Kat Russell
Stamford Advocate
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Past articles by Kat:
Health officials take aim at ending HIV in Connecticut
STAMFORD - Health officials believe a new program will eradicate HIV in Connecticut. The Get to Zero Program launched Wednesday and focuses on two goals: Remove the barriers and end the stigmas that keep people from knowing their HIV status and getting treatment; and help everyone living with HIV to reach viral load suppression, making it undetectable in the bloodstream and non-transmittable.… → Read More
Annual Artwalk returns to downtown Stamford
STAMFORD - An art stroll through downtown returns for a sixth year on Friday night. The annual Artwalk kicks off at the Ferguson Library steps at the corner of Broad and Bedford streets. The free event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. "It's a beautiful event," said Sandy Goldstein, president of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District. "It's a feelgood event, where people can get outdoors, walk… → Read More
Stamford doctor applauds as American Cancer Society cuts recommended screening age for colon cancer
STAMFORD - Early detection is the key when it comes to battling most cancers. But with colorectal cancer, early detection of cancerous precursors could actually prevent cancer from developing, a local surgeon said this week. It's one of the reasons the American Cancer Society (ACS) recently lowered the recommended screening age for those at average risk for colon cancer from 50 to 45. "For a few… → Read More
Downtown Stamford hosts first Make Music Day
STAMFORD - A city known for its Alive@Five summer concert series is kicking off the season with its first all-day music festival. Make Music Day is a free celebration of music that will be held Thursday in more than 800 cities in 120 countries worldwide to mark the summer solstice. Unlike a typical musical festival, Make Music Day concerts are performed by anyone who wants to participate and… → Read More
Emergency personnel respond wreck on Merritt Parkway
NORWALK - Traffic snarled on the northbound side of the Merritt Parkway Sunday afternoon as emergency personnel responded to a wreck involving a vehicle and a motorcycle near exit 40A. State police, firefighters and EMS were on the scene at about 2 p.m., narrowing the Merritt to one lane. The wreck appeared minor and minimal damage was visible on either vehicle. Several people, presumably those… → Read More
Vets warn of dog flu
STAMFORD - Veterinarians are advising pet parents to look for possible symptoms of canine flu in their dogs. Two strains of dog flu have recently popped up in the Northeast, with pockets of the viruses affecting dogs in parts of New York City. According to data from the Canine Influenza Virus Surveillance Network, operated by Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, about 100 cases… → Read More
Temple Beth El celebrates senior rabbi’s 30th anniversary
STAMFORD - When Rabbi Joshua Hammerman joined Temple Beth El, his goal was to inspire the conservative congregation to be open and inclusive, more so than it already did. "Fairfield County, more than 30 years ago, was seen as very stiff and formal, and not just among synagogues, but in the churches too," he said. "And I think a loosening and a sort of democratization needed to happen. The… → Read More
Jewish Historical Society to host talk on immigration
The Jewish Historical Society of Fairfiled County is hosting its second annual Norma and Milton Mann Lecture event on June 17, which will focus on the truths and misconceptions that surround immigration into the United States. The talk will be given by nationally-recognized immigration expert Dr. Jeffrey S. Passel who is a senior demographer at the Pew Research Center in Washington D.C. Passel… → Read More
Stamford Downtown announces Alive@Five and Wednesday Nite Live summer concert series
STAMFORD - Two of the region's hottest concert series, Wednesday Nite Live and Alive@Five, will kick off on June 27 and June 28 respectively in Columbus Park in Stamford Downtown. Alive@Five kicks runs June 28 through August 2 and will open with Gavin DeGraw. Other acts will include Sean Kingston and Sammy Adams on July 12; Gin Blossoms, Tonic and Veritcal Horizon on July 19 and Lifehouse and… → Read More
Waterbury man accused of purposefully running over a “multitude” of Canada geese
WATERBURY - A 70-year-old Waterbury man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly ran over multiple Canada geese and goslings Sunday on North Main Street in Waterbury. According to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Moses Wilson was driving a black sedan on North Main Street near the Knotty Pine Package Store when the vehicles in front of him stopped to allow a gaggle of geese… → Read More
