Two Men Rob Westport Gas Station, One Captured in Bridgeport After Chase

Two men robbed a Westport gas station tonight near the Fairfield town line and one was captured a short time later after a chase in Bridgeport, police said. The second suspect was still being sought.

The robbery occurred at 6:10 p.m. at Green's Farms Getty, 1830 Post Road East. "Two guys went in and took money by force," said Lt. Len Rummo. "They indicated they might have a weapon."

After the men fled, employees called 911 and Westport police issued a broadcast with their description and the description of the getaway vehicle to surrounding departments and the State Police, the police official said.

State Police spotted the vehicle on I-95 and chased it into Bridgeport where the occupants crashed it into a fire hydrant on Iranistan Avenue. Police caught one man after a brief chase on foot, but the other fled.

Rummo said the suspect was returned to Westport for questioning. The amount of money taken was not determined. "Luckily, no one was hurt," he said.

Celebrating Connecticut's Gold Coast

Westport magazine and its sister publications Greenwich and New Canaan, and Darien magazines hosted a party at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich tonight to mark their Best of the Gold Coast awards in the August issue. A number of Westport restaurants and businesses cited were on hand for the party. Jonathan Moffly, president of Moffly Publications, thanked guests for attending. WestportNow.com photo

Going Down: 31 Cross Highway

The house at 31 Cross Highway came down today. Featured as the WestportNow teardown June 27, 2005, the property sold in June for $815,000. The house was built in 1953. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Compo Beach Playground Project to Host Clambake Sept. 17

The Compo Beach Playground Project will be hosting a clambake at Compo Beach Saturday, Sept. 17, from 5-9 p.m. to raise funds for the Compo Beach rebuilding initiative.

The clambake will only be open to 200 guests and tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, according to a letter to residents from Compo Beach Playground Project Chair Suzanne Dodge.

The night will include music spun by a world-class D.J. as well as a mixture of seafood to feast on, Dodge wrote in her letter.

Tickets are $75 per person and 100 percent of the net proceeds will go to the Compo Beach playground rebuilding project.

At some point in the fall, there will also be a basketball tournament to raise money for the rebuilding, but the specific date has not yet been set.

By late April or early May 2006, the culmination of the fundraising effort will be a five-day construction week in which volunteers will put together a brand new playground bought with the money raised.

To purchase tickets to the clambake, e-mail Heather Singer at heather.singer@aigfpc.com or go to www.wywl.com.

14th Annual Kids on the Move Triathlon Set for Sept. 4

Every kid is a winner at the Westport Weston Family Y’s 14th annual Kids on the Move Triathlon scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 4 at Staples High School.

It’s the Y’s “celebration of healthy kids," according to race director Bob Knoebel. He said every athlete who crosses the finish line receives an accomplishment medal.

“We want to reward the kids who choose to stay physically fit and active,,” Knoebel said.

Race check in begins at 9 a.m. while the race begins at 10:30 a.m.

Boys and girls age 7-14 are eligible to participate in the swim, bike and run event, while children age 4-6 may participate in a 100-yard dash event scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Knoebel said.

Triathlon participants swim 50 meters in the Staples Pool, complete a two-mile bike course across the Bedford Middle School and Wakeman Fields access road and a one-mile run around the Staples playing fields and track.

Participants may also enter as a three-person relay with a child choosing to swim, bike or run.

“Close to 200 children participated last year and we’re hoping for that many again this year,” according to Knoebel.

Through the generosity of many local businesses, proceeds from the race benefit the Y’s summer camp scholarship fund for children.

In addition, used videos, video games and play station games will be collected by the Y for children undergoing cancer treatment at the Hackensack University Medical Center, Knoebel said.

For a race entry go to the Y Web site at www.westporty.org or contact Knoebel at (203)226-8981 ext.128 for further information.

