Westport Public Schools ESY and Continuing Education Activities Cancelled for Friday
ReleaseDear Families of Westport Families and Staff,
Tropical Storm Elsa is forecast to bring substantial precipitation to the region tomorrow morning. Westport could potentially receive 4-6 inches of rain in a short span of time. This amount of water, combined with precipitation from this evening’s thunderstorms could cause flash flooding throughout the community. As a result of the storm’s potential impact and out of an abundance of caution, all Westport Public Schools Extended School Year programs and all Westport Continuing Education programs scheduled to take place in our schools on Friday, July 9, 2021, are canceled. Further information will follow as to any possible rescheduling of tomorrow’s activities.
Please stay safe during the storm and avoid travelling through any areas of standing water after the storm’s exit.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
“Coach Paul Lane Field” Coming to Staples; New Name Approved by the RTM
Westport Local Press photo. Tonight, with a unanimous decision by 29 members, the RTM voted to name the Staples High School football field “Coach Paul Lane Field” in honor of the Staples “Legend” Coach Paul Lane. The vote was the final hurdle for the renaming, which garnered the support of over one thousand online petitioners and local community members.
Through tears, Coach Laddie Lawrence - for whom the school’s track is named in honor of - said “I would be delighted to have his name next to mine” when speaking over Zoom to the representatives. “One of the things you don’t know is you have Ginny Parker Field and Loeffler Field - Paul, Ginny, and Albie all worked together at Staples, and were the backbone at establishing Staples as the athletic school that it is today.” he continued to explain. “You don’t know what this man meant to me.” Lane was aware that a petition was started and that the field’s renaming was in-process prior to his passing-away in June at the age of 93.
“I’m blessed to know, went to school or interacted with every one of the people that we’ve named (fields after) and Paul Lane completes the circle.” said RTM member Arline Gertzoff.
Compo Fireworks, Albeit Smaller, Excite Crowds Tonight
Families gathered along the shoreline tonight to enjoy fireworks, although smaller and less crowded than in past years, set off by local Compo Beach neighbors. Firework displays could be seen across the Sound on Long Island, in addition to many local displays along the Saugatuck River, Cedar Point, and in neighboring communities.