Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Invites Middle Schoolers to “Breaking Barriers” Writing Competition
Board of Education Members Sherelle Harris and Barbara Meyer-Mitchell present award and prizes to winner Alessandra, 2019, courtesy of Alex Rosenfeld Photography. From the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Executive DirectorThe Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will launch its ninth annual Young Writers’ Competition on February 7, 2022. The competition titled, Breaking Barriers, will end on June 3, 2022 and will be open to all middle school students sixth through eighth grade in the Tristate area.
Young writers are tasked to write an essay about a person, place, or topic in history, or in current times, that they consider to be ground-breaking, pioneering, or innovative, that broke technological, social, or cultural barriers to pave the way for others. Participants may choose to write about historical or contemporary examples of prominent figures, powerful social movements, and cutting-edge technological marvels such as the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, or a notable individual from their community that inspires them. Students will have to conduct research on their subject, referencing noteworthy ideas, actions, or works to make a convincing argument.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 3 and competition winners will be notified by mid-September. Award-recipients and their families will be Guests of Honor at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, at 2 p.m. where they will receive prizes for their winning submissions. Requirements and guidelines for the competition will be posted on the Museum’s website and flyers.
For more information on LMMM’s Young Writers’ Competition, school tours, and sending submissions, please contact Education Program Director Iliana Begetis at 203-838-9799 ext. 6 or email education@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com.
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is located at 295 West Avenue in Norwalk. For more information on tours and programs, please visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, email info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.
The Museum’s 2022 cultural and educational programs are made possible in part by generous funding from LMMM’s Founding Patrons: The Estate of Mrs. Cynthia Clark Brown; LMMM’s Leadership Patrons: The Sealark Foundation; and LMMM’s 2022 Season Distinguished Benefactors: The City of Norwalk and The Maurice Goodman Foundation.
Sirens: First Responders Search Saugatuck River for Possible Person
The Westport Police Department Dive Rescue Team remained on standby after 6:00 this evening from the Westport Library parking lot. WestportLocal.com photo
Westport firefighters, including the newly promoted Chief Michael Kronick (center) on scene from the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. WestportLocal.com photoFirst responders were dispatched shortly after 5:00 this evening to the Saugatuck River in the area of Downtown for the person possibly in the water.
Westport Police Department and Fire Department officials could be seen throughout the riverbank sections of the community, with the Police Department Dive Team unit standing-by at the Westport Library parking lot, with members searching the waters in the vicinity of the Downtown area.
A short time after 7:00 tonight, the Westport Police Department’s Marine 1 response boat could be seen heading upriver from its Winter standby location outside of the Saugatuck Harbor Yacht Club. Local air temperatures hovered around 35 degrees and water temperatures just above 42 degrees.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 44; State Positivity Rate and Hospitalizations Both Down since Yesterday
The Aspetuck Health District and the State Department of Public Health reported 44 new COVID-19 cases for Westport over the past 24 hours. The State’s daily test positivity rate was down again today, sitting at 20.27% while hospitalizations were also down as 22 patients were released from hospitals, totaling 1,917 patients. 67.2% of those hospitalized are not fully vaccinated.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 3,296 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 33 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 20.27% [down from 21.94%]
State Hospitalizations: 1,917 patients [-22]
Marsan, Crawford Named as New Deputy Chief, Lieutenant at Fire Department Pinning Ceremony
Contributed photoWestport Fire Department
Fire Chief Michael Kronick and First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker are pleased to announce the promotions of Nicholas Marsan to the rank of Deputy Chief of Department and Theodore Crawford to the rank of Lieutenant. They, along with Fire Chief Kronick, were sworn in at Town Hall in a small ceremony at 2:00pm today. The promotions fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Robert Yost on January 1, 2022.
First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker stated, “I extend congratulations and best wishes to Nick Marsan and Ted Crawford on their well-deserved promotions. The hard work, dedication and achievements displayed by these men are a credit to their profession. I have the utmost confidence that, along with Chief Mike Kronick, the Fire Department and the citizens of Westport are in extremely capable hands with this strong leadership team.”
“I am very proud of Nick and the contributions that he has made to our department and look forward to his continued leadership as we plan and prepare for the future. His management style, innovation, and communication skills are well regarded at all levels of our department, and I know he will continue to positively impact our fire department and our community in his new leadership role” said Chief Kronick.
Nicholas Marsan joined the Westport Fire Department as a career firefighter in 2007. Upon graduation from the Connecticut Fire Academy, he was assigned to Platoon 3 where he served as a firefighter for nine years. In 2016, he was promoted to Fire Inspector and was assigned to the Fire Marshal's Office for 12 months before being promoted to Lieutenant. Nick served 5 years as an Engine Company Lieutenant, most of which was spent at Station 4 in Saugatuck.
Nick is a veteran of the US Army and the CT Army National Guard. In 2010 he was deployed overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Nick was the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal for Valor for actions during operations in Afghanistan and here at home has been the recipient of two Westport Rotary Public Protection & Safety Awards, and two-unit citations.
Nick is an EMT, a graduate of the Connecticut Fire Academy Class #41, a nationally certified Fire Service Instructor III and Fire Officer III. He is a state certified Fire Marshal and, prior to his appointment to Deputy Chief, served the communities of Norwalk and Darien as a Fire Inspector. Nick was president of the Westport Uniformed Firefighters Association, Local 1081. He is also a State Fire Instructor for the New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Nick is a graduate of Fairfield Prep and attended graduate school at Western Connecticut State University, earning a Master’s Degree in History. He also completing his Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Emergency Management at Sacred Heart University.
Deputy Chief Marsan stated, "I am truly honored to be entrusted with the responsibilities and duties of Deputy Chief of the Westport Fire Department. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve the Westport community in this role and am eager to get to work doing so!"
Theodore Crawford joined the Westport Fire Department as a career firefighter in 2011. Upon graduation from the Connecticut Fire Academy, he was assigned to Platoon 2 where he served as a firefighter for ten years. Since March 2021, he has been assigned to the position of Acting Lieutenant on Platoon 4. He is an EMT and graduate of the Connecticut Fire Academy, Class #47, as well as President of the Westport Uniformed Firefighters Charitable Foundation.
Ted is also rescue diver on the Westport Police/ Fire Dive Team and Hazardous Materials Technician on the Fairfield County Hazmat Team. He is the recipient of a Westport Rotary Public Protection & Safety Award, Firefighter Dominic Zeoli Award and two, Unit Citations.
Ted is also a graduate of Clarkson University, earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and holds a Professional Engineering License in the State of Connecticut.
Chief Kronick spoke highly of Lieutenant Crawford stating, “I believe Ted will make an outstanding officer of the department and will be a great asset to our community.”
A formal Pinning Ceremony is being planned this spring (March/April) when we can properly gather and celebrate the department.
Please join us in congratulating Deputy Chief Marsan and Lieutenant Crawford.