Get your seeds!
The Westport Tree Board celebrates Arbor Day with a tree seedling giveaway tomorrow (Friday, April 28, 3 to 5 p.m., rear of Town Hall near the softball field).
The seedlings come with planting instructions for school-age children and residents of Westport on a first-come, first-serve basis. They’re donated by Bartlett Tree Service.
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A reader who works on Riverside Avenue writes: “A stroll down Main Street recently, on an exceptionally warm day, spurred me into action.
Almost every door to every retail establishment was propped open, air conditioning the outdoors. And as always (I walk 2-3 miles a day in town) I passed many parked cars, engines idling with owners sitting inside, engrossed mostly in cell phones.
I think emissions could be curtailed significantly 2 ways:
• A reduction of idling vehicles (epidemic even during reasonable weather)
• Stores not opening their doors to attract people (heating the outside in cold weather, cooling it in hot),
Legislatively, these things could take much longer than we have to reduce our emissions and our warming climate.
What if they both were tackled as PSAs? Part education via some easily digestible data, and part message along the lines of “What can I do?” Perhaps a campaign akin to the crying Native American of our childhood, the icon for the anti-pollution campaign that was very effective in cleaning up our littered roadways.
A national effort is needed. Perhaps we here can take a leadership position.
This photo ran on “06880” in 2012. More than a decade later, little has changed.
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Westport Police were busy recently.
The Staples High School school resource officer was alerted to an irate parent in the front lobby. As the SRO approached the lobby he heard a man screaming at school staff. The man became increasingly agitated, about a custody issue. A staff member had to put their hand up in a defensive move.
The SRO could not de-escalate the situation, but moved the conversation outside The man continued to act aggressively, and refused to obey lawful orders from the SRO. He was arrested, and charged with criminal trespass, interfering/resisting an officer, and breach of peace.
Another shoplifting incident at Ulta Beauty led to the arrest of 4 people, for larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, and illegal possession of a shoplifting device.
Westport Police also issued a number of citations, from April 19-26:
- Operating a motor vehicle with a telephone, electronic device or texting: 16 citations
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 8
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 8
- Unreasonable speed: 6
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 6
- Improper use of marker: 6
- Distracted driving, not cell: 5
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 5
- Failure to comply with state traffic regulations: 4
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 4
- Failure to obey stop sign: 3
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
- Improper use of high beams: 1
- Violation of readable plates: 1
- Illegal tint: 1
- Failure to renew registration: 1
- Failure to carry license: 1.
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A year ago, “06880” reported on Westport10: the social and networking group for Black men in town and their families.
The other day, News12 Connecticut picked up the story, with an insightful interview with founder Jay Norris.
He talked about the benefits and opportunities for the organization — now “Westport 100,” as it’s grown from 4 men to 55, plus their spouses and children — for the members, and all of Westport.
Click here for the full interview.
A recent Westport 100 lunch at Hudson Malone.
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The opening of the Westport Woman’s Club’s 3-day art show will be special.
On May 5 (5-7 p.m.), Staples seniors Chloe Hackett and Mia Vindiola will be awarded scholarships of $10,000 each. The 2 very talented students plan to pursue arts careers — thanks in large part to the grants from the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center.
The scholarships will be presented by Miggs Burroughs of the DFCAC, and 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker. The scholarship project was a collaborative effort with “06880.”
The show continues May 6 and 7 (2 to 5 p.m.). Featured artists include Nina Bentley, Ola Bossin, Michael Brennecke, Ellen Ehli, Susan Fehlinger, Hernan Garcia, Erszebet Laurinyecz, Katya Lebrija, Diane Pollack, Tina Puckett, Jon Puzzuoli, Dorothy Robertshaw, Katherine Ross, Agata Tria and Kathleen Rampe.
All art will be on sale.
Mia Vindiola and Chloe Hackett.
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Several Staples student journalists with Inklings were honored recently by the Connecticut Press Club, as winners of their High School Communications Contest.
Finnegan Courtney cleaned up, taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for Best Newscast (“On the Wreckord,” episodes 6, 5 and 3 respectively.
Also taking 1st: Genevieve Frucht (Feature Story, for “Logan Goodman ’24 Incorporates Love for Sneakers, Art into Business”), Anna Diorio (Opinion, “The Damaging Effects of ‘I’m Just Teasing'”), and Talia Moskowitz (Sports, “Report Highlights Impact of Wealth Inequality on State Championships in Connecticut”).
Caroline Zajac was 3rd in the News Story contest, for “Connecticut Swatting Incident Highlights Growing National Problem.”
