The weekend-long event that showcases the best in Greek food, culture, and arts and crafts, is best known for its music and folk dancing performances. With my new binaural/3D sound microphones, I can finally capture the sights and sounds of the experience like never before.

Basically, unlike regular mono microphones, binaural audio captures all the audio from a 360-degree perspective. The result is a video with sound that's captured from every angle as it happened.

Here's a video clip of one of the many folk dance performances at the event captured in binaural/3D audio (you'll need to wear headphones to hear and fully appreciate the sound in binaural format).

NOTE: You can watch the 15 minite entire performance by clicking here.

Yesterday, by a final vote of 2641 to 433, residents gave their seal of approval to spend 208 million dollars to construct the proposed Danbury Career Academy School, and a childhood center at Great Plain Elementary School, as well as support numerous school infrastructure improvements throughout the city.

While the final tabulation of turnout was unavailable last night, as of 7 PM, an estimated 6.4 percent of the voting public expressed their opinion on the bond package designed to alleviate long-standing educational concerns in the city.

After the vote, I caught up with Mayor Dean Esposito to get his opinion of the bond referendum passage.

In a future post, I'll evaluate the results of the bond package against past referendums and the results of last year's municipal election to get a clearer picture of the public's willingness to express their opinion on one of the top concerns in the city.

Earlier today, I attended Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz's press conference in Danbury where the Lietenant Governor, along with Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, and state and local officials, announced the start of the state's child tax rebate program designed to assist working families who are currently coping with COVID-realted expensses.

Press release from Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz:

(DANBURY, CT) – Today at 10:00am, as part of Governor Lamont’s $600 million tax cut package, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz will join State Representative Sean Scanlon and Danbury officials to announce that beginning today, June 1, 2022, families can apply to receive a state tax rebate of up to $250 as a result of the recently enacted 2022 Connecticut Child Tax Rebate. The rebate provides direct relief to workers, up to three children, doing their best to provide for their families while confronting pandemic-related costs from masks and tests to childcare and internet access.

Republican delegates from Danbury, Ridgefield, and New Fairfield gather together Monday night at the Maron Hotel to nominate Michelle Coelho as their choice for the 24th State Senate district and pick to remove current incumbent Julie Kushner from the General Assembly.

Here's highlights from the political ceremony...

Last week, I attended the monthly City Council meeting and listened to the debate regarding education funding for the next fiscal year.

There have been a lot of discussions recently regarding what was discussed at last week's meeting so, in order to provide full transparency to readers, I videotaped the proceedings and combined my footage with the audio and video feed that the city provided. The result is footage from the meeting that is easier to follow.

Earlier today, I attended Latinos for Education Advocacy and Diversity's (LEAD) press conference where the group expressed their frustrations with members of the city's state delegation whom they allege "forced our state leaders to remove funds for the Danbury Charter school from the draft budget."

LEAD recently announced a rally to be held in Danbury on May 1st where the pro-charter school advocacy group plan to demonstrate against members of the city's state delegation who have fought against their cause.

"Our coalition is marching for educational justice and against the actions of Senator Julie Kushner, Keneth Gucker, Bob Godfrey, and Raghib Allie-Brennan, who on Sunday, April 3rd, deliberately and against the will of thousands pressured the house and senate leaders to remove the allocated funding in the draft budget for the Danbury Charter school. Thus perpetuating a five-year blockade of our school and showing a complete disregard for the wishes of an entire community."

LEAD PRESS RELEASE

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Today, Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Jahana Hayes will pay a visit to Danbury to present New American Dream with a 50,000 in funding to provide meals to low income seniors.

I’ll be on-hand to livestream the event at the Glen apartments complex starting at 2:30; press release of the event is below.

TODAY: BLUMENTHAL & HAYES ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING TO EXPAND HOT MEALS PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS IN DANBURY

Danbury’s New American Dream Foundation will receive $50,000 in Congressional funding to provide more seniors with hot meals

(HARTFORD, CT) – On Tuesday, April 19th at 2:30 PM at Glen Apartments in Danbury, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-CT) will announce $50,000 in federal funding for the New American Dream Foundation to provide more low income seniors in Danbury with hot meals. This funding was secured through the 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. Blumenthal, Hayes, and New American Dream Foundation leaders will visit Glen Apartments senior residents who benefit from the meal program.

The federal grant will provide funding for the New American Dream Foundation to expand its hot meal program for seniors. The Foundation currently provides 90 percent of all Danbury seniors living in affordable housing with hot meals, meeting the needs of those who do not qualify for Meals on Wheels. The funding will purchase the meals and help with administrative costs, including managing volunteers and dietary needs, and more.

WHO: U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal
U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes
Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito
Celia Palmares, President and Founder, The New American Dream Foundation
Angela Barbosa, Executive Director, The New American Dream Foundation
Danbury seniors who are recipients of the meal program

WHEN: Tuesday, April 19th at 2:30 PM

WHERE: Glen Apartments
25 Memorial Drive
Danbury, CT

You can watch a replay of the livestream in its entirety below.