The Norwalk Branch, NAACP will hold its 12th annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Friday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m. at Water’s Edge Giovanni’s, 2748 Post Road, Darien.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Marie M. Spivey, chair of the Connecticut Commission on Health Equity, and vice president for Health Equity of the Connecticut Hospital Association. The topic of her address will be “Power Up: No Time Like the Present!”
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be the Reverend Dr. Jeffrey A. Ingraham, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Norwalk.
The Barbara Jean Edmonds Penn Memorial Award for Community Service will be given to Marguerite Fuller, the first African-American teacher in the Norwalk Public Schools. The Reverend J. P. Ball Award for Leadership will be given to former Police Chief Harry W. Rilling.
Music will be provided by Rasheem Dixon and Intimate Encounter.
“We are fortunate to welcome Dr. Spivey as our keynote speaker,” said Jill Griffin, chairperson of the Freedom Fund Banquet Committee. “She believes we have the power to overcome disparities in health care right now. And we are proud of our two honorees, Marguerite Fuller and Harry W. Rilling. They have brought so much to the Norwalk community.”
Dinner tickets are $65. Tables for 10 cost $650.00. To reserve a spot, call Jackie at 203-847-2196 or Jill at 203-644-0350.
By Nicole Rivard
At a press briefing Tuesday morning Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia commended frontline police, fire, public works and city employees as well as other agencies for their efforts and expertise as Hurricane Sandy pummeled the area.
He said that there were some 150 reports of trees down and that approximately 60 percent—or 18,000 residents–are without power.
The emergency shelter at Brien McMahon High School will remain open today and tonight. Michelle DeLuca reported that 241 residents sheltered overnight, some with pets.
The yard debris site at 15 South Smith St. will be open to the public this afternoon until 5.
City Hall is without power and will be closed today.
Pubic works officials reported the Norwalk Sewage Treatment Plant is online and operational and that city water is safe. The plant was taken offline at approximately 9:30 p.m. as a precaution in anticipation of storm surge flooding. The flooding did not occur and the plant was brought back online around midnight.
The mayor is asking residents to call customer service at 854-3200 to report trees and wires down.
One of the hardest hit areas was Bell Island, according to Norwalk Police Chief Tom Kulhawik and Fire Chief Denis McCarthy. They assisted with 100 evacuations with a high water truck in the Bell Island neighborhood.
Bus service is expected to be back in operation Wednesday morning.
SNEW is reporting that they will shut off power to flooded neighborhoods to protect the electrical infrastructure, prevent electrocutions and fire. South Norwalk neighborhoods along the Norwalk River, from Neptune Avenue North, and generally along Meadow Street to Woodward to South Main and East of South Main to Washington Street will be affected. Rowayton residents south of McKinley will also loose power this afternoon.
As a resident served by the electrical circuit that will come off line please be aware you are likely to loose service between 4 and 5:30 this afternoon. Restoration times cannot be estimated at this time, but it is anticipated you will be without power for at least 30 hours. Residents should be aware they will loose power to all electric service including sump pumps, phones and refrigeration. You are advised to evacuate, and the Brien McMahon high school shelter is available open.
By Nicole Rivard
At a press briefing this morning, Norwalk Department of Public Works Director Hal Alvord said that all Belle Island residents have no sewer service as the Belle Island pumping station is submerged. The Sammis Street pumping station is on backup power and he anticipates losing that pumping station completely as well.
“People who live in those areas of the city should not be using their toilets or their drain systems because the chances are, at their elevation, the sewage is just going to blow right back into their homes.”
The Sewerage Treatment Plant did not overflow at the midday high tide, but such an overflow is anticipated at the midnight tide. If this occurs it will be necessary to proactively shut down the plant until any flooding subsides and equipment can be dried out.
Alvord was joined by Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia, Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik and Fire Chief Denis McCarthy.
Officials reported that areas of Norwalk were already flooded including Veterans Park. They said to expect full category three flooding, which could mean high tide levels up to six feet above flood stage. Record High Tide is expected at high tide just after midnight tonight.
Gale force winds are expected to continue through the day. Expect near hurricane force winds over water this afternoon, with 60-80 mph gusts. Expect some of these winds to hit coastal areas. Sustained winds are expected through midnight—approximately nine hours of consistent high winds. By tomorrow morning winds are expect to drop to tropical storm velocity and below tropical storm velocity by tomorrow afternoon.
As of noon, officials said 80 people were at the emergency shelter set up at Brien McMahon High School. McCarthy expected more as he reported 3,300 homes are in flood prone zones in Norwalk.
“If you are in a flood prone area evacuate your home by nightfall. Weather will deteriorate rapidly after 3 p.m.,” McCarthy said.
“What we want to impress upon residents is traveling around the city is going to be very dangerous and next to impossible once we start sustaining tree damage,” McCarthy said. “Flood conditions will close a number of roads. As the mayor pointed out the fire department had to assist some people out of their homes because the streets were already flooded.”
He gave the example of a fire rescue boat that helped evacuate a family living in the Harbor Shore area.
“If the winds are sustained at about 50 miles per hour we can’t send our crews out. There’s no way we are going to be able to get to you,” Moccia said.
Norwalk Hospital is offering a free smoking cessation program beginning on Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. in the third floor respiratory classroom in the Section of Pulmonary Medicine at the hospital. The program consists of six weekly sessions.
The hospital’s Section of Pulmonary Medicine offers the smoking cessation program, free of charge, as a community service. The instructor is Beverly Jacoby of the Section of Pulmonary Medicine.
The program employs multiple techniques in assisting smokers interested in quitting. Information on nicotine replacement therapy, controlling weight during the quitting process and the health benefits of quitting are included. Group support and expert counseling are key aspects of our program, Jacoby explained. This program has been offered twice a year by the Section of Pulmonary Medicine since the 1970s.
The smoking cessation program provides a general knowledge related to smoking, a plan of action to stop smoking and social support in the effort of quitting.
Early registration is requested for the smoking cessation program. To register or obtain more information about this program, call 203-852-2484.
Norwalk Community College will offer Orientation Sessions for students new to NCC on Aug. 29 and 30 in the West Campus cafeteria, 188 Richards Ave., Norwalk.
Orientation provides an opportunity to meet NCC students, faculty, counselors and staff. You’ll learn helpful tips and gain useful information about strategies to succeed in college. Raffle drawing will be held to win an I-Pod and E-Reader. There will be door prizes and free giveaways.
Students have their choice of attending a day or evening session:
Wednesday, Aug. 29
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Continental breakfast will be served
Thursday, Aug. 30
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Dinner will be served
For information, contact the office of Dean of Students Robert Baer at 203-857-7325.
Halloween is coming early to Sheffield Island as visitors to the lighthouse will be greeted by ghosts, goblins, ghouls and things that go bump in the dark Aug. 11 and 12.
Norwalk Seaport Association will present the ‘’Haunted Sheffield Island Lighthouse.”
“Sheffield Lighthouse will be transformed into a ‘gently’ haunted house for the weekend that is sure to delight all of our visitors,” said Irene Dixon, president of the Norwalk Seaport Association. “This special weekend is just one of a range of activities we offer for children and adults at the historic lighthouse that allows them to learn a bit of maritime history and enjoy the lighthouse, the island and the Sound.”
Haunted Lighthouse activities are free, but participants must purchase round-trip ferry tickets: $22 for adults, $12 for children ages 4-12, $5 for children, ages 3 and younger. The NSA Ferry to Sheffield Island departs at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. from the Sheffield Island dock, adjacent to the Stroffolino Bridge, at the corner of Washington and Water Streets in South Norwalk.
The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public awareness of Norwalk’s maritime environment and heritage. The association has owned, restored and maintained Sheffield Island Lighthouse since 1986 and is the official U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Friends group for the Norwalk Islands. From May through September, visitors can board the Seaport Association’s 45-foot C.J. Toth catamaran for a cruise to the island then tour the lighthouse, observe wildlife in its natural habitat in the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, hunt for shells along the beach, dine on a picnic lunch and play on the lawns around the lighthouse. For information, visit www.seaport.org or call 203-838-9444.
