next month.  The veterans will be recognized for their service to country and community at the Annual Veterans Day Recognition dinner November 10th.  Anyone interested in attending the event is asked to contact Tom Saadi via Facebook messenger or email tomsaadi@aol.com.
Those being honored are :

- Jason Culbreth - EOD 1st Class (Ret), U.S. Navy
- Michael Pederson - Cpl, U.S. Marine Corps
- Tabitha Potok - LTC, U.S. Air Force
- Thomas Presnell - SPC 4, U.S. Army
- Paul Schlemmer - Storekeeper 3rd Class, U.S. Navy

With a couple of Backcountry rescues at Macedonia Brook State Park and the Appalachian Trail in recent weeks, Sherman Volunteer Fire Department decided to update their skills with a couple of training drills.  Members participated in phase one of Search and Rescue operations and Wilderness Medicine.  Firefighters trained on team operations, how to build personal gear kits and various carry methods for bringing a casualty to safety.  They also trained with assembly and loading of their new off-road stokes wheel. 

The Bethel Police Department is applying for American Rescue Plan Act funds from the state in an effort to crack down on unsafe driving.  The Board of Selectman signed off on the application for $5,000 for a Rural Roads Grant.  Bethel Police say they would use the funding for proactive policing to enforce the laws and raise awareness and compliance among drivers.  Bethel Police regularly receive complaints about the need for speed enforcement, stop sign enforcement and other violations.  The Department notes that the patrol division must divide their time between routine calls for service and emergencies, but this grant would allow them to assign an officer in high violation, complaint, and accident areas.

A state grant has been awarded to Bethel for the Unified Sports Program at Johnson and Berry Schools.  The Board of Selectman authorized the town's Health Director to accept the state Department of Public Health grant of $16,000.  Little more than $5,000 was already approved for the program.  The Special Olympics program combines approximately equal numbers of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on sports teams for training and competition. All Unified Sports players, both athletes and Unified partners, are of similar age and matched by sport skill ability. 

Members of the Redding Police Department participating in No Shave November have reached their fundraising goal to help Connecticut cancer patients.  They have now raised the $500 goal to $1,000.  The Connecticut Cancer Foundation chooses patients as ambassadors to receive donations, and the money can be used in a variety of ways from care to day to day necessities, including rent/mortgage, utilities and food.  Redding Police say cancer patients and their families should never have to worry about going hungry or being evicted from their homes during treatment. 

The passenger in a car that plunged into the Housatonic River has died and the accident is under investigation. State Police responded to Schaghticoke Road in Kent on Friday on a report of a driver veering off the road, rolling down a steep embankment and dropping nose first into the river.  The driver was able to free herself while the front seat passenger remained inside fully submerged. Dive teams responded and freed the passenger, who was transported to Sharon Hospital.  24-year old Dillon Miller of Dover Plains was later pronounced dead.  No other vehicles were involved.  State Police say enforcement action against the driver, 24-year old Alexis Caron, of the same Dover Plains address, is pending.

A Danbury man has been sentenced for his role in a fatal stabbing that took place in March 2020. 22-year old Kenaas Council will have his 64-day and 182 day jail sentences suspended and will serve probation for three and two years on charges of conspiracy to commit assault and breach of peace, respectively.  The charges stem from the death of 21-year old Willy Plasencia at the skate park.  Police said at the time that the fight stemmed from “an ongoing feud between rival Danbury groups.” Council told police he got out of the car because his teen cousin did, and he did not want his cousin to get involved.

The Bethel Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on a site plan and special permit proposed for 70 Stony Hill Road.  RBA Realty is seeking an addition and site improvements to add a second floor to a medical office building. The hearing will be held tonight at 7pm in Conference Room D of the Municipal Center. The proposed project consists of the addition to an existing one-story office into a two-floor office building with an approximate addition of 3,400 square feet.  32 parking spaces exist on site with two of the spaces marked as accessible. Under the proposed conditions, a total of 46 spaces are to be provided with two of the spaces remaining as accessible.  Access to the site is to be provided via the existing stop-controlled driveway on Old Hawleyville Road. The existing site driveway is proposed to be widened to accommodate the additional parking area to the north of the building.

70 companies are participating in the Danbury Jobs Fair tomorrow.  The event is sponsored by the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board and the Western Connecticut State University Career Success Center.  It's at the mall tomorrow from 3pm to 6.  The career fair is free to job seekers, who are encouraged to dress for success and bring multiple copies of their resume.  A list of participating employers to-date can be found on WestConn Career Success Center website.

The Old New Milford Road realignment project in Brookfield is leading officials to caution drivers to pay attention to new signage in the area.   Access to the Landmark building, previously at 2 Old New Milford Road, is now available only on a new street named Wagon Wheel Way.  The north end of Old New Milford Road is one-way only southbound.  Motorists are encouraged to follow the roadway signage and drive with caution as they learn the new configuration. Drivers should expect additional, temporary roadway changes until the project is completed.  This construction is part of a fully funded state Department of Transportation project that includes 53-hundred feet of improvements on Federal Road from BJs’s to the shopping plaza at 317 Federal Road and 800 feet on Old New Milford Road. Improvements include sidewalks, additional turning lanes, new traffic signals and bus shelters. Construction is scheduled for completion next November.

The Housatonic Valley Health District and Newtown Health District is hosting a Flu Shot Clinic today at the Newtown Senior Center.  This is from 9am to 11am and can be done by appointment, though walk-ins are also welcome.  The Newtown Health District Team will also hold a COVID-19 Booster Clinic at Newtown Municipal Center on Thursday from 11am to 3pm.  Only the Moderna vaccine will be provided to individuals age 18 and up.  The booster clinic is by appointment, not a walk-in clinic.

There have been some glitches with the HVAC system at Danbury High School. Public Works Director Antonio Iadarola says they lost a few compressors in the new wing.  This is the first long year for the newly expanded and renovated building to have full capacity because of the timing with remote learning during the pandemic. He notes that means the system hasn't been pushed to its limits until now.  While what he's seeing is a little concerning, they're working through it.  The City has an on-call contractor that monitors that system and they're meeting to figure out what the issue is--whether it's a design issue, an operational issue, or something else.  Iadarola says there's an intricate computer system that monitors every aspect of HVAC systems in a school, and so far they've found that some of the communication links between the computer system and the devices that tell them what's going on in a building were not talking with each other.

Democratic incumbent Julie Kushner is seeking a 3rd term representing the 24th state Senate District, which includes Danbury and part of Ridgefield.  Republican Danbury Board of Education member Michelle Coelho is looking to unseat Kushner.  Coelho is a design project coordinator who was one of the initial developers of The Rivington.  The mother of three is a Cuban American.

Kushner touted work to pass Paid Family Medical Leave, a hike in the minimum wage, 80-percent reimbursement rate on eligible costs for the Career Academy construction and secure a $2 million bond for CIFC to building a parking garage, which will help the organization to create senior housing.  She decided to seek reelection to help connect more people to resources and says the policy work critically important to moving Connecticut forward.

Kushner says one of the challenges in getting people back to work, especially with the fallout of the pandemic, has been childcare.  She says lifting the salaries is important to attract people to the field, and that help was provided in the last session.  Kushner says discussions have started about universal pre-k.

During the pandemic, Coelho was concerned about an erosion of parental rights, which prompted her to run for the Board of Ed.  She was then surprised to learn there was no curriculum committee, which there is now.  She says a lot is coming down the pike with the new Career Academy, Social Emotional Learning and other mandates.  She wants to make sure there are safeguards for kids. 

Her first year in office, Kushner was vice chair of the Environment Committee.  They created a stamp that boaters have to buy when they register a vessel.  The $5 fee has created a large pool of money to distribute in the form of grants to lakes and river associations to address invasive species.  She says that will help centralize the work.

Coelho called Candlewood Lake an asset and wants to make sure it's protected, including from algae and invasive aquatic species. 

When it comes to gun safety reforms, Kushner says the current laws should be upheld.  She says there's more that can be done, including closing loopholes in the ghost gun bill approved last session.  She says serial numbers on firearms is helpful to law enforcement trying to solve crimes.  She says limiting the number of guns someone can purchase at a time per month is also something to look into.

Coelho was endorsed by the Connecticut Fraternal Order of Police.  She says the Police Accountability Bill was another reason she got into the race.  She would repeal the portion of the law that got rid of qualified immunity.  If a car for example is stolen and used in a shoplifting incident, Coelho says the only thing police can do is escort them off the property because they can't engage in pursuit.  She says that should be revised. 

As for the Police Accountability Bill, Kushner says she doesn't believe some of the fears of unintended consequences have come to fruition, but legislators will keep an eye on that.  When there is an extreme use of force, that's not warranted, she says those cases should be investigated.  She touted the training included in the measure.

Amending the state constitution to allow for early voting is on the ballot in November.  Kushner hopes it's approved.  She says with COVID-era absentee ballot drop boxes and no excuse absentee balloting led to an increase in voter participation.  She says everyone should have access to the ballot box.

Coelho would support early voting, as long as people still have to present ID or prove their identity. 

Kushner says she's impressed with the way the Danbury school administration has planned the rollout of the Career Academy. The curriculum will be available to all Danbury High School students. She wants the state to help municipalities embrace innovative programs to address challenges in public education. Kushner is the Senate chair of the Working Group on Indoor Air Quality.  She says that's an issue that also needs to be addressed.

As for the proposed Charter school in Danbury, Kushner says it doesn't address the magnitude of the challenges Danbury is facing.  She is concerned that charter schools only address a portion of the population. Over the 7 years to grow to full enrollment, Kushner says the City would lose $10 million and the overhead of public schools won't be reduced.  She says that will lead to more serious problems.  Kushner notes that the elementary schools have won numerous blue ribbons.

Coelho prefers supporting the proposed public charter school over the Open Choice program, which would allow 50 students from Danbury to attend school in a neighboring district.  Coelho says a one-size fits all approach on education, zoning and other matters won't work.  She called for keeping control local. 

Kushner says the cost of gas needs to be addressed and would support continuing the 25-cent tax holiday.  She also touted the child tax rebate for families and wants to continue that program as well.

WestConn is warning students of possible catalytic converter thefts happening on campus. Police agencies report that thieves are stealing the emissions control devices during daylight hours throughout the region.  WestConn Police are investigating three possible cases over the past few days.  Any theft or suspicious activity should be reported immediately to university police at (203) 837-9300.  Students are being reminded that if they see suspected illegal activity, not to confront the thief but to take note of identifying characteristics.  Officers will be patrolling university parking areas.  

Two lost hikers were rescued in Easton over the weekend.  The Volunteer Fire Department was called to an area off Route 58 Saturday night on a report of two hikers lost in the woods.  It took about 45 minutes to locate the individuals and another 30 minutes to hike out with them.  Both were in good condition and declined medical attention.  Fire officials are reminding hikers to bring a cell phone so they can locate the general vicinity with GPS mapping.  Weston Volunteer Fire Department assisted in the search from the Weston side of the woods while Easton Police were in communications with the hikers.

Progress is being made in Brookfield on a traffic congestion easement project.  The Economic Development Office reports that construction on the lower Federal Road project reached a major milestone.  The north end of Old New Milford Road is one-way only southbound from Federal Rd to the entrance into the Greenknoll Medical Center. Access to Federal Road for vehicles traveling eastbound on Huckleberry Hill Road is available only by turning right on Old New Milford Road to the new intersection with a new traffic light at Federal Road.  Turning lanes are now installed at the new intersection at Federal and Old New Milford Roads.

There are indications that COVID-19 case rates in Danbury area back on the rise.  The City is still doing waste water sampling and there's been an increase in the presence of the virus detected through that method.  Weekly reports on wastewater sampling can be found on the City Health Department's website, under the COVID-19 section.  Officials say this tells a more complete picture of community spread than test data as at-home tests are not reported to the state.  Connecticut also changed reporting requirements for providers to align with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

New Fairfield has welcomed a new Resident Trooper. Nicholas Brunsden is a Connecticut native. Prior to joining the State Police, Brunsden was a 2017 graduate from the University of Maryland where he majored in Criminology and Criminal Justice.  He replaced Trooper Dan Koehler who is now a State Police Major Crime Detective.

At the 24th Annual Salute to Connecticut’s Bravest, Danbury Firefighter James Lillis was honored as Firefighter of the year. The award is given to a firefighter that goes above and beyond for their community.  He was recognized for his professionalism and exemplary service. Lillis has been with the Danbury Fire Department since 2004 and has served in every Firefighter capacity.  He also volunteers hundreds of hours each year at the Bridgewater Fair, in his hometown.

The Bethel Republican Town Committee is endorsing former state Representative Dan Carter in his bid to become First Selectman.  A special election will be held February 7th to replace Matt Knickerbocker who resigned last month to take a job in Wilton.  Carter, who represented the 2nd district from 2011 to 2017 filed shortly after the announcement.  The Republican caucus will be held at the Bethel Middle School Auditorium tonight at 7:30.  All registered Republicans in Bethel can attend.  Carter says he's honored to receive the endorsement and hopes to earn the support of all Bethel Republicans at the caucus.  Carter says he would focus on responsible budgeting and attracting and retaining businesses, while providing for the schools and services residents deserve.

A Carmel man has been convicted for assaulting his wife with a crowbar.  District Attorney Robert Tendy announced that Jeff Hanlon pled guilty to felony Attempted Assault and will serve 8 years in State prison with 5 years post release supervision.  Tendy says Hanlon had been verbally and physically abusing his wife for two days when she attempted to leave the residence on December 17th 2020. As she was leaving, he hit her in the back of the head.  She was eventually able to get away to her father's Pelham house and call police.  Hanlon was arrested that night and has been in jail since. Tendy says preventing domestic violence and bringing to justice those who perpetuate it is a top priority. 

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has asked a Connecticut judge to throw out a nearly $1 billion verdict against him and order a new trial in a lawsuit by Sandy Hook families, who say they were subjected to harassment and threats from Jones’ lies about the 2012 Newtown school shooting.

Jones filed the requests Friday, saying Judge Barbara Bellis’ pretrial rulings resulted in an unfair trial and “a substantial miscarriage of justice.”

“Additionally, the amount of the compensatory damages award exceeds any rational relationship to the evidence offered at trial,” Jones’ lawyers, Norm Pattis and Kevin Smith, wrote in the motion.

Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for the 15 plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Jones, declined to comment on the filing Saturday, but said he and other attorneys for the Sandy Hook families will be filing a brief opposing Jones’ request.

An FBI agent who responded to the shooting and relatives of eight children and adults killed in the massacre sued Jones for defamation and infliction of emotional distress over his pushing the bogus narrative that the shooting was a hoax staged by “crisis actors” to impose more gun control.

Six jurors in Waterbury, Connecticut, ordered Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems, on Oct. 12 to pay $965 million in compensatory damages to the plaintiffs and said punitive damages also should be awarded. Bellis has scheduled hearings for early next month to determine the amount of the punitive damages.

During the trial, victims’ relatives said in often-emotional testimony that they were threatened and harassed for years by people who believed the lies told on Jones’ show. Strangers showed up at the families’ homes to record them and confronted them in public. People hurled abusive comments on social media. Relatives said they received death and rape threats.

The verdicts came after another jury in Texas in August ordered Jones and his company to pay nearly $50 million in damages to the parents of another slain Sandy Hook child. A third trial over the hoax claims, involving two more Sandy Hook parents, is expected to be held near the end of the year in Texas.

Jones, who has acknowledged in recent years that the shooting did occur, has blasted the lawsuits and trials on his Austin, Texas-based Infowars show, calling them unfair and a violation of his free speech rights.

But he lost his right to present those defenses when the judges in Connecticut and Texas found him liable for damages by default without trials, for what they called Jones’ repeated failures to turn over some evidence including financial documents and website analytics to the Sandy Hook lawyers.

With liability already established, the trials in both states focused only on how much Jones should pay in damages.

Pattis, Jones’ lawyer, wrote in the motions filed Friday that there was a lack of evidence directly connecting Jones with the people who harassed and threatened the Sandy Hook families. Pattis said the trial resembled a “memorial service, not a trial.”

“Yes, the families in this case suffered horribly as a result of the murder of their children,” Pattis wrote, adding that Jones did not send people to harass and threaten the families.

“There was no competent evidence offered at this trial that he ever did,” he wrote. “Instead, there was a shocking abuse of a disciplinary default and its transformation into a series of half-truths that misled a jury and resulted in substantial injustice.”

The Route 7 pump station force main installation project in Ridgefield is continuing.  Crews this week will continue cleaning up along Lee, Limekiln, Haviland, and Still roads and Dawn Lane.  Equipment will be staged at Farmingville Road.  First Selectman Rudy Marconi says minor traffic delays may occur around work areas.  Typical construction hours are 7am to 3pm.  Crews are set to begin force main installation along Farmingville Road, working from Lee Road toward Ligi's Way.  This will be in the westbound lane, with alternating one-way traffic getting by.  That work will be done 9am to 3pm this week.

Fall bulky drop off in Bridgewater starts today.  Large dumpsters will be at the town garage located on Hut Hill Road, where Bridgewater residents may drop off bulky household items to be disposed of from October 24th through Friday October 28th.  The hours are 7:30am to 3pm.  And on Saturday October 29th from 9am to 1pm.  Hazardous waste, construction debris and household garbage will not be accepted.  Residents should also not bring appliances, electronics or brush.  Tires will be accepted for a fee.  This is one free pickup truck load or two carloads per household.  Additional pickup loads will cost $25 per load.  1-3 ton truckloads will cost $50 per additional load, with a maximum of 3 total loads per household.  There will be no curbside pickup.  

A local lawmaker is calling on the Governor to sign an executive order allowing people to better protect themselves from bears.  New Milford Senator Craig Miner wants people in state parks and designated bow hunting areas to be able to carry legally registered handguns in case they are attacked by a bear.  This follows an attack by a bear on a 10-year old boy in his grandparent's Morris backyard.  Miner, whose district includes Morris, says this is the time of years when bears are active and looking for food before they hibernate for the winter.  A spokesman for the Governor told WTNH this isn't something that can be done by executive order and would require an act of the legislature.  Miner is not seeking reelection next month, and the General Assembly doesn't reconvene until February. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in the past has supported proposed legislation that would allow the killing of bears that cause agricultural damage. Bills at the state level have proposed banning the intentional feeding of bears, but none have advanced to the governor’s desk.

Most Greater Danbury area towns reported about 50 to 250 COVID-19 tests to the state Department of Public Health over the last 7 days with positivity of 4.7 to 20 percent.  New Milford and Newtown each reported about 200 tests and Danbury reported 622, about the same as last week.  At home tests are not reported. 

The test positivity rates are:

Danbury 4.7 percent (622 tests)

New Fairfield  6.4 percent (96 tests)

Brookfield 7.3 percent (137 tests)

New Milford 8.2 percent (173 tests)

Newtown 8.9 percent (246 tests)

Bethel 10.8 percent (160 tests)

Ridgefield 20 percent (134 tests)

Redding (53 tests)

The number of people in Connecticut receiving a new Bivalent booster has has slowed since last week, but still on the rise.  More than  346,000 doses have been administered to date, up from about 281,000 last week.  Those are the new Pfizer and Moderna shots that are meant to target the omicron subvariants currently circulating in the population as well as the original strain of COVID-19.

Newtown Police Department and other law enforcement agencies across the state are honoring the two members of the Bristol Police Department who were killed in the line of duty this month.  Decals showing the fallen officers’ names, rank and end of watch date, along with the department patchy, have bee placed on nearly every vehicle in the Newtown Police Department fleet.  State police took about 1,000 to put on their vehicles.   Thousands of police officers from around the country gathered yesterday for a joint funeral for Dustin DeMonte and Alex Hamzy.  They along with Officer Alec Iurato were shot in what police believe was an ambush by the shooter, Nicholas Brutcher. Iurato survived and killed Brutcher. Brutcher's brother, Nathan, also was shot and survived. A motive for the shooting has not been disclosed. 

