I-95 Entertains and Informs Greater Danbury, Month in Review: May 2023
I am really proud of the work we're doing on the I-95 Morning Show.
We are telling a wide array of stories and sharing them in an easily digestible fashion. The show isn't just providing a laugh, we're sneakily documenting the history of the Greater Danbury area.
May was such a busy month, I decided to put together a month in review guide. Here's a look back at May 2023 in Greater Danbury.
Brookfield - May 9, 2023 - Tara Carr Announces She'll Run Again
You have big news I hear?
"I do, I have announced that I will be running for reelection. It's amazing that almost two years has gone by since I stuck my neck out there for this and here I am eighteen months in office and it's go time again. I made the decision, had to get it out there and I'm happy about it."
Ridgefield - May 9, 2023 - Ridgefield is the Least Boozy Town
The state of CT has come up with a program to combat the littering of nips. The program is called the "Nickel-per-Nip."
Nickel-per-Nip works like this, the state adds a 5 cent surcharge onto the sale of each of these bottles and every six months they give those nickels back to the town where the bottle was sold. Some of the cities/towns choose to use the money to put into anti-litter campaigns, others have teamed up with non-profit litter cleanup groups. The idea is to use the money to stop or cleanup the litter associated with these tiny bottles.
There is a fun side effect, we all get to see which towns & cities purchase the most "nips" in the State of CT. For the last 6 months (October 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023) that distinction goes to Bridgeport, CT who sold 1.6 million of them. Here is how the towns in the Greater-Danbury ranked from most nips to the least. These stats come from Beverage Journal.
1 - Danbury
- 882,607 nips sold
- $4,130 coming back to the city
2 - New Milford
- 391,019 nips sold
- $19,550 coming back to the town
3 - Bethel
- 197,734 nips sold
- $9,886 coming back to town
4 - Newtown
- 180,570 nips sold
- $9,028 coming back to town
5 - Brookfield
- 148,315 nips sold
- $7,415 coming back to town
6 - New Fairfield
- 75,001 nips sold
- $3,750 coming back to town
7 - Ridgefield
- 67,676 nips sold
- $3,383
Congrats Ridgefield! You're the least boozy town in Greater Danbury.
New Fairfield - May 11, 2023 - The Dangers of Squantz Pond
New Fairfield State Representative Pat Callahan is working to fix the problems that exist at Squantz Pond.
We asked Pat to join the I-95 Morning Show to explain what is wrong, the steps he's taken to fix the issues and do it in a way a child (me) could understand.
Locally, Squantz Pond has become a joke. It's been a problem for awhile but when did you identify that you were going to do something about this?
"Last summer on the busiest, warmest weekends I'd go up stand at the entrance and talk to park staff and then I spoke to the Board of Selectman in New Fairfield and the State Police. The poor guys and young ladies at the State Park trying to manage this are running around sweating saying please do something to control the walk-ins because we can't control the capacity, someone is going to get killed on the roadway so I started to talk to the Parks Department for the State. They said we have no regulation where we can do that, you have to do that. I said c'mon you created this situation because it's your state park. So, I was told this is what you have to do, I was told by other legislators, you're never going to get legislation through because someone always blocks it. Why? I don't know.
We told this story in two parts, May 11 was Part 1 and May 15 was Part 2.
Danbury - May 11, 2023 - The Hat Tricks Fall in a Hole
The Danbury Hat Tricks are in the Finals and playing for the Commissioner's Cup but they've dug themselves into an 0-2 hole in the best of five series after two road losses to Carolina.
Team President and co-owner Herm Sorcher joined the I-95 Morning Show and told us he believes they can overcome the deficit, saying:
"We gotta win on Friday, game time is 7:30 and I like our chances. We're an incredible team back at home. We play an exciting brand of hockey in this building, our fans I believe our fans are with us it's can't miss hockey, it's going to be an unreal night."
Danbury - May 15, 2023 - Danbury Hat Tricks Win the Whole Thing
The Danbury Hat Tricks overcame an 0-2 series deficit to the Carolina Thunderbirds to win 3 straights games and capture the FPHL Commissioner's Cup.
