Beers, 88, who served as a pharmacist's mate during the war and was based at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va., will lay the wreath in front of the monument dedicated to those who served in the Navy during Monday ceremonies. Beers, who has lived in Westport four decades and is a retired real estate agent, said she's honored and excited to participate in the ceremony. Beers is the mother of three children, six grandchildren and one great grandchild, many of whom will be joining her in Washington.

The Board of Finance voted 5-2 Thursday night to increase the town's tax rate by 0.9 percent in the 2013-2014 fiscal year, which means the average homeowner in Westport -- where homes on average are assessed at $1.2 million -- will pay approximately $142 more in taxes in the fiscal year starting July 1. Board of Finance Chairman Avi Kaner said the modest tax increase is needed to finance the 2.4 percent increase in the new town budget of $193 million -- including a 4 percent boost in Board of Education spending -- and also to provide flexibility to deal with unforeseen expenditures. Earlier this month the Representative Town approved a $193 million budget for 2013-14, including $104 million in education operating expenditures, $12.7 for schools' debt service and $ 75.6 million for municipal spending. Kaner, a GOP candidate for the Board of Selectmen, accused Garten of playing politics, noting that Garten can now try to sell voters on the fact that she wanted no new taxes. In a prepared statement released after the finance board's vote, Marpe noted that increasing the mill rate by less than 1 percent will still allow Westport to maintain financial reserves of 10 percent.

Westport public schools plan to screen preschool children who might be at-risk for learning problems. The screenings -- which will look at a child's development in areas such as language, motor skills, and self-help skills -- will take place June 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at Coleytown Elementary School, 65 Easton Road. There are various reasons why a child could be "at-risk" for learning, said Gwen Goldman, a social worker at Stepping Stones Preschool, which serves both special education and typical students.

The threat of showers and thunderstorms across southwestern Connecticut today is rated at 100 percent, with a daytime temperature rising to a high in the mid-60s under cloudy skies, the NWS says. Tonight. more rain is in the forecast as the temperature drops to the upper-40s., with a north wind 14 to 16 mph. There remains a slight chance of rain Sunday, under mostly cloudy skies as temperatures rise to a high in the mid-60s. On Monday, Memorial Day, the wet weather cycle finally rolls from the area and holiday skies should be sunny.

Events in Westport today -- Friday, May 24 Baron's South Committee: 9:30 a.m. Town Hall. http://bit.ly/16RjpZm Representative Town Meeting Ordinance Committee: 10 a.m. Town Hall. http://bit.ly/13Odnp6 SOLOS 2013: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Westport Arts Center, 51 Riverside Ave. Members' exhibition. http://bit.ly/10zU13h Gault and Sugarman exhibit openings: 5:30 p.m. Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place. Reception for twin opening of new exhibitions, "Five Generations of Yankee Ingenuity: The Gault Family" and "Tracy Sugarman, Citizen-Artist." http://bit.ly/13OdkJT

Fisher, 88, served with the U.S. Army's 30th Engineer Topographic Battalion and helped create maps for Allied campaigns in the Mediterranean, European and Pacific theaters. After the war he worked as an artist, illustrating more than 200 books for young readers, authoring more than 90 books, and designing 10 United States postage stamps. The parade route runs north to Route 1 and heads east over the Post Road bridge, turns left onto Myrtle Avenue and passes a review stand in front of Town Hall. Fisher said he is the last living member of his Army unit and plans to use his speech to pay homage to deceased soldiers.

