Writing

Sandy Hook survivors join the March for Our Lives in Washington to advocate for stronger gun control measures as a threat on the Mall revives trauma

When the gunfire finally stopped and the kids in Camille Paradis’ third grade classroom peeked out from behind the black poster board they’d used to cover the windows, the students who survived the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting made their way carefully out of the school.

Eight-year-old Paradis gripped her hands on the shoulders of her friend Rayna Toth as they walked in a single file line, their eyes closed tight to shield them from the carnage left behind by the gunman who’d torn through their school: 20 of their classmates and six of their educators dead.

Almost a decade later, in the wake of another mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that echoed the horror of the massacre they survived, Paradis stood beside Toth in the shadow of the Washington Monument to fight for the futures of children like their classmates.

Mother killed by a stray bullet moved from Puerto Rico to find safety. Now her family mourns the loving seamstress whose talents knew no limits

The second bedroom in a pale green house on Orange Street in Waterbury was transformed into Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi’s craft room, complete with a mannequin modeling her designs and a wooden shelf built by hand by her husband that holds her color coordinated spools of ribbon.

Painted a subtle shade of lilac and a deep purple, the walls are lined with mountains of her carefully sorted supplies — thread and twine, fabric and buttons — and decorated with her memories. Photos of her family and a dollar bill, the first she earned from selling her crafts, are hung with tape on the wall above her desk.

But one wall now bears the scar of a life cut short, the paint crumbled in a small circle where a single stray bullet flew from the street, pierced the home and struck Antongiorgi as she sewed.

Underneath a painting of a blooming tree that she had made herself, and inches from the window that poured streams of light onto her desk, is a hole that tracks the trajectory of one bullet that struck the 56-year-old on a Saturday afternoon.

“This is where I found her,” said her son Juan Luis Mercado Martinez. It was his first time back in the room since that day. That day, he’d been at his mother’s house talking to his greatest confidant only 10 minutes before the shots rang out. He told her he’d be right back, and they exchanged “I love you’s.”

Moments later, he returned to the neighborhood to a cacophony of lights and sirens.

Police said there had been a shootout in the street, he said, so he went inside to check on his mom.

“I walked in and she was laying on the ground and I saw the bullet hole,” he said, touching the left side of his own forehead. “I just started screaming and screaming.”

As police rushed his mother out of the home and to Saint Mary’s hospital, where she died from a gunshot wound to the head 24 hours later, his younger brother Herbito Mercado Martinez arrived at the house with his 7-month-old son, Jacob, who Antongiorgi helped care for. Juan Luis Mercado Martinez’s wife phoned her father-in-law to tell him to comehome because something had happened to his wife.

The pair married 33 years ago in Puerto Rico and raised three children — Juan Luis Mercado Martinez, 32, their eldest; Herbito Mercado Martinez, who gave the couple their first grandchild; and their youngest and only daughter, Yarimar Mercado Martinez, anOlympic rifle shooter for Puerto Rico.

Antongiorgi and her husband, John Luis Mercado, 67, moved to the United States from Yauco, Puerto Rico, a few years ago after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017.

Earthquakes rattled their town after the storm and startled the couple, who often slept outside in their car out of fear that their concrete house would crumble in a quake, Juan Luis Mercado Martinez said.

They moved to Connecticut — to Orange Street — to be safer.

Risen from the ashes: Couple builds dream home on site of triple murder in Griswold

GRISWOLD — A blue and white ranch-style house sits nestled into a half-moon of tall pine trees in a sleepy, small-town neighborhood called Kenwood Estates.

The whistle of a wind chime floats across an idyllic front porch, bordered by a garden filled with fairy figurines, birdfeeders and a birdbath watched diligently by a long-haired house cat.

Inside, Rob Berube sits at a kitchen island topped with white marble, flipping through photos from the construction of his dream retirement home. His wife, Debi, clips coupons for their Sunday dinner.

Farther down the winding, wooded road, a man pushes a smiling child on a sunshine-yellow swing while chatting with a neighbor. An American flag waves above a classic, white gazebo and a set of Adirondack chairs that

face the peaceful Pachaug Pond. It is a picture of quintessential, postcard New England.

Four years ago, it was a very different scene.

On the night of Dec. 20, 2017, two siblings from downtown Hartford made their way down that same, winding road. They were lost in the woods, much as they were lost in their lives — the brother, a convicted criminal dealing drugs to the addicted. The sister, a struggling single mother who easily succumbed to being her big brother's accomplice.

A few hours later, the home that formerly occupied the property at 70 Kenwood Estates in Griswold was scorched to the ground and everyone who lived there was dead.

