2025 Ends On A Note of Community

By Liz Page

STAMFORD – Two recent tragedies, which saw people displaced from their homes, have demonstrated how small, rural communities pull together to help others in a big way.

A fire at 73 Main St. in Stamford on Dec. 17 displaced three families and had the potential to do much more damage, but the efforts of firefighters from four counties and 15 different agencies were able to stop the blaze and save a next door business and next door apartment building from harm.

Members of the community jumped into action immediately. Heather and Tim Clark started a GoFundMe page. Heather Clark said she witnessed residents fleeing the building, knowing a young family of five and two other families were going to be without a place to live that day. The occupants lost everything.

That was the beginning of the community's involvement. Other initiatives, such as a donation box inside the lobby at Wayne Bank in Stamford to collect Christmas gifts for the children and other items, an appeal from Robinson-Terrace where one of the residents works, and other efforts were launched for much needed donations. Several local businesses were raffling gift baskets to raise funds for those displaced by the fire, with many they do business helping to fill those baskets. The GoFundMe started by the Clarks has ended with $20,255 collected. Certified checks will be distributed from an account at Wayne Bank. Cash, check and gift card donations are still being collected at TP's Cafe, Wayne Bank and Robinson Terrace. The collection box for needed items and clothing remains in the lobby at the bank. Robinson-Terrace is also still collecting monetary donations, the link is: https://gofund.me/bcf2c8682 or there is a donation jar at the front desk..

Ania Krasinski, an owner of the building, expressed her appreciation to the community for the overwhelming support she and John Miller, have received. In addition to apartments and their own home. The building had a small art gallery and residents and visitors to the village appreciated the beautiful flowers Ania grows.

She said the most important lesson is that everyone got out safely and now a new chapter will begin.

The fire happened the week before Christmas.

Also involved in the helping firefighters were the local businesses and business owners, including: Hannah Hauser Bradfield and Andy Bradfield of T.P.'s Cafe; Stamford Coffee; Stewart's Shops for providing coffee and delivering it to the scene and Tops Friendly Markets for getting the refreshments needed right away.

Another tragedy, under quite different circumstances, unfolded in the community of Hobart, where 12 people were forced to move out after the building they were living in was deemed unsafe. Although it is a much different situation, the community came together to help those affected.

Julie Rockefeller, who was displaced as an owner of businesses on the ground floor of the historic Hobart Inn, became the advocate for the residents being displaced, along with the businesses.

Mary VanValkenburg, a community volunteer working with Rockefeller, said housing was found for all the residents along with foster homes for the pets prior to their eviction.

The conditions of the building and what the residents endured is a human tragedy.

Hobart and Stamford residents say they are outraged that landlord of the Historic Hobart Inn has been allowed to profit from her building’s unsafe conditions while putting other people’s lives in danger.

For the many people who are actively assisting Hobart Inn’s displaced residents, the good news is that all of the dilapidated building’s tenants have been housed; no one was forced to go to a shelter, and all pets were fostered. Money has also been collected to help residents hire an attorney. The bad news is the housing is mostly temporary, according to community activists, which means they will be regrouping soon to figure out how to turn the short-term solutions into long-term wins.

If you wish to donate to a fund set up to help the Hobart Inn's displaced residents, the link is: https://givebutter.com/KXZkMH.

The generosity and willingness to help others has been well-demonstrated over the past couple of weeks, and is continuing.