Category: Stratford

Stratford Fatal Crash

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Stratford Police said that on July 1, 2025, at about 9:10 am, a single-car crash took place near the intersection of Ferry Boulevard and Barnum Avenue Cutoff. The vehicle was occupied solely by a 75-year-old driver, a resident of Bridgeport, CT, who was transported to Bridgeport Hospital but was later pronounced dead. The Stratford Police crash investigation team is currently working to determine the cause of the accident.

2025-07-01@9:10am

STRATFORD LIBRARY KIDS EVENTS IN JULY 2025

Summer Storytimes

Enjoy early literacy activities and meet other families at Library storytimes! The Stratford Library Children’s Department offers summer storytimes for children.

Storytimes meet at 10:30 AM:

  • Mondays: Music Time (ages 0–2)
  • Tuesdays: Preschool Storytime (ages 3–5)
  • Thursdays: Baby Lapsit on June 26, July 24, and August 14 (ages 0–18 months)

Storytimes run through July 29 and are held in the Children’s Program Room. Registration is required. Visit stratfordlibrary.org, then choose Events.

Children’s Craft Table

Weekly summer crafts with teen volunteers.
Open Monday–Thursday: 10 AM–12 PM & 2 PM–6:30 PM
Fridays: 10 AM–12 PM
While supplies last. Volunteer availability permitting.

July Events

July 1 – Summer Art: Floral Arranging | 4:00 PM
Ages 7–12. Create a red, white, and blue floral arrangement to take home.
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 2 – Sport Stacking | 11:00 AM
Ages 6–12. Learn Speed Stacks cup challenges with Glen Costello.
Location: Lovell Room | Courtesy of the Vicki Soto Memorial Fund
Registration required

July 3 – Young Reader’s Book Club: Saving Winslow begins
Book pickup starts July 3; Discussion on August 7 at 6:00 PM
Grades 2–5 | Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 3 – Preschool Playtime: Sunny Days | 4:00 PM
Ages 3–6. Preschool STEAM activities about “sunny days.”
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 5 & 18 – Book Scientists Kits
Ages 5–12. Themes: Red, White & Blue (7/5), Games (7/18).
Includes books + activities. Keep supplies, return library books.
Registration required

July 7 – Pretzel Tasting | 4:00–5:30 PM
All ages. Vote for your favorite pretzels! While supplies last.
No registration required | Food allergens will be present

July 8 – LEGO Derby | 4:00 PM
Ages 5–9. Build LEGO race cars and compete!
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 9 – Christine’s Critters Animal Show | 2:00 PM
All ages. Live birds of prey and reptiles!
Location: Lovell Room | Courtesy of the Vicki Soto Memorial Fund
Registration required

July 10 – Perler Beads: Fandoms | 4:00 PM
Ages 7–12. Make a fandom-themed craft to take home.
Registration required

July 11 – Alphabet Parade Grab ‘n’ Go (Letter C)
Ages 18 months–5 years.
Also offered July 25 (Letter D) | Registration required

July 11 – Language Café: French | 3:00 PM
Ages 6–12. Beginner French games and snacks.
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 12 – Preschool Art | 11:00 AM
Ages 3–7. Explore art in the Children’s Program Room.
Registration required

July 14 – Level Up Your Backgammon Game | 11:30 AM
Ages 8–12. Learn to play this classic board game.
Grownups welcome | Registration required

July 15 – Piano with Friends | 4:00 PM
Ages 7–12. Intro to music and keyboards.
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 16 – Alphabet Fun | 11:00 AM
Ages 3–5. Fun alphabet games and activities.
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 16 – Japanese Folktales & Origami | 4:00 PM
Ages 5+. Learn origami and stories with guest Mokoto.
Location: Lovell Room | Sponsored by Vicki Soto Memorial Fund
Registration required

July 17 – Kindness Club | 4:00 PM
Ages 6–11. Projects with community benefit.
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 18 – Kids Podcasting Club | 3:00 PM
Ages 7–13 with parent/guardian. Record stories, reviews, and more.
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 19 – Saturday Storytime: Fireflies | 10:30 AM
Ages 3–6. Stories, songs, and a craft about fireflies.
Registration required

