Friday, December 01, 2023

Sponsors

Supper & Soul Performance Rescheduled

By moving up the start time, concert attendees will be able to be home before nightfall, the announcement said,

Tickets for Friday night will be honored on Sunday. Gates to the Imperial parking lot will now open at 4 p.m. to begin the socially distant tailgate before the show.

Saturday tickets will only be accepted for Saturday’s show. There are no refunds being offered as the Sunday date was always a fallback due to weather.

For more information.  http://www.westportwestonchamber.com/supper.

By moving up the start time, concert attendees will be able to be home before nightfall, the announcement said,

Tickets for Friday night will be honored on Sunday. Gates to the Imperial parking lot will now open at 4 p.m. to begin the socially distant tailgate before the show.

Saturday tickets will only be accepted for Saturday’s show. There are no refunds being offered as the Sunday date was always a fallback due to weather.

For more information.  http://www.westportwestonchamber.com/supper.

Special Hours Set for Absentee Ballot Requests

However, for those eligible voters who wish to vote in person, the polls will be open on Tuesday, Aug. 11 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All voting will be take place at Bedford Middle School, 88 North Ave.

Please wear Personal Protective Equipment and participate in social distancing, the announcement said.

In addition to the existing qualifications to vote absentee, the Governor’s Executive Order 7QQ allows all electors to vote early due to COVID-19.

Ballots may be returned by mail delivery or by using the Official Ballot Drop Box located at the rear entrance of Town Hall.

Applications for absentee ballots can be downloaded from the town website http://www.westportct.gov.

However, for those eligible voters who wish to vote in person, the polls will be open on Tuesday, Aug. 11 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All voting will be take place at Bedford Middle School, 88 North Ave.

Please wear Personal Protective Equipment and participate in social distancing, the announcement said.

In addition to the existing qualifications to vote absentee, the Governor’s Executive Order 7QQ allows all electors to vote early due to COVID-19.

Ballots may be returned by mail delivery or by using the Official Ballot Drop Box located at the rear entrance of Town Hall.

Applications for absentee ballots can be downloaded from the town website http://www.westportct.gov.

Lamont Activates National Guard to Aid Power Restoration

“The Connecticut National Guard has been a major component in our efforts to minimize the impact of COVID-19 in our state, and now we’re also calling on their service to help our residents out following another major weather event,” Lamont said.

“We continue to work with our municipal counterparts to help ensure they have what they need to restore power and clear our roadways.

The soldiers and airmen of the Connecticut National Guard have provided similar support during recent major weather events, including the May 2018 microbursts that severely affected towns in the southwestern portion of the state.

On Wednesday, Lamont declared a state of emergency in response to the tropical storm.

“The Connecticut National Guard has been a major component in our efforts to minimize the impact of COVID-19 in our state, and now we’re also calling on their service to help our residents out following another major weather event,” Lamont said.

“We continue to work with our municipal counterparts to help ensure they have what they need to restore power and clear our roadways.

The soldiers and airmen of the Connecticut National Guard have provided similar support during recent major weather events, including the May 2018 microbursts that severely affected towns in the southwestern portion of the state.

On Wednesday, Lamont declared a state of emergency in response to the tropical storm.

UPDATE: Westport Making Progress in Restoring Power

Power cannot be safely restored until all the trees are cleared. Unfortunately, this process may take days. There can be no official estimates for when power may be restored while the Make Safe process is ongoing.

However, once the next phase begins, more accurate data will be available to provide estimates on times and areas of restoration.

Statement from First Selectman Marpe:

I have been in direct contact with Eversource and our legislators about the Eversource response and its expected timeframe for restoration, demanding accurate estimates from Eversource for their remaining restoration efforts.

Governor Lamont has also stepped in to demand a better response from Eversource. In an effort to manage expectations regarding estimates of power restoration time, be aware that this storm has created as much electrical infrastructure damage as Superstorm Sandy eight years ago.

Power restoration for some customers in that event took many days. We understand everyone’s frustration with even a day without power, so we will push Eversource in every way possible to speed the process, without compromising safety.

We are also aware of the challenges with sporadic to non-existent WiFi, internet and cell service. We have been in contact with executives at major carriers, including AT&T Wireless and Verizon. Cell towers and antennas require commercial power to operate.

As a result, they are also affected by the massive outage. The representatives assured us that they are working on temporary solutions to gain some level of service, but ultimately, they, like all of us, rely on full restoration by Eversource before they may achieve full capability.

The town is working on establishing locations for public device charging stations.  Seniors age 60 or over can charge their devices on the outside of the Senior Center between the hours of 8:30 – 4:30 Monday – Friday.  Outdoor public Wi-Fi can be accessed at the train station houses, outside of Town Hall and outside of the Westport Library.

Yesterday, there were technical issues that prevented broadcasting on WWPT.  Those issues have been resolved, and I encourage residents to tune in to Westport’s WWPT (90.3 FM) radio for information and guidance during this emergency.

While safety remains our utmost concern, we suggest that residents remain at home after dark given that downed wires are harder to be seen at night.  Furthermore, traffic lights continue to be out of service and all intersections must be approached as if a stop sign was there.

Please do not remove caution tape or barricades from roadways; they are there for your safety.  If tape or barricades are removed prematurely, personnel must reattach it, taking time away from other vital activities. Exercise extreme caution if out walking/cycling/jogging on the roadways and sidewalks, since many remain blocked by limbs and wires.

We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation as we work effectively and efficiently to address the issues associated with this event.  The intent of these press updates is to answer public questions and concerns for all to see.

Please continue following our press notifications and social media for answers to your concerns. And please remember, we are still fighting the COVID-19 virus so practice social distancing and use face coverings if you choose to leave your home. Please help protect our community as we work together to get through the pandemic and the storm aftermath.

