Author: Stephen Krauchick

I had a personal appointment in Brookfield today and my GPS took me there the way of Route 58 through Redding and Bethel.  Cleaning up the debris of fallen tree branches from the ice storm last month is still a reality for these towns.    On November 2nd Bridgeport sent mutual aid support to Bethel providing one payloader, two dump trucks, a 40-yard dumpster and a two-person chainsaw crew, for a total of six crew members who spent the week clearing roads.   “While the City of Bridgeport was spared the brunt of this weekend’s nor’easter, some of our neighboring towns, like Bethel, were not so fortunate. We’re happy to lend a hand and provide their town with resources to aid in their clean-up. In the days following the tornado last year, and more recently, after Hurricane Irene, our neighbors were kind enough to help us, so we’re happy to return the favor,” said Mayor Bill Finch.

What is a distant bad memory for many in our area is still very real for many in Bethel and Redding.  The roads are lined with these reminders of branches at the side of the road waiting to be collected.

I encountered one minor delay as road crews worked a portion of the road.  Although the power has been restored downed telephone lines were still seen, probably forgotten land lines no longer used.

A new low of lows.  The plaques — which were on a large memorial dedicated in Witek’s honor on May 29, 1999 — were apparently stolen sometime between late Monday and Tuesday morning.

Williamson, 75, put the value of the plaques in the neighborhood of $10,000. He assumed someone stole them with the intent of selling them for scrap metal. He hopes any scrap metal merchant will realize the items are stolen, given the inscription which details Witek’s extraordinary actions during World War II.

Read full story and see additional photos Valley Indy Sentinel

A twenty year old driver and her 18 year old male passenger escaped injury during a rollover accident on Hoydens Hill Lane shortly after 8:15pm Monday night. In the video you can see the accident occurred just before the stop sign at Morehouse Highway. Details are sketchy at the time of this posting but it appears the 20 year old female driver was being questioned by police. Hoyden’s Hill and Hoyden’s Lane is a steep, sometimes winding road. Fairfield’s Planning Zoning Commission recently approved two ballparks to built in the area that will increase traffic on these roads.

An extensive search of the Housatonic River for a missing boater has been suspended for the night. Around 10:30 Monday morning a seventy five year old Woodbridge man who rented out a scull from the New Haven Rowing Club. The boat was found capsized and a search from began with mutual aid from many area towns after the boat was not returned after 2pm. His car remains parked at the rowing club parking lot. The search was suspended after 8:30pm and will resume on Tuesday.

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Housatonic Boater Update:  Authorities do no believe Richard Fiske, 75 of Woodbridge, who’s boat (scull) was found overturned survived the night and went from rescue to recovery efforts.   The search turned up nothing today and was suspended for the night.  Efforts will continue on Wednesday.

11:19am–#Bridgeport–Police and fire department on scene at Colorado Avenue investigating a death. If we get details on this of course I will post it.

10:50am–#Milford–Fire department on scene at 51 Davids Drive for a house fire. Bulk of the fire has been knocked down.

12:31am–#Bridgeport–Strange EMT calls tonight. They are on their way to Marina Village for a patient that had a IV line left in her arm during a hospital visit today and it needs to be removed due to bleeding….ya think?  You followed this as we reported it live!

11:49pm–#Bridgeport–If you cut your arm while slicing tomatoes do you: 1. Call 911 2. Apply pressure to the wound and wait for ambulance to arrive 3. Call 911 then walk to the hospital? Tonight’s answer is #3…..oh the challenges our EMTs have! They are still tying to locate him on his way to the hospital!  You followed this as we reported it live!

Stratford–Suspect wanted and tracked on Ferry Boulevard was wanted by CT State Police on motor vehicle charges. He went into the marsh after bailing out at the Sunoco gas station. He dropped a backpack with 2 bricks of cocaine near one of the docks. Special thanks to Jim McGuire for this info!  You followed this as we reported it live!

5:25pm–Housatonic Boater Seach Update: Fairfield’s helicopter has been assisting in the search, DEP reports search is still on. The boat was signed out at the New Haven Rowing Club earlier this morning.
2:47pm––UPDATE–#Stratford fire rescue boats called to #Shelton to aid in search of overturned boat just before the falls in Derby. This occurred around 10pm today, Shelton and Derby aiding in the search, and Sikorsky called in as well. They are not certain if anyone/thing went over the dam. Boat owner’s car was found in Oxford.
2:20pm–#Shelton–A capsized boat was found in the Housatonic River. Not sure if anyone was aboard an search is under way with help from surround towns.You followed this as we reported it live!

2am–#Trumbull–Oil Spill at 20 Hyde Terrace Santa Fuel made an earlier delivery and reported a four inch spill in the home. Home owner just arrived home.You followed this as we reported it live!

Shortly after 11pm on Sunday night a Kia SUV hit a parked Jeep and rolled over.  Witnesses tell us the driver of the Kia suffered head injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

Early on Saturday I posted on DoingItLocal.com’s Facebook and Twitter pages that today was Small Business

Saturday, an small business campaign launched by American Express this year. Many of you were strongly in favor of the concept. Margie Rosten commented that the 3 local merchants she visited had never heard of it; I guess they don’t take American Express!

Small Business Saturday is nothing new to Spector Furniture and Home Décor in Ansonia. They have been bringing local vendors together inside their store for a couple years for their annual Holiday Gift Boutique. I had to head up to the valley for my mother’s birthday so I figured I would mix a little business with pleasure and quickly stop by. My wife and I had such a good time talking with everyone we were a half hour late for the party!

Howie Spector greeted us at the door with a warm smile. I introduced myself and received permission to take photos in the store, he recommends I speak to Robin who was coordinating the event. I place my camera bag on a

table getting ready to set up my equipment when Mary Jane Paris of Positiv*A*Tea greets us with a warm cup of her special blend of one of her great teas. It was a special treat to hear her explain how excited she was about her product I’ll probably write an article on her at a later time, she has a great story!

I could go on and on about how great each and every vendor was. It was such a refreshing change from dealing with the big box stores. Don’t get me wrong, there are good employees at the big box store but there is a huge difference with the small business where you are more than likely dealing with the owner himself.

The Holiday Gift Boutique continues again today. I highly recommend the visit. Spector Furniture is located at 285 Main Street and will run from 10am to 4pm. Each of these unique vendors will contribute to the gift basket that customers can take a FREE chance to win. What a holiday gift that would be!

Spector Furniture has been serving the valley for four generations, furnishing homes since 1980. Wow, how many businesses can say that?

 

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6:38pm–West Haven–Armed Robbery Update–931 Boston Post Road, dvanced Auto Parts Store, $300 was taken at gunpoint. Police are looking for a black male wearing a grey coat silver handgun along with a black female in a purple jacket.

 

2:45am–Stratford–Route 130–Main Street in front of Mr P’s a pedestrian has been struck by a car.

DANBURY: Carbon Monoxide incident at Ethan Allen Inn. High readings – 2 being treated by EMS with symptoms. Building evacuated.

RT @FiresinCT New Haven, 245 Whalley Ave. Whalley Correctional Facility, fire in a cell, heavy smoke condition

9:07pm–#Milford–A carjacking just occurred in the parking lot of Lowes in Milford. Police are looking for a gray Saturn Ion CT registration 992 YMG. A black male threw a woman out of the car.

7:08pm–#Fairfield–Create your own retail specials–Rite Aid at 1619 Post Road Black a Hispanic male 5’8″ in a Northface jacket, shirt and tie took a 14″ TV and walked out of the store without paying.

7:03pm–#Easton– Report of shots fired at Wilson and Beers St. Caller said he heard four shots in the area.

3:44pm–#Stratford–Heavy police activity on Stratford Ave near Waterman St. Numerous 911 calls about three black males one with a gun.

1:50pm–#Easton #cttraffic–Motorcycle/car accident on Route 136 and Redding Road. Cyclist has broken bones and head injury.

2:48am–Main Street near Stratford Avenue by the old old Mr. P’s remains closed as police investigate a pedestrian accident which sent one person to Bridgeport Hospital early Saturday morning. The victim remains in critical condition    Police have not released the victims identity nor have they released any official information at this time. The road was strewn with evidence markers and a vehicle with heavy front end damage was tagged as evidence as well.  We are told one person is in custody.  We will of course pass on any new information as it becomes available. Special thanks to Donna Caporaso for providing these pictures.

Earlier today I stopped at Best Buy in Norwalk to interview the hardcore shoppers giving up their Thanksgiving to wait in line. At noon there were about 20 people in line. The store opens at midnight and the first in line got there at 7am., most were waiting for a television. They were aware from the fine print in the flyer that there were only 10 available and someone in line was wouldn’t be going home happy.

I haven’t been to a door buster sale since I worked them when I worked at Caldor almost 20 years ago. I worked at the headquarters but the day after Thanksgiving all executives working the headquarters were required to work a store in the northeast. Tonight I took my 17 year old son with me because he is my computer consultant and he has never been to such a sale so I knew it would be memorable no matter the outcome. I posted this on my personal Facebook page, some warned us it probably won’t be a good memory, and others protested they didn’t think it was fair to employees to make them work the hours.

We arrived at the store at 11:40pm and the line stretched all the way around the building. It was difficult to estimate how many were in line but there were several hundred to say the least. The line moved quite quickly, we got in line at the very end and were inside within ten minutes. There were two Norwalk Police Officers that were stationed outside the front doors and they were there since 10pm to ensure order. They were firm but very friendly. Line cutters were not to be tolerated, inside the store was another story; they sure could have used enforcement inside. Once inside the store it was wall to wall people, you couldn’t move without bumping into someone. Getting from one place to another was a challenge. .

So my son and I ventured inside trying to find the computer we had in mind. It was a bundled unit that came with monitor, printer and computer all in one big box, not something you were going to hide under your jacket. Items like the TVs, X-Boxes and other high demand items were stacked at the front of the store in the aisles. I’m not sure why our item wasn’t displayed this way as well.

The item we wanted was at the very back of the store and we had to wait in a line that snaked in the aisles of the computer department; openings were blocked with merchandise or large carts. We really felt like cattle in the slaughter line, at times feeling claustrophobic, but hey, that’s part of the experience, right? We waited in line for over an hour, dealing with line cutters, loud alarms going off, and the kid five feet from us blasting his music on his cell phone’s tinny speakers were starting to take its toll on my nerves. Speaking of nerves I did get nervous when I noticed we were at the very back of the store with a sea of people in front of us hoping no emergency takes place. We were confined in line not with the ribbon stanchions you see at banks or theatres but the physical merchandise shelves. As a reporter I am often in large public gatherings and I think this was the first time I was a little nervous for my safety in the case something happened.

I knew the item I wanted was limited to five per store since it was clearly posted in the online circular. I was willing to gamble that not too many were in line for a quad core five hundred dollar computer. After the hour in line we finally saw a manager I guess was pre-writing the orders those in line were waiting for. That’s when we found out we needed a ticket for our sale item. There were no signs anywhere, not in the flyer or any where in the store indicating that we needed the ticket. He said I had to be  in line this morning to get said ticket. So my son and I wasted an hour but grew an appreciation for the Occupy Movement, not for corporate greed but for corporate insensitivity for not taking care of the customer. I told my son not to be disappointed coming home empty handed if they went through the five per store but not on a technicality of something like this!

I think back to those waiting in line for over seventeen hours for the TVs, if they paid themselves five dollars each hour they waited in line they could have paid full retail for the TV and enjoyed their Thanksgiving! It also gave me a greater appreciation for the smaller stores like Marsillio’s in Fairfield or Mudrick in Stratford; they purchase as a group to give competitive prices to these big box stores and they would never ever treat their customers like this– but they don’t sell computers!

Tonight also reminds me of a post on Facebook that says “If you really want to occupy Wall Street do all of you’re shopping at a local business”. Tonight Marsillios posted on Facebook their sale–19″ LED TV’s for $139.00 a 32″ LCD TV’s: $197.00 while supplies last, no mention of a ticket but I seriously doubt you will need one!