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Westport Fire Department chief Robert Yost has returned from a 2-week national assignment, supporting wildland firefighters in Minnesota.
He calls this “an incredible training opportunity in large-scale incident management. Connecticut is not immune to a wildfire or large-scale natural disaster. We need to be just as prepared as our western counterparts. As the fires continue to burn, please keep all the firefighters out on assignment nationwide in your thoughts and prayers.”
When Yost arrived, the Greenwood Fire was 6,000 acres and 0% percent. During his deployment it grew to 26,000 acres, directly threatening the town of Isabella.
Yost was the medical unit leader trainee responsible for the entire incident, along with 7 fire line medics, 2 medical ATVs and 2 incident ambulances.
Chief Robert Yost at Greenwood Fire briefing.
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Yesterday’s “Unsung Hero” story highlighted a Saugatuck Elementary School custodian, hard at work cleaning drains after Hurricane Ida.
Now we can put a name to his dedication. He’s Al Orozco, head custodian at SES. As several readers — and staff members — noted, he is a gem. And well deserving of his Unsung honor.
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Butzi Moffitt — who as Butsy Beach owned the original ice cream parlor on Main Street in the 1950s — stopped in to Cold Fusion on Tuesday. The new gelato shop is just a few doors down from the first Ice Cream Parlor (where Brandy Melville is now).
Butzi — 93 years young — brought owners Eric and Kelly Emmert an original menu from 1954.
Bitzi Moffett shows Eric Emmert an original Ice Cream Parlor menu.
The menu.
Butzi — who also owned clothing stores on Main Street — was joined at Cold Fusion by her daughter Maggie Moffitt Rahe, a teacher at Coleytown Elementary School. Butzi also brought a photo of herself, outside the first shop.
From left: Amy Greene, and Bob and Butzi Beach, owners of the Ice Cream Parlor.
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The Staples football team’s home opener is tomorrow (7 p.m.). It should be a great game — the opponent is former coach Marce Petroccio’s Trumbull High — and getting tickets has never been easier.
Click here to purchase online; then have your phone ready to show at the gate. You can also click on the QR code below:
You can make Friday a Staples sports doubleheader, too. At 4 p.m., the boys soccer team hosts Ridgefield, in their 2021 season opener. Admission is free!
Reese Watkins, for the Wreckers. (Photo/Brian Watkins)
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The Westport Artists Collective’s pop-up shows pop up regularly. They’re eclectic, inspiring — and fun.
The next one runs from Wednesday, September 15 through Sunday, September 19 (2 to 6 p.m., Westport Country Playhouse). There’s an artists’ talk that final Sunday, at 3 p.m.
Like any pop-up, it will pop down quickly. Be sure to get there before it goes!
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Westport-based Fairfield County Writers’ Studio’s fall classes will be held via Zoom — at least for now.
There are some intriguing ones. Topics include Writing for Children; LGBTQ+ Workshop; Writing Your Memoir; Creative Writing; Novel Writing, and Fantasy, Science Fiction & Horror.
Click here for details, and registration information.
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Among all our woodland creatures, we tend to overlook squirrels. They’re the Muzak of our backyard lives.
But Jamie Walsh captured this intriguing shot, reminding us to not overlook every living thing in our “Westport … Naturally” world.
(Photo/Jamie Walsh)
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And finally … today is September 9 — 9/9. Which means, of course:
Also worth mentioning the Varsity Girls soccer home opening game TODAY at Wakeman Field at 4:00