Category: Fairfield

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Firefighters responded to the Carolton Chronic & Convalescent Hospital at 44 Mill Plain Road for a report of smoke in the building. Firefighters discovered a fire in the laundry room and quickly extinguished it without evacuating the 154-room facility.

2025-04-17@6:55pm–#Fairfield CT– ##ctfire

Marking a 40-year commitment to interfaith unity, the Town of Fairfield will commemorate the Holocaust by welcoming survivor Eugene Ginter to speak at its annual Yom Hashoah observance on Wednesday, April 23 at First Church Congregational.

“The members of First Church of Fairfield are grateful for the trust placed in us as the hosts of this event,” said the Rev. Vanessa Rose, senior pastor. “It is the legacy of First Church to be deeply committed to our Jewish friends and neighbors and to work to fight anti-Semitism and foster an inclusive community. We believe that it is critical for Christians to be a part of the movement that bears witness to the atrocities perpetrated in the Holocaust and to join our voices in saying, ‘Never Again.’”

This year’s keynote speaker, Eugene Ginter, will share his personal story of survival, including his liberation from Auschwitz just days before his sixth birthday. Ginter, who was born in Krakow, Poland in early 1939, was forced into a ghetto with his family at the start of World War II. His mother worked in Oscar Schindler’s factory and his father, who could speak perfect German, worked for Amon Goth, the Nazi commandant of the Krakow-Plaszow concentration camp.

“My job was to try to stay alive,” Eugene says.

When the ghetto was being liquidated, children like Eugene were being sent to concentration camps. Eugene’s father, Roman, stepped out of line and asked to die with his son. Together, they were sent to Birkenau and after a harrowing journey, were lined up in front of Dr. Josef Mengele, who sent their group to the gas chamber. As Eugene and Roman were being marched to their death, Mengele learned that the Russians were close and was instructed to halt any more prisoners from entering the gas chambers. Eugene and his father endured the camp together until Roman was deported to Mauthausen, and Eugene, at the tender age of five, was sent on a death march to Auschwitz.

The Fairfield Holocaust Commemoration Committee is chaired by Adele Jacobs, the daughter of two survivors of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps.

“At this time in the world, when Jew hatred has increased by 400%, it has never been more crucial to gather together, and to show that the Town of Fairfield stands against antisemitism,” Jacobs said. “This is not only a critical time to gather and show that we are not indifferent, but it is a wonderful milestone of 40 years standing together with the First Church and our interfaith partners, in solidarity and in love. Please join us and bring your families. We can never be a better example to our children than to stand together against hatred.”

The commemoration will begin at 7:30 PM with a candlelight procession, where volunteers will read the names of Nazi concentration camps. The Fairfield First Selectman’s Office, the Town of Fairfield Police Department, Fairfield County Children’s Choir, and Fairfield Ludlowe High School Chamber Orchestra will be among the many town organizations participating in the ceremony.

This year’s commemoration will begin at 7:30 PM at First Church Congregational, 148 Beach Road, Fairfield.

Three individuals have been arrested in connection with a February 2nd burglary attempt at the Southport Diner in Fairfield, where suspects tried to steal an ATM machine but were ultimately unsuccessful. Fairfield Police responded to the scene and found signs of forced entry and significant damage. The case was turned over to the Detective Bureau for further investigation.

Through an extensive investigation, detectives identified the suspects as Edgar Crespo of Stratford, Donnie James of Bridgeport, and Francisco Ayala of Bridgeport. Investigators linked the group to multiple burglaries across various Connecticut towns. Working with regional task force officers, detectives recovered evidence tying the suspects to the Southport Diner case and obtained arrest warrants.

Crespo and James were each charged with Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Attempt at Larceny in the 3rd Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree. Both were held on $50,000 bonds and given court dates of April 3 and April 4. Ayala was charged with Larceny in the 3rd Degree and Criminal Attempt at Larceny in the 3rd Degree, also held on a $50,000 bond and given a court date of March 24.

Fairfield Police credited the professionalism of their Detective Bureau and thanked the Bridgeport Auto Theft Task Force and Fusion Center for their support. The case highlights the importance of regional collaboration in solving complex property crimes.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Fairfield Police Detective Bureau at (203) 254-4840 or submit an anonymous tip via the Fairfield PD mobile app, by texting “FPDCT” and your message to 847411 (Tip411), or online at fpdct.com/tips.

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Fairfield Police investigate a crash between a car and motorcycle on Black Rock Turnpike at Baros Street. 2 ambulances were dispatched.

2025-04-03@2:00pm–#Fairfield CT

Fairfield, CT, —First Selectman Bill Gerber announced today that the State of Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) has determined that the Town of Fairfield has met the requirements under Section 8-30g of the Connecticut General Statutes for a Certificate of Affordable Housing Project Completion and is entitled to a Moratorium of Applicability. The Moratorium of Applicability will begin on the next publication date of the Connecticut Law Journal, expected to be April 1, 2025, and will remain in effect for a four-year period.

The Town has made steady progress on the number of affordable housing units and submitted its application for a Certificate of Affordable Housing Project Completion on December 18, 2024. The application required proof that at least two percent of Fairfield’s 21,982 housing units, as reported in the 2020 Census, be documented as Affordable Housing Unit Equivalents (439.64 HUE). The application documented 462 HUE.

In the last decade, the Town has:

• Adopted an inclusionary zoning regulation that requires all developments resulting in ten or more dwelling units to set aside not less than ten percent of those units as affordable to persons or households with incomes at or below eighty percent of the area median income. The set-aside requirement is higher (12%) in the transit-oriented development overlay district.
• Established a dedicated Housing Trust Fund, which the Affordable Housing Committee has used to purchase property and make it available for new affordable housing developments.
• Enacted an inclusionary zoning fee of .005% on all new construction and building additions that don’t otherwise contribute to the Town’s affordable housing supply.
• Passed new zoning regulations making it easier to create accessory dwelling units in all residential districts except the Beach District and allowing detached ADUs.
• Utilized CDBG funds to help purchase properties conditioned upon their being affordable for a fixed term.

“Today’s announcement has been a long time in coming and is the culmination of many years of work,” commented Director of Community & Economic Development Mark Barnhart, noting that the Town’s application spanned some 600 pages and included documentation for some two dozen projects.

“While the moratorium represents a significant milestone, we know that it is only temporary, and that our work continues,” Barnhart added. “Further, we know that the need for more attainable housing options has never been greater; but, the good news on both counts is that we have a number of projects already approved or under construction that will allow us to continue to make progress on meeting our housing needs and qualifying for a subsequent moratorium.”

“During the upcoming moratorium, Fairfield can leverage greater control over the size and design of developments,” said First Selectman Bill Gerber. “We have been making steady progress in increasing our affordable housing inventory, mostly by increasing the number of units that are deed-restricted. Our goal is to continue to diversify Fairfield’s housing stock as we recognize the need for more housing choices for Fairfield’s residents.”

Fairfield’s most recent Affordable Housing Plan calls for the Town to explore ways to create “middle housing,” or multi-family developments built on a more modest scale, such as duplexes or triplexes, instead of multi-story apartment buildings. The Town’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity will add more middle housing with two new elevated duplexes at 385 and 402 Quincy Street. This will be the second Habitat project in Fairfield. The first is located at 244 Greenfield Street and is expected to be ready for occupancy in June 2025.

Barnhart noted that a number of pending development applications are considered “grandfathered” and must be considered by Town Plan and Zoning, as they were submitted before the moratorium took effect. Currently, the Town has ten pending applications filed under the State’s Affordable Housing Act. Should any of these applications be constructed, thirty percent of all units would be deed-restricted and available to income-eligible households.

Fairfield, CT – The merchants of Greenfield Hill Commons invite you to their 2nd Annual Egg Hunt, which will take place on Saturday, April 5th, from 10 AM – 11 AM. Bronson the Bunny will kick off the Egg Hunt and be available to take pictures with the kids as well! Additionally, there will be a kid’s craft set-up in the breezeway between Jennifer Butler Designs and BE Chocolat.

Select merchants will also be offering special promotions during and after the egg hunt, including: grab-and-go flowers from Coreen’s Bridge Floral, buy one, get one free off the rack at Jennifer Butler Designs, 20% off your entire purchase from Lexington Home and Garden, and free chocolate and ice cream samples from BE Chocolat.

After the Egg Hunt, beginning at 11:15 AM, BE Chocolat will be offering a kids’ lollipop-making class. Attendees must register in advance; more information is available here.

Greenfield Hill Commons is located at 75 Hillside Road in Fairfield. The Egg Hunt will take place rain or shine.

Report of a downed tree on Black Rock Turnpike between Hemlock and Congress Street. The power is still active in the area.

2025-03-22@8:08pm–#Fairfield CT

First Selectman Bill Gerber announced today that the Town of Fairfield will begin a long-planned replacement of the East Trunk sewer line in May 2025 with an expected project duration of approximately 18 months. Aging sewer lines will be replaced to improve the reliability and efficiency of the Town’s wastewater system, reduce maintenance cost, prevent future disruptions and support development in the Town by providing necessary infrastructure for growth. Two public informational meetings will be held to share important details about the project, primarily affecting residents who live on the following streets: Kenard Street, Kenwood Avenue, Dalewood Avenue, Ash Street and Grasmere Avenue. There will be a staggered schedule of project work so that neighborhood impacts will be limited to shorter time periods of one to three months as work progresses. Impacts may include one way traffic and an on-street parking ban during work hours. “This Capital project is estimated at a total cost of $30.8 million, with $13.5 million funded by the Town, $13.5 million funded by the Water Pollution Control Authority, and the final $3.8 million funded through a state grant. This is a long-deferred but critical improvement to the Town wastewater system,” said Gerber. “Replacing aged sewer pipes will improve flow efficiency, reduce our maintenance costs and avoid disruptive repairs. We delayed this project but the time to modernize the East Trunk line is now.” All residents are invited to attend one of the public information sessions, scheduled for March 20 and March 25.

Meeting 1:
Date: March 20, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM
In Person Location: First Floor Conference Room Independence Hall, 725 Old Post Rd, Fairfield, CT
06824
To Participate on line via Zoom:
 Via Web Browser

o https://zoom.us/j/7250682401
o Meeting Passcode: 123
 From the Zoom app on your computer, phone or tablet:
o Meeting ID: 725 068 2401
o Meeting Passcode: 123
 Via Phone:
o Call (646) 931-3860
o Meeting ID: 725 068 2401
o Meeting Passcode: 123

Meeting 2:
Date: March 25, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: First Floor Conference Room, Independence Hall, 725 Old Post Rd, Fairfield, CT 06824
To Participate on line via Zoom:
 Via Web Browser
o https://zoom.us/j/7250682401
o Meeting Passcode: 123
 From the Zoom app on your computer, phone or tablet:
o Meeting ID: 725 068 2401
o Meeting Passcode: 123
 Via Phone:
o Call (646) 931-3860
o Meeting ID: 725 068 2401
o Meeting Passcode: 123