Connecticut

Connecticut Fire Academy graduates 28 cadets in intro to fire course

Published

6 months ago

June 29, 2025

Connecticut Fire Academy graduates 28 cadets in intro to fire course

On Saturday, the Connecticut Fire Academy celebrated its latest group of 28 cadets who’ve completed the introduction to fire service program.

The week-long course trains teenagers across the state between the ages of 14-17 years old on how to become successful firefighters.

There are two separate introductory weeks along with a third week focused on advanced training, but cadets must first complete the introductory course, according to P.J Norwood, Director of Training at the Connecticut Fire Academy.

“It’s a full week camp where we introduce them to skills, tactics and training within the Connecticut Fire Service and we bring these cadets from all across the state and we group them together and we build one big team,” Norwood said.

The academy has been conducting training for decades.

Norwood added as it becomes more difficult to find qualified individuals, it’s these types of opportunities that prepare cadets to build a career in firefighting.

“This opportunity allows them to learn what the fire service is about, learn quality fire service, public safety and life skills and get them engaged in the fire service. The majority of our cadets will go on to be successful volunteer firefighters, career firefighters or public safety professionals.”

Timothy Shove, 15, of Clinton was one of the 28 cadets who successfully completed the introductory training course.

“I learned mostly how to search and how to use a radio, I didn’t know how to use a radio. I also learned how to raise a ladder, a bunch of stuff and it was very important to me.”

Shove said for him it was a great experience and looks forward to one day becoming a firefighter.

Cadets put out a fire to celebrate the end introduction to fire service course at the Connecticut Fire Academy on June 28, 2025.

“My dad’s my inspiration right here and it’s just really something I enjoy,” Shove said.

Michael Shove, Assistant Chief at Guilford Fire Department, expressed pride at his son following in his footsteps.

“Watching when we dropped him off on Sunday to where he is today and watching all the cadets out here actually go through a full fire evolution is amazing.”

To celebrate the end of the course, cadets demonstrated an emergency fire scenario to family and friends.

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Connecticut

Central Connecticut State hands Bearcats second straight loss

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Central Connecticut State hands Bearcats second straight loss

VESTAL, NY (WBNG) — In a second straight doubleheader Saturday following up a Bearcats women’s win, the Bearcats men’s team dropped their second consecutive home game, 84-67 to Central Connecticut State.

In a closely contested matchup early on, the Bearcats stayed in it heading into the break only trailing by seven points.

In the second half, Binghamton brought it to within four points before the Blue Devils pulled away once again and went on an 11-0 run and went up by as much as 20 points.

Darin Smith Jr. finished with a game high, 23 points for the Blue Devils.

The Bearcats were without center, Demetrius Lilley which led to junior forward, Zyier Beverly, having an increased role.

Beverly led Binghamton with 21 points and five rebounds.

After back-to-back losses at home, the Bearcats now go on the road for a three game road stretch starting on Wednesday, Dec. 17 against Pittsburgh at 7p.m.

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Connecticut

Watch New Canaan vs. Cheshire in Connecticut Class L football championship: Live stream

Published

15 hours ago

December 13, 2025

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Watch New Canaan vs. Cheshire in Connecticut Class L football championship: Live stream

New Canaan faces Cheshire in the 2025 Connecticut high school Class L football state championship on Saturday afternoon.

The game begins at 4 p.m. EST on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Veterans Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.

The game will stream live on the NFHS Network.

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What: Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Class L football championship

Who: New Canaan vs. Cheshire

When: Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025

Where: Veterans Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut

Time: 4 p.m. EST

Stream: NFHS Network

Tickets: $11,50

Record, MaxPrep state rankings: New Canaan 12-0, No. 1; Cheshire 9-3, No. 11

Here’s more information about the game from the Hartford Courant, via the Tribune News Service:

New Canaan is going for its 16th state title and fourth straight under veteran coach Lou Marinelli and New Canaan outscored its playoff opponents, 85-13. Cheshire’s last finals appearance was 2009, when coach Don Drust was an assistant for the Rams’ team, which beat Staples in overtime to win a Class LL title. Cheshire rallied from a 19-point deficit against Fairfield Ludlowe to win the Class L quarterfinal game and beat Ridgefield 21-0 in the semifinals. QB Aiden Gregorich’s pass to Liam Suomala proved to be the game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds left in the quarterfinal.

What is the NFHS Network?

The NFHS Network covers more than 30 sports across the country. NFHS Network costs $13.99 per month or $79.99 per year.

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Connecticut

Could mini-liquor bottles be banned in Connecticut?

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Could mini-liquor bottles be banned in Connecticut?

Have you still seen a lot of mini-liquor bottles, littering the streets in Connecticut?

Members of one environmental group said they still see them, and believe a ban is the best way to solve a multi-tiered problem.

State data shows in the past 12 months, ending September 30, there were more than 93 million mini-liquor bottles sold in our state.

The group supporting local bans says it’s not just the litter, but also the fact mini-liquor bottles are easy to conceal and consume on the job, in the car, or at school.

The group “Connecticut Towns Nixing the Nip” met this week, working on strategies to get a legislative hearing on the issue in the upcoming 2026 session.

Right now, stores collect a 5-cent surcharge for every mini-liquor bottle sold, resulting in about $5 million annually for town and city environmental cleanup efforts.

Town funding from nip sales

Average revenue per year 2021 to 2025.

“Having talked to a number of towns, well a few towns, they like the money, said Tom Metzner, a member of the group. “It’s fairly broad in how it can be used. It’s environmental. It doesn’t have to be used for cleaning up nips. And so the towns have become somewhat silent on the issue of banning nips.”

The group cited Chelsea, Massachusetts, where minis are banned, both litter and alcohol related EMS calls decreased.

The Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut, which devised the “nickel per nip” program, said banning the mini-liquor bottles would be unprecedented.

Instead, it said the environmental group should be challenging municipalities to prove they actually use the money for cleanup.

Legislative leaders suggested several years ago the way to really do this is to have a redemption program for mini liquor bottles, and now, that could be possible.

At least one state with the Clynk bottle collection program has redeemed mini-liquor bottles for cash.

The company just announced a major expansion in our state, but it told us it is not aware of a redemption program for mini-liquor bottles here any time soon.

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