About Fairfield County, CT

Happy Thanksgiving and Thank You from the Black Rock Food Pantry. It is that time of year again when we pause, count our blessings and give thanks for what we have. During this time we also look outward and realize that there are many families that struggle each day to provide for their families the most basic of necessities. The volunteers at the Black Rock Food Pantry work throughout the year on a mission to seek out, help and feed families in need.

Over the last year we have had the privilege of serving over eight hundred families with an ever increasing demand. Last month alone we handed out a record 7,400 meals. Although we are proud of our accomplishments, we feel that we receive in personal satisfaction much more than we give. This holiday season we are most thankful for the community in which we live. We have been helped by many local people and organizations, organizing such events as Soup Bowls for Hunger hosted by Private Parties, and the Pogey Concert by the Norden Club and Black Rock Community Council raising a whopping $6,000.00 for their neighbors that needed their help, these events along with many food drives and personal contributions led to our great success this year.

We have truly been blessed with the ever growing list of volunteers. It is humbling to be in the presence of this special group of people to watch as they minister to each other while ministering to our clients. Thank you all.We ask that throughout the year you continue to keep us in your thoughts, continue to drop off food, visit our web site www.BlackRockFoodPantry.com and make a small donation, sign up as a volunteer and help us to seek out those who may need a little extra help.Please help us to promote our pantry by passing this e-mail along to your friends and family. May God continue to bless us all.Black Rock Food Pantry.

Posted on: www.blackrockonline.org Black Rock Community Blog

Ted Grabarz, Deputy Director of Public Facilities, has provided us with his notes from the November 12^th community meeting on Ellsworth Park which was co-sponsored by the BRCC and Black Rock NRZ. These notes are attached in PDF format and can be printed out. We have also included them in this post for easier access. There were approximately 180 people at the meeting which was held on November 12 at the St. Ann's School Auditorium. The Parks Department reports in to the Public Facilities Department. Mr. Grabarz was present at the meeting and took notes so that the City of Bridgeport can address concerns about the proposed improvements to Ellsworth Field. The major concerns focused on the lack of parking for users of Ellsworth Field, accompanying safety issues for kids and residents, and that the planned improvements don't address this issue and may, in fact, increase the usage of the park and the size, location, and look of the concession/storage/rest room building, which will be approximately 30' long and located across the street from the end of Seabright Avenue.

There were few changes to the plan first presented at the special BRCC meeting on Ellsworth Field. The look of the building was changed to conform to Historic District requirements, but otherwise the plan was pretty much as presented in the first meeting.on September 24.

Ted Grabarz's notes are provided below...

Parking issues

Parking wasn't part of Phase I program. Will get meeting with Police Chief

Number of fields has increased over the years leading to over-use

We recognized that in the Master Plan and are attempting to make people aware of all the other parks in City

Suggestion of bleachers and solar panels We can look at both

Too much noise

Police enforcement

Signage that prohibited dogs, alcohol and gold (sic) has been removed

It will be replaced

Splash park concerns It will at least be an add alternate so that it may be removed

We will have City Engineer re-visit

Suggestion of One Way street with diagonal parking Previous studies indicated that it wouldn't noticibly increase

We will have City Engineer re-visit

Why does building have to be so big? Reduce size. Toilet rooms, handicap accessible. Storage close to work thus increasing city personnel productivity.

Need to look at plan to reduce

Why doesn't building fit more into historic character? Needs to be durable to last a long time.

We will look at further detailing, size reduction

Why can't use other areas to share parking, i.e. St. Ann's Many communitys are trying to do that to reduce impermeable surface

We will explore

Need to decrease police response time Will arrange meeting with Police Chief

I will contact Auden Grogins

Need to meet the needs of the community as a whole as opposed to just the Little League That's why we used the NRZ program

Verify NRZ program

Why is there security lighting? Get rid of it. Only shown at entrances

Set on timers and will relook on removing

Is there a way to block off the street during Little League times? It's a public road. Doubt we can do that

More police enforcement

Create a "non-building" i.e. with berms, etc. and depress building footprint to hide Issues with grade changes make it difficult to do

Move storage to the back of the site, closer to boat yard

Can look at

Have lighting go off at 11 PM We can look at that

Boat yard is beginning to intrude onto park space

We will look at

Planning and Zoning issue

Building is ugly, make it more appropriate to the Historic area

We can look at changes and perhaps reduce bulk

Why can''t building be moved? Sewer connections and setbacks necessitate general location

Can we use waterless toilets, etc. and hide building more with foliage

Why is there only one toilet per bathroom?

To reduce maintenance cost

Please Help us Celebrate our First Anniversary...

First year Anniversary Celebration

CHARLIE WALSH 2.0

WORKS ON PAPER
Opening Reception

December 3rd. 6pm until 9pm.

HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW
Opens December 4th

Hand made and artisan gifts Under $100

over 30 artists

Shows run concurrent through January 7th 2010


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The Gallery at Black Rock
2861 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport CT 06605
203.814.6856
www.thegalleryatblackrock.com

Source: www.blackrockonline.org Black Rock's Community Blog

Get ready to roam the Streets of Black Rock! Saturday, December 5th. To participate you must pre-register & pay online at www.BurroughsCC.org by December 1! Sign-in between 12-12:45pm at the Black Rock Tavern. 21+ is a must. $20 includes an event t-shirt & food at each restaurant. Drink Specials will be offered. Wear the craziest, most festive Holiday Sweater you can find! Prizes will be awarded! Any questions, please contact Laura@BurroughsCC.org .
Restaurants include: Taco Loco, Viale Ristorante, The Field, The Black Rock Tavern, Lady Luck, Ash Creek Saloon, Matty's Corner, Ray Kelly's Pub & Frankie's Sports Lounge

The new provisional Black Rock Rotary Club is hosting its first community fundraiser December 5th - a jazz night to support the Friends of the Black Rock Library from 7 to 9 PM at the Black Rock Branch Library. There there will be Jazz music, a wine tasting sponsored by Harry's, hors d'oevres, and dessert - all for $25 per person.

The invitation reply form is at www.blackrockonline.org. Please fill out and mail with your check to:

Black Rock Rotary Club

1730 Commerce Drive, Suite E

Bridgeport, CT 06605

If you can't make the event, tax-deductible checks payable to the "Friends of the Bridgeport Public Library" will also be much appreciated. For more information or tickets, contact me or Catherine Milton at camilt@gmail.com. Thank you,

Yours in Rotary Service

Rick BensonRotary District Governor

2008-09

203-856-9792

Source: www.blackrockonline.org