Tuesday, May 30, 2023

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Bridge Building

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Two months into the estimated six month North Avenue bridge replacement project, workers say they are on schedule. The bridge over the Aspetuck River is at the intersection of North Avenue and Coleytown Road.  It was closed March 18. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Air Quality Alert

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has issued an air quality action day alert for Westport and area until 11 p.m.

An air quality action day means that ground level ozone within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards.

Westport is among areas in which there is an increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort in active children and adults with respiratory disease, such as asthma, the DEEP said.

For additional information visit the DEEP website at http://www.CT.Gov/deep/aqi.

Morning After

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The impact of the crash into a tree early today is clearly visible on a Volvo C70 convertible at Westport Center Service on Post Road East, where it was towed. The accident occurred about 2:30 a.m. at Morningside Drive North and Church Street. Four persons were injured, two with minor injuries and two, including the driver, with moderate injuries, according to Assistant Fire Chief William Dingee. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

House Tightens Disclosure, Loosens Spending Rules for Campaigns

By Mark Pazniokas

www.ctmirror.org

The Connecticut House voted 71 to 59 early today to revise sweeping campaign finance reforms adopted in 2005 after scandal toppled a governor, with Democrats and Republicans arguing whether the changes represented progress or backsliding.

The legislation is a double-barreled reaction to the Citizens United case permitting unlimited independent expenditures: It requires greater disclosure of the resources behind of those expenditures, but it allows party committees to play the same game.

Rep. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, said the measure was less a reform than an endorsement of a political arms race in which legislative leadership PACs and party committees now can make their own unlimited expenditures.

“If we can’t beat ‘em, let’s join em?” Hwang said.

Click here for more of story

Four Injured in Crash Into a Tree

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Four persons were injured early today when a car crashed into a tree at Westport’s Morningside Drive North and Church Street, said Assistant Chief William Dingee. He said when firefighters arrived at about 2:30 a.m. they found that a Volvo C70 convertible with four occupants had struck a tree on the driver’s side and come to rest just off the roadway. Three of the occupants were out of the vehicle, two with minor injuries and a third with moderate injury, he said. They were transported to a hospital. The driver of the vehicle had to be extricated using hydraulic rescue tools to remove the driver’s side door, Dingee said. He was then placed on a backboard for transportation to the hospital with moderate injury.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Farewell to Temple Israel’s Robert Orkand

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Westport’s Temple Israel honored its retiring Rabbi Robert J. Orkand tonight at a special Shabbat evening service. In addition to congregants and local officials, also attending were many of Orkand’s fellow clergy members from Westport and Weston. Orkand, who is retiring after 31 years at Temple Israel, will be honored with a special plaque placed in the synagogue’s sanctuary. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo