DoingItLocal

About 8:15pm a car traveling on Duck Farm Road lost control of his vehicle Wednesday night.   The car ran up on a lawn, hit a mailbox at 578 Duck Farm Road, re-entered the road, traveled past three more houses before crashing into a parked vehicle in the driveway at 618 Duck Farm Road.    Airbag was deployed but there were no injuries.  Police are investigating if the driver was distracted or if speed was a factor.

Students in New York City’s public schools cramming for tests can delete words like birthdays, junk food, Halloween, dinosaur and even dancing from study lists. References to such words have been banned from city-issued tests in an edict issued by the city’s Department of Education for fear the words could “appear biased” or “evoke unpleasant emotions” in students. Read full story…….

Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill lost his right to speak and was removed after violating House rule 17 which prohibits the wearing of hats which prohibits the wearing of hats in the House floor. Speaker pro tempore Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss was visibly frustrated as Rep. Rush continued a flurry of quotes from the Bible in addition to comments regarding Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen shot last month. “Mr. Speaker. Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum,” he said. Rep. Rush was pulled from the floor by the sergeant-at-arms.

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‎12:13pm–#Bridgeport–A Bicyclist struck by hit and run driver in front of 140 North Avenue. Police are looking for a green Volkswagen that struck the cyclist and fled the scene. The bike was destroyed but the cyclist only received a scrape on the knee and refused medical treatment.

Two people were shot at the Green Homes Building Two at 3am Wednesday morning. One was shot in the leg and remained at the Green Homes on Highland Ave; a woman was also shot and she fled to 73 Center Street in front of Columbus School. It is unknown what part of her body was shot but neither gunshot appeared to be life threatening.   Both were transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital.   Police are investigating

Just before 5pm a fire was reported at the H. Smith Richardson Golf Course. It is uncertain what started the fire but Connecticut has been under a Red Flag Warning for brush fires since the air and ground has been dry and stiff breezes to spread the flames. Firefighters had the fire under control by 5:45pm. An extensive wet down of the wooded area was called for to prevent a rekindle of the fire. No property were ever in any danger.

Just after 2pm a man walked in to the Chase Bank Branch at 1460 State Street.  He presented a note to the teller informing of a robbery, no weapon was shown.  The man did get a small amount of cash and he fled towards downtown on State Street.  It is very early in the investigation and police are still looking at surveillance video and talking to witnesses but I’m told they are looking for a man about 5’6″ in his fifties with dark complexion.  He was wearing glasses and a hat, dark clothing.  The robbery occurred about 3 blocks from the Caesar Batalla School.  The school was in session, no danger were presented to the school and we don’t believe the school went into lock-down because of the robbery.  Detectives are investigating.

Around 2:45am firefighters received a call of a porch on fire at 18 Plum Street. Firefighters quickly doused the flames and kept the fire from extending into the structure. The family including two children were forced into the cold for a short time. It is uncertain if smoking materials may have contributed to the fire. The fire marshal was called to the scene to investigate. The fire marshal and the remaining units departed the scene around 3:45am.

On Thursday, March 29 at Webster Bank Arena there will be a free, all-day event which allows

people to meet one-on-one with their mortgage lenders or a HUD-approved housing counselor. Homeowners can work out problems involving foreclosure, loan modifications and refinancing. During the housing crisis, homeowners have been frustrated by the difficulty of dealing directly with their bank or even getting someone on the phone. The Homeowners Mortgage Assistance Event brings banks and homeowners together at Webster Bank Arena.

The event will run from 10am to 7pm on Thursday, March 29,2012. Those who cannot attend should can call the Department’s Foreclosure Mediation Program’s Assistance Hotline at: 1877-472-8313.

On Sunday March 25, 2012 at 2:12 PM Fairfield Firefighters responded to a reported house fire at 186 Shiller Road. The Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a call from a neighbor that “smoke was coming from the back of the house” next door and that “it smelled like wood.” When Lt. Corbo from Engine 2 arrived on scene he reported heavy smoke coming the gable ends of the house. According to Asst. Chief George Gomola, the fire incident commander, smoke was coming from every opening in the building, from the basement through the roof. Neighbors reported that there were 2 people who were missing may be trapped inside the fire building. While Engine 3 crew attacked the basement fire the crew of Engine 2, led by Lt. William Tuttle conducted a primary search and located a family pet, a small dog, which was rescued by FF. Brian Madia. The occupants, a young couple, were not home at the time of the incident. The fire originated in the basement of the dwelling and had started to extend to the first floor before it was extinguished by firefighters. Heavy smoke and fire damage was experienced in the basement, but thanks to the quick work of the fire crews damage on the first and second floors was limited. The occupants expressed sincere gratitude for the work of the firefighters in saving their home and rescuing their dog. Assistant Chief George Gomola credited the neighbor for alerting them in time to make a difference. “If the fire had not been reported quickly by an observant neighbor the outcome would have been very different, especially for the family pet.” The cause of the fire is under investigation by Fire Marshal Bill Kessler. The Bridgeport Fire Department provided mutual aid standby coverage at Station 2 for the incident. All 5 engines, Ladder 1 and Ladder 2 responded t