“The other day, while paddleboarding on the Sound, I misjudged the strength of the wind. I was unable to return to my launch site.
“The wind picked up after I set out. It fought my every motion, drifting me further and further from land.
“Fortunately, I noticed a small motorboat in the distance. After a few frantic waves (no pun intended) from me, the captain noticed my distress and steered his boat in my direction.
“After skillful navigation to reach me, Captain Mark and his son Kirk graciously helped pull my paddleboard onto their beautiful wooden boat — which left very little room to steer.
“Not only did Mark and Kirk warmly welcome me aboard, but they graciously brought me close to the shore.
“For taking time out of their day to save a winded fellow Westporter, I would like to nominate Mark, Kirk and their dog Teddy as Unsung Heroes of the week.
Deb Markus did not get a photo of her rescuers. But here she is, with her paddleboard.
(Unsung Hero is a weekly “06880” feature. To nominate a hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
Mark Amatrudo takes over, effective Monday. Deputy Chief Nicholas Marsan, recently named town emergency management director, will continue in his dual role as deputy chief.
Amatrudo is a third generation chief fire officer. He has served as a career and volunteer assistant chief, deputy chief and acting chief for almost 25 years, including as Westport’s interim deputy chief from 2005-07.
Amatrudo is an Emergency Medical Technician. He also holds the highest level of fire service certifications in various areas, including fire officer, fire service instructor and safety officer.
He served as a Connecticut Fire Academy Instructor for almost 30 years. He developed a course for the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and spent years instructing at the National Fire Academy campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Among his awards are FEMA National Outstanding Citizen Corps Council Award, Connecticut Emergency Manager of the Year, Connecticut Fire Instructor of the Year, Connecticut Exchange Club Hero Award and Holmatro Rescue Award.
Amatrudo holds a BS degree from Stonehill College, and an Executive MBA from the University of New Haven.
It’s mid-July. Time to get tickets for the fall LobsterFest!
In fact, it may soon be too late. The Westport Rotary Club’s mega-fundraiser sells out very quickly.
This year’s event is September 23 (3 to 7 p.m., Compo Beach). As usual always, Rotary offers 2 1.25-pound lobsters or a 14-ounce New York strip steak; corn, cole slaw, potato salad and bread.
Plus of course live music; kids’ games and activities; unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks, and a cash raw bar.
It’s one of Westport’s best parties. The timing is perfect, at the start of a new school year. The weather is wonderful. The food and entertainment are plentiful.
And the money raised helps Rotary support a wide array of great causes.
That’s “Paddle for the Sound” — not (this time) paddleball.
For 9 days (July 29 to August 6), the 8th annual Save the Sound fundraiser draws people of all ages for a leisure paddle — or a kayak, stand up paddle board (SUP) and canoe competition.
Participants track their distances paddled, while raising funds to protect Long Island Sound and its rivers, restore local ecosystems, fight climate change, and save endangered lands.
They’ll take screenshots of the distance on each excursion, and send it to the Paddle for the Sound team to compile results. Prizes are awarded for total distance paddled, and most funds raised.
It’s really just an inch long. But Molly Alger captured it perfectly — on the outside of her kitchen window — for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
And finally … Tony Bennett died this morning in New York. He was 96.
The New York Times called him “a singer whose melodic clarity, jazz-influenced phrasing, audience-embracing persona and warm, deceptively simple interpretations of musical standards helped spread the American songbook around the world and won him generations of fans.”
He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. He continued to perform and record, however. His last public performance was in August that year, with Lady Gaga at Radio City Music Hall. Click here for a full obituary.
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