Daniel Drainville

2 months ago | ems1.com | Daniel Drainville

By Daniel DrainvilleThe DayNORWICH, Conn. — While Norwich Free Academy students were lugging their backpacks across campus on their way to their next classes Wednesday morning, Life Star helicopter began circling overhead. It appeared, blue and white, with its big white star emblazoned across the side — distant but clear against the pale blue, cloud-speckled sky. The “thwop-thwop-thwop” sound of the helicopter blades grew louder as it neared the field where it would be landing.

2 months ago | firerescue1.com | Daniel Drainville

By Daniel DrainvilleThe DayNORWICH, Conn. — State and local officials continue to investigate last week’s fire that killed a mother and daughter, displaced four residents and severely damaged an Otis Street home. The victims of the April 10 fire at 37-39 Otis St. are Carmen Vizcaino, 44, and her 8-year-old daughter Skylynn Owens. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Monday still has not released the cause of their deaths.

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Daniel Drainville |New London

Norwich — The City Council on Monday approved seven years of tax breaks for Heritage Housing, Inc., the firm renovating the Reid & Hughes building on Main Street into 17 apartments and a first-floor retail space. The tax break, approved unanimously by the city council after a public hearing in which no residents spoke, will decrease the real estate taxes on the property by 65%, or an estimated $226,982 over seven years, according to an estimate by city Comptroller Joshua Pothier.

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Daniel Drainville |New London

Norwich — Police said Monday they seized several ghost guns, including rifles, along with 3D-printed magazines and a tactical-style vest with body armor from a city man when they responded to a domestic disturbance Friday. Richard Menzano, 50, of 24 N. Fifth Ave., Apt.

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Daniel Drainville |New London

Norwich – Before City Manager John Salomone unveiled his proposed $154.9 million budget for 2025-26 to the City Council Monday night, he described it as “one of the most difficult” city budgets he’s worked on over the past 10 years. “We – and I haven’t done this very often,” Salomone said. “We actually have layoffs in the budget this year.”Under Salomone’s proposal, seven City Hall positions would be cut.