Another Westporter's View of "The Gates"

New York's "The Gates" project in Central Park comes down after this weekend after a two-week run. Many Westporters have viewed the $21 million project in that time, among them WestportNow contributing photographer Richard Barnett. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Richard Barnett for WestportNow.com

"Red Violin" Makes Westport Debut

Violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn shows off the instrument believed to have inspired the1999 film "The Red Violin" at a Westport fund-raiser Thursday night to benefit the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. The event took place at the home of Milette Alexander. Pitcairn will perform John Corigliano's "The Red Violin: Chaconne for Violin and Orchestra" with the orchestra Saturday night. She acquired the 1720 Stradivarius, once owned by the descendants of composer Felix Mendelssohn, at a London auction in 1990. Corigliano, a former Westport resident who won an Academy Award for his "Red Violin" score and who was honored by Westport's Art Council in 2003, will speak before the concert at the Norwalk Concert Hall. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Judge Issues Injunction Prohibiting Demolition of Bradley House Until March 7

Eleanor Dickey: "Very, very pleased." File photoPreservationists trying to save the 200-year-old Abel Bradley House on the Westport-Fairfield town line have won a Superior Court injunction prohibiting its destruction at least until March 7, the head of a neighborhood coalition said today.

Eleanor Dickey, a neighbor and head of the Coalition for the Preservation of the Bradley House, said the injunction was issued Thursday by Judge Julia Dewey of Superior Court in Bridgeport. She said a hearing will be held by the court on March 7.

A 90-day delay in approval of a demolition permit had been scheduled to run out March 3, after which the owners, developers Mark J. Iuraduri and Mike Horvath, would have been free to begin the demolition process.

They have set a $1.2 million price for the property, which they bought in October for $600,000.

"We are very, very pleased," said Dickey, who has said her group has raised about $850,000 toward purchase of the property. The group said Tuesday that talks with the developers appeared to have broken down over the purchase price. (See WestportNow Feb. 22, 2005)

She said Austin K. Wolf, a Bridgeport attorney, filed a request for the injunction Thursday afternoon on the basis that the property was being considered for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

The injunction imposes a $1,000 a day fine for violation of the order prohibiting "demolishing, destroying, damaging, or removing the building known as 131 Sturges Highway."

Westport Sunrise Rotary Meeting Canceled

Today's meeting of the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club at the Peppermill Restaurant has been canceled due to the weather.

Bathed in White

Westport's police headquarters on Jesup Road is bathed in white Thursday night as snow fell. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Snowy Jesup Road

Westport’s Jesup Road is deserted tonight as a heavy snowfall hit the area. Forecasters said a fast-moving storm could leave up to 7 inches by morning. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

New Neighbors of Westport to Host Fashion Show Sunday, March 6

New Neighbors of Westport will hold its annual spring fashion show and boutique on Sunday, March 6 at 1 p.m. at The Inn at Longshore.

It will feature fashions from Lucy’s, Totally Kool, and Jacadi, all of Westport. Proceeds from the show will benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, founded by Westport’s Paul Newman.

This year’s show will be a bit different than those in years past with local vendors selling clothing, jewelry, accessories, baby and gift items, paper goods, and hostess gifts, among other items, an announcement said.

In addition, attendees will be treated to a traditional English tea service during the show.

New Neighbors of Westport, a social, non-profit organization dedicated to helping new residents develop friendships and assimilate into the community, has been active in Westport for more than 40 years.

For more information, call 227-7463 or visit the group's Web site.

Town Hall to Close at 4:30 P.M., Evening Meetings Canceled

Because of the forecast for snow tonight, Westport's Town Hall will close at 4:30 p.m. today and an evening meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission and any other meetings have been postponed, the First Selectwoman's office said.

Varsity Vogue Fashion Show Set for March 18

The eighth annual Varsity Vogue Fashion Show benefiting the cheerleaders, football and basketball teams at Westport's Staples High School will be held at Mitchells of Westport Friday, March 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Flashback: Jimmy Hughes strolls the runway with Jennifer Brady at last year's show. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The event will feature senior athletes modeling the latest in spring and summer attire -- both casual and formal -- put together by Mitchells' professional team. Hair styling will be provided by Effi’s Salon.

