Category: Fairfield

Teen Services Thrives at the Fairfield Public Library

 

[Fairfield, CT, April 15, 2014] Five years since its establishment, the downUNDER Teen Center at the Fairfield Woods Branch library is still attracting droves of tweens and teens each day. The downUNDER was created to address the needs of the teens that flock to the library after school and was purposefully planned to be a safe, stimulating, comfortable environment that gives attendees the chance to try new things, explore their interests and make connections with their peers and the community at large. Since the downUNDER opened in 2008, it has seen over 22,000 teen visits from both the Fairfield Woods Middle School, which is adjacent to the library, and the surrounding neighborhood, often filling its 30 person capacity. It still may be the best kept secret in town.

In developing the downUNDER, professional librarians carefully considered how best to transform an underutilized space in the library’s lower level into a place that would support the educational and social needs of teens. According to the Search Institute’s landmark study “40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents, ages 12-18,” for teens to mature and become successful citizens they must receive positive support from several non-parent adults, feel safe and cared for in their neighborhoods, find positive peer influences, participate in creative activities and youth programs and develop a sense of interpersonal competence, empathy and friendship skills. The professionals who organize the downUNDER Teen Center services strive to meet these goals every day.

Young Fairfielders are well aware of the opportunities that await them in the downUNDER. Fahad Chowdhdry, a sixth-grader at Fairfield Woods Middle School states “…you have to be quiet upstairs or people will complain…downUNDER is a good working environment for kids who want to do homework with others.” Kali Orna of Fairfield has been coming to the downUNDER “for years” and is looking forward to next year, when her younger  brother can attend as well. She states that “I don’t play sports and don’t go to after school activities…Everyone knows each other here.” Angelina Iacurrci of Fairfield is thankful for the work of the “kind” professional staff who create the services in the downUNDER, saying that “These people are good role models.” The downUNDER is just one aspect of the teen services presented by the Fairfield Public Library for young people in grades 6 – 12. Professional teen library specialists provide year-round curricular support, including extensive summer reading assignment assistance that helpsprevent summer learning loss. They also manage wide ranging collections of library materialsfor teens, from magazines to books to eBooks and create and execute original programs for teens that meet both the instructional and entertainment needs of young people. These valuable services have become essential to the teens and parents of Fairfield. On your next visit to the library, make sure you stop by and see our Teen spaces in action. For more information call 203-255-7308, or visit us on the web www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org .

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Fairfield News: Man Takes Own Life Causing Hazmat Situation

6:06pm–#Fairfield CT– Around 6pm Monday police received a call to check on the welfare of their friend who lived at Clinton Street.  When police arrived they found the house locked and requested help from the fire department in gaining access.  When firefighters arrived they found that the man took his life by drinking a vial of potassium cyanide.  Assistant Fire Chief said he did not intend to harm anyone else but himself and left a warning note to first responders.   Two firefighters and two police officers were taken to the hospital as a precaution and quickly released and returned to the scene.  Fire officials called in the Fairfield County Hazardous Materials Team as well as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s hazardous material’s team as well.   The poison was isolated the man’s bedroom and was not hazard to the rest of the home or the neighborhood.  The man’s name has not been released at this time.

Fairfield News: Firefighter train on condemned house

#Fairfield CT–#ctfire–Firefighters trained today on an condemned home on Benton Street.  Firefighters were able to conduct drills, use of the ladder truck, cut open a ventilation hole in the attic and hosted mayday drills.  The condemned home was to the right and not seen in the photo below:

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