Olympic Swimmer Joins Stew Leonard, CT Senator in West Hartford to Push Pool Safety

Published On: July 8, 2026Categories: Government, Lifestyle
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Stew Leonard Jr. talks about water safety at Fernridge Pool in West Hartford on July 8, 2026. Credit: Screen capture, Connecticut Network (courtesy of CTNewsJunkie)

At a press conference at Fernridge Park pool on Wednesday, Stew Leonard Jr. and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal shared a handful of easy steps to keep kids safe around the water. 

By Donald Eng, CTNewsJunkie.com

Adriana Schack is no stranger to pools. But even the three-time Olympic swimmer, who has spent her adult life teaching people about water safety occasionally gets a reminder of just how quickly tragedies can happen.

Schack and her mother were chatting while wading in a community pool, when suddenly her mother bolted past her in alarm.

“A child was drowning, right behind me and right next to their mother, who was talking to someone,” Schack said. “That’s how fast it can happen, and in just a few inches of water.”

Schack joined Connecticut supermarket owner Stew Leonard Jr. and Sen. Richard Blumenthal Wednesday at Fernridge Pool in West Hartford to reinforce the message of water safety in the summer. The event took place a few days after July 4, which traditionally is the deadliest weekend of the year for drownings, Leonard said.

Click here to read the rest of the article on CTNewsJunkie.com.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.

Leave A Comment