With the first day of school just weeks away, Westport Human Services is calling on the community to support its annual Back-to-School and Afterschool Care Campaign. The initiative ensures local children have the supplies, clothing, and after-school resources they need, with opportunities for donors to contribute through monetary gifts, Walmart gift cards, or items from the department’s Amazon Wishlist.
Donations help provide essential school items and fund after-school scholarships for elementary-aged children, offering safe and enriching activities for working families. Contributions can be made online, in person, or by mail, with drop-offs and check donations accepted at Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Bridgeport, CT – The Klein Memorial Auditorium today marked a historic milestone with the ribbon cutting for the first building addition in its 85-year history. The $3.8 million expansion—funded primarily by the State Bonding Commission with additional support from the City of Bridgeport—adds an elevator, a wheelchair-accessible restroom, a conference room, and three new offices.
The project also continues a decade-long transformation of The Klein, which began in 2016 with major technical upgrades, new carpeting, and the installation of a large exterior digital sign. Those earlier improvements—including new lighting, audio, and video projection systems—have significantly reduced production costs, expanded programming, and helped attract events like the Bridgeport Film Festival, which The Klein has hosted since its inception in 2021.
“Today we unveil more than just bricks and mortar—we’re unveiling a new chapter in The Klein’s story,” said Executive Director Laurence Caso. “Our new wing increases accessibility and provides much-needed space for our operations and arts education programs. Just as our technical upgrades have fueled more performances and economic activity, these enhancements will greatly improve the patron experience for the 70,000 people who attend events here each year.”
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Senator Marilyn Moore, Senator Herron Gaston, representatives from the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), Bridgeport city officials, and community leaders joined Caso for the ceremony.
“This is the first expansion of The Klein since it opened in 1940,” said Lt. Governor Bysiewicz. “It’s a place that has hosted legends like Ray Charles, The Temptations, and B.B. King, as well as historic figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The state’s investment ensures this cultural gem remains a vibrant hub for arts, education, and community for decades to come.”
Senator Moore, who played a key role in securing additional funding after construction costs rose post-pandemic, reflected on the theater’s community impact: “This was one of the projects I knew was important for all of Bridgeport. The Klein inspires both young and old, and the opportunities it provides for our youth can change lives.”
The new elevator now provides access to the mezzanine level, including the art gallery, which features rotating exhibits by local artists. The Klein’s after-school and summer program, Klein Theatre Arts (KTA), serves dozens of Bridgeport children each season, teaching theater, dance, music, and film. With the expansion, KTA plans to add writing workshops and other creative programs.
“This addition isn’t just about better facilities—it’s about giving the next generation the tools, space, and encouragement to dream bigger,” said KTA Director Tennessee Davis, a Bridgeport native and professional actor.
The celebration continues tonight with the second performance of KTA’s summer production, Fame Jr., open to the public.
For more information about upcoming shows, visit www.theklein.org.
Trumbull Firefighters were dispatched to Route 25 for brush fires near the new exit 5. They received calls that a man was walking in the median with a torch, setting the fires, according to unconfirmed radio reports. It is not known at this time if the man was apprehended.
Police are looking for a 2003 red Dodge Ram 1500 with black rims and chrome trim in connection with a home invasion in the Huntington area, according to unconfirmed radio reports.
Westport’s Planning & Zoning Department is warning residents about scammers posing as officials and demanding public hearing fees through phone calls, texts, personal emails, or payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, or CashApp. All official fees are paid directly to the Town of Westport using secure methods, and residents should report suspicious requests to Planning & Zoning at 203-341-1030 or the Westport Police non-emergency line at 203-341-6000.
Bridgeport, CT — Bridgeport Public Schools continues to navigate serious financial challenges, including an approximate $67 million budget gap last year which the district managed to close and a projected shortfall in FY26-27. To balance the budget while preserving classroom instruction and essential student services, the district made the difficult decision last spring to adjust student transportation eligibility which extended students walking distance.
Effective this fall, the walking distance requirement has increased to 1.5 miles for elementary students and 2.5 miles for high school students. While this change may affect some families, it was made out of necessity to avoid deeper cuts to academic programs, staffing, and classroom resources. The district will continue working with city and state leaders to secure additional funding, with the goal of reversing these changes if resources become available.
Safety Measures in Place
To help ensure student safety as walking distances increase, Bridgeport Public Schools is reinforcing its existing Safe Corridor initiative in collaboration with the Bridgeport Police Department. This ongoing effort includes:
24/7 high-tech surveillance hub
Monitoring cameras in school zones and walking routes
Real-time monitoring and rapid response to incidents
Transportation Support
The district is also working with transportation partners to assist students:
In collaboration with the Greater Bridgeport Transit District (GBTD), the district is exploring bus passes for students just outside the new eligibility range
The district is also working with transportation partners to launch a new platform that will allow families to track when students get on and off the bus, improving communication and safety.
