11 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Various locations - Westport Arts Center presents “From Studios to Street: Artists in Our Midst” as artists take to the streets for a series of free and family-friendly events

Today was “Grim Reaper Day” at Westport’s Staples High School. The day-long effort was aimed at warning students of the dangers of drinking and driving. This car with a Compo Beach sticker indicating it was a Westport car was positioned in front of the school. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Galen Blumenthal for WestportNow.com

Every 30 minutes a student was taken out of class at Staples High School today and “killed” as part of the “Grim Reaper Day” anti-drinking and driving campaign. Being killed meant that they were painted white with black eyes, they had a story of their death on a sign, and they were not allowed to speak the rest of the day. Sophomore Katie Hallock (l) and freshman Erica Adler were two of the “victims.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Galen Blumenthal for WestportNow.com

There was no avoiding the fact that today was “Grim Reaper Day” at Staples High School. The Teen Awareness Group (TAG) at Staples sponsored the event to raise student awareness that someone in the United States is killed in an alcohol-related automobile accident every 30 minutes. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Galen Blumenthal for WestportNow.com

The Commission for Senior Services held its annual meeting today at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. Susan Pfister (l), senior services coordinator, reported as part of a slide presentation that with the opening of the new center in January 2004, the number of participants engaging in center activities in 2004 more than doubled over the previous year when the center was at Staples High School—75,600 duplicated participations in 2004 vs 35,280 in 2003. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Thursday, May 19, 2005

The Westport Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday night considered a request to extend “historic overlay” zoning to residential areas. The request was made by those trying to save the Abel Bradley House on the Westport-Fairfield border. Among those in the audience who opposed the change were developers Mark Iurardi (l) and Mike Horvath, owners of the Bradley House. Iurardi said the concept was too restrictive and unjust to home owners. The P&Z took no action and is likely to take the issue up at its next work session. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WesportNow.com

Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell Thursday presented a plaque to the Saugatuck River Sail and Power Squadron in honor of Safe Boating Week. Taking part in the ceremony were (l-r): Harrison Valante, past commander; Farrell; John Luscombe, past commander; Grant Kominek, past commander; Russ Levine, education officer, and two of his grandchildren. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

8:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Westport Transit District Director’s Meeting
9:30 a.m. - Westport Center for Senior Activities, 21 Imperial Ave. - Commission for Senior Services

Barry McCabe: honored as parade grand mashall. Contributed photoBarry McCabe, a longtime Westport resident and dedicated community volunteer with a distinguished military record as a World War II Navy Frogman, has been selected as the Grand Marshal of Westport�s Memorial Day parade. 

The announcement was made by William Vornkahl, president of the Veterans Council which is organizing the parade and services to be held Monday, May 30, at 9 a.m. The colorful event annually attracts thousands of participants and spectators to the town’s center.

McCabe, 81, began his military career with enlistment in the Navy�s V-12 officer training program in July 1943. He was commissioned an Ensign at Columbia University in October 1944.

Just prior to his commissioning, he volunteered for Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT), precursor of today�s Navy SEALs. After training at Fort Pierce, Fla, and Maui, Hawaii, he joined UDT 21 in the Pacific as assistant platoon leader.

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Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell and Weston First Selectman Woody Bliss addressed today’s Westport-Weston Y’s Men meeting and answered questions about the state of their towns. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Under clear skies, mason Mort Antera used his time-honored skills today to repair a section of brick wall that had been knocked down by a car on Westport’s South Compo Road near Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com

Today’s WestportNow teardown is 25 Sturges Commons off Sturges Highway. The house, built in 1938, sold last month for $1,050,000. The demolition application will be heard by the Westport Historic District Commission. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Public Library’s Great Hall is hosting an exhibit of new World War II oil paintings by Weston artist Dough Leigh. Leigh depicts his lasting teenage combat memories from the Battle of the Bulge. The exhibit continues through June 30. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Westport�s three Cub Scout Packs and three Boy Scout Troops will be working together on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, to organize a town-wide collection of usefull items to be sent to U.S. troops serving abroad.

In conjunction with the Westport Historical Society and a national organization known as GIVE2THE TROOPS, the scouts will collect donated items for the troops on the Society’s lawn at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Avery Place from 8 a.m. until 30 minutes after the town commemorative ceremonies on the adjacent town Veterans Green.

In addition, the scouts will have a patriotic float in the parade and serve lemonade and popcorn. Information on how to join Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting will also be available. Scouting is a values-based outdoor program for boys ages 5-18.

GIVE2THETROOPS is a several years old private, not-for profit organization founded in Fairfield, with seven branch offices nationwide. It collects cards and letters, snack food, toiletries, entertainment items, and miscelaneous personal items for distribution to troops serving overseas.

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