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History, Dec. 3

Today in History: December 3, toxic gas leak kills thousands in Bhopal By The Associated Press undefined Today is Tuesday, Dec. 3, the 338th day of 2024. There are 28 days left in the year. Today in history: On Dec. 3, 1984, a cloud of methyl isocyanate gas escaped from a pesticide plant operated by […]

New Milford author turns ‘hooey’ into historical novel

The story was preposterous. An early 18th century settler traverses hostile native trails to settle in an embryonic community south of Westfield, Mass. He takes his spindly 9-year-old daughter with him. To cook. “It makes no sense,” says Peter J. O’Brien, author of the newly released “The Seasoning.” Never mind that the settler, John Noble, […]

UConn women: Fudd expected to return to starting lineup vs. Holy Cross

STORRS – With a glint of sparkle in his eyes and little smile on his face, UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma said, ‘Yeah, I think that is a good assumption,’ when asked if Azzi Fudd was ready to take back the starting role she has lost to injury several times in her career. “I […]

Goshen Library chief to resign citing harassment

By JOHN McKENNA Republican American GOSHEN – Goshen Public Library Director Tabitha Guarnieri will be resigning after 18 eventful months on the job that were highlighted by controversy over the book “Gender Queer” being part of the library’s collection. Guarnieri submitted a letter of resignation to First Selectman Todd Carusillo and the Library Board of […]

Waterbury Police seek help to identify suspect in Nov. 22 burglary

The Waterbury Police Department is requesting assistance from the public in identifying a suspect involved in a commercial burglary that occurred on Chase Avenue during the overnight hours of November 22, 2024. Photos and videos of the suspect have been provided to aid in this investigation. The incident is currently being investigated by the WPD […]

Waterbury man faces charges after high speed I-91 pursuit

A Waterbury man is facing multiple charges after police say he drove 122 m.p.h. in an effort to evade state troopers along Interstate 91 North in Wallingford. Kendrick Amaker, 53, was taken into custody at his home last Friday night, shortly after the 7:47 p.m. incident near Exit 15. Police said troopers first clocked Amaker’s […]

State honors Bethlehem school

BETHLEHEM – Region 14 has announced that Bethlehem Elementary School has been designated as a “School of Distinction” by the Connecticut Department of Education for overall student performance and high academic growth for the 2023-24 school year. The designation is based on six separate categories in which the school ranked in the top 10 % […]

Naugy firefighters on calls to get some help

NAUGAUCK – The Naugatuck Fire Department will begin a new program next year to supply firefighters with more information when responding to emergency calls. The borough fire department is setting up the new program called Community Connect that will be free, secure and easy for people to use to share critical information about a home […]

Council awards $3M roadwork pact in Torrington

TORRINGTON – The City Council on Monday awarded a nearly $3 million contract to reconfigure Migeon Avenue. The council agreed to award the contract to Yield Industries LLC of Torrington based on a recommendation from Deputy Public Works Director and City Engineer Paul Kundzins. Kundzins, in a Nov. 26 memo, stated that Yield was the […]

Winsted teachers get new 3-year pact

WINSTED – Public elementary school teachers have a new three-year contract. The contract is effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. In year one, teachers on steps 1 through 12, do not receive a general wage increase. A step is typically based on their years of experience and the education they have received. […]

Rabbit comes to the aid of a grieving family

“The Burrow” by Melanie Cheng. (Tin House, 187 pages, $16.95) The epigraph of Melanie Cheng’s novel “The Burrow” comes from an unfinished Franz Kafka short story with the same title: “The most beautiful thing about my burrow is the stillness. Of course, that is deceptive. At any moment it may be shattered and then all […]

Pacino’s memoir short on surprises but long on introspection

I met Al Pacino one September afternoon long ago at the wedding of David Mamet and Rebecca Pidgeon at a place called Stillington Hall in Gloucester, Mass., about an hour’s drive northeast of Boston. As the family gathered for pictures under a huge tree on the lawn, Pacino said, “C’mon, let’s get in on the […]

How to Think Like Socrates’ leaves readers with questions

The lessons of Socrates have never really gone out of style, but if there’s ever a perfect time to revisit the ancient philosopher, now is it. In “How to Think Like Socrates: Ancient Philosophy as a Way of Life in the Modern World,” Donald J. Robertson describes Socrates’ Athens in terms that seem all too […]

Love animals? You’ll love them even more after reading about their wonders in ‘Vanishing Treasures’

“Vanishing Treasures” by Katherine Rundell. (Doubleday, 224 pages, $26) Katherine Rundell wears several hats with style and aplomb. She is a fellow of St. Catherine’s College, Oxford; she is an award-winning children’s writer; and she is a biographer, author of the magisterial “Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne” – the Renaissance poet she convincingly claims […]

Winsted hires assistant principal to reduce bullying

WINSTED – Public school officials have hired an assistant principal for the Pearson School who has a background in reducing bullying and improving the school climate. The Board of Education unanimously voted last week to support the superintendent’s recommendation of hiring Adrianne Giammatteo. Her first day is today. Giammatteo was previously the dean of culture […]

Weeklong Gingerbread Village, bazaar starts Saturday in Middlebury

MIDDLEBURY – The annual weeklong Gingerbread Village and Christmas Bazaar at Saint George’s Episcopal Church will begin Saturday. “Every year around this time the smell of gingerbread begins to waft through the church and we are so excited to be able to hold the event again this year,” said organizer Kristine Boisits. The holiday event […]

Hotchkiss building’s razing on schedule

TORRINGTON – A large chunk of the former Hotchkiss Bros. Co. is gone. On Monday, a visible hole could be seen where a building still faced Water Street last week. North of the empty space, the curved building, on the corner of Water and Church streets, still stands but developer William R. Deickler, of Pay […]

New school phone policy is working in Waterbury

WATERBURY – Suspensions in the city’s schools have declined slightly so far this school year compared to last year, giving school officials optimism that a new policy to lock up students’ cellphones is having a positive effect. While school officials said the data is promising, it is too early to tell whether the trend will […]

Waterbury Police Blotter

WATERBURY Waterbury police recently filed the following charges: BENJAMIN PERRI, 58, of 245 Sheffield St., second-degree failure to appear. LEOMAR GUZMAN, 21, of 85 Waterville St., third-degree strangulation/suffocation, disorderly conduct, third-degree assault. RICHARD BROOKS, 30, of 491 Arctic St., first floor, Bridgeport, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, second-degree strangulation. CARLOS GUTIERREZ, 59, of 33 Washington St., […]

‘HUSKY for immigrants’ program demand soars

Connecticut’s program to provide state-sponsored health coverage for children regardless of immigration status has generated explosive demand, shattering projected enrollment estimates. When the program, often referred to as ‘HUSKY for immigrants,’ launched in January 2023, officials predicted 4,250 kids would sign up. But, by April 2024, 11,000 children had enrolled. In July 2024, the program […]

Pomperaug River monitoring station to be closed due to budget cuts

SOUTHBURY – For nearly a century, a stream flow monitoring station has been measuring the amount of water passing through the Pomperaug River. The system was first installed in 1932 by the federal government along the river’s shoreline near Ewald Park and the Heritage Village golf course in Southbury. Since then, it has been providing […]

Torrington Police Blotter

Torrington police recently filed the following charges: MICHAEL MAURADALVARADO, 21, 165 Berry St., apt 2nd, Torrington, driving the wrong way on a one way street, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, operating or parking an unregistered motor vehicle, Nov 21. RAFAEL O ROSARIO, 31, 154 E Main St Apt E, […]

Self-defense or too much force? That’s the question for jurors as subway chokehold trial wraps

NEW YORK (AP) — A defense lawyer asked jurors to put themselves in frightened subway riders’ shoes Monday at the trial of a Marine veteran charged with choking an irate, homeless man to death after an outburst on a New York underground train. Prosecutors countered that Daniel Penny was way too forceful and reckless in […]

Biden’s broken promise on pardoning his son Hunter is raising new questions about his legacy

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son, Hunter, just weeks before his scheduled sentencing on gun and tax convictions was a surprise that wasn’t all that surprising. Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons […]

Some Democrats are frustrated over Joe Biden reversing course and pardoning his son Hunter

ATLANTA (AP) — Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats now are grappling with President Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son for federal crimes, with some calling the move misguided and unwise after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. The president pardoned Hunter Biden late […]

Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year’s biggest day for online shopping

Consumers in the United States are scouring the internet for online deals as they look to take advantage of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon with Cyber Monday. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people’s regular routines and the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday — a term coined in 2005 by the National […]

Joyce Blair

PROSPECT – On Nov. 29, 2024, Joyce Marie (LaBragnara) Blair died peacefully in the arms of her loving husband for 55 years, Philip Blair, whose broken heart will miss her more than he can bear. Predeceased by her parents Louie and Joanie (Esposito) LaBragnara, she also leaves her sister Diane Desrocher. On this side of […]

Edward Chowansky

WATERBURY – Edward D. Chowansky, 71, of Waterbury, passed away on Nov. 26, 2024, after a brief illness. He was retired from Fusco’s Auto Salvage. At Ed’s request all services will be private. For full obituary or to send an online condolence, please visit brooksidememorial.com.

Marian Dubiel

TORRINGTON – Marian Dubiel, 92, of Torrington, passed away Nov. 21, 2024 at Arden Courts in Avon. She was entombed with her former husband, Dante Rossi, at St. Peter Mausoleum in Torrington. Online memorials at phalenfuneral.com.