Home Care In Washington, CT

House fires in Sherman and Washington that were caused by lightning during an overnight thunderstorm early Sunday kept emergency personnel busy in those two towns.

The first fire broke out in the garage of a Skyline Drive home in Sherman at about 1:20 a.m., officials said.

A lightning strike caused the blaze and said minimal damage was reported to the 3,016-square-foot residence in the Candlewood Lake Estates community, Sherman Fire Marshal Dave Lathrop said.

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“The property owner heard a large loud crack in the area and decided to check the water pump and stuff,” he said. “She smelled and saw smoke when she got into the garage area and told her husband to call 911.”

She used a couple of fire extinguishers, and the blaze melted a piece of plastic water line, which helped control the flames until first responders arrived, Lathrop said.

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New Fairfield, New Milford and Kent provided mutual aid to Sherman, and emergency personnel left the scene around 2 a.m., officials said.

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No injuries were reported, and the residents were not displaced by the blaze, Lathrop said.

“We strongly suggested they get a hold of an electrician and a well person in the morning to come and check, but they still had lights and all the breakers and circuits were in good working order, so they could stay there without a problem,” he said.

Minutes after the Sherman call, another fire was reported 15 miles away on Winston Drive in Washington. Town officials said it, too, was caused by a lightning strike.

Electricity from the lightning followed a metal gas pipe from a tank, through a wall and into the kitchen of the 2,068-square-foot home, according to Washington Fire Marshal Troy Kaiser.

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“It hit the ground and the ground did its job, but it caught the wood around it,” Kaiser said, noting that the fire was small and took crews a few minutes to extinguish.

The blaze broke out in the rear of the residence at about 1:25 a.m., and the two people and one dog inside the home got out safely, Washington Volunteer Fire Chief Craig Wilber said.

As with the Sherman fire, there was minimal damage — “more smoke than fire,” according to Kaiser — and no one was displaced from the home.

Washington First Selectman James Brinton said the fire was not the only damage in town from the storm.

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“There was a lot of damage to dirt roads and things like that because of the heavy rains, and there was some debris that was down,” Brinton said.

In addition to fires, the storm caused downed wires and power outages in the area. According to Eversource media relations specialist Albert Lara, there were 69 customers without power in Washington and six without power in Sherman as of about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Sep 11, 2023

By Kendra Baker

Kendra Baker is a reporter with the News-Times who previously worked as a general assignment reporter for The Wilton Bulletin. Before The Bulletin, Kendra freelanced for The Redding Pilot and interned for the New Haven Independent. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in psychology. Her work has also been published on ConnecticutHistory.org.

Millions of people are traveling this Thanksgiving week. If you're taking the train, the trip could get a lot faster in the next few years – thanks to $2 billion headed to Connecticut from Washington.

If the trip over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house takes you on the train, you'd better pack some patience.

"Sometimes there's a lot of delays, but usually it's fair," said Bethany de los Santos, of Bridgeport.

Many of those delays are because of aging rail bridges – like the Devon bridge in Milford, built 117 years ago. It's so old that trains have to slow down to 45 miles per hour to cross it safely.

"Some days it'll be delays," said Najee Gathers, of Milford. "You'll have to wait, like, 20 minutes for my train to come."

It won't happen this Thanksgiving, or even this decade, but 8 rail bridges across Connecticut will get replaced. It's all thanks to almost $2 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

"They'll be able to speed up going across this bridge from 45 to 75 miles an hour, taking about two or three minutes off the commute," said Gov. Ned Lamont. "And we've got eight of these other bridges. That's going to be 20 minutes' savings."

In addition to the Devon bridge, Metro-North's New Haven Line will get $210 million in upgrades, including new tracks and power stations. In Norwalk, almost half a billion dollars is going to replace the Walk Bridge, which sometimes gets stuck, snarling Amtrak traffic across the Northeast. And in Westport, the Saugatuck Bridge is getting $23 million.

"Within the next 10 years, with this investment, we will be able to move people from Bridgeport to New York City 20 minutes faster," said Sen. Chris Murphy.

But some slowdowns happen outside of Connecticut – in New York.

“There are investments in the state of New York that are necessary to be able to make the New Haven Line more resilient,” said Metro-North president Catherine Rinaldi. "We have flooding issues in the Bronx that affect the reliability of the service that we provide to our New Haven Line customers.”

In addition to Connecticut, the feds are sending New York $1.6 billion for Metro-North upgrades, including a new destination at Penn Station and new stops in the Bronx.

But riders said any improvement will encourage them to ride more often. Good news, since ridership is still struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels.

"That's a lot better," said Gathers.

The Devon Rail Bridge won't be replaced until the year 2035, but repairs will be done in just three years, which could mean a faster commute for many riders.

