Morning Weather Report
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 46. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming west after midnight.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 5 to 9 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Westport PD Participates in Distracted Driving Campaign
The Westport Police Department is participating in the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s high visibility distracted driving enforcement campaign. In partnership with State and local law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the campaign will increase efforts to enforce distracted-driving laws. This campaign will run from October 15th to October 31st, 2022.
Distracted driving is an activity that diverts attention from driving and even a momentary distraction can lead to disastrous results. In 2020, according to the NHTSA, distracted driving was a factor in over 8% of fatal car crashes. Further, the NHTSA reported that roughly 20% of injuries occurring in motor vehicle accidents involved distracted driving.
Connecticut law prohibits the use of any hand-held mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers who are currently 16 or 17 years old are prohibited from using a cell phone or mobile device at any time, even hands free.
Violating Connecticut’s distracted-driving laws can also be very costly. Drivers who are ticketed are fined $200.00 for the first offense, $375.00 for the second offense, and $625.00 for the third and subsequent offenses.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation along with the Westport Police urges you to put your phone down when you get behind the wheel. Should you need to use your phone prior to reaching your destination, please pull over to a safe location first.
Morning Weather Report
Today
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 68. West wind around 9 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Calm wind.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 50. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Westporter Organizes Fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization
Press ReleaseThe annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut’s Mentor’s Classic Golf Tournament was held this year at the historic Tamarack Golf Club in Greenwich. Pictured at the daylong event are, from left, Westport resident Joe Massoud, Managing Director at Westport-based Anholt Services (USA) Inc; Andy Fleischmann, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut; and Peter Lovell, who lives in Milford and is a Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Odyssey Re in Stamford. Joe Massoud, a Board Member at Big Brothers Big Sisters and a current Big Brother (volunteer mentor) in the organization’s community-based program, was on the Mentor’s Classic organizing committee. He was also one of the event’s Emerald Sponsors. Peter Lovell also served on the event’s organizing committee. Lovell was a former Big Brothers Big Sisters Board Member, and a onetime Big Brother.
DPW Announces Main Street Closure Next Week for Paving
Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich announced today that Main Street between Post Road and Avery Place and Avery Place between Main Street and Myrtle Avenue will be milled and paved beginning on Monday, October 17, weather permitting. Due to the nature of the congested area, Main Street will be closed to thru-traffic and parking starting at 5:00 AM and Avery Place will be closed to thru-traffic beginning at approximately 10:00 AM on October 17. Once road milling is complete, both roads will be re-opened to traffic until paving operations begin.
Paving of the two roads is currently scheduled for Tuesday, October 18. It will follow the same schedule as milling. However, a potential weather system may postpone paving until Wednesday, October 19.
Ratkiewich said “We will try our best to inform the Downtown Association and any affected residential tenants with street postings and message boards. We appreciate the cooperation of our residents and downtown businesses so that we can get this work done quickly and efficiently”
Motorists are advised to use caution and allow extra travel time in the Downtown area.
U.S. Riders Take First & Second Place at CSI Greenwich International Show Jumping Competition
Riders from around the world came to Greenwich Polo Grounds on Saturday to compete for winner’s ribbons and more than $300,000. in prize money and in the end two Americans finished in first and second place in this elite event.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Five time Olympian and two time gold medal winner McLain Ward from nearby Brewster, NY, grabbed first place astride Lezaro besting five other riders in the jump-off bringing home over $71,000.00. Edged out in second place, also with a no fault run and only 1/10 of a second back was fellow American Devin Ryan who rode Eddie Blue earning the more than $43,000.00 prize. Ward has been a legend in the sport who became the youngest rider in history to win $1,000,000, which he achieved at 24 years of age.A beautiful crisp fall day drew a very large crowd to this second CSI show and were treated to a tremendous display of beauty and grace from these talented riders and magnificent equines from both the U.S. and Canada, Great Britain, Columbia, Egypt and several other countries.
Competing once again in this second CSI Show in Greenwich was top-notch competitor Georgina Bloomberg, daughter of Michael Bloomberg who finished in ninth place.Last year's first place finisher Nayel Nassar did not fare so well this year riding 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Coronado finishing in 16th place in the CSI3 Grand Prix with 4 faults. CSI3 level competition challenges horse and rider who must jump fences just over five feet in height.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Governor Directs Flags to Half-staff following Ambush, Murder of Two Bristol Police officers Overnight
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff in honor of two officers from the Bristol Police Department who were shot and killed in the line of duty late last night while responding to a domestic violence situation involving family at a private residence in Bristol. A third officer was also shot and has been seriously injured.
The names of the officers involved have not yet been released as their families are in the process of being notified.
Flags should be lowered immediately and remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been determined. Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered during this same duration of time. The Office of the Governor will send out a notification when flags should be returned to full-staff.
“The loss of two officers from the Bristol Police Department who were killed in the line of duty while responding to an emergency call of domestic violence is a senseless tragedy, and my prayers are with their families, loved ones, and fellow officers,” Governor Lamont said. “I also ask the residents of Connecticut to keep in their prayers a third officer who was shot while responding to this emergency and is currently in the hospital with serious injuries. This is a devastating reminder of the dangers that police officers face every day to protect our families and neighbors from all kinds of situations. These officers are heroes and will always be remembered for the honorable service they provided to their town and their state. This continues to be an active situation, and I’ve directed DESPP Commissioner James Rovella and the Connecticut State Police to support the Bristol Police Department and greater community in every way they can.”
Morning Weather Report
Today
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Southeast wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Low around 56. Southeast wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tomorrow
A 30 percent chance of showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. West wind 3 to 7 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
Robert “Bob” Weiss Died; “He will be missed by his loving family”
Robert E. Weiss (Bob), 1930 – 2022, died at his home in Westport, CT after an eight-year challenge with Lewy Body Dementia. His family was with him at the time of his passing.
Bob was born in the Bronx and attended James Monroe High School and New York University. He honorably served in the Coast Guard during the Korean War. Bob retired after many decades as president of F.M. Weiss Realty Company. He was an inveterate collector. His passions included antique cars, toys, stamps, tools of every shape and form, and DIY projects (for himself and unsuspecting neighbors).
He will be missed by his loving family: his wife of 67 years, Sylvia Weiss (Adler); his children, Amy Weiss (John Yankovich), Liz Weiss (Timothy Carruthers), and Marian Cherrone (Jim); his grandchildren, Joshua Carruthers, Simon Carruthers, and Andrea Yankovich; and his many friends.
He was predeceased by his older brother, Murray Weiss, and his parents, Albert and Sophia Weiss.
Donate your iPads and Phones for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center of Norwalk and Stamford
Press ReleaseIn recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month, the Department of Human Services and the Domestic Violence Task Force is collecting used cell phones and iPads to benefit the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) of Norwalk and Stamford. The DVCC provides free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence and their children in Westport, Norwalk, Stamford, New Canaan, Darien, Weston, and Wilton.
Residents are encouraged to donate used cell phones or iPads (no older than four years old) that have been re-set to factory settings. Cell phones are given to DVCC clients to ensure their safety and avoid possible tracking by their abuser.
Donation bins are available at Westport Town Hall at 110 Myrtle Avenue or the Westport Center for Senior Activities at 21 Imperial Avenue. Throughout October, both sites will accept donations Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please call Margaret Pinheiro at 341-1050 or via email at humansrv@westportct.gov. For more information about the Domestic Violence Crisis Center, please visit www.dvccct.org.