The $10 admission covers entertainment -- including dance routines performed by the cheerleaders -- and refreshments.

Guests may also participate in silent and live auctions and raffle with goods and services donated by local merchants and families. The items range from gift certificates to local restaurants to event tickets as well as vacation rentals.

Contributions assist the Staples sports programs increase their training capabilities and competitiveness. Funds in the past have been used to purchase special sports equipment and training clinics as well as communication and sound equipment.

Tickets will be sold at the door or can be purchased in advance by contacting Debbie Rath at 227-3299.

Report: Martha Stewart's Lawyers Seek Settlement of SEC Charges

CNN reported today that attorneys for Westport's Martha Stewart may be able to negotiate a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission that would permit Stewart to return to the helm of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia at some point.

The network quoted a person familiar with the situation as saying,"If she's living straight and narrow, will the public be at risk if she became CEO again?"

The SEC has filed an insider trading case against Martha Stewart, in which it is seeking to bar her from acting "as a director of, and limiting her activities as an officer of, any public company."

That case is separate from the federal obstruction of justice charges for which Stewart is serving a five-month prison sentence. She is due to be released next week.

Federal prosecutors did not bring insider trading charges against her in their case.

Stewart is appealing her conviction on charges she lied about her sale of ImClone Systems stock before damaging information about the biotech firm became public, as well as for obstructing an investigation into the sale. Her SEC case is on hold while her criminal appeal proceeds.

Newsweek's online edition reported Wednesday that Robert Morvillo, Stewart's lawyer, recently opened the negotiations by asking officials in the SEC's New York office to consider a settlement on insider-trading charges.

The magazine reported that SEC officials told her lawyers that it would consider a settlement deal that wouldn't require her to be barred for life from running her company.

The SEC also wants to fine Stewart and force her to give back losses she avoided through her sale of ImClone stock in the suit.

Stewart, who is still the controlling shareholder of her company, gave up her chairman and CEO titles when she was indicted in 2003.

She gave up her position on the board as well as her title of chief creative officer following her March 2004 conviction. She is now listed as the company's chief editorial and media director.

She has not been allowed to conduct business while in prison, but she will be allowed to again be involved in business decisions after her release as she serves an additional five months of home detention in Bedford, N.Y.

There is no SEC rule stating that convicted felons may not be officers of public companies; merely a requirement that the conviction be disclosed if it could impact the company's stock.

The SEC had no comment. Attorneys for Martha Stewart did not return calls and e-mails for comment, CNN said.

Today's Westport Teardown: 17 Turkey Hill Road South

Today's WestportNow teardown is 17 Turkey Hill Road South. The demolition application process for the property, which sold last November for $685,000, has been initiated. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005

7:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - TEAM Westport
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Planning and Zoning public hearing - CANCELED

Staples Basketball Season Ends With 54-40 Victory Over Darien

By Ed Friedland
WestportNow Community Correspondent

The Wreckers' season ended on a high note tonight, as Staples defeated Darien by a score of 53 - 40. The JV and Freshmen also posted victories.
Staples senior boys: (l-r) Wes Lemon, Pete Friedland, Sean Milligan Dave Altschuler, and Mike Bruno. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

For the first time this season, the varsity led from start to finish. In the first quarter, the Wreckers were paced with solid three point shooting from Brian Levine and Wes Lemon.

More importantly, the Darien offense, and its leading scoring Brendan Sullivan, was kept in check with swarming team defense. Sullivan was held well below his season average of 25 points per game.

In the second quarter, after Staples went up by 12, Darien tried to make a run, and closed the gap to six points. Staples, however, scored the last four points to take a 30 - 20 lead into halftime.

The Wreckers scored the first five points after intermission, and never looked back. The lead grew to 16 points early in the fourth quarter. Staples scored its last two points with 5:46 left in the game, but it didn't matter.

