Tuesday, May 21, 2013
John Franklin, Community Volunteer, 76
John F. Franklin, a 47-year Westport resident who served as president of the Westport Arts Center and Westport Sunrise Rotary, died Sunday following a series of illnesses. He was 76. A family obituary said he waged “a long and valiant fight against multiple serious health concerns, including Myelofibrosis and diabetes.” The Westport Sunrise Rotary Club honored Franklin (above with wife Jeanne) in May 2011 for his work for the community. He received a Champion of the Arts Award in 2012 from the Westport Arts Advisory Committee. (See obituary here) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
All Aboard for New Haven
The first New Haven-bound train since Friday’s derailment in Bridgeport departed the Westport station today at 4:13 p.m. Metro-North said there would be limited service to New Haven from Grand Central Terminal during tonight’s rush hour. Full service on the New Haven Line will resume Wednesday, Metro-North said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Westport Police Lift Train Station Traffic Restrictions
With the resumption of limited train service to New Haven today, the Westport Police Department announced it has lifted all traffic restrictions around the Metro-North Westport station in Saugatuck.
A statement said bus service provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for out-of-town riders will end at 4:30 p.m.
As a result, the only buses departing from the Saugatuck train station will be regular Norwalk Transit/Westport Transit service.
Extra traffic personnel will be on hand throughout the afternoon to assist with the expected traffic resulting from this morning’s higher than normal parking usage, the statement said.
Metro-North Resumes Limited Service to New Haven
With one of the two damaged tracks rebuilt and returned to service, Metro-North said it will resume limited service today to New Haven starting at 3 p.m..
A statement said there will be regular train service from Grand Central Terminal (GCT) to South Norwalk station, with limited service to New Haven, representing 50 percent of regular service.
The first train is the 3:07 p.m., train leaving GCT and arriving in New Haven at 5 p.m..
Regular train service from New Haven to GCT will resume wth the the 4:23 p.m. train leaving New Haven and arriving in GCT at 6:17 p.m..
More "Metro-North Resumes Limited Service to New Haven"
Public Hearing Set on Clinton Ave. Area Improvements
The Connecticut Department of Transportation will hold a public informational meeting on Thursday, May 30, at 7 p.m. in the Westport Town Hall regarding the intersection improvements of Route 57 (Main Street) and Route 136 (Compo Road North) at Clinton Avenue.
The purpose of this project is to improve the safety and operation of the intersection and will involve widening along the east side of Route 57 for approximately 1,000 feet to provide exclusive left-turn lanes in both directions, said an announcement by First Selectman Gordon Joseloff.
The Compo Road North leg will be widened at the intersection to provide an exclusive left-turn lane while realigning the through-lane with Clinton Avenue. Additional information about the project is available for review at the Town Clerk’s Office.
“Residents, commuters, business owners and other interested individuals are encouraged to attend this public hearing,” said Joseloff.
Real Estate Report: Colonials Are King
By Judy Szablak
Traditional and transitional colonial-style homes reign supreme in Westport, and continue to be the most marketable properties with the best resale value.
This home at 167 Compo Road South is listed at $1,799,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of William Pitt Sotheby’s-Southport/Fairfield
Comprising 63 percent of the 289 available homes for sale, these mostly five-bedroom homes average just over 4,250 square feet, with an average list price of $2,163,117.
In the past year, more than two-thirds of the reported sales through our local MLS were colonial-style homes, and the average sales price of these 273 homes during the last 12 months was $1,634,577.
Although there might seem to be a great disparity in the average pricing of what’s currently on the market as opposed to what has closed in the last year, the significant price increase is due largely in part to the amount of new construction.
More "Real Estate Report: Colonials Are King"
Parking at Premium
The eastbound parking lot at the Metro-North Westport station was full as usual early today, but there was additional traffic on that side as all drop-offs were directed away from Railroad Place. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Police Chief: More Commuters Today
Westport Police Chief Dale Call on Railroad Place today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Westport Police Chief Dale Call said there were far more shuttle buses early today to the Westport station with more riders than on Monday.
