“we all show up to help”; 29 Rowers Rescued from Long Island Sound
Westport Fire Department photoPress Release:
Westport Police, Westport Fire, and Westport EMS responded to Compo Beach on a report that there were numerous people in the water after a boat they were operating capsized. Responding units found a chaotic scene of youths swimming to shore, arriving by boat, and some still in the water near Cockenoe Island. First Responders immediately began providing care to those individuals who were on shore and coordinating the recovery of people in the water. While accounting for and locating all the people involved, medical care was provided, and two individuals were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
At this time the initial investigation indicates that three (3) rowing sculls and one (1) chase boat launched from Saugatuck Rowing Club. Each rowing scull is 60 feet long and held nine (9) rowers ranging in age from 14-18 while the chase boat was operated by their coach. When the boats reached the area of Cockenoe Island, the weather began to change, and the rowers attempted to return to the rowing club. The rowing sculls began to take on water causing two of them to capsize throwing 18 people into the water. These individuals swam to the chase boat and began to hang onto the side of that boat which caused the chase boat to sink as well. Another chase boat from the rowing club arrived on scene and began to shuttle people to Compo Beach Marina.
At the time of this incident the air temperature was approximately 40 degrees, and the water temperature was 44 degrees.
In total there were 29 people from the rowing club that were involved in this incident.
The following agencies assisted Westport Emergency Services with this incident:
Fairfield Police Marine Division
Stamford Police Marine Division
Noroton Fire Boat
Norwalk Police Marine Division
Norwalk Fire Marine Division
US Coast Guard
The following Emergency Medical Services provided a combined 8 ambulances and 20 personnel:
Norwalk Hospital
American Medical Response (AMR)
Darien EMS
Westport Board of Education assisted by providing a school bus to transport the individuals from Compo Beach to Saugatuck Rowing Club.
“This was truly a team effort” Chief Koskinas stated. “We are grateful for our surrounding agencies who assisted us with this incident and remind our communities that when a large scale event, like this, happens we all show up to help.”
New Date For Firefighter’s Whiskey Tasting To Fund Replacement Of AED’s For First Responders
This 2nd annual event was originally scheduled for Friday, April 26th, but has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, April 24th. The Westport community is gathering to raise funds for replacing the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machines used by first responders.
Hosted by the Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation, the event will be held at Autostrada of Westport from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. It promises to be an enjoyable evening filled with entertainment and elegance, right in the heart of our town. Attendees will be welcomed with a red-carpet entrance and can enjoy drinks, delicious bites, and participate in a silent auction featuring contributions from local donors.
The goal of this fundraising gala is to ensure that every Fire, Police, and EMS vehicle in our community is equipped with functional AED machines, which are crucial in emergency situations. AEDs are portable devices that deliver an electric shock to the heart to correct abnormal rhythms, particularly during sudden cardiac arrest. This condition occurs when the heart's natural electrical system malfunctions, and prompt treatment is vital to prevent fatalities. The existing AEDs in Westport are reaching the end of their lifespan and require replacement, with a fundraising target set at $75,000.00.
Westport Firefighter Robert Lenois, President of the Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation, emphasized, “AEDs are a crucial piece of equipment needed to have a positive outcome during a cardiac arrest. The money donated during this event is going to save lives.”
Police Chief Foti Koskinas expressed appreciation for the Foundation's efforts and highlighted the significance of AEDs in their emergency response procedures. “The Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation should be applauded for their efforts. AEDs are an integral tool when we respond to cardiac arrest events. Westport’s first responders have used AEDs successfully and have saved the lives of many people in Westport.”
All members of the community who wish to support this cause are invited to join the event on April 26th. Together, we can contribute to the safety and well-being of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones through our collective generosity.