Park City Pride Drum Corps, Westport Police Department, Westport Volunteer EMS, Grand Marshal Leonard Everett Fisher, aides to the grand marshal, World War II veterans and World War II Jeep. Nash Drum Corps, Westport Fire Department and vehicles, Y's Men of Westport/Weston, Westport Little League, Staples High School Band, Westport Soccer Association, Westport Lacrosse Association, Suzuki Music School of Westport, St. Paul Lutheran Church -- Christian School, Al's Angels, Westport Historical Society, League of Women Voters of Westport, Westport Woman's Club and Westport Electric Car Club. Temple Lodge 65 Masonic Lodge, Coleytown Middletown School Band, Westport Boy Scouts, Westport PAL, Westport Girl Scouts, Westport Cinema Initiative, Democratic Women of Westport, Westport Community Theatre, the Y's Women, Bedford Middle School Band, World Champion Taekwondo, Monroe Kohn Vehicle, Rainbow Task Force, SDSS Kung Fu, Builders Beyond Borders and Republican Town Committee. Knights of Columbus Council 3688, Col. John Chester Fife & Drum Corps, Isadora's Children, WEBE 108, Sunrise Rotary, Westport Weston Family Y, United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston, Saugatuck River Sail & Power Squadron, Save Our Strays, Earthplace, Radio Station 89.5, Westport Public Library, First Night Westport-Weston, Westport Make A Difference Day, Westport Transit District, Levitt Pavilion, CLASP Homes, Geiger's Landscape & Design and Junior Colonials.

Westport Farmers' Market springs to life for new season Compo Beach and the Westport Farmers' Market, which opened its eighth season in the Imperial Avenue commuter parking lot. The market is offering a range of meats, baked goods, plants and produce from 29 area vendors. Approximately 1,000 people visit the market each week, making it a popular destination in warm-weather Westport. It's about creating a conversation around local food and healthy food. [...] people knowing their farmers and knowing where their food is from. Rebecca Batchie is a farmer with Fort Hill Farm in New Milford, which has been participating in the Westport Farmers' Market since its inception.

A new playground honoring Newtown school shooting victim Dylan Hockley will soon be built at Long Lots Elementary School. Construction of the new, 100 percent handicap-accessible playground -- which will include swings, balance beams, monkey bars, slides, and activity games including tic-tac-toe -- will take place June 7 and 8. Earl Hill, a Newtown resident and Westport firefighter, is helping to organize the Long Lots project, which will receive donations of time and equipment from area companies including A.J. Penna Construction Co., Kowalsky Brothers Construction Co., and Gault Energy. After Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, students in Mississippi learned about the efforts of Elizabeth, N.J., firefighters who had assisted the New York City Fire Department in responding to the attacks.

Jeffrey Shaffer has joined the Westport office of William Raveis Real Estate as a sales associate. The Weston resident previously worked in sales and marketing for the home in both domestic and international markets. In welcoming Shaffer to the staff, Raveis said in a statement, "Jeffrey and our company share many of the same values, including a focus on customer satisfaction. He is a talented professional, and I am excited to celebrate his career." Originally from New York City, Shaffer and his family have been residents of Weston for 14 years. Shaffer can be contacted at 203-635-6614 or jeffrey.shaffer@raveis.com.

In a "Hazardous Weather Outlook" issued early today, the weather says that downpours of 1 to 2 inches an hour are possible, which could trigger flash flooding in southwestern Connecticut. Tonight, storms with heavy rain are likely as the temperature falls to a low of about 60 degrees, with a south wind 5 to 9 mph. Showers and thunderstorms remain a threat tomorrow, again with heavy rainfall possible.

Events in Westport today -- Sasco Brook Pollution Abatement Committee: 10 a.m. Earthplace, 10 Woodside Lane. http://bit.ly/169VrJt SOLOS 2013: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Westport Arts Center, 51 Riverside Ave. Members' exhibition. http://bit.ly/10zU13h "Zero Dark Thirty:" 6 p.m. Westport Public Library. Screening of 2012 movie about attack on bin Laden compound. http://bit.ly/12XuaDU

The estate of a Fairfield lawyer struck and killed by a car in March while attempting to cross Post Road East near the Shake Shack restaurant has filed a lawsuit against the town and state Department of Transportation, claiming both are liable because of the lack of a pedestrian crosswalk. The lawsuit, filed May 16, asserts a potential claim of liability and/or apportionment and/or contribution for damages claimed by the Estate of Bruce Tabackman as a result of a defective condition of the roadway on Post Road. The lawsuit also claims that "the state caused, allowed or permitted the defective roadway to exist and did not properly ensure the safety of the restaurant patrons failing to prevent the unsafe condition from occurring and causing this accident."