Danbury Closes School Thursday and Friday/45 Roads Closed

UPDATE: 12:16 p.m.

Superintendent of Schools Sal Pascarella said he was tired of the uncertainty, and he decided to close schools for Thursday and Friday.

"I decided it as if they were my grandchildren," Pascarella said. "There are too many roads closed. There are too many wires down."

At least five city schools are without power, and there is not guaranteed time when they might reopen. Pascarella said he didn't want to open some schools and leave others closed. At the end of the year, those closed schools would have to make up the missing days.

UPDATE: 12:04 p.m.

Good morning everybody,

Due to the storm, Stew Leonard’s has revised their Halloween activities for today, October 31:

• The hayride has been canceled in both NORWALK and DANBURY, however children wearing a costume today will receive a free small ice cream at both stores.

• Children wearing a costume today at Stew Leonard's in NEWINGTON will receive a free small ice cream.

• Our YONKERS store’s Trick or Treating event has been canceled for today but rescheduled for Friday, November 2 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  Those in costume on Friday will also receive a free small ice cream.  (Note that the Yonkers store’s phone lines are down, but the store is indeed open.)

 If you’d like to speak to any of our managers or send a camera to capture kids in costume, please let me know.

 Also – with so many people without power at home, we’ve noticed a huge uptick sales/customers at Stew’s hot and cold buffet bars over the past day and a half.  It’s been a great option for those who don’t want to go out to eat but still would like to enjoy a hot meal at home.  (Plus it’s a great deal at $5.99lb.)  Link to the menus: http://www.stewleonards.com/hotbarmenu/hotbarlandingpage.cfm

UPDATE: 11:46 a.m.

CL&P increased the number of crews working in Danbury from 11 Tuesday to 16 today, said Emergency Management Director Paul Estefan.

"CL&P did a great job helping us out yesterday," Estefan said. Danbury's West Lake Reservoir and the city's sewer treatment plant on Plumtrees road are off emergency generator power and are now receiving power directly from the power grid. The city's other major reservoir, Marjorie, remains powered by emergency generators.

"We're working on the individual pump stations now," said Emergency Management Director Paul Estefan. He said the city has eight smaller pump stations scattered around the city boosting pressure in both water and sewer lines. Those pump stations are running on emergency generators.

CL&P estimates 16,662 homes are without power in Danbury as of 11:40 a.m. Wednesday. That is 47 percent of the city's homes.

UPDATE: 10:49 a.m.

The following information came from TBICO about the Heart of Women Awards.

Due to storm Sandy, the Heart of Women 2012 Awards Presentation & Cocktail Reception will not be held this Thursday, November 1st as planned, but will instead be held on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Danbury. 5:00-8:00 p.m. Hope to see many of you there!

LouAnn Bloomer and TBICO have helped over 2,000 women prepare for the job market since it was founded in 1993. Marie Hatcher, with assistance from Senator MikeMcLachlan, has ensured that the roughly 40,000 babies born in Connecticut each year will be tested for Congenital Heart Defects.

UPDATE: 10:41 a.m.

The Danbury Housing Authority just issues the following update: Could you please put a notice on your site that Housing Authority of the City of Danbury residents with critical maintenance issues should call 860-350-7870 until power is restored to the Housing Authority Main Office.

UPDATE: 10:31 a.m.

Check the attached PDF for a list of roads closed as of 10:23 a.m. in Danbury.

UPDATE: 9:43 a.m.

City Hall is open today. The Danbury Public Library, which has no power is closed. The library's computer servers are down, so accessing library information may be difficult.

The Danbury Senior Center at Elmwood Hall is closed today. The center opens or closes along with Danbury Public Schools. The schools are closed, so the senior center is closed.

The emergency shelter at the Danbury War Memorial in Rogers Park is open today.

Release from Danbury City Hall regarding fall leaf pickup.

"POSTPONED _ Due to damage around Danbury as a result of Hurricane Sandy, we are postponing the 2012 Fall leaf pick up indefinitely.  An announcement will be made when the program resumes.

CITY'S FALL PICK-UP PROGRAM   

The City of Danbury runs a yard debris collection program twice a year providing free-of-charge pick-up.  

ONLY LEAVES bagged in PAPER LEAF BAGS with NO TAPE should be left at curbside in front of residences for the City's Highway Department to pick-up.     

NO TAPE OF ANY KIND   

NO PLASTIC BAGS   

NO LARGE DEBRIS   

NO GRASS, ROCKS, DIRT, GARBAGE OR ANIMAL WASTE   

NO BUSHES or TREE STUMPS   

  BRANCHES WILL BE PICKED UP SEPARATELY.  Limbs must be cut into lengths no longer than 4 feet, no limb may be larger than 4 inches in diameter.  Branches must be bundled with twine in bundles no heavier than 35 lbs.    Pick up dates are subject to change throughout the program depending on weather and the Highway Department's work schedule. Please remember: the Highway Department tries to get to as many streets during a week as possible, however, there are times when pick-up will be held over until the following scheduled visit to your zip code.    Ferris Mulch Products at 6 Plumtrees Road is open for Danbury residents who wish to drop off their own bags or tree and yard debris throughout the year for free.  The hours are Monday through Friday 7:00 am through 3:30 pm. Saturday from 7:30 am to 12noon.  Closed on Sundays.  Their phone number is 203-790-1155, or you can visit their website at www.ferrismulchproducts.com.    If you have any questions regarding yard debris pick-up please contact CityLine 311 at 203-744-4311."

The following release came from Danbury Health Systems, parent of Danbury Hospital and New Milford Hospital.

Updated Information from Western Connecticut Health Network Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital Fully Operational Physician Practices Re-open and Outpatient Services Largely Restored

 Danbury, CT - While our community is still experiencing some effects from Hurricane Sandy, Western Connecticut Health Network is re-opening most outpatient services beginning Wednesday, October 31st.

 - Elective Surgeries at Danbury Hospital and New Milford Hospital are moving forward as previously scheduled.

 -Testing and physician offices at the Danbury Hospital Medical Arts Center will re-open for previously scheduled patients and new appointments.

 -Western Connecticut Health Network outpatient laboratory service centers, blood drawing stations and imaging services are restored and open for patients on Wednesday, October 31st (except in Ridgefield, Monroe and the Outpatient Laboratory Service Center in New Milford, which are closed due to loss of power).

 -Western Connecticut Surgical Center at Ridgefield and Western Connecticut Diagnostic Imaging at Ridgefield remain closed due to power outages.

 -All Physician practices of the Western Connecticut Medical Group are open for patients with the exception of Western Connecticut Medical Group at Monroe and at Ridgefield (both Primary Care and Cardiology are closed) where offices are without power.

 As power restorations continue, we encourage all patients with appointments on Wednesday and later this week to call to reconfirm their appointments before leaving home.

 The leadership and staff of Western Connecticut Health Network extend deep gratitude to our patients and community for their support and patience during this storm.