When the Representative Town Meeting banned gas-powered leaf blowers between May 15 and October 15, they exempted town departments.
But the Westport Police decided not to break the general law.
They use a fully electric blower, in and around the train stations (which the WPD oversees).
“It completely meets our needs,” says Chief Foti Koskinas. “Our use is intermittent. The battery life allows us to complete a job.
“It’s quiet. And it doesn’t interfere with the busy train station, with people waiting for trains, with restaurants close by.”
Police Department employee Jose Rodriguez, with his electric leaf blower.
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Coming attraction: Shonda Rhimes — and her film “Black Barbie” — at the Westport Library.
The award-winning producer, Shondaland visionary and Westport resident brings her latest project to the Trefz Forum next Monday (June 17), for a special screening.
The documentary will be shown at 6 p.m. A Q-and-A with Rhimes follows.
“Black Barbie” debuts on Netflix on Juneteenth. It tells the story of the 3 Black women at Mattel who were determined to create a doll that looked like them, and the impact that had on the Barbie brand.
The film explores the history of Black dolls, their impact on civil rights and Black entrepreneurship, and the significant role of imaginative play in shaping children’s identity. It includes celebrity and fan reflections on the impact of the doll.
All tickets have been distributed. Click here to join the waitlist.
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Winfield Street Italian Deli has closed.
The Post Road West coffee-and-more spot — just over the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge, for decades earlier the site of Art’s Deli — opened several years ago.
Owner Breno Donatti tells “06880”: “Thank you to the incredible community in Westport. We hope to be back in the future. We will dearly miss our regulars. We will focus on the other stores in Stamford, New York City and Croton for now.”
The Manhattan locations are on 86th and 72nd Streets.
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Underwear doesn’t weigh a lot.
Just imagine 125 pounds of it. That’s well over 1,020 pairs
They — along with dozens of bras, men’s t-shirts and socks — were donated by generous Westporters in less than 2 hours Saturday.
Marcy Sansolo headed up the collection, at the Imperial Avenue parking lot. Lisa Marriott, and many others, lent their hands.
Two days later — yesterday — all those much-needed items were delivered to the Open Doors Shelter in Norwalk.
Missed out on Saturday? Want to donate or volunteer? Opoen Doors can always use help. Click here for details.
Lisa Marriott (left) and an Open Doors volunteer, with some of yesterday’s donations.
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Father’s Day is Sunday. Time to dunk dad!
The day before — Saturday, June 15 (4 to 6 p.m.), Pivot Ministries celebrates “Cool Dads Day” at Green’s Farms Church.
There’s a tank, to dunk your dad (or for him to do the honors on his kids). Plus basketball and cornhole challenges, and burgers and dogs. The Pivot Men’s Choir will sing.
The event is free, and the public is invited. Donations are welcome, to benefit Pivot Ministries. They’ve been returning addicted men to their families in Bridgeport, for 54 years.
Supporting them is a slam dunk.
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Westport students have won 6 Access Awareness Awards.
The annual contest — sponsored by the Area 9 Cable Council and Altice — recognizes student productions broadcast on Altice’s educational access Channel 78 during the school year.
The winners are:
- “KHS Buddy Bench” (1st place, Elementary School PSA). Brayden Levy, Shane Warshaw, Alexander Wilson and Jude Hix’s instructor was Tara Doyle, technology teacher at Kings Highway.
- “Women’s History Month: Community Highlight” (1st place, Elementary School General Interest Story). KHS students Harper Bell and Madeline Olsen were also taught by Doyle.
- “Stress” (2nd place, High School PSA). Jack Schwartz, Allison Cancro, Pranav Pothukuchi and Sanchit were supported by Nicole Moeller, co-librarian at Staples High School.
- “On the Wreckord: Inklings: World Language Week” (2nd place, High School School News Story. Mary Elizabeth Fulco teaches Advanced Journalism, the course that produces Inklings.
- “Cheetah Vision Special: Women’s History Community Highlight” (2nd place, Elementary School General Interest Story). Jack Bell and Sable Shurman, KHS students, were also taught by Doyle.
- “Inklings On the Wreckord” (3rd place, High School News Show).
Congratulations to all the young media stars, and their teachers.
Jack Schwartz, with his Eddy.
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Westport’s own Melissa Newman headlines this week’s Jazz at the Post (Thursday, June 13; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7; VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399; $20 music cover, $15 for veterans and students).
The popular vocalist is joined by guitarist Tony Lombardozzi, bassist Phil Bowler and drummer Bobby Leonard.
Reservations are strongly recommended: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.
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It’s been a long process for Evergreen Parkway.
Earlier this year, they got new sewer lines.
Today — after all that digging — the road was paved.
Once again, everything on the street is “flush.”
Almost done! (Photo/Mark Mathias)
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In today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature, this guy seems to have a question about the chicken wings.
Or maybe he had an issue at the pump.
(Photo/Janine Scotti)
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And finally … Jacques Cousteau was born on this date, in 1910. The French biologist and author co-invented the first successful open-circuit self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) — also called the Aqua-Lung — which he used to make some of the first underwater documentary films.
He died in 1997, age 89.
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When you pass a law for the citizens but exempt yourself, isn’t that proof that the law is stupid and so are you⁉️🇺🇸
maybe that can get a pardon ?
The Winfield Street Delis aren’t exactly “on” 72nd and 86th Streets in NYC. They are under those streets at the 72nd and 86th Street stops along the 2nd Avenue Subway. They are definitely bright spots on the new tracks.
Won’t miss the Winfield Street Deli, it was a poor substitute for the original which was located on Winfield Avenue in Norwalk.
Please someone tell me that we’re not paying police officers (especially not their massive overtime bills!) to perform yardwork at the Metro North station. Please. That’d be a new low.
We are not. He is a custodian, employed by the Police Department.
Kudos to the Police Department for taking the lead to integrate electric blowers, complimenting their leadership on adoption of electric vehicles! Hoping other Town departments will follow that lead, especially in the summer months when blowing needs are light (and gas emissions are especially harmful to air quality and human health).
the town takes care of very large areas unlike the police department and homeowners.
Thanks to the Westport Police!
Each person/entity that not just complies with the law, but actually does something to conserve our common space pushes us in the right direction.
Kudos to Foti (as usual) & Jose (“Manny” to many of us who know him, and appreciate his ceaseless diligence, and great sense of humor)
Thanks to our police department for stepping up to manny and yes foti don’t forget Dave Farrel he is in charge of our train station and our police officers who patrol our train station to you all thanks for serving the town of Westport from sal liccione
The Winfield Street Deli was preceded by Art’s Deli as you said, but before that, and probably for the longest time, it was Annuncico’s, a grocery, fountain, and newsstand. They also had the best milkshakes in town. When I was a kid I bought Sunday papers there to distribute in my neighborhood. I was 11.
Melissa reman is singing Thursday JUNE 13
or is it Friday June -14
Thursday, June 13 – I’ve changed it. Sorry for the typo.
More kudos to the police and also the supporters of the bill, and the landscaping companies and homeowners that stepped up and purchased electric or battery power leaf blowers. Or just stopped blowing all together. From my perspective in the heart of Westport it has been a resounding nay quiet success.