Month: April 2017

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Going to Nationals

Two 10-year-old fourth graders in the workshop (gifted) program at Westport’s Kings Highway Elementary School advanced Saturday at the state finals of the Connecticut Invention Convention at UCONN in Storrs to the National Invention Convention. Kate Watkins (l) and Samantha Henske will go on June 1 to 3 to the event at the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office in Alexandria, Virginia. Kate invented the “Wat Wat Win”—the Watkins Watch Window. It allows the wearer of a coat to be able to access and utilize their smartwatch or fitness tracker on their wrist without removing their gloves or adjusting their coat sleeves. Samantha invented the “Backpack Barricade,” which affixes under a school bus seat and provides a safe, clean, comfortable place to store a backpack. The Connecticut Invention Convention is a nonprofit educational program designed to develop and enhance critical thinking skills in children in grades K-8. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Funding Sill Sought to Complete Tunnel Art Project

A family today views the art project honoring Westport’s past and present in the east tunnel at the Metro-North Westport station. The project, launched 16 months ago in cooperation with the Westport Police Department, features light box lenticular views combining past and present images of Westport landmarks by Westport artist Miggs Burroughs. According to him, 16 light boxes were planned, but the project has stalled because of lack of funding. Those interested in donating should contact him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Last Day on the Job After 31 Years

Westport Fire Lt. Ernest Ruot ended his Westport Fire Department career today after 31 years on the job. Ruot, 52, whose wife Alisa was also a Westport firefighter, was promoted to lieutenant in 2007. He served on the combined police-fire dive team and in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. He is pictured early today at the scene of two-vehicle crash on I-95 that sent a car down an embankment. Ruot could be the first of possibly a dozen senior Westport officers and firefighters who will retire before the June 30 expiration of the current pension agreement with the town, according to fire officials. A new agreement is in the arbitration stage. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Sunday Fishing

A fisherman tries his luck today off of South Beach at Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

A Wash for the First Selectman

First Selectman Jim Marpe today stopped by the Staples High School Girls Water Polo car wash at 8 Myrtle Ave. and had his car washed. Contributed photo

Working Down on the Farm

The Wakeman Town Farm today benefitted from help from the Staples High School Service League of Boys (SLOBs), one of several locales involved in the group’s annual Service Sunday. This is the eighth Service Sunday in the club’s history. In all, members today donated more than 600 hours of service to the community and donated about $5,000 in supplies and goods to get the jobs done. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Helping Earthplace

Members of the Staples High School Service League of Boys (SLOBs) were busy today preparing the Earthplace sanctuary for the upcoming seasons. The public service organization came out in force, with more than 50 boys, moms, and dads helping remove brush and debris while maintaining parts of the property. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jaime Bairaktaris for WestportNow.com

Gallery: Fairfield County Concours d’Caffeine

Scenes from today’s Fairfield County Concours d’Caffeine at the Metro-North Westport station in Saugatuck. The show runs until noon. WestportNow.com photos and David Dreyfuss for WestportNow.com.

New Look at Old Car

A visitor looks over a 1913 Mercer Raceabout, one of the cars on display today at the Fairfield County Concours d’Caffeine at the Metro-North Westport train station in Saugatuck. The event, which benefits the Westport Police Benevolent Association scholarship fund, runs until noon. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Proud Owner

Westporter Stan Nayer shows off his 1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud 1 at today’s Fairfield County Concourse d’Caffeine at the Metro-North Westport station in Saugatuck. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo