<p><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">DANBURY, Connecticut — The Senior Portfolio Exhibition, featuring works by 15&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.wcsu.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 61, 166);">Western Connecticut State University</a><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">&nbsp;undergraduate&nbsp;Art majors who are candidates this year for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, will open on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;April 24,</span><strong style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">&nbsp;</strong><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">in The&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.wcsu.edu/art/gallery/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 61, 166);">Gallery</a><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">&nbsp;at the&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.wcsu.edu/svpa/svpa-center.asp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 61, 166);">Visual and Performing Arts Center</a> <span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. A</span><strong style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);"> </strong><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">reception will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 2 to 4 p.m.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">Viewing of the exhibition will be offered at the gallery from&nbsp;Thursday, April 24, through Sunday, May 11.</span><strong style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">&nbsp;</strong><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">Gallery hours will be from noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free to the reception and the exhibition, and the public is invited. An RSVP is requested at&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/visual-amp-performing-arts-center-at-wcsu-6275173871" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">The WCSU Department of Art presents the Senior Portfolio Exhibition as a capstone experience for students pursuing the B.A. or B.F.A. in Art in one of four areas of concentration: graphic design, illustration, photography and studio arts (painting). This year’s exhibition will feature four art majors with a concentration in graphic design, four in illustration, and seven in studio arts. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">The following 2025 B.A. or B.F.A in Art candidates will show selected works:</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">Graphic Design</strong><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">: </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mia Grossman of Medford, New York</span><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Kellie Jackson of New Milford</span><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Kaitlynn Parra of Danbury</span><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">; and </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Christopher Torres of Cheshire.</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">Illustration</strong><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">: </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ian Clifford, Olivia Escalera, </span><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">and </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Angus Wong of Danbury</span><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">; </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Phoebe Fleetwood of Bethel.</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">Studio Art:</strong><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Iloisa Barros-Barbosa of Waterbury; Shanice Brown and Laura Sosa of Danbury; Mia Crawford of Carmel, New&nbsp;York; Carla LaFlamme (B.F.A.) of Meriden; Julia Paddock of Patterson, New York; and Kris Trenck (B.F.A.) of New Milford.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">For more information, contact the Department of Art at (203) 837-8403 or Communications and Marketing at&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:pr@wcsu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 61, 166);">pr@wcsu.edu</a><span style="color: rgb(45, 55, 72);">.</span></p>

<p><strong><em>The event is co-sponsored by Litchfield Crossings and the Town of New Milford to benefit New Milford Youth Sports</em></strong></p><p> It’s food, fabulous food at New Milford’s first annual <strong>Food Truck Festival</strong> on May 4^th from noon to 5:00 pm, co-sponsored by the Town of <strong>New Milford</strong> and <strong>Litchfield Crossings</strong> to benefit the Town’s <strong>Youth Sports.</strong>&nbsp;Sip and savor from a menu of flavors, including lobster rolls, chowder, crepes, barbeque, or maybe a delicious potpourri of dumplings topped off by an array of sweet stuff like cookies and cones. Swing and sway all afternoon to the music provided by <strong>DJ Beth Conkey</strong>.</p><p>In addition to gastronomic offerings,<strong> Petco</strong> will host a special dog food tasting featuring <strong>JustForDogs</strong>, the country’s number #1 Vet recommended frozen dog food. So, bring Fido, he’ll be licking his chops for more.</p><p>For younger attendees, the festival will feature a magical collection of&nbsp;Inflatables courtesy of <strong>SuperFun Inflatables.</strong> While mom and dad are dining, tots, tweens, and teens can whiz down two-lane super slides, run obstacle courses, bounce around, and explore fantasy castles. Then, take a selfie with a best friend or a spin at the art/paint machine. And frame both to take home as a memento of a fun-filled day.&nbsp;</p><p><em>“We are pleased to partner with Litchfield Crossings to present the 1</em>^<em>st</em><em> Annual New Milford Food Truck Festival that is sure to bring joy to every food lover in the area. Food, Music, Inflatables, activities and much more.&nbsp;Looking forward to seeing you there,</em>” says New Milford Mayor Pete Bass.</p><p>Adds Kristen Gizzi, Executive Director of Litchfield Crossings, “<em>We, too, are delighted to host this exciting event.&nbsp;It’s an opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy a day of fantastic food, music, and family fun.”&nbsp;</em></p><p>Lichfield Crossings is located at 169 Danbury Road, Nee Milford. Ct. Admission to the Festival is free.&nbsp;Ample parking will be available on-site</p><p><br></p>

