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Connecticut
How a CT town and its first responders are rallying to help a boy with ‘a million dollar smile’
There is nothing but love behind Gavin Anderson’s big smile.
And now, the East Windsor community is rallying around the 10-year-old and his family with an equal amount of love.
The family is Kate and Colin Anderson and their three children, including Gavin and his twin brother, Spencer, and their 12-year-old sister, Bailey.
Gavin has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is non-mobile and non-verbal and the Anderson home needs major — and very expensive — renovations to make the house more comfortable for him, his family said. East Windsor’s two firehouses, Police Department and the town’s EMS department learned of the need and have joined forces for “Gavin’s Home Makeover Pasta Dinner” benefit to be held at the Warehouse Point Fire Department on Sunday, April 28, at 89 Bridge St.
Among the renovations needed at the Anderson home are: ramps on the front and back of the home so Gavin can easily and safely enter/exit the house in addition to having more than one exit in case of an emergency; creating an ADA compliant bathroom and installing a lift/track system to move him from what will become his bedroom to the bathroom; creating a space in the kitchen for him to play and explore, as well as room to store Gavin’s equipment, including a gate trainer for walking and his wheelchair.
“We’ve had three or four different quotes that are all over $100,000 to do everything we need,” Kate Anderson said.
The Anderson’s broke ground in September on the renovations and they have been ongoing. Anderson said that, even with donations, the family will still likely owe between $80,000 and $85,000. She’s hoping all work will be done by the end of the summer.
Workers are customizing an island in the kitchen for Gavin to sit with his gate trainer or wheelchair to wash his hands at the sink or do arts and crafts.
“The current kitchen is being gutted and will become the bathroom,” Anderson said. “Doors are being widened and all the wood is coming out and being replaced with tile.
“The most expensive part is pulling down the ceiling to reinforce a lift to move Gavin from the bedroom to the bathroom, so we don’t have to carry him. The lift will be helpful as he gets bigger,” she said. “The lift is a game changer for us. We still have to do the front and back ramp, so he has multiple ways of getting into the house.”
Phase II of the improvements includes making the house “smart” to sync him up with Alexa or Google Home.
“He will be able to interact and control his own environment,” Anderson said. “He can turn off or on the TV or turn the lights on or off. Right now, he has to wait for one of us to do that.”
Anderson said Gavin loves to float around in the family pool and loves bubbles, music, playing with friends and family arts and crafts and going on walks with the family’s two dogs. Gavin also has a tricycle.
Kate Anderson said the support from the town has been amazing.
“They are being superheroes in different ways now,” Anderson said. “It’s been amazing to get our town and surrounding towns and businesses to rally around Gavin and this renovation – which is extremely expensive with time and materials.”
“This pasta dinner helps so much, and you won’t understand it unless you are in this situation,” Anderson said. “When you are purchasing a home, it doesn’t come with wheelchair accessibility. There wasn’t a home out there that met everything we needed for every person in the family. Having a fundraiser like this raises awareness.”
The mom said Gavin “is well loved by everyone who knows him.”
“He has a million dollar smile that lights up a room every time he enters,” Kate Anderson said. “He gets to be included in a lot of things. A lot of kids out there aren’t included for one reason or another. We are hoping to bring general awareness.”
Anderson said Gavin’s siblings are protective of their brother and keep him included in whatever they do.
“They make sure kids that aren’t as familiar with Gavin or someone with a wheelchair and bring them over to introduce him to other kids,” Anderson said. “They are trying to teach other kids and that he is another kid and will respond to you. They are very much supporters and cheerleaders for him as well.”
Kate Anderson said she wants everyone in the community to come out and meet Gavin.
“Part of it is awareness. The other part of it is when we go out there is a lot of staring. He’s not an anomaly. He’s a happy kid and loves to be around people. Just because he doesn’t talk. It doesn’t mean there isn’t someone in there that will respond. We want to make sure people will come,” Anderson said.
“When he sees the firefighters, he wants to jump out of his chair,” she added. “He smiles and makes noises and is very interactive when they all come see him. You never have to guess what he’s feeling because he’s so expressive.”
East Windsor’s Sofia’s Restaurant is donating pasta and sauce for the event. East Windsor’s Pickle Jar Deli is providing meatballs. These are two of the 27 sponsors for the event. There will also be raffle prizes.
Jill Caron, the administrative assistant at the Warehouse Point Fire District, said the organizing process started in January when first responders met with Gavin and his family.
“He’s the happiest little boy you will meet,” Caron said. “The support has been overwhelming both inside and outside of East Windsor.”
Warehouse Point firefighter Heather Mitchell said it’s exciting that all four first responder agencies in town are coming together for a cause.
“We are using our firehouse and pulling out the fire trucks and we are used to putting on large events,” Mitchell said. “So many businesses in town have stepped up and we are very lucky. We are lucky to be in East Windsor. Everyone is working together to make this a success for the Anderson family.”
