The Show Must Go On: Westport Country Playhouse Floods; Donations Needed for the 90 Year Old Institution

The Westport Country Playhouse fell victim to Ida’s floodwaters overnight, with rain pouring into the structure’s lower levels - where many of their office spaces and artist dressing and production rooms are held. The non-profit has started a fundraiser to help repair the damage done, and to pay for rental trailers for upcoming guests and talent. The Playhouse has been presenting a live Stars on Stage concert series this week, which is being recorded for a national broadcast. The Westport Country Playhouse celebrated its 90th anniversary this year. To donate, click here.

From the Westport Country Playhouse

The Playhouse suffered immense damage last night as Hurricane Ida swept through Westport, right in the middle of our week-long series of Stars on Stage concerts being recorded for national TV broadcast. Our artist dressing rooms, hallways, production office, mechanical and boiler room, wardrobe, laundry, and other spaces on the lower level and basement all experienced severe flooding. It will be days before these areas are dry and sanitized. Any gift that is within your means will help us recover the costs associated with both damage repair and the additional expense of renting trailers and other temporary spaces for the artists we’ll be welcoming for this evening's concert with Brandon Victor Dixon. As always, the Playhouse is so grateful for the support of our community.

Vanessa Hurta, APRN, Announced as Director of Clinical Services for Westport-Weston-Easton Health District

Contributed photo by Yale Medicine

Westport-Weston Health District

Mark A.R. Cooper, Director of Health for the Westport Weston Health District announced today that  Vanessa Hurta, APRN, was hired as Director of Clinical Services. The Health District’s travel and  vaccination clinic operations are expected to resume by mid-September. Appointments can be made by  calling 203.227.9571 ext. 224. 

Vanessa is an accomplished health care professional with an advanced level of  education in nursing. She has worked in various health care roles for over 17 years,  including primary care and preventive cardiovascular medicine, clinical research,  and teaching. Most recently, Vanessa was a nurse practitioner for Yale New  Haven Health, caring for patients in Bridgeport Hospital’s bariatric program. She previously held positions at Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing, Bellevue Hospital Lipid Clinic, Murray Hill Medical Group, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital.  

"Vanessa is the ideal person to lead the Health District’s clinical services." said  Mark Cooper. "Vanessa understands the challenges of public health and is eager to get to know our  residents and our community partners. I look forward to working closely with her in providing the most effective and efficient programs that promote the well-being of our residents." 

Vanessa is the chapter leader for the Connecticut chapter of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses  Association and has lectured and written about hypertension, obesity and genetic dyslipidemias. She has  also participated in a number of clinical scholarship and research initiatives and managed off-site  occupational health vaccination programs. 

Vanessa recently completed the Doctor of Nursing practice program at the University of Connecticut and  holds both a Bachelor and Master of Nursing from Columbia University School of Nursing. She is a  certified as a family nurse practitioner, cardiovascular nurse and bariatric nurse and is a Clinical Lipid  Specialist. 

For more information on the Health District’s programs and services, visit the Health District's Web site at www.wwhd.org .

Westport High Water Rescue Truck Goes to Work Overnight

Westport’s high water rescue truck was deployed overnight as flash floods quickly overtook several roadways -stranding motorists in its path. Assistance was given to one vehicle that was stuck on Morningside Drive North near Post Road East. Motorists were advised to stay off of the roadways throughout the storm as a Flash Flood Emergency was announced for our region by the National Weather Service’s New York City office - one of only two times one has ever been declared.

Westport Fire Department photo. 

Beaches Closed to Swimming - Again

With another deluge of rain and runoff, local beaches are again closed to swimming by the Westport-Weston Health District due to concerns of bacteria from sewage systems inundated by the storm.