Westport Police, EMS Mourn Death of Longtime EMS Crew Chief Mark Blake
Press Release
The Westport Police Department and Emergency Medical Services are mourning the death of EMS Crew Chief Mark Blake. Crew Chief Blake passed away on Tuesday, September 20.
Crew Chief Blake was hired in May of 1990 and had a long and rewarding career serving the Westport community. He was a representative for the Southwest EMS Council for over ten years and was most recently the organization’s president. Also, Crew Chief Blake was a certified child safety seat instructor and helped organize numerous car safety seat clinics throughout Fairfield County.
In addition to dutifully serving the town of Westport, Crew Chief Blake was a volunteer with Weston’s fire department and emergency medical services for over thirty years. During his tenure he served as the department’s vice president and obtained the rank of lieutenant. Even in his off time, he wanted to serve.
Those who knew Crew Chief Blake quickly realized that his passion was to help anyway he could. Whether it be organizing a child safety seat clinic, treating a sick patient, or helping at the scene of a fire in Weston, Crew Chief Blake was there. His dedication and passion will most certainly be missed.
Deputy Chief Sam Arciola who oversees Westport EMS said that “Mark was an incredibly dedicated public servant as well as a widely respected EMT and he never hesitated to put the needs of others above his own.” First Selectwoman Jen Tooker stated, “I was saddened to hear of the passing of Crew Chief Blake. On behalf of the Town, I want to extend my condolences to his friends and family as well as express how appreciative the town is for all his years helping our community.”
For details regarding services please follow this link: https://www.hardingfuneral.com/obituaries/Mark-A.-Blake?obId=25922840#/celebrationWall
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 76. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 66. South wind around 9 mph.
Tomorrow
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 8am and 2pm, then a chance of showers after 2pm. Temperature rising to near 71 by 10am, then falling to around 67 during the remainder of the day. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow Night
A 30 percent chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
High Tides
8:46 AM / 9:02 PM
Low Tides
2:42 AM / 2:58 PM
Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Artist Mark Naftalin Brings The Blues To the Westport Library
A new concert series at the Westport Library's Trefz forum "Blue Sunday" was launched on Sunday to a large cheering crowd who gave these very talented artists a standing ovation after enjoying two hours of simply outstanding Blues music.
Westport's Mark Naftlin, famed keyboardist, noted producer and radio host assembled a tremendous pool of talent, some of whom are very familiar to Westport music lovers including Chris “Otis” Cross Smokin’ Joe Najmy of Otis and the Hurricanes, percussionists Matt Moadel who has performed with Mystic Bowie, sax master Crispin Cioe who has played with James Cotton,and many others including Naftlin himself, who played piano on multiple numbers with the band.
For more information on Sunday's show and this exciting new series, visit: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Mark Naftalin Coming to The Westport Library for New Blues Series | The Westport Library
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Japan Comes To Jesup Green To Celebrate Fall
The Japan Society of Fairfield County located in Ridgefield once again brought it's annual Fall Festival to Westport's Jesup Green on Saturday to celebrate Japanese culture with traditional music, dancing and crafts. Visitors enjoyed performances of Taiko drumming and even were invited to join in traditional bon odori folk dance. There was also a martial arts demonstration.
Vendors offered kimono, beautiful tengui, a traditional thin cotton hand towel used as tapestries, and information on meditation.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
