Herald/Press: Stories of the Week

Michelle Novikova and Newington girls tennis coach Sean Hussey join the podcast this week to discuss Michelle starting her season with a 12-0, as well as how she adjusted to playing her first high school tennis season in two years. 

Buddy the Beefalo is the topic of this week's podcast as his story in the Plymouth area comes to an end. Matt and Catherine speak with Plymouth Police Captain Ed Benecchi about his involvement with tracking down Buddy over the past eight months and everything that has transpired with the whereabouts of this rambunctious animal since his arrival in central Connecticut.

Matt and Catherine check in with Tamara Bross, President of the Bristol Boys and Girls Club, and D'Andre Esposito, the club's director of community partnerships, about the clubs upcoming plans for this summer as well as what they learned from running the club during the pandemic. Tamara shares how her first month and a half as club president have been and what is next for the club in the coming months.

This week's podcast topic is responsibility as Daniel O. Tully of Kilbourne and Tully Connecticut Elder & Disability Law Firm joins the podcast to discuss the importance of keeping one's affairs in order and having a will ready. He provides tips on how to discuss these matters with loved ones and mistakes to avoid when planning for what's next.

The CCC Champion Bristol Central boys basketball team joins the podcast this week, represented by head coach Tim Barrette and senior captain Sean Wininger. They discuss defeating three top-five teams in the state to earn the ranking as the No. 1 team in Connecticut at the end of this season.

James Jones joins the podcast to discuss his first year as Executive Director of the New Britain Boys and Girls club. He shares some highlights of what he's been able to accomplish amid the pandemic and what some of his plans are with more freedom and warm weather approaching.

Matt and Catherine are joined by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz to look back on the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic over the past year. They discuss what she's learned since the start of the pandemic, things that went well in that time, what could have been changed and what is next to come as more people are getting vaccinated. Don't forget to rate, subscribe and review!

Chris Edge, Berlin Economic Development Director joins the podcast to explain how he has facilitated the opening of many new businesses in town despite the interference of the covid-19 pandemic. He shares some of what he did to help keep businesses afloat during a difficult time and what is on the horizon for Berlin in the coming months and beyond. Don't forget to rate, subscribe and review!

Michael Dietter, deputy superintendent of the Bristol Board of Education joins the podcast this week to discuss the renovations being made to the Memorial Boulevard School to reopen it as an intradistrict arts magnet school in the city. Matt and Catherine inquire about what "intradistrict" means as well as what local residents can expect from the school once it opens for the 2022-23 school year.  Don't forget to rate, subscribe and review!

Catherine and Matt sit down with Erin Stewart to discuss new developments in the city's vaccine rollout and how they could lead to getting more people vaccinated quickly. Stewart also shares problems the city is working to address with vaccine distribution, as well as an update on how the city will be celebrating its 150th anniversary. Don't forget to rate, subscribe and review!

This week's podcast is a look into swatting, a crime trend that involves calling in false crimes to police departments, which recently took place in Newington. Matt and Catherine are joined by Special Agent Joe Altimari of the FBI to discuss why people do this, how they do it and what impact it can on an area. If you want to read Erica Drzewiecki's story on swatting, click here: http://bit.ly/3p3BIoh. Don't forget to rate, subscribe and review!

Matt and Catherine speak with Joe Aresimowicz, head coach of the Berlin High School football team about the handling of football season in the pandemic, which ultimately resulted in the season being postponed and then canceled. Aresimowicz discusses the implications losing a whole season has on his program and countless other programs across the state, as well as how he would like to see the decision making proceed so that football can be played on schedule this upcoming season.

The series on the Capitol insurrection ends with Sen. Chris Murphy who provides a clear picture of what he believes should happen next as a proper response to the events of Jan. 6. After sharing his experience inside the building that day, he explains how he handled the days preceding and succeeding the events in Washington D.C.  Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review!

The second part of the series about the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 is an interview with Sen. Richard Blumenthal. He shares his experience inside the Capitol that day, the importance of understanding what led to this event and what comes next now that the president was impeached. 