I first visited Macricostas Preserve in 2013 and instantly branded it my favorite Connecticut hike. It was a huge declaration to make after visiting this special place in Washington and not having visited every preserve in this tiny state we live in. But after exploring hundreds of more places and a recent return visit a decade later, I haven’t wavered — if there’s one place everyone should seek out and hike in Connecticut, Macricostas is it.

In fact, three of the four Steep Rock Association’s nature preserves easily make my top 10 list of favorite hikes including the 700-acre Hidden Valley Preserve (I mean, c’mon, the Thoreau Bridge) and the 1,000-acre Steep Rock Preserve (I mean, c’mon, hiking through a 235-foot-long train tunnel). All in the northwest hill town of Washington.

It’s a cliché, but Macricostas really does have something for everyone who enjoys the outdoors. There is a loop trail around a huge hay field — popular with dog walkers — with views of the hillside and bluebirds nesting in wooden boxes. There is Bee Brook that runs placidly through Meeker Swamp and then rages through a ravine lined with huge boulders. And there are two unique overlooks with stunning views.

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The 1.6-mile, yellow-blazed “Meeker Trail” is your path through most of the highlights of the 490-acre preserve, winding around the western perimeter of the hay field and high into the ridgeline, passing by 1,080-foot-high Macricostas Lookout and ending at 1,280-foot-high Waramaug’s Rock. The preserve was named after Constantine “Dino” Macricostas for his “vision of permanently protecting this land,” according to the trail guide. My hero.

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From the parking lot, a footbridge takes visitors across Bee Brook, a tributary of the Shepaug River. The trail continues around the perimeter of the hay field which is filled with birds singing and butterflies and dragonflies floating between flowers and blades of the high grass.

Seek out a short, unmarked side trail that takes visitors down to a small ravine where Bee Brook briefly abandons its placid run for a plunge or two over large rocks and past huge glacial erratic boulders. Another side trail off the hay field takes visitors along a boardwalk to a wildlife-viewing platform on the outer edges of the scenic Meeker Swamp, which is lined with red maples and filled with grasses and sedges. A great blue heron fishes in the distance and a red-winged blackbird sings from a branch.

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“Meeker Swamp is a unique calcareous wetland — a chalky limestone-based geology rarely found east of the Appalachian Mountains,” the trail guide notes. “One of the last significant calcareous ecosystems in the Northeast Hills, it encompasses over 300 acres and includes part of the Bee Brook stream, wet meadows and agricultural fields as well as an adjacent ridge of talus slopes and rocky outcroppings. An excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife, the preserve overlies one of Washington’s largest aquifers.”

The Macricostas Lookout, Waramaug’s Rock and boulder trail loop begins at the northern portion of the hay field, again crossing Bee Brook and the western portion of the swamp over a bridge and along a series of boardwalks. The most direct route to the lookout and rock is to continue along the Meeker Trail.

The lookout has a 180-degree view across the preserve’s fields and out to neighboring farm fields and surrounding hills. The hills of Hidden Valley Preserve can be seen in the distance as well as your car in the parking lot.

Another half-mile hike takes visitors to the hallmark of Macricostas. Easily one of the finest overlooks in the state, Waramaug’s Rock — also known as The Pinnacle — stands at an elevation of 1,250 feet. The nearly 360-degree view showcases nearly endless undulating hills and mountains to the northwest and the deep blue waters of Lake Waramaug and the summer places and jutting docks that dot the banks of the lake.

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A new addition to the preserve is the Boulders Trail which expanded the trail system by 1½ miles. It features a log bridge and numerous sets of stone steps, glacial erratics, vernal pools and breathtaking seasonal views.

Macricostas Preserve

Washington

The bottom line: One of Connecticut’s most diverse and spectacular preserves with a mix of meadow, picturesque swamps and brooks, along with a pair of stunning overlooks with some of the best views in the state.

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Length: More than seven miles of trails.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Those looking for an easy hike should seek out the Hay Field Loop. Hikes to both Macricostas Lookout and the top of Waramaug’s Rock are of moderate difficulty.

Directions: The preserve is located along Route 202 near the intersection with Route 47. Turn on Christian Street and look for the red house at 124 Christian St. The parking area and trailhead are behind the house. Go to steeprockassoc.org/preserve/macricostas for a map of the preserve.

Pet friendly? Leashed dogs are allowed and must be cleaned up after.

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Things to do nearby

The Institute for American Indian Studies:This museum and research center is dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of Native Americans. Visitors can explore the 16 acres of the museum’s natural surroundings which contain several hiking trails, a medicinal garden and a replicated 16th-century Algonkian village. Thousands of artifacts and cultural items are also on view. 38 Curtis Road, Washington, 860-868-0518,iaismuseum.org

G.W. Tavern:Named after the first president, the tavern showcases a “rich blend of the traditional and the contemporary.” Menu items include locally raised venison, quail and duck as well as local produce including tomatoes, arugula and basil from a local organic farm, and specials that change regularly. All of this can be enjoyed indoors or on a patio overlooking the Shepaug River. 20 Bee Brook Road, Washington, 860-868-6633, gwtavern.com

Hopkins Vineyard: A former dairy farm, the vineyard overlooks Lake Waramaug, grows 11 varieties of grapes and produces an array of white, red and sparkling wines. A wine bar is located in the hayloft of the farm’s 19th-century barn where visitors can enjoy the wine along with cheese and country pâtés served with fresh bread. There’s live music on weekends. 25 Hopkins Road, New Preston, 860-868-7954, hopkinsvineyard.com

The city of Norwalk will be hosting its first “Halloween Nightfair on Washington Street” on Oct. 28 and 29. The nightfair will give guests the chance to stroll, shop and try foods.

