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2014 In Review: Norwalk Sees Development, Crime, Superintendent Woes

NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk made strides to improve business through development and online retail this year. Here are some more of the top news stories of 2014.

Among the big news events this year, Google named Norwalk the best city in the state for online business.

Among the big news events this year, Google named Norwalk the best city in the state for online business.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue

This year the city got started on a new development project on Wall Street, designed to bring in 101 residential units and 16,000 square feet of retail space. The mayor’s office also hired a new director of economic development, and launched a task force to create an Economic Development Action Plan. Google also selected Norwalk as the state’s best city for online business.

In crime news, three murders occurred in Norwalk in 2014. The shooting death of 43 year-old Jimmy Martinez in May was the city’s first homicide since October 2012. Police later identified Vamond “Wooley King” Elmore as the suspect in the murder. Elmore was shot and killed by U.S. Marshals in South Carolina in July.

The second murder occurred Sept. 10 at an apartment on Wolfpit Avenue. Police found the body of 62-year-old Jackie Silverman, whose death was later ruled a homicide by asphyxiation. Bertony Thompson, 44, was quickly arrested and charged with the crime. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.

Norwalk’s third killing came in early December. Cab driver Jackson Pierre-Louis, 51, called 911 after being stabbed in his taxi on Grove Street. Within a week, police arrested Ramiro Arcos Garcia, 32, who knew Pierre-Louis. Garcia told police that he had stabbed Pierre-Louis after the cab driver had made advances toward him.

Another major story this year was the departure of Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent Manuel Rivera. In late November, Rivera announced that he would be leaving his position, which he has held since July 2013. He will be taking the position of superintendent of New London schools at the beginning of February. Rivera’s departure upset some school parents, who believe he was pushed out by members of the Board of Education. The school board appointed James A. Connelly as interim superintendent in December.

The Metro-North Walk Bridge in Norwalk caused major headaches for commuters this summer. The bridge became stuck twice in the open position over the summer, causing massive delays for trains throughout the state. Lawmakers called on the state and federal governments to invest in fixing the 118-year-old bridge. The state later secured $161 million in federal funding and $53 in state funding to replace the bridge.

As 2014 came to a close, Rick and Joan Setti announced that their popular Christmas lights display was ending this season after 26 years. Citing age and health reasons, the Settis decided to hang up the lights one final time. They went out with a bang, bringing their lights to national attention with an appearance on ABC-TV’s reality show “Great Christmas Light Fight,” which they won.

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