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The City of Bridgeport to Begin Black Rock Streetscape Project

The City of Bridgeport has set out to begin the first parts of construction in the Black Rock area, known as the Black Rock Streetscape Project. The project will focus on improvements to two sections of Fairfield Ave which consists of the intersection of Fairfield Ave and Brewster Street and median improvements at the entry from the Town of Fairfield.

“While it is great to see this project finally moving forward – many years after former State Rep. Auden Grogins helped secure the funding – it is just the first step in making Fairfield Avenue safer,” said State Rep. Steve Stafstrom (D-Bridgeport). “‘The Ave,’ as we call it, is Black Rock’s lifeblood and one of Bridgeport’s premier entertainment destinations. I am also working with the Connecticut Department of Transportation on long-overdue pedestrian crosswalk upgrades, better access to the train station and have secured funding to study more extensive long-term upgrades, such as a ‘road diet’ and/or diverting overflow traffic from I-95 off Fairfield Avenue.”

Specific improvements being made to the two sections of Fairfield Ave include construction of new sidewalks, construction of bump-outs at the crosswalk area of Fairfield Ave and Brewster Street, installation of new stamped concrete crosswalks, installation of new bus shelters, installation of new trash receptacles, and upgrading of pedestrian walk signals to provide a time-left-to-cross countdown. Improvements will also include the installation of decorative stamped median at grade and installation of new plantings and landscaping within the raised median at the entry from the Town of Fairfield.

Mayor Ganim stated, “It’s very exciting to see this project come to fruition and be known as one of the many improvements we’re making within the City. I’m sure the Black Rock community will deeply appreciate the final product of this project, as the safety of our residents is paramount; specifically, regarding traffic and pedestrian safety. We hope that the streetscape construction can continue to add to the many safety initiatives we’re implementing in the City and can, in turn, make an improvement on the quality of life in Bridgeport.”

The project is set to take place from October 2023 and run into the Spring season of 2024. All improvements will be made to improve pedestrian safety, to slow vehicular traffic, to enhance the public transportation experience, and to invest in the streetscape aesthetics of the Black Rock Village commercial district.

STRATFORD HOSTS INAUGURAL VETERANS DAY PARADE

Saturday, November 11, 2023

STRATFORD- The Town of Stratford and the Marine Corps League Housatonic Detachment #1129 are pleased to announce the inaugural Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 11th.

The parade steps off at 10am from Stratford Town Hall, traveling south on Main Street. The parade will conclude at the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Academy Hill, which is hosted by Stratford’s VFW Post 9460.

“On Veterans Day we take time to honor and celebrate the sacrifices and contributions of all who served our country in the military and their families,” said Mayor Laura R. Hoydick, who will serve as Parade Marshal. “The Town is privileged to host this inaugural parade. Please join us as we salute our local heroes.”

Veterans from Stratford and neighboring communities will participate in the parade route. Community and civic organizations are also invited to participate, whether it be marching in the parade or cheering on the sidelines of the parade route. This Celebrate Stratford event is sponsored by Teamsters Local #1150 and Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Company and Burns Construction.

Please note: Main Street will be closed from Barnum Avenue to Academy Hill from 9:30am to 11:30am. St. James Church is hosting its annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 11th. Folks attending Veterans Day activities should refrain from parking in the St. James parking lots and on Broad Street. Stratford Police Officers will allow participants of the St. James event to access Main Street, if necessary.

Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident

On October 21, 2023, at 4:46 PM, multiple calls flooded Norwalk Combined Dispatch, urgently requesting assistance at the intersection of Grist Mill Road and the Route 7 connector due to a reported single motor vehicle accident. Tragically, this incident claimed the life of the vehicle’s sole occupant and operator.

Swiftly responding to the distress calls, the Norwalk Police, Norwalk Fire Department, and Norwalk Hospital Emergency Medical Service were dispatched to the accident site. Upon arrival, the responding officers discovered the vehicle situated in an embankment area off the roadway. Their immediate efforts were directed toward safely extricating the operator from the wreckage. Regrettably, the operator, identified as Joshua Chapman, 37, from Naugatuck, did not survive the accident, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene by Norwalk Hospital Emergency Medical Service personnel.

As authorities diligently investigate this tragic accident, they encourage anyone who possesses information relevant to the incident to come forward. Officer Taylor Equi can be reached for this purpose either by phone at 203-854-3051 or by email at tequi@norwalkct.gov. Furthermore, individuals can also contribute information anonymously through various channels, such as the Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111, the Norwalk Police website at www.norwalkpd.com, or via text messages by entering “NORWALKPD” in the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to TIP411 (847411).