“There are many more from out of town,” he said as he surveyed traffic on Railroad Place, where the buses were dropping off commuters from Westport and Fairfield and Bridgeport.
“Yesterday there were three buses,” he said shortly before 7 a.m. “Today it’s a steady stream of buses. There are definitely more commuters here than yesterday and there seems like more cars in lots than yesterday.”
He said the situation was “very orderly today. Commuters are an adaptable group.They learned the drill yesterday and everything is smooth today.”
More "Police Chief: More Commuters Today"
Bus to Train
Bus shuttles operated for the second day today to the Metro-North station in Westport from Fairfield and Bridgeport. Westport Transit buses also operated as usual with the exception of service to Green’s Farms, where there was no train service. But there was shuttle service from Green’s Farms to Saugatuck for those parking at Green’s Farms. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Early Riders
Commuters await the 6:34 a.m. today at the Westport Metro-North station. Police said traffic today appeared to be about the same as Monday—but I-95 began to back up earlier today than Monday in the Bridgeport area, according to I-95 cameras. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Plenty of Room on This Car
There was plenty of room aboard the 6:03 a.m. from Westport to Grand Central today as limited service continued on the New Haven Line. The prior train, the 5:47 a.m., was packed, according to a Metro-North worker. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
More Commuters Today
Cars head to the Westport Metro-North station early today as limited service continued on the New Haven Line following Friday’s derailment. Westport Officer Mark Pocius said there appeared to be more commuters today than Monday when many riders stayed home. Metro-North said full service will resume Wednesday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Summer Look
Westport’s Compo Beach had a summer look Monday as visitors took advantage of sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “SOLOS 2013”
11 a.m. – Greens Farms Elementary School – Food Service Advisory/Health Wellness Committee
Noon - Westport Public Library - Elinor Lipman, “The View from Penthouse B”
6 p.m. - Inn at Longshore - Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce “First Citizen Awards”
7:30 p.m. – Town Hall Auditorium – Zoning Board of Appeals (live coverage cable channel 79, AT&T channel 99, and westportct.gov)
8 p.m. - Rolnick Observatory (182 Bayberry Lane) - Professor Matthew Pappas: Exoplanets: A Census of Our Interstellar Neighbors
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
Monday, May 20, 2013
Waiting to Board
Buses line up tonight at the Westport station ready to carry Metro-North riders to Fairfield and Bridgeport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
New Haven Line Full Service to Resume Wednesday
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced today that full Metro-North New Haven Line service will resume Wednesday morning.
Commuters just off a train shortly after 6 p.m. today board buses at the Westport station bound for Fairfield and Bridgeport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
In a televised address, Malloy said Tuesday’s commute will remain “a challenge” and asked residents to avoid travel if at all possible.
A Metro-North statement said a five-day reconstruction of track infrastructure damaged in a derailment Friday in Bridgeport has progressed to such a degree to allow resumption of service.
About 100 workers are on the job, which has been ongoing around the clock since Saturday night when the National Transportation Safety Board completed its initial investigation of the scene and allowed Metro-North to begin removing the two, eight-car trains, Metro-North said.
More "New Haven Line Full Service to Resume Wednesday"
Comings & Goings: Steam to Green’s Farms Station
A new coffee, bakery and sandwich shop, Steam, will open at the Green’s Farms Metro-North station by late June, according to co-owners Briana Pennell and Chris Barrett. They were awarded the right to use the site in a Town of Westport competitive bid process. Deputy Police Chief Foti Koskinas was at the station today with the couple. “Renovations began about one week ago, and the new business should be operational sometime in mid to late June,” he said. Norwalk resident Pennell, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, is a pastry chef. Barrett, a Stamford resident, has a background in the restaurant business. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Police Close Commuter Lot to Accommodate Buses
The Westport Police Department said today that parking lot No. 2 at the Westport station in Saugatuck will be closed to commuter parking until 9 a.m. Tuesday to accommodate buses.
