Linda Lea Olson (Janson), 77, Died; Staples Grad who Grew Up in Historic Nash House
ObituaryLinda Lea (Janson) Olson passed away on October 28, 2021 at the age of 77 from complications following joint replacement surgery in Henderson, Nevada.
She is survived by her daughter Lisa Lea (Banks) Troe of Henderson; sister Anita Janson; and Linda's sister-in-spirit Lorelei Johnson of Waterbury CT. Linda was predeceased by her husband of 42 years Donald J. Olson, who passed away in Dec 2017 at their home in Noxon MT and by her brother Douglas Haviland Janson.
Born in Westport CT, Linda was the daughter of Dorothy (McCloskey) Janson and Dr. C. William Janson. Linda grew up in the Westport historic Nash House (built in 1740), witnessed Dr. Janson administer medical care to the community, attended Staples High School, and remained at heart a New Englander throughout her life. With husband Don, Linda lived in AK, CO, FL, MT and TX. She and Don were successful entrepreneurs and business owners, and enjoyed many adventures together. They retired to their dream home in NW MT in Dec 2016.
An avid gardener and reader who enjoyed the ocean, wildlife and the outdoors, Linda made friends wherever she lived and will be remembered fondly by many.
A memorial will be planned at a later date.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southeast.
Tonight
Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a temperature rising to around 46 by 5am. East wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tomorrow
Showers likely, mainly before 8am. Cloudy, with a high near 60. East wind 7 to 14 mph becoming south in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tomorrow Night
Showers likely, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 34. Southwest wind 9 to 16 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Meals and Toys Delivered to Children’s Hospital at Montefiore as Al’s Angels Spread Cheer throughout Region
Staples Freshman Will Dransfield helps unload 150 meal bins and hundreds of toys at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore early this morning in the Bronx, New York. WestportLocal.com photo (click to read more) 150 meal bins remain ready for families at Montefiore Children’s HospitalFor over two decades, thousands of families have been able to enjoy a holiday meal thanks to the donations and volunteers of Al’s Angels. The Westport-based charity supports children and families suffering from financial hardship, cancer, or bloodborne diseases throughout Connecticut and New York with resources, fundraisers, and other community events.
The meal bins contain dozens of quintessential food items that will allow a family to enjoy the holiday together as the bins are delivered before both Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays - taking one more chore off of their plate during turbulent times.
The 150 bins that were delivered to the Bronx, NY children’s hospital are just some of nearly 1,300 bins that were assembled and delivered today. Hundreds stepped up to help fill and deliver the boxes, some arriving to the Al’s Angels workshop even before sunrise to get the task done.
As the season continues, Al’s Angels continues another mission: an annual toy drive that collects nearly 10,000 new toys for children hospitalized or suffering from poverty during the season. Large supplies of those toys were also delivered to Montefiore with the meal bins today - bringing some holiday cheer to the nearly 200 children spending the season in their wards.
Omicron Variant Found in Connecticut, Announces Governor in Late Night Release
Governor Ned LamontGovernor Ned Lamont today announced the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in Connecticut. Sequencing performed at the Connecticut State Public Health Laboratory confirmed the presence of the variant.
The case involves a man in his 60s from Hartford County who developed mild symptoms on November 27. An at-home COVID-19 test was positive on November 29 and a subsequent molecular test was positive on December 1. A family member traveled to New York City between November 17 and November 22 to attend the Anime NYC 2021 convention at the Javits Center. That family member developed mild symptoms on November 21, and on November 23 took an at-home COVID-19 test that delivered a positive result. The family member’s symptoms have resolved. COVID-19 testing on additional family members is pending. The affected individual and their family member are fully vaccinated.
“As I’ve been saying for the last several days, given the speed that this new variant has been spreading around the world and its positive identification in several states, we presumed it was already in our state and the information we received from the lab today confirms that fact,” Governor Lamont said. “This likely is not the only case of the variant in the state. That being said, I must urge everyone in Connecticut not to panic. While we are still learning more about this variant, our health providers are continuing to do their best to protect everyone. We have life-saving tools like vaccines and boosters available to fight this pandemic – including the Delta and Omicron variants – and I urge everyone to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and everyone around them.”
“I am so proud of the work of members of the state laboratory under the direction of Dr. Jafar Razeq and the Connecticut Department of Public Health epidemiologists under the direction of Dr. Matt Cartter and Dr. Lynn Sosa,” Connecticut Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said. “The isolate was found, sequenced, and confirmed as Omicron within one day. This team was able to complete case investigation in a timely manner. Given the number of states that have identified Omicron to date, it was only a matter of time before we identified it here in Connecticut as well. Although Omicron appears to be more infectious than the Delta variant, both affected individuals have had mild symptoms to date. It is reassuring as their immunity seems to be helping them fight off this infection. Vaccination and boosters are still our greatest offense. If we can keep people out of the hospital, reducing morbidity and mortality of COVID-19, it is still a win for vaccines in our society.”
Instructions on how to get COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters in Connecticut is available at ct.gov/covidvaccine.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health today also announced that it has opened mobile COVID-19 booster clinics throughout the state. The department continues to urge residents to receive booster doses at their earliest convenience.
The mobile booster clinics are currently operating in the following locations:
New Haven: New Haven Public Library, 7 days a week, 10am to 4pm – No appointment needed
Stamford: Jackie Robinson Park, 7 days a week, 10am to 4pm – No appointment needed
Trumbull: Trumbull Mall, Friday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm – No appointment needed
Waterbury: 910 Wolcott St, 9a-3p Saturday and 8a-12p Sunday – No appointment needed
Windsor Locks: Bradley Airport, Thursday through Sunday, 11am to 7pm – No appointment needed
For a full list of walk-up clinics sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, visit portal.ct.gov/vaccine-portal/DPH-van-clinics. In addition to the multi-day clinics, there are many single day pop-up clinics across the state.