The Aspetuck Health District has responded to the letter sent recently by water utility Aquarion to many of its customers.
The letter said, “Our most recent service line inventory indicates that some or all of the water service line materials between the water main and your property are of unknown material classification. Unknown means that the service line may be lead.”
The Health District says: “Please note that Aquarion’s letter is mandated by the federal government’s customer lead service line inventory effort, and that much of the contained language is required by USEPA as part of evolving regulations around the treatment of lead.
“Additionally, Aquarion has indicated that it consistently complies with all federal and state water quality standards, including those for lead. Even if a customer has lead service lines, Aquarion is adjusting the chemistry in the water to prevent corrosion that could result in lead in the tap.
“Before these new rules, adjusting water chemistry was the long-standing practice to protect consumers from lead. The lead service line inventory is a belt- and-suspenders approach across the country to get lead removed from drinking water infrastructure. Aquarion has indicated that the water has been and will continue to be safe.
“Click here for a link to Aquarion’s service line inventory map. Any resident in the service territory can look up their address to see what Aquarion has on record for their service line (both customer and utility side).
“Aquarion’s website has a comprehensive set of information about lead as well.
“Click here for a link to the Consumer Confidence Report for the most recent year for the Bridgeport Main System.”
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Congratulations to the Staples High School field hockey team!
Sofia Fidalgo’s penalty corner goal with 18 seconds left in regulation time propelled the Wreckers into overtime, in last night’s FCIAC championship at Wilton High School.
She scored again with just over a minute to play in the the extra period. The 3-2 win for top-ranked Staples, over #2 Darien, was the Westporters’ first league title since 2019, when they shared it with the Blue Wave. Darien had won 6 straight FCIAC crowns before last night.
Princeton University-bound Fidalgo — who was also named tournament MVP — told The Ruden Report: “Maybe I got those two final touches, but it was really a team effort throughout, Some of our defenders don’t get that credit because they’re not the ones who put it in the back of the net. They’re not the ones who have that final touch. But from our goalie, our defense, every single player, it’s all a team effort, and so I’m just really proud of every single player. Those last 15 minutes were really high intensity, but we were able to manage our emotions and calm down, especially in overtime, and finish.”
The Wreckers — ranked first in the state in the “L” (large schools) division — begin state tournament play next Wednesday. Pairings will be announced this week.
Staples Wreckers: FCIAC field hockey champs! (Photo courtesy of VJ Sarullo)
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Congratulations too to Ben Casparius.
Last night, the 2017 Staples High School grad became only the second pitcher in baseball history to make his first-ever MLB start in a World Series. (But the first, no doubt, to do it on his mother’s birthday.)
He left (as planned) after 2 innings, with his Los Angeles Dodgers up 2-1 against the New York Yankees. He has given up just 1 run in 6 1/3 innings in the post-season.
The Yanks got 4 runs in the 3rd inning. after Casparius departed, then cruised to an 11-4 victory to stay alive in the Series (they are down 3 games to 1).
Game 5 is tonight at 8 p.m., on Fox. (Hat tip: Jeff Mitchell)
Ben Casparius on the mound last night … (Screenshot/Fred Cantor)
… and at Staples High School.
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Reading is wonderful, and joyous — for many people.
For some, it is challenging and frustrating.
Jennifer Bernheim — advocate, entrepreneur, and mom to a dyslexic learner — has launched a new podcast with Verso Studios at the Westport Library.
“Right to Read” is named after the organization she founded. It offers advocacy services, IEP coaching and workshops, as well as a corporate HR benefit that provides educational resources and advocacy coaching.
The podcast offers information on community resources, best practices for dyslexic learners, legislation, and success stories.
It debuted yesterday — during Dyslexia Awareness Month — with 3 20-minute episodes. Additional episodes will drop every other week.
The show is available on the Verso Studios community partnership podcast page, and podcast distributors like Apple and Spotify.
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Speaking of the Library: If you were there yesterday morning, you got an unexpected musical treat.
The Orphenians — Staples’ elite singing group — joined a few other area high schools in an inspiring workshop, hosted by the Voces8 Foundation.
The Westport Library this morning between 9 and 11:30am was in for a musical treat. Staples Orphenians, along with a few other area high school choirs, participated in an inspiring workshop hosted by the Voces8 Foundation.
Voces8 — based in the UK — teaches chamber music to high school students worldwide. They visit “music hubs” in New York, Minneapolis and Dallas several times a year.
Last year, they added Westport as a hub.
Voces8 will sponsor another workshop this spring, followed by an evening performance.
Voces8 workshop, at the Westport Library. (Hat tip and photo/Liz Skopp)
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Kenzie Hoefs has started a GoFundMe. Last weekend her brother-in law Matt Zahler of Westport lost his battle with depression, leaving behind her sister Steph and 3-year-old niece, and 3 teenage sons from his previous marriage.
Kenzie writes: “Steph owns her own business and will need to take time away from her business to make sure Winnie is supported and adjusts to a new norm, as well as cover funeral costs.
“Steph is truly one of the most selfless people I know and would do anything to help anyone. I’m asking for us to come together and give back to her to remove some of the financial stress during this very difficult time.”
Click here to contribute.
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Many Westporters are working to elect their preferred presidential candidate.
They’re making get-out-the-vote phone calls. They’re posting on social media. They’re contributing money.
Shonda Rhimes is in Georgia, urging voters in that swing state to cast their ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Westport resident — who, the New York Times said “became one of American entertainment’s most influential figures after she created the television hits ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Scandal” — told volunteers at a Democratic field office near Atlanta: “In any episode of ‘Grey’s’ or ‘Scandal,’ I could not make this up. I would not make this up. But this is real. We have a problem, people, and his name is Donald Trump.”
The Times story explored “how much star power ultimately matters to voters, who routinely list issues like the economy, abortion rights and crime as more essential to their choices than celebrity appearances.” Click here to read the full article.
Shonda Rhimes, at the Westport Library. (Photo/Jerri Graham Photography)
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Just in time to turn back clocks — it’s this Sunday! — La Plage has gone to winter hours.
The Inn at Longshore restaurant is now open for lunch Wednesday through Friday, brunch on Saturday and Sunday, and dinners Wednesday through Sunday,
They’re taking reservations for Thanksgiving, too. Click here for details.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” — perhaps our most colorful image ever — was taken this week Monday by Al Gratrix, in his Partrick Lane back yard.
Are we lucky to live in this town, or what?
(Photo/Al Gratrix)
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And finally … once upon a time in Westport, tonight — 24 hours before Halloween — was Mischief Night.
Teenagers would — oh, I don’t know, smash pumpkins.
Toss water balloons at younger kids.
Throw mailboxes into the pond across from the house where they lived.
As you can tell, I have just mentioned a few random acts of mischief. I myself have no direct knowledge of any of those things.
At least, not until the statute of limitations is up.
Today’s teenagers wouldn’t know how to toilet paper a tree unless they studied a YouTube video of it.
Smh.
(Looking for a way to celebrate Mischief Night? Just click here, to make a tax-deductible contribution to “06880.” Thank you!)
