Big Turnout for ABC Gala

There was a large turnout tonight at Westport's Unitarian Church for a fund-raising gala by Westport's A Better Chance. Among those on hand (l-r) Cheryl Scott-Daniels, Ralph Yearwood, Sharon Fong, Claire Yearwood, and Steve Daniels. Cheryl Scott-Daniels is chair of facilities; Fong is chair of ABC's host families committee; the Yearwoods have been host parents for the past three years for ABC scholar Wesley Lemon, a Staples senior, and Steve Daniels is president of ABC. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Contributed photo

ABC Scholars in the Spotlght

Five of the six A Better Chance (ABC) scholars surround Dave Driscoll (c), past president, and Steve Daniels, (4th l, rear) current president of ABC, at tonight's fund-raising event at Westport's Unitarian Church. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Contributed photo

Saugatuck Running High

Heavy rains have raised the level of rivers and streams in Westport as well as other parts of the tri-state area. This is the West Branch of the Saugatuck River, between Newtown Turnpike and Cavalry Road, at mid-day today. The river has been running high since the big rains earlier this week and residents are keeping close watch on it. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Andy Yemma for WestportNow.com

Legislative Committee Approves Underage Drinking Bill

The state legislature's Judiciary Committee has approved a bill making it an infraction for a minor to possess alcohol on private property.

The bill also would prohibit anyone from knowingly permitting a minor to possess alcohol on private property or failing to make "reasonable efforts to halt such possession."

The measure passed by a 33-0 vote Friday. Nine committee members – five Republicans and four Democrats – were absent, according to a summary posted on the Connecticut General Assembly Web site.

Sen. Andrew McDonald, a Stamford Democrat who is co-chair of the committee, said he expected the measure to come to the House floor within a couple of weeks. He acknowledged the bill was controversial and said passage could be "an uphill battle."

The committee, which held a public hearing on the proposal March 21, recommended deletion of a section providing for fines of not less than $200 nor more than $500 and substituting language merely classifying violation of the act as an infraction.

Under state law, an infraction is an offense for which the only penalty is a fine. An infraction is not a crime. Current law makes it illegal for a minor to possess alcohol on public property. The proposed bill extends it to private property.

The text of the proposed bill (proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline):

"Effective October 1, 2005) (a) No person having possession of, or exercising dominion and control over, any dwelling unit or private property shall (1) knowingly permit any minor to possess alcoholic liquor in violation of subsection (b) of section 30-89 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, in such dwelling unit or on such private property, or (2) knowing that any minor possesses alcoholic liquor in violation of subsection (b) of section 30-89 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, in such dwelling unit or on such private property, fail to make reasonable efforts to halt such possession. For the purposes of this subsection, "minor" means a person under twenty-one years of age.

"(b) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall have committed an infraction.

"Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 30-89 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2005):

"(b) Any minor who possesses any alcoholic liquor [on any street or highway or in any public place or place open to the public, including any club which is open to the public, shall be fined not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars] on public or private property shall have committed an infraction. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to (1) a person over age eighteen who is an employee or permit holder under section 30-90a and who possesses alcoholic liquor in the course of [his] such person's employment or business, (2) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor on the order of a practicing physician, or (3) a minor who possesses alcoholic liquor while accompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse of the minor, who has attained the age of twenty-one. For the purposes of this subsection, "minor" means a person under twenty-one years of age.

Mom, Ex-Wife Raise Bail for Westport Narcotics Suspect

After a month in custody, a Westport man arrested in an early morning raid last month on narcotics charges has won his release pending trial after his mother and ex-wife signed off on a $300,000 bond, the Connecticut Post reported today.

However, Ronnie Navarro, 46, of 132 Green's Farms Road, must remain at the Wyatt Federal Detention Center in Rhode Island until the U.S. Probation Department can hook him up to an electronic monitoring device, the newspaper said.

Once that's done early next week, Navarro will be released to the custody of his ex-wife, Leslie, and must live in her home in Trumbull, the report said.

Navarro and Lawrence Gaynor, 45, were arrested March 2 in an early morning raid on the Greens Farms Road home they shared. Police recovered 1.3 kilograms – almost 3 pounds – of marijuana from the residence and $22,000 in cash. (See WestportNow March 2, 2005)

Gaynor's status was not immediately known.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons Friday ordered Navarro to find a job. She allowed him to leave the house only for work, the Connecticut Post said. Navarro, who served a manslaughter sentence in Canada, must also seek treatment for an alcohol problem.

His lawyer, Audrey Felson, told the judge that Navarro has meetings scheduled with counselors at Fairfield Community Services and Connecticut Renaissance, two substance abuse treatment centers.

During Friday's proceedings, Navarro and a co-defendant, Andrea Carrano, 70, of Wallingford, pleaded not guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and several charges of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. Each charge carries a maximum five-year prison term.

Senior U.S. District Judge Alan H. Nevas set May 11 as a tentative jury selection date, the newspaper said.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

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A collection of Beatles memorabilia is among the exhibits on display at the Westport Arts Center's "A Community Collects" exhibit opening today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

Postscript to a Teardown: 10 Covlee Drive

This teardown at 10 Covlee Drive in the Saugatuck Shores area was featured on Friday's WestportNow only hours before it was demolished. On hand for the take down Friday were owners Jackie and Howard Mason (2nd and 3rd l) and their mortgage banker, Henry Weeks, from the Westport National Bank (l) -- he said he came because he had never seen a house demolished. Howard Mason lived around the corner at 3 Covlee Drive until 1983. He said he always wanted to return to Saugatuck Shores so he bought the one-story, 1,700-square-foot house in October 2004 for $820,000 and plans to replace it with a 3,400-square-foot Colonial. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Saturday, April 2, 2005

4 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - Opening reception "A Community Collects"
6:30 p.m. - Unitarian Church - A Better Chance fund-raising gala
8 p.m. - Bedford Middle School - Staples Players present "Midsummer Night's Dream"

Off to the YMCA National Swim Competition

The Westport/Weston Water Rats swim team left today for Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where they will compete in the YMCA national swim competition. Staples sophomore Cydney Eldh and her mother, Joyce, pose for a photo. Cydney is one of two "rookies" – first-time qualifiers for the national competition -- making the trip. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

What a Team!