This episode is the start of a three-part series in which Catherine and Matt will speak with members of the United States' Congress from Connecticut about their experiences last week during the insurrection at the Capitol. The first conversation is with Representative John Larson of Connecticut's first district. He shares what his day looked like Jan. 6 and what he wants done in response to this attack on democracy.

With the extreme spike in car-related thefts in the local area, Matt and Catherine are joined by Newington Police Chief Stephen Clark to discuss the factors causing this increase and what everyone can do to ensure they are not the next victim. Clark shares ideas on how to combat this issue long-term and what he would like to see from his elected officials to enhance this. DON'T FORGET TO RATE, SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW! For more coverage, make sure to visit NewBritainHerald.com and BristolPress.com Local communities see spike in car thefts: http://bit.ly/2L7V2Tv

Bristol Health's Albert Peguero returns to the podcast to give you a basic understanding of the coronavirus vaccines. He explains the safety of getting vaccinated and how the vaccines will be distributed over the coming months. Please subscribe, rate and review and if you want more information on the vaccines, make sure to visit newbritainherald.com and bristolpress.com.

Matt and Catherine are joined by Major Gregory Hartshorn of the Salvation Army of Connecticut and Rhode Island to give an update on how the organization is handling the Holiday Season amid a pandemic. He provides a variety of ways to contribute and shares the story of a very special donation someone made in one of the kettles in New Britain. Please don't forget to rate, subscribe and review! Resident anonymously drops gold coin in Salvation Army kettle: http://bit.ly/37Kk4jU

Matt hosts this week podcast solo and speaks with Innovation coach Matt Lance and Bristol Eastern and Bristol Central coach Bunty Ray about their experiences as coaches during all three sports seasons. They share how they maintain strong relationships with their student-athletes as well as some plans and hopes for the upcoming winter season. Please don't forget to subscribe, rate and review!

Catherine and Matt speak with Lisa Coates, Operations Manager of the Bristol Hospital Counseling Center about ways to stay high-spirited this holiday season when you can't see your family and behave as you normally would. Coates provides advice and resources for anyone who might be in need of emotional help as well as how to offer help to someone you think could be struggling.

Matt and Catherine are joined by Alicia Strong of the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition and Frances Calzetta of the Italian American Women of New Haven to discuss the meaning of Christopher Columbus to ethnic groups around the world and how that impacts whether or not the statue of Columbus in New Britain needs to be removed. 

Matt and Catherine spoke with Bristol Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu about what she learned from the first year of her second term, guidelines for how to navigate the holiday season in a pandemic and what she is looking forward to in the coming year.  Please don't forget to subscribe, rate and review!

Just one day after announcing all winter sports activities will not start until Jan. 19, CIAC Executive Director Glenn Lugarini spoke with Matt and Catherine about the factors that led to the decision, what needs to change to make a winter season possible for all sports and the impact this news will have over the next two months.  Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review! CIAC elects to postpone winter sports season until Jan. 19: https://bit.ly/3kJ90XJ

Matt and Catherine sit down this week with Albert Peguero from Bristol Health to discuss Connecticut's increase in coronavirus cases and how the hospital is preparing itself to proceed. Peguero explains what they learned early on in the pandemic and how it helps them moving forward if the pandemic continues to worsen locally. Catherine and Matt also provide you with an update on the presidential election. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review! This week's top stories: Bristol, New Britain deal with Red Alert status: https://bit.ly/35mxly9 Residents give their opinions on the Presidential Election: https://bit.ly/35m3ntU

Catherine and Matt break down election results at all levels in the local area, as well as what election day was like for voters and how the state processed its absentee ballots. Please make sure to rate and subscribe! Election Stories:  Bristol favors incumbents on Election Day: https://bit.ly/2TYpIY4 Bristol republicans celebrate as results go in their favor: https://bit.ly/2TYAMVe Newington voters have re-elected a democratic slate: https://bit.ly/3oVb5TP Democratic candidates celebrate victories in New Britain: https://bit.ly/3l0RoaE Bristol, New Britain seeing thousands turn out at polls: https://bit.ly/353jjBr Bysiewicz visits polling station in New Britain: https://bit.ly/3l3cGof

