Another day, another animal rescue!
Michael Szeto and his wife Valerie were on their daily walk with their dog JoJo yesterday.
JoJo kept pulling them toward a sewer drain on the corner of Quentin Road and Compo Beach Road.
As they got closer, the couple saw 2 tiny claws reaching out of the storm drain. They thought it was a Halloween decoration.
But then they noticed a nose sticking out of the grate. A trapped raccoon was hanging on desperately, to escape the rising water.
They called the Westport Police. While waiting for help, passerby Althea Heisler took action.
She got on the ground and stuck her hand in the sewer, to hold the animal as it started to lose its grip on the sewer grate. Somehow, Althea kept the raccoon above water until Westport Animal Control Officer Peter Reid, followed by the Fire Department. arrived.
They lifted the grate and freed the raccoon. Without giving thanks, it scampered off toward nearby Gray’s Creek. (Hat tip: Julie Loparo)
Animal Control Officer Peter Reid (yellow vest) and Westport Fire Department officials work to free the trapped raccoon. (Photos/Michael Szeto
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Ed Hynes first became interested in the 1777 British march from Westport to Danbury as a child, when he learned his neighbor’s house was partially burned by the Redcoats during the raid.
On Thursday, he spoke to the Y’s Men of Westport and Weston about that historic event. He described the landing at Compo Beach, the trek to burn the patriots’ arsenal, and the Battle of Compo Hill, as they returned to the shore.
But you don’t have to be a Y’s Man to hear Hynes’ wisdom. Click below, for his very informative presentation.
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Yesterday’s Roundup included a photo of the very depleted Remarkable Bookcycle. The Compo Beach free library was down to its last few books:
Within a couple of hours, it was almost fully restocked:
(Photos/John Richers)
“06880” readers are truly “remarkable.”
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Nearly a dozen pots of chili — beef, sausage, moose, vegetarian, you name it — were ladled out yesterday, at the VFW.
Along with many varieties of both toppings and cornbread, plus a DJ, drink special, prizes and a raffle.
Greg Gunther of the Westport Police Department repeated last year’s win in the Chili Cook-off. Second place went to Lynn Ryder of Westport Emergency Medical Services. Virginia Ferrari of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries was third.
The packed hall was a fundraiser for an important VFW and Auxiliary project: purchasing and installing posts for American flags, to honor the graves of 1,200 veterans at Westport cemeteries.
The goal is $6,000. Let’s hope those flags are flying soon.
Lots of chili choices last night at the VFW. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Also yesterday: the ALS United Connecticut event to honor all those affected by Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and remember those who have died, at Sherwood Island State Park.
Those who could walk, did. Those who could join them in wheelchairs, did too.
The weather was beautiful. The atmosphere was both serious and celebratory. The fight against ALS continues.
A few of the many participants at yesterday’s ALS United Connecticut event.
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You can’t talk about American folk music without Woody Guthrie.
Two days before Election Day, First Folk Sunday honors the influential singer/songwriter/icon of democracy and freedom.
Suzanne Sheridan, First Folk Sunday’s headline singer and artistic force, will be joined for the tribute by Matt Lavigni, Paul Bluestein, Susan T. Reid, Myra Healy and Colin Healy.
Doors open at noon, at the Saugatuck Rowing Club. The music cover charge is $15. Table service is available for brunch, lunch and cocktails. Click here for tickets. For more information, call 203-984-7562.
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Congratulations, Mike Noonan!
The 1979 Staples High School graduate — who won a state championship with the boys soccer team, then earned All-America honors at Middlebury College — has just picked up the 400th win of his coaching career.
As head coach of the Clemson University men’s soccer team, Noonan is 5th among active Division I head coaches in career wins.
The Tigers have won 2 national championships in the past 3 years. Noonan’s squad has also captured 4 ACC titles.
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Westport attorney Frank Sisson writes:
:My faith in humanity was restored yesterday morning.
“As the sun was setting Friday, I accidentally dropped an Apple Watch keychain charger (not cheap), with my health club entry pass attached, near my car when leaving the Trout Brook Valley Preserve off-leash trail lot.
“I did not realize this until I got home. I drove back first thing Saturday morning. Not only was another dog owner kind enough to move her car to let me look where I had parked on Friday, but she aided me in the search.
“After a few minutes without luck, I checked the trail map box by the entrance. A kind soul had found my device, and placed it inside on top of the trail maps.
“It is nice to know that good people still live all around us, despite the discouraging headlines and political climate of these troubled times. Perhaps there is hope for us all yet, and a reason to be optimistic that all will be okay.
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Sugar maples make their first appearance in a “Westport … Naturally” feature.
Topsy Siderowf spotted these beauties at Long Lots Elementary School:
(Photo/Topsy Siderowf)
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And finally … the First Folk Sunday tribute to Woody Guthrie (story above) reminds us that, nearly a century ago, the Oklahoma native was writing songs about America’s potential — and problems.
Among the topics he addressed: immigration, migrant workers, capitalism, religious hypocrisy, and the wonders of our nation.
(This blog is your blog … from Saugatuck Shores, to Sherwood Island. Please take a minute or two to click here, and support our hyper-local work. Thank you!)
Congrats Mike Noonan…we have been Clemson fans for a loooong time having moved to coastal SC in 1988…go Tigers!!!
In the past year or so, there have three been stuck racoons in that area. I came across one last spring caught under the grate just inside of Quentin. A neighbor and I tried to pull the grate up, but it is really heavy and sand and stuff sealed it in place. I had called the PD and AC. They reached out to the Fire Department who came, too. Unfortunately, by the time they could pull the grate, the racoon had succumbed to the rising water and no air. I think Dan posted about the same thing a few months ago, but the racoon survived as did this one. I’ll assume there is a drain pipe going to and from Gray’s Creek that the racoons find interesting, but when a higher tide comes in, they get trapped. I’m sure there have been others caught in the same scenario that we never see. 🙁
Hi Matt,
Your comment is accurate, and the police department shares your concerns. We are going to contact Public Works about the feasibility of installing a tidal or flap gate on the storm drain inlet. These type of flap gates are apparently common on storm drain systems that open up into tidal zones.
Regards,
Peter Reid
Westport Animal Control
Westport Police Department
there is a gate in place. perhaps it is not working properly. More likely water level is high because of tidal influence.
This time the hero is Althea Heisler.
Thank you, Althea…most folks would not have had the courage to put a hand through the grate and under the little guy…so glad you
did.