MADD to Honor ‘Top Cop;’ A Running Tribute to a Teen; Students Connect Through Science; Marine Band Delivers Powerful Performance; Life Lessons From the ‘Dog House’

CHESHIRE – A police officer who has reportedly made more DUI arrests than any other officer in the state will be honored with the Connecticut MADD Top Cop award at a ceremony on June 15 in New Haven.

Sgt. Philip Giampietro, who spent his last day in uniform on Wednesday supervising the patrol division for the 3 to 11 p.m. shift, has written more than 800 DUI citations.

“Early in my career there were a couple of horrific crashes. It made me sensitive," the 51-year-old said.

Check out the story for more about Giampietro and his involvement with MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 

NORTH BRANFORD – More than 1,000 people turned out to North Branford High School May 22 for a fundraiser in honor of Matt Picciuto, an 18-year-old who died in a speeding-related car accident on May 23, 2009.

Check out the story to see a moving tribute song, performed by one of Matt’s friends, and a slideshow of more than 200 photographs.

BRANFORD – Exploding volcanoes. Catapulting oranges. Cleaning ice cream oil spills.

It was all in a day’s work at School this week when a group of Branford High School students visited their younger counterparts to perform a series of science experiments.

Now in its seventh year, the goal of the program is to give the high school students a taste of what it’s like to teach and to show the elementary students that science can be fun.

You can join in the fun by checking out this video.

EAST HAVEN – A powerful performance this week by the Parris Island Marine Band was a timely tribute to Memorial Day.

Click here to watch a video of the performance.

MILFORD – Animal Control Officer Rick George retells the story of when he was a young family man, working two jobs and finding inspiration in one of the most unsuspecting places: an earring.

Relive the experience with George, as he blends humor in his Patch blog, called Rick’s Dog House.