Tickets can be purchased online here: 2nd Annual Whiskey Tasting
Various Sponsorship packages are also available for businesses and organizations interested in demonstrating their commitment to community health and safety. For more information, please contact rlenois@westportct.gov
UConn Fans Turn Mitchell’s Westport Into Husky Heaven
On Wednesday night Mitchell’s on the Post Rd. in Westport hosted a truly one-of-a-kind event when they brought the legendary UConnHead Coach Geno Auriemma and his many members of his 2024 Big East Champion Women’s Baskeball team to meet their fans, celebrate their accomplishments and to raise funds for their student athlete involved charity, Bleeding Blue For Good.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above, left, Page Bueckers joins Legendary UConn Women’s Basketball coach Geno Auriemma on stage to speak with the nearly 200 Husky fans gathered for the event. At right, Husky KK Arnold joins Auriemma and the moderator.
The was a sea of smiling faces at the event as nearly 200 members of Huskey Nation ranging in age from elementary schoolers to one gentleman who was 100 years young. Fans waited on lines to take photos with UConn stars such as Paige Bueckers who at guard is averaging over 21 points a game, Aziz Fudd, KK Arnold, Qadence Samuels, Ashlynn Shade, Ice Brady, who stepped in when starting center Aaliyah Edwards left a game recently with an injury, and other teammates. Fans came through the door carrying almost anything that could be signed, from posters to player-numbered jerseys, basketballs, sneakers and even photo mat boards and frames.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The UConn players were gracious, charming and patient, maintaining their big smiles through some serious writer’s cramps trying to make clear signatures on some very difficult-to-sign items. Geno and his team made sure every fan got the most out of what may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for many.
Coach Auriemma has built a virtually unrivaled women’s basketball program over his 39 years with the University Of Connecticut and is the winningest coach in NCAA history in terms of National Championships with 11, edging out another legendary coach, UCLA’s John Wooden. Auriemma was only one of 9 women’s basketball teams to have perfect season when in the 2015-2016 season they went 38-0. There was no more dominant program or team in the country in the 2010s than UConn as it won four straight national championships and went 151-14 from 2012-16. In 2004 Coach Auriemma joined Men’s Basketball Coach Jim Calhoun when both men and women became the first division one program to win national titles in the same year, a fee repeated in the 2013-2014 season.
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.
One very dedicated Husky fan, Ivy Toi, a Long Lots 4th grader was going to make the most of here meeting one of her “sheros” Paige Bueckers who wears a trademark elaborately braided hairstyle each game. Ivy, who may be destined to join a Uconn Husky squad one day as she was PAL 4th grade Blue Team Defensive Player of the year, went to Wendy Buten at Moxie Salon who created a perfect replica of Buckers well-known braids. She is pictured here with Coach Auriemma, father John and brother, Bedford Middle 6th grader Everett. Above, left, Ivy poses with Paige, right, Coach Auriemma signs memorabilia for Ivy’s Dad and brother.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Among those attending Wednesday’s event were former First Selectman and Husky fan Jim Marpe, (left). At right, Mitchell’s founder Jack Mitchell (L) and Bill Mitchell (R) and Bruce Blanchard (C).
UConn teamates with autographed Husky Basketballs which were offered at $500. and were quickly snatched up.
Following the speaker’s portion of the event a Q &A session provided the audience to ask questions of Coach Auriemma.
KK Arnold tries, albeit with only partial success, to get Coach to perform his famous “Victory Dance” which he debuted after the Women won the Big East Championship title in 2023.
To see how winning another in a long string of titles over his 39 year career with the University Of Connecticut affects Coach Auriemma, click: Geno Auriemma Victory Dance.
More About Bleeding Blue For Good:
Bleeding Blue for Good provides name, image, and likeness opportunities for UConn student-athletes that help them make a difference.
Bleeding Blue For Good holds clinics, helps support other charitable organizations such as the Tommy Fund. Their involvement and presence substantially boosts charitable event contributions. The presence of the UConn men at a recent Tommy Fund event increased their social media stats by a factor of 10. They recently joined with the UConn Red Cross Club made up of students which holds blood drives and reports to the CT Red Cross.
