Flag Waving Against The Full Moon Backdrop
The flag atop the former Westport Bank & Trust building, now home to Patagonia waves proudly in the light of Saturday’s full moon.
Photo By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Not Quite A Full Moon
On Thursday October 26 the beautiful waxing gibbous moon was about 95% full. A waxing gibbous moon is in the sky before it's dark and lights up the early evening. Photo is actually a full color image.
Photo By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com
Main Street Invaded By Creatures; Cute, Scary And Adorable
Hundreds of youngsters, their parents and grandparents flooded downtown Westport Wednesday for the annual Downtown Westport Halloween Parade.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Sponsored by Westport Parks & Recreation, the Police Athletic League and the Westport Downtown Association who provided what seemed like an endless supply of treats to the eager and very determined children.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com. Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Halloween Party Continued On Veterans Green
After gathering all the candy they could carry, the Halloween Parade-goers met on Veterans Green for music, dancing, and more fun!
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Roads Downtown Will Be Closed For Wednesday’s Halloween Parade
The Westport Parks & Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Westport Police Athletic League and the Westport Downtown Merchant’s Association, will be holding its annual Halloween Parade in the center of town on Wednesday, October 25th, with a rain date of October 26th.
This is a very popular event that attracts hundreds of people. To accommodate the large volume of pedestrian traffic, several roadways in and around the parade route will be closed during the event.
The following roads will be affected:
- Main Street will be closed from Post Road East to Avery Place starting at 2:30 p.m.
- Avery Place will be closed starting at approximately 3 p.m.
- Myrtle Avenue from Evergreen Avenue to Main Street will be closed starting at approximately 3 p.m.
All roads are expected to reopen by 6 p.m. Motorists should expect delays in the center of town due to these closures. The police department asks that motorists use extra caution when driving through the area.
Hundreds Gather For Candlelight Vigil To Support The State Of Israel
On Sunday night 300 or more members of the community gathered on Jesup Green in front of the Westport Library for a candlelight vigil to show their support for the people of Israel and for the more than two hundred hostages, both Israeli and American who were kidnapped in the vicious attack by the terrorists of Hamas.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open galleries.
The Westport community always rises in response to tragic events such as the war in Ukraine and other occurrences which cause great pain and hardship, and Sunday night was one more example of that unity. As expected, there was a highly visible show of security led by Westport Chief of Police Foti Koskinas and backed up by CT State Police presence to insure the safety of all.
Opening remarks began from the Reverend Heather Sinclair, senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of Westport-Weston spoke of comfort and support.
Senior Rabbi Michael Friedman of Temple Israel (above, left) then welcomed the crowd and offered his personal reflections on the devastating attack on October 7th.
Rabbi Yehudah Kantor of Chabad Lubavich of Westport (above, right) then read from Psalms, 122: 6-9 in Hebrew and in English, the prayer for the well being of Jerusalem;
“May those who love you be at peace. May there be well-being within your ramparts, peace in your citadels.”
For the sake of my brothers and friends, I pray for your well-being; for the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I seek your good”
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open galleries.
Staples student Andrew Maskoff sang the national anthem of Israel. "HaTikva/The Hope“ and was joined by some members of the crowd. "As long as the heart within the Jewish soul yearns forward toward the East, an eye looks to Zion, our hope is not yet lost. Our hope is two thousand years old: To be a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem”.
Next, Staples Ethan Walmark led the audience in singing our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.
Andrew Collabella, Westport RTM member who organized the event along with Danielle Dobin, Westport P&Z chairwoman, spoke to WestportLocalPress about the goal of the nights gathering. Colabella said, "Tonight’s vigil was to bring peace to the Jewish community of Westport, the largest population of Jewish people in Fairfield county, to not only recognize the horrendous acts that have taken place over the last two weeks but bring solidarity to the community and remember the murdered and innocent lives being held captive. While I am not Jewish, I acknowledge the atrocities for centuries against such a peaceful and traditional bound religion constantly under attack. I hope tonights vigil positively impacted all to think clearer and have a better week".
After the program the three rabbis started to sing “Am Yisrael Chai”, The people of Israel Live, underscoring the focus on life and a song of peace - Oseh Shalom and were joined by some members of the crowd.
Following the remarks of the speakers, the crowd lingered finding comfort in each others presence as they spoke of friends and relatives here and in Israel who have been affected by the tragedy.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open galleries.
Sam Alloy of Westport proudly holds the Flag of the State of Israel.