The Water Rats' 13 qualifiers before they left for Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., today included (l-r): Cydney Eldh; David Platow; Clayton Goodgame; Anna Smith; Jason Brown; Aurora Lee; Mike Dunn; Laura Bedson; Danny Platow; Laura Strittmatter; Frisk Driscoll; Christina Bladek, and Keenan Coss. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Prosecutors Urge Judge to Hold Ground on Martha Stewart

Federal prosecutors today urged a federal judge to make no changes in Martha Stewart's sentence for lying about a stock sale. They mocked her claim that home confinement is damaging to her business.

"Minor inconvenience to one's ability to star in a television show is an insufficient ground for resentencing," prosecutor Michael Schachter wrote in a six-page letter to Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum.

Stewart asked the judge last week to cut short her five-month term of house arrest. She has served about a month confined to her Westchester County estate, after spending five months in a federal prison in West Virginia.

Stewart, who maintains her Westport home and television studio here, said serving the rest of her sentence would hamper production of her two forthcoming television series -- a daytime talk show and a new rendition of NBC's "The Apprentice."

She has also complained in a Web chat that the electronic monitoring bracelet she is forced to wear during house arrest is unwieldy and chafes her skin.

But prosecutors argued the sentence was lenient, and that Stewart, who has suggested she was prosecuted for being a woman and a celebrity, "has shown no remorse and accepted no responsibility for her crimes."

As evidence that her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, has hardly suffered at all, prosecutors noted that its stock price soared from $8.70 per share after her conviction to $37 per share while she was in prison. It has since declined to $22.32 at today's closing.

Stewart is allowed to leave the estate 48 hours per week for work, and she asked the judge either to end the house arrest early or allow her to leave for work 80 hours per week.

Cedarbaum has the option of granting Stewart a new sentencing hearing or rejecting the request outright.

Stewart made the requests after a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that made federal sentencing guidelines advisory rather than mandatory. Cedarbaum sentenced Stewart at the lowest possible end of the guidelines.

Westport Braces for Possible Flooding

Westport emergency management officials went on alert today for possible flooding over the weekend from a major storm making its way up the East Coast.

The National Weather Service said a flood watch remains in effect from late tonight to Sunday afternoon. The text of the latest statement:

"A major rainfall event is expected to unfold across the tri-state area beginning late tonight. The storm system forecast to impact the area with this heavy rainfall is beginning to take shape over the southeast states.

"The surface low will track northward along the Appalachians through the weekend. The rain on Saturday and Saturday night will be heavy at times. The heavy rains will taper to showers and end sometime Sunday night.

"Current indications suggest that rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are likely across northeastern New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and southwestern Connecticut with locally higher amounts.

"These rainfall amounts may cause widespread serious flooding of many area rivers and streams, with some streams not having much time to recover from last Monday's rain before rising again.

"Major river flooding is possible along those river basins where the heaviest rainfall occurs. Flooding this weekend along the Wallkill River at Gardiner has the potential to be the most significant since the major floods of January 1996, based on current expectations of rainfall.

"Across Long Island and southeastern Connecticut, a widespread 2 to
3 inches of total rainfall is likely with locally higher amounts. Already saturated ground from heavy rain earlier in the week will cause rapid runoff.

"This may result in flooding of small creeks and streams, highways, underpasses and low water crossings. Remember -- most deaths that occur during flooding are related to vehicles trying to cross flooded roads.

"Remember -- a flood watch is issued when rivers and streams are expected to rise to near or above bankfull levels. These rises are usually due to excessive rainfall or heavy downpours falling on an already saturated ground.

"Remember -- a watch means that flooding is possible but not imminent. People in the watch area should keep abreast of the latest weather and prepare to move to higher ground should a warning be issued.

"Review your flood evacuation plans in the event that major flooding occurs Saturday through Sunday. The potential flooding event this weekend is a serious one -- possibly life-threatening in some areas."

Pete McGovern, PR Legend and Local Columnist, Dies at 90

Pete McGovern: "We'll all miss him." Contributed photoPete McGovern, a PR legend, longtime Westporter and local gossip columnist, died Thursday at Norwalk Hospital, his wife, Phyllis, said today. He was 90 and had been in failing health for some time.

Perhaps best known outside of Westport for his two decades as publicist for Jackie Gleason, most townspeople knew McGovern from his Westport Minuteman "Sense of Rumor" column. The somewhat surreal gossip feature ran from the newspaper's inception in 1994 until about two years ago.

Rumor defied time, place and writing conventions as McGovern melded the town's Who's Who from different time periods. Revered for making the past prologue, the column was nonetheless devoured by gossip-hungry readers.

McGovern, always quick to mention he was born in the back of a Jersey City police paddy wagon on Valentine's Day, 1915, was a garrulous raconteur. He lunched regularly with newspaper cronies at the VFW or Mario's and seemed to bask in his Rumor celebrity status as he strolled Main Street or the Compo Beach area near his former Bluewater Hill home.

"He used to tell the greatest Jackie Gleason stories ever," recalled Dominic Mariani, who worked with McGovern at the Minuteman.

One was about a bet he made with Gleason to determine who was in better shape.They agreed to race around the block in different directions. McGovern was surprised to find Gleason beat him to the finish. Later, he learned the Great One had taken a cab.
"Sense of Rumor:" Column ran for nine years. Graphic by John LaPick courtesy of Westport Minuteman

"He was one of the most socially engaging people I ever met," Mariani said.

Longtime Westporter Ray Wolfe described McGovern as a man with "super recall, and he told the most fascinating yarns."

"We'll all miss him," Wolfe said.

Tom Henry, editor of the Minuteman, said McGovern's column was a popular feature for many years. "He was a scholar of Westport and brought his knowledge of celebrities to many here who felt they knew them through him," he said.
Marching in Memorial Day parade: McGovern basked in his Rumor celebrity status. Photo by Robin Fellows

McGovern took great pride in the column. When he had been at it a couple of years, this item appeared in Liz Smith's nationally syndicated column: "Pete McGovern, who once wrote for Jackie Gleason, has had his 100th gossip column printed in the weekly Minuteman of Westport, Conn. He says he never once cribbed from this column to do it."

McGovern was a graduate of Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. He worked for a while for the Hudson (N.J.) Dispatch before joining the U.S. Department of War and its Armed Forces Radio unit, serving in Washington, D.C., as well as the South Pacific.

Later he worked for the Young and Rubicam ad agency before moving to CBS where he was assigned to be a publicist for Gleason.

A Westport resident for more than 50 years, McGovern also wrote short stories, humor, and poetry – he called it "verse" – and was published in Esquire, Readers Digest, Ace High, Forum and other magazines.

He was an occasional contributor to The New York Times Metropolitan Diary column where he shared with the world some of his close-up observations of life in Westport, including this 1990 contribution:

"One exiting, the other entering, crammed shopping bags in tow by both, the two women almost collided in the aisle of Julius Gold's Delicatessen in Westport, Conn. Immediately, one proceeded to admonish the other for being late.

'''I couldn't help it,' the guilty woman said with a heavy sigh as she deposited her bundles on a nearby chair. 'I ran into Betty and she told me. . .' 'Which Betty is that?' the first woman interrupted. 'Betty, Betty, Betty,' the second woman said.

'''How many Bettys do you know? Betty from the blintzes, of course!' 'Oh, that Betty,' said the other. Then they sat down and, friends once more, considered what they would have for lunch. I never did learn what Betty had to say."

And there was this 1987 submission:

"She was the essence of sophistication, this stately, well-coiffed commuter from Manhattan. I first noticed her as she alighted from an Amtrak train at Westport, Conn. She had on long, sleek gloves and huge jangling bracelets. I saw her again assuming a seat at the Black Duck, a nearby restaurant and bar and again I was awed by her style, her poise, her breeding.

"Even as she sipped her clam chowder, a house specialty, she pursed her lips ever so slightly, leaned delicately forward, the pinky of her spoon hand gracefully pointed toward heaven. The illusion, alas, was to be dashed in one swift heartbreaking moment: she reached - suddenly, greedily - for the cellophane packet of Oysterettes. Then she tore it to shreds with her teeth."

McGovern worked out of a cluttered, small home office just off the living room of his Thomas Road home that he guarded carefully. Today it was just as he left it -- piled high with papers, yellowed newspaper clippings, magazines, a battered Royal typewriter, shelves full of books, and walls lined with photos of him with the famous and not-so-famous.

"If I'd go near the entrance to turn off a table lamp, he'd block the doorway," said his wife.

McGovern is survived by his wife of 56 years as well as two sons and their wives – Scott and Josefina McGovern of Norwalk, and Michael and Paula McGovern of Port Chester, N.Y., and their daughter Jillian, 17 months.

Funeral services are private. A memorial service will be announced later. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Westport Public Library.

Westport Fire Chief Named New Chief in Norwalk

Norwalk Mayor Alex Knopp today announced the appointment of Westport Fire Chief Denis McCarthy as Norwalk's new fire chief at a news conference at Norwalk fire headquarters. McCarthy, 49, has been Westport chief for two years and is a 26-year veteran of the Westport Fire Department. He likened the career move to "being adopted by a next-door neighbor" and said he took the job because he wanted a new challenge. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

From the Outgoing Chief to the New One: Congratulations

Retiring Norwalk Fire Chief Sanford Anderson (r) congratulates Westport Fire Chief Denis McCarthy (c) today on his appointment as the city's new fire chief. Mayor Alex Knopp (l ) said McCarthy, who was chosen from among more than 70 candidates, will begin his new job May 2. Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell said she is launching an immediate search for McCarthy's successor. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

Chamber, Downtown Merchants Announce Drive to Buy New AEDs

The Westport/Weston Chamber of Commerce, along with the Westport Downtown Merchants Association, today announced a fund-raising drive to buy new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for Westport. Barbara Sweet (r), executive director of the Chamber, told a Town Hall news conference the new machines, which cost just under $2,000 each, will also be suitable for use on children. First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell (l) sits with children from the Westport/Weston YMCA who were guests at the event. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

Backing AED Fund-Raising Drive

Participants in today's Town Hall news conference announcing a fund-raising drive to buy new automated external defibrillators included (l-r) Officer Richard Frazier; WVEMS Crew Chief Alan Stoltz; Barbara Sweet, executive director, Westport/Weston Chamber of Commerce; First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell; WVEMS volunteer Isabel Blair, and Jim Hardin, president, Downtown Merchants Association. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

Westport's Hank Herman Tells "Today" About Raising Kids

Westport author and Westport News columnist Hank Herman was among those appearing today on the NBC "Today" show debut segment of its month-long series "Raising Kids Today." Herman said, "I think all three of my sons don't like it when there's kind of an iciness around the house. I mean the punishment is one thing, but when a day or two go by where nobody is talking a whole lot, that worked as well as anything." NBC/WestportNow.com photo

Compo Silhouette

The Compo Beach playground is silhouetted against a sunset this week. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Richard Barnett for WestportNow.com

Today's Westport Teardown: 10 Covlee Drive

Today's WestportNow teardown is 10 Covlee Drive in the Saugatuck Shores area. Workmen prepare the site for demolition. The property sold last October for $820,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

