Cars lined down Xavier Street and Washington Street all the way through the intersection of Baldwin Street. The event was scheduled to begin at 11 am and cars began lining up at 8 am. The response was so overwhelming that distribution began an hour early, and in 90 minutes all the boxes were distributed.

Story And Photographs

By John Murray

As the pandemic continues to squeeze America like a python, food shortage is as real a danger to some families as the COVID-19 virus is to others.

In response to the crisis, federal, state and local efforts have collaborated to deliver boxes of food to those in need. Huge lines of cars have waited at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and at Rentschler Field in East Hartford to obtain a box of food.

Locally, the City of Waterbury, PAL, NOW Inc., and three elected officials have sponsored events to deliver boxes of nourishment by tapping into a federally funded Farmers to Families program.

Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center at 855 Lakewood Road, Waterbury, will offer drive-through and walk-up COVID-19 virus testing for Wheeler patients and the general public, weather permitting, starting on August 31, 2020, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 am to 12 noon. No doctor's note or previous visit is needed for this type of testing, and the public is welcome. Symptoms are not required for testing.

Ryan Hendricks at the May 31st protest in Waterbury, Connecticut. Photograph by Terrence Bell

Story By John Murray

   Ryan Hendricks lives in the Walnut area in the North End of Waterbury. A vacant lot separates the Hendricks from the back of a bodega, where drug sales are brisk, and sellers have an easy escape route from police.

   It’s a tough neighborhood with boarded up homes, and opportunity and hope hard to come by. The Hendricks have a fence around their yard and they clean and maintain vacant lots on either side of their property. In the summer the Hendricks organize a block party on Walnut Avenue and they dig into their own pockets to feed 500 people BBQ jerk chicken, and they provide music, water slides and a bouncy house to the neighborhood children.

Lt. Dan Ferrucci helped escort a non-violent protest to honor George Floyd, and launch a local conversation about racial injustice, from the Green to the steps of Waterbury City Hall.

Story By Gabriel Pietrorazio

Photographs By John Murray

   Waterbury was shaken to its core on May 31^st by a series of protests; one sanctioned, and three that were not, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis policeman.

   It all started simply enough with a message on Instagram between two friends 48 hours before the first protest. Jalia West and Alexa Eason, both recent college graduates, wanted to organize a non-violent protest in Waterbury to honor George Floyd, and begin a local conversation about racial injustice.

Father Ronald Ferraro waved to the procession honoring his 60 years in the priesthood.

Father Ronald Ferraro was honored today by the City of Waterbury on the 60th anniversary of his ordination as a Catholic priest. Father Ferraro was the priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on South Main Street in Waterbury, and is still the chaplin for both the Waterbury Police Department and the Waterbury Fire Department. Father Ferraro is currently a resident at the Village at East Farms in Waterbury.

By John Murray

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Connecticut have been clobbered by COVID-19. The latest figures reveal that in the past nine weeks 2400 residents in long-term healthcare facilities in Connecticut have died from the virus.

That number would have been even higher if Connecticut wasn't one of the first states to lock down nursing homes during the pandemic. The no-visitor rule has caused emotional anguish for thousands of families as they are unable to visit loved ones during the crisis.

Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut state parks that feature beaches along the state’s shoreline will be open Friday, May 22, though with capacity limitations. Visitors are advised to follow social distancing guidelines.

Earlier today, Governor Lamont, along with the governors of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, announced a multi-state agreement to open beaches in their respective states effective May 22. Connecticut’s shoreline state park beaches were never closed, and have remained open with capacity restrictions, which will remain in place.

A once in a century pandemic has revealed much about the character of several small businesses in Waterbury. Some price gouged and are now under investigation by the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office. Other’s opened their heart and showed terrific community spirit.

One of the really good ones was Ram’s Clothiers at 579 Wolcott St, Waterbury. Ram’s closed two months ago when non-essential businesses were shut down, but when Governor Ned Lamont ordered residents to wear face masks in public, and they were hard to find, Ram’s began making cloth face masks and distributing them to the community for free. Hundreds of them.

Date & Time of Accident:  April 22, 2020 at 10:27 p.m.

Location of Accident:  Area of 2457 East Main Street                                   

Summary

On April 22, 2020 at 10:27 p.m., the Waterbury Police were dispatched to the area of 2457 East Main Street for reported motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles.