Month: April 2023

Westport News: Hazardous Waste Day

2023 HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY

Saturday, April 22 at Greens Farms Railroad Station

Westport, CT –The Department of Public Works is holding its annual Household Hazardous Waste Day:

Saturday, April 22, 2023 RAIN or SHINE

9am – 2pm

Greens Farms Railroad Station, Parking Lot #1, New Creek Road, Westport CT

(Located between I-95 and Metro-North Railroad tracks)

Household Hazardous Waste Day is a NO CHARGE regional program for residents of Westport, Norwalk, New Canaan, Darien, Stamford, and Greenwich to safely dispose of their household hazardous wastes. Products such as cleaners, gasoline and pesticides can pollute the environment and jeopardize public health when they are disposed of improperly and enter our land or water.

A partial overview of some typical household hazardous wastes includes: gasoline, kerosene, spray paint, paint strippers, paint thinners, solvents, paints, stains, turpentine, varnishes, wood preservatives, degreasers, fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, bleach, charcoal lighter, cleaning chemicals, drain cleaners, mercury thermometers, moth balls, pet flea shampoos, photo chemicals, rug shampoos, spot removers, art supplies & paints.

Before bringing household hazardous material to the collection site:

Make sure items are clearly labeled and NEVER MIX CHEMICALS. Incompatible products may react, ignite, or explode, and mixed waste may become non-recyclable.

Keep products in original labeled container.

Place leaky containers in clear plastic bags.

Tighten lids of all containers and pack items in sturdy cardboard boxes lined with paper.

Put boxes in the trunk or in the back of the vehicle away from passengers.

Leave pets and children home when bringing hazardous materials for collection.

Keep your windows open and drive directly to the collection site.

Residents must remain in their vehicles during collection.

Residents are asked to be patient, as this is the first HHW Day of 2022, and lines may be longer, due to greater number of participants and larger quantities of materials per vehicle.

Do not smoke or eat while handling hazardous materials.

REMINDER: Westport residents may recycle: antifreeze, motor oil, batteries of any type, light bulbs, and electronics at the Westport Transfer Station, 300 Sherwood Island Connector, Monday-Friday 7:00 am – 2:30 pm, Saturday 7:00 am – 12:00 pm.

The following items are NOT acceptable: AMMUNITION, FLARES, and COMMERCIAL HAZARDOUS WASTE.

If you have any questions, contact the Westport Public Works Department at 203-341-1793.

This press release was made possible by:

2023 HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY

Saturday, April 22 at Greens Farms Railroad Station

Westport, CT –The Department of Public Works is holding its annual Household Hazardous Waste Day:

Saturday, April 22, 2023 RAIN or SHINE

9am – 2pm

Greens Farms Railroad Station, Parking Lot #1, New Creek Road, Westport CT

(Located between I-95 and Metro-North Railroad tracks)

Household Hazardous Waste Day is a NO CHARGE regional program for residents of Westport, Norwalk, New Canaan, Darien, Stamford, and Greenwich to safely dispose of their household hazardous wastes. Products such as cleaners, gasoline and pesticides can pollute the environment and jeopardize public health when they are disposed of improperly and enter our land or water.

A partial overview of some typical household hazardous wastes includes: gasoline, kerosene, spray paint, paint strippers, paint thinners, solvents, paints, stains, turpentine, varnishes, wood preservatives, degreasers, fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, bleach, charcoal lighter, cleaning chemicals, drain cleaners, mercury thermometers, moth balls, pet flea shampoos, photo chemicals, rug shampoos, spot removers, art supplies & paints.

Before bringing household hazardous material to the collection site:

Make sure items are clearly labeled and NEVER MIX CHEMICALS. Incompatible products may react, ignite, or explode, and mixed waste may become non-recyclable.

Keep products in original labeled container.

Place leaky containers in clear plastic bags.

Tighten lids of all containers and pack items in sturdy cardboard boxes lined with paper.

Put boxes in the trunk or in the back of the vehicle away from passengers.

Leave pets and children home when bringing hazardous materials for collection.

Keep your windows open and drive directly to the collection site.

Residents must remain in their vehicles during collection.

Residents are asked to be patient, as this is the first HHW Day of 2022, and lines may be longer, due to greater number of participants and larger quantities of materials per vehicle.

Do not smoke or eat while handling hazardous materials.

REMINDER: Westport residents may recycle: antifreeze, motor oil, batteries of any type, light bulbs, and electronics at the Westport Transfer Station, 300 Sherwood Island Connector, Monday-Friday 7:00 am – 2:30 pm, Saturday 7:00 am – 12:00 pm.

The following items are NOT acceptable: AMMUNITION, FLARES, and COMMERCIAL HAZARDOUS WASTE.

If you have any questions, contact the Westport Public Works Department at 203-341-1793.

This press release was made possible by:

GOVERNOR LAMONT APPOINTS KAREN PASCALE AS DIRECTOR OF THE CONNECTICUT HEAD START STATE COLLABORATION OFFICE

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is appointing Karen Pascale to serve as director of the Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office. Pascale has a long career in the field of early childhood with extensive experience being a leader in the Head Start community.

The creation of state Head Start Collaboration Offices were authorized by the federal Head Start Act. These offices facilitate work between state and local entities to improve policies and practices that impact low-income children from birth to school entry their families, and communities. The Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office is housed within the Office of Early Childhood, a state agency serving young children age birth to five and their families.

“I want Connecticut to be a leader in the availability of access to high-quality childcare, and the federal Head Start program is a critical partner in this effort,” Governor Lamont said. “Karen has the experience and skills to hit the ground running and support our administration’s overall goals of building a robust and accessible system of child care that works for families, providers, and the economy.”

Pascale has worked at United Way of Greater New Haven since 2012, most recently as the senior director of early childhood. In this role, she oversaw the Secure Start Initiative to strengthen attachments between parents and caregivers, represented the United Way of Greater New Haven on local early childhood councils, and served as the Early Head Start director. From 2008 to 2012, she worked at LULAC Head Start Inc. as the education/disabilities coordinator and program manager.

She has also been part of many of Connecticut’s early childhood systems efforts, including serving as chairperson of the Connecticut Head Start Association and as the representative for Head Start on the Connecticut Early Childhood Cabinet and the Interagency Coordinating Council.

“I am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and Head Start experience to the Office of Early Childhood,” Pascale said. “Partnerships with the Office of Early Childhood and other state agencies that serve young children and their families are critical to ensuring that they, particularly low-income families, have the resources to succeed in life now and in the future.”

“Karen most recently has led early childhood initiatives at United Way of Greater New Haven, including serving as the Early Head Start director,” Beth Bye, commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood, said. “This experience will be very valuable to the Office of Early Childhood as the agency supports Governor Lamont’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care that is charged with creating a five-year strategic plan for Connecticut that supports family needs, business needs, and prioritizes equitable access to early care and education.”

The position of director of the Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office was most recently held by Elena Trueworthy, who is now serving as deputy commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood.

“Karen comes to this position with strong partnerships at the local, state, and national levels and her leadership in many of the current initiatives supported by the Head Start Collaboration Office will allow her to continue to build upon the critical role of Head Start in Connecticut,” Trueworthy said.

Pascale holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in education from the University of New Haven. She is a trained facilitator in Circle of Security, CLASS Reliability, and Program in Infant Toddler Care.

This press release was made possible by:

Bridgeport News: Today’s Porch Fire

2023-04-12@10:30pm–#Bridgeport CT– #ctfire– As it becomes warmer outside more and more people are enjoying the weather on their porches. In the recent few days, Bridgeport has experienced a number of porch fires. Today’s porch fire was at Poplar and Maplewood Avenue on the third floor which was very minor.

To avoid porch fires, here are some steps you can take:

Keep your porch clean: Remove any debris, such as leaves or sticks, from your porch. These can easily catch fire if there is a spark or flame nearby.

Properly dispose of smoking materials: If you or anyone in your household smokes, make sure to properly dispose of smoking materials, such as cigarettes or matches, in a fireproof container. Never throw them onto your porch or the ground.

Use caution with outdoor cooking: If you have a grill or other outdoor cooking equipment on your porch, be sure to follow all safety guidelines and keep flammable objects away from the heat source. Never leave the grill unattended while it is in use.

Install smoke detectors: Make sure you have smoke detectors installed on your porch and throughout your home. Check the batteries regularly and replace them as needed.

Keep a fire extinguisher handy: In case of an emergency, it’s a good idea to have a fire extinguisher on hand. Make sure you know how to use it and that it is easily accessible.

Keep porch lights on: Leaving the porch lights on at night can help deter burglars and may also help prevent fires by allowing you to see any potential hazards.

By taking these simple steps, you can help prevent porch fires and keep your home and family safe.

Norwalk Man Arrested After Recording Video While Driving Over 130 MPH

On Tuesday, 03/28/2023, the Connecticut State Police became aware of videos posted to Instagram and Facebook social media platforms depicting the operator of an unknown Chevrolet traveling at speeds of approximately 133 MPH in an area recognized by investigators to be Route 7 in Norwalk. The posted speed limit on this portion of Route 7 is 55 MPH.

The video was approximately 18 seconds in duration and depicted a vehicle with a Chevrolet emblem on the steering wheel accelerating from approximately 56 MPH to 133 MPH, based on the vehicle’s visible speedometer. A date and time stamp indicated that the videos were likely uploaded to the platforms on or about 03/27/2023. At the time of the investigation, the Instagram and Facebook account settings allowed for posts and videos to be viewed by the general public.

Trooper Pretel #1104, at Troop G in Bridgeport, was assigned to investigate the incident and attempt to identify the vehicle and operator depicted in the videos. Information included in the Instagram profile used to post the video, indicated that the user was “Joe Tavella III,” and included the description “69 nova pro touring Is2 procharged”.

A Facebook account with the profile name “Joe Tavella III” depicted a white male who was also depicted on the Instagram account as well as a black Chevrolet Nova classic vehicle as the cover photo. The same video of the vehicle traveling on Route 7 in Norwalk had also been posted to the Facebook account.

While gathering information about the vehicle and operator from the video, Trooper Pretel observed the reflection on the dashboard/windshield area of what appeared to be a white male, with visible tattoos on his right arm, recording the video using a hand-held cell phone which was held in his left hand.

While examining other images posted to the social media profiles, an image depicting the same vehicle was discovered, displaying a Connecticut Historical registration plate. Upon conducting a DMV database check for the registration plate, the corresponding vehicle was identified as a 1970 Chevrolet Nova, registered to Joseph D. Tavella, DOB 02/05/1987, of Norwalk. The individual depicted in the driver’s license photo associated with Tavella matched images of the individual associated with the Instagram/Facebook accounts used to post the video. Through further investigation, Trooper Pretel was able to identify a telephone number associated with Tavella.

On Thursday, 03/30/2023 at approximately 12:37 p.m., investigators made contact with Tavella, who agreed to speak with them. While speaking with Tavella, troopers observed a black Chevy Nova nearby. During their interactions, Tavella provided troopers with the vehicle’s insurance information and admitted to driving the vehicle on Route 7 and recording the video on the afternoon of Sunday, 03/26/2023. Investigators determined that the weather conditions depicted in the video were consistent with weather conditions in the Norwalk area on the afternoon of 03/26/2023.

Based upon the information obtained during this investigation, troopers applied for an arrest warrant affidavit for Joseph D. Tavella, which was granted on 03/31/2023.

On Tuesday, 04/11/2023, after learning of the active warrant for his arrest, Tavella turned himself in at Troop G, where he was taken into custody, processed and charged with the following:

C.G.S. 14-222, Reckless Driving

C.G.S. 14-296aa(b1st, Operation of a Motor Vehicle While Using a Hand-held Mobile Telephone/Electronic Device

C.G.S. 53a-64 Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd Degree

Tavella was held on a court-set $100,000.00 bond and transported to Stamford Superior Court for a same-day arraignment.

Reckless driving behavior puts everyone on the roadway at risk. Help us keep Connecticut’s roadways safe by calling 9-1-1 to report reckless drivers or other emergencies, as soon as it is safe to do so.

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