(Westport, CT) Notification was recently received from Metro North Railroad of their intention to periodically close the pedestrian bridge over the Saugatuck River. These closures are reported to be in connection with an improvement project that is slated to run from Monday, October 27, to Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
Beginning on October 27, Metro North Railroad will begin a project intended to make critical safety repairs to the pedestrian bridge connecting the Westport (Saugatuck) Railroad Station to Ferry Lane East. This construction will require that the bridge be kept in a closed position and will require a deviation of all marine traffic.
This project will also necessitate periodic closures of the pedestrian walkway. Metro North anticipates having to close the bridge to foot traffic approximately four to six times during the one month anticipated duration of the project. These closures will take place from 11:00pm to 6:00am while work is on-going.
Commuters should be aware of these occasional closures during this period and are encouraged to seek alternate routes and/or other means of transportation to the Saugatuck Railroad Station.
Report of a child struck by a car at the intersection of Madison Ave and Salem Street in Bridgeport. According to unconfirmed radio reports, the 11 year old was struck by the car going around 25 mph. The child was transported to the hospital. There are no other updates at this time.
The Stratford Library presents “Halloween Hauntings” – two American tales of ghostly suspense on Tuesday, October 28. Written in the days of ominously flickering candles and kerosene lamps, “The Shadows on the Wall” and “The House That Was Not” are guaranteed to chill the bone. The special evening, performed by professional actress Michèle LaRue, is free and open to the public.
In the wake of a sudden mysterious death, “The Shadows on the Wall” draws four siblings home to a familiar but menacing New England parlor. “The House That Was Not” lures an unsuspecting new bride across the bleak Nebraska prairie. Authored by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1903) and Elia Wilkinson Peattie (1898), respectively, these tales evoke the America of a century ago, still enthralling audiences today. In this unique one-woman show, Michèle LaRue portrays eight characters. The Chicago-born and New Jersey-based LaRue tours nationally with her unique repertoire of century-old American TALES WELL TOLD. Audiences in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York have exclaimed, “What you offer is priceless”; “You had us on the edge of our seats”; “I will never look at shadows quite the same way again!”
“Halloween Hauntings” will be presented in the Library Lovell Room starting at 6:30 pm on October 28. The program is recommended for adult audiences. For further information visit the Stratford Library website at: www.stratfordlibrary.org or call: 203.385.4162.
One person was injured when a car crashed into a home in the 600 block of Chopsey Hill Road. The home received structural damage, and the building department was called to the scene.
FAIRFIELD — With the Connecticut Siting Council’s denial of United Illuminating’s Docket 516R, Fairfield business owner Stephen Boccarossa says a weight has been lifted from his staff and customers—at least for now.
Boccarossa, who owns Boccarossa Insurance, said the company’s headquarters sat squarely in the project’s crosshairs. “Standing right here, the transmission line would have gone directly over the top of our building,” he said. “If an access road were added later, they could take the building. That’s how close this came.”
Beyond the physical route, Boccarossa said the risks extended into legal and financial territory that could threaten a small business’s survival. After consulting with colleagues, he said he learned of cases where property owners beneath high-voltage lines had to prove they could carry adequate liability insurance to cover potential injuries. “If you can’t demonstrate the proper coverage, there’s precedent to take the entire property,” he explained. “That’s unbelievable—and terrifying for any business owner.”
Boccarossa also took issue with what he described as a lack of transparency during the earlier hearing process. He said plans showed his entire parcel encompassed by a “work path,” yet he could not get a clear explanation of what that meant in practice. “When I see my whole property inside a work path, it looks like you plan to take my whole building,” he said. “I asked for an explanation—and got nothing. How is that fair?”
With Docket 516R now denied, Boccarossa expects a fresh application and a more accountable process. “Now they have to answer the questions,” he said. “New laws bring more accountability, and that matters not just for my property but for everyone along the line—today and in the future.”
State Senator Tony Hwang, who has supported affected residents and businesses throughout the fight, credited the decision to persistent community advocacy. He called the ruling “a people-first outcome” and said any future proposal must fully address safety, property rights, and local impact. “This was always about lives and livelihoods,” Hwang said. “Going forward, the process must respect that.”
Boccarossa agrees the community’s unity changed the trajectory—and could shape future infrastructure planning for years to come. “This isn’t just about one docket,” he said. “If the rules are stronger and the questions actually get answered, that protects a lot of people for a long time.”
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.
“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.
After battling a porch fire in Black Rock, firefighters were called to a larger fire at the intersection of Huntington Road and Beecher Street. Chief Edwards told us everyone made it out of the building safely. There were no reported injuries. The Red Cross has been called to help with 5 adults and a child with their immediate needs. The fire marshal was called to investigate the cause of the fire.
Shelton, CT — On 10/15/2025, Shelton Police arrested Jason Berrios, 17, of Norwalk in connection with an individual being struck in the parking lot of 862 Bridgeport Avenue on 09/14/2025 during a street takeover. Berrios turned himself in on an arrest warrant issued as part of the investigation. He was processed and charged with Reckless Driving and Evading Responsibility, released after posting a $25,000 court-set bond, and is scheduled to appear in Derby Superior Court on 11/05/2025. Berrios was charged as an adult, as motor vehicle charges are applicable to 16- and 17-year-olds.
Shelton Detectives, with assistance from the Norwalk Police Department, located the vehicle that struck the juvenile male in the parking lot. Follow-up interviews with Berrios led to the arrest warrant. The juvenile male who was struck was treated and released from the hospital.
Incident Recap (Initial Release Information)
On 09/14/2025 at approximately 1:30 a.m., Shelton Police and Shelton EMS responded to 862 Bridgeport Avenue for a report of a person struck by a vehicle during a street takeover. Responding officers encountered multiple vehicles fleeing the lot as police and EMS arrived. On scene, officers located a juvenile male reportedly struck by a vehicle operating recklessly; he was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital with serious injuries.
The Shelton Police Department continues to actively investigate this incident. Anyone with information regarding the incident or the pictured vehicle is asked to contact the Shelton Police Department Detective Bureau.
