Connecticut
The 2024 Fiddlehead Foraging Season is Here in Connecticut
Have you ever eaten a fiddlehead? It’s a baby fern, some say it tastes like asparagus or broccoli. It’s an earthy, deep-forest, furled green that’s sure to freak out the kid expecting corn. It’s finally getting warm enough to forage, but I heard a troubling rumor about out of state foragers coming into Connecticut.
While I was out walking my dog along the Naugatuck River, I bumped into a young couple from Harwinton who were out looking for any fiddleheads that escaped view. From what they told me, Connecticut is rife with foragers from Boston, who illegally wipe out fields of our fiddleheads to sell to the Northern New Englanders. Eastern Connecticut, East of the Connecticut River near East Hampton is where they used to try to find a few bags in previous seasons, but post-pandemic they’ve had greater success in Litchfield County near Burlington and Nassahegon State Forest.
Can you forage for fiddleheads in Connecticut? Why yes, but like everywhere else in this world, make sure it’s public, not private property, or ask permission. Here’s a few tips on foraging fiddleheads from CBC Life
According to Outdoorapothecary.com, the Ostrich Fern is most common found here, and each plant should have 5-7 fronds growing near the base. Fiddleheads prefer cool weather, like we’ve had so far in Connecticut 2024, and you’ll find them in deep, rich soil on wet, swampy grounds near stream, creeks and the Naugatuck, Housatonic, and Connecticut River. Most importantly, forage responsibly, never take more than what you need.
Five Connecticut Grocery Stores Serving Superior Prepared Meals
Most supermarkets and grocery stores serve prepared foods, some have pizza ovens, sushi bars, even their own coffeehouse. When I don’t feel like cooking, these are the five grocery stores around here that I feel make superior to-go meals
Gallery Credit: Google
Connecticut’s Best Italian Restaurants According to Customer Rankings
20 Connecticut Towns if They Were Cartoon Characters
What if Connecticut’s towns and cities were cartoon characters? I began pondering this concept, and soon it became a nagging thought that refused to go away. I had one idea, followed by another and then a full list that is sure to upset a bunch of people.
If I left out your town, you’re (probably) welcome!
Gallery Credit: Lou Milano
Connecticut
New businesses heading to West Haven’s shoreline
New businesses are soon set to replace old, rundown buildings in West Haven.
By the end of the summer, the former Savin Rock conference center is slated to become the Kelsey, a restaurant and banquet facility.
Crews are currently working on the inside, according to Mayor Dorinda Borer.
Next door, Jimmies of Savin Rock sits empty after it closed last month. It was open for a hundred years and is now for sale.
Borer said it’s another opportunity to draw people to the city.
“When there are new developers in town, and they’re making things all bright and shiny, that makes people attracted to our city,” Borer said. “It just seems like everything’s starting to bust loose at once. It’s a lot of work behind the scenes, and then it all starts to come to fruition.”
Thirty new luxury apartments are set to replace the Debonair Beach Motel that fell into disrepair after its last day open more than a decade ago. Demolition began last fall, and it’s expected to continue in March.
Down the street, new condos were built by the same owner of the restaurant and bar Riva. They opened their doors last summer, welcoming eager crowds.
“The turnout’s been unbelievable,” Riva’s owner, Michael Delvecchio, said. “People traveling from other states, New York, Rhode Island, all over Connecticut. It’s something that West Haven been dying for.”
Riva replaced Chick’s Drive-In, a West Haven hot-dog and seafood staple that closed in 2015 after its owner passed away.
Delvecchio doesn’t ignore that history. A sign that says “The Lodge at Riva” will be removed and replaced with “Chick’s” during the summer, with accompanying pictures of Savin Rock amusement park on the walls.
“Everybody in town has been, with all this shoreline and all this beach, waiting for something to happen,” he said. “Riva’s a little bit of everything.”
Connecticut
State opens investigation into former New Haven police chief amid stolen money allegations
Connecticut State Police and the Chief State’s Attorney have opened an investigation into former New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobsen and allegations that he misused public funds.
The City of New Haven reported the allegations to State’s Attorney John Doyle on Monday.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Monday Jacobson admitted to stealing money from a fund used by the New Haven Police Department to pay for an support its confidential informant program.
Several officers flagged irregularities in the account and notified the three assistant chiefs in the department, according to Elicker. It was then that the assistant chiefs confronted Jacobson on Monday morning.
Elicker said after being confronted, Jacobson admitted to taking the funds. The assistant chiefs then notified Chief Administrative Officer Justin McCarthy, who then notified Elicker.
Jacobson was called in for a meeting with Elicker, where he was to be placed on administrative leave. Elicker said that before the meeting, Jacobson handed in his paperwork to retire, effective immediately.
The mayor was unable to share additional details on how much money was reportedly taken or for how long due to the ongoing investigation.
Assistant Chief David Zannelli has been appointed as the acting police chief.
State police will conduct the investigation and Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin has appointed New Britain Judicial District State’s Attorney Christian Watson to oversee the investigation to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
Connecticut
Made in Connecticut: Rochambeau Memorial Monument
-
World1 week agoHamas builds new terror regime in Gaza, recruiting teens amid problematic election
-
News1 week agoFor those who help the poor, 2025 goes down as a year of chaos
-
Science1 week agoWe Asked for Environmental Fixes in Your State. You Sent In Thousands.
-
Business1 week agoA tale of two Ralphs — Lauren and the supermarket — shows the reality of a K-shaped economy
-
Detroit, MI4 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Politics1 week agoCommentary: America tried something new in 2025. It’s not going well
-
Politics1 week agoMarjorie Taylor Greene criticizes Trump’s meetings with Zelenskyy, Netanyahu: ‘Can we just do America?’
-
Health1 week agoRecord-breaking flu numbers reported in New York state, sparking warnings from officials