The Ridgefield Board of Selectman has voted for an Affordable Housing Plan.  The draft, crafted by a Commission and previously approved by Planning & Zoning, was due to the state by June.  Selectman Bob Hebert has been critical of the proposal and this week offered an alternative plan, about a third of length of the draft approved later in the meeting.  Hebert said he created a new plan because he could not tweak the other one in a way he would be comfortable putting his name on.  His plan was modeled after the Affordable Housing Plan from the Western Connecticut Council of Governments,  and is consistent the town's Plan of Conservation and Development approved in 2020.  Selectman Barbara Manners the Affordable Housing Committee put in many hours of work and to throw it away is an insult to them.  Hebert responded that not listening to the public "is an insult to the residents."

Democrat Jeff Ginsburg is looking to unseat Republican Patrick Callahan in the 108th District of New Fairfield and Sherman.  He grew up in Danbury and retired in Sherman.  He's active in a number of local organizations.  He lives on Squantz Pond and was on the Candlewood Yacht Club Board of Directors.  He kayaks extensively and is very aware of the positive and negative impacts on water quality.  He says the increased use of wake boats is increasing and having an impact on the shoreline.  When it comes to walk-ins at state parks, he doesn't support a ban but would support a fee for adult users in order to help maintain the park.  He thinks state troopers are doing a good job in controlling crowds.  Ginsburg says WCSU did a study years ago that found 40-percent of the area's economy is related to the lake.  He wants to create an economic council to coordinate activities around the lake.  He would support the 25-cent gas tax holiday, but also supports the highway user fee set to take effect for large trucks.  He says that will help pay for some infrastructure projects.  Ginsburg supports recent public safety measures approved by the General Assembly, including increased funding for police training, resources for the court to address backlogs and more youth prevention programs.  He would support toughening policies to stop crimes before they start.  Ginsburg says Sherman allows for in-law suites to help seniors stay in the community and near their families.  He would like to see more initiatives to help people age in place, but doesn't think the state should get involved in zoning issues.  He believes zoning should remain under local oversight.  His top priority if elected would be to focus on education and children's mental health.  Ginsburg says school-based services should be expanded.  He says offering more services could also help cut down on crime and prevent domestic issues. 

Democratic incumbent Julie Kushner is seeking a 3rd term representing the 24th state Senate District, which includes Danbury and part of Ridgefield.  She is being challenged by Republican Danbury Board of Education member Michelle Coelho.

Kushner touted work to pass Paid Family Medical Leave, a hike in the minimum wage, 80-percent reimbursement rate on eligible costs for the Career Academy construction and secure a $2 million bond for CIFC to building a parking garage, which will help the organization to create senior housing.  She decided to seek reelection to help connect more people to resources and says the policy work critically important to moving Connecticut forward.

Kushner says one of the challenges in getting people back to work, especially with the fallout of the pandemic, has been childcare.  She says lifting the salaries is important to attract people to the field, and that help was provided in the last session.  Kushner says discussions have started about universal pre-k. 

Her first year in office, Kushner was vice chair of the Environment Committee.  They created a stamp that boaters have to buy when they register a vessel.  The $5 fee has created a large pool of money to distribute in the form of grants to lakes and river associations to address invasive species.  She says that will help centralize the work. 

When it comes to gun safety reforms, Kushner says the current laws should be upheld.  She says there's more that can be done, including closing loopholes in the ghost gun bill approved last session.  She says serial numbers on firearms is helpful to law enforcement trying to solve crimes.  She says limiting the number of guns someone can purchase at a time per month is also something to look into.

As for the Police Accountability Bill, Kushner says she doesn't believe some of the fears of unintended consequences have come to fruition, but legislators will keep an eye on that.  When there is an extreme use of force, that's not warranted, she says those cases should be investigated.  She touted the training included in the measure. 

Amending the state constitution to allow for early voting is on the ballot in November.  Kushner hopes it's approved.  She says with COVID-era absentee ballot drop boxes and no excuse absentee balloting led to an increase in voter participation.  She says everyone should have access to the ballot box. 

Kushner says she's impressed with the way the Danbury school administration has planned the rollout of the Career Academy. The curriculum will be available to all Danbury High School students. She wants the state to help municipalities embrace innovative programs to address challenges in public education. Kushner is the Senate chair of the Working Group on Indoor Air Quality.  She says that's an issue that also needs to be addressed.

As for the proposed Charter school in Danbury, Kushner says it doesn't address the magnitude of the challenges Danbury is facing.  She is concerned that charter schools only address a portion of the population. Over the 7 years to grow to full enrollment, Kushner says the City would lose $10 million and the overhead of public schools won't be reduced.  She says that will lead to more serious problems.  Kushner notes that the elementary schools have won numerous blue ribbons.

Kushner says the cost of gas needs to be addressed and would support continuing the 25-cent tax holiday.  She also touted the child tax rebate for families and wants to continue that program as well.

The transition of Huckleberry Hill School students and staff in Brookfield into the new Candlewood Lake Elementary School is being delayed.  The goal was to move in on January 3rd, but the Municipal Building Committee told the Board of Ed at their meeting this week that there have been supply chain issues, especially with flooring, and construction timing issues with installation.  The Board of Ed and Superintendent of Schools sent a letter to families saying that they decided to wait until all floors and finishes in the areas they will occupy are complete before moving in.  Within the next few weeks, the town's construction contractor will be providing further information on timing.  Once they have specific dates, the Board of Ed will share the new move-in date for Huckleberry students, and other adjustments to the Brookfield school district calendar.

The number of COVID-19 cases reported by most municipalities in the Greater Danbury area to the Connecticut Department of Public Health held fairly steady this week compared to last.  Brookfield and Danbury cut their case rates in half, but Ridgefield nearly tripled.  Redding did not report any positive cases for the 2nd week in a row.  According to the report ending October 20th, there were 24 cases in Danbury, Bethel reported 15, and Brookfield had 7.  There were 6 COVID cases in New Fairfield, 15 in New Milford, and 17 in Newtown, 0 in Redding while Ridgefield had 22. 

New state data released Thursday shows a decrease in COVID-19 positivity compared to last week.  The rolling 7-day average is 8.69 percent, down from 10-percent the week before. There were 2,800 positive COVID cases reported to the state out of nearly 33,000 tests, about 2,000 more than last week. The number of people in Connecticut hospitals testing positive for COVID-19 over the last 7 days has not changed.  The inpatient total is 405, with 36-percent not fully vaccinated. The number COVID-associated deaths in Connecticut has grown by 21 since last Thursday.

The BA5 Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 continues to make up the majority of the cases sent for genomic sequencing in Connecticut, according to the latest report. 79.7 percent of samples were BA5, while 15.7 percent were identified as BA4. BF 7, a new variant, was identified in 3.3 percent of samples tested.  The rest sent for sequencing were identified as BA 2.

Connecticut Veterans Affairs Commissioner Tom Saadi, the Danbury Veterans Council and Danbury Veterans Affairs Director Danny Hayes are hosting a Beirut/Lebanon Veterans Memorial Ceremony tomorrow in front of the Danbury War Memorial building.  This ceremony is held on the weekend of the 39th anniversary of the terrorist bombing of the U.S. Marine Barracks in Beirut which killed 220 U-S Marines, 18 Navy Sailors and 3 Soldiers.  Another 183 U-S Service personnel were wounded in the attack.  The Beirut Veterans Memorial is inscribed with the names of the eight Connecticut residents killed in the 1983 Marine Barracks bombing and two service members who lost their lives in Lebanon in 1958 and 1985.

A building and concrete materials storage yard is being considered for a site in Danbury near the potential home of the proposed Danbury Career Academy.  The Planning Commission held a public hearing this week on an application by Hat City Concrete on Ye Olde Road, off Kenosia Avenue.  The two City Councilman who represent that ward, and a nearby resident, spoke out in opposition to the plans for a 17-thousand square foot building on a 1-and-a-half acre site.  The property is zoned for light industrial use, but the applicant needs to be approved for a special permit to store construction and building materials.  The proposal was made in 2019, but withdrawn after opposition and the applicant says not much has changed in this new plan.  The Planning Commission will continue the hearing in November.

The Connecticut State Police has graduated 33 new State Troopers.
The 132nd Training Troop entered the Connecticut State Police Training Academy on April 8th, with classes starting in a blended learning format. On May 9th, the class began the residential portion of the Academy, Monday through Friday, and completed the remaining 24 weeks of training. This is the second class to graduate the State Police Training Academy in 2022; 53 members of the
131st Training Troop graduated on March 24th.

Anthony Falstoe of Bethel and Jonathan Colby of Shelton will be assigned to Troop A in Southbury. 
In total, the class completed a total of 28 weeks and more than 1,400 hours of training both online and in person. In addition to classwork, the recruits spend many hours on physical conditioning, driving, firearms training, active shooter response, experiential training and other specialized areas of police work. Five members of the class started the selections process (including the physical agility) while deployed to Africa as part of a joint effort with State Police and the Connecticut National Guard.
The 33 members of this class includes 30 men and 3 women. Members of the 132nd Training Troop have diverse backgrounds, training and experience. Some are former municipal police officers or correction officers, some have been trained as firefighters and EMTs and some have military backgrounds. The youngest member of the class is 21 years old and the oldest is 52 years old.

Among the 33 graduates:
11 have military experience
1 has prior law enforcement experience
11 hold Bachelor’s Degrees
3 hold advanced degrees

Tuition rates for Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Connecticut State Universities will be higher next academic year.  The Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Board of Regents met yesterday to vote on new tuition and fees for state universities, not including UConn. The systemwide-average increase for in-state undergraduates is $15 per credit or $184 per semester, and an average increase of $17 per credit or $208 per semester for in-state graduate students beginning in the fall of 2023.  A report from the Board says the change is needed to cover increased costs, including for wages, and the impact of inflation. 

A trial is underway for a Sherman man charged with the murder of his husband.  Several witnesses have testified this week in the trial of James Marharg, who was arrested in March 2019.  The case was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  A  three-judge panel is hearing the case.  The 69-year old admitted to police that he killed his husband, Thomas Conley, according to his arrest warrant, after initially claiming that the gash atop his head was accidental. Maharg told police they had been drinking several bottles of tequila a day to deal with their failing fashion retail supply business and losing their house to the bank.

An affordable housing plan has been approved by the Ridgefield Board of Selectmen to send to the state.  All municipalities were required to send updated plans to the state by June, though many did not meet that deadline.  The vote in Ridgefield was 3 to 2.  The 33 page document was drafted by an Affordable Housing Committee and previously approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission.  The plan calls for a review of multi-family opportunities through zoning regulations, developing additional assisted affordable housing units, promoting adaptive reuse of old buildings, and creating transit-oriented development. Affordable housing is defined as costing less than 30 percent of the income of a household earning 80 percent or less of the area’s median income.

Republican Toni Boucher is looking to get back into politics.  The former longtime state legislator is running for her old seat, the 26th Senate District.  She spent 12 years in the House and 10 in the Senate.  Boucher says efforts to regionalize schools and zoning, more regulations on businesses and higher taxes prompted her to get back into the fight. 

Democrat Ceci Maher is also running for the open seat.  She holds a masters in Social Work from Columbia and worked 14 years as Executive Director of an organization called Person-to-Person.  They provide food to those in need, and tackle issues such as housing insecurity, education access and summer programs for children. She most recently served as interim Executive Director of Sandy Hook Promise. 

Maher says Connecticut should make its gun safety laws stronger.  She says the impact of trauma due to gun violence on people never goes away.  She wants to bring community-based initiatives on violence prevention to the state level. She added that the ghost gun law doesn't go far enough and would work to strengthen the law. 

Boucher wants to renew her focus on transportation.  She says the electric grid needs to be updated as well.  Boucher also wants to focus on education issues again.  She is concerned with the current top down, heavy handed approach to state government.  She says the pandemic prompted her to also want to take on mental wellness issues for children. 

On the issue of reproductive freedom, Maher says Connecticut is on the right side of the issue.  She would uphold the state's laws and called the latest Supreme Court ruling unconscionable.  When it comes to early voting, Maher supports expansion of access to the ballot box.  She notes that Connecticut is just one of four states that doesn't have some form of in-person early voting.

Boucher says the state is in a surplus mode right now, but that's because of the 2017 bipartisan budget.  The Senate was tied at the time and Boucher says they implemented the bonding, spending and volatility caps.  She says the surplus can be used to better fund education.  Boucher notes that most states have their lottery funds go to education, but Connecticut sends it to distressed municipalities.  She is concerned about the high cost of living in the state and wants to help people with energy costs, food costs, and fuel costs. 

In terms of infrastructure, Maher says there are over 270 bridges in serious disrepair.  She wants to get those fixed, and make investments in trains to get people off the roads.  She says that will reduce emissions to also help the climate.  With the federal funding coming to Connecticut, Maher wants to fix bottlenecks on the highways and invest in so-called smart traffic lights.  She says that means drivers won't be sitting at lights when no other drivers are around.  Maher also wants investments made in EV chargers, bike trails and walking paths. 

Boucher says the petroleum receipts tax was meant to be temporary and should be examined.  She adds that there are numerous fees on electric bills that don't go to energy costs and the state should look at current regulations to address the matter.  Boucher also suggested getting rid of the prepared foods tax and lowering the sales tax.  When it comes to affordable housing, Boucher says it's wrong to come into a community and say that 5 or 6 level housing should go anywhere.  She notes it should be near access to sewer, utilities and things like grocery stores.

On the issue of pandemic recovery, Maher says the next generation workforce needs to be trained and supports the Governor's Office of Workforce Strategy.  Maher says there are too few ways for seniors to downsize and to find housing for seniors who want to continue to live independently.  She also wants to expand affordable housing options for seniors. 

There are new paving dates for the Main Street project in Ridgefield.  Repaving will now start on Sunday and continue through Tuesday morning.  The work will take place during the evening hours and Main Street will remain open to traffic during this time. Parking will not be available on Main Street from 6pm to 7am during these days. The purpose of the project is to improve the area between Governor Street and Prospect Street.  Dedicated left-turn lanes will be provided at the Catoonah Street and Bailey Avenue Intersection.  The CVS driveway was reconfigured to be normalized opposite of Prospect Street, where there will also be a dedicated left-turn lane into the driveway from Main Street.  Various curb extension bump-outs will be used as traffic calming elements, as well as to provide pedestrian crossing improvements.  

The Newtown Police Department's newest member has been sworn in.  John Facto joined the force after serving almost a decade as a Stratford Police Officer.  He is a lifelong Newtown resident, and previously served as a volunteer firefighter, and for 6 years as a Dispatcher in the Emergency Communications Center.  Department officials say he is already well known among the staff as a reliable and valuable teammate.

Tuesday was fire safety day at the Kent Primary School in New York.  Members of the Carmel, Kent and Lake Carmel Fire Departments were all on hand to give students an up-close look at different fire trucks and learn about the various pieces of life-saving equipment that firefighters use. Students learned about making plans for fire safety, including changing the batteries in alarms twice a year and establishing a meeting place.

A voter enrollment and registration session is being held in Danbury ahead of election Day.  The Registrars of Voters will be available on Tuesday November 1st, from 9am to 8pm.  That is the in-person registration deadline for the election, which takes place the following Tuesday--November 8th.  For those who move to Danbury, reach the age of 18, or become U-S citizens after November 1st, the registrars will hold a special voter registration session on Monday the 7th from 9am to 5pm.  

The Bethel Town Clerk is reminding residents needing an Absentee Ballot for the upcoming November 8th Election and have not previously submitted one or received one from a political party representing a candidate, an application can be submitted electronically.  The application can be found on the town's website.  Absentee Ballots will then be mailed out, but they must be returned before election day.  Just being postmarked on election day is not sufficient.  https://www.bethel-ct.gov/AbsenteeBallotApplication

Tuition rates for Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Connecticut State Universities will be decided on today.  The Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Board of Regents is meeting this morning to vote on new tuition and fees for state universities, not including UConn.  Costs for commuter students are proposed to rise $350 for the 2023-24 school year to $12,847.  Students living on campus could pay $800 more starting next year, with tuition and fees of $27,385.  A report from the Board says the change is needed to cover increased costs, including for wages, and the impact of inflation.  The Board of Regents meeting is being held at 10am in Hartford, but will also be streamed online.

New Fairfield residents have signed off on 10 projects to be funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars.  By a vote of 652 to 390, the package of proposals was approved in a vote Tuesday.  Among the items being funded are public safety improvements.  The Emergency Management Director and Resident Sergeant have made recommendations on security improvements to Town buildings and Communications infrastructure. Their recommendations include improvements to building security and replacement of the end of life dispatch console. ARPA expressly allows provisions for funding police, fire and other public safety services.  Some of the funding would go to premium pay for public health and safety employees and volunteer firefighters, grants to local small businesses impacted by the pandemic and an emergency housing fund to help residents on the verge of homelessness.  The beach house will also be renovated and a sewer design will be drawn up to address aging, failing systems in the Town Center.  Money will also be used for a Community Center feasibility study.  The study that would bring together the public and other stakeholders to answer questions such as what would residents like to see in a Community Center.  Some of what's been discussed in the past range from a space with meeting rooms to a facility with a gym, outdoor pool and playing fields.  Each concept requires a different amount and type of space.  The study would also look at whether New Fairfield owns a suitable piece of property, building costs, and how it would be staffed and maintained.

A Special Town Meeting is being held in Redding tonight for residents to vote on American Rescue Plan Act projects.  First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton says each of the 10 projects will be voted on individually.  The town mailed out notices to each household, with a QR code link to details about each allocation.  Tonight's meeting is at 7pm at Redding Community Center.

BOARD OF EDUCATION LOTS PROJECT (Lifelong Learning, On-going Assessment, Teacher Training, Safe Spaces)
Use of ARPA funding of up to $83,000 for the Board of Education LOTS program.  The four-part project will improve and create appropriate learning spaces for students that need to regulate their emotions and feelings in order to be successful in the classroom. Funding will equip the spaces with advanced materials suitable for regulation and flexible learning. The project will be anchored in training for RES certified and non-certified staff as well as classroom materials to support post pandemic learners. Materials to support these learners have changed. This will give the teachers proper support needed to reinforce self-regulation, calming techniques, and social emotional learning. Finally, the project will embrace new tracking and logging mechanisms to enhance learning and on-going assessment.

Part I: Safe physical and emotional spaces
Part II: Teaching Techniques & Strategies; Equipping Staff
Part III: Student Materials for Success
Part IV: Technology to Track & Monitor Progress

BARLOW ‘NEST’ (JOEL BARLOW COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT)
Use of ARPA funding of up to $250,000 for the Region 9 School District to undertake the Barlow Fields Improvement Project , with such terms and conditions the Board of Selectmen may specify and with the additional condition that the monies be held by the Selectmen for up to one year and released only if the Board of Selectmen determines that:

Plans have been created for the construction of a building at the stadium that provides an ADA compliant restroom with related septic facilities, team rooms, and a functional kitchen.
Bids based on the plans are obtained.
All necessary approvals from Zoning Commission, Health Department, Planning Commission, and the Region 9 Board of Education are obtained.
There is a certainty that funds identified from both government and private sources are sufficient to complete the project.
The Town of Easton and/or Easton residents have provided a commitment of proportional funds.

GEORGETOWN VILLAGE SIGNAGE
Use of ARPA Funding of up to $15,000 for the installation of signs as proposed by the Georgetown Village Restoration Inc., subject to state approval.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF REDDING-EASTON IMPROVEMENTS
Use of ARPA funding of up to $100,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Redding Easton for a project – $80,000 in capital expenses and $20,000 in non-capital expenses as detailed in the ARPA working group minutes of 06/23/22.

HERITAGE CENTER RETRACTABLE WALL
Use of ARPA funding of up to $60,000 for the installation of a retractable room divider in the Heritage Center at Redding Community Center.

PICKLEBALL COURTS
Use of ARPA funding of $113,000 to construct two pickleball courts at the Redding Community Center in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Selectmen.

REDDING GRANGE #15
Use of ARPA funding of up to $45,000 for construction on the second floor of the Redding Grange to include building an ADA compliant restroom, installation of air conditioning, and improvements to the electrical wiring.

 MARK TWAIN LIBRARY PROJECT
Use of ARPA funding of up to $200,000 for the Mark Twain Library to support the outdoor patio project, with such terms and conditions the Board of Selectmen may specify and with the additional conditions:
1. The grant is contingent on the Mark Twain Library first obtaining all required regulatory permits and approvals for the project.
2. The grant payment is not to exceed ½ of the total cost of the project.

TOPSTONE  PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Use of ARPA funding of up to $150,000 for improvements to Topstone Park, such improvements to be planned under the direction of the Park & Recreation Commission, subject to regulatory approvals, including the recommendations made by the Planning Commission in its report and minutes dated September 13, 2022.

NEW POND FARM WETLANDS RESTORATION PROJECT
Use of ARPA funding of up to $200,000 for the New Pond Farm restoration of wetlands, with such terms and conditions as the Board of Selectmen may specify and with the additional conditions:
1. The grant is contingent on New Pond Farm first obtaining all required approvals and permits.
2. The grant payment is not to exceed ½ of the total cost of the project, and
3. New Pond Farm will provide residents with day passes to its property in a mutually acceptable manner.

Eversource is replacing all old cast iron mains, which have been problematic when they leak.  Since 2012, Eversource has replaced more than 120 miles of older gas lines around the state.  Public Works Director Antonio Iadarola says the effort was started because the old ones are almost impossible to repair when they fail.  There are several permits out in Danbury, with a significant amount of work underway on Main and West streets.  Iadarola is working with Eversource on the best route and how to construct the improvements.  He cautioned that it is a multi-year gas main replacement project in Danbury.  He says it's taken about 5 years to get on common ground with utility companies on how they'll restore the roads.  Each street is rated, based on age, for the extent on restoration required.  It ranges from just the trench, to curb-to-curb.  Iadarola says this is done because the City spends a lot on paving and don't want utilities to rip up that work.  He notes that there is a period of time for the work to settle, and the City does monitor those locations for a month or two.  The permits are for Elm Street, Fairfield Avenue, Connecticut Avenue, Greenfield Avenue, Delta Avenue, White Street and Ninth Avenue.

New portable radios have been distributed to Bethel Fire & EMS and Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company.  After FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant applications were turned down over the years, the departments sought town funding.  The money was approved earlier this year by the Fire Commission and the Boards of Selectmen and Finance.  The equipment was purchased from Utility Communications.  Officials say after some supply chain delays and work to tweak and fine tune the extensive programming, they were finally put into service.  The portable radios replace 16 year old technology, no longer serviceable.  The old equipment also didn't meet the strenuous demands of the fire service.

The Danbury Department of Health and Human Services has updated the COVID-19 vaccine clinic and testing hours for the site at 118 Memorial Drive.  No appointments are needed for either vaccines or testing at Pat Waldron Hall.  Testing will be done Mondays and Wednesdays between 3pm and 6pm, and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.  Vaccines are being offered Mondays through Fridays 1pm to 7, Saturdays 9am to 3pm and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm.  Vaccines are also being administered at 132 Main Street on Wednesdays from  9:30am to 12:30pm and on Fridays 2pm to 5. 

Bridge repairs are underway in New Fairfield. Bear Mountain Road is closed between Woodcreek Road and Candlewood Road until 4:30.  The road will be closed again tomorrow from 7am to 4:30pm for further repairs.  Meanwhile, in New Milford there's alternating one lane traffic at Veterans Bridge due to inspection work.  This is until 4pm to day and tomorrow from 8am to 4pm.  New Milford Police will be conducting traffic control. Drivers are asked to use an alternate route if possible. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration is sponsoring prescription drug takeback collections across the country later this month.  There will be a collection at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday the 29th from 10am to 3pm.  Individuals can dispose of prescription medication, over-the-counter medication and pet medication.  They cannot accept syringes, lancets and sharps.  During the event, free Naloxone training will be available.  This will help people learn how to use the opioid overdose reversal drug. 

There's an open race in the 30th state Senate District, which represents Brookfield, New Milford and 16 other towns in the northwest corner.  Democrat Eva Bermudez-Zimmerman and Republican Stephen Harding are running for the position.  Harding is currently the 107th House District Representative and Bermudez-Zimmerman has been an advocate for 16 years, with 10 years representing child care providers.

State Senator Craig Miner, the chief deputy Senate Republican leader, decided not to seek reelection.  

Harding noted that he worked with Miner on the Environment Committee, which opened his eyes to the issues impacting the northwest corner.  He touted a bill passed last year putting more regulations in place on tree removal in state parks.   

"DEEP cut down trees, arbitrarily in Housatonic Meadows State Park. The beauty of the park was senselessly destroyed," Harding said. 

Bermudez-Zimmerman also wants to work to protect the environment. 

"It was ashame that the DEEP clear-cut a lot of trees at a state park, without any notice upsetting many people." Bermudez-Zimmerman said. 

She called for more public awareness of invasive species, but believes algae blooms have been the bigger problem lately.  

As for broadband services, Harding says more can be done to encourage companies to expand in rural areas.  He would also support some regulatory changes, but wants to protect open space in terms of how that infrastructure is implemented. Bermudez-Zimmerman says the state needs corporate partners to expand infrastructure. 

Bermudez-Zimmerman says whether or not to extend the gas tax holiday is a complicated question. 

"Some vendors are small business owners and trying to recoup their funds.  They should be involved in conversations to find savings for customers in a way that they won't lose money," she noted. 

In an effort to keep young people to the state, Harding supports a program to provide tax incentives to businesses to provide student loan repayment programs. Harding supports continuing the current gas tax holiday.

Bermudez-Zimmerman says programs like Care for Kids, a subsidized program, could be a model for the state.  She is a chairperson of Childcare for Connecticut's Future. The organization was able to secure $183 million more dollars for early childhood educators.  

Harding touted a bill to cap the cost of insulin. 

"My mother has Type 1 Diabetes. Making the life saving medicine more affordable is important to a lot of Connecticut residents," Harding said.  

A Danbury man has been arrested for attempted murder.  Putnam County Sheriff Deputies responded to La Patrona Mexican Restaurant on Route 22 in Southeast on Sunday for a dispute in progress with a knife involved.  A large crowd was outside the restaurant and Deputies found a 27-year-old male had been stabbed in the neck and stomach.  They performed first aid until an ambulance arrived to transport the man to Danbury Hospital. Deputies determined, through interviews and video surveillance, that the victim and suspect were in a verbal dispute which quickly escalated.  The suspect was identified as 27-year old Nestor Rodriguez. He was located later that day and taken into custody without incident.  He was charged with Attempted Murder, Attempted Assault, and Assault.  Rodriguez was arraigned and remanded to Putnam County Jail on bail. Deputies were assisted at the scene by members of the New York State Police, Carmel, and MTA Police Departments.

A Brookfield woman has been sentenced to probation for failing to collect, account for and pay over the federal income taxes and FICA taxes associated with cash wages paid to several employees.  47-year old Lizbel Sanchez was also ordered to pay a $400,000 fine.  She is a minority owner of  Danbury Food Corp., which operates a C-Town grocery store in Danbury.  Sanchez was responsible for accounting and financial records.  The U.S. Attorney's Office says Sanchez also failed to account for and pay FICA taxes and Federal Unemployment Tax on the taxable wages of those employees paid in cash.  Sanchez has paid $408,000 in restitution to the IRS.   Additional tax losses will be addressed civilly by the IRS.

There's an opening in the 30th state Senate District, which represents Brookfield, New Milford and 16 other towns in the northwest corner.  Democrat Eva Bermudez-Zimmerman and Republican Stephen Harding are running for the position.  Harding is currently the 107th House District Representative and Bermudez-Zimmerman has been  an advocate for 16 years, with 10 years representing child care providers.

Harding says he's worked with outgoing Senator Craig Miner on the Environment Committee, which opened his eyes to the issues impacting the northwest corner.  He touted a bill passed last year about tree removal in state parks.  DEEP cut down trees, arbitrarily in Housatonic Meadows State Park.  Harding says the beauty of the park was senselessly destroyed.  The bill put more regulations in place around tree removal in state parks. 

Bermudez-Zimmerman also wants to work to protect the environment.  She says it was a shame that the DEEP clear-cut a lot of trees at a state park, without any notice upsetting many people.  Bermudez-Zimmerman says more public awareness is needed of invasive species, but says algae blooms have been the bigger problem lately.  She says treatment plans and figuring out how to work with lake authorities would be a priority. 

As for broadband services, Harding says more can be done to encourage companies to expand in rural areas.  He would also support some regulatory changes, but wants to protect open space in terms of how that infrastructure is implemented. 

When it comes to broadband services, Bermudez-Zimmerman says the state needs corporate partners to expand infrastructure. 

Bermudez-Zimmerman says whether or not to extend the gas tax holiday is a complicated question.  She says some vendors are small business owners and trying to recoup their funds.  She wants them involved to find savings for customers, but where they won't lose money. 

In an effort to keep young people to the state, Harding supports a program to provide tax incentives to businesses to provide student loan repayment programs.  He also thinks Connecticut should be aware of the taxes, fees and regulations on small businesses are disincentivizing them from expanding.  Harding supports continuing the current gas tax holiday.

Bermudez-Zimmerman says programs like Care for Kids, a subsidized program, could be a model for the state.  Bermudez-Zimmerman is a chair of Childcare for Connecticut's Future and the organization was able to secure $183 million more dollars for early childhood educators.  She says the workforce shrunk by 30-percent just before the pandemic.   

Harding touted a bill to cap the cost of insulin.  His mother has Type 1 Diabetes and making the life saving medicine more affordable was important.  Harding says one priority is to keep Sharon Hospital open.  He says critical services are under threat by owner Nuvance Health.  He says women shouldn't have to travel over an hour away if the maternity ward is shuttered.  He wants stricter oversight of health care mergers.  

A debate has been held between the candidates vying to represent the 5th Congressional District.  Democratic incumbent Jahana Hayes is seeking a third term and being challenged by Republican George Logan, a former state senator. Hayes currently sits on the House of Representatives committees for education, labor, and agriculture.  Logan is a government affairs official for a water company in Connecticut.

In the wake of the deaths of two Bristol police officers, the candidates were asked if there should be a national ban on AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifles and similar guns.

“There is no chance for a police officer against someone who can fire 80 rounds in a matter of minutes,” Hayes said. “There is no reason for those weapons of war to be in our communities.”

“My prayers go out to the families of Sgt. [Dustin] DeMonte, Officer [Alex] Hamzy,” Logan said. “Their loss is just something that I can’t even imagine. And also for a quick recovery for Officer [Alec] Iurato. We need to support our law enforcement. I’m the only one on the stage who has been consistent in supporting our law enforcement.”

Hayes is married to a Waterbury Police Officer.

The candidates were asked if marijuana should be decriminalized federally.  Logan says he is more concerned with the opioid epidemic.  Hayes says she would support the federal measure.

The pair clarified their positions on abortion rights.

“It’s not for me to decide. We’ve had people come before Congress at various stages of pregnancy with many different issues,” Hayes said. “I hate that women are sharing their abortion stories or talking about how they lost a child. It’s none of anybody’s business. I don’t have to tell anybody why I made the choice to keep or not keep a child.”

“My opponent’s all over the place. Today, she says she’s opposed to late-term abortions. In previous interviews, she indicated that the timing doesn’t matter. Which is it? When it comes to a federal ban on abortion, I have consistently said that I am not in favor of a federal ban on abortion.”

A Special Town Meeting is being held in Redding tomorrow about a number of projects for town improvements.  One is a permanent outdoor patio at Mark Twain Library.  The Library sent out a town-wide survey pre-pandemic and overwhelming received feedback asking for a patio so there could be more programs and events held outside.   When COVID hit, they were forced outside, but space was limited and library officials say it was far from ideal.  They call this proposal a safe, practical and permanent setting.  The library will pick up a portion of the cost, but can't fund all of it.  Tomorrow's Special Town Meeting is set for 7pm at the Redding Community Center. 

The Danbury Planning Commission is meeting tonight and could approve plans for a fast food restaurant and medical office to replace the Pier 1 Imports at the corner of Sugar Hollow Road and Backus Avenue.  A drive-thru Chipotle restaurant is looking to add another location in the City.  The old building would be demolished and replaced with a one-story mixed use building about half the size.  Planning officials say the expected peak traffic to the site would not create conditions adversely affecting traffic safety or cause undue congestion.  The developer agreed to pay 25-thousand dollars to the City so Danbury can purchase and install video camera detection equipment for the traffic signals.

The Planning Commission will also consider an application for a stand-alone Panera Café building with a drive-thru at The Shops at Marcus Dairy.  A public hearing will be scheduled for November 16th.  The Commission will also schedule a hearing on an application by Border LLC and The Botanist to become a hybrid cannabis retailer.  The Botanist is currently operating as a medicinal marijuana dispensary on Mill Plain Road.  The Public Hearing will be scheduled for December 7th.

United Illuminating, which provides service to Easton and elsewhere in lower Fairfield County, is proposing a distribution rate increase it estimates will raise electric bills about 5% each year for three years beginning in 2023.  UI told state regulators the average residential electric customer with a $188 monthly bill would see an increase of about $9.69 in September 2023. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has scheduled a series of public hearings, two in person and two virtual.  The virtual hearings will be December 13th and 15th via zoom.  Written public comments will be accepted by PURA until December 15th.

New Fairfield residents are voting today on 10 projects to be funding through the American Rescue Plan Act.  The biggest allocation would be for sewer design.  If the package of projects is voted down, First Selectman Pat Del Monaco says the town stands to miss the window of opportunity for obtaining grants funded by the Infrastructure Act.

The project would be funded through the Connecticut Clean Water Revolving Fund which provides both grant funding for a percentage of the cost of the sewer and a low interest loan to the Town for the balance.  The loan is repaid primarily by revenue generated through sewer connection and user fees beginning up to a year after the completion of the project.  Once the sewer design is complete and the final cost of the project is determined, a Town vote will be required to approve the construction of the sewer. 

If the projects are voted down, Del Monaco anticipates another 12 to 18 months of deliberation before another referendum could be held.

New Fairfield officials say the dispatch console is beyond end of life, which is why funding has been proposed for its replacement.  Del Monaco says the console can no longer be repaired.  If this funding is denied, the $500,000 will go into the budget plan next year,  resulting in a nearly one percent increase in the budget.  

Bethel Public Library will cut the ribbon this weekend on its recently renovated Teen space and expanded Project Lab to the community. The Friends of Bethel Public Library will hold a ceremony on Sunday at 2pm with an open house from 1pm to 4.  State funding was secured by Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan.  The $150,000 grant was awarded through the Judicial Branch Support Services and Youth Violence Prevention program. In Year One of the grant, the Bethel Public Library redesigned the Teen space to create a safe and welcoming place where Teens can congregate, study, and attend programs. The Library then relocated the Project Lab to the second floor and brought in new equipment that Teens can experiment and learn with.  For year two of the grant, the Library will launch a new teen programming initiative in the newly renovated spaces starting in November. Teens will have access to video and recording equipment, 3D printers, laser engravers, animation, and graphic design software and tools.  Part of the goal was to bring new opportunities for career exploration and life skills.

A statewide effort to reapportion legislative districts based on new census data means some people will be voting in different General Assembly districts than they have for the past 10 years.  Among the towns with the biggest changes to state Senate representation is Bethel.  In addition to sample ballots, the Registrars have released a map of the districts and polling locations.  Bethel is still representative by the 2nd and 107th House districts, but now Bethel is represented in the Senate in the 28th and 32nd districts.

Members of the Redding Police Department have paired up with the Connecticut Cancer Foundation again this year for No Shave November.  The Foundation chooses Connecticut cancer patients as ambassadors to receive donations, and the money can be used in a variety of ways from care to day to day necessities, including rent/mortgage, utilities and food.  Redding Police say cancer patients and their families should never have to worry about going hungry or being evicted from their homes during treatment. 

The first of three Regional Lake Communities Symposia has been held by the Western Connecticut State University Department of Biology, the Connecticut Federation of Lakes and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.  The topic last night was about emerging issues and threats to Connecticut lakes.  On November 14th, the forum will include an update on current lake research by grad students.  The event will be held in person in the Science Building on the midtown campus at 7pm.  The final discussion in the series, set for December 12th, will be about aquatic plants. 

With peak foliage and the fall hiking season in full swing, The Washington Resident Trooper Office is reminding people to lock all unoccupied vehicles.  Troopers are asking that visitors and residents help eliminate crimes of opportunity, and to report any suspicious activity. The Washington Police and resident trooper are dispatched by the Connecticut State Police Troop L barracks. If police are needed immediately, people should call the barracks, 860-626-7900, but for non-urgent matters call the Washington Resident Trooper Office at 860-868-9671.

Bridge inspections for Veterans Bridge will continue tomorrow in New Milford.  There will be one-lane alternating traffic during the inspection work, between 8am and 4pm.  The inspection will continue during the same hours on Thursday.  When the work started earlier this month there were delays reported during those times.  New Milford Police will be conducting traffic control. Drivers are asked to use an alternate route if possible.

The New Milford Public Works Department is offering a reminder for drivers out for leaf peeping.  Wet leaves are dangerous, as bad as ice and motorists are asked to drive accordingly.  A film of water covers the top of leaves, and tires aren’t very effective at stopping the vehicle.  On a roadway coated with wet leaves, and a driver is going 45 miles an hour, it will take 200 feet, more than double the normal distance on a dry road, to stop.  Officials say people should reduce speed, leave extra distance from other cars, clean leaves off the windshield before heading out and making sure tires have good tread, which helps channel water away from the tires.

FirstLight Power has started the annual winter drawdown on Lake Zoar and soon will begin the process for Lake Lillinonah. Beginning on the 26th, FirstLight will conduct a drawdown at the Shepaug Dam to conduct its maintenance and inspection activities. The normal summer operating range of the station is from 200 to 195-and-a-half feet and the drawdown will target an elevation of 191. The drawdown will lower lake levels to their minimum and return to normal operating elevations on November 7th. All homeowners are encouraged to remove structures, boatlifts, and docks from Lake Lillinonah to prevent ice or flood damage from occurring during the winter months. All work planned to occur along the shoreline requires prior permitting from FirstLight.

10 projects in New Fairfield proposed to be funding with American Rescue Plan Act dollars are up for a vote today.  Some of the funding would go to premium pay for public health and safety employees and volunteer firefighters, grants to local small businesses impacted by the pandemic and an emergency housing fund to help residents on the verge of homelessness.  First Selectman Pat Del Monaco was asked why residents aren't voting individually on the proposals.  She says while one project may not be important to one person, it may be to someone else and there is something for everyone on the table.  Selectman Khris Hall says it's been a long process to bring proposals to a vote so townspeople have had a chance to weigh in.  Details about the projects and a breakdown of funding can be found on the town's website. Voting is being done 8am to 8pm at the New Fairfield Senior Center Community Room.

A tax break has been approved for a moving company relocating to Danbury.  The City Council agreed to defer the increase in tax assessment for a site on the City's west side.  Clancy Moving Systems will pay $142,000 a year in taxes on 29 acres at 100 Reserve Road and then the full amount of the increased assessment after 7 years.  The company plans to build a 196,000 square-foot warehouse, which could bring 130 full-time jobs to Danbury.  The site plan includes office space, warehouse space, a maintenance area, 24 loading docks and truck/employee parking.  There will be 94 trailer parking spots and the vehicles will be a mix of license transfers and new purchases.  The anticipated daily site traffic is 50 to 60 trailers.  Councilman Joe Britton favored the tax deferral application but was concerned with public perception because the Council didn't fund the full amount of the budget requested by the Board of Education.

