Latest news with #WesternConnecticutStateUniversity
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A CT family lost their beloved son in a horrible accident. His own decision helped others to live.
Beth and Keith Tautkus lost their 18-year-old son in an ATV accident 11 years ago. The the couple takes some comfort in knowing his donated organs saved eight other lives and his tissues helped improve the lives of 100 more. 'It just makes everything a little easier because his death was not in vain,' mom Beth Tautkus said. 'He's still out there somewhere.' Dad Keith said, 'It wasn't a waste.' Austin, the youngest of four in the Ellington family, was a popular rising sophomore at Western Connecticut State University, an accomplished athlete since childhood, popular, smart and a kind young man who always thought of others, his parents say. He had been captain of the football team at Ellington High School where his dad coached and was a wide receiver at the university. 'He really wanted to lift the underdog,' Beth Tautkus said. Austin was killed in June of 2014 when an ATV he was riding on the family property in Suffield hit something in the road and flipped over, trapping him. Two people riding with him were not injured and tried to lift the machine off of him, but could not. The Tautkuses pride in Austin's organ donations swelled again recently when they led a team — Austin's Angels — for the 10th year in the Blue & Green Walk/5K in Bloomfield, held by New England Donor Services. or NEDS. Officials said 1,309 people attended the walk, both donor families and recipients among them. The couple isn't sure how much they raised this year, they're guessing about $4,000, but it's not about that, they said. Caitlyn Bernabucci, director of community affairs and development for the organization, said all the money raised through the walk, about $140,000 this year, is ussd to educate the public on organ donation. Austin's parents said they come from a family with a lot of registered donors, themselves, their children, a grandfather, and cousins. Keith Tautkus, a retired teacher, used to teach high school driver's education and included a segment on becoming a donor. Austin took the class and made himself a donor. 'He'd been exposed to it,' Keith Tautkus said of his son. Bernabucci said there are myths surrounding organ donation, including that if you're a donor and have your own emergency, that medical personnel won't try as hard to save you, also that age and health are a factor (there is no age limit) and that many religions are against donating organs. None of it's true, she said. The Tautkuses said the walk itself is uplifting. 'You see a lot people coming together to support everyone else,' Beth Tautkus said. Keith Tautkus said it's a way to keep Austin's 'name out there,' and to meet with friends, including Austin's friends, some of whom are part of the team. Both parents are now retired educators and Keith is a baseball coach at Ellington High School and a football coach at Rockville High School in Vernon. The eight lives Austin saved included donation of his heart, kidneys, pancreas, and liver. His tissue donations included an eye. Bernabucci said tissues can help restore eyesight, mobility, alleviate pain, create skin grafts and more. At one point in their decade of walking, the couple got to meet the woman who received Austin's pancreas. She had been distant from her adult children because of sickness and was able to connect with them again as her health improved upon receiving Austin's pancreas, the couple said. 'In his passing he's still helping people out,' Keith Tautkus said. Keith Tautkus said New England Donor services helps loved ones to feel comfortable with the situation. 'That really stood out at a time when you feel horrible,' he said. Beth Tautkus said she often turns to the organization for support. In March 2025, NEDS coordinated a record-breaking 67 organ donors resulting in 186 life-saving organs for transplant, a company spokesperson said. This growth follows a record number of life-saving deceased donor organ donations and transplants in its New England service area for the fourth consecutive year. In 2024, NEDS coordinated organ donations from 648 deceased donors resulting in 1,570 life-saving transplants, the spokesperson said.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Universities of Wisconsin names the next Chancellor of UW-Oshkosh
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – On Tuesday, officials with the Universities of Wisconsin officially named the next Chancellor of UW-Oshkosh. According to a release, the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents unanimously approved Dr. Manohar Singh to be the next Chancellor of UW-Oshkosh following a recommendation made by a selection committee. 60+ businesses pitch to over 2,000 students during Fox Cities Chamber Career Expo Singh, the current interim president of Western Connecticut State University will assume the role of UWO's 12th leader beginning on July 1. Officials say he has served as the interim president at Western Connecticut State University since 2023, before that he was the Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Southern Connecticut State University. He is said to have held leadership positions at Humboldt State University (California), Penn State University Abington (Pennsylvania), and Long Island University Post (New York), and was also a professor of finance at several schools. The engagement of the UW-Oshkosh campus community in the search process was significant, and the enthusiasm for what comes next was palpable. We feel that Dr. Singh possesses the talent and skill to harness the energy on campus and lead it into a bright future. Regent Ashok Rai, chair of the Search and Screen Committee Under Singh's leadership, Western Connecticut State University reversed years of enrollment decline and found financial stability while also expanding its athletic programs and introducing new academic offerings. De Pere school 1 of 35 nationwide schools chosen for the NFL PLAY 60 'Day of Play' Singh earned a bachelor's and master's degree in economics from Punjab University-Chandigarh (India), as well as another master's degree in economics from the University of Waterloo in Ontario. He also earned a Ph.D. in finance from Southern Illinois University. I am moved by the passion of UW-Oshkosh students pursuing their dreams, the devotion of faculty mentoring them with compassion and rigor, and the dedication of staff ensuring student success every step of the way. They are the reason I believe in the promise of this university—and the boundless potential of what we can achieve together. Dr. Manohar Singh Officials say Singh succeeds Andrew Leavitt, who is reportedly planning to teach chemistry at UW-Oshkosh after spending a year away at another university. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dry conditions and winds create ‘perfect storm' for wildfires. Here's why CT's drought may persist
