Jail N’ Bail Event Captures Funds for Special Olympics

Jail N’ Bail Event Captures Funds for Special Olympics:

Sacred Heart University students and faculty “bond” for cause

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

4/6/11

Fairfield, CT – Usually when someone is being arrested, they are not smiling about it. But for dozens of students, faculty members and other staff at Sacred Heart University, they were only too glad to be handcuffed and thrown in jail.

In this case, it was all for a good cause – an all-day “Jail N’ Bail” fundraiser for Special Olympics of Connecticut, held on the university’s campus, 5151 Park Avenue. A range of law enforcement groups were on hand to assist including the Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford and Trumbull police departments, the Connecticut State Police and the university’s Public Safety office. 

“This is the second year we’ve held the event,” said Public Safety Officer John Kichinko, who organized the fundraiser. “Last year, we raised about $13,000. Based on that success, we decided to hold it again, with a goal of raising $20,000.”

Kichinko explained how the very creative fundraising process worked. “Basically, anyone can fill out a warrant on someone, for such offenses as messy hair or sleeping too late,” he said. “The warrant is then given to one of our law enforcement partners and they’ll go get the individual wherever they are on campus. If the person is willing – and they all are – they are handcuffed and brought to appear before a judge. In this case, the judges are local attorneys, university administrators and police officials like Bridgeport Deputy Chief Jim Honis. They review the warrant and set a bail amount. The ‘suspect’ is then put in jail.”

The warrant application station, judge’s office, holding cells and bail payment area were all makeshift set-ups located on an outdoor patio next to the campus’ dining facility. This area was abuzz with activity and noise as “arrestees” were led in by officers, judges assessed cases, exchanges took place at the payment and application stations and “prisoners” wailed from their cells.

Kichinko said arrestees were allowed to make phone calls or have visits – whatever they needed to do to raise bail, which ranged from $50 to $250 depending on the arrestee. “The warrant itself is five dollars,” said Kichinko, “which is paid by the issuer of the warrant, who could be a student, faculty, family or people in the community. One-hundred percent of all funds collected go to Special Olympics.”

As Kichinko spoke, Trumbull police officer Brian Weir escorted SHU assistant women’s soccer coach Jorge Pinto, who was handcuffed, to see the judges. Pinto said, “Apparently I braked a little late in my car while traveling to Yale with the team the other day. I’ll definitely drive slower next time when the team’s in the car.”

Every prisoner had their own story to tell about their apparent misbehavior. Student Danielle Belson, 18, said, “I’m in here for being sassy and trespassing. My bail’s been set at $60. I’ve been texting people to come get me out, but no one’s answering me!”

In an adjacent holding cell, student Donald Gill, 18, said, “According to the warrant, my offense was stealing my sexy Brazilian roommate from my friends.”

One of Gill’s friends, a fellow student who helped issue the warrant, was Taylor Filanowski, 18. She said, in her defense, “He was just stealing him for far too long. We just had to do it.”

Gill said his bail was set at $50. “I’ve reached out to my frat brothers and roommate,” he said. “They’ve all come by, but no one has paid to get me out yet.”

Law enforcement wasn’t even immune to the day’s arrest activities, judging by the presence of Public Safety Officers Stephanie Trelli and Kate Frederick behind bars.

“My offense is that I’m the rookie,” smiled Trelli. “I’m fairly new to the department. This is how they pay me back!”

The cries from the jail grew louder – “Bail me out!” “Help me!” and “Get me outta here!” Assistant Coach Pinto even broke into a mournful song: “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows my sorrow…”

Meanwhile, over at the warrant application area, Alex Drexl, 19, was filling out a warrant on her professor. “I don’t want to go to class today,” she said, then added, “It’s all good and for a good cause.”

Processing bail money, Lisa Vane, Regional Director of the Special Olympics of Connecticut Southwest Region, was thrilled that the university was hosting the event. “These funds are much-needed for our athletes,” she said. “We appreciate the enthusiasm of the students, faculty and everyone else that came out on this sunny day to help.”