Westport Police to Participate in DEA Prescription Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, the Westport Police Department will again partner with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for the twenty-fifth National Prescription Drug Take Back Day along with community partners at the Aspetuck Health District and Westport Together. The event will be held at the Aspetuck Health District located at 180 Bayberry Lane, Westport.

According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), most people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that last year, more than 93,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States, marking the largest number of drug-related deaths ever recorded in a year.

In the words of DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, “Take Back Day is a critical effort to curb the historic surge in U.S. overdoses. We know prevention starts at home. The simple step of clearing out medications that are no longer needed makes our homes safer, prevents prescription drug misuse, and, ultimately, can help save lives.” In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,300 tons of medication from circulation since its inception. Please join the Westport Police Department in doing our part to help continue the success of this vital initiative. Please note that collection sites cannot accept illicit drugs, needles, or sharps, only pills or patches. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. Vape pens where the batteries can be removed can be disposed of at the drug take back. Vape pens where batteries cannot be removed will not be accepted at the drug take back. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Residents are also reminded that a year-round collection bin is installed in the lobby of Westport police headquarters, where prescription drugs can be properly disposed of at any time rather than waiting for designated collection dates.

Senator Gaston Welcomes Over $1 Million To Support Tutoring In Bridgeport Schools

State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston has welcomed the allocation of $1,070,514 in funding to Bridgeport-based schools to enhance tutoring services and boost student outcomes, particularly in mathematics. This funding is part of the state’s High-Dosage Tutoring Program, aiming to provide additional educational opportunities and bridge educational disparities throughout Connecticut.

The primary focus of this funding is to improve mathematics proficiency among middle and high school students. In response to state data indicating the need for progress in mathematics education, these funds will support in-person tutoring, which has proven to be the most effective way to address learning gaps. Schools in Bridgeport will utilize these funds to integrate or expand in-person tutoring during school hours, starting in January 2024. The state will also oversee the effectiveness of this tutoring to guide other school districts in effectively supporting their students.

State Senator Gaston expressed gratitude to the State Department of Education for their investment in the education system, emphasizing the importance of providing additional support to students who require assistance in math, thus enhancing their educational experience.

CONNECTICUT LEADS $20 MILLION MULTISTATE SETTLEMENT WITH ACI WORLDWIDE OVER UNAUTHORIZED WITHDRAWALS

Connecticut, alongside a coalition of 50 states and territories, has reached a $20 million settlement with payment processor ACI Worldwide. This settlement stems from a 2021 testing error by ACI, which led to the unauthorized withdrawal of $2.3 billion from Nationstar Mortgage (also known as Mr. Cooper) customers. In Connecticut, the state will receive $558,740 from this settlement, which includes a $220,000 additional payment due to the state’s leadership role in the multistate, multi-agency action.

The violations occurred on April 23, 2021, when ACI Payments erroneously used live customer data during a test of its Speedpay platform, leading to unexpected and sometimes multiple mortgage payments being withdrawn from customer accounts. In some cases, this exposed consumers to overdraft or insufficient funds fees. While the majority of withdrawals didn’t go through, 1.4 million transactions totaling $2.3 billion were processed, affecting 480,000 Mr. Cooper customers, including 7,136 consumers in Connecticut. The settlement mandates ACI to use artificially created data for testing systems or software, separate testing and development from consumer systems, and undergo regular reporting for two years to ensure compliance.

This multistate settlement aims to protect consumers and ensure that such errors are not repeated, and it has been applauded by Attorney General Tong and Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez. Impacted consumers have already received compensation through a separate class-action settlement. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also issued a $25 million penalty and consent order against ACI, further committing the company to consumer safeguards.

GOVERNOR LAMONT AND COMMISSIONER RUSSELL-TUCKER ANNOUNCE THE LEAP EFFECT: A SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO BOOSTING STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND ENGAGEMENT

Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker have unveiled a comprehensive report, titled “The LEAP Effect: Taking A Systemic Approach to Improving Attendance & Engagement.” The report showcases the success of Connecticut’s Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP), an effective student intervention program. LEAP focuses on building trust with families, removing attendance barriers, and reengaging students in school through home visits and check-ins. It emphasizes community partnerships and collaborative efforts to address chronic absenteeism by visiting families and identifying solutions that involve both schools and the community.

The report highlights that LEAP is succeeding as part of a comprehensive system of attendance support, reinforcing the importance of a unified approach. Hedy Chang, Executive Director of Attendance Works, notes that home visits by trusted adults who act as allies for students and their families are essential in encouraging school attendance, especially during uncertain times. LEAP was launched in early 2021 to reengage students and families in schools during the late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was developed collaboratively with Connecticut’s Regional Educational Service Center (RESC) Alliance, involving partnerships with Attendance Works, the Parent Teacher Home Visiting initiative, and organizations like Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) and EdAdvance.

