Blog Archives
Give Your Home a Makeover with New Windows from Elite Construction Group
BROOKFIELD, CT—With Spring weather on the way, many homeowners are
beginning to think about improvements to their home’s exterior. Upgrading to vinyl
siding, adding new windows and doors, and a new roof can boost your property value by
tens of thousands of dollars, according to experts in the field. Inflation is now at the highest level since the 1980s, according to experts, supply chain issues due to Covid, and the cost of materials skyrocketing, making home improvements might be the last thing on a person’s mind. However, David Alger, owner of Elite Construction Group in Brookfield, said now is not the time to neglect your biggest investment—your home.
“Leaving an old, worn-out roof for too long can lead to major, expensive problems down
the road,” Alger stated. “A leaky roof can cause water damage with water working its
way down to your windows and siding. This could be very costly to repair and cause
structural damage as well.” Alger said.
His in-house design team works with all budgets in mind to create a cost-effective plan
for homeowners to improve their homes from windows to doors to roofs and more. One
of the best ways to start on home improvements when trying to increase a home’s
energy efficiency, while also adding a fresh new aesthetic and some curb appeal, is by
adding new windows.
According to Charlotte Reach of Hunker Design, trends in windows for 2022 include arched and circular windows and floor-to-ceiling windows with accents that pop in an all-white room.
“More homeowners are using their homes to show off their individuality. It makes sense, as people have gone from having to be home to wanting to be at home in an environment that expresses their personalities and individual tastes. Since no one could travel [during quarantine], homeowners had to bring those experiences into their homes.”
Alger said that adding modern windows offer better insulation, which makes it easier for your heating and cooling system to keep your home energy efficient.
“If your energy bills are skyrocketing, replacing the windows in your home might be the solution to more savings down the road,” said Alger.
For more information on how you can turn your home living space work better for you and your family, contact David Alger at Elite Construction Group”: (203) 648-9995 or David@eliteegroup.com.
*This is a sponsored post. To learn more about your business being featured on CT Buzz News, please email CTBuzzNews@gmail.com.
Brookfield Arts Commission Announces Addition to ‘Shorts & to the Point’ Film Festival
BROOKFIELD, CT—Brookfield has a long history in the film community and has held the “Shorts & to the Point” short film festival for 14 years running. This year, the Brookfield Arts Commission (BAC) is expanding their offerings with the addition of a regional screening of shorts by local, indie filmmakers.
Commission member Jeremy Farrell said, “We could not be more excited to take this opportunity to highlight up and coming filmmakers from our corner of the world! The entire Arts Commission is looking forward to seeing all of the amazing submissions and showing the best to the wonderful folks of Brookfield and beyond.”
On April 2, 2022 the Commission will host a lovely Saturday afternoon viewing of short films by independent filmmakers. Filmmakers residing in Connecticut and its bordering states of Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island, or films having been shot in these states, are invited to submit to the screening.
The “Regional Indie Afternoon” will be a wonderful addition to the “Shorts & to the Point” Brookfield Film Festival which is scheduled to run in the Brookfield Theatre, April 1-3, 2022. The BAC looks forward to highlighting the works of independent filmmakers alongside more established filmmakers. Filmmakers accepted to the festival are also invited to be part of a Q&A panel discussion immediately following the screening. If you are an independent filmmaker who makes short films, they want to hear from you!
Submissions were opened on December 1st, and the submission deadline is March 1, 2022. To learn more, visit https://filmfreeway.com/ShortsandtothePoint and feel free to reach out to brookfieldartscommissionct@gmail.com with any questions.
For more information regarding Regional Indie Afternoon, please contact Jeremy Farrell at jeremykf60@gmail.com.
Westport Writers Workshop Offers Zoom & In-Person Classes for Writers of All Skill Levels
WESTPORT, CT—The Westport Writers Workshop (WWW) is offering a combination of online and in person classes this winter at their brand new space, located at 25 Sylvan Lane, Unit J, Westport, CT just down the road from their former location. Executive Director Liz Matthews stated that their new location features a gallery-like space with a large workshop/community space that enables them to collaborate with other local arts organizations.
Their Winter Workshops begin the week of January 10th and open registration is being held now through January 10th. Classes are limited to even participants to allow for helpful critiques from instructors and fellow writers. With over 100 workshops a year to choose from, WWW welcomes writers of all skill levels and genres with classes and workshops that are designed to suit any schedule, with options in the morning, afternoons, and evenings. Saturday-only workshops and one-week writing-intensive programs are also held at various times throughout the year.