Standing beside several police command vehicles parked in front of Seton Hall, Fairfield police officer Jay Valle recalled a funny stunt a teacher pulled at last year’s fundraiser. “He gave a surprise quiz to his class and they all flunked, so he had his entire class arrested, which netted about $800 in donations. This is a great event and everyone really gets into it.”

Cyclists and Walkers Share Thoughts in Advance of Forum

Cyclists and Walkers Share Thoughts in Advance of Forum

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

3/29/11

Fairfield, CT – On Thursday evening, April 14, at Osborn Hill Elementary School, 760 Stillson Road, a public forum sponsored by the Town of Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Advisory Committee will address bike and pedestrian access and safety throughout town. The forum will be an opportunity for residents and committee members to share ideas and concerns.

The Committee was created through a grant from the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency and is comprised of volunteer residents and representatives from the Town Planning and Zoning Commission, Police Department, Public Works and the GBRPA.

In advance of the forum, the Citizen News spoke with Kirsten Etela, the committee’s chair, and hit the street to chat with cyclists and pedestrians about the issues.

“I feel that current facilities for walkers are inadequate and many sidewalks are incomplete,” said Etela. “The town’s been doing a good job addressing, but it needs to go further. For cyclists, the challenge is the number of cars on the road and their speed. There’s also a lack of education of both cyclists and motorists on how to share the road. Motorists by law must give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing and, more often than not, that doesn’t happen.”

Out walking together along Beach Road, Fairfield residents Carrie Cochrane and Leslie Noland were mostly satisfied with conditions. “We do a three-mile route in the beach area,” said Cochrane. “We feel safe walking and no threats from cars, and there are ample sidewalks. In the winter, of course, sidewalks were impossible, but that was due to all the snow.”

Noland pointed out a couple trouble spots, however. “If it’s a main road with no sidewalks, like Sasco Hill Road or Round Hill Road, I try to avoid it,” she said. “Pequot Avenue and the Turkey Trot route in Southport could really use sidewalks, too.”

Cochrane was happy about a few recent improvements. “The new sidewalks around Unquowa and Sturges are fabulous,” she said. “They made it more of a walking area, especially with kids.”

The pair felt a dedicated walking area wouldn’t be of interest to them, as they like to change up their routes, but that it could be good for kids on bikes and moms with strollers.

Trotting east on the Post Road near the Shell station, Sam Audino, 16, of Fairfield, said he does a lot of walking around town and enjoys it. “I’ve actually been avoiding getting my driver’s permit because I feel that, if I have it, I might get quite lazy and drive around all the time. I find sidewalks to be good downtown and wide enough for walkers and bikers to pass each other.”

Still, Audino pointed out a couple difficult areas. “The intersection by Borders can be a hassle to cross given cars making various turns,” he said. “Another tough spot is North Benson Road where it goes under the train overpass. There’s just no sidewalk there.”

Pushing a stroller east on the Post Road and carrying her infant son, Kelly Scinto thought walking routes were better near downtown versus the outskirts. “Beyond Brick Walk headed east, it gets difficult,” she said. “There are fewer defined paths. If there was a dedicated area to walk or pedestrian zone, we would love that.”

Cyclist Jonah Burnim, 31, of Fairfield, who was biking west on the Post Road, was particularly opinionated on issues. “Riding the roads is pretty much suicide and you get yelled at for riding on the sidewalks,” he said. “Riding between Beach Road and Mill Plain is especially challenging. I feel like an alien. I get looks and comments like “Oh, my God” when I ride on the sidewalk. But when I’m on the street, no one’s going to stop for me.”

Burnim added, “I ride to work at a local insurance agency and other times ride for pleasure. More bike paths would be sweet and make me feel like I’m accepted and not sneaking around.”

Cyclists Jim Sabo, 22, of Bridgeport, and Tom Frost, 17, of Fairfield, were also very vocal about their local biking experience. “I do a lot of bike riding from Black Rock to Fairfield,” said Sabo. “I feel like I’m kind of limited coming into Fairfield and competing with pedestrians on the sidewalks. In the streets, it’s worse as I’m going head-on into traffic. Cars don’t pay attention to traffic signs or lights and they’re coming pretty fast. I almost got hit the other day when these two cars came through the intersection by Cumberland Farms. A designated bike lane on the street like they have in New York would be ideal.”

