Family Kite Flying at Compo

Today's cool temperatures (high in the low 70s) kept many people off the sand at Compo Beach but one family found the day's cool breezes perfect for some kite flying. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Eartha Kitt: "Range Rover Saved Me from Injury"

Legendary singer-actress Eartha Kitt says the superior construction of her Range Rover is what saved her from being injured in Thursday's rollover accident in Westport, the New York Post reported today.
Eartha Kitt describes Thursday's accident to Westport police officer Anastasia DeLuca. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) ©2004 WestportNow.com

The 77-year-old Weston resident was returning from a jog on the beach when her SUV was "nipped in the derriere" and flipped over at Post Road East and Compo Road North, she told the newspaper.

She and her two toy poodles were shaken up but not seriously injured.

The Post Friday published exclusive photos of the accident from WestportNow.

"Thank God for that car. I don't think I'll ever drive another," Kitt said.

She said she also has new respect for truck drivers because the first good samaritan on the scene was a trucker who found her strapped into the driver's seat, upside down.

"He said, 'Are you all right?' I said, 'Just get me out of this seat belt,' " Kitt told the Post. She invited her rescuer to see one of her forthcoming shows with his wife.

Kitt, who was transported on a stretcher to Norwalk Hospital by Westport EMS as a precaution, said the doctor at the hospital didn't believe her when she told him her age. "You can't be serious," he told her, according to the Post.

Westport police said the accident is still under investigation.

Both Kitt and the driver of a 2002 Mercedes who clipped the right rear of her car said they had a green light at the time of the accident, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

The source said police have been unable to come up with witnesses to the crash, which occurred at 9:13 a.m., despite busy traffic in the area.

Kitt's car landed upside down in the grassy strip alongside the Peoples Bank at the northeast corner of the intersection. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004

8 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - Pete Muller and Friends

Easton Road Crash

One person was injured tonight when his car bounced off a tree near 87 Easton Road and skidded to a rest along the roadside. He was treated by Westport EMS for his injuries which were not life threatening. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Falling Tree Closes Greens Farms Road

A tree fell across Greens Farms Road near No. 116 today, shutting down the roadway until Westport Public Works Department crews could clean it up. There were no injuries. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Farrell Announces Resignation of Deputy Assessor Kevin Murowsky

First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell today announced the resignation of Kevin Murowsky as Westport deputy assessor.

In a brief statement, Farrell said Assessor William Gaffney will be posting a job opportunity notice for the position in the coming days.

Farrell put Murowsky on paid administrative leave July 12, four days after she was notified that a Town Hall office was missing $500 in cash and $2,000 worth of electronic equipment. (See WestportNow July 20 ,2004)

While Farrell did not directly link Murowsky to a police investigation of the theft, a Town Hall source has told WestportNow that he was being questioned in the probe.

Police Chief Alfred R. Fiore said today he had "nothing new" on the status of the investigation.

In her statement, Farrell said, "Once the opening has been posted, interested applicants should get in touch with the Westport Personnel Department at 341-1090."

The First Selectwoman noted that the Representative Town Meeting at its meeting this week approved an appropriation of $673,500 allowing the town to hire an appraisal firm to perform a full physical revaluation.

“I am very pleased that the building permit update project is moving forward and that the town is now able to begin the real estate property revaluation process,” she said.

Another Burying Hill Dawn

WestportNow readers apparently find Westport's Burying Hill Beach a good place to watch the dawn come up. So we present the second view this week of the scene by another WestportNow reader. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Pirates of Westport for WestportNow.com

Friday, Aug. 6, 2004

8 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - Miss Babs and the Kickin' Boogie Band

First Night Westport/Weston 2005 Planning Underway

With a little less than five months to go before New Year’s Eve, planning is well underway for First Night Westport/Weston 2005.

Rozanne Gates, the new executive director of Westport/Weston First Night, has spent the last three months talking to musicians, artists and volunteers, putting together the program of events.

Designer Miggs Burroughs has completed the design for the new Westport/Weston First Night button, a bright yellow high-five hand that welcomes in 2005.

And Webmaster Ed Fitzgerald is putting the finishing touches on the First Night Westport/Weston 2005 Web site, which is scheduled to go live Aug. 15. The evening’s 10-hour schedule of events is available at www.firstnightww.com.

Now in its 11th year, First Night Westport/Weston is a community-wide, alcohol-free celebration of New Year’s Eve through the arts.