"A Community Collects" Exhibit Opens Saturday

Curator Elise Meyer (r) watches as Morgaine Pauker installs her collection of Colonial-era choppers for the Westport Arts Center exhibition "A Community Collects" opening Saturday at 4 p.m. The show features area residents’ collections that also include African tribal art, chopsticks, early American pewter, snow globes, Beatles memorabilia, Pez dispensers, lingerie, telephones and telegraph equipment, and Connecticut and Westportiana. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Erin Hauber for WestportNow.com

Friday, April 1, 2005

10 a.m. - Westport Public Library McManus Room - Noted children's book illustrator and author Leonard Everett Fisher talks about how he interpreted Cervantes' masterpiece "Don Quixote" for his latest children's book "Don Quixote and the Windmills"
2 p.m. - Wolsniw Park and Opmoc Beach - Lirpa Loof Festival
8 p.m. - Seabury Center, 45 Church Lane - Westport Arts Center presents the Brentano String Quartet and Elizabeth Keusch

Rabbit Hill Literature Festival Opens at Library

The fifth annual Rabbit Hill Festival of Literature opened tonight at the Westport Public Library. Library Director Maxine Bleiweis welcomed participants at the opening panel discussion. The Rabbit Hill Festival is named to honor Robert Lawson, the only author/illustrator to win both the Caldecott and Newbery Medals for excellence in children's illustration and literature. He created his work in his Westport home and studio on Weston Road, which was called "Rabbit Hill." (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Longshore Trees Marked With Yellow Ribbons

Some trees on the Longshore Club Park golf course sported yellow ribbons today indicating they may be cut down as part of a planned $2.3 million upgrade of the course. Some residents have said the number of doomed trees is excessive. Parks and Recreation Department Director Stuart McCarthy has said only trees absolutely necessary to accomplish the upgrade will be removed. The Representative Town Meeting will take up the appropriation request at its April 5 meeting. Tom Feeley for WestportNow.com

A Better Chance Gala Saturday Night Offers Auction Goodies, Entertainment

Want to board a plane for California to attend a taping of NBC's "Jay Leno Show?" Or attend "The Daily Show," "The View," or Broadway's "Hairspray?" How about five nights in St. Thomas? Or spending a day with the president of Saks Fifth Avenue or the CEO of ad giant Young and Rubicam?
A Better Chance scholars: they will benefit from Saturday event. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

These and other goodies are up for auction at Saturday night's A Better Chance of Westport fund-raiser, “A Dream, An Opportunity, A Better Chance” at the Unitarian Church in Westport. Tickets for the event are still available.

Other auction items include choice major league baseball tickets, a day on the set of an HBO mini-series in London, a day at the New York Jets traiing camp, a day in the pit with the crew at a national racing event, and an hour at the Gault yard learning how a front-end loader works.

Entertainment will be headlined by local composer, arranger and performer Chris Coogan. He will be joined by Joe Meo, who will accompany him on clarinet and sax, and Westport veteran actress and singer Dorothy Bryce.

Organizers also promise there will be "a special performance by a surprise guest who embodies the spirit and significance of the A Better Chance organization."

A Better Chance of Westport gives academically gifted, economically disadvantaged children of color the opportunity to live in Westport and attend Staples High School. Currently, six ABC students reside at ABC’s Glendarcy House, located at the corner of North Avenue and Cross Highway.

For more information, contact Katherine Sousa at (203) 222-9795 or Rhonda Paul at (203) 259-7180.

Westport Teen with Her Own Home Suite Featured in NY Times

A Westport teen with her own two-room suite in her parents' 7,000-square-foot 1930s Colonial-style home is featured in today's New York Times.

The story, by Westport freelancer Andrée Brooks, quotes a researcher for a home builders group as saying that kids' suites in their parents' home is one of the most popular trends in upscale housing now.

The Times said that Westport architect Bob Jacobs created the two-room suite with bathroom two years ago for his daughter, Emily, then 13.

"We wanted to create a situation where the kids would want to come to us rather than go elsewhere," he said.

The newspaper said giving their child a convivial place to hang out in their home provided Jacobs and his wife, Jane, with some peace of mind.

"This way we knew she was safe," he said.

The Times said the teen was enthusiastic about her personal suite. "When Emily Jacobs realized that she was the only one of her circle of friends with such a large space, 'it made me feel special,' she said," according to the newspaper.

Gun in Saugatuck River Turns Out to be a Toy

A Metro-North worker spotted what appeared to be a gun in the Saugatuck River near the railroad bridge today and called police. After it was retrieved from the water, with help from the Westport Fire Department, it turned out to be a toy, according to officials.

Shays: "I Believe Terri Schiavo Did Not Want Her Life Continued"

Rep. Christopher Shays, addressing the Westport/Weston Y's Men today shortly after Terri Schiavo died, said he voted against a measure allowing a federal court to intervene in her case because "I basically believed that Terri Schiavo did not want her life continued." He added, "My view is it should be handled by the states and that the federal government should stay out of it." (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Motherly Talk

Rep. Christopher Shays smiles as his friend and Westport/Weston Y's Men member Bill Meyer talks about Shays' mother, Peggy, at the group's meeting today. Meyer said he had taken Mrs. Shays to the Westport Senior Center recently for lunch and that she had very much enjoyed the experience. Peggy Shays was in the audience at today's meeting. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Close Call

A deer running across traffic headed for I-95 at exit 18 in Westport today had a close call. Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Westport's Representatives Split on Death Penalty Abolition Vote

Westport's two state representatives split their votes on Wednesday's unsuccessful attempt to abolish Connecticut's death penalty.

The measure was defeated 89-60. Democrat Joe Mioli, a freshman representative whose district covers all but a sliver of Westport, voted yes. Republican Cathy Tymniak, whose district includes a portion of the Greens Farms area, voted no.

