Westport Cumulative COVID-19 Cases Up 5; No Deaths; State Positivity Rate 3.34%
The Westport-Weston Health District reports that Westport has added 5 positive or probable COVID-19 cases, and has added 0 new deaths.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 1,650 cases. Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 30 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 3.34%
Downtown Dinosaur: April Fools? Perhaps.
A siting of a dinosaur yesterday from the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge may be a sign of tomorrow’s April Fools. Photo by Barbara McDonald.
Staples High School, Westport Public Schools Presents: “America’s Voices” to 3rd-5th Graders
Coleytown Elementary School students stand with their yard sign artwork among a field of signs from the other Westport elementary schoolsPress ReleaseThe Staples Amati Chamber Orchestra pre-records “American Landscape”The Staples High School Music Department and Westport Public Schools will present “America’s Voices” to Westport students Grades 3-5, April 5-9. “America’s Voices” celebrates and showcases the diverse population of musicians and artists within our country and our schools. After several months of immersive studies of varied music and art, elementary students will view a video series spanning from April 5-9 featuring:
Staples music ensembles pre-recorded pieces from diverse American composers
Westport public school student art grades 3-5 and 9-12
A traveling town-wide lawn sign exhibit, beginning at the elementary schools on April 3, visually expressing the Voices of our public school students, in partnership with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee and Poet Laureate, Diane Lowman
Family folk song submissions celebrating Westport’s diverse cultures, recorded at home by elementary students and families
This collaborative effort, previously called the Westport Youth Concert, has been renamed the Westport Youth Arts Collaborative to encompass the cross-curricular involvement in the making of this production. Not only does the program expose students Grades 3-5 to the exemplary musicians at Staples High School, but also builds their understanding of diversity and the uniqueness of global cultures. The multi-discipline initiative has developed partnerships in our community with organizations such as the Westport Library, Westport Arts Advisory Committee, WestPAC and PTA Cultural Arts.
For more information about this collaborative event and Staples Music go to staplesmusic.org.
Youth Commission Needs Adult & Student Members for 2021-2022
Press ReleaseThe Westport Youth Commission (WYC) is seeking students currently in grades 8-11 and adult members to serve for the 2021-2022 school year.
“The Youth Commission serves as a public forum for youth issues and advocates for youth needs and concerns in the community,” Human Services Director Elaine Daignault said. “Its 30 members, 15 students and 15 adults, are appointed by the First Selectman. Incoming Freshmen are invited to join the Freshman Committee prior to applying for appointment as sophomores.”
There are limited vacancies available. If you are currently a rising sophomore, junior or senior, or an adult who is interested in discussing youth issues on a monthly basis while making a difference in your community, we invite you to join. The appointment process for youth and adults includes completing an application and submitting at least one letter of recommendation on behalf of the candidate by May 14, 2021. The application link can be found at www.westportct.gov/youthservices.
All WYC meetings are open to the public and are usually scheduled for the third Thursday of each month. Appointed WYC members commit to participate in at least one advocacy group and other tasks as needed throughout the year, which may involve additional meetings.
To learn more about the Freshman Committee or for further information about the Youth Commission, please contact Kevin Godburn at 203-341-1155 or via e-mail at kgodburn@westportct.gov.
About the Westport Youth Commission
The Westport Youth Commission, appointed by the First Selectman and staffed by the Department of Human Services, is comprised of 15 Westport high school students and an equal number of Westport adults. It serves as a catalyst for programs and activities that promote the positive development of youth in their families, schools, community and among their peers.
Westport Police Participate in U Text, U Drive, U Pay Campaign
Press Release
The Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office is launching U Drive. U Text. U Pay., a national high-visibility enforcement campaign for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. In partnership with State and local law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the campaign will step up enforcement efforts to enforce distracted-driving laws between April 1 to April 30, 2021.
Distracted driving is an activity that diverts attention from driving. Not surprisingly, texting while driving is one of the most dangerous distractions. Sending or reading a text takes one’s eyes off the road for 5 seconds and at 55 m.p.h., that is like driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed. Additionally, according to the NHTSA driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than intoxicated driving.
Operating a motor vehicle requires the driver’s full attention and even a momentary distraction can lead to disastrous results. In Connecticut in 2019, more than 6,600 crashes were contributed to distracted driving and the NHTSA reported that between 2012 and 2019, 26,004 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver.
“Every trip on Connecticut’s roadways—no matter how long or short a trip—should be a safe one,” said Commissioner Joseph Giulietti of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. “We want drivers to focus on the most important task: hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”
Violating Connecticut’s distracted-driving laws can be costly. Drivers who are ticketed are fined $150 for the first offense, $300 for the second offense, and $500 for the third and subsequent offenses.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation along with the Westport Police urges you to put your phone down when you get behind the wheel. Should you need to text prior to reaching your destination, please pull over to a safe location first.
New Road for Westport: “Belta Farms Lane” Approved; 23 Acres Subdivided into 9 Building Lots off Bayberry Lane
Apple Maps capture of the current location of Belta’s Farms, where 9 new lots and Belta Farms Lane will be constructed in the coming months. The Planning & Zoning Commission has approved a plan to subdivide the properties of 126 and 128 Bayberry Lane, which amount to just over 23 acres, into 9 separate building lots on a new private road called Belta Farms Lane.
Belta Farms is a family-owned property dating back to the 1940s, according to the application, and has served as a working farm in addition to residential use on the two combined properties.
The application described 9 separate building lots, with six lots being less than 2 acres, and the remaining three being 2 or more acres. Two of the lots will be retained for the family to reside on.
The new road, Belta Farms Lane, will be just under 1000 feet long and will end with a cul-de-sac. The new subdivision will also include over 2 acres of open space.
Hope for the Future Continues as Teens, Adults Eligible for Vaccines Starting Tomorrow
Hope for the future, past the pandemic, is ever-growing as teenagers and adults 16 and older become eligible for vaccine registration tomorrow. A list of vaccination sites and registration links from the Westport-Weston Health District has been provided for the assumed influx of registrations tomorrow.
Ways to register for vaccine:
To view a statewide list and map of COVID-19 vaccine clinics, go to www.211ct.org/vaccineclinics, enter your zip code or town in the location box on the right and press the yellow search icon.
Eligible residents should use the resources currently available to schedule vaccines and remain patient if delays occur. Please do not wait for availability specifically with WWHD. Currently, appointments can be made utilizing the following tools:
VAMS online system: VAMS is the Vaccine Administration Management System and can be used to schedule appointments at multiple clinics across the state. To make an appointment using this system, click here.
Call Connecticut’s COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Assist Line: Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment assist line is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week. To make an appointment, call 877-918-2224.
Hartford HealthCare: To make an appointment, click here.
Yale New Haven Health: To make an appointment, click here.
Stamford Health: To make an appointment, click here.
Walgreens: To make an appointment, click here.
CVS: To make an appointment, click here.
Walmart: To make an appointment, click here.
WWHD: To view upcoming dates, click here.
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccination distribution plans in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.
Westporter Wins Maine Optimist Club Scholarship with Essay
From The Sun Journal, March 29th 2021