BLOOMFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — Surrounded by family, friends and other first responders, 43 Connecticut Fire Academy graduates were honored as they made the transition into their new careers as firefighters Friday in Bloomfield. 

Each of the graduates, part of Class 76, will be heading to 18 municipal fire departments, including Danbury, East Hartford, Greenwich, Mansfield, Meriden, Middletown and more.

Six of the recruits are part of Hero to Hero, a program that helps members of the military transition into careers as first responders.

Across the nation, fire and police departments are struggling to fill vacancies. Every year, 200,000 service members from all branches of the U.S. military leave active duty. 

Hero to Hero seeks to make the transition as smooth as possible. 

“As my time in the Navy was coming to a close, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Casey Berryman said. “I had no family in the fire service or EMS or anything like that. I was kind of lost. But then I found Hero to Hero.”

Hero to Hero selects participants, gets them into the academy, and into a fire service job. Founded by Chris Shea, a North Haven firefighter and former Navy SEAL, and his wife Anita, Hero to Hero has helped more than 110 veterans all over the country since its inception in 2020.

“Getting out, there can be a lot of uncertainties,” Shea said. “One of the biggest things we do is mentor them.”

 The program also makes sure tuition, insurance, and salaries for the recruits are covered.

“A lot of veterans do struggle,” Liam Chrzanowski, a Marine who will go to work in Westport after graduation, said. “For people who don’t have Hero to Hero it’s pretty difficult. You go through so many interviews with so many departments. This helps you bypass a lot of stuff.”

Local leaders and farmers celebrated the announcement that Easton is the Christmas tree capital of Connecticut.

The announcement was made on Friday, right before the holiday rush kicks in.

Officials say this distinction shines a spotlight on Easton’s agricultural history and the generations of farmers who have helped keep the land productive. They hope the recognition encourages more families to visit local tree farms during the holiday season and the importance to buy local.

Easton leaders say they’re proud of the title and plan to continue promoting the town’s farming community as a key part of its identity and future.

GRANBY, CT — A Granby mother and her three children, who were the subject of a missing persons alert have been found safe, according to an update from Granby police.

Police did not release additional details about where the family was located, but emphasized that all four are safe.

According to a social media post by the department, 43-year-old Abigail Blanchard and her children — Owen, 12; Lydia, 10; and Phoebe, 9 — were located after being last seen in Granby around 8 p.m. on December 2nd.

Investigators said the family may have been traveling in a black 2015 Toyota Sienna, Connecticut registration AV48846.

Police said they were initially concerned for the family’s well-being.

Officers thanked local and regional agencies for their help and expressed appreciation to residents who shared the department’s alert.