Beardsley Zoo offers free admission this Sunday

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 13:59

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo will offer free admission Sunday, Nov. 22.

People are welcome to visit to see the tigers, bears, otters and owls; walk through the tropical rainforest, wolf cabin and aviary; and get face-to-face with a prairie dog, ocelot and monkey.

Latest Ellsworth Field revisions shown to neighborhood

Written by Bettina Thiel
Thursday, 19 November 2009 21:14

City officials are taking another look at plans for Ellsworth Field after listening to residents’ concerns at a community meeting.

Close to 100 people turned out Nov. 12 to learn how city officials plan to spend a $500,000 state grant allocated for park improvements.

The park at the intersection of Brewster and Ellsworth streets has three baseball diamonds, two tennis courts and a playscape.

COMMENTARY: City actions were a factor in school system’s financial issues

Written by School Supt. John J. Ramos Sr.
Thursday, 19 November 2009 16:54

Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part commentary focusing on Board of Education finances and operations, and city-school relations.

At the most critical time, during closing of the 2008-09 fiscal year, several factors negatively conspired to contribute to the Board of Education’s inability to successfully reconcile our budget.

We were stripped of our control over key processes that were essential to end-of-year closing.

AmFab artist studios visitor: ‘I wish there were more places like this’

Written by Brad Durrell
Thursday, 19 November 2009 16:58

Virginia Macias of Stamford was walking down the stairs of the American Fabrics complex with two friends, having just spent time checking out all the artist studios inside the former East End factory.

Macias didn’t need to give a detailed explanation of what the group thought of the AmFab open studios event on Saturday. “I think the bags tell the story,” she said, with all three women holding bags from purchases they had made as they prepared to leave.

Author of book about early blacks in pro football gives Dec. 3 talk at Black Rock Library

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 17:22

The author of a book about the integration of professional football after World War II will speak Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Black Rock Branch Library 2705 Fairfield Ave.

Andy Piascik, author of Gridiron Gauntlet: The Story of the Men Who Integrated Pro Football, In Their Own Words, will give a presentation and autograph copies of the book, which will be available for sale. Refreshments will be served.

Municipal leaf pickups begin in Bridgeport; This year, rake leaves close to the curb

Monday, 16 November 2009 23:01

Bridgeport Public Facilities Department workers began picking up leaves throughout the entire city Monday, Nov. 16.

For the first time this year, residents are being asked to rake leaves into the grassy area between the sidewalk and curb for pick-up.

Bridgeport police officers promoted; department now has assistant chief

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 17:26

Bridgeport Police Capt. Lynn Kerwin was sworn in as the department’s assistant chief Monday night in the City Hall council chambers. She was one of 17 officers to be promoted at the ceremony.

Kerwin is only the third officer to be appointed assistant chief in the history of the Bridgeport Police Department.

Fire officials investigate fatal fire at P.T. Barnum Apartments

Written by Brad Durrell
Thursday, 19 November 2009 21:21

The smoke woke up Alicia Hilliard in her P.T. Apartments unit at about 12:45 a.m. on Nov. 13, and she banged on her neighbor Tiana Black’s wall and door to let her know what was happening so Black and her family could escape too.

“I thought the fire was in my home,” said Hilliard, who said she and her children were able to make it outside to safety by 12:50 a.m.

“We were choking on the smoke,” she said.

Friday pasta dinner planned in Black Rock to benefit fund in fire victims' memory

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 00:34

Black Rock Little League (BRLL) and the SS Norden Club will host a pasta dinner to raise funds for the Tiana Black Family Scholarship on Friday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. at the club, 4 Seabright Ave.

Black and her young children — Nyasija, Tyasija and Nyshon Williams — were killed in a fire early Friday morning in the P.T. Barnum Apartments.

Former Gov. John Rowland to speak at church-sponsored seminar in Bridgeport on Nov. 21

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 18:43

Former Gov. John G. Rowland is coming to Bridgeport to speak about the highs and lows of his political life, having been a popular governor and congressman who then went to jail in a corruption scandal.

Rowland will speak at the Community Life Seminar with a breakfast buffet on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 9 a.m. at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn. 1070 Main St.

The seminar is sponsored by The Church of the Resurrection in Bridgeport, headed by the Rev. William R. Bulkley.