Local News

Legislation Proposed by Rep. Lavielle Clears Transportation Committee

Mar 15, 2014 Alex

Protection of Special Transportation Fund and Development of State’s Deep-Water Ports HARTFORD – Two pieces of legislation linked to proposals submitted by State Representative Gail Lavielle (R-143) cleared the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee today. S.J. No. 23 is a resolution proposing an amendment to the State Constitution limiting the use of moneys contained in the Special Transportation Fund to transportation-related projects. H.B. 5289 would create a Port Authority to develop, promote, and manage Connecticut’s three deep-water ports in Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London. As in all even-numbered years, this year individual legislators may propose only bills that are fiscal in nature. Legislation on any other subject may be proposed only by legislative committees. Rep. Lavielle had submitted…

Bridgeport Local News

Mar 15, 2014 Alex

Woman Charged With Stealing Electricity (Bridgeport, CT – March 14, 2014) – A city woman faces felony charges for fraudulently receiving free electricity for the last seven years by claiming a medical condition. Lori Rodriguez, 49, of Bridgeport, defrauded United Illuminating Co. of $27,218.76 by forging her doctor’s signature on documents that protect customers from utility shut off if they suffer from a medical condition and could suffer harm if their utilities are shut off. The protection is not permanent but can be renewed by the doctor. Customers seeking the waiver are required to provide the doctor’s name and contact information. Detective Robert Martin began investigating the case after being contacted by an investigator from UI in January. He learned…

Fairfield Local News

Town to Conduct Public Workshop On Housing Strategies

Mar 15, 2014 Alex

FAIRFIELD, CT–March 14, 2014—The Town of Fairfield has scheduled a public workshop to get input from Fairfield residents regarding possible strategies related to increasing Fairfield’s housing opportunities. The workshop is scheduled for: Tuesday April 1, 2014 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Board of Education Conference Room 501 Kings Highway East Many people are surprised to learn that about half of Fairfield’s housing units were built in a 25-year period between 1945 and 1970. Those housing units reflected community needs and desires prevalent during that period. However, since that time, Fairfield’s population has changed and now includes many older residents and smaller households who may be looking for other housing choices. Children of current residents might also want housing units in…

Local News

Lavielle: FRA Report Must Be a Loud Wake-Up Call for Metro-North

Mar 15, 2014 Alex

HARTFORD -- Following a series of serious accidents during the past year, including two that caused fatalities, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in December launched Operation Deep Dive, an investigation assessing Metro-North’s operations and safety compliance. Today the FRA published its report, which includes a set of recommendations. According to the report, Metro-North has overemphasized on-time performance to the detriment of safety, has provided inadequate training to operational personnel, and has failed to create a culture of safety among its employees. Rep. Gail Lavielle (R-143), Ranking Member of the Transportation Subcommittee of the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the findings: “The FRA report is alarming. The findings show safety deficiencies in every area of…

Fairfield Local News

Meet Author Cindi Pietrzyk: Off the Beaten Path: Connecticut

Mar 15, 2014 Alex

[Fairfield, CT, March 14, 2014] Join "Off the Beaten Path: Connecticut" author Cindi Pietrzyk in the Rotary Room at the Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Road, on Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 as she talks about her book. Cindi will present a slide show that highlights a few stops in each section of the book, offering some little-known facts and some stories about her travels. Cindi Pietrzyk is a freelance writer and editor based in Durham, Connecticut. She is the author of numerous New England travel books, as well as serving as an editor for Connecticut Forest and Park's Connecticut Walk Book: East. When she is not writing, she works as a freelance proofreader and editor. She graduated from…

Local News

Trumbull News: Hit in the head by a line drive

Mar 14, 2014 Stephen Krauchick

5:14pm--#Trumbull CT--EMS on the way to Trumbull High School JV field for a 20 year old hit in the head by a line drive. Reports say the victim has significant bleeding from the head.

Bridgeport Local News

Former Real Estate Agent Charged With Defrauding 33 Additional Victims

Mar 14, 2014 Alex

(Bridgeport, CT – March 13, 2014)—A real estate agent allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars from nearly three dozen people who hired him to find them apartments. He was arrested and posted $36,000 bond. Maurice Earley Sr., 48, was arrested last year for similar conduct. Since his initial arrest, 33 more victims have come forward with similar stories. Earley worked as a real estate broker and promised to find people rental apartments. He took retainer fees and money for security deposits for apartments that sometimes weren’t available, failed to deliver housing to the victims and kept their money, according to an investigation by Detective Frank Podpolucha. The loss to the 33 victims totaled $36,250. Earley’s real estate license was…

Local News

Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program Hosts Preventing Foreclosure Forum

Mar 14, 2014 Alex

The Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program (MCJTP), a project of The WorkPlace is sponsoring a resource forum to help people at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure. The event will include presentations by the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, the Housing Development Fund and the Connecticut Department of Banking. Headlining the agenda will be remarks by Connecticut Senators Andres Ayala and Anthony Musto. The state ranks seventh in the nation in foreclosures, having experienced one foreclosure filing last year for every 752 homes, according to Realtytrac. Additionally they note that Connecticut saw an 82% jump in foreclosure activity from December to January. This is an opportunity to hear from housing experts on tools and resources available to families…

Local News

CTWorks Career Coach in Westport March 20

Mar 14, 2014 Alex

Barbara Butler, Director of the Westport Department of Human Services announced today the return of the newly enhanced CTWorks Career Coach at Westport Town Hall. On Thursday, March 20, the Coach will be offering a beginner’s class in Microsoft Word 2007 from 10 – 12 PM followed by an intermediate class in Word 2007 from 1-3 PM. Contact the Westport Department of Human Services for specific course description information. The Career Coach is a “training center” tour bus equipped with ten wireless computer labs offering free computer classes to residents in the greater Norwalk area. The mobile unit operates on a monthly schedule of visits to various community locations and is accessible to people with disabilities. Area residents interested in…

Fairfield Local News

Wine Tasting Fundraiser to Benefit Dress for Success® Mid-Fairfield County

Mar 14, 2014 Alex

Bridgeport – March 12, 2014 The WorkPlace is pleased to announce its Wine Tasting and Silent Auction Fundraiser to benefit Dress for Success® Mid-Fairfield County. Hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served to complement the selection of wines provided by Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market. There is a wide selection of auction items for you to bid on. Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. The event will take place on Thursday, April 3, 6-8pm, at the Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Carousel at 1875 Noble Avenue in…

DoingItLocal

Legislation Proposed by Rep. Lavielle Clears Transportation Committee

Town to Conduct Public Workshop On Housing Strategies

Lavielle: FRA Report Must Be a Loud Wake-Up Call for Metro-North

Meet Author Cindi Pietrzyk: Off the Beaten Path: Connecticut

Trumbull News: Hit in the head by a line drive

Former Real Estate Agent Charged With Defrauding 33 Additional Victims

Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program Hosts Preventing Foreclosure Forum

CTWorks Career Coach in Westport March 20

Wine Tasting Fundraiser to Benefit Dress for Success® Mid-Fairfield County

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