A Bridgeport jury has convicted 28-year-old Anthony Vann of first-degree assault for shooting Uber driver Joel Santana Garcia outside the Amazon facility on Long Beach Boulevard in August 2023.
Prosecutors said Vann fired nine shots at the SUV after an argument in the parking lot seriously injuring the driver. Vann admitted pulling the trigger but claimed he acted in self-defense, saying he feared the vehicle would back into him.
Jurors deliberated for about two hours before returning the guilty verdict. Vann has been jailed since his arrest and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20.
Original reporting by court reporter Ethan Fry of the Connecticut Post.
Stratford, Conn. — The Stratford Health Department will host Preschool Flu Clinics to help families meet the Connecticut Department of Public Health influenza vaccination requirement before children return to school in January.
Appointments are required. There is no out-of-pocket fee for children’s vaccines; families are asked to bring an insurance card to the appointment.
The Health Department encourages residents, community partners, and local organizations to help spread the word. A flyer with full details is available for distribution.
Irish Famine Immigrants — Sunday, November 16 · 2:00 p.m. Stratford Library Lovell Room, 2203 Main Street, Stratford • Free and open to the public
The Stratford Library will continue its “Sunday Afternoon Talks” series with “The Irish Famine Immigrants of Connecticut” on Sunday, November 16 at 2:00 p.m. Presented by Loretto Horrigan Leary on behalf of Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield, the program is free and open to all.
Leary will offer a compelling visual and historical presentation exploring the journeys of Irish immigrants who fled Ireland during An Gorta Mór (The Great Hunger) and began new lives in Connecticut. Blending archival research, personal stories, and historical context, the talk highlights resilience, survival, and community-building, and features artwork from The Great Hunger Collection, whose sculptures and paintings add emotional depth to the narrative.
About the Speaker:Loretto Horrigan Leary, born in Portumna, County Galway, has lived in Connecticut for 32 years. A seasoned educator, she has taught Language Arts in Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, and Stamford, and her journalism has appeared in publications including Celtic Life, The Irish Echo, Irish Central, Australia’s Irish Scene, The Connaught Tribune, and The Wild Geese. She is pursuing a PhD at Trinity College Dublin focusing on Irish American Famine memories and the Irish Famine Memorial in New York.
The “Sunday Afternoon Talks” series, hosted by Charles Lautier of Stratford, runs 2:00–3:30 p.m. in the Lovell Room. For more information, visit stratfordlibrary.org or call 203-385-4162.
Stratford, CT — The Stratford Police Department announces that Don Zemo (DOB 08/07/1964), a convicted felon wanted on multiple felony warrants throughout Connecticut, surrendered himself this morning to Detective Jon Policano.
Zemo was originally sought by Stratford Police on an outstanding felony arrest warrant charging him with Larceny in the First Degree and Issuing Bad Checks. He is accused of defrauding a Stratford small business of more than $14,000, and additional warrants for similar crimes were held by the Fairfield, Brookfield, and New Canaan Police Departments.
Following the department’s public request for assistance, Detective Policano received numerous calls from the community, which ultimately led to direct communication between Zemo and the detective earlier this week. Police say this public response was pivotal in bringing the investigation to a successful close.
“The media’s assistance cannot be overstated,” the department noted, thanking local outlets and residents for their support.
STRATFORD — The Stratford Police Detective Division is seeking Don Zemo, last known to reside in Milford, in connection with an active felony arrest warrant for Larceny in the First Degree and Issuing Bad Checks. Investigators say Zemo, a convicted felon, is accused of defrauding a Stratford-based small business of more than $14,000 and is also wanted for similar crimes in other Connecticut communities.
Police report that the Fairfield, Brookfield, and New Canaan Police Departments each hold outstanding warrants for Zemo. Anyone who knows his whereabouts or has information is asked to contact Detective Jon Policano at (475) 319-0316 (call or text).
STRATFORD, Conn. (October 28, 2025) — Local and state officials joined business and community leaders Tuesday morning to celebrate the grand opening of Borealis Cannabis by Shangri-La, a new state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation and processing facility located at 305 Hathaway Drive in Stratford.
The 40,000-square-foot facility represents an investment of more than $34 million and marks a major milestone in the growth of Connecticut’s cannabis industry. The site will employ approximately 80 people across cultivation, processing, compliance, packaging, and administrative roles.
“This facility is just another investment we’re making in Connecticut,” said Nevil Patel, Founder and CEO of Shangri-La Enterprise, the parent company of Borealis. “We’re proud to be part of this community and excited for what’s to come.”
The Stratford facility will produce up to 20,000 square feet of premium cannabis canopy annually, yielding a variety of high-end products including flower, infused pre-rolls, live resin vapes, solventless concentrates, and gummies. Borealis will also offer white-label manufacturing for other brands in Connecticut’s growing adult-use market.