Caron said the goal is to raise $15,000 and said there will be a touch-a-truck with ambulances, police and fire vehicles outside of the Warehouse Point station.
“So many people are already giving,” Caron said. “We got handed a $500 check from Broad Brook Fire Department. All four of the East Windsor first responder organizations provided $500 apiece as well. So many people are pulling up not only to buy tickets but to give donations. The past couple of weeks we’ve had so many people pop in.”
The Andersons will be at all three separate dinner seatings on Sunday. Each seating can hold 100-125 people and will include pasta, salad, meatballs, rolls and dessert. The first wave is from noon to 2:30 p.m., the second is 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and the last wave is 5 to 7 p.m. Takeout is also available. Tickets are $20 each.
Walk-ins are welcome. About 200 seats of the 560 total available were sold as of Wednesday afternoon. No one will be turned away. To buy tickets in advance, visit https://www.whpfd.org/.
Luxury Homes
Kathie Lee Gifford and her late husband, football legend Frank Gifford, purchased the house in 1994.
Former “Today” show host Kathie Lee Gifford is selling her sprawling 13,163-square-foot Connecticut home. The asking price? $100,000,000.
Dubbed “Cedar Cliff,” the Greenwich estate at 108 Cedar Cliff in the Riverside section of town, was once owned by railroad tycoon Henry F. Shoemaker. Kathie Lee Gifford and her late husband, football legend Frank Gifford, purchased the house in 1994 for $7.8 million . The 13,163-square-foot, 29-room estate has eight bedrooms and 14 bathrooms (nine full, five half).
“They added a substantial addition to the house to make it work for their lifestyle,” listing agent Leslie McElwreath of Sotheby’s International Realty said. That addition is the east wing of the house, constructed in the early 2000s, which includes a private theater and wine cellar.
The eight bedrooms are similarly sized and have views of Greenwich Cove. The primary bedroom and two guest bedrooms have a balcony as well. The estate has a greenhouse, a screened porch, a sun room, a tennis court, and a billiards room currently containing Frank Gifford memorabilia. There are 10 fireplaces throughout the house.
Within the 2.91-acre gated peninsula is a spa, pool, and pool house.
McElwreath said “empty nester” Gifford is selling the property because “her children are grown and are married with their own children. Kathie Lee spends most of her time in Tennessee and is no longer using the house full-time.”
The house has a recently installed Ludowici terra cotta roof, sun decks that have been rebuilt, and there is access to a full-property generator as well as a private beach.
McElwreath said there are additional aspects that make this property worth the monstrous price tag.
“The setting is extraordinary. Elevated high above the water with over 1,250 feet of frontage, the property offers the rare combination of commanding panoramic views and direct waterfront access via a private pier and deep water dock,” she said.
McElwreath said the kind of buyer looking at this property is attracted to Greenwich for its high quality of life and proximity to Midtown Manhattan.
”High net-worth buyers do not compromise. They seek exceptional properties in prime locations. Cedar Cliff is a one-of-a-kind opportunity and will attract buyers looking for privacy and resort-like amenities,” McElwreath said.
The task of selling the estate was entrusted to McElwreath by Gifford after McElwreath represented the seller of Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich, which sold for just under $139,000,000 in 2023.
“[Copper Beach] is still the highest sale ever in Greenwich and the state of Connecticut. I plan to use the full resources of Sotheby’s International Realty to find the buyer for Cedar Cliff,” McElwreath said. “I also represented the seller of 100 Field Point Circle, the second highest sale in Greenwich at $50 million. My proven track record, combined with the marketing expertise of Sotheby’s, will prove to be a winning combination.”
Connecticut
Hailey Van Lith waived by Connecticut Sun after just nine games, marking second cut in under a month
Hailey Van Lith’s rocky WNBA start took another unexpected turn Thursday.
The Connecticut Sun waived Van Lith after just nine games with the team, including three starts.
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 25: Hailey Van Lith #2 of the Chicago Sky high five during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on August 25, 2025 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images))
TCU’s Hailey Van Lith poses before the WNBA basketball draft in New York on April 14, 2025. (Pamela Smith/AP)
Van Lith was once one of college basketball’s brightest stars at Louisville, but her path has become increasingly turbulent in recent years. After a disappointing stint at LSU stalled her momentum, Van Lith revived her draft stock with a standout final season at TCU.
CHICAGO SKY WAIVE HAILEY VAN LITH ONE YEAR AFTER SELECTING HER WITH THE 11TH OVERALL PICK
The former NIL standout was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She struggled to establish herself as a rookie, averaging 3.5 points and 1.6 assists in 12.4 minutes per game across 29 appearances before Chicago waived her on May 4.
Hailey Van Lith’s brief stint with the Connecticut Sun ended Thursday after the franchise waived the former first-round pick. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images) ((Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images))
Hailey van Lith drives past opponents during the women’s 3×3 basketball bronze medal game between the United States and Canada at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
TCU’s Hailey Van Lith jogs onto the court during introductions before the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Louisville in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 23, 2025. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)
Van Lith also helped Team USA win a bronze medal in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Connecticut quickly gave Van Lith a second chance, but the reunion lasted just over two weeks.
“The Connecticut Sun has activated Leïla Lacan,” the team announced on X. “In a corresponding move, Hailey Van Lith has been waived.”
EX-WNBA STAR CRITICAL OF SKY ROOKIE HAILEY VAN LITH, BELIEVES POPULARITY PLAYED ROLE IN DRAFT SELECTION
The move comes as Lacan — the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft — returns after averaging 10.4 points and 3.7 assists with Connecticut last season.
Van Lith appeared in Wednesday’s 71-61 loss to Portland, finishing with seven points, no assists and two turnovers in 13 minutes.
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Van Lith averaged 8.1 points and 2.2 assists in nine appearances with Connecticut before Thursday’s move, marking her second waiver in less than a month.
The Connecticut Sun waived Hailey Van Lith on Thursday, ending the former college star’s nine-game stint with the franchise. ((Photo by Mollie Handkins/NBAE via Getty Images))
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
The following article was submitted by Brody and Associates, LLC. It is posted here with permission.
The Connecticut legislature passed broad artificial intelligence legislation May 11, 2026 that includes a new framework governing the use of AI in employment-related decisions.
The bill, known as SB 5, is awaiting Gov. Ned Lamont’s signature, which is expected shortly.
Once enacted, Connecticut will join a growing list of jurisdictions that are imposing transparency and accountability requirements on employers that use AI tools in recruiting, hiring, promotion, discipline, scheduling, and termination decisions.
The statute regulates what it calls automated employment-related decision technology.
In general, AEDT refers to technology that processes personal data and generates an output that is a substantial factor in an employment decision.
The definition is broad enough to potentially cover resume-screening software, applicant ranking systems, video-interview analytics, skills assessments, productivity tools, and certain workforce management platforms when those tools materially influence personnel decisions.
What Does the Law Require?
The purpose of the law is to reduce the risk that algorithmic systems will continue or worsen historic discrimination while also giving applicants and employees more visibility into how these systems are used.
One of the most important features of the new law is its notice requirement.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2027, employers that deploy AEDT intended to interact with applicants or employees must disclose, in plain language, that the individual is interacting with such technology unless it would be obvious to a reasonable person.
When the tool’s output will be used as a substantial factor in making an employment-related decision, the employer must also provide a written notice before the decision is made.
The law does include protection for proprietary or trade secret information.
Notice must identify the purpose of the tool, the categories and sources of personal data being analyzed, how data will be assessed, and contact information for the employer.
If such employment-related decision is “adverse,” employers must provide a high-level statement disclosing the principal reasons for the decision, including “the degree to which, and manner in which” an AEDP output contributed to the decision, the type of data used, and the right to examine or correct such data.
The law does include protection for proprietary or trade secret information, but employers should not assume that vendor confidentiality excuses them from compliance.
If an employer withholds certain information regarding the AEDP based on a third party’s confidentiality claim, the employer must nevertheless disclose that the information is being withheld and identify the legal basis for the withholding.
As a practical matter, this means employers that rely on outside vendors for screening, testing, or candidate evaluation should begin reviewing vendor contracts now to ensure they can obtain the information needed to satisfy Connecticut’s notice obligations.
Anti-Discrimination and Related Obligations
The law also makes clear employers cannot avoid liability by blaming an algorithm.
Connecticut’s anti-discrimination framework will expressly provide the use of AI or automated systems is not a defense to a discrimination claim.
The employer may still be responsible even if the challenged output came from a third-party platform.
In other words, if an AEDT disproportionately screens out candidates or influences decisions in a way that has an unlawful discriminatory effect, the employer may still be responsible even if the challenged output came from a third-party platform.
This provision reinforces a principle regulators have increasingly emphasized nationwide: employers remain accountable for employment decisions, whether those decisions are made by people, software, or a combination of both.
What Employers Should Do Now
For employers, the immediate takeaway is AI governance can no longer be treated as an IT issue.
Human resources, legal, compliance, and procurement teams should collaborate to identify all tools used in recruiting or personnel management, assess whether those tools materially affect employment decisions, and determine what disclosures this new law may require.
Even companies that already use AI responsibly may need to formalize review procedures.
Employers should also assess whether internal policies, vendor agreements, and recordkeeping practices are sufficient to support compliance.
Even companies that already use AI responsibly may need to formalize review procedures, conduct bias testing, and create documentation explaining how automated outputs are considered by human decision-makers.
Connecticut’s new law reflects a broader regulatory trend: employers may continue using AI, but they must do so transparently, carefully, and with meaningful human accountability.
About the authors: Robert Brody is managing partner at Brody and Associates, LLC, which he founded in 1997. Matthew Chiota is a law clerk at Brody and Associates, awaiting admission to the Connecticut and New York Bar associations. Contact them at [email protected] or 203.454.0560.
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