Home Care In Ridgefield, CT

RIDGEFIELD — A group of parents in Ridgefield filed a lawsuit Thursday against the local and national Little League organizations, contending that coaches are not trained in first aid and child abuse recognition as promised and required.

The complaint is not just about the local program, according to the Ridgefield Little League Parents Association, but "about every Little League and youth sports organization in America."

"This case seeks to prevent future tragedies — before a coach without proper training stands helpless on a field while a child's life hangs in the balance," the complaint filed in state Superior Court in Danbury says.

The parents group contends that many coaches lack certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators "despite public representations suggesting otherwise." The suit cites the local Little League's safety manual on requirements that coaches attend a first aid training and safety clinic, and a requirement that all AAA and Majors team managers be CPR/AED certified.

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Also, the organization has failed to provide federally mandated training to coaches in recognizing and reporting child abuse, the suit says. Under Little League's Child Protection Program all volunteers are required to complete Little League Abuse Awareness Training.

Among safety violations, the league has allowed minor-age umpires to officiate games unsupervised and allowed league board of directors members to override rules "for personal convenience," the suit says.

In a statement sent Thursday afternoon, Joseph M. Pastore III, chairman of the Stamford-based law firm representing Ridgefield National Little League and board members, said he could not comment on specifics of the litigation, but added, "We strongly disagree with the claims, which are not only procedurally defective, but completely baseless."

"RLL is a volunteer-run organization, chartered by Little League International as its governing body," Pastore said. "Its policies and structure are not matters of local discretion alone but are guided by this broader framework. RLL has served the community for decades with integrity and a commitment to player safety, sportsmanship, and development.

"Like many local leagues, it relies on the tireless work of parents, coaches, and board members who give their time freely to make the experience positive for the children," Pastore said. "We remain confident that the legal process will ultimately reflect the truth. In the meantime, RLL’s focus continues to be on the players and the families it serves."

Brian McClintock, a spokesperson for Little League International, said the group would not comment on the lawsuit.

"Little League International is aware of this situation. As this is pending litigation, it would be inappropriate to comment," McClintock said in an email late Thursday.

A national Little League rule says in any game in which umpires are not adults, local league officials must assign a game coordinator to supervise, the suit says. Ridgefield Little League, according to the suit, "almost never assigned Game Coordinators."

The suit claims a Ridgefield coach breached a AAA Division rule that says a new inning cannot start after 1 hour and 45 minutes of play. The coach changed the rules and when confronted, said, "This is it or you can forfeit. I am making the rule change," the suit says. The same coach, who also is a member of the board of directors, was recorded shouting at umpires during a game he was coaching, disregarding both local and national Little League codes of conduct, the suit says.

The suit also alleges "a consistent pattern of favoritism and self-dealing in which children of Board Members were favored over other players for positions on all-star teams and Board Members were favored over others to manage or coach all-star teams."

The suit contends local and national Little League officials have been negligent and "have breached their duty of care to the players and parents in the league."

The suit also alleges fraud, as the league safety manual published on the Ridgefield organization's website "has expressly represented that its coaches and managers all have received safety and first aid, CPR and AED training." These false statements, the suit says, "were intended to induce parents to enroll their children" in the local program. The complaint contends defendants also violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by falsely representing that coaches and managers had received first aid and safety training.

The suit seeks damages and attorney's fees, along with a permanent injunction requiring the local and national Little League organizations to enforce federal law on child abuse recognition training and their own rules and regulations.

RIDGEFIELD, CT — A group of Ridgefield parents is calling on the local Board of Education to implement a “bell-to-bell” ban on student cellphone use at Ridgefield High School, aligning with a growing movement across Connecticut and the nation to reduce digital distractions in schools.

Among the local advocates is Jackie Britt-Friedman, a Ridgefield mother and child psychologist at the Yale Child Study Center, who said she joined the effort after learning about the “Away for the Day” petition circulating in town. The initiative seeks to prohibit student use of personal smart devices during school hours in all Ridgefield public schools.

“We’re a group of parents that just came together to advocate for this,” Britt-Friedman told Patch. “I’m a very strong believer in this, both professionally and as a mom.”

See Also: Here's What A New Cellphone Policy Could Look Like At Darien High School

The petition, launched in late May by local parent Kelsey Hubbard Rollinson, is backed by the national "Away for the Day" campaign and other advocacy groups like "OK to Delay." In just over three weeks, the Ridgefield petition has gathered more than 400 signatures. The group is hoping to emulate Darien, where the Board of Education voted on June 10 to pass a similar phone-free policy after 500 residents signed on to a petition.

Darien's cellphone ban won't come without its share of fiscal whinging. The district superintendent there recently revealed the cost for 1,100 device pouches, needed to dead-zone the student's phones, could be around $26,000.

At the state level, the movement is also gaining traction. Governor Ned Lamont has urged that stricter cellphone policies be adopted in Connecticut schools, and provided a framework of what the state regards as best practices. As of June 2025, 21 states and Washington, D.C., have signed or already enacted laws or policies regarding student cell phone usage in K-12 classrooms.

