For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders A leading name in the automotive recycling and car removal industry, Cash For Car Buyer has announced a series of significant upgrades to its Fairfield East yard These enhancements are designed to improve efficiency further solidifying Cash For Buyer’s position as a top choice for car removal services in the region One of the key upgrades is the installation of new racking systems across the Fairfield East yard This addition allows for increased storage capacity enabling the facility to house more vehicles and spare parts The new racking will increase vertical storage capacity making it easier for technicians to access and manage inventory To improve the protection of valuable stock and assets Cash For Buyer has installed state-of-the-art security cameras throughout the Fairfield East wrecking yard and head office These cameras are strategically placed to monitor all areas of the yard The enhanced security measures aim to protect the company’s assets and ensure the safety of both employees and visitors Another notable improvement is the resurfacing of the parking lot which has been carried out to enhance accessibility and safety for customers and staff The newly resurfaced lot offers a smoother road surface reducing the risk of accidents and providing a more pleasant experience for visitors This upgrade reflects Cash For Buyer’s commitment to offering a superior customer experience from the moment they arrive on-site These investments in the Fairfield East yard are part of Cash For Buyer’s ongoing commitment to providing top-notch services and maintaining high standards in the automotive recycling industry With these upgrades, Cash For Buyer continues to lead the way in the car removal and recycling industry. For more information about Cash For Buyer’s services or to learn more about the Fairfield East yard upgrades, visit their official website here: https://cashforcarbuyer.au and for more information visit: https://fairfieldautoparts.com.au We encourage you to like the Your Neighbourhood Facebook page to be updated on other projects or developments News articles are presented in an unbiased manner from information publicly accessible that includes referenced links for the reader to obtain any further information The facts of the proposed government projects school upgrades and development applications are based on the available information at the time of the published date with information sourced directly from company websites media releases and development application material We reference all our information at the end of the articles and promote the creators with website backlinks Contact us: mail@yourneighbourhood.com.au Hino Australia’s $7.4 million investment from its dealers, Adtrans Hino and City Hino, is set to benefit its Sydney customers through two new facilities. Adtrans Hino has opened a brand-new premises in Marrickville, while City Hino recently launched one of Hino Australia’s first satellite parts and service centres in Fairfield. Joining the dealership 18 months ago, dealer principal Mark Reynolds spearheaded the Adtrans move, transforming the dealership to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction. “These changes will provide significant benefits to Hino customers across Sydney with an additional 16 service bays and an increase in onsite parts storage of 37 per cent, leading to quicker service times, and increased and faster parts availability,” he says. With an additional 10 service bays, two new breakdown vehicles, a parts warehouse doubled in capacity and a location chosen for its proximity to the airport and major arterials, Reynolds says customers will reap all the benefits of convenience and high service. “The improved efficiencies and productivity of the service department including onsite brake testing, wheel alignment and weighbridge will benefit our customers with quicker service times and including same day service,” he says. City Hino’s new $1 million Hino Hub in Fairfield East is in addition to the $5 million investment to the Arndell Park dealership undertaken in late 2023. General manager of City Hino, Daniel Glynn says as the business grows, it’s essential that customers are provided with increased options and accessibility for their parts and servicing requirements. “Our 5000 sqm Fairfield East Hino Hub features a workshop purpose-built for trucking maintenance with 10 service bays and three new hoists for fast servicing, plus over 1,100 locations for parts storage,” he says. “We are an Authorised Inspection Centre, offering our customers convenience and minimising their downtime.” The Arndell Park upgrade in 2023 included a newly constructed parts warehouse, increasing parts storage by 300 per cent, with an additional four work bays and new 14 and 35 tonne hoists. OwnerDriver was established in 1992 as a national newspaper “Dedicated to the Success of the Person Behind the Wheel” and it continues to pursue this mission today Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Sydney's Merhi family's private company Merhi Investments has sold two adjoining industrial sites in the western Sydney suburb of Fairfield East for $8 million bought the one-hectare sites at 61-63 and 65-67 Mandarin Street at a yield of 5.63 per cent with plans to move into the property after a current lease expires SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Read MoreSalesCommercial real estateLatest In CommercialFetching latest articles Students from one of the most densely populated parts of Fairfield near its eastern border with Bridgeport attend McKinley, which was the most crowded elementary school in town last school year, according to district and state data. The high-demand housing development that's been happening in the neighborhoods surrounding the school could continue under an 10-year advisory document outlining Fairfield's land use goals, which the Board of Education fears could strain some of its most-congested school buildings. "The addition of even a small number of new students could have meaningful ramifications for how education is delivered in those facilities," states a letter the school board sent to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission and Fairfield Planning Director Jim Wendt last month.  The 107-page draft of the POCD must replace the current version by the end of 2026 the POCD suggests building more multifamily and mixed-use housing by the Fairfield-Black Rock train station and along commercial corridors like Commerce Drive Kings Highway East and Black Rock Turnpike The draft POCD states it would place a "particular focus" on mixed-use development in the Fairfield-Black Rock station and Commerce Drive areas — both of which send students to McKinley State data shows 470 students were enrolled at McKinley last school year The school has a "functional capacity" of 504 according to the school district's facilities plan The state and district data show the school's enrollment exceeded 93% of the building's capacity based on the number of K-5 classrooms It was the only public elementary school in Fairfield using every classroom for K-5 general education last year according to the district's facilities plan A proposal for a 100-unit apartment building on Biro Street A mixed-use complex that will eventually house 357 apartments and a 118-room hotel is also in the works near the boundary of the school zones for McKinley and Holland Hill Elementary School on Ash Creek Boulevard It's unclear which elementary school would serve the development economic development in Fairfield and the state of Connecticut as a whole is going to revolve around housing in some capacity," Wendt said at a meeting on the POCD last month "That's just the reality of the market that we are in and the demand for housing and why we see an unprecedented level of development applications with respect to housing." School board members requested the POCD diffuse the impacts of development and population density across Fairfield's schools by working with the school district's administration and school board's facilities committee laid out in the letter to the zoning commission and planning director include addressing "deficiencies" at schools complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act The school board also recommends updating buildings' ventilation and air conditioning "Our (buildings' capacities) are fixed FPS’s ability to conduct its primary educational mission is challenged by the population shifts and concentration that development can bring as well as the resulting disparate impact upon schools it has," the school board's letter our operations are tightly linked to the distribution of housing stock in Fairfield." Fairfield schools are plenty familiar with the potential impacts of development in a town whose zoning tends to split between larger more expensive single-family homes on the west side of town and an east side that's denser Wendt said the POCD draft