Cribari Bridge Opens as Saugatuck Tradition Continues
The William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge over the Saugatuck River opened this evening for boat traffic, a tradition for the historical swing bridge spanning over 100 years. Constructed in 1884 and renovated in 1993 - the bridge originally was operated manually, with a large bar being pushed by hand to rotate the bridge on its track. Now powered by a motor, the operation requires State Department of Transportation personnel to man the bridge and operate the motor - which can open and close the bridge in about five minutes as boat traffic passes alongside it. Maintenance has kept the bridge working efficiently, though in moments when the motor failed - the original manual operation still can be seen observed from the riverbank. Despite its age, the bridge opens up throughout the summer months when high tides force up-river boats to request passage, sometimes several times each week. Click here for more information on the Route 136 bridge. WestportLocal.com photo
Margaret Murphy Pettit, 90, Died; “She was THE Good Will Ambassador!”
Margaret Murphy Pettit (Peggy, Maggie, Mom, Nanny) of Naples, FL, Westport, CT and Scituate, MA, age 90 passed away peacefully with loving family by her side.
Peggy was married to her high school sweetheart, best friend, and love of her life, Ray (Moose) Pettit for 64 years. She was born in Waterbury, CT to Margaret (Moore) and Eugene Murphy. She attended school in Waterbury, was President of her class at Waterbury Catholic High School, and attended Post College.
She was the loving and proud mother of five: Stephen (who predeceased her in 2004) (Beverly) Pettit, Chesterfield, MO, Linda (John) Barbosa, Brookfield CT, Susan (Joe) Colasurdo, Westport CT, Eileen (AnneMarie) Pettit, Naples, FL, and Kathleen Pettit, Scituate MA and Naples, FL. Also survived by eight grandchildren: Tom (Lynze) Pettit, Jennifer (Brett) Woodis, Michael (Haydee) Pettit, Meghan (Peter) Salonia, Laura (Ben) Young, Conor (Carolyn) Colasurdo, Casey (Jessica) Colasurdo, and Chase Pettit Colasurdo. Peggy was also the Great Grandmother to eleven. She leaves a sister, Evelyn (Roland) LaPerriere, a brother-in-law, Reverend Joseph Pettit, and several beloved nieces and nephews.
Peggy was active in many charitable organizations throughout the years while raising her five children. Ray's career took them to homes in New York and Connecticut. She was the Chair of the American Red Cross Motor Services of Schenectady, NY, as well as serving as Chair of the Corporate Gifts for the United Way of Schenectady. She was selected as Volunteer of The Year by the American Red Cross of Syracuse, NY. Peggy taught religious education in Syracuse, NY, and Weston, CT. She also served as Vice-Chair of the Norwalk (CT) Hospital Gift Shop for over 10 years.
Peggy and Ray were philanthropists to many charities, most notably Naples Hospital Heart Institute, Norwalk (CT) Hospital, St Mary's Hospital (Waterbury, CT), St Raphael's Hospital (New Haven, CT), ST Louis University High School, Bucknell University, and Stonehill College. She was honored to be named a Lifetime Medical Diplomat of Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System.
Her greatest joy was having her family together.......and of course making reservations! Peggy loved traveling and was fortunate to see much of the world with Ray's career taking them to many countries across the globe. She was THE Good Will Ambassador! She loved playing golf with her wonderful friends of the 9-hole ladies' group at Royal Poinciana Golf Club (Naples, FL) and The Country Club of Waterbury (CT). She also enjoyed modeling in the Royal Poinciana Annual Fashion Show and participating in many activities at the Naples Yacht Club.
Arrangements - Visitation for Mrs. Pettit will be held on Sunday, July 10, 2022, from 4 to 6 pm at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 S. Main St. On Monday morning her funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 9:15 am and proceed to St. Bridget of Sweden Parish - St. Bridget Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am. Entombment will follow in the Queen of Peace Mausoleum in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, a charity very close to her heart, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306. For online condolences, to share a photo or a story, please visit www.fordfh.com.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 4; State Hospitalizations, Positivity Rate Up
The State Department of Public Health reported 4 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past day. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 10.84% while hospitalizations were up to 280 throughout the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,371 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 37 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 10.84% [up from 10.64%]
State COVID-19 Hospitalizations: 280 patients [+16 patients]
“The Delamar Hotel Westport”: Westport Inn Makeover will go before P and Z Commission in September
Click to enlarge artist rendering. Westport Planning & Zoning Department Press ReleasePlanning and Zoning Director Mary Young has announced that the proposal to upgrade the Westport Inn at 1595 Post Road East will NOT be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission on July 11, 2022, as recently reported in the media. The public hearing is postponed to September 12, 2022.
P&Z Director Mary Young identified the plans originally submitted included both hotel rooms and housing units. The project was subsequently revised to exclude the housing units. The current proposal is to redevelop the existing 116 room Hotel to 85 rooms. Site improvements include the addition/expansion of landscaped areas, a new 3-story addition, demolition of the front building, minor additions to the rear building, pool and rear dining terrace, and driveway/ parking improvements. To facilitate the proposed changes, Text Amendment #818 was filed to create appropriate standards for the redevelopment and site design. All application materials can be viewed on the Town of Westport’s website here.
Rick Redniss, Principal Planner at Redniss and Mead, and Bruce Beinfield, Founding Principal of Beinfield Architects, are the consultants assisting WI Associates, the new property owners, to convert the Westport Inn into the “The Delamar Hotel Westport.”