Month: May 2008

Thursday, June 08, 2023

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued

UPDATE The National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y. has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Westport and parts of the tri-state area until 7:30 p.m.

An advisory at 6:55 p.m. upgraded a severe thunderstorm watch issued an hour earlier to a warning.

It said thunderstorms in advance of an approaching cold front will move across the area this evening. Some thunderstorms could produce damaging winds and large hail with perhaps an isolated tornado.

Some of the thunderstorms would also produce very heavy rain with localized flash flooding as well as frequent lightning, it said.

Landon: “Feeling of Dismay” Over Nude Photos

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Elliott Landon: “Feeling of failure this could happen.” Dave Matlow/WN file photoWestport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon says there is a “feeling of dismay” among Westport educators and parents over nude photos circulated electronically by middle school and high school students.

Breaking a silence on the matter he first reported in a letter to parents earlier this month (See WestportNow May 15, 2008), Landon told The New York Times: “There’s a feeling of dismay and a feeling of failure that this could happen.”

Landon, who has refused to comment to local news media about his letter, told the Times Sunday Connecticut section that parents and school officials are working to develop more effective teaching tools to warn Westport students of cyberspace dangers.

He said it was too late in the school year to launch new programs but that the Westport schools would beef up their cyberspace initiatives in the fall.

Westport Volunteers Help in “Great Park Pursuit”

Westport members of Friends of Sherwood Island State Park were among volunteers helping out today at the park as families from across the state took part in “The Great Park Pursuit – The Connecticut State Parks Family Adventure” sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy was on hand to welcome guests for the event, part of the department’s “No Child Left Inside” campaign. The statewide initiative is designed to raise awareness for state parks and forests and build enthusiasm for the outdoors among children. Pictured (l-r) are: Sheila O’Neill, Hope Hageman, Marilyn Bakker, Winnie Balboni and Liz-Ann Koos. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

“Hold on, There’s Someone on My Other Line”

A fisherman talks on his cell phone while casting out his line at the jetty off of Westport’s Old Mill Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Cartoonist Legend Mel Casson Dies at 87

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Mel Casson: 40-year Westport resident. King Features photoCartoonist legend Mel Casson, the writer and illustrator of the comic strip “Redeye,” died on May 21 at his Westport home. He was 87.

Casson was a 40-year Westport resident and lived on Guyer Road. For almost 20 years Casson illustrated “Redeye,” a parody strip about a 19th century tribe of Native Americans, for King Features Syndicate.

When cartoonist Bill Yates, who wrote the “Redeye” scripts, retired in 1999, Casson assumed full writing and drawing duties of the strip.

“King Features has been very fortunate to represent the work of Mel Casson over the years,” said Brendan Burford, King Features comics editor. “He put great care and craft into his cartoons, adding to the beauty of the comics page every day. He will be sorely missed.”

Pizza at the Cannon

Pizza at the cannons at Westport’s Compo Beach was a perfect way to end the day for this youngster on Friday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Saturday, May 31, 2008

10 a.m. – noon – Westport Weston Health District – Rabies Vaccination Clinic
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – 70 Sanford St., Fairfield (across from Fairfield Metro North station) – Farmers Market
11 a.m. – east of the Norwalk Islands – Minuteman Yacht Club hosts King Cup Sailing Regatta
Noon – 4 p.m. – Westport Arts Center – “Color in 3D”
Noon – 4 p.m. – Westport Arts Center – “Found”
2 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Seabury Center – The Center Stage Theatre Company: “Les Miserables, School Edition” with Ivan Rutherford
2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Black Box Theatre at Staples High School – Staples Players: “Lucky Stiff”
4 p.m. and 8 p.m. – Westport Country Playhouse – “The Pavilion”
7 p.m. – Toquet Hall Teen Center – Eric Hnatow w/ Logrythm and Pattern Driver
8 p.m. – Westport Town Hall – Westport Community Theatre: “A Few Good Men”

Compo Clouds

The clouds made for dramatic skies today at Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Compo Romance

Weston artists Drew and Audrey Klotz renewed their wedding vows on their 10th anniversary today near the cannons at Westport’s Compo Beach. Barbara Stein of Weston, a justice of the peace, officiated. The bride wore the same dress she wore at her wedding. Applause rang out from nearby groups who were enchanted with the whole romantic idea. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Swanning on the Saugatuck

A pair of seemingly kissing swans was part of a flock of over a dozen that swam along the Saugatuck River just below the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge at low tide looking for food at the bottom of the river. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com