If you’re like me, it will take a while to break that walk-into-the-room-and-flip-the-light switch habit.
Westporters are spending today foraging for food, gas, internet — whatever we need to survive.
We’re doing it while masked too. This is not fun.
We’re still stuck at 97% of Westport without power. And the Eversource outage map is still stuck on “evaluating outage” in terms of a restoration estimate. That is not a good sign.
But downtown does have power. There was a line when Starbucks opened at 6:30 a.m. Rye Ridge Deli, the new açaí bowl place and Green & Tonic were all open. They’ll be even more busy once the word gets out, and all the side roads are cleared.
Stew Leonard’s is open. They’ve got nearly everything you need — hot and cold sandwiches, bread, water, coffee, meat — and stuff you didn’t know you needed too, as always.
The Westport Library does not have power. They are not open today (though the Riverwalk and Jesup Green are filled with people using their WiFi), and are canceling programs through the end of the week.
And for a fee, Symphone Workplaces is open. It’s a business center at 55 Greens Farms Road, in that weird office building between the Assumption Cemetery and the I-95 overpass.
You’ll need an ethernet port connector or adapter. But there are plenty of desks (private) open from 8:30 to 5 p.m. weekdays, plus free coffee and snacks. Call 877-539-5100 for more info.
55 Greens Farms Road: hidden in plain sight, across from I-95 and next to a cemetery.
The Democratic and Republican Parties hold primaries on August 11. All absentee ballots must be received by that day. Ballots may be dropped off in an outdoor box behind Town Hall.
If you’re like me, you may have requested one from the state a couple of weeks ago — and not received it yet. Fingers crossed.
Voting can be done in person. But there’s only one polling place in Westport: Bedford Middle School.
And finally … on this date in 1957, “American Bandstand” premiered on ABC-TV.
Hi Dan,
My husband and I requested absentee ballots at the same time, a couple of weeks ago. He is a registered Republican 🙁 and I’m a registered Democrat. He received his ballot last week and I have not yet received mine. I’m wondering if there’s something fishy going on, i.e. if many other Republicans have received their ballots and other Democrats have not, but I don’t know any other Republicans to ask! Any suggestions?
Debbie Zucker
Sent from my iPad
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No idea. Too much going on now with Isaias for me to be able to respond — sorry 🙁
I was concerned, and a little paranoid, about not receiving my ballot yet but it finally arrived today. So hang in there!
We got our absentee ballots in the mail yesterday (Wednesday.) Friends upstate got theirs over a week ago – they’re coming from Hartford. According to the Town Clerk’s office, You can apply for an Emergency ballot – Che k out the info on the town website. VOTE!
Dear Dan,
You are my survival for info, humor and good advice. Thanks for all you continue to do to keep us up to date on important and enrichment. Be careful riding your bike just now for hidden wires.
Our neighbor’s mighty oak came crashing down within inches of our house. The entire root ball of amazing size and the rest of the tree rest partly on our house but mostly in her yard. Had the direction of the wind been slightly different we would not have a house. Another miracle that a tree man working to remove a downed tree at the top of Wild Rose stopped by and he and his crew removed the large limbs from our roof the next day. Much debris on the side of the house but having the weight off of the roof and escaping with our lives, our house intact and only a hole in the roof, broken chimney and bent gutters are nothing compared to what might have been.
You are THE BEST and thank you for your amazing perseverance in all kings of situations to keep us informed.
Julie Fatherley 6 Wild Rose Road Westport
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Thanks, Julie, for your kind words, and even better news. This was one scary storm. Those trees are beautiful to look at — and can do amazing damage.
Hang in there — and thanks again!