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Guest User 7/22/21 Guest User 7/22/21

Selectman’s Office Releases Financial Analysis of Police Department’s Tesla Model 3

From Sara Harris, Selectman’s Office Operations Director

The Town has received a report generated by the EV Club of CT providing a financial analysis of the Westport Police Department’s Tesla Model 3. In December 2019, the Westport Police purchased a Tesla Model 3, fully customized it for law enforcement, and put it into service in February 2020 as a pilot program. This first-in-the-nation Tesla Model 3 squad car is being celebrated for exceeding performance, cost savings and environmental benefits estimates.

Police Chief Foti Koskinas said, “What initially attracted us to the Tesla was how it compared to our traditional fleet vehicles in terms of performance, 5-star crash ratings, and collision avoidance technology. While the Police Department has been using plug-in hybrids for parking enforcement for several years now, this was the first fully electric car to be used in active duty. We needed to confirm our estimates on things like mileage per charge and how the vehicle would stand up overall in the challenging environment of police work. And of course, we were tracking expenses. The purchase price of the Tesla was higher than the Ford Explorer, but we hypothesized that we’d recoup that expense in lower fueling and maintenance costs for the Tesla.”

According to First Selectman Jim Marpe, “Westport is leading the way with electric vehicles and charging stations. Our town government is also leading on the municipal front. The decisions to invest in electric vehicles and infrastructure are strategic, data-driven, and smart. I applaud our forward-looking police department and the partnership of the department and the EV club. This is part of how Westport will meet its commitment to being net-zero by 2050.”

Charles Sampson of the Westport Police, who managed this project stated, “Feedback from the public has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve have been contacted by at least 50 other police departments – from all over the world – with questions about our experience. I know many of them have gone on to purchase Teslas for their fleets.”

Barry Kresch, President of the EV Club of CT said, “I offered to do this analysis for the police because it is a such a visible and tangible proof point that EVs can be cost-effective, and that the decision by the Westport Police to move forward with the Tesla Model 3 pilot was financially, as well as environmentally, sound. The presentation I built for them visually demonstrates the economic case for using EVs in public sector fleets."

Click here to access the report

Guest User 7/20/21 Guest User 7/20/21

Town Clerk Announces Petitions for RTM Candidates Available July 20

Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton has announced that residents interested in running for the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) may pick up a petition at the Town Clerk’s office beginning today.

Petitioners must gather 25 signatures from residents in their district to be on the ballot November 2, 2021.

The completed petitions must be returned to the Town Clerk by September 14, 2021.

The Town Clerk’s office will review the instructions with the petitioner. A district map and a list of district voters will be supplied to aid each petitioner in gathering the required signatures.

Members of the 36-member RTM are elected on a nonpartisan basis, with four delegates from each of the town’s nine voting districts. Members are elected for two-year terms.

RTM members vote on town appropriation requests of more than $20,000; approve town ordinances; vote on final approval of the town budget; serve on two or more committees that review and make recommendations regarding appropriations and ordinances; and review certain decisions of town boards and commissions.

For further information about this and other election matters, contact the Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton at 203-341-1105 or jdunkerton@westportct.gov.

Guest User 7/19/21 Guest User 7/19/21

Soccer Film Festival Comes to Westport on July 29

Event poster from Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival

Words by Lily Kane.

The Kicking + Screening (K+S) Soccer Film Festival is putting on its first in-person showing in two years at the Westport Public Library on Thursday, July 29. The film festival, described by founder Rachel Markus as an “annual series of soccer cultural events that bring together soccer and film enthusiasts to celebrate the beautiful game,” is making its next stop in our soccer-loving town of Westport.

In her recent move from New York City to Westport, Markus noticed her new town shares her appreciation for the sport, explaining “I love that Westport has a strong commitment to sports, with such great soccer roots, and equally vibrant support of the arts-- a perfect mix for the festival.”

First developed in New York in April of 2009, Markus has built an international following around the film festival - helping it spread around the globe. In past years, festivals have been held in London, Washington DC, Rio de Janeiro, Abu Dhabi, and other cities. The global nature of K+S festivals can be attributed to the versatility of soccer. Markus continues, “I've lived in several countries, and soccer can be a truly globally unifying force--the rules are the same everywhere.”

This year’s festival will serve as the North American premiere of “Men of Hope,” a new film documenting the Afghanistan national team’s adventure of qualifying for the Asian Cup.

As Markus and her family put down their roots in Westport, she plans to expand the community they’ve built around the world through the K+S festival, stating, “the festival has built a great community around sport and art, and the power of sport- especially soccer- for social change. We hope to inspire the same in Westport.”

Tickets to the screening can be purchased online. The film will also be available to stream for a limited time for those unable to attend in person.

View the trailer for Men of Hope.

Guest User 7/14/21 Guest User 7/14/21

The First Weston Fine Arts Festival is Coming to Town this Weekend

The first ever Weston Fine Arts Festival will be hosted Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18. Flyer from gordonfinearts.org.

Words from WestonArts Inc.

One of Weston’s first big celebrations in nearly 18 months is happening on the weekend of July 17th and 18th (10am- 5pm) on the fairgrounds of Weston CT.

The first Weston Fine Arts Festival hosted by WestonArts, Inc., in collaboration with Gordon Fine Arts is here!

This will be a true celebration of the arts in every way. Over 70 juried fine artists will be participating. In addition, WestonArts is hosting an exclusive exhibit, juried by the highly regarded Miggs Burroughs, Lisa Stretton and Agata Tria with cash prizes. Audrey and Drew Klotz will be proudly presenting The John W. Moffly IV Award for Art Excellence.

Karl Schulz, a Weston high school student WestonArts youth board member, is the musical event coordinator and is thrilled to present an amazing lineup of local talent.

In further celebration of the arts in Weston, our much loved neighbor and honored ribbon cutter will be famed musician Jose Feliciano, who will perform immediately following the ceremony on Saturday.

Chris Coogan and his quintet will be performing leading up to the ceremony from 12-1:45 pm on 7/17.

Hans Wilhelm and Judy Henderson, the gifted couple who bring endless joy to the entire community, will honor us all with their participation in the ribbon cutting ceremony. Come see who else will be a ribbon-cutter at this exciting tribute to the arts.

Enjoy the many food trucks and refreshments, including Jose's favorite food truck.

This is a free public event sponsored by the Daniel E. Offutt III Charitable Trust, R. Hahn Foundation, Lyonsplain Architecture, Weston Commission for the Arts and WestonArts, Inc.

Please contact info@westonarts.org for further information. We hope to see you there!

Guest User 7/11/21 Guest User 7/11/21

Staples Senior Hosts Soccer Fundraiser to Benefit TOPSoccer

Bruno Guiduli has been raising money for TOPSoccer, a nonprofit that helps those with disabilities get involved in the sport, through both online videos and an in-person fundraising event on July 17.

Words by Lily Kane, Images from Guiduli’s Go-Fund-Me and Facebook Page.

Throughout the past year and a half of local and global struggle, Rising Staples senior Bruno Guiduli saw a way that he could make the world just a little bit better. He channeled his love for soccer and care for his fellow players into a way to raise money for TOPSoccer, a “501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides the opportunity for children and adolescents with disabilities to play the beautiful game in a supportive and inclusive environment,” as described by the fundraiser’s Facebook page. To pass time and raise money during the pandemic, Guiduli and his father built a soccer goal to shoot into, record each goal, and post them to the Facebook page to drive traffic to his go-fund-me. The opening of the goal he created is in the word “TOP,” where the letter “O” is cut out and is only 18” in diameter. So far, Guiduli has raised over $2,300 of his $2,500 goal.