During the holidays, Westporters responded generously to pleas to help Lyman, Ukraine.
In less than 3 weeks, residents contributed $252,000 to help the ravaged, war-torn town — our new sister city.
Now Westport’s Police and Fire Departments have added their resources.
On Friday Police Chief Foti Koskinas, Fire Chief Michael Kronick and their staffs packed dozens of boxes. They’re filled with crucial gear for their first responder counterparts in Lyman.
Among the items: gas masks, bulletproof vests and helmets, tourniquets, radios, electrical charging units, wool hats, gloves and baseball caps.
All are vital to helping Lyman’s police officers, firefighters and public safety personnel do their jobs. The Russians occupied the town for 5 months. When they left, they took or destroyed nearly every piece of emergency gear.
From left: Fire Chief Michael Kronick, Police Chief Foti Koskinas and 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, with bulletproof vests, helmets and other gear, ready for shipment to Lyman, Ukraine.
Koskinas and Kronick learned of the urgent need in Zoom calls with Lyman’s police chief. They were arranged by Westporter Brian Mayer, founder of Ukraine Aid International.
Stunned by the bleak situation, Koskinas, Kronick and their deputies scoured their inventory for items that might help. They found plenty of equipment that was not longer used, but still quite serviceable. There is no cost to Westport taxpayers.
Radios and other communications equipment, heading soon to Lyman. (Photos courtesy of Jennifer Petrosinelli, Westport Fire Department)
First Selectwoman Jen Tooker joined police and fire officials yesterday at the police garage, as they assembled the packages.
Delivery to Lyman will be facilitated Mayer and his brother Marshall, and Liz Olegov of Alex21, Ukraine Aid International’s on-the-ground partner.
Donations to Lyman are still welcome. Just click here for the credit card “Donate” button. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” You can also scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.) Or you can donate directly, via Stripe (click here).
Phone calls from a demented human being to police departments around the state — while many were honoring 2 slain officers at a Rentschler Field ceremony — forced high-level security measures.
At Staples High School, nearly 2,000 students and scores of staff members went into lockdown. At nearby Bedford Middle School, a “shelter in place” order was given.
Nearly an hour after Staples High School went into lockdown Friday morning, an ambulance and police car sat outside the building. (Photo/Jim Honeycutt)
Officials — rightly — erred on the side of caution. Before the lockdown was lifted, armed officers checked every room.
With police weapons visible to students and staff, superintendent of school Thomas Scarice asked teachers were to focus the rest of the day on the social/emotional needs of students. Emotional support was available for anyone who needed it.
Welcome to America, 2022.
That afternoon, longtime Westporter (and Staples High School graduate) Stacie Curran wrote:
“Once again (and sadly), please publicly recognize all of our teachers, staff, administrators, and our incredible police force for their attention, their dedication, their care and brave protection our children through this lockdown.”
Stacie is right. Scarice, his staff, and administrators at Staples and Bedford acted swiftly and decisively. Police officers were on the scene quickly. Working with Staples’ school resource officer, they believed soon that the call was a hoax.
Still, they made absolutely certain that the school was safe. Meanwhile, Westport’s Emergency Medical Services were on hand, standing by if needed.
The response and collaboration of all involved was impressive. As Stacie notes, we owe thanks to all of Friday’s Unsung Heroes, for keeping our community secure.
(To nominate an Unsung Hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com)
(“06880 celebrates an Unsung Hero every Wednesday. To help support this and all other featus, please click here.)
In the aftermath of this morning’s lockdown at Staples High School, and a “shelter in place” order at Bedford Middle School, superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice provided this information:
This morning the Westport Police received a phone call indicating a potential threat at Staples High School. Although we have since learned that multiple schools across the state received the same threat, at the time, the response protocol warranted a thorough onsite evaluation of Staples, including an armed room by room threat assessment.
The incident began at 9:10 a.m. Westport’s Emergency Communications Center received a call from a person reporting an active shooter inside Staples High School.
The patrol and detective divisions as well as officers in administrative rolls immediately went to the school. As officers were responding they contacted the School Resource Officer, who said there was no indication of a problem at the location.
Despite the possibility of a hoax, the high school was placed on lockdown. Police proceeded as if there was an active threat.
Because police weapons were visible to students and staff, teachers were asked to focus on the social/emotional needs of students for the rest of the day. Emotional support was available for anyone who needed it.
Scarice added, “While this evaluation was conducted, all of the other schools in Westport were supported with an onsite police presence and put into place appropriate safety protocols.
“We are grateful for the swift response of our police department and the communication between the schools and WPD in handling this matter.
Nearly an hour after Staples High School went into lockdown this morning, an ambulance and police car sat outside the building. (Photo/Jim Honeycutt)
Connecticut is not the only state targeted for fake threats.
According to a Washington Post article last month — sent today to “06880” by reader Tracy Porosoff — “a troubling scenario” is happening in schools across the country. The story begins:
A call comes in about a shooting at the school. Someone has a gun. Police respond, only to discover the report was a hoax.
More than a dozen schools in Minnesota were targeted with “swatting” incidents, reports of a false shooter or mass-casualty event. Threats in Denver forced the city to shut down all 25 of its public library branches, and an area high school to cancel classes Wednesday amid a surge of hoaxes reported at schools across the state. A Texas teen was arrested for calling in a fake threat to a campus as a “joke,” prompting a warning from Fort Worth police against school hoaxes.
The calls are part of a trend that is disrupting school days, prompting lockdowns and further traumatizing communities already on edge. Although these threats are fake, the menace of real violence looms just months after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at a Uvalde, Tex., elementary school…
Schools in 14 states — Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia — have reported swatting incidents since Sept. 13, according to the national group of school resource officers.
The other evening, the mother of a friend had a serious fall at home while caring for her grandchildren, ages 6 and 9.
My friend rushed home to find her mother sitting on the floor with multiple injuries, and the children shaken and teary.
She called 911 for an ambulance. I arrived shortly after to stay with the children, so my friend could accompany her mother to the hospital.
The ambulance was coming from Fairfield, so it took 30+ minutes to arrive. While we waited, Westport Police officer Shawn Booth responded to the call.
Westport Police Officer Shawn Booth
Officer Booth calmly and efficiently assessed the situation. He also provided interim first aid to my friend’s mother, sat with her for nearly the entire time we waited for EMS, engaged us all in light conversation (no easy feat – we were all upset), and managed to delight 2 very frightened, teary eyed children by bringing them badge stickers and showing photos of his (adorable) dog on his phone.
To top it all off, as he was leaving Officer Booth told the children he’d return the next day with plastic badges for them.
I assumed there was little chance he’d recall saying this; the evening was chaotic, and surely he’d have another busy day serving our community.
However, a few moments ago my friend texted that Officer Booth showed up at her house as promised, with plastic badges for the kids. She said that he was “amazing,” and she was “blown away by his kindness.”
I am too. We are lucky to have someone like Officer Booth in our police department.
(This is not Officer Booth’s first nomination as Unsung Hero. He was also cited in 2020. Click here to read. If you know an Unsung Hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com)
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A controversial plan to subdivide one of the last remaining parcels of private open space in Westport hit a roadblock Wednesday.
As first reported by Westport Journal, the Conservation Commission will report negatively on the proposal to put 6 houses on the 12-acre Kowalsky property on Clapboard Hill Road, between Morningside Drive South and Turkey Hill Road South.
Earlier, the Flood &Erosion Control Board expressed concerns about an underground drainage system, built earlier on the property without a permit.
I was a judge at the first-ever Queer Cook-Off. The fundraiser for Westport Pride drew over 100 people to Aitoro Appliance in Norwalk. They watched 3 teams of local celebrities — headed by an area professional chef — whip up an appetizer and entrée, using items from a mystery box.
I was honored (and well-fed) to be a judge, along with Matt Storch (chef/owner of Match and Match Burger Lobster), Brian McGunagle (founder of Westport Pride), and store owner Tony Aitoro.
Bill Taibe (Don Memo, Kawa Ni and The Whelk) and Jes Bengtson (Amis, Terrain) and their teams created some outstanding food. But the Top Chef award went to Arik Bensimon (Monogram Design Center) and his crew.
Meanwhile, everyone enjoyed great food and drinks. Thanks to all who participated. I was “proud” to be a food taster there!
Westport 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker (far right) joined chef/restaurateur Bill Taibe (left) on a team for last night’s Queer Cook-Off.
Local artists are on display tomorrow and Sunday (May 21-22, 2 to 6 p.m.) at the Westport Woman’s Club, 44 Imperial Avenue). Their annual art show is free, and open to all. All works are available for purchase.
Curated by Miggs Burroughs, the popular show features a variety of works and styles. Participating artists donate a portion of their sales to fund WWC community service grants, scholarships and programs.
Artists in the show include Ola Bossio, Trace Burroughs, Ann Chernow, Susan Fehlinger, Larry Gordon, Tom Kretsch, Arpad Krizsan, Paul Larson, Erzsebet (Bet) Laurinyecz, Jena Maric, Jon Puzzuoli, Peter Savarine, Gay Schempp, Oksana Tonasiv and Larry Untermeyer.
There’s also a drawing of the artists’ work, plus a special drawing of a piece by the late artist Howard Munce.
Musician Mark Naftalin — a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band — will play piano both days.
For more information on the Westport Woman’s Club and art show, click here.
This work by Gay Schempp will be on display at the Westport Woman’s Club art show.
Longtime Westporter John Luscombe — the husband of former State Representative Jo Fuchs Luscombe — died on Sunday, at Danbury Hospital. He was 86.
The Oahu native was an electrical engineer. He was proud to work on many government contracts. One was part of the Apollo Project, which resulted in the first moon landings.
John was a devoted sailor and boater. For many years he was part of a local group, he “Ancient Mariners.”
He served as treasurer and commander of the Saugatuck River Power Squadron, having achieved the grade of senior navigator. He was also treasurer of the Minuteman Yacht Club.
An avid tennis player, for a number of years he ran the summer program for Y’s Men, playing both indoors and outdoors.
In addition to his wife, John is survived by his niece, Debbie Harding MacInnes,; nephew John Harding; grand-nephews and grand-nieces, and Bill Abrams, brother of his late first wife, Cornelia Abrams Luscombe.
Services be will announced at a later date. Click here to leave condolences for the family.
Earlier this morning a student who missed their bus walked to the Dattco bus yard and requested a ride to Bedford Middle School. Personnel at the bus yard mobilized to provide transportation for this student.
Some time thereafter, personnel at the Dattco bus yard contacted the school district’s transportation coordinator to inform the coordinator about their plan to transport the student, but unfortunately provided incomplete and inaccurate information regarding the student’s identity and school. Our transportation coordinator immediately contacted the BMS and central office administration.
The administration then swiftly contacted our Westport Police Department School Security Officer (SSO) and School Resource Officer (SRO), and the Staples administration. After investigating to determine the identity and location of the student through video surveillance, our SRO discovered that the student was dropped off at Bedford Middle School, but then left the bus and walked towards Staples High School.
As a precaution, our SSO and SRO then sought additional resources from the Westport Police Department. Both schools were placed in a shelter-in-place.
Through collaboration with the school and district administration, the student was then correctly identified, interviewed, and it was determined that the shelter-in-place could be lifted.
The administration is committed to identifying the breakdown of the Dattco bus yard communication and protocols in this incident.
Again, I have complete confidence that at no time were our students and staff in danger. Additionally, it is clear that the positive and collaborative relationship we enjoy with the Westport Police Department, and the swift actions of our Bedford and Staples administration, along with our transportation coordinator and central office administration, all contributed to the timely resolution of this matter.
Posted onMay 19, 2022|Comments Off on “Suspicious Person” Caused School Shelter-In-Place Order
The Westport Police Department says:
At approximately 9 a.m. today, the Westport Police Department’s School Security Officer and the Staples School Resource Officer began to investigate a report of a suspicious person on school grounds.
An unknown male who appeared to be in his teens was dropped off at Bedford Middle School, but the person then left that campus and walked towards Staples High School.
The incident was deemed suspicious because at the time no one recognized this individual, and it was unknown what he was doing on school property. Out of an abundance of caution, the school’s superintendent placed both Bedford Middle School and Staples High School in a shelter in place status.
Several patrol officers responded to make sure that students at both schools were kept safe, and to look for this unknown person. Westport detectives also went to the scene and worked with school officials to attempt to identify the party.
It was ultimately determined that the person in question was in fact a Staples student. The student was simply running late and after managing to get a ride to Bedford, he walked over to Staples.
Chief Foti Koskinas said that “this was the best possible outcome,” and that the timely resolution of this incident is a testament to “the excellent working relationship that the police department has with the school system.”
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A GoFundMe campaign has begun, for the victim of last night’s car robbery across from Stop & Shop.
