Danbury School Extends Hand to Ukraine in Time of Great Need

Russia's attack of Ukraine has the economy in shambles and the world on edge, as they ignore sanctions and defy the orders of free nations, Ukrainians are suffering.

Being a resident of Danbury, and knowing the people as well as I do, I knew I'd be getting a call soon. One of the many giving souls of Danbury, was bound to ask "how can we help?" That call came on Tuesday (3/8/22) from Emanuela Palmares.

Emanuela is a Danbury activist/politician and I'm proud to call her a friend of the Ethan & Lou Radio Show on I-95.

When Emanuela calls, I answer because she's always doing good for her community, and in this case, the world. She wanted to know if I could help get the word out, about an effort being organized in Danbury to assist Ukrainians.

The Danbury initiative is called "Help for Ukraine", being organized by the Saint Joseph School in Danbury. Those who are willing to help can do so in person, or online. Help for Ukraine is a drive that is, and will continue to collect care packages for Ukranian women and children, particularly ones that have escaped into Poland.

The pre-filled bags will be sent to frontline workers in Poland who are caring for these brave Ukrainian refugees as they cross the border. The drive is on now, and running until March 18. Here is what Saint Joseph School is looking to collect:

Purses for women filled with lotion lip balms deodorant feminine hygiene products shampoo hair brushes ties toothbrushes first aid supplies winter gloves and hats flashlights socks.
Baby bags filled with wipes, bottles, diapers, blankets, rash creams, socks, burp cloths, nursing covers, pacifiers, baby spoons and bibs, baby toothbrushes, changing pads, sanitizing wipes.
Children's backpacks filled with books, small toys, fidgets, crafts, coloring books, crayons, socks, winter mittens and hats, underwear, undershirts, and travel pillows.

They also will need to gather enough money to cover shipping costs for the items. To contribute to this wonderful, international drive, you can visit http://danbury4ukraine.givesmart.com or text danbury4ukraine to 76278

Contributions for shipping costs are greatly appreciated. Saint Joseph School & Parish will send all monetary donations after shipping costs to the Municipal Social Welfare Center in Walbrzych, Poland, to help buy food and other necessities for the refugees.

While they hope to cover all the shipping, the main focus is on gathering enough items. Please help and do whatever you can to help Saint Joseph School compile a generous gift to the women and children of Ukraine at http://danbury4ukraine.givesmart.com or text danbury4ukraine to 76278

If you'd like to make and in-person donation, you can do that Saint Joseph Church at 8 Robinson Avenue during the following time periods:

SAT. MAR. 19TH, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
SUN., MAR. 20TH, 8 AM - 2 PM & 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

For more information, contact Megan at advancement@sjsdanbury.org.

P.S. Never one to take undue credit, Emanuela messaged me after the article published and sent the following note:

"You are the best!!! Lou could you just mention Megan Cerullo Director, Advancement and Marketing President, PTO School Board she is the one organizing the after and asked me to help."

The Trail of the Whispering Giants Runs Cold in CT

Mike Allen is I-95's former News Director and a brilliant researcher. On Tuesday January 11, 2022 he was our guest, on I-95's the Ethan & Lou Morning Show, as he is every week. Mike guides us through a segment we call "The Place You Live." The feature is a deep dive, into a piece of Connecticut history. Allen researches and presents these stories for our audience in a way, no one else can. The most recent story was called "The Trail of the Whispering Giants."

This past summer (2021) Mike Allen went on a vacation to Ocean City, Maryland and saw an exquisite and massive art installation. It was a 30 foot statue, resting on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, carved out of wood and depicting the face of a Native-American with tears coming down it's cheek.

He went to read the plaque and learned that this wonderful work of art, is one of fifty, with one in every state in America. The series of statues is called "The Trail of the Whispering Giants" and the artist behind the work is a man named Peter Toth. (PHOTOS BELOW)

After reading the statue's plaque, Mike's journalistic instincts kicked in and he began investigating Peter, and the project. Allen reached out to Toth who lives in Florida and operates an outdoor art gallery/museum.

He asked Toth what his inspiration was for the project? Why put a massive Native-American face in every state in the country? Allen relayed some of his conversation with Toth saying, "He was born in Hungary and his parents had their land taken by Russian Communists and he says, his family became refugees and he said he can absolutely empathize with the plight of the Native-Americans and he wanted to make sure people understood what Native Americans have gone through."

Let's backup, I may have buried the lead, because there is a mysterious element to the story, that involves Connecticut. You see, before Allen went in search of the artist, he first went looking for the CT "Trail of the Whispering Giants" statue.

After some internet research Allen learned that the statue was originally installed in Groton, CT but was listed as missing which intrigued him to no end. He kept digging for clues and found one "obscure" website that had one clue, a photo.

The photograph was of the statue itself, "wrapped up in a sky blue tarp" laying in what he could only describe as a "statue crib." Underneath the photo there was a caption that read Jerry Olson has this, he's holding onto it because it rotted and they are hoping to get repairs done. But, if you contact him, he'll take the tarp off so you can see it.

This was the only clue Allen had and he knew what his next mission was, find out more about Jerry Olson. First Mike called the phone number that was listed under the photo and got an answering machine for the Olde Mistick Village. Allen says he left a message and no one got back to him.

Mike would later come to learn that Olde Mistick Village was a destination location that was the brainchild of Jerry Olson's father. He also would come to find out that Jerry Olson had a twin sister named Joyce, who was the current manager of Olde Mistick Village. He was also able to gather, that the original site for the CT statue was in front of the Groton Public Library.