Both sides cooled off in the last five minutes, with Staples scoring a total of five points to Darien's seven in the fourth quarter.

Earlier in the evening, the Staples JV ran away with a 62 - 38 victory. The team was cold early, and fell behind by an 11 - 6 score. Led by Matt Greco's aggressive defense, the team turned it around and went on a 29 - 8 tear. The JV finishes the season at 12 - 8.

The Freshmen team also finished in style with a 57 - 43 win. Brett Tessler poured in 27 points. Andy Friedland and Mark Nebelung contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.

After opening the season with a 3 - 7 record, the Freshman turned it around, going 6 - 3 down the stretch. The Freshman finished the season at 9 - 10.

Westport's Save the Children Elects Robert Daly as Chair

Former CBS, Warner Bros. and Los Angeles Dodgers executive Robert A. Daly has been elected chair of the board of trustees of Westport's Save the Children, the charity said today.

Daly, 68, will serve a one-year term in the volunteer position. The charity said that Thomas S. Murphy has completed his seven-year term of distinguished service to the organization and has been named chair emeritus.

He will also continue as chair of the Save the Children Campaign.

Cokie Roberts, nationally-known political commentator, and Philip H. Geier, a communications and advertising executive, have been elected co-vice-chairs.

"The work being done by Save the Children, helping children threatened by disease, poverty, war and natural disasters, is so vitally important in today's world," Daly said in a statement.

Daly was chairman and co-CEO of Warner Bros. from 1980 to 1999. He was managing partner and chief executive of the Dodgers from 1999 until last year. He left when News Corp. sold the team to Frank McCourt.

Prior to joining Warner Bros., Daly was at CBS for 25 years, serving as executive vice president of CBS Television Network, vice president of business affairs, and, eventually, president of CBS Entertainment.

Daly is married to Grammy and Oscar-winning songwriter Carol Bayer Sager, who in 2003 served as executive producer for an album to benefit Save the Children.

“Nothing speaks more eloquently about leadership and commitment than significant practical results,” said Charles F. MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children.

“In Tom Murphy’s tenure as Save the Children’s board chair, we have impacted tens of millions of additional children’s lives.

"We have become the world’s leader in reducing newborn mortality, and have made enormous progress in advancing after-school literacy programs for children living in rural poverty in the United State."

Under Murphy’s leadership, Save the Children has grown from a $110 million a year organization in 1998 to a $360 million organization today.

“This would not have happened without Tom’s dedication,” said MacCormack, “but I know that Tom will consider his greatest accomplishment to be much more hopeful lives for millions of poor children.”

Murphy is chairman and chief executive officer emeritus of Capital Cities/ABC Inc., now ABC, Inc. His four-decade tenure at Capital Cities/ABC began in 1954 when he joined the television and radio broadcasting company in its very first year.

Named chairman and CEO in 1966, he directed the company’s rise to prominence in broadcast and publications. He retired in 1996.

Roberts, who joined Save the Children’s board in 2003, is a political commentator for ABC News and a senior news analyst for National Public Radio.

Geier, who joined Save the Children’s board in 2001, was chairman and CEO of The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc, from 1980 to 2000, when he retired.

All Gone: 29 Old Hill Farms Road

A house at 29 Old Hill Farms Road, featured as WestportNow's teardown of the day on Jan. 12, 2005, was demolished today. The house, built in 1972, sold in December for $1,385,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Martha Stewart Omnimedia Reports Lower Earnings

The media company owned by Westport's Martha Stewart -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. -- reported lower fourth quarter earnings today. It cited declining magazine advertising revenues and softness in its television division.

Stewart, who is scheduled to be released March 6 from a prison in West Virginia, will return to the New York-based multimedia company as it warned that losses for the first quarter will be larger than what analysts expected.

Stewart, who owns about 60 percent of the company's shares, will be allowed to work at the firm while serving five months house arrest at her home in Bedford, N.Y.

Martha Stewart Living said it lost $7.33 million, or 15 cents per share, in the three months ended Dec. 31, 2004, compared with a profit of $2.37 million, or 5 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call expected a loss of 17 cents.

Total revenues fell 15 percent to $60.21 million, from $70.86 million a year ago.

"2004 was a year of significant challenge for MSO, and we look at the coming year with both realistic expectations and optimism for the future," said Susan Lyne, president and chief executive. She replaced Sharon Patrick in a management shakeup in November.

"We will focus our efforts on our greatest assets: the Martha Stewart brand, our content and our creative capabilities," she added in a statement.

In the company's fourth quarter, magazine revenues were $26.1 million, compared with $33.1 million in the year-ago period.

The results primarily reflect a decline in advertising revenue in Martha Stewart Living, as well as subscription acquisition spending For Everyday Food magazine, and losses related to Body & Soul magazine, which was acquired in August 2004.

The decline in advertising revenue from Martha Stewart Living magazine was due to both a reduction in advertising pages as well as lower advertising rates due to the rate base reduction effective with the January 2004 issue.

Circulation revenue declined in the quarter due primarily to lower subscription revenues from Martha Stewart Living, as fewer subscription copies sold.

Television revenues were $1.1 million, compared with $5.9 million in the year-ago period. The decline in revenue was due principally to the absence of the company's daily syndicated show, which stopped airing in mid-September, as well as the expiration of certain cable television agreements.

The company said it will begin production of the newly revised syndicated show, to be distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution, in the second quarter of 2005.

Merchandising revenues were $23.7 million, compared with $22.5 million in the year-ago period. The higher revenue is due in part to an increase in revenue from Kmart Holding Corp. resulting from contractual minimum royalty guarantees.

Revenues at the Internet/Direct Commerce division were $9.3 million, compared with $9.4 million in the year-ago period. The results reflect the company's efforts at selling its remaining catalog-related inventory, while continuing to expand its profitable flowers business.

Overall, Martha Stewart Living expects to post a loss of 35 cents in the first quarter. Analysts polled projected a 20-cent loss.

In the year ended Dec. 31, the company lost $59.60 million, or $1.20 per share, compared with a loss of $2.77 million, or 6 cents per share, a year ago.

Total revenues reached $187.44 million, down 24 percent from $245.85 million in 2003. The company lost $59.60 million, or $1.20 per share, compared with a loss of $2.77 million, or 6 cents per share, a year ago. Total revenues reached $187.44 million, down 24 percent from $245.85 million in 2003.

Shooting the Shooter

Greenwich photographer Zelig Mandel found Westport's Nyala Farm complex off of Greens Farms Road a neat place to shoot. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005

10:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - International Hospitality Committee
7 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309/307 - Board of Selectmen

Talking Transportation: The Myth of the Third Rail

By Jim Cameron
Special to WestportNow

Metro-North’s mangled and much-maligned service in Connecticut is made all the more challenging by a technological quirk of fate. Ours is the only commuter railroad in the United States that operates on three modes of power --AC, DC and diesel.

On a typical run from, say, New Haven to Grand Central, the first part of the journey is done “under the wire”, the trains being powered by 13,000-volt AC overhead wires, or catenaries.

Around Pelham, in Westchester County, the conversion is made to 660-volt DC third rail power for the rest of the trip into New York. Even diesel trains must convert to third-rail as their smoky exhaust is banned in the Park Avenue tunnels.

And there’s the rub: Connecticut trains need both AC and DC, overhead and third-rail, power pick-ups and processors. That means a lot more electronics, and added cost, for each car. While the DC-only new M7 cars running in Westchester cost about $2 million each, the proposed dual-mode M8 car designed for Connecticut could cost $3.5 million each.

So, some folks are asking “Why not just use one power source? Just replace the overhead wires with third-rail and we can buy cheaper cars.” Simple, yes. Smart, no. And here’s why.

 There’s not enough space to lay a third-rail along each of the four sets of tracks in the existing right of way. All four existing tracks would have to be ripped out and the space between them widened. Every bridge and tunnel would have to be widened, platforms moved and land acquired. Cost? Probably hundreds of millions of dollars, years of construction and service disruptions.

