Amy Schneider warns: “Don’t sit on the Westport Library patio!
“There is a swarm of spotted lanternflies there. Some flew on us.”
Not enough to make you consider taking your café coffee elsewhere?
Check out her photo:
(Photo/Amy Schneider)
================================================
Speaking of creatures: Chris Swan enjoyed Jay Dirnberger’s photo of the Sherwood Island lifeguard chair — painted with a turtle — in yesterday’s Roundup.
Chris loves Westport’s first state park. He’s there nearly every day.
And, he notes, all 3 lifeguard stations are painted.
The eastern side (#1) shows a snail:
The western one (#3) is a starfish.
“I believe these were made a few years ago by kids at the Friends of Sherwood Island’s Nature Center,” Chris says.
“There are terrariums there, with jellyfish, terrapin turtles and starfish on display.”
===============================================
Now you see it.
Now you don’t.
In a scene repeated nearly every week in Westport, a demolition crew turned an entire house — bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, garage, roof — into rubble yesterday.
It does not take long.
John Richers watched yesterday on Pond Edge Road, as this home met its end.
Here it was at 7 a.m.:
Then, a couple of hours later:
By 3 p.m., it was all gone:
(Photos/John Richers)
All that was left was loading the remains into the back of a trailer-length dump truck.
And memories.
===============================================
John McCarthy sent this photo from the Baldwin parking lot downtown to “06880” …
(Photo/John McCarthy)
… and writes: “These wires have been there, unconnected to any device, since the reconstruction several years ago.
“Looks to me like they could have been intended to connect to surveillance cameras. Maybe. Why wasn’t the job finished?”
I asked town operations director Thomas Kiely. He says: “Correct. The poles were wired to include security cameras in the future.
“I do not have a time frame for installation. That would be coordinated through the Police Department and Department of Public Works.”
==================================================
Wakeman Town Fam’s final “Pizza on the Patio” event of the summer is set for August 27 (6:30 or 7 p.m.). Anthony K of Tony Pizza Napolitano will do the honors.
Each order includes 2 personal pizzas (select at checkout) and 1 bottle of wine (dtto). plus taxes and service fees. A limited number of single tickets, and additional bottles of wine or pizzas, is also available. Click here to order, and for more details.
Pizza at Wakeman Town Farm.
==================================================
We’re not sure what this guy at Sherwood Mill Pond is squawking about.
But he’s sure making a scene.
And also making today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo.
(Photo/Nikki Gorman)
==================================================
And finally …in honor of next month’s “Pizza on the Patio” at Wakeman Town Farm (story above):
(When you click on the link, after pizza and a drink: that’s amore! What link? The one that helps you donate to “06880.” Grazie mille!)
Is the town doing anything about the spotted lantern fly invasion? I think they should take down the trees these bugs like – tree of heaven. There are a few at Compo Beach. I am a tree advocate so these words do not come lightly. (The town should plant other shade bearing trees in their place.)
I agree, Leigh, not only do they feed these invasive species, but they’re invasive themselves. Well worth getting rid of.
As the Baldwin lot has been “finished” and those poles/wires in place for almost 3 years, it seems to me like someone might have had second thoughts about installing surveillance cameras in downtown Westport. I don’t think the cameras are just on back-order. But I might be wrong.
Now that surveilance cameras have been stealthily installed at Longshore, with no public discussion or explanation as to why or how the captured data will be used, stored and accessed, I think it would be a good time for a town wide discussion on the matter. I am circulating a petition so that the RTM can add a discussion on the topic to the agenda for its regular August or September meeting. If you are interested in signing the petition or discussing the matter, please email me at JDMWestport@gmail.com Full text of the petition is below:
_______________
The undersigned petitioners respectfully request that the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) include on its next meeting agenda—no less than 14 days following certification of this petition by the Town Clerk—the following item: “Review of the Installation and Policies Governing Surveillance Cameras at Longshore by the First Selectwoman, with Public Comment.”
The petitioners believe that the recent installation of surveillance cameras at Longshore warrants a townwide discussion and review. The First Selectwoman and relevant town officials should be invited to present the public safety rationale and other considerations underlying the decision, as well as provide details on:
• How the surveillance data is being collected, used, and retained;
• Who has access to the data; and
• What oversight or policies govern its use.
In accordance with the Town Charter, we request that the RTM Moderator, or if the Moderator is unable to act, the Deputy Moderator, or if neither is able, the Town Clerk, place this item on the meeting agenda
_______________
Thanks for getting this petition together, John. I look forward to the RTM’s acceptance of same in compliance with our Charter.
John, you may or may not be surprised to know that in Saugatuck and around the RR station there are probably close to one hundred cameras. I assume that they are still operational. There are also LPRs (license plate readers) at the I-95 entrances and exits. I personally have no problem with these devices..
Dave, I was aware of the RR station ones. They are pretty visible and were the subject of public meetings and discussions held by Metro North. Not aware of the license plate readers at the I-95 exits.
Many people, across the political spectrum, are concerned about this type of surveillance. Where the surveillance is done, why it is done, who gets access to the data, how long the data is stored, etc. This is not a simple matter. And town departments putting up cameras without public input or notification or explanation of reasons or publicity of how data is managed etc. is not how things are supposed to be done in an open and free society.
Some people think there should be cameras everywhere. Others, no cameras at all. But most people understand this is a complex issue without a simple answer. Westport has shown in the past that it can handle complex issues through openness and dialogue. Let’s discuss this.
Before you get all cozy under the covers John make sure you cheek under the bed tonite. 🙂
Why aren’t you writing comedy professionally?
You keep providing content John, I may get there.
As you know 88, content is king.
One action the library can look into, get some Neem Oil and spray it on the patio ledges. SLF do not do well with Need Oil and my understanding is that it’s not toxic to humans.
Security cameras will be installed one week after a horrific incident with no camera recording.
Tom, interesting viewpoint. Sounds like you might be in favor of having this topic discussed at the RTM. Happy to meet this weekend for you to sign the petition. Let me know.
I now live in Stuart FL
Son lives in Westport
That’s not a jellyfish on the lifeguard chair. It is a starfish.
I currently live in Southbury CT, and we were informed by the town that if one sees the lantern flies, crush them immediately to avoid the proliferation. Sounds gross, I know, but … 😉