Bridgeport police say 10 dogs stolen by possible illegal breeders
BRIDGEPORT - Police are warning Bridgeport dog owners Sunday after 10 pedigree dogs were stolen over a two-week period. Police said the dogs were likely stolen by an illegal breeder, though they do not yet have any suspects. Investigators said it is possible the dogs were taken by illegal breeders. All the dogs were young females, police said, that have the potential to be bred. Bridgeport… → Read More
EpiPen shortage raises concerns for people with allergies
STAMFORD - For Valerie Newman, 56, having an EpiPen could mean the difference between life and death. Newman has severe allergies, including to long-haired cats, some spices and a variety of foods. Because of that, she tends to keep three EpiPens on hand - one for home, another in her gym bag and a third to carry in her purse. But about a month ago when Newman, a former Stamford resident who now… → Read More
Farmers market launches on Stamford’s West Side
STAMFORD - For those living on the city's West Side, there are few neighborhood options to find healthy, farm-fresh produce. That will change this week when a farmers market launches on Stillwater Avenue. Fairgate Farm will host the market, offering fresh organic produce twice a week through October. Funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farmers Market Program grant, the market… → Read More
Multiple power outages reported across western Connecticut
SOUTHBURY - Thousands in the Southbury area are without power Sunday afternoon according to the Eversource Outage map. As of 8:30 p.m. the map shows more than 3,700 - or 38 percent - of Eversource customers in the town without power. The company says the outages were first reported around 3:30 p.m. Connecticut State Police reportedly said officials were moving through the town earlier Sunday… → Read More
Multiple power outages reported cross western Connecticut
SOUTHBURY - Thousands in western Connecticut are without power Sunday afternoon according to the Eversouce Outage map. Southbury appears to be hit the hardest with more than 5,700 - or 58 percent - of Eversource customers in the town without power as of 4:15 p.m. The company says the outages were first reported around 3:30 p.m. Connecticut State Police reportedly said officials are moving… → Read More
Local couple celebrates birth of surprise ‘instababy’
STAMFORD - Surprises - pleasant ones, anyway - often come in the form of a party, a visitor or an unexpected windfall. But a surprise baby? That's exactly how Farah Hage-Sleiman and her fiancé Derek Roy took the news that they were minutes away from becoming parents - the couple had no idea Hage-Sleiman was pregnant. "It was a complete shock," Hage-Sleiman said. "I really had no idea I was… → Read More
Stamford woman named new head of World Affairs Forum
STAMFORD - The World Affairs Forum has appointed city resident Wendy Skratt as executive director. Formerly the World Affairs Forum's director of communications and events, Skratt's top priorities will be expanding membership and enhancing public awareness of organization's mission when she begins the new role on July 1. "Creating better community access to quality information is what I am most… → Read More
Study: Opioid addiction could lead to spike in heart infections
STAMFORD - As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage the country, a little discussed consequence to intravenous drug use - heart infections - has made the situation even more grim. "The biggest concern when using IV drugs is using dirty needles," said Dr. Evelyn Cusak, a cardiologist at Stamford Hospital. "What's happening in a lot of communities all over the country is that people are sharing… → Read More
Massive Marilyn Monroe sculpture coming to downtown Stamford
STAMFORD - Marilyn Monroe will make her debut at Latham Park next month - all 26 feet of her. The Downtown Special Services District and sculptor Seward Johnson will debut "Forever Marilyn," a 26-foot, 30,000-pound Marilyn Monroe sculpture, which will remain on display at Latham Park until summer's end. The installation will begin the morning of June 4, when a crane will lift the massive work's… → Read More
CDC finds mosquito- and tick-borne disease cases have tripled since 2004
STAMFORD - Warmer weather definitely has its upsides - sunshine, spring blooms and the urge to get outside and play - but it also brings a higher risk of exposure to tick-, flea- and mosquito-borne diseases. A recently-released report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows number of people getting diseases transmitted by mosquito, tick and flea bites has more than tripled in… → Read More