Morning Weather Report
Today
Rain. High near 43. East wind 10 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
Rain before 5am, then rain and snow. The rain and snow could be heavy at times. Low around 33. Breezy, with a northeast wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tomorrow
Rain and snow. The rain and snow could be heavy at times. Steady temperature around 35. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Breezy, with a northwest wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tomorrow Night
Snow likely, mainly before 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 32. Breezy, with a northwest wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Eversource: “we’re ready to respond as quickly as possible to whatever this storm brings.”
With a powerful nor’easter expected to hit New England Monday night through Wednesday, Eversource is closely monitoring the weather forecast and is ready for the heavy, wet snow and strong winds that are expected to impact Connecticut. The energy company is prepositioning equipment and line and tree crews at its work centers around the state to respond to any damage or outages caused by this storm. Eversource also brought in additional out-of-state crews to assist with restoring power to customers, if needed.
“We began monitoring this storm last week using several weather services and continue to closely watch its path and will adjust our plan as needed,” said Eversource President of Connecticut Electric Operations Steve Sullivan. “The heavy, wet snow and hazardous winds forecasted have the potential to bring down trees and branches onto electric lines and equipment, causing damage and power outages. The hazardous conditions can also make travel challenging for our crews, so we’re staging extra staff and equipment in our work centers across the state to ensure we’re ready to respond as quickly as possible to whatever this storm brings.”
Eversource urges customers to always stay clear of downed wires, report them immediately to 911 and report any outage online at www.eversource.com or by calling 800-286-2000. Customers who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen.
The company also offers the following tips on its website to help customers prepare for emergencies.
Eileen Diana Blau, 92, Died; Longtime Westporter, Artist, Golfer, Tennis Player
Eileen Diana Blau, 92, of Westport, CT, passed away on March 9, 2023 in her longtime Westport, CT home.
Born Eileen Lefkowitz, in Brooklyn on July 8, 1930, she was a first generation American whose Ukrainian born parents immigrated less than a decade earlier. Father Norman (Nachman) was from Bratslav, and a direct descendant of the famed Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. Mother Mae (Manya) was from a business family in Pechera, a nearby village in the same province of Vinnytsia.
Eileen graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.S. in Mathematics, and it was at a college Socialist Youth League gathering that she met a fellow student, Barry Blau. They were married in 1948 and enjoyed a fabulous 69 year marriage until Barry’s death in 2017, bringing into the world four children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A passionate reader, artist and collector, Eileen filled her stunning mid century modern home with thousands of books and an eclectic art collection ranging from Flemish tapestries to Indonesian Buddhas, ancient Chinese mirrors and sculptures of her own creation. And it was in the basement of this home that she helped her husband launch his business, Barry Blau & Partners which he grew over 20 years into a leading global advertising agency.
Once her children were grown, Eileen pursued a life of almost infinite interests. She was an avid golfer and tennis player at Westport’s Birchwood Country Club. She had a Manhattan apartment, also art-filled, which was a launching pad for attending classes at the China Institute and the Asia Society, and making frequent visits to museums, galleries and auction houses.
For many years, Eileen and Barry also maintained a vacation home on the Big Island of Hawaii, which was a frequent winter gathering spot for the entire extended family.
Above all else, Eileen lived for that family -- as the most devoted and loving mom and, after raising her own children, lavishing attention on the grandchildren and great grandchildren, proclaiming each one more amazing than the last.
In addition to her parents and husband, Eileen was predeceased by her elder sister Rita Kannel. She is survived by her younger sister, Anita Metz; her children: Shawn Blau and Emily Blau (Robert Cohen) both of Westport, CT, Peter Blau (Barbara Blau) of Belmont, NC and Juliet Jenkins (Bruce Jenkins) of Belmont, MA. She is also survived by grandchildren Lucy Thomas (Kyle Thomas), James Blau, Michael Blau (Julie Blau), Lucas Jenkins, Maddie Jenkins, Tess Jenkins, Benjamin Cohen, Veronica Blau and great-grandchildren Claire and Charles Thomas.