Westport Police: Two Boaters Missing in Sound after Cockenoe Incident
Westport Police Department:On October 22, 2023 at approximately 4:09 PM Westport Police were alerted to a boating incident with the possibility of two missing people. At approximately 4:00 PM, a boater traveling in the area of Cockenoe Island found a male standing on Nun #2 (a navigational buoy). A second male and female were also rescued from the water. All three individuals were transported into a Norwalk Marina and subsequently to the hospital for evaluation. A translator was requested and once responding officers were able to speak with the involved parties, it was learned that there were a total of five individuals on a small boat that sank causing all parties to enter the water.
Westport Police Marine Division, with the assistance of the US Coast Guard, Norwalk Police Marine Division, Fairfield Police Marine Division, and Suffolk County Air Unit are actively searching the waters in an attempt to locate the vessel that these individuals were on and the two missing parties.
Any boaters who were in the area of Cockenoe Island between the hours of 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM on October 22, 2023 are asked to contact the Westport Police Department at (203)341-6000.
Note from the Editor: Westport | A War of Words
My phone whined as I walked Main Street this morning. Outlook. Gmail. Facebook. iMessage. New York Times. iMessage. Outlook. New York Times. Facebook. SMS. Messenger. Raindrops hit my cheek. Outlook. Gmail. Facebook. iMessage. SMS. Outlook. SnapChat. Messenger. Another drop exploded on my jacket’s hood with the shallow pop echoing in my ear.
I took out my Airpod. I pulled off my hood. I kept walking. Water streaked down my nose. My phone screamed for my attention. Another drop shocked the warm nape of my now-exposed neck. The notifications kept coming. The rain kept falling. I kept walking.
The emails, the calls, texts, social media posts - the emails. The news alerts. The words. So many words. Images, posters - so many posters. Rain. So much rain. Our garden. Our neighbors. Our homes. Our Westport. Our World. Our community. A war.
Raindrops, emails, texts, Facebook posts, news updates all wailing for attention. Bawling for help.
Help. What can we do to help?
Our community needs us right now. We need to reset. We need to step back. We need to regroup.
We need to continue to be a we. Not us. Not them.
We need to be kinder.
I’m watching as anger, hatred, fear, frustration, sadness, and anxiety erodes our own community as swells of emotion lap Westport’s shores; as words shoot out of our mouths and phones and explode on impact for those within their crosshairs.
I walked Imperial Avenue and I listened to an interview of someone who lives in Israel. I looked ahead at the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge, with the Levitt Pavilion in my foreground, with his shaky voice in my ear. His story pulled me away from the politics of Westport. My mind raced.
What does a bomb even sound like? What would it look like? What would I do? What could I do? I’ve avoided these thoughts - I’ve enjoyed the comfort of the “Westport Bubble.”
Another raindrop exploded on my jacket. I shivered. I walked faster. I listened to the man talking in my ear about his family and neighborhood that were both destroyed. His phone connection cut in and out as I followed each of his words before the interview cut off completely.
I’m watching as we are fighting each other in Westport with emails and social media. We’re fighting our neighbors, fellow PTA parents, sports team coaches, carpool families, high school buddies, volunteer leaders, friends.
I’m watching as our foundation of kindness, respect, civility are eroded into the deep waters of local politics.
In a time when videos of bombings are published to social media, posters of missing people are taped to walls and fences, and progeny are deleted faster than any email sent - I want us to rise up and be there for one another. It’s the least we can do. It’s what we need to do.
We need to step back and reset. We need to stop eroding our own shores and weaponizing our own words. We need to stop finding reasons to hate a neighbor and we need to start finding perspective - especially as we stand together against hate - and use that same yearning for peace abroad to foster peace at home. In your home. In my home. In our neighbors’ homes.
We need to stop sabotaging ourselves by looking for our local leaders to fall before they’ve even stood up.
Should they fall: help them up. They are us. We are them. This is our community.
Stand your ground if you feel wronged or disagree with a decision - speak your piece - but keep the peace. If a bomb fell tomorrow; if Westport changed overnight: what was the last thing you said to your neighbor? What was the last email you sent? What would your legacy be?
It’s time to reset, to step back and see what’s happening around us. It’s also time to step forward and stand tall - shoulder to shoulder - alongside your neighbors, both here and abroad.
We are blessed with safety and comfort here at home while others will never feel those blessings again, yet still the onslaught of words continues from our own shores.
If we have the ability to stop the attacks hitting Westport: why wouldn’t we?
Bombs and raindrops. Notifications and sirens. Emails and guns.
With so much happening in our world - with so many things calling for our attention - we must stand together here at home. We cannot let words be the weapon that tears our community apart while other communities are literally torn apart. We cannot let words be the reason why members of our community stop raising their hands to lead, stop caring for their own neighbors, stop being a part of this community. Words. So many words.
We must appreciate our blessings and be the example of peace that we fight for - that we want the next generation of Westporters to remember and to continue. We need to choose our words wisely.
Step back. Reset. Stand together. Fight for peace in a war of words.
Kindness. Empathy. Grace. Civility. Conversation.
Pick your weapon.
In partnership,
Jaime B.
PS:
I’ve been noticeably absent these past several months. JC has been keeping things moving along as I quietly work in the background on my dayjob and other adventures and goals. Last February, an event made me take a pause and take stock of my life and how I spent my days. Some days I was reading upwards of 30 press releases, 25 arrest reports, dozens of obituaries, and trying to publish all of it while remaining neutral. I was reading over one hundred emails a day. I was inundated with news and the “happenings” of our community. I stepped back and realized I needed a break - there were other things I wanted to strengthen and work on, and so I did. For some time, I nearly completely blocked off all news except for some NPR in the morning. I was able to reset and find my way.
I felt I needed to write the above letter as I have never seen such anger amongst our community as I have these past few weeks, and I’ve never seen such anger amongst our community while another community actively fights a war. My opinion is just that: an opinion. I give it with no authority. I can only hope it might bring peace to those who read it just as it did to me as I wrote down my thoughts on the current state of affairs in Westport.
Take stock of your own life. Find the joy in walking in the rain, in getting stuck in traffic, in sitting in a town meeting without the sound of air raid sirens drowning out the argument at-hand.
Thanks for sticking with us. I’ll be back soon.
Expect Heavy Traffic And Delays This Weekend For I-95 Bridge Slide
Westport PD Reminds Drivers of I-95 partial closures which will create heavy traffic and delays in town.
The I-95 Bridge Lateral Slide at Exit 17 in Westport this weekend and and on the November 3rd seeking will severely restrict traffic flow on I-95 in both directions over both weekends.
The schedule of work is as follows:
Friday October 20, at 8PM until Monday October 23, at 6AM
- I-95 NB will be closed, and the traffic will be detoured on the I-95 SB bridge thus severely restricting traffic flow.
- Saugatuck Avenue detour will be in place.
Friday November 3, at 8PM until November 6, at 6 AM
- I-95 SB will be closed, and the traffic will be detoured on the I-95 SB bridge thus severely restricting traffic flow.
- Saugatuck Avenue detour will be in place
This work will severely affect traffic flow for I-95, and we want to reduce backups and overflow into the Town of Westport and adjacent areas by having people avoid this area and find alternate routes. Please help us share this message and this project will go smoothly with minimal local and regional impact.
Information on this project is available at www.i95norwalkwestport.com/
To see what slide-in bridge construction looks like you can go to a similar bridge replacement project in Southington from several years ago:
www..youtube.com/watch?v=SAAMx0W-7S8
Follow us on Twitter:@i95norwest
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Additional Arrest In September Bayberry Lane Carjacking
Per Westport Police Department Press Release
On October 18th, Vincys Baez, (DOB:06/03/03), of Waterbury was arrested at Stamford Superior Court for his involvement in the September 17th carjacking incident. Baez was the second individual captured on the surveillance camera. He was charged with:
- Home Invasion - Burglary 1st
- Robbery by Carjacking - Assault 3rd
- Reckless Endangerment - Larceny 1st
- Robbery 1st - Conspiracy to Commit Robbery 1st
He is being held on $500,000 court set bond and was to be arraigned on October 18th.
On October 6th, with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department, Westport Detectives took Garrett Gibbs DOB 04/19/2001 of Waterbury into custody for his involvement in the September 17th, 2023 carjacking incident following an intense investigation. After securing a warrant for his arrest and utilizing various law enforcement techniques, officers located Gibbs in Waterbury.
Gibbs was charged with the following crimes and is currently being held at the Westport Police Department on a court ordered $500,000.00 bond and was assigned a court date of October 16th, 2023 at Stamford Superior Court charged with: Home Invasion & Burglary 1st.
Westport Police Detectives have completed their investigation into the carjacking incident