Several of their winter workshops include playwriting, screenwriting, fiction, memoir, poetry, and the classes listed below:
Veteran writer Christine Pakkala will teach Writing About Your Life: Memoir for beginner to intermediate writers which focuses on the craft of writing about our own lives in either the personal essay or memoir form. They’ll explore the elements of storytelling that apply to fiction and memoir, as well as memoir’s unique role in making sense of life experience through reflection. Writers will receive feedback in an encouraging atmosphere.
“Our aim is to create a community of writers who support one another by practicing deep listening, compassionate responses, and thoughtful feedback. We recognize that writing is a risky endeavor and that sharing what we write in a workshop setting requires courage. As a community, we support one another in that endeavor by offering rigorous support and a gentle critique,” Pakkala said.
Intro to Screenwriting with Kate Montgomery introduces aspiring writers to the unique craft of screenwriting. Attendees will learn formatting, story structure, character development,dialogue, pacing, and the three secret ingredients to every successful screenplay. Each class is a fun, fast-paced mix of short lectures, group and individual writing exercises, and table reads with course materials you cna keep to reference later.
For those who are into poetry, Charles Rafferty offers students the opportunity to learn about the genre from a poet whose work was published in The New Yorker, Ploughshares, The Southern Review, and O — Oprah Magazine. Each week, participants will share a poem, and the instructor will lead a discussion of the manuscript, highlighting what is working well and suggesting ways to improve it.
For more course offerings this winter and to register, visit the Westport Writers Workshop website. The Westport Writers’ Workshop is an independent literary arts center offering enriching, supportive creative writing classes, as well as literary readings to the local public in Connecticut. Their organization also provides free writing workshops to underserved populations in their own communities. To learn more, visit the WWW SCHOLARSHIPS and SUPPORT US pages.
About Westport Writers Workshop:
Since 2003, the Westport Writers’ Workshop has been offering workshops for every level of writer, from novice to published! Our instructors offer friendly, supportive writing workshops designed to encourage, inspire, and spark your imagination.
With over 100 workshops a year to choose from, we welcome writers of all skill levels and genres. Our workshops are designed to suit your schedule, with options in the morning, afternoons, and evenings. We also host several Saturday-only workshops and one-week writing-intensive programs throughout the year. You can learn more about our workshops by visiting our WORKSHOP page. Let Westport Writers’ Workshop help you discover and develop your own unique writing talent and voice.
Our Philosophy: You can expect a supportive group led by an experienced instructor. You’ll write, read, and learn from each other. Focus is always on the quality of the writing – not on the subject matter. Writing begets writing. The more you commit to your writing, to showing up for your writing group, the more you will write. By joining a community of writers, you will become a stronger writer and influence others to refine their craft. Our philosophy and practices are inspired by Amherst Writers & Artists and Pat Schneider’s book, Writing Alone and With Others.
Our Mission: The Westport Writers’ Workshop is an independent literary arts center offering enriching, supportive creative writing classes, as well as literary readings to the local public. Our organization also provides free writing workshops to underserved populations in their own communities.
Our History: In 2003, Jessica Bram founded Westport Writers’ Workshop. In 2010, Jessica moved the workshops into the second floor of the historic building on 3 Sylvan Rd. South in Westport. In 2013, Valerie Leff bought WWW and became the Director. In 2014, Valerie created a Board of Directors and transformed the business into a nonprofit with a mission to offer enriching, supportive creative writing classes, as well as literary readings to the local public, and free writing workshops to underserved populations in their own communities. In 2018, Michelle Bradley came on board as the Executive Director, and in summer 2019 when Michelle’s family was transferred to Chicago, Liz Matthews took over as the Director. In March of 2020 with the onset of COVID-19, the workshops transitioned to the Zoom platform and were offered remotely. The organization grew to include writers and instructors outside of our immediate community.
Turn Your Basement Into a Home Office/Game Room with a Custom Remodel from Elite Construction Group
BROOKFIELD, CT—With the work-from-home trend continuing to take our nation by storm in the wake of COVID-19, many contractors are busier than they’ve ever been. According to Rick Welday of Forbes, “71% of office workers were doing their job from home all or most of the time last year. Additionally, nearly 93% of school-aged students reported some form of distance learning during 2020. These are huge numbers that underscore the drastic ways in which we’ve had to adapt technologically as the state of the world changed around us.” (Pew Research Center).
