Fairfield County | featured news

STAMFORD — The Ferguson Library’s Harry Bennett Branch is raising money to replace worn carpet throughout the building.

The library is asking for donations to replace carpet that in some areas is held together by duct tape at the Vine Road branch. It has already raised $182,000 for the $280,000 project, according to its GoFundMe.com page.

“We have found a new durable flooring product that many other libraries use that is washable and made from recycled content,” it wrote on the page.

STAMFORD — Changes are in motion for the city’s public schools.

While the Board of Education remains largely the same, and new president David Mannis is adamant about picking up where former president Geoff Alswanger left off, the central office is abuzz with shifts in leadership positions and an incoming strategic plan that will shape the district’s goals in the coming years.

The plan, according to Superintendent of Schools Earl Kim, is a blueprint for the district going forward, built with input from staff across the schools.

STAMFORD — “Beetle Bailey” creator Mort Walker, who chronicled the mishaps of the world’s laziest U.S. Army private since 1950 while maintaining an unrivaled run of work in the comics industry, died at his Stamford, Connecticut, home Saturday at 94.

Walker’s work ethic was defined by “Beetle Bailey,” the longest-running comic strip drawn by its original creator in the history of comics, but he published eight other strips at various points of his career.

STAMFORD — “Beetle Bailey” creator Mort Walker, who chronicled the mishaps of the world’s laziest U.S. Army private since 1950 while maintaining an unrivaled run of work in the comics industry, died at his Stamford, Connecticut, home Saturday at 94.

Walker’s work ethic was defined by “Beetle Bailey,” the longest-running comic strip drawn by its original creator in the history of comics, but he published eight other strips at various points of his career.

DANBURY — Police checking on a suspicious car Friday night ended up taking a Danbury man into custody on a string of outstanding charges.

Officers were called to Boat Road around 10:20 p.m. for reports of suspicious activity and found Lenny Almonte, 22, and another person sitting in a car.

Police discovered that Almonte was wanted on six outstanding warrants over the last year. He had failed to appear in court for many of the charges, police said.

Two of the warrants were for car accidents, including a hit-and-run in October where Almonte fled the scene.

It may not look like it but early morning commutes on Saturday could prove to be sneakily icy, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

The NWS issued a special weather advisory to warn residents of potentially icy conditions in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It may not look like it but early morning commutes on Saturday could prove to be sneakily icy, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

The NWS issued a special weather advisory to warn residents of potentially icy conditions in the early hours of Saturday morning.

KENT - A nearly four-mile stretch of Route 7 has reopened after waters of the Housatonic River receded.

“CT DOT has confirmed that Route 7 has now reopened,” State Rep. Brian Ohler tweeted Friday morning. “Water has receded and clean up efforts have been completed. Please travel with caution.”

The road has been closed for days because of rising waters of the Housatonic.

The highest level was 6.42 feet on Tuesday.

Flood stage is eight feet.

On Friday morning the river had fallen to 5.4 feet, according to the Northeast River Forecast Center.

STAMFORD-A fire that destroyed the bedroom of a historic house in North Stamford Wednesday morning was touched off by a candle that came into contact with oxygen being used at the time, fire officials say.

Stamford Chief Fire Marshal Charles Spaulding said that a candle burning in the bedroom of a home at 509 Long Ridge Road came into contact with a tube leading from an oxygen tank being used by the 50-year-old female owner of the home.

“The oxygen tube touched the candle, causing the flame to flare up and ignite the linen bedding,” Spaulding said.