Connecticut
Military veterans among 43 graduates from Connecticut Fire Academy
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.”
NEW CANAAN, Conn. — An elderly driver was rescued from his vehicle after he accidentally crashed into a swimming pool in on Tuesday.
It happened just after 10:30 a.m. at the Steve Benko Pool at Waveny Park in New Canaan, Connecticut.
The Tesla plowed through a fence and set of trees before plunging into the water. Police say he was trying to park at the time.
The community pool was closed when it happened, so no one was swimming or in the path of the vehicle.
Lifeguards and first responders entered the pool to help the driver out of the vehicle.
Lifeguard Mike D’Urso, 18, described what happened.
“Me and my coworker were setting up the umbrellas when we heard a loud crash and we turned around and there was a car right in the middle of the pool,” D’Urso said.
D’Urso said the man was conscious and alert, but the vehicle began to take on water.
“The car began to sink a couple minutes in, and my concern was that the water would rise above his head and wouldn’t be able to breathe,” D’Urso said.
D’Urso and EMS workers pulled the victim out through the passenger side window. The driver said he wasn’t injured, but he was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
The pool will have to be drained, cleaned and refilled. Officials hope to have it reopened by the weekend.
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One person is dead after a double shooting in Hartford, police said.
ShotSpotter notified police of shots fired around 7 p.m. on Magnolia Street.
When officers got to the scene, they found a woman unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a vehicle.
Police identified the victim as 46-year-old Diana Tirado of New Britain. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
There was another woman in her 30s with a gunshot wound on the sidewalk. She was taken to the hospital, where she is listed in stable condition. Her identity has not been released.
Police have not identified a suspect at this time.
More than 200 people gathered May 28 in Norwalk for a night of food and entertainment supporting Connecticut Foodshare’s mission to fight food insecurity.
The second annual Taste of SoNo brought together local restaurants, business leaders, community partners, volunteers, donors, and supporters to celebrate Fairfield County’s vibrant culinary community.
The event took place in The Magnificent Room at the SoNo Collection.
Guests sampled offerings from more than a dozen local restaurants, distilleries, breweries, and other exhibitors.
They also learned more about Connecticut Foodshare’s work through its network of community partners, mobile pantries, and other hunger-relief programs.
Community Impact
The evening featured live music and a silent auction with dining, music, and sports experiences, along with artwork and sports memorabilia.
“We are extremely thankful to everyone who attended and supported Connecticut Foodshare through this event,” said Connecticut Foodshare president and CEO Jason Jakubowski.
“The generosity of our restaurant partners, sponsors, volunteers, and guests helps us continue our mission.”
Connecticut Foodshare’s Jason Jakubowski
“The generosity of our restaurant partners, sponsors, volunteers, and guests helps us continue our mission to end hunger in Connecticut and ensure that families facing food insecurity have access to the nutritious food they need.”
Connecticut Foodshare hosted the event for the second year and has already started planning next year’s Taste of SoNo.
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