Westport connections to the Los Angeles fires keep coming.
And this one comes with an important reminder.
Dr. Edward Paul writes: “My two kids are in the LA area. Lexi Paul (Staples Class of 2012) lives in Pasadena; Rachel Paul (SHS ’14) lives in West Hollywood.
“Both were evacuated pretty quickly. Thankfully, each lives in an apartment building in a ‘downtown’ area with limited trees and brush, so they have been spared thus far.
“One lesson I’ve learned from this is that while we try to teach our kids how to navigate life, we (I) haven’t done anything to prepare them for handling disasters.
“How to get public service information, how to sign up for local alerts, what valuables or documents to pack if you need to leave in a hurry, what photos to take of your residence before leaving for possible insurance claims.
“These are important life lessons I’ve now given to them — after the fact, but hopefully before any future needs arise.
“One may think these lessons are common sense. They are for a grown 60-year- old. But maybe not for a 20+ year old.”
Do you — or your children — know what to do when danger suddenly approaches? (Photo/Mike Pryor)
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The Gillespie Center has reopened.
And — after a 7-month hiatus — volunteers are back serving meals.
Now they can cook too, in the new full-service kitchen.
The Westport Rotary Club had the honor of producing the first meal.
The joyful dinner was made even better, with the music of Antonia Nedder.
Families, individuals and organizations wishing to prepare and serve meals can click here for more information.
Serving the first meal at the newly renovated Gillespie Center. Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden (rear) is joined by (from left) Rotarians Mark Wilhelm, Jim Birchfield and Jeff Wieser (former HwH CEO). Helping out (front) are Jeff’s grandchildren.
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Want to get married quickly? Need someone to take a deposition? Have any other official oath-taking (or giving) task in mind?
Westport’s justices of the peace can help.
The town recently added a few new names to its roster of about 60. Many are familiar, as town officials, civic volunteers or other long-time residents.
Click here for a full list. They’re ready to serve.
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At 3 a.m. today, Westport firefighters responded to a motor vehicle crash at the southbound exit of I-95 Exit 18.
The vehicle sustained heavy damage, with one person inside.
Crews used battery-operated rescue tools to remove the roof. The occupant was extricated from the vehicle in under 10 minutes. Patient care and transport to the hospital were provided by Westport Emergency Medical Service.
State and Westport Police were on the scene. The last Westport Fire Department unit left at 5:13 a.m.
Vehicle in this morning’s I-95 crash.
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It’s still January. Can spring be far behind?
Wakeman Town Farm’s Winter Sowing Workshop will teach you how to make your own mini-greenhouse — in a bottle.
Start seedlings. Leave it out until spring. You’ll reap a dozen or more native plants, which pollinators will love.
Advanced master gardener Alice Ely leads the January 27 (7 p.m.) workshop. Click here to register.
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Walrus Alley’s next Comedy Night is January 28 (6:30 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. show).
Comedians Mike Brown, John Minus and Kevin Fitzgerald are on the menu. Tickets are $29. Click here to purchase.
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You never know what will be donated to Goodwill.
Les Dinkin spotted this the other day:
(Photo/DinkinESH Fotografix)
Oh, deer!
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We received plenty of snow submissions yesterday for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.
What could be more natural than this tranquil scene, at the Lansdowne Condominiums?
(Photo/Lauri Weiser)
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And finally … on this date in 1967, Dr. James Bedford became the first person to be cryonically preserved, after dying of cancer. He hoped to be resuscitated in the future. That has not yet happened.
(Don’t be cold! “06880” relies on the support of readers like you. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank y’all!)
I’m no expert but that photo of the taxidermied animal appears to be a moose and not a deer. I did watch a lot of Rocky & Bullwinkle back in the day so that’s my reference.
With regard to the wildfires and other potential emergencies, I would love to know what essentials other people suggest you try to take with you.
I would suggest the following:
Pets (& collar with leash, pet food for a few days)
Passports
Wallet (Dr lic, bank cards, insurance card, etc)
Medications (for at least a few days)
Any financial information that isn’t accessible online
A couple of changes of clothes with shoes
Your cell phone
Any photos that may not be retrieved digitally (such as wedding album, etc)
Having said this, if you have a “go bag” packed with most of these things that you don’t need to use while your life is running regularly, it can be easier to grab them. If you don’t have time to pack everything, then most things can be gotten later ( maybe not easily, but either from donations or if you have access to some money, you can buy them)
The most important thing is your lives, so if you have to leave EVERYTHING to survive then just LEAVE! Everyone can prioritize these things themselves, but lives cannot be replaced!
That deer is a moose, you know that, right? 😁
No, they don’t know that. They are all fake. Fake self proclaimed nature-loving liberals who wouldn’t know a 3 toed sloth from a striped bass but will boast all day about how they contribute to “funds” to make themselves feel better.