 Even with third-rail the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) would still be required to provide overhead power lines for Amtrak. That would mean maintaining two power systems at double the cost. We’re currently spending billions just to upgrade the eighty-year old catenary, so why then replace it?

 Third-rail AC power requires substations every few miles, meaning further construction and real estate. The environmental lawsuits alone would kill this idea.

 DC-driven third rail is less efficient. Trains accelerate much faster using overhead AC voltage, the power source used by the fastest trains in the world -- the TGV, Shinkansen, etc. On third-rail speeds, are limited to 75 miles an hour vs. 90 mph under the wire. That means, mile for mile, commute time is longer using third rail.

 Third rail ices-up in bad weather and can get buried in snow causing short circuits. Overhead wires have problems sometimes, but they are never buried in a blizzard.

 Third-rail is dangerous to pedestrians and track workers. The idea of conversion to third-rail was studied in the 1980’s by consultants to CDOT. They concluded that, while cumbersome and costly, the current dual-power system is, in the long run, cheaper and more efficient than installing third-rail. This time, the engineers at CDOT got it right.

Not satisfied, some of the third-rail fans are now pushing bills through the legislature to study the replacement scheme yet again. More studies would mean years of delay in ordering already overdue car replacements.

I trust the legislature will dispense with these nuisance proposals quickly and get on with the task at hand -- ordering new cars now. Even if the needed funds are appropriated today and the order placed immediately, new cars won’t be delivered for five or six years. Further studies of third-rail vs. overhead catenary only make us wait longer.

(Editor's Note: Jim Cameron has been a Darien resident for 14 years. He is vice chairman of the Connecticut Metro-North Shore Line East Rail Commuter Council and a member of the Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area, one of five Transportation Investment Areas established by the Connecticut General Assembly in July 2001 to develop 20-year strategic plans for each of the state's major transportation corridors. He is also a member of the Darien Representative Town Meeting. The opinions and accuracy of information in this article are the responsibility of the contributor. E-mail him at jim@camcomm.com or www.trainweb.org/ct)

Westport Property Transfers Feb. 14-18, 2005

Property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk's office for the period Feb. 14-18, 2005:

Estate of Emma Louise Mastrianna to Anthony C. Reed, 96 Newtown Turnpike, $200,000

Gertrude C. Leo to Florence Collich, Unit 205, 35 Bridge St., $173,183

Michael J. and Kimberly M. Slimak to Sherwood Drive LLC, 40 Sherwood Drive, $1,500,000

James and Carolyn McIlvenny to Royal Bank of Scotland, 57 Roseville Road, $2,200,000

DNB Nor Bk A S A to Niels P. and Christine K. Lyng-Olsen, 20 Mayflower Parkway, $1,652,500

Estate of Helen Kelley to 30 Webb Road LLC, 30 Webb Road, $702,000

Sheryl Palmieri to Gabrielle J. and Adam T. Lippman, 7 Willowbrook Drive, $560,000

Paul L. Kiernan Trust Muriel R. Kiernan Trust to Lynn U. and Jason K. Miller, 259 Sturges Highway, $955,000

Jason K. and Lynn U. Miller to Turnkey Assoc. LLC, 22 Burr Farms Road, $1,200,000

Gary L. and Susan E. Wasserman to Leonard Boxer, 15 Mayflower Parkway, $1,540,000

Paul E. Conway to Ruth Sherman, Unit 55 Whitney Glen, $330,000

William and Jennifer Barron to Susan B. Hotz, 23A Bermuda Road, $1,150,000

Bradley House Owner Wants $1.2 Million – a 100 Percent Profit

The developer who bought the 200-year-old Abel Bradley House on the Fairfield-Westport town line wants $1.2 million for the property – a 100 percent profit on his purchase price, the head of a group trying to save the house said today.
Abel Bradley House: sign announces March 3 demonstration. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

As a result, negotiations with the developer, Mark J. Iuraduri of Fairfield, appear to have broken down, according to Eleanor Dickey, a neighbor and leader of a coalition seeking to preserve the structure.

