Category: Fairfield

Honoring the Memory of a Brave Young Boy by Raising Funds for Pediatric Cancer Research

State Senator Tony Wong and Bill Gerber, founder of Team Teddy, attended the St. Baldrick’s Day event to raise funds and shave their heads in honor of pediatric cancer patients. The event was organized by Team Teddy, which has been operating for 13 years and has raised close to $1.5 million for pediatric cancer research to date.

The motivation for the event is personal, as Bill Gerber’s son Teddy passed away due to pediatric cancer. Team Teddy was started in his honor and has grown into a community effort involving volunteers, including children, families, and the broader community.

The funds raised by Team Teddy are donated to St. Baldrick’s, an organization that funds grants for pediatric cancer research. The hope is that the research will lead to new drugs and treatments for pediatric cancers. Despite the progress made in recent years, there is still a long road ahead, and more funding is needed.

The event is a reminder of the impact that pediatric cancer has on not only the patient but also their families. It is a call to action for the entire community to come together and raise awareness and support for those impacted by childhood cancer.

The event also highlights the importance of putting aside political differences and coming together for a common cause. State Senator Tony Wong, a Republican, and Bill Gerber, a Democrat, both support the cause of pediatric cancer research and are united in their efforts to raise funds and awareness for this cause.

Anyone can contribute to this worthy cause by visiting the St. Baldrick’s website and donating to Team Teddy Osborne Hill. The event may be over, but the need for funding and support continues. Let us come together as a community and make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Today’s Vehicle Fire

2023-03-25@6:38pm–#Fairfield CT– Today’s vehicle fire was located at Nutmeg Bowl at 802 Villa Avenue. The car owner of the Nissan Altima said his son was inside when the engine compartment began to catch fire. There were no injuries and firefighters had the fire out quickly. The sprinkler system above kept the fire from extending to cars parked nearby.

Fairfield News: Possible Changes To Noise Ordanances

The residents of Fairfield may face restrictions on lawn maintenance and other noisy activities on weekends and weekdays, following proposed changes to the town’s noise ordinance. The changes include the “plainly audible standard” instead of the need to measure decibels, and set times for certain activities. The new ordinance aims to give authorities more leeway to punish people causing a disturbance.

The Plainly Audible Standard

The proposed noise ordinance replaces the decibel measurement with the “plainly audible standard.” This means that if a police officer can easily hear music through a speaker, they can take enforcement action. The standard mainly covers music and sound amplification devices.

Set Times for Certain Activities

The changes to the noise ordinance also include set times for certain activities. Lawn and home maintenance, music, power tools, and horn blaring are restricted until 8 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on weekends. Previously, the ordinance listed only daytime and nighttime as restrictions.

Reasons for the Changes

The proposed changes to the noise ordinance are a result of an increase in residents’ noise complaints, especially in the beach area and the neighborhood around Burr Homestead. The town-owned building hosts events that have spurred complaints from nearby residents about loud music. One resident even joked that she knew an event was about to end when she heard “Shout” by the Isley Brothers playing from the speakers there a block away.

Limitations of the Police Department

The police department is limited in its ability to enforce the noise ordinance because it has only one sound meter. Officers often opt to use state statutes when issuing violations, calling the current ordinance onerous.

Controversial Changes

The addition of set times during the daytime when residents can create certain types and levels of noise caused some contention in the discussion. Republicans opposed the 6 p.m. cutoff on weekends for landscaping-related sound, stating that people should not be restricted in the use of their property. They were concerned the proposed ordinance could infringe on people’s freedoms.

Support for the Changes

Democrats spoke in support of the changes, including Michelle Lapine McCabe from District 4, who said the proposal has relatively modest changes to what is already on the books, adding she does not see them as overly dramatic. She said extending it to daylight hours makes sense given there are more people working from home now. Dru Mercer Georgiadis, a member from the District 9 who lives in the beach area, said people need to know the rules so they can respect them.

Conclusion

The proposed changes to the noise ordinance are a result of an increase in noise complaints from residents. While some people believe the new restrictions are an infringement on their freedoms, others support the changes and say they are necessary to maintain consistency and reduce disturbances.

Fairfield News: Firefighters Battle A Large Brush Fire

2023-03-21@4:20pm–#Fairfield CT– Firefighters spent a couple of hours battling a brush fire off Greenfield Street. The wind kept spreading the fire but the firefighters were able to contain it and eventually knocked out all the hotspots. Assistant Chief George Gomola said the drone was instrumental in locating the hotspots.

The Town of Fairfield has been designated a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Fairfield is one of seven towns in the state to become part of this network. AARP’snetwork, an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program is part of an international campaign to help communities prepare

for rapidly aging populations.

It is projected by AARP that by 2030, one of every five people in the U.S. will be 65 or older and

that by 2035, the number of adults older than 65 will be greater than the number of children under

18.

“Age-Friendly Fairfield is a town-wide initiative to further our efforts to make our community a great place to grow up and grow old,” First Selectwoman Kupchick said. “This exciting initiative will be a significant, comprehensive, and challenging effort, yet will provide immense benefits to the entire Town. I want to thank and acknowledge Human & Social Services Director Julie DeMarco, and Senior Center Director Brenda Steele, for spearheading this effort on behalf of the Town.”

As a member of the AARP Age-Friendly Network, Fairfield commits to assessing the challenges of its aging population and identifying policies, programs, and new ideas that will improve the quality of life for all ages in the community – in collaboration with residents, communities, and partners. Fairfield will gain access to national and global research, community networks, planning models and best practices to improve livability for all ages, abilities, and needs.

The three-to-five-year process looks at civic participation and employment, communication and information, community support and health services, housing, outdoor spaces, and buildings, respect and social inclusion, social participation, and transportation. There is no cost to becoming an Age-Friendly community.

The Age-Friendly Fairfield initiative, led by the Human Services Department in partnership with Fairfield Senior Advocates, will incorporate an advisory group of community stakeholders. “The process will begin with a comprehensive survey, coordinated by Fairfield Senior Advocates and

Fairfield University,” Human Service Director Julie DeMarco said, “as well as a listening session with residents to identify community age-friendly needs and opportunities.”

Town Department heads will also contribute to this process with their guidance and input.

Email AgeFriendlyFairfield@fairfieldct.org if you are interested in participating in the initiative or have any questions.

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