With the rise of work-from-home parents and learn-from-home students, finding space in the home where children and their parent employees can focus at the same time, under the same roof, is crucial to both of their success. With many families having several children and one or two work-from-home parents, finding a quiet space to concentrate can be quite a challenge.
So how are families solving the noise/space issue in their homes? Enter in David Alger, owner of *Elite Construction Group. “Now more than ever we’ve seen an increase in people rethinking their home living spaces. From home offices, to renovating a basement or garage and turning it into an office, family room or a den, we’ve seen it all. This trend is not going away any time soon.”
Alger and his team of designers, carpenters, and home remodeling crews have been busy churning out top quality family rooms, home offices, attic space makeovers and more to accommodate the rising demand.
“Businesses are trending towards having employees work from home even after the pandemic has passed because the cost in doing so is beneficial. This shift in the market has prompted some homeowners to consider major home renovations to develop these additional spaces in their home—whether it’s refinishing a basement, creating an office space in a large room, or a small addition.”
“More than a year into the pandemic, more than 56% of American workers are still working remotely, with 41% fully remote. This represents a 44% increase from prior to the pandemic. And of those continuing to work remotely, 82% hope to continue to work from home at least one day a week or more in the future. These sentiments are presenting a challenge to return-to-office strategies as companies look to retain their employees. In fact, many employees have expressed that they would look for a new job if they were no longer allowed to work where they choose,” Welday stated.
For more information on how you can turn your home living space work better for you and your family, contact David Alger at Elite Construction Group”: (203) 648-9995 or David@eliteegroup.com.
*This is a sponsored post. To learn more about your business being featured on CT Buzz News, please email CTBuzzNews@gmail.com.
Photo credit: Rendon VA
JJ Stacks is Building Taste in Brookfield One Double-Decker at a Time
BROOKFIELD, CT—If you need an excuse to eat a hearty and delicious double-decker burger or sandwich today, JJ Stack’s got you covered! The newly opened Brookfield eatery boasts mouthwatering burgers, hot dogs, hand cut fries and much more. Owners Joe Attonito and Joe Acocella opened the unique eatery in late August and have been going full steam ahead ever since.
Attonito was the owner/operator of the former Tiger’s Den Sports Bar in Ridgefield, and has over 28 years of experience in the industry, started our as a bus boy and working his way up through the ranks.
“Currently I work in sales, selling food to restaurants, but was itching to get back in. This to me is like sort of some unfinished business when my previous restaurant closed abruptly after years of struggle,” Attonito said.
Acocella, on the other hand, is a restaurant newbie, but is dedicated to learning the business and becoming a bigger part of the day-to-day operations he said.
The dynamic duo said they were originally going to open a food truck but then came across this opportunity and they couldn’t refuse the chance to make something uniquely theirs and thus JJ Stacks was born. The restaurant got its name when Joe Acocella combined their first initials and the restaurant concept of their triple decker sandwiches.
Attonito said he chose to open in Broofield becasuse he loves the feel of a charming small town.
“I grew up working in restaurants with heavy “local” and “regular” business and that’s how I want to grow,” Attonito said. “We are a very community-oriented team as far as supporting local business and teaming up for fun and often charitable events, and Brookfield seems like a town that would greatly appreciate that.:
At his previous restaurant, Attonito was well-known in the Ridgefield community and helped dozens of non-profits, educational organizations, sports teams and more. He has already begun doing the same in Brookfield by hosting a few charitable events.
While opening during a global pandemic has been a challenge, Attonito said that the large patio and outdoor section offers plenty of room for safe social distancing and a great view of the mini golf course which is perfect for outdoor family fun.
“The fact that the whole feel of the place is that of an old take-out burger and ice cream joint which made us feel more comfortable considering COVID precautions. We love the idea of a unique way to spend time outdoors and something fun for kids and families to do together after being cooped up inside for so long. Obviously, we have our share of challenges, but we’re hoping the community takes to us quickly and we’re able to overcome what is sure to be a very tricky winter,” Attonito said.
Speaking of which, the restaurant offers take-out and curbside to go in addition to catering for corporate and community functions. The restaurant will be open all year round offering their full menu as well as homemade soup and donut specials for curbside and take-out, as well as limited dine-in options. JJ Stacks also participates with @deliverydotcom @ubereats @doordash and @grubhub.
