Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 11; State Positivity Rate Down with 11 More Patients Hospitalized

The State Department of Public Health reported 11 more cases in Westport over the past day. The State’s daily test positivity rate was down to 7.60% while hospitalizations were up 11 patients, with 176 patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the State.

• Westport total positive or probable cases: 4,347 cases.

• Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 36 deaths

• State Daily Test Positivity: 7.60% [down from 7.68%]

• State Hospitalizations: 176 patients [+11]

Earthplace’s Dr. Sarah Crosby named Director of Conservation and Policy for The Maritime Aquarium

Contributed photo. 

The Maritime Aquarium:

Dr. Sarah Crosby, a marine ecologist trained in conservation science with extensive experience in coastal and marine ecosystems and a seasoned manager who has led Harbor Watch for seven years, will join The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk next week as Director of Conservation and Policy, a new position that will significantly expand the Aquarium’s leadership role in local and national conservation issues. 

Dr. Crosby will be responsible for shaping and leading the Aquarium’s conservation initiatives and overall strategy, with a focus on the ecosystem of Long Island Sound, but also on broader issues of climate change, species management, marine pollution and other conservation issues that affect the Sound as well as the national and global environment.

“Dr. Crosby joins The Maritime Aquarium at a vital moment in time, with more opportunity now than ever before to improve the ecological health and sustainability of Long Island Sound,” said Jason Patlis, President and CEO of the Aquarium. “At the same time, the global climate crisis threatens to undermine many local conservation efforts and profoundly change Long Island Sound. Dr. Crosby’s expertise and experience will be invaluable as the Aquarium develops a strategy and programs to address these multiple conservation opportunities and threats.”

For the past seven years, Crosby has served as Director of Harbor Watch, the research program based at Earthplace in Westport that focuses on Long Island Sound water quality, coastal ecology and the application of data to watershed management. During her tenure, Harbor Watch more than doubled the geographic scope of its annual river monitoring and stormwater sampling efforts, with a significant impact on reducing sewage pollution to the Sound through new and enduring partnerships with local governments to conduct pollution track-down efforts across Fairfield County. Crosby’s hallmark has been leading collaborative initiatives bridging academic institutions, conservation organizations, businesses, and government agencies at the federal, state and local levels. She also is active in applying her field and scientific expertise to public policy decisions, serving on multiple local watershed committees, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee of the Long Island Sound Study and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy’s Long Island Sound Council.

“Long Island Sound is an ecosystem of profound importance, both to local communities as well as for its biodiversity,” Dr. Crosby said. “The transformation that the Sound has undergone in the last 30 years can serve as an inspiration to conservation scientists everywhere; the efforts of our entire region have resulted in a restored and healthier ecosystem. Yet, there is so much more work to be done. I am thrilled to join the excellent team at The Maritime Aquarium and work to usher in a new era of conservation science to support policy for the Sound and beyond. I am eager to foster collaboration within the Long Island Sound research and management communities to help us all meet our shared mission of a clean, protected, resilient, and thriving Sound for generations to come. Having spent my childhood playing in the waters of Greenwich Point, it is not lost on me what an amazing opportunity this is, and I look forward to building off the Aquarium’s strong momentum and making this new department a leading force for positive change in the region.”

With The Maritime Aquarium, Crosby will manage the portfolio of existing conservation projects to protect key species of Long Island Sound, such as horseshoe crabs and sand tiger sharks, as well as to protect and restore important habitats such as salt marshes. She arrives in time to lead a complex new effort to remove thousands of lobster pots abandoned in the Connecticut waters of the Sound after the lobster fishery crashed in 1999. Supported by $569,000 in recent federal funding, the initiative involves a coalition of partners, with the support of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

In addition, Crosby will play an instrumental role in incorporating conservation priorities into the Aquarium’s public-facing programs and activities. This includes working with the Aquarium’s senior leadership to ensure that conservation messaging is integrated into exhibits, educational programs and outreach efforts. It also includes supporting the growth of the Aquarium’s dozens of citizen-science and community activities in which thousands of people participate.

She also will lead The Maritime Aquarium’s involvement in public policy on marine issues, at the state and regional level focused on Long Island Sound and at the national level focused on climate change and marine conservation. As a member of both the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), The Maritime Aquarium plays a growing role in national environmental policy, especially with Long Island Sound recognized by the U.S. Congress as an Estuary of National Significance.

“With our multiple audiences, especially over 400,000 visitors, and 80,000 children and students participating in our programs annually, we have a unique and powerful opportunity to introduce to our audiences the importance of the marine world that they come to enjoy and experience in the Aquarium, and then to inspire them to be good stewards of that marine world,” Patlis said. “I am very excited that, with Dr. Crosby’s vision and enthusiasm, we will fold conservation messages and lessons into all the ways we engage with our audiences.”

Crosby received a B.A. in biology from Tufts University in 2006, a M.Sc. in biological oceanography from the University of Rhode Island in 2009, and a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at Brown University in 2015. Crosby’s master’s and doctoral research focused on the resilience of coastal ecosystems to human and climate impacts.

Learn more about the Aquarium’s conservation work at www.maritimeaquarium.org/conservation.

Staples Boys Lacrosse Supports Wounded Veterans and their Families on Saturday

Sticks For Soldiers: 

On Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 Staples High School Boys Lacrosse will proudly host their annual Sticks For Soldiers event when the Varsity team hosts the Wilton Warriors at Staples Stadium.

The Sticks For Soldiers ceremony will take place at 2:40 pm before the 3:00 pm game. Please come out to support this meaningful cause and enjoy an exciting afternoon of lacrosse!

The Sticks For Soldiers organization raises funds to support wounded veterans and their families. Participation in Sticks For Soldiers events creates community awareness, particularly among high school athletes, of the service and sacrifices being made by individuals, often just a few years older than themselves.

The opportunity for athletes to compete and fundraise recognizes those who have sacrificed in the protection of our country’s freedoms. In 16 years, over $1 million has been raised by Sticks For Soldiers to support wounded veterans and their families.

This year’s program will begin with the Presentation of Colors by Westport Police & Fire Department Honor Guard. The National Anthem will be performed by Staples Junior Madelyn Spera. First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker will be joining us along with local community organizations. Opening remarks will be made by Sticks for Soldiers President Bob Vitale. The Westport PAL 4th grade youth team will play a friendly scrimmage at halftime to show their support!

A suggested minimum donation of $5.00 for admission to both games will be collected at the stadium and there will be plenty of food and drinks for sale! All money raised will go directly to Sticks For Soldiers and the veterans it serves.

To make a donation, please visit www.sticksforsoldiers.org. For additional information please contact edward.iannone@gmail.com

Westport Fire Marshal: “The residents were saved by a house fire alarm “

Westport Fire Department:

Approximately 50 dogs and cats were saved at the Town House for Dogs structure fire last night. The animals were moved to another part of the kennel that was not affected by the fire. They are safe and being cared for by the staff of Town House for Dogs.

Fire Chief Michael Kronick stated, “Two dogs that belonged to the owners regretfully perished in the second-floor apartment that was involved in the fire. Cause of the fire is under investigation by the Westport Fire Marshal’s Office. Cause and origin determination remain forthcoming.”

Fire Marshal Nathaniel Gibbons stated, “The residents were saved by a house fire alarm system that had recently been upgraded during their annual fire inspection. This drives home the importance of having working smoke alarms in your homes or place of business.” 

For more information about your pets, please contact the owners, Mel and Sandy Goldman, of Town House for Dogs, 1040 Post Road E (203) 227-3276.