When speaking to the audience, the organization’s President and Co-Founder, John Malfettone spoke of their recent blood drive efforts. Many blood drives have some attendance, however when UConn Men’s Center Donovon Clingan tweeted that team members would be at the drive, within 16 hours every single slot was filled. According to the Red Cross, every unit of blood saves three lives and as a result of their presence at the drive, they saved 135 lives that day! The Huskies posed for pics and singed autographs delighting those who made donations.
Learn more and how you can help: Bleeding Blue For Good
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Another Overtime Defeat For Staples
It was another setback for Staples in post season tournament play, after Wreckers Basketball also suffered an overtime loss in the FCIAC final last week. On Monday night Staples Boys Ice Hockey faced top seeded BBDI, one of the two best teams in the state in the CIAC State Tournament opening round on that team’s home ice at the Danbury Ice Arena. Staples, which has struggled this year with a record of 7-12-1 faced the co-op team of Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury and Immaculate, SCC/SWC Division III champion Ice Cats with a record of 16-3-1. The Wreckers started the game hot, scoring their first goal just minutes into the first period.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Staples sophomore goalie Mason Mountain (what a great name) stopped shot after shot on goal in the first and kept that streak alive through the second period. The Wreckers may have surprised the Ice Cats, protecting the net and then scoring another goal in the second period. The Cats fought back, scoring in the third period and trailed the Wreckers by a goal. With under a minute to play and with Mountain fiercely protecting the net the Staples fans were on their feet expecting to advance to the next round.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The drama continued until, just 5.5 seconds before the final buzzer, the Ice Cats Jovanni Smeriglio, a Brookfield High school junior found a chink in Mountain’s armor and with a tip in front of the net over Mountain's shoulder, they sent the match into sudden death overtime. The hometown crowd which filled the arena leapt to their feet and roared their approval. BBDI scored within 3 minutes into the OT period for a great come-from-behind victory, ending the hopes for the Wreckers to advance in the next round of the CIAC State Tournament.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Coach Matt Bonn told WestportLocalPress, “I couldn't be more proud of this group. It was an awesome journey, and they showed a lot of grit and resilience against the #1 team in the state. It was an honor to coach these seniors, some of them for three or four years. Seeing everyone's growth and development on and off the ice was special. Once a Wrecker, Always a Wrecker”.
Staples scoring was provided by forwards #10 junior Cooper Paul and senior #9 Tyler Dimaio with assists from #23 senior Trey Wilson. Goalie #1 Mason Mountain had 42 saves.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Overtime Heartbreaker In FCIAC Tournament
After a big victory over Ridgefield in the FCIAC semi-final round on Tuesday night the Wreckers came up short and were defeated by the Trumbull Eagles 70-67 in overtime.
There was lots of excitement at the start of the FCIAC Championship match-up between Staples and Trumbull, and it continued throughout the entire 32 minutes of regulation play and into the overtime period as the lead changed time after time. Each score, missed bucket or foul call caused a roar in the crowd. The teams were pretty evenly matched Thursday night at the Wilton Field House as evidenced by the overtime which resulted in a 3 point victory for the Trumbull Eagles in the final minute.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Things started off well for Staples with senior Nick Sikorski hitting two treys and one each added by sophomore Sam Clachko and senior Caleb Smith. Offense and defense were both working for Staples in the first period giving them a 16-10 lead with just under 3 minutes remaining and they increased the lead to 7 a minute later. Trumbull recovered and cut the lead to 2 points at the buzzer. A quick Eagle score tied the game a minute into the second quarter. Staples then pulled ahead by one and grew the lead to 4 points midway through the second and then to ten, their biggest lead on the night.
They went into the locker room ahead 40-32 to raucous cheers by the Wrecker faithful.
The Wreckers were firmly in control for most of the 3rd period, leading by as many as 9 points. The game became very physical and aggressive defense by Staples resulted in 3 starters getting into foul trouble. Although each side played hare defensively, many of the foul calls favored the Eagles.