July 19 – Beaded Bracelets | 2:30 PM
Ages 7–Adult. Make bracelets with beads and string.
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 21 – Dog Man Party | 4:00 PM
Ages 6–10. Celebrate Dog Man with games, snacks, and fun.
Registration required

July 22 or 29 – Summer Art: Tiny Art | 6:00 PM
Ages 7–12. Paint tiny canvases for display and take-home.
Choose only one session | Registration required

July 23 – Jay Reidy Magic Show | 2:00 PM
Ages 5–12. Family-friendly magic fun!
Location: Lovell Room | Registration required

July 24 – Puzzle Frenzy | 6:00 PM
Ages 7–12. Race to solve puzzles, then make your own!
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 25 – Christmas in July | 3:00 PM
Ages 6–12. Crafts, treats, and games with a holiday twist.
Registration required

July 26 – Kids Lightsaber Training | 11:00 AM
Ages 5–12. Train with Jedi Masters from Saber Guild.
Foam/cardboard only props | Location: Lovell Room
Registration required

July 28 – Kids Karate | 12:00 PM
Ages 5–12. Learn basic moves with instructor Sam Diaz.
Location: Lovell Room | Registration required

July 28 – LEGO Club | 4:00 PM
Ages 5–12. Build with LEGOs provided by the Library.
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

July 30 – Indoor Recess | 1:00 PM
Ages 5–10. Play school games and show your spirit!
Location: Lovell Room | Registration required

July 30 – Crocheting | 6:00 PM
Ages 9–Adult. Beginners welcome, supplies provided.
Location: Children’s Program Room | Registration required

Stratford Man Charged in Sexual Extortion Case Involving Multiple Victims

Stratford, CT – The Stratford Police Department has arrested a local man in connection with a series of sexual extortion cases involving multiple victims, including a juvenile. Over the course of three days in May 2025, three adult women came forward reporting that a male suspect had threatened to release sexually explicit images of them online unless they sent additional intimate photos.

As detectives investigated the claims, they identified the same suspect in all three cases. A fourth victim, a juvenile female, was also identified and confirmed the same individual had targeted her in a similar manner. The suspect, identified as Mikel Reyes, was charged on June 25, 2025, following the execution of an arrest warrant.

Reyes was charged with three counts of Criminal Attempt at Larceny in the First Degree by extortion, Risk of Injury to a Minor, and Disseminating an Intimate Image. He was released after posting a $150,000 court-set bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 2, 2025.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Jay Delauri at 203-385-4172.

Stratford House Fire

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Firefighters were called to Lantern Drive for a garage fire. Initial calls indicated that there might be a man stuck inside the car that was parked inside. Police were first on the scene, and they ensured the man was not in the vehicle or garage. Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire that engulfed the house as well as the garage. No one was injured and the fire marshal was called to investigate the cause of the fire.

2025-06-27@11:35am–#Stratford CT — #ctfire

UPDATED INFORMATION! STRATFORD LIBRARY TEEN EVENTS IN JULY 2025

Thru 8/15: Teen Summer Reading – Let’s Level Up on Reading This Summer!

  1. Create an online reading account at: https://stratfordlibrary.org/summer-reading-2025/
  2. Log your reading time. From 6/2 to 8/15, earn 1 virtual ticket for every 30 minutes of time spent reading (or listening!) to a book, comic, magazine, news article, etc.

7/1 | 2:00 PM–4:00 PM: Karaoke and Chill
Let’s level up our summer with some karaoke and chill time with friends. Get ready for tasty snacks, board games, and some much-needed fun.
Grades: 7–13 | Location: Lovell Room | No registration required

7/8 | 7:45 PM–9:00 PM: Nerf Wars
It’s time to level up the fun! Treasure seekers, join the hunt! We’ve hidden gold in the stacks, and it’s up to each team to work together to find the biggest hoard. Bring your own Nerf blaster or borrow one of ours.
Safety rules: Blasters cannot hold more than 6 darts, cannot use Nerf Rival Balls, and cannot be oversized. No latecomers admitted.
Registration required, as well as a parental permission slip, which must be handed in to stay and play.
Note: This event ends after hours. Make arrangements ahead of time to be picked up—on time—in the back parking lot.
Grades: 7–13 | Location: Lovell Room

