Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How bad is Bridgeport’s flu surge compared to last year?
And on the Bridgeport Patch calendar - Muppet Treasure Island - Movie Screening

Good morning to you Bridgeport! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How bad is Bridgeport’s flu surge compared to last year?
- Want to glimpse Bridgeport’s newest endangered arrival at Beardsley Zoo?
- Meet the Bridgeport family behind the hospital’s first 2026 baby
Also on today's calendar: Muppet Treasure Island - Movie Screening and 7 more events.
Find out what's happening in Bridgeportfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Bridgeportfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Friday: Partly sunny, breezy and cold, with a high of 30 and low of 17 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Saturday: Some sun, then clouds; breezy, temps: high: 31, low: 22.
- Sunday: Sun and some clouds, with a high of 34 and low of 14 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Connecticut's flu season is bad and getting worse, with 'no end in sight,' doctors say (ctpost.com) — Doctors at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport say this flu season is already worse than last year, with their emergency department packed with flu patients. Statewide data show rapidly rising cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, driven by a highly contagious new flu variant, and health officials urge residents to get vaccinated and practice strong hygiene to limit spread.
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• Black-handed spider monkey born at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo (fox61.com) — A new black-handed spider monkey was just born at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, giving local visitors a rare chance to see an endangered species infant up close. Zoo staff say the baby appears healthy and are asking guests to keep noise down while mother and newborn bond in their specialized habitat.
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• Connecticut Hospitals Welcome First Babies Of 2026 On New Year's Day (dailyvoice.com) — Bridgeport parents Catia Lucia dos Santos and Daniel dos Santos Silva welcomed their son Davi at Bridgeport Hospital at 1:45 a.m., the hospital’s first baby of 2026. Their New Year’s arrival is featured alongside other first births at hospitals across Connecticut, marking a joyful start to the year for several local families.
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📸 Around Bridgeport
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Bridgeport
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Muppet Treasure Island - Movie Screening
The Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport
2:00 pm - January 12th/20th 2026 "Live" Virtual CT Real Estate Licensing Classes
LIVE VIRTUAL CLASSES (ONLINE),
9:00 am - Navigating Divorce with Confidence & Clarity
RSVP below for zoom invite,
6:00 pm - Your New Year's Resolution Solution: Square Dance Lessons!
St Paul's Episcopal Church, 25 Church St, Shelton
6:30 pm
Saturday January 3
Tuesday January 6
Wednesday January 14
Thursday January 15
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Haven, CT
Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale , 155 Temple St , New Haven
6:00 pm - The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - New Haven, CT
Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale , 155 Temple St , New Haven
6:00 pm - Artist Talk and Closing Party for the BIG Beautiful Bridgeport Art Trail Show
84 Iranistan Ave , Bridgeport
2:30 pm - Restorative Aerial Fusion & HaloTherapy
Salt Cave of Darien , 555 Post Rd , Darien
4:00 pm - Share your love for literacy! Become a Literacy Volunteers tutor!
Bridgeport Public Library Main Branch , 925 Broad St , Bridgeport
4:00 pm - Bonsai Bar Workshop at New England Brewing Co.
New England Brewing Co 175 Amity Rd Woodbridge, CT 06525
6:00 pm
Saturday January 3
Saturday January 10
Sunday January 11
Monday January 12
Wednesday January 14
📣 Bridgeport Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Frozen and LEGOs®!
Fairfield Public Library , 1080 Old Post Road , Fairfield
10:00 am - Frozen 2 and LEGOs®!
Fairfield Public Library , 1080 Old Post Road , Fairfield
2:00 pm - Dungeons and Dragons Winter Break Meet-Up
Fairfield Public Library , 1080 Old Post Road , Fairfield
1:00 pm - Write-In with Gabi Coatsworth
Pequot Library , 720 Pequot Ave , Southport
10:00 am - Make Your Own Graphic Novel Storyboard!
Fairfield Public Library , 1080 Old Post Road , Fairfield
4:00 pm - Lego® Drop-In
Fairfield Public Library , 1147 Fairfield Woods Road , Fairfield
4:00 pm
Friday January 2
Saturday January 3
Monday January 5
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Bridgeport PatchAM possible:
- Dogtopia of Fairfield — (475) 338-3501
Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness - Aztecas Iron Works LLC — (203) 600-4777
We offer iron works like iron railing, fences, driveway gate - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - Presto Dental — (203) 604-6333
Ask about our Grand Opening Special ($99 Exam)!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- William “Bill” J. Winter, 89 of Milford, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2025 in Milford, CT. —Cody-White Funeral Home Read on Patch
- Robert Carl Hermanns Jr. CT died suddenly at his home on Saturday, December 27, 2025 —Cody-White Funeral Home Read on Patch
- Connecticut Renters Enticed by High Energy Lifestyle in New Rochelle, NY —John McCann Read on Patch
- Happy New Year to my grooming and boarding customers and all my furry friends!
Thank you for trusting me with your fur children. It has been a pleasure getting to know so many new faces in 2025 and also to continue working with… (Nextdoor Charcoal Pond) - Hi neighbors!
I’m a high school student in the Fairfield area and a future nurse looking for local volunteer or shadowing opportunities in healthcare (clinics,… (Nextdoor Park Ave/ Capitol Ave)
- Stop & Shop posted a job opening for PT Porter - Front End - 0629 in Bridgeport. Apply here.
- Snipes posted a job opening for Stock Personnel in Bridgeport. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bridgeport here.
🗞 Nearby News
Stratford
- New Year's Holiday Closures, Announcements In Stratford (patch.com)
- Rachel Girardin Bolduc Paradis, 96 (bristoledition.org)
- CT lawmakers spent $7.6M over the last 5 years sending newsletters, mail to voters, review shows (ctpost.com)
Fairfield
- Deadline Announced To Schedule Informal Property Assessment Hearings In Fairfield (patch.com)
- Ring in New Year's Eve with a night of holiday jazz (wshu.org)
Ok Bridgeport! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just lost interest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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