The end of the third saw Staples leading 51-44 with the fans pumping up the energy, but Trumbull was not gong to let up, cutting the lead to 3 after two minutes of play and trying things up 55-55 midway through the period. Defense was tight for both teams with each only scoring a bucket making the score 57-57 when the buzzer sounded ending regulation play.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The energy level at the start of overtime was intense and Staples quickly put 2 points on the scoreboard. Trumbull quickly tied and grabbed a 2 point lead which then went to the Wreckers. The tension was high with a minute left to play and the Eagles up by a point. With 18 seconds left to play it appeared there would be no FCIAC title for Staples this year as they trailed by 3 with Trumbull having possession. and with 3 of their best players, Udell, Smith and Tobias already having fouled out in the last two minutes of the game.
Junior Adam Udell lead the Wreckers scoring with 20 points followed by sophomore Mason Tobias who added 15 points. Smith finished with 8 points and Charlie Bowman added 2. Clachko grabbed 8 rebounds and Smith added 6 more with Udell, Tobias and Sikorsky each pulling down 4 more.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The final score of 70-67 was a crushing defeat for a Wreckers especially after controlling much of the contest. Wreckers fans were clearly heartbroken as was coach Goldshore and the fans and cheerleaders tearfully attempted to console each other.
The Wreckers will face a big challenge in their next game, in the CIAC state tourney, seeded #12, as they take on 5th seed East Catholic on their home court in Manchester on Thursday at 6:30PM.
Above, L. to R., Sam Clachko receives his runner up plaque, Eagle fans swarm the floor after their big win, Staples head coach Dave Goldshore congratulates Trumbull head coach Buddy Bray. Below; there was a lot of emotion by disappointed fans and coach Goldshore after Staples defeat. Coach Goldshore, News 12 Coach of the Year in 2023 has much to be proud of, leading the Wreckers to their second straight FCIAC final after leading them to their first ever FCIAC final last year.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Staples Wreckers Led To FCIAC Tournament Final By Sam Clachko’s Career High 40 Points!
On Tuesday night in Wilton High School The Wreckers boys basketball team faced the Ridgefield Tigers, ranked #2 in the state, ranked #1 and undefeated in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, with only one loss this season. The Tigers were the favorite on paper but the Wreckers didn’t get that memo. Certainly sophomore stand-out Sam Clachko missed it, as evidenced by his career-high 40 points, half of which were the result of his seven 3-pointers and his 11 out of 12 foul tries, and 4 field goals.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The game started badly for Staples as they missed both outside shooting and on lay-ups while Ridgefield was able to score both out of in in the paint. When the first quarter buzzer sounded the Tigers held a 15-7 lead, which they extended to 8 points with 3 minutes remaining the second period. Only two minutes later the Wreckers cut that lead to two points, and tied the game shortly thereafter. When the third period began with the score 27-25 Ridgefield, the Wreckers started hitting their shots and at the same time, limiting Ridgefield’s strong offense. Ridgefield took a 5 point lead briefly at the three minute mark, but by the buzzer Staples was back on top with a two point lead.
The fourth period was a whole new game behind Clachko’s red-hot shooting bolstered by Adam Udell who finished with 13 points and the Wreckers went into overdrive and by one minute into the fourth quarter they were up by 8 points. The Tigers mounted a comeback attempt cutting the lead three minutes later to four points. The Wreckers dominated the rest of the final stanza convincingly holding an 11 point lead with three minutes remaining. The final minute seemed to take an hour with Ridgefield immediately fouling following the inbound pass to try to slow the Wreckers, but several of those fouls were on Clachko and he was finding the net each time, missing only one foul try in 12 attempts.
Nick Sikorsky scored 6 points and Caleb Smith added 5.
The Wreckers scored a big 15 point victory over one the state’s best basketball teams and will face the Trumbull Eagles at 7:00 PM on Thursday night at neutral site Wilton High again for the FCIAC championship, in which the Trumbull coach has yet to be victorious.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
After the game, Clachko told WestportLocalPress the team was anxious to face Trumbull who had defeated them in the regular season. Clack added, “We watched all the film, we knew we were the better team and we showed it to them.” Clachko, when asked about the flat first quarter said the Coach Goldshore “blew us up on it”, no doubt inspiring the team to reach their potential for the remainder of the game.
