Connecticut Postings » Frank Juliano

Road work in downtown Bridgeport

Frank Juliano — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:25:39 +0000

The city’s Downtown Road Improvement Project, which began on April 15, continues this week with the milling of Lafayette Boulevard, John Street and North Frontage Road.

Milling on Lafayette Boulevard from North Frontage Road to John Street is underway and is expected to last through today, said Elaine Ficarra, spokesman for Mayor Bill Finch.

Paving of Lafayette Boulevard is expected to begin on Thursday and milling of John Street from West Avenue to Water Street is also scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 25. Paving of John Street is scheduled to begin early next week.

Drivers should expect minor delays during this road improvement project

Police say store owners snagged robbers

Frank Juliano — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:03:41 +0000

Angel Cabasquini had a bad day on Monday, West Haven police said.
When he attempted to hold up two men on Washington Street by implying that he had a gun, one of the victims flagged down a passing car for help, according to the incident report.
A short time later police say Cabasquini attempted to rob the Silver Dollar store downtown, but the owners held the suspect until officers could arrest him.
Cabasquini, 31, of Washington Avenue, fled the first scene and as detectives were interviewing the victims there) another call came in that a robbery was occurring at the Silver Dollar store on Campbell Avenue, said Officer Brett Schneider, the West Haven police department spokesman.
“Upon arrival officers found Cabasquini was being detained by the owners of the store after (the suspect) had implied that he had a gun behind his back and took about $350 out of the cash register,’’ Schneider said. No one was injured in either incident.
Cabasquini was charged with criminal attempt to commit second-degree robbery in connection with the street holdup, and second-degree robbery and sixth-degree larceny in the second incident, and was held on bond overnight.
“Police appreciate the assistance of the store owners but would like to caution the public that at any time a robber or would-be robber can have an unseen weapon or physically harm anyone who attempts to stop them,’’ Schneider said. “Please use caution and as always call 911 immediately.’’

Warm weather will stick around

Frank Juliano — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:57:55 +0000

Everybody exhale.
There are no storms on the way.
It isn’t going to get below freezing tonight.
It’s going to be a nice day today, and tomorrow is looking pretty good too.
Monday was the warmest day of 2013 so far, said Steve McLaughlin of WeatherXEdge.com, with the temperature in Bridgeport topping out at 65; 10 degrees above normal. The last time it was warmer in the Park City was on Oct. 29, when the mercury hit 66.
Today will be even warmer, with readings of 70 along the shore and 75 or higher in the Danbury area, said WTNH meteorologist Gil Simmons. “You can almost see the grass greening up with the showers we had last night, and it will be nice and warm again today.’’
There is a chance of showers tonight with low temperatures remaining above 50 degrees throughout the region, he said. Wednesday will be nearly as warm but a bit windy, forecasters said, and Thursday’s high of 57 along the shore will be closer to what we’re used to at this time of year.
Simmons said there will be some heavy rain Friday morning, particularly inland, but the weekend is shaping up to be a nice one.
The National Weather Service puts the chance of rain on Friday at 60 percent in the Bridgeport area and 70 percent in Danbury.
But remember what they say about April showers.

Free tai chi classes in Bridgeport

Frank Juliano — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:30:06 +0000

The city will mark National Public Health Week next week with a number of free programs, including tai chi classes.

The tai chi classes are geared to seniors but open to anyone. Here is the schedule for the week’s offerings by the city Department of Health and Social Service:

Monday:

Free Tai Chi at 10:30 a.m. at the North Branch Public Library, 3455 Madison Ave.

Tuesday:

Free Tai Chi at 10:30 a.m. at Hall Commons Senior Center, 55 George E. Pipkins Way

Free Tai Chi at noon at the Margaret E. Morton Government Center, 999 Broad St.

Wednesday:

Healthy Homes Website Launch at 3 p.m. at the Columbus School Lighthouse Program at 275 George St.

Thursday:

Tai Chi at 10 a.m. at East Side Senior Center, 1057 East Main St.

Gun buyback continues on Saturday

Frank Juliano — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:08:18 +0000

Bridgeport’s gun buyback program, which has taken more than 730 firearms off the streets since December, will continue on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the police department’s Community Services Division, 1395 Sylvan Avenue.

More than $150,000 in cash and grocer gift cards has been raised from businesses and private donations to fund the program, and the city is accepting donation to continue the program.

More than three dozen assault weapons have been turned in so far.

“Every gun that’s turned in is one less gun that could be used to kill or injure someone,” said Mayor Finch. “This effort has been an amazing success and we want to keep it going as long as people want to turn in their guns.”

Donations to the gun buyback fund are welcome and members of the public who wish to donate can send a check to RYASAP Gun Buyback Fund, 2470 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605.

Street closings for today’s St. Pat’s Day parade in Bridgeport

Frank Juliano — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:11:54 +0000

Side streets will be closed to traffic at 11 a.m. Main arteries will remain open but will be closed to traffic by police as the parade approaches.

The following streets will be closed beginning at 11 a.m. or as needed. They will re-open following the parade:

Broad Street (from N. Frontage Road to Fairfield Avenue)
Fairfield Avenue (from Broad Street to Main Street)
Main Street (from Fairfield Avenue to N. Frontage Road)
Cannon Street (From Main Street to Broad Street)
John Street (From Main Street to Broad Street)
State Street (From Main Street to Broad Street)
Cesar Batalla Way
N. Frontage Road (From Main Street to Broad Street)

Bridgeport offers Citizens Police Academy

Frank Juliano — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:52:40 +0000

The Bridgeport Police Department is accepting applications for its annual Citizens Police Academy, which is designed to give citizens an up-close understanding of the police department and its efforts to prevent and solve crime and protect citizens.

“The Citizens Academy provides residents and business owners with an inside look at law enforcement and the city’s police force. It lets community members better know their officers and helps officers better know their community,” said Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr. “The goal is to build relationships and have the graduates come back to their communities as ambassadors.”

The application deadline is March 15, and the academy will be held on Thursday evenings from April 4 to June 20.

The class size will be limited to 30 students. Students must be at least 21 years old and a U.S. citizen, and they must be a Bridgeport resident, taxpayer or business owner. Candidates must be of good moral character, in good physical condition and cannot have convictions of a felony or Class A or B misdemeanor.

For more information, please contact Sgt. Meekins at the department’s Community Services Division at 203-576-8278.

Finch visits Mercy Learning Center

Frank Juliano — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:44:41 +0000

Mayor Bill Finch visited Tuesday with tutors and students at the Mercy Learning Center who are eager to learn English as a Second Language, grammar, mathematics and civics.

Finch spoke with recent recipients of the state general equivilency high school diploma.

Mercy Learning Center is a non-profit literacy program dedicated to educating low-income, undereducated women and their preschool-aged children. To learn more about Mercy Learning Center and its adult education programs, visit www.mercylearningcenter.org or call 203-334-6699.

Barnum Museum sneak peek at noon

Frank Juliano — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:43:16 +0000

Quick, grab a brown-bag lunch and head downtown to the Barnum Museum, the Bridgeport landmark that has been closed since a tornado damaged it two years ago. Visitors can see the restoration underway and peak under Lavinia Warren’s skirts. The dress form belonging to the diminutive 1860s superstar is one of the items on display Read More

Chris Shays gets a new gig

Frank Juliano — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:27:37 +0000

BRIDGEPORT — Former Congressman Christopher Shays is rejoining the University of New Haven faculty as a distinguished fellow in public service.
Shays had been an adjunct professor at UNH in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He will co-teach several courses, including some at the Henry C. Lee forensics school and in the business school.