Issues. People. Events. Waterbury Connecticut's Independent Newspaper
(Editor's Note - the following comments were made by Waterbury Police Chief Fred Spagnolo (pictured above) after he was sworn into office by Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary on December 13th in a ceremony on the stage of the Palace Theater in downtown Waterbury. The photographs of Chief Spagnolo were taken by Jennifer Rose)
Thank you. These are my three beautiful children. Kids what is dad’s favorite number? 15. Dad is changing that and my new favorite number is 22, because I am now the 22nd police chief of the great city of Waterbury.
I started my career in 1992 at the Waterbury Police Department. It was all new to me as I did not come from a family of law enforcement or public service. My family is of Irish and Italian decent and immigrated to this country during my generation. I grew up learning to be acceptant and respectful of others and their traditions.
After a swearing in ceremony last night on the Palace Theater stage, Fernando Spagnolo Jr. is now officially police chief in the City of Waterbury. Photograph by Jennifer Rose
Ilmika Kulla Will Display Her Paintings December 6th
Ilmika Kulla describes her work as impressionist.
Story By John Murray
Ilmika Kulla is obsessed with painting glamour, particularly Hollywood stars from the 1950s and 1960s: Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando among them. “Our icons today don’t have the same elegance and style,” Kulla said. “I’m fascinated by old Hollywood.”
But don’t try and pigeonhole this young artist, because Kulla will surprise you with paintings of singer Freddie Mercury, Muhammad Ali, Gandhi, Michael Jackson, Kim Kardashian, JFK, Buddha and Barack Obama.
Alex Ward and his father, Derek Ward Sr.. Photo by John Torsiello
Story By John Torsiello
There was one football moment that Derek Ward, Sr. just had to make sure he captured on camera it was when his son, Alex, then a sophomore, scored his first touchdown for Holy Cross High School. Alex would never forgive his father if he didn’t have that special score to save for posterity.
“Alex was playing tight end and I was following him down the field, he caught the pass and scored,” said the elder Ward, while sitting outside Holy Cross on a cool autumn afternoon. “I caught him raising his arms after he scored and that has to be my favorite photo that I ever took.” Said the younger Ward, “I was wondering if he got that shot.”
First Black Woman Elected To Congress From CT
Photographs By John Murray
Jahana Hayes made an emotional entrance into a crowded ballroom filled with soul music and anticipation. With last night's victory Hayes has made an extraordinary leap from the Berkeley Heights Project in the North End of Waterbury, to the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, to the halls of the United States Congress. Jahana's improbable and fantastic journey captured national attention as very few members of Congress have ever experienced poverty the way Hayes has. Last night she carved her name into history as the first African-American woman to represent Connecticut in Congress, "I'm a history teacher making history," she said.
Democrat Candidate Tours Waterbury In 1957 Convertible
Before climbing into the 1957 Chevy convertible, Lamont visited Waterbury City Hall to pay his respects to Sam Beamon, whose body was lying in state in Veterans Hall. Pictured here the motorcade cruised past the Anamet Building in the South End of Waterbury.
Story and Photographs By John Murray
Ned Lamont took a grand tour of Waterbury on Sunday afternoon as he cruised through the streets in a black 1957 Chevy Convertible waving to residents while clutching a small American flag. Lamont is Connecticut's Democrat Party candidate for Governor and he was invited to lead a motorcade through the city by State Representative Geraldo Reyes Jr.
To Help Save Waterbury's Historic Buildings
State Senator Joan Hartley listened to Brad Schide from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation explain the demo delay ordinance. Hartley said having a conversation about historic buildings was important and the city should have a process in place to facilitate that discussion on a case by case basis.
Story and Photographs By John Murray
A group of concerned citizens met tonight with representatives from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation inside the Silas Bronson Library to discuss ways to protect Waterbury's historic buildings from demolition. Wide spread community outrage erupted last month when the Immaculate Conception Church began demolishing the 140-year-old Trinity Episcopal Church to make way for a parking lot.
Two Popular Aldermen Tangle In State's 73rd District Race
Democrat Ron Napoli Jr, left, and Republican Steve Giacomi
Story and Photographs By John Murray
If you held a crystal ball and peered into Waterbury’s political future it would not be surprising to see a mayoral showdown in the next decade between Republican Steve Giacomi and Democrat Ron Napoli Jr.. They are young, popular and ambitious, and both men were indoctrinated early into the political process as boys visiting their father’s political headquarters.