Pretty as a Picture

Wednesday was a good day for setting sail from Westport's Compo Marina basin. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005

7:15 p.m. – Toquet Hall – Youth Commission
8 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - West Point Jazz Knights
8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - Journey's End

Taking Part

Sofia Weinberg, 8. of Westport, sits on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge during tonight's vigil. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Picturesque Summer Skyline

Tonight's anti-war vigil took place against a picturesque summer skyline along Westport's Saugatuck River. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Neighbor Talk

Participants in tonight's vigil said it gave them an opportunity to talk to neighbors about the war in Iraq. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

A Sight Not Seen Since the 1960s

Longtime Westporters said they had not seen an anti-war demonstration like tonight's since the 1960s during the Vietnam War. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jonathan Thrope for WestportNow.com

Anti-War Demonstration Attracts More Than 350

By Jonathan Thrope

About 350 people tonight lined both sides of the Ruth Steinkraus Memorial Bridge in downtown Westportt to hold a vigil for Cindy Sheehan, the mother who lost her son in Iraq and has camped outside of President Bush’s Crawford, Texas ranch for the past 11 days seeking a meeting with him.
Bob McMahon, 12, of Southport, was among those participating in tonight's vigil. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The vigil was one of 1,627 vigils organized across the nation by MoveOn.org, TrueMajority, and Democracy for America

The bridge was lined with candle-holding, sign-waving Americans from across Connecticut, all hoping to show support for Sheehan.

“I’m here to show solidarity with Cindy Sheehan and for all the mothers who have lost sons and daughters in this senseless war,” said Daryl Manning, a Westport resident, as she stood on the bridge.

Krista Bradford, one of the organizers of the Westport vigil, said that she hoped the demonstration would “raise concern and show that people everywhere are concerned and feel (Sheehan’s) loss.”

“We’re here because we disagree with what’s going on in Iraq,” said Martha Aasen, chair of the Westport Democratic Town Committee, while she stood on the bridge amongst the many candle bearers.

Many of the attendees held signs along with their candles, with messages such as “America Stands with Cindy Sheehan” and “End the War.” At times, the hymn “Give Peace a Chance” was also started up by some of those in attendance.

For one person on the bridge, the vigil was a reminder of the Vietnam years when similar demonstrations took place. “This is all shades of the 60s for me,” said Martha Williams of Bridgeport.

According to Edie Cassidy of Bridgeport, over the past few years, “We have not been able to express ourselves openly,” and tonight was her chance, as well as more than 300 others, to do just that.

(Editor's Note: Anonymous comments on the article have been closed. If you desire to submit comments, you may do so by sending an e-mail to comments@westportnow.com with a real name, a real e-mail address, and a telephone number where you can be reached to verify your identity. As always, WestportNow reserves the right to reject/remove comments which at our sole discretion we deem inappropriate.)

By Land and By Sea

Participants in tonight's vigil came by land and by sea. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A Reminder of the Price of War

Tonight's candlelight vigil in Westport in support of Cindy Sheehan was one of many across the country which organizers said was "to remind people of the terrible price of war." (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Candlelight Vigil in Westport

Several hundred people held a candlelight vigil tonight on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge in Westport in support of Cindy Sheehan and her efforts to the end war in Iraq. The event was one of many held across the country to support the woman who lost her army son in Iraq last year and who has been seeking a meeting with President Bush. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Book Display Highlights Playhouse Production

A book display put together by the Westport Public Library highlights trench poets, writers of World War I and histories of The Great War -- the subject of the Westport County Playhouse production, "Journey's End" by R.C. Sherriff. The play has its first performance Thursday night and continues through Sept. 4. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Talking Transportation: The Latest on Traffic Tech

By Jim Cameron
Special to WestportNow

When you’re hitting the highway, a little information can save you a lot of headaches. Knowing where the traffic jams are before you’re caught in them can help you find a detour and avoid lost time.

While some roads are always a mess -- I-95 and the Merritt between Greenwich and Norwalk -- it’s the unexpected jackknifed tractor trailer and 10-mile back-up that can ruin your day. But how do you get “good intel” on such disasters? Let me share a few tried and true tips from fellow road warriors.

RADIO: I’m a big fan of WCBS 880 AM for its “traffic and weather on the 8’s” reports, which almost always include mention of Connecticut. In AM and PM drive-time, their reports on tri-state traffic can run to five minutes and are almost always accurate.

They also encourage “cell-mates” to call in their eyewitness reports, which I do frequently -- call (212)975-8888. Now, if they’d only live up their “all news” moniker and drop the Yankees games so I could truly get reliable traffic “all the time."

HIGHWAY RADIO: You might not realize it, but there’s a network of local, low-power radio stations doing nothing but traffic reports. Known as “Highway Advisory Radio”, they’re found at 530 and 1620 on the AM dial, depending on location.

Their looping reports last a minute or two and are generally accurate, originating as they do from State Police offices in Bridgeport where they have access to a network of cameras watching our highways.

Traffic info on the large illuminated highway signs (and those helpful reminders to buckle-up and put down the cell-phones) originate from the same place. But like WCBS, they can use your help in finding accidents, so hit 911 on your cell if you see trouble unfolding that affects personal safety and share that info with the Connecticut State Police.

TRAFFIC CAMERAS: The same traffic cameras the troopers use are also available online in real time (but as still pictures, not full-motion video) at www.ct.gov/dot. Scroll down the list, pick the cameras along your intended route and see for yourself how things look.

CABLE TV: Our friends at Cablevision have their own answer to “traffic and weather together” -- Metro-Traffic, found on channel 61. It’s not exactly must-see TV, though they also use the video feed from the traffic cam’s together with an area map showing color coded traffic flow.

Even the Weather Channel is getting in on the act, adding a traffic report to their “Local on the 8’s” forecast showing the average speed on major arteries, again with color coding. (Yes, the speed on the Cross-Bronx was 14 mph the other day. That’s "free flowing" by NYC standards.)

E-MAIL: Thanks to the efforts of state Sen. Andrew McDonald of Stamford, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) was recently persuaded to share its traffic updates in a user-friendly format. Just register your e-mail at www.ct.gov/dot and CDOT will send you free e-mail alerts of major traffic snafus along with guesstimates of how long it will take to clean them up (usually an average of two to three hours).

They’ll also send you a follow-up when things get back to what passes for normal. In its first five months of operation, 5,000 e-mails have been registered. By the way, Metro-North offers a similar e-mail alert for train problems. There’s a link from the CTDOT Web site.

TELEPHONE: In many parts of the country you can dial 511 and ask for the latest traffic. Using voice recognition technology and a speech synthesizer, the system will give you an update. There’s no such system in the NYC metro area, though I have heard of pay-per-call systems which probably rely on the same traffic resources listed above. Save your money and just turn on your radio.

None of these technologies will prevent traffic jams, but they may lessen their severity if the cognoscenti know where they are and can avoiding adding to the delays.

For a complete list of Web links to the sites mentioned above, visit my blog at http://talkingtransportation.blogspot.com
____
(Editor's Note: Jim Cameron has been a Darien resident for 14 years. He is vice chairman of the Connecticut Metro-North Shore Line East Rail Commuter Council and a member of the Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area, one of five Transportation Investment Areas established by the Connecticut General Assembly in July 2001 to develop 20-year strategic plans for each of the state's major transportation corridors. He is also a member of the Darien Representative Town Meeting. The opinions and accuracy of information in this article are the responsibility of the contributor. E-mail him at jim@camcomm.com or www.trainweb.org/ct)

Sending Fire Safety Off to College

By Nate Gibbons
Westport Fire Department
Special to WestportNow

As parents pack up the trunks and load the SUV for the drive off to college, your Westport Fire Department wants you to include something small, simple, yet as valuable as the life of that son or daughter: fire safety away from home.

Each year there are more than 1,700 dormitory fires at U.S. colleges and universities and that figure does not include off-campus or ‘Greek’ housing. The last several years have seen multiple-fatality fires on college campuses — tragic deaths that could have been prevented using basic fire safety skills.

Going off to college brings many new challenges. It provides independence. It offers great opportunities for knowledge and growth but also the temptations of risky behaviors beyond parental supervision.

