Month: October 2021

2021-10-29@6:46pm–#Bridgeport CT– Angela Farrar sent in this photo of a crash on Salem Street. She said it involved a pregnant woman and Good Samaritans helped her out of the car.

2021-10-29@8:28pm–#Bridgeport CT– #cttraffic– A crash on I-95 with extrication on I-95 at exit 27A, it appears to be the southbound side.

2021-10-29@5:44pm–#Bridgeport CT– First responders on the scene of the 1800 block of North Avenue (near Norman Street) for an assault. There are no further details.

This news report is made possible by:

2021-10-29@12:38pm–#Stratford CT– #cttraffic– One vehicle into the barrier I-95 southbound near exit 32 causing delays.

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) President Terrence Cheng, and Alphabet’s Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat today announced that Connecticut has become the first state in the nation to offer the full suite of Google Career Certificates across its state colleges and universities system, and that the program is now available to all community colleges and career and technical education (CTE) high schools across the nation to onboard.

Part of the Grow with Google economic opportunity initiative, the certificates are available on the online learning platform Coursera. The program equips people with skills for in-demand jobs within three to six months – with no degree or experience required – at a time when employers in information technology related sectors have reported a skills gap in the U.S. workforce.

“This is exactly what workforce development is all about,” Governor Lamont said. “We have employers that are looking to hire individuals with these digital skills, and our community college system responded quickly by entering into a partnership with Google to ensure our colleges are ready to start equipping students with these skills so they can enter these in-demand careers that pay over $60,000.”

Following an agreement between Google, the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy, and CSCU, Google and Coursera will provide a diverse population of Connecticut residents with the training to fill positions in data analytics, IT support, project management, and UX design fields that are projected to grow in the next ten years, with an average starting salary of $69,000. After completing the program, graduates can share their resume with an employer consortium of more than 150 companies – including Infosys, Verizon, Walmart, Wayfair, and Google. Infosys has already pledged to hire 250 program graduates at its Hartford location.

“We are excited about this expansion of our Grow with Google Certificates program and the opportunity to partner with academic institutions across the U.S., including community colleges, which are critical to workforce development and economic mobility,” Porat said. “We believe that to have sustainable economic growth, we must have inclusive growth, and we are committed to continuing to help people develop the digital skills they need to participate in this economy.”

“Starting in early 2022, community colleges in all corners of Connecticut will offer Google’s IT Support Certificate, with other certificates rolling out throughout the spring and summer,” CSCU President Terrence Cheng said. “Our public colleges and universities offer the highest quality education and cutting-edge training opportunities. We are thrilled to be the first in the nation to offer all Google Career Certificates on a statewide basis – it is a testament to Governor Lamont’s laser focus on workforce development.”

Building on Google’s initiative with Jobs for the Future to offer its first certificate in IT support to more than 100 community colleges, the company’s new partnerships aim to help individuals bridge the skills gap by gaining the skills needed to take advantage of job openings. These institutions play an essential role in workforce training with 44% of all U.S. undergraduates attending community colleges, and 7.5 million high school students enrolled in CTE programs.

Through the College of Technology, all Connecticut community colleges will offer credit courses that will include Google Career Certificate courses beginning in spring 2022. Non-credit courses will also be offered regionally using the community colleges’ workforce development offices, with the roll out of the Google IT Support certificate in spring 2022. CSCU will partner with the Office of Workforce Strategy to help initially subsidize these programs for students and job seekers.

The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) was recruited by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies to be one of five states administering up to 100 Grow with Google scholarships for veterans and their spouses. The scholarships will be distributed through the American Job Center by CTDOL’s Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program specialists who work directly with veterans to meet their employment training needs.
“The Connecticut Department of Labor is proud to be one of only five states with Grow with Google scholarships for veterans and their spouses,” Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said. “With certificate programs in technology, analytics, and project management, we can prepare the workforce of the future and help Connecticut’s veterans by providing free access to certifications that will help them prepare for, find, and retain good-paying jobs in growing industries.”

The Google Career Certificates have a track record of helping people rapidly skill and obtain in-demand jobs. Fifty-three percent of graduates identify as Black, Latino, female, or veteran, and eighty-two percent of graduates report a positive career impact within six months of completion, such as a raise, promotion, or new job.

