By James Lomuscio

If anything, Westport and its people showcased their time-honored reputation for grit and perseverance in 2019.

Their tenacity oftentimes seemed against the wind on myriad issues from schools to environmental concerns to affordable housing to bids for elected office — to even fighting a cellphone ticket.

Whether it was the continual debate about the $32 million renovation of Coleytown Middle School (CMS) scheduled to open in August 2020, Summit Saugatuck’s seventh try for a housing complex, banning plastic straws and Styrofoam to finally getting the Westport Library to be what the townspeople wanted, not backing down seemed de rigueur.

What makes up Westport’s indefatigable doggedness?

By James Lomuscio

As 2018 comes to a close, a look back shows how Westport was tested with epic struggles and a loss of innocence, perhaps.

The challenges were not just financial in the wake of the state’s fiscal malaise. In fact, town officials met those tests well. Westport’s Board of Finance in May unanimously kept the mill rate flat.

The challenges were cultural, too, as Westporters kept their eyes on quality of life issues.

Coleytown Middle School’s (CMS) mold problem and the ensuing shifting of students and grade levels as a school remains shuttered still pose the big question: how to maintain a stellar education amid an infrastructure crisis.

A strong second half lifted Staples’ boys soccer team to a 4-0 win over Trinity Catholic today at the Crusaders’ field. Patricio Perez Elorza, Matthew Tanzer, Lefty Penderakis and Brendan Lynch all scored, with two assists from Sam Liles, and one from Josh DeDomenico. The Wreckers, now 2-0-1, travel to Wilton Monday for a big 6 p.m. match. In this photo, DeDomenico races past a Trinity defender. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Armelle Daniels for WestportNow.com

As has been our tradition on the first day of the year, WestportNow presents a pictorial look back at the year just ended.

Now in our 15th year of publication, we are deeply grateful for the support shown by our readers and advertisers – more important than ever to have an independent news source in Westport as others close or cut back. We urge you to support our advertisers and thank them for helping make WestportNow possible. And we always welcome more.

Many of the photos here are from our readers, for which we are very grateful. When you see something newsworthy, please submit contributions to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). And join us on Facebook, Twitter (@westportnow), and Instagram, where you can add #westportnow.

To enjoy the 2017 Year in Pictures, CLICK HERE. Happy New Year!

Gordon Joseloff
Editor-Publisher
WestportNow.com