Month: July 2017

Stratford News: Bring Backyard Gardeners and Local Food Pantries Together

STRATFORD, CT (July 26, 2017) — Last year, the Stratford Health Department developed a tool to help connect neighborhood food pantries with backyard gardeners wishing to share their excess homegrown produce with neighbors in need.

 

The website – www.townofstratford.com/DonateProduce  – allows gardeners who find themselves with excess produce and want to share part of their harvest with others the ability to find information about local pantries along with the days and times donations will be accepted. Additionally, the website offers a list of healthy non-perishable food donation suggestions for those who want to become involved in the movement, but may not garden.

 

Along with the website, the Stratford Health Department is continuing its partnership with The Farm at Stratford Community Garden located at Pirhala Fields Park on Connors Lane to collect and distribute produce donations. The sign containing information about produce donations can be seen at the entrance of the farm along with our trusting donation bin where community garden patrons can leave produce for a Wednesday morning pick up. Our Health Department staff will continue in the collection and distribution of fresh produce to local food pantries each week.

 

As of 2016, an estimated 12% of Connecticut residents were considered food insecure; relying on local pantries to help feed their families. The donations being given from backyard gardeners are helping many Stratford pantries meet the growing demands while giving residents healthier food options to choose from.

 

“The Resource Connection’s food pantry at Sterling House strongly believes in providing our customers the opportunity to receive fresh produce,” states Sterling House Social Worker Samuel Jimenez, “our customers express to us that fresh produce is not an option but rather a necessity for healthy eating and sustaining an overall healthy lifestyle, that many times over is not afforded to them to have, due to high prices at their local grocery retailers. Knowing that they are able to access fresh produce through a community-based initiative for free is not only exciting, but crucial for optimum well-being.”

 

For more information on the campaign or to find out how you can add your pantry to the food donation directory contact the Stratford Health Department at 203-385-4090 or healthdepartment@townofstratford.com.

 

This press release is made possible by:

Bridgeport News: Police Purchase Fatality Tents

#Bridgeport CT– Today Bridgeport Police demonstrated “fatality tents” they purchased for $4,000 from Stop Rubbernecking (SRN).  The screens are designed to shield victims from the public and the press.  The tents are made from denier nylon which is claimed to be military grade.  The tent can be adjusted from three and a half feet to six and a half feet, a beacon light the color choice of the customer can be mounted at the top.   It comes with a fifteen-pound ballast bag to secure it to the ground and SRN says it can sustain thirty miles an hour winds.

 

 

HARTFORD, CT– Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he has signed an executive order reinforcing the state’s nondiscrimination policies within the Connecticut Military Department following an announcement from President Trump this morning that he intends to ban people who are transgender from serving in the military in any capacity.

The order directs the Connecticut National Guard, the Connecticut Air National Guard, and the other armed forces of the state to take no action that discriminates against service members in enlistment, promotion, or any other aspect of their service, on the basis of their gender identity or expression, unless superseded by federal law, regulation, or formal directive from the U.S. Department of Defense.

It also directs the Connecticut Military Department to review existing personnel policies and any formal directive from the Department of Defense or other federal entity, whether issues today or in the future, to ensure that service members are afforded the maximum protection and the greatest opportunity to serve our state and nation, regardless of their gender identity or expression, and to minimize any discriminatory impact on service members from any federal directive.

A recent study estimated that there are between 2,500 and 7,000 transgender service members currently serving on active duty and an additional 1,500 to 4,000 in the reserves – all of whom could be discharged from the military under the President’s new policy.

Norwalk News: Sexual Arrest

#Norwalk CT–On July 25, 2017, Patrol Officers responded to a suspicious person complaint on Washington Street. Officers located the suspect, Carlos Olivera on North Main Street. The Norwalk Police Department held an active arrest warrant for Olivera stemming from a sexual assault investigation conducted by the Special Victim’s Unit. SVU began the investigation on July 20, 2017 and quickly learned that Olivera had sexual contact with a victim who was known to him. During the assault, Olivera threatened to kill the victim’s family members if the victim told anyone.
Arrested: Carlos Olivera, 40 of 79 Washington Street Norwalk
Charges: Sexual Assault 4, Risk of Injury to a Minor, Unlawful Restraint 1, Threatening 2
Bond: $50,000  Court: August 2, 2017
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)

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