Category: Fairfield

PUBLIC INVITED TO FAIRFIELD’S ANNUAL VETERANS DAY CEREMONY

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 · 11:00 a.m. · Town Hall Green, 611 Old Post Road

The annual Fairfield Veterans Day Ceremony, sponsored by American Legion Posts 143 and 74, will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. near the Veterans Wall of Honor on the Town Green, 611 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. The dress code for Veterans attending is blue and gray, and Post Commanders should bring unit colors and stand.

Following the November 11 ceremony, the Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will provide a light lunch for Veterans and their families inside the Old Fairfield Academy, 635 Old Post Road, near the Old Town Hall. The Fairfield DAR (www.EuniceDennieBurrDAR.org) is a volunteer women’s service organization that promotes patriotism, education, and historic preservation.

The public is welcome to attend this ceremony. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside the Old Academy.

Leaders Unite in Fairfield to ‘Feed Hope’ Amid SNAP Shutdown Crisis

FAIRFIELD — With federal SNAP benefits halted due to the government shutdown, a bipartisan group of state and community leaders gathered in front of the Sacred Heart University Community Theater at 1420 Post Road to call attention to the growing food insecurity crisis across Connecticut.

State Senator Tony Hwang opened the event, noting that nearly 363,000 Connecticut residents rely on SNAP benefits. “This is a moment for all of us to unite—to put politics aside nationally, statewide, and locally—and focus on the people in need,” he said. “Seventy-five percent of those on SNAP are children or the elderly. By the end of the month, they run out of food resources, and this November, because of the shutdown, nothing is coming onto their cards.”

Michael Donoghue, Executive Director of the Thomas Merton Family Center, said the impact is already overwhelming. “We run the largest food pantry in Bridgeport. On a typical day we serve 30 or 40 families. Yesterday we served 110. There was a line around the block an hour before we opened,” he said. “Some of the people coming up to us say, ‘I usually donate to you—I can’t believe I have to use your services.’ There’s no greater pressure than having a family and not knowing if you can feed your kids.”

Jason Jakubowski, CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, explained how community donations stretch further through coordinated efforts. “If you take a dollar to the grocery store, you can buy one can of soup,” he said. “Give us that dollar, and we can buy twenty—because we purchase by the truckload for the entire statewide network.” He added that Senator Hwang frequently volunteers with their efforts.

Themis Klarides, Connecticut Foodshare board member, praised the bipartisan collaboration. “If Washington operated as efficiently as the Connecticut legislature, we’d all be better off,” she said. “This bipartisan group proves what’s possible when we focus on people, not politics.”

Senator Hwang closed by urging unity ahead of Thanksgiving: “The need is urgent—but so is our ability to make a difference. Let’s feed hope, and feed our communities, together.”

The Enchanted Castle returns this October hosted by the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County

Fairfield, CT – The Enchanted Castle returns this October hosted by the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County. During this annual event, families travel through six rooms in Fairfield’s Burr Homestead, brought to life by storybook characters who skillfully narrate the tales of Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Jungle Book, and The Wizard of Oz. The Castle is designed for children 2-10 years of age but will be sure to excite the whole family!

The Enchanted Castle will be held October 22 – 24 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. and October 25 – 26 from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30pm – 5 p.m. Please note that the Enchanted Castle will be closed on Saturday & Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $15 per ticket. Kids 2 and under are free. The School of Rock Fairfield House Band will also have a special performance at the event on Saturday, October 25 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

This year’s event is sponsored by Mona Payment Solutions, Distinct Technologies, Wegmans, Bearingstar Insurance, Triple Double Basketball, Pink Lady Goes Green, Bigelow Tea, Al’s Angels, Duchess, FWSIM, Sasco Cyber Ventures, Stew Leonard’s, Experience Fairfield, ConnectFairfield and Fairfield Moms.

This event is the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County’s largest fundraiser, with funds going to support literacy and neighborhood efforts within the greater Bridgeport community. Visit EnchantedCastle.org to learn more and purchase tickets.

The Enchanted Castle first opened in 1991 and was run for 22 years by the Ahlbin Auxiliary of Bridgeport Hospital. In 2019, the Auxiliary handed the event over to The Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County. This will be the fifth time that the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County has hosted this fun-filled community event.

