Connecticut

Family-owned business in Seymour bounces back after historic flooding

Published

1 year ago

January 25, 2025

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Family-owned business in Seymour bounces back after historic flooding

Five months and two weeks. That’s how long it took to reopen a beloved quilt shop in Seymour.

“Relieved. Yeah, I think maybe relieved,” said owner Cheryl Ogrisek.

Ogrisek and her husband Brian lost their shop after a historic flood over the summer, which took over homes and businesses in southwestern Connecticut. Communities in Oxford, Southbury, and Seymour are still recovering.

Security footage captures the moment floodwaters tore through their store, wiping out their business of over two decades.

“The next day we talked about what do we do, do we reopen? Do we close? And Brian literally said flip a coin and decide in the air.”

“I said if you flip a coin, you’ll know what wanted to come up,” said Brian Ogrisek.

They made a huge come back and they didn’t just leave it up to chance. They had their whole community by their side, eager to help them get back on their feet.

“If it weren’t for all the folks behind the scenes with like donating towards the GoFundMe’s that we didn’t even start. The GoFundMe’s were started by customers,” said Brian.

One woman says her husband helped out with the cleanup and built cabinets.

“Cause I work, and he’s retired. And it didn’t take really anything for him to come down and help. That was just something he was going to do, and he knew how upset everyone was in the community,” said Robin Litke, of Oxford.

On Saturday, shoppers burst through the doors, ecstatic to see the lights back on.

“Being here all fresh and clean and new is wonderful,” said Cathie Couture, of East Haddam.

The storm wiped out one of the walls. Everything – the floor, shelves, and fabrics – was covered in mud. So much had to be replaced, but one thing that survived was a quilt.

“Every single block that we were given is in there, I made a sure of it,” said Cheryl.

Ogrisek made this quilt with her neighbors during the pandemic.

Now, it hangs high on the wall, serving as a reminder of what can happen when a community, much like the patches of a quilt, come together.

“It’s our community, it’s just the world we live in,” said Cheryl.

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Connecticut

Multiple cars involved in crash on I-84 in Hartford

Published

2 hours ago

March 4, 2026

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Multiple cars involved in crash on I-84 in Hartford

A multi-vehicle crash temporarily close Interstate 84 on Tuesday night.

The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. and involved four cars, according to the Hartford Fire Department.

Fire crews arrived at the scene and helped one of the drivers who was trapped. The driver was then taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Four other people reported minor injuries but declined ambulance treatment at the scene, officials said.

I-84 East was temporarily shut down as crews responded but has since reopened.

The Connecticut State Police is investigating the crash.

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Connecticut

Sleet, freezing rain leading to treacherous travel in parts of Connecticut

Published

14 hours ago

March 3, 2026

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Sleet, freezing rain leading to treacherous travel in parts of Connecticut

As the snow turns to sleet and freezing rain in parts of the state this afternoon, it is causing some treacherous travel on Connecticut roads.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is reporting several crashes.

There are crashes on both sides of Interstate 691 in Meriden.

A tractor-trailer jackknifed on the eastbound side of I-691 between Exit 5 and 3, closing the left lane. On the westbound side, a single-vehicle crash closed the left lane.

There is a two-vehicle crash on I-91 North in Middletown between Exits 20 and 21. The left and center lanes are closed.

A multi-vehicle crash has closed lanes of I-84 East in Waterbury between Exits 25 and 25A. There is a second crash on I-84 East in Southington near Exit 30.

In Cromwell, a two-vehicle crash closed the right lane of Route 9 North in Cromwell.

On Route 9 South, a crash closed a lane on the southbound side.

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Connecticut

The Great Westport Sandwich Contest kicks off with event at Old Mill Grocery

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

The Great Westport Sandwich Contest kicks off with event at Old Mill Grocery

People in Westport have the chance to pick the best thing between sliced bread.

The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce held a kick-off event at Old Mill Grocery on Monday for The Great Westport Sandwich Contest.

The contest runs throughout March with 21 restaurants, delis and markets competing in 10 categories to be crowned the best sandwich maker.

Residents can vote in the following categories: Best chicken, best steak, best vegetarian, best combo, best club, best NY deli, best pressed sandwich, best breakfast sandwich, best wrap, and best fish/seafood sandwich.

After people sample sandwiches, they can vote for their favorites in each category on the chamber’s website. They will also be placed into a drawing to win a free sandwich from one of the 10 winners.

“Of course, the goal is to have people come to Westport and check out restaurants, our markets and our delis. This is a great promotion. I mean it is a competition, but mostly it’s to bring people to the restaurants. It also gives a great community activity because they are the ones who get to vote who makes the best one,” says Matthew Mandell, the chamber’s executive director.

Winners will be announced in April and receive a plaque.

The chamber has held similar contests to determine what establishment has the best pizza, burger, soup and salad.

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