The Brookfield Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidate forum tonight.  The Democrats and Republicans running in the 107th state House District and 30th Senate, both open races, were invited to the Legislative Candidates Forum at 7pm in the Brookfield High School Auditorium.  It will also be live-streamed on the town's youtube page.  Republican Senate candidate Steve Harding, who is leaving the 107th district, and Democrat Eva Bermudez Zimmerman agreed to attend.  House Democratic candidate Phoebe Holmes will take part.  She is running against Republican Martin Foncello.  The Foncello for 107th campaign was contacted with a date for the forum and replied that the candidate would not be available on that date. His campaign says when setting up this type of debate and/or forum it's common practice to negotiate and come to an agreement with  all parties involved, but the organizers of the forum refused to negotiate.

A house was destroyed by fire in Mahopac early Friday morning.  The Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department responded to a  fully involved structure fire on Curry Spur Road and found it progressed to an untenable state where an interior attack was not possible.  No one was inside at the time, and firefighters attacked the flames from outside to prevent it from spreading to oil and propane tanks as well as any surrounding trees and out-buildings. Mutual aid was provided by Mahopac Falls, Carmel, Yorktown, and Kent fire departments with support from the Putnam County Fire Investigation Team,  Carmel Police Department and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

New Milford Police were out Friday enforcing speed limits. The officers made 20 stops on Danbury Road and issued 15 infractions, 2 misdemeanor summons and 3 written warnings.  Chief Cerruto asked drivers to slow down and follow the speed limit.  The New Milford Police Department has made over a thousand stops so far this year, with about 500 of those stops on Route 7.  This week officers will begin a two week distracted driving enforcement campaign.

An injured hiker has been rescued from Macedonia State Park.  Sherman Volunteer Fire Department provided mutual aid this weekend for their second backcountry rescue in just a few months.  The Department brought their Stokes basket, a modified stretcher, to a rocky part of a steep trail not accessible by vehicle.  The hiker had fallen and twisted his knee.  Multiple departments assisted in the rescue that required a specialized ropes team.  Sherman fire officials say everyone was taken off the hill with a good outcome.

Members of the Danbury Police Department took part in the 13th Annual Push Against Cancer this weekend to benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.  The Camp provides "a different kind of healing to seriously ill children and their families through a variety of year-round programs. All services are free of charge because of donations given during fundraising events.  The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was founded in 1988 by Paul Newman. Danbury Police raised $2300 during the event, but that was about half of their goal.  Donations are still be accepted.  http://getinvolved.holeinthewallgang.org/site/TR/HWCGGlobal/General?pg=team&fr_id=1665&team_id=4244&fbclid=IwAR0WcrslQymuI5E2D0m41LqpU63WK_G0AzkvYF6SdN7zuBql639n57TWs-4

The Cherniske Road temporary bridge has been opened to traffic in New Milford.  The one-lane bridge was closed in January 2021 due to poor condition.  The temporary bridge will be used until the new 2-lane permanent bridge is designed and installed.  New Milford can then reuse the temporary structure on other bridges that need to be maintained, repaired or replaced. 

CH Booth Library in Newtown is hosting a virtual discussion this week about White-Tailed Deer in Connecticut.  The presentation about their habitat, diet, behavior, and other topics will also give attendees practical recommendations for coexistence with the White-tailed Deer population.  Paul Colburn is a certified Master Wildlife Conservationist, a program run by the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection that trains volunteers in the fields of wildlife management, natural history and interpretation.  Registration is required for Wednesday's Zoom, which is scheduled for 7pm. 
 

The candidates for the 4th Congressional District have met for a debate and covered a range of topics.  Democratic incumbent Jim Himes is being challenged by Republican former Darien First Selectman Jaime Stevenson for the seat.  They agree with a woman's right to chose and would stand against a national ban on abortion.  Each also say more has to be done to lower the cost of health care, but disagree over how to reach that goal. 

They also addressed the topics of firearms.  Himes touted the bipartisan Safe Communities Act approved this summer, including the so-called Red Flag provisions.  Himes says he believes in the 2nd Amendment, but gun violence should be addressed further.  He would still like to push for universal background checks and a continued discussion on assault weapons bans.  Stevenson says she believes in common sense gun legislation.  She supports Connecticut's regulations of a background check, fingerprinting and a safety class requirement.  She is concerned with one aspect of the Safe Communities Act.  Stevenson says reaching into mental health records of younger people looking to buy weapons may overstep HIPAA laws.  She added that people shouldn't be stigmatized for reaching out for mental health services.

On immigration, Stevenson says a sustainable legal immigration system needs to be established.  She says the country is in crisis mode when it comes to border issues.  Himes agrees the borders are not as secure as they should be, but he says anyone working in this country should be entitled to do so.

Stevenson does not support lowering the age of Medicare and instead suggested slowly increasing the age.  She says people are working longer than in the past.  Himes supports lowering the age.  He says lowering the age of the population that will create downward pressure on the costs associated with the program.

Continuing on the health care topic, Himes says the controversial Affordable Care Act is covering 20 million Americans who otherwise would not have insurance.  He notes that Congress passed a bill to lower prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients.  But he says government should rethink the model and be incentivized to keep people healthy.  Stevenson was critical of the Affordable Care Act as being a costly option.  She wants to address the health and wellness of the country from a prevention perspective.  Stevenson also suggested allowing health insurance to be purchased across state lines to introduce more competition.

A lot of time was spent discussing energy.  Stevenson says energy independence is also domestic security.  She says the country should unleash oil and gas reserves so residents can pay less.  She also wants work done toward a cleaner energy future, noting that she put solar panels on her house in 2006.  Himes notes that a measure was passed that included money for the LIHEAP program, which provides energy assistance to low income families in the winter time.  He says climate change should not be an afterthought.  Himes pointed out that the Inflation Reduction Act included a provision saying that for every wind generation or photovoltaic generation project, there will be a natural gas or oil lease approved.

The Danbury City Council did not have enough votes to form a Charter Revision Commission.  The City's governing document suggests or recommends that it be looked at every 10 years for possible changes, but doesn't mandate that revisions be made.  The City Council needed 14 votes to create the Commission, but the proposal Thursday only received 12 votes in favor.  Typically, changes have been made to streamline the document, update language contained in it, and to remove outdated or defunct ordinances.  The City Council is able to take action in the near future to create a Charter Revision Commission.

The Candlewood Lake Authority is reminding shoreline residents that leaves raked into the lake could fuel next summer's algae blooms.  Leaves contain organic material that, when it enters the lake, can be broken down and used as nutrients for blue-green algae. When managing leaves this fall, residents and landscaping service companies are being asked to help protect the lake and bag or compost the leaves. 

Construction work in Ridgefield along Main Street is anticipated to be completed by mid-November.  Main Street will be re-paved with new asphalt starting this Wednesday and continuing through October 24th.  The paving will be done in the evening hours and will not prevent vehicles from using Main Street.  Landscaping along Main Street with new native trees and bushes will begin at the end of October as part of a comprehensive landscape plan.  First Selectman Rudy Marconi says he understands there has been disruptions over the past few months, but appreciates the patients of merchants and residents as the project moves toward the final phases of construction.  13 additional parking spaces will be added to the CVS parking lot, including nine spaces on the north side of the building and four spaces in the main parking area. Charging stations for electric cars will also become available at the CVS lot during the coming months.

The Bethel Planning and Zoning Commission has denied an application for a 30-unit apartment complex on Whitney Road.  The  multi-family residential building application was denied without prejudice meaning the applicant will have the option to present a revised plan for the 1.7 acre lot.  The rejected proposal was for a three story building in the  Transit-Oriented Development overlay zone, but the Commission said there were issues with it conforming to the neighborhood, along with aesthetic and traffic concerns.  

The Town of Newtown will take more time to decide on competing applications for a vacant building on the Fairfield Hills campus.  EverWonder Children’s Museum of Newtown submitted a letter of intent for Newtown Hall.  They asked for 18 months to fundraise.  1st Financial Bank USA submitted a letter of intent a month later, offering to purchase it outright, which would bring taxes in to town.  The Newtown Bee reports that the bank proposed using the building for as corporate headquarters for Premier Financial Services, a subsidiary located in Woodbury.  Following social media posts by EverWonder, 1st Financial Bank withdrew from considering, giving EverWonder an opportunity to see if they can collect the needed funding.  The nonprofit has time now to submit a new letter of intent with a final offer for consideration.

Most Greater Danbury area towns reported about 50 to 200 COVID-19 tests to the state Department of Public Health over the last 7 days with positivity of 5-point-6 to 14 percent.  New Milford and Newtown each reported about 200 tests and Danbury reported 584, about the same as last week.  At home tests are not reported. 

The test positivity rates are:

New Milford 5.6 percent

Ridgefield 9.26 percent

Danbury 9.7 percent

Bethel 11.5 percent

Newtown 11.8 percent

Brookfield 11.9 percent

New Fairfield  13.9 percent

The BA5 Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 continues to make up the majority of the cases sent for genomic sequencing in Connecticut, according to the latest report. 82.5 percent of samples were BA5, while 14.7 percent were identified as BA4. The rest sent for sequencing were identified as BA 2. 

The number of people in Connecticut receiving a new bivalent booster has has slowed since last week, but still on the rise.  More than 281,000 doses have been administered since last week.  Those are the new Pfizer and Moderna shots that are meant to target the omicron subvariants currently circulating in the population as well as the original strain of COVID-19. 

It's been a busy week for Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company.  Since Sunday, they've responded to 46 EMS calls which resulted in 37 transports to the hospital and 30 Fire responses.  The department gets called for accidents, alarms, hazmats, good intent calls and other situations.

A former New Milford Town Councilman has rejoined the group.  Republican Douglas Skelly was appointed Tuesday night to fill a vacancy with the resignation of Michael Nahom, who moved to Tennessee.  Skelly served on the Council from 2017 to 2021.  His new term runs through November 30th.  He's living in a rental property until his house can be rebuilt from a September 2021 fire.

Thursday night members of the Easton Volunteer Fire Department loaded trucks with donations received from the community for Hurricane Ian victims in Florida.  Yesterday morning, 5 members in 3 trucks headed out on a 27 hour drive to Fort Myers Beach.  Firefighter Dave Davies coordinated the collection effort because he has a number of relatives in the area, including his parents.  

The Town of Kent is hosting a presentation today on recent advances in Clean, Renewable Energy. The free forum will describe long term strategies to move away from the carbon-intensive energy sources that are responsible for Greenhouse Gases.  The presentation will be held at Kent School's Mattison Auditorium at 3pm and is sponsored by The Kent Conservation Commission and Kent Memorial Library. Speakers from the nonprofit People's Action for Clean Energy will detail practical steps people can take to reduce energy costs, enhance comfort, and minimize dependence on the carbon-based fuels.  Information on state and federal financial incentives will also be shared.  People can register for the event through the Kent Library website. 

The Danbury Health and Human Services Department is holding its annual Emergency Response Exercise during a city-sponsored Flu Clinic tomorrow at Danbury High School from 10AM to 2PM. Flu vaccines and COVID-19 Boosters are available at no cost. The exercise, known as Point of Dispensing, is designed to gauge and prepare Danbury’s response to emergency situations where medical responses are needed to control and contain the threat of disease. The exercise will include City of Danbury emergency responders from the Danbury’s Fire Department, Police Department and EMS, the Salvation Army, state Department of Public Health, Griffin Health and Western Connecticut State University along with volunteer staff from non-governmental organizations.

The number of COVID-19 cases reported by most municipalities in the Greater Danbury are to the Connecticut Department of Public Health held fairly steady this week compared to last.  Ridgefield was cut in half from 11 to 5, Newtown increased by a third to 21 and Redding didn't report any cases this week.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health has updated case rates for Greater Danbury area municipalities over the last 7 days. According to the report ending October 13th, there were 51 cases in Danbury, Bethel reported 16, and Brookfield had 14.  There were 14 COVID cases in New Milford, 8 in New Fairfield, 21 in Newtown, 0 in Redding while Ridgefield had 5. 

New state data released Thursday shows a slight increase in COVID-19 positivity compared to last week.  The rolling 7-day average is 10.1 percent, 6 tenths of a percent higher than the week before. There were 3200 positive COVID cases reported to the state out of nearly 31,000 tests, about 5,000 fewer than last week. The number of people in Connecticut hospitals testing positive for COVID-19 over the last 7 days increased by 17.  The inpatient total is 405, with 36-percent not fully vaccinated. The number COVID-associated deaths in Connecticut has grown by 17 since last Thursday.

Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company has surpassed last year's call numbers for both fire and EMS.  The volunteers have responded to 2,033 EMS calls, compared to last year's 1,999.  They also had 938 fire responses, compared to 928 last year.  The Department is forecasting a 35 percent increase in EMS calls and a 32 percent increase in Fire responses. Officials say much this is being driven due to the continued development in town.

The Bethel Firehouse Museum is officially opening tomorrow.  A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned during the event, from noon to 3pm, as a way to wrap up Fire Prevention Week.  Residents are encouraged to attend to check out a collection of fire service history.  The museum is located behind the South Street Firehouse.

A community symposium has been held in Danbury.  The inaugural Danbury TALKS, which stands for Turning All Learning into Knowledge for the Soul, was hosted by WHEELpassion Inc.  The talk at the Palace Danbury last night was about bullying and social media influence.  It was moderated by a Naugatuck Valley Community College associate professor.  A panel of experts and industry professionals included Debra Berman, a Brookfield mother, parent survivor of suicide loss, and educator.  WHEELpassion, Inc. founder Duane Perkins says he was excited to help create the community-centric symposium that aims to reduce any stigma associated with one’s social-emotional wellness.  He says at the end of the day, no one should be afraid or embarrassed to seek care. 

A car accident early this morning in Bethell will impact the morning commute.  Stony Hill Road is closed between Benedict Road and Garella Road and will be for an extended period of time.   A telephone pole bearing major electrical infrastructure was broken during a car accident around 2am.  Eversource is on scene beginning repairs. Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company says this is expected to last well into the morning commute. Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes.

The Ridgefield Police Department is investigating a larceny from Stop & Shop.  The incident happened on Wednesday around 3:15pm. The Ridgefield Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in identifying the person of interest.  Surveillance photos have been posted to their Facebook page.  Although the pictures are not good quality, Police are hoping someone might recognize the individual. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Garrett Vasquez at or the anonymous Tip Line at (203) 431-2345.

The Town of Brookfield owns several rental properties and the Board of Selectmen has been working to bring the payments more in line with trends in the housing market.  In a vote of 2-1 at their meeting this month, the Board raised the rent at 28 Obtuse Hill Road from $1,100 a month to $1,600.  The rent hasn't been raised since 2013.  First Selectwoman Tara Carr says the market rate for rent for the property is $2,400 a month.  The 1,176-square-foot home was built in 1870 and purchased by the town in 2003 for $625,000.  In April, the Board increased the rent for the 8 Nabby Road property from $1,325 to $1,600.  The property at 43 Silvermine Road didn't have a rent change and is $1,750 a month.  The last town-owned residence at 35 Obtuse Hill Road has a rent of $1,000 per month, under a three-year contract set to expire next year.  All four of the properties have market values for rent between $2,400 and $2,600, according to the assessor’s office. Carr has indicated that Brookfield should not be in the landlord business and wants to sell the properties, except the Silvermine Road home which is part of the Town Hall campus.

Reports of a phone call scam have been submitted to the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.  Sheriff Kevin McConville says the automated call is purportedly from New York State Gas and Electric or Central Hudson claiming power will be shut off in 30 minutes due to an unpaid balance.  The message directs intended victims to call a number to speak to a representative.  These calls are a scam. NYSEG and Central Hudson would never shut off power via an automated call, and state regulations prohibit such actions.  If there is to be a power shut off due to nonpayment, the utility will contact customers by mail and try to work out a payment schedule.  The power companies currently do not accept Venmo, Cashapp, or Zelle for payments. They will also never ask for payment via gift cards, nor will they ask for large sums of cash be be handed over  to a courier.  If someone shows up at the house and claims to be an NYSEG or Central Hudson employee, they should have their credentials displayed.  Residents should not speak with the unknown person until their identity is verified.

A special New Fairfield Board of Selectmen meeting was held last night to discuss the proposed American Rescue Plan Act projects that residents earlier this week voted to send to a referendum.  One of the projects is the reconstruction the Beach House, built in 1950.  First Selectman Pat Del Monaco says there have been a lot of questions about the cost of the rebuilding project.  It will be on the existing footprint, with an addition 300 square feet for a community room.  The 15-hundred square foot facility will be ADA compliant, include new bathrooms, changing areas and lifeguard facilities.  There will be heating and air conditioning as well as a new foundation. Del Monaco says the town has tried to obtain funding for renovation several times over the past 20 years without success.  Using ARPA funds, there is no cost to the taxpayer.
The professional estimate is broken down as follows:
$525,000 :  Construction of 1500 ft2 structure
$50,000:  New Deck and stairs on north side
$50,000 :  ADA Access
$30,000:  Architectural fees including design development, construction drawings and bid
$25,000:  Demolition
$20,000:  Deck/ ramp on south side

The Brookfield Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidate forum on Monday.  The Democrats and Republicans running in the 107th state House District and 30th Senate, both open races, were invited to the Legislative Candidates Forum Monday at 7pm in the Brookfield High School Auditorium.  Republican Senate candidate Steve Harding, who is leaving the 107th district, and Democrat Eva Bermudez Zimmerman agreed to attend.  House Democratic candidate Phoebe Holmes will take part.  She is running against Republican Martin Foncello.  The chamber has sponsored events with candidates for first selectman and state legislative offices since 2009. The public is invited to attend. The forum will be live-streamed and also will be available afterwards via YouTube. https://youtu.be/xqBs01eYD8M

A fatal house fire in Monroe is under investigation.  Shortly before 1am today, the Monroe volunteer fire companies were alerted by neighbors of a house fire on Fox Run. The home was engulfed in flames upon firefighter arrival. Most of the blaze was extinguished within 25 minutes. Firefighters located an adult female who had perished inside the home. There were no other civilian or firefighter injuries. Botsford Fire Rescue and Long Hill Volunteer Fire provided mutual aid.  The Monroe and State Police Fire Marshals and Monroe Police are investigating the cause. Crews are remaining on scene throughout the morning.

FirstLight Power has set the winter drawdown dates for Candlewood Lake and Squantz Pond.  The drawdown will be after December 1st and run until the opening of fishing season in early April.  A deep drawdown will be necessary this season in order to perform maintenance of the Rocky River Dam.  The normal depth is about 427 to 429-and-a-half feet, but the drawdown will target an elevation of 418 to 420 feet.  Water levels will fluctuate throughout the season and will drop to minimum pond levels to allow repair work on the dam to be completed. FirstLight says due to unknown weather patterns, exact dates and associated lake levels are not available.  Homeowners are strongly encouraged to remove their structures, boat lifts, and docks from Candlewood Lake prior to the winter season to prevent ice damage along the shoreline. All work planned to occur along the shoreline requires prior permitting from FirstLight.

The Brookfield Police Department has posted an opening for an Armed School Security Officer.  The full time position would be an active figure at the school and would work 182 days a year, consistent with the school schedule but working 2pm to 10pm.  This position is a town employee, but reports to the Superintendent and Police Chief.  Applicants must be a retired or former sworn member of a local police department, state police, or federal law enforcement agency.  

The Connecticut Secretary of the State's website now includes a link that allows voters with a Connecticut driver’s license to request an absentee ballot online, rather than having to mail in an application or visit their town clerk in person.

Ridgefield state Senator Will Haskell, vice-chair of the Government Administrations and Election Committee, says when he was in college a few years ago it was frustrating that applying for an absentee ballot was such an antiquated and inconvenient process.  He says a modernize the absentee ballot system makes it easier for everyone -- especially young people -- to participate in democracy.

