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Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Westport to Host Democratic Senatorial Debate
Westport is set to host a Democratic Senatorial Debate Wednesday, May 23, at Town Hall where U.S. Congressman Chris Murphy will square off against former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz for the Democratic nomination, Jim Ezzes, chairman of Westport’s Democratic Town Committee (DTC) announced.
To date, this is the only Democratic debate in Fairfield County prior to the August primary, Ezzes said.
Gary Rose, chairman of the Department of Government and Politics at Sacred Heart University, will moderate the event, and Ezzes asks DTC members to submit questions to him no later than Friday. Topics should include healthcare, education, the economy, foreign policy, judicial, social and moral issues, Ezzes said, as well as energy, taxes and the deficit.
He added that submitting questions beforehand will avoid long questions from the audience and “permit the candidates to address as many questions as possible during the hour-long debate.”
More "Westport to Host Democratic Senatorial Debate"
No Applause for Implementation of Education Reforms
By Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
www.ctmirror.orgOnly two hours after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into law a compromise education reform bill to near universal applause, a disagreement erupted at the State Department of Education over how to implement a provision on evaluating teachers.
At issue is how much students’ performances on standardized tests will count when grading teachers. The new reform package relies on linking tenure and dismissal decisions to a new state-created teacher evaluation system.
“We are going to have an evaluation system that actually means something,” Malloy said Tuesday afternoon, before signing the bill to the applause of administrators, teacher union leaders and others at the state Capitol.
But a panel working across the street at the education department on finalizing the details for these new evaluations by July 1 split on how much standardized tests will count.
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Road Work Under Way
Spring road work is under way in Westport. Hillandale Road was getting paved today in connection with sewer work on the street. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Eckman for WestportNow.com
Marina Gray
Westport’s Ned Dimes Marina at Compo Beach took on a gray look Tuesday as rain and clouds dominated the day’s weather. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - SOLOS Exhibition and “Guide to Paris: Sketches by Susan Malloy”
Noon - Westport Public Library - Joseph Farris, “A Soldier’s Sketchbook: From the Front Lines of World War II”
12:30 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - SOLOS Lunctime Artists Talks: Carolyn Rie & Don Leeds
2 p.m. and 8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “Into the Woods”
4 p.m. – Town Hall Room 309 – Board of Selectmen Public Hearing (live coverage cable channel 79, AT&T channel 99, and westportct.gov)
7 p.m. – Town Hall Room 201/201A – Conservation Commission (live coverage cable channel 79, AT&T channel 99, and westportct.gov)
7:30 p.m. – Westport Public Library – Westport Public Library Board
7:30 p.m. – Town Hall Room 102 – Deer Management Committee
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Westport Author Optimistic About U.S. Economy
Westporter Daniel Gross told a Westport Public Library audience tonight he is optimistic about the U.S. economy. A former editor at Newsweek, he wrote the “Contrary Indicator” column, which he now writes for Yahoo! Finance. A member of the library board, he talked about his new book—his seventh—“Better, Stronger, Faster: The Myth of American Economic Decline.” “I look at the economy from the perspective of private vs. public institutions and from the view of an American historian, not an economist,” he said. He recalled that it wasn’t very long ago when Japan was the rising star, complaining about U.S. economic mismanagement and buying up iconic N.Y. skyscrapers and California golf courses. Today the Japanese are totally discouraged by their stagnation, he said. Now China is being held out as the star, despite its poverty in the backcountry, escalating labor costs, and energy starvation. He cited numerous examples where the United States is in better shape than China and Japan. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
New Haven Line Delays
UPDATE Metro-North said at 9:42 p.m. that New Haven Line Service is now operating on or close to schedule after earlier delays due to single tracking between Rye and Greenwich due to wire damage.
Talking Transportation: Support the Busway
By Jim Cameron
Special to WestportNowYou think rush hour traffic is bad in Fairfield County on I-95 and the Merritt? Try driving on I-84 or I-91 into Hartford! That’s why the planned Busway from New Britain to downtown makes such sense.
Yet, the project has been widely scorned and almost scuttled by rail advocates and lawmakers who would rather see rail service than buses. Even though I’m all about trains, this Busway project makes sense.
But first, what is a “busway,” you ask? Let me explain.
A busway is a dedicated highway just for buses. In this case, it would run 9.4 miles from downtown Hartford to New Britain on an old railroad right-of-way. There would be 11 stations, each with plenty of parking like at a Metro-North station. So rather than be stuck in rush hour traffic on the interstates, you’d drive to a Busway station and hop aboard for a high-speed ride to downtown.