Most of Connecticut remains in drought conditions as below-average snowfall over the winter months has led to dry soil along with heavy wind gusts, creating the 'perfect storm' for wildfire danger. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, nearly half of the state, including Hartford County, is experiencing a severe drought. New Haven and New London Counties closer to the shoreline are experiencing a mild drought, according to the monitor. Only a small portion of the northwest corner of Connecticut is experiencing 'abnormally dry' conditions that have not been upgraded to a drought. The dry conditions come amid the historically windy season in March and April, as stronger temperature differences and pressure gradients lead to more frequent and intense winds. The combination of wind and drought conditions can lead to an uptick in 'fire weather,' which officials warn can be deadly and dangerous. 'It's kind of the perfect storm for potential wildfires,' said AccuWeather meteorologist Tyler Royce. 'There's very little vegetation in terms of leaves on the trees right now. So what happens is that the sun angle changes and it warms the ground out and the wind dries things up. So you really have the right combinations for fire weather.' The drought is most likely to persist through the next several weeks, according to Royce. He said that the dry conditions facing the state are more 'unusual' than in past years, as precipitation remains below average over two seasons. 'When we get into the summertime, we may be closer to where we need to be, but because we saw such little precipitation in the fall, the ground is not able to hold the soil moisture long,' Royce said. 'So unless we get steady rainfall, we're looking at a prolonged dry season through the spring.' This winter saw below-average snowfall in Connecticut, according to Gary Lessor, chief meteorologist at Western Connecticut State University. This year, there was 21.7 inches of snowfall from December through Feb. 28, compared to the normal 39.1 inches of snowfall for that same time frame. Winter precipitation — which includes rain and hail — was 8.85 inches from December through Feb. 28, compared to the normal of 10.49 inches. 'We really needed to have normal or above normal snowfall or at least precipitation totals for this winter,' Lessor said. 'As we go into spring, that's going to make us really need more precipitation, to make up for the deficit from the winter and fall. Because if we go into a very hot and dry summer, then we're going to be in a world of severe drought.' Lessor said that the state has experienced more intense storms that bring heavy precipitation with periods of prolonged dryness in between. He said that one-day heavy precipitation events are not as consistent rainfall over a period of days to alleviate drought conditions. Heavy precipitation events often cause soil runoff and don't penetrate the ground as well as consistent rainfall over several days. 'This is what climate change is all about,' Lessor said. 'We had the epic rainfall last summer and then the extreme drought in the fall. This is what we're going to be facing probably at least for the rest of our lifetimes and probably for hundreds of years to come.' Connecticut traditionally experiences high forest fire danger in the spring from mid-March through May, according to officials. The state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Division of Forestry constantly monitors the danger of forest fires to help protect Connecticut's 1.8 million acres of forested land. The Forest Fire Danger Level remains 'high' as dry conditions persist throughout the state, according to DEEP. The dry weather has also put pressure on firefighters battling wildfires. In Manchester, a wildfire closed a part of Interstate 84 on Tuesday night as multiple crews responded to battle the blaze. Responding crews found three separate brush fires and with the help of nearby fire departments, they were all extinguished before any homes were damaged, according to a statement from the Manchester Fire Department. 'On Bryan Drive, the fire encroached within 15 feet of structures, but there was no damage sustained. Companies operated for approximately 90 minutes, bringing the fire under control and thoroughly overhauling the area. There were no injuries sustained, and the incident is presently under investigation by the office of the Fire Marshal,' the Manchester Fire Department said in a statement. The high risk of wildfires has also prompted state and local officials to call for the temporary closure of the NextEra solar project in East Windsor until the safety of residents there is secured, according to a press release. The calls for closure come after a fire broke out at the project on March 11 following reports of sparking wires several days prior at its site. A delegation of lawmakers including Connecticut state Sen. Saud Anwa state Reps. Jaime Foster and Carol Hall, First Selectman Jason Bowsza and members of the East Windsor community said that current weather conditions have made the site unsafe. The nearest properties abutting the project are 124 feet away from its development site, making any potential fires threatening to local property and safety, according to officials. A DEEP spokesperson told the Courant it won't speculate if another open burning ban will be needed this year, but officials said they are urging caution. The department issued guidelines this week on safe practices for wood burning along with what to do if you encounter a wildfire. 