Update on Westport Parks & Recreation:

Westport town beaches are open for use but will be closing at 8:30 p.m. in an effort to keep people off the roads after dark.  Longshore Golf Course and Longshore tennis courts remain closed as clean-up continues and there is no electricity. 

Access will be available to the ER Strait Marina, Longshore Sailing School and the Pearl.  Please note that due to the lack of power, fuel is not available at either marina.

Athletic fields are open with the exception of Town Farms and Coleytown Elementary School fields.  For updates on those fields, check with Westport Little League.

Other park facilities that are open include, Winslow Park, Machamux Park, Grace Salmon Park, Luciano Park, Eloise Ray Park, Pasacreta Park, Jesup Green and Veterans Green. 

Please note, some areas may still be blocked or closed off.  The Staples, Town Farms and Doubleday tennis courts are open for play. Other parks will be opened once damage has been assessed and the area is deemed safe.  Please do not enter a park if it has been closed off.

Power cannot be safely restored until all the trees are cleared. Unfortunately, this process may take days. There can be no official estimates for when power may be restored while the Make Safe process is ongoing.

However, once the next phase begins, more accurate data will be available to provide estimates on times and areas of restoration.

Statement from First Selectman Marpe:

I have been in direct contact with Eversource and our legislators about the Eversource response and its expected timeframe for restoration, demanding accurate estimates from Eversource for their remaining restoration efforts.

Governor Lamont has also stepped in to demand a better response from Eversource. In an effort to manage expectations regarding estimates of power restoration time, be aware that this storm has created as much electrical infrastructure damage as Superstorm Sandy eight years ago.

Power restoration for some customers in that event took many days. We understand everyone’s frustration with even a day without power, so we will push Eversource in every way possible to speed the process, without compromising safety.

We are also aware of the challenges with sporadic to non-existent WiFi, internet and cell service. We have been in contact with executives at major carriers, including AT&T Wireless and Verizon. Cell towers and antennas require commercial power to operate.

As a result, they are also affected by the massive outage. The representatives assured us that they are working on temporary solutions to gain some level of service, but ultimately, they, like all of us, rely on full restoration by Eversource before they may achieve full capability.

The town is working on establishing locations for public device charging stations.  Seniors age 60 or over can charge their devices on the outside of the Senior Center between the hours of 8:30 – 4:30 Monday – Friday.  Outdoor public Wi-Fi can be accessed at the train station houses, outside of Town Hall and outside of the Westport Library.

Yesterday, there were technical issues that prevented broadcasting on WWPT.  Those issues have been resolved, and I encourage residents to tune in to Westport’s WWPT (90.3 FM) radio for information and guidance during this emergency.

While safety remains our utmost concern, we suggest that residents remain at home after dark given that downed wires are harder to be seen at night.  Furthermore, traffic lights continue to be out of service and all intersections must be approached as if a stop sign was there.

Please do not remove caution tape or barricades from roadways; they are there for your safety.  If tape or barricades are removed prematurely, personnel must reattach it, taking time away from other vital activities. Exercise extreme caution if out walking/cycling/jogging on the roadways and sidewalks, since many remain blocked by limbs and wires.

We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation as we work effectively and efficiently to address the issues associated with this event.  The intent of these press updates is to answer public questions and concerns for all to see.

Please continue following our press notifications and social media for answers to your concerns. And please remember, we are still fighting the COVID-19 virus so practice social distancing and use face coverings if you choose to leave your home. Please help protect our community as we work together to get through the pandemic and the storm aftermath.

Update on Westport Parks & Recreation:

Westport town beaches are open for use but will be closing at 8:30 p.m. in an effort to keep people off the roads after dark.  Longshore Golf Course and Longshore tennis courts remain closed as clean-up continues and there is no electricity. 

Access will be available to the ER Strait Marina, Longshore Sailing School and the Pearl.  Please note that due to the lack of power, fuel is not available at either marina.

Athletic fields are open with the exception of Town Farms and Coleytown Elementary School fields.  For updates on those fields, check with Westport Little League.

Other park facilities that are open include, Winslow Park, Machamux Park, Grace Salmon Park, Luciano Park, Eloise Ray Park, Pasacreta Park, Jesup Green and Veterans Green. 

Please note, some areas may still be blocked or closed off.  The Staples, Town Farms and Doubleday tennis courts are open for play. Other parks will be opened once damage has been assessed and the area is deemed safe.  Please do not enter a park if it has been closed off.

Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020


Westport Town Offices, Schools, Library, & Senior Center are closed.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – 50 Imperial Ave. – Westport Farmers Market
10 a.m. – via Zoom – Westport Weston Health District Panel Discussion on COVID-19 POSTPONED
Noon – 4 p.m. – MoCA Westport – “Helmut Lang: 41.1595° N, 73.3882° W”
2 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Westport Library – Open for limited services CLOSED
6 p.m. – Wakeman Town Farm – Rockin’ Lawn Picnic
7:30 p.m. – 646-876-9923 ID:  893 2102 5900 – Architectural Review Board

Westport Senior Center YouTube Channel
Westport Library Event Calendar
Westport Library YouTube Page
Earthplace YouTube Channel
Virtual Westport Museum for History & Culture
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar

Lamont Requests Investigation of Utilities

“And now here we are, with a wholly inadequate response to another storm. I’m asking PURA to begin this investigation so that we can determine whether the companies are meeting their legal obligations and whether any penalties need to be applied. The people of Connecticut deserve better than the service they are receiving.”

“And now here we are, with a wholly inadequate response to another storm. I’m asking PURA to begin this investigation so that we can determine whether the companies are meeting their legal obligations and whether any penalties need to be applied. The people of Connecticut deserve better than the service they are receiving.”