Added Frost, “Sometimes when I ride on the sidewalk by a business, cars exit right out into the sidewalk and right in the path where I’m riding. You can barely stop in time.”

A Whole Lot of Trash Talkin’ at Westport Library

A Whole Lot of Trash Talkin’ at Westport Library

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

3/30/11

Westport, CT – Reducing, reusing, recycling, composting. These were just a few of the strategies a select panel of experts recommended to a full house of eco-conscious citizens with regard to achieving zero trash.

The experts included representatives from the Green Village Initiative (GVI) and Town of Westport and all were part of a presentation titled “The Zero Garbage Concept” given in the McManus Room at Westport Library Wednesday evening.

The GVI started in Westport in 2009 with a mission to make the region a model of what is possible with local action towards a sustainable future. Its efforts have included the installation of edible gardens at area schools and senior centers, establishing a community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm serving 150 families, initiating a water clean-up plan and work to ban pesticides and clear cutting of forests. 

The talk began with a screening of the award-winning animated environmental short film, “The Story of Stuff”. Narrated by Annie Leonard, the 2007 production, which has enjoyed over 12 million online views to date, discusses the way we create and deal with waste. It touched on such topics as flame retardants and toxins, the planned obsolence of products, the endangerment of factory workers, harmful incineration and the role of advertising in contributing to our excessive consumption. It made the case that we have a system in crisis but that it can be fixed with new strategies.

Dr. David Brown, a Westport resident and public health toxicologist, was the first speaker of the evening to recommend a few new approaches, at least in a general sense. His extensive study of the health effects of ground water being contaminated by toxic materials leaching from landfills led him to become an advocate for change. He said we are doing a lot to alter our ways but we can do more. “Tell each other about your good efforts, look to the past to see how materials were reused and help people see things differently,” he suggested.

Steve Edwards, Westport’s Director of Public Works, was glad to announce significant change. He said that the current recycling system, which was introduced to the town in 1991, is being modified to accommodate a wider range of commodities. To go into effect July 1, the system is expected to increase recycling 20 - 30% while simplifying the process for consumers.

“Right now, we can only recycle plastics coded #1 or #2,” he said. “The new process will accommodate all the plastics from 1 to 7. We’ll also take chipboard (e.g. cereal boxes) and aseptic containers (juice boxes, milk cartons). Consumers will be able to place everything in a single collection bin versus having to separate out newspapers from glass and metal as they do now.”

Edwards added that the town already processes electronics, to the tune of four tons a month, a rate which leads the state.

Sharing easy-to-adopt secrets of composting was Dina Brewster, whose family has owned The Hickories farm in Ridgefield since 1936. The 20-acre site is now a CSA farm, to which 225 families subscribe.

“I made a New Years resolution to adopt ‘food thrift,’” she said, “limiting what I consume, waste and throw away. Waste doesn’t exist in an ecological system. Think about food, yard clippings, dryer lint, paper and other carbon materials that you can compost, or sequester in the soil.”

Brewster said composting can be easy or complex, as an individual prefers. “You can have a simple ‘rot pile’ that’s turned over periodically,” she said. “Or you can have a two-bin system, wherein you move debris from one bin to another, turning it over. Two to three inches of the soil created can be sprinkled over a lawn. A third option is a worm bin – worms are incredibly efficient at digesting material and turning it into soil. Just have patience as you use the soil to convert a chemically managed plot to a biologically managed one.”

Deepika Saksena, who is initiating a GVI in Darien, explained how she was inspired to take the concept of reduce-reuse-recycle to a new level, striving for zero trash. “I travel a lot to countries in Asia, like India where I was born,” she said. “As the population goes up, the garbage volume is going up exponentially. Most of it is plastic, which never goes away. Often, trash the U.S. produces is sent to India, where it’s cheaper to process. A lot of the waste is electronic and people processing it there use low-tech handling and put themselves at extreme health risk. It made me think there must be a better way to handle trash. I realized the only way to do that was to reduce it, and decided to start with myself.”

Leaving the audience with a few strategies they could try at home, Saksena said, “In terms of reducing, I think three times before I buy something. I compost and try not to waste. I also try to buy local and have joined a CSA farm. I get my seasonal vegetables from there and use a freezer for storage. This is the main thing that reduces packaging usage. Over an average three-week period, I have maybe half a newspaper bag of trash. Anything else is composted or recycled.”

Seeds Planted for Fairfield’s Organic Teaching Farm

Seeds Planted for Fairfield’s 
Organic Teaching Farm

By Mike Lauterborn

(Appeared on front page of 

Fairfield Sun 3/31)

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

3/19/11

Fairfield, CT – New England has a rich agricultural history, dating back prior to European settlement. In 1920, 215 farms supported the town of Fairfield. However, as Fairfield continues to grow, the number of working farms supporting the area has dramatically declined. A group of concerned citizens has stepped up to see that farming traditions in Fairfield are preserved while creating a new educational center that would be a hub of year-round seasonal activities.

Pamela Jones, president of the Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm (FOTF), as the project is known, and other members of the group, met with the Sun at two sites that are being considered for a working farm. Both parcels of land flank the H. Smith Richardson driving range along Hoyden’s Lane in northeastern Fairfield.

“We’ve been given permission to use a one-acre lot on the Parcell’s property, which is also the site of a proposed girls softball field, abutting the driving range to the west,” said Jones. “This is under the jurisdiction of Parks and Recreation.”

As to the alternate site, Jones said, “We also have permission to use a two-acre site, with an open field and barn, adjacent to the range, but to the east, which is part of Hoyden’s Hill Open Space (HHOS) and under the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission. Both sites are situated on the highest elevated point in Fairfield, which is ecologically significant in terms of water flow.”

Jones said her group seeks a 3-year lease on one of the two sites, but that there are pros and cons to each parcel, which is making decision-making difficult.

Hoyden’s Hill Open Space plot

“The Commission’s requirement in terms of leasing the HHOS space is to have FOTF undertake a bird study,” said Jones. “The last comprehensive bird study done in town was in 2005 at a cost of $10,000. Having to undertake such a study creates a significant obligation and challenges in terms of fundraising and resources to manage, and the FOTF is the only party being asked to do this with regard to land usage in this area. You’ve got a police gun range here, the driving range, development plans for the softball field… all of this going on, and no one else has been asked to do this study. It’s frustrating.”

On the other hand, added Jones, there’s historical significance to the site, with roots dating back to the 1600s, and an existing management plan that specifically recommends that the land be used for farming and educational purposes. The HHOS is also on the north-south migratory bird route and is an important resting place for various bird species. “It’s really part of a matrix of habitats,” Jones said.

Jones’ colleague, Jennifer Cole, the FOTF’s vice president, said the group has already made an investment here as well.

“The soil in the HHOS open field was so degenerated,” said Cole. “It had been farmed until 1995 by Buster Kosivich, who grew corn that was well liked by local residents. The field has been maintained by the Commission since then, who just mowed it once a year.”

“We asked permission to not only mow it to remove invasive plants, but to harrow, till and plant winter rye, which was recommended by our advisory board. We did this back on December 2^nd, the last day we could have done this before hard winter set in. We turned over about four acres, which is actually double what our allotment was, at the cost of $950, which was raised from a blue ribbon pie auction. The work was beneficial to the soil and the Commission recognized the value of it,” she said.

Cole pointed out other attractive features of the HHOS space. “There’s an old apple orchard that we’d like to revitalize,” she said. “We think it would be great to rededicate it to offer fresh apples and peaches. There’s also a barn, with an original structure dating back to the early to mid 19^th century that was expanded to incorporate dairy cows. It’s now basically a warehouse. The vision would be to restore the structure as one of Fairfield’s last and most beautiful barns and use it for equipment storage and informal workshops.”

