9:28pm–#Bridgeport Connecticut– A person has been shot at the corner of Stratford and Hollister Avenue. Detectives are on scene investigating. Unknown the exact condition of the victim but scanner reports say they are conscious and alert. A second ambulance was called for a woman who fell down a flight of stairs.
Please support what we are doing (even in the pouring rain) by subscribing even just for $1 a week at https://www.patreon.com/doingitlocal or a one time donation at: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=fj7bdVu11Co49-jpQpH7XaMmqKl3owoJHDakY6bejWRd_y5JZCqOhDVwU8G&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d333dc9aadeed3fe0b5b299d55fd35542
7:44pm–#Trumbull Connecticut– There was a break in on Little Plain Road and a weed whacker was taken. A neighbor’s dog gave chase to the burglar into the woods towards Route 25. Please use caution if on the highway near there as police along with K-9 have just crossed over all four lanes. It is believed the suspect got picked up by car in that area.
6:40pm–#Bridgeport Connecticut– An attempted vehicle stop on George Street turned into a 40mph pursuit through downtown towards Seaside Park. One civilian car was struck at Austin and Park Avenue. The pursuit went down Austin and crashed into a steel fence at Austin and Warren Street. The two male suspects fled the car but within minutes police had them both in custody. This is still breaking news and should not be considered “official” Police are still working on the report and I should have details in the morning.
#HARTFORD, CT – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation today announced that the State of Connecticut is receiving a $6.6 million federal grant to help support the state’s goal of ending youth homelessness by 2020.
The award, which comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) YouthHomelessness Demonstration Program, will be utilized to create new and innovative housing with support service programs to serve youth experiencing homelessness. Connecticut was one of only ten communities in the country selected by HUD to receive this award out of over 130 applicants. The state received the largest allocation of any grantee under this program.
“Our unprecedented efforts to ensure housing for our most vulnerable populations include youths, who are at a particularly sensitive time in their lives when every choice they make may determine their future,” Governor Malloy said. “Ensuring housing for youths is a proactive step to ensure that our younger generations can lead productive, successful lives and become active members of our communities and our economy.”
“No child should ever be without a home. For youth experiencing homelessness, helping them often means more than just putting a roof over their head – it means addressing the full array of needs and challenges that each child is facing,” the members of the Congressional delegation said in a joint statement. “This major federal award – the largest of only ten nationwide – is an endorsement of the critically important work Connecticut is doing to end youth homelessness and ensure all children have the support and services they need to thrive. We will continue to work with the state, advocates and agencies to ensure Connecticut receives the federal support it needs to meet its goal to end youth homelessness by 2020.”
The state has already been making progress toward its goal of eliminating youth homelessness. In November, Governor Malloy announced a new supportive housing funding round for homeless youth, and in December he unveiled a new toolkit for students and faculty that raises awareness of youth homelessnessand provides guidance on available resources.
Towards the end of January, the state will be undertaking its second statewide census of youth homelessness, known as the 2017 Youth Count, which will be conducted in conjunction with the Point in Time Count, an annual survey of homelessness across the state during which volunteers from all cities and towns go out into the community to find homeless men and women. The data will be used in community planning efforts to build a support system to help the state reach its goals of ending youth homelessness. Unaccompanied youths under the age of 25 are considered youths experiencing homelessness. In 2015, more than 3,000 youths experiencing housing instability in the state were identified.
Connecticut residents interested in volunteering for the 2017 Youth Count can sign up on the website of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.
“Under Governor Malloy, Connecticut has repeatedly been recognized as a national leader for its efforts to prevent and end homelessness,” Connecticut Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne Klein said. “Through strong partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations, we will continue our success and achieve an effective end to youth homelessness by 2020. I thank HUD for their confidence in Connecticut to serve as a national model through this new initiative. We want to provide our vulnerable youth with the stability and security needed to succeed.”
“Young adulthood is a unique and challenging developmental period. When coupled with homelessness, young adults are increasingly vulnerable to being derailed from achieving the normative developmental milestones of this important life stage. Our agency serves approximately 16,000 young persons who face many of these obstacles and has an established history of successful work with this population,” Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Delphin-Rittmon said. “We are proud to partner with our sister state agencies, as well as HUD and community service providers, in our efforts to endhomelessness among the young adult population by 2020. We are grateful for the funding that has been awarded to Connecticut and look forward to this timely and exciting new initiative.”
“Connecticut has proven itself a national leader in its efforts to end homelessness,” Suzanne Piacentini, HUD Connecticut Field Office Director, said. “We are excited to see the innovative work that this funding will support by the state and its partners to ensure that all homeless youth have a safe place to call home.”
“Being chosen for the HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration will greatly accelerate our ability to meet our goal of preventing and ending homelessness among youth in Connecticut by the end of 2020,” Alicia Woodsby, Executive Director of the Partnership for Strong Communities, said. “It’s a testament to our statewide approach, strong team of partners, and years of coordination and collaboration that have laid the groundwork for creating a coordinated community response system for runaway and unaccompanied youth.”
Yesterday, Governor Malloy announced that with the state’s unprecedented housing efforts over the last several years, the State of Connecticut reached new record levels and is able to connect every chronicallyhomeless person in the state with permanent housing.
In a story we were first to report as it happened. One of the suspects really did wear a Cookie Monster hoodie! I didn’t want to post it because it was easy to identify and I didn’t want him changing it!
#Norwalk Connecticut–On January 14, 2017 at 11:30 pm, two white or light skin Hispanic males entered the Rainbow News & Variety at 205 Main Avenue. Both males were armed and at least one male had a Hispanic accent. Both were wearing hooded sweatshirts, masks, and gloves. One suspect was armed with a large silver colored revolver and the other appeared to be a black semi-automatic pistol. Both suspects pointed their guns at the owner and demanded he open the registers for the business and CT. Lotto or they would shoot him. The suspects then fled on foot. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Sura at 203-854-3192. Anonymous tips can be left at any of the below contacts.
Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111
Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com
Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637).
This spring Groundwork Bridgeport is offering two paid opportunities for high school students.
The first is a 6-week program that will provide youth with the opportunity to learn about urban forestry and participate in community service projects. One student in our fall session of the 6-week program described it as an “innovative program that enriches youth to step outside of what they know and take a different perspective on the beauty around them.” (Isaiah Oden, Bullard Havens Technical High School). The other will have high school students helping with Groundwork Bridgeport’s new initiative to activate and revitalize Washington Park in the East Side of Bridgeport. It is called the Love Your City! Challenge and will provide youth with the opportunity to learn about community organizing and event promotion as they help promote the Love Your City! Challenge and get fellow high-students to submit ideas for activating and revitalizing Washington Park.
We need your help to recruit high school students who would be excited to participate in these two programs. Ultimately 10 high school students will be selected to participate in each program. Please encourage students to apply as even those not selected for these programs will be offered other ways to get involved in Groundwork Bridgeport’s mission to beautify and revitalize the city of Bridgeport. I also encourage you to share this with any additional staff or teachers at your school.
Urban Forestry Program Details
6-week Program
Start Date: Monday, April 3rd
End Date: Friday, May 19th (Graduation will be held on May 19th)
Days of the week: Monday – Thursday
Time: 3:45 to 6:15 pm
Location: Groundwork office in downtown Bridgeport and various sites in Bridgeport.
Notes: Program will not run during Spring recess (Week of April 10th).
Love Your City! Challenge Details
Start Date: Monday, April 3rd
End Date: TBD
Days of the week: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: Groundwork office in downtown Bridgeport.
Please see attached for the application that must be submitted by any student interested in either program. Applications submitted by Tuesday, January 31st will be given priority. Details on applying can be found on the front and back of the application.
About Groundwork
For almost two decades, Groundwork Bridgeport has worked towards its mission of improving Bridgeport’s physical environment. Through initiatives that aim to beautify and revitalize the city, we have built community gardens, organized community cleanups, and planted hundreds of trees and flowers while at the same time providing numerous opportunities for local high-school youth to learn and engage with their community.
Beyond Bridgeport, we have given local high school youth the opportunity to travel to and work in national parks throughout the U.S., from the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone to Weir Farm and Cape Cod National Seashore.
2:55pm–#Bridgeport Connecticut– A gray/silver car pulled up and robbed two teens at gunpoint in the 700 block of Grand Street. The car sped off towards James Street.
11:00am–#Trumbull Connecticut– A child was struck in the eye/head with a bottle during a demonstration while in the gym at Christian Heritage School on White Plains Road. First responders on the way.
#Fairfield Connecticut–Fairfield Police Press Release: On Monday, January 16, 2017, Jeff Iwanicki, (08/01/1972), of Milford, turned himself in at the Fairfield Police Department, after he was advised through his attorney that there was an active warrant for his arrest. Iwanicki was charged with two counts of Risk of Injury/Impairing the Morals of a Minor, Public Indecency, and Breach of Peace for exposing himself to a Juvenile. Iwanicki was released after posting a $50,000.00 bond.
Email Sent to Parents from Warde High School Head master David Ebling this morning:
Dear Parents of Fairfield Warde High School:
I am writing you to address what has recently been publicized about our graphic arts teacher,Mr. Iwanicki. As you have likely heard, Mr. Iwanicki was recently arrested by the Fairfield Police
Department. Prior to the arrest and immediately upon hearing of the allegations before thearrest, Mr. Iwanicki was placed on administrative leave. He will continue to be on administrative
leave and out of the classroom until the investigation is concluded.As this is an ongoing matter, we must allow the legal process to unfold without conjecture or interference. Moreover, because this situation involves a sensitive personnel matter relating to an employee, we are unable to share additional details with you at this time. However, we can certainly understand your concerns over this situation and therefore want to provide you with this information at this time. We will provide you with more information in the future if we are able to do so.
Our support staff is prepared and available to meet with any student who is having difficulty processing this information. We appreciate your understanding in this matter. How we collectively respond in challenging times defines who we are, and at Warde we have a long history of pulling together when we need each other the most. Therefore, as the investigation moves forward, it is imperative that we remember who we are and do just that.
