Lucky Duck: Westporter Wins 2022 Great Duck Race, $5,000 Prize, with Duck #410
Janet Mittleman, a Westporter for 32 years, was this year’s Lucky Duck as her rubber ducky won the Westport Rotary’s Great Duck Race today on Jesup Green. Mittleman and her five year old grandson James Gladstein were all smiles as they came to claim their prize from First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and members of the Westport Rotary clubs after their duck, #410, made its way the fastest down the manmade river - with water supplied by Westport firefighters. Thousands of ducks took the plunge today from the bucket of an AJ Penna frontloader, with every duck randomly assigned a number that corresponded to a donor’s ticket. All money collected from the duck race goes back into the community as the funding supports numerous non-profit organizations and local events through the Westport Rotaries. WestportLocal.com photo
Runners (floaters?) up for this year’s race included:
Nick Battaglino
Anna Brady
Rob Graham
Alexnder Strompen
Tracey Cauley
Wen Hsu
Rady Johnson
Jason Wolgast
Silvia Durno
Morning Weather Report
Today
A slight chance of showers between 8am and 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind around 8 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
High Tides
7:29 AM / 7:54 PM
Low Tides
1:30 AM / 1:38 PM
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.