A Mercurial Fireworks Display
By Robert Rae
More BOOM inside… Photographs by Lenny Hankins and Joe Yunckes
Hearthstone Castle Renovation On the Move
Robert Rae
by Maryjo Siergiej Hearthstone Castle, a staple of Danbury’s Tarrywile Park which has fallen into extreme disrepair over the years, has recently been picked up for renovation fundraising by Danbury resident Judy Durkin. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton’s office put together a task force in 2008… Read more »
The Last Video Store Standing
Robert Rae
by Kristin Hankins Diana and Naldo of Ultimate Video in Brookfield, Connecticut have been in the video business for about 30 years. “We’ve had other stores in Danbury, but we’ve been in Brookfield for about 18 years,” said Naldo in an interview. Located in a… Read more »
The Danbury 11 Paper Trail
Robert Rae
by Al Robinsonfrom the HatCityBLOG NEARLY FIVE YEARS AGO, the group of day laborers known as the “Danbury 11″ were arrested in what many people consider to be an illegal sting. The arrest may have been a violation of their rights to proper treatment and… Read more »
Danbury Gets Another Art Gallery
Robert Rae
by Mike Ripollone Upon looking through the glass window of Art and Frame of Danbury, one realizes it is much more than a simple framing shop. Rustically styled art shows the influence of nature in the shop’s upcoming gallery grand opening, scheduled for Saturday, June… Read more »
Incarcerated Voices
Robert Rae
by Amanda Bloom and Lisa Marie Ackerly The Garner Correctional Institution is an all-male level four high-security state prison in Newtown, Connecticut. Here, inmates are serving anywhere from two to 100 year sentences – a total of 648 inmates as of the beginning of 2011. … Read more »
A Museum of Many Hats
Robert Rae
by Allie McConnellphotos by Catherine Vanaria There is something in the air: feathers, ribbons, curlicues, bows… From the royal wedding to New York charity galas, women’s hats have captured the popular imagination. The Danbury Museum adds to the zeitgeist with its new exhibit, “Magnificent Millinery”,… Read more »
Another Business Deterred from Danbury
Robert Rae
by Amanda Bloom “John will have a brewery – depending on where it is, that’s the question.” This is what Mark Tambascio, owner of My Place Restaurant and Tap Room in Newtown, Connecticut, has to say about award-winning homebrewer John Watson. Danbury was one place… Read more »
Invasion of the Noise Bazookas
Robert Rae
by Aurelio Muraca There is something sinister in town. A buzzing menace if you will, popping up without warning. The nicer, more beautiful the day, the longer the onslaught; sometimes the rain drives it away, but not always. The invader’s look is unassuming and ordinary,… Read more »
Danbury’s Dr. Doolittle
Robert Rae
by Kristin Hankins Mary Reynolds is to Danbury, Connecticut as Saint Francis is to Assisi. The 79-year-old has spent most of her life helping animals in need. From horses to birds to cats, Reynolds has cared for each with love and respect. by Kristin… Read more »
The Porthole, April 2011
Robert Rae
A window into Greater Danbury and beyond – April 2011. A window into Greater Danbury and beyond. Submit your photos to The Porthole: editor@themercurial.com.Include your name, town of residence and where you took the photo. Amanda Bloom… Read more »
Zombies for Higher Education
Robert Rae
by Leah Glazer “Forget brains! We want knowledge!” That’s the tagline for the Zombie Walk, an undertaking of Western Connecticut State University’s campus radio station, 91.7 WXCI. The walk, set for Saturday, May 7 at 4pm, is meant to inform and awaken students as… Read more »
I Love the Library
Robert Rae
by Maryjo Siergiej Between January and February of 2011, 32,824 people walked through its doors. Additionally, 12,606 adult books were checked out, the computers were used 7,908 times, and 35 programs were held for adults, teens, and children. So continues the monthly cycle of the… Read more »
Discuss Danbury with the Mayor on Select Saturdays
Robert Rae
from the Mayor’s Office Mayor Mark Boughton is again inviting Danbury residents to join him once a month for an open discussion regarding Danbury. Saturdays with the Mayor will take place every third Saturday of the month at city hall. from the Mayor’s Office … Read more »
Turmoil in the State School System
Robert Rae
by Joshua L. Durkin A bill introduced by Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy has rankled people in and around the Connecticut State University System for months. The bill calls for the restructuring of the state school system, a 10 percent cut to the state school… Read more »
Senior Citizens Will Bear the Burden of Main Street Post Office Closure
Robert Rae
by Dave Bonan A number of downtown Danbury businesses have recently closed their doors, and now there is discussion of the Main Street Post Office following suit. The closure would leave only the main Backus Avenue branch on the West Side of Danbury in operation…. Read more »
A New Direction For Danbury, part 2
Robert Rae
by Joshua L. Durkin A RENAISSANCE is a period of reinvigoration, of renewed interest. In our time of economic woes, change is needed on all levels of society. That’s precisely what the Main Street Renaissance Task Force envisions. In the coming years, there will be… Read more »
Danbury Settles Lawsuit and Unsettles Doubt
Robert Rae
by Joshua L. Durkin NEARLY FIVE YEARS AGO, the group of day laborers known as the “Danbury 11″ were arrested in what many people consider to be an illegal sting. The arrest may have been a violation of their rights to proper treatment and non-racially… Read more »
Car-Free Celebration to Benefit Inner City Youth Center
Robert Rae
by Amanda Bloom In honor of a decade’s worth of getting around without a car, Danbury cyclist Dave Bonan is celebrating with a weekend of music, dance and plastic bike sleeves taped above urinals. Bonan’s 10th annual Car-free Bicycle Anniversary will take place at Heirloom… Read more »
Project Sends Fun Baskets to Children in Need
Robert Rae
by Amanda Bloom The Western Connecticut Business Volunteer Council (BVC) is now taking commitments for their 14th annual Spring Buddy Basket Project, a charitable project that distributes springtime activity baskets to low income pre-school children. The BVC has been joining forces with other local organizations… Read more »
Hockey Cereal, III
Robert Rae
A Danbury Whaler’s Serial, part 3by Mikey Lisek The second Coaches’ Show was in December. I showed up early at Two Steps. No one was there when I arrived. I set up the mixer and microphone I had bought so the sound would come through… Read more »
The Week in Brief: “Danbury 11″ Settlement, Flooding, Sherman Alexie & Video Game Rock
Robert Rae
by Joshua L. Durkin It’s been an eventful and waterlogged week. Governor Dannel Malloy visited flood-damaged New Milford, the hot immigration case of “The Danbury 11″ reached a pricey settlement and the Mega Man rock opera by The Protomen returned to Heirloom Arts Theatre. Also,… Read more »
The Flood
Robert Rae
Your photos from this week’s floods. Lenny Hankins – Kent Falls, Kent John Watson Doug Calderone – Stevenson Dam Dave Bonan – Jensen’s… Read more »
Hockey Cereal, II
Robert Rae
A Danbury Whaler’s Serial, part 2 by Mikey Lisek As the season pushed into full gear, the Whalers were unstoppable on home ice. All through November, no one could stop them with their loyal fans backing them up. On the road was a different experience…. Read more »
Murphy’s Telephone Town Hall
Robert Rae
by Joshua L. Durkin “This is a telephone town hall,” said Congressman Chris Murphy (5 D-Conn.) as he began his teleconference on March 1, 2011. by Joshua L. Durkin “This is a telephone town hall,” said Congressman Chris Murphy (5 D-Conn.) as he began… Read more »