Unable to make it to the event, but still want to support the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County? Take advantage of Enchanted Dining at two local restaurants this week and weekend! Stop by Haven Hot Chicken (907 Post Road in Fairfield) on Wednesday, October 22 or Sunday, October 26 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and use code FJL15 online, in person or mention the Junior League to give back 15% of your purchase! On Saturday, October 25, stop by D.P. Dough (222 Post Road in Fairfield) from 4 p.m. – 3 a.m. and mention the Junior League when placing your order to give back 10% of your purchase.

Fairfield Police Department to Launch Automated Speed Enforcement in School Zones

Fairfield, CT — In a continued effort to enhance traffic safety and protect our most vulnerable road users, the Fairfield Police Department is partnering with Altumint to launch an Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Device (ATESD) program in designated school zones throughout town. This initiative, which comes at no cost to taxpayers, will use camera-based enforcement technology to deter speeding in areas where children and pedestrians are most at risk. Per the town ordinance passed at a Representative Town Meeting, these cameras will be installed in school zones to deter speeding. Six school zones have been selected based on crash history, engineering analysis, and community feedback:

  • Dwight Elementary (Redding Road): Selected due to two past fatal pedestrian crashes, one involving an impaired driver and another likely caused by distraction.
  • Notre Dame High School (Jefferson Street): The site of a major crash involving a speeding driver that resulted in multiple injuries.
  • Burr Elementary (Burr Street): Chosen due to frequent complaints about speeding and anticipated traffic shifts from nearby enforcement zones.
  • Riverfield Elementary: Identified for infrastructure concerns including long stretches of roadway with limited traffic controls, which often result in excessive speeding.
  • Fairfield Ludlowe and Fairfield Warde High Schools: Included due to the high volume of younger, less-experienced drivers.

Operating hours and speeds: Automated enforcement zones will operate 24/7. During the start and end of the school day, cameras will enforce a reduced speed limit of 20 MPH. Outside of these designated school hours, and when school is not in session, a speed limit of 25 MPH will be enforced.

Update/clarification: For Riverfield School on Mill Plain Road, the speed limit will revert to 30 MPH outside of pickup and drop-off times (the normal posted limit for that road). This is the only difference from other zones.

School Zone Schedules (20 MPH windows):

  • Riverside Elementary — Morning: 8:30–9:30 a.m. | Afternoon: 3:15–4:15 p.m.
  • Timothy Dwight Elementary — Morning: 8:30–9:30 a.m. | Afternoon: 3:15–4:15 p.m.
  • Burr Elementary — Morning: 8:30–9:30 a.m. | Afternoon: 3:15–4:15 p.m.
  • Fairfield Warde High — Morning: 7:15–8:15 a.m. | Afternoon: 2:00–3:00 p.m.
  • Fairfield Ludlowe High — Morning: 7:15–8:15 a.m. | Afternoon: 2:00–3:00 p.m.
  • Notre Dame High — Morning: 7:30–8:30 a.m. | Afternoon: 1:45–2:45 p.m.

“The Fairfield Police Department is committed to reducing speeding in our school zones and preventing tragedies before they occur,” said Captain Hector Irizarry, Commander of the Special Services Bureau. “This technology allows us to address dangerous driving behavior where it matters most, near our schools, where children walk, bike, and ride every day.”

The Fairfield Police Department and Town officials have conducted site assessments and OSTA permit applications have been submitted and are now under a 60-day review. Additional school zones may be added in the future. The speed enforcement camera installations will be pending approval from the Office of State Traffic Administration (OSTA) once engineering and traffic studies are completed and submitted by the selected ATESD vendor, Altumint.

All enforcement zones will be clearly marked with signage to notify drivers of camera monitoring in the area, in accordance with state law. To ease the transition, the Town will begin with a 30-day warning period during which violators will receive mailed warnings rather than fines. Once enforcement begins, violations will result in a mailed citation to the registered vehicle owner. These infractions are civil penalties and will not result in points on a driver’s license or be reported to insurance providers. Fines: first violation $50; each additional violation $75; both carry a $15 processing fee.

This initiative supports the Town’s broader Vision Zero strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries, and to make Fairfield’s streets safer for everyone.

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