7/10 | 3:30 PM–4:30 PM: Singing Bowl Experience
Learn the history of singing bowls with a focus on Tibetan lineage and a discussion about how healing works. There will be plenty of time for questions plus a short meditation while we all play together.
Grades: 7–13 | Registration required | Location: Lovell Room

7/15 | 3:00 PM–4:30 PM: Pokémon Party
Trainers, you’re invited to our annual Poké Party! Join us for anime, a Pokémon-themed craft, Pokémon stickers and button-making, video gaming, and Poké snacks.
Come dressed as your favorite character for the chance to win a prize.
Grades: 7–13 | No registration required | Location: Lovell Room

7/17 | 4:00 PM–5:00 PM: Courtyard Book Discussion
Level up your summer with a book discussion about Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol. Whether you loved the book, hated it, aren’t sure about it, or haven’t finished it yet, all are welcome to join our informal, fun discussion and enjoy some snacks!
Stop by the Teen Desk to pick up a copy of the book from June 30–July 3. Have your own copy? Great—just let us know you’ll be attending.
Grades: 6–8 | Registration required | Location: Library Courtyard

7/22 | 3:00 PM–4:30 PM: Squirt Gun Painting
Are you ready to level up the fun with some non-traditional painting? Let’s forget the paint brushes and bring out the squirt guns! All supplies provided.
Grades: 7–13 | No registration required | Location: Library Courtyard

7/26 | 12:25 PM–1:15 PM: Lightsaber Training for Adults & Teens
Learn about the ways of the Force and how to wield a lightsaber from real Jedi Masters! Kessel Temple is the Connecticut chapter of Saber Guild, an international Star Wars lightsaber performance organization. Costumes encouraged!
Grades: 7–Adult | Registration required | Location: Lovell Room

Cooling Centers Open Across Stratford, Bridgeport, and Westport as Extreme Heat Continues Through June 25

Due to a forecasted heat wave with heat index values expected between 100 and 105 degrees, the towns of Stratford, Bridgeport, and Westport have activated their Cooling Center Protocols, effective immediately through 8:00 PM on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

Residents, especially seniors, children, those with pre-existing health conditions, and anyone vulnerable to heat-related illnesses are urged to stay cool, hydrated, and indoors. All three municipalities are offering designated cooling centers with varying hours to provide relief from the dangerous temperatures.

Governor Ned Lamont also issued statewide guidance, reminding residents that cooling centers can be located by dialing 2-1-1 and emphasizing precautions such as hydration, limited outdoor exposure, and checking on vulnerable individuals.

Stratford Cooling Center Locations:

  • Baldwin Center – 1000 West Broad St | Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Stratford Library – 2203 Main St | Mon–Thurs, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Fri–Sat, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Stratford YMCA – 3045 Main St | Mon–Thurs, 5:30 AM – 9:00 PM; Fri 5:30 AM – 7:00 PM; Weekend hours vary

Bridgeport Cooling Centers:

  • Senior Centers (Weekdays Only):
    • Black Rock – 2676 Fairfield Ave | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • East Side – 268 Putnam St | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Eisenhower – 307 Golden Hill St | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • North End Bethany – 20 Thorme St | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • GBT Station – 710 Water St | Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Public Library Branches: Main, Black Rock, Newfield, North, and East Side (Closed for Renovation) – Hours vary by branch

Westport Cooling Center Locations:

  • Center for Senior Activities – 21 Imperial Ave | Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • MoCA Westport – 19 Newtown Tpke | Mon–Wed, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Thurs 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Westport Library – 20 Jesup Rd | Mon–Thurs, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Fri–Sat, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sun, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Westport Weston YMCA – 14 Allen Raymond Ln | Weekdays 5:30 AM – 9:00 PM; Weekends 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Westport Museum for History and Culture – 25 Avery Pl | Thurs–Sat, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Health and Safety Reminders:

  • Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces
  • Avoid strenuous activity during peak sun hours (11 AM – 4 PM)
  • Wear light, loose clothing and stay hydrated
  • Check in on elderly or isolated individuals
  • Never leave children or pets in vehicles

For overnight or long-term sheltering, residents are advised to call 2-1-1. Emergency services remain available via 9-1-1. Local updates will continue to be shared on municipal websites and social media.

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