Parcell’s property space

With regard to the Parcell’s property space, which in total encompasses nine acres, Jones said Parks and Recreation plans call for a dramatic alteration of the landscape to remove conifers which birds now inhabit and raze an existing private dwelling. The entire space would be bulldozed and leveled.

While not ideal in terms of preserving habitats, the department has included in their design the organic maintenance of the planned athletic field versus chemically treated grounds, said Jones, which is in keeping with the proposed establishment of the FOTF.

Jones has also asked for certain materials from the dwelling, like wood and stone, to be saved so her group can re-purpose them for such things as sheds and an outdoor fireplace. “We don’t have the money to create new structures and the re-use allows us to practice our principles,” said Jones.

She cited other plusses to the site. “There’s no bird study required for this plot and there would be easier access to water and electric given the plans for development,” she said.

“Of the two space options for our farm, working with Parks and Rec may be the smartest way to go as softball and farming activities would be clustered and the environmental impact would be reduced in terms of vehicle traffic and disruption of overall habitats,” said Jones. “We also want to make the most of a 3-year lease in terms of time and investment and provide a breadth of programs to the community.”

Initial Inspiration

Jones remarked that the journey to this stage began humbly in the summer of 2009, when she visited Haydu, the last remaining working farm in Fairfield, in the Greenfield Hill area.

“Bob Haydu’s family has been farming the town-owned plot for generations and he maintains a seasonal produce stand. When I visited, I noticed a sign indicating he wasn’t going to be able to continue running the farm. I felt very concerned about that, mentioned it to my friend Jody Eisenmann and we both agreed we should do everything we could to help the farm continue. Though Haydu ultimately rejected our offer to collaborate, the seed had been planted to secure a dedicated space for an organic teaching farm that uses highly intensive growing techniques.”

Jones said they conferred with Ann Bell, the director of the Ambler Farm in Wilton, a highly reputable and successful teaching farm on town-owned land there. She provided guidance on how to start a similar operation in Fairfield. Though Eisenmann moved on to other activities, Jones partnered with Cole and several other area women who were interested in bringing organic local produce into the school system and local marketplace.

Since then, the group has been operating with two different goals and objectives. “One is to go through the administration process of acquiring the lease, the fundraising process and gathering a team of master farmers, academics and environmentalists to serve in an advisory capacity,” said Jones. “The second track has been to work as community organizers offering educational workshops.” 

SIDEBAR

Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm reaches out

While determining a dedicated site for its operations, the Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm, an initiative led by a group of Fairfield women, has been busy offering interactive programs to the community.

President Pam Jones said, “In the past year, we’ve launched a seed bank through Fairfield Woods Library, recognized local environmentalists with a Hummingbird Award, taught children how to carve pumpkins at Fairfield Museum, offered a jamming and canning session at Pequot Library, presented master farmers and scientists in a seminar environment, co-sponsored film screenings and held public meetings.”

One project they hope to undertake this year is to bring back the Southport Onion. “It was so essential to the local economy for generations,” she said. “They were shipped all over the world.”

In an effort to raise $30,000 to initiate and maintain a dedicated working farm, on June 25, the group will hold its first major fundraiser, at Pequot Library. Titled “A Meal in the Meadows”, the event will offer a farm-to-table feast prepared by local Fairfield chefs.

“The new Whole Foods has agreed to donate substantial quantities of locally grown organic produce,” said Jones. “And we’ll have a summer beer garden, raw bar, grass-fed entrees like beef or pork, and fresh-churned ice cream.”

Jones said the ultimate mission of her group is to lessen our reliance on products grown in other parts of the nation and be carbon neutral. “We seek a One Town One Farm goal and would like to go out and help other towns do the same thing. It’s a matter of homeland security and a way to save our planet.”

SHU Habitat for Humanity Chapter Builds Dream House in Bridgeport

SHU Habitat for Humanity Chapter Builds Dream House in Bridgeport

(for Sacred Heart University distribution)

By Mike Lauterborn

ã 2011. All Rights Reserved.

3/19/11

Bridgeport, CT – The dream is coming true, not only for a deserving family, but also for the hard working group of students that have helped to make it a reality.