Dr. Kepal Patel, President of Borealis Cannabis, said the company expects to begin planting in mid-November, with its first harvest and product launch projected for early 2026. “We’re bringing products and innovation Connecticut hasn’t seen yet,” Patel said. “Every product will be crafted with precision, consistency, and quality at the forefront.”
Mayor Laura Hoydick welcomed Borealis to Stratford and praised the company’s investment. “We love our manufacturers, and this is a different kind of manufacturing that will truly benefit our community,” she said. “Your investment here—$34 million—is no small thing, and we’re grateful for the partnership.”
Founded in 2019, Shangri-La Enterprise operates 14 retail locations nationwide, including dispensaries in Norwalk, Waterbury, and Plainville, with additional Connecticut locations planned. The company’s philosophy blends craftsmanship, science, and sustainability, with an emphasis on community partnership and consumer education.
The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting, guided tours of the new facility, and remarks honoring the advocates who paved the way for Connecticut’s legal cannabis industry.
About Borealis Cannabis by Shangri-La
Borealis Cannabis by Shangri-La is a premium cannabis brand dedicated to craftsmanship, innovation, and wellness. A division of Shangri-La Enterprise, Borealis combines cutting-edge cultivation techniques with sustainable practices to produce high-quality cannabis products, including flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, and solventless concentrates. Shangri-La’s mission is to empower consumers through education, safety, and consistent quality — providing professional, reliable access to cannabis while fostering community growth and responsible development.
11/1, 11/19: 4:30-5:30 pm: Teen Lingo Lounge Have you been looking for a fun way to learn or practice a new language? Come connect with others and help each other perfect this skill. We will also use the library’s database Transparent Language as a guide. Grades 6-12. No registration required. Location: Teen Department. ¿Has estado buscando una forma divertida de aprender o practicar un nuevo idioma? Ven a conectar con otros y ayúdense mutuamente a perfeccionar esta habilidad. También utilizaremos la base de datos de la biblioteca, Transparent Language, como guía.
11/12: 4:00-5:00 pm: Teen Food Explorers: Chopped! Join Food Explorers for a round of Chopped! You’ll be teaming up to create your own DIY tacos. Choose from a limited pantry of ingredients and get to work creating your own fillings, toppings, salsas and sauces. Teamwork is key! All ingredients are nut free and vegetarian. Grades 6-12. Registration Required. Location: Lovell Room.
11/20: 4:00-5:30 pm: Zines For Teens Teens – Learn the art of making a zine: a self-published, DIY mini-comic or magazine! We will have all the supplies, and help you get started with topics and ideas. Let your creativity flow! Grades 6-12. No registration required. Location: Lovell Room.
11/25: 4:00-5:30 pm: Thanksgiving Cupcake Decorating Let the holiday season begin! Join us while we learn how to create these tasty holiday treats. Registration opens on 11/1. Grades 6-12. Registration required. Location: Lovell Room.
STRATFORD, CT — October 23, 2025 — Supreme Physical Therapy and Wellness Rehab celebrated the grand opening of its new Stratford location with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1825 Barnum Avenue, Suite 204. Owner Dr. Ilicia Mathis, PT, DPT, welcomed community members and local officials to mark the milestone and reaffirm her commitment to helping Stratford residents live healthier, pain-free lives.
“I’m super excited and happy to be serving the town of Stratford,” said Dr. Mathis during the event. “We’re here to get our community moving and feeling better.”
Supreme Physical Therapy and Wellness Rehab offers a wide range of personalized services designed to restore physical function and relieve pain caused by injury, disease, or disability. Treatments include stretching, mobility training, cupping therapy, acupuncture, and guided exercise programs.
The clinic’s mission is rooted in evidence-based care and compassionate service. Founded in 2019 by Dr. Mathis and Dr. Erika Jackson, PT, DPT, Supreme Physical Therapy operates offices in both Stratford, Connecticut, and Houston, Texas. Their licensed therapists provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment programs including manual therapy, post-operative care, vestibular and neuromuscular re-education, sports medicine, and balance training.
“Our promise is to always listen,” said Dr. Mathis. “We take every patient seriously to ensure they receive the most professional and effective care possible.”
Supreme Physical Therapy’s Stratford office is now open and accepting new patients. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.supremeptw.com or call the Stratford office at 475-328-0009
Norwalk police investigating the July 1, 2024 commercial burglary at CubeSmart on Bouton Street have made an additional arrest tied to multiple broken-into storage units and thefts totaling about $23,000 in property, along with several firearms. Detective Barron led a yearlong investigation with partner agencies, which included the recovery of a stolen .357 revolver in Branford.
Following a prior arrest of Tylon Gardner on September 10, 2025, detectives identified Colt Meadows, 22, as another suspect, obtained a warrant through Stamford Superior Court, and took him into custody there on October 14, 2025. Meadows is charged with multiple counts of third-degree burglary and conspiracy, first- and third-degree larceny and conspiracy, and theft of a firearm and conspiracy; bond was set at $50,000.d