Political pundits can put down that crystal ball because the showdown is now in the 73rd District as the two men tangle for the right to replace legislator Jeff Berger, who is retiring after serving 18 years in Hartford. At stake is the right to represent the Bunker Hill, Robinwood, Overlook and Waterville neighborhoods in the state legislature, but the results of this contest could reverberate across the political landscape in Waterbury for decades to come.
The Naugatuck Valley Project’s annual MICAH Dinner and Awards’ Evening will
take place this Friday evening, November 2, 2018, 5 pm – 8:30 pm at the Crystal
Room, 98 School Street, in Naugatuck, Connecticut,” said Bonnie Odiorne,
President of the Naugatuck Valley Project. “It is our opportunity, as an
organization, to honor the unsung heroes among us who quietly get things done.”
She continued, “This year we will be awarding fourteen individuals with our MICAH
Award. Each award winner is a very special person within their member
organization and to the Naugatuck Valley Project. A list of all Honorees and their
Presenter at the MICAH Dinner is printed below.”
Waterbury Faith Leaders Rally To Support Jewish Community In Wake Of Pittsburgh Murders
Rabbi Aharon Kaufman of Rosh Yeshiva listened to the speakers inside City Hall.
Story and Photographs By John Murray
Fahd Syed is a local Muslim activist and a member of the Waterbury Human Rights Commission. When President Donald Trump announced plans in 2017 to ban Muslims from seven countries from entering the United States, Syed felt a warm embrace from the local Jewish community. The show of support from Jewish leaders and other leaders of faith helped Syed and the local Muslim community through a difficult time. After the murder of 11 Jews in the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Syed felt compelled to organize a rally of support for his Jewish brothers and sisters in Greater Waterbury.
On January 2nd, 2018 the Waterbury Police Department began investigating a shooting incident at 300 and 400 Grand Street in downtown Waterbury. It was determined that the incident occurred between two known street gangs from Waterbury. The ATM street gang which has been having ongoing issues with another street gang known as 960. The issues include numerous incidents involving firearms and incidents in which several people have been shot and even killed. The Waterbury Police Gang Task Force has been actively investigating these two gangs and have established an extensive list of known members.
From left to right: Jessica, Haley and Ashley Romaniello.
Talk about family transitions........
The Romaniello triplets from Waterbury moved into their dorms yesterday afternoon at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y.
After attending the same private school through eighth grade, the young women each selected a different high school – and all of them were in the top 10 of their respective classes. On Sunday, their parents, Glorie and Todd, helped to move them into their shared room in the Mount’s Sakac Hall.
Did Party Insiders Torpedo Jahana Hayes At Convention?
Hayes is challenging Mary Glassman in a Democrat primary Tuesday, August 14th.
Story and Photographs
By John Murray
In the current political climate favoring outsiders, there are new allegations that Jahana Hayes’ attempt to win an historic Democrat Party endorsement to Congress this Spring was upended by an inside game.
Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary has accused two influential Democrat Party leaders of blackballing Jahana Hayes at the 5th Congressional District convention in May. The charges were leveled this week at Tom McDonough who ran the convention, and at Wolcott Democrat town chairman Antony Casagrande.
Gloria Garcia has issued an open invitation for anyone interested to participate in a balloon release this Saturday afternoon in Fulton Park to honor and remember victims of homicide. The event will take place from 4-5 pm on Cooke Street across from Park Pizza in Waterbury. Balloons will be provided if needed.
Brass City Brew & ‘Que Saturday, September 8, 12:00 to 5:00 PM, Library Park at 267 Grand Street in Waterbury, rain or shine. The fundraiser event will feature 125+ breweries and brewpubs, 250+ domestic and international brews, live music, barbeque food vendors, pit master competitions, craft beer and barbeque seminars, home brewers competition, and much more. Presented by Main Street Waterbury, hosted by Nutmeg Fine Wines & Spirits and sponsored by Blasius Chevrolet.
Closures of Riverside and Route 8 N Exits 30 and 32 start 8/20/18
Police Force Back At Full Strength
By John Murray
With the addition of 33 new police officers the Waterbury Police Department now has 300 officers, a level that residents haven't seen since 2008.
"This is a really big deal," Waterbury Police Chief Fred Spagnolo said.
A suspected arson fire tore through the abandoned Ansonia Copper & Brass Factory on Bank Street in Waterbury Monday night and the fire is still smoldering this morning, The factory is located right next to the First Light electrical power station. Photograph by Clay Johnson
