Month: June 2024

The City of Bridgeport Receives Grant Funding for Community-led Sustainability Projects

Bridgeport, CT – The City of Bridgeport was recently awarded the Partners for Places grant, led by The Funders Network (TFN) in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN). The $150,000 grant will be partnered with matched funds from the Barr Foundation and William Caspar Graustein Foundation, in which the City has received $90,000. The grant will allow Bridgeport to build community resilience through collaborative environmental education, including the co-creation of a climate resilience curriculum that can be used by community leaders throughout the city.

The City plans on building trust and understanding between frontline community residents and local decision-makers while ultimately establishing a training program where community leaders can share knowledge and empower their fellow residents to participate in climate-related policymaking. The primary focus for this initiative is to collaborate with PT Partners, a grassroots organization that aims to rebuild community in Bridgeport public housing, with the hopes of expanding the initiative after two years and working with local Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Groups (NRZs).

Mayor Ganim stated, “We are thrilled and grateful to receive funding for such a key initiative in Bridgeport, while encouraging education and advocacy for a greener future. This grant provided by Partners for Places will help us to get our residents involved in their neighborhoods, as climate change is a significant issue that requires our collective attention. Our plan is to continue our ongoing efforts toward being a sustainable City and reducing our carbon footprint with every opportunity we receive to do so.”

The intention for the program is to provide education on climate change while enhancing informed decision-making and self-advocacy for residents. The Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs will coordinate collaboration along with the City’s Sustainability Manager, Chadwick Schroeder.

“As a city that stands for sustainability and resiliency awareness, it’s gratifying knowing that we’ve been given this incredible collaboration opportunity through the Partners for Places grant,” stated Sustainability Manager, Chadwick Schroeder. “Bridgeport is one in five cities nationwide to be on the receiving end of this grant and because of this, we’re excited to expand our initiatives surrounding climate and resiliency awareness by empowering local groups and continuing our efforts by tackling important issues together.”

Governor Lamont Has Covid

(HARTFORD, CT) – Julia Bergman, director of media relations and chief spokesperson for Governor Ned Lamont, today released the following statement:

“Yesterday afternoon, Governor Lamont was feeling slightly under the weather and out of an abundance of caution he decided to take an at-home COVID test, and the result came back positive. He is feeling fine other than a couple of mild symptoms. During these last couple of days, he has not been in the office, nor has he been in close physical proximity with any staff or state officials because he had been taking previously scheduled time out of the office. He has notified those he recently came into close contact with regarding his test result and he has encouraged them to take tests, as well. He’s informed his staff that they can expect him to work remotely for the time being.”

2024 Fireworks Traffic Advisory

The annual PAL fireworks display is set for Tuesday July 2, 2024, with a rain
date of Wednesday July 3, 2024. This is the largest annual Westport event featuring
heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic affecting all roads south of Greens Farms
Road between Compo Road South and Hillspoint Road. It is recommended that
spectators plan to arrive early as traffic delays are inevitable. Daytime Compo
Beach visitors are reminded that the beach closes at 4:00 PM. Only those vehicles
with fireworks passes hanging on their rearview mirrors will be allowed to remain
within the beach. All others will be ticketed or towed. The beach should reopen to
ticket holders by 5:00 PM, however this determination will be made by Westport
Parks and Recreation staff.
Pedestrians attending the fireworks are reminded not to walk on the roads and to
use sidewalks when going to and from Compo Beach. It is recommended that
pedestrians wear bright clothing and parents please always keep an eye on small
children!
For ticket holders:

  • Access to the PAL Fireworks display will be through South Compo Road only.
    Hillspoint Road south of Greens Farms Road will be open to only those with
    residences south of that intersection.
  • Firework attendees should display the ticket prominently on the rearview mirror
    so it can be seen clearly when traveling to the event.
  • All ticket holders must be inside Compo Beach by 9:00 PM. No vehicular beach
    traffic will be allowed south of the Minuteman statue after that time.
  • Handicap parking is available between the cannons and the pavilion.
    Handicap spaces are limited and will be provided on a first come first
    served basis.
    For those who do not have tickets:
  • Vehicles without a ticket will not be able to go any further towards
    Compo Beach than the Minuteman statue.
  • Those utilizing Uber, Lyft, or Taxi services will be directed straight past
    the Minuteman Statue on Compo Road South. There, visitors can walk
    from the area of Compo Road South and Soundview Drive to the beach.
    NOTE: If you choose to use this method of transportation, return service
    will not be available until after 11pm due to one way traffic exiting the
    beach area.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR POST-FIREWORKS TRAFFIC

Just prior to the conclusion of the fireworks display two-way traffic will be suspended on Compo Beach Road and South Compo Road to the intersection of Greens Farms Road. There will be two lanes of northbound traffic on these streets until the beach is cleared. Residents of this area will encounter delays in getting to their homes for approximately one hour or until traffic has cleared from the Compo Beach area and should plan accordingly. Residents who are planning on picking up family members in the beach area should also plan for delays. Motorists are reminded there will be a significant amount of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the Compo Beach area prior to and after the event and are asked to please exercise extreme caution while traveling through this area.

“MERRY WIVES” AT STRATFORD LIBRARY JULY 12-14

Hudson Shakespeare Production Will Have a 1950s Vibe

The Hudson Shakespeare Company returns to the Stratford Library, 2203 Main Street in Stratford July 12-14 with the  comedic romp, William Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor” set to bopping 50s hits and given a sitcom-style makeover ala “I Love Lucy”. The performance, held outside in the Library’s Courtyard, is free and open to the public.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” finds sometime crook Falstaff (Billy Anderson) and his crew of greasers decide to take a summer vacation from their usual bar hopping and petty larcenies, in the sleepy country town of Windsor. Running low on cash, Falstaff tells his crew to get lost and decides to court and con two local rich wives, Mistresses Ford (Noelle Fair) and Mistress Page (Carol Palumbo). The two women both receive the same “love letter” from Falstaff with only their name changed. The ladies compare notes and decide to play along to give Falstaff a taste of his own medicine. Falstaff’s jilted cronies decide to tell the women’s husbands of the plot. The laid back Master Page (David S. Donnelly) thinks it’s all a laugh, but the tightly wound Master Ford (CJ Nolan) does not. Ford, always thinking the wives are up to no good, dons a goofy disguise and alias called “Master Brook” to ensure he can catch Falstaff and his wife together.  Meanwhile, the Pages’ daughter, Anne (Allison Ziegler), is being sought after as a marriage match between two rich suitors: Doctor Caius (Sabrina Lingenfelter) and Slender (Isaiah Rodriguez), nephew to Roberta Shallow (Laima Rastenis), the local justice of the peace. Anne, however, only has eyes for the shy and sweet  Fenton (Eilis Garcia) who can’t seem to stand up to her father. Trying to keep the peace are Welsh Parson Sir Hugh (Leslie Jones) and the Host of the Garter Inn (Cheyenne Perez). Trying to guide Fenton and Anne together is the scheming and flirtatious Mistress Quickly (Joan Barere). How will Mistress Page and Mistress Ford turn the tables on Falstaff while keeping the jealous Master Ford off their trail? Can Anne dodge the would-be suitors and get together with Fenton? Come and find out at the Stratford Library and enjoy this gag-a minute romp set to various 1950s hits.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” will be presented at the Stratford Library on Friday, July 12 at 6pm with 2pm matinees on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14. The play will be presented in the courtyard in the rear of the library with parking in the adjacent Baldwin Center.   Patrons are invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket to spread.  In the event of inclement weather, the show will be presented in the library’s air-conditioned Lovell Room.  Admission is free and open to the public. No reservations required. 

 For further information call the Stratford Library at 203.385.4162 or visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org.

Traffic Advisory – Great Duck Race and Westport Sidewalk Sale

The Westport Sunrise Rotary will be holding their annual Great Duck Race event on Saturday, June 29, 2024, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The event’s footprint will encompass Jesup Green as well as the Taylor Municipal Parking Lot. To accommodate the set-up of the various activities associated with the event, please be advised that the municipal lot will be completely closed to the public beginning on the evening of Friday, June 28, and will re-open on the afternoon of Saturday, June 29.

The weekend will also feature two other events that will impact local traffic. The first is a sidewalk sale in the downtown area, scheduled to run from Friday, June 28, through Sunday, June 30. Many local merchants are expected to participate in this event. The second is the annual United Nations “jUNe Day” event. With the additional limitations on downtown parking caused by the Duck Race event’s use of the municipal lot, motorists should expect increased pedestrian traffic as well as traffic delays in the area throughout the day. Attendees are additionally reminded to use the marked crosswalks in the area when patronizing these events.

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