The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reminds everyone to take steps to reduce the likelihood of an encounter with a bear this fall… when black bears increase their food intake to add fat reserves needed to help them survive winter. Conflicts with bears have tripled over the last five years in Connecticut and bears have been sighted in all of the state’s 169 cities and towns. Never feed bears… intentionally or unintentionally… by leaving pet food, bird feeders, and other food sources unattended and available. As bears become increasingly food-conditioned, conflicts with humans will continue to increase, and food-conditioned bears pose a greater risk.

Last Thursday, over 200 strike captains and bargaining committee members from three states traveled to their union’s Manhattan headquarters to represent the 10,000 union members who clean commercial properties across New York’s Hudson Valley and Long Island, the state of New Jersey, and here in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The purpose was to open negotiations on the commercial cleaners’ first agreement to cover the entire tristate region under a single contract. Thursday’s opening of bargaining comes three months before the December 31 expiration of the separate agreements that currently cover the tristate region.

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of Manufacturing has been awarded a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to support the rapid deployment of smart manufacturing technologies into Connecticut’s supply chain. The goal of the initiative is to help small and medium-sized companies in the state improve energy efficiency.

In an effort to help New Milford students who can’t afford school lunch, a fundraiser is being held. The free lunch program for students ended June 30. While breakfast remains free for all students, and students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch will continue to receive lunch at no cost, some are now suggesting the creation of a so-called “lunch fund” to help out students who still struggle to afford lunch. 34 percent of students in the district are reportedly eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

According to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, the inmate who was found dead in his cell last week at the Garner Correctional Institution died by suicide. The body of 26 year old Trevor Watson of Waterbury was discovered in his cell around 4 last Wednesday afternoon. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead just before 4:30pm. His death was ruled a suicide on Friday.

Governor Ned Lamont has approved the release of $24.5 million in state grants for 60 small towns in Connecticut that will be used to complete a wide variety of infrastructure improvements. Included in the grant awards is money for Bridgewater for the replacement of the Burnham Library roof; Brookfield for town hall campus renovations; Ridgefield for the replacement of the Mountain Road culvert; Sherman for new recreational facilities; and Southbury for reconstruction and safety improvements at the transfer station;

The city of Danbury is working on a plan to connect the Maybrook Trail in New York to a new walking and biking path to Tarrywile Park. Currently, it’s a 2 hour 15 minute walk to cover the six miles from the New York border past the Danbury Fair mall to Tarrywile Park… and walkers must deal with traffic. Now, public input is being sought about six proposed routes that would cut through the west side and use different inner city streets to connect walkers and bikers with the trails of Tarrywile Park.

The Valley Concert Series will open its 2023/24 season at Valley Presbyterian Church in
Brookfield on Sunday, October 15th at 3pm. The concert is free and open to the public. Parking is free and the building is wheelchair accessible, all on one level. For more information visit http://www.valleypresct.org

Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito recently met with the Danbury Police Chief and others to discuss the Danbury Police Department. Since Mayor Esposito took office, the Danbury Police Department has hired 45 new police officers. There are now 30 Latino officers, over 10 African-American officers, and 19 female officers – many who have come to Danbury from all across the country. Officers speak more than 10 different languages… a reflection of Danbury’s diversity.  Crime in Danbury is down nearly 12% overall from last year, including a decrease of 10% in violent crimes and a 20% decrease in drug and narcotics violations.

Firehouse Magazine has selected Danbury Fire Chief Richard Thode as the grand prize winner of the Michael O. McNamee Award of Valor. The award reflects what it means to be brave in the face of danger. Because of Chief Thode’s courage and bravery, a man was rescued from a trench collapse that happened in Bethel back in May 2022, and made a full recovery. Mayor Dean Esposito said the Chief’s heroic efforts during the trench rescue saved a life and demonstrated how he goes above and beyond the call of duty every day to serve not only the residents of Danbury, but also others living in surrounding communities.