DoingItLocal

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

Just after 7pm a man walking on Iranistan Avenue spotted flames coming from the 3rd floor at 1304 Iranistan Ave. Saturday night. He quickly ran down the street to the Wood Avenue Fire Station to report the blaze. Firefighters discovered heavy fire upon arrival, they verified everyone in the building was evacuated but were concerned with evacuating the house on either side because of how close the homes are next to each other. Within 15 minutes the fire was out and recall was sounded. There were no reported injuries and only the man on the third floor had to be relocated. The fire marshal was called to investigate.

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‎Danbury’s Mayor Mark D. Boughton confirming one dead, one injured in a two alarm fire at 16 Harding Place. No firefighters were injured battling the fire.

Bridgeport–A home invasion at 19 Plymouth Street. Taken was $900 and a PS3 by two males wearing ski masks both had guns.
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5:01pm–Bridgeport–Car and city bus accident at Arctic and Beach Street.

12:25pm–Bridgeport–EMTs on the scene of a motor vehicle accident at Park and State St. that requires extrication, 2nd ambulance requested. Two patients with trauma to St. Vincent’s with heavy intrusion into the passenger compartment.

2:53am–Bridgeport–Fire department assisting a customer trapped in the ATM at People’s Bank downtown Main Street.

2:39am–Bridgeport–One stabbed after a night of smoking and drinking at the park at Seaview and Adams Street. Victim was stabbed in the upper chest, transported to the hospital.

10:33pm–Bridgeport–EMTs tending to a victim stabbed a number of times during a domestic argument at 289 East Avenue second floor. One in custody.

9:44pm–Bridgeport–Big street fight on Barnum/East Ave. Police had foot pursuit with one person in the backyards on Willow. Multiple assault victims on East Ave. EMTs on the way. Heavy police activity in the area according to EMTs.

6:36pm–Bridgeport–Fire department on scene at Green Homes, 508 Harral Avenue, building one-smoke coming from the 7th floor. The fire is coming from a trash shoot but have not located the exact source other than the trash chute. Fire located in the compactor in the basement and quickly extinguished.

The Government Administration & Elections Committee failed to amend the bill to require election day registrants to present photo identification in Connecticut. In addition the bill allows people to register on election day. I had an opportunity to ask State Senator Duff his thoughts on the potential of election fraud. The senator feels every opportunity should be given voters the opportunity to vote without without showing identification. What do you think?

Traffic was snarled on Black Rock turnpike just in front of Marsillo’s around 2pm Friday. Fire department was called for a fluid leak. Emergency Medical Technician’s were called for two adult drivers and a child who was properly restrained in a child seat in the backseat. All three were shaken up with no major injury and refused medical treatment.

12:38am–Bridgeport–A man in his 60’s was pistol whipped and possibly severely injured after being pistol whipped at his home during a home invasion at 50 Evans Street. Police say homeowner drove himself to the hospital in a newer model red model Mustang which is a rental car with New York plates. The man was assaulted by two black males who wore all black including black ski masks. They beat the man with their chrome revolver when he approached them. They were last seen fleeing on foot, west on Evans Street. It is unknown if any money or property were taken during the invasion. UPDATE–1:11am The red Mustang with the victim has been located on Reservior and Edwards Street. EMTs on the way.

There’s a new community center in Norwalk, and it celebrated its opening on Thursday. Dignitaries included Mayor Richard A. Moccia, State Senator Bob Duff, area residents,
The Christian Community Action Group (CCA) Norwalk, Inc., is a nonprofit, nonsectarian agency now at 76 South Main Street in SONO. It remains one of Norwalk’s most active aid groups, continuing the work it performed when created 40 years ago as a food pantry by St. Paul’s on the Green and The First Congregational Church on the Green.

CCA’s food pantry now feeds over 3,500 residents each year. The agency distributes over 2,000 winter coats and delivers furniture and mattresses to about 1,000 people annually. It disburses over $30,000 in rent, security-deposit and utility-bill payments, and each winter prepares about 40 local high school students for SAT exams. Recent graduates of this program are currently attending or have been accepted to Howard University, UConn, Southern, Western, and NCC.
CCA also offers English-language conversation classes, collects holiday gifts for 800 children each year and collects and distributes children’s books. Our English teacher, Phyllis Weinstein, is trained in both ESL and literacy, and helps her students move from a rudimentary ability in English to be able to handle school discussions, phone calls, and doctor appointments. Area high school students are happy to be at the receiving end of prom dresses distributed by CCA, donated by local residents as well as the Wilton Women’s Club and the New Canaan High School fashion show committee.
CCA is proud of its contributions to the community. With an annual budget of $260,000, it gives back about $1.5 million, based on the value of all the food, furniture, clothing and books, and its classes. It has been recognized by area agencies for its work in feeding the hungry and in offering safety net programs to keep more people from falling into homelessness.
CCA is led by the dynamic Christi Pope, the agency’s executive director and also one of the SAT teachers. Christi, a geologist by training, isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty to get the job done, like driving CCA’s big truck to pick up dozens of mattresses from Yale University and deliver then to drop-off points throughout Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford. “Working for a small NPO brings great rewards and constant variety to my life. The support CCA gets from the community is amazing, and it is wonderful to be a part of these programs that so benefit those in need. I am really excited about the changes coming into our new space. Moving our classes back on site and thinking about the options to increase this aspect of our mission is wonderfully challenging,” said Pope.

Around 3pm shots rang out as school children were returning home from school on Lincoln Ave. Wednesday afternoon. Reports are a black male in a black hooded sweatshirt was firing at a dark blue car. Stray bullets hit two cars including a Ford pickup at the corner of Main Street as he was exiting the Shell gas station.. The bullet hit the pickup’s windshield and exited out his back window, missing the driver by inches, he received scratches on his forehead from shattered glass fragments. In the video you can see children walking home from school on Main Street and a school bus passing in the background. Detectives were called and remained on scene for about two hours. Lincoln Ave. was closed during that time but has reopened.

Just after midnight police, fire department and EMTs were called to Melville Drive in Fairfield for a rollover accident.  Fire department received additional reports of possible fire in the van.  It has been our reporting experience that calls of fire is usually smoke emitted from the air bag deployment.  Firefighters stretched a line but it wasn’t necessary.  Assistant Fire Chief George Gomola told us that the van struck the parked vehicle on the street and took out a fire hydrant as well.  Witnesses told us the van laid on top of the car for a short period of time before rolling on to it’s side into the road.  The driver of the van was checked by paramedics and released.  The driver was seen being tested for driving while impaired, handcuffed and placed into a police cruiser.