Author: Stephen Krauchick

Facing a sometimes restrained, sometimes frustrated crowd, Mayor Bill Finch addressed a jam-packed audience Wednesday night at the Black Rock Library Branch to explain why he must raise taxes. He established his priority right out of the box: his comments chastising neighborhood residents to stop complaining about high taxes were taken out of context.  Here is the report we filed in with Lennie Grimaldi’s Only In Bridgeport-  Read full story……

Just before 11pm Tuesday night firefighters were called to 1895 Reservoir Ave. for a fully involved structure fire. Firefighters found heavy fire on the Delta or right side of the building. The firefighters quickly learned from neighbors that the house was empty for a couple of months now but were uncertain if vagrants might have been inside. A primary and secondary search proved negative. Firefighters did encounter a partial floor collapse and they shifted to a more defensive attack of the fire. There were no injuries to any firefighters and the fire remains under investigation.

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12:11pm–#Bridgeport–Motorcyclist hit by car-1700 block of Boston Ave.

11:02pm–#Bridgeport–Use extreme caution in the 1000 block of Capital Ave. Two black males, one tall the other heavy set armed with a gun robbed two Hispanic males at gun point taking $50 dollar on Sampson Street. Another armed robbery by a pair matching the same description just robbed a woman of her cell phone near 1090 Capital Ave.

10:24pm–#Bridgeport #nakedwoman– Woman undressing in the street at Pequonnock Street and Jones Ave.

10:12pm–#Bridgeport–Street robbery just occurred on Shelton Street by three teens, two black one white, one wearing pajamas. Robbed the victim of two pizzas and $40 cash, not certain if it was a pizza delivery person. NO weapons were displayed.

9:28pm–#Bridgeport–2 big accidents–Child struck by car on her scooter on Terrace Circle (off Trumbull Ave.) and a multi-car with injuries at Main and Old Town.

Emotions ran high at a rally to close the L&A Billiards on Stratford Avenue Monday night. A rally which started out at the Ralphola Taylor Community Center had emotions running high as family members lashed out at owners David Ellerby and Andrea Medley. It has been a year since Carlos Broadnax was gunned down outside the pool hall. Eneida Martinez-Walker lead about two dozen locals in a rally to close down the pool hall. David Ellerby thought this was unnecessary, all they had to do was contact him and let them know his concerns. Emotions spilled out once again once the rally moved to the pool hall. Concerns from councilmen of people under the influence of drugs and alcohol as school children walked past the establishment to get to Tisdale School down the street. After a homicide last March the pool hall has been closed by health inspectors after a leaky pipe has been found in the basement. The pipe has been fixed according to Ellerby and is awaiting re inspection.

A major brush fire erupted on Schoolhouse Road shortly after 6pm Monday as red flag conditions continue for the area. A red flag warning means the air is extremely dry, coupled with very dry ground conditions. It appears that most of the fire has been burning itself out but it is spread out over a very large area. I was able to see the fire from downtown Bridgeport and tracked it from the billowing smoke. Mutual aid from all over has been assisting Milford Fire Department as they continue to battle the flames.

Just before 12:00pm Monday afternoon firefighters responded to a fire at 97 Lincoln Avenue. Initial reports indicated there may have been people trapped in the basement but when fire fighters arrived all occupants were out of the building. Primary and secondary searches confirmed this. Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Martin told us that there is a lot of damage throughout the house and that the occupants will need to be relocated. There were no injuries to tenants or firefighters. The fire marshal was called to the scene to investigate.

Brian Francis has to work tomorrow and his usual routine is to stop in at ShopRite on the Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield for a salad and icies. This time however, ShopRite was closed for Easter Sunday, but someone forgot to lock the doors. Brian walked up and down the aisles, saw carts in the aisles and just figured it was Easter and everyone was taking their time. It was when he got to the checkout when he realized something was wrong. He was concerned that maybe there was a robbery or something. He exited the store, propped the door open with a trash can and called police. Police checked the building and everything check out ok. A key holder was called to the store to lock up.

Wallace, whose pitiless, prosecutorial style transformed television journalism and made “60 Minutes” compulsively watchable, died Saturday night at a care facility in New Canaan, Conn., where he had lived in recent years, CBS spokesman Kevin Tedesco said. He was 93. Read full story……..

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2:45am–#Easton–Structure fire quickly extinguished by firefighters at 305 Sport Hill Road. When we arrived the fire was knocked down and firefighters were removing siding from the front of the house looking for extension.

1:14am–#Monroe–#ctfireReport of a fire on Robin Lane. Heavy fire showing. Shelton called for rapid intervention. UPDATE–1:26am- White Hills providing a full assignment and Shelton providing mutual aid to fire on Robin Lane in Monroe. UPDATE– 2:45–Bulk of the fire was knocked down by 2:45am–3:05am they said they were overhauling the fire and will be releasing units shortly

10:58pm–#Bridgeport–Police are investigating a strong armed robbery on Truman Street. Two black males in hoodies with a gun held up a woman, she offered here purse but they didn’t take it, last seen fleeing on foot towards Park Ave.

9:48pm–#Bridgeport–Single car accident at 25 Island Brook Ave. Woman hits a wall in front of Bud’s Towing.

6:07pm-#Bridgeport–Food burning on the stove is the reason fire department was at the 200 block of Palisades Avenue.

2:29am–#Bridgeport–Wake Up Mill Hill! Car fire on Remington Street. Here come the fire trucks to wake you! Happy Easter!

2:09am–#New Haven–A man walked in to Yale New Haven Hospital with gunshot wound. No word what part of town he was shot at, police are investigating.

1:50pm–#Bridgeport–2 ambulances requested to the club at East Main and Maple Street after police break up a fight at the club.

12:00am–#Fairfield–Major fire averted at pavilion at South Benson Road. Fire department quickly extinguished a trash can fire that scorched the railing and roof of the pavilion. Fire was intentionally set police are now investigating.

11:02pm–#Bridgeport–If you see a woman walking with an IV in her arm in the St. Vincent Hospital area please call police, she’s wanted back in the emergency room.

Last week Archbishop William Lori, the former Bishop of Bridgeport was at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard to pay final tribute to his driver who passed earlier this year. I asked him his biggest challenges and biggest accomplishments in the eleven years he served. I also asked him if he foresees women clergy. Some of his answers will surprise you! He also gives a goodbye message to parishioners.