Just hours after the team had finished celebrating the cup, we spoke with Hat Tricks Head Coach Bill McCreary. We asked the coach how he felt, what the party was like and the Saturday night clock controversy, listen below.
It was a dramatic scene at the arena all weekend.
Check out the complete story here.
New Milford - May 18, 2023 - Infamous Gentleman's Club Returns to Town?
Now that Diner Luxe is closed in New Milord, folks are wondering what might take it's place. That intrigue built up to a fever pitch when residents reported seeing a sign that said Krazy Vin's coming soon on the outside of the building.
Krazy Vin's was a New Milford Gentleman's club back in the day and the sign created a lot of buzz around town. We asked New Milford Mayor Pete Bass about it when he joined the I-95 Morning Show on Wednesday (5/17/23).
The question that is top of mind in New Milford is, is Krazy Vin's going to be going into Diner Luxe anytime soon?
"So, Krazy Vin's, It was a great practical joke. For those that have been in New Milford for quite some time there was a gentleman's establishment here named Krazy Vin's that is no longer here for a number of years. Someone decided to put a sign up on Diner Luxe which currently entertaining some leased space there and it was a great joke. There were some people who took it for it being real. I had a lot of phone calls and texts and I just let them know that this was a practical joke and you know, it was very creative in design let's just say."
Danbury - May 19, 2023 - Let Them Eat Outside, Danbury's New Outdoor Dining Law
Danbury is embracing a new law allowing for outside dining and drinking Downtown.
Proponents believe this will help the restaurants in the Danbury provide an enhanced experience for their diners but not everyone is a fan. We spoke to Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito just hours after the news broke and we asked him about the law, here is what Esposito had to say.
What is the new law and what does it allow for?
"The new law is basically tightening up the easement across the sidewalk to give a better walking path. It gives these small businesses that we have here in Danbury, we saw during COVID we needed it, the outside dining. It definitely proved it's a good scenario so our zoning board approved the ability to continue doing that. I saw that article and I saw some of the comments and I have to tell you I disagree because enforcement is key and we always enforce the guidelines that are set by the city boards and commissions and it's going to be a good thing for our businesses here in Danbury. We're going to provide all the support we can to those businesses and we'll oversee the operation if there is a problem, we'll handle it."
Danbury - May 22, 2023 - Danbury Hat Tricks Celebrate Championship with Parade/Rally
The Danbury Hat Tricks topped the Carolina Thunderbirds in 5 games to capture the Commissioners Cup in the FPHL.
They join the Danbury Westerners, Glover Teixeira, and Alex Pereira who've all been crowned champions in the past 18 months, and winning it all culminates in a celebration. For the Hat Tricks, that party took place on Sunday (5/21/23) in the streets of the Hat City.
The Rabbits, their coaches and team personnel snaked their way through the city beginning at City Hall and ending at the Danbury green. The team took to the stage of the bandshell and delivered speeches to their fans from the podium.
Greater Danbury - POLL: Which Greater Danbury Grocery Store Has the Most Loyal Following?
We all want loyalty from our fellow humans, but it's never guaranteed and rarely shared. Brand loyalty is another story and not something I can really relate to. How could a person be so loyal to a company, business or brand that they're willing to put their own reputation on the line to promote it?
People love recommending businesses, products and services despite not having any incentive to do so. They'll say, "you gotta try it" or "you have to go there!" One of the things people seem to be the most passionate about are their grocery stores. We see it all the time on the I-95 Morning Show, whenever the topic of groceries comes up, the phones light up and the text messages flood in. People recommend their favorite place and share the best savings you can get from that place.
We ran an official poll to find out which Greater Danbury grocer has the most loyal following. https://poll.fm/12304467 These are the results as of May 27, 2023
237 people responded and these were the Top 5 grocery stores:
1 - Shop Rite - 27%
2 - Caraluzzi's - 19%
3 - Costco - 14%
4 - Stew Leonard's - 13%
5 - Trader Joe's - 5%
New Milford - May 24, 2023 - Comedy Legend Complains About NM from the Afterlife
There are few names in entertainment as revered as Joan Rivers.