A Connecticut Patch poll conducted last year revealed widespread public support for limitations on student phone use. Of more than 2,000 respondents, nearly 83 percent said they favor stronger restrictions on phones during school hours.

See Also: Cellphone Pouches For Darien High School May Cost Around $26K: Addley

The Ridgefield advocacy effort is part of a broader "Distraction-Free Schools" initiative which includes educators, physicians, and attorneys from across the state. Several members of the group testified before the State Board of Education on June 11, providing research and firsthand accounts of the negative impact of smartphones on student well-being and academic performance.

In Ridgefield, Britt-Friedman and others are working to build momentum before the next Board of Education meeting. She said letters have already been sent to Ridgefield Superintendent Susie Da Silva and Ridgefield High School Principal Jacob Greenwood. While no formal plans are yet in place, parents intend to continue speaking during public comment sessions at upcoming meetings.

“I’m not sure what the procedures are for implementing such a policy,” Britt-Friedman said. “But we’re hoping to at least start the conversation and keep pushing for change.”

To raise further awareness, the two advocacy groups are hosting a public event at Nod Hill Brewery on June 18, with invitations extended to local officials including State Sen. Julie Kushner and members of the Ridgefield Board of Education.

For now, the advocates say they are focused on education and outreach. Britt-Friedman noted that the original inspiration for the movement came from the 2016 documentary "Screenagers," which explored the impact of screen time on youth and led to the creation of the Away for the Day campaign.

“We’re seeing a lot of interest and support from the community,” she said. “We just want to give our students the best chance to focus and thrive during the school day—without constant digital interruptions.”

The Ridgefield petition remains open for signatures online here.

The Cheshire High School Rams defeated the Ridgefield High School Tigers to win the CIAC Class LL softball championship Sunday.

STORRS, CT — Ridgefield High's game effort fell just short against Cheshire High School Sunday, with the Rams winning a tight, 2-0, contest for the CIAC Class LL softball championship.

Cheshire was led by junior hurler Jenica Matos, who pitched in out of trouble early, then finished strong to win the Rams' second-ever title.

Matos' high-wire acts kept fans on edge, but when it was over, she had a shutout and a winner's medal around her neck. After the game, she admitted to feeling pressure early.

"At times, I do feel the pressure," Matos said. "But my team relaxed me. My coach relaxed me."

Calm, Matos put away the Tigers despite the narrow lead and walked out a champion.

"It's just a good way to end the season for the seniors," Matos said. "It means absolutely everything.""We really put our heads down and did what we needed to do," added senior Bailey Vitanza after the game.

Last year, of course, Cheshire lost a 10-inning heartbreaker against Fairfield-Ludlowe High School, 3-2, with then-sophomore Matos on the mound.

It was a battle involving the top-seed Cheshire, coached by Kristine Drust, which was carrying a 21-2 total record going into Sunday's game.

The 18th-seed Ridgefield High School Tigers, coached by Rita Jagodzinski, were 15-9 en route to an improbable title game run.

Cheshire was looking to win its second-ever title, the last one coming in 2016. Ridgefield was making its first state title game appearance.

The Class LL game was the third of four taking place on a cloudy Father's Day at the Burrill Family Field Softball Complex at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Originally slated for Saturday, June 14, the slate of softball championships was moved to Sunday and a more promising weather forecast.

Cheshire junior pitcher Jenica Matos retired Ridgefield in the top of the first, leading to a magical moment in the bottom of the first for the Rams.

That's when juniorCheshire Jordan McCue blasted a solo home run over the left field wall, past the 200-foot sign, off Ridgefield freshman pitcher Caitlin McGratty.

It was 1-0 Cheshire, with both pitchers next walking tightropes, but, ultimately, not giving in.

Ridgefield's first big threat happened when senior Charlotte Raissis led off the top of the third with a walk, with a courtesy runner brought in to run for her.

Senior Grace Couch then singled to left for the Tigers, putting runners on first and second with none out.

After the next hitter struck out, Ridgefield junior Sofia Capiello hit a soft grounder to the pitcher to advance the runners with the inning's second out.

With runners on second and third and two out, Ridgefield senior Riley Kean flied out to right, ending the inning with no damage done.

Then Cheshire threatened, but McGratty pitched Ridgefield in and out of trouble, retiring Ram junior Avery Radford on a fly ball to right with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the third.

Matos then settled down and kept Ridgefield scoreless through five innings.

In Cheshire's half of the fifth, junior Julia Miller singled on a liner to right to lead things off.

A McCue bunt sent Miller to second base with one out, but Ridgefield shortstop Grace Couch saved a run with a diving stab of a liner by junior Ava Pearson.

A walk to senior Tai Byrd put runners on first and second with two outs, bringing up senior Erin Hersh, who singled in Miller to put Cheshire up 2-0.

With two out and runners on first and second, Cheshire junior Avery Radford came up. A wild pitch then put runners on second and third, with Radford flying out to center to end the inning.

