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Today’s Edition

Morning 5: Winter driving

Winding through the Litchfield Hills, Route 44 has been a pain for drivers, especially during the winter, over the years. Here are five other roads you don’t want to be stuck on: 1) Alaska Highway — This route in the top spot stretches from Dawson Creek in British Columbia through the Yukon to Delta Junction […]

History, January 17

By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Jan. 17, the 17th day of 2025. There are 348 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 17, 1920, prohibition of alcohol began in the United States as the Volstead Act went into effect in support of the 18th Amendment. Also on this date: In […]

Shah’s Halal Food opening in Winsted

WINSTED — Another restaurant is giving it a go at 8 South Main St. Shah’s Halal Food is celebrating its monthlong “soft” opening with a grand opening today from noon to 2 p.m. Customers can order free platters and the town will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Shah’s is a chain of 150 restaurants around the […]

Naugatuck man, 32, dies after crashing into tree off Route 8 in Winsted

WINSTED — A Naugatuck man is dead after he drove off Route 8 early Wednesday afternoon into a grass median and collided with a tree, state police said Thursday. Kenneth Martin, 32, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Police do not know why he drove off the highway north of Exit 55 at […]

Waterbury police ID, seek 28-year-old man as suspect in May ’24 homicide

WATERBURY — City police have identified Courtney Franklin, 28, as a suspect in a homicide May 13, 2024, at 117 Sharon Road. Franklin, who allegedly shot three people at the So Blu Niq rental hall facility, is wanted on an arrest warrant charging him with murder, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a […]

Waterbury police blotter

WATERBURY Waterbury police recently filed the following charges: DAISEY LOPEZ, 52, of 13 Cherry Ave., second-degree harassment. ASHLEY MARS, 33, of 268 Birchfield Drive, third-degree assault, third-degree strangulation/suffocation. ISAIAH CARPENTER, 23, of 46 Jewelry St., second-degree reckless endangerment, risk of injury to child, negligent storage of firearm, second-degree reckless endangerment. MELVIN MENDEZ, 33, of 123 […]

Henson I. Lawrence

WATERBURY – Mr. Henson Icilus Lawrence, 87, died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. He was born Feb. 20, 1937 in Trelawny, Jamaica, to the late Elder Ernest Lawrence and Evelyn Eocledson. Visitation 3 p.m., service 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at Chapel Memorial Funeral Home, 35-37 Grove St., Waterbury.

Amalia Reis

NAUGATUCK – Amalia Rebimbas DaSilva Reis, 80, the widow of Jose Barbosa Reis, died peacefully on Jan. 15, 2025, in the VITAS Inpatient Hospice Care Unit at Saint Mary’s Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. Amalia was born Oct. 31, 1944 in Murtosa, Portugal, daughter of the late Agostinho DaSilva and Elvira Fonseca DaSilva. Amalia […]

Patricia M. Roman

THOMASTON – Mrs. Patricia M. (Ryan) Roman, 86, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Saint Mary’s Hospital after a lengthy illness. She was the loving wife of Myron Roman, who passed away in 2015. Patricia was born Oct. 21, 1938, in Waterbury, daughter of the late Francis and Julia (Maxwell) Ryan. Raised in […]

Cop linked to burglaries, lots of burglaries: Glastonbury officer accused in statewide crime spree

TORRINGTON – Using lock-picking skills honed while serving in the military, former Glastonbury police officer Patrick Hemingway is accused of entering dozens of businesses throughout Connecticut and elsewhere to steal cash. Lots of it. State police have linked Hemingway to at least 50 burglaries and say so many more warrants are in the pipeline they’ve […]

Earle B. Siddell Jr.

TORRINGTON – Earle Buell “Bud” Siddell Jr., a lifelong resident of Torrington, passed away peacefully on Jan. 12, 2025, at the age of 93. Bud was born on May 19, 1931, in Torrington, and dedicated his life to service and education. He proudly served in the United States Army for 21 years, retiring in 1969 […]

Paper has a voice in community that cannot be lost

Until we develop telepathy, language is our only way to disseminate ideas. For brevity’s sake, we can classify language into three categories: visual, oral, and written. Visual works really well for the arts. But while it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words, the thousand words intended by the creator of an […]

‘Grooming gangs:’ Scandal hits close to home

Second in a two-part series. Accusations by Elon Musk against Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain involving a seemingly resolved child-sex scandal should evoke unpleasant memories among those who’ve lived for the last quarter century in Greater Waterbury, and especially among those from in and around its East Side. The memory harks back to the […]

From ‘The Brutalist’ to ‘Wicked,’ where to watch this year’s top awards movies

The 2025 movie awards season is in full swing but figuring out where to watch everything can be overwhelming. Are they streaming? For free? In theaters? Only in Los Angeles and New York? Take one of the big winners of the Golden Globes, “The Brutalist,” a film that’s been dominating conversations since it premiered at […]

Finally finished my homework

About a year ago, I described an interesting Christmas gift I had just received. The present, given to me by my two daughters, was a subscription to a service called Storyworth. With this service, each week for one year they email you a question prompt; that is, a subject to write about. (Or if you […]

Protect your pups against the cold

Does your puppy need a parka? Hound need a hood? Fido fidgety for a frock? When it’s particularly frigid outside, they probably do need a coat. @Bodytype, PEOPLE:And there are plenty of fanciful options available. But not all dogs need coats, and even the ones who do don’t always take warmly to them. And when […]

Transcending the expected: Brewery moving from Southington to Plainville

Some breweries zag when others zig. Such is the case with Transcend Beer Crafters. While many are playing it safe or even shuttering, Transcend is expanding. Its move from a Southington-based can-only business to a Plainville space with a taproom, kitchen and production facility reflects its reputation for risk-taking. “We want to be an experience-focused […]

Benin’s mecca of spirits and gods draws tourists and followers with famed Voodoo festival

OUIDAH, Benin As children dance with great speed and energy in colorful robes, guided by the drumbeats and chants from dance troupes, the gods and spirits that are evident all around the arena are beckoned upon by the old and young for peace and prosperity. And on the sidelines, camera clicks from foreigners and locals […]

Praying for peace: Waterbury leaders cautiously hopeful after cease-fire

WATERBURY – Waterbury residents in Muslim and Jewish communities shared optimism Thursday about a long-awaited cease-fire that would result in the release of dozens of hostages and pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip. But Israel delayed a Cabinet vote Thursday on the long-awaited cease-fire deal that would pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip […]

Victim takes the stand: Witness recalls attack at Quincy Mitchell trial in Waterbury

WATERBURY – A man who survived a violent shooting that left him hospitalized for weeks and with permanent injuries testified Thursday in Waterbury Superior Court, offering the jury a vivid account of the 2022 incident at the center of Quincy Mitchell’s trial. Jonathan Velez, 30, who is serving a felony sentence at Cheshire Correctional Institution, […]

NOTEWORTHY IN NORTH COUNTY: A sock rose for everyone in need in Harwinton

HARWINTON – Drawing inspiration from an idea they gleaned from a state Federation of Women’s Clubs meeting, the Harwinton Woman’s Club decided this week to make sock roses for those in need. “We made socks for everyone from little kids to adults,” club President Maddy Marzullo said Wednesday. “You just fill the sock, roll and […]

Woodbury Republican throws hat in for first selectman

WOODBURY – Republican Paul Zulpa, a Board of Finance member, plans to run for first selectman, setting up a possible matchup against fellow party member Barbara K. Perkinson, a six-year incumbent. Zulpa, 67, announced his plan during last week’s Republican Town Committee meeting. The first selectman’s seat is up for election in November, though any […]

Hearing set to debate age discrimination claim at Waterbury Hospital

WATERBURY – A federal judge Wednesday ordered an evidentiary hearing to determine the validity of an arbitration agreement at the center of a former Waterbury Hospital executive’s lawsuit claiming age discrimination. The decision by Judge Alvin W. Thompson was in response to a motion filed by the owner of Waterbury Hospital and its former president, […]

State earns hundreds of millions through investments on pandemic funds

Since Congress awarded Connecticut $2.8 billion in emergency pandemic relief nearly four years ago, state government has earned hundreds of millions of dollars through investments. State legislators learned about this $340 million windfall for the first time Wednesday. Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget director says the Treasurer’s Office failed to properly move the interest earnings into […]

VIDEO: Actor shares ‘Addams Family’ memories. Musical opens at Palace Jan. 17-18

Actor Renee Kathleen Koher, who plays “Morticia” in the current Broadway tour of “The Addams Family,” talks about her pop culture memories of Charles Addams’ creations and she discusses the music of the stage show. “The Addams Family” stops at The Palace Theater in Waterbury on Jan. 17-18.

Bueckers returns in UConn’s rout of St. John’s

Paige Bueckers returned to the UConn women’s basketball lineup Wednesday night with a chance to make UConn history, but she settled for being part of a solid team victory led more by the Huskies’ defense than their offense. The senior guard went into the Huskies’ game against St. John’s at Lou Carnesecca Arena in Queens, […]

History, January 16

By The Associated Press Today is Thursday, Jan. 16, the 16th day of 2025. There are 349 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 16, 1991, in a televised address to the nation, U.S. President George H.W. Bush announced the start of Operation Desert Storm, an Allied combat operation to drive Iraqi […]

Prodigal ‘Alice’ returns; MOMIX takes Warner stage Jan. 18, 19

In 2023, “Alice” got to spend some time- as it were- in her hometown. That’s when Washington, Conn-based MOMIX last presented the dance piece on its home stage of Torrington’s Warner Theatre. But since then, “Alice” became a globetrotter.   A homecoming is now in the works when “Alice” returns to the Northwest Corner’s this […]

In the Wings: Palace sums up its 2024 season

In December, Waterbury’s Palace Theater posted their “2024 Palace Wrapped” on Spotify. The year-end statistics compiled by the Palace revealed that the top Broadway show was the Sunday matinee in May of the touring company of “Mean Girls.” The top event in the Palace’s Spotlight Series was the “I Wrote That! Author Talk with Fiona […]