looks to promote "gentle density," especially along the town's commercial corridors to distribute housing throughout Fairfield with more equity "The TPZ understands the tension that any new housing development in the more stressed school districts brings," he said in a statement "We recognize that some of the largest redevelopment sites of former industrial uses are in portions of the most stressed school districts we cannot relocate where those opportunity sites are." In response to the school board's concerns about added stresses during the next decade of development he said the link between housing and school enrollment is not proportionate While the number of residential units in Fairfield has increased by over 27% during the past 50 years enrollment has declined by nearly 21% during the same time frame and the number of children per residential unit has dropped by 38% Yet the POCD draft has left the school board dissatisfied with what members describe as the lack of acknowledgment of the state of its schools and education in general. The draft removes an education section, which, in the current POCD has supported reduced school crowding measures and a periodic analysis of student population The letter from school board members states they're "dismayed" by the lack of teamwork between them and Fairfield's zoning commissioners on the advisory document "I don't know the positive way to say we've been ignored utterly disregarded and viewed as irrelevant," Jennifer Maxon-Kennelly one of Fairfield's school board members Following a tense exchange with zoning commissioners Kathryn Braun and Alexis Harrison who voiced support for restoring the POCD's education section in a meeting last month commission Chair Thomas Noonan said the body could consider an education section if the Board of Education drafts one he referenced an earlier consensus on the commission against including the section The board's letter to the zoning commission states the POCD should include an education section and the commission is ready to help create one "if desired." "I am happy to work with TPZ leadership on a schedule that will get this work moving," School board Chair Jeff Peterson said in an email I would still like some assurance that such a submission would be considered before referring it to a BoE committee whose agendas are already very busy." The zoning commission has spent over a year reviewing the POCD draft but since receiving the school board's recommendations earlier this month it has yet to reach the section that would include them and has not set a meeting date to do so Noonan said he expects to implement the requested revisions and would be willing for the commission to collaborate with the Board of Education as needed in the future "It's a complex issue," Noonan said of the conflict between development and the schools "I wish there was silver bullet to it Raines has added Fairfield Inn & Suites Whitsett Greensboro East in Whitsett This is the third hotel that Raines is managing for Wilmington Located along I-40/I-85 at 3020 Hendren Rd, Whitsett, NC 27377, Fairfield Inn & Suites Whitsett Greensboro East provides easy access to major North Carolina cities such as Greensboro and Lake Mackintosh attract leisure travelers The area also has a significant industrial base The 102-key Fairfield Inn & Suites Whitsett Greensboro East features amenities such as free Wi-Fi convenience store and dry-cleaning service There is a group meeting space that can accommodate up to 30 people The lobby bar features small plate dining and craft cocktails having added more than 20 properties to its management portfolio including 16 hotels in a pivotal partnership with Atlantic Hotels Group The company’s continued focus on sustainable has further solidified its position as a leader in the evolving hospitality sector Raines is one of the leading hospitality management and investment organizations offering a comprehensive approach to its impressive property portfolio and client base the award-winning company is known for its operational experience and expertise with the world's leading brands Raines currently has 49 hotels and 5,204 keys throughout the Southeast a variety of specialty divisions offer curated and strategic programming which specializes in commercial real estate and office properties with a secondary regional office in Charleston One of my main priorities as Mayor has been to ensure local families can get out in the sunshine We have been working hard on some great new major recreational projects such as Avenel Park and Endeavour Sports Park for residents to use but also important are our everyday neighbourhood playgrounds to ensure play opportunities are within a short walk or drive of every household we have opened new playgrounds at Welcome Park I encourage you to get out with the kids and use these new playgrounds containing features such as slides In the coming few months we will open another 8 upgraded neighbourhood playgrounds at Macarthur Park Yennora; the young children’s playground at Fairfield Park: Bold Park In the next 12 months we will also be upgrading six more neighbourhood parks: Nelson Park Fairfield; Prout and Fiona parks in Mount Pritchard; Bowden Park We will also be installing new outdoor fitness equipment at Lalich Park We are a large City with suburbs stretching from Villawood to Horsley Park Given the scale of our refurbishment work across the City We are continually upgrading and installing new playgrounds across our City If a playground in your area has not yet had works completed To find a playground near you visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/parks We acknowledge the Cabrogal of the Darug Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of this Land We also pay our respect to the Elders both past Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. ABC News News HomeSix arrested over fatal beating stabbing of Tu Luong in Fairfield EastShare Six arrested over fatal beating stabbing of Tu Luong in Fairfield EastTopic:Homicide was assaulted and stabbed during an altercation with a group of men at Fairfield East Link copiedShareShare articleSix people have been arrested over the death of a man who was assaulted and stabbed in a street in Sydney's south-west last year Emergency services were called to Belmore Street, Fairfield East after reports of a man being assaulted and stabbed there about 4:10pm on December 6, 2015. Tu Luong, 35, suffered numerous injuries and was rushed to Liverpool Hospital, but he died a short time later. Homicide squad detectives today searched five premises in Casula, Liverpool, Fairfield East and Smithfield. Five men, aged between 32 and 38, were arrested following the raids and remain in police custody. The sixth man, 36, was arrested in the Canberra suburb of Phillip and has been extradited to NSW. He appeared briefly in the ACT Magistrates Court this afternoon and will appear in the Queanbeyan Local Court tomorrow. A police statement said all six are expected to be charged with murder. At the time, police said the incident seemed to be pre-arranged and the men involved had been involved in illegal activity. They said the attack happened after two cars pulled up in the street, Mr Luong got out of one of the cars and was allegedly set upon by at least four men and attacked with a knife and a metal pole. Acting Commander of the NSW Police Homicide Squad Grant Taylor said today's operation was the result of six months of hard work. He said the six men arrested were still assisting police at Liverpool and Fairfield police stations and in Canberra and it was expected they would be charged with murder today and appear in court this afternoon or tomorrow. "Police will be alleging that Tu Luong was lured to a location in Fairfield where he was then abducted against his will and was being conveyed to a second location when he was set upon on the side of the road in Fairfield," Acting Commander Taylor said. "The vehicle he was in pulled over and the second vehicle had pulled over as well, a fight took place and subsequently he was killed. "We will be alleging that these individuals are involved in the sale and supply of heroin and also methamphetamines." AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Fairfield got the best of Lakota East 49-42 on Wednesday at Cintas Center and moves on to the regional championship game. Mike Lewis finished with 17 points for the Indians. Fairfield will take on Lakota West on Sunday at noon for the title. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced Fairfield East is about 22 kilometres from Sydney In the area, we reported last month that Costco was paying $30.5m for a showroom next to its Auburn store Aldi also sold a a vacant store in Auburn (story continues below) Two months earlier, SCA Property Group paid Elanor Investors Group $129.5m for Auburn Plaza – coincidentally the centre the German supermarket relocated to Last August, Class Windows and Kitchen Elements offloaded its Guildford base after 25 years Mid-last year Melbourne’s Pelligra sold a Yennora factory to Ascendas REIT for $23.5m In 2018 Charter Hall paid a private investor $55m for Villawood’s National Archives of Australia facility Three months ago ESR paid $302.5m for 11 Propertylink industrial investments – six in Sydney and one at Yennora (205 Fairfield Rd) Last April it offloaded a Liverpool office for $52.5m Not long earlier the group banked $24m from the sale of an commercial investment in Melbourne’s south east Mulgrave It also spent c$75m on a 79ha industrial development site at Cranbourne West in that city A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A group of rogue Sydney teenagers overran a Housing NSW property which eventually became the scene of a bloody and brutal killing came from a loving home but was found bashed to death in a house on a quiet street in Sydney's west on May 17 His relatives found his disfigured body inside the weatherboard house in Belmore Street after his family reported him missing to police and spent the previous night searching for him Homicide Detective Inspector Grant Taylor has previously told Fairfax Media that the house was used as a "local hangout" for youths in the past three to five months Grieving father: Azzam Hrouk with a picture of his son Mahmoud.Credit: Daniel Munoz Fairfax Media understands the principal resident of the property died last year It is believed that a relative of the deceased used the house to entertain local youths and to host parties A Family and Community Services spokesman said the house was occupied by a legal tenant He said the department had no knowledge of improper use of the house Mahmoud Hrouk's sporting trophies.Credit: Daniel Munoz "85 Belmore Street had been occupied until 22 May rent-paying tenant," the spokesman said "Family and Community Services was not aware that the property had been improperly used by young people," he said where Mahmoud Hrouk was killed.Credit: Daniel Munoz "Given that this investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment any further on this matter." Someone familiar with the group of boys who had been using the house described them as a bunch of "shitbags" At the back of the house is a navy pool table covered in dirt and strewn with tea bags.Credit: Daniel Munoz A Belmore Street resident said the group had recently hosted a party that carried on until 4am The music was so loud he was unable to sleep The front of the cream house is sprayed with orange graffiti and the lawn is covered in mounds of garbage The house is full of rubbish.Credit: Daniel Munoz At the back of the house is a navy pool table covered in dirt and strewn with tea bags Inspector Taylor said a number of youths were recently seen moving a couch into the house and he was eager to speak to anyone who had seen anything "We are very interested if anyone can tell us who may have frequented that house and used it as hangout," he said "Some individuals have delivered a two- or three-seater lounge to that residence for use sometime in last month or so." He said Mahmoud's killer or killers possibly fled the house and ran towards Seaman Avenue late on the Saturday or in the early hours of the Sunday said they wanted their son remembered as a family boy who aspired to own his own construction company and play professionally for the Bulldogs he was a beautiful boy," his mother said About 59,500 people are waiting for Housing NSW accommodation Anyone with information is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 came from a loving home but was found bashed to death in a house on a quiet street in Sydney's west on May 17 Homicide Detective Inspector Grant Taylor has previously told Fairfax Media that the house was used as a \\\"local hangout\\\" for youths in the past three to five months \\\"85 Belmore Street had been occupied until 22 May rent-paying tenant,\\\" the spokesman said \\\"Family and Community Services was not aware that the property had been improperly used by young people,\\\" he said \\\"Given that this investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment any further on this matter.\\\" Someone familiar with the group of boys who had been using the house described them as a bunch of \\\"shitbags\\\" \\\"We are very interested if anyone can tell us who may have frequented that house and used it as hangout,\\\" he said \\\"Some individuals have delivered a two- or three-seater lounge to that residence for use sometime in last month or so.\\\" He said Mahmoud's killer or killers possibly fled the house and ran towards Seaman Avenue late on the Saturday or in the early hours of the Sunday he was a beautiful boy,\\\" his mother said East Hartford's Isaac Quiles controls Ridgefield's John Carrozza during the 132-pound final at the Class LL wrestling championships In Trumbull on Saturday East Hartford's Drayvn Roberts wrestles Hall's Jonathon Wright-Goodison in the 165-pound final at the Class LL wrestling championships In Trumbull on Saturday Southington's Andrew Mikosz wrestles with Norwalk's Isaiah Dominguez during the 215-pound final at the Class LL wrestling championships In Trumbull on Saturday East Hartford's Riley Storozuk celebrates after winning the 150-pound final at the Class LL wrestling championships In Trumbull on Satrday Fairfield Warde's Jude Grammatico wrestles with Ridgefield's Carter Lanzilli during the 113-pound final at the Class LL wrestling championships In Trumbull on Saturday TRUMBULL — Long after the CIAC Class LL wrestling championships had ended Fairfield Warde and East Hartford were still dominating the gym In one corner was Warde, which repeated as state champion by showcasing its depth The Mustangs put 11 wrestlers on the podium which for the second straight year had five individual champs including two - Isaac Quiles and Drayvn Roberts - who entered hallowed territory with their fourth consecutive titles With medalists in 11 of the 14 weight classes Warde racked up 260.5 points and held off East Hartford to win the 2025 Class LL championship Saturday in Trumbull with Ridgefield a distant third with 169 points “There’s lots of good programs out there but the one big piece of our program is we have a lot of depth through 14 weights,” said Warde coach Jason Shaughnessy, who surpassed 500 career wins earlier this season to put 10 guys in the semifinals — those are really good rounds We have a lot of good kids and they just make each other better every day in the wrestling room.” It's the Mustangs’ fifth state championship and the second time they have won in back-to-back years before winning Class LL the past two seasons Warde won its third consecutive FCIAC championship last week in New Canaan The Mustangs’ three individual champs all came close last year Junior Cole Greinier and senior Anthony Albanese were runners-up in 2024 while junior Jude Grammitico had finished third Grenier pinned Enfield’s Jacob Beiler in 1:40 to win at 190 pounds and Albanese pinned Hall’s Luc Abbatemarco in 5:42 of the heavyweight bout Albanese then flipped and rolled assistant coach Brandon Fulco to the mat during his celebration.Grammatico won the 113-pound bout 4-3 over Ridgefield’s Carter Lanzilli with an escape in the closing seconds Grenier said last year’s second-place finish was a motivating factor this season “I was going to the match with a guy I felt I was pretty on par with and I fell short I've been working harder than anyone else at 190 and I knew that was going to be the key for me to win in this tournament.” East Hartford finished runner-up for the second time in three seasons after winning its only state championship in 2022 when it shared the Class LL title with Danbury The Hornets have had a remarkable run of champions the last few seasons and added five more titles on Saturday Four of those champions have won multiple championships For Quiles and Roberts, it means a spot in the CT Wrestling Record Book, with each winning their fourth state class championship. Quiles defeated Ridgefield’s John Carozza via technical fall 18-2 at 132 pounds, and Roberts capped the Class L tournament by pinning Hall’s Jonathan Wright-Goodison in 1:36 of the 165-pound final. They joined an exclusive group, which now includes 13 wrestlers with four titles. The last wrestler to accomplish the feat was Sean Johnson of Ellis Tech in Class S (2016-19). Quiles and Roberts give East Hartford three four-time state champs in its history, joining John Knapp, who won from 1989-92. “This means a lot. Me and Drayvn, we go way back to the old Stinger days,” said Quiles, referencing the name of East Hartford’s youth league teams. “We’ve been brothers since we were six years old. We were in the same room back then that we are now. We’re brothers for life and all the hard work and all the dedication we put in together has paid off.” Another East Hartford senior, Jaeckez Mendez, is actually a five-time CIAC champ, with three Class LL and two State Open titles. Mendez pinned Warde’s Owen Sheiman at 3:49 of the 