Easton Volunteer Fireman’s Carnival Celebrates 80 Years, Ends Tomorrow
Open from 6:00 - 11:00 tonight and tomorrow night, the Easton Volunteer Fireman’s Carnival returned this year with the classic sites and sounds of a traditional country fair filling the warm night air - just as it has for 80 years, and generations of community members. (click to read more and see full photo gallery on WestportLocal.com)
The carnival, with amusement park rides from Stewart Amusement and games and food from volunteers, raises funds for the rural fire company’s operations. The carnival has been well known for its thrills, homemade dinner and desserts, deep fried oreos, and cash bingo tent for generations - and was packed Thursday night with families and teens enjoying the warm country air. With gaggles of teenagers roaming the grounds with burgers and fries in-hand, and small children patiently waiting their turn at stepping onto their next ride - the quiet Center Road triangle was alive with excitement.
Personnel working at the event said that Tuesday’s opening-night ticket lines were as long as they could have ever remembered, with many families returning to this summer tradition after their 2020 hiatus due to COVID-19 concerns. Although outdoors, many families and volunteers opted to wear a mask in light of the rise in COVID-19 cases in the region - with all food and game tents remaining open-air.
Westporters can easily find the fairground by driving up Route 136 (Easton Road), then turning right onto Center Road, left onto Adams Road, and then another right onto Sport Hill Road - a serene drive through the forest until the ferris wheel lights draw one’s attention. The carnival is located at 1 Center Road, with parking available at Silverman’s Farms, Helen Keller Middle School, and surrounding the Easton Village Store. A shuttle bus is available to those parking at the middle school, with drop off directly at the fairgrounds.
Volunteers recommend visitors bring cash for purchasing ride tickets or wristbands, as well as to purchase dinner, desserts, or to join the bingo tent. With rides for both young children and teenagers, and games for all ages - the carnival has been a tradition for many area families, all while supporting the volunteer firefighter’s mission. More information and live updates can be found at their Facebook page. More information on supporting the Easton Volunteer Fire Company can be found on their website.
Community Gallery: Easton Volunteer Fireman’s Carnival
Click to advance gallery. All photos by WestportLocal.com
First Selectman Issues Late-Night Statement after New COVID-19 Wave, and Executive Order, Hit Connecticut
Town of Westport First Selectman Jim MarpeFirst Selectman Jim Marpe spoke about the new COVID-19 wave striking the region in a late statement tonight, stating “the COVID virus knows no municipal or county boundaries” as he weighed options to keep Westporters safe.
The statement comes after Governor Ned Lamont released an Executive Order earlier tonight that allows municipalities the freedom to create universal mask requirements at all indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status, due to a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations hitting the State.
The executive order also allows private indoor spaces to require masks, stating “Businesses, private property owners, and state and local government offices may require masks to be worn by everyone inside of their own facilities.”
The executive order does not include any outdoor settings.
First Selectman Marpe will join an early Friday morning meeting with fellow members of the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) “to better understand our options, and to attempt some consistency of masking guidelines across the region.”
“In the meantime, I encourage everyone to wear a mask indoors, particularly in any crowded setting and, for those who are eligible to be vaccinated and have not done so, to please get vaccinated.” he concluded.
Press Release from First Selectman Jim MarpeAs you know, Westport has already re-instituted the requirement for everyone, vaccinated or not, to wear masks indoors in public buildings as recommended by the CDC and the State Department of Health.
Westport residents have been very diligent in getting vaccinated, with full vaccination rates approaching 90% for the eligible population. Nevertheless, the COVID virus knows no municipal or county boundaries, and a significant portion of our workforce commutes into Westport every day from areas of the State that may have had less success in vaccinating their population.
As a result, I will be working with our COVID Emergency Response team, which includes the Westport Weston Health District leadership, to consider what additional steps our community should take within the Governor’s Executive order to further limit our residents’ exposure to the virus through masking requirements. I will be meeting Friday morning with my counterparts from the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) to better understand our options, and to attempt some consistency of masking guidelines across the region.
In the meantime, I encourage everyone to wear a mask indoors, particularly in any crowded setting and, for those who are eligible to be vaccinated and have not done so, to please get vaccinated.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
High Tides: 10:45 AM/10:51 PM
Low Tides: 4:43 AM/4:51 PM
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 3 to 7 mph.
Tomorrow
Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow Night
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.