Samantha Sandrew placed 3rd for Video Feature Story, for “Sneakerheads of Staples.” Anna Diorio earned honorable mention in the category, for “The Power of a Good Book: A Discussion with Staples’ Librarians.”
Congratulations to all of Staples’ superb journalists!
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Speaking still of Staples:
The boys lacrosse team’s annual “Sticks for Soldiers” event is this Saturday (12:30 p.m., Paul Lane Field).
The ceremony — before the 1 p.m. game against Greenwich — highlights the service and sacrifice made by our military. Funds raised support wounded veterans and their families.
A minimum donation of $5 is suggested. For more information and to donate, click here or email edward.iannone@gmail.com.
Staples lacrosse players have worn special jerseys to honor “Sticks for Soldiers.”
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Longtime Westporter Daisy McCann died last Friday, surrounded by her family. She was 98 years old.
Her family says, “She lived a long and wonderful life, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith and a commitment to giving back to her community.”
Daisy was born in New York City on May 31, 1924. She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Hunter College.
After World War II she married Navy veteran Hugh (Bud) McCann. They moved to Westport in 1959, where all 6 of their children lived and attended school: Hugh Jr. (Sarah) of Venice, Florida; Marguerite Francis of New London, New Hampshire; Tom (Mary Jo) of Nantucket, Massachusetts; Rosemary Semanski (Paul) of West Hartford; Tim (Tricia) of Easton, and Rich Tina) of Darien. Daisy is also survived by her grandchildren Katie, Scott, Kristen, Brittany, Shana, Kyle, Conor, Erin, Ali, Jack and Colin, and 7 great-grandchildren. Her family says, “She loved shopping for all of the wee ones in her extended family, and nothing brought a smile to her face more than their visits.”
She was predeceased by her husband.
Daisy was a trustee at St. Luke Parish, where she organized ladies’ luncheons for several decades and hosted generations of priests at her holiday parties. “She loved to feed people; it was her love language, whether at the church, in her home, or at the Norwalk Soup Kitchen.” In recent years, attending St. Luke’s regularly became more challenging, yet she never missed her daily digital Mass.
The family will receive friends tomorrow (Friday, April 28, 4-7 p.m., Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Road, Fairfield). A Requiem Mass will be held Saturday (10 a.m., St. Luke). Interment will follow in Assumption Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Near & Far Aid in memory of Daisy McCann at www.nearandfaraid.org (select donate); P.O. Box 717, Southport, CT 06890 (note honoree’s name in memo).
Daisy McCann
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A Burritt’s Landing bald eagle poses for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Dan Vener)
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And finally … on this day in 1981, Xerox PARC introduced the computer mouse.
(You never know what you’ll find on “06880,” right? Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Just look at all those citations given out by our Westport Police. Great job men and women officers trying to keep us safe. Some of these violations are serious enough to cause injury or worse to other innocent victims. If you see something.. say something! Don’t be a victim of these irresponsible drivers.
It is already illegal to idle more than three minutes, unless necessary to ensure the health and safety of the driver or passengers.
“except if the vehicle is operating for one of the conditions exempted in the regulation.” Not so iron tight frankly. Your CT legislators at work!
The exemption I quoted was really the only one. Emergency vehicles, weather under 20 degrees, maintenance on a vehicle.
Nice work by the WPD!!
Re: Westport Woman’s Club May 5th reception and the two days following of the Art Show and the awarding of the two $10,000 scholarships. Very special indeed. FYI, my husband Mark Naftalin will be providing piano entertainment all three days.
Having recently been diagnosed with asthma, my pulmonology therapist informed me that we have atrocious air quality in CT. Unconscious idlers in their vehicles and these businesses aren’t helping.
Here’s a scary article: https://ctmirror.org/2023/04/20/ct-air-pollution-ozone-levels-tailpipe-of-the-nation/?fbclid=IwAR1hK4B6_l56vFwu8E37ctBZaBUFSJuuSgsFmin1QqJB48CZyA9zSxTs1jo
Dan there is a correction. Bartlett Tree Experts donated the trees for Arbor Day. Please make note.
Thanks,
Doug Williams
Daisy McCann will be sorely missed, she was a wonderful, giving woman who was always there to help people. So kind and generous. The mother of an amazing family.
Sadly, I think most of our entitled, pretentiousness and lazy residents wouldn’t even think about the environment when faced with any opportunity to be inconvenienced. Just wait until May 15th and the leaf blower ordinance goes into effect, then you will see first hand.
You “sound” awfully angry, Carl. Though there are surely SOME Westporters who are “pretentious” and “lazy,” my bet is that MOST Westporters are neither. From where is your evidence that logically allows you to proffer that sweeping judgement?
To a worm in horseradish. the world is horseradish.