Author: Stephen Krauchick

Fairfield–A one car accident occurred just before 7:30pm Thursday on Pine Tree Lane.  Apparently a dog inside the van got caught up in the controls of the van  and feet of the driver causing it to crash into a stone wall right in front of and elderly complex on Pine Tree Lane.  The dog may have been distracting the driver for some time.   A Fairfield Police Explorer called police andwas following the van from Home Depot (about 2 miles) thinking it might be a drunk driver since the driver was having trouble staying in his lane.  There were no injuries reported.

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3:14pm–#Fairfield–Police on the way to 2154 Fairfield Beach Road. Home was deemed not safe and posted and defying Chief Felner’s orders (he is on scene) with carpenters performing work on the house.   The house was damaged by Hurricane Irene and apparently condemned unsafe for occupancy.

5:05pm–#Seymour–Police conduct a thorough search of the  Nauguatuck River after passengers of passing train say they saw a red vehicle in the river.  Search suspended at 5:25     According to Assisstant Fire Chief of Seymour James
Smith. Passenger on Waterbury line train thought they saw part of red car in river but firefighters from Beacon Falls and Seymour found nothing.  Special thanks to Tony Spinelli of the Valley Indy Sentinel for the report from the fire department!

11:30am–#Bridgeport–EMTs report the man who was reported to have passed out on the city bus on Main Street simply feel asleep and missed his stop. He is now walking to the mall.

Norwalk—A bank robbery just occured at the TD Bank on Main street near route 7 and 123. Robber threatened he had a gun but no gun seen. Police are looking for a black male 18-25 with scruffy features including scruffy beard red hat black jacket with gloves, baggy pants and white sneakers, Left on foot. He was given money with tear gas and a dye pack.

Despite an overwhelming 79 – 10 percent approval rating for the way he handled the response to Tropical Storm Irene, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy still has a negative 41 – 48 percent overall job approval rating, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.   Read the full Quinnipiac University Poll here….

BRIDGEPORT, CT (September 15, 2011) – Newfield Park in the City’s East End will get a facelift with the addition of a barbecue shelter and a splash pad-children’s play area, funded by the City’s Bridgeport@Work capital improvements plan.
“Newfield Park is the center of recreational activity for the entire East End community, and their friends and relatives. The barbecue shelter will give visitors a place to seek shelter from sun or rain, and the splash pad-children’s play area will give kids a place to cool off on hot summer days,” said Mayor Bill Finch.
 

“The members of the East End NRZ worked together with the City to come up with the additions to this heavily-used park,” said Lillian Wade, president of the East End NRZ.  “We want to thank the Mayor for helping us get this accomplished for our neighborhood.”

“These projects will be a great addition to Newfield Park,” said Councilman James Holloway, D-139. “As the representative for this district, I know how important this park is to the well-being of the neighborhood.”

“Newfield Park is the heartbeat of the East End neighborhood, and is used almost daily, whether people are playing horseshoes, baseball, basketball or walking on the track,” said Ted Meekins, president of the East End Community Council. “With the addition of the barbecue shelter and the splash pad, it will make the park an even more welcoming place for everyone. We want to thank Mayor Finch and Public Works Director Charles Carroll for their assistance and hard work in helping make this happen for our neighborhood.”
Construction on the barbecue shelter is expected to begin this fall and will cost $57,500. It will be installed next to the horseshoe pits and adjacent to the playground. The splash pad construction is slated for Spring 2012, and is estimated to cost approximately $150,000.

To see more BRIDGEPORT@Work projects log on to:

http://bptatwork.tumblr.com/post/10239138356/newfield-park-upgrades-to-include-barbecue-shelter

As we reported LIVE, fire and rescue officials were dispatched at noon today with a report of an overturned kayak and no boater visible from a caller at the lighthouse off Seaside Park.  By 12:15 they had the kayaker on the fire boat who was alert and initially refusing medical treatment.  After coming ashore the man was put in an ambulance and was taken to a local hospital.

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12:00pm–#Bridgeport–Fire department looking for a missing kayaker at Seaside Park near the lighthouse. No visual to the kayaker.  UPDATE–12:12pm–#Bridgeport–Fire Boat One has rescued one man from the water at Seaside Park.  UPDATE–12:30pm–Kayaker is being evaluated by EMTs and being transported to the hospital. He indicated he was OK earlier. Recall of alarm. Great job heroes!

11:50am–#Fairfield–Bicyclist struck on Reef Road. Reef road closed near Bud’s Deli.

12:53am–#Westport #cttraffic I-95 Northbound Wesport police in 80mph pursuit near exit 21 right now….12:58am–UPDATE–I-95 pursuit may be heading back on 95 just struck a patrol car on Bridgeport streets.  1:01am–UPDATE— I-95 pursuit starting in Westport ends on Columbia and Ridge Ave in Bridgeport. One in custody.

As we reported to you live as the story was unfolding, a Bridgeport man lead police on a four town chase ending in a collision with a Westport police car in Bridgeport. Here is the full report from Connecticut Post….read more……

Road construction on Derby Avenue has frustrated drivers and businesses since July.  The state has stopped or slowed work

because of heavy rains.  Hopefully the headaches encountered will be short lived.

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County invites you to join Women Build- our program for Women who want to

learn construction skills and build homes, communities and stronger families.
Women Build brings together women from all walks of life to address the affordable housing crisis facing low-income working women and their children who are living in poverty housing here in affluent Fairfield County. By joining you will make a difference in our community while meeting new friends and learning construction skills!

Women who join Women Build’s W.A.T.C.H. circle become part of a group that has made a special commitment to building homes, communities and stronger families. They participate in special build days and deeply impact our community.

If you don’t have any construction skills, don’t worry! Many women come to Women Build with no construction skills at all. All of the training you need is provided. You can also get involved with Women Build and never enter a construction site. We can use your help in our office at our ReStore or on our event committees.

Please call 203-333-2642 and mention Women Build for more information, or e-mail Eileen Bakos, Women Build Co-Chair. Visit http://habitatcfc.kintera.org/wb to make a donation to Women Build, join the W.A.T.C.H circle, sponsor a W.A.T.C.H. member or help us spread the word about Women Build.

BRIDGEPORT, CT (September 14, 2011) – A nearly five-mile long bike route is being created to link Black Rock with Seaside Park, funded by the City’s Bridgeport@Work capital improvements plan.

Work is underway on the route, which begins at Fairfield Avenue and Gilman, runs along the water and through Black Rock to Park Avenue, ending at Seaside Park.

“This route will link two of our City’s most scenic areas, providing a safer area for bicyclists to traverse the City,” said Mayor Bill Finch. This route is one of a series of paths that will be marked throughout the City to make roads more bicycle-friendly.

“Making our roads more bicycle-friendly will give residents and visitors alike an opportunity to access our beautiful shoreline, and encourage them to spend time both in Black Rock and Seaside Park,” said 130th District Council representatives Susan Brannelly and Martin McCarthy, both of whom were supportive of this project in their district.

The route will be designated as a ‘Shared-Road’ bicycle route for most of its length, and will be marked with signage both on the street and on the pavement. The total project cost is approximately $14, 874.

To see more BRIDGEPORT@Work projects log on to: http://bptatwork.tumblr.com/

See below for detailed route information.

The proposed route will be aligned along the following roads:

From Fairfield Avenue, Gilman Street to Balmforth Street, Gilman Street becomes Eames Boulevard;
Continue along Eames Boulevard to Old Battery Road, Eames Boulevard becomes Grovers Avenue;
Continue on Grovers Avenue to Brewster Street;
Turn right onto Brewster Street to Ellsworth Street;
Turn left onto Ellsworth Street to Prescott Street;
Turn right onto Prescott Street to Harbor Avenue;
Turn left onto Harbor Avenue and a quick left onto Yacht Street to Saint Stephens Street;
Turn left onto Saint Stephens Street to Wordin Avenue;
Turn right onto Wordin Avenue to Bostwick Avenue;
Turn left onto Bostwick Avenue to Railroad Avenue;
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue to Park Avenue; and
Turn right onto Park Avenue to Seaside Park

http://bptatwork.tumblr.com/private/10208508121/tumblr_lrj0tioTeh1qkci4e