Up 2-0 with two innings to go, Matos looked to put away Ridgefield for the program's second title. An easy 1-2-3 sixth inning left her with one more inning before a championship.

In the bottom of the sixth, Cheshire looked to score some insurance for Matos, and with one out, Molly Fleming singled to center to put one on.

Cheshire junior Lyla Blair then bunted, with Fleming going to third and Blair taking first on a throwing error on the sacrifice attempt.

With runners on first and third with one out, Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases, bringing up the home-run hitting McCue coming up.

McCue fouled out to first with the bases loaded, and junior Ava Pearson grounded to first, ending the inning with no damage done.

With a 2-0 lead, Matos came in for the seventh inning and had a chance to redeem herself following last year's tough loss.

Ridgefield senior Madeline Muncy singled to lead off the top of the seventh, but Matos settled down to clinch the victory, which was sealed with a strikeout and a celebration.

Drust, Cheshire's coach, said Matos' gutsy display on the mound motivated the rest of the team to grind out the title, especially after last year.

"I think everybody wanted it for Jenica. She just embodies what this team is. The whole team really wanted it," Drust said after the game. "You can just see how she throws out there that everybody wanted it for her."

While Matos was the winning pitcher, the most valuable player was Miller, whose pesky hitting made it difficult for Ridgefield. She scored the run that provided insurance for Cheshire.

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Friends, family, and community members are rallying to support Glenny Montanari, a well-known Ridgefield resident and longtime staff member at the local schools, who remains hospitalized with a life-threatening neurological condition.

Montanari, a familiar face to many in Ridgefield through her roles at Scott’s Ridge Middle School and Ridgefield High School, was admitted to Danbury Hospital on April 28 after experiencing leg cramps and weakness. Her condition quickly worsened, and she was later diagnosed with viral encephalitis caused by HSV-1, a severe infection that causes swelling in the brain.

After a rapid decline in her condition on May 2, Montanari was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she was intubated and placed on a ventilator. Since then, she has faced a series of complications, including pneumonia, a collapsed lung, sepsis, and kidney failure. She remains on continuous dialysis as doctors assess her progress and consider the next steps in her treatment.

Her daughters, Kelsey and Courtney, have remained at her side throughout the ordeal, working remotely from the hospital while managing their own families. According to a GoFundMe campaign organized to help cover ongoing medical and household expenses, Montanari did not have a power of attorney in place, leaving her family unable to access her financial accounts during her hospitalization.

Organizers of the fundraiser say any unused donations will be contributed to the Mary Ellen and Samuel Klein, MD Critical Care Unit at Danbury Hospital, where Montanari is being treated.

Described by loved ones as cheerful, generous, and deeply devoted to her grandchildren, Montanari has received an outpouring of support from across Connecticut and beyond, including prayer groups in multiple states.

"She is the type of person where you feel like you’ve instantly made a friend when you meet her," the fundraiser reads.

Doctors are hopeful she may soon be brought out of sedation, but her long-term prognosis and cognitive recovery remain uncertain. The family is asking for continued prayers and community support as Montanari continues to fight.

The fundraiser can be found on GoFundMe here.

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Two seniors from the Ridgefield School of Dance will take the stage one last time as high school students during performances of "Four Seasons" on June 7 and 8 at Ridgefield High School.

Alexandra McCausland and Lauren Minor, both members of the studio’s pre-professional division, have trained at the school since their freshman year. While neither plans to pursue dance professionally, both intend to continue dancing while studying at the University of Connecticut this fall. McCausland will major in psychology, and Minor in environmental science.

McCausland began dancing at age 2 while living in London. Among her favorite roles was the Arabian solo in last year’s "Nutcracker." She also cited "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" as a personal highlight, describing it as a special experience due to the music and time shared with friends. In addition to ballet, she performed with the studio’s jazz company, which she said helped her grow as a dancer. “Dance is definitely a big commitment. Some weeks, it’s every day,” she said.

Minor started dancing in Wilton at age 3 and joined the Ridgefield studio in 2021, just as she was considering leaving the art form. She credited the school with reigniting her passion. Her favorite roles in this year’s "Nutcracker" included Mrs. Stahlbaum and the Sugar Plum Fairy. “It felt like a full circle moment as a senior and an apt way to conclude my many years of training,” she said. She also took modern and contemporary dance classes, which she said broadened her perspective and helped her become more flexible in her ballet technique.

Both students expressed gratitude for their teachers and the friendships they formed in the studio. “Ms. Jess is obviously an amazing teacher,” McCausland said of artistic director Jessica Boelts. Minor added that Boelts maintains high expectations but delivers feedback in an effective, supportive manner. She also praised instructor Jamie Rae for creating a space where students felt comfortable taking risks.

“Lauren and Alexandra have been a wonderful addition to our pre-professional division and we will miss their dedication and poise,” Boelts said. “They have both grown so much as dancers in these past years, and as always, we look forward to their return to dance when home in Ridgefield.”

Tickets for "Four Seasons" are available at online at the school's website or by calling 203-894-5957. The Ridgefield School of Dance is located at 66 Grove St.