Parts of Washington Street, South Main Street and North Main Street will closed starting at 8 a.m. on Oct. 28 and will remain closed until 7 p.m. on Oct. 29. The fair will be held from 5–10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, and from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29.

Norwalk’s “Halloween Nightfair on Washington Street” will feature “family-friendly” activities such as bounce houses, pumpkin painting, magicians, trick-or-treating bag decorating and fortune-telling. and will be free to enter.

According to Norwalk’s special event coordinator, Anna Breault, the city aims to bring the community together and “celebrate the spirit of Halloween.” She said the city is already making plans for next year’s event.

On Saturday, guests can enjoy performances by Grammy-winning house music group Goodboys at 8 p.m. and Dutch-Filipino DJ Laidback Luke at 9 p.m. There will be glow sticks and light-up balloons available to purchase.

The Norwalk Common Council agreed to spend up to $75,000 on the fair for the stage, lighting, two DJs, sound and entertainment through Arc Sound. Stage. Lighting. LLC, according to the director of business development and tourism for Norwalk, Sabrina Godeski.

The fair will also have a "Touch a Truck" event and a meet-and-greet with people dressed up as characters from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Hocus Pocus."

On Sunday, guests will be able to enjoy the “Howl-o-Ween Pet Parade” starting at 12 p.m., followed by a magic show at 1 p.m. Singer Ryan Cabrera will be performing before the costume contest at 3:30 p.m. Mayor Rilling and others will be judging the contest, and the winner will be awarded gift cards and “I Love Nowalk” merchandise.

The upcoming night event is not the first in Connecticut this year. Earlier this year, the New Haven Night Market was held outdoors on Chapel Street. Instead of Halloween, the New Haven market celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month.

Festival Brings Visitors and Indigenous People Together @ Washington's Institute for American Indian Studies

The Institute for American Indian Studies, located in Washington, CT, is holding its 18th annual Green Corn Festival on Sunday, August 13th from Noon to 4:00 pm at River Walk Pavilion, 11a School Street, in Washington, CT. This festival gives visitors a glimpse into Native American life and traditions.

Corn is an integral part of the annual lifecycle of Native American people that have welcomed the season when corn ripens with a celebration for centuries. In recognition of this time-honored tradition, join IAIS Museum Staff as they welcome the first corn of the summer 2023 season with flute music by Allan Madahbee (Ojibwe), drumming, children’s activities curated by the Institute’s staff like making corn husk dolls to take home, and traditional stories told by a professional Native American Storyteller.

For shoppers and collectors, don’t miss the vendors that are selling Native American-inspired arts and crafts at a variety of price points. All the festivities are taking place in a beautiful park with a sheltered wooden pavilion, picnic tables, and plenty of free parking.

If you have always wondered what Indigenous food tastes like, you will be able to try some authentic Native American cuisine and more at the Green Corn Festival. Jason Cogswell Lamb, Schaghticoke, of Mashquanon’s Wetu will be cooking up some of his favorite contemporary and traditional indigenous cuisine sure to delight the palette. GV Bites Food Truck will be whipping up Colombian fusion food, and Polar Sweets Ice Cream will be serving more than 40 flavors of ice cream that will help beat the heat!

The annual highlight of the Green Corn Festival is the Native Nations Dance Troupe led by Erin Meeches, from the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Each dance performed has an uplifting and unique story or purpose. Some use movements that imitate animals and others represent an aspect of cultural significance. These traditional dances are sure to delight because they evoke the beauty, honor, and tradition of Native People. The Quahog Bay Drum Group led by Devin Wixon from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Nation will accompany the dances. The dancing will take place at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m.

Admission for this event held rain or shine, is $15 for Adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for children, $10 for IAIS Members, and free for members’ children. Pre-registration is greatly appreciated, click here to register https://iaismuseum.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/13017.

About Green CornThe expression “Green Corn” refers to the first ripened sweet corn that you can eat. The Green Corn Ceremony is marked with dancing, feasting, fasting, and religious observations. In the Eastern Woodland areas, Native people depended on three staples – corn, beans, and squash. These food items were so important that they were called “The Three Sisters.” The Three Sisters were mixed together to make a vegetable dish called succotash that is still popular today.

About Institute for American Indian StudiesLocated on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.