For more distant commuters, at the end of the dedicated bus-only Busway, the bus would enter the road system and head off into other towns and neighborhoods—something that rail cannot do—giving you a one-seat ride from home to work.
More "Talking Transportation: Support the Busway"
Rotary Community Grant Recipients
The Westport Rotary Club today presented its annual grants to community recipients at its weekly meeting at the Inn at Longshore. The club distributed $30,000 in grants to 25 organizations. Various fund-raising events throughout the year contribute to the gift fund. Representatives of the recipients posed with Rotary leaders. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Molly Schilling for WestportNow.com
Westport Rotary Names Paul Harris Fellows
The Westport Rotary Club today honored eight Westporters and one Weston resident for service to the Rotary Club and Rotary International with Paul Harris Fellowship awards. The award, named for the founder of Rotary International, honors those who exemplify the Rotary ideal of “service above self.” Pictured (l-r) are Irwin Lebish, Barbara Pitcher, Jessica Bram, Steve Halstead, Lynn Grossman (also representing the Thomas and Jeannie Elmezzi private foundation recognized for its matching gift support), Alan Bates, and Paul Harris Foundation co-chairs Jim Marpe and Kristin LeFleur. Missing from the photo are Marty Resnick and William Berson. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Molly Schilling for WestportNow.com
‘Buck’ Iannacone Named Memorial Day Grand Marshal
Almost three years ago, Westporter Alphonse “Buck” Iannacone was grand marshal of the Festival Italiano parade (shown accompanied by Roberta Troy). Today Iannacone added another grand marshal honor to his resume—he was named grand marshal of Westport’s Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 28, beginning at 9 a.m. The World War II veteran, who earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Battle Star, is a retired U.S. Postal Service employee. He has been active in many charitable causes, including the Police Athletic League and Sons of Italy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Milestone for Y After Night of Y’s Do-or-Die
By James Lomuscio
A do-or-die night for the Westport-Weston Family Y ended with unanimous thumbs up Monday from the organization’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees to go ahead with the construction of a new, 55,000-square-foot facility at Camp Mahackeno this fall.
An artist’s rendering of the new Family Y at Mahackeno, upon completion of all building phases. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed graphic
Without those approvals, the Y would have been forced to shut down, said Rob Reeves, the organization’s CEO.
“It was not a slam dunk, and there was a careful review of the facts provided by our project manager, Zubatkin Owners Representation, and the Bonnie Strittmatter, chairman of the Board of Directors, and and Jim Marpe, Board of Trustes chairman.”
At issue was the amount of money raised for the project already scaled back from a previously planned 100,000-square-foot Adirondack-style facility on the 32-acre camp the Y owns off Sunny Lane and abutting the Merritt Parkway.
More "Milestone for Y After Night of Y’s Do-or-Die"
Young Artists
Hunter Lipe, 7, was among second graders from Westport’s Green’s Farms Elementary School today who visited the Westport Arts Center. He showed off his work “Alligator Eating Lunch.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Teardown of the Day: 14 Charcoal Hill Road
An application for a permit to demolish the house at Westport’s 14 Charcoal Hill Road, off North Avenue, is in process. Built in 1928, the two-story custom contemporary has 2,911 square feet and is situated on a 2.32-acre property. The former co-owners of the house Harry Maynard died in August 2011 at age 93 (see WestportNow, Aug. 12, 2011) and his wife Natalie, a concert pianist, died in March 2012 at age 85 (see WestportNow, March 5, 2012). The house, designed by architect Frazier Peters, was featured on the WestportNow’ series, “Honoring Our Heritage” (see WestportNow, May 21, 2011.) Because the house was built more than 50 years ago, the application will be reviewed by the Westport Historic District Commission. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Y Mahackeno Facility a Go
At a meeting on Monday, the Westport Weston Family Y’s governing Board of Directors and Board of Trustees voted unanimously to continue with plans to build a new home for the Family Y at Mahackeno Outdoor Center, the Y announced today. On March 19, the Family Y announced the need to make significant progress toward closing a funding gap of $6.2 million. Without sufficient funds in place at that time, the Family Y’s plans to begin construction of the new Y faced an uncertain future. The Family Y said today it has since received 115 contributions of cash and/or pledges totaling $4.4 million. With these recent gifts, which include $750,000 from two descendants of Family Y Founder Edward T. Bedford, the Family Y has now raised more than $10.6 million toward its building project, an announcement said.
(CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Bridgeport Coal Plant Under Scrutiny
By Neena Satija
www.ctmirror.orgMore than 150 people crowded into a room in the Bridgeport City Hall Annex Monday night to weigh in on Bridgeport Harbor Station’s request to renew its five-year operating permit, which expired earlier this year.
Environmentalists have been trying for years to shut down the coal operations at the station, which is owned by the Newark-based Public Service Electric & Gas. This may be their best chance, said John Calandrelli, program director for the Sierra Club’s local chapter.
“This is the first, big, major step in what we believe will be, hopefully, a short fight to convince them to not only retire this plant but to revitalize Bridgeport,” Calandrelli said.
PSE&G insists that the plant’s coal operations are among the cleanest in the nation.
Click here for more of story
Waiting
Felix Johnson 11, a student at Westport’s Green’s Farms Elementary School, sits on his basketball with a leash on his dog Friday as they wait for his mother Camilla at the Matsu Sushi restaurant across from the Westport Public Library. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - SOLOS Exhibition and “Guide to Paris: Sketches by Susan Malloy”
10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Pageturners: “A Night to Remember”
11 a.m. – BMS Room 223 – Food Service Advisory/Health & Wellness Committee
1:30 p.m. – Town Hall Room 309 – Bond Committee
7:30 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Dan Gross: “Better, Stronger, Faster: The Myth of American Economic Decline”
8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “Into the Woods”
8 p.m. - Rolnick Observatory (182 Bayberry Lane) - David L. Rabinowitz: “Exploding Stars, Black Holes, and Planetesimals”
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
Monday, May 14, 2012
Dems Nominate Himes for a Third Term
Democrats of Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District tonight nominated Jim Himes for a third term at their convention at the Cesar A. Batalla School in Bridgeport. “I am humbled by this honor and excited by the campaign ahead,” Himes said in an email supporters. “Thanks to all of the delegates who joined us today. I look forward to working with all of you in the coming months to share a vision for our country that gives the next generation the same opportunities I had growing up.”Jessica Bram for WestportNow.com
Donovan Wins, But Esty and Roberti Qualify in 5th CD
By Mark Pazniokas
www.ctmirror.orgDemocrats endorsed House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan of Meriden for Connecticut’s only open congressional seat tonight, but former state Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Cheshire and Dan Roberti of Kent, who grew up in Westport, qualified for an Aug. 14 primary.
Donovan, 58, who has been organized labor’s greatest ally in the General Assembly, starts the primary campaign with important union support and $640,008 in cash, compared with $801,075 for Esty and $508,236 for Roberti.
Roberti just barely won 15 percent of the convention vote, the threshold for automatically qualifying for the primary. He was short of the necessary 51 votes after all votes were in, but enough delegates switched to give him 54 votes before the tally was formally closed. Donovan easily won with 216 votes, or 64 percent. Esty had 66 votes, or 20 percent.
The trio has been competing for the nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5th District, who is running for the U.S. Senate six years after breaking the Republican hold on the district by unseating Nancy Johnson.
Click here for more of story
Noted Sportswriter Tells of War-Time Baseball
Veteran sportswriter and author Jack Cavanaugh of Wilton told a Westport Public Library audience tonight about Major League Baseball during its first season after the United States entered World War II as portrayed in his fifth book, “Season of ‘42.” Cavanaugh said in preparing for his latest book, he performed most of his research at the Westport Public Library. “I spent hours at a time studying New York Times and Herald Tribune microfilm which the library acquires for me through its inter-library loan program,” he said. Cavanaugh is also the author of “Tunney,” a Pulitzer Prize-nominated biography of boxing legend Gene Tunney. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Connecticut Selling Itself With a $27 Million Campaign
By Mark Pazniokas
www.ctmirror.orgThree years after its tourism budget was reduced to $1, Connecticut is back with a two-year, $27 million marketing campaign to promote tourism and brand the state as “still revolutionary.”
The state spent $500,000 on its new logo and other creative materials, with most of the remainder of the two-year budget going to the placement of ads on television, radio, billboards and social media.
The campaign is geared to growing the state’s $11.5 billion annual tourism business, but it also is meant to assist in economic development, branding the state as cutting edge from Eli Whitney to Igor Sikorsky to bioscience.
“It’s not just about tourism. It’s not just about hospitality. It’s about getting our step back in Connecticut,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said today at a press conference at the Old State House. “That’s why I believe it is the right story to tell.”
Click here for more of story
Going Down: 3 Laurel Road
The house at Westport’s 3 Laurel Road, near Imperial Avenue, was demolished today. Built in 1950, the one-story cape had 872 square feet, was situated on a .25-acre property and changed ownership in February for $490,000. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on March 25, 2012. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Mother’s Day Sunset Sail
Sunday’s Mother’s Day weather could not have been better—- sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s in some parts of Westport, according to unofficial readings. A sunset sail off of Compo Beach was the way to end the day for these visitors. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Monday, May 14, 2012
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - SOLOS Exhibition and “Guide to Paris: Sketches by Susan Malloy”
7 p.m. – 5 Canal St. – Westport Housing Authority Board
7:30 p.m. – 180 Bayberry Lane – Westport/Weston Health District Board
7:30 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Jack Cavanaugh: Baseball’s Season of ‘42
8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “Into the Woods”
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Mother’s Day Memory
A dad snaps a Mother’s Day memory today at Westport’s Old Mill Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
‘Cupcake for a Cure’ Under Way at CakeSuite
Westport’s CakeSuite, 47 Saugatuck Ave., today is offering a “Cupcake for a Cure” event to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Owner Michelle Ashear Klem is honoring her mother, Linda Ashear, 70, who died last year on May 13 of complications from acute leukemia. Until 4 p.m., customers can purchase a cupcake in either vanilla, devil’s food, strawberry, lemon or coconut for $3 and decorate it with various frosting flavors and toppings. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Eckman for WestportNow.com
Sunday, May 13, 2012 - Mother’s Day
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - CakeSuite (47 Saugatuck Ave.) - Create a Cupcake for a Cure benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Noon - 4 p.m. - Hall-Brooke (47 Long Lots Road) - Friends of Hall-Brooke 10th Anniversary Mother’s Day Weekend Art Show & Sale
Noon - 4 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - SOLOS Exhibition and “Guide to Paris: Sketches by Susan Malloy”
3 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “Into the Woods”
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Saxophonist Paul Winter Headlines Benefit Concert
Paul Winter, Grammy award-winning saxophonist, played a concert at the Unitarian Church in Westport tonight. He donated his time and talent to generate support for WPKN, 89.5 FM and http://www.wpkn.org , a non-commercial, community radio station based in Bridgeport, that raises a major portion of its operating funds through its listeners. He was joined by Paul Sullivan, pianist of the Paul Winter Consort. At one point in the concert, the entire audience was invited to do a “howl-le-lu-jah,” accompanying the sounds of timber wolves. Richard Epstein, a Westport dentist who hosts a radio program called “Sometimes Classical” on WPKN, chaired the fund-raiser. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Art Show Winners
The Friends of Hall-Brooke 10th anniversary Mother’s Day Art Show and Sale awarded top prizes today to two Westport artists. Miggs Burroughs won Best in Show for his work “Mona Monroe,” and Susan Malloy was runner-up with her “Cloud Series.” The show continues Sunday noon to 4 p.m. at 47 Long Lots Road. All proceeds benefit mental health services for children and adolescents. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Mother’s Day Art Show & Sale
Highlights from the first day of the two-day Friends of Hall-Brooke 10th anniversary Mother’s Day Art Show and Sale. The show continues Sunday noon to 4 p.m. at 47 Long Lots Road with all proceeds benefitting mental health services for children and adolescents. Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Police and Students Compete in Volleyball Tourney
The Westport Youth Commission’s second annual Compo Beach Volleyball Tournament had a nice turn out today as part of the Homes with Hope Castles in the Sand event. The commission began the tournament last year as a way to get more high school youngsters involved in community events and has grown into an ideal way for youth and adults to do something fun together. Pictured are the youth participants with some members of the Westport Police Department who came out to play alongside the kids as part of the Westport Police Youth Collaborative. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Elaine Daignault for WestportNow.com
Staples Team Tops Sand Sculpture Competition
Students from Westport’s Staples High School today won the Big Corporate Lot Award at the Homes with Hope 11th annual Castles in the Sand sculpture competition fund-raiser at Compo Beach. Seniors Austin Alianiello, Jacob Epstein, and Kyle Mikesh won for their sculpture, “The Train That Could,” modeled after Thomas, the Train. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com
Most Creative Sand Sculpture
The Epstein Award for the Most Creative in today’s Castles in the Sand competition at Westport’s Compo Beach went to the Flugs and Friends for their “Taj Mahal’,” which featured a reflecting pool in front. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com
Sand Creature—A Winner
UPDATE This is one of the sand creatures created at Westport’s Compo Beach today in the Homes With Hope annual Castles in the Sand fund-raiser. The “Star Hero” by National Bank won the Best Really Big Lot prize. It depicts a starfish rescuing a fish from the clutches of an octopus. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
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