She was a trailblazer for female entertainers and a comedian's comedian. Joan passed away in 2014 but her spirit lives on in the voices of the many comedians she's influenced.
Recently, I was digging around in the I-95 archives and found our old interview with Joan. At the time, I was living in New Milford, doing the radio show in the morning and Stand-up comedy on the weekends. Having Joan on the I-95 Morning Show was a treat then and it's even better now.
The interview you're about to hear happened in January of 2009. Joan came on the show to promote her upcoming book signing at the Book Nook and she could not help but take a few shots at New Milford. While talking about the book signing, Joan wondered why you can't get in or out of town, saying:
"Let me ask you, what happened to the railroad station that no trains go through anymore?"
She continued:
"You can't get out of New Milford. Nothing takes you out of New Milford, that's so sad if anybody wants to go into New York too see the Rockettes."
If you enjoyed this walk down memory lane, listen to our entire discussion with Joan below. In the interview she talks glowingly about the Book Nook, calls the internet stupid and says she's going to eat her dog if the recession continues.
Danbury - May 26, 2023 - Danbury Mayor Applauds PD After Shots Fired on Wildman Street
A SWAT team had been dispatched to a residence on Wildman Street in the Hat City on Wednesday (5/24/23).
Police were responding to a resident who was allegedly shooting out of his window. After what looked like a standoff, police were able to get inside and detain the man. No one was hurt in the incident. We spoke to Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito the following day (5/25/23) and asked about the incident.
Yesterday was a busy day for our police and fire folks. What happened over there on Wildman Street, was that guy having a mental break? He shot his gun out the window...
"Yeah, there was an issue over there obviously. Early in the morning we were down at a ceremony for the Police Department that we have annually, a memorial ceremony right next door in the park. All the sudden everybody ran, jumped in their cars and took off and I'm like what's going on? There was an incident over there on Wildman Street this guy was shooting outside his window or he took a couple of shots out the window. You know, the police went there an contained the area and made sure, through protocol because a lot of people were calling me. In fact, my sister was calling me and saying, what's going on on Wildman Street? I said there is a situation with a shooter and the police department has got the whole area contained and they talked him down obviously and got into the apartment and got him out. I don't know what his problems were at the time but there is an investigation ongoing but he was charged with discharging a firearm and different things."
There was a live stream of the incident from a local Portuguese Media outlet.
Ridgefield - May 26, 2023 - Ridgefield Playhouse Exec Shares Backstage Tales
The Ridgefield Playhouse and I-95 have had a longstanding and fruitful business relationship.
The Playhouse, it's leadership and staff have always been welcoming to us and we like to think we've been good to them as well.
Jared Shahid is the new Managing Director at the Ridgefield Playhouse but not a new face to us. Ethan and I have hung with him backstage, we've had him in the studio and he and I, even worked on a TV project together.
Jared is one of the best storytellers I know so we were delighted to invite him back on the show. Whenever he comes in, he brings tickets and stories for our audience. These are some of the amazing behind the scenes tales he shared with us on Thursday (5/25/23).
Dickey Betts
We asked Jared if there were any performers who caused the Playhouse staff any tension over the years, this was his response:
"I will say that Dickey Betts was that way. You know, we loved Dickey and he's still around but not performing. Dickey was that way because of his alcoholism. He was in really bad shape a handful of times at the Playhouse in a way that I thought the shows were not going to play. He couldn't stand up, he was throwing up all over the place before the show. Thirty minutes into the gig everybody is still waiting, it's 8:30, the show is supposed to start at 8:00. He's still on the bus not able to stand up, the tour manager runs in looking for towels, it's like OK this is not going well. The quick end to that is there is an extraordinary thing that happens with guys like that where they may not be wired to do much but they are wired to slay on the guitar. Dickey put his guitar on and something just changed, the guy went out and played his heart out. He could barely stand up, he was leaning against his kid but he was still playing everything. It took him a little while to get going but there he is, the muscle memory is there he's playing Blue Sky, it's all happening. Things like that, in that environment were really tough to be around and it was sad to be around but it's like this guy is a legend we don't want to not do the show, we want to have him. So, that was very dicey there, very touch and go."
Andrew Dice Clay
About 5 years ago, we had Andrew Dice Clay as a guest on the I-95 Morning Show and I've been pushing to get him back ever since. I've been working Jared on this for a week now, asking him about it repeatedly. This triggered a funny thought for Jared who told:
"We have a tough time getting ground transportation for Andrew Dice Clay because he chain smokes in the car. So, a lot of folks won't do it but he requires an actual limousine. He loves the limo, don't bring me a Town car and I don't want to see an SUV. I want the limo, he's old school. He's old-school big limo and he's just going to chain smoke the entire time."
Check out the complete article here which includes additional stories about Tommy Lasorda, Bernie Williams, Chazz Palminteri and Keith Richards.
SUPER FUN BONUS MATERIAL BELOW:
I-95 - May 25, 2023 - Danbury Morning Show Interviews Owner of Mysterious Skinwalker Ranch
The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch is a hit documentary TV series for the History Channel that is entering it's 4th season on the air. The show chronicles the mission to uncover the truth behind the unexplained phenomenon that have taken place at Utah's Skinwalker Ranch.
The Ranch has been a hot bed for UFO and paranormal activity as far back as written records will go. The Ranch isn't just a hot spot for the Uintah Basin, it's one of the world's most active regions for inexplicable events. UFO sightings, cattle mutilations and flash radiation poisonings are just part of daily life on the ranch.
Recently we got to speak to one of the cast members of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch, Brandon Fugal. Fugal is a real estate tycoon and the owner of the ranch. Mr. Fugal purchased the property from the elusive and mysterious aerospace mogul Robert Bigelow.
Fugal joined us on the Wednesday (5/24/23) edition of the I-95 Morning Show to promote the new TV season. Fugal began his story by telling us:
"I had my own UFO sighting that changed my entire perspective and turned my life upside down as a result."
What is your UFO story?
"I owned the property for 6 months, between April and October of 2016, visiting every couple of weeks for briefings to meet with the team and had no strange episode or activity. And then on October 14th of 2016 I ended up witnessing what could only be described as a silver, grayish UFO. A flying disc that could change position instantaneously and appeared right there in broad daylight right above the Mesa Plateau in front of us. There were multiple witnesses at my side, that day we also witnessed everything from electromagnetic anomalies, our smart phones being drained from 80% to zero and also one individual in particular, rendered catatonic. All of those strange events that immediately preceded the appearance of the UFO, right there in front of us were intriguing and it all changed my perspective. It has propelled my investigation since."
Listen to the entire interview with Brandon Fugal here.
I-95 - May 4, 2023 - Danbury Morning Show Interviews Steven Seagal's Number 1 Enemy
They say social media is a waste of precious time but "they" don't have a radio show and "they" don't write pointless articles.
Instagram and Tik Tok are show prep sources that just keep giving and giving and giving. My biggest problem with these apps is I don't have enough hours in the day to collect all of this material, so I have to prioritize.
Recently I saw a video from a woman named Joanne and getting in touch with her became priority #1. You see, Joanne was making insanely detailed arguments about how Steven Seagal stinks. Dunking on Seagal has always been a hobby of mine but Joanne took her game to the professional level.
@geauxanne The Saga of Steven Seagal on his Seventy-First birthday. Part one. #stevenseagal #badmen #aikido #greenscreen #fyp ♬ original sound - Jo
I was able to get in touch with her through her Tik Tok @geauxanne and we arranged an interview. Below are some of the highlights of that chat on the I-95 Morning Show.
Why the hate?
"First of all, I don't understand why anybody ever liked him. I find him absolutely fascinating, I have a psychology background and there is nobody better to practice on than Steven Frederick Segal."
I learned this from watching your videos, is it true his name is not pronounced the way we think?