<p>The BookSmiths Shoppe, Danbury's Independent Bookstore&nbsp;is celebrating two days of Indie Bookstore Love!</p><p>Saturday, April 26th, and Sunday April 27th!</p><p>⏰ Extended Hours:</p><p>11AM - 7PM all weekend!</p><p>We are so excited to celebrate with you!</p><p>@indiebookstoreday @bookshop_org @librofm</p>

<p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Danbury Awarded $5 Million for Downtown Revitalization as Part of Statewide Community Investment Fund Grants</strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Danbury is set to receive a $5 million grant from the State of Connecticut to continue its “Downtown Revitalization: Streetscapes for the Future” initiative. The funding, approved this week by the State Bond Commission, will support Phase II of the project, which includes major streetscape enhancements along Main Street and surrounding corridors.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Governor Ned Lamont, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) jointly announced the release of approximately $77 million in state funding through the Community Investment Fund 2030. This sixth round of grants supports 35 economic development projects in 21 towns and cities across the state.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Danbury’s Phase II project will improve pedestrian access and safety while enhancing the visual and functional quality of several key streets, including Main Street (Route 53) from Boughton Street to Crosby Street, Liberty Street, Independence Way, White Street, Elm Street, Post Office Walk, and Kennedy Avenue.</span></p><p>Additional Municipality Awards Include:</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: All Community Investment Fund communities</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: CT Humanities Council</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $250,000</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Description: “Cultural Cohort” – Connecticut Humanities has a mission to champion the enduring value of public humanities in our lives and civil society. This planning grant will allow CT Humanities to assess the needs of 560 cultural organizations in the 55 CIF communities.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: Bridgeport</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: Green Village Initiatives Inc.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $250,000</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Description: “Bridgeport Regional Food Hub” – Green Village Initiative is a nonprofit organization serving Bridgeport focused on addressing systemic inequities in the local food system through urban agriculture, education, and community empowerment. The Bridgeport Regional Food Hub and Community Empowerment Initiative is a planning project to develop a county-wide food hub in Bridgeport.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: Bridgeport</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: Mercy Learning Center</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $250,000</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Description: “Capital Improvement Planning” – Mercy Learning Center provides basic literacy and life skills training to women with low income using a holistic approach within a compassionate, supportive environment. CIF funding would finance specific assessments and plans to address elements that arise from the Organizational Strategic Plan and process prioritizing capital renovations and expansion.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: Bridgeport</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: Barnum Museum Foundation</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $2,000,000</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Description: “Barnum Museum Revitalization” – The Barnum Museum, a historic cultural institution in Bridgeport since 1893, provides educational programs, community events, and accessibility initiatives for diverse audiences. It engages thousands of students, families, and seniors through partnerships with schools and local organizations. The proposed project will continue the museum’s restoration, focusing on safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: East Haven</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: Town of East Haven</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $250,000Description: “Family Resource Center Expansion” – The Town of East Haven proposes to plan for the renovation and expansion of the Family Resource Center to transform it into a comprehensive community hub, including a dynamic recreational area, designed to support local youth and families.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: New Haven</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: United Way of Greater New Haven</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $2,000,000</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Description: “State and Chapel” – United Way of Greater New Haven works to address pressing local challenges in education, safe housing, food security, career development, financial education, and other essential services. United Way of Greater New Haven, in partnership with Beacon Communities and Columbus House, will utilize CIF support State and Chapel, a mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented housing project in downtown New Haven.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: New Haven</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: Mary Wade Foundation</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $700,000</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Description: “Residential Care Home Modernization” – The Mary Wade Home is a senior care organization serving low-income seniors (65+) in Greater New Haven, providing a full continuum of medical and social support. Mary Wade Home will utilize CIF funding to further plans for a major renovation and expansion of the Boardman Residential Care Home to address safety concerns and improve living conditions.