Some Westporters were surprised that Compo Beach was closed to swimmers yesterday.
Others were not. Heavy rains — like the ones the night before (Wednesday) — often lead to closure.
“06880” reader and environmental activist Toni Simonetti wrote: “I learned something, thanks to Mark Cooper, director of health for the Aspetuck Health District.
“Swimming is closed at town beaches for 24 hours after a very heavy rainfall (as we all witnessed into the night yesterday). Because of the excessive runoff of surface water, and all it collects along the way, it ends up in Long Island Sound.
“In Westport it takes 3 tides, or 24 hours, to cleanse the water tidally.
“The 24-hour waiting period is state protocol. Norwalk and Fairfield, on either side of Westport, have longer water cleansing times. Mark thinks that’s because we benefit from the ebbs and flows of the clean Saugatuck River.
“Just another benefit to living in Westport!”
Serene. But not safe after a storm. (Photo/Sunil Hirani)
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Speaking of that brief but intense storm: In addition to fouling our waters, it brought down power lines and trees.
But there were bright spots, amid the bad weather. Chris Vatis writes:
“Both Eversource line people and Gault electritians were on site within 1 1/2 hours after I reported the storm ripped both my meter and electricity pole attached to my house right off, leaving live wires all over my property.
“They worked diligently to restore it.
“I and we often complain about how much money we now pay for services. But both companies deserve praise for their excellent communication and lightning speed response to my plea for immediate help. I’m very impressed with both companies.”
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Also yesterday: No, you were not imagining things.
Traffic throughout town was worse than usual.
Way worse.
The culprit was a diesel fuel spill on I-95 southbound, between Exits 18 and 17.
As often happens, more spillage followed. Car and truck drivers got off the highway, and — in a futile attempt to move more quickly — clogged our main roads and side streets.
This Bridge Street scene was repeated at many other spots:
(Photo/Susan Garment)
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Speaking of drivers: We’re not sure how this accident occurred, but someone clipped the sign — in the middle of the traffic island at the Sherwood Island Connector, by the Post Road.
(Photo/Josh Berkowsky)
Coming from I-95, we’re now welcomed to “Estport.”
On the way out, it’s “Westpor.”
Be careful out there!
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Bob Newhart — the supremely talented, always understated but very hilarious comedian who died yesterday at 94 — may not have had any connections to Westport. (Though I’m sure several commenters will note otherwise.)
But this much is certain: When he gave a speech at the Kennedy Center, upon accepting his Mark Twain Prize, he referenced a Westport icon: Paul Newman.
Click below, then fast forward to 4:13 when the story begins.
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The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce held a “Business After Hours” event last night, at the Levitt Pavilion.
Members and town officials celebrated the outdoor theater’s 50th anniversary — and the Chamber’s 93rd year.
At the Chamber of Commerce event last night (from left): Paul Lebowitz, Planning & Zoning Commission chair; RTM member Jay Keenan; 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore; RTM member Sal Liccione; Chamber director Matthew Mandell; 3rd Selectwoman Candice Savin; 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker; RTM members Don O’Day and Melissa Levy. (Photo/Dan Woog
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Congratulations to Westport author Diana Sussman!
Her first novel, “The Neighbors’ Secret,” was named an American Fiction Award finalist, for pre-teen fiction.
Last year, the book was a Tassy Walden Award Finalist in 2023.
The novel takes middle school readers on “an adventure filled with puzzles, secrets, and unexpected twists,” press materials say.
“With her background as a litigation attorney and her passion for storytelling, Sussman weaves an intricate tale that keeps readers guessing until the very end.”
Diana Sussman
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Spotted lanternflies are back.
We fight them with traps and white vinegar.
But we’re not the only ones. Praying mantises are natural predators.
So — as today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature photo shows: Pray for mantises.
(Photo/Gabriela Hayes)
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And finally … Dave Loggins died last week, in Nashville. He was 76.
The songwriter had only one hit of his own: “Please Come to Boston.” But he wrote songs for many other artists, including Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna Judd and Toby Keith.
Non-country music fans knew him too. He wrote the Masters golf tournament theme, a staple of spring sports telecasts for over 40 years. Click here for a full obituary.
(Whether you’re from Westport — or Boston, Denver, LA or anywhere else — if you enjoy “06880,” please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
When some of these horrendous traffic snarls occur it seems like the police could step in and offer some assistance. Having someone on Bridge Street by the light helping to move the traffic by allowing more cars to get through each light cycle could ease the congestion and make the traffic flow a little better when such incidents happen.I realize they have other job schedules but at these times it would do a lot to ease the stress.
Yesterday morning men were working under the 95 bridge on South Compo which closed one lane . That light is difficult enough to get through on a good day but in that situation having someone there to alleviate the congestion and let more cars through would have been helpful.
Traffic congestion in our sweet town is challenging but maybe there can be more communication and help between the town and police to ease some of these situations that occur.
Instead of reading about it the next day, it would be very helpful if traffic events such as traffic lights not functioning, or I95 escapees flooding our streets, or similar situations, could be sent via Nixle to town residents in a timely way so we would know what to attempt to avoid instead of becoming trapped in the stagnant traffic.