Demolition of the home on the Westport side of Sturges Highway could take place anytime after March 3, she said.

"It's a great shame because he could make a very nice profit with the figure we've offered him," Dickey said. "It's also an insult to Martha Stewart and all the other people who have been willing to make financial sacrifices in order to save this building." (See WestportNow Feb. 17, 2004)

Dickey said Iuraduri, who has been involved in a number of renovation projects in the area, has declared that he will only sell the property if the coalition can pay him $1.2 million, exactly twice what he paid for the site a few months ago.

The coalition has offered him $850,000 but cannot raise the additional $350,000 to meet his asking price, she said. The coalition had agreed to keep his asking price confidential while negotiations were ongoing but decided to disclose it now that talks have broken down.

The lot has been appraised at $875,000, and coalition members believe they could probably find the money to raise their offer to the level of the appraisal, but Iuraduri has so far been unwilling to lower his $1.2 million figure at all, Dickey said.

Dickey, a classics professor at Columbia University, said it is not at all clear that development of the site will yield a larger profit.

"It might have been a very profitable lot had it not been for the wetlands, but given the attention that Sasco Brook has been receiving, and the support the Conservation Commission has shown for protecting those wetlands, it seems unlikely that Iuraduri will be able to put a MacMansion on the site," she said.

"He may think that opposition to his plans is coming only from the preservationists and will disappear if he tears down the house, but that is not the case. The environmental community is legitimately worried about those wetlands, and those concerns won't go away, regardless of what happens to the house."

Dickey said another set of negotiations between Iuraduri and the coalition also appears to have broken down.

At a Feb. 3 meeting moderated by Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell, Iuraduri had expressed willingness to move the house to another portion of the lot and keep it as a guest house, she said. In return, he wanted Westport to grant the necessary zoning waivers and not have neighbors oppose them.

After that meeting, the coalition – "whose approval is of course not officially needed for any action the town or the developer takes" -- contacted Farrell and Iuraduri and agreed in principle to the plan, Dickey said.

Iuraduri, however, has still not submitted the requests for zoning waivers that would be necessary for the town to begin the waiver approval process, Dickey said.

Courtenay Fisher, the coalition legal counsel, had discussed with Iuraduri the conditions under which the coalition would provide active support and financial incentives for the move, according to the coalition leader.

Iuraduri had seemed receptive, she said, but he abruptly broke off the negotiations without explanation after the coalition produced its first written set of suggestions.

The coalition's main concern had been to ensure the safety of the historic house during and after the move, since a number of historic buildings in and around Westport have been destroyed by suspicious accidents during construction or flagrant neglect after a move, according to Dickey.

Meanwhile, others seeking to save the structure have erected signs near the house announcing a March 3 demonstration. Dickey said details of the rally have yet to be worked out.

RTM Underage Drinking Debate Being Shown on Town's Cable Channel

After a technical delay, the Feb. 1 Representative Town Meeting (RTM) debate on a proposed underage drinking ordinance is being rebroadcast on the town's cable channel.

The almost four-hour meeting, which ended with no action taken and the matter held over to March 1, is being shown nightly beginning at 6 p.m. on Cablevision channel 79.

Earlier, the cable channel broadcast a forum on the ordinance that was sponsored by the PTA Council.

Playtex Products Recalls Child Carriers

Westport's Playtex Products Inc. is recalling about 32,000 Hip Hammock child carriers because of problems with the shoulder strap.

The company, whose headquarters is in the Nyala Farms office complex, says the shoulder strap support can detach from the infant carrier, possibly causing the baby to fall.

The company has received two reports of the strap detaching. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled infant carriers were sold under the name "Playtex Hip Hammock," which is sewn into the front of the carrier. The model number is sewn into the inside panel below the instructions for use.

The model numbers are:
05300 -- Basic Black Hip Hammock
05301 -- Deluxe Black Hip Hammock
05302 -- Deluxe Navy Blue Hip Hammock

The infant carriers were sold at juvenile product stores, discount stores nationwide, catalog and Internet sites from June 2004 through February 2005 for about $40 (Basic model) and $60 (Deluxe model).