The five-hour debate came with New England's first execution in 45 years looming. The bill would have replaced the death sentence with life in prison without the possibility of release -- a move that leaves serial killer Michael Ross' fate up to the courts.

Legislators who want to end capital punishment had acknowledged for weeks that the abolition bill had no chance of passing. However, they said the House vote allowed them to debate the public policy before Ross' scheduled May 11 execution by lethal injection.

Another Blow for Golden Hill Paugussett Recognition

The Golden Hill Paugussett tribe, which has long sought federal recognition and hope of opening a casino in Bridgeport, has suffered another setback in its bid for federal recognition.

Westport is among a number of southwest Connecticut communities that have opposed establishment of a casino in Bridgeport.

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton upheld the rejection of the tribe's bid for federal recognition in a letter dated March 18 and released Wednesday

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has twice rejected recognition bids from the tribe. The tribe appealed the second rejection in September. A month later, an appeals board referred the matter to Norton.

In the letter, Norton told the tribe that none of the issues raised in its appeal warranted further consideration. That means the BIA's June decision will stand.

Bernard Wishnia, a lawyer for the tribe, said that the Paugussetts are considering their options, including taking the BIA to court.

Compo Sunset

Sunset at Westport's Compo Beach on Wednesday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Richard Barnett for WestportNow.com

Today's Westport Teardown: 11 Twin Falls Lane

Today's WestportNow teardown is 11 Twin Falls Lane off of Wilton Road near Merritt Parkway exit 41. An application for a demolition permit is pending. The house, built in 1950, sold last month for $870,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Last Day for Dogs at the Beach

Today is the last day of the season that animals are permitted on Westport beaches. Wednesday's warm weather attracted many dogs and their owners to Compo Beach, including David Mally who did battle with Duke over a Frisbee. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julia Mally for WestportNow.com

Thursday, March 31, 2005

7:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 309/307 - TEAM Westport Committee
10 a.m. - Saugatuck Congregational Church - Rep. Christopher Shays addresses Y's Men
7 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Sherwood Mill Pond Committee

A Play Within a Play

Staples Players members (l-r) Zack Shornick, Waylon Jacques, and Scott Weinstein perform the play within a play, "Pyramus & Thisbe" as they prepare for this weekend's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Described by one participant as "Fun Shakespeare," the show is set in the 1960s and includes a rock soundtrack featuring the Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and other icons of the decade. Performances are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and next weekend. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Kerry Long for WestportNow.com

Westport Rotary to Hear from 70-Year-Old English Channel Swimmer

George Brunstad: Channel swimmer to address Westport Rotary Club. A Ridgefield man who at age 70 became the oldest swimmer to cross the English Channel will be guest speaker at the Westport Rotary Club weekly meeting Tuesday, April 5.

George Brunstad, whose swim seven months ago won him a place in “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not,” will address the club luncheon to be held at Westport's Inn at Longshore from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m, the club said. The public is welcome.

Brunstad's appearance will include a 22-minute documentary about his English Channel swim on Aug. 28, 2004.

Taking the plunge three days after his 70th birthday, Brunstad battled strong tides and currents to swim from Abbott’s Cliff, south of Dover, England to Sangatte Beach, south of Calais, France, in 15 hours and 59 minutes.

The last five hours were done in darkness. He left at 9.13 a.m. on a Saturday and arrived on the northern French coast at 2.12 a.m. on Sunday. While the straight line distance was 25 miles, Brunstad estimates he actually swam 32 miles because of the tides and currents.

Brunstad, who retired in 1994 as a pilot for American Airlines, has been swimming competitively for 31 years. His Channel attempt came after a year of training and many previous records in long-distance swimming, including four open-water championships. He often swam in Long Island Sound.

He decided to take on the challenge when someone asked him at his 69th birthday how he wanted to celebrate his 70th. He beat a record set by Australian Clifford Batts who accomplished the feat in 1987 at age 67. Only five men over 60 have swum across the Channel.

The father of five and grandfather of 10, Brunstad raised almost $50,000 with his Channel swim for an orphanage in Haiti. Prior to flying 30 years for American Airlines, he was in the U.S. Air Force where he piloted B-52 bombers. Upon his mandatory retirement at age 60, he bought a Russian-designed, Chinese-built MiG-17 fighter and did tricks at air shows.

When not swimming or flying, Brunstad found time to work at the Wilton YMCA as a swimming instructor.

Getting Ready for "Annie Get Your Gun"

Tech crew members of Coleytown Company are hard at work on bringing the Wild
West alive for next month's Coleytown Middle School production of "Annie Get Your Gun." Director Ben Frimmer promises a fresh and lively take on a perennial favorite among American musicals. Opening night is Thursday, April 7. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) David Dreyfuss for WestportNow.com

Leadership Expert to Address Y's Women April 11

Barbara Kellerman: Y's Women speaker.Leadership expert Barbara Kellerman will address the April 11 meeting of the Westport/Weston Y's Women.

Her topic is “Bad Leadership – What It Is, How It Happens, Why It Matters” which is also the title of her latest book.

A distinguished scholar, author and teacher, Kellerman is currently research director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Coffee and Conversation begin at 11 a.m. with the meeting starting promptly at 11:30 a.m. The public is welcome.

Partial Membership Interest Sold in Westport Retail Center

A 60 percent membership interest in the 14,850-square foot Village Square retail center, located at 181-185 Main St., Westport, has been sold to Fraioli Realty Group, LLC of Bedford, N.Y., it was announced today.
Sold: 60 percent interest in 181-185 Main St. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The equivalent sales value of the interest is approximately $7 million, according to an announcement from Westport's HK Group.

Village Square of Westport Development, LLC reconstructed the property under the leadership of The Marsilio Group, LLC -- Ronald Marsilio, principal. The remaining 40 percent interest will be retained by Marsilio who will continue to manage Village Square, the company said.