Sergio and Ruth Correa are to be sentenced in the murder of three members of the Lindquist family that night in one of the most vicious crimes in recent Connecticut history. Kenneth Lindquist, a 56-year-old construction project manager who built his family home from the ground up over more than two decades, was killed by a baseball bat that shattered his skull into more than 30 pieces. His wife, 61-year-old Janet, a kind, loving mother of two with a Christmas cookie recipe that was famous around the neighborhood, was tortured and strangled in her bedroom. Their youngest son, 21-year-old Matthew, was attacked with a machete and left to die in the woods. The family's golden retriever, Skylar, was struck with a golf club.

The Lindquists' home, after hours of mayhem and violence, was set on fire, reducing it to rubble.

For nearly three years, the lot sat empty except for the damaged foundation, a reminder of the horror that had been unleashed upon the neighborhood.

Eric Lindquist — Kenneth and Janet's son and Matthew's older brother — was left to clean up the mess and, in the midst of his grief, grapple with what to do with the land where his family once lived.

"It was kind of a scar on the neighborhood," said Rob Berube, who now owns the property.

A year ago, that scarred lot was replaced — piece by piece — by a new home.

Michelle Troconis found guilty on all charges in disappearance of Jennifer Farber Dulos

Nearly five years after the search for Jennifer Farber Dulos captivated Connecticut and the nation, Michelle Troconis was found guilty Friday on all charges related to her death and disappearance.

Troconis, 49, dug her head into her defense attorney’s shoulder in Stamford Superior Court and then put her head onto the desk in front of her, her shoulders shaking, as a jury of six delivered its verdict after deliberating for about 2 1/2 days.

On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder: “Guilty.”

On the first count of conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence: “Guilty.”

On the first count of tampering with physical evidence: “Guilty.”

On the second count of conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence: “Guilty.”

On the second count of tampering with physical evidence: “Guilty.”

On the charge of second-degree hindering prosecution: “Guilty.”

As they read out the word guilty six times, members of Troconis’ family visibly broke down in court, wiping away each other’s tears, audibly gasping and quietly sobbing as at least nine court marshals hovered nearby.

On the other side of the courtroom, detectives who investigated the case reached to shake hands with one another and Farber Dulos’ friends closed their eyes, tears rolling down their cheeks.

A spokesperson for Farber Dulos family on Friday said Troconis’ conviction was connected to “an unconscionable series of crimes.”

Prosecutors alleged Troconis plotted with her former boyfriend Fotis Dulos to kill his estranged wife Farber Dulos amid their contentious divorce, and that she helped him cover up his crimes on trips to Albany Avenue in Hartford and an Avon carwash.

Farber Dulos vanished after dropping her five children off at school on May 24, 2019. Troconis is the first person to be tried in connection with her presumed death.

Troconis, who has been free on bond, was taken into custody Friday morning and handcuffed in the courtroom.

2 dead in New London homicide-suicide

On Wednesday afternoon, Janiyah Williams dropped off her best friend Arisleidy Batista at the apartment Batista shared with her boyfriend at 48 Granite St. in New London. The two had gone out to get away from Batista’s boyfriend, who’d been spiraling that day in a jealous rage. Batista wanted to leave him, Williams said, and he didn’t like that idea.

Before Batista walked back into her house, Williams asked her friend if she was going to be OK. “She said ‘What’s he going to do, kill me?’” Williams said.

“And that’s exactly what he did.”

A few hours later, police responded to reports of shots fired near Granite Street. On their way to the scene, they learned of a fire at 48 Granite St., according to the New London Police Department.

Two people were found unconscious inside the burning house one was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was taken to

Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead, city police said.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Thursday that Batista, 18, died from gunshot

wounds to her head, torso and extremities. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Nikeuri Rodriguez, Batista’s boyfriend of about one year, died of a single gunshot wound to his head. His death was ruled a suicide.

‘She was trying to leave him’

As police and fire officials still swarmed the large white and blue house on Granite Street in the frigid cold Thursday afternoon,

Williams recalled how her friend had been trying to break up with Rodriguez.

“She was trying to leave him and he was acting crazy, saying he was going to kill himself if she did,” she said. The day her friend died, she’d seen Rodriguez getting angrier and more desperate.

At Trump’s inauguration, violence and peacefulness from a divided and polarized populace

Warrant details tragic stabbing that ended life of a Fairfield Prep junior; friends and family mourn

If you’re looking for a little piece of Chicago to take with you on your next trip to visit friends and family, look no further than New Eastside. From pizza pies to miniature Chicago Bean replicas, New Eastside is Chicago’s hub for touristy souvenirs and Illinois themed gifts.