A Norwallk Transit District bus picks up passengers today in a parking lot adjacent to lot No. 2 at the Westport station. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Eckman for WestportNow.com
The lot is at the end of Railroad Place adjacent to the New York-bound tracks.
A statement said Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Norwalk Transit District (NTD) shuttle buses will be using this lot to stage, drop off and pick up riders.
“In order to turn buses, no cars can be parked here,” the statement said. “This will impact about 50 spaces until 9 a.m.. If demand is low then the lot will be opened sooner.”
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Dense Fog Advisory
The National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y. has issued a dense fog advisory for Westport and area in effect from midnight today to 10 a.m. Tuesday.
An advisory said visibility at times will be one-quarter mile or less at times.
Metro-North President: Extra Track Inspections Ordered
Howard Permut: safety highest priority. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The president of Metro-North Railroad, Howard Permut, told riders today the railroad has upgraded its inspection of tracks following the derailment and collision in Bridgeport.
In a message posted on the Metro-North website, Permut said: “Since Friday, we have taken extra precautions, including additional track inspections, and will increase this effort going forward.”
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said they had taken particular interest in a fracture in a section of the eastbound track at the collision site. But they were unsure whether the fracture happened before the derailment or as a result of it.
“I assure you that all the employees at Metro-North are working diligently to operate the railroad in the safest manner possible,” Permut said.
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For Some Commuters, Disruption, Late Work Arrivals
By James Lomuscio
Nicole Bell and Luz Cabal had already spent an hour riding the shuttle bus from Bridgeport to Westport to get the train, but their morning commute to work at The Home Depot in Norwalk was far from over.
Commuters arrive and depart today at the Westport train staton. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com
“We have to get to South Norwalk now to take a shuttle bus to get to the Wheels hub to take another bus to get to Home Depot,” Cabal said as she waited patiently for the southbound 9:37 a.m. at the Westport train station in Saugatuck.
It would be one of the few trains running due to disrupted service because of Friday evening’s derailment and collision in Bridgeport that sent 60 to the hospital, some with serious injuries.
“I was supposed to be at work at 8 today,” Bell said. “But, they know. I’ll have to be up at 5 a.m. tomorrow.”
More "For Some Commuters, Disruption, Late Work Arrivals"
‘Orderly’ Resumption of Train Service from Westport
UPDATE It was relatively smooth going today as Metro-North train service on the New Haven Line resumed from Westport for the first time since Friday night’s Bridgeport crash caused a rail shutdown.
Commuters await the 6:34 a.m. out of Westport today on the side that is usually New Haven-bound. The train arrived five minutes late. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“It’s been very orderly,” said Police Chief Dale Call shortly after 8 a.m. “Commuters seem to have heeded the governor’s request to stagger departure times. Many are staying home today. Some were surprised the trains were running.” But he expressed concern about Tuesday morning, saying more commuters are likely to return to the trains then.
State Department of Transportation officials estimated the number of morning commuters was down about 81 percent from normal ridership, according to Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff. He reviewed the morning’s operations in a late morning conference call with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and state officials.
Malloy, who advised commuters on Sunday to stay home, scheduled another public update at 6 p.m. today.