'If you spot a forest fire, remain calm, go to the nearest telephone and dial 911 to report the fire as quickly as possible to your local fire department,' according to DEEP. 'Tell the emergency dispatcher when you saw it and where you saw it. If you see anything suspicious at or near the scene of the fire, take note and relay that to 911 as well. Stay on the telephone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.' Last October, unprecedented drought conditions over several months led Connecticut to enact a statewide burn ban as crews battled wildfires throughout the state. The Hawthorne fire in Berlin, one of the largest in Connecticut history, took several days, along with hundreds of fire crews, to contain the flames. One firefighter was killed helping fight the blaze. 'Last fall's open burn ban was a result of two months of no precipitation which caused the drought,' a spokesperson for DEEP said. 'Droughts do not drive burn bans, though they may contribute to wildfire risk.' DEEP's Forest Fire Control Office urges anyone who uses the state's parks, forests and open spaces to use fire with caution and heed the following recommendations, especially during forest fire season: Obey local laws regarding open fires, including campfires. Keep all flammable objects away from fire. Scrape away leaves, twigs and grass within a 10-foot diameter circle from fire. Have firefighting tools nearby and handy. Never leave a fire unattended. Carefully dispose of hot coal/ashes. Drown all fires. Carefully extinguish smoking materials. For Connecticut homeowners, DEEP recommends the following steps to protect family members and the home: Make a fire-safe zone around your house. Clean flammable vegetation and debris from at least 30 feet around the house and any outbuildings. Prune away the lower limbs of evergreens that are within the fire-safe zone. Evergreens catch fire easily during dry periods and burn quickly. Remove any limbs which overhang the roof or chimney. Regularly remove leaves and needles from gutters. Do not store firewood in the fire-safe zone. Use fire-resistant roofing materials. Make sure firefighters can find and access your home. Mark your house and roads clearly and prune away limbs and trees along your driveway that do not allow fire truck access. Have an escape plan and practice it. Follow state and local open burning laws. Stay with outside fires until they are completely safe and extinguished. Dispose of wood ashes in a metal bucket and soak them with water before dumping them. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Norwich school board names Lessard as superintendent
Norwich — The school board on Tuesday appointed Susan Lessard, the acting schools' superintendent, to take over the position permanently. Lessard, who has spent more than 25 years in education, started working here in 2017, as the principal of John B. Stanton Elementary School. Before that, she worked as an assistant principal in the Cheshire school system. Earlier in her career, she worked as an elementary school teacher in East Lyme, and also as a consultant for schools in Brooklyn and the Bronx, N.Y. In September 2023 the school board appointed Lessard to the role of acting superintendent, as it placed former Superintendent of Schools Kristen Stringfellow on paid leave amid an investigation into alleged misconduct by her and Assistant Superintendent Tamara Gloster. The investigation resulted from complaints that the two had fostered a hostile work environment. Stringfellow resigned Jan. 1 and Gloster on Jan. 31. In an email Tuesday, Lessard said she was humbled and honored to assume the role of superintendent and remains committed to working collaboratively with the district's students, families, staff, and community to foster growth and progress. According to a Tuesday afternoon release from the school board, Lessard has become a trusted leader within the district. When she was named acting superintendent in September 2023, she had said her goal would be to ensure a smooth transition, and to help students and their families, along with faculty and staff, move forward. At that meeting, parents and staff had greeted her with hugs. At the annual convocation at the start of the 2024-25 school year, she received a standing ovation from staff. Lessard, an Old Lyme resident, has a bachelor of arts degree from Western Connecticut State University, a master's in education from Eastern Connecticut State University, a Certificate in Administration from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Superintendent Certificate from Sacred Heart University. She is also a U.S. Army Gulf War veteran. At Tuesday's school board meeting Chairman Mark Kulos said the superintendent search committee, which consisted of the entire board, considered 'really only one candidate.' It was Lessard. 'We reviewed her background and asked both the teachers' and administrators' unions to give their input, and also input from community members,' Kulos said. 'Everyone was very happy with her, and I'll say the board, over the past year and a half of working with her very closely, we're very happy with the job that she has done. And we think she has the vision to lead us into the future.' At the meeting the board officially appointed Lessard by unanimous vote of six members, with board member Christine Distasio absent. 'Thank you for leading us through a very challenging time,' added board member Heather Fowler. Then, a full audience of school families and staff gave Lessard a standing ovation. One of the applauders, Susan Blinderman, a kindergarten teacher at Thomas W. Mahan Elementary School who has worked in the schools for 35 years, called Lessard 'a great community leader' who is open to collaboration. 'She inherited a tough situation,' Blinderman added. 'She's totally changed the climate of the Norwich Public Schools in a very short time.'