Funeral services will be held on Monday March 13 at 11:00 AM atAbraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home. Shiva will be observed at the Blau home in Westport, CT the same day from 1:00-6:00 PM. For more information and to share a condolence message, visitwww.greensfuneralhome.com.
Teens at MoCA Westport Holds Teen Film Showcase
Last night at MoCA Westport the teen council held its Teen Film Showcase, featuring a variety of work. Ava Waldman, as President of the council, introduced the countless creative films.
Photo by Cami Vynerib.
Morning Weather Report: Here we Snow Again
Today:
A 20 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 44. Light and variable wind becoming south around 6 mph in the morning.
Tonight:
Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 1am. Low around 33. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Northeast wind 7 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Winter Weather Advisory begins at 6:00 PM.
Tomorrow:
Snow before 1pm, then a slight chance of rain between 1pm and 4pm. High near 43. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. North wind 13 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Winter Weather Advisory ends at 10:00 AM.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 29. North wind 8 to 11 mph.
Fire Department Responds to Brush Fire along I-95 in Westport
Contributed photoThe Westport Fire Department responded to a brush fire on interstate 95 northbound between exits 18 and 19 this afternoon. First arriving fire companies found a large area of brush burning and quickly spreading. Firefighters immediately began extinguishing the fire, but it quickly spread and crossed over the train tracks. This necessitated a stoppage of all Metro North and Amtrack trains traveling through the area. Firefighters from Wilton and Weston responded to the scene with water tankers to provide water supply for the operation from the highway side of the incident. Utilizing access off Gray Lane, Fairfield Firefighters assisted Westport Firefighters extinguish the fire on the opposite side of the tracks. The fire was extinguished and contained to approximately 1.5 acres. The cause of the fire is unknown currently.
William “Bill” Barron, 77, Died; Weston Resident, Y’s Men Member
William (Bill) Barron passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2023. He was 77.
A resident of Weston, Conn., since 1954, Barron was born in 1945 in Detroit to John and Eulalia Barron.
He received a B.A. degree from Yale University in 1967, and a J.D. degree from Cornell University Law School in 1970.
Barron worked with several law firms before joining Alston and Bird in 1977 as a partner. After retiring from Alston and Bird, he became a partner at Franzino and Schur.
He was a member of the Art Law Committee of the International Bar Association, the Yale Russian Chorus Alumni, Kiwanis International, and a longtime member of Norfield Church in Weston. Barron joined the Y’s Men of Westport/Weston in 2017 where he participated in several activities including the Book Club, Bridge, the Classical Music Society, and the Global Issues Discussion Group.
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, sons David and Will., six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 18 at 11:00 AM at Norfield Congregational Church, 64 Norfield Road, Weston, Conn.
First Selectwoman: Found Propaganda “does not represent Westport and is unacceptable”
Press ReleasePropaganda stickers discovered on town & state property in recent days prompted a swift response from the Town Administration and the Westport Police Department.
On Wednesday March 8 2023, Westport Police were notified of propaganda, in the form of stickers, affixed to signs in the Saugatuck area of Town. These stickers were small, and in some cases, old and tattered. These stickers are confirmed recruitment materials from a group called “Patriot Front”. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has documented this group and written extensively on them https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/patriot-front. Westport Police spoke with CT State Police Hate Crimes Unit and confirmed that they have seen material from this group in other parts of the Country, and further stated they have had no violence attached to this propaganda.
First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker stated, “I am grateful to the Police for managing the issue with expediency and professionalism. This does not represent Westport and is unacceptable. Nor does it diminish the qualities of our community that focus on volunteerism, neighborly engagement, and civil discourse. We are proud of our residents and business and civic leaders who work tirelessly to make Westport a better place.”
She continued, “In collaboration with the CT ADL, TEAM Westport, and local officials, we will continue to make strides to ensure that Westport is a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone feels that they belong. Safety is always a top priority. I ask the community to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity they come across to the Westport Police department immediately. We can all help do our part as a community in countering these types of incidents by staying alert. Together, we can all make sure that Westport is the best place in the region to live, work, play and learn.”
Chief Koskinas reminds the public that Westport Police Department are engaging and take pride in making Westport a safe and inviting community.
Anyone with information or evidence of those responsible for placing the stickers in the various locations of Saugatuck are encouraged to call the Westport Police Detective Bureau at (203) 341-6080.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. North wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 27. North wind 6 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow
Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm.
Tomorrow Night
Rain and snow likely before 1am, then snow. Low around 32. Southeast wind 5 to 13 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Fashionably Westport Brought Style, Fashion And Fun To The Westport Library
On Saturday the Westport Library hosted what has now joined other exceptional events on the Westport social calendar raising thousands of dollars to help Homes with Hope as they endeavor to fight homelessness and help feed area families in need.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
The library's Trefz Forum was transformed for a magical evening presenting Westport's version of NY Fashion Week, where dozens of beautiful models strutted their stuff on the runway wearing fabulous fashions from nearly two dozen of Westport's leading clothing stores.
Models included many well-known Westporters and town officials including First and Second Selectwomen Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore and RTM member Andrew Colabella. Notables in the audience included NBC anchor, journalist and Today show co-anchor Craig Melvin and Westport Chief of Police Foti Koskinas.
Backstage, models waited for their cue while several local stylists provided hair and make-up assistance, including Salon Dada, Artistex, Greg & Tony Ouidad salon, Whip, and Hammer & Nails.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Maxxwell Crowley, Director of the Westport Downtown Merchants Association, the WDMA, was asked by WestportLocalPress about the tremendous success of this important fundraiser and Maxx told us, “Events like Fashionably Westport truly show you what an incredible town Westport is. So many bought tickets and rallied behind the event knowing the impact it would make for Homes With Hope and their incredible mission. It also gave the merchants and people of the town a venue to have some fun, showcase some beautiful clothing, and celebrate the amazing business of our town.”
The audience, showing their own lovely fashions gathered in the library enjoying delicious food and great drinks and took lots of photos before they were called to the seating area surrounding the runway for the start of the show.
Maxx's team worked hard, led by WDMA event planner Jill Dunn who served as show director coordinating the efforts of vendors, volunteers and staff insuring that a great time was had by everyone in attendance.
Asked to describe the event Maxx told us, "2023 Fashionably Westport was a huge success! We had a sold out event for the second year in a row and are on track to beating financial our goal for a donation to Home with Hope who we partnered with for this event. The event showcased Westporters modeling looks from downtown merchants, everyone from Vuori to Eileen Fisher to Splash of Pink. The Library was the perfect venue for this event allowing us to build out the runway and get all the lights and music the models needed to strut their stuff. Big shout out to Walrus Alley for being our food caterer and Don Memo for mixing the cocktails for the evening. 99 Bottles supplied the wine and beer. We had many supporting vendors who participated and lots of other sponsors who supported this event and the fun goodie bags we handed out to all who attended." Maxx added, "Next year we hope to sell out the show again and most importantly continue to raise lots of money for the incredible team at Homes with Hope"
The second day of the two day event, Sunday guests were offered in-store promos at the 21 merchants who provided fashions for the show, including Athleta, Bella Bridesmaids Westport, Bobbles & Lace, Eileen Fisher, Express Edit, Fred, Scout & Molly's, Splash Of Pink, The Plumed Serpent, Winged Monkey and other fine stores.
About Homes With Hope
Helen McAlinden of Homes with Hope gave a presentation showing a glimpse into the many achievements of the organization, their services to the community and some of the people in need whom they have assisted.
Helen expressed here her deep appreciation of the efforts of the WDMA in producing this highly successful event, saying, "On behalf of the myself, Helen McAlinden, President and CEO of Homes with Hope, our Board of Directors, our staff and the people we serve - a big thank you to Maxx Crowley, President of The Westport Downtown Association and his staff for their hard work and dedication to this brilliant event. We are very grateful to the WDMA and our very generous Westport Community, once again, for attending Fashionably Westport and supporting Homes with Hope’s mission of preventing and ending homelessness in Fairfield County.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery