Month: May 2024

Eight Bridgeport Students Recognized as Winners in the 19th Annual eesmarts™ Student Contest 

Connecticut students submitted projects to the statewide contest promoting

sustainability, energy efficiency, and clean and renewable energy

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Bridgeport students Fatima Awad, Caleb Hayes, Isabella Imran V Bala, Trey Keirans, Suri Nogueira, Alicia Palacios, Renesh Srinivasan and Melinda Villa were recently honored as winners in the 19th Annualeesmarts™ Student Contest.   

Presented by Energize Connecticut℠ in partnership with Eversource and Avangrid subsidiaries, United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, the eesmarts Student Contest invited Connecticut students in grades K-12 to showcase their energy smarts. 

Participants chose from a variety of project formats based on their grade level, including poems, essays, posters, billboard advertisements, comic strips, short videos, persuasive images and more. 

Isabella won 2nd place in the 4th grade category for her billboard promoting saving energy.

In the 5th grade category, Alicia was awarded 2nd place and Melinda received 3rd place for their energy-saving superhero short stories.

Seventh-grade students Caleb, Renesh and Suri won first, second and third place in their category. The students submitted three-celled comic strips depicting the main character saving energy.

In the 8th grade category, Trey won 1st place and Fatima received 3rd place for their social media posts.

All of the students attend Discovery Magnet School in Bridgeport.

More than 600 students throughout Connecticut submitted projects for consideration. Twenty-nine entries from 19 schools in 16 Connecticut communities were selected as this year’s finalists.

Finalists attended an awards ceremony on May 7, 2024 at the Connecticut Science Center and received their prize and certificate.

For more information on the student contest and the eesmarts program, please visit EnergizeCT.com/eesmarts.

Westport News: First Selectwoman Announces Fire Chief Appointment

Deputy Chief Marsan Named Chief

Westport, CT – First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker announced today that she has appointed Deputy Chief Nick Marsan as the Fire Chief for the Town of Westport Fire Department (WFD) effective July 1, 2024. Nick will assume this role as successor to Mark Amatrudo, who has served the Town as Interim Fire Chief since July 1, 2023.

About Nick Marsan:

Nick Marsan has been a member of the Westport Fire Department since 2007, currently serving as Deputy Chief, and as the Town’s Emergency Management Director. He has extensive experience in emergency operations, fire safety, and public administration. He began his career as a professional firefighter assigned to Platoon 3 after graduating from the Connecticut Fire Academy Class #41. He served as a firefighter for nine years before being promoted to Fire Inspector and then to Engine Company Lieutenant, stationed primarily at Station 4 in Saugatuck.

A state-certified Fire Marshal and EMT, Nick also holds several national fire service certifications, including Fire Service Instructor III and Fire Officer III. His commitment to public safety has been noted on numerous occasions. He is the recipient of two Westport Rotary Public Protection & Safety Awards, and several department awards including three-unit citations, the John H. Gallagher Award for outstanding service, and the Turker Aksoy Award for outstanding patient care. Additionally, he has served the communities of Norwalk and Darien as a Fire Inspector and is a State Fire Instructor for the New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control. He was the elected president of the Westport Uniformed Firefighters Association, Local 1081 for ten years.

Nick is a veteran of the US Army and the CT Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor for his actions during operations.

Nick holds two Master’s degrees—one in History from Western Connecticut State University and another in Public Administration and Emergency Management from Sacred Heart University. He is a graduate of Fairfield College Preparatory School. Nick recently completed the National Fire Service Staff and Command Course in Annapolis, Maryland.

“I am excited to lead the men and women of the Westport Fire Department,” Nick said. “I am honored by the trust placed in me and I look forward to continuing our department’s dedication to outstanding service to the residents and guests of the Town of Westport.”

First Selectwoman Tooker stated, “Nick has the proven ability and expertise to seamlessly and effectively take over the role as Chief.  He has a breadth of knowledge, skill, experience, and understanding that will ensure that the current high standards of safety and efficiency will be maintained in the Westport Fire Department. I have every confidence that he will flourish and excel in this leadership role.”

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF CONNECTICUT STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS AND FACILITIES

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is launching a new state program to address the healthcare workforce shortage in Connecticut’s health professional shortage areas.

Known as the Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program, the initiative will offer up to $50,000 in student loan repayments to eligible healthcare providers who commit to practicing full-time in underserved communities in the state for at least two years. Part-time options are also available for $12,500 per year over two years, totaling $25,000.

The program is being overseen by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and administered by the Connecticut Area Health Education Center, a program that works throughout Connecticut to improve access to basic healthcare by linking local community groups with the resources of health professionals, health professional groups, and health professional training programs.

“Our administration is committed to ensuring that every resident of Connecticut has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their zip code,” Governor Lamont said. “This program is a significant investment in our healthcare workforce and a step towards reducing health disparities across our state. We recognize that not all providers can commit to full-time work, so we’re offering flexible options to attract a wider range of talent to our underserved communities.”

This program offers a distinct advantage over federal loan repayment programs such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which only applies to federal student loans. In contrast, the Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program allows both federal and private student loan debt to be repaid, making it a more comprehensive solution for healthcare providers with diverse educational debt.

Eligible providers include:

  • MDs and DOs in Family Practice, General Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN
  • APRNs, including Certified Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, and Psychiatric Nurse Specialists
  • Physician Assistants
  • Registered Nurses
  • Dentists and Dental Hygienists
  • Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Core Behavioral Health Providers, including Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Substance Use Disorder Counselors
  • Pharmacists

“This program will help open doors to financial relief that are typically only thought to be exclusively available to advanced practice providers,” Governor Lamont said. “Whether you’re working in underserved areas, critical shortage facilities, or even in educational settings, opportunities are here for these medical professionals to have their student loans forgiven.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the Connecticut Area Health Education Center to launch this critical program,” Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, said. “By incentivizing healthcare providers to practice in underserved areas, we can make significant progress in improving health outcomes for all Connecticut residents.”

“The Connecticut Area Health Education Center, whose program office is located at UConn Health Center, is proud to play a role in administering this program,” Petra Clark-Dufner, director of the Connecticut Area Health Education Center, said. “We are committed to supporting the healthcare workforce and improving access to care in underserved communities.”

Applications will be accepted beginning May 22, 2024. For application information, visit ctslrp.org.

Bridgeport News: Stroller Pushed In River At Beardsley Park

At 8:10 pm Bridgeport Emergency Communications received a call regarding a person allegedly pushing a stroller into the water at Beardsley Park. Police, fire and AMR were all dispatched to the scene. BFD conducted a search of the water as a precaution and worst-case. The search came back negative and a recall of resources took place.

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Board Fund-Raiser Begins May 30 with “Preview”

The Stratford Library will return with its annual book sale Thursday, May 30 through Sunday. June 2, 2024.  The sale, which is a major fund-raiser for the library, is being organized this year by the Board of Trustees under Chair Shelley Hall of Stratford. 

Browsers at this year’s sale will find thousands of books, CDs, LPs, DVDs, autographed books and much more in over 50 categories at bargain prices covering every conceivable subject from religion, business, music and art to philosophy, science fiction, biography, non-fiction and best-sellers.  The sale will commence with a “Preview” on Thursday, May 30 from 5:30-8:30 pm. The evening is open to everyone with no entry fee and books are double the marked price. Visitors can pick up a number for entry on that day beginning at 3:30 pm.  The general book sale with prices as marked will continue on Friday, May 31 from 9 am-7 pm and Saturday, June 1 from 9 am-6 pm.  Saturday’s sale will be held in conjunction with Stratford’s annual Main Street Festival.  On Sunday, June 2 the library will offer a “Half-Price Sale” on all remaining books from 9 am-2 pm and $10 a bag from 2:30-4 pm (bags provided). 

 For further information, call the Stratford Library at 203.385.4161 or visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org.

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