Additional Support for Students and Families
Piloting a “Walking School Bus” program where staff and community partners provide chaperoned walks to school
Enhancing an Attendance Task Force to support parents in improving student attendance
“We know this change impacts families,” said Dr. Royce Avery, Interim Superintendent. “These decisions were not easy, and our goal is to reverse them as soon as resources become available. We remain focused on our students’ success, protecting classrooms, and securing the funding our schools deserve.”
Individualized notifications will be sent this week. A dedicated hotline opens Wednesday, August 13, 2024, for questions, assistance, and suggestions from families. Additional resources, including FAQs and walking route maps, will be available on the district website.
A Community Forum to discuss transportation changes will be held on Wednesday, August 20, at 6:00 PM at the Bridgeport Public Library Main Branch, 929 Broad Street.
Bridgeport Public Schools remains committed to transparency, safety, and maintaining the quality of education during these challenging times.
BRIDGEPORT, CT – AUGUST 12, 2025 – The Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District (DSSD) was recently awarded a $5,000 CT Main Street Accelerator Grant from CT Main Street Center (CMSC). The award was made at the conclusion of the Bridgeport DSSD’s participation in CMSC’s signature downtown leadership program. During the virtual, six-month Main Street Accelerator program, the Bridgeport DSSD collaborated with Groundwork Bridgeport, the City of Bridgeport’s Office of Planning & Economic Development, and the Bridgeport Arts + Cultural Council to apply the insights gained from the program to develop the concept for the Arcade Food Hall, an entrepreneurial ecosystem for food businesses housed in a beautifully restored historic structure located at the heart of the neighborhood.
The Main Street Accelerator grant will help the Bridgeport DSSD and its partners to host a temporary food hall activation in the Arcade Mall, paired with a food entrepreneur resource event, with the goal of completing a market analysis and business plan to present to large-scale funders that can support the fit out the historic Arcade Mall’s ground floor for the purpose of a fresh produce market and food hall. This critical funding allows the Bridgeport DSSD to gain insights and demonstrate the viability of establishing a market and food hall that will serve Downtown Bridgeport’s growing residential population.
“The Main Street Accelerator program is designed to inspire and empower collaborations that have high impact for downtowns, such as the plans being developed for the Arcade Mall,” said Michelle McCabe, CMSC’s Executive Director. “We applaud the Bridgeport DSSD and the team for taking their aspirations to the next level, first by undertaking the Accelerator program, and now by implementing their ideas into action. We look forward to seeing the Arcade Food Hall come to fruition and contributing to the downtown’s refreshed spirit.”
Bridgeport DSSD President + CEO Lauren Coakley Vincent said that “The Bridgeport DSSD is honored to be selected for the Main Street Accelerator grant. This funding will build on the skills we gained during the leadership development program component to continue our work adding vibrancy to our friendly, eclectic business and residential community. The Accelerator grant allows us to establish and grow a destination to taste and experience the creativity of local entrepreneurs, welcome visitors, and encourage people to explore the neighborhood we know and love.”
Downtown Bridgeport was one of four communities, including Bethel, East Hartford, and Enfield, that were chosen for the Main Street Accelerator program. The Main Street Accelerator program and grants are supported by Webster Bank.
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today announced the launch of Operation Robocall Roundup, a multistate effort by the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force to crack down on robocalls across the country. Attorney General Tong and 50 bipartisan attorneys general are sending warning letters to 37 voice providers demanding that they act now to stop illegal robocalls being routed through their networks.
“Robocalls aren’t just annoying, they are a primary pathway for scammers to steal information and inflict serious financial harm. We are cracking down on the country’s worst scam enablers with the full weight of 50 attorneys general across the nation. If you receive a call or a text from someone you do not recognize, do not answer, do not engage, and report it to us,” said Attorney General Tong.
Help bolster investigations in Connecticut by reporting your robocalls to www.ct.gov/agcomplaints. Connecticut’s website complaint intake is enabled to gather robocall-specific complaint data.
These providers haven’t complied with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules about responding to government traceback requests, haven’t registered in the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Databases, or haven’t filed a plan that describes how they will reduce illegal robocalls on their network. By disregarding these simple rules, these companies are allowing robocallers onto their phone networks and then passing their calls on to other downstream providers until they reach the phones of Connecticut residents.
The task force is also sending the letters to 99 downstream providers that accept call traffic from the 37 companies, so that they know they’re doing business with bad actors that are not willing to follow the rules that apply to everyone equally.
The FCC is also taking a close look at several of these companies. It announced yesterday that it will be removing seven of these providers from the Robocall Mitigation Database, which means that other providers will no longer be allowed to accept and route any calls from their networks.
The voice service providers receiving warning letters are:
In 2022, 51 attorneys general joined forces to create the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force, which is led by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. The Task Force investigates and takes legal action against companies responsible for significant volumes of illegal and fraudulent robocall traffic routed into and across the United States.
