The landscape of Bridgeport's South End changed dramatically Sunday morning when a series of blasts took down much of the infrastructure surrounding the old "candy-cane smokestack" in Bridgeport Harbor. "It wasn't the candy cane itself that came down, but rather the structures all around it -- and I'll be back out here in April when the smokestack itself is finally demolished," said Councilman Jorge Cruz, who represents the South End where the now decommissioned PSEG power plant operated for more than half a century. "This is a great day for Bridgeport, because it brings us one step closer to clearing this beautiful waterfront property and building desperately needed affordable housing here," Cruz said. "My mother was one of the many people who suffered the ill effects of the old coal-fired power plant, which was famous for spewing carcinogens into the environment.”

Officials say Maryland company Controlled Demolition Inc. coordinated the effort, which they say went off perfectly.