With the pews packed, children felt the holiday cheer from inside Eastminster Presbyterian Church. 

It’s a spirit of giving that fills a room for those who’ve had an important part of their lives stolen.

“When my son was murdered, he was a student at Carnegie Mellon University, and he came home on Christmas break and was senselessly murdered,” said Adrienne Young, founder of the non-profit organization Tree of Hope. 

Young’s son, Javon Thompson, was killed, and one month later, his daughter, Tajaya Thompson, was born. That loss propelled Young to start her nonprofit. Now, for the last 26 years, she’s hosted a Christmas event for the children of parents lost to violence.

“It takes a whole village,” Young said. “And it does really take a whole village for these children that are being left behind.”

This annual event creates a moment of grace and giving with food and free toys.

“And we want to make sure that they have a good Christmas,” Young said.

During this year’s event, Tajaya Thompson received a gift from her dad.

“You know about your dad, but what you didn’t know was that he had $2,000 left in his bank account,” Young said. “Throughout the years, we spent way more than that. But we want to present you with the $2,000 that he had left in his account.”

For the Tree of Hope and Young, it’s about proving that when violence takes place, the community gives back. She’s truly shining a light in the darkest times for those who were forever changed by tragedy.

“We’ve had tragedy strike our family quite a few times. But each time, I say that there is something that we can do to make things better,” said Young.

Young said the nonprofit took off due to the help of Carnegie Mellon University and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Now, it continues with the help of state Senator Jay Costa and UPMC.

Gov. Ned Lamont is encouraging Connecticut motorists to avoid travel on state roads during the evening of Friday, Dec. 26.

This advisory comes as a snowstorm is anticipated to impact the state during the evening and overnight hours. Those who must travel are urged to drive cautiously and allow snow removal crews adequate space to clear the roads safely, according to Lamont’s prepared statement.

Forecasts indicate that Connecticut may receive between 6 and 12 inches of snow statewide. The snow is predicted to begin late Friday afternoon and intensify from light to very heavy between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Snowfall rates could exceed 2 inches per hour at times during the evening. The storm is expected to taper off around sunrise on Saturday morning.

Lamont stated that the snow is projected to pick up quickly shortly after sunset on Friday. He added that the snowfall rates could be dangerous for driving. He recommended that anyone needing to travel should leave early and reach their destination before sunset.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has its fleet of 650 snowplows and specialized removal equipment ready for deployment. CTDOT crews are on standby and will remain active until roads are clear of snow and ice, state officials said. Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto confirmed that crews and contractors are prepared to clear roadways and will be out in full force.

Eucalitto also urged drivers to slow down, use caution, and maintain extra space between vehicles if they must travel during the storm. He asked the public to give plow drivers the room needed to work safely and efficiently.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 498 fatal traffic crashes and an estimated 32,213 injury crashes in 2022 under snow or sleet conditions.

CTDOT advises drivers to maintain distance from snowplows, avoid passing them, and allow operators ample space. For general winter driving safety, CTDOT recommends slowing down, keeping a safe distance from other vehicles, using winter tires, and preparing an emergency kit. Drivers should never drive impaired and should check weather and road conditions before traveling via CTroads.org, state officials said.

See CT Weather: Up To 10 Inches Of Snow Accumulation Now Forecast By Saturday

This article includes AI-assisted reporting. Editors reviewed all content for accuracy.

Both Maine Mariners games in Portland scheduled for this weekend have been postponed amid a labor dispute between the hockey league and a players union.

Members of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association announced earlier this week that players in the league were prepared to strike, accusing the ECHL of obstructing collective bargaining with unfair labor practices.

The strike notice became effective Friday, when games were scheduled to continue after a holiday break, according to the association, which represents players in the ECHL, formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League.

The Cross Insurance Arena box office confirmed Friday afternoon that both Friday and Saturday’s games have been postponed and will be rescheduled.

The Mariners were set to play the Worcester Railers on Friday night and the Trois-Rivières Lions on Saturday afternoon.

The ECHL issued a statement Friday, saying the league had made its “last, best and final offer” to the players’ union Thursday. Any future offers by the league “likely will need to account for losses in revenue attributable to missed games from player strike,” the statement read.

The union said in its own statement that it had filed an unfair labor practice charge against the league after several months of bargaining.

“We are asking for basic standards around health, safety and working conditions that allow the players to remain healthy, compete at a high level and build sustainable professional careers,” Brian Ramsay, the executive director of the hockey players’ association, said in the statement Monday. “Our members have never been more united and remain ready to return to the bargaining table at any time.”

The Mariners team social media account shared a statement from the ECHL in posts Friday that accused the union of forcing all players in the league to go on strike.

“This could also result in the postponement or rescheduling of additional games, and we will be in direct communication with our fans and supporters as soon as practicable if that is the case,” the statement read. “But know that we’re working to have a team on the ice for our next regularly scheduled home game.”

A reporter’s efforts to reach Michael Keeley, director of media relations and broadcasting for the Mariners, were unsuccessful Friday afternoon.

As of Friday, the Mariners are 11-8 on the season, with three overtime losses and one shootout loss, good for fifth place out of nine in the Eastern Conference’s North Division and 16th overall in the 30-team league.

The ECHL is the third tier of North American professional hockey, below the NHL and the American Hockey League. Most ECHL teams serve as developmental teams for nearby NHL and AHL teams; the Mariners are affiliated with the Boston Bruins and their AHL team, the Providence Bruins.

This story will be updated.