A Westport woman faced a scary situation yesterday morning.
Working out at a fitness center in Southport, a heavy metal bar slammed down on the back of her head as she changed weights.
It felt like a bat smashed into her. She fell to the ground in pain.
But no one stopped to help. Not anyone exercising nearby; not one trainer.
She stumbled downstairs, only to be told at the front desk: “Sorry, the ice machine is broken. And there’s no first aid kit.” They offered her a seat, if she wanted.
One kind woman took a can from the drink cooler, and put it on her head.
The woman who was hurt wondered described the incident on social media, and wondered: Should she let it go, or pursue it with management?
Over 70 people replied. They offered smart suggestions — document everything; consult an attorney; ask for security camera footage; cancel your membership — as well as the most immediate advice: Go to a hospital! Get yourself checked out! You probably have a concussion.
Most impressive: 2 people offered to drive her to the hospital.
She replied that her husband was on top of things. But what a great thing to hear: that 2 complete strangers were willing to drop everything, and help.
That’s the upside of what could have been a very bad outcome.
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Gregg Jacobs reports:
“The boardwalk/bridge over the tidal gates at Sherwood Mill Pond started sagging a few days ago.
“As a result, Mill Pond was drained so the town could inspect the pilings. Several of them have rotted and are completely gone.
“Town employees inspecting it said it will need to be closed in the near future so they can install temporary supports, until the town finds the money to install new pilings and supports.”
Rotted pilings (Photo/Gregg Jacobs)
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Here’s a sight you don’t see every day:
(Photo/Stephen O’Shea)
Stephen O’Shea spotted this dolphin about 50 yards from the Compo Beach Hillspoint Road jetty, around 5:45 p.m. Saturday night.
Did anyone else see this cool-looking visitor?
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Here’s another animal story.
On Saturday, Westport animal control officer Peter Reid received a call from a resident about a mother cat and several kittens trapped in a storm drain at the entrance to a Post Road business.
He called the local cat rescue group to no avail.
Next was Westport Animal Shelter Advocates. Two volunteers found the mother and at least 3 kittens looking up at us from the bottom of the storm drain.
The heavy grate covering the drain prompted WASA to contact Police/Fire dispatch for assistance. Firefighter Eric La Riviere (a cat owner) and Chris Carroll of Engine Company #5 arrived quickly and removed the grate.
But the cats scurried further back into the drain pipe, which empties into a 12-foot well filled with water.
Peter Reid entered the storm drain. He could not see the feline family.
From left: Peter Reid, Eric La Riviere, Chris Carroll.
WASA is not a cat rescue organization. They do not have a variety of cat trap sizes, and this area is not large enough for a standard cat have-a-heart trap. The grate also presents an issue.
They wondered if a temporary cover or coned area could work.
After the grate was replaced, and the Fire Department and Animal Control left, the kittens came out to eat the canned food placed below by WASA.
Yesterday, WASA volunteers returned to the site. Jennifer Petrosinelli helped coordinate Fire Department help lifting and replacing the grates.
Traps were set, but none of the 5 kittens went in. WASA will try again this week, joined by cat-catching professionals from Animals in Distress in Wilton.
The rain is concerning because the kittens are too small to climb out of the drain but too big to be carried out by the mother cat. (Hat tip: Julie Loparo)
Cat, underneath grate.
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Tom Chapin comes to Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Sunday, September 22 (1 to 3 p.m.).
The singer/songwriter/storyteller headlines a “Family Fun Day.” Also on the bill: a bounce house, ice cream truck and face painting.
And … it’s all free!
Homes with Hope is a co-sponsor of the event.
Tom Chapin
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Whether you’re involved in youth sports as an athlete, coach or parent, or you’re just setting off fireworks (see photo below): clean up after yourselves!
The collage is from Wakeman Field. But it could be any facility in Westport.
(Photos/Richard Fogel)
Trash cans are there for a reason.
And if they’re not nearby, pick up what you brought, and dispose of it at home.
I mean, come on. Respect your town, and everyone else.
This is as basic as it gets.
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Bob Weingarten writes: “On Sunday morning I found that a large tree limb had fallen, and considered how to remove it.
“But a short time later I saw a deer eating its leaves. I hoped that deer would eat it all, but it was too large.”
He calls the photo: “Nature taking care of nature.”
I call it: today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Bob Weingarten)
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And finally … happy 76th birthday to Valerie Simpson.
Our former Cross Highway neighbor was known — with her husband Nick Ashford — as both a stellar songwriter team, and a hit performing duo.
(From dolphins and deer to one of our favorite duos, “06880” covers all of Westport — 24/7/365. If you enjoy our work, please click here to support our efforts. Thank you!)
So here is my question… why should the tax payers and town be held accountable for the footbridge repair… shouldn’t that be the people who live on the spit of land…town folk can’t go passed the gate… and I was personally reprimanded by a mill cove landlord for walking around the point through the channel with my pup this summer… seems wrong to me
I was wondering if Peter Reid’s father grew up in Westport? There was Dave , Tom and one other brother and I can’t think of his name. Maybe Peter is a son or grandson?
