SHERMAN — Rumor has it that in 1802, the same year the town was incorporated, an 18-year-old built a colonial house in the middle of town.
Doctors successfully removed a benign tumor from Mayor Mark Boughton’s brain during a complex procedure Tuesday at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Mayor Mark Boughton delivers remarks from the City of Danbury during Immaculate High Schools Graduation Excercises at Western Connecticut State Universities O'Neill Center on Wednesday May, 31, 2017.
For more than three decades, Lt. Albert Mion has driven to work at the Danbury Fire Department, aware that he could be tasked with saving someone’s life.
Summertime in the Greater Danbury area means lazy lake days for many. From boating to tubing, wakeboarding, swimming and general partying, Candlewood Lake is a playground for area residents in the summer.
Danbury native Oscar Bordoy scored a win in his second career boxing match, defeating Felip Nazario at Uptown Live in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday. Bordoy is now 2-0 as a lightweight fighter.
July 19 is National Hot Dog Day! If you're in the mood for a good dog tonight, seems you should head to Fairfield. Three of the top 10 most Yelp-reviewed hot dog spots in southwestern Connecticut are found in Fairfield.
The spirit of “buy local” is as strong as ever. It’s the practice that often falls short.
DANBURY — Hidden gems produced by local companies and grown on local farms lurk among the shelves of even the largest supermarkets in the area.
Millennials aren’t the only ones who want to live in downtowns, where restaurants, shops and other amenities are only a walking distance away. So do Baby Boomers.
New Milford football played its spring game, the Green and White game, Thursday, June 15, 2017.
Site names Newtown's Ferris Acres the best ice cream in Connecticut
Homelessness in Danbury has dropped 12 percent since 2016
Kyle Lyra receives his diploma during Danbury High Schools Commencement Exercises that were held on Tuesday June 20, 2017.
DANBURY — Andrea Gartner has a lot of passions, and many of them are embodied in her new restaurant, Pour Me Coffee and Wine Café, which opened this month at 274 Main St.
"Batman" TV star Adam West has died
Bob's Stores is closing at 114 Federal Rd. in Danbury, Conn., one of three locations in southwestern Connecticut getting the ax by bankrupt parent company Eastern Outfitters of Meriden.
Four Seasons Limousine serving the Brookfield CT area since 1989 with reliable and friendly service 203-746-8300
At Four Seasons Limousine
New Customers receive $20 off on round trip to any airport
This blog is for the entertainment, history and current events of the town of Brookfield and it's people. Please follow and make your posts
Brookfield Democratic Town Committee encourages involvement
The Democratic Town Committeewill host a “Get Involved” open house next month to encourage residents to make a difference in the community.
The family-friendly open house is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. March 7 at Hacienda Don Manuel at 265 Federal Road.
Community members will learn how to make change in the town by volunteering or running for office.
Current and former town board and commission members will discuss their experiences in office. The committee will also provide printed information.
Christine Hand, vacancy chair for the Brookfield Democratic Town Committee, said in a statement that the party achieved “unprecedented success” in the 2015 town election.
“Whether you are interested in working behind the scenes or want to serve on the front line on a town board, the BDTC has volunteer opportunities for everyone,” Hand said. “We are looking for help to continue moving our town in a positive direction and our ‘Get Involved’ open house is a great opportunity to meet like-minded residents while learning more about how to get involved. We encourage residents to bring their family and friends for a fun night out to discover how they can lend their talents to our wonderful town.”
Chips, salsa, guacamole and appetizers will be provided, as well as a cash bar.
Brookfield woman dies in skiing accident
A town woman died Saturday from injuries sustained in a skiing accident.
Lisa Kelly, 46, of 11 S. Lake Shore Road, was skiing at the Mohawk Mountain Ski Area in Cornwall Saturday when she collided with another skier, State Police Spokeswoman Kelly Grant said in a written release.
State Police Troop B responded to the accident at 8:31 p.m. Upon arrival, troopers learned Kelly had been taken by LifeStar to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. She was pronounced dead at 11:12 p.m.
The collision occurred at 8:15 p.m., according to a statement posted on the Mohawk Mountain Ski Area Facebook page.
"Ski Patrol responded rapidly, providing first aid and care for the injured skier," the statement said. "The skier was transported by ambulance, then helicopter to a trauma center where, sadly, this person later passed away,"
Her death is under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Jeremy Ribadeneyra at 860-626-1820, ext. 1034 or email him at Jeremy.Ribadeneyra@ct.gov.
Bear wanders through woods in Brookfield
A black bear was spotted poking around the woods near Zbynek Stupka’s house Sunday morning.
Stupka shot a video that shows the bear wandering near Hillside Circle.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has reported 59 black bear sightings in Brookfield from April 10, 2016 to April 5.
Over the same period, 288 have been reported in Southbury, 224 in New Milford, 106 in Newtown, 78 in Roxbury, 63 in Kent, 63 in Washington, 60 in Sherman, 58 in New Fairfield, 57 in Redding, 48 in Danbury, 17 in Bethel, 17 in Bridgewater and eight in Ridgefield.
More than 6,500 bear sightings have been reported across the state.
DEEP warns residents on its website never to feed bears, lest they become accustomed to it. Residents also should avoid leaving pet food outside or putting meat or sweets in the compost pile, according to the department.
Nor should residents approach an animal in an attempt to get a photo or video, the department states.
“Often a bear will climb a tree to avoid people,” the department writes on its website. “A crowd of bystanders will only stress the bear and also add the risk that the bear will be chased into traffic or the crowd of people.”