The LEAP Effect report offers insights into the LEAP home visiting model’s core components, the program’s support structure, and its funding approach. A comprehensive evaluation of LEAP underscores its positive impact on students and families, improving school attendance and enhancing relationships and connections between schools and families.

Stratford Library Workshop on November 6″Surprise Photos with Your Cell Phone”

The Stratford Library will present a special photo workshop on Monday, November 6 at 7 pm. Stratford’s Dee Hiatt, whose current exhibit “The Cell Photo Photo Project” is currently on display at

the Library, will host the workshop entitled “Surprise Photos with Your Cell Phone”. It is free and open to the public. Participants are invited to bring their cell phone and learn how to: look at

surroundings slowly and calmly, wait to take a photo until you are intrigued by something, editing the photo, if necessary, while keeping the honesty of what you photographed and sharing your photos

with others.

The “Surprise Photos with Your Cell Phone” workshop will be held in the Stratford Library Board Room (lower level) from 7-8 pm on November 6.

For further information call the Library at: 203.385.4162.

23-YEAR-OLD JAYDEN I. ROBERTSON ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT IN THE FIRST DEGREE WITH A FIREARM AND RISK OF INJURY TO A CHILD

On July 23, 2023, at approximately 11:00 pm ShotSpotter alerted to (16) rounds discharged within the 300 block of Orchard Street and another (4) rounds discharged within the 300 block of Spring St. A few minutes later the Bridgeport Police Emergency Operations Center received reports of a person shot in the ear within the 200 block of Orchard Street. Police and medics responded to the area and located an 8-year-old child suffering from an injury to his ear. The victim and his mother were transported to an area hospital where the 8-year-old child was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the ear. The mother was uninjured. Both were visiting family residing on the eastside of Bridgeport when they overheard multiple gunshots and realized the child was injured. The family was visiting from central NY state.

The Bridgeport Police Department’s Detective Bureau responded and took charge of the investigation. Chief of Police Roderick Porter has made it exceedingly clear that the Bridgeport Police Department will not tolerate gun violence in the community we serve. In early October 2023, Detective Jeff Holtz and Detective Keith Hanson became the lead investigators for this shooting. They promptly developed their first suspect. That suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Jayden I. Robertson of Bridgeport CT.

On October 12, 2023, Jayden I. Robertson was arrested by members of the Bridgeport Police Task Force in connection with a separate narcotics investigation on Orchard Street. That narcotics investigation came under the direct supervision of Bridgeport Police Sergeant Michael Paoletti. Robertson remains in custody with the CT Department of Corrections.

A habeas corpus petition was filed with the court on October 16, 2023. On October 17, 2023, Jayden I. Roberston was arrested and charged for the July 23, 2023, Orchard Street shooting of an 8-year-old child. The charges are Assault in the 1^st Degree with a Firearm, Carrying a Pistol without a Permit, Illegal Discharge of a Firearm, and Risk of Injury to a Child. Robertson was given a $200,000 bond and will be arraigned in Fairfield County Superior Court today.

This is an open/active investigation and additional arrests are expected. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the case officer, Homicide Detective Keith Hanson, at 203 581-5243.

Westport Police Investigate Shots Fired Requesting Public Assistance

On October 6, an arrest was made in connection to the shots fired incident that occurred on July 11 in Saugatuck. The arrested individual is a 17-year-old juvenile from Stratford, who was already incarcerated at Manson Youth Institute due to a prior arrest by a different agency. The apprehension followed an extensive investigation conducted by the Detective Bureau, involving multiple interviews and search warrants. The charges brought against the juvenile include Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, Reckless Endangerment 1st, Conspiracy to Commit Reckless Endangerment 1st, Breach of Peace, and Conspiracy to Commit Breach of Peace. A court appearance at Bridgeport Juvenile Court is scheduled for October 13, and it is anticipated that additional arrests may follow.

The incident on July 11, 2023, took place around 9:48 PM when the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center received numerous 911 calls regarding shots fired in the vicinity of Saugatuck Avenue and Franklin Street. In response, patrol units were dispatched promptly to the scene. Initial investigations revealed that witnesses observed a nondescript white vehicle traveling north on Franklin Street, then north on Saugatuck Avenue, and subsequently turning west on Sunrise Road. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots being fired from the vehicle as it made the turn onto Sunrise Road. To facilitate the ongoing investigation, the Westport Police encourage residents in the area to review their surveillance cameras and report any suspicious activity they might have captured to the Westport Detective Bureau at (203) 341-6080, the tip line (203) 520-3831, or directly to Detective John Lauria at dlauria@westportct.gov.