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: Norwalk</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: Open Door Shelter, Inc.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $250,000</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Description: “Campus Expansion Project” – The mission of Open Doors is to end homelessness in the greater Norwalk region by guiding every person in the cycle of homelessness toward housing stability. Open Doors intends to develop a plan to expand its operations within the South Norwalk neighborhood by assessing its existing housing portfolio and exploring the acquisition of abutting properties.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: Norwalk</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $1,500,000</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Description: “Glover Ave Spur” – The Norwalk River Valley Trail is a recreational and transportation amenity in Norwalk and once completed will run from Danbury to Norwalk. This project proposes the completion of the Norwalk section of the Norwalk River Valley Trail.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Municipality: Stamford</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Grant Recipient: Rippowam Corporation</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Award Amount: $2,000,000</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Description: “Oak Park Phase II” – Rippowam Corporation is the nonprofit development and asset management affiliate of the Housing Authority of the City of Stamford. Rippowam Corporation is requesting funding for the second of three planned phases to redevelop Oak Park, located on the East Side of Stamford, to rebuild to avoid areas of chronic flooding and to ensure accessibility for residents.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">To view the complete list click&nbsp;</span><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2025/04-2025/governor-lamont-senate-president-looney-speaker-ritter-announce-cif-grants?language=en_US" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">here</a></p>

<p>Danbury, CT (April 9, 2025) – CityCenter Danbury, in collaboration with Tiaa Candy, invites you to hop into spring and celebrate the joyous occasion of Easter at the <strong>3rd Annual</strong> <strong>Easter Festival on the Green! </strong>Scheduled for <strong>Saturday, April 19th, from 1pm to 4pm</strong>, this egg-citing event promises a day filled with entertainment, Easter eggs galore, and delightful photo opportunities with the one and only Easter Bunny!</p><p>The festival welcomes everyone to join in the festivities, offering something for every member of the family. Whether you're a seasoned egg hunter or a first-time festival-goer, there's plenty to enjoy. </p><p>Here's what's in store:</p><p><em>Egg-cellent Entertainment:</em> Prepare to be dazzled by a lineup of fun-filled entertainment, including live music, interactive performances, and more. The stage will come alive with excitement throughout the day! Dive into a sea of colorful Easter eggs scattered across the green.</p><p><em>Photo Opportunities:</em> Capture precious memories with the Easter Bunny himself! Don't miss the chance to strike a pose and snap some unforgettable photos to cherish for years to come.</p><p><em>Talent Showcase:</em> Showcase your skills and talents in our Talent Show! Whether you're a singer, dancer, musician, or have another talent to share, we invite you to take center stage. To enter the Talent Show, simply email Tiaa Candy at<strong> </strong><a href="mailto:tiaacandy@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>tiaacandy@gmail.com</strong></a> <em>by Monday, April 14thh.</em></p><p>"We're thrilled to host the 3rd Annual Easter Festival on the Green," says Lazaro Chavez, Executive Director of CityCenter Danbury. "It's a fantastic opportunity for our community to </p><p>come together, celebrate the spirit of Easter, and enjoy a day filled with joy and laughter." </p><p>Admission to the Easter Festival on the Green is free for all. So, mark your calendars, gather your loved ones, and join us for an egg-stravaganza of an event that promises fun for the whole family!</p><p>For more information and updates <a href="http://www.citycenterdanbury.com/event/easter-festival-2024/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.citycenterdanbury.com/event/easter-festival-2024/</a> or follow us on social media @CityCenterDanbury.</p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Clear out the clutter and support a cause that truly matters: Shred for a Cause this Saturday, April 12 from 9 am to noon at Expedia Cruises, 67 Federal Road in Brookfield.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Bring your boxes of unwanted documents for secure, on-site shredding, and help make a meaningful difference in the lives of local families receiving end-of-life care.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">A suggested donation of $15 per box* will directly benefit Regional Hospice, a nonprofit organization that has provided compassionate care to patients and their loved ones in homes and care facilities for more than 40 years.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">To learn more about their mission, visit</span><a href="http://makingthebestofeveryday.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"> makingthebestofeveryday.org</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.</span></p><p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">*Please limit boxes to a maximum size of 12" x 12" x 16".</em></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Learn more </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1009746737385569?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">here</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.</span></p>