Month: May 2025

STRATFORD LIBRARY KIDS EVENTS IN JUNE

Summer Storytimes
The Stratford Library Children’s Department offers summer storytimes for children. Storytimes meet at 10:30 am. Beginning Monday, June 16, Music Time meets weekly for ages 0-2. Tuesdays are Preschool Storytimes for ages 3-5. Storytimes run through July. On Thursdays, June 26, July 24, and August 14, Baby Lapsit meets for ages 0-18 months. Enjoy early literacy activities and meet other families at Library storytimes! Storytimes meet in the Children’s Program Room. Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org.

Children’s Craft Table
The Stratford Library Children’s Department offers weekly summer crafts with teen volunteers in the Library starting Monday, June 16. The craft table will be open Monday-Thursday, 10am-12pm and 2pm-6:30 pm as well as Fridays from 10am-12pm, volunteer availability permitting. Each week will feature a different, free craft, while supplies last. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org.

Preschool Playtime: Dinosaurs
The Stratford Library Children’s Department will be offering preschool STEAM activities on Thursday, June 5 at 4:00pm for children ages 3-6. Activities will be about Dinosaurs. Preschool Playtime will meet in the Children’s Program Room. Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org/kids.

Book Scientists
The Stratford Library Children’s Dept. will offer Book Scientist kits for children ages 5-12. Each kit includes books and activities. Books are selected based on the age of the child participating. This month the themes will be Summer Fun (June 6) and Adventure (June 20). Kits can be picked up for two weeks after the kit release date. Return the Library books when they are due and keep everything else! Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org/kids.

Seed Library Grab ’n’ Go
The Stratford Library Children’s Dept. will offer a Seed Grab ‘n’ go for pick up on Monday, June 9 (Primrose) and June 13 (Peppers). Receive both seeds and instructions on how to plant. Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org Events page.

Preschool Yoga w Jyothi
Join the Stratford Library Children’s Department on Thursday, June 12 at 10:30am for some Preschool Yoga with Miss Jyothi. Children ages 2-5 are welcome to participate. Please bring your own yoga mat or a blanket to use during the program. Preschool Yoga will meet in the Lovell Room. Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. Kits can be picked up for two weeks after the kit release date. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org.

Alphabet Parade Grab ‘n’ Go
The Stratford Library Children’s Dept. is offering Alphabet Parade grab ‘n go craft kits on Friday, June 13 (Letter “A”) and 27 (Letter “B”) for children ages 18 months to 5 years old. Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org/kids.

LEGO Club
The Stratford Library will offer LEGO Club on Saturday, June 14 at 2:00pm, and Monday, June 30 at 4:00pm for ages 5-12. Children will be provided LEGOS to make their own creations, and each family only needs to register once. LEGO club will meet in the Children’s Program Room. Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org/kids.

Juneteenth Music & Dance
Join the Stratford Library on Wednesday, June 18 at 2:00pm for a celebration of Juneteenth, America’s newest federal holiday. African dance instructor Jolyn Washington Walker from African Dance Expressions will lead families through a musical celebration. All ages are welcome, and the program meets in the Lovell Room. Courtesy of the Carol Pieper Memorial Fund. Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org/kids.

Kids Podcasting Club
The Stratford Library Children’s Dept. will offer a Podcasting Club for children ages 7-13 and a parent/guardian. This club will meet on Friday, June 20 at 3:00pm. Librarians and uCreate volunteers will help children record stories, book recommendations, insights and more! Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org.

Crocheting
The Stratford Library Children’s Dept. is offering crochet lessons on Saturday, June 21 at 2:00pm. Ages 9 to adult are welcome, and supplies are provided. Beginners and more advanced learners are welcome to attend. This program meets in the Children’s Program Room. Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org/kids.

Kids Lego Robotics Club
Join the Stratford Library Children’s Dept. for a Lego Robotics workshop on Monday, June 23 at 4:00pm for children ages 7-12. Thanks to a grant from the Stratford Rotary Club, the Library now owns LEGO Spike Essential kits, which combine LEGO building with some coding fun! This program will meet in the Children’s Program Room. Registration is required. To register, visit the website at stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events. For more information about Library programs and services for children, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org/kids.

Living Connecticut History: The Amistad
On Tuesday, June 24 at 12:00 PM, the Stratford Library Children’s Department will host a program by performing artist and storyteller Tammy Denease about the schooner Amistad. Children and teens ages 9 and up are welcome. Learn about Sarah Margu, a child enslaved aboard the Amistad. Sponsored by Discovering Amistad and Connecticut Humanities, this program meets in the Lovell Room. Registration is recommended. Attendees will receive a free copy of Africa Is My Home: A Child of the Amistad by Monica Edinger, while supplies last. To register, visit stratfordlibrary.org and click Events. For more information, call 203.385.4165.

Wizards and Witches Crafts
On Wednesday, June 25 at 2:00 PM, the Stratford Library Children’s Department will host an all-ages Wizards and Witches Crafts event in the Lovell Room. Kids and adults can create themed crafts inspired by Merlin, Dumbledore, Gandalf, and more, while chatting about favorite magical books and movies. Costumes are highly encouraged. Registration is required at stratfordlibrary.org under Events. For details, call 203.385.4165.

Kindness Club
On Thursday, June 26 at 4:00 PM, the Stratford Library Children’s Department will host a Kindness Club meeting for ages 6–11. This summer’s projects will focus on spreading joy and benefiting the community. The program meets in the Children’s Program Room. Registration is required at stratfordlibrary.org. For more information, call 203.385.4165.

Saturday Storytime: Ladybugs
The Stratford Library Children’s Department will host a Saturday Storytime for ages 3–6 on Saturday, June 21 at 10:30 AM. Children will enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, and a ladybug-themed craft in the Children’s Program Room. Registration is required at stratfordlibrary.org. Call 203.385.4165 for details.

Gardening for Kids
On Friday, June 27 at 11:00 AM, the Stratford Library Children’s Department will offer a Gardening for Kids program for ages 8–12 in the Children’s Program Room. Kids will learn how to start planting their own garden. Presented in partnership with the Stratford Health Department. Registration is required at stratfordlibrary.org. For info, call 203.385.4165.

Preschool Art
Join the Stratford Library Children’s Department for Preschool Art on Saturday, June 28 at 11:00 AM. Children ages 3–7 are invited to participate. Registration is required at stratfordlibrary.org. For more details, call 203.385.4165 or visit stratfordlibrary.org/kids.

Mayor Ganim and the Department of Public Facilities Announce the Opening of City Parks for 2025 Memorial Day Weekend

Bridgeport, CT – Mayor Ganim and the Bridgeport Department of Public Facilities has announced the opening date for the City’s parks for Saturday, May 24, 2025. Mayor Ganim is reminding all residents that checkpoints will be in effect for all visitors to purchase park stickers from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend in September. Residents should be aware that checkpoints will accept Credit Cards only for payment. There is also the option of obtaining Park Stickers at the City’s Parks & Recreation department via Cash or Credit, located at 7 Quarry Rd, Trumbull, CT, Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm.

The Bridgeport Police Department will be providing additional patrol cars on warm days and weekends. Parking Enforcement officers will be used to keep people from parking outside of the park, as vehicles may be subject to fines. There will also be an officer at each checkpoint in Seaside Park.

The Department of Public Facilities will utilize LED Message Boards at Seaside Park at the Perry Memorial Arch and West Beach entrance. These boards are installed at Beardsley Park as well, advising visitors of pertinent information regarding stickers and other park information.

Mayor Ganim stated, “As the date has finally approached for us to officially open our parks for the warm seasons, I hope all residents and visitors get to take advantage of these amenities. I encourage everyone to enjoy themselves and be reminded that safety is our top priority when it comes to our parks.”

PARK STICKER INFORMATION BELOW IS AS FOLLOWS:

Seaside Park and Beardsley Park

Annual Passes

  • Annual Parking Sticker (Resident Permit) – Vehicle Registered in Bridgeport: $15 Required starting May 24th.
  • Annual Parking Sticker (Non-Resident CT Permit) — Vehicle Registered in CT: $230 Required starting May 24th.
  • Annual Parking Sticker (Special Permit) — Vehicle Registered in CT with proof of current City of Bridgeport property tax bill: $20 Required starting May 24th.
  • Annual Parking Sticker (Out of State Permit) — Vehicle Registered Out-of-State with proof of current City of Bridgeport property tax bill: $20 Required starting May 24th.

Day Passes Available to CT Residents starts Saturday May 24th.

  • Seaside Park, CT Registration: $50 Required starting May 24th.
  • Beardsley Park, CT Registration: $50 Required starting May 24th.