On Friday, March 18, construction began on a three-bedroom home at a once debris-filled corner lot at 554 Jane Street. The home was made possible by the collaborative efforts of Sacred Heart University’s Habitat for Humanity campus chapter, the Youth United division of Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County and grants and considerations from the university, city organizations and corporate sponsors.

Kelly Leather, co-fundraising chair for the Habitat campus chapter and a supervisor at the work site, provided background about the project and how it came to fruition.

“We broke ground back in February, but due to snow, the excavation was postponed,” she said. “It wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that we were able to pour the foundation. In the meantime, we constructed walls in Habitat’s warehouse on Barnum Avenue so that when we arrived onsite with our crew, we were prepared and ready to go.”

Leather said the city of Bridgeport sold the lot to Habitat for one dollar and that the new home will stand beside another Habitat-built house. In terms of key features, besides the three bedrooms the home will have two stories, an open dining room that will flow into a living room and two bathrooms.

Leather said the immediate neighborhood is dynamic. “I’ve worked in Bridgeport for the past four years and in this area I see so much hope and life,” she said. “And residents have embraced our presence. A random passerby this morning thanked us for our efforts. I think they appreciate our work here.”

According to Leather, the crew working on the project onsite at any given time numbers 12-15. “Volunteers are drawn from our campus club of over 300 members,” she said. “They are all students ranging from freshmen to seniors. On the job site, the participating students can sign up for any building task they want and are guided by construction supervisors from Habitat.”

With regard to the campus’ Habitat club, Leather said it has existed for over a dozen years and “is a way for students to make a difference in local communities by helping to provide decent places that people can call home.”

Leather said a family has already been selected for this particular home – a couple and their four children. She explained the criteria used to determine a family’s qualifications for homeownership as being three-part: homeowners must qualify financially, be able to satisfy their mortgage payments and partner in terms of “sweat equity” contributions working on their own homes as well as other homes. Leather said, most times, homeowners that receive Habitat help are currently living in conditions that have been determined to be inadequate or substandard for their families.

Leather noted that the cost of building a house in Bridgeport is $175,000. To that end, she said, “Youth United was successful in obtaining a $10,000 grant from State Farm, we received a grant from a neighborhood stabilization program of $75,000 and our campus chapter contributed $13,500. We also received an in-kind contribution from the university for plumbing and electrical work equating to roughly $12,000 and funds from Habitat. Of course, getting the lot for a $1 also saved us $25,000.”

The project has been the culmination of much hard work. “The Club has been fundraising for a number of years,” Leather said. “To see the walls actually being raised has been a dream come true. It’s hard to put in words how we feel about it. I sent a photo from the job site to my fellow co-chair who replied ‘Perfect, and full heart.’ We feel that we’ve fully been able to fully give what we’ve always wanted to give to the city of Bridgeport and that four children are going to live in a home of their dreams, experiencing the same fortune as many of us.”

Nursery School Fundraiser a Truckload of Fun

Nursery School Fundraiser a Truckload of Fun

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

3/26/11

Westport, CT – A bulldozer. A cement mixer. Logging truck. Steam roller. Backhoe. Fire truck.

These were but a few of the 37 vehicles onsite at Coleytown Elementary School Saturday morning participating in the 6th Annual Touch-A-Truck Event benefiting Westport Weston Cooperative Nursery School. Hundreds of families attended, to climb in and out of the vehicles as well as take advantage of a bounce house, facepainting, a Little Gym class, Shaolin Studios kung fu demo and a Roaming Railroad train ride around the school property. Admission was $20 per family, who received a goody bag and miniature toy truck.

“Funds go towards the whole operating budget and help run the nursery school,” said Maureen Asiel, the public relations coordinator for the event. “It’s a progressive school for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds with a parent-run board. Part of being involved in the school is giving time to events like this, so all our volunteers here are parents and teachers at the nursery school.”

The event’s major sponsors included AuPair in America, East Coast Irrigation, The Fresh Market and Women’s Health Care of New England. About a dozen local businesses also provided support.

One of the school parents, Elana Faiman, from Weston, said, “The great thing about the event is that the kids get to climb in and on all the vehicles, which is lots of fun for them. Funny enough, the school bus is one of the most popular. The boys also love the backhoe and the husbands like the cupcake truck. There’s something for everyone, it’s a great cause for the school and we all have an opportunity to get together.”

Tom Maloney, from Ridgefield, attending with his son Lachlan, 3, enjoyed the train ride and were checking out the cement mixer. “We were here last year,” said Maloney. “Lachlan loves checking out all the trucks and it’s a great way to spend some time with him while raising money for the school.” 

When Lachlan was asked to name his favorite vehicle, he said, “I love the road roller (steam roller)!”

Another area parent, Laura Silver, attending from Greenwich with her son Blake, 2, said, “I’m happy to support the local community and be part of a fun event… for all ages.”

Laurie Roda, owner of Compo Limousine, which supplied an eight-passenger stretch for the event, was glad to provide access to her vehicle. “This is the first year I’m participating,” she said. “It’s fun to see the kids interacting with all the different vehicles and it’s a great way for me to support the cause while getting some exposure for my business, too.”

Trumbull Motorcycle Officer John Threshie, who had brought his Harley patrol bike, was a veteran of the event. “We’ve been here several years,” he said. “The kids have a blast, though sometimes they’re a little afraid of the bike. I wish they had something like this when I was a kid.”

Westport firefighter Michael Grasso, who was trying his best to stay warm while giving tours of the department’s Engine 7 pumper truck, said, “This is fun and I get to educate the public about the truck and more of what we do as far as services. It’s a little cold but people are showing up nonetheless.”

Discounts Draw Bargain Hunters to Borders Closing

Discounts Draw Bargain Hunters 
to Borders Closing:

Shoppers mourn bookstore’s loss

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 3/27)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

3/26/11

Fairfield, CT – “Everything Must Go!”, “Everything 20% to 40% Off” and “Nothing Held Back” signs peppered exterior windows, inside displays and register areas. They were sad signs of the times.

Fairfield Downtown’s anchor, Borders, at 1499 Post Road, which had announced it would close just last week, was already in the beginning phase Saturday afternoon of selling off its merchandise, offering discounts that appealed to area consumers as long lines at all registers showed. Any store events that had been scheduled, like a Lego Racers Kids Event, had been cancelled and the popular in-house café closed.

“I’m definitely sad to see this go,” said Kelly Bishop, of Fairfield, who had an armful of children’s books. “I have a 2 ½  year old and we come here at least once a week. It’s a major loss for Fairfield. I’m taking advantage of the sales, though, while the books are still here. I knew that the other Borders were closing, but didn’t expect this one to close. I thought they did so well. A cashier told me last week – I was shocked as was everyone on line with me.”

Beverly Dacey, of Easton, was similarly loaded up. “I came down today to mourn the loss of the store,” she said. “It was a terrific place to escape from the pressures of daily life and indulge in pleasures of the mind. I’m stocking up on magazines, books, cards, gifts, etc. I might as well take advantage of the sales. This was an anchor, like the Fairfield Store, that started the resurgence of downtown. There’s the Borders at the Trumbull mall, but it’s a totally different ambiance and I never go there. This store gave you the feel of a college bookstore.”

“I’m a speech pathologist and work with children,” said Kathy Mitchell of Black Rock, standing on line with a bundle of books. “So I’m stocking up on books for my students and also my business.”

Sitting in a sunny window spot in the magazine area at the back of the store, Damaris Diaz, 12, of Westport, said she’ll miss the store. “I come here once a week. I was really surprised the store was closing. I like to come to buy magazines and go to the café sometimes. It would be nice to have another bookstore here, similar to this one.”

Mary Bishop, of Fairfield, was another customer that had loaded up with books. “I didn’t think they were going to close this location. I thought it did well and really the company as a whole, too,” she said. “With this store going empty, it may be difficult to attract new business in downtown. I’m taking advantage of sales to buy up gardening magazines. I’m also looking at bridal books as my daughter is getting married. I hope the company’s able to regroup and open another location in Fairfield.”