Bridgeport, CT – Affinity Dispensary proudly marked its one-year anniversary with a community celebration attended by local officials, business leaders, and residents. The event highlighted Affinity’s commitment to responsible cannabis access, economic growth, and community engagement. Representatives from the mayor’s office, City Council, and the Social Equity Council recognized the dispensary’s impact, culminating in an official proclamation declaring January 31 as “Affinity Dispensary Day” in Bridgeport. Speakers praised Affinity for revitalizing the neighborhood, fostering partnerships, and creating opportunities for those affected by past policies. Over the past year, Affinity Dispensary has become a cornerstone of the community, offering quality products while supporting local initiatives, job creation, and social equity efforts. Leaders emphasized the business’s role in fostering economic development and enhancing public wellness through education and outreach. As Affinity looks ahead to future growth, the celebration served as both a reflection on its success and a commitment to continued collaboration with Bridgeport’s residents and stakeholders.
Fairfield, CT – January 31, 2025 – The Fairfield community welcomed a new culinary destination as Black Rock Coffee House And Kitchen (@blackrockcoffeehouseandkitchen) celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2480 Blackrock Turnpike. Chef Lindsay Penev, the heart and soul behind the new establishment, expressed her excitement about becoming part of the vibrant local community.
“I’m very excited to be here and serve everybody in the surrounding areas,” said Chef Lindsay. “One thing I love about being here is that we’re a family. We come together, we’re creative, fresh, and fun. Our goal is to create a gathering place where everyone feels safe, welcomed, and can taste the love in our food.”
Black Rock Coffee House & Kitchen offers a unique culinary experience with halal options and an emphasis on fresh, high-quality ingredients. The café takes pride in sourcing organic, fair-trade coffee from Sacred Grounds in Sherman, Connecticut, ensuring every cup is crafted with care. The team of skilled baristas is dedicated to making each coffee experience special with their expert artistry.
Adding to the excitement, Black Rock Coffee House & Kitchen is expanding its hours to 8:00 PM, allowing guests to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant is also preparing to unveil a new dinner menu in the near future.
“We cook with a lot of love and passion,” said Chef Lindsay. “I love to help people, and now I get to do that through food. I’m grateful to be here and to serve this wonderful community.”
The ribbon-cutting event was met with enthusiasm from attendees, including First Selectman Bill Gerber, who praised Chef Lindsay’s dedication, courage, and vision.
For more information, visit https://blackrockcoffeeandkitchen.com/.
Winter Storytimes The Stratford Library Children’s Dept. offers weekly storytimes for children. Storytimes meet at 10:30 am. On Mondays, Toddler Time meets for ages 0-2. On Tuesdays, Preschool Storytime meets for ages 3-5. Baby Lapsit meets on Thursdays for babies 0-18 months. Friday Fun offers stories and songs for ages 2-5. (No storytime on Feb 17). Enjoy early literacy activities and meet other families at Library storytimes. Registration is required.
Painting Class: Impressionism The Stratford Library Children’s Dept. will offer an Impressionism painting class on Monday, February 3 at 4 pm for children ages 8-13. We will discuss major impressionist artists, then create an impressionist-inspired work of art. No experience necessary, but participants should be comfortable using paints.
Kids Podcasting Club The Stratford Library Children’s Dept. will host a Podcasting Club for children ages 7-13 with a parent/guardian on Thursday, February 6 at 2:30 pm. Librarians and uCreate volunteers will help children record stories, book recommendations, and more!
Valentine’s Day Grab ‘n’ Go Kit Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a fun craft kit for children ages 5-12. Pick-ups for this craft begin on Friday, February 7.
Read To a Therapy Dog The Library offers a chance for children ages 6-12 to read to a therapy dog on Saturday, February 8 from 11:00-11:45 am. Each child receives a 15-minute turn with Ollie the Shih Tzu.
LEGO Club LEGO Club meets on Saturday, February 8 at 2:30 pm and Wednesday, February 19 at 4 pm for children ages 5-12.
Science Club Science Club will meet on Tuesday, February 11 at 6 pm for ages 7-12. February’s session features science fun with uCreate volunteers.
Kids Lego Robotics Club On Wednesday, February 12 at 2:30 pm, children ages 7-12 can explore Lego Robotics using LEGO Spike Essential kits, combining building and coding fun.
Learn to Crochet Beginner’s crochet lessons will take place on Wednesday, February 12 at 6 pm. Open to ages 9 through adult, with supplies provided.
Junior Scientists Grab ‘n’ Go: Crystallized Shapes Children ages 4-8 can pick up a Junior Scientists grab ‘n’ go activity starting Thursday, February 13. Experiment with borax to create crystallized shapes.
Book Scientists Book Scientist kits for children ages 3-12 will be available on February 14 (Friendship theme) and February 28 (Royalty theme). Kits include books and activities tailored to each age.
Ready for Kindergarten Grab ‘n’ Go Monthly Kindergarten preparation kits for ages 3-5 will be available starting Wednesday, February 19.
Piano w/ Friends A music basics class for children ages 7-12 will be held on Thursday, February 20 at 4 pm. Learn about music notes and keyboard keys.
Preschool Art Join the Library for Preschool Art on Saturday, February 22 at 11 am for children ages 3-7.
Nutmeg Book Group Readers in grades 4-6 can join the Nutmeg Book Group to discuss The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling on Monday, February 24 at 6 pm.
Preschool Snacks With Siddhi Learn about healthy snacks for preschoolers ages 3-5 on Tuesday, February 25 at 10:30 am with Siddhi Sheth from ShopRite.
Math Grab ’N’ Go Kit Math Grab ‘N’ Go kits for ages 7-10, focused on Greater Than/Less Than/Equal, will be available starting Wednesday, February 26.
Ramadan Grab ‘n’ Go Kit Celebrate Ramadan with a craft and learning kit for ages 3-12. Pick-ups start Friday, February 28.
Registration: Registration is required or recommended for most programs. Visit stratfordlibrary.org and choose Events to register or call 203.385.4165 for more information.
A port-a-potty fell off a truck on I-95 southbound near exit 42. The truck stopped and is attempting to put it back on the truck. I’ll leave the comments to you!
On January 28, 2025, the Norwalk Police Department arrested Hector Camacho for Criminal Attempt at Voyeurism with Malice following a months-long investigation. The case began on September 29, 2024, when a complainant found a hidden camera in a local restaurant’s bathroom. Detectives conducted interviews, reviewed surveillance footage, and used forensic DNA analysis to identify Camacho as the suspect responsible for placing the device. An arrest warrant was obtained, leading to his apprehension by Norwalk Detectives. Camacho, a resident of Weston, CT, is being held on a $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on February 11, 2025. The Norwalk Police encourage anyone with information to contact their tip line at 203-854-3111 or submit anonymous tips via their website or by texting “NORWALKPD” followed by the message to TIP411 (847411).
Norwalk police have arrested Moises Ruiz, 37, of Cliff Street, following an investigation into allegations of sexual assault involving multiple juvenile victims. The investigation, launched by the Special Victims Unit on November 23, 2023, led to an arrest warrant for Ruiz, who was tracked to Gwinnett County, Georgia with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force.
Ruiz was taken into custody on January 15, 2025, and extradited to Norwalk on January 28, 2025. He is charged with two counts of Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree and two counts of Risk of Injury to a Minor. His bond is set at $50,000, and he is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on January 29, 2025.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111 or submit anonymous tips online at www.norwalkpd.com.
Police UPDATE: On January 30, 2025, at approximately 0859 hours, Bridgeport Fire 1, American Medical Response (AMR), and Bridgeport Police Officers were dispatched to a motor vehicle versus a pedestrian collision. The collision occurred at the intersection of Main Street and Capitol Avenue. Police Officers arrived on scene and observed a female pedestrian was struck by a vehicle. The female pedestrian sustained serious injuries, and she was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital.
The scene was secured, and the Bridgeport Police Serious Crash Investigation Team was requested and arrived on scene. After a preliminary investigation, it was determined a 31-year-old female Bridgeport resident was operating a gray 2018 Toyota Rav4 and traveling south on Main Street.
The gray 2018 Toyota Rav4 attempted to turn left onto Capitol Avenue and struck the pedestrian in the crosswalk. The gray 2018 Toyota Rav4 was immediately struck in the rear by a red 2003 Ford Econoline E350, being operated by a 71-year-old male Bridgeport resident. The female pedestrian was identified as a 72-year-old Bridgeport resident, and she was listed in critical condition.
Anyone with information about the collision can contact Officer E. Quiles at (203) 576-7640 or the Bridgeport Police TIPS Hotline at (203) 576-TIPS. Officer E. Quiles can also be reached by email at Eroildo.Quiles@bridgeportct.gov
At 9:00 am Bridgeport ECC received calls of a MVA vs. Pedestrian at Capitol Ave. and Main St with entrapment. Bridgeport Fire Department extricated the female victim, she transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The traffic division is investigating this incident.
WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.),Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act, bipartisan legislation to keep kids off social media and help protect them from its harmful impacts. The bill would establish a minimum age of 13 for social media use and prohibit platforms from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17.
“Everyone knows how harmful social media can be to kids. As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how these platforms use intentionally addictive algorithms to spoon-feed young people horrifying content glorifying everything from suicide to eating disorders. Yet these companies have proven they will choose profits over the wellbeing of our kids unless we force them to do otherwise. This bipartisan legislation will finally hold social media companies accountable,” said Murphy.
“There is no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or Snapchat. The growing evidence is clear: social media is making kids more depressed, more anxious, and more suicidal. Yet tech companies refuse to anything about it because it would hurt their bottom line. This is an urgent health crisis, and Congress must act with the boldness and urgency it demands,” said Schatz. “Protecting kids online is not a partisan issue, and our bipartisan coalition – which includes several parents of kids and teenagers – represents the millions of parents across the country who’ve long been asking for help.”
“Every parent I know is concerned about the online threats to kids—from predators to videos promoting self-harm, risky behavior, or low self-esteem. Many families have suffered due to Big Tech’s failure to take responsibility for its products. The Kids Off Social Media Act addresses these issues by supporting families in crisis and empowering teachers to better manage their classrooms. I am proud to work with Senator Schatz on this bipartisan legislation to combat the harms social media poses to children, especially in schools. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee, I am confident we can swiftly move this legislation and similar measures through committee and urge Congress to heed the calls of parents everywhere by delivering this bill to President Trump’s desk to help protect America’s youth,” said Cruz.
“There’s no doubt our country is in the throes of a mental health crisis, and the rise of social media usage among children and teenagers is inextricably tied to this issue,” said Britt. “As a mom, this is something my own kids and their friends have to contend with every day. And as a Senator, I know our nation has to contend with it to safeguard the next generation. Putting in place commonsense guardrails that protect our kids from the dangers of social media is critical for their future and America’s future. I’m committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put parents in the driver’s seat and enact commonsense, age-appropriate solutions to tackle this generational challenge.”
No age demographic is more affected by the ongoing mental health crisis in the United States than kids, especially young girls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 57 percent of high school girls and 29 percent of high school boys felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, with 22 percent of all high school students—and nearly a third of high school girls—reporting they had seriously considered attempting suicide in the preceding year.
Studies have shown a strong relationship between social media use and poor mental health, especially among children. From 2019 to 2021, overall screen use among teens and tweens (ages 8 to 12) increased by 17 percent, with tweens using screens for five hours and 33 minutes per day and teens using screens for eight hours and 39 minutes. Based on the clear and growing evidence, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory in 2023, calling for new policies to set and enforce age minimums and highlighting the importance of limiting the use of features, like algorithms, that attempt to maximize time, attention, and engagement.
Specifically, the Kids Off Social Media Act would:
Prohibit social media platforms from allowing children under the age of 13 to create or maintain social media accounts;
Prohibit social media companies from pushing targeted content using algorithms to users under the age of 17;
Provide the FTC and state attorneys general authority to enforce the provisions of the bill; and
Follow existing CIPA framework, with changes, to require schools to work in good faith to limit social media on their federally-funded networks, which many schools already do.
Parents overwhelmingly support the mission of the Kids Off Social Media Act. A survey conducted by Count on Mothers shows that over 90 percent of mothers agree that there should be a minimum age of 13 for social media. Additionally, 87 percent of mothers agree that social media companies should not be allowed to use personalized recommendation systems to deliver content to children. Pew finds similar levels of concern from parents, reporting that 70 percent or more of parents worry that their teens are being exposed to explicit content or wasting too much time on social media, with two-thirds of parents saying that parenting is harder today compared to 20 years ago—and many of them cited social media as a contributing factor.
U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and John Curtis (R-Utah) also cosponsored the legislation.
The Kids Off Social Media Act is supported by Public Citizen, National Organization for Women, National Association of Social Workers, National League for Nursing, National Association of School Nurses, KidsToo, Count on Mothers, American Federation of Teachers, American Counseling Association, National Federation of Families, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Parents Television and Media Council, Tyler Clementi Foundation, Parents Who Fight, Conservative Ladies of America, David’s Legacy Foundation, Digital Progress, HAS Coalition, Parents Defending Education Action, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Fairfield, CT – J.B. Percival Co., a beloved craft cocktail bar in the heart of Fairfield, celebrated an exciting new chapter with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the transition to new ownership. The four new owners, including Clark, Sarah, and J.R., were all dedicated patrons of the bar before seizing the opportunity to take it over in November 2024. The event, attended by local business leaders and members of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, highlighted their commitment to maintaining J.B. Percival Co. as a staple in the community while adding their own creative touches. The bar, located at 63 Unquowa Road, pays tribute to Connecticut’s manufacturing history, incorporating salvaged industrial décor that reflects its original 1920s factory roots.
During the celebration, the new owners shared their enthusiasm for craft cocktails and recommended signature drinks, including their secret-recipe espresso martini, a unique twist on the classic Manhattan, and a selection of Italian bitters and local craft beers. “We’re thrilled to be part of the Fairfield business community and to continue offering a space where people can gather and enjoy great drinks,” said Clark, one of the co-owners. Guests praised the welcoming atmosphere and the dedication of the new team in preserving what makes J.B. Percival Co. special. With a blend of classic and seasonal cocktails, as well as an ever-evolving drink menu, J.B. Percival Co. remains a go-to destination for cocktail lovers in Fairfield.