At 7 p.m., a 64-year-old Westport woman who supplements her income by driving for Uber Eats picked up an order at Golden Pizza, in Westfair Plaza. Inside the restaurant, she saw someone enter her unlocked car. When she went outside to prevent the theft, she suffered a serious head injury. This morning, she is reportedly in intensive care at a local hospital.
The fundraiser will help with medical and other expenses (click here to donate). Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas has promised that 100% of all donations will go to the victim.
Checks and get-well cards can also be dropped off at the police station on Jesup Road.
When Westport police responded last night, they learned that the man who stole the car had gotten out of a black car moments earlier. Both cars headed westbound on the Post Road.
An officer at the Sherwood Island Connector saw both the stolen Hyundai and black Acura traveling together. Both cars got onto I-95 eastbound.
The officer pursued them. He lost sight of the Hyundai but continued to chase the Acura. It got off Exit 29, where the driver lost control. He struck an occupied vehicle and several parked cars. Two occupants fled. A third was detained by the pursuing officer.
Bridgeport Police officers quickly apprehend the 2 people who ran. The Acura had been stolen from Hamden earlier in the day. The car was searched and a handgun was located. It is not believed that the handgun was used in the commission of the motor vehicle theft in Westport
An 18-year-old and 2 juveniles were taken into custody. All were charged with 1st degree robbery, conspiracy to commit 1st degree robbery, 1st degree assault on an elderly person, 1st degree larceny, conspiracy to commit 1st degree larceny, 3rd degree larceny, criminal possession of a firearm, illegal transfer of a firearm, theft of a firearm, engaging police in pursuit, and reckless driving.
The adult was held on a $100,000 bond. The juveniles will be transferred to a detention facility.
Koskinas praised the Westport officers, and the Fairfield, Bridgeport and State Police for their assistance.
Like all police officers, Westport’s men and women vow to “protect and serve.”
Whether on duty or off.
At 6:45 this morning, Officer Brian Meraviglia was driving to work on Fairfield’s Redding Road. On the bridge, he saw a man preparing to jump onto the Merritt Parkway below.
Meraviglia stopped, and spoke to the distraught man. Moving closer, Meraviglia grabbed him and moved him away from the bridge.
Meraviglia and a good Samaritan who was passing by comforted the man, and gave him emotional support.
Fairfield Police officers and State Police troopers soon responded to the scene. The man was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Officer Brian Meraviglia (Photo/James Fiffer, courtesy of Ursus)
Ursus — the Bedford Middle School newspaper — reported in 2019 that Meraviglia was the school’s security officer. He had been a state police trooper for 32 years, then served for two years as Saugatuck Elementary School’s SSO.
The towns of Westport and Fairfield join Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas in thanking Officer Meraviglia for his quick and caring actions.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please understand that there are people who want to help as well as available resources. For further information, click here.
Want to help diversify hiring, oversee investigations of civilian complaints, and work on other initiatives with Westport’s Police, Fire and EMS Departments?
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Public Protection Committee seeks 2 candidates to fill spots on our Civilian Review Panel.
The CRP includes 5 civilian members: the 2nd and 3rd selectwomen; one member of TEAM Westport, and 2 residents appointed by the RTM.
Specifically, the Civilian Review Panel handles:
Hiring Oversight: Participate in the interview process of new hires and lateral transfer applicants, offering feedback on the selection of candidates.
Complaint Review: Review and provide feedback on civilian complaints regarding Police, Fire and EMS.
Transparency & Accountability Improvements: Advise departments on policies and procedures to improve transparency and accountability.
Meetings: Hold special meetings as needed.
Training: Receive training from the Police, Fire and EMS Departments, to fully understand policies, procedures, general orders, internal affairs, and legal issues.
Reporting from Departments: The Departments will provide an annual report of all disciplinary complaints received, their status and resolution.
Applicants must be registered voters in Westport. No member of the CRP can be an employee, or family member of an employee, of the Police, Fire and EMS Departments.
If interested, email a resume and letter of interest to jdunkerton@westportct.gov; by mail: Westport Town Clerk, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. 203-341-1110. Indicate how your experience would qualify you for consideration as a panel member. The deadline is February 7.
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When Westport police responded last night, they learned that the man who stole the car had gotten out of a black car moments earlier. Both cars headed westbound on the Post Road.