Many native Chicagoans will agree that the most recommended gift is to bring a deep dish pizza. While stopping into Giordano’s at 130 East Randolph Street to enjoy a piping hot deep dish is the norm, you can also purchase frozen pizzas to go. Inside the New Eastside Giordano’s restaurant, a refrigerator by the register stays stacked with frozen pizzas in the three most popular flavors – plain cheese, pepperoni, and sausage.

The classic deep dish pizzas, which were first cooked up on Chicago’s South Side back in 1974, are ready to fly. Chicago tourism guide “We offer travel bags that hold up to six pizzas, and keep them frozen for over five hours,” said General Manager Nerius Jankauskas.

The bright red Giordano’s bags a are thermal insulated, and most importantly, are carry-on size. That’s right, your pizzas will fit perfectly in an airplane’s overhead compartment. So if you’re headed out of state to visit friends or family, you can let them know that you’ll be bringing dinner, all the way from Chicago.

Ice cream season has officially begun and we’ve set out to find the tastiest, most interesting flavors in the city.

Whether you’re chasing down your local ice cream man, looking for a treat while watching a ballgame or headed out for a date night centered around what’s atop your cone, we’ve got you covered.

If you’re looking for variety, Jeni’s Splen did Ice Creams, 1419 N. Wells St., takes the cake—and the cake-flavored ice cream. The team at Jeni’s focuses on the atmosphere and experience just as much as the flavors and quality of their creamy cups and cones.

The company describes their design as “really great ice cream served perfectly in a sparkling and beautiful space, with attentive and in-the-moment service,” and they aren’t exaggerating.

Jeni’s is sold in a sleek, orange and white shop adorned with twinkling white lights, and a team of employees who are willing to let you sample as many flavors as your heart desires.

Despite the sampling, it’s hard to pick a flavor from their long list. But luckily, you don’t have to. Jeni’s offers ice cream “flights”—scoops of three flavors for $6. (Pro tip: an additional scoop is just $1, so spring for the $7 option to try four flavors. That’s what we did—twice.)

With two four scoop flights, totaling $14, we enjoyed brambleberry crisp, goat cheese with cherries, honey pie, ricotta toast with jam, coffee with cream and sugar, wildberry lavender, salty caramel and blueberry lemon frozen yogurt.

That’s right—cheese in ice cream. Isn’t that something we all want to try? Goat cheese with cherries was a perfect mix of savory and sweet with chunks of perfectly flavored fruit, while strictly sweet flavors like honey pie were buttery and delicious.

It’s patio season and restaurants and bars across the city are opening up their sidewalks, decks and outdoor spaces for sunshine seating. When it comes to a good view, City Winery at 11 W. Riverwalk South can’t be beat. Situated right on the water, start off with a view and then enjoy the Italian burrata made with marinated tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and toasted ciabatta before diving into a menu filled with salad and sandwich City Winery on the Riverwalk offers riverfront seating.

There’s a variety of wine, but the best is the pink rosé, a generous pour of a watermelon, peach, strawberry and cantaloupe flavored wine. For something more summery, get a frosé. This icy pink wine is served with a striped straw and fresh raspberries and will beat the heat.

The bar features six house wines including Riverwalk Red, a blend that will be available all summer. The bar also offers Goose Island beers and a variety of seasonal cocktails. The waterfront spot is located on Marina Plaza between State Street and Dearborn Street and will feature live music on weekends. City Winery is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, weather permitting.

Gibson’s Italia, 233 N. Canal St., has a great view of the river from its third floor patio. Enjoy angus steaks, sirloin and a selection of fresh seafood.

One of River North’s newest outdoor hotspots is Bar Cargo, 605 N. Wells St., a roman style pizzeria.

Getting the hottest summertime seats

Markets and food halls– a veggie friendly guide

The thousands who flocked to the District for President Trump’s inauguration Friday reflected a divided and polarized nation.

There were multitudes of adoring followers, and there were thousands of protesters. Most condemned Trump peacefully, but others turned violent and clashed with police, leading to at least 217 arrests.

And under sodden skies that delivered a drizzle from time to time, there was the traditional parade up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House — a route that took the 70-year-old real estate businessman past a new $212 million hotel that bears the Trump name.

The mood was light and friendly along the parade route when bystanders told Harold McGrath, 61, of Solomons, Md., that protests had turned violent just several blocks away. He was startled to hear it.

“I was pleased with how well-behaved everyone’s been,” McGrath said.

The throngs of inauguration-goers who began gathering hours before dawn — celebrants and protesters alike — were well-behaved.

