It takes a village — to clean a village.
With an enormous amount of snow, and temperatures remaining well below freezing, cleaning up from the January 25 storm was difficult.
Plowed, congealed piles made walking and parking difficult downtown.
So on Tuesday night, SCA Crowley — led by vice president Maxx Crowley, president of the Westport Downtown Association — joined forces with Westport’s Department of Public Works team.
SCA spent 3 hours on Main Street removing snow.
It was then hauled away by DPW director Peter Ratkiewich’s crew, led by superintendent Joe Izzo and crew captain Dave Smith. Public Works followed up by salting roads and sidewalks.
It’s much easier to park now — which means it’s far easier to drive and walk, too. Thanks to all who helped!
One view of the Main Street cleanup …
… and another. (Hat tip and photos/Andrew Colabella)
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“Your State, Your Business” — a 3-part event bringing 3 of Connecticut’s constitutional officers to Westport to discuss issues regarding the state and how they relate to business (and residents) is coming to town.
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and Westport Library are collaborating on the series.
It kicks off on March 5 with Comptroller Sean Scanlon. Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas follows on March 19. Attorney General William Tong is the final speaker, April 2. All sessions begin at 11 a.m.
Each event includes a presentation by the officer, a moderated discussion, and questions from the audience. It’s free, but registration is required.
For more information, including registration, click here.
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Heartbreaker!
Tom Petty won’t be at this year’s VersoFest.
But his daughter will be.
Adria Petty — a noted producer and music video director — will be at the Westport Library on March 28 (3 p.m.). She’ll discuss her father’s legacy, with music and technology pioneer Sam Hendel.
Petty works as a managing partner at the Tom Petty estate with her family and the remaining members of Tom Petty’s band and operations team, preserving their archive of 40 years of American music.
She has directed videos for recording artists like Beyonce, Coldplay and Rihanna. She has also done commercial spots for brands such as Lancôme, Target, Converse, Hershey’s, McDonald’s and more.
Her appearance is one of many free events, at the 5th annual VersoFest. Click here for the full lineup.
Adria Petty
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A reminder: Friends of the Senior Center are sponsoring their 25th annual Super Bowl tailgate party this Sunday (February 8, 1 p.m.).
All ages are welcome to enjoy hot dogs, chips and dessert, plus a chance to meet Staples High School’s championship boys soccer and rugby teams.
PAL and Staples cheerleaders will perform.
And there’s a “guess the final score” contest, with prizes.
All ages are invited. Registration required by noon Sunday: 203-341-5098.
The state champion “futbol” team will be at the Senior Center football Super Bowl party on February 8. (Photo/John Walker)
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Shoot for the stars!
The Westport Astronomical Society is introducing a new STEM opportunity for students in grades 9-12. It’s run through the Northeast Occultation Network (NEON).
Participants will learn to operate telescopes, observe and capture astronomical data from asteroid occultations, and contribute to professional astronomy research under the training of astrophysicist Dr. Kevin Green of the University of New Haven.
Students will work with the WAS team to collect, analyze and submit research-grade data to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
There are 3 options, based on course length and cost. Click here for more information.
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I know less than nothing about dog shows.
So when alert “06880” reader Chris Grimm sent me a video clip about Gryphon (click here), I had to ask for details.
Turns out that’s his dog. He competes in agility.
His partner — Chris’, not Gryphon’s — handles the dog during runs. The Westminster Kennel Club hosts a big agility trial — the Westminster Masters Agility Championship — which ended Tuesday night.
Gryphon’s Standard run begins at the 12:00 mark in the video below.
Chris reports: “He froze a bit at the weave polls and Leslie took a spill by the tunnel, but Gryphon did a great job of finishing.”
In the video below, Gryphon’s jumpers run starts after 12:30. “Except for wandering off to say hello, it was a good run,” Chris says. “I can’t believe he got his Q for that.
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Congratulations to Jessica Bram!
The founder of Westport Writers’ Workshop, and noted memoir and creative nonfiction workshop instructor, has just practiced what she preaches.
Her new memoir, “West End Avenue,” has just been published.
Amazon describes it:
A young girl’s world is upended when her divorced mother of 3 marries a widowed father of 4.
Set against the backdrop of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, this evocative memoir traces the uneasy transformation of a blended household – where strangers become siblings bound by shared trauma, quiet acts of loyalty, and the unspoken bonds forged in childhood.
