Avoiding future tragedies

The tragic death of 62-year-old Sharon Broecking has called renewed attention to the busy area of Post Road East where she was struck by a car Tuesday evening.

It's the second fatality in two years at nearly the same spot, an area where lots of pedestrians cross the road on their way to Stop & Shop. Ms. Broecking was struck by a car after she left the store; she was in the crosswalk, but it was already dark.

Whatever the outcome of the investigation into the accident, it seems clear that a traffic light is needed at the crosswalk, and First Selectman Gordon Joseloff is reported ready to renew his request to the state for that to happen. It needs to happen soon.

Back to the future for Goodwill

It was hard to make the argument -- although some people gave it their best shot -- that Goodwill Industries, which has been operating in Westport for half a century, doesn't have the right to move its facility a few hundred feet up the Post Road. So once the traffic issues were addressed, it was a pretty easy call, it seems to us, for the Planning & Zoning Commission to approve the site plan, as it did last week, unanimously.

And it was gratifying to read all the comments from Westporters on Westport Now, disagreeing with a store owner who had some problems with the "element" that Goodwill attracts. Goodwill has been a valued member of the community for 50 years, and this is hardly the time (a season of goodwill, remember) to be stiff-arming this fine organization.

We wish Goodwill Industries the best as it continues its mission of helping those most in need of help. Certainly in these uncertain economic times, we all may have come to realize that "There, but for the grace of God, go I."