DoingItLocal

If you like fireworks but hate the traffic, viewing the fireworks intended for the Bridgeport Bluefish Stadium just might be for you. The fireworks are shot off from a field near the Stratford Bridge. There are many areas downtown for an impressive show. I shot this off Caesar Batallia Way looking towards Main Street. To the right is the P.T. Barnum Museum. I knew from last year the building would be in the way on some displays but I wanted the museum in the foreground. The show is about 15 minutes in time, this is a sampling including the finale.

The next fireworks display is July 27th. Maybe I’ll interview the firefighters they have on call just in case something doesn’t go as intended.

GoDaddy, known for its sexy Super Bowl ads and controversial CEO with a penchant for elephant killing, has seen significant growth over the past three years…Read more

WASHINGTON – The National Mall will look a little different for this year’s July 4th celebrations. That’s because one of Washington’s iconic sites, the Reflecting Pool has been reduced to a pile of dirt. But it’s just temporary while it undergoes renovation.

 

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – The Malloy administration says layoff notices to state employees have started to go out as the state begins a new budget year.

It’s part of his plan to plug a 1.6 billion dollar hole in the budget.

Layoff notices have started to go out: wtnh.com

Ken always gives great advice to car owners and this weekend is no exception. Nick’s Precision Automotive is located at 531 Tunxis Hill Cut Off in Fairfield. Call them at 203-366-4775 or online at http://nicksautomotive.com/index.htm

The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of collapse as investigators have uncovered major holes in the credibility of the housekeeper who charged that he attacked her in his Manhattan hotel suite in May, according to two well-placed law enforcement officials.  Read more….

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1:31am–#Fairfield–Party goer at Fairfield Beach Road loses his car keys and calls 911 to help him find them…you know they will !!

6:38pm–Bridgeport–Police investigate another shooting, this one sends a woman to the hospital after being shot in the legs. Details and exclusive video AFTER crime scene is cleared.

3:02am–Fairfield–Driver bolts from routine traffic stop. As you often hear there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop to police. The became all too real tonight as one took place at the Circle at Fairfield Motor Inn. After a considerable amount of time for the traffic stop the driver must have thought things weren’t going his way and bolted from his car and gave police a run. After a search of the neighborhood police apparently came up with out their man.

3:32am–#Bridgeport–Man receives “traumatic” injuries after being assaulted with a rock at PT Barnum Housing on St. Stephen’s Road.

3:10am–#Bridgeport–Shots fired on Stratford Avenue. Police are looking for a 2 door Oldsmobile with 20″ chrome wheels occupied by two Hispanic males, a chrome gun was used in the shooting.

2:12am–#Bridgeport–Report of another street fight, this time on North and Park Ave.

1:54am–#Bridgeport–Report of a street fight at the McDonalds on North and Front Street.

11:38pm–#Fairfield–If you have a boat a Jennings Beach you may want to check it….report of kids untying them and pushing them in the water

10:36pm–#Faifield–Firefighters quickly extinguish a dumpster fire at Splash Car Wash on Post Road.

 

Here is a good comprehensive list of fireworks town by town.  We did not compile it so if your town is not on it check with WPLR.  Enjoy!   Click here to see the list.

If you plan on having beer, wine, sangria or even the hard stuff for the Fourth of July Weekend expect to pay more. While most package store owners would be gearing up for the big holiday they now have to do a physical inventory and pay a “floor tax” on stock they already have purchased, calculate it into liters and pay an additional tax. Don’t press your package store owner for a percent increase because it varies on the product. Taxes on “sparkling wine will be more than regular wine” said Jason Hackeny, owner of Super Discount Wines and Spirits at 525 Tunxis Hill Cutoff in Fairfield. “Beer is measured in ounce so that will have a different tax. Department of Revenue Services spokesman Sarah Kaufman said “while tax rates will depend upon what kind of alcohol to which the tax is being applied, it amounts to a 20 percent increase in taxes on alcohol”.

BRIDGEPORT, CT (June 30, 2011) – Mayor Bill Finch today announced that the City has reduced its take-home vehicle fleet to three cars – one each for the Mayor, Police Chief and Fire Chief.

“When I took office there were 82 take-home vehicles. I’m proud to say that today there are only three,” said Mayor Finch.  “Bringing greater efficiency and lower costs to City government has been one of the highest priorities for my administration.”

The city’s vehicle fleet encompasses nearly 400 cars, mostly in the police, fire and public works department. Take-home vehicles have been the subject of collective bargaining agreements over the years. Negotiations with the city’s police department, and other city unions, have led to the reduction of take-home cars.

 

As a part of a policy created by Mayor Finch in 2009, the City auctioned off surplus vehicles and stopped purchasing additional take-home vehicles.

Finch continued, “Cost-saving measures like the reduction of our take-home vehicle fleet have helped the City reduce spending three consecutive years.”

Mayor Finch along with Police Chief Joseph Gaudett and Fire Chief Brian Rooney have been assigned the only remaining take-home vehicles in the City’s fleet.