Goldshore, when asked about the poor showing in the first quarter strongly praised their opponents, telling WestportLocal, “They are good, they are really good and they take you out of your stuff” adding “their energy and their discipline and their commitment to what they do is really special. They didn’t lose a game in the conference all year.
Above: Sam Clachko shoots a final foul shot in the last few seconds of the game. Wreckers fans celebrate a big win and surround the team at the buzzer.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Staples Cheerleaders Rally The Wrecker Faithful In FCIAC Semi-Final
The Ridgefield Tigers fans were cheering loudly, especially in the first quarter when their team controlled the game convincingly, the the Wrecker Cheerleaders were not to be outdone in keeping the Wrecker fans energy up. The performed several times showing off their training and athletic prowess with multiple moves including awesome pyramids and seemingly endless backflips, charging up the crowd and convincingly reminding the team that they were supported and they were loved.
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.
Backyard Birds Brighten The Grey Days Of Winter
By this point if February many of us who are not on the slopes on the weekend are pretty tired of winter. The many grey days can feel a little gloomy for some, but a look at these beautiful gifts of nature can certainly help lift that foggy feeling and put a smile on our faces as we watch them flying about as they feed on the seeds we happily provide them in our backyards.
Pictured above: Top left, a white throated sparrow flies in to perch next to a house sparrow. Top right, male northern cardinal alongside a house sparrow. Bottom left A European starling in winter plumage alongside a house sparrow. This non-native species does something that no other bird species does. They gather in group and fly in what is called murmurations, after the sound their wings make as they fly. While 10,000 starlings in a murmuration might seem like a lot, it is dwarfed by a spectacular sight seen in Rome where gathered starlings can number TEN MILLION!
This is a sight worth viewing: BBC Earth Starling Murmuration not just for the sight but for the effect it has on the city.
At right, a male house sparrow flies by a female northern cardinal.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
From left to right, northern cardinal, male and female, tufted titmouse, house finch.
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.
Temple Israel Announces The Passing Of Jackie Fuchs
Jacquelyn (Jackie) Fuchs, long-time Westport resident served as Westport RTM Secretary
Temple Israel Statement:
It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Jacquelyn (Jackie) Fuchs, on Saturday, February 17th, 2024, Wife of Roy Fuchs, Mother of Leslie Sloane (and husband Bryan Sloane) and David Fuchs, Grandmother of Marc Sloane, Bennett Sloane, Dean Sloane, Bitzalel Fuchs, Meyah Fuchs, Adam Fuchs, and Sehara Fuchs, Sister of Jeffrey Smith (and wife Iris Smith), Aunt of Lindsay Blanco (and Maurice Blanco) and Zachary Smith (and Erika Smith).
The funeral will be held Tuesday, February 20th, what would have been Jackie's 76th birthday, at 9:30am at Temple Israel in Westport.
The service will be livestreamed at: Jackie Fuchs Funeral Livestream
There will be a shiva reception held at the Temple immediately following the funeral service. Burial will be at The Wellwood Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY.
An additional shiva will be held on Tuesday evening, February 20th, in New York City.
To the entire Fuchs and Sloane family, may God comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Westport Artist Miggs Burroughs shared his Jackie Fuchs story with WestportLocalPress, telling us, “I was on a trip to China in the 90s, with about 12 people including Jackie who was so much fun to be with. One evening we all went out to eat and afterwards piled into the van to go back to our hotel, and were halfway there when we realized that Jackie wasn’t with us. No cell phones to reach her, so we raced back fearing the worst, but she was standing out on the street totaling believing we would be back for her.
Westport, Meet Your K9 Protectors
To Protect & Serve:
From left to right: Corporal David Scinto with his partner, K9 Atlas. Corporal Kevin Smith and partner K9 Onyx and Corporal Jim Loomer with his partner, K9 Brutte.
