River Reflections
Evening light and cooler weather marked the end to the first day of autumn in Westport’s downtown tonight. WestportLocal.com photo
Mark A. Blake, 61, Died; Westport EMS Crew Chief, Weston Firefighter
Mark A. Blake, age 61, of Stratford, Connecticut, died Tuesday, September 20, 2022, after a valiant battle with COVID-19. Mark, a beloved and loving son, brother, husband, father, and friend, passed peacefully with his family by his side.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 27, 1961, Mark is survived by his devoted wife Eileen, and his two children, Ryan (16) and Liam (13), of whom he was incredibly proud. Mark leaves to cherish his memory: his mother Mary Blake; brother Terry Blake and his wife Tracy Dayton, and their children Jillian and Jackson; and his in-laws Mike and Alexine Henzy, Tim (Kerry), Bill (Wendy), and Catherine (Ryan Eastwood), and their children, his dear nieces and nephews. Mark also had numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins who he loved dearly, some of whom were there to greet him when he passed.
Mark was a selfless volunteer for his community. He was honored to be a Life Member of the Weston Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) and the Emergency Medical Service (EMS). He served the WVFD as Vice-President and as a Lieutenant. He was also Chairman of the WVFD Benevolent Committee, the Public Relations Committee, and the Explorer Post, amongst others. During his tenure, Mark established the Child Passenger Safety Program in Weston and the Fairfield County Chapter of Safe Kids. He was a Child Passenger Safety Instructor and one of his greatest joys was working with parents and families to teach them how to safely transport their children. Mark received numerous awards, including Firefighter of the Year, the President and Chief Award, and was recognized for Outstanding Service at the Blue Mass by the Diocese of Bridgeport and the Knights of Columbus. Mark also was a Board Member and President of the Southwest EMS Council and the Vice-President of the Southwest Regional Communications Center.
In addition to his volunteer work, Mark was an EMS Supervisor on the Westport Emergency Medical Service, where, after first serving as a volunteer, he was employed for more than 30 years. While Mark was a decorated member of EMS, his greatest sense of accomplishment was doing what he loved to do – assisting others when they needed it the most.
Mark was a mentor to members of his Fire and EMS families. Mark’s family and friends have found comfort in the incredible stories and tributes shared by so many individuals who Mark aided and inspired over the years.
Mark was very proud of his work during the L’Ambiance Plaza building collapse in 1987, and his involvement with the Red Cross, supporting its response to the 9/11 attacks. Mark instilled his love of, and dedication to, community service in so many others, most significantly his brother and sons who so proudly carry on his legacy.
Mark was a wicked Boston sports fan. Going to the Boston championship Duck Boat parades and Red Sox games at Fenway with his brother and with his sons were among his most cherished memories. A member of the Norwalk Police Emerald Society, Mark took every opportunity to celebrate and share his Irish heritage.
Mark and his family would like to express their gratitude to his angels at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Gaylord Healthcare, who so genuinely cared for him from their heart, helping him to find the silver lining during his battle, and making this journey more bearable. Those individuals know exactly who they are because he was sure to express his appreciation no matter what the circumstances.
Visitation will be at the Harding Funeral Home in Westport, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, September 26, 2022.
A Mass will be held at St. Matthew Church in Norwalk at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Burial will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark’s memory may be made to St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, where his family has established the Mark A. Blake scholarship to be awarded to a student interested in pursuing a career as a first responder. Donations in Mark’s memory may also be made to the Weston Volunteer Fire Department. The Mass of Christian Burial will livestream on the following platforms:
• St. Matthew Website: http://stmatthewnorwalk.org/
• St. Matthew Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMatthewNorwalk/
Morning Weather Report
Today
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 11am and 2pm, then a chance of showers after 2pm. High near 72. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Clear, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
High Tides
9:31 AM / 9:46 PM
Low Tides
3:27 AM / 3:44 PM
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 6; State Positivity Rate 9.88%
The State Department of Public Health reported 6 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past two days. The State positivity rate was up to 9.88% while 375 people remain hospitalized.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,839 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 40 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 9.88% [up from 9.33%]
Westport Museum Offers Colonial Field Day October 1st
Press Release
Kick of a fun fall season by stepping into the past and learning about life in days of yore! Westport Museum for History & Culture is hosting a Colonial Field Day with games, dancing, workshops and more for the whole family.
During Colonial Field Day visitors will get to experience real activities that young people would have done during the 18th century here in Westport and elsewhere in New England.
“The Field Day is meant to be enjoyable but also to educate about actual daily life during the Colonial period,” said Nicole Carpenter, Westport Museum’s Director of Programs and Collections. “Beating a rug and breaking flax are fun activities when done for a few minutes, but also gives insight into how these chores would have impacted people when these laborious tasks were a mainstay of life.”
A free program, costumed interpreters will lead the afternoon events. In addition to demonstrations, hands-on pickling and candle making workshops will be held for a nominal free with a discount for members. Colonial Field Day will be held at the Museum’s lovely grounds in downtown Westport at 25 Avery Place (across from Town Hall) on October 1st from 2pm to 5pm. Visitors may park on Avery Place; Myrtle Avenue, across from the Museum driveway; behind town hall; and in the Baldwin Parking lot off Elm Street which has stairs up to Avery Place.
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 ReleaseThe 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
