Two days after they were ordered, the holiday lights to brighten the William F. Cribari Bridge arrived.
An energetic, efficient and very committed group of Westporters made sure that the beloved annual tradition — in danger when the lights were removed, and the long-time sponsor stepped back — continues.
The lights will be hung Sunday night, starting at 10 p.m. (the bridge will be closed during that time).
The gala bridge lighting is set for 5 p.m. Monday. The entire town is invited.
Westport PAL — one of the lights’ sponsors — will have collection boxes for the toy drive they run, with the Westport Police Department. Unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the bridge, and the Bridge at Saugatuck restaurant.
The restaurant will also offer half-priced wine and beer from 5 to 8 p.m.
Cribari Bridge lights. (Photo/January Stewart)
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Westport’s fundraising drive — to send children from our sister city of Lyman, Ukraine to a camp in the mountains, a respite from a third winter of war — has gotten off to a slow start.
Our goal of $56,000 would enable 200 boys and girls to enjoy time together, with teachers and therapists, at Karabin. The sports, crafts, games and movies — along with schoolwork — takes place in a setting far removed from their hometown, a few miles from the Russian front.
Right now, Lyman’s youngster have been evacuated. The therapeutic camp is a chance to enjoy normalcy, with friends and trusted adults.
It costs about $280 to send one child to Karabin, for 10 days.
How about it, Westport? Can we raise $56,000, to ensure that 200 kids in our sister city enjoy time away from the terrors of the past 3 years?
Just click here. Under “Designation,” choose “Westport-Lyman sister city” from the dropdown menu. You can also choose a monthly or one-time donation. If you use the mail or Venmo option, please make a note: “For Westport-Lyman.”
Students from Weston’s sister city of Siversk, at the Karabin camp. Westport is raising funds for children from Lyman, our sister city.
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Yesterday was Black Friday. Next week is Cyber Monday.
Today is Small Business Saturday.
There are plenty of local stores to choose from. They’re the heart and soul of our town. Think local!
Meanwhile, next Saturday — December 7 — is another opportunity to support small businesses.
The “06880” Westport Downtown Association Holiday Stroll features over 70 merchants, offering discounts, deals, gifts and freebies. Click here for details.
WEST Boutique on Post Road East is one of many locally owned businesses.
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Here is an update on the Thanksgiving Day house fire, near the Westport border.
At 3:42 p.m., Weston Fire was alerted to a fire at 40 Weston Road. The garage fire spread quickly into the 10,000-square-foot residence. Firefighters’ efforts were thwarted by dangerous fire conditions and structural collapse.
In addition, a vehicle drove over the water supply hose on Weston Road, damaging the line and stopping the flow of water for several minutes.
The 25 or so people inside the home escaped without injury. But the house is uninhabitable, and the heat from the fire melted the plastic on some cars in the driveway, CT Insider reports.
Personnel remained on the scene for over 16 hours, battling the blaze. Mutual aid assistance was provided by several fire departments including Westport, along with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Weston Public Works Department, Weston Police Department, Westport Police Department and Weston EMS.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Weston Fire Marshal. Preliminary investigation shows it began in the garage, the result of frying a turkey. (Hat tip: Bill Dedman)
Thanksgiving Day house fire in Weston. (Photo and details courtesy of Weston Volunteer Firie Department)
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At Staples High School, Class of 2019 graduate Ryan Smith won 2 cross country state championships.
He went on to Bates College, where he competed in back-to-back NCAA national championships.
On Thursday, he won Pequot Runners’ 47th annual 5-mile Turkey Trot.
Wearing his Staples white singlet, he crossed the finish line, soggy but triumphant, in 24:54.
Not far behind — in third place — was current Staples track athlete Sam Zwick-Lavinsky.
Click here for all results.
Ryan Smith
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It’s a natural fit: Dogs, and wide-open beaches.
Obeying the sign to keep off the boardwalk, Bobo shows how to enjoy Compo correctly, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature photo.
(Photo/Sunil Hirani)
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And finally … today is the 100th birthday of satirist Alan Sherman. He had a brief heyday in the early 1960s — including the novelty smash hit below — before dying in 1973, 10 days before his 49th birthday. He had been undergoing treatment for emphysema, asthma, and obesity, and died of respiratory failure.
(Celebrate Small Business Day by supporting this small business: “06880.” Your hyper-local blog relies on readers’ contributions. Please click here — and thank you!)
