Are you confident you could safely guide your family through an emergency such as a flood or fire? If not, let Westport Police Sgt. Richard Frazier and other instructors of the Westport Community Emergency Response Team help you to help your family.

A division of the Westport Police Department, the team is offering a free basic training course to Fairfield County residents interested in becoming better equipped to handle emergencies both small and large.

"In the basic training class, we start with an introduction to emergency preparedness, teaching participants how to prepare themselves for natural or manmade disasters," said Frazier, the team coordinator. "We talk about how to put together disaster kits and stocking up the food pantry."

Although some of the material may seem like common sense, Frazier said it's important to stress the fact that people need to take care of themselves first before helping others during an emergency. "It's like when you're on an airplane and [the flight attendants] tell you to secure your own mask first before securing those of others," he said.

During the course, participants are taught how to put out a fire as well as how to recognize what types of fire they can't extinguish on their own.

Though the course focuses on how to prepare your household for an emergency, participants will also learn what they can do to help in case of a large-scale emergency. "We teach light search-and-rescue methods, how to assist EMS treat large amounts of people and some components of terrorism, like what to look for," Frazier said. "We also go over disaster psychology, giving participants an insight into how disaster affects people."

Stamford High School's boys basketball team won the city championship and clinched a spot in the upcoming Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference tournament with Monday's 66-54 win over Trinity Catholic. The Black Knights also showed they have the potential to cut down the nets at the end of the league's playoffs.

Led by the powerful inside-outside game of Luis Briddter and Anthony Davis, Stamford improved to 13-6 overall and 12-5 in the league. The Crusaders fell to 11-8 overall and 10-7 in the league. They can secure a playoff berth by beating Wilton in the season-finale Wednesday.

"When you beat a team the caliber of Trinity, that's a good win,'' Stamford coach Jim Moriarty said. "They have a lot of talent. Year in and year out, they're one of the top teams in the state."

Briddter scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Davis also scored 20 and did a solid job on defense against Trinity guard Jonathan Boykin, holding him to 13 points and just three field goals. Danny Turkvan added 17 and Jakai Wilson scored 10 for Stamford.

Schadrac Casmir scored 18 to lead the Crusaders, including 11 in the fourth quarter when they sliced a 17-point deficit to six with 1:20 left. Stamford went six-for-seven from the foul line in the final 76 seconds to hold off Trinity.

"I don't think we executed early, and our inexperience had a lot to do with that,'' Trinity coach Mike Walsh said. "We're playing basically two sophomores, two juniors and a senior. They're playing all seniors for the most part. Their experience showed early."

Briddter scored 14 points in the first half as Stamford built a 29-20 halftime lead. Stamford enjoyed its largest lead, 48-31, with 37 seconds left in the third. Stamford led 53-37 with 4:55 left before Casmir led the Crusaders on a 15-5 run that pulled them within 58-52. Trinity made Stamford ice it at the foul line, and Turkvan and Davis hit three free throws apiece in the final 1:16.

If you're concerned about conservation issues in Easton, you should attend the Conservation Commission's meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Town Hall conference room. The commission members are scheduled to discuss a variety of topics, including three cases in which residents allegedly violated town conservation ordinances. The commission will also talk about the possible designation of Orchard Road as a scenic road. A public hearing on that subject is scheduled for Feb. 28.

Several residents have applications pending with the commission to determine the environmental impact of projects. These will also be discussed, as will the Planning and Zoning Commission's recent rejection of the Saddle Ridge Development.

The commission is also set to discuss a memo from First Selectman Tom Herrmann, who indicated his desire to revise the town's purchasing ordinance to give the first selectman the authority to sign for purchases. The current ordinance gives that responsibility to department heads.

The Conservation Commission has appointed officials who serve for a limited term. The current board is led by Chairman Adam Dunsby and includes Vice Chairman Stephen J. Edwards, Secretary Lea Sylvestro, Stephen Corti, Roy Gosse, Dori Wollen and Peggy Macaluso.

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Robert Vignola could hardly believe the sign he saw as he walked along Elm Street on Monday. A big white sign on the window of the Taste of Asia restaurant announced that it has closed after 23 years of serving up such fine Asian dishes as General Tso’s chicken and Thai curry chicken in New Canaan.

“They had very friendly owners,” said Vignola, 58. “It really was a nice place. I always used to come here.” The popular restaurant closed Sunday after owners Wayne and Sandy Chan, who live in Wilton, decided to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. Wayne Chan said he and his wife, both near 60, had thought about closing for several months before deciding at the end of the year to stop.

“We just want to relax.” Wayne Chan said. “We want to thank all the people for so many years. The customers and the merchants, we will miss them.” Chan said several customers greeted him Monday as he began cleaning out the restaurant. Chan said none of his four sons, all of whom live in New York City, wanted to run the eatery. The shuttering marks the second restaurant in New Canaan to close in a week. Aloi restaurant on Main Street closed its doors last week.

Susie and Steve Meszkat were also sorry. “I hope they’re closing for the right reasons,” Susie Meszkat said. “We will miss them.”

If you have a Taste Of Asia gift certificate, contact the Chans at 6.

Did you ever have a meal at Taste Of Asia? Will you miss the place? Let us know by leaving a comment below. You can also visit us on .