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Community Corner

Carnegie Medal Awarded Posthumously

José Higareda died in a heroic effort to save a 10 year old from drowning.

Last week, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awarded a posthumous medal to José Higareda for his heroic effort on May 25, 2009 to save 10-year-old Ivan D. Carpio from drowning. Although Higareda drowned in the attempt, Ivan survived.

Higareda's relatives will receive the Carnegie Medal, a $5,000 financial grant and payments to cover his funeral expenses.

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission was established in 1904 by philanthropist-industrialist Andrew Carnegie following a massive mine explosion that killed 179 men in Harwick, PA. Carnegie was moved by the selfless act of two men who died in failed rescue attempts. Since its inception, the Commission has made 9, 412 awards, and for 2010, a total of 85.

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Most know Carnegie from his gifts of free pubic libraries, two of which were built in Norwalk. The  on Belden Ave and the  on Washington street were built with funds form Carnegie. In 1901, $20,000 was given to build the Norwalk Public Library and in 1908 the same amount was given for the South Norwalk library. At the time, South Norwalk and Norwalk were separate municipalities. The two buildings were among 2,508 libraries Carnegie funded in the English-speaking world.

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