Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 73. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Light southwest wind.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northwest wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Arline Gertzoff, 76, Died; RTM Member, “true daughter of Westport”
Arline Patricia Gertzoff, 76, passed away peacefully at St. Vincent's Hospital on September 28th from esophageal cancer. Arline is remembered as a true daughter of Westport, a dedicated, tireless volunteer for many organizations that contribute to the vibrancy of the town.
Arline was born in Norwalk. Her family moved to Westport, establishing a local dry-cleaning business, where she often worked after school. Arline was active in The Staples Players and SSTS, the backstage crews, earning the position of Head of Costumes for several productions, and became SSTS President her senior year. As a teen, she drove a sporty Triumph with a daisy on her antenna to announce her cheerful disposition. Arline was a proud graduate of Staples and Westport schools, earning undergraduate and graduate degrees from Boston University in history and education. She taught in New Canaan, and at the International School in Antwerp, Belgium for 25 years, where she was involved with the Model UN.
Arline enjoyed people, the arts, travel, good food and wine, and Belgian chocolate. Students and friends from around the world stayed in touch with her. She returned to Westport in 1979 to help care for her mother and dove into her community activism. She loved Westport and took great pride in its history and contributions. She was filled with local lore and stories, emphatically setting the record straight on Westport history with people newer to town.
For 20 years Arline was a tireless poll worker with the Westport League of Women Voters. Active with Westport's Democratic Town Committee, she co-chaired the Community Outreach Committee. Arline served on the Board of the Democratic Women of Westport, and in 2016 received the DTC Dora Stuttman Campaign Leadership Award. She was a familiar face and trusted cashier at the Library Book Sales, and a longtime member of the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut (UNASWCT), often bringing interesting speakers and dialogue to the community.
One of Arline's favorite activities was jUNe Day, an event that for more than 55 years floods the Steinkraus Bridge with colorful flags from around the world and welcomes UN delegates and staff annually to Westport for a day of food, fun and friendship. Serving on the Board of Directors as Membership Chair, Arline was currently Treasurer of UNASWCT, and on the Advisory body for the national UN Association headquartered in Washington DC.
Long-time friend Melody James noted, "Arline earned a seat at the leadership table of our town the old-fashioned way: through volunteerism, pitching in, and showing up. She was a Doer. You could count on her. True in high school; true in 2022." When Arline died, she was serving a third term as an elected District 3 member on Westport's non-partisan Representative Town Meeting (the RTM).
Arline Gertzoff is remembered as a life-time democrat, committed to social justice, with great ability to reach across political divides. Another classmate remarked, "Arline was a connector. She had the ability to connect with different types of people, across age, sex, class, race, religious and nationality lines. She was the thread that joined together a very wide community. A great gift."
Once returning to Westport, Arline became the lead Coordinator for her Staples Class of '64, orchestrating several class reunions. At the 50th Reunion she appeared with her arms full of roses to cast on Long Island Sound for fallen classmates. She was the confidante, the treasurer, the detail master, who tracked marriages, divorces, deaths, births, and career changes. Arline supported her friends and local artists, showing up frequently to their performances and exhibits. She possessed a fierce loyalty to her friends and their accomplishments. Arline was a leading voice to establish the "Laddie Lawrence Track" at Staples High School, dedicated in 2021, challenging the argument that a great teacher and coach could only be honored after they died. She worked tirelessly for her classmate, a beloved coach at Staples, to be honored, by organizing a Letters of Support campaign from around the country.
Her friend Jennifer Johnson called her "a lifetime Westporter, and truly a citizen of the world. She was a...champion of democracy and international understanding." DTC Chair, Mark Friedman said, "Through her work, she strengthened the fabric of our civil society and touched the lives of people in Westport and around the world, creating a family of friends and admirers, imbuing her friendships with insight, wit and love."
Arline was predeceased by her father, Donald, mother, Marion, and her brother, Stewart. She is survived by cousins Steven Gertzoff of Florida, and Ken Bean of Colorado and their families. A Memorial Service is planned for November 12th, at 2:30 pm at the Westport Town Hall.
Town Clerk Announces Vacancy for RTM District 3 after Lifelong Westporter Arline Gertzoff Passes
Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton has announced that the Westport Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is seeking candidates for a District 3 representative to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Arline Gertzoff. In accordance with the Town Charter, Section C5-8C, the vacancy must be filled by a registered voter residing in RTM District 3. No party affiliation is required since Westport’s RTM is non-partisan. The term expires November 28, 2023.
Residents of RTM District 3 interested in being considered to fill the vacancy are invited to send a resume on or before October 14, 2022 by 4:00 PM to Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton at JDunkerton@westportct.gov.
New Neighbor: Hartford HealthCare Urgent Care Center to Open at Corner of Compo Road South, Post Road
Press ReleaseHartford HealthCare is opening its sixth Urgent Care Center in Fairfield County in Westport at 374 Post Road, East on October 10. The new location will provide convenient access to patients 7 days a week. Patients may save their spot online, or walk in for their urgent care needs.
The Westport location joins other Hartford HealthCare Urgent Care Centers in the county, including Fairfield, Monroe, Trumbull, Shelton and Stratford. All Hartford HealthCare Urgent Care Centers offer treatment for a variety of illnesses and injuries, along with physical exams and X-rays. For non-life-threatening situations, urgent care provides a more affordable, less stressful and more convenient option than emergency room visits.
All sites offer walk-in 1-hour PCR COVID-19 testing during regular business hours. Please note that testing includes an office visit with a provider to assess illness resulting in an office visit charge/co-pay.
For immediate care when you need it, Hartford HealthCare Urgent Care Centers are open 7 days a week: Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 203.221.3390, or visit hartfordhealthcare.org/urgentcare.
No Westport COVID-19 Cases Reported Today
The State Department of Public Health reported no COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past day, a first for many weeks. The State positivity rate was down to 9.57% while 407 people remain hospitalized around the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,886 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 40 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 9.57% [up from 9.15%]
Morning Weather Report
Today
Showers likely, mainly before 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 61. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 3 to 6 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.
Elmer Stannard, 89, Died; Purple Heart Recipient, Staples High Graduate
Elmer E. Stannard, 89 of Wilton, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2022 surrounded by family members.
He was born in Ridgefield, CT to Helen Minnerly Stannard and Elmer Wilton Stannard. Upon graduating from Staples High School in Westport, Elmer joined the United States Marine Corps where he fought in the Korean War and received the Purple Heart. After service, he went on to work for his father as a plumber and eventually took over the business Stannard Plumbing & Heating in 1985. In his free time he was an accomplished skeet shooter who won numerous competitions.
Elmer is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Nan Pat Carusone Stannard, his daughter Debbie Cowic and husband Brian, 4 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 1 niece and 2 nephews.
A Funeral Service will take place for Elmer on Friday, October 7, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church St. Georgetown (Wilton) CT 06829. Interment will immediately follow at Hillside Cemetery, Wilton. Friends may greet the family from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011 or https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate . To offer online condolences to the family, please visit www.boutonfuneralhome.com
Tom Kiely Named Town of Westport Operations Director
First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker announced today that she has appointed Thomas D. Kiely to the position of Operations Director for the Town of Westport effective immediately.
Mr. Kiely is a graduate of Plymouth State University, Plymouth N.H., where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Management. His professional experience is in law enforcement with the Connecticut State Police, serving 21 years in various roles and supervisory positions including 11 years as a Detective with Major Crimes. During that time, he established positive working relationships with a number of local, state and federal agencies.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Kiely has received numerous honors and leadership accolades, including Outstanding Service Awards issued by the State Police, United States’ Attorney’s Office District of Connecticut Department of Justice Award and multiple Unit Citation Awards in recognition of his outstanding service and performance for exceptional investigative efforts.
Mr. Kiely stated, “My entire professional life has been in public service. I am very excited to begin a new career as the Operations Director of this great community. I look forward to meeting new people, accepting new challenges, and collaborating with the team of town employees, business owners, and residents – confident that I bring a fresh perspective and life experience to this important role in town government.”
First Selectwoman Tooker said, “I welcome Tom in his new role as Operations Director. I know that his experience and skill-set are well suited to this unique position within the Selectwoman’s Office. I am looking forward to a positive working relationship where we are able to accomplish the many goals my administration has set on behalf of all Westporters. I am also excited to introduce him to our community including the residents, business owners, and the employees that make Westport the best place in the region to live, work and play.”
She added, “I want to take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to Town Audit Manager and Senior Accountant Lynn Scully. Her work throughout the time that she served as the Interim Operations Director was exceptional. Her input, advice and guidance as she deftly managed the multiple jobs that we asked her to perform on behalf of the Town were invaluable, and we owe her a debt of gratitude.”
Halloween Window Painters Needed for 2022 Chamber of Commerce Contest
Calling all painters! The annual Halloween Window Painting Contest will take place on Saturday October 22. Painters wanted.
Last year over 100 children from the area painted scary scenes on windows offered by local businesses. Participants can paint their own window or in teams with friends. Judging will take place in the following days and winners will receive a gift certificate from Gofer Ice Cream.
Sign up is at www.westportwestonchamber.com/halloween
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 5
The State Department of Public Health reported 5 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the weekend. The State positivity rate was down to 9.15%.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,886 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 40 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 9.15% [down from 9.51%]