The 17-year-old charged in connection with last September’s carjacking of an Aston Martin from the garage of a Bayberry Lane home would not face a home invasion charge — if he agrees to serve 8 1/2 years in prison.
Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Moran made the offer on Tuesday, at State Superior Court in Stamford. It came “in light of the defendant’s age, behavior while being out on release and lack of adult record.”
The teenager has until October 9 to make a decision. Click here for the full story, on CT Insider.
Footage from a security camera of last September’s carjacking.
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Spotted lanternflies are (ugh!) back.
But we don’t have to just sit back and look at their fascinating and ugly selves.
Joe Schnierlein, Aspetuck Land Trust offers these tips, via the Pennsylvania Department of Forestry:
SQUISH THEM
And when you do so, do it well. One adult can lay about 80 eggs.
REMOVE ALL TREE OF HEAVEN
The Tree of Heaven is also invasive, so you are doing double duty. Click here for information.
WRAP TREES AND BUSHES WITH STICKY TAPE
Wrap tape around a tree or shrub. Lanternflies get stuck as they climb up the plant. Tape made by Catch Master (4 30-foot rolls for about $24 is so sticky that you also need to put screening or mesh about 1/2 to 1 inch over the sticky tape, to keep birds from getting stuck in it.
SPRAY WITH VINEGAR & SOAP, OR VINEGAR ALONE
Reports are that this is effective. however, plants may react to the acidity.
REMOVE THE EGG MASSES
Click here to see the lanternfly’s life cycle. Spotted lanternfly egg masses can be laid on any surface (outdoor furniture, fence posts, etc.).
Spotted lanternflies last year, at Winslow Park. (Photo/Michael Mossman)
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A reader writes:
“The Old Mill neighborhood is fed up with the blue crab industry that has arisen on our pristine beach.
“Participants arrive from New York State around low tide anytime after 5 p.m., when they can park legally on Hillspoint Road adjacent to the two concrete stairways down to the beach.
“They often come in groups of 15 at all hours of darkness, each with a bright LED flashlight fastened to their head. The lights disturb the precious marine ecosystem, and the surrounding neighbors’ sleep.
Old Mill crabbers, with LED lights.
“The crabbers harvested crabs the night the town closed the beaches to swimming as a result of the recent huge rainstorm. This could cause serious illness to unsuspecting consumers at the end of the commercial supply chain.
“Perhaps most disconcerting is the trash left behind each night, next to where they park: beer bottles and cans, plastic bottles, food packaging, wet socks, used rubber gloves, cigarette butts, plastic buckets and more.
Old Mill garbage.
“This is just what we see. Who knows what they are discarding in the water that is hidden.
“The town needs to prohibit overnight parking in this area starting at 5 p.m. to any vehicle without a Westport beach permit, and needs to patrol the Old Mill parking lot after 10 p.m.
“This abuse must stop. Our beaches are not intended to support a commercial industry, especially one unsupervised and unchecked by health officials.”
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Registration for Westport Parks & Recreation Department programs begin online this coming Wednesday (September 4, 9 a.m.).
Click here to see all programs.
To prepare: Sign in to your online account. Under “Account Options,” you’ll see your name with a pencil next to the edit button. Select the edit button; then choose the “Contact Info” tab.
Verify that your email address is current; select the save button at the bottom. You will be directed back to the “account options” page.
Under your family name, you will see your family members. Follow the steps below for each family member.
- select “manage family members”
- choose a name from the list
- Under “Family Member Information,” make any necessary changes. Make sure that the grade (if applicable) is correct; hit “Save.”
- Go to “Contact Information” to verify your cell/home phone, and provide carrier if interested in receiving text messages. Make sure your email is current. Click “Save.”
- Continue this process for every family member.
Have an address change? Email recreation@westportct.gov.
If you are not able to log into your online account, do not create another profile. Email recreation@westportct.gov or call 203-341-5152.
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities — the non-profit that helps children with learning and attention differences reach their full potential — has a new short video.
It tells the story of who the group is, and what they do, while inspiring and comforting parents of kids with LD and ADHD.
The film — which features honorary chair Henry Winkler – was created by Westporter Robert Steven Williams.
All interviews wee conducted at the Southport School. Click below to watch:
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Storyfest — the Westport Library’s 7th annual genre-spanning literary festival (and the largest in Connecticut), celebrating all forms of storytelling — is just 3 weeks away.
The event kicks off Friday, September 20, with a keynote conversation with Roxane Gay and Oliver Radclyffe. Saturday (September 21) features a full panel lineup, 2 live podcast recordings, and a dedication to Westport literary icon Sybil Steinberg. Pitchfest caps off the weekend on Sunday (September 22).
Click here for full details.
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Earthplace calls this a “wonder-‘fall'” time of year.
The environmental and educational center welcomes September with live performances, foraging and wildlife programs, a community volunteer clean-up day, a “Harvest Homecoming” including a nature walk, canoe paddle, family campfire, after-school activities and more.
For details, click here.
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The honors keep coming for Harold Bailey Jr.
Yesterday, “06880” reported that the longtime resident/TEAM Westport chair/Westport Country Playhouse board member will be honored — with his wife Bernicestine McLeod Bailey — at the WCP gala with Kristin Chenoweth and Mary-Mitchell Campbell on Saturday, September 14.
The previous week — on September 6 ( 2 p.m.) — Bailey will be featured at the Senior Center, through their “This is Your Life” project.
A collaboration with The Legacy Project USA, it’s an up-close-and-personal look at the lives of friends and neighbors, both well known and quiet — before and during their time here.
Rozanne Gates, co-owner of The Legacy Project, will moderate the event. The public is invited.
Harold Bailey Jr.
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Hummingbirds don’t usually fly too quickly to be photographed.
But this one hung around in Marvin Frimmer’s yard long enough to be captured — photographically, of course — for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Marvin Frimmer)
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And finally … today is National College Colors Day. We’ll celebrate with 3 of the greatest college fight songs in the history of athletics.
Feel free to disagree.
(Here’s one thing no one has to fight over: support for “06880.” We all agree: This is where Westport meets the world. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)