Fraioli’s 60 percent purchase came from two former, unnamed partners.

There are three retail tenants at Village Square -- Brookstone, Gardener’s Eden and Waterworks -- occupying 11,350 rentable square feet, with the remaining 3,500 SF used by three office tenants.

Ted Hampe, chairman of HK Group, was the sole commercial broker involved in the transaction, representing Fraioli in negotiations directly with Village Square Development.

Other parties involved were Darlene Letersky of Prudential Connecticut Realty, who referred Fraioli to HK Group; Steven Siegelaub and Howard Komisar of Berkowitz, Trager & Trager, Westport attorneys for the buyer; Geoffrey Fay, Esq. of Pullman & Comley, Stamford, for the sellers; and Martin McCann, Esq. of Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, Bridgeport, for Village Square Development.

Westport Property Transfers March 21-25, 2005

Property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk's office for the period March 21-March 25, 2005:

John F. and Ann Marie Fanning to Frauke Berman, 2 Sterling Drive, $1,219,300

Mary G. Genaway to Rafael, Hilda, and Ann Chiu, 18-20 Bulkley Ave. North, $1,050,000

Peter J. Fine and Andrea L. Luciano to Robert H. Feigenbaum, 4 Valley Road, $800,000

SIR-23 Dover LLC to Eric J. and Laura W. Schuppenhauer, 23 Dover Road, $1,765,000

John M. and Patricia A Prenderville Jr. to Robert and Jennifer Wolter, 23 Cob Drive, $950,000

Roxana Howes to Anne M. Piedade Trust, 52 Whitney Glen, $345,000

Ralph and Charlott Colp Jr. to Ruth Colp, 34 Rayfield Road, $675,000

5 Pritchard Lane LLC to Mattera Construction Co. LLC, 5 Pritchard Lane, $1,220,000

Robert J. and Margaret W. Ellwanger to 20 Beachside Commons LLC, 20 Beachside Commons, $1,475,000

Leon C. Hirsch Roger J. Leifer Tr to Red Coat Realty LLC, 1/1A Pan Handle Lane, $1,243,000

Leon C. Hirsch Roger J. Leifer Tr to Saugatuck Development LLC, 2 Pan Handle Subdiv., $1,241,000

Leon C. Hirsch Roger J. Leifer Tr to Pan Handle Realty LLC, 3 and 3A Pan Handle Lane, $1,241,000

Compo Dog Day Afternoon

Today was the second to last day for dogs and their owners to romp on Westport's Compo Beach before the no-animals beach ban goes into effect April 1. The unusually warm weather brought out plenty of them. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Blending In

Sunny skies and a temperature that hit 66F in Westport today brought out people and animals to enjoy the good weather. These visitors to Flower Farm Lane almost blended in with the background. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Developer Offers $10,000 to Move Bradley House

The battle between developers and preservationists over the Abel Bradley House on the Westport-Fairfield town line shifted to today's Westport Town Hall brown bag lunch. Developer Mike Horvath said he would pay $10,000 to move the house off the property. Preservationists said such a move would be difficult. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Making Her Case at Brown Bag

Eleanor Dickey, head of a coalition trying to save the 200-year-old Abel Bradley House from demolition, outlined her concerns at today's Westport Town Hall brown bag lunch. She said her group was willing to provide a profit to developers but could not meet their asking price. A Superior Court judge will rule next month on a request for a temporary injunction against the demolition. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport PTA Council Presents Talk Tonight on "Hyper-Parenting"

The Westport PTA Council is sponsoring a talk this evening by a noted child psychiatrist about "hyper-parenting" and over-scheduled children.
Alvin Rosenfeld: PTA speaker tonight.

The presentation by Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Saugatuck Elementary School auditorium. It is free and open to the public.

Rosenfeld has taught at Harvard, Stanford and Columbia Universities and worked on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

He is the author of five psychiatric and parenting books and has his own private practice. He has appeared on ABC's "World News Tonight," NBC's "Today Show" and Oprah Winfrey's syndicated television program, among others.

A news release said in his talks, Rosenfeld offers parents suggestions on how they can slow the frenetic pace of family life and explains how a "Family Night” can be an antidote to the hyper-parent lifestyle.

More information on Rosenfeld and his work can be found on his Web site.

Rep. Christopher Shays to Address Y's Men Thursday

Rep. Christopher Shays will address the Westport/Weston Y's Men Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East. The 4th District Republican is expected to update the group on current issues in Washington.

Today's Westport Teardown: 100 Beachside Ave.

Today's WestportNow teardown is 100 Beachside Ave. The property, which actually is comprised of two parcels at 100-102 Beachside Ave. totaling just over 4.3 acres, changed hands earlier this month for $14.6 million -- the most expensive property ever sold in Westport. A demolition application said only portions of the house would be demolished. Because the request concerns a structure more than 50 years old, it will be automatically considered by the Westport Historic District Commission. View is of the rear of the property facing Long Island Sound. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow contributed reporting for this item. WestportNow.com photo

Westport's $14.6 Million Record Property Sale Prompts Teardown Application

First there was the eye-popping $14.6 million Westport record property sale earlier this month. And now comes the teardown application – also a record.
Record teardown: the original 1929 portion of the main house at 100 Beachside Ave. is set for demolition. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The application filed at the Westport Building Department specified only a portion of the 1929 main house of the property at 100 Beachside Ave. would be demolished. Parts of the structure were updated and expanded in 1980 and 1984.

Because it involves a building more than 50 years old, the application will automatically be reviewed by the Westport Historic District Commission.

The property – actually two parcels at 100 and 102 Beachside Ave. – covers 4.3 acres and contains a gate house, a tennis court, two swimming pools – one indoor and one outdoor -- and a 228-foot private beach.

