Middletown Twp. Supervisor, CF Advocate Anna Payne Dies At 36
Anna Payne, a Middletown Township Supervisor, fearless advocate for those with cystic fibrosis, and a relentless fighter against stage IV colon cancer, has died at 36.
Township officials announced her passing in February 2025, remembering her for her unwavering dedication to public service, her sharp wit, and her refusal to let illness define her.
Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth, Payne turned her personal battle into a mission. She co-founded the Bucks County Cystic Fibrosis Alliance and served as vice chair of the Pennsylvania Rare Disease Advisory Council, amplifying the voices of…
Great Services, High Prices: How CT Ranks For Retirement In New Study
Northeast and mid-Atlantic states had mixed results in a new study on the best states for retirement, balancing affordability challenges with strong quality-of-life and healthcare options.
WalletHub released its 2025 list of Best and Worst States to Retire on Monday, Jan. 27. Florida claimed the No. 1 spot, followed by Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota in the top five.
The study ranked every state based on 46 retirement-related factors including affordability, quality of life, and healthcare access.
"Retirement is supposed to be relaxing, but it can al…
Newtown Mom, School Librarian Erica Alterio Dies Suddenly, 33: 'Her Presence Was Magnetic'
A beloved former teacher, librarian, and cancer survivor who was a devoted mother has died at 33, leaving behind her husband and young daughter. Now, friends are rallying to support her grieving family.
Erica Leigh Alterio, of Newtown, died on Jan. 14 after a brief illness. She would have turned 34 on Feb. 7.
A graduate of Central Connecticut State University and Fairfield University, Erica worked as a librarian at the Western Connecticut Academy of International Studies in Danbury, her obituary said. She also spent several years as a computer teacher at St. Mark School in Stratford.
Dozen…
Mechanicsburg Giant Company Manager Dies After Dual Transplant Fight
A Mechanicsburg woman who spent her career at The Giant Company and bravely battled for over a month in hospitals while awaiting a dual heart and kidney transplant has died, her family announced.
Lauren Marie Keeney, 37, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh after a 41-day fight for her life. She had been transferred from Hershey Medical Center as doctors worked to stabilize her for a potential dual transplant.
Born on Oct. 19, 1987, Keeney received a heart transplant in 2006, an experience she described as "a treatment, not a cure." She went…
Routine Tonsillectomy Turns Deadly For Fredericksburg Boy
A Fredericksburg boy died weeks before his 9th birthday due to complications of a tonsillectomy, his family said on social media.
The boy's dad, Rich Shircliff, on Facebook, said that he had a tonsillectomy on Monday, Jan. 13, "and while everything initially seemed fine, he began experiencing complications on Wednesday morning."
Joe Shircliff
GoFundMe
Joe was rushed to the hospital but returned home that night. The family thought the worst was over, however, then Joe suffered yet another hemorrhage, and this time, he went into cardiac arrest in the ambulance, his father said.
For ove…