The department encourages residents to remove bird feeders and bird food from late March through November. Residents should also leave garbage cans and cleaned grills inside a garage or shed, so that bears are not attracted to them for food, according to the department.
If residents see a bear in a densely populated area, they should call the DEEP Wildlife Division (860-424-3011, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) or DEEP Dispatch (860-424-3333, 24 hours). The department could decide to remove the bear if it is unlikely to leave on its own or may dart into a group of people.
A black bear was spotted poking around the woods near Zbynek Stupka’s house Sunday morning.
Stupka shot a video that shows the bear wandering near Hillside Circle.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has reported 59 black bear sightings in Brookfield from April 10, 2016 to April 5.
Over the same period, 288 have been reported in Southbury, 224 in New Milford, 106 in Newtown, 78 in Roxbury, 63 in Kent, 63 in Washington, 60 in Sherman, 58 in New Fairfield, 57 in Redding, 48 in Danbury, 17 in Bethel, 17 in Bridgewater and eight in Ridgefield.
More than 6,500 bear sightings have been reported across the state.
DEEP warns residents on its website never to feed bears, lest they become accustomed to it. Residents also should avoid leaving pet food outside or putting meat or sweets in the compost pile, according to the department.
Nor should residents approach an animal in an attempt to get a photo or video, the department states.
“Often a bear will climb a tree to avoid people,” the department writes on its website. “A crowd of bystanders will only stress the bear and also add the risk that the bear will be chased into traffic or the crowd of people.”
The department encourages residents to remove bird feeders and bird food from late March through November. Residents should also leave garbage cans and cleaned grills inside a garage or shed, so that bears are not attracted to them for food, according to the department.
If residents see a bear in a densely populated area, they should call the DEEP Wildlife Division (860-424-3011, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) or DEEP Dispatch (860-424-3333, 24 hours). The department could decide to remove the bear if it is unlikely to leave on its own or may dart into a group of people.
Class to teach safe driving tips to Brookfield senior citizens
Senior citizens are invited to participate in a class that gives them tips on driving.
The Senior Center is hosting an AARP Safe Driving class from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. The class provides the elderly with a refresher on driving rules and teaches them defensive driving skills and strategies.
State residents 60 and older who complete the class will qualify for a minimum of 5 percent automotive liability insurance discount for at least two years.
The class is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Attendees should sign up and pay by check in advance.
Survey: Brookfield’s Gurski Farm should be used for recreation, farming or education
About a month into a town-wide survey, most residents seem to think the 18.4-acre Gurski Homestead should be used for recreation, farming or education.
During a Saturday Earth Day celebration on the homestead, residents took a break from hiking the grounds, planting trees or flowers and playing with chickens to visit an interactive workshop set up by consulting firm Fitzgerald & Halliday. The firm was hired by the town in January to create a master plan for the town-owned 18.4 acres and farm buildings.
Francisco Gomes, one of the two representatives from the firm, said the survey that went out in early March already has over 200 responses and is still open. He and Stephanie Dyer-Carroll spent Saturday discussing the possibilities for the property with residents and encouraging them to take the survey if they hadn’t already.
In addition to letting people choose among various possible uses for the property, the survey measured how familiar they were with the homestead, how important it was to them and what concerns they had about it.
“They were most concerned about the condition of the buildings and potential future uses,” Gomes said. “Meaning, we think, that they’re concerned the property might be reused for something that wasn’t consistent with this historical use.”
The Saturday workshop let residents pick which three of the seven proposed uses for the land they preferred as well as write down other ideas not on the list. The seven options included festival and concert venues, passive recreation, farmers’ markets or farmstands, space for town committees, educational uses, private rentals or meeting and event space.
Brookfield approves $64.7 million budget
Voters approved a $64.7 million town budget by a 2-to-1 margin in Tuesday’s referendum.
The 2017-18 budget, which is expected to raise taxes by 1.8 percent, includes $23.9 million for the town and $40.8 million for the schools.
“Obviously we’re very happy about that,” First Selectman Steve Dunn said. “It shows that the town is supporting the things that we are doing and in a very positive way.”
The school budget passed by a 1,221 to 645 vote, according to unofficial results.
During the budget process, the Board of Education’s original request was cut by $271,000.
Brookfield veteran to discuss book on serving in Iraq War
Retired Marine Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea will discuss his latest book at the Brookfield Museumand Historical Society on May 1.
Zacchea, a Brookfield resident, recently published “The Ragged Edge: A U.S. Marine’s Account of Leading the Iraqi Army Fifth Battalion.” Zacchea will lead a multimedia presentation on the book and provide insights into the current conditions and challenges facing the U.S. Military in the war against ISIS and other terrorist organizations in the Middle East.
Zacchea began serving in Iraq in March 2004. He was part of a combined multinational transition team and was among the first American military advisers to organize, train and lead Iraqi soldiers, once loyal to Saddam Hussein, into combat against foreign insurgents and al-Qaida forces.
He was seriously wounded in the second battle to overtake the rebel stronghold of Fallujah in November and December 2004. He received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars for Valor. He is the only American soldier ever to receive the Order of the Lion of Babylon valor award from the president of Iraq.
Zacchea is the director and founder of UConn’s Entrepreneur Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities and founder of the CT Veterans Chamber of Commerce. His philanthropic efforts include helping to create a non-profit organization of military advisers to help Iraqi interpreters immigrate to the United States.
The free event is at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be available after the presentation.
