Veteran Westport firefighter Nicholas Marsan will be the Department’s acting chief, following the retirement of Chief Michael Kronick on May 15.
Marson will also serve as the town’s emergency management director.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker announced those appointments yesterday.
Marsan has been a member of the WFD since 2007, with extensive experience in emergency operations and fire safety.
He is a graduate of the Connecticut Fire Academy, and is a nationally certified Fire Service Instructor III, Fire Officer III and a state-certified fire marshal.
Marsan earned a master’s degree in history at Western Connecticut State University, and a master’s in public administration and emergency management at Sacred Heart University.
He has received numerous awards for his public safety work, including 2 Westport Rotary Public Protection & Safety Awards, 3 unit citations, and 2 department honors.
Marsan served in the US Army and Connecticut Army National Guard, with a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010. He is also a fire instructor for the New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
Nicholas Marsan
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Speaking of firefighters:
The Westport Fire Department and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1081 invite residents to a memorial service, recognizing members who died in the line of duty.
The 38th annual Bridgeport Area Retired Firefighters event in June 6 (6 p.m.), at Assumption Church. A collation will follow at Westport VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399.
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Lynsey Addario’s stunning image of the immediate aftermath of a Russian attack in Irpin, in the early days after their invasion of Ukraine, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography.
The 1991 Staples High School graduate did not win.
But she — and her New York Times photography colleague, 1988 Staples grad Tyler Hicks — were part of the prestigious journalism awards nonetheless.
The Times staff received a Pulitzer for International Reporting, for its “unflinching coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” Addario and Hicks contributed many photos to those stories.
Both Addario and Hicks are previous Pulitzer Prize winners, for their individual work.
Congratulations to them, to the Times staff, and all the other winners.
Ukrainian soldiers trying to save the only person in a group of 4 who had a pulse, moments after a mortar attack in Irpin, near Kyiv, in March 2022. (Photo/Lynsey Addario for the New York Times)
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For years, if your car broke down at Compo, Old Mill Beach or Town Hall, you called AAA.
But what about a bicycle issue?
New this year: bike repair stations. They’ve got an array of handy tools — all secured by cables against theft — for a rider who needs a quick fix.
The repair stations were installed by the Public Works Department. They’re just one more example of “little things mean a lot.”
The Compo Beach bicycle repair setup is located near the main bathrooms, between Hook’d and the lifeguard station. (Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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If spring cleaning includes getting rid of old mattresses and box springs — hold on until May 20.
That morning Earthplace, Sustainable Westport and Bye Bye Mattress will sponsor a free mattress and box spring recycling event. Up to 90% of them can be recycled into carpet pads, exercise equipment and bike seat cushions, insulation, air filters and steel materials.
The event runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Earthplace.
Can’t transport your mattress or box spring? No problem!
Boy Scout Troop 36 will provide pickup service, for a small donation. Click here to sign up.
Saving the planet, one mattress at a time. (Photo and hat tip: Pippa Bell Ader)
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David Pogue drew a standing room only crowd yesterday, for his Y’s Women’s talk on AI.
It was informative, fun — and a bit scary. The Westporter/”CBS Sunday Morning” and PBS “Nova” correspondent described coming changes in many fields, from writing, music, art and movies to politics.
He also noted “preventive measures.” The large crowd at Green’s Farms Church — all actual human beings — was very appreciative.
David Pogue with (from left) Y’s Women vice president Vera DeStefano and president Margaret Mitchell.
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Westporters love Le Rouge Chocolates by Aarti.
Now the small, scrumptious shop in the Joe’s Pizza Main Street shopping center just north of Avery Place has gotten national attention.
Forbes magazine features it on their Lifestyle/Dining page. “Decadent Treats with a Huge Helping of Goodwill” describes owner Aarti Khosla’s surprising career path, and honors her constant giving back.
Aarti’s donations of chocolates to first responders, students and many others get a shout-out; so does her fundraising for a variety of causes.
Click here for the full, well-deserved story. (Hat tip: Kristin Schneeman)
Aarti Khosla, in her Le Rouge store. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
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Staples High School students Ryan Sunjka, Jack Schwartz, Jackson Tracey and Lucy Barney are members of the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital junior board.
They’re helping organize a May 20 event at Row House, in Compo Acres Shopping Center.
Contestants see which team of 3 people can row farthest on the machines in 30 minutes. The students’ goal is $10,000. Each team is asked to raise $300 (plus a $10 entry fee per person). They’ll be eligible for prizes — for both the distance rowed and the money raised — like Knicks, Nets, Yankees and Red Sox tickets, and a signed Derrick Rose basketball.
Click here to sign up, and for more information.
Junior board members promote the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital Row House event.
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Dozens of volunteers showed up this weekend, to help make the Long Lots Preserve a reality.
Phase III of the project — which is taking shape around the perimeter of the Westport Community Gardens, just south of Long Lots Elementary School — includes planting Connecticut natives like sweet gum and winter king hawthorn.
All ages took part. Among them, in the photo below: Emma and Melody Wilkinson. “They’re planting trees for the future, working with nature’s creatures,” says proud grandfather Joe Wilkinson.
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Every Thursday, Jazz at the Post is special.
This week though is extra special.
The music series at VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399 continues its celebration of one of the greatest jazz bandleaders ever: drummer Art Blakey.
An all-star lineup will play classics from the ’80s: Antonio Hart (alto sax), Michael Mossman (trumpet), David Morgan (piano), Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall (tenor sax), David Berkman (piano), Phil Bowler (bass) and Tim Horner (drums).
Even more special: Staples High School jazz combos will play at 7 p.m., before the shows.
Advance tickets are available here for the 7 p.m. show (guaranteed seats, including dinner at 6:45); click here for the 8:45 p.m. show (with dinner). For the 8:45 show without dinner, click here.
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Who says the Board of Selectwomen don’t have their finger on the pulse of the town?
There are 5 items on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting (9 a.m., Town Hall auditorium; livestream on www.westportct.gov; televised on Optimum Channel 79).
Item #2: “Acting as the Local Traffic Authority, upon the recommendation of the Westport Police Department, to take such action as the meeting may determine to approve a request to the Office of the State Traffic Administration – Division of Traffic Engineering, to increase the exclusive green light left hand turn timing at the State-controlled traffic signal located at the intersection of CT Route 1 (Post Road East) and Myrtle Avenue.”
Changes ahead?
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Longtime Westporter Audrey Magida died last week. She was 93.
She was a lifelong lover of New York City, where she was born, raised, and graduated from George Washington High School.
She moved to Westport in 1961. Audrey had a long career as a real estate broker, most recently with Prudential Real Estate.
She was an honorary life member of Temple Israel, having served as president of the Sisterhood, board member, and vice president of the congregation.
Audrey was an avid book reader and bridge player, theater devotee, classical music concert-goer, ballet and dance connoisseur, and enthusiastic sailboat passenger.
She was married for 65 years to Nathan Magida. She is survived by her children Dan (Nancy), Meg, and Matt (Pat); grandchildren Ben, Sarah, Jane, Emily and Sam, and great-grandchildren Nathan and Aiden.
Contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
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High Point Road is a popular spot for new Westporters.
Yesterday, Staples High School sophomore Max Saperstein photographed the latest arrivals, for our “Westport … Naturally” feature:
(Photo/Max Saperstein)
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And finally … we honor Westport’s new bicycle repair stations (story above) with the oldest recording ever featured on “06880”:
(As always, today’s Roundup is jam-packed with news you can [hopefully] use. If you enjoy this daily feature, please click here to support “06880.” Thank you!)