The transition from living at home to life in a college dorm or fraternity/sorority can be overwhelming, so it is not surprising that fire safety and fire survival get lost in the mix. Many young men and women feel invincible or indestructible. Toxic fire gases and inadequate or blocked fire exits don’t recognize that feeling.

Our experience as firefighters has shown us that certain behaviors increase the chances of injury or death in a fire. And certain simple skills can make almost any fire survivable. These are the same skills we teach to all Westport’s K thru 2 classes, but expanded to address the challenges college living brings.

1) Plan your escape: As you move into that dorm, identify a primary and secondary exit. Always have at least two ways to exit the dorm. Make sure the windows in the room open fully. Use a firefighter’s trick: count the number of doorways to the left or right to the exit stair. That way if you have to crawl on your hands and knees in a smoky environment you know which door is the one that gets you out.

2) Know the Building: Every student should study. Every fireproof student should study the exits in the buildings they spend time in. Classrooms, labs, libraries, off-campus party houses: all have exits and it takes only a few seconds to identify two routes of escape. It may not be a fire that requires the quick escape from a building. Plan ahead.

3) Summon Help: While it seems every student has at least one cell phone at all times, does that student know the right number to call? They must learn the quickest way to call for help. Internal telephone systems on campuses frequently do not recognize “911”. A call to “911” on a cell phone may not connect the caller to the closest emergency response. Learn the correct numbers to summon help to on-campus and off-campus locations and program them into that cell phone.

4) If Fire Strikes…: Personal preservation requires that one act immediately. Test doors to see if they are hot before opening them. Crawl low in smoke, Get out and stay out. Pull the fire alarm on your way out to warn others and call for help from a safe location. Be aware of high risk locations such as crowded parties and older housing (i.e. “Animal House” frats).

5) The ‘Impairment’ Factor: Fatal fires that have occurred on and off campus over the last five years have a common factor: alcohol. Impaired students accidentally starts fires (candles are the biggest culprit, cigarettes No. 2), or intentionally start fires (torching bulletin boards). Every year, students die from smoke inhalation at fires they were unable to escape because they were passed out. Your son or daughter should recognize all the risks of alcohol impairment, including the fire risk.

6) Survival Kit: Send your college student off with a kiss and a simple survival kit. Every student room should have a small ABC fire extinguisher, a working smoke detector and a working flashlight on the bedside table. Knowing how to use these tools will provide protection, early warning and guide the way to safety.

Part of the parental reality check must recognize that dorm or ‘Greek’ living has an increased risk associated with it. Students will use hot plates in their rooms and light candles. Fire extinguishers get vandalized. False fire alarms can occur so frequently that a real alarm may be ignored. And students, like many of us, either are oblivious to fire risks or think that fires happen to ‘other people, not me’.

Our goal at the Westport Fire Department is to prevent death, injury and loss from fire — not just here in our town, but wherever our residents may be. We urge parents and students to take these six points of advice with them as they head off for the fall semester. A small amount of preparation is all it takes to save your own life in a fire.
___
Nate Gibbons is an inspector with the Westport Fire Department. For further information contact him at (203)341-5020 or e-mail him at ngibbons@ci.westport.ct.us

Westport Property Transfers Aug. 8-12, 2005

Property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk's office for the period Aug. 8-12, 2005:

Peter H. and Rosemary E. Dresch to SIR-Pumpkin Hill LLC, 6 Pumpkin Hill, $1,073,000

Kathleen and Woodson Merrell to George G. and Kristina D. Bory Jr., 77 Maple Ave., $2,200,000

Holly Christine Allen to Westport Rental Holdings LLC, 38 Hiawatha Lane, $745,000

Emily Laux to Adam L. Dener and Carla Schine, 148 Cross Highway, $2,205,000

Andrew M. and Kelley Schutte to Christopher M. and Kim M. Healy, 38 Bulkley Ave. North, $1,685,000

Martin E. and Judith G. Asher to Robert Vanbatenburg, 17 Indian Hill Road, $744,000

Redcoat Development LLC to Jay and Alison Bernstein, 30 Cross Highway, $2,150,000

Judith Peters to Robert E. Barrett, Unit 49 Strathmore Lane, $475,000

Anthony R. and Stephanie Fasone to Noel R. and Nancy Wallace, 60 Coleytown Road, $2,485,000

Turnkey Assoc. Inc. to Sandford and Beth Tassel, 24 Burr Farms Road, $2,400,750

CG Development LLC to Erik G. and Alice A. Scharf Matlick, 2 Lantern Hill Road, $4,075,000

Kevin Mchugh to Glenn K. Shapiro Trust, 338 Compo Road South, $2,100,000

48 Drumlin Road LLC to Drumlin LLC, 48 Drumlin Road, $550,000

Ilene C. and Alan Frost to Gregory P. and Kecia A. Vonderahe, 11 Mary Jane Lane, $1,485,000

Phillip M. and Judith T. Huston to Weichert Relocation Resources Inc., 20 Whitney St., $1,260,000

Weichert Relocation Resources Inc. to Sarah McGraw and Jeffrey M. Levine, 20 Whitney St., $1,260,000

West Nile Virus Found in Weston and Wilton

State health department officials have announced that mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have been found in 14 communities, including Weston and Wilton.

Until Tuesday, the virus had been detected only in Stamford and Stratford.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and the state Department of Public Health released the latest findings.

"With continued warm weather we should anticipate additional positive mosquitoes in these and other areas of the state," said Theodore Andreadis, chief medical entomologist for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven.

Last year only one person in Connecticut developed West Nile virus, and public health authorities believe he contracted it out of state.

West Nile poses little risk to most healthy adults but it can present a deadly threat to the elderly, the very young or those who are already sick or have weakened immune systems.

The 14 towns where mosquitoes tested positive are Bethel, Cheshire, Franklin, Greenwich, Meriden and Milford. Also Danbury, Newtown, Plainfield, Stamford, Westbrook, Weston, Wilton and Windham.

Saugatuck Shores Sunset

Tuesday's sunset as seen from Westport's Saugatuck Shores area. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Doreen Birdsell for WestportNow.com

Scary Critter

School officials placed a cutout of a coyote on the playing field behind Saugatuck Elementary School to scare off bothersome Canadian geese. But users of the field and neighbors said the decoy wasn't very effective. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jonathan Thrope for WestportNow.com

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005

10:30 a.m. – Town Hall Room 102 – International Hospitality Committee
7 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - Grumbling Gryphons Children's Theater

Donahue and Thomas Put Westport House on Market for $25 Million

Longtime Westport celebrity residents Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas have put their Greens Farms mansion with Long Island Sound views on the market for $25 million.
Aerial view of the Beachside Avenue property. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Nicholas H. Fingelly photo

The listing of the Beachside Avenue property by Nicholas H. Fingelly Real Estate in Southport comes two months after reports that Martha Stewart had quietly put her nearby Turkey Hill Road South house on the market for $10 million. A Stewart spokewoman denied the report.

UPDATE: Donahue told The Advocate of Norwalk that he and his wife are not leaving town, the newspaper reported Thursday. "We'll be staying right here in the neighborhood," he said. "We're not leaving Westport." He spoke while talking an afternoon walk outside his home.

The Donahue-Thomas home is actually three contiguous lots – 112, 114 and 116 Beachside Ave. comprising 7.7 acres. Donahue bought the adjoining property some years ago and caused some controversy when he demolished a home to improve his water views.

The listing for the Donahue-Thomas home describes it as a 7,379-sq.ft.1911 wood and stucco Tudor with 17 rooms, including nine bedrooms, nine baths and powder rooms, and five fireplaces. There is also a guest house.

Vicky Fingelly of Nicholas H. Fingelly Real Estate confirmed that her firm had the listing, but, citing a confidentiality agreement with her client, said she could not confirm the client's identity nor talk about the property.