The festivities begin at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31 with family square dancing and a variety of children’s events.

The evening continues with performances by The Bomb Squad band at the YMCA, "Battle of the Bands" at Toquet Hall, and the First Night Film Festival at Town Hall. There will be two spectacular fireworks displays over the Saugatuck River at 7:15 p.m. and midnight.

Neighbors Renew Their Opposition to ARS Application

Neighbors opposed to development of the former F.D. Rich property in northwest Westport said today they are prepared to mount a new campaign against the project.

The Partrick Wetlands Preservation Fund Inc, responding to a report that ARS Partners Inc.of Fairfield has filed a new application with the town, said in a statement that "the residents of Westport and Norwalk are ready to again defend our natural resources, our open space and our communities."

The group said that ARS "had the opportunity to lessen the impact on the wetlands and surrounding neighborhoods with their new application, but stridently resubmitted the same proposal for 22 clustered houses on nine acres.

"They clearly chose not to hear what over 2,500 residents had been calling for; less development, more open space, the protection of the Partrick Wetlands and a stop to the sewer extension from Norwalk."

It was almost a year ago, on Aug. 7, 2003, that the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission denied without prejudice the controversial application for a 22-unit clustered housing development abutting Patrick Road and Newtown Turnpike.(See WestportNow Aug. 8, 2003)

The commission, by a 7-0 vote, said the applicant needed to provide additional environmental testing information about its plan to develop the 56-acre parcel which contains about 36 acres of wetlands.

"ARS, by testing the land themselves, has defied the 2003 Planning and Zoning denial resolution that called for an independent town-hired firm to test for known contamination," the Partrick Wetlands statement said.

Singer Eartha Kitt Injured in Westport Accident

Legendary singer Eartha Kitt, 77, of Weston, was slightly injured today when her SUV collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Post Road East and Compo Road North in Westport and flipped over. Witnesses said she did not appear to seriously hurt.
Westporter Kitt Shapiro takes charge of poodles belonging to her mother, Eartha Kitt, after the singer was involved in a two-car accident today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) ©2004 WestportNow.com

Kitt, who was alone in her Range Rover with her two toy poodles, was talking animatedly with police, fire and Westport EMS personnel moments after the accident, according to a WestportNow photographer.

She was placed on a stretcher and transported to Norwalk Hospital where she was later released.

The driver of the second vehicle, a 2002 Mercedes, declined medical attention but complained of aches and pains.

Kitt's toy poodles, Mutzi and Aba, did not appear to be injured. Kitt's daughter, Westport resident Kitt Shapiro, arrived at the scene shortly after the accident and took custody of the dogs.

Police said the accident was under investigation.

Witnesses said Kitt was northbound from Compo Road South when her car was clipped by the second car going west on Post Road East and flipped over, landing on a grassy area near the Peoples Bank parking lot on Compo Road North.

The second car sustained front-end damage.

The driver of the second car told bystanders he braked when he saw Kitt's vehicle moving through the intersection, but he was unable to avoid it and hit her right rear side.

Police closed a portion of Compo Road North until the accident, which occurred shortly after 9 a.m., was cleared.

Kitt has been a show business legend for decades. Best known as a sex-kitten chanteuse, she rose to fame with a nightclub act centered around her slinky stage presence and her throaty purr of a voice.

One biographer wrote that "her persona was so vivid and well-developed that she remained easily identifiable well after her early-'50s heyday, and it also helped her find success as an actress in movies, TV, and theater.

"Even if many remember her best as one of the actresses to play Catwoman on the '60s Batman series, Kitt was always a cabaret performer at heart, one whose act translated best in a live setting."

Just last week, Kitt completed an appearance at New York's Blue Note cafe.

Singer Eartha Kitt Injured in Westport Accident

Singer Eartha Kitt, 77, of Weston, was slightly injured today when her SUV rolled over following a collision with another vehicle at Post Road East and Compo Road North. Kitt, who was alone in her vehicle with her two toy poodles, was transported to Norwalk Hospital by Westport EMS and later released. Neither the driver of the second car nor Kitt's dogs were injured. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) ©2004 WestportNow.com

Fairfield County Weekly: “Runnin’ With the Farrell”

This week’s Fairfield County Weekly cover story spotlights the 4th Congressional District race between Westport Democratic First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell and Republican incumbent Christopher Shays.

The 3,000-word story by reporter Joe Miksch includes quotes from the candidates and their supporters and even mentions -- and includes a link to -- a brief film about the candidates’ views on Iraq produced by the owner of Norwalk’s Garden Cinema.

Westporters who have followed the Farrell-Shays campaign will find little new in the story, but it does provide a good rundown of the candidates’ views and their campaign themes for those unfamiliar with them.

The story also gives wider exposure to problems in Westport’s assessor’s office through criticism of Farrell by Pete Wolgast, chair of the Westport Republican Town Committee.

"[Farrell] has largely abdicated her job during the last year or more to undertake her campaign for Congress and we've seen this in the fact that we've had a major mess in the tax assessor's office," he is quoted as saying.

“Wolgast claims that Farrell failed to perform mandatory audits of town departments and, therefore, failed to discover that many higher-valued homes in Westport are underassessed and that 1,700 properties have undergone improvements without a change in their assessed value,” the report said.

“Revenue lost for these reasons, he said, had to be made up with higher tax rates.”

The newspaper did not include a Farrell quote or response to the Wolgast remarks.

Westport's Arlene Scanlan Readies Broadway-Bound Play

Westport's Arlene Scanlan, whose love for music began at New York's Julliard School of Music and Music and Art High School, is producing her first Broadway-bound venture, "Two Cities, The Musical."

Based on Charles Dickens' epic novel "A Tale of Two Cities," "Two Cities" will run for 10 performances beginning Thursday, Aug. 19 and continuing through Sunday, Aug. 29 at Stamford's Rich Forum.

Scanlan's Peaceful Nights Productions, LLC is presenting the two-piano musical about the redemptive powers of love in partnership with Stamford Center for the Arts.

It has a libretto by Chad Hardin and a score by Hardin and the late Dan Schillaci. The cast of 23 Broadway actors is directed by Lenore Shapiro and musical directed by Larry Pressgrove.

Scanlan, 49, began her career in 1978 working for Columbia Pictures in New York City followed by Marvel Comics Group and finally United Media Enterprises.

She started her first company in Westport in 1991 representing such entertainment brands and properties as Carmen SanDiego, Sonic the Hedgehog, Reading Rainbow, Archie Comics, Connecticut Special Olympics and The World Wildlife Fund.

Her new licensing and property development and entertainment venture, Moxie & Co. manages the Ziggy character, Cindy Adams and Orange County Choppers.

The performance schedule for Two Cities at Stamford's Rich Forum is Aug. 19 at 8 p.m., Aug. 20 at 8 p.m., Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Aug. 22 at 2 p.m., Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., Aug. 26 at 7 p.m., Aug. 27 at 8 p.m., Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 29 at 2 p.m..

Tickets range $25-$40. For tickets, call (800) 233-3123 or visit www.onlyatsca.com or at www.telecharge.com.

Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004

7 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Planning & Zoning Commission Work Session
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Planning & Zoning Commission
8 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - Ingvar Estrada, lyric tenor

Playhouse Launches 75th Season Ticket Sales, Name-a-Seat Program

The Westport Country Playhouse has launched its 75th season ticket sales for next summer as well as a fundraising "name-a-seat" program to help pay for its $17 million renovation now underway.
Joanne Woodward promotes Playhouse "name-a-seat" program. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Priority seating for renewing and new subscribers is available through Dec. 31, according to an announcement.

"We thank our audience for joining us this summer for our season on the road," said Joanne Woodward, the Playhouse's artistic director.

"Every road trip includes a homecoming, which we're planning now for next year."

In the summer of 2005, the Playhouse will produce four plays in its newly renovated home running mid-June through early September.

There will also be a family-friendly holiday show in November and December 2005, and other events year-round.

While seating is somewhat changed in the renovated theatre, renewing subscribers will be seated close to their previous locations, if they choose the same seating section, the announcement said.

New subscribers will be given the best available seats in the section of their choosing.

As an alternative to subscription, a new FlexTix option is introduced for next year's grand re-opening season.

A minimum of four or more FlexTix may be ordered now at a discounted price for any of the 2005 summer season's four plays. FlexTix are redeemable for seating assignments after May 1, 2005.

The "Name-a-Seat" opportunity will support the Playhouse's Campaign for a New Era, a $30.6 million comprehensive campaign to renovate and renew the theatre, create an endowment, and fund artistic and educational initiatives.

More than $22.5 million has been raised to date and the Playhouse is striving to achieve an additional $3 million before the end of 2004 to accomplish a Kresge Foundation Challenge grant, the announcement said.

All funds raised through naming a seat will help to reach that goal and enable the Playhouse to receive the challenge award of $850,000 from The Kresge Foundation.

Those making a 100 percent tax-deductible contribution of $2,500 or more to the Campaign for a New Era will have their name, a corporate name, or the name of someone to be honored or memorialized, permanently engraved on a brass plaque affixed to the back of a seat in the newly renovated Playhouse.

While a named seat commemorates a donor, it does not signify one's seat location for performances.

Pledges can be made in two payments through December, 2005. Gifts of all sizes are welcomed to the campaign and will be acknowledged in a commemorative 75th anniversary publication.

More information can be found on the Playhouse Web site at www.westportplayhouse.org.

RTM Approves $673,500 for Physical Revaluation

The Representative Town Meeting, after more than an hour of debate, Tuesday night approved spending $673,500 to hire a firm to conduct a full physical revaluation of all of Westport's real property.

The 32-1 vote (Margaret McHenry opposed) endorsed a bid by Vision Appraisal Technology of Northboro, Mass., the largest New England-based supplier of revaluation services, over a lesser bid of $554,500 by Cole Layer Trumble of Dayton, Ohio, the nation's oldest and largest mass appraisal firm.

William Gaffney, the town's assessor who began work June 21 after being hired from Milford, said even though the Vision bid was higher, he favored it because of the combination of its software and services it offered.

Cole Layer Trumble is currently working for the town to clear up a backlog of almost 1,700 building permits, some dating back to 1998, which had not been added to the town's Grand List by the assessor's office. (See WestportNow, July 21, 2004)

During the debate, a number of members asked if there was a way during the physical inspections to identify which property owners had made improvements to their homes but had failed to apply for building permits, thus avoiding increased taxes.

Gaffney, who repeated his earlier assurances that he would be personally responsible for the accuracy of the reval, said comparisons could be made by inspectors between old field cards and the current property configurations.

But he said accurately identifying all properties which had completed work without taking out permits was essentially an impossible task.

"I am not the Gestapo," Gafffney said. "I cannot go to a home and kick down the door. There's not a whole lot I can do about it."

The RTM acted after it approved on June 1 postponing the Oct. 1, 2003, revaluation to Oct. 1, 2005, if possible, but no later than Oct. 1, 2006.

(Editor's Note: The editor of WestportNow is also Moderator of the RTM)

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2004

10:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - International Hospitality Committee
4 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Beautification Committee
7 p.m. Town Hall Room 309 - RTM Finance, Public Protection and Compensation Committees
7 p..m. - Levitt Pavilion - The Magic of Lyn

Staples Project Hit by Third Gas Line Break This Year

Westport firefighters stand by as utility crews shut down a gas line hit by construction workers today at Staples High School. It was the third time this year that the $74 million renovation and expansion project has been halted by a broken gas line. There were no injuries. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Workers Hit Gas Line at Staples, Third Time This Year

Workers hit a high-pressure gas line today at the Staples High School construction site, shutting down the $74 million renovation and expansion project until the line was turned off, fire officials said.

It was the third time a gas line has been struck this year at the school during the project.

Project manager Susan Chipouras said workers hit the line as they were installing a light pole just to the north of the new addition.

Gas crews were on the scene quickly and shut down the line soon after the 3:20 p.m. incident occurred. There were no injuries.

Earlier in the day, workers severed a water line at the Staples site, shutting down fire hydrants in the immediate area.

As a result, firefighters stretched more than 1,750 feet of hose line from a hydrant at neighboring Bedford Middle School to operate a spray to dissipate the gas until the leak was shut off.

In addition, the Wilton Fire Department dispatched its tanker truck to Staples as a precaution. It was subsequently not needed. The last apparatus left the scene shortly after 5 p.m.

Gas lines were also hit at the Staples site on July 10 and April 17. There were no injuries in the previous incidents.

Workers at the Long Lots Elementary School parking lot project also struck a gas line there on July 20.

Westport Property Transfers, July 26-30, 2004

Property transfers as reported by the Town Clerk's office for the period July 26-30, 2004:

John Chu and Tina Eng to Angelo and Heather Toglia, 17 Eno Lane, $1,166,000.

