Month: March 2014 - Page 30

Thursday, June 08, 2023

Working on the Railroad

Metro-North employees worked on tracks on the bridge over the Saugatuck River today, taking advantage of the fewer trains on the Saturday schedule. Ongoing track maintenance has caused longer travel times on the line. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Eckman for WestportNow.com

Westport Firefighters Make the Plunge

Bow tie-wearing Westport firefighters were among the estimated 250 persons who took part in today’s annual Special Olympics Penguin Plunge at Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Plunging in 55-Degree Weather at Compo

Plungers of all ages took part in today’s Special Olympics Penguin Plunge at Compo Beach. The unusual 55-degree weather made the swim slightly more tolerable this year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Gordon Joseloff for WestportNow.com

Not Polar Bears But Bedford Bears

Students from Westport’s Bedford Middle School, wearing their yellow Bedford Bears t-shirts, were among those taking the plunge today at Compo Beach in the annual Special Olympics Penguin Plunge. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Any Swim Attire Was Acceptable

There was a variety of swim attire evident at today’s Special Olympics Penguin Plunge at Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Suiting Up to Keep Plungers Safe

Firefighter Todd Denke and Police Sgt. Ryan Paulsson, members of the Westport Police-Fire Dive Team, suit up today at Compo Beach to take up water positions for the Special Olympics Penguin Plunge. They are aided by Police Officer Scott Morrison. Westport Volunteer Emergency Service member Martin Iselin looks on. WVEMS provided a standby crew for the event. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

R.E. Fiddler, 90

R.E. Fiddler, a former Westport resident and retired U.S. Merchant Marine captain, died March 6 at the Village at Brookfield Commons. He was 90.

Born in Parsons, Tenn., the son of the late Herbert and Nettie Fiddler, he had been a Westport resident since 1967 prior to recently moving to Brookfield.

He was a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, class of 1945. While a cadet, he served during World War II under the auspices of the U.S. Coast Guard. Upon graduation he began his 40-year career with the Merchant Marines, rising to the rank of captain and master.

He sailed for the U.S. Lines his entire career, and while onboard the SS United States, which still holds the speed record for the fastest transatlantic passing, he had the honor of meeting both Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Plunging for a Cause

Scenes from today’s Special Olympics Penguin Plunge at Westport’s Compo Beach. WestportNow.com photos

Police Nab Bridgeport Stolen Car Suspect

Moments after Westport police heard a Bridgeport police radio alert about a stolen car, it was spotted on Post Road East today by an officer on patrol, police said.

A passing motorist took this photo of police at the scene of the car stop. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Doingitlocal.com photo

After the 9:37 a.m. alert, Officer Thomas Casimiro radioed headquarters that he had spotted the car a few minutes earlier heading west on Post Road East.

He caught up with it just before East Main Street and, with the assistance of other officers, took the suspect into custody without incident, police said.

He was identified as Yannick Williams, 23, of New Haven. Bridgeport police officers picked him up from Westport police along with the car, police said. He was charged with third-degree larceny and his bond was set by Bridgeport police at $5,000.

Learning About Robotics

Alec Solder (r), a senior at Staples High School and member of the Wreckers Robotics team, explains the team’s robot today to Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe at Greens Farm Academy, host of the Connecticut First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics Championship—Battle of the Beaches. Two other Westport teams also took part—i²robotics, which includes Staples and Weston High School students, and the Greens Farms Academy team, the Dragonoids. The Wreckers and the i²robotics teams have already qualified in the prior competition for the regional championship next month in York, Pa., but took part today as a practice session, according to Ii²robotics Coach Terry Sauer. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com