Month: February 2013

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Dog Day Afternoon at Compo

Today’s mild weather made for good conditions for taking a romp at Westport’s Compo Beach. Only one month left before dogs are once again banned from the beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Eckman for WestportNow.com

North Avenue Bridge to Close Six Months for Repairs

The long-awaited rehabilitation of the North Avenue bridge over the Aspetuck River will get underway in early March, Westport Public Works Director Steve Edwards announced today. The contractor intends to begin demolition operations on March 18, Edwards said. Demolition and reconstruction will require closing the bridge to traffic for a period of approximately six months, through the summer and into early fall. Detours will be posted on both sides of the bridge, he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Terry Farewell

Friends and colleagues, including Maxine Bleiweis (l), director of the Westport Public Library, said farewell today to Terry Giegengack, assistant director of Westport’s Department of Human Services, at a Town Hall gathering. After 23 years of service to the department, town, and Westport residents, she is leaving to become director of human and social services for the Town of Fairfield. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Chamber Members Get Primer on School Violence

Clinical Forensic Psychologist David Bernstein told members of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce at its Leadership luncheon series today that the three biggest profile components in mass violence events include backgrounds in bullying, depression and access to weapons. Speaking at Westport’s HSBC facility, 19 Post Road East, Bernstein said there are two types of threats: internal—violence committed at the school by current students—and external, which is impossible to predict. He said that schools need to start with policies and procedures that include a central reporting system into which information on students is provided from a variety of sources so that individual patterns can be documented. Bernstein, who recently testified before the state legislature’s school security working group, said that FBI records indicate 95 percent of school shooters are affiliated with the school. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

New Bridge Closings Set for Monday and Tuesday

The Town of Westport has been notified that the Bridge Street bridge, formally known as the William J. Cribari Bridge, will be closed for part of Monday and Tuesday for repair work.

The swing bridge will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., said First Selectman Gordon Joseloff.

He said the contractor, Cianbro Construction Co., will be making repairs to the mechanical and electrical components of the bridge.

Signs and markings for detour routes will be posted, Joseloff said.

A. Reid Cross, 85

A. Reid Cross, a longtime resident of New Canaan and member of a number of community bands, including Westport, died of lymphoma on Feb. 26 at Smilow Cancer Center, Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was 85.

He was born Dec. 31, 1927 in Stamford, the son of Arthur Reid Cross and Marjorie Davidson Cross of Darien. He attended Darien schools, graduating from Darien High School in 1945. He entered Bowdoin College, and after his freshman year he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Italy.

He returned to Bowdoin and graduated in 1950. Recalled to active duty in the army, he attended Officer Candidate School. Upon completion of this tour of duty he went to work for Pitney Bowes in Stamford.

In 1955, he married Nancy Bechert of Stamford. Taking a leave of absence from Pitney Bowes in 1965, he joined the U. S. Agency for International Development in Washington D.C. where he served as Kenya Desk Officer and also attended Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Staples Girls Lacrosse Hosts Clinic

The Staples High School girls lacrosse team on Wednesday hosted more than 60 Westport girls first through eighth grade for a lacrosse skills clinic. The event raised money for planned improvements to the girls lacrosse and field hockey field at Staples. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Library Lights

Lights along the Riverwalk outside the Westport Public Library at dusk on Wednesday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Thursday, February 28, 2013

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Westport Arts Center – “William Wegman: The Traveler”
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Westport Historical Society – “Treasures Revealed: The WHS Archives & Collections” & “Inside Story”
6:30 p.m. – Westport Public Library – Just Out on DVD: “The Bourne Legacy”
7 p.m. – Westport Public Library – Teen Zombie Club
7 p.m. – Town Hall Room 102 – Sherwood Mill Pond Committee
7:15 p.m. – Town Hall Room 201/201A – Youth Commission
7:30 p.m. – Town Hall Room 309/307 – RTM Finance, Parks & Recreation, Public Works, Education and Public Protection Committees

See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar

Overflow Crowd for 136/Bayberry Traffic Meeting

There was an overflow crowd tonight for a meeting to discuss potential improvements to the intersection of Bayberry Lane and State Route 136, (Easton Road). A traffic consultant outlined possible short and long-term solutions to be considered by the state Department of Transportation. During the meeting, a couple that owns a house at the intersection pledged to work with the town to cut back trees that limit the visibility when exiting Bayberry Lane Extension on to Easton Road. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com