John R. and Janet H. Preston to William Scott and Kathleen M. Bennewitz, 1 Greenbrier Road, $1,220,000.

L. Charles and Jayne E. Meythaler to Andrew and Karin Sawyer, 19 Woody Lane, $3,450,000.

Marion K. Sykes to Glenn L. Bander and Jacqueline Tabucchi, 6 Warnock Drive, $642,000.

Alastair E. and Lynn A. Bruce to David Levinson and Evan Levinson, 15 Jennings Court, $845,000.

Lawrence and John R. Tedesco to Walter H. Nado, 22 Indian Hill Road, $545,000.

Augustus Pappajohn II to Kevin J. and Meredith H. Pleiter, 26 Tamarac Road, $1,100,000.

Vincent and Anna Cremona 2000 Revocable to Joshua H. and Jill P. Epstein, 3 Dogwood Lane, $2,150,000.

Bettina Peel Corp. to David and Robin Gusick, 61 Hillandale Road, $650,000.

Jack and Barbara A. Delargy to William F. and Hilary Wechsler Gibson, 2 Donald Drive, $975,000.

Richard H. Orenstein Revocable Trust and Diana Vytell Orenstein to Nahid Westwood, 8 Pequot Trail, $1,175,000.

Jeffery M. and Rosalind F. Looby to Irving Tregerman, 156 North Ave., $1,150,000.

Fairport Development LLC to Michael J. and Gigi Hynes, 8 Morningside Lane, $1,445,000.

Ronnie G. Eisenberg to Miles and Ellen West, 29 Darbrook Road, $1,615,000.

Martha's Stewart's Company Posts Wider Loss Than Wall Street Expected

The company founded by Westport's Martha Stewart – Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. (MSO) -- posted a wider loss than Wall Street expected in the second quarter today and warned of bigger-than-expected losses in the third quarter.

The company has seen its profits and revenues decrease since its founder and former chairman got entangled in what eventually resulted in her sentencing last month on obstruction of justice chargers.

In a move to focus on the company's strongest assets, the New York-based company also announced that it will eliminate its direct commerce business by the end of the year.

But the company said it will continue with its direct-to-consumer floral business, marthaflowers, as well as its content Web site, www.marthastewart.com.

MSO also announced the launch of Everyday Food, a new television program that will air on PBS stations across the United States, building its success of its new magazine that bears the same title.

It is the latest step to distance itself from Stewart's name, which is on an array of products.

MSO posted a loss of $19.29 million US, or 39 cents per share, in the three months ended June 30 in contrast to a profit of $931,000, or two cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call expected a loss of 33 cents in the second quarter.

Revenues were down 33 per cent to $44 million, dragged down particularly by its publishing division, which has suffered from a defection of advertisers.

The company said it expects to post a loss of 50 cents a share in the third quarter, reflecting higher marketing costs in the period. Analysts anticipated a loss of 33 cents per share.

However, the company predicted that fourth-quarter losses should be "substantially reduced" compared to third-quarter levels largely due to the significant amount of revenues to be recognized by its merchandising segment as a result of certain minimum royalty guarantees.

Stewart, who was convicted in March on charges she lied to investigators about a stock sale, was sentenced July 16 to five months in prison and five months of house arrest. She was also fined $30,000. The sentence was stayed, pending appeal.

Stewart resigned as chief executive and chairwoman of the company in June 2003, after her indictment. Following her conviction, she stepped down as chief creative officer and resigned from the company's board, but remains as founding editorial director.

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004

10:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Administrative Review Committee
11 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201A - Planning & Zoning Fence Committee
7 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Shellfish Commission
7 p.m. - Community Theatre, Fairfield - Westport Country Playhouse Film Series presents a conversation with Keir Dullea after a screening of Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey"
8 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Representative Town Meeting (live cable coverage channel 79)
8 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - Gary Nichols and the Ballistic Bovine Boys

Hanging at Bedford

Westport artist Howard Munce was at Bedford Middle School today with Mollie Donovan for the hanging of "Fall Outfit," a work he painted in 1993 that is a colorful and witty image of a football uniform. "Fall Outfit" completes a quartet of sports paintings that hang in the entrance lobby to Bedford’s gymnasium. The Howard Munce sports paintings are part of the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Laux for WestportNow.com

Shays to Lead Middle East Trip This Week

Rep. Christopher Shays will lead a trip to the Middle East later this week as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation.

The delegation will include Minnesota Reps. Betty McCollum, a Democrat, and Mark Kennedy, a Republican.

Shays, who faces Westport Democratic First Selectwoman Diane Farrell in November, is chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, emerging threats and international relations.

The delegation will meet with U.S. troops and top leaders in the area. Further details were not released due to security considerations.

UPDATE: Rell Briefs Farrell, Other Municipal Leaders on Security Situation

Gov. M. Jodi Rell briefed Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell and other Connecticut municipal leaders today on the state’s stepped up security measures.

Rell made a conference call to Farrell and leaders of many of the state’s other 169 communities in mid-afternoon following threats to financial institutions in New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

Also on the call were Fire Chief Denis McCarthy, Police Deputy Chief David Heinmiller, and Judy Nelson, director of the Westport Weston Health District.

Farrell did not disclose exactly what was discussed, but Rell told reporters in Hartford that her call with municipal leaders and corporate executives concentrated on measures Connecticut is taking following the new threats.

Connecticut officials said they were concerned that al-Qaida operatives might switch targets because of stepped-up security in New York City.

Rell’s corporate conference call was with CEOs, senior executives and security officials with various large employers, including Aetna, Greenwich Capital and Uniprise.

Rell said many of the companies on the call were from Fairfield County, where about 100,000 people travel in and out of New York City daily, Rell estimated.

"Connecticut cannot and will not let our guard down," she told reporters. "This is a time for increased vigilance. It is our responsibility to the people of this state to take every precaution necessary."

There have not been threats made to Connecticut financial institutions, Rell said.

"(The calls) allowed me to share firsthand with local officials and with business leaders the specific steps we are taking in Connecticut to increase our security and our vigilance," the governor said.

Rell earlier asked state police to increase surveillance and security on trains and highways running between Connecticut and New York and asked state troopers to increase truck inspections at all interstate weigh stations.

But the stepped up security was not apparent to all commuters. One Westporter who took a train to Grand Central Terminal today said he saw no extra police on the train and only normal security at the New York end.

John Buturla, acting director of the state's division of homeland security, said it makes sense to take precautions in Connecticut because New York is taking such great steps to "harden" its potential targets.

Security was stepped up today at all the prominent financial institutions in New York, Washington and Newark, New Jersey identified as targets of a terrorist plot.

"If al-Qaida is planning or has planned for some type of attacks in New York and cannot carry out an attack, it would be up to us to ensure that Connecticut is secured," Buturla said.

"Anytime you do anything to harden a target, al-Qaida's training doctrine is, that they will move somewhere else," he said. "That's why we're asking the financial sector at this time to harden their targets and take protective measures."

The state's emergency management center is activated, with key personnel from state agencies and the National Guard on duty around the clock. The National Guard's Quick Response Force was placed on alert for possible deployment at key locations statewide.

Police, Fire Investigate Mercury Spill in Mailbox

Westport police and fire units today investigated a mercury spill inside a drop off mailbox on Richmondville Avenue.

Fire and police officials said the spill was discovered by a postal employee at about 12:05 p.m. as he was making a pickup from the box at 49 Richmondville Ave., where several businesses are located.

How the employee knew the substance was mercury was not explained, but fire and police were notified.

Also responding were representatives of the U.S. Postal Service as well as the state Department of Environmental Protection.

"The scene was isolated because of a hazardous material spill," said a police statement said. "The spill involved the interior of the drop box and the area around the box. The incident is under investigation at this time."

Connecticut Commuters Note Stepped-Up Security

Metro-North New Haven Line commuters today noticed increased security following new warnings of a possible terrorist attack on financial institutions in New York, Washington, D.C., and Newark, N.J.

Connecticut state troopers rode the rails and unformed police toting assault rifles were seen in Grand Central Terminal as commuters arrived during the morning rush hour.

The government acted on intelligence that Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge called alarmingly specific, but he said officials could not tell whether an attack might be imminent and he encouraged people to go about their business.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she asked state police to increase surveillance and security on trains and highways running between Connecticut and New York. She also asked state troopers to increase truck inspections at all weigh stations.

The state's emergency management center has been activated, with key personnel from state agencies and the National Guard on duty around the clock. The National Guard's Quick Response Force was placed on alert for possible deployment at key locations statewide.

Rell also said she would ask federal authorities to designate a "no fly zone" around the Millstone nuclear power complex in Waterford.

The governor did not provide specifics on how many troopers and National Guardsmen were being used for the increased security.

Rell was holding conference calls today with local government, police, fire and health officials as well as executives of major financial services companies in the state. She also said she would be in constant contact with key federal and state officials.

She urged people who witness suspicious activity to call the state's tip line at 866-HLS-TIPS, or 866-457-8477.

Sports: Westport Tops Danbury 6-1 to Win Fastpitch Softball Championship

Westport defeated Danbury Sunday 6-1 to win the Fairfield County Fastpitch Softball League championship in the U-14 division.

No. 4 seeded Westport beat No. 2 seeded Danbury in their third game of the day.

Westport advanced to the final by knocking off Norwalk 11-3 and edging No. 1 seed Stamford 11-10 in a seesaw game earlier in the day.

Westport rallied from a 6-2 deficit to take an 11-7 lead and hung on.

Westport right-hander Liz Johnston, who will be a Staples sophomore in the fall, completely shut down Danbury after allowing a first-inning run.

Carly Dudzik and Michelle Lobello had two hits apiece for Westport, which tacked on solo runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings. Finley Lapick contributed two RBIs.

The league is comprised of eight teams whose summer season ended with a two-day tournament.

Monday, Aug. 2, 2004

7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - RTM Employee Compensation Committee
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Golf Advisory Committee

Time for a Change (Oil Change, That Is)

By Fran
WestportNow Consumer Correspondent
fran@westportnow.com

I don’t claim to know much about cars or their upkeep. To be honest, I regard my Toyota as a CD player with four wheels.
Westport Sunoco: An oil change costs $32.95. Watch out for those add-ons. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

But I did learn early on that changing the oil regularly exends the life of one’s car. While I am not so great about things like flossing and watering plants, I do have my car’s oil changed every 3,000 miles or so.

We compared the prices of a basic oil change in and around Westport, including two while-you-wait oil and lube centers just over the Norwalk border.

Generally the price includes, in addition to the oil change and “waste removal” (for exceptions, see below), a check of brakes, tires, all fluids, belts and hoses. Prices also vary depending on make of car, regular versus synthetic oil, and the amount of oil needed, etc. Call ahead to make sure.

And if you’re thinking about a new car, ask the dealer if lifetime oil changes are included, as they are at Acura. And don’t forget to watch out for coupons. Toyota of Westport regularly sends me a coupon for a $19.95 oil change, all fluid checks included.

Price of a basic oil change (not including tax)

Speedy Auto Service at Monroe Muffler, 280 Westport Ave., Norwalk, 847-6305, $15.99
Riverside Sunoco, 240 Riverside Ave., 571-1113, $19.95 (see note below)*
Citgo (DeMattia’s Fuel), 786 Post Road East, 227-2107, $22.50
Compo Exxon, 485 Post Road East (near Westport Fire Department), 227-0503, $24.95
Mobil Westport Center Service, 302 Post Road East, 227-0575, $29.95
Expressway Lube Center, 218 Westport Ave., Norwalk, 846-8179, $29.95 up to 5 quarts of oil, $1.99 per additional quart
Westport Getty, 271 Post Rd East, 227-8244, $32.95 ($29.95 plus $3 for “waste removal”)
Bridge Garage Mobil, 558 Riverside Ave., $32.95 ($29.95 plus $3 for “waste removal”)
Westport Sunoco (Caruso Motor Sports), 322 Post Road East, 227-4832, $32.95 ($29.95 plus $3 for “waste removal”)
Greens Farms Shell Station,1530 Post Road East, 259-7467, $30
Christy’s Service, 161 Cross Highway, 227-2918, $30

*Note: Riverside Sunoco gave me a quote of $19.95 over the phone. But when I had my oil changed there recently the total came to well over $30, which included additional charges for items like price of the oil itself, replacement fluids, and who knows what else. So let the buyer beware.

Burying Hill Dawn

Cloudy skies were the order of the day today as dawn broke over Westport's Burying Hill Beach. Today's forecast was for showers and thunderstorms this morning, becoming scattered in the afternoon with locally heavy rain possible, highs in the lower 80s. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Laux for WestportNow.com

Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004

7 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - Richard Thomas and Friends