"I am not allowed to talk to the press," she said.
A small sign marks the entrance to the Donahue-Thomas estate on Beachside Avenue. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Efforts to reach Donahue and Thomas were unsuccessful.

Donahue and Thomas live on a stretch of Beachside Avenue that is also home to radio personality Don Imus and film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Imus told his listeners in June that he had put his house on the market but decided to take it off after almost selling to a hedge fund manager. Earlier this year, he said the property was valued at $30 million.

In March, the property at 100 Beachside Avenue changed hands for $14.6 million – the highest price ever paid for a Westport residential property. The new owners soon after applied for a demolition permit. (See WestportNow March 30, 2005).

Mitchells Merging With Long Island Menswear Store

Marsh's, the Huntington menswear store that has outfitted Long Islanders for 80 years, has agreed to merge with Mitchells/Richards, the owner of two luxury clothing stores in Westport and Greenwich, the Long Island newspaper Newsday reported today.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, including whether the Marsh family, now in its third generation of ownership, will retain a financial stake in the business.

The store will continue to be called Marsh's and Ron Marsh, who runs the store, will remain at the helm, but will be joined there by Chris Mitchell, the newspaper said.

The merger combines the $70 million in annual sales from Mitchells/Richards' two stores with Marsh's $9 million revenues.

Ron Marsh said the deal gives Marsh's access to more sophisticated marketing and technology, but emphasized that the core values of the store will remain unchanged: customer service and the respectful, generous treatment of employees.

"The employees will stay intact. The point is really to bring us to the next level," he said.

That means remodeling Marsh's outdated storefront on Main Street, developing a marketing campaign that will include a glossy catalog showcasing employees and customers, and possibly starting a custom clothing service.

Customers can also expect to see a few higher-priced labels. While Marsh's suits currently top out with Armani, at around $2,000, "now we'll take it to the level of Brioni, Kiton and Oxford," suits in the $3,000 range, Newsday quoted Marsh as saying.

Though Marsh's is the elder of the two companies -- Mitchells was founded in 1958 -- the Westport company has surpassed Marsh's in terms of sales and the sophistication of its marketing programs, the newspaper said.

The company is headed by Jack Mitchell and his brother Bill, sons of founders Ed and Norma Mitchell. Now six of Jack's and Bill's sons operate various parts of the business.

Chris Mitchell, Bill Mitchell's son and formerly the co-head of the menswear department at the Westport store, is moving to Long Island to work as Ron's partner, Newsday said.

Mitchells has some experience with integrating new stores under a single corporate roof. In 1995, the company bought Richards, another family business with a single store in Greenwich. The new combined company will be known as Mitchells/Richards/Marsh's.

Westport Candlelight Vigil Wednesday to Support Cindy Sheehan

There will be a candlelight vigil Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on Westport's Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge to support Cindy Sheehan and her efforts to end the war in Iraq.

Marla Cowden of Westport, who organized the event, said in an e-mail message: "This is a nonpartisan solemn vigil, not a rally or protest. Please bring a candle. Those with long hair are encouraged to restrain it."

Sheehan, 48, lost her son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, in Iraq last year, and has spent much of her time since then crisscrossing the country, demanding that Bush withdraw U.S. forces there. She has camped outside his Crawford, Texas, ranch for the past 10 days seeking a meeting with him.

Wednesday's Westport vigil is one of many organized across the nation by MoveOn.org, TrueMajority, and Democracy for America "to remind people of the terrible price of war." According to the MoveOn.org Web site, more than 100 persons have said they will attend the Westport vigil.

(Editor's Note: Comments on the article have been closed because the discussion became personal and one person deliberately portrayed himself/herself as someone else. If you desire to submit additional comments on this article, you may do so by sending an e-mail to comments@westportnow.com with a real name, a real e-mail address, and a telephone number where you can be reached to verify your identity. As always, WestportNow reserves the right to reject/remove comments which at our sole discretion we deem inappropriate.)

Forcing Their Way In

The Westport Fire Department Monday used a house about to be demolished on Highland Road, off Bayberry Lane, to conduct training exercises. Skills practiced including forced entry through exterior walls. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Up on the Roof

Quickly ventilating a roof was among the skills practiced in Monday's Westport Fire Department training. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Getting Some Pointers

Assistant Chief Larry Conklin (white shirt, r.) makes a point during Monday's Westport Fire Department training. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Opening a Floor

Westport Firefighter Brendan McHugh demonstrates use of the demolition saw to cut through a heavy layered floor during Monday's training. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Kayaking Through the Drain Pipes

Youngsters kayak every day to Saugatuck Shores from Westport's Compo Beach, but Monday this pair tried something new – they went through the drains that feed Elbow Creek from the Canal. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Doreen Birdsell for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005

10 a.m. – Town Hall Room 201 – Administrative Review Committee
7 p.m. – Town Hall Room 201/201A – RTM Health & Human Services Committee
7:45 p.m. – Town Hall Room 201/201A – RTM Health & Human Services and Public Protection Committees
8 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - Comedy Club II

Second Teen Movie Night at Levitt

More than 100 people attended tonight's second teen movie night at Westport's Levitt Pavilion. The event, sponsored by the Westport Youth Commission and the Parks and Recreation Department, featured the 2001 comedy "Zoolander." (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jonathan Thrope for WestportNow.com

Kitchen Fire Doused

Westport firefighters tonight responded to a report of a kitchen fire on Green's Farms Road.

First arriving firefighters at 132 Green's Farms Road said that the fire appeared to be out, according to reports from the scene.

The homeowner dialed 911 at 7:38 p.m.and reported that an attempt to put out a fire on the top of the stove had been unsuccessful and flames had spread to an adjoining wall.

Firefighters set up a fan to remove smoke from the house, the reports said.

Going Down: 54 Bayberry Lane

The house at 54 Bayberry Lane came down today, making good on a sign that has been posted on the property for about six months. The property, featured as the WestportNow teardown on Dec. 15, 2004, sold in March for $662,500. The house, built in 1948, will be replaced by a 5,500-sq-ft house, according to Todd Seligson, 25, son of developer Stanley Seligson. The owner purchased a tree from the Town of Westport for $5,000 that will be cut down to make room for a new driveway. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Police Seek Suspect in Westport Subway Store Robbery

Westport police are seeking a man who robbed a Subway sandwich shop on Post Road East and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police spokesman Sgt. Jerry Shannon said the robbery occurred at 11:20 a.m. Sunday at the store at 903 Post Road East.

The suspect, described as a black male about 40, 5-foot-8, medium build, scooped up money from a cash drawer while employees were not looking, he said.

"No weapon was displayed but through posture and gestures, the suspect indicated he may have had one," Shannon said. He said the man escaped in a white car westbound on Post Road East.

Lyme Disease Study Includes Westport

Westport is one of 21 Connecticut communities participating in a new Lyme disease prevention study.

Researchers at the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) at Yale School of Medicine in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are undertaking the study.

The goal of the program is to evaluate the effectiveness of personal protective measures and landscape modification practices on Lyme disease risk.

The 21 communities are located in the Torrington Area, Westport-Weston, and Ledge Light Health Districts. To be eligible for the study, residents must have a yard and have been diagnosed with a Lyme disease rash within the past year.

"Results of the study will help us understand which prevention behaviors are most effective for preventing Lyme disease," said EIP researcher Neeta Pardanani.

She will conduct the study with James Meek, associate director of the EIP in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale School of Medicine.

"We're hoping to have an impact on Lyme disease rates in Connecticut," Pardanani said.

Personal protective measures include wearing insect repellent; performing bodily tick checks and tucking pants into socks when spending time in the yard.

Landscape modifications refer to applying pesticides to a yard to reduce the tick population, installing fencing and planting deer resistant plants to deter deer from the yard.

Other measures include creating a dry barrier between a lawn and forested edge; and keeping recreational areas like swing sets and picnic tables a safe distance from woods.

The EIP staff will contact new cases of physician-diagnosed Lyme disease rash reported to the state and local health departments. These people will be asked to answer questions pertaining to their personal protective behaviors and landscape characteristics around their homes.

The EIP staff will also ask the same questions of people without Lyme disease who are within similar age groups as cases and who live within a short distance of cases.

Good Fishing

A Danbury family tried their hand at fishing on the Saugatuck River across from Saugatuck Elementary School today. One of them reeled in a striped bass. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jonathan Thrope for WestportNow.com

Country Store in the Dark

The Country Store on Wilton Road was among CL&P Westport customers today awaiting restoration of power. The store, which has been in the news recently with a fire and a planned burglary thwarted by police, shared the no-power frustration with neighbors but did have some lights powered by a generator. Pictured is owner Alicia Connelly chatting with customer Giovanna Nuzzo. The store's gas pumps were not working as they are electrically powered. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Camp Mahackeno Cancels Acitivities Today

The Westport Weston Family Y's Camp Mahackeno canceled its activities today because of a power outage and storm damage. Parents arriving for today's early session were turned back by camp officials who told them the news.

Showing Its Roots

A tree that came down during Sunday's thunderstorm awaits removal today at Post Road East and Morningside Drive North. Note the American flag and flagpole amid the branches. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Power Restored to Many Westport Customers Following Storm

Utility workers restored power early today to an area of Westport's Post Road East more than 12 hours after a tree crashed to the ground during a fierce thunderstorm, leaving hundreds of Westporters in the dark.

Thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and Sunday night ended a week of sweltering heat that saw the temperature crack the 100 mark in several areas of Westport.

Just before the power went back on shortly after 4 a.m. in the area of Post Road East and Morningside Drive North, where the large tree fell, CL&P reported 905 Westport customers were without service. At 11 p.m., it reported 188 Westport customers were still in the dark.

Police finally opened Post Road East and Morningside Drive North to traffic at 5:33 a.m.

The thunderstorms – one beginning at about 3 p.m. and the other at about 10 p.m. – brought down trees and power lines throughout the town and flooded roadways.

The Westport Fire Department said it responded to 25 storm-related calls from shortly before 4 p.m. to midnight.

The underpass on Compo Road South under the railroad bridge was closed Sunday afternoon due to flooding. At least one motorist got caught in the floodwaters and the car had to be towed.

Flooding also occurred at Main Street and Canal Street. Motorists jumped out of their cars during the height of Sunday afternoon's storm to help clear a large branch that had fallen in the roadway.

While Westport suffered some outages affecting about 20 percent of CL&P's 11,825 customers, things were worse elsewhere in southwestern Connecticut.

In Wilton and Weston, the utility reported almost half of its customers were without power Sunday afternoon into early today. The Wilton outage affected about 4,200 customers and the Weston one about 1,900, CL&P said.

The problems were especially bad in Stamford, where crews were still working to repair damage caused by severe storms with dangerous lightning Friday night. Early today, about 2,700 customers were still in the dark.

Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy said the damage was the worst since an ice storm in 1973.

Lengthy Cleanup But Power Finally Restored

Power crews worked through the night to clear a large tree that fell at the intersection of Post Road East and Morningside Drive North during Sunday's thunderstorm. Workers finally restored power to the area shortly after 4 a.m. today, more than 12 hours after the tree fell. CL&P said 905 Westport customers were without power at 4 a.m., before the lights went back on in the Post Road area. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Night Work

CL&P crews turned power on in the Post Road East-Morningside Drive area shortly after 4 a.m. today, more than 12 hours after a large tree crashed to the ground during Sunday's thunderstorm. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Flight Over Compo

A Sikorsky helicopter passed over Compo Beach swimmers Sunday, one of at least three spotted flying from the direction of Bridgeport to Norwalk. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Adrian Dixon for WestportNow.com

Arriving in Style

Dr.William C.(Bill) Whit arrives at the Norwalk Inn Sunday to celebrate the 46th reunion of the Staples Class of 1959. The bike is a vintage 1971 Moto Guzzi. Way to go Bill. Joy Beckwith (Staples '59) for WestportNow.com