Day Passes Available to Out-of- State Residents starting Saturday May 24th.

  • Seaside Park Out of State Registration: $100 Required starting May 24th.
  • Beardsley Park Out of State Registration: $100 Required starting May 24th.

Park stickers will be available for purchase on Saturday May 24th at the following locations:

  • Checkpoint booths at Seaside Park West Beach (Credit Card), and Beardsley Park (Credit Card); Weekends 8am-4pm
  • Parks and Recreation Department, 7 Quarry Road, Trumbull; Mon-Fri 8am-4pm (cash and credit)

Stickers can only be purchased for the vehicle entering the park with proof of registration. The sticker will be affixed to the windshield by a checkpoint attendant.

If you have an Out-of-Town or Out-of-State vehicle but pay Bridgeport property taxes – please visit the Parks and Recreation Department with a current City of Bridgeport property tax bill to acquire a sticker. These stickers are NOT SOLD directly at the park checkpoints.

Senior Park Stickers

Bridgeport resident senior citizens (65 and older) are eligible for a free lifetime Senior Park Sticker with proof of Bridgeport car registration and proof of age. Senior Park Stickers can only be acquired at the Parks and Recreation Department during office hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm

Lifeguards

Lifeguards will be on duty at Seaside Beach and Pleasure Beach from June 21st until Labor Day.

Pleasure Beach

Pleasure Beach Taxi Service will officially be open on July 4th (Weekends Only, including Holidays). The Taxi Free Service to Pleasure Beach begins at 10am and stops at 4pm, Pleasure Beach closure is at 6pm.

Splash Pads

Opening Day May 24th

  • Beardsley Park Splash Pad – 1875 Noble Avenue (Upper East Side)
  • Seaside Park Splash Pad – West Beach, 1 Barnum Dyke (South End)

Tentative Opening Day June 21st

  • Newfield Park Splash Pad – 104 Eagle Street (East End)
  • Puglio Park Splash Pad – 3531 Madison Avenue (North End)
  • Went Field Splash Pad – 401 Hanover Street (West Side)
  • Alice Street Splash Pad – 1 Alice Street (North End)
  • Curiale School Splash Pad – 189 Wood Avenue (West Side)
  • Columbus School Splash Pad – 275 George Street (The Hollow)
  • Ellsworth Park – 58 Ellsworth Street (Black Rock)
  • Johnson Oak Park – 55 Hewitt Street (East End)
  • Luis Munoz Marin School Splash Pad – 475 Helen Street (East Side)
  • Nob Hill – 115 Virginia Avenue (Upper East Side)
  • Park City Magnet School Splash Pad – 1526 Chopsey Hill (Reservoir/Whiskey Hill)
  • Success Splash Pad – 303 Grandfield Avenue (Boston Avenue/Mill Hill)
  • Washington Park Splash Pad – 475 East Washington Avenue (East Side)

Fishing

Day & Night fishing is both permitted along the city’s waterfronts and piers with a valid Fishing Permit. Follow all signs posted, and adhere to No Trespassing signs, specifically noted for the breaker at Seaside Park.

For more information, visit the City of Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Department website at www.Bridgeportct.gov/ParksandRec.

Road Closures Announced for Rowayton Memorial Day Parade on May 25

The Rowayton Memorial Day Parade will be on Sunday, May 25, 2025, from 12:00–1:30 PM. The following streets will be closed during this time:

  • Highland Avenue from Wilson Avenue to McKinley Street
  • McKinley Street from Highland Avenue to Rowayton Avenue
  • Rowayton Avenue from McKinley Street to Witch Lane

Route 136 will be detoured from Rowayton Avenue onto Witch Lane to Crest Road to Wilson Avenue. This will be the same route, in reverse, for motorists traveling from Wilson Avenue. Motorists are encouraged to avoid this area during the parade.

Shelton Man Arrested for Motor Vehicle Thefts and Street Takeover Activity

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Shelton Police, working with multiple agencies, arrested 20-year-old Jonathan Damato of Shelton on May 21, 2025, in connection with a series of stolen vehicle cases and local street takeovers. Investigators previously found stolen vehicles at and near his residence and identified Damato as an organizer of recent street takeover events. He was located hiding in a crawl space during the execution of a search warrant and taken into custody.

Damato was charged with two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle and interfering with a search. His bond was set at $150,500, and he was scheduled to be arraigned at Derby Superior Court on May 22, 2025. Additionally, 19-year-old Camilia Melendez of North Haven was charged with interfering with a search. She was released on a $500 bond and is due in court on June 10, 2025.

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES MORE THAN 100,000 CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS BEING NOTIFIED THIS WEEK THAT SOME OR ALL OF THEIR MEDICAL DEBT HAS BEEN ERASED

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that letters are being mailed this week to more than 100,000 Connecticut residents notifying them that some or all of their medical debt has been eliminated under the second round of an initiative his administration launched last year through a partnership with the nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt.

Under the partnership, Undue Medical Debt is leveraging investments from the state to negotiate with hospitals and other providers on the elimination of large, bundled portfolios of qualifying medical debt owed by Connecticut patients. Those who qualify must have income at or below four times (400%) the federal poverty level or have medical debt that is 5% or more of their income. (The current federal poverty level is an annual income at or below $32,150 for a family of four.) Since these medical debts are acquired in bulk and belong to those least able to pay, they cost a fraction of their face value, often pennies on the dollar.

In this second round, the state invested $575,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, and Undue Medical Debt was able to negotiate with a secondary market partner to acquire and eliminate more than $100 million in qualifying medical debt. The first round occurred in December and saw the elimination of approximately $30 million in medical debt for 23,000 of the state’s residents.

Those who have been identified for relief will receive a branded envelope and letter from Undue Medical Debt in the mail over the next several days. (To view a sample of what this letter looks like, click here.)

“Medical debt causes additional anxiety and stress when individuals and families are coping with potentially life-threatening health situations,” Governor Lamont said. “Over the next few days, more than 100,000 Connecticut residents who have been struggling to pay their medical bills will feel relief when they receive letters in the mail notifying them that their debt has been erased. I am hopeful that additional medical partners will soon sign onto this program to help more Connecticut families through further rounds of this initiative.”

“I’m very grateful for the State of Connecticut’s continued partnership in providing medical debt relief to its residents,” Allison Sesso, CEO and president of Undue Medical Debt, said. “The erasure of these debts of necessity wouldn’t be possible without community-minded leaders like Governor Lamont and his team, who believe medical debt should not be a hindrance to seeking needed care. We look forward to continuing our work in the state so families can seek healthcare with dignity.”

“Medical debt can be a crippling burden on patients, especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet,” State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey, co-chair of the legislature’s Public Health Committee, said. “Erasing medical debt for an additional 100,000 residents will greatly ease the stress they are facing and will free them up to focus on their health and well-being. Thank you to Governor Lamont and Undue Medical Debt for their leadership on this innovative program.”

Because this debt erasure occurs through the purchase of large, qualifying bundled portfolios of debt from participating partners like hospitals and collection agencies, there is no application process for this relief and it cannot be requested.

Governor Lamont intends to continue partnering with Undue Medical Debt to enact further rounds of medical debt cancellation. The governor and the Connecticut General Assembly enacted legislation that makes $6.5 million in ARPA funding available for this initiative.

Electrical Issues Affect Busy Plaza

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Firefighters were called to Massimo Pizza at 100 Boston Avenue for a report of smoke in the ceiling. Firefighters were able to trace the problem to the utility pole outside, behind the plaza. It affected a number of businesses in the busy plaza.

2025-05-22@4:01pm–#Bridgeport CT

Three Arrested After Loaded Guns and Drugs Found in Vehicle Stop

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On May 20, 2025, Norwalk Police stopped a vehicle near Cudlipp Street and Jacob Street and found the driver, Charles Razor, had a suspended license. Passenger Darius McGee was carrying a loaded Glock 45 with an extended magazine, and a search of the vehicle uncovered another loaded handgun with a defaced serial number, suspected narcotics, and unidentified pills. None of the occupants had a valid pistol permit, and all were taken into custody without incident.

Charles Razor, 26, was charged with Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Weapons in a Motor Vehicle, Alteration of a Serial Number, Operating Under Suspension, and Possession of Narcotics. His bond was set at $250,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court on June 3, 2025.

Darius McGee, 23, was charged with Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Weapons in a Motor Vehicle, Illegal Sale/Purchase of a High-Capacity Magazine, and Possession of Narcotics. His bond was set at $200,000, with a court date of June 3, 2025.

Dasiah Darielle McGee, 23, was charged with Weapons in a Motor Vehicle. Her bond was set at $10,000, and she is also due in court on June 3, 2025.

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