144-pound final. Also for the Hornets, senior Yaxier Rivera won his second straight title when he defeated Warde’s Louis Sorraco 6-3 at 157 pounds, and freshman Riley Storozuk defeated Warde’s Dominick Spadaro 5-1 in overtime at 150. While East Hartford and Warde took more than half of the weight class titles, six other teams won single championships. Enfield’s Ethan Buonanducci was another runner-up from last year who broke through for the victory on Saturday, defeating Trumbull’s Ibrahim Kadri with a17-2 technical fall at 126 pounds. Also winning titles were Ridgefield’s Cole Desiano (1-6), Hall’s Michael Ortiz (120), NFA’s Edward Lavoie (138), Amity’s Branimir Lah (175) and Southington’s Andrew Mikosz (215) Dave Stewart is a sports reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group who has been covering sports in Connecticut since 1996 and serves as the GameTimeCT writer for volleyball, girls hockey, wrestling and girls lacrosse. He has won multiple New England Newspaper & Press Association and Connecticut SPJ awards for writing and photography and is a member of the FCIAC Hall of Fame. Mahmoud Hrouk's body was found in a vacant house at Fairfield East. (Facebook) Link copiedShareShare articleA Sydney man has been found guilty of killing and sexually assaulting his 16-year-old friend in an abandoned house at East Fairfield in 2015. Aymen Terkmani, 24, pleaded not guilty but after eight hours of deliberations a jury found him guilty. Terkmani remained impassive as the verdict was read out. Mahmoud Hrouk was last seen alive on the evening of May 16, 2015 when security cameras captured the teenager and Terkmani eating at a fast food restaurant in Villawood. The 16-year-old's body was found in the abandoned house the following day — he had been beaten with a toaster and rolling pin, strangled, and sexually assaulted. Speaking outside the Supreme Court, Mahmoud's mother, Maha Dunia, thanked all those involved with the verdict, including the Director of Public Prosecutions and NSW Police, the Government and the legal system. "Thank you very much to everyone, thanks to the jury, they took the right decision," she said. But she began sobbing when asked what the guilty verdict meant to her. "I don't know," she said, before walking away. During Terkmani's trial, the jury heard evidence from Mahmoud's parents, who said they searched for their son all night when he failed to return home. Ms Dunia told the court she and her husband rang the teenager several times telling him to come home and earlier that night he had failed to turn up to a family dinner. Ms Dunia said that during one conversation her son told her, "Mum, I'm with Aymen, come pick me up". She said he was whispering details of the address when the phone line cut out and when she tried calling back a few times she could not reach him. Aymen Terkmani was found guilty in August after a trial. (AAP: Brendan Esposito) After driving around the neighbourhood, the Hrouks spotted Mahmoud's bicycle outside the Terkmani home at 11:00pm. When Mr Hrouk asked Terkmani if he had seen his son, he replied that he had parted with the teenager about 7:30pm. The bicycle was discovered in a nearby street the next morning. The court was told the abandoned house was a regular hangout of Terkmani's, where he would go to smoke cannabis and once took an escort. His DNA was discovered at the house, but defence barrister Mark Austin told the court there was no evidence to prove his client was at the house at the same time as the victim. Terkmani's father told police, and gave evidence at trial, that his son was home when the attack happened so he could not have committed the crime. Mr Austin told the jury members they should consider that alibi evidence "cogent, strong and undeniable". We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Teenager Mahmoud Hrouk was seen socialising with a group of boys in the hours before he was bashed to death in a vacant home used as a "local hangout" in western Sydney, police say. Relatives found the 16-year-old's bloodied body in the Fairfield East house that has been used by local teenagers in the past three to five months. Mahmoud Hrouk was found dead in a home in Fairfield East. Credit: Facebook Homicide Detective Inspector Grant Taylor said he believed a number of youths recently moved a lounge chair into the single-storey home on Belmore Street and were eager to speak to anyone who had seen anything. "We are very interested if anyone can tell us who may have frequented that house and used it as hangout," he said. Forensic officers enter the Belmore Street house where body of Mahmoud Hrouk, 16, was discovered on Sunday, May 16.Credit: Emma Partridge Inspector Taylor said Mahmoud's killer or killers possibly fled the mystery house and ran towards Seaman Avenue late on Saturday or the early hours of Sunday. He also urged residents to check their gardens and bins just in case the teenager's killer or killers had dumped his mobile phone or other personal items nearby. "We strongly believe that people who live within that area may have seen the deceased with others possibly of similar age or older and we are very keen for those members of the public to make contact with Crime Stoppers," he said. The former Granville High School student was seen at Villawood McDonald's about 6.30pm on Saturday and then was seen at a number of streets surrounding the house where he was eventually killed. His mother has said she last spoke to her son at 9.30pm before his phone cut out or his battery went flat. Dozens of his family members searched the streets that night and found his Giant mountain bike on Melaleuca Street. Yas Abooch said she was one of Mahmoud's aunts and she believed her nephew had been killed by a group of boys he knew. "He got bashed to death apparently by a group of boys - most likely set up by his so-called mates," she posted on Facebook. Police said they were considering the possibility Mahmoud was killed by more than one person but remained tight-lipped about why anyone would want him dead. Inspector Taylor said they believed the deceased might have been at a number of different places on Mitchell, Melaleuca, Normandy, Bligh, Belmore and Tangerine Streets between 6.30pm and midnight on Saturday, May 16. "We believe that the deceased remained in that area [Villawood and Fairfield East][ and was either on foot or on his bicycle or possibly at times in a vehicle going between those locations," he said. "This was a brutal and vicious bashing. He was brutally assaulted in a very vicious and callous attack." The police appeal for information comes after more than 500 mourners gathered at Lakemba Mosque on Wednesday, including his mother father and six siblings. Mahmoud's Lebanese Muslim Association funeral was conducted at midday before his burial at Rookwood cemetery. Phone Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000, with any information. Teenager Mahmoud Hrouk was seen socialising with a group of boys in the hours before he was bashed to death in a vacant home used as a \\\"local hangout\\\" in western Sydney, police say. Relatives found the 16-year-old's bloodied body in the Fairfield East house that has been used by local teenagers in the past three to five months. \\\"We are very interested if anyone can tell us who may have frequented that house and used it as hangout,\\\" he said. Inspector Taylor said Mahmoud's killer or killers possibly fled the mystery house and ran towards Seaman Avenue late on Saturday or the early hours of Sunday. He also urged residents to check their gardens and bins just in case the teenager's killer or killers had dumped his mobile phone or other personal items nearby. \\\"We strongly believe that people who live within that area may have seen the deceased with others possibly of similar age or older and we are very keen for those members of the public to make contact with Crime Stoppers,\\\" he said. The former Granville High School student was seen at Villawood McDonald's about 6.30pm on Saturday and then was seen at a number of streets surrounding the house where he was eventually killed. Yas Abooch said she was one of Mahmoud's aunts and she believed her nephew had been killed by a group of boys he knew. \\\"He got bashed to death apparently by a group of boys - most likely set up by his so-called mates,\\\" she posted on Facebook. \\\"We believe that the deceased remained in that area [Villawood and Fairfield East][ and was either on foot or on his bicycle or possibly at times in a vehicle going between those locations,\\\" he said. \\\"This was a brutal and vicious bashing. He was brutally assaulted in a very vicious and callous attack.\\\" Mahmoud's Lebanese Muslim Association funeral was conducted at midday before his burial at Rookwood cemetery. Link copiedShareShare articleA man has died after a group of men armed with a knife and a metal pole attacked him in broad daylight in a suburban street in Sydney's west Emergency services discovered 35-year-old Tu Luong with multiple stab wounds at Belmore Street on Sunday afternoon after being called to reports of an assault Superintendent Peter Lennon said the attack began after two cars arrived at Belmore Street a small black sedan and a white-four-wheel drive "A man exited the white four-wheel-drive and was set upon by at least four other men," Superintendent Lennon said "They used at least one knife and a metal pole to strike the man "They stabbed him a number of times in the torso "He fell on the street and the cars drove away." Superintendent Lennon said the victim was known to police and was of Vietnamese appearance and his last known residential address had been in Cabramatta "The paramedics worked very very hard to try to rescue him but unfortunately he passed away at 6:00pm last night." Court documents showed Mr Luong had a NSW learner driver license under the alias of Tu Luong The documents also revealed he was facing five charges of possessing drugs such as heroin ice and prescription medication like Valium and Subutex Mr Luong was on bail on the condition he did not leave his unit on Church Street at Cabramatta unless it was to attend Centrelink or his court-ordered drug treatment program Superintendent Lennon said the incident appeared to be pre-arranged "We believe there was a meeting arranged "We don't know why he was there or who his attackers were multiple stab wounds to the torso and also hit with a pole and he was left basically dying on the footpath and had to be treated in a serious way by paramedics "I believe they had a very strong reason to attack him they had the intention to hurt him or kill him as they did." Specialist police examined the crime scene at Belmore St He said police believed the group were involved in illegal activity The attack happened in the same street where the body of 16-year-old Mahmoud Hrouk was found in a vacant house in May but police said there was nothing to suggest the two crimes were linked. Resident Derek Corney ran to help after hearing shouting on the street and gave the man first aid until paramedics arrived. "I came out, there was a man on the floor over there, he was bleeding badly," he said. "And I went over and held the plastic actually against the wound cause he was bleeding profusely. "I tried to comfort him. The ambulance came and the police came and it was just a terrifying experience." He said as far as he was aware no-one in the street knew the man and he seemed to be trying to escape his attackers. "I was hoping he would survive," he said. Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. The man was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital. (ABC News) Fairfield East is listed for $700,000 to $720,000 Sydney houses priced below $600,000 have vanished from the market and there remains just one house priced below $700,000 currently available New data from PropTrack has revealed Sydney’s 20 cheapest houses currently on the market with most ranging in price from $700,000-$800,000 17 are based in the Greater Western Sydney area – mostly in the southwest and Blacktown regions Listed for auction with a price guide of $650,000, Sydney’s cheapest house currently on the market is a three-bedroom, one-bathroom property at 21 McClean St in Blacktown The McClean St house in Blacktown goes to auction next weekend with a guide of $650,000 Starr Partners Blacktown agent Daniel Formosa recently sold 4 Fisher Rd in Lalor Park for $711,000 Mr Formosa said he has had a large number of inquiries from first home buyers upsizes and investors looking to move into Blacktown and its surrounding suburbs “The first home buyers we’ve talked to primarily go for a price they can afford They know when they inspect a property in this price range that they will have to do a bit of work or upkeep to bring it up to today’s standards.” “The value for the home comes through the surrounding amenities and infrastructure Buyers are keen to get on the ground floor of Blacktown and the areas near the future Western Sydney airport as nearby developments drive up the value of the land.” “If we compare where we were six months ago the market was more generous then than it is now We’re starting to see a return to normality with about two or three registered bidders per auction and strong crowds looking through these homes.” An aerial view of the second cheapest home at 55 Alick St Cabramatta and its proximity to the high school and train station Median prices for homes in Blacktown have risen by 9.7 per cent over the past 12 months with buyers forking out $906,000 to move into the heart of Western Sydney The second cheapest house on the list was 55 Alick St in Cabramatta 1 bedroom home available with a $700,000 price guide The property’s listing said the home is ideal for first home buyers as its “located in one of Cabramatta’s finest streets conveniently close to Cabramatta High School and public transport.” “Why buy a town house when you can buy a house at the same price?’ 55 Alick St in Cabramatta is for sale with a $700,000 price guide PropTrack economist Angus Moore said that Sydney has always had affordable pockets of land available to buy despite prices increasing over the past two years Mr Moore said that Western Sydney prices had continued to hold up better than inner city or eastern suburbs prices and would continue to do so if interest rates continued to rise rising interest rates make it harder for people to save up for a mortgage “We saw during the pandemic that buyers wanted more space from where they lived so that initial migration to areas in Western Sydney has continued as buyers are priced out of the city market.” “A lot of homes on the most affordable list have the benefit of low prices with a larger available land space for families TOP 20 MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSES IN SYDNEY IN OCTOBER 2022 1. 21 McClean St 2. 55 Alick St 3. 192 Fairfield St 4. 44 Beaconsfield St 5. 1/629 Punchbowl Rd 7. 18 Chiltern Rd 8. 77 Moffat Drive 10. 54 South Liverpool Rd 11. 81 Oliphant St 12. 109 Reilly St 13. 2/629 Punchbowl Rd 16. 83 King Rd 17. 16 Orde Place, Prospect – $795,000 18. 856a The Horsley Drive 19. 49 Paul St, Blacktown – $795,000 20. 46 Shannon St Source: PropTrack third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Sydney teenager Mahmoud Hrouk's badly beaten body was found by his parents in an abandoned house at Fairfield East. (Facebook) Link copiedShareShare articleThe man accused of sexually assaulting and bashing to death Sydney teenager Mahmoud Hrouk will remain behind bars. Aymen Terkmani, 22, did not appear in Campbelltown Local Court for a hearing over the matter this morning. Terkmani did not apply for bail and is due to appear via video link in Campbelltown Local Court in September. The court heard the completion of a post-mortem report on the bashing murder of would take "three months at the absolute minimum". Mahmoud, 16, was last seen on the evening of Saturday, May 16 when he rode his bike to a McDonald's outlet in Villawood. When he did not return home, his family started a search. The following day Mahmoud's parents discovered his bloodied body when they looked through the window of an abandoned home on Belmore Street in Fairfield East. His bike was found 200 metres away. At Fairfield Local Court on Friday, Terkmani stayed in his cell and the matter was dealt with quickly. Outside the court there was a scuffle between the media and what appeared to be friends or relatives of Terkmani. One supporter threw the microphone of a Channel Ten reporter at a car before storming off. Police previously said Mahmoud, a former Granville Boys High student, was brutally bashed and sustained serious head injuries. Officers said the alleged sexual assault he endured was "part of the reason he died" and that the 16-year-old was held in the vacant house before he was killed. The house where Mahmoud was killed was used by local teenagers in the months leading up to the death, according to police. The former Fire Station in Sydney's Fairfield has fetched $1.5 million at auction The 3 William Street property sits on a 955 square metre site and is zoned for mixed use providing an opportunity for mixed use retail education and/or residential developments in the future owner-occupiers and opportunistic investors,” said selling agent Harry Bui of Colliers International “The purchaser was a private developer who bought the property with plans to retain the front heritage building for a commercial investment and redevelop the balance of the site for a mixed use development in the near future." Fire & Rescue NSW recently relocated to their new premises on Fairfield Street, Fairfield East. Hence, the auction to dispose of the William Street asset The deal comes on the back of the Cabramatta Fire Station that sold earlier this year for $2.1 million We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home Mahmoud Hrouk​ worked as a labourer six days a week the 16-year-old asked his mother if she needed anything before he left for work Aymen Terkmani is led into a prison truck during his trial.Credit: Wolter Peeters God bless you,'," Maha Dunia​ told the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday That was the last time Ms Dunia saw her son alive Mahmoud's mother Maha Dunia outside court on Tuesday Mahmoud was found dead in a vacant house in Fairfield East the next day after leaving his family home in the evening to go to McDonald's in Villawood The teenager's parents called him throughout the evening to ask where he was and at one point he told them he was at "Aymen's house" accused of murdering Mahmoud and sexually assaulting him The jury has been told Mahmoud was beaten with objects Mahmoud Hrouk was found dead in a vacant house in Fairfield East Ms Dunia described coming home from her mother's house to find Mahmoud had not returned from his bike ride to get fast food "I was doing vine leaves to cook for Sunday for our family dinner and later on [my husband] asked me to call him," Ms Dunia said spoke to his friends several times throughout the night "I told [Mahmoud] to come home and he said 'Mum I said 'You better come home now'." She said she called her son again soon after I'm with my friend Aymen and come and pick me up'." Ms Dunia said she and another relative later went around to Mr Terkmani's house saw her son's bicycle near the verandah and called out his name The family spent the night searching through neighbouring suburbs looking for Mahmoud at friends' houses and even asking the manager at McDonald's if they could see CCTV vision Mahmoud's father Azzam Hrouk​ said he spoke to Mr Terkmani outside his house about 4am The court heard that at one point Mr Terkmani said: "Are you interrogating me?" the family went to the vacant house on Belmore Street "Did you knock on the door and shout 'Mahmoud anybody there?'" Crown prosecutor Adrian Robertson said I had no idea if Mahmoud was there or not," Mr Hrouk said The trial continues before Justice Lucy McCallum Mahmoud Hrouk\\u200B worked as a labourer six days a week God bless you,',\\\" Maha Dunia\\u200B told the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday after leaving his family home in the evening to go to McDonald's in Villawood The teenager's parents called him throughout the evening to ask where he was and at one point he told them he was at \\\"Aymen's house\\\" Ms Dunia described coming home from her mother's house to find Mahmoud had not returned from his bike ride to get fast food \\\"I was doing vine leaves to cook for Sunday for our family dinner and later on [my husband] asked me to call him,\\\" Ms Dunia said \\\"I told [Mahmoud] to come home and he said 'Mum I'm with my friend Aymen and come and pick me up'.\\\" Ms Dunia said she and another relative later went around to Mr Terkmani's house saw her son's bicycle near the verandah and called out his name and even asking the manager at McDonald's if they could see CCTV vision Mahmoud's father Azzam Hrouk\\u200B said he spoke to Mr Terkmani outside his house about 4am The court heard that at one point Mr Terkmani said: \\\"Are you interrogating me?\\\" \\\"Did you knock on the door and shout 'Mahmoud anybody there?'\\\" Crown prosecutor Adrian Robertson said I had no idea if Mahmoud was there or not,\\\" Mr Hrouk said whereby household implements were fashioned into weapons involved a level of violence that a judge has categorised as “too brutal to describe” But after the shock of death and the evidence of cruelty to which he had been subjected the finding of guilt and the vindication of a lengthy sentence for Mahmoud's family the most inexplicable element of his death remains unresolved: a motive The house where Mahmoud Hrouk was killed in May was sentenced to a maximum 45 years in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday for the aggravated sexual assault and murder of his one-time friend in a dilapidated house in Fairfield East in 2015 On hearing his sentence he raised his face to the ceiling and blinked rapidly shifting his weight from foot to foot until he was led down to the cells rolling pin and the handle of a squeegee in an assault that left Mahmoud with extensive head and neck injuries Justice Lucy McCallum said a motive was impossible to discern though the use of household weapons suggested it was a spontaneous attack rather than one that had been premeditated The Crown suggested Terkmani might have become enraged when he heard Mahmoud tell his parents the location of the house which the then 21-year-old had used to smoke cannabis play pool and entertain an escort when he was supposed to be at home while on bail for drug offences Aymen Terkmani was found guilty of murdering Mahmoud Hrouk "But that could hardly explain the unspeakable violence that followed," Justice McCallum said "The offender subjected the victim to the most brutal and horrific attack inflicting injuries too numerous to list and too brutal to describe." The nature of the injuries suggested a psychosexual motive or the gratification of a violent or sexual urge but she was unable to make such a finding on the evidence "The degree of violence suggests an ice-fuelled rage of the kind with which weary police ambulance officers and other professionals are all too familiar But despite his extensive dealing in the substance the offender says he 'never touched ice' and it is simply not possible to make any finding on that issue "It is impossible to understand how any person could be motivated to perform such acts." who had a violent criminal history and was on bail for drug offences at the time of the murder maintained his innocence throughout the trial A crime scene photo tendered in the Aymen Terkmani trial The court heard that Mahmoud had ridden his bicycle to meet Terkmani on the evening of May 16 and they had dinner at Villawood McDonald's But his family had grown anxious when he did not return home by 9pm His mother Maha Dunia called and asked him to come home it's all right I'm with my friend But he called again later and this time his voice was hushed offering a street name before the line cut out Mahmoud's family members scoured the streets When Mahmoud's brother spotted him through the window of an abandoned housing commission house the next morning naked from the waist down and riddled with injuries it took a jury just eight hours to decide Aymen Terkmani was guilty of the aggravated sexual assault and murder of Mahmoud Justice McCallum said the offences had torn away the Hrouk family's happiness "The family is now overwhelmed with sadness The parents fear for the children and the children fear for the parents." Mrs Dunia said the judge had made the right decision in the sentence she awarded Terkmani Some family members wore the ghost of a smile involved a level of violence that a judge has categorised as \\u201Ctoo brutal to describe\\u201D for Mahmoud's family the most inexplicable element of his death remains unresolved: a motive \\\"But that could hardly explain the unspeakable violence that followed,\\\" Justice McCallum said \\\"The offender subjected the victim to the most brutal and horrific attack inflicting injuries too numerous to list and too brutal to describe.\\\" \\\"The degree of violence suggests an ice-fuelled rage of the kind with which weary police the offender says he 'never touched ice' and it is simply not possible to make any finding on that issue \\\"It is impossible to understand how any person could be motivated to perform such acts.\\\" and they had dinner at Villawood McDonald's Mahmoud's family members scoured the streets When Mahmoud's brother spotted him through the window of an abandoned housing commission house the next morning Justice McCallum said the offences had torn away the Hrouk family's happiness \\\"The family is now overwhelmed with sadness The parents fear for the children and the children fear for the parents.