Rainy Day on Gorham Avenue
Rain continued over Westport as streets remained soaked throughout the community. Photo by Preston Siroka for The Westport Local Press.
“They’re All Okay”; 3 Escape Serious Injury after Overnight Accident, Family Says
The 2017 Dodge Ram pickup truck received heavy damage when it went off the roadway, striking Outpost Pizza on Main Street. The truck remained in a local parking lot this morning, with pieces of the building lodged in the engine compartment. Westport Local Press photo. Reports of a possible motor vehicle accident came in a few minutes before 3:00 this morning, with neighbours describing the noise piercing the night “like a bomb went off.” First responders located the scene at 333 Main Street and discovered a full size pickup truck had struck the corner of the building; its driver and two passengers inside. The storefront was closed by the Building Department and all three escaped serious injuries as Westport woke up this morning wondering, “what happened?”
The vehicle’s passenger compartment, virtually unchanged as airbags deployed. Westport Local Press photo. According to a source familiar with the property, surveillance footage showed the truck traveling north on Canal Street towards Main Street, going off of the roadway, and striking the southern corner of the historic strip mall. Built in 1940, the wood framed structure was destroyed at the point of impact - with the damage being consolidated to the newly-opened Outpost Pizza. Emergency building support beams were put in place to avoid further damage or danger to nearby stores. The Westport Building Department was on-scene overnight, and ultimately deemed the restaurant unsafe for occupancy - with next door’s Merritt Country Store and Coffee An’ permitted to open Sunday morning.
While inspecting the truck in the lot of a local tow truck company later this morning, a family member could be found surveying the wreckage. “They’re all okay” they told The Westport Local Press. “They were all wearing seatbelts. Without seatbelts, this could have been very different.” The driver and two passengers were transported to Norwalk Hospital and were released a short time later. “They’re alright. That’s all I can ask for.”
Despite heavy damage to both the building and the truck’s front-end, the passenger compartment was virtually unchanged. “In the end, it’s a piece of metal” said the family member. “We can be angry at them, but for right now, they walked away from this nearly without a scratch.”
The building was sealed up later this morning, with pieces of the structure and the vehicle remaining in piles on the sidewalk. Photo by Preston Siroka for The Westport Local Press. The boarded-up storefront, Outpost Pizza, is always closed on Sundays so owner Joe Dedovic, of Easton, and his team can enjoy their families and a day of rest - however now it’s unknown when they’ll reopen their doors next. Joining the Westport pizza scene in November 2020 - Joe, his father Tom, and their team have served Italian meals, sandwiches, and salads from their family-owned shop after its renovations. Prior to Outpost Pizza, the space was occupied by Community Dry Cleaners for over three decades.
“We’ll get it fixed up fast” said one of the builders in charge of the original renovations to the structure as they looked over the scene. Due to the location of the truck’s impact on the building, the restaurant’s ovens and kitchen space were saved, however the front-of-house space will require extensive repairs with the building’s supports taken down. “This intersection and corner has always been so dangerous” a nearby business’ employee said as they walked to work.
Construction crews quickly removed debris from the roadway ahead of the opening of nearby businesses. Photo by Dave Matlow for The Westport Local Press. No information on what caused the accident has been released.
However as Westporters pass by the scene today, the words everyone wants to hear can be repeated.
“They’re all okay.”
Community Gallery: Downtown Sidewalk Sale
Click to enlarge gallery. Photos by Preston Siroka for The Westport Local Press.
Overcast Evening Ends over Riverside Avenue
Saugatuck Center was busy this evening as clouds and overcast skies moved out, allowing the sunset to shine over the community. Photo by Preston Siroka for The Westport Local Press.
Sunset after the Storm
Friday night’s sunset gave way to colorful skies as the air warmed and forecasts called for hot temperatures and clear skies the rest of the weekend. Photo by Preston Siroka for The Westport Local Press.
Gallery: Westport Stands Against Antisemitism on Jesup Green
Click to enlarge photos. Photos by Preston Siroka and The Westport Local Press. 
Gallery: Westport’s Memorial Day Parade 2021
Click to enlarge photos. Photos by Lynn Jefferey, Jenae Weinbrenner, Preston Siroka, and The Westport Local Press.
Westport Book Sale Becomes the Perfect Wet Weather Activity for the Community
Book shoppers selectively browsed through a wide variety of choices in the Westport Library Trefz Forum as the 22nd annual Westport Book Sale was underway. Photos and Story by Preston SirokaThe Westport Book Sale was welcomed this weekend by a flood of both bibliophiles and rain, making it a great way for locals to spend the days inside to support a good local cause.
After 14 months of pandemic closures, an increase of people reading at home, and the donation of thousands of books - 60 library volunteers managed the indoor fundraising event while assuring safety amidst a pandemic.
Volunteers for Westport Book Sales Ventures work to facilitate this weekend’s book sales. In this era of working and learning from home - books have been in the laps of many Westporters. According to staff members, the most donated reading categories in the past year were fiction and history books, however due to the heavy influx in donations, the library couldn't accept all books gifted. And due to the pandemic, strict rules and regulations about quarantining the books had to be put into place for all the books that were accepted. The pandemic and new regulations didn't stop The Westport Library from welcoming the community into the Library to enjoy their famous opportunity to snag a deal on off-market classics, gently-used new novels, or sought-after collectibles. Book sales didn’t end in 2020, but included more online offerings, as well as ticketed events to assure accurate social distancing.
As the library celebrates the success of the Memorial Day weekend event, Westport Book Sale Ventures Board Member Linda Hopper described the future - saying that “The Staples Cafeteria is the target location for future sales” as bigger and more available indoor options may be needed.
Giving Others A Chance
The Westport Library and Westport Book Sales Ventures’ mission is to provide funding for the Westport Library in conjunction with an opportunity to help adults with disabilities become employed and successful, with profits from the book sale directly helping those missions. “The jobs we provide are to help give them the skills to work a full-time job perhaps in the future.” Hopper said. As a way to continue their work in-between book sales, the group recently opened the Westport Book Shop - where employees of all abilities sell books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, and collectibles from the 23 Jesup Road storefront year-round.
The Effort of a Damp Day
Oil painter Ning Lee, Booth 128, protects his canvases by clearing a large collection of rainwater from his tent’s roof. Preston Siroka for the Westport Local Press.