"So, not it's actually pronounced Sea-GUL and he changed it to Su-GAL when he saw a Chagall exhibit at a museum and thought it would be cooler. That is actually from him, I think that is only one of the only truths he's ever spoken."
Read the entire article and hear everything Joanne had to say here.
Shelton - May 16, 2023 - Is This Shelton Road Haunted?
Shelton is a small city in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
According to the 2020 Census, Shelton is home to roughly 40,000 people, that's forty thousand that have been accounted for. Some believe that Shelton is also home to a small, mysterious group known as the "Melon Heads" that live on a haunted stretch of Saw Mill City Road along the Means Brook Reservoir.
Who or what the Melon Heads are is a matter of debate. Those that believe in them, share varying versions of the same story. Some people believe the Melon Heads are mutants, other say they are escaped mental patients and another group will tell you they are inbred.
I gathered a butt load of information on Saw Mill City Road and the Melon Heads so you can decide for yourself.
Only In Your State writes:
"Some say they see the Melon Heads hunched over at the reservoir, drinking. Kids playing in the woods hear them breathing behind them, or worse: they make direct eye contact with their deformed and spooky faces. Some say the Melon Heads place dead deer in the road to try and cause accidents, or may spook you by waiting just around a road's curve.
Mahopac, NY - May 1, 2023 - How to Correctly Pronounce Mahopac
Mahopac is a Hamlet of Carmel located in Putnam County, NY.
Ken Schmitt served as Town Supervisor the community for 14 years, so if anyone should be able to answer questions about Carmel or Mahopac, he'd be the guy. We needed help with an age old query about the Hamlet so we asked him to be a guest on the I-95 Morning Show. Schmitt joined us on Thursday (4/27/23) edition of the program and we asked what we thought was a simple question.
The proper pronunciation of Mahopac, NY has been a matter of great debate for decades.
Is it MAYO-pack of Mu-Ho-pack? This is what Schmitt had to say:
"Well, it depends on who you talk to. If you speak to the residents who have been here for many years including myself, it's generally spoken as Mu-Ho-Pac. The newer residents who've been here probably 25, 30 years, they pronounce it MAYO-pac. So, it's acceptable either way but it all depends on who you're speaking with and how they want to pronounce it. I accept it either way sometimes I may pronounce it Mu-Ho-Pac other times I may say MAYO-pac. Either way, it works for me and it works for the residents also."
CT - May 22, 2023 - Expert Agrees New Bear Law is Best for State
A new Connecticut law will allow for residents to kill black bears if they feel they are in danger.
According to FOX 61, "The state senate voted 31 to 3 Thursday evening in favor of the bill. It would allow for the killing of bears if a person or a pet was in danger and for farmers to receive permits to kill bears that pose a threat to their crops or livestock."
On Friday (5/19/23) we asked our animal expert Jen the Zookeeper Kotkin to join us on the I-95 Morning Show and get her opinion on the law. This is a transcript of that conversation.
The CT Senate voted in favor of a bill that would allow for bears to be killed if folks feel that they are in danger, their kids are in danger, their animals are in danger, what do you think?
"It's going to be a fine line of he said, she said. I do believe that this law is necessary, in my own personal opinion I think DEEP is trying to do what's best for the animal and to protect the people I think it's a good compromise between the two. It's just to protect the people if they feel like the animal is a nuisance, it's good for farmers if they feel like their livestock is being threatened of their bees actually if people have bees on their property and they feel like the bears are trying to steal their honey. It's a good way for people to feel safe but on the flip side just like we've seen, there are people out there that quote, unquote feel like they are threatened and go around shooting bears. It will be interesting here, it's a very fuzzy area."
No one is going to jump up and give the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Show any awards or credit for the work we're doing and that is fine. The fact remains there is no one painting a more complete, entertaining and human picture of life in Greater Danbury. It's not possible and it's not happening. If you love the local area, you need to be listening to our show or podcast.
Check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Show Podcast on Apple and Spotify.
7 Outdoor Destinations Await for a CT Adventure
More From WRKI and WINE