Consumers should stop using the carrier and contact Playtex Products Inc. at (800) 522-8230 for instructions on returning the carrier for a replacement.

Westport Woods

A wooded area preserved as open space off of Westport's Dogwood Lane looked like rural New England after Monday's 6-inch snowfall. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Laux for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005

7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Architectural Review Board
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Zoning Board of Appeals

FBI Agent to Address Y's Men March 3

The FBI agent in charge of white collar crime and corruption investigations in Fairfield County will address the Westport/Weston Y's Men Thursday, March 3.
Stuart Robinson: Y's Men guest March 3. Contributed photo

Supervisory Special Agent Stuart A. Robinson will speak at the group's meeting beginning at 10 a.m. at the Saugatuck Congregational Church.

He will speak about the FBI’s national and international priorities and initiatives, and will describe the methods and intricacies of public corruption investigations, an announcement said.

Robinson joined the FBI in June 1990 after graduating from Indiana University Law School and began work in the Boston office. He worked on public corruption matters there until 1997, focusing on judicial corruption and municipal funding issues.

From 1997 through 2002, he focused on economic crimes, including institutional investment fraud, insider trading, and corporate fraud schemes.

In January, 2003, Robinson was appointed a supervisor in the Public Corruption Unit at FBI headquarters, where he was a manager for the FBI’s public corruption national initiatives and high-profile, high-sensitivity matters.

Last month, he began serving as the supervisor of the White Collar Crime/Public Corruption Squad in Bridgeport, serving all of Fairfield County.

Westport's Martha Stewart Reminiscing about Prison

Two weeks before her release from prison in Alderson, W. Va., Westport's Martha Stewart is already reminiscing about her experiences there.

In a column in the current issue of "Martha Stewart Living," editor Margaret Roach says Stewart has been foraging for dandelions to eat, cooking in the microwave, and crocheting holiday gifts for her dogs. At one point, she performed an impromptu headstand.

Stewart also has been gardening and reading Bob Dylan's "Chronicles."

She is to be released from the federal women's prison Alderson on March 6.
Roach, the magazine editor, says Stewart is ready to tend to her garden after she gets sprung this spring.

"I can tell you she is, indeed, ready to get planting, having ordered her seeds and made extensive to-do lists, just as she would have done in any winter," wrote Roach, who said she exchanged letters with Stewart and also went to see her.

Stewart's letters from prison included optimistic touches, sometimes starting with "Today was a pleasant day" and ending with "Let the fun begin!," the columnist said.

The columnist's remarks were reported by the Daily Mail in Charleston, W. Va.

Stuck Truck

Westport firefighters confer with a tow truck operator today on Northside Lane off of North Avenue after the department's ladder truck slid off the icy roadway. The truck, which was responding to a small residential electrical fire, was pulled clear after about two hours with no apparent damage and no injuries. The electrical fire was quickly extinguished. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Compo Winter Scene

The concession area of Westport's Compo Beach is deserted today after an overnight snowfall. The fast-moving storm dumped about 6 inches of snow in the area. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Laux for WestportNow.com

Compo Sunrise

Sunday's sunrise as seen from Hillspoint Road near Westport's Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Winter Storm Warning in Effect

The National Weather Service said a winter storm warning remains in effect overnight and through this afternoon.

Snow will continue to move across the region and could be heavy at times between midnight and 9 a.m., an advisory said.

The snow will lighten considerably and mix with sleet and freezing rain inland and sleet and plain rain at the coast by late this morning. Total snow accumulations are expected to range from 5 to 7 inches before the
transition late in the morning.

Travel on area roadways is expected to become increasingly hazardous during the overnight hours.

Monday, Feb. 21, 2005

Town Hall is closed in observance of Presidents Day. No public meetings scheduled.

A Chilly Swim

Saturday's clear but chilly weather did not seem to bother these swans in Westport's Compo Mill Cove. Sherwood Island State Park is in the background. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julia Mally for WestportNow.com