More than 100 volunteers fanned out Sunday across Westport, Norwalk and Fairfield from Temple Israel to do “good deeds” as part of Temple Israel’s annual Mitzvah Day. They painted, planted and cleaned for organizations in Westport, Norwalk and Fairfield, including A Better Chance (spring cleaning and planting); Dress for Success and Operation Hope (painting and cleaning);and Habitat for Humanity (work in the group’s Bridgeport warehouse). At Temple Israel, volunteers scrubed, cleaned and restocked the kitchen.(CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Contributed photo

Sunday’s Court of Honor for three Eagle Scouts of Westport’s Troop 39 at Greens Farms Congregational Church was attended by three regional political leaders Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi, Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell and Norwalk Mayor Alex Knopp. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Lawrence Zlatkin for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Boy Scout Troop 39 held a Court of Honor today for new Eagle Scouts Codey Fitzgerald Foster, Dulany Foster IV, and Jeffrey Edward Philbin at Greens Farms Congregational Church. For their Eagle projects, the Fosters worked on improvements to the public footpath into Westport’s Winslow Park from Evergreen Avenue while Philbin worked on the beautification of Fairfield’s Fairchild Wheeler golf course. Those attending the ceremony included Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell, Mayor John Fabrizi of Bridgeport, and Mayor Alex Knopp of Norwalk. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Lawrence Zlatkin for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Soundview Drive alongside Compo Beach was crowded with bikers and walkers today taking advantage of the summer-like weather. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Laura Glickstein for WestportNow.com

Today’s summer-like weather was good enough for these youngsters to get down and dirty at Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Laura Glickstein for WestportNow.com

Touched by the death of a young father at a local gym, teenagers at Westport’s Temple Israel are raising funds to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in an effort to create a safer community.

The teens have already raised more than $700 toward their $2100 goal and on Sunday plan a walk-a-thon to support their efforts.

The students thought they might be able to make a difference after hearing the story of a 42-year-old father of four small children who had died after a workout at a local gym.

Learning that his life might have been saved if a defibrillator had been available, the seventh graders decided to dedicate a yearlong tzedahak (charity) campaign to raise funds.

“Design Day,” the kickoff event for the rebuilding of Westport’s Compo Beach Playground, is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27.

“Design Day” will begin with children from the five Westport elementary schools sharing their expert adviceӔ and ideas for the new playground with John Dean of Leathers & Associates, Inc.

The New York firm, a leader in the field of community-built playgrounds, was selected for the Compo Beach playground rebuilding.

John Dean will spend the morning with the schoolchildren and then spend the afternoon drawing the initial designs for the site based on their ideas, according to an announcement by the Compo Beach Playground Committee.

More than 200 birdhouses will be auctioned off today at Project Return’s 10th annual “The Art of the Birdhouse” auction at Westport’s Inn at Longshore. Jane Horton (l), co-chair of the auction, confers with auction committee member Totney Benson about placement of the items. Since opening its doors in 1986, Project Return has provided a family-style therapeutic environment for more than 115 troubled adolescent girls. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Did you change your clock at 2 a.m. today? It’s daylight savings time and the Westport Fire Depertment reminds residents to “change your clock, change your batteries.”

The department, in conjunction with the Town of Westport, the Westport Firefighters’ Golf Tournament, and the Westport Rotary Club, is offering free nine-volt batteries to residents for their smoke detectors.

Bring your old batteries to Westport fire headquarters, 515 Post Road East, and exchange them for new ones—maximum three batteries per household. If you need assistance changing batteries, call (203) 341-5010 to come to your home—no fee.

Fire Marshall Fred S. Baker said the Town of Westport is indebted to the Firefighters’ Golf Tournament and the Westport Rotary Club for their efforts to make the town a better, safer community.