I think the third brother was Billy Reid. I think they lived on Mills Street.
The boardwalk/tidal gates bridge report is horrible. Several years ago the Town hired a consultant at a significant cost to assess the bridge. Work was required and now, due to the failure to address the work, the situation has dramatically worsened. I have raised the issue for years with the Town, Peter Ratkiewich and the First Selectperson. I was told the work was not immediately needed. Also, the other needs of the Town, e.g. all the school expenditures and several Town projects, precluded immediate correction. Now, once again, the Town confronts a dramatic need. Our Town pool had a delayed opening last spring due to maintenance, tennis courts have been closed due to maintenance, the golf course driving cage was never replaced, nothing has been done to make Baron’s South the park it could be and the downtown plans, Parker Harding, Jessup Green, the Police Station and the Imperial Avenue lot remain, in essence, a travesty as to bad planning and wasteful consultancy fees. Add to all this the poor planning as for the destruction of the Community Gardens and the message is clear. Our Town leaders are not doing the job required. The primary shortcoming is our First Selectwoman, Jen Tooker.
What??? “until the town finds the money to install new pilings and supports.” Is the money hidden? Are the coffers empty?
Once upon a time the Mill Pod did not have a locked gate and it was a beautiful and peaceful walk. Since the homeowners have decided to keep this for themselves perhaps they should also pay to maintain their bridge.
congratulations on cat rescue. JD Vance would be proud of you
🤗
Napoleon Bone-spur, aka “ little roaming fingers,” chose Vancey -pants as his VP because he was the weakest and couldn’t steal the spotlight from him!
Off topic TDS…seek help🙏
Donny and I were in the first military draft. One of us had our daddy pay off a podiatrist to get out of military duty; the other one joined. Which one served, Tommy? Was it Donny or me?
Odd comment.. can I take it from that bitterness you are a Kamala coconut supporter ?
I only ask because I hate to accuse someone of being so naive.
Richard other than the insanely important reproductive rights.. – nobody argues( but not enough for the rest of the communist policies)
The other issues are open lawless drug and human trafficking border..
taxes
Freedom of speech
Being inherently dumb as a fence post
Spending money like drunken sailors,
Loan forgiveness
Affirmative action
Defund the police !
Hmmmmmm I can see who the no brainer president elect should be.
Ciara Webster is the owner of Nomade in downtown Westport. Consider taking her comments above into account when deciding where you might go out to dinner 🙂
I believe based on history of the payment for the tidal gates and walk bridge, money was raised by those who live on the Sherwood Mill Pond because, the tidal gates benefit ALL who live on the pond.
As for the walkway bridge, it is a means of access for the residents on the cove, but also the public is allowed to walk out there, in fact there is a public park where 36-40 Compo Mill Cove once existed (houses washed away during hurricanes).
The walk bridge is a public access bridge. Public is allowed to walk out there. The public is confined to the walkway, the tiny park. A code is required for access to the cove.
Couple different scenarios could play out.
So if the home owners pay then it absolutely remains private ! If the town pays it remains public !
Pick !
The signage of public access way, I would deem it town. It serves as easement for residents. Should they pay? I would have to look into the history/precedent.
I’ll get back on that.
“Town employees inspecting it said it will need to be closed in the near future so they can install temporary supports, until the town finds the money to install new pilings and supports.”
Sad, yet the good citizens of Westport are happily funding a $650K vanity project, the enhancement of a perfectly good playground. Would be great to see $150K spent on fixing any immediate playground safety issues and the remaining $500K directed to new pilings and supports. Or some other deferred maintenance or needed repair.
Yes, I know the playground is being funded with private money and the donors can do whatever they want with their money. But it seems to this observer that there are many projects in Westport and surrounding towns that would be a more appropriate use of funds.
Flame away
Yes, the footbridge is public and includes a miniscule “park” (mostly gravel and weeds) but its primary purpose is to provide access to a private, exclusive residential community. +/- 50% of which is now owned by one very wealthy person/their associated entities, BTW. Residents clearly should be contributing to any needed repairs.
I LOVE the kitten story. Just sayn’
me too.
Shame on those YMCA members who didn’t stop to help this poor woman who was hurt! I would have run over to her and ( loudly) asked someone to call 911. Seriously!
NO WHERE in this piece does it say she was working out at the YMCA. It says she was working out in “Southport.” Based on her original Facebook post, she said she was working out at Equinox. Not the Y.
It was not the YMCA. It was a private fitness club.
Was it the ymca ? Or a private gym ? I did not see ymca mentioned ?
I believe it was another gym.. somehow remaining nameless( usual Westport lack of transparency)
It’s a joke.. one joke after the other.
Woman needed medical assistance – clearly ! What kind of club did not provide this.
Oh ! The new kind of club.
Equinox.
Ahhh… of course, not surprised.
back when I was a kids we rescued a cat not kitten down about 4 feet in the storm drain with a little noose while it was eating and pulled it up very fast and out. I had that cat for decades:). Were we just lucky or could that work again?