Our “06880” Photo Challenge is fun. The images are sometimes challenging, sometimes easy. I can’t recall any that were controversial.
Until last Sunday.
Jay Walshon’s shot showed an old car, covered in underbrush near a body of water.
Andrew Colabella was the first reader to answer correctly. He said: “Longshore, Lot F. Donated to the Fire Department for practicing on a submerged vehicle.”
Claire Elliot added that it was located near an osprey nest.
That did not sit well with a number of readers. They chastised local officials. “Is open land now a synonym for junk yard and toxic dump?” asked Werner Liepolt.
“So much for all that official talk about the environment and sustainability,” added Morley Boyd.
Fred Roberts wondered about liability.
But not everyone dumped on the town.
Wendy Cusick wrote: “I believe the fire department has the fluids (transmission fluid, motor oil, A/C freon, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid) drained out of the training vehicles before having them toss in weeds and high tide.
“Westport lives in a flood zone between the shoreline, Deadman Brook, Muddy Brook, Saugatuck River and all the other little streams that became raging rivers in crazy weather. You’re going to want the rescuers to know how to get people out of their flooded vehicles.”
NOTE: I don’t usually run photos of the previous Challenge. But I’m showing this one …
… because, a few days after it was posted last Sunday, it was gone. Here was the same scene on Thursday:
(Photos/Jay Walshon)
Go figure.
This week’s Photo Challenge should be back to normal. In other words: fun.
If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Seth Schachter)