More "‘Orderly’ Resumption of Train Service from Westport"
Commuter Coffee: ‘It’s Dead Here’
Today’s resumption of service from the Westport train station was a disaster for the Commuter Coffee shop on Railroad Place, blocked off for only buses. “It’s dead here,” said Fred Whelan who was behind the counter awaiting customers. “No one knows there are trains,” he said. “And they are boarding trains on the other side. They go right to the platform.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Police Chief: ‘Orderly’ Today, Concern About Tuesday
Westport Police Chief Dale Call (r ), supervising operations today at the Westport train station with Deputy Chief Foti Koskinas, said the morning commute so far has been “very orderly.” “Commuters seem to have heeded the governor’s request to stagger departure times,” he said. But he expressed concern about Tuesday morning. “Many are staying home today,” Call said. “Some were surprised there were trains running.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Reverse Commute: Change at Westport
Travelers board a bus at Westport today bound for Bridgeport to resume their journey on the New Haven Line toward New Haven. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
A Moment of Unusually Light Traffic
UPDATE Traffic seemed unusually light at 7:45 a.m. today on Riverside Avenue approaching the Westport train station in Saugatuck. Police directed all drop offs to the New Haven-bound side. Police anticipated a crush of traffic and commuters as service resumed from Westport for the first time since Friday night’s Bridgeport derailment. Westport Police Capt. Sam Arciola said many people who stayed home from work drove to the Westport staton to see what the situation was. “Many commuters came here to board a bus to South Norwalk and were surprised to learn that trains were running,” he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Keeping Traffic Flowing
Westport police made use of newly acquired electronic variable message signs—paid for with federal funds—to help direct traffic around the Westport train station today. Westport’s top police brass, including Chief Dale Call and Deputy Chief Foti Koskinas, were on the scene to supervise activities. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
New Bus to Train Commute
Commuters arrive at the Westport train station today after getting off a Greater Bridgeport Transit bus. Buses brought riders from points east to Westport where Metro-North said there was limited service. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Better Late Than Never
The first scheduled New York-bound train out of Westport today, the 4:47 a.m., was delayed until 5:11 a.m. due to “mechanical failures,” according to announcements at the Westport station..“Despite the delay, early commuters were thrilled to have train service,” said rider Don Uselmann. Metro-North said there would be limited service from Westport today as service resumed for the first time since Friday night’s derailment and crash in Bridgeport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Don Uselmann for WestportNow.com
Gray Day
It was a gray and rainy Sunday at Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Eckman for WestportNow.com
Monday, May 20, 2013
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “SOLOS 2013”
6 p.m. – Staples Room 1025C – Board of Education Executive Session
7:30 p.m. – Staples Cafeteria B – Board of Education Public Meeting (live coverage cable channel 78, AT&T channel 99, and www.westport.k12.ct.us)
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - Westport Animal Shelter Advocates (WASA)
7:30 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Ron Berler, “Raising the Curve: a Year Inside One of America’s 45,000 Failing Public Schools”
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Ceremony Marks Start of Boating Season
The 47th annual Commissioning Day ceremony for Westport’s Minuteman Yacht Club was held today at the Ned Dimes Marina at Compo Beach. Commodore Stewart Reitler (l) welcomed members and friends .Guests participating in the ceremony, marking the official start of the boating season, included Selectman Charles Haberstroh, Library Director Maxine Bleiweis, and the the Rev. Allison J. Patton, pastor of the Saugatuck Congregational Church. Established in 1966, the Minuteman Yacht Club was organized to promote the pleasures of boating in Westport and on Long Island Sound. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Raising the Flag at Ned Dimes Marina
Westport Minuteman Yacht Club Rear Commodore Per Sorensen today observes the raising of the flag by Boy Scouts Andrew Berry, David Dickison, Richard Costello and Dylan Murray of Troop 100 at the 47th annual Commissioning Day ceremony. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Westport Transit District Update
The Westport Transit District issued the following update for Monday:
No service on the G1 and G2 shuttles to the Greens Farm’s station.
There will be a shuttle service from the Greens Farm’s station to the Saugatuck station. These will be vehicles with a limited carrying capacity. It will run a continuous loop during peak hours. There is no charge for this service.
Regular Saugatuck shuttles S1, S2, S3, S4, and Imperial lot will operate. ADA and door-to-door service will operate on a regular schedule.
Clearing the Tracks
Workers clear the rails today at the Bridgeport site of the derailment and train collision. Officials said by late today, all train cars involved had been removed. Metro-North officials said service disruptions will continue well into this week. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) MTA photo
Realtime NY Metro-area traffic reports from Traffic.com
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Westport Property Transfers April 29 - May 3, 2013MORE >>
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