Four days after Sunday’s snowfall, a massive pile remains downtown.
(Photo/Jay Petrow)
Two narrow — and difficult-to-see-past — lanes feed into Main Street from Post Road East, from the west and east.
It’s one of several hazards posed by plowed banks.
Another especially treacherous one: Compo Road North, at the Evergreen Avenue hill.
Be careful out there!
The good news: A nor’easter that forecasters were watching for this weekend seems to have disssipated.
The bad news: It will be 5 degrees again tonight. Run a little stream of water to keep pipes from freezing!
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The Westport Fire Department battled a house fire on Weathervane Hill. off Wilton Road, last night.
When firefighters arrived around 11 p.m., they saw heavy smoke. All occupants had safely left the house.
The Norwalk, Fairfield and Wilton departments assisted. Emergency Medical Service provided medical support; Westport Poliee and firefighters directed traffic, while the Department of Public Works helped mitigate icy conditions.
The last unit left at 4 a.m. The fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause.
Firefighters at Weathervane Hill. (Photo/Ryan Blake)
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The next Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand play reading is “The Goldsmith.”
Based on a family’s true stories of their gold jewelry passing across borders, cultures and generations, it’s set for February 9 (7 p.m). The play — written and performed by Broadway actor Sharone Sayegh — won Theatre Aspen’s 2025 Solo Flight Festival.
Click here for tickets, and more information.
Sharone Sayegh (Photo/Michelle Kinney)
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VersoFest ’26 has announced plenty of attractions: Ani DiFranco, Wyclef Jean, and much more.
Now we know the closer, at the Westport Library on March 28 (7:30 p.m.). Musician/writer/playwright/poet/visual artist/alt-rock legend David J, of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets) fame’s special storytellers event is the final event this year.
He’ll read selections from his new poetry book Rhapsody, Threnody & Prayer, accompanied by original music. The reading will be followed by an interview featuring author Douglas Rushkoff (“one of the world’s 10 most influential intellectuals,” says MIT), and concludes with a short set of acoustic songs.
Click here for tickets to David J, and more information. Click here for details on VersoFest 2026.
David J (Photo/Jolene Siana)
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Every Thursday this winter, the Westport Farmers’ Market offers nutritious food.
Next Thursday (February 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center), there’s another way to nourish your body and mind.
“A Day of Care & Connection on Thursday” features Kiin Sauna (a wood-fired experience), Dharma Massage (chair massages), Whole Health Thermography (educational talk) and Abbey Chase Yoga (bowl healing).
Click here for the Westport Farmers’ Market website.
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Westport Police made 6 custodial arrests between January 21 and 27.
A 36-year-old Hamden man was charged with larceny, and conspiracy to commit larceny, following a report that 2 Brooks Brothers employees were processing fraudulent merchandise returns. He is alleged to have profited over $20,000. He was unable to post $50,000 bond.
A 64-year-old Fairfield woman was charged with larceny and possession of a shoplifting device, following an investigation into a December incident. Though the complainant wished only to have the stolen goods returned, merchandise from other downtown businesses were located.
A 45-year-old Stratford woman was charged with disorderly conduct, assault and strangulation, following an investigation into an August disturbance at a Westport home that she initiated. The victim alleged being punched and choked.
A 63-year-old Westport man was charged with evading responsibility and operating under the influence, after a vehicle with heavy damage was blocking part of Post Road West. The damage was caused by striking a mailbox, sign, shrubbery and a utility pole on Kings Highway North properties.
A 20-year-old Bridgeport man was charged with violation of a protective order, operating a motor vehicle without a license, and defective headlamp, following a motor vehicle stop near Maple Avenue for that headlamp. It was learned that a passenger was protected by a court order, stipulating no contact between the 2 parties. She was released on a $25,000 bond.
A 20-yera-old Norwalk woman was charged with violation of a protective order.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Failure to obey stop sign: 7 citations
- Texting while driving: 6
- Failure to renew registration: 6
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 4
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 3
- Failure to remove snow and ice from a vehicle roof: 2
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 2
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 2
- Following too closely: 2
- Evading responsibility: 1
- Speeding: 1
- Traveling too fast for conditions: 1
- Unsafe passing: 1
- Parking a motor vehicle on a sidewalk: 1
- Breach of peace: 1
- Improper use of markers: 1
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 1
Not a parking spot! (Also not Westport, but you get the idea.)
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Humans are not the only ones having a tough time following last weekend’s snow.
Deer are hungry too. They’re venturing closer than usual to homes in search of food.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from Whitney Street. But the scene is repeated often, all over town.
(Photo/Molly Alger)
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And finally … on this date in 1861, Kansas became the 34th state in the US.
(January seems like it’s been 392 days already. Fortunately, “06880” is here for you, 24/7/365. If you appreciate our work, please support us by clicking here. Thank you!)
The huge piles of unmelted snow are all over Westport and are a serious danger to vehicles and pedestrians and bikers!!
Our public works depsrtment and the same crews that prep and plow the streets should be in a fleet of the same trucks and be working with loaders to remove a lot of these mini- mountians of snow and dumping in the sound and unused open areas to allow the temperature slow controlled melt. Many cities and towns in the Northeast are doing this on a daily basis!
Come on Westport government this is not a rocket science moment! Can we be more proactive once in a while?!
Out of curiosity, what is a “shoplifting device”?
Example: a “booster bag,” a shopping bag lined with aluminum foil to defeat electronic systems that recognize when an item has been removed from a store.
Just having aluminum foil to wrap around a product or tag probably wouldn’t qualify as a shoplifting device, but having a bag lined with foil probably would. Something that attorneys could argue about.
CT statutes:
2024 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 53a – Penal Code
Chapter 952 – Penal Code: Offenses
Section 53a-127f. – Possession of a shoplifting device: Class A misdemeanor.
(a) A person is guilty of possession of a shoplifting device when such person has in such person’s possession any device, instrument or other thing specifically designed or adapted to advance or facilitate the offense of larceny by shoplifting, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-119, by defeating any antitheft or inventory control device, under circumstances manifesting an intent to use the same in the commission of larceny by shoplifting.
Thank you. That makes sense. I was wondering if it was something like a Swiss Army knife (among whose tools include a screwdriver) that might be able to pry off some of those tags. Not that anyone actually carries one of those any more.