Voters should be aware that eligibility to vote by absentee ballot has been expanded to include those who are unable to go to their polling place because of their absence from their town for a period of time on Election Day, because of a sickness, or because of a disability. This includes voters who are unable to go to their polling place because of a sickness or physical disability of another person, or because of the continued presence of a sickness, such as the COVID-19 virus. Voters who are unable to go to a polling place on Election Day because they are actively serving in the military, whose religious beliefs prevent them from secular activities including voting on Election Day, and/or whose duties as an election official prevent them from voting on Election Day, are eligible to vote by absentee ballot.

After filling out their absentee ballot, voters can return it via mail, in person at the Town Clerk’s office, or by using the secure absentee ballot drop box in each town. Absentee ballots must be received by town clerks no later than 8pm on Election Day, November 8th, to be counted.

It is not sufficient for an absentee ballot to be postmarked by Election Day.  Although absentee ballots can be requested up until the day before the election, voters should only rely on their absentee ballot being mailed to them if there is ample time for the absentee ballot to arrive in the mail.

Applications can be requested online at myvote.ct.gov/GetMyAB.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department is taking part in a STOP DWI Halloween crackdown.  The High Visibility Engagement Campaign runs from the 29th through 31st.  Carmel Police are also participating in the effort to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.  Sheriff Kevin McConville says Halloween is meant to be scary, but not when it comes to driving.  The statewide STOP-DWI campaign has an app called “Have a Plan” where users can find a safe ride home.  McConville says impaired driving is completely preventable, all it takes is a little planning.

The People's Action for Clean Energy will present information in Kent this weekend on recent advances in clean, renewable energy. This free forum hosted by the Kent Conservation Commission Green Energy Initiative will describe long term strategies by which Kent's homeowners, renters, businesses, and municipal facilities can individually and collectively move away from the carbon-intensive energy sources that are responsible for greenhouse gases and global warming to sustainable, secure, affordable, and 'net zero' future. Registration is required through the Library's website for Saturday's event at 3pm at the Kent School Mattison Auditorium.

A guilty plea has been entered by a Danbury man accused of beating two people in Wilton with an aluminum bat.  47-year old Leslie Philibert was in court yesterday on two counts of assault.  According to court records, if he pays a 10-thousand dollar fine by his next court date, of May 31st, and avoids further arrests he will not serve any jail time.  If neither happens, he could face up to 10 years in prison.  Philibert was arrested in February of 2020 by Wilton Police after an early morning altercation with two people in a Danbury Road parking lot.  All three were hospitalized.  Police said at the time that the two others were renting the lot and noticed someone repeatedly taking firewood from their inventory.  Breach of peace charges against the couple were later dropped.

WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — Jurors ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Wednesday to pay nearly $1 billion to Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims’ relatives and an FBI agent, who said he turned their loss and trauma into years of torment by promoting the lie that the rampage was a hoax.

The $965 million verdict is the second big judgment against Jones for spreading the myth that the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history never happened, and that the grieving families seen in news coverage were actors hired as part of a plot to take away people’s guns.

The verdict came in a defamation lawsuit filed by some of the families of 26 people who were killed in the 2012 shooting, plus an FBI agent who was among the first responders. A Texas jury in August awarded nearly $50 million to the parents of another slain child.

Robbie Parker, who lost his 6-year-old daughter, Emilie, said outside the Connecticut court that he was proud that “what we were able to accomplish was just to simply tell the truth.”

“And it shouldn’t be this hard, and it shouldn’t be this scary,” said Parker, who became an early target of conspiracy theorists after he spoke at a news conference the day after the shooting. The jury awarded him the most of any plaintiff: $120 million.

As courtroom video showed the jury awards being read out, Jones said that he himself had never mentioned the plaintiffs’ names.

“All made up. Hilarious,” he said. “So this is what a show trial looks like. I mean, this is the left completely out of control.”

Jones’ lawyer, Norm Pattis, portrayed the trial as unfair and pledged to appeal.

“Today is a very, very, very dark day for freedom of speech,” he said outside court.

The jury awarded various sums to the victims’ relatives, who testified that they were threatened and harassed for years by people who believed the lies he told. Strangers showed up at the families’ homes to record them. People hurled abusive comments on social media.

Mark Barden testified that conspiracy theorists urinated on the grave of his 7-year-old son, Daniel, and threatened to dig up the coffin; Barden and his wife were together awarded about $86 million. Now-retired FBI Agent William Aldenberg, awarded $90 million, described the horror he saw at the school as he responded alongside other law enforcement, and his outrage at seeing online claims that he was an actor.

Alex Jones to pay $965 million for Sandy Hook lies

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been ordered by a Connecticut jury to pay $965 million to people who suffered from his false claim that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. 

Erica Lafferty, the daughter of slain Sandy Hook principal Dawn Hochsprung, testified that people mailed rape threats to her house.

“I wish that after today, I can just be a daughter grieving my mother and stop worrying about the conspiracy theorists,” Lafferty said outside court. But she predicted that Jones’ “hate, lies and conspiracy theories will follow both me and my family through the rest of our days.”

To plaintiff William Sherlach, the verdict “shows that the internet is not the wild, wild West, and that your actions have consequences.”

He had testified about seeing online posts that falsely posited that the shooting was a hoax; that his slain wife, school psychologist Mary Sherlach, never existed; that he was part of a financial cabal and somehow involved with the school shooter’s father; and more. He told jurors the shooting deniers’ vitriol made him worry for his family’s safety.

“Going forward — because, unfortunately, there will be other horrific events like this — people like Alex Jones will have to rethink what they say,” Sherlach said.

Testifying during the trial, Jones acknowledged he had been wrong about Sandy Hook. The shooting was real, he said. But in the courtroom, he was defiant.

He called the proceedings a “kangaroo court,” mocked the judge, called the plaintiffs’ lawyer an ambulance chaser and labeled the case an affront to free speech rights. He claimed it was a conspiracy by Democrats and the media to silence him and put him out of business.

“I’ve already said ‘I’m sorry’ hundreds of times, and I’m done saying I’m sorry,” he told jurors.

Twenty children and six adults died in the shooting on Dec. 14, 2012; relatives of five children and three educators sued in Connecticut. The trial was held at a courthouse in Waterbury.

The lawsuit accused Jones and Free Speech Systems of using the mass killing to build his audience and make millions of dollars. Experts testified that Jones’ audience swelled, as did his revenue from product sales, when he made the comments.

In both the Texas and Connecticut lawsuits, judges found the company liable for damages by default after Jones failed to cooperate with court rules on sharing evidence, including failing to turn over records that might have showed whether he had profited from knowingly spreading misinformation about mass killings.

Because he was already found liable, Jones was barred from mentioning free speech rights and other topics during his testimony.

Jones now faces a third trial, in Texas, in a lawsuit filed by the parents of another child killed in the shooting.

It is unclear how much of the verdicts Jones can afford to pay. During the trial in Texas, he testified he couldn’t afford any judgment over $2 million, and his lawyers plan to appeal and try to reduce the damages there. Free Speech Systems has filed for bankruptcy protection.

But an economist testified in the Texas proceeding that Jones and his company were worth as much as $270 million.

A lawyer for the families in the Connecticut case, Josh Koskoff, said that “if this verdict shuts down Alex Jones, good.”

“He’s been walking in the shadow of death to try to profit on the backs of people who have just been devastated,” Koskoff said. “That is not a business model that should be sustainable in the United States.”

A lost hiker has been rescued from Tarrywile Park in Danbury.  A resident went for a hike yesterday afternoon and his dog took off.  The man was able to locate Dakota, but lost his way in the process.  The man called 911 around 8pm and the Fire Department set out to his location, determined via GPS signal.  He was located just as his cell phone ran out of battery.  No injuries were reported.  The man and his dog were given water and returned to their car.  The Fire Department is reminding park visitors to carry  a flashlight, have a fully charged cell phone, and carry a battery pack to recharge the phone if possible.  Understand mapping Apps and letting someone know the hiking plan is also suggested.

The 2nd Annual Keep Kids Safe Connecticut Statewide Gun Buyback & Gun Safe Giveaway Day is being held next month and the Newtown Police Department will be participating.  Newtown Police officials say they know that to own, or not own firearms is an individual and family, but any community member wanting to anonymously dispose of any unwanted firearms are encouraged to take advantage of this statewide event.  No ID is required and no questions will be asked.  The event is November 12th from 10am to 1pm.  A limited number of free pin code gun safes will be distributed.  Guns must be transported in the trunk of the car.  Gift cards will be exchanged for operable guns. while supplies last. Non-operable guns, BB guns, ammunition are welcome, though no gift card will be provided.

A committee of the Danbury City Council has been created to come up with a new map of polling precincts based on 2020 census data.  A previously established committee of 4 residents was unable to come to agreement on a map to send to the Council as a starting point.  They're trying to make each of the City's 7 wards have relatively even populations based on the latest census.  The ad hoc committee can call on the 4 residents, two of whom are on the Council, for guidance on their work.  Councilman Ben Chianese drafted a proposed map that cleaned up polling precincts based on a legislative Reapportionment Committee changing state House and Senate boundaries.  Some precincts only have a couple hundred voters and if that is cut down, the City would save on costs for polling workers and machines to tally the different ballots. 

New Fairfield residents have voted to send 10 proposed projects to be funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars to a referendum.  That vote will be held on October 18th from 8am to 8pm at New Fairfield Senior Center.  The 10 projects would use about $4.1 million in federal funding.  The largest project is the sewer design and permitting project.   Most septic systems serving small businesses in the center of Town are close to 30 years old and some are starting to experience failures. Reliance on septic systems also severely restricts both the types of businesses that can operate in Town and the potential growth of existing small businesses. The project could be expanded to include New Fairfield schools and Town buildings, also served by aging septic systems.  The business/commercial zone is located above the largest drinking water aquifer in New Fairfield, presenting a potential environmental concern should these systems fail. Ball Pond Brook, which discharges directly to Candlewood Lake, passes through the zone and is also at risk of contamination from aging septics.  

The Danbury City Council has approved a deferral of the increase in tax assessment for Saving Bank of Danbury's proposed new Main Street building.  This would be subject to construction application approval.  Councilman Duane Perkins is concerned that the replacement building reduces entertainment possibilities in the downtown dining and entertainment district.  The office would replace the Escape to the Arts building and formerly city-owned Tuxedo Junction building.  The real estate taxes are being abated, but there are things inside the building that could be taxed during the deferral years.  The bank has proposed construction of a new, 35,000 square foot 4-story office building at the corner of Main and White Streets.  The new building will house the bank’s non-branch, back office operations.  Savings Bank of Danbury is the oldest continuously operating business in the City, dating back to 1849. The last significant building project in Danbury for the bank was in 1999 with the construction of their location at 35 West Street. 

Republican Danbury Board of Education member Michelle Coelho is looking to unseat Democratic incumbent Julie Kushner in the 24th state Senate district.  Coelho is a design project coordinator, one of the initial developers of The Rivington.  The mother of three is a Cuban American. 

During the pandemic, she was concerned about an erosion of parental rights, which prompted her to run for the Board of Ed.  She was then surprised to learn there was no curriculum committee, which there is now.  She says a lot is coming down the pike with the new Career Academy, Social Emotional Learning and other mandates.  She wants to make sure there are safeguards for kids. 

She prefers supporting the proposed public charter school over the Open Choice program, which would allow 50 students from Danbury to attend school in a neighboring district.  Coelho says a one-size fits all approach on education, zoning and other matters won't work.  She called for keeping control local. 

Coelho called Candlewood Lake an asset and wants to make sure it's protected, including from algae and invasive aquatic species. 

Coelho was endorsed by the Connecticut Fraternal Order of Police.  She says the Police Accountability Bill was another reason she got into the race.  She would repeal the portion of the law that got rid of qualified immunity.  If a car for example is stolen and used in a shoplifting incident, Coelho says the only thing police can do is escort them off the property because they can't engage in pursuit.  She says that should be revised. 

Coelho would support early voting, as long as people still have to present ID or prove their identity.  

WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — Jurors revisited testimony from the husband of a Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim as a third full day of deliberations began Wednesday in conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Connecticut defamation trial.

At the jury’s request, court began with a replay of a roughly hourlong audio recording of William Sherlach’s trial testimony. His wife, school psychologist Mary Sherlach, was among the 26 people killed in the 2012 shooting.

Her husband is among the lawsuit’s 15 plaintiffs, who include victims’ relatives and an FBI agent. All testified about being harassed by people who say the shooting was staged in a plot for more gun control.

Jones and his company were found liable for damages last year. The six-person jury is tasked with determining how much he should pay to the plaintiffs victims’ families and the FBI agent for calling the massacre a hoax.

William Sherlach, who goes by Bill, testified that he worried for his and his family’s safety because of the shooting deniers’ vitriol.

Sherlach testified that he saw online posts falsely positing that the shooting was a hoax; that his wife never existed; that she didn’t have the credentials to be a school psychologist; that his family was actually named Goldberg and lived in Florida; and that he was part of a financial cabal and somehow involved with the school shooter’s father.

Sherlach didn’t testify about receiving any harassing messages directly, though he also said that he didn’t have social media accounts or use email. Nor did he mention anything that Jones said specifically.

The jury has been instructed to arrive at two compensatory damages amounts per plaintiff: one sum for defamation damages and another for emotional distress damages. Jurors also will decide whether Jones should pay punitive damages; the judge would decide the amounts later.

Each compensatory damages amount has to be at least $1, but there is no cap. The plaintiffs’ lawyers have suggested total damages could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The plaintiffs include an FBI agent who responded to the shooting and relatives of eight victims who died. Twenty children and six educators were killed.

Jones has bashed the trial as a “kangaroo court,” described it as an affront to free speech rights, and called the judge a “tyrant.” His lawyer told the jury that any damages awarded should be minimal.

The Fall 2022 Greater Danbury Job Fair is coming up later this month.  The event is sponsored by the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board and the Western Connecticut State University Career Success Center.  It will take place October 26th at the mall from 3pm to 6. Employers interested in attending can contact the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce or the WestConn Career Success Center, but space is limited. All businesses and industries are welcome, and participation is free for companies looking to hire. Registration includes a table and two chairs.  The career fair is also free to job seekers, who are encouraged to dress for success and bring multiple copies of their resume.  A list of participating employers to-date can be found on WestConn website.

The largest project on the New Fairfield list proposed for American Rescue Plan Act funding is the sewer design and permitting project.   Most septic systems serving small businesses in the center of Town are close to 30 years old and some are starting to experience failures. The business/commercial zone is located above the largest drinking water aquifer in New Fairfield, presenting a potential environmental concern should these systems fail. Ball Pond Brook, which discharges directly to Candlewood Lake, passes through the zone and is also at risk of contamination from aging septics.   Reliance on septic systems also severely restricts both the types of businesses that can operate in Town and the potential growth of existing small businesses. The project could be expanded to include New Fairfield schools and Town buildings, also served by aging septic systems.  Residents are voting at a Special Town Meeting tonight on sending 10 projects to a vote.  Tonight's meeting is at 7pm at the Senior Center.

The Bethel Police Department is participating in a Drug Take Back Day organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration later this month.  The event is aimed at making the community safer by having residents dispose of unused or expired prescription medications in a controlled manner, in turn preventing their misuse or abuse.  Medication drop off will take place at the Bethel Police Department on Judd Avenue on Saturday October 29th, between 10am and 2pm.  They cannot accept needles or radioactive medications typically utilized for the treatment of cancer due to state regulations and the safety of officers.

The Southbury Police Department is marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Each year, more than two million men and women are victims of physical violence by their partners. Anyone need to connect with a domestic violence advocate is encouraged to call or text 888-774-2900 for help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

After vocal opposition from Heritage Village residents to the idea of getting rid of the Community Resource Officer position stationed on site, the Southbury Board of Selectmen is reconsidering the proposal.  During their last meeting, members voted to continue discussion about a Community Resource Officer.  They also voted to delete a portion of the new detective position job description making the role a liaison to Heritage Village.  This was done so the applicant can focus on detective work.  The CRO role has been vacant since 2020.  A member of the police force has agreed to and has been acting as a point of contact for Heritage Village for any concerns.  Heritage Village is the state’s largest senior housing complex, with close to 5,000 residents.  One Southbury Selectman notes that the town recently created a youth officer, and suggested a senior officer.  Unless contractually or a legal reason for a position to be call Community Resource Officer, that's something the Board of Selectmen could look into.

Danbury Police have arrested two men on drug related charges.  The Special Investigations Division has been investigating 45-year old Geritt Walker of New Milford, who was known to police for past drug arrests for allegedly selling fentanyl.  He was seen by police entering a vehicle driven by 38-year old Gregory Mead of Danbury Tuesday afternoon in a Germantown Road parking lot.  Detectives approached the vehicle an interrupted a deal.  Police found 10 bags of fentanyl on Mead and 10 bags of fentanyl and money on Walker.  Walker was charged with possession of a controlled substance and of narcotics with intent to sell and sale of narcotics.  Mead was charged with possession of a controlled substance. 

The Bethel Board of Selectmen has held their first meeting in about a month and set a date for a special election for First Selectmen.  The meeting yesterday afternoon followed an agreement in a lawsuit over the leadership of the town.  Republican Town Committee member Dan Nostin sued several officials over the swearing in of Rich Straiton as First Selectman, rather than his appointment to the acting position following the resignation of Matt Knickerbocker. The special election will be February 7th.  During yesterday's meeting, Straiton was also appointed acting first selectman, something the Board failed to do following last November's election, which violated the town charter. 

Danbury officials are taking some more time to consider a request by developer BRT for another extension to its tax break agreement on its 149 apartment development on Main Street across from Kennedy Flats.  BRT says due to unprecedented circumstances, they will not meet another deadline for completing the project.  The City Council previously approved a tax deferral package for BRT based on improvements, and later agreed to a one year delay.  A City Council Committee will consider the request for more time.  After 7 years, the property taxes would be based on the full assessment of the complex.  BRT has received certificates of occupancy for 90 of the 149 units, but the pandemic and supply chain issues caused disruptions to the construction schedule.  The 5 story complex, which also has retail space will connect via a bridge to an existing BRT development.  Brookview Commons is across the Still River from this new development. 

A Special Town Meeting is being held in New Fairfield tonight for residents to decide on sending 10 proposed American Rescue Plan Act projects to a referendum.  Tonight's meeting is at 7pm in the Senior Center.  Tomorrow, New Fairfield officials will host a Facebook Live discussion of the projects, with a focus on the sewer design and permitting project.  The Board of Selectmen will be joined for the discussion by state Representative Patrick Callahan, Town Engineer Antonio Iadarola, Health Director Tim Simpkins and Economic Development Commission member Kathleen DiTullio.  The livestream will start tomorrow at 6:30pm on the New Fairfield Facebook page.  A list of the proposed ARPA projects can be found on the town website.  

The Bethel Public School District has cut the ribbon on a new turf field. A private donor, who has asked to remain anonymous, offered to pay for the new multi-sport turf complex.  The field could be used for softball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey.  Claris, the firm involved with the Track and Field Training Facility near the High School, also added lighting. The encapsulated rubber turf for the area, except for the football field, is reportedly safer than the traditional rubber system, stays cooler and allows the ball to move faster than on natural grass.  It also has a 50-percent longer lifespan than so-called coconut infill. 

Two New Milford residents have secured funding for their business.  Create A Castle co-founders Kevin and Laurie Lane  pitched their sand-and-snow castle-building toy on the hit TV show Shark Tank.  They got a deal with Kendra Scott, a billionaire fashion designer, with a $350,000 offer for 20% of the business.  The Lanes created the “split-mold” design which would work in both sand and snow for a year-round product.  They created the largest sand castle in the state, at 15 feet, with fellow sculptor Dan Anderson at Lynn Deming Park on Candlewood Lake.         

WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut jury deliberated Tuesday but has reached no verdict so far in its effort to decide on how much conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay for spreading the lie that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was staged by “crisis actors.”