They filed through security checkpoints that opened at daybreak, streaming toward the Mall, where Trump would give his first address as the 45th president from the west front of the Capitol Building, staking out the choicest spots along the parade route.

Like McGrath, many had no inkling of the tumultuous protests taking place outside the secure oasis.

Less than two miles from where Trump was scheduled to be sworn in, black-clad anarchists armed with crowbars and hammers marched through the city’s streets, breaking windows, tossing newspaper boxes into the streets and smashing the windows of a long, black limousine parked on K Street NW outside The Washington Post.

The limousine was set ablaze later in the day, spreading dark smoke throughout the area before firefighters extinguished the flames. D.C. police said three officers were injured and 217 people were arrested.

For the parents and families of the Sandy Hook victims, every massshooting is re-traumatizing

Mark Barden said that all week he’s been keeping track of the timeline the families in Uvalde, Texas, are on.

“My wife Jackie and I have been kind of tracking along, moment to moment, what these families have been going through,” he said.

On Tuesday night, the couple went for a drive to clear their heads. They wound their way out of their neighborhood in Sandy Hook to distance themselves from the pain, from the memories that were pushing even closer to the surface than they have been every day for 9 1/2 years.

In the silence of the solemn drive, Jackie Barden turned to her husband.

“Out of the blue she said to me, ‘It’s their Friday night.'”

He knew exactly what she meant.

“She was referring to the night of Dec. 14, 2012, when we were trying to wrap our heads around the fact that our sweet little 7-year-old son Daniel had been shot to death in his first-grade classroom.”

Their home was full that night, Barden said, with loved ones there to console them. But it was also empty. Empty of their children, normally so tight-knit that they shared a bed most nights. Natalie and James Barden, then 10 and 11, were still at a neighbor’s house where they’d been ushered to safety when their own school went into lockdown.

By nightfall, they’d be brought home and led to an upstairs bedroom where their parents would deliver the news: Their baby brother Daniel, with his long red hair and toothless smile, wasn’t coming home.

“No one should ever have to go through that. That was just unspeakable,” said Barden.

James “Jimmy” McGrath was at a crowded house party late at night on May 14 when a dark SUV pulled up outside.

According to witness reports, a group of kids from another school stepped out, fueled by a fight that had started at another party earlier in the night and raged on via group text.

When one of those kids threw a punch, McGrath found himself among a crowd of teenagers who were on the lawn. As teens tumbled to the ground in a moment of frenzy and fists, McGrath was stabbed, according to police reports.

One of the witnesses told police that he looked up from the lawn after noticing his own leg was red with blood and saw McGrath standing near 16-year-old Raul “Lito” Valle, according to an arrest warrant for Valle.

Valle started to walk away, he said, but spun around and stabbed McGrath once in the chest. McGrath was pronounced dead at a hospital about 20 minutes later, according to the warrant. Three other teens also suffered stab wounds.

On Friday, nearly a week after McGrath was killed and the day after Valle was charged as an adult with murder and three counts of first-degree assault, McGrath was, again, surrounded by a crowd of friends.

Always a team player

As a melody of bagpipes drifted into the church from the lawn outside, hundreds of McGrath’s teammates and classmates walked behind his casket at his funeral service at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Trumbull on Friday.

Many of his friends gripped their hands onto each other’s shoulders in support as they filed into the service, filling the massive room where every seat and nearly every aisle was filled with mourners. One friend led the stream of teens on crutches, his left leg wrapped in a brace. One of the teens who was injured in the fight Saturday suffered four deep stab wounds to his left leg.

Classmates, coaches, family, friends, teachers and neighbors crowded the pews, embracing each other and wiping away tears as McGrath’s family — mother Maggie, father Kevin and sister Rosie — walked into the church, holding tightly onto each other. .

We all scream for...

Vegans, vegetarians, plant-based eaters and veggie enthusiasts across the city celebrated when Chicago started 2018 as the third friendliest city in the world for vegans and vegetarians In an international ranking by Meetup, the ChicagoVeg Meet- up group earned the city the third highest spot worldwide, coming in only behind New York and London.

ChicagoVeg, also called Chicagoland Vegetarian, Vegan, & Raw Foodist Community, has close to 6,000 members and hosts more than 30 events every year. Each event helps members explore new dining options, learn new recipes and connect with like-minded eaters.

On April 21, the group converged on the Chicago French Market, 131 N. Clinton. Located in the West Loop, the indoor market is a quaint, charming food hall with an eclectic mix of dishes, desserts and drinks. On the Saturday afternoon, the group hosted a “food tour” of the market, offering discounts and suggestions for the variety of vegan and vegetarian options the market features.

New Eastside Iconic Chicago souvenir shops