"Residents and business owners will benefit, and these vehicles may be used on a statewide and interstate basis," the mayor said.

Each van will carry up to 25 "Haz-Mat" suits, ranging in levels of protection. One van will be assigned to the city's on-call Haz-Mat officer, while the second will travel with the Bridgeport Decontamination Trailer, one of 14 in the state, is deployed.

The trailer is used to decontaminate firefighters, police officers or others dispatched to the scene of a potentially hazardous incident.

"Aquarion is extremely concerned for the safety of its customers. It's gratifying to know that our donations are assisting our service in this regard," said Charles Firlotte, chairman and chief executive officer for Aquarion.

BRIDGEPORT

Forum to discuss North End flooding

A plan to create a water-retention pond to control flooding from Ox Brook will be discussed Monday at a forum for North End residents.

State Rep. Jack Hennessy, D-Bridgeport, will host the meeting at 7 p.m. in the North Branch Library, 3455 Madison Ave.

"About 150 homes may be flooded when Ox Brook overflows its banks during heavy downpours," Hennessy said. Building the pond and other flood-control measures is estimated by the state Department of Environmental Protection to cost more than $40 million, which has yet to be appropriated, he said.

The legislator said the state Bond Commission recently released $580,000 at his urging to buy land for the retention pond off Hart and Ezra streets, where the Greenwood Estates condominium complex has been planned.

He said the city is negotiating to buy the condominium site for the pond.

"Either we build the pond on the site or someone's house has to be destroyed to create land for it," Hennessy said.

The $580,000, he said, is left over from $1 million in state funding approved in 1990 to deal with flooding in the neighborhood.

He said $420,000 of the total appropriation has been spent to prepare plans, including a design for the pond.

The brook originates in Rogers Park off Frenchtown Road and flows along Main and Wayne streets into the Rooster River.

STRATFORD

Feds pledge funds to fire, police units

The town's public safety departments will receive an infusion of federal money.

The Fire Department has been awarded nearly $61,000 from the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Program, which will be used for fitness equipment. In addition to the grant, the town has agreed to match nearly $6,800 in funding, half of which will be paid by the Stratford International Association of Fire Fighters Local 998, Town Manager Benjamin Branyan said. The Police Department will receive a grant of nearly $22,000 from the federal Department of Justice which will be used to purchase equipment for investigations and prosecutions, Branyan said.

BRIDGEPORT

Bridgeport diocese raises $10.6m

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport raised a record $10.6 million in its annual Bishop's Appeal for 2005.

The money collected from Catholics in the Fairfield County diocese supports a range of programs, including Catholic schools and religious education programs, ministries, new vocations, chaplains, the Safe Environments program and Catholic Charities, officials said.

The goal of the annual fund raising program was $10 million.

"We raised the bar higher this year because the needs continue to grow and our faithful responded with typical generosity," Bishop William E. Lori said in a statement Wednesday.

According to the diocese, 75 of its 87 parishes in Fairfield County met or exceeded their fund-raising goals. The average gift was $392, diocesan officials said.

This year, $2.5 million is earmarked for education through the diocese's 39 parochial schools and 87 parish religious education programs, with $1 million for the six Catholic elementary schools in Bridgeport.

Another $1.5 million will go Catholic Charities, whose programs include case management for the chronic mentally ill, behavioral health and counseling programs and senior services.

BRIDGEPORT

'American Dream'session planned

The city and Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut will host a public information session about the "Bridgeport American Dream" program, a homeowner education and downpayment assistance program. The free session will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Iglesia Bautista Emanuel Church, corner of Barnum Avenue and Harriet Street. Th program this year will provide $500,000 in loans to help first-time home buyers in Bridgeport.

Eligible households must be first-time buyers or below 80 percent of the city's median income — $58,000 for a family of four in Bridgeport.

Seating is limited at the session.

Prospective first-time home buyers interested in attending should reserve a seat by calling Carol Sydnor at Mutual Housing at 336-8792, ext. 20224.