At this point he'd gathered a lot of information but still doesn't know for sure who is in possession of the statue, and he's not spoken with Jerry or Joyce. When men can't find things, what do they usually do? That's right, they ask their wife and that is precisely what Allen did.

Mike asked his wife Yvonne what to do, she happens to be a librarian and told him to reach out the Groton Public Library, he did that and learned even more. Mike spoke to Jennifer Miele, the Director of the Groton Public Library and she had more leads for him.

Miele confirmed to Allen, that the Groton Public Library was the original site for the CT "Trail of Whispering Giants" statue. She also explained that the statue was taken down and placed in storage after people began to worry it would fall on someone. Mike was stalled out again when he learned Miele didn't know where it was stored.

Enter Peter Toth. Yes, we made it back to Peter but sadly, he didn't know where the statue was either. Toth explained that if Allen could find it, he'd be happy to get involved with the statue's restoration.

Mike was back to square one looking for Jerry Olson and using the first phone number he had, he called again. Allen told us "sure enough a woman picks up the phone." Mike introduced himself, the woman introduced herself and he's now speaking with Jerry Olson's sister Joyce.

Allen shared the story of his search for the statue and asked to speak to Jerry, and after a moment of silence, Joyce told Allen that Jerry passed away three years ago. After sharing his deep regret, Allen asked Joyce if she knew what happened to the CT "Whispering Trail" statue and he says, she replied by saying "I don't know what you're talking about." The call ended soon after but Mike was in no position to give up. He'd come this far and his years of journalism experience taught him he was onto something.

The part I found most intriguing about Mike's journey, was the part he couldn't or wouldn't tell us. Allen said "I can't tell you exactly who I called and what I did but I had come to find out that there were some people I needed to speak to."

Doing whatever it was, he could not tell us, led Mike to two former Groton Town Managers. The first was a man named Ron who told Allen the statue was there when he left office. Ron put Mike in touch with his successor, a man named Mark.

Mark told Allen that the core of the statue had rotted out, so for safety reasons, they took it down and gave it to the Department of Public Works. They held it for awhile but when they needed more space they made arrangements to give it to, you guessed it, Jerry Olson.

According to Mark, Olson kept the statue in his maintenance garage in Olde Mistick Village. Allen followed up, and spoke to the former Director of Public Works. That person confirmed they did give the statue to Jerry Olson.

Armed with a lot of information indicating Jerry Olson had this statue at some point, Allen called Joyce back and shared what he learned. Allen told Joyce, what he'd been told and asked to speak to Joyce's son Chris who manages the grounds at Olde Mistick Village. Chris got on the phone, Allen asked about the statue and according to Mike he said, "yeah, we've got it."

Finally, Mike Allen knows where the statue is, and he's talked to almost everyone who has ever been involved with it, now what? Now the trail starts to reassemble itself. Chris told Allen the statue was in really bad shape so Mike called the artist Peter Toth. They arranged a conference call for all the involved parties. Based on what Mike told us, that conversation is taking place today (1/13/21).

Furthermore, the Town of Groton has gotten involved, a Town Councilperson has told Allen they will introduce a resolution to get the statue restored. Allen said after the conference call, he'll be stepping aside and leaving the rest to the Town of Groton and the other involved parties.

So, the "Trail of the Whispering Giants" ran cold in CT but Mike Allen heated things up and it's looking like, a happy ending is coming. A wonderful piece of art, with an important message will be fixed, put back where it belongs and a CT town will be reunited with a piece of it's history.

So, what about the artist, Peter Toth? Peter is not done creating thought provoking works of art. There are 50 "Whispering Trail" statues and he's done an additional 24 worldwide for a grand total of 74 statues. His 75th project, is one he's very much looking forward to. Toth said he intends to build a statue of an angel (artist rendering below), and install it on the banks of the Amazon River, on the edge of the Amazon Forest.

Toth told Allen this will be done as a reminder that the Amazon cleans and purifies the air that we breathe. Toth has already reached out to a notable Brazilian Chief about the project. Mike was in awe of Toth's brilliant artwork and life perspective and called him a "genius' several times during our discussion.

If you missed our live segment of the "Trail of the Whispering Giants", you can go back and listen to it on the Ethan and Lou Show Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, the I-95 Website and the I-95 Rock Mobile app.

Mike also has his own podcast where he presented additional information on the "Trail of the Whispering Giants." The podcast is called "Amazing Tales from Off and On Connecticut‘s Beaten Path" and is available wherever you get podcasts.

Some of the Best Danbury Area Brunch Spots According to Expert 'Brunchers'

My wife Erica has been to more brunches in the last month, than you've probably been to in the last four years and I'm no slouch either. This is one of the ways we like to treat ourselves, and an activity we both love.

So, we've had the meals, drank to the bottom of the bottomless mimosa barrel and now we present to you, Some of our Favorite Danbury area brunch spots.

Former Brewster Bar Now a Popular Gourmet Bakery Called 'General Bakeshop'

Back in April of 2021, I noticed some signs of life in a building I, and so many other Brewster people are familiar with. Construction was underway at a former bar known as “Norm’s.” Right around that time, I wrote an article about the bar’s history and looked forward to see what would come of the space. The building recently began it’s new chapter and I had to go down and check out the new General Bakeshop to see how the work came out and how the food was.

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