Emmeline Harrigan Appointed as Town of Fairfield Plan and Zoning Director

The Town of Fairfield is pleased to announce that Emmeline Harrigan has been appointed Director of Town Plan and Zoning, the Town’s land use agency, effective April 1. With Plan and Zoning Director Jim Wendt’s announcement of his retirement, the Town Plan and Zoning Commission (TPZ) appointed Harrigan to serve as Director of Town Plan and Zoning at their meeting on March 11. The appointment was subsequently approved by First Selectman Bill Gerber.

Harrigan has served the Town as assistant planning director for the past eight years. She has more than 25 years of planning experience, with a master’s degree in Urban Planning from UCLA. She is a certified Planner and Floodplain Manager. While in Fairfield, she has worked on the Town’s Transit-Oriented Development Plan, the Post Road Circle Safety Plan, and the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, as well as coordinating the revisions to the Plan of Conservation and Development. As a Floodplain Administrator for two Connecticut coastal communities, she has ensured continued compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program, increased resiliency through participation in the Community Rating System, and has applied and processed grant applications with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She is the current president of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, as well as a past president of the CT Association of Flood Managers.

First Selectman Bill Gerber said, “Emmeline Harrigan is an excellent choice to lead the Town Plan and Zoning Department as its new director. She has worked closely with Jim Wendt for years and is extremely qualified. Her professional stature and experience will be invaluable to the Town as we grow into the future.”

New York Times Editors’ Choice Author Reverend Lynn Casteel Harper to Speak at Quick Center, March 17

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (March 4, 2025) — Fairfield University’s College of Arts and Sciences Master of Fine Arts program will host a lecture by Reverend Lynn Casteel Harper, essayist, minister, and chaplain, on Monday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Quick Center for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public.

Harper’s On Vanishing: Mortality, Dementia, and What it Means to Disappear is a New York Times Book Editors’ Choice selection that weaves together intimate reflections on her own family’s history with dementia. She also draws on her work as a pastor and nursing home chaplain, as well as scientific, medical, and historical perspectives on the disease. During the event, she will converse with National Book Award-winning author and Fairfield Professor Phil Klay.

In addition to being a New York Times Editors’ Choice, On Vanishing was a Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle selection for 2021 and was featured on the Gold Foundation’s 2021 Reading List for Compassionate Clinicians. Harper’s works have appeared in Kenyon Review Online, Salon, The Paris Review, North American Review, The Christian Science Monitor, NPR’s Think, The Sun Magazine, and more. She is a recipient of the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund grant and was awarded the 2017 Orison Anthology Award in Nonfiction.

This evening at Fairfield with Reverend Lynn Casteel Harper is part of the Inspired Writers Series, which serves as a companion to the MFA in Creative Writing program, offering engaging discussions with top authors. Designed to inform, inspire, and entertain, the series provides invaluable insight for writers while welcoming all participants into thought-provoking literary conversations.

Register to attend the March 17 event with Reverend Lynn Casteel Harper at quickcenter.com. This event is free and open to the public.

Women Lead the Way in Habitat CFC’s Weekend Build: Celebrating International Women’s Day

BRIDGEPORT, CT – Join Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (Habitat CFC) Women Build volunteers on International Women’s Day as they assist construction staff on a build site in Fairfield. Volunteers with varying skill levels and backgrounds will join in support of Habitat’s mission and in celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day.

The volunteer construction activity will take place at 240-246 Greenfield Street, Fairfield, CT, with parking available in the adjacent parking lot, on March 8, 2025, from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. Most construction efforts will take place in the morning, before the noon lunch break. Sponsored by ASML, the volunteer group will include volunteers from various corporate neighbors and committed community members (both men and women).

Carolyn Vermont, CEO of Habitat CFC, stated, “Women Build is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together with purpose and determination. International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate exactly that—the strength, skill, and leadership of women who are making a great impact in our Coastal Fairfield County community. Whether picking up a hammer for the first time or bringing years of experience, every volunteer plays a role in our mission to address the affordable housing crisis while also building a brighter future for families in need.”

Women Build is Habitat CFC’s program to engage and empower women in Habitat CFC’s work. No experience is needed—Site Supervisors provide relevant construction training onsite. Volunteers must be ages 18+ to participate in a Women Build volunteer day. Learn more at habitatcfc.org/women-build.

Fairfield Warde DECA Shines at State Competition, Sending Finalists to International Conference

Fairfield, CT – Fairfield Warde High School’s DECA chapter continues to make history, competing against over 1,200 students at the Connecticut State DECA Competition and achieving outstanding results. In just its third year, Warde DECA has more than doubled in size, growing to an impressive 78 members. This year, 25 students placed in the top five of their categories, a testament to their dedication, talent, and hard work.

A special congratulations to our qualifying finalists, who have earned a coveted spot at the DECA International Career & Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, Florida, from April 25-30. There, they will compete on a global stage against more than 21,000 students from around the world, showcasing their business and leadership skills while representing Warde DECA with pride.

This success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our parents, volunteers, and the entire Warde community. Their encouragement and commitment continue to strengthen our program and help our students reach new heights.

For more information about Warde DECA and how to support our students on their journey to ICDC, follow them on Instagram: warde_deca or please contact jsauro@fairfieldschool.org

About DECA

DECA is an international organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. The program provides students with real-world business experience through competitive events, networking, and leadership development opportunities.

Congratulations to our Finalists!

1st PlaceEmilie Jeanty / Aura KurelBusiness Solutions Project
1st PlaceReina DiacoCareer Development Project
1st PlaceFiona McDonaldQuick Serve Restaurant Management Series
1st PlaceSiri Anagani / Mark CassaFinancial Services Team Decision Making
1st PlaceDaphne D’Elia / Rebecca MorrisSports and Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making
2nd PacePranav QuarveBusiness Finance Series
2nd PlaceCharlotte JoergensenAccounting Applications Series
2nd PlaceMadelyn PressCommunity Giving Project
3rd PlaceKatie McWhinnieSports and Entertainment Marketing Operations Research
4th PlaceLabiba HaquePrinciples of Finance
4th PlaceSidhant RaoCommunity Giving Project
4th PlaceEdward Firgeleski / Rebecca King / Lauren LugoSales ProjectPMSP
5th PlaceNikolas Motsenigos / Sergio TortoraBuying and Merchandising Operations Research
5th PlaceElla KilgannonCommunity Awareness Project
5th PlaceOlivia Churchill / Katelyn Dalto / Maddie WalshCommunity Giving Project
5th PlaceBlaithin LeechPrinciples of Finance
5th PlaceHaya ElkadyPrinciples of Entrepreneurship

Board of Selectmen Restores $2 Million to Fairfield Public School Budget

Fairfield, Conn., March 4, 2025—During the Board of Selectmen’s (BOS) Deliberative Budget Session on March 3, the Board voted to restore $2 million to Fairfield’s Public School budget.

The Board of Education (BOE) had initially requested a 6.7 percent increase, one of the highest in the region and in Fairfield’s past two decades. While 4.45 percent of the increase was attributed to necessary teacher and paraeducator salary adjustments, concerns arose due to minimal grand list growth of only 0.24 percent. This meant that much of the increase would lead to higher property taxes.

Selectman Christine Vitale made a motion to restore $2 million in funding, which was seconded by First Selectman Bill Gerber. Gerber’s administration had been actively seeking revenue opportunities and expense reductions to support school funding since early January, when Superintendent Michael Testani first proposed the increase. Both Gerber and Vitale emphasized the potential for cost savings through shared services between the Town and school administration, which could be explored further in the future.

Vitale stated, “The school budget is driven by the needs of the children and how many children are in our schools. If there can be a cost savings in buses or transporting children that can then be applied to resources to better educate children, I think we should look at them.” She added that shared Town and school services could be a viable cost-saving measure if both administrations commit to finding efficiencies.

First Selectman Gerber expressed his discomfort with the original $3.9 million in cuts, acknowledging the financial strain on the town. “Providing an excellent education for our children is always one of my top priorities, and compensation for our teachers is not in question,” he said. However, he emphasized the need for the BOE to make well-considered budget decisions, given that affordability remains a concern for many families in town.

The BOS restored the $2 million through offsets in the overall Town budget, including:

  • Moving $928k in maintenance projects to the Capital Plan for bonding
  • Adding $1.1 million to the drawdown to the Active Employee Benefits Fund
  • Adjusting the reserve from uncollected taxes to $3.35 million by increasing the collection rate to 99.01 percent
  • Raising the supplemental motor vehicle assessment assumption from $112 million to $113 million
  • Increasing the grand list projection by $32 million, which, with motor vehicle depreciation adjustments, added $921k in revenue

Several small increases totaling $195k were also made to the budget, covering private school transportation, police department expenses, and costs related to the town’s 175th Independence Day celebration, marina software, and Emergency Operating Center expenses.

The BOS approved the total budget of $381,964,286 by a 2:1 vote, with Gerber and Vitale in favor. The decision reduces the Board of Education’s budget cuts to $1.9 million.

Garage Fire

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Fairfield firefighters were called to Beechwood Lane for a garage fire. Upon arrival, they found smoke coming from the roof vents and immediately called for additional resources. The homeowner told firefighters she heard a bang and, upon opening the garage door, saw fire and smoke. Fortunately, she remembered her child’s fire safety lessons from school and quickly shut the door between the residence and the garage, helping to contain the fire. Firefighters brought the fire under control quickly, and no injuries were reported.

2025-03-04 @ 11:11 AM — #FairfieldCT #CTFire

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