Westport COVID-19 Cases up 28; State Hospitalizations, Positivity Rate Up
The State Department of Public Health reported 28 more cases in Westport over the past day. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 10.36% while hospitalizations are up to 278 throughout the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,355 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 37 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 10.36% [up from 10.02%]
State COVID-19 Hospitalizations: 278 patients
Wilton July 4th Fireworks Draws Huge Crowds
Wilton High School Athletic fields were filled with several thousand people celebrating the 4th of with picnics, tents, games and lots of red, white and blue. They paid twenty dollars per car to enjoy a beautiful fireworks display up close and personal and certainly got their money's worth.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Ruth Garvey Horger, 71, Died; Former Staples Student, “she was never dull”
Columbia, South Carolina - Ruth Garvey Horger, 71, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2022 in her home in Columbia, SC.
Ruth was born to the late Edward and Ruth Garvey and grew up in Westport, Connecticut until the family moved to Rome, Italy her senior year of high school. Upon the insistence of her mother, a native of Greensboro, NC, she chose to attend college in the South at Converse College. It was there that she met her eventual husband of 49 years, Robert R. Horger ("Bob"), while socializing at Wofford College. After college, Bob and Ruth eventually settled in Orangeburg, SC, where Bob practiced law in his family's law firm. Ruth lived most of her life in Orangeburg before moving to Columbia in more recent years.
She was fun and made friends easily and often. She was a great conversationalist and never met a stranger. Rather than talking about herself, she focused on others, inquiring about whatever she knew was important to whom she was speaking. She could charm anyone who crossed her path. Her unique ability to speak her mind without (often) offending was refreshing to others and she was never dull. She loved people and the riches in her life were the many friendships she developed. Never one to spend too much time idle, Ruth always stayed busy. She acted as the ultimate chief executive officer of her household. No one was more organized or ran a tighter ship. Although she did not enjoy cooking all the time, she was known for her resourcefulness in procuring the best food for any occasion. Additionally, she was an avid exerciser all of her life and rarely missed a day. Passersby always commented on how fast she walked around the neighborhood. Both in exercise and in life generally, she loathed being forced to slow down.
One of her greatest joys was spending time with her two granddaughters. She was blessed to see them often and she enjoyed every moment in their company. She excelled at planning trips and travelled extensively throughout her life. However, she was happiest on Hilton Head Island with her family and her beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel nearby.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Bob; daughter, Ruth Vanstory Horger (Tim) of Columbia, SC; son, Charlton Bowen Horger II (Susie) of Columbia, SC; grandchildren; Mims and Cate Horger; brother, Patrick Garvey (Anne) of Hilton Head Island, SC; sister, Ann Olderman (Richard) of Bethesda, Maryland; and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Ruth at The Palmetto Club in Columbia, SC on Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. for all friends and family. Ruth wanted this occasion to be an informal gathering in celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to SCOA Cares at 166 Stoneridge Drive #100, Columbia, SC 29210 or a charity of one's choice. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Steven Minter of SC Oncology Associates, and his staff for their excellent care and compassion. Online condolences may be expressed at www.dukesharleyfuneralhome.com or https://www.facebook.com/Dukes-Harley-Funeral-Home-and-Crematory-304968586272868
Rowing at Dawn along the Saugatuck
Members of the Saugatuck Rowing Club were out early this morning as they glided up river towards the calm morning waters of the harbor alongside Stony Point. WestportLocal.com photo
Carol Plaine Fisher, 94, Died; Westport Rotarian, Temple Israel Member
Carol Plaine Fisher, a beloved daughter, sister, stepmother, aunt, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother died in her home in Westport, Connecticut on June 26, 2022 at the age of 94 after having successfully fought Parkinson's Disease for a decade.
Born in New York City to Alfred and Bertha Plaine on April 14, 1928, she graduated from Queens College at age 19. She worked at Little Golden Books and for a movie magazine before taking a job as acquisitions editor at Pyramid Books. At Pyramid, she developed and edited a book by Peter Max and as well as health-focused cookbooks and short biographies of 30s and 40s movie stars. Pyramid Books became, as a result of her efforts, the US publisher of bestselling author Barbara Cartland. Carol also worked as an editor at Harcourt Brace.
Her life changed in 1978, when she married longtime Westport resident Milton Fisher, an attorney, investment banker, author, and teacher of the popular "Applied Creativity" class in Staples Adult Education. She moved to Westport and together they founded Wildcat Publishing Company, where Carol brought her editorial skills and experience to bear on the publication of books including the Holocaust memoir Dry Tears, by Nehama Tec, a resistance classic which served as the basis for the film, Defiance; Who Owns What's in Your Head? by Stan Lieberstein; the novel, The Kid from Naphtali by Eytan Halaban; The Fall of Japan by William Craig; and the murder mystery, Murder Most Puzzling by Lillian Robinson.
Carol Fisher was a devoted participant in and organizer of stimulating programs at the Westport Senior Center, the Westport- Weston Arts Council, and the Westport Library. The Westport Senior Center recognized her outstanding efforts to enliven and improve the lives of seniors in Westport by giving her the "Service to Seniors Award" in February 2013.
As Executive Director of the Renee B. Fisher Foundation, Carol Fisher was instrumental in creating and sustaining initiatives including Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity (run by the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven); the annual Renee B. Fisher Piano Competition (run by the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven); and the "Books for Teachers" Program that has built thousands of classroom libraries in under-resourced schools in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington (The Pequot Library in Southport, CT, where the Program began, remains the "Books for Teachers" flagship program). A great reader throughout her life, Carol Fisher was an enthusiastic member of several book clubs and a movie discussion club, and was also an avid bridge player.
She was a member of the Westport Rotary Club and a longtime member of Temple Israel. Her family was always a sustaining pleasure. She loved hosting joyful multi-generational family gatherings on Thanksgiving and Passover at her home every year, as well as month-long family reunions during summers. The last gathering she hosted coincided with her 94th birthday this year.
In addition to being the cherished wife of the late Milton Fisher, Carol Plaine Fisher was the beloved aunt of Moss Plaine, sister of the late Leonard Plaine, and sister-in-law of Gillis Plaine--all of New York; and the beloved stepmother of Shelley Fisher Fishkin, mother-in-law of James S. Fishkin, grandmother of Joseph Fishkin and Robert Fishkin (and their partners, Cary Franklin and Maya Belitski), and great- grandmother of Anna Ardith Fishkin Franklin and Simon Asher ("Sasha") Fishkin Franklin--all of California. She will also be missed by other family members including Paige and Lee Barr, David Fishkin, Jill Feinberg, Stephanie Fishkin and Rebecca Fishkin of Maryland.
A private virtual memorial service is being planned for late summer. If you are interested in attending, please email Shelley Fisher Fishkin at sfishkin@stanford.edu. Contributions in Carol's memory may be sent to the Anti-Defamation League.
One Arrested for Criminal Impersonation after Identity Theft
Press ReleaseOn June 30, 2022, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Westport Police officers responded to the TD Bank located at 185 Main Street on a report that a man was attempting to fraudulently obtain a debit card by impersonating the real account holder. The suspect was still in the bank when officers arrived. He said his name was Edward Tucker and presented a Pennsylvania driver's license with that name. The bank employee said that a Norwalk branch of TD Bank notified the Westport location that the suspect was supposedly trying to engage in the same fraudulent activity there and to be aware should he come to Westport. The Norwalk bank also advised that they reached out to the real account holder who said he was still in PA.
The suspect reportedly admitted that his real name was William Schwarz, and it was determined that the PA driver's license in his possession was fake. Mr. Schwarz also had in his possession a Wells Fargo bank card with the name Edward Tucker on it.
Mr. Schwarz was placed under arrest and charged with Identity Theft in the Second Degree, Forgery in the Second Degree, Criminal Impersonation, Payment Card Theft, Criminal Attempt at Illegal Use of a Payment Card, and Illegal Use of a Payment Card. He was held on $50,000.00 bond and transported to Stamford Superior Court on July 1, to be arraigned.
Bright Side of Compo Hill
Homes basked in morning light along Compo’s hillside neighborhoods overlooking Hills Point Road. WestportLocal.com photo
Sunrise Swim off Compo Shores
An open water swimmer used the warm light of the rising sun to guide their journey just before 6:00 this morning. WestportLocal.com photo
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east after midnight.
Tomorrow
A 20 percent chance of showers after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. East wind 7 to 9 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Showers likely, mainly after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
High Tides
4:37 AM / 5:08 PM
Low Tides
10:55 AM / 11:33 PM