The pink stucco house with a red tile roof changed hands March 3. Its 9,359 square feet and 17 rooms include eight bedrooms, nine full baths and three half baths as well as five fireplaces. (See WestportNow March 7, 2005)

The sellers were Joel and Joan Smilow. He is former chairman, CEO and president of Westport-based Playtex Products Inc. The buyers were Marc and Cathy Lasry. He is the founder and managing partner of New York-based Avenue Capital Group, a distressed fund manager.

The property sits about mid-way along Westport's Beachside Avenue, known as Westport's "Gold Coast. The area is also home to talk radio host Don Imus, Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, entertainment personalities Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue, and real estate developer Sam Heyman.

Last week, Imus referred to his Westport Beachside Avenue home as a "$30 million estate on the water" as he answered questions about the costs of a charity he operates at his ranch in New Mexico.

In recent years, some Beachside Avenue owners have purchased adjacent land and knocked down older homes to expand their property and improve their water views.

Dave Matlow contributed reporting for this article.

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

9 a.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Planning and Zoning Big House Committee
10:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - International Hospitality Committee
Noon - Town Hall Room 309/307 - Citizens Brown Bag Luncheon
5:30 p.m. - Turner Trailers - School Building Committee Staples Subcommittee
7 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201A - RTM Transit Committee
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - RTM Environment Committee
7:30 p.m. - Saugatuck Elementary School - Westport PTA Council presents talk by child psychiatrist Alvin Rosenfeld on "hyper-parenting"

Westport Board of Finance Cuts $1.2 Million from Education Budget

The Westport Board of Finance tonight approved the 2005-2006 education budget but not before cutting $1.2 million from the amount requested by the Board of Education.

The approval of the $78,323,190 operating budget came on a 6-1 vote with only Democrat Kevin Connolly opposed. He said he thought the cut was too much. The amount represents about a 5 percent increase over the current year.

The Board of Education will have an opportunity April 13 to ask the finance members to restore any or all of the deleted funds prior to consideration of the budget by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in May.

At its March 16 meeting, the Board of Finance approved the $50,298,177 town side of the 2005-06 fiscal year budget. (See WestportNow March 16, 2005)

Westport's Save the Children Aiding Victims of Asia Quake

Westport's Save the Children said today it is moving quickly to provide food, water, medicine and shelter to thousands of Indonesian children and their families impacted by a massive earthquake that rocked south Asia Monday.

Save the Children is focusing its latest emergency response efforts on Nias and Simeulue -- two islands off the coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia -- where hundreds of people were killed and many homes destroyed, the charity said in a statement. Nias has a population of more than 440,000 and Simeulue a population of 78,000.

“It seems totally unfair that children and their families in Indonesia once again have been so heavily impacted by a second major earthquake in three months,” said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children.

“We will continue to work throughout Aceh province and northern Sumatra to help meet the immediate and long-term needs of children as a result of the two earthquakes. The psychological impact that this second earthquake will undoubtedly have upon children cannot be underestimated.”

Two planes loaded with medical kits and supplies are expected to leave Sumatra shortly, and a large cargo ship containing medical kits, large tents, baby food and a variety of household items already is on its way to the islands, the charity said.

Save the Children, which has worked in northern Sumatra for 30 years, had staff members on the island of Simeulue when Monday's earthquake hit. Staff responded immediately, helping provide medical care at a public hospital in the town of Sinabang, the capital of Simeulue.

Save the Children staff reported that about 40 percent of the houses and shops in downtown Sinabang were badly damaged, the statement said.

Save the Children’s own office in Sinabang was virtually destroyed, but the earthquake struck late Monday night, and staff members were not in the building at the time. “Our staff members were sleeping in houses that withstood the shocks of the earthquake,” said MacCormack. “We were very fortunate."

Experts said Monday’s earthquake was very similar in location and magnitude to the earthquake that rocked south Asia and parts of Africa on Dec. 26 and triggered one of history’s most deadly tsunamis. However, Monday’s earthquake did not create a similar tsuanmi because a much smaller area of the ocean floor moved, seismologists said.

Accident on Post Road East Injures One

One person was slightly injured today in a two-car accident on Post Road East in Westport. The incident tied up traffic for a while in the area of Mitchells of Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Hall-Brooke Gets $750,000 HUD Housing Award

Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services has been awarded $750,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the McKinney-Vento Continuum of Care Programs to provide 12 new units of supportive housing for persons with chronic behavioral health disorders, it was announced today.

The grant funds 12 scattered-site one-bedroom apartments in the Greater Bridgeport area for homeless persons who need support services for psychiatric problems and/or substance abuse, and training in development of independent living skills, an announcement said.

The award was announced at Hall-Brooke's main campus at 47 Long Lots Road., Westport, by Rep. Christopher Shays . Shays succeeded the late Stewart McKinney, longtime Representative from Connecticut's 4th District, who co-authored the bill under which the grant was given.

"I am grateful to Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services for working so tirelessly to meet the needs of chronically homeless and disabled citizens in our community," Shays said in a statement.

"I am a strong believer in the effectiveness of supportive housing, which provides a setting for individuals to live on their own while receiving clinical treatment, training in developing independent living and work skills.

"I am also grateful to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for this grant. It will have a profoundly positive impact on our community.'

With the support of state and federal financial grants, Hall-Brooke already operates 16 multi-family homes in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Southport, Westport and Norwalk for residents who are chronically mentally ill.

Hall-Brooke's Homestead Residential Services program provides community-based housing and 24-hour support from Hall-Brooke's mental health professionals. This makes it possible for residents to live independently with dignity, and to function productively in the community.

Funds awarded to Hall-Brooke under provisions of the McKinney-Vento Bill have supported the Homestead Program in the past, including in the purchase of 12 of the supportive multi-family housing units.

Hall-Brooke has provided mental illness and/or substance abuse treatment for children, adolescents and adults, as inpatients or outpatients, for 104 years. It opened new hospital facilities in 2001 on its 24-acre site in Westport.