Earlier this week the Westport PD K9 division hosted a media day inviting local press to meet and greet the members of the division and to promote awareness of this invaluable program which not only serves Westport, but often is called upon to support other area law enforcement agencies in assisting investigations and to aid in tracking and apprehension of alleged criminal suspects. The event was held as part of the efforts of the department to raise funds for the operation and improvements of the K9 division, which is solely reliant upon the public for all expenses of operation. The link to the department’s GoFundMe page can be found below.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
As part of the event officers posed for photos with their K9s and held a question and answer session with local media. Corporal Jim Loomer invited the press into PD headquarters and showed a wall dedicated to the history of Westport’s very successful K9 program. Photos of past officers and their partners included an early officer name Foti Koskinas, who is pictured with his K9 partner, Lola and who as we all know is now Wesport’s Chief Of Police. At right, Corporal Scinto is interviewed by Channel 12 News. A link to their story can be found below.
L to R: Corporal Smith & K9 Onyx, Corporal Scinto & K9 Atlas, K9 Onyx, K9 Onyx getting up close and personal with Smith and Corporal Loomer & K9 Brutte.
Some of the many achievements of these skilled K9’s include Corporal Scinto and Atlas who secured the apprehension of a robbery suspect in Bridgeport for which they received the Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 award. In November of 2021, while assigned as a Task Force Officer in the Auto Theft Task Force in the City of Bridgeport, Officer Scinto and other Task Force Officers engaged with several armed suspects during a robbery investigation. Upon being confronted one of the suspects engaged Officers in a foot pursuit all while having a loaded Handgun in his right hand despite by tased, after several attempts, Officers were relentless in their pursuit and with the assistance of K9 Atlas the suspect was able to be taken into custody safely without harm to Officers or the Community. K9 Atlas may have been instrumental in saving the life of his partner Scinto, or other officers who were on scene.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Corporal Jim Loomer is a 14 year veteran with Westport PD and his partner K9 Brutte is a Belgian Malinois a breed know for being smart, confident, and versatile and a world-class worker who forges an unbreakable bond with his human partner. It is said that to deny a Malinois activity and the pleasure of your company is to deprive him of his very reasons for being, which is partly why they are popular with many police departments. Corporal Smith has been with WPD for 24 years and Corporal Scinto has served for 11 years. His partner K9 Atlas is a German Shepherd who has served for 9 years and will be retiring at the end of this year. These K9 partners are trained in patrol work and narcotics detection. Loomer also has a second K9 named Ambo whose specialty is explosive detection. Corporal Loomer can be called upon to do a sweep of a school, synagogue or to check an a suspicious unattended bag in a building or public location such as a train station.
These dogs have been described as locating tools and they rely on their exceptional sense of smell for tracking criminal suspects or missing elderly persons or children. Scientists report that a dog's sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than a human's. One of the reasons a dog has a much better sense of smell than we do has to do with the number of scent receptors: For every scent receptor a human has, a dog has about 50.
Corporal Smith is often called upon to assist local PD’s with car theft investigations. Stolen cars often crash or are abandoned and Onyx can often track suspects who were in the vehicle, when they are on shift and other PD’s don’t have a dog available during that shift. Some area PD’s have only a single K9.
The Westport Police K9 Unit has launched a Go Fund Me page for the purpose of fundraising for expenses associated with the unit’s operations.