The roadside restaurant is conveniently located at 537 Federal Road in Brookfield. For more information, visit JJ Stacks on Facebook, Instagram @JJStacks203 or online at JJStacks.com.
Photos: Joe Attonito, JJ Stacks
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Are you interested in marketing your small business on CT Buzz News? Email ctbuzznews@gmail.com or call or text (203) 501-7424.
Severe Weather Alert Issued for #DanburyCT #RidgefieldCT & Surrounding Towns: #CTWeather
DANBURY, CT—The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the Greater Danbury area.
Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service New York NY 817 PM EDT Wed Jun 3 2020 Fairfield CT-New Haven CT-Bergen NJ-Westchester NY-Orange NY- Putnam NY-Rockland NY- 817 PM EDT Wed Jun 3 2020
…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL FAIRFIELD…WEST CENTRAL NEW HAVEN…NORTHEASTERN BERGEN…WESTCHESTER…SOUTHEASTERN ORANGE…PUTNAM AND ROCKLAND COUNTIES…
At 817 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Brewster to New City, moving east at 70 mph. HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Expect damage to trees and power lines. These severe storms will be near… Danbury and Bethel around 825 PM EDT. Newtown and Redding around 830 PM EDT. Bedford around 835 PM EDT. Greenwich around 840 PM EDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
Photo credit: steffen l via Flickr Creative Commons
Danbury Kids Invited to Open House Sat. Sept, 7 & to Perform ‘Dia de Los Muertos’ Theater Show
DANBURY, CT— Young Danbury area actors are invited to join the the GDICF Theatre Troupe‘s Open House on Saturday, Sept. 7th from 10am-12pm at the GDICC, 6 Lake Ave., Danbury. There will be free face painting, coloring, theater games, snacks and FUN!
Children who sign up for the 12-week session at the Open House get 10% off each student. If a child can not attend the Open House on Sept, 7, they can still register with the discount by signing up before Sept. 28, 2019, the day of the first class.
The fall mini production is a Dia de Los Muertos theme with songs from the popular Disney movie “Coco” on Saturday, Oct, 27, 2019 at 12 p.m. The winter play is on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 at 2 p.m. and is called “Christmas Around the World.” Classes are on Saturday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m. at the GDICC, 6 Lake Ave. Danbury and is for ages 3-12.
All productions are 100% original, written directed and produced by “Miss Wendy” Mitchell who specializes in teaching beginner’s theater classes. Wendy has her Head Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Education through the State of Connecticut and over 20 years of experience teaching youth theater, preschool and working as a daycare director. Each child is taught at their own pace and kids of all skill levels are welcomed and embraced.
All proceeds from the winter show go to benefit the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, a charity that helps those in need in the community. In addition, we also hold a toy drive for Family & Children’s Aid the day of the winter show.
The GDICF Children’s Theater Troupe teaches kids that they can use their gifts and talents to help those in need in their community.
Questions? Call, text or email Miss Wendy: Wendyannmitchell@Live.com (203) 501-7424.
Photo by Therese Beck via Flickr Creative Commons
Town of Brookfield to Participate in #CityHallSelfie Day
BROOKFIELD, CT— The Town of Brookfield is encouraging residents to participate in “City Hall Selfie Day” on Thursday, August 15, 2019. The day is an online picture sharing event where locals snap a photo in front of their town hall and other government buildings.
Participants should take a selfie in front of a Brookfield Town Hall, 100 Pocono Road, and share it using the hashtag #CityHallSelfie. Prizes will be awarded for the best #CityHallSelfies in multiple categories.
Visit the Town of Brookfield’s website for entry details.
Image via Google Maps
Pepe’s Pizza to Donate Portion of Sales to Handy Dandy Handyman
DANBURY, CT — For close to two decades, “The Boss Man,” also known as Peter Brady, founder of Handy Dandy Handyman (HDHM), has been helping Danbury area residents with new beds, furniture, home repairs, helping supply heat, food, and clothing for those in need and much more.
The 501(c)3 nonprofit was founded by Brady after he retired and wanted to help the elderly and homebound by raking their leaves. He organized an annual “Rake & Bake” that now has hundreds of volunteers providing assistance each fall to locals in the community.
Brady recently announced to his helpers that a local business, Cartus, has spearheaded a fundraiser for the nonprofit at a local pizza place in Danbury.
“We have been blessed by a team of employees at the Cartus Company in Danbury who have always been avid supporters of this HDHM Ministry, and they are taking it to another level,” Brady said.
The fundraiser takes place at Pepe’s Pizza, 59 Federal Road, Danbury, on Wednesday, May 29 and Thursday, May 30, 2019 for lunch and/or dinner. People who eat in or take out will have 20% of their check donated to HDHM if they show the red certificate when paying.
For more information about Peter Brady and Handy Dandy Handyman, visit his website.
Has Spring Sprung? Calendar of Fun CT Events to Get You in the Springtime Mood
Wondering if spring has sprung or will ever spring? It seems like someone has upset Mother Nature and she has unleashed her cold, rainy fury on us for far too long. But even if the weather doesn’t cooperate, CT Buzz News has a variety of indoor and outdoor events that will get you in the mood for warmer weather.
The biggest event this weekend is the St. Mary School carnival in downtown Bethel.
Here is what’s going on this week. Do you have an event to submit? Email it in a Word document or email the text in the body of an email and send to: CTBuzzNews@gmail.com. No PDF’s, please. Thanks! 🙂
Wednesday, May 15
- St. Mary School Carnival, Municipal Center, 1 School Street, Bethel, 6:00pm-10:00pm
- Sing & Sign with Ms. Janine at Kid’s Kingdom in Brookfield, 100 Pocono Rd. Brookfield. You’re guaranteed to learn several signs, dance and have fun at the same time! All ages are welcome. In case of bad weather, the program will be held in Brookfield Town Hall in Room 133. Time: 4:15 – 5:00 p.m. Dates: 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22.
Thursday, May 16
- St. Mary School Carnival, Municipal Center, 1 School Street, Bethel
Friday, May 17
- St. Mary School Carnival, Municipal Center, 1 School Street, Bethel
Saturday, May 18
- Welcome Home Peacocks! Harrybrook Park, 100 Still River Rd., New Milford, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- St. Mary School Carnival, Municipal Center, 1 School Street, Bethel 12:00pm-10:00pm. Dessert Baking Contest: Drop your dessert by 2:00pm, judging will be at 2:30pm, $5 entry per dessert. Open to amateur bakers of all ages. One entry per person. Desserts must be homemade, two dessert portions must be delivered on the table (one for tasting and one for sale). Questions? Call (203)744-2922.
- Bethel, Danbury, Newtown, New Fairfield, Redding, Ridgefield Household Hazardous Waste – Newtown Public Works Garage – Saturday, May 18, 2019
- Orange Theory Fitness kickoff party at 850 Wood Fired Pizza in Ridgefield, 12pm-6pm, first 100 in attendance will receive a free heart rate monitor. Face painters, caricature artist, balloon twister.
- Redding Hive at Topstone Park, Redding, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- New Milford GOAT Free Family Fest, Young’s Field, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. A Celebration of what makes New Milford The Greatest Of All Towns. Tons of baby goats to snuggle! Create a Castle, The Clambaking Company, LLBean, Kimberly Farm Ice Cream, Cookie Cloud 9, Local Vendors, Food, Fun, Free, Family Event!
- Brookfield Craft Center Open House, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., 286 Whisconier Rd., Brookfield.
- Sip n Stroll at Biscotti’s in New Fairfied, Grand Opening of their patio, 7 p.m. – midnight.
- She’s the First 5K Charity Walk/Run, Tarrywile Mansion, 70 Southern Blvd., Danbury, 9-11 a.m.
- Comedy Dinner & Show at Amerigo Vespucci, Danbury, $40 for members, $45 non-members.
- Full Moon Family Hike, Great Hollow Park, 225 Rt. 37, New Fairfield, 7 – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
- St. Mary School Carnival, Municipal Center, 1 School Street, Bethel,12:00pm-2: 00 pm & 4:00pm – 8:00 pm.
- Bethel Memorial Day Parade, Greenwood Ave., Bethel, 2:00 p.m.
- Rockin’ the Hook Concert, 12-7 p.m., Sandy Hook Center, 5 Glen Road, with music by Traveling Danburys and Cheap Thrills, hosted by S.H.O.P., the Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity.
- Blue Ribbon Ventures Horse Show at Fair Hill Farm, 1060 Sport Hill Rd, Easton, 9 a.m.
CT Buzz News 