Westport building officials are currently reviewing an application to demolish the house at 12 Jennings Court. The 1,422-square-foot, 1954 house sold in March for $910,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Jennifer Connic

A former Westport teacher has filed a federal suit against the school district stating she was not allowed to transfer to a different position because she had attempted “to protect the rights of the students with disabilities,” according to court documents that were filed at Town Hall today.

Karen Pierce, of Sandy Hook, who was a teacher from September 1989 through June 2005 is seeking lost wages, a letter “used against her” at an August 2005 meeting with Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon and other compensatory and punitive damages the court may find in her favor.

She most recently taught fourth and fifth grade at Coleytown Elementary from 1999 through 2005.

Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon could not be reached for comment today.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation Bridge Maintenance Division is planning work for the Bridge Street Bridge that will necessitate its closure next week, the town announced today.

The bridge will be closed for periods of time on Tuesday, May 8, Wednesday, May 9 and Thursday, May 10 to perform routine mechanical and electrical maintenance.

Bridge Street will be closed from Riverside Avenue to Imperial Avenue—which is about one-quarter of a mile—will be closed intermittently from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Signs will detail the detour route.

“We have asked CDOT to try to keep the bridge open during the busy noon hour, but that may not be possible and motorists should be prepared to make alternate travel plans,” First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said.

Demolition crews continued to clean up the site at 81 Richmondville Ave. after demolishing the house recently. The smell of burned wood lingered in the air after Westport firefighters spent two days training at the site last week (See WestportNow April 25). The 1950 house sat on .5 acre of land, and the Chapmans, who own the property, plan to construct a modular home and move into it in June. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

It was overcast with a few showers on Sunday, but it didn’t stop some from fishing off of Westport’s Compo Beach. There remains a chance of showers today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

10:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. – Westport Country Playhouse – Play Club: Tazewell Thompson on “How to Read a Play”
7:30 p.m. – Westport Arts Center – Artists in Conversation: Lynne Meadow & Patricia Kalember
7:30 p.m. – Westport Public Library – Tech Talk: David Pogue on “The Mega Pixel Myth: and Other Hazards of Digital Cameras”
8:30 p.m. – Staples High School Principal’s Conference Room – Board of Education anticipated executive session

A power outage tonight darkened hundreds of Westport homes and businesses for more than an hour in an area from Post Road East and the Sherwood Island Connector to Turkey Hill Road North.

Among those affected were the Harvest Commons condominium complex, the Sherwood Diner, Walgreen’s at 880 Post Road East, and homes along Turkey Hill Road North and parts of Long Lots Road from the Post Road to Morningside Drive North.

CL&P said 669 Westport customers were without power as of 9 p.m. but that all customers had power restored by 10 p.m.

Fire officials said someone at St. Luke Church at the corner of Long Lots Road and Turkey Hill Road North heard a loud bang at about 8:30 p.m. and then the power went out.

The Israel Fair marking Israel’s Independence Day attracted crowds to Westport’s Bedford Middle School today. In addition to vendors and exhibits, the fair sponsored by the UJA/Federation of Westport-Weston-Wilton-Norwalk included music and dancing. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

There were rain showers at Westport’s Sherwood Island State Park today as the annual March of Dimes WalkAmerica event got underway. But the weather did not dampen the spirits of hundreds who participated. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo