Motorists Warned to Drive Carefully during Bigelow Tea Run on Sunday
Westport Police DepartmentThe Bigelow Tea Community Challenge Run is scheduled for the morning of Sunday, September 25th. While the majority the route is in Fairfield, some Westport roads will be utilized for a short time. Runners will be traveling northbound on Westway Road and turning left to travel westbound on Greens Farms Road before proceeding southbound on Sasco Creek Road to Pequot Avenue.
Motorists are asked to use caution while traveling through this area between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m.
Westport's Temple Israel Welcomes Ehud Barak, 10th Prime Minister Of The State Of Israel
Prime Minister Ehud Barak, center, was interviewed by Conservative Synagogue Senior Rabbi Jeremy Wiedehorn, left and Temple Israel Senior Rabbi Michael S. Friedman, right.
A historic event in Westport’s Temple Israel took place on Monday with the visit of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Israel's tenth Prime Minister. Barak's career spanned decades in both politics and the IDF, the Israel Defense Force. He commanded units in battles in the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. He eventually became leader of Sayaret Metkal, an elite special forces unit which is roughly analogous to our Navy Seals or Army Rangers. He was involved in the commando raid of an airliner hijacked by Palestinian guerrillas at Lod International airport in 1972, freeing all the hostages. He rose from humble beginnings, being born at a Kibbutz founded by his father, an immigrant to Israel from Lithuania. Rising through the ranks he eventually came to lead Israeli military intelligence, then the Israeli military as IDF Chief of Staff. He retired from the military in 1995 as a Lt. General, the army's highest rank.
His exceptional intellect is more than apparent, holding degrees in physics, and mathematics from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and in economic engineering systems from Stanford. He is also a classically trained pianist but avoided the stage's grand piano at the event. Barak was instrumental in peace negotiations at Camp David in 2000 and had previously participated in talks resulting in an important peace accord with Jordan in 1994.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Security for the night was vigorous, with the former Prime Minister's own security detail with their noticeable earpieces and microphones joined by multiple members of Westport PD and security staff from Temple Israel.
The event came to fruition about thanks to the generosity of TI members Justin & Ellen Mondshine, who have a longstanding relationship with PM Barak.The evening began with a reception attended by more than one hundred guests including our First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Police Chief Foti Koskinas, who were delighted to meet, speak briefly with and be photographed with Ehud Barak. From there, the guests assembled in the Temple's sanctuary where a crowd estimated at about 400 were joined by another 375 viewers streaming the event online.
Barak spoke at length in in great detail, responding to questions from moderators and others submitted earlier by guests which were posed to the Prime Minister by Temple Israel Assistant Rabbi Zachery Plesent. Barak covered topics including Israeli issues, such as the Palestinian situation, prospects for peace and his support for a two-state solution. Beyond areas pertaining directly to Israel Barak discussed the war in Ukraine, Iran and the nuclear threat to Israel and the region and other matters of world affairs. He spoke of his trip to North Vietnam and of his visit to the Hanoi Hilton where U.S. Senator John McCain was imprisoned and tortured and said that 30 years earlier he could hardly have imagined that one day he would board a United Arab Emirates airliner and fly from Hanoi to Abu Dabi and then on to Israel, a story he recounted with obvious amusement, drawing laughter from the audience. His knowledge of the issues and insight into world affairs of state kept the audience in rapt attention for his nearly one and one half hour discourse.
The night came to an end with everyone in the sanctuary singing Hatikvah a 19th century poem which is the National Anthem of the State of Israel led by Julia Cadrain, Senior Cantor of Temple Israel and Cantor Louis Cattan, of the Conservative Synagogue.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
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