The goal is to raise $58,000. which is needed for the purchase and for training of a new K9 who will be replacing Atlas who will be in 2024 after his 9 year career with the unit. Additionally, funds are needed to outfit K9 patrol vehicles which have multiple special features that standard vehicles do not have, such as remote “door pop” mechanisms which the officer can trigger that can open the vehicles door to allow the K9 to spring into action if needed. Heat sensors can also automatically roll down windows if the car’s engine should fail cutting the AC needed to keep the K9 safe and which sends an alert to the officer’s phone. K9 vehicles also have much greater wear and tear leading to more repairs and maintanence, and Scinto stated that his vehicles has over 9,000 idle hours.The unit is on it’s way with more than $42,000 raised so far. The kevlar vests worn by the K9’s cost about $1,000 and are level 3 ballistic vests which can protect against gunshot rounds, stabbing and slashing. All of the department’s K9’s have these vests, the most recent one purchased with funds from a single anonymous donor. Corporal Scinto told WestportLocal that the K9 vests are even better that their vests, joking that if he needed a better vest, he might borrow his dogs. These protective measures are essential as the dogs routinely face the same threats as the officers. A recent incident recounted by Scinto described a pursuit following a car-jacking out of Waterbury where the officers were on scene after the vehicle crashed. Scinto deployed Atlas to apprehend the male driver who was armed, and while attempting to take the female into custody Scinto observed the male suspect kicking Atlas, which didn’t go well for the suspect, given the German Shepherd’s bite force ranging between 175 and 238 pounds per square inch (PSI). Atlas did receive an injury requiring medical attention when the pair, while in their patrol vehicle, were rammed by a stolen car which caused poor Atlas to be launched from the back seat almost into Scinto’s lap causing him to hit his head on the rifle rack, resulting in a good-sized laceration on his head which required a vet’s application of medial “super glue”. After a couple of days recovery, Atlas was back on the job!
Please visit Westport Police K-9 Unit Fundraiser for additional information.
Another of Atlas’ career highlights was assisting a a federal agency by finding 14 KILOS of fentanyl which could have been responsible for an untold number of deaths had the most dangerous drug of our times reached the street. In yet another incident, Atlas helped track a bank robbery suspect who fled to a nearby golf course and attempted to evade capture by hiding in a garbage can. He was not successful thanks to Atlas. The bond between the officer and his K9 is a very tight one, with the two spending many hours a day together. Corporal Scinto described it this way, "He's a family member. I joke I spend more time with my dog than anybody else on this planet. Whether he's in the car or at home, we're a foot away from each other almost 24 hours a day," said Scinto.
Above left, Corporal Loomer shows his second K9, Ambo, a Labrador Retriever, and right Corporal Smith demonstrates the tremendous agility and energy of his Belgian Malinois, Onyx.
To view the News12 segment on this event, visit NEWS12.com
Wreckers Hopes For FCIAC Playoff Berth Dashed In Danbury
The Staples girls basketball team was hoping for a win last night against the Hatters of Danbury which would earn them a spot in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference post season tourney, but despite leaving it all on the court for 32 minutes, it was not to be.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
In a game which was exceptionally physical, with one tie-up after another becoming fierce battles for possession, and body contact which must have left both teams bruised today, the Wreckers were in it until the final five minutes.
The Wreckers came out strong, scoring two quick buckets in the first two minutes, but Danbury fought back tying the game 8-8 midway through the period. Staples held a one point advantage at the end of the first quarter thanks in part to sophomore stand-out Sarah Von Dohlen who posted 8 of her game-high 22 points.
The second quarter saw the lead change several times with Staples overcoming a five point deficit to go into the locker room leading 32-25 behind buckets by sophomore Freya Harvey, 3-pointers by Von Dohlen and sophomore Emma Asiel, junior Ella Harrington who was second leading scorer with 11 points total and who plays alongside her twin sister Poppy.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The Wreckers expanded their lead to ten points early in the third period, however things went downhill from there with Danbury closing to within one at the end of the period. Staples had no answer for 5’11” Danbury center Lily Bevington who was able to score from the post and with a couple of quick scores the Hatters took the lead, 43-40 and then expanded the lead to eight. With 1:30 left to play, Danbury was firmly in control, leading 56-48, with Von Dohlen draining a trey in the final minute, the Wreckers fell to Danbury by the final score of 58-55. Adding to the Wreckers scoring were sophomore Sadie Katzner who finished with six points, Asiel with seven, junior Sophia Martin adding three and Marley Belzer who finished with two.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.