The jurors ended their second full day of discussions by asking to revisit testimony Wednesday from William Sherlach, who lost his wife, Mary, in the massacre. He is one of the plaintiffs in the defamation lawsuit.

Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems, were found liable for damages last year to 15 plaintiffs for broadcasting a conspiracy theory that no children died in the shooting and that the victims’ relatives were part of an elaborate hoax.

In often-emotional and tearful testimony in a Waterbury courtroom, victims’ relatives and the FBI agent said they have been tormented and threatened — in person, by mail and on social media — by people who believed those lies.

The plaintiffs’ lawyers have suggested to the jury that a just verdict could be in the hundred of millions of dollars. Jones’ lawyer has said any damages awarded should be minimal.

Jurors asked Tuesday morning for help interpreting a sentence in their instructions on determining damages. In response, they were advised to consider the lengthy instructions as a whole.

The trial began Sept. 13. On the witness stand, Jones said he was “done saying I’m sorry” for calling the shooting a hoax. Outside the courthouse, he’s called the legal proceedings a “show trial” aimed at putting him out of business.

Dozens of Heritage Village residents spoke out during a recent public meeting on the position of Community Resource Officer, a member of the Southbury Police Department stationed in the retirement village.  The position has been vacant since 2020 and the Board of Selectmen and Police Union voted to change the position to that of detective.  Residents expressed concern about elderly women living alone, while others note that they don't have children in school and are taxpayers who should be getting this specialized service. The village represents 23% of the total population of town.  The calls for service over three years to the community was about 4-percent of total calls.  

The Bethel Land Trust will be blazing a new trail at the Franc Preserve this weekend.  They are looking for volunteers to help link a recently acquired property to the Preserve.  Volunteers are asked, if they have them, to bring loppers, hand saws, leaf blowers, mattocks/picks, shovels, and rakes. The new trail will be created starting at 9am Saturday. 

Bridge repairs in Southbury have been completed ahead of schedule and under budget.  Construction on Flood Bridge Road and Heritage Road bridges over the Pomperaug River prompted road closures.  The rehabilitation of both bridge decks and repair work to the underside of the structures will extend the life of both structures approximately 20+ years. The golf cart path below the Heritage Road Bridge was protected during the work and remained open to golfers for the duration of the project.  

To celebrate Fire Prevention week, Water Witch Hose of New Milford will be holding an Open House at their Headquarters on Saturday.  Residents are encouraged to stop by between 9:30am and 11:30 to learn more about the all volunteer Department. There will be safety tips, giveaways and refreshments during the family friendly event.

The New Milford Lions Club will be back again at this year's Scarrybrooke Park Haunted Trail, kicking off this weekend.  All proceeds of this event will support Harrybrooke Park as well as the New Milford Lions Club, New Milford United Methodist Church, New Milford Fuel Bank, Boy Scout Troops 58 and 432 and Camella's Cupboard. The event starts with the Friday run from 6pm to 10pm.

Sherman Volunteer Fire Department is cautioning that with the weather getting colder, people are lighting their fireplaces for the first time this season.  According to the latest statistics available, there are over 25,000 chimney fires per year in the US that are responsible for over 125 million dollars in property damage. Every year the Sherman Department responds to a few and last night held a training drill for a realistic skills practice on dealing with a chimney fire.  Fire officials recommend getting home chimneys professionally cleaned annually and, only burn clean hardwoods to reduce creosote. 

The state Department of Public Health's mobile COVID-19 vaccine vans will be in the Danbury area this afternoon.  There is a walk up clinic for everyone 6 months and older at CTown in Danbury on North Street until 4pm.  A van will also be at Pomperaug Woods in Southbury for a walk up clinic for those 12 and older until 4pm.  The mobile COVID-19 vaccine vans will be at two locations in the region tomorrow.  There are walk up clinics for those 6 months and older in New Fairfield tomorrow at St Edwards Church from noon until 6pm and at Newtown High School tomorrow from 4:30pm to 8:30.   Booster doses, including pediatric boosters, will also be available at all clinics.

Negotiations are on going between the City of Danbury and Cartus for the corporate property at 40 Apple Ridge Road, which the City wants to purchase to turn into the proposed Danbury Career Academy.  Public Works Director Antonio Iadarola says the fact that the City doesn't own the property hasn't stopped progress on the middle and high school.  He has crews at the site once or twice a week doing due diligence to continue the design process.  The first phase was presented to the state.  Mayor Dean Esposito says the project is a huge undertaking for the City.  He expects a completion of sale by the end of this week.  Voters approved a 164 million dollar bond for the project.  Of that estimated cost, the purchase price of the Cartus property was pegged at 57-point-2 million dollars, but Mayor Dean Esposito said at the time it was the maximum figure, and he hopes it can be adjusted down.  The Apple Ridge Road property was assessed by the City at 24-and-a-half million dollars, with Cartus paying more than 676-thousand dollars in taxes.  Danbury would be acquiring 24 acres containing the main building, 6-point-4 vacant acres in a lower lot and Apple Ridge Road. 

An agreement has reportedly been reached in a lawsuit over the leadership of the town of Bethel.  Republican Town Committee member Daniel Nostin sued the town and several officials over the swearing in of Rich Straiton as First Selectman, rather than his appointment to the acting position following the resignation of Matt Knickerbocker.  The Bethel Community Gazette reports that the agreement states that Straiton acknowledges mistakes were made by not following the Charter.  Town Attorney Martin Lawlor gave an opinion that Straiton is still on the Board of Selectmen, as his September 7th resignation letter referred to himself as "Second Selectman" and there is no such position. Straiton and Selectman Bryan Terzian will determine which of the two will serve in the acting First Selectman role.  A Special Election is expected to be held next year.  Board of Selectmen meetings have been cancelled since September 7th, but are expected to continue on October 18th.

Brookfield's first female First Selectman has passed away.  Bonnie Smith was 82 years old.  She died Saturday as a result of complications stemming from multiple sclerosis.  Smith served six terms as Brookfield first selectwoman before losing her seat in 1999.  Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company says Smith served with dignity and honor and loved the community.  She was a supporter of public safety and helped start the first ALS paramedic intercept program, established strict zoning laws to help with the installation of dry hydrants, created a pension plan for volunteer Fire/EMS members, and helped with the creation of the false alarm ordinance. 

An ATV crash in New Fairfield has resulted in injuries to three youths.  State Police say a Yamaha all-terrain vehicle was headed west on Pine Hill Road Saturday afternoon when it crashed.  All three were ejected from the quad, which came to final rest in the roadway.  None of the three were wearing helmets.  A 16-year old New Fairfield girl was driving.  State Police identified the passengers as an 11-year old boy from White Plains and a juvenile girl from New Rochelle.  All three  sustained minor head injuries and were transported to Danbury Hospital for evaluation and treatment.  The crash remains under investigation.

A report released Thursday from state auditors is critical of Western Connecticut State University over documentation for purchases.  Some of the issues found by state auditors was the tracking of football ticket sales and revenue, failure to test their disaster plan since 2013, allowing access to computer systems for terminated employees, and not properly disposing of computer storage devices. When it comes to ticket sales, West Conn reportedly did not maintain sufficient documentation confirming the number sold, reconcile the amount of money collected or retain unsold tickets.  The audit for the previous two fiscal years resulted in West Conn implementing new guidelines and procedures.   West Connn will schedule disaster plan testing every year by June 30. The university also distributed new P-Card guidelines as of this February.  Auditors looked at five instances and a total of $1,453,346 in purchase orders not approved by an appropriate official or purchased before approval was obtained.  Procedures for purchase orders have now changed

Beckerle & Company Hose Company of Danbury, a volunteer fire company, is holding an open house and membership drive this weekend.  This coincides with Fire Prevention Week.  The event will be on Saturday (October 15th) from 11am to 3pm at the fire house on Liberty Street.  Participants will learn how to use a fire extinguisher, see the company's equipment up close and learn about fire prevent.  Kids will receive Sparky Fire Hats.  Applications for volunteer members will be on hand.  Those accepted will receive free training and equipment.  Beckerle & Company Hose Company of Danbury is now in its 142nd year of service.

The Danbury Department of Health and Human Services notes that fall tick season is in full swing and so are outdoor activities.  Whether hiking in the woods, raking leaves, or taking the dog out for a walk, residents are urged to take precautions against adult black-legged and deer ticks.  Both can transmit Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Black-legged ticks survive best in areas that provide a moist habitat and are often found in and near wooded or forested areas, shrubs, long grass, leaf litter, urban parks and gardens. Ticks can be submitted for testing to the City health department and residents can also choose to take part in a research study at the WCSU Tick Lab.

A dumpster fire in a public parking lot in Bethel was reported over the weekend.  Firefighters responded to Depot Place SAturday afternoon, but the blaze was extinguished prior to their arrival.  Firefighters soaked the area to confirm it was out. 

While packing, an employee of a Greenwood Avenue business alerted firefighters to a column of smoke rising from Durant Avenue. 

Bethel Fire Department responded to an industrial facility with significant smoke coming from multiple roof vents.  Firefighters forced entry to a rear doorway where they were met with smoke nearly down to the floor.  The crew searched for the source while others set up to gain roof access. 

Stony Hill arrived to provide assistance. 

Ultimately there was no fire, but the source of smoke was from a malfunctioning piece of heavy mechanical equipment.  Firefighters left the facility ventilated, in the care of building management.

Sherman Volunteer Fire Department held a boot drive fundraiser this weekend.  The event happens once or twice a year to benefit the Fire Department and EMS.  The volunteer fire department pays for the equipment, training and safety gear needed to respond to any accident, medical emergency, fire or natural disaster in town.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue marked National Fallen Firefighters Memorial with a service this weekend.  A candlelight service was also held in Maryland at the home of The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.  148 firefighters who died last year in the line of duty and several who died in previous years were memorialized during the annual service.  Chief Halstead, who died in July, will be included in next year's service.

Connecticut State Police Troop L is investigating a string of burglaries that occurred between midnight and 2am last Tuesday in the area of 269 New Milford Turnpike in the town of Washington. A white male suspect was captured on video surveillance making entry into one of the local businesses. The suspect is described as a white male with blue eyes, has a mustache, approximately 5'8" and wearing a black ski mask, black jacket, black and grey camo pants, grey hooded sweatshirt, grey gloves, black shoes/sneakers and a black adidas back pack. The suspect vehicle is described as a white Kia Soul.  Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect or suspect vehicle please contact Trooper Chudy #1165 at Troop L (860) 626-7900.

Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company is once again hosting a Trunk or Treat event.  It will take place Saturday, October 22nd from 5pm to 7pm.  Parking will be available next door at Brookfield Town Hall.  Contests include Best Costume and Best Trunk Decorations.  Afterward, a movie night will be hosted by the Brookfield Park & Rec Department. 

A new Carmel Police vehicle is on the streets.  The Department thanked New York State Assemblyman Kevin Byrne and the Carmel Town Board for their assistance with grant funding as well as the City of Rye Police Department for helping Carmel acquire a new Special Operations Truck.  The specially equipped Ford F-150 Police Responder will be used by the Marine Unit, Patrol Division for parades and events, and by the Putnam County Emergency Response Team.

The Danbury Fire Department's communications coordinator has been promoted to Lieutenant.  The City Council approved the appointment of James Gagliardo, who's been with the Department since 2007.  He grew up in Brewster and is a third-generation firefighter. Gagliardo is also a deputy chief of the Putnam Lake Fire Department.  He helped to establish a drone program at the Danbury Fire Department and provides his services to Danbury Police and agencies in the area for search and rescue operations.  Gagliardo was the Danbury Fire Department and State of Connecticut Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year in 2021.

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell has proposed a $180 million county budget for 2023 that includes no property tax levy increase.  The proposal, presented to the Legislature Thursday night, is within the New York State property tax cap and includes an increase of $11.3 million, or 6.3 percent, over the 2022 budget.  Odell began her eleventh and final budget presentation by saying they've reduced Putnam’s debt level by more than $48 million since she took office and completely eliminated short-term borrowing. Her administration has also increased the county’s general fund balance by nearly $49 million during her tenure. If the proposed budget is approved by the Legislature, the average county homeowner whose property is assessed at $400,900 will pay $1,250 in county property taxes. The property tax rate per one thousand dollar of assessed value will be $3.12, the lowest county property tax rate since 2009.

Senator Richard Blumenthal is questioning a trade organization's efforts to safeguard the private information of American gun owners.  He wrote to the Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation for more information about the way in which the NSSF and gun manufacturers use an maintain warranty information and other personally identifiable information.  This stems from leaked 2016 Cambridge Analytica emails revealing NSSF contracted with Cambridge Analytica to collect and use gun owners’ personal information and data for political purposes.  According to those documents, they worked together during the 2016 election cycle on a “voter education” campaign, where employees built a database of firearms manufacturing warranty cards collected by firearms companies. The data included information of people who bought a gun and what kind of gun they bought, and was then used to determine the targeting of persuadable voters in battleground states. Blumenthal called the database akin to a registry and said it should come as a surprise to millions of law abiding gun owners, many of whom would never have consented for firearms manufacturers or retailers to retain, share, and expose their sensitive personal data for political purposes.

State Police are investigating a three car crash that happened in Bethlehem on Friday afternoon.  A 28-year old Watertown man was headed north on Flanders Road near Thomson Road and rear ended a 58-year old Bethlehem man's car, which pushed into the rear of a 77-year old Bethlehem woman's vehicle.  The older man was transported to Waterbury hospital for treatment of serious injuries.  No other injuries were reported.  This crash is an ongoing investigation. Any witnesses are asked to contact Troop L at 860-626-7900.

Prior to COVID-19, New Milford was exploring a partnership with HART Transportation about shuttle service to the Brewster Train Station.  Now that people are returning to offices, the town is revisiting this opportunity.  Mayor Pete Bass has put out a link to a survey for residents to gauge interest in this service.  The shuttle would go to the Brewster Village Station rather than Southeast, because that is the station HART uses for other shuttle service.  The survey asks respondents how often they use the train, the final destination of New York City, White Plains or other, and how commuters get to the station now.  

Work continues in Ridgefield to install force main piping from the Route 7 pump station to the South Street Wastewater Treatment Facility.  Last week, crews worked along Haviland Road between Limekiln and Still Roads.  The road was closed during the extended construction hours of 7am to 11pm.  Crews also started installation along Haviland between Still Road and Route 7 between 3pm and 11pm, with no morning shifts in that area.  The proposed work for this week is to continue installation along Haviland between Still Road and Route 7.  Construction will be done on today, Columbus Day, despite it being a holiday in order to expedite work on the project.

Another appointment to the Danbury Police Department has been confirmed by the City Council, but the Department is looking to add more members to the force.  During it's last meeting, members confirmed Thomas Pace to the position of Certified Officer.  He's been working as an officer with the New York City Police Department for the past 5 years and previously worked for the U.S. Postal Service.  Mayor Dean Esposito says he brings a broad range of valuable skills and experience to the Danbury Police Department.  The application deadline for Entry Level Officers has been extended to October 23rd.  Applicants will need a valid CHIP card at time of application and a passing score on the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association examination.  Disabled and non-disabled veterans who are eligible for additional credits may have 10 or 5 points respectively added to their earned scores if successful in the examination process.  Danbury does not require that Police Officer applicants be a resident of the City, but residents will have 3 points added to their earned scores if successful in the examination process.

The Town of New Fairfield has saved more than half the cost of repairs to the new roof for the New Fairfield Animal Control building through an in-kind donation.  Richie's Roofing of Danbury donated his time and labor, saving the town $5,250.  First Selectman Pat Del Monaco says the project would have cost town over $10,000, but was just the cost of materials at $5,150.

This weekend the Bethel Fire Department is taking a brief pause from their pink lighting scheme in recognition of breast cancer awareness, in order to light up the firehouse red for the 2022 Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters.  Every year the National Fallen Firefighters Association hosts a memorial weekend to honor those who died in the line of duty firefighting.  A few names from Connecticut will be added to the memorial this weekend.  Governor Lamont is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Sunday in recognition of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.  The observance honors the sacrifices of firefighters who have died in the line of duty. The nationwide recognition occurs annually during Fire Prevention Week.

The Easton Volunteer Fire Department is collecting items to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian in the Fort Myers Beach area.  Firefighter Dave Davies has a number of relatives in that area, including his parents.  The Easton volunteers will be collecting items at the Fire House on Center Road for Davies to bring to Florida.  Needed items include soap, toothpaste, paper towels, toilet paper, tarps, shovels and spray cleaners.  

The Danbury Exchange Club held the annual Firefighter of the Year banquet this week. The Danbury Housing Authority sponsored the event and honored a local Firefighter.  James Lillis was recognized for his exemplary service, professionalism,  and technical ability, along with his mentoring of other firefighters in his role as "senior man".

A rally is being held in New Milford this weekend.  The Bans Off Our Bodies New Milford event is to raise awareness toward reproductive rights.  The rally will be at 11am on the south end of the Town Green.  It's  in solidarity with the Women’s March nationwide action Women’s Wave in Washington, D.C. today.  

A Bethel man has been killed in a hit and run accident in New Milford.  Police responded to Route 7 between Dodd Road and Still River Drive shortly before 9:30 last night on a report of a car striking a pedestrian.  64-year-old John Capodanno was pronounced dead at the scene.  Police found the suspect vehicle a short distance away at an apartment complex.  The driver was not injured and is cooperating with the investigation.  The woman wasn't identified by police.

An odor of gas at Danbury High School prompted a brief evacuation this morning.  Danbury firefighters responded to the school around 8am on a report of the smell outside the school.  Firefighters ventilated one area and Eversource was called to the scene.  The Fire Department cleared the scene in less than an hour. 

A series of attempted break ins at businesses in the northwest corner is under investigation by the Washington Resident Trooper Office.  During the overnight hours Monday into Tuesday, a man was captured on surveillance cameras attempting to break into several businesses including Paws and Paddle Canine Conditioning of New Milford, Aspetuck Animal Hospital, Denscot Pool and Spa, and Washington Hairport.  A photo of the suspect, who was wearing a black ski mask, has been posted to the Washington Resident Trooper Facebook page.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office at 860-868-9671.

The number of COVID-19 cases reported by Danbury to the Connecticut Department of Public Health dropped this week compared to last.  Rates held steady in all other Greater Danbury area municipalities.  According to the report ending October 3rd, there were 48 cases in Danbury, Bethel reported 17, and Brookfield had 17.  There were 16 COVID cases in New Milford, 7 in New Fairfield, 15 in Newtown, 5 in Redding while Ridgefield had 11. 

Most Greater Danbury area towns reported about 50 to 150 COVID-19 tests to the state Department of Public Health over the last 7 days with positivity of 7 to 13 percent.  New Milford reported 250 tests and Danbury reported 587, about the same as last week.  Newtown for several weeks has been alternating between reporting about 600 tests or just 200.  At home tests are not reported. 

The test positivity rates are:

New Fairfield  7.4 percent

New Milford 7.4 percent

Danbury 7.7 percent

Ridgefield 9 percent

Newtown 9.5 percent

Redding 9.8 percent

Bethel 11.8 percent

Brookfield 13.4 percent

New state data released Thursday shows a slight increase in COVID-19 positivity statewide compared to last week.  The rolling 7-day average is 9.5 percent, 3 tenths of a percent higher than the week before. There were 3,400 positive COVID cases reported to the state out of about 36,000 tests, slightly less than last week. The number of people in Connecticut hospitals testing positive for COVID-19 over the last 7 days increased by 5.  The inpatient total is 388, with 32-percent not fully vaccinated. The number COVID-associated deaths in Connecticut has grown by 20 since last Thursday.

The BA5 Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 continues to make up the majority of the cases sent for genomic sequencing in Connecticut, according to the latest report. 83.8 percent of samples were BA5, while 12.9 percent were identified as BA4.  A new subvariant, BF7 is now being reported, identified in 1.7 percent of samples tested in Connecticut. The rest sent for sequencing were identified as BA 2.

The temporary bridge for Cherniske Road in New Milford has been assembled and is on the abutments.  The one-lane bridge was closed in January 2021 due to poor condition.  Once today's work is completed, Mayor Pete Bass says the bridge will be moved and baseplate replaced.  The temporary bridge will be used until the permanent bridge is designed and installed.  New Milford can reuse the temporary structure on other bridges that need to be maintained, repaired or replaced.  The parts could be disassembled and stored for future use at any other location.  A two-lane bridge is replacing the structure in order to qualify for state funding since the one-lane design is considered functionally obsolete.

Sherman Volunteer Fire Department is collecting donations for Hurricane Ian relief.  Troop 48 and Pack 84 will be making a hurricane relief trip to Florida.  The scouts are collecting donations from the community to take to a devastated area around Ft. Myers so they can distribute items to those most in need.  This trip will focus on feeding the first responders, lineman, National Guard and Coast Guard members cleaning up the region.  Essentials such as toilet paper and any other donations will also be distributed.  MRE’s--Meals Ready to Eat--are being handed out, but no hot food.  The menu will focus on breakfast sandwiches for the morning, hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch and spaghetti and meat balls for dinner.  Donations of non-perishable items can be brought to the scout house in Sherman on Saturday from 10am until noon.  Financial contributions can be made using online.  Any excess funds and goods remaining at the end of the trip will be donated directly to the Cajun Navy who is assisting with the relief effort.

Water Witch Hose Company #2 of New Milford has been named a recipient of a 2022 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant.  The Grant Committee will use the nearly $132,000 to equip the stations with exhaust capture systems for apparatus.  In the last three years the Fire Department has made an effort to limit exposure of carcinogens to protect firefighters.  From annual cancer screenings, to a new ARPA funded Washer and Dryer, and now a capture system officials say the fire company is mitigating factors that can harm first responders.  

A Danbury man has been arrested for allegedly selling fentanyl in the City.  Detectives determined that 40-year old Jeremy Tamburri was buying fentanyl in bulk and packaging it for individual street sales. A search warrant was carried out yesterday in a North Street parking lot.  He had a bag of fentanyl on him, as well as 100 glassine bags for packaging, an electronic scale, Xanax pills, and money.  He was charged with 2 counts each of possession of a controlled substance and of narcotics with intent to sell as well as one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.  Danbury Police say this is part of the Special Investigations Division and the Drug Enforcement
Administration's crackdown on fentanyl sold in the City to reduce overdose deaths.

Two members of Connecticut's Congressional delegation will be hitting the road today to talk with constituents. 4th District Congressman Jim Himes and 5th District Congresswoman Jahana Hayes will bike across a portion of their districts, starting in Danbury.  They're meeting at 10am at Rogers Park to talk about the Infrastructure and Jobs Act with state Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Carlo Leone and members of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association.  They'll head to a farm in Bethel, the Saugatuck Universal Access Trail in Redding, and Bisceglie Park in Weston.  Redding First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton will be joining them for the last leg of the ride.

Absentee ballots will be available in Newtown starting today for the November 8th election.  Polls will be open 6am to 8pm, but those who can't vote in person can apply for an absentee ballot.  In addition to candidates for office, and a statewide ballot question about whether to allow for early voting, Newtown residents will be deciding on charter revision questions.  Absentee ballots may be applied for by any qualified voter unable to vote at the polls due to specific reasons such as sickness, physical disability, religious tenants, and absence from home during hours of the vote.  Newtown will hold special absentee ballot voting hours on Saturday, November 5th at the Town Clerk's office from 9am to noon.

WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — For a decade, the parents and siblings of people killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting have been tormented and harassed by people who believe the mass shooting was a hoax.

How do you put a price tag on their suffering?

That’s part of the task faced by a Connecticut jury that has been asked to decide how much Alex Jones and his company should pay for spreading a conspiracy theory that the massacre never happened.

The six jurors deliberated for less than an hour Thursday before breaking for the evening. Their work was set to resume Friday.

Jones now acknowledges his conspiracy theories about the shooting were wrong, but says he isn’t to blame for the actions of people who harassed the families. His lawyers also say the 15 plaintiffs have exaggerated stories about being subjected to threats and abuse.

Here are some questions and answers about the deliberations.

COULD THE JURY DECIDE THAT WHAT JONES DID IS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT?

No. A judge has already ruled that Jones is liable for defamation, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and violating Connecticut’s unfair trade practices law. The jury’s job is to decide how much he owes for harming the people who sued him over his lies.

HOW MUCH COULD JONES PAY?

Jones, who lives in Austin, Texas, could be ordered to pay as little as $1 to each plaintiff or potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to them. The decision will be based on whether the jury determines the harm to the families was minimal or extensive.

Christopher Mattei, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the jury should award the plaintiffs at least $550 million. Jones’ lawyer, Norm Pattis, says any damages awarded should be minimal.

HOW DOES THE JURY COME UP WITH THE DOLLAR FIGURES?

In her instructions to the jury, Judge Barbara Bellis said there are no mathematical formulas for determining dollar amounts. Jurors, she said, should use their life experiences and common sense to award damages that are “fair, just and reasonable.”

WHAT KIND OF DAMAGES ARE THE JURY CONSIDERING?

Jurors could award both compensatory and punitive damages.

Compensatory damages are often meant to reimburse people for actual costs such as medical bills and income loss, but they also include compensation for emotional distress than can reach into the millions of dollars.

Punitive damages are meant to punish a person for their conduct. If the jury decides Jones should pay punitive damages, the judge would determine the amount.

DOES CONNECTICUT CAP DAMAGES?

No, and yes. The state does not limit compensatory damages, while punitive damages are limited in many cases to attorney’s fees and costs. So if the jury says Jones should pay punitive damages, he would potentially have to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Sandy Hook families’ lawyers’ costs.

Renovations have been completed on a transitional housing facility in Danbury run by nonprofit Amos House.  The first women and children were welcomed back to the facility after more than a year of work.  Executive Director Jennifer Seeley says the kitchen is probably the biggest improvement, but the whole house has been redone.  Amos House not only provides housing, but also job training services and educational programs through partner organizations.  Seeley says families can stay for up to two years as they work toward self-sufficiency. The renovation work began in June 2021 with support from a $150,000 state grant.  Amos House was formed in 1986 by five local churches.

The Southbury Board of Selectmen will take up the job description of Detective once again when they meet tonight.  The members will also discuss the current position of Community Resource Officer.  Tonight's Board meeting is at 7pm in Southbury Town Hall.  A number of residents of Heritage Village in Southbury are upset to learn that the CRO position stationed on site is proposed to change to the detective position.  The position is currently vacant and First Selectman Jeff Manville explained that contractually, they can't force someone to take role.  There have been no applicants for the job.  Part of the proposed detective job description is to act as a liaison to Heritage Village, the state’s largest senior housing complex.  The contract, including the detective position, was previously ratified by the Board and the union.  While Southbury has a police department, the first selectman is the police chief.

The Center for Empowerment & Education, formerly the Women's Center of Greater Danbury kicked off Domestic Violence Awareness Month with their 16th Annual SafeWalk Fundraiser.  The organization was able to raise over $75,000 to help victims of Domestic & Sexual Violence. Hundreds of individuals on over 20 teams ran, walked, hiked, and creatively moved their way to a 4k from across the country.  Fairfield County Bank was the Top Fundraising Team and Girls Inspiring Girls of Newtown was the Top Youth Fundraising Team.  This was the 4th year in a row for each receiving the honor. Chip Neumann was Top Individual Fundraiser.

The Bethel School District formed a Business Advisory Council, which meets once a month at Bethel High School to discuss skills needed to ensure students can be part of a global workforce.  They also advise on the Pathway Program, which is designed to connect students with specific interests to a concentration of study. The Council consists of higher education (Naugatuck Valley Community College and WCSU), small businesses, representatives from larger companies, and municipal leaders, including our Director of Economic Development.   The district is looking for more participants to serve both on the Business Advisory Council and/or support students in job shadowing and/or internship placements.  Job Shadowing and internships are a part of every pathway.  There are currently six Pathways:
Arts
Education
Global Studies
Business
Healthcare
Career Technical Readiness

The Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission has approved an application for a self-storage facility.  19 Commerce Road, LLC requested a special exception to the zoning regulations following approval by the Inland Wetlands Commission.  The property is currently a vacant lot.  Five self-storage facilities over the 5-and-a-half acre site are proposed with an office building and storage units accessed through a gated driveway.  Units in 4 buildings are accessed internally, and one building has exterior access.

Newtown Inland Wetlands Commission has signed off on a proposed apartment complex development on Mt Pleasant Road.  Farrell Building Company is looking to construct 11 Garden Apartment buildings and one clubhouse.  Associated site improvements include driveways, parking, and stormwater management.  An annual report on Stormwater Maintenance and Functionality must be submitted to the Land Use Agency on every December 1st for the duration of the permit.  An Invasive Species Management and Removal plan must be submitted to the Land Use Agency for approval.

The Danbury Police Department Drug Take Back Day is taking place later this month.  This is part of a nationwide effort to help people clean out medicine cabinets and drop off unused medicines for proper disposal.  A drop box will be located in the front lobby of the Danbury Police Department October 29th between 10am and 2pm. The DEA says medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisoning and flushed or trashed medicines can end up polluting the waters.

National Fire Prevention Week will be kicked off in Monroe with the Volunteer Fire Department's Touch-a-Fire Truck and Fire Safety Day on Sunday.  Residents will be able to meet with the volunteer firefighters, sit in fire trucks, see their equipment and learn fire safety tips.  The event on October 9th is at the fire station on Route 110 from 11am to 1pm.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Southbury Volunteer Firemen's Association is accepting unopened packages of individually wrapped candy for distribution at the 12th Annual Halloween Spooktacular. A collection box will be located at the back entrance of the firehouse until October 20th.  The Halloween Spooktacular will take place on Saturday, October 22nd from 3pm to 5:30pm between Southbury Town Hall and the Southbury Firehouse on Main Street South. Costumed children and families are invited to trick-or-treat at creatively decorated booths hosted and sponsored by dozens of community organizations and businesses from Southbury and neighboring towns.  Costumed characters will be accepting donations in the front parking lot of the firehouse this Saturday from 10am ro Noon, and Tuesday, 3-5pm.

A suspect is being sought by Bethel Police for two separate smash and grab larcenies.  Both were reported in the Target parking lot on Stony Hill Road on Tuesday.  Police are searching for a man who was wearing blue jeans and a yellow coat, with a red 4-door sedan involved in the incidents.  Photos of the man and the vehicle are posted to the Bethel Police Facebook page.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Bethel Police Officer DeOliveira at 203-744-7900 x650.

A Newtown man has been arrested for driving under the influence after being found stopped on the highway early Tuesday morning.  State Police Troopers  conducting a patrol check of I-84 westbound around 12:30am saw the car stopped in the right travel lane between the Exit 18 on ramp and the Benson Road overpass, where signs are posted reading  "EMERGENCY STOPPING ONLY". Concerned for the safety of the driver, the Trooper activated his red and blue flashing lights to alert oncoming traffic to the hazard.  The Trooper approached and saw the driver sleeping, knocked on the window and woke him.  The 20-year old failed field sobriety tests.  He was also charged with traffic violations and operating an unregistered motor vehicle. The man was released on bond for arraignment on the 18th.

New Fairfield Resident Troopers and town Police are stepping up patrols in shopping centers around town.  Business owners have requested that they be more visible due to a rash of daytime larcenies, including catalytic converters thefts.  The Trooper's Office says they have received some criticism for patrolling the shopping areas and taking action on fire lane violations, but State Police say  standing, stationary or parked vehicles- occupied or not do make for a violation of state law.  They encouraged those taking issue with the enforcement of fire lane parking laws to see the Fire Marshal.

The Connecticut Siting Council has scheduled a public hearing via Zoom about the construction of a telecommunications facility proposed in Brookfield.  The hearing on November 3rd is about the structure proposed at 60 Vale Road. The public hearing session will be held at 6:30pm for the public to make statements into the record. Public statements are limited to 3 minutes. The applicants will present an overview of the proposed facility. Information on the hearing will soon be posted on the town website.

A group of Danbury residents looking to come up with a new map of polling precincts based on 2020 census data was not able to agree on a plan to recommend to the City Council.  Two Democrat and two Republicans were tasked with redrawing the 7 wards to make their populations relatively even.  The map would have been an advisory plan for the City Council to use as a starting point. 

Chairman Mike Safranek said at the first of two meetings last week that he was never called by IT once software was installed on a laptop so he didn't draw up a proposal.  Councilman Ben Chianese noted that the software could be used via the internet and he drafted a proposed map. 

The committee needed to vote on a draft by September 30th.

At their second meeting last week they did not have the 3 votes required for passage.  One GOP member was absent and Safranek said he didn't have enough time to review Chianese's proposal and voted no.  The two Democrats, both City Council members, voted to send the draft to their colleagues. 

The City Council will be told that they couldn't come to agreement and will have to start from scratch.  The Council can ask committee members what plans they drew up and for other information. 

One of their goals was to clean up polling precincts based on a legislative Reapportionment Committee changing state House and Senate boundaries.  Some precincts only have a couple hundred voters and if that could be cut down, the City would save on costs for polling workers and machines to tally the different ballots.

WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones decided not present any defense Wednesday at his defamation trial in Connecticut and was back in Texas in advance of closing arguments over how much he should pay for promoting the lie that the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax.

The jury of three men and three women is being asked to decide how much Jones should give the families of eight victims and an FBI agent who all testified they have spent almost a decade being targets of harassment by those who believe the shooting didn’t happen and that they are “crisis actors.”

Jones, who outside the courthouse insisted that he has never been linked to the direct harassment or threats against the families, was found liable by default last year for defaming them and intentionally inflicting emotional distress. The judge ruled that he had repeatedly violated court orders to share financial documents with the plaintiffs.

Jones was called to the stand by the plaintiffs attorneys early in the trial — a contentious appearance in which he called an attorney for the victims families an ambulance chaser and said he was “done saying I’m sorry,” for calling Sandy Hook a hoax.

Jones’ own lawyers had earlier indicated they would have him testify again Wednesday to bolster his arguments that the damages awarded to the plaintiffs should be minimal.

But Jones said he would likely be held in contempt if he took the stand again, because the judge would not allow him to say he is “innocent.”

Jones’ attorney, Norm Pattis, told the judge that his client was boycotting the proceedings because he feels he’s being asked to either commit perjury, be held in contempt of court or invoke his rights not to answer questions under the Fifth Amendment.

“And so, from Mr. Jones’ perspective, by operation of law, he has been placed in an untenable position,” Pattis said.

The jury was then dismissed for the day. Jurors were expected to begin deliberations Thursday after hearing closing arguments and instructions from the judge.

During the trial, which began Sept. 13, the FBI agent and 14 family members testified that after Jones pushed the conspiracy theory, they received death and rape threats, mail from conspiracy theorists that included photos of dead children, and had in-person confrontations with people telling them their children or wives or mothers never existed.

Mark and Jackie Barden, whose 7-year-old son Daniel was killed, testified Tuesday that people had urinated on their son’s grave and threatened to dig it up to prove he was still alive.

Relatives said the harassment has not stopped in the nearly 10 years since the shooting.

Jones in recent years has acknowledged the shooting happened, but claims the families are being used to push a gun control and anti-free speech agenda.

Pattis asked the judge Wednesday to dismiss one of the plaintiff’s claims, that Jones violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by profiting from the hoax lie. Pattis argued the plaintiffs had not shown that they were harmed by his selling of products. Lawyers for the families disputed that argument. The claim is important to the plaintiffs, because it is the only one that does not limit punitive damages. The judge did not immediately rule.

Veterans Walkway of Honor in Danbury has made a donation to the Afghanistan Iraq Veterans Memorial Fund.  The organization raised funds through brick sales recognizing veterans, collecting about $2900.  The Afghanistan Iraq Veterans Memorial Fund is looking to construct a Connecticut monument that honors veterans of the two conflicts, and locate it in front of the Danbury War Memorial building in Rogers Park.

The 2022 U.S. Marine Band Concert Tour to the Northeast is making a stop in Ridgefield.  The concert is sponsored by American Legion Post 78. The concert is free, but tickets are required and limited to 4 per request.  The Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization.  The concert at Ridgefield High School is scheduled for October 25th at 7:30pm.  Founded in 1798, the band has performed for every U.S. President since John Adams. Known as “The President’s Own” since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the Marine Band’s primary mission is to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.  The band’s 17th Director, John Philip Sousa, initiated the concert tour tradition in 1891.

Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company has recognized three members for being Firefighter of the Year. This award ceremony, held by the Exchange Club of Danbury, has been postponed for the last 2 years due to COVID.  They made up for those years during their monthly business meeting to honor the members for their dedication and hard work.  The 2020 recipient is Lieutenant David Bunting, the 2021 recipient is Chief Engineer Matt Gunter and the 2022 recipient is Engineer Chelsea Berg.  Stony Hill Fire officials say they have gone above and beyond year after year and are an integral part of the success of the department. They will be honored with dozens of other honorees at a statewide dinner in a few weeks.

The New Fairfield Resident Trooper's Office is reminding parents of a state law that makes it a crime for a parent, guardian or someone supervising a child to knowingly leave a child under the age of 12 years old in a motor vehicle or unsupervised in public for a length of time that creates a risk of harm to health and safety.  Troopers say even running into a business, daycare or elsewhere just for a minute is a danger.  If a child under 12 years old is watching another child under 12, Troopers say this also creates a significant safety risk. The guidelines indicate that in order for a juvenile to supervise younger children, they must be at least 15 years old.  The ages could be subject to interpretation based on child’s cognitive ability.

Brookfield Police Officers Kyek and Heller received a Toy Closet appreciation award on behalf of the Department from Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital for the toys the department has donated over the years.   The pair started the toy drive 7 years ago and Brookfield Police estimate they have donated over 30,000 toys.

A federal court has ordered three bakeries located in Danbury and in Mount Vernon, New York, along with their owner to pay nearly $1 million in back wages and liquidated damages to 74 employees to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators found that Pedro Coelho and Padaminas Brazilian Bakery violated the overtime requirements when they paid employees, primarily bakers and counter staff, who worked more than 40 hours per week straight time instead of time-and-a-half their regular pay rates. The employers also failed to keep records of employees’ work hours and compensation paid.  The consent order is for little more than $476,000 in back wages, with an equal amount in liquidated damages.  There's also a $41,500 civil penalty to the U.S. Department of Labor due to what DOL says was the violations’ willful nature.  The Fair Labor Standards Act requires that most employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at not less than time and one-half the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

The Danbury City Council is being asked by BRT for another extension to its tax break agreement.  The developer is building 149 apartments on Main Street across from Kennedy Flats, but says due to unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic, they will note meet another deadline for completing the project.  The City Council previously approved a tax deferral package for BRT based on improvements.  After 7 years, the property taxes would be based on the full assessment of the complex.  BRT has received certificates of occupancy for 90 of the 149 units, but the pandemic and supply chain issues caused disruptions to the construction schedule.  The 5 story complex, which also has retail space and a second-floor rooftop pool, will connect via a bridge to an existing BRT development.  Brookview Commons is across the Still River from this new development. 

This is Cybersecurity Awareness month.  New Milford Mayor Pete Bass says when he took office, one of the first tasks was to review the town's IT systems, strengthen IT Infrastructure and put in place new policies and procedures to protect the Network from potential cybersecurity attacks. New Milford has signed on as Champion for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, founded in 2004.  The Champions Program is a collaborative effort among businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities, associations, non profit organizations, and individuals committed to educating of others on online safety.

WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — The father of a boy killed at the Sandy Hook elementary school tried Tuesday to describe for a jury the distress he felt when he learned conspiracy theorists planned to dig up his 7-year-old son’s grave to prove the mass shooting never happened.