For more information about the certificates, visit either Google’s website at g.co/grow/GoogleCareerCertificates or CSCU’s website at ct.edu/google.

This press release was sponsored by:

The Community Fund of Darien’s Thriving Youth Task Force and Fairfield Public Schools in partnership with Fairfield CARES, received Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grants. Each will be awarded $625,000 over five years, totaling $1.25 million in funding to address local youth substance use.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has put a real strain on our kids,” said Congressman Jim Himes. “It’s sadly not surprising that the National Institute of Health found an increase in adolescents using nicotine products and misusing prescription drugs. That’s why Drug-Free Communities Support Program and their partners’ work is more important than ever. I look forward to working with these organizations to ensure they have the resources needed to keep our communities safe and healthy.” 

“The grant award is the culmination of many years of work and partnership with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Positive Directions of Westport, the Fairfield Public Schools, the Town of Fairfield, and the leadership team of the coalition”, said Philip Dwyer, Fairfield CARES Co-chair.  “This will allow Fairfield CARES to continue its focus on reducing alcohol and marijuana use among youth.”

“Fairfield CARES has worked consistently over many years with Fairfield Public Schools, as well as parent and community volunteers, to help the coalition achieve its mission and benefit from this opportunity,” said Mike Cummings, Superintendent of Schools and Co-chair of Fairfield CARES. “Thus Fairfield Public Schools was pleased to partner with CARES in this grant.”

“The Thriving Youth Task Force’s programs will provide parents with critical information about how marijuana impacts the teen brain and strategies for keeping open lines of communication with their teen around all substance use,” said Thriving Youth Program Director Emily Larkin. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the DFC Support Program provides grants to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners to create and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use. After five years, community coalitions may re-compete for another five-year cycle of grant funding. Click here to learn about the DFC Support Program. 

This press release was sponsored by:

U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) applauded the United States Senate’s confirmation of Judge Omar Williams, President Biden’s nominee to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Williams was confirmed in a bipartisan 52-46 vote.

“Omar Williams is an expert and accomplished litigator and advocate. With a history of public service as a judge on the Hartford Superior Court and an assistant public defender, Williams will undoubtedly provide an underrepresented and much-needed perspective to our federal judiciary,” said Blumenthal. “I’ve been proud to champion his nomination as a member of the Judiciary Committee with Senator Murphy. Today’s bipartisan vote underscores the measured, insightful jurist that Williams is and will continue to be.”      

“Judge Omar Williams will bring a depth of life experiences and professional success to the federal bench, and I was proud to vote for his confirmation today. The District of Connecticut will be served well by his deep commitment to fair and equal justice. I am glad to see the Senate confirm three immensely qualified judges for the District of Connecticut that reflect the best of America,” said Murphy.

In July, Blumenthal and Murphy introduced Williams before his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Video of Blumenthal’s opening remarks is available for download here. Murphy’s opening remarks are available here.

Judge Omar Williams has served as a Judge on the Connecticut Superior Court since 2014. After first gaining experience defending indigent clients while participating in a criminal trial clinic as a law student, Judge Williams spent eleven years working as a public defender in New Haven. Judge Williams received his undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and his Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

This press release was made possible by:

2021-10-28@7:40pm–#Bridgeport CT– A carjacking occurred outside 555 Trumbull Avenue. No weapons shown, the victim was beaten. Taken was a blue Nissan.

No media alert, no tweet back to keeping you in the dark. Last time they posted for about a week then stopped. Kinda like telling your kid to clean his room and only does it for the week.

This news report is made possible by:

The Kasey Group of Century 21 Allpoints Realty at 6580 Main Street at Ryders Landing held their ribbon cutting today. That also, why I posted the river video from Ryder”s Lane. 

The Kasey Group’s industry veterans Stacy Pfannkuch and Karin Stoknoff bring a combined 45 years of experience to homebuyers and sellers throughout the region. 

According to Pfannkuch, “We are elated for our return to Stratford and equally excited to collaborate with this quality, local, family-owned company with a global market appeal.”