It is the only treatment center in the region with an inpatient program for children. Hall-Brooke also operates therapeutically-oriented Seton Academy, on its campus, for children who are unsuccessful in their home district schools because of behavioral concerns.

Hall-Brooke serves the Bridgeport community, including a bi-cultural, bi-lingual program for Latinos, at The Center, 2400 Main St., Bridgeport

Hall-Brooke is a wholly-owned subsidiary of St. Vincent's Health Services, Bridgeport, and is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Rainy Monday

Monday's rainstorm measured almost 2 inches in Westport but did not deter this pedestrian from taking a walk at Sherwood Island State Park. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

9 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 -Code Enforcement Committee
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Board of Finance Budget Hearing (cable coverage on channel 79)

Street Gets New Houses and a New Name

A street off of Westport's Whitney Street not only has a new housing development but a new name. Gudzik Court is now known as Sugar Maple Lane. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

National Public Radio Highlights Westport Teardowns, Bradley House

Westport teardowns and the fight to save the Abel Bradley house got some national exposure today on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" program.

The report noted that it is hard to find a street in Westport that either does not have a house being torn down or one going up and highlighted the fight to save the 200-year-old Bradley house. It can be heard online here.

Among those interviewed was WestportNow contributing photographer Dave Matlow whose photos of Westport teardowns were cited in the NPR story.

More national attention is coming to Westport because of Matlow's photos. Over the weekend, he escorted a BusinessWeek photographer to a number of Westport teardown sites for a story on "the housing bubble" set to run in the magazine next week.

Bradley House Documentary Set for Westport Showing April 11

A "preliminary version" of a 16-minute documentary depicting the battle to save the Abel Bradley house on the Westport-Fairfield border will be shown April 11 in Westport.

The 7:30 p.m. event will take place in the McManus Room of the Westport Public Library, according to Eleanor Dickey, who heads a group trying to save the house. Admission is free.

The final version is expected to include the ultimate result of the struggle between developers and preservationists, she said.

A Superior Court judge in Bridgeport has said a ruling on a request for a temporary injunction preventing demolition of the house will not come before April 18. So filmmakers Suzi Yoonessi and Andrea Chignoli have decided to release the preliminary version now, Dickey said. (See WestportNow Feb. 13, 2005)

The film, entitled "The Bradley House," features a number of interviews, including Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell; Board of Finance member Gavin Anderson, a member of the Bradley House Coalition; members of the Westport Historic District Commission; Steve Young, executive director of the Fairfield Historical Society; genealogist Melanie Marks; WestportNow photographer Dave Matlow; Fairfield resident Jane Talamini; builder Peter Gaboriault, and Dickey.

Developers Mark Iuraduri and Mike Horvath and their realtor Vera Ruud were offered the chance to participate but refused to do so, Dickey said.

Ruby Brotherton, who sold the house to the developers, was not interviewed because neighbors wished to shield her from the stress, according to Dickey.

The film also includes footage of teardowns, MacMansions, and the Westport historic district, as well as images of the Bradley House itself, Dickey said.

Matlow's extensive logistical support of Yoonessi and Chignoli earned him a credit as executive producer of the documentary.

Westport Woman Pleads Guilty to Narcotics Possession

A Westport woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in New Haven to possessing crack cocaine.

Jennifer Lane, 19, of 68 Harbor Road, entered the plea before U.S.
District Judge Janet Bond Arterton, according to Kevin J. O'Connor, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut.

When she is sentenced on June 20, Lane faces a maximum term of imprisonment of one year and a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000. As part of her plea agreement, she also will be required to pay $500 of the cost of her drug treatment and counseling, O'Connor said.

She was among 30 persons arrested during the last week of February by federal and local law enforcement officials in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and the Bronx, N.Y. (See WestportNow March 10, 2005)

The sweep was part of an investigation into the distribution of crack cocaine and PCP in southwestern Connecticut. Lane was arrested as part of the U.S. Department of Justice's "Demand Reduction" initiative, which targets drug purchasers for prosecution.

In addition to Lane, two Stamford mem arrested as part of the Demand Reduction initiative have also pleaded guilty, O'Connor said.

Flood Watch in Effect

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the tri-state area, including Westport.

It said rain will become heavy at times over the course of today. A few thunderstorms will also be possible during the daylight hours into the evening.

Current indications are that around 2 inches of rain will fall from this system with locally higher amounts possible, forecasters said.

About 1.25 inches had fallen by late afternoon, according to the weather station at Bedford Middle School in Westport.

Area rivers and streams will experience significant rise and poor drainage areas are likely to experience flooding, a statement said.

This evening's commute will be a slow one with downpours reducing visibilities. The rain will gradually taper off tonight but could last well into Tuesday.

A Flood Watch means that flooding of stream, creeks and other drainage areas is possible within the watch area.

People in the watch area should keep an eye on the weather and be prepared for immediate action should heavy rains and flooding occur or a flood warning be issued.

Monday, March 28, 2005

11 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Westport Transit District directors

Westport EMS Schedules CPR Classes

The Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, in association with the American Heart Association, is sponsoring free cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes in recognition of CPR Week April 8–15.

The classes will be held at the police/EMS classroom, 50 Jesup Road, Westport. Call (203) 341-6030 to register for any of the following courses:

Saturday, April 9
10 a.m. - noon adult CPR
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. pediatric CPR
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. pediatric CPR (Spanish)

Tuesday, April 12
10 a.m. - noon adult CPR

Thursday, April 14
10 a.m. - noon adult CPR
7 p.m. - 9 p.m. pediatric CPR
7 p.m. - 9 p.m. adult CPR (Spanish)

Each of the classes is intended for all ages to help save lives by learning the skills of CPR and is available to all area residents and businesses. The course follows the American Heart Association (AHA) curriculum. No walk-ins or late registration will be accepted.