Matt and Catherine sit down to discuss Connecticut's recent uptick in positive coronavirus cases and how much of that is a result of schools reopening. They explain how local school districts are handling positive cases as well as what the expectations are going forward. This week's other top stories include a look at a conflict between New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart and the Common Council over the hiring of a former school official and new restaurants coming to Bristol. Please make sure to rate and subscribe! This Week's Top Stories: State moves New Britain, Plainville, Bristol into Orange Alert status: https://bit.ly/35J6kDV Police arrest two people after alleged intoxicated driver in New Britain: https://bit.ly/3ozNoQE Democrats say Stewart is attempting to illegally hire former school official: https://bit.ly/2TAHdxC Little Poland flower shop has a part in TikTok celebrity's reality show: https://bit.ly/37OxFr5 New Asian restaurant opens on Farmington Ave. in Bristol: https://bit.ly/37NXveD Popeyes opens new drive-through location on Route 6: https://bit.ly/2Jht1rp

Matt and Catherine are joined by colleague Susan Corica to break down everything you need to know about how to properly and safely vote in the Nov. 3 election. They discuss both in-person and absentee voting and how to ensure your vote is counted. This week's other top stories include the vote increase the pay of elected official in New Britain and how to ensure you can safely participate in trick-or-treating this year. Please make sure to rate and subscribe! This weeks stories: Looking at how to vote during the pandemic: https://bit.ly/3kji9qF Bristol school district issued tablet reportedly burns through child's backpack: https://bit.ly/2Tgw8kY New Britain mayor, five other elected officials approved for 13% raises: https://bit.ly/3jl43Un Bristol going ahead with Halloween celebrations: https://bit.ly/35p94Gv New Britain brings program to help families buy home with city's assistance: https://bit.ly/3dNDiH5

Catherine is this week's guest on the podcast to share her experience telling the story of Shante Smith and the founding of her company Enlighten Me, which aims to help teenagers and adolescents with their mental health. Matt and Catherine also provide updates on the Citizen's Review Board in New Britain and how restaurants are doing one week after Connecticut began phase three of its reopening. Don't forget to rate and subscribe! This week's stories: New Britain woman starts own company to help empower area youth: https://bit.ly/2SRHWdr Many area restaurants still struggling to get by: https://bit.ly/3iZE2tx Proposed civilian review board in New Britain rejected: https://bit.ly/3nQn9VN Bristol public schools to get $1.2 million to help costs associated with reopening: https://bit.ly/3lZCeCT A new Vietnamese restaurant, opening on Berlin Turnpike: https://bit.ly/376vejd Berlin fitness center moves into new, larger space in town: https://bit.ly/313Dfl6

Matt and Catherine are joined by sports reporter Ryan Chichester to discuss the new fall sports season that began in Connecticut on Oct. 1 and everything that happened over the summer leading up to it. They also provide an update on positive coronavirus cases at local schools as well as other top stories from the past week.  Don't forget to rate and subscribe!  This week's stories: Sports begin seasons after long wait: https://bit.ly/3iB7mWV New Britain elementary school has positive coronavirus case: https://bit.ly/2SD4FKa Bristol resident named Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year: https://bit.ly/2GAnlHV Coalition to bring Halloween treats to city children: https://bit.ly/3iIUn5A Foodies opens in Bristol: https://bit.ly/2GQDngo

For the first episode Herald/Press: Story of the Week, Matt and Catherine welcome reporter Erica Drzewiecki to discuss her story about a Newington High School graduate's sexual assault allegations towards a former teacher. This episode also provides an update on absentee voting, coronavirus data in New Britain and other top stories. Please listen, rate and subscribe! Links to this week's stories: Former student goes public with sexual assault allegation: https://bit.ly/3kTL0BI One additional residential student tests positive for coronavirus at CCSU: https://bit.ly/2Sey6C8 New Britain officials learned from primary voting process: https://bit.ly/3l5V3U7 Bristol's registrars of voters prepare for Election Day: https://bit.ly/2HM9wq7 New Britain native opens convenience store: https://bit.ly/2SczQMb New pump park, gear shop coming to Rockwell Park: https://bit.ly/3iiInrx