Hello Connecticut!

Renee DiNino chats with Shag Bark Hickory Farm at The Travelers Championship
Birdies for Charity is BACK! 
Donate here: www.traveerschampionship.com

Renee DiNino chats with the Middlesex United Way at The Travelers Championship!
Shawonda Swain shares how important Birdies for Charity is to the organization!
Listen how you can help! Visit www.travelerschampiosnhip.com click on the Birdies icon and donate now through end of play!!!

Renee DiNino speaks with Corrianne Chipello about Camp Courant and Birdies for Charity!
Don't miss The Travelers Championship June 22 - 28 at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.

Hartford’s Camp Courant is the oldest and largest FREE summer day program in the country, and our programs provide Hartford’s youth, ages 5-12, with an opportunity to build meaningful and positive relationships with fellow campers and staff, learn, and most importantly, HAVE FUN!  Campers become part of a historic camp community that continues to grow and evolve, but has also stood the test of time.

Renee DiNino spoke with Michelle Joyce of CLCC in support of Birdies for Charity!

DONATE: www.creativelivingcommunityofct.org

Creative Living Community of CT, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) Connecticut nonprofit corporation founded in 2006 with a mission to create a shared, inclusive living experience for individuals with and without developmental disabilities by focusing upon the gifts of all in mutually rewarding relationships. CLCC’s Board of Directors is comprised of community members and parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and a representative of the neurodiverse population.

Renee DiNino spoke with Amy Wiltsie of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA about Birdies for Charity 2026
DONATE: www.cccymca.org
The Central Connecticut Coast YMCA is a charitable, not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Serving 25 towns and cities in the Greater Bridgeport and New Haven counites, as well as YMCA Camp Hi-Rock (Mount Washington, MA), the Y helps children, families, and adults learn, grow, and thrive. We are an inclusive organization open to all, guided by Judeo-Christian principles to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for everyone.

The Travelers Championship 6.22- 6.28 – TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT
Birdies for Charity is BACK and so are our Birdies Podcasts! Take a listen to Jenna E. Columbus President / CEO for Fresh Start Worx, A Birdies for Charity participant tell WFSB’s Renee DiNino how excited they are to be a part of this opportunity to raise funds and awareness for this organization! 
Learn more: www.travelerschampionship.com www.fsworx.org

The Travelers Championship 6.22- 6.28 – TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT
Birdies for Charity is BACK and so are our Birdies Podcasts! Take a listen to Betsy McCain Schroeder, Director of Development for the Northern Middlesex YMCA, A Birdies for Charity participant tell WFSB’s Renee DiNino how excited they are to be a part of this opportunity to raise funds and awareness for this organization! 
Learn more: www.travelerschampionship.com

The Enfield Fourth of July Town Celebration takes place July 10, 11 and 12^th!

Check out our interview with Izzy Post Ruhland, Marketing Director, Enfield Fourth of July Town Celebration with WFSB's Renee DiNino to hear all about it!!!

America is celebrating 250 years and you’ll find all the feels in Enfield!

The mission?  To provide the residents of Enfield CT and the surrounding communities a three-day Fourth of July Celebration at no charge, including music, parade, races, demonstrations, kid's ride's and games, with much, much more! Don’t forget the fireworks Sunday night!

Bryan Brown has covered a staggering number of miles with his Fidelco guide dogs. Growing up in extremely rural settings – including one Colorado town with a population of 52 in a mountain pass with no television or radio signals 65 miles from the nearest grocery store – he learned early in his teens that the best entertainment was found outside.

When he lost his vision at age 17 due to retinal detachment, he believed the outdoor adventure part of his life had come to an end.

Fast forward to 2004.

There are many reasons Bryan found his way to Fidelco, but perhaps the most striking was the difference he experienced between the way Fidelco approaches placement compared to other guide dog schools.

When Bryan first became a Fidelco client, he was running his own business and didn’t have time to take several weeks off to travel to a placement facility. Fidelco’s In-Community Placement model suited his busy life, and he quickly realized that this wasn’t the only thing that set them apart. He was struck by Fidelco’s commitment to preserving his dignity throughout the training process, not to mention their willingness to go above and beyond in every way.

It was with his first Fidelco guide dog, Tarik, that he learned to hike independently, reopening a door that he once thought closed forever.

With his second Fidelco dog, Oscar, things really took off, and Bryan reached incredible heights. With Oscar by his side, he hiked the majority of the Appalachian Trail, as well as portions of the Continental Divide Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Ice Age Trail, and many others.

Together they covered thousands of miles, even living full-time in a 40-foot motorcoach for two years, during which, thanks to intrepid friends and hired drivers, they never slept in the same place two nights in a row for an entire 365 days.

Bryan and Oscar’s bond was so strong that it took a few years after Oscar’s passing before Bryan was ready for a successor dog, but ultimately the time did come. First came Zuke and then, in August of 2025, his current guide dog, Koda.

Of all his dogs, Koda is the one who gravitates the most to his people. Whether Bryan is shoveling snow during the Wisconsin winter or in his workshop, Koda is there.

And it is in that workshop where another chapter of Bryan’s story is unfolding.

As someone who once had maple saplings growing in the seams of his backpack, Bryan has a keen understanding of how harsh extreme hiking can be. And while he calls the intricately stitched leather harnesses that Fidelco guide dogs use “works of art,” he knows that in some settings, function wins out over form every time.

That’s why Bryan began tinkering with alternative leashes and harnesses made of extremely durable, lightweight, not to mention dishwasher safe, materials. Today he crafts innovative gear that can potentially last across generations of guide dog teams while offering a functional edge, whether navigating a trail or daily life.

Bryan dreams of a day when his home-based enterprise is a sustainable, equitable business that not only revolutionizes the guide dog harness industry but also employs people who are blind to build the component parts of each hand-crafted item.

From the wild woods and waters of Colorado and Wisconsin and beyond to life in a roving motor home and the many hours spent in his current workshop, Bryan Brown is all in when it comes to Fidelco and the guide dog community.

Fidelco Guide Dog Client Amelia Lillie and her guide dog Morgan have been together for 6 months. As you'll hear in our conversation it was a quick bond and they are now taking over the world! 

Fidelco German Shepherd Dogs are bred from Bavarian stock to ensure ideal characteristics for guide dog work such as intelligence, temperament, stamina and stability. Fidelco guide dogs are responsible for our clients’ safety at all times. This formidable task requires an uncompromising focus on the quality of the breed, extensive training, and thoughtful matching and placement.

For 60 years, Fidelco has been unwaveringly dedicated to its mission of breeding and training our German Shepherd guide dogs - and then expertly matching them with our clients across North America who are blind or visually impaired.

Our passion is to produce the highest quality guide dogs, dogs who are partners in the engaged and vibrant lives of our clients. Our focus has never shifted from guide dogs, or from providing increased independence and mobility to you, our valued clients. When you become a Fidelco client, you benefit from not only our deeply rooted heritage but our bright and steady future as well. If you are interested in a Fidelco guide dog, or want to help, become a puppy raiser or donate visit: www.fidelco.org

James (Jim) lives in South Dakota with his wife, Linda and is the parent of two adult children. He partnered with Fidelco guide dog, “Dax” in May 2022. Diagnosed with glaucoma in the early 2000’s, Jim was declared legally blind in 2013. He is a retired forester and veteran. When Jim’s doctor told him he was eligible for services through the Veterans Administration, he decided to take advantage of these services and traveled to Chicago where he received six weeks of orientation and mobility training and support at the Hines VA Blind Rehabilitation Center. As a result of his training, Jim became a proficient white cane traveler and utilized the life skills training that he received to continue his hobbies of gardening (he’s a master gardener) and woodworking. Jim recognized that in his small community, people needed to be better educated about white cane travel by individuals with vision impairment and how to support them. With a retired teacher, Joanna Jones, who was also a parishioner at his church, Jim co-authored a children’s book, Grandpa’s White Cane, which was published in 2003. To further his goal of educating the community about white cane travel, Jim and Joanna began making presentations to students in local elementary schools. While Jim had become a proficient white cane traveler, he wanted to gain even greater independence with a Fidelco guide dog. Jim has said that having a literal set of second eyes to help him navigate has been a game changer. Busy man that he is, Dax has enabled him to travel more quickly and safely.

Photo by Spearfish Creek.  Photo of Jim in classroom with Dax with “Grandpa’s White Cane” book cover on screen behind them.

“Free to Be Me” — The Social Chase Hosts First Fundraiser Concert Gala to Support the Autism Community

Waterbury, CT — November 20, 2025 — Local nonprofit The Social Chase, Inc. is inviting media outlets to cover — and request interviews for — its First Fundraiser Concert Gala, an uplifting evening of music, celebration, and community advocacy for neurodivergent teens and adults.

The event will take place Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at La Bella Vista, 380 Farmwood Road, Waterbury, Connecticut.

Headlining the evening:

• Chris “Big Dog” Davis — Two-time Grammy-nominated, #1 Billboard-charting producer with over 20 hit singles
• Al “DJ ACT” Taylor — Renowned Connecticut entertainer

Guests will enjoy dinner, live music, auctions, raffles, and dancing — all in support of inclusive programming for teens and adults with autism and other disabilities.

Fidelco Apprentice Instructor Saige Grace Martinelli shares her journey with Fidelco Guide Dogs with Renee DiNino.

“Why I started at Fidelco was because I fell in love with working with dogs but always wanted to do something that helped people and made a difference. During Covid I watched the documentary, Pick of the Litter, and quickly into watching it, I realized what I wanted to do with my life. Working with Fidelco has taken the two things I'm extremely passionate about, dogs and helping people, and made it my reality. I love getting asked what I do for a living because I cannot brag enough about what we do here at Fidelco. I hope someday young adults can see and here what we’re doing and have the same realization that I had.” - Sage

About

Fidelco German Shepherd Dogs are bred from Bavarian stock to ensure ideal characteristics for guide dog work such as intelligence, temperament, stamina and stability. Fidelco guide dogs are responsible for our clients’ safety at all times. This formidable task requires an uncompromising focus on the quality of the breed, extensive training, and thoughtful matching and placement.

TO find out more ways to help Fideoc visit: www.Fidelco.org

Join us for an evening of fantastic fun and fundraising.  There will be food, drinks, live music, and live and silent auctions. 

Renee DiNino speaks with Shelly Whitlock Pope, Executive Director

Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center is holding their 20^th Anniversary Celebration! 10.4.26

Get your tickets for our biggest fundraiser of the year!  Funds raised during the event will aid our mission to support the growth and overall well-being of all individuals, including those with special needs, by providing equine-assisted services (EAS) in a safe, caring and professional environment.  We can't wait to celebrate our horses, programs, and facility during this wonderful evening at the farm! www.shepardmeadows.org/farmyardparty