Click here for more information, and to order.
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Orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Conaway was this week’s Westport Rotary Club guest speaker. Among his topics: the growing role of robotics in his specialty.
Dr. William Conaway (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between January 28 and February 3.
A 28-year-old Westport man was charged with interfering with an officer, following a complaint that he verbally threated an employee at Whole Foods. He fled, but was located nearby, and taken into custody based on repeated resistance to requests to stay away from the store.
A 64-year-old Hamden man was charged with larceny and criminal trespass, following an investigation into the theft of $110.31 of energy drinks from Stop & Shop. He had been formally warned earlier not to return to the store. He was held on a $25,000 bond.
A 53-year-old Bridgeport man was charged with failure to appear, after panhandling on the I-95 northbound ramp. He was held on a $25,000 bond.
A 28-year-old Westport man was charged with failure to appear, after being held in Pennsylvania on an unrelated matter. He was held on a $15,000 bond.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Texting while driving: 14 citations
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 11
- Failure to renew registration: 11
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 7
- Failure to obey stop sign: 7
- Distracted driving: 2
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
- Speeding in a school zone, 2nd offense: 1
- Speeding in a school zone: 1
- Speeding: 1
- Traveling too fast for conditions: 1
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
- Failure to grant right of way: 1
- Improper turn: 1
- Unsafe backing: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
- Violation of readable license plates: 1
- Failure to return license plates: 1
- Improper use of markers: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
- Failure to reinstate license within 60 days: 1
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 1
Lots of license plate citations recently. That’s no laughing matter.
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Because the heaviest snow usually falls during in February, Indigenous tribes of the North and East called this month’s full moon the “snow moon.”
When it rose the other day, there was indeed snow on the ground — from January.
Candice Cardenas snapped today’s “Westport … Naturally” image above Old Road.
(Photo/Candice Cardenas)
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And finally … in honor of Tom Petty’s daughter’s appearance at VersoFest (story above):
(From dog shows to outer space, “06880” is “where Westport meets the world.” If you’re a part of our online community — and you’re reading this, so you are — please click here to support us. Thanks!)
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Many thanks to all who helped move the “snowcrete” downtown, we appreciate you all!
The Westminster dog agility trials are nothing short of amazing!
The border collies are really amazing.
It’s really great that SCA Crowley and Public Works cleared Main Street….I commend them for that. However, it’s very frustrating for small business owners like me whose storefronts are located on the Post Road and whose sidewalks are still snowed in. Please remember that Westport isn’t only “Main Street”.
Have to mention this comes directly from westportct.gov … ‘BUSINESS SIDEWALKS – Per Town ordinance, Sec. 50-407, businesses are responsible for keeping all sidewalks along their property clear of snow and ice.’
If it’s too much for you, perhaps reach out to SLOBs @ Staples HS, & see if they can offer a helping hand?
https://www.shsslobs.com
Best of luck! (It’s hard on everyone, having a REAL winter, after four consecutive ones that were anything but.)
OK. Kitt. How soon would you like me to get over to the Post Road and dig your sidewalks out? Your frustration as a small business owner affronts my sense of fair play. I can’t believe Westport expects you to clear the snow from in front of your own business. What has Wrestport come to when a simple store owner has to get out there and actually shovel snow from the sidewalk in front of their own shop so people can come into their shop and spend money. Only in Westport, eh?
via Google, fyi: “In Connecticut, most municipalities mandate snow removal for businesses. Each of the 169 municipalities has specific ordinances that require businesses to clear snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their properties…”
Frank – – you are a good man
why not have an 06880 sponsored snowball fight ?
Note to Chris Grimm, Leslie, and Gryphon: It’s more satisfying to steal the show than to win it!
Arrested for PANHANDLING? WTF?; leave the guy alone. Gonna’ fine a guy who has to beg for money? How’s he gonna’ pay the fine…stupid use of police, court and judge’s time and energy.
Dan, several years ago one of my fellow detectives followed one of these guys as they packed it in for the day. The gentleman made his way to his car which was stashed in a Saugatuck lot. He then drove to his home in Trumbull which he owned. Over the years many of these guys have been offered jobs in Saugatuck restaurants. They decline stating that they are taking in about $300 in 4-6 hours at the off ramp. And let’s not forget that a couple of years ago one was arrested in a nighttime burglary on Riverside Ave. So there’s that.