… and reminds us: “Birds, like all living things, need water. In these frigid temperatures, drinkable water is hard to come by.
“Agriculture-grade rubber pans do the job. They’re easy to find online.”
Tracy Porosoff spotted bird tracks in the snow, and adds: “Please remind people to sprinkle some bird seed, or fill their bird feeders.”
Today’s forecast is for a high of 16, though slightly less windy than yesterday. The low tonight will be 7 — still quite cold, but better than last night.
A bit of relief is in sight. Temperatures will climb to the 30s tomorrow and Tuesday. On Wednesday we’ll be roasting, at 42 degrees.
Speaking of the bone-chilling cold: It could have derailed Homes with Hope‘s annual “Soup-er Bowl” food drive.
The event — held every year the day before the Big Game — is sponsored by the Westport Police Department, and the Westport Rotary and Sunrise Rotary clubs. It’s an important event, timed during a traditionally down time for donations, to replenish the non-profit’s food pantry.
It would have been tough to have volunteers stand outside in single-digit temperatures. And to ask donors to linger outdoors too.
Stop & Shop’s manager quickly stepped up. He moved the group indoors, providing space in prime territory near the entrance.
Inside Stop & Shop …
We don’t know who will be tonight’s Super Bowl MVP.
But for yesterday’s Soup-er Bowl food drive, it’s Stop & Shop. And the winning team is the 2 Rotary Clubs, Police Department, and all who contributed goods and funds to Homes with Hope.
Yesterday’s 27th annual Westport Library Crossword Puzzle Contest sold out almost instantly.
Despite bitter cold — or maybe because of cabin fever — 200 cruciverbalists filled the Trefz Forum yesterday.
They spent the afternoon solving 3 New York Times puzzles, and competing in a word game hosted by the Times’ longtime and revered puzzle editor, Will Shortz.
The finals pitted 3 Westport contest veterans. In an unusual twist, the winner took the longest to complete a very difficult “Thursday” crossword.
Jan O’Sullivan zipped through it in a still-gob-smacking 9 minutes — 3 minutes slower than Claire Rimkus and Glen Ryan.
23 seconds into the final round. From left: Jen O’Sullivan, Claire Rimkus and Glen Ryan. Times puzzle editor Will Shortz is far right.
But those 2 spelled “Sacagawea” with a “j,” not a “g.” That’s acceptable — but not in a puzzle with a crossing word (“girth,” not “jirth”).
Slow — relatively — and steady won that race.
Kenneth Mukamal, with a certificate as one of 2 dozen competitors to complete all 3 puzzles correctly. He did not qualify for the final round — but, playing at his table, correctly finished that puzzle more quickly than the winner. (Photos/Dan Woog)
Freestyle skier Mac Forehand grew up in Southport. His father — Ray Forehand — was on the Staples soccer team in 1976. His uncle Jack Forehand was a football star there, more than a decade earlier.
Mac was on the 2022 US Olympic ski team. He’s on it again in Cortina, competing in both freeski slopestyle and big
He’s already advanced to the next freeski slopestyle round, finishing 6th. You can watch him on Peacock (all times Eastern):
Freeski slopestyle final: Tuesday, February 10, 6:30-8:20 a.m.
Freeski big air qualification: Sunday, February 15, 1:30-3:45 p.m.
Freeski big air final: Tuesday, Feb. 17, 1:30-3:05 p.m.
The Fairfield resident — who attended the Stratton Mountain Ski School — has won 3 X Games medals, and a silver at the 2025 World Championships.
He made history in 2019, winning the overall World Cup title in slopestyle at just 17 years old. It was his first full season on the World Cup circuit.
Alert “06880” reader David Squires reports that his parents were shown on NBC’s coverage of the slopestyle qualification on Thursday.
BONUS RUN: For a 2016 lifestyle publication story on the Forehands’ life in Vermont, click here. (Hat tip: Dan Donovan)
Mac Forehand
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Attention, college students interested in hands-on experience in land conservation: Aspetuck Land Trust is accepting applications for a pair of paid summer internships.
Interns work flexible schedules for 8 to 10 weeks, supporting trail and habitat maintenance, invasive species removal, community outreach, and conservation education projects across their preserves and in Bridgeport. Click here for more information, and application details.
She has created beautiful, wonderful chocolates. She has provided opportunities through them to thank teachers, first responders and many others, and to raise funds for children in need.
“I lost my father to inoperable brain cancer when I was just 21. Nearly 4 years ago, I flew to India in the middle of the holiday season to be with my mother in India after a breast cancer diagnosis. Today, my older brother is battling cancer. I barely know anyone who isn’t in some way affected by the ravages of this disease.
“A few years back I shaved my head for St. Baldrick’s — not for attention, but in quiet solidarity with children fighting cancer.
“Today, my daughter is raising funds for Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Cycle for the Cure in Chicago. Inspired by her act, I just signed up for the Cycle for the Cure ride happening tomorrow (Saturday) at Equinox in Darien.
“As Le Rouge prepares to say goodbye to the town I have called home for over 2 decades, I would like to reach out my community — our community that always shows up and rallies when it really matters.
“I need your help to turn this moment of saying goodbye into something bigger: action, gratitude, and giving back. 10% of February sales at Le Rouge are always donated to charity — this year, to a cause that is deeply personal to me. If you’re able to support or share my fundraising effort, it would mean a great deal.
A new Emergency Medical Technician course begins later this month.
The class begins February 25, and runs through June 22. It meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 6;30 to 9:30 p.m., with occasional lab work on Saturdays (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Instructions include traumatic injury management; breathing, cardiac, mental health and pediatric emergencies; childbirth and OB/GYN; EMS operations, and mass casualty incident response.
provides students with the skills to provide pre-hospital emergency medical care for those who are sick or injured. The program meets State of Connecticut guidelines for EMT certification upon successful completion of exams.
Students who pass the exams will earn Connecticut Emergency Medical Technician certification, and be able to join Westport Emergency Medical Services. and the ability to join WVEMS.
In addition, WVEMS is offering a free “Stop the Bleed” class. It’s Thursday, February 12 (7 to 8:45 p.m.).
The #1 cause of a preventable death after an injury is bleeding. The session helps turn bystanders into immediate responders, for emergencies at home or work, or on the road. Click here for details, and registration.
Westport resident Susan Filan — a former prosecutor and MSNBC senior legal analyst — trades the courtroom for a church on Sunday.
She’ll be a special guest at the Saugatuck Congregational Church 10 a.m. worship service. Filan will speak about transformation, purpose, and clarity in moments of disruption.
After decades working in high-pressure legal environments, a near-fatal accident in 2022 upended her legal career.
It sparked a profound wake-up call, reshaping how she understood success, identity, and what truly matters. Today, she brings that experience into conversations about reinvention, meaning, and rebuilding from the inside out.
The public is invited to the service.
Susan Filan
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Love was in the air Wednesday night, at the VFW.
Post 399 hosted Club203 — our town’s social club for adults with disabilities — for their monthly event.
DJ Lev provided the music. Planet Pizza donated pies, and Mo\CA CT helped with great heart creations.
There were smiles all around … and love was in the air.
Club203 member Dylan Curran (left) and VFW quartermaster Phil Delgado enjoy the evening.
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Speaking of the VFW: Sure, next Friday is the 13th.
But you’re in luck, if you head to Post 399. Laughing Gas Comedy and The City’s Backyard Podcast return, after very successful past shows.
The lineup includes Davin, Paul Taro, Autumn Harvist and Joe Pontillo. Matt Zako is the host.
Speaking of ice: Today’s frozen “Westport … Naturally” photo shows one of many scenes like this, all over town. This one is at Susan Alintoff’s Old Hill home.
And finally … Chuck Negron — a founding member of Three Dog Night — died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 83, and suffered from pulmonary disease and heart failure. Click here for a full obituary.
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)
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!)
Posted onFebruary 2, 2026|Comments Off on Scarice Update: Weather, Strategic Plan, AI, Screen Time …
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice sends this update:
We have crossed the mid-point of the school year and our February Recess is just a couple of weeks away.
Winter Weather Decisions
It looks like we dodged a major blizzard this weekend. That said, our consulting meteorologist is predicting a series of storms and continued cold temperatures throughout February. Sorry to be the bearer of that news!
Since this is the time of year when weather decisions tend to come up a lot, I wanted to share a bit about how those calls are made. When conditions require a delay or closure, I do my best to make a final decision by 5:30 a.m. This typically follows an early morning regional call between 4 and 4:30 with area superintendents and our consulting meteorologist (the entire region uses the same service).
Whenever possible I make the decision the night before, though that’s relatively rare as weather has a habit of changing its mind overnight. Many factors go into these decisions, including temperature differences across town, conditions from the northern side of town to southern side, and coordination with the town on road clearing.
February break may spare us at least one winter weather decision, but early forecasts suggest we may still be looking at snow on the ground well into March. Seems like the groundhog and meteorologists are on the same page…and winter is in no hurry to leave.
As always, thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate an old-fashioned New England winter together.
Snow day!
District Strategic Plan
Since the presentation of our AI Strategic Plan in November, several initiatives are now underway. All of this work is grounded in our commitment to being “AI-Powered and Human-Centered,”using technology thoughtfully while keeping students, learning, and well-being at the center.
Our guiding approach is simple: Go slow to go fast. Rather than rushing new tools or expectations into classrooms, we are intentionally establishing ethical guardrails, clear expectations, and thoughtful preparation first. This allows us to support students and faculty responsibly, protect privacy, and maintain high academic standards as technology continues to evolve.
Several important foundations are already in place:
A District AI Vision Statement, which describes how AI can support teaching, learning, and operations while preserving human connection
An AI Code of Ethics, (currently in draft form) outlining clear principles related to student safety, privacy, accountability, transparency, and responsible use
A comprehensive AI Strategic Plan, guiding work across instruction, operations, and professional learning
Work has begun to develop a clear, developmentally appropriate K–12 approach to AI literacy for students, along with defined competencies for staff. Expectations and access will vary across elementary, middle and high school levels to ensure appropriate and responsible use at each stage of development.
The goal of this work is to ensure that students understand how AI systems actually work, as well as their benefits and limitations. By building this foundational knowledge, students will be better equipped to think critically about AI, recognize potential challenges, including overreliance or emotional dependence, and use emerging technologies thoughtfully, ethically, and responsibly as part of their learning.
Academic Integrity
As generative AI tools become more common, the district is revisiting its Academic Integrity Policy, particularly for our middle and high school level, to ensure expectations for original thinking, effort, and learning remain clear and meaningful. This work is focused on preserving strong academic standards while helping students navigate new tools responsibly.
Future-Proofing and AI Trends
The district has also begun work to monitor emerging AI trends and engage community expertise. This proactive effort is intended to help us anticipate where technology may be headed and prepare thoughtfully, rather than respond reactively. Our goal is to host our first school/community “AI Trends Group” meeting in late March.
Screen Time Audit
When we developed our Strategic Plan we used a number of “essential questions” to help frame our thinking. One such question was, “How do we maximize the power of AI and minimize screen time?” That led to the development of an initiative that would audit screen time in our schools.
In support of our student strategic objective, “Preparing Students to Think, Adapt, and Lead with AI,” the district is conducting a screen time audit to better understand how technology use intersects with learning, well-being, and instructional design.
This audit is intentionally being conducted through multiple lenses to ensure a balanced and accurate picture:
Surveys of students, teachers, and families to gather perceptions and experiences related to screen time (the parent guardian survey will be administered after the February Recess.
A review of curriculum and instructional practices to examine the amount of screen time required by our curriculum and instructional methods.
An analysis of overall network usage patterns at the elementary and middle school levels to help quantify screen time in the aggregate. The district will use network tools, such as GoGuardian, to collect high-level, quantitative information about screen time. Because Staples High School operates under a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model, this analysis will not be conducted at the high school level.
Importantly, this work is not intended to monitor or evaluate individual students or staff. The purpose of the audit is to inform thoughtful decision-making about instructional balance, technology use, and student well-being. In addition, this audit will help set a baseline for future studies on the topic of screen time.
Supporting Educators and Responsible Tool Use
Professional learning for educators continues to be aligned with the district’s AI vision and Code of Ethics. This ensures that any use of AI or digital tools in classrooms is intentional, ethical, and focused on supporting, not replacing, strong teaching and learning by our faculty.
Access to AI tools for staff remains controlled and supported, with broader access planned for next year alongside clear expectations, training, and ethical oversight.
I recognize that AI, technology use, and screen time raise important questions for families. My commitment is to continue moving deliberately, communicating transparently, and keeping students’ best interests at the center of every decision. I will continue to provide updates in manageable ways as this work progresses.
Thank you for your trust and partnership as we maneuver this evolving landscape together.
Comments Off on Scarice Update: Weather, Strategic Plan, AI, Screen Time …
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