\\\" Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInFAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP (FOX19) - East Butler YMCA has partnered with Fairfield East Elementary School to teach students how to be calm and confident while in the water Safety Around Water is an eight-week program that has fourth graders spending 40 minutes of their physical education class taking swim lessons at the Y School officials said the program matches their PE curriculum During PE, 4th graders at Fairfield East Elementary are getting out of the gym and into the pool to learn the importance of staying calm and confident while in the water! It’s all thanks to an 8 week program put on by the YMCA. We’ll tell you all about it coming up on @FOX19! pic.twitter.com/pMuCNtyXJc Drowning is the second highest cause of death involving children ages 1-14 but that risk decreases by more than 80 percent if a child learns to swim and follows swim safety protocols said young children start exploring the water more in the fourth grade and may not have supervision by their side at all times and grabbing for the wall so in case they do fall they naturally know how to get to a wall safely,” she said This program is funded through donations received from the Y’s annual fundraising campaign For more information about this program, visit https://www.gmvymca.org/locations/east-butler-county-family-ymca During PE, 4th graders at Fairfield East Elementary are getting out of the gym and into the pool to learn the importance of staying calm and confident while in the water! It’s all thanks to an 8 week program put on by the YMCA. We’ll tell you all about it coming up on @FOX19! pic.twitter.com/pMuCNtyXJc A study from the American Lung Association analyzes the impact of a nationwide transition to zero-emission transportation and electricity generation on children's health outcomes The study finds that almost 120 million Americans live in a community below the association's standards for harmful ozone and/or particle pollution levels This includes 27.2 million children under the age of 18 which is 37% of all children in the United States sort of 50% more for their body weight than adults do just because their respiration is happening at a quicker rate," said Mike Seilback national assistant vice president for state public policy at the American Lung Association we know that pregnant people when they're breathing in air pollution they're exposing the unborn children to high levels of air pollution that obviously they have no control over.” One-third of all children with asthma in the U.S The group said exposure to both ozone and particle pollution during pregnancy has been linked to premature birth children exposed to pollution particles after birth are at greater risk for respiratory diseases like asthma Seilback said Fairfield County is among the worst for pollution on the East Coast He said switching to zero-emission transportation could prevent more than 27,000 pediatric asthma attacks as well as reduce several thousand children’s respiratory symptoms in Connecticut alone much of the air pollution of the country ends up settling over our region And Fairfield County continually sees some of the worst ozone pollutions on the Eastern Seaboard in the American Lung Association's state of the air report," he said low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately burdened by air pollution communities of color are located closest to major roadways and greening the transportation fleets could positively impact these communities "So we know that Connecticut residents continue to bear the brunt of air pollution greener energy and cleaner greener vehicles will have a drastic impact and improvement on the health of our kids,” Seilback said The study urges local policymakers to adopt standards to move toward clean energy to prevent 2.8 million asthma attacks throughout the country This includes moving 100% of new passenger vehicle sales to zero emissions by 2035 Ned Lamont has backpedaled from in the 2024 legislative session including moving new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales to zero emissions and a clean the study calls for the EPA to finalize its pollution standards in order to help the U.S transition away from combustion and toward a clean energy future Seilback said zero-emission vehicles are just the first step in mitigating the negative health effects of climate change by burning less gas and coal and adopting more clean energy The email arrived with an attached “Edwardian Menu” (with zero design savvy and some avant-garde capitalization choices) featuring a long list of classic French entrées like beef bourguignon plus other European dishes like osso bucco We chose lobster thermidor and pheasant sous verre (under glass) — dishes we figured would serve as litmus tests for any chef claiming to specialize in haute French cuisine my pal and I were 300 miles north of Portland rumbling down a country road an hour after sundown with the high beams on — to avoid deer We reached a narrow driveway leading to a low-slung cottage with chalet-style brown batten siding and lacy trim: our destination and I briefly envisioned going door to door in search of a resident who’d serve me lobster thermidor I might have been delirious from the five-hour drive — but the scene in the dining room inside only contributed to my dreamlike state Flickering candles and tulip-shaped table lights cast a soft glow on a series of panels depicting Belle Époque Paris and marble statues stood like sentries on either side of the fireplace We felt like we’d stepped into a fairy tale — or maybe the Mad Hatter’s tea party except I seemed to have swapped tea for absinthe co-owner and co-chef of Canterbury Royale with Barbara Boucher they oversee both the kitchen and the front of the house they’d enlisted an extra server to accommodate a party of eight in the main dining area Our table was in a cozy private room with its own fireplace O’Neill and Boucher opened Canterbury Royale in 2004 after relocating to Fort Fairfield from Connecticut they still consider the restaurant a work in progress Canterbury Royale has just one seating per evening allowing O’Neill and Boucher to lavish attention on each guest One of the most challenging aspects of such an ambitious kitchen in a remote location is the availability of goods so I was especially impressed with the wine selection Bread service arrived soon after we were seated but I couldn’t resist letting an extra pat melt into every layer before devouring them flaky melt-in-your-mouth tenderness of a great croissant with the guilty pleasure of a Pillsbury Crescent — and I mean that in the best way We reserved the accompanying braided onion bread for the soup course a velvety puree of celeriac garnished with crispy fried onions Our server described each course in detail otherwise leaving us to enjoy a drawn-out meal at a relaxed pace The next course was tender roast duck breast fanned out over a bed of greens and enveloped in a creamy white truffle sauce accompanied by two soft-boiled quail eggs topped with chopped black truffles Chef Renee appeared at our table with a smoke-filled glass cloche from which she administered to each of us one crispy slice of the most sublime bacon I’ve ever eaten its mesquite flavor offset by a hint of sweetness the result of a spice blend Renee prefers not to divulge enjoying what sounded like pleasantly stunned reactions to every bite and I took delivery of another glass cloche an extravagant dish often considered a bit old-fashioned (it was on the menu of the last dinner served on the Titanic) was slowly cooked in a liberal amount of butter succulent chunks of meat separated easily from the split carapace of the lobster Highlights from the dessert cart included an outstanding French coconut pie with a savagely delicious crust “We knew that whatever we wanted to create out here we would have to build it ourselves,” Renee said there is no other place in Aroostook County quite like Canterbury Royale Get the best of Maine food and dining in our Down East Taste email (every two weeks) The divide is outlined in the draft Plan of Conservation and Development, which largely divides the east and west side of town as two distinctive regions instead of segmenting the town into 11 different neighborhoods as unique planning areas — a strategy commissioners said could overlook some of their unique land features. the western side of town is mainly identified as a "suburban transition" zone with a sliver of a conservation area towards the northern border "The beach is totally different than Greenfield Hill which is totally different than Stratfield totally different than the Metro Center area," Town Plan and Zoning Commission member Kathryn Braun said at the body's recent meeting and geography is what land use development is all about where the land is and how's it different and what's appropriate for that area." The POCD, which would update a 2016 version of Fairfield's central planning document outlines some major developments to the town's growth among 80 recommendations — like increased housing an expanded downtown and sewer infrastructure that stretches from Mill River to Bridgeport a planner and urban designer at FHI Studios said the plan still needs to acknowledge past development patterns adding neighborhood fragmentation could exacerbate hyperlocal housing disputes "If you try to solve your housing issues on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis you are going to set yourself up in a position where you are going to have neighborhoods fighting one another about who has to carry the brunt," Tecza said said the east-west delineation dates back to the town's 1960 POCD which acknowledges "any appreciable rural condition" be west of the Mill River He said the layout of the town's roads also showcase the developmental differences between the two sides of town "It's just the reality of how the town historically developed," he said Commission member Alexis Harrison echoed the call for more time and input from other boards "More discussion will take place at coming TPZ meetings to fully understand what drives redistricting and how adding population density in the east side of town would affect all stakeholders in the school system as well as the budgetary impact," Harrison said in her newsletter Harrison said although the consultant suggested alternatives to cars the road might be too thin for added lanes and could be unsafe for cycling The downtown expansion would correlate with a mixed-use development at the former Exide Battery site on Post Road near Southport, but Harrison and Braun said that would likely mean changing the zoning status from industrial and opening it to applications for 8-30 housing — developments that, under an affordable housing law can bypass local regulations with large-scale complexes as long as a set portion is considered affordable Harrison said the commission also needs more backup information for the POCD's proposals to reduce parking spaces at restaurants multi-family housing units and the downtown business district and to expand sewer infrastructure from Mill River to Bridgeport She said while the storm sewer expansion might cost an estimated $20 million expansions to the sanitary sewer lines also need cost estimates The sewer plans would also permit quadplexes on smaller lots in some locations "I feel strongly that we should be very cautious before we start adding density to different parts of town," Braun said after the meeting "And this plan — which we did not draft the consultant drafted it — and the commission did not hear from any other town department and I want to hear from them and hear their input to hear what their concerns might be." The plan notes meetings with town departments, boards and commissions kickstarted the public outreach for the plan in 2017 But Harrison said the commission did not receive any documents from the consultant with this feedback about how the plan would affect issues like school enrollment "It was also disclosed that the outreach to town department heads was done verbally or in meetings with the consultant or zoning staff and there is no written record of their input," Harrison said in a newsletter to know the details would be to ask those department heads to put it in writing Connecticut state statute requires municipalities to update their POCD every 10 years and since state records show that Fairfield's was most recently updated in November 2016 Braun said the commission has close to three years to finalize its next iteration She said the town could take roughly a year to receive sufficient information and data from other town departments boards and commissions about how the plan could work in practice "Let's use some of that time so we can fully be comfortable with the plan we're directing our town towards," Braun said The commission will continue reviewing the POCD at its next meeting in October Braun and Harrison also said the commission has the option to form a subcommittee made up of stakeholders including members of the public and town officials to review the plan while collecting information from organizations With everyone stuck in their homes, two topics have dominated the internet: COVID-19, and Netflix's new true crime documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness which details the seedy underbelly of the exotic animal industry Both of those topic have intersected with local exotic animal sanctuary East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in Fairfield. We caught up with volunteer and ECEAR board member Lori Wetzel to discuss the documentary precautions the sanctuary is taking with animals and more Had people in the exotic animal community heard about/followed the Joe Exotic-Carol Baskin saga prior to this documentary being released?  Wetzel:  Yes, the Washington Post did an article. We also have been aware of the number of captive large cats in the US What has the reception been like to the documentary in the community?  Wetzel: With everything being shut down due to the Coronavirus which capture the public's attention but maybe for the wrong reason are helpful or harmful to the mission of exotic animal rescues like yourself?  Wetzel: We believe exotic rescues may be getting more drop offs and or inquiries about surrendering exotic pets What is something about exotic animal rescues that you think the documentary Wetzel: These people all made tons of money exploiting the large cats We as an exotic rescue want the public to know the amount of time and money that goes into caring for these animals Do you support the movement for further exotic animal legislation?  Do you expect an uptick in interest in your rescue (assuming things return to normal eventually regarding COVID) because of the awareness in this documentary?  Wetzel: Hopefully when things return to "normal" we will be able to educate more people With the news of tigers contracting COVID-19 in New York are you guys taking extra precautions with your exotic animals Or is it something that would be more of an issue at a zoo than a rescue Wetzel: We are definitely taking extra precautions we are now wearing masks and gloves around the big cats and primates I believe it is more of an issue with larger zoos with more employees we want to protect the animals in our care What is your mission at the East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue Wetzel: [Our mission is] to provide the best home we can for the animals in our care In addition, to reduce the number of exotics that suffer the fate of abuse abandonment or extinction by teaching people about the plight of exotics." We are a non-profit organization in the Appalachian foothills near Fairfield This unique sanctuary is home to more than 40 species of exotic animals the rescue provides a lasting refuge where they can live their days in peace and safety We hope you will visit us to learn more about these magnificent animals MORE: It's not a zoo: East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue strives to better animals' live Provide a safe haven for these magnificent animals many of whom have experienced a lifetime of displacement from their natural habitat and Offer education to the public about the special needs of captive exotic animals who are unable to help themselves Working with a supportive and involved board of directors and a few highly dedicated volunteers at the rescue we are here not to promote these animals as pets but rather to provide clear examples of the consequences of human self-interest and interference in the animals’ lives The survival rate among animals who are trapped only one out of ten “pets” survives the trip from jungle to human home We humans have the ability to make choices a power that the animals we serve do not have OH (FOX19) - A school is investigating after an elementary school teacher was accused of slapping a student across the face last week After a long day at work as a nurse Michelle Lewis can't wait to get home to her three children is visually impaired and has a brain disorder it hurts to know that I can’t even send my children my school,” said Lewis Lewis says she got a call from the principal at Fairfield Elementary East saying that her son was hit by a teacher after a behavioral episode "My son states that she was taking him to the ground and he bit her on her arm and she let go walked beside him and smacked him in the face," said Lewis FOX19 is not naming the teacher because she hasn't been charged Lewis did file a report with the Fairfield Township Police Department hoping to keep the teacher away from children in the future “He’s been through so much and he’s only 10 I’ve been there to protect him through this whole .. and it’s frustrating cause I don’t hit my children,” said Lewis A single mother of three who works as a nurse at a retirement home Lewis doesn't understand how anyone could hurt a vulnerable human-being FOX19 reached out to the school for comment and was told children services is investigating the teacher The superintendent e-mailed the following statement: The district became aware of an alleged incident involving a teacher and a student at Fairfield East Elementary on Tuesday the teacher was placed on administrative leave on Wednesday The district also reported the allegation to Children’s Services The teacher will stay on administrative leave while Children’s Services completes their investigation Once the investigation by Children’s Services is complete the district will finish its investigation and take appropriate action Lewis says the teacher wasn't placed on leave immediately “This woman she could have done anything to my children coming back the next day not knowing if she was going to lose everything," Lewis said “Why wasn’t she escorted off of the premises Lewis was hesitant to share her story with FOX19 but did it anyway hoping to send a message You don't do any child like that," she said Shawn is no longer attending school at Fairfield East Elementary FOX19 also reached out to Butler County Children Services and is waiting to hear back