Around the Region: Badges for the Brave, a New ShopRite, and a New Milford Bakehouse

Danbury officers will trade their patrol cars for serving trays on Wednesday, November 18, for Badges for the Brave, a fundraiser for the Danbury Veterans Affairs Office at Texas Roadhouse, 74 Newtown Road in Danbury. Texas Roadhouse will donate 10 percent of each guest's total food purchase to the Veterans Affairs Office, and Danbury police officers will be on hand serving guests and collecting additional donations. Guests need to mention the promotion and present the Badges for the Brave flyer for the purchase to qualify. The Danbury Police Department announced the event on November 5.

In Danbury, two men were arrested after an October 29 search at a home on High Street Extension, following a months-long investigation into complaints of drug sales at the address. Detectives from Danbury's Special Investigations Division and Patrol Division carried out the search alongside Brookfield Police Department detectives, under court-authorized warrants. Police say the search found crack cocaine, powder cocaine, scales, paraphernalia, and drug-preparation materials. Wayne Wymss, 42, faces two counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to sell, operating a drug factory, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and was held on a $250,000 bond; he also had an active Department of Correction parole warrant. Michael Drake, 44, was charged with violation of probation and held on a $20,000 bond. The charges are allegations.

A new ShopRite opened Sunday, November 1, at Nutmeg Square, 72 Newtown Road in Danbury. Cingari Family Markets, the family-owned company that operates the store, held a ribbon cutting on Monday, November 2, with Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves. The 59,000-square-foot store takes the place of a Stop & Shop that closed in November 2024, and it is the 11th ShopRite Cingari operates in Connecticut.

In New Milford, a new gothic-inspired cafe and bakeshop, Raven's Bakehouse, has soft-opened at 50 Bank Street, serving espresso, pastries, books, and art. Its posted hours are Monday and Tuesday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed Wednesdays.

A three-vehicle crash on Tuesday morning, November 3, on Danbury Road in Southeast, New York, killed Helen Gambino, 87, of Brewster, according to New York State Police. Two Danbury drivers were involved in the crash, which happened at 7:20 a.m. in the Brewster area.