Mark Barden, whose son Daniel was among the 26 victims, was the final family member to testify at a trial to determine how much Alex Jones should pay for fueling a bogus theory that the massacre was a hoax.

“This is so sacrosanct and hallowed a place for my family and to hear that people were desecrating it and urinating on it and threatening to dig it up, I don’t know how to articulate to you what that feels like,” Barden told the jury. “But that’s where we are.”

Jones, who argued outside the courthouse that he has never been linked to threats against the families, was initially expected to re-take the stand Wednesday in the civil trial. But his attorney indicated his client was heading home and the defense would call no witnesses.

A judge last year found Jones liable by default for spreading lies about the massacre that harmed the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who include the parents and siblings of some victims. The six-member jury is now deciding how much Jones and Free Speech Systems should pay for defaming them and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.

The plaintiffs attorneys said they planned to rest their case Wednesday after about 20 minutes of video testimony.

Barden and his wife, Jackie, were among 15 family members to take the stand in the defamation trial, which is being held in Waterbury, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the site of the school shooting in Newtown.

Those witnesses have testified over several days about receiving death and rape threats, mail from conspiracy theorists that included photos of dead children, and in-person confrontations with people telling them their children or wives or mothers never existed and that they are “crisis actors.”

Jackie Barden testified Tuesday that the hoax believers started harassing them in the weeks after the massacre and terrified her family. Mark became nervous about his surroundings and family’s safety, she said. And their daughter, now a 20-year-old college student, has anxiety and fears being alone in the family’s home.

“It’s terrible to think that your 20-year-old daughter is afraid,” she said.

Francine Wheeler, whose son Ben was killed, recounted an exchange with another shooting victim’s mother at a conference on gun violence in which that woman called her a liar.

She told the jury it has been hard enough to live with the death of her son.

“It’s quite another thing when people take everything about your boy, who is gone, and your surviving child and your husband and everything you ever did in your life that is on the Internet and harass you and make fun of you,” she said.

Relatives said the harassment has not stopped in the nearly 10 years since the shooting.

Jones testified earlier in the trial — a contentious appearance in which he called an attorney for the victims families an ambulance chaser and said he was “done saying I’m sorry,” for saying Sandy Hook was a hoax.

His lawyers had earlier indicated they would call him back to the stand Wednesday to bolster his arguments that the damages awarded to the plaintiffs should be minimal.

But in a sidebar with the judge Tuesday, Jones’ attorney, Norm Pattis said his client was leaving Connecticut and had no plans to testify, though he couldn’t say for sure.

“What if (Jones) calls me tonight and says, ‘I’ve changed my mind,’” Pattis said during a sidebar with the judge and the plaintiffs attorneys. “What then?”

Earlier in the day, Jones told reporters outside the courthouse that he believed that if he said what he wanted to during his testimony, the judge might hold him in contempt of court.

“Not because I’m guilty,” Jones said, “but because she said that if I tell the truth, she’ll put me in the Waterbury jail for sixth months. That’s what she can do.”

Because Jones has already been found liable, the judge has sought to limit his testimony before the jury, saying he can’t argue, for example, that his statements were protected free speech. Jones was found liable without a trial by the judge after he repeatedly violated court orders to share financial documents with the plaintiffs.

Jones in recent years has acknowledged the shooting happened, but claims the families are being used to push a gun-control and anti-free speech agenda.

A Danbury City Council Committee is recommending that the full Council approve a deferral of the increase in tax assessment for Saving Bank of Danbury's proposed new Main Street building.  This would be subject to construction application approval.  Councilman Duane Perkins is concerned that the replacement building reduces entertainment possibilities in the downtown dining and entertainment district.  The office would replace the Escape to the Arts building and formerly city-owned Tuxedo Junction building.  Tax Assessor Donna Murphy explained to the Committee that the current tax dollars collected on the property and the buildings is $9,000 a year.  She says its so low because of exemptions for the City and the YMCA.  Based on the 2017 revaluation, because the 2022 reval isn't don't yet, SBD will be charged $18,989 on the land.  The real estate taxes are being abated, but there are things inside the building that could be taxed during the deferral years.  The bank has proposed construction of a new, 35,000 square foot 4-story office building at the corner of Main and White Streets.  The new building will house the bank’s non-branch, back office operations.  Savings Bank of Danbury is the oldest continuously operating business in the City, dating back to 1849. The last significant building project in Danbury for the bank was in 1999 with the construction of their location at 35 West Street. 

Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority is hosting another Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event this weekend.  Anyone in an HRRA town can bring unwanted fuel, household cleaners, pool and lawn chemicals, paint and electronics to John Pettibone School in New Milford on Saturday, the 8th, from 9am to 2pm.  More details about items that can be brought to the drop off event, and those not being collected can be found on the HRRA website.

The state Department of Public Health mobile COVID-19 vaccination team will be in Weston and Roxbury today.  Yellow minivans will be at Weston Intermediate School from 3pm to 6pm for a walk up clinic for those 6 months and older, and at Roxbury Senior Center until 4pm for those 12 and older.  Booster doses, including pediatric boosters, will also be available at all clinics.

The City of Danbury Department of Health & Human Services is hosting a drive-thru flu vaccine clinic next weekend.  No appointment is needed for the clinic at Danbury High School on Saturday the 15th from 10am to 2pm.  There is no cost for the flu shot.  All insurances will be accepted.  COVID-19 Boosters will also be available.

Monroe Police Officer John McAulay has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  He has been with the department for over a decade and during that time has served as a firearms instructor, a K-9 Handler and an Operator, and Assistant Team Leader on the regional Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team.

The Kent Streetscape Project is more than halfway complete.  With the leaves starting to change and more people driving in the construction area, officials are reminding motorists to slow down.  First Selectman Jean Speck says increased pedestrian traffic and unfamiliar traffic patterns increase the potential for accidents. She says getting through town will continue to take a little longer and drivers should plan to sit in line while the flaggers are routing traffic. There is also increased traffic in the area of Bridge and Elizabeth Streets at Kent Center School drop-off and pick up times.

The Region 12 School District last month hosted 16 college and university admissions representatives for information session in the College and Career Center.  Juniors and Seniors engaged in the post-secondary planning process, learning about a variety of programs and asking questions directly to the representatives who review applications.  The Shepaug Valley High School counselors plan to host more info session with admissions representatives this month and next.  Students can view the schedule for college visits and register for the sessions through their school accounts. Once registered, all students should get a pass from guidance prior to the session and check in with their classroom teacher for approval.

FirstLight Connecticut Housatonic has filed a 2021 critical habitats management plan annual report with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and requested to discontinue future annual reporting requirements at the Housatonic River Hydroelectric Project Falls Village.  In the letter, FirstLight said changes to the annual report were discussed with stakeholders over the last two years, but FERC noted that the filing does not provide documentation of consultation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service.  FERC asked that FirstLight consult with the agencies on the proposal, providing them a month to respond to the request and send the information to FERC.

The ribbon has been cut at Caraluzzi's new market in Danbury. Officials gathered at the Mill Plain Road location yesterday for the ceremony. Specific to the new Danbury location are features like traditional wood fired pizzas, expanded café offerings of soft serve ice cream, acai bowls, and smoothies to compliment gelato and a variety of specialty brewed coffees and teas.

The state Department of Transportation has cancelled a planned closure of the Interstate 84 Exit 11 ramps scheduled for later this month.  The closure of the on and off ramps was slated for the weekend of October 28th, having already been delayed from the 14th.  The DOT says the cancellation is due to a new construction sequence, details to be finalized this week.  This is part of a larger project to improve the ramps and the surrounding area.  Crews this week are paving at the intersection of Route 34 and Wasserman Way, and at the ramps.  They are also installing new curbs and sidewalks along Wasserman Way.

The New Fairfield Fire Marshal's Office is marking Fire Prevention Week October 9-15.  Officials say having a home escape plan  critical in an emergency, with families sometimes having  as little as two minutes to escape the from the time a fire alarm sounds.  Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out safely. Smoke alarms are required in every bedroom, outside of sleeping areas, and on each level of the home.  Anyone who needs help setting up a home escape plan is encouraged to contact the New Fairfield Fire Marshal’s office at 203-312-5731.  The National Fire Protection Association has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week since 1922.  The national observance is the longest-running public health observance in the country. It's observed this particular week in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8th 1871, killing more than 250 people, leaving 100,000 homeless, destroying more than 17,400 structures, and burning more than 2,000 acres of land.

A special town meeting is planned in Redding for residents to vote on American Rescue Plan Act project funding.  The Board of Selectmen previously approved the items to present to residents.  The ARPA allocations include $100,000 for improvements to the Redding Easton Boys and Girls Club, nearly $93,000 for pickleball courts, $200,000 for Mark Twain Library's proposed patio project, and $150,000 for improvements to Topstone Park.  The Special Town Meeting on October 20th is at 7pm at the Redding Community Center.
Other ARPA projects are:
--Georgetown Signs, $15,000
--Redding Grange, $45,000
--Heritage Center, $60,000
--ER9 LOTS Program, $83,000
--New Pond Farm Restoration of Wetlands Project, $200,000

Southbury Police are investigating more smash and grab robberies from unoccupied vehicles.  Police were called to Church Road last Wednesday on a report of vehicle that had a window smashed overnight. The Connecticut Post reports that the vehicle had been rummaged through but nothing of value was taken.  There have been 4 other incidents since late August of windows being smashed in order for the suspects to gain entry and steal items left inside. Police say the cases do not have any evidence to show they are connected, but there is always the possibility there might be a chance they are  Anyone with information is asked to call the Southbury Police Department at 203-264-5912.

More mosquitoes in Connecticut have been identified as being infected with West Nile Virus, including in Wilton.  The State Mosquito Management Program is warning Connecticut residents about the increased risk of infection this season. Dr. Philip Armstrong of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station says they are continuing to see high numbers of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus especially in coastal Fairfield and New Haven counties and in the greater Hartford area.  August and September are the months when people are at greatest risk of West Nile virus infection, but people can take simple steps to prevent mosquito bites, such as using insect repellent and covering bare skin, especially during dusk and dawn when biting mosquitoes are most active.  So far, WNV has been detected in mosquitoes in Branford, Bridgeport, Cornwall, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hartford, Ledyard, Meriden, Milford, New Canaan, New Haven, Newington, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury, Waterford, West Haven, Westport, Wilton, and Woodstock. 

A Danbury woman has been sentenced for her allegedly helping two people avoid police following a deadly fight at the skate park in 2020.  39-year old Shalina Tallman received a suspended  jail sentence plus three years probation when she was sentenced on Thursday in Danbury Superior Court.  Police said at the time of her arrest that Tallman knowingly rendered criminal assistance to two of the young men involved in the fatal stabbing of Willy Plasencia, including her 16-year old son.  Police said the fight stemmed from “an ongoing feud between rival Danbury groups.”  Tallman was originally charged with hindering prosecution, but pleaded guilty to five counts of interfering with an officer.

The leader for the planned Danbury Career Academy has been welcomed to the City.  Brent Dean serves as the director of academy partnerships and is the school district's liaison between local businesses and community-based organizations.  He worked for five years at the Academies of Nashville, the model of Danbury's Career Academy.   Superintendent Kevin Walston says Dean's experience and proven track record in ensuring collaborating with local businesses and maintaining long-range partnerships made him the ideal candidate for this position.  The Career Academy is expected to open in fall 2024.  The program will be introduced to freshmen beginning in next fall, with some of those students moving into the new school when it opens the following year at the former Cartus headquarters.  The Danbury City Council is being asked at their meeting later this week to allow Mayor Dean Esposito to continue extensive negotiations for the former Cartus property so it can be turned into the academy.

The Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company and Bethel Fire & EMS responded to a chimney fire at a home this weekend. The resident started a fire in the fireplace without first cleaning or inspecting his chimney.  Severe creosote build up caused a significant fire inside the chimney. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to extinguish the stubborn blaze. The Bethel Fire Marshal is asking residents to brush up on home heating safety as cooler temperatures set in.

The Carmel Fire Department is issuing a warning about Lithium-ion batteries, which supply power to many kinds of devices including smart phones, laptops, scooters, e-bikes, smoke alarms, toys, Bluetooth headphones, and even cars.  Fire officials say with the increased use of this technology, there's been an increased number of fires related to these batteries.  The Department recommends following the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage, not to charge a device under a pillow, on the bed, or on a couch--and to use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the device.

Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company has been made aware of two interactions involving perceived endorsement of candidates for office, one via a flyer and one via speaking with a member of the fire company at a door to door campaign. It is the policy of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company not to endorse any candidate for any political office.  The department also does not permit the use of their logos, apparatus or members to be featured in political advertisement.  The Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company has remained and will continue to remain neutral in the political environment as they need to work with all elected officials to provide the best service for the community.

A number of members of local law enforcement agencies have been honored by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving, during the 36th Annual Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony.  Ridgefield Police Officer Mike McKnight and Lt Shawn Murray were recognized for their continued efforts in keeping the roads safe. New Milford Police Officers Petersen and McIntyre were honored for their diligence in drunk driving enforcement. Newtown Police School Resource Office Matt Hayes received a certificate of recognition from MADD.  Southbury Police Officer Ezzo and Officer Brianna Critelli were selected as 2022 MADD Award Recipients.  Ezzo was also recognized as a recipient of this award 5 years in a row. 

New Milford Mayor Pete Bass has met with members of the Daughters of the American Revolution Roger Sherman Chapter to discuss events and projects the organization will be doing in the coming months and years honoring America's 250th anniversary in 2026. One project is the Revolutionary War Patriots plaque in honor of those who helped achieve American Independence.  The Plaque will be set at New Milford Town Hall.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Brookfield Police Department is teaming up with The Center for Empowerment and Education, formerly the Women's Center of Greater Danbury, to stop the violence and bring awareness to the issue.  In an emergency, victims of Domestic Violence should call 911 immediately. Victims can also call the local 24 hour Hotline at 203-731-5206, the State 24 hour Hotline at 1-888-774-2900, the National 24 hour Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit www.thehotline.org.

COVID-19 vaccine walk up clinics are being held in Danbury and New Milford today.  The state Department of Public Health yellow minivans will be at CTown in Danbury until 4pm and at Canterbury School in New Milford from 2pm to 5.  The Danbury clinic is for those 6 months and older, the New Milford one is for everyone 12 years and older.  No appointments are needed.  Booster doses, including pediatric boosters, will also be available at all clinics.

Amos House transitional living for women and children will reopen its doors in Danbury today.  Three women and four children will be housed following today's ribbon cutting ceremony.  Amos House, a nonprofit organization formed in 1986 by five churches, has been closed since last June due to a renovation project.  The upgrades were hindered by a pipe burst in February that caused water damage.  A $150,000 state Department of Housing grant is covering part of the work.  There's a new roof and windows, heat pumps were replaced and upgrades done to the kitchen and laundry room.  The facility helps families transition between living in a shelter and taking the next step to independent living.  The facility has 25 rooms and can house up to five families, depending on the numbers of people in each. Executive Director Jennifer Seeley says Amos House is dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness by ensuring that female residents have the opportunity to achieve the competencies required for permanent, self-sufficient independent living.  

A moose is back on the loose in Connecticut after some quick-acting rescuers helped to free it from a fence.  The Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police received a call at around midnight Friday about a moose stuck in Barkhamsted. Local fire department personnel and state police responded early Saturday to find the animal not impaled on the structure, but unable to get its belly and rear legs over the top.  They cut off and removed one end of a panel of the fence and that allowed the moose to push the remaining part to the ground and walk through.  The rescue came on the heels of several recent sightings in Newtown, Danbury, New Fairfield and elsewhere that prompted the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued an advisory to motorists last week to be on the lookout for moose.  It's unclear if this was the same moose.  There are only about 100 moose in Connecticut, but they become more active during their breeding season in September and October.

An unscheduled landing was made by a plane on Lake Lillinonah Friday.  Fire official say a plane that can operate on land and water was running low on fuel when it touched down and taxied to the town boat launch in Newtown.  The small single-engine aircraft refueled with assistance from a nearby resident before taking off again without incident.  A pilot and one passenger were on board at the time.  The pilot then headed to Danbury Airport.

(Newtown Hook & Ladder)

The U.S. House has passed an Act which includes a bill sponsored by 5th District Congresswoman Jahana Hayes.  The Mental Health Matters Act will bring trauma-informed services and mental health care to schools.  Hayes says the school-based support will address what she called the alarming mental health crisis plaguing the nation.  The comprehensive package aims to support the behavioral health of children and school staff, strengthen school-based behavioral health, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder for the school community.  The Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act, led by Hayes, bolsters trauma support services and school based mental health care.  The bill authorizes grant opportunities to improve the way schools address the complex needs of students coping with the devastating impact of COVID-19 and other adverse childhood experiences such as parental addiction, abuse, and witnessing violence.

The state Department of Transportation has started resurfacing Route 7 in New Milford.  The milling and paving will be done from the area of Three Brothers Restaurant, north to the intersection with Route 37.  The milling started on September 26th.  Paving started last night and is expected to continue through the 11th.  The construction will be done in the overnight hours, from 7pm to 5am.  Two New Milford Police officers stationed--one on each end of the work zone--with certified flaggers for traffic control.

The American Red Cross is helping 10 people after two separate fires in Southbury and East Haven.  Two adults were being assisted after a fire Friday in Heritage Village, Southbury.  Three families of 5 adults and 3 children are being aided following a Saturday fire.  In each instance, the Red Cross provided assistance to meet the families’ immediate needs. The Red Cross also provided a recovery envelope containing information helpful to families recovering from a fire, including tips on cleanup; notification of important contacts; dealing with damaged items and more. The Red Cross is also providing comfort kits containing personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant; shaving supplies and other items a resident might need when suddenly displaced from their home by a fire.

The Newtown Legislative Council has approved two ballot questions on proposed changes to the town's governing document.  The questions were based on nearly a year and half of work by the Charter Revision Commission.  Residents will decide on the changes when they go to the polls on Election Day, November 8th.  One question singles out the revision that would eliminate the Board of Finance and the other seeks approval on all other amendments.  The Charter Revision Commission says there are few other substantive changes.  Explanatory text will be drafted at a later time, working with Town Attorney David Grogins.  Grogins says the Board of Finance as it currently exists was a mistake, added to a 2001 referendum by petition and the wording created an advisory body and not a fiscal authority.  There was debate over separating out the proposed Charter change on Board of Education vacancies, creating a new process for determining the successor when a BOE vacancy occurs.  The motion was voted down.

The first question reads: “Shall the Charter be amended to provide the Sections 2-125, Sections (a) and (b) ‘Board of Finance’ be deleted from the Charter and all powers thereof to be vested with the Legislative Council.”

The second question approved during the August 17 council meeting is: “Shall the remaining Charter Amendments adopted by the Legislative Council on July 20, 2022 be approved?”

The Ridgefield Police Department is looking to hire entry level police officers and draw officers serving elsewhere to the town. Applicants must be at least 21 years old.  In the job posting, the Ridgefield Police Department did note they have a tattoo policy.  Within a year, officers must live within 30 air miles of Ridgefield.  Applications will be accepted through October 31st.  Potential candidates will be required to complete and successfully pass a written examination, Physical Ability Assessment, command staff interview, police commission interview, polygraph, psychological exam, medical tests, and a thorough background investigation.  Female and minority candidates, as well as military veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. 

About 1100 veterans and military personnel attended the Connecticut Department of Veteran Affairs' Stand Down 2022 event, an increase of 10-percent over last year. The outreach initiative was held at the DVA main campus, and 4 regional sites including Danbury.   Veterans, Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel were provided services and information from a variety of and state, federal, local agencies, Veterans Service Organizations and non-profit programs.  More than 110 state and federal agencies and providers, 150 Volunteers, site coordinators and the DVA staff participated.  At the Danbury location, DVA Commissioner Tom Saadi met up with Andy Perone, a Veteran of World War II and the Korean War.