Westport Firefighters Quickly Extinguish House Fire

Westport firefighters today quickly extinguished a fire which broke out in a rear exterior wall of a home on High Point Road. The homeowner said he was washing the outside with a hose when a circuit breaker tripped and he then saw smoke coming from the roof area. The fire marshal's office said cause of the blaze was under investigation. Firefighter Brett Kirby (l) uses a thermal imaging camera to look for extension of the fire within the wall. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

Today's Westport Teardown: 22 Burr Farms Road

Today's WestportNow teardown is 22 Burr Farms Road. The house, which sold in February for $1.2 million, was built in 1952. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Saturday, April 9, 2005

1 p.m. and 7 pm. - Coleytown Middle School - Coleytown Company presents "Annie Get Your Gun"
8 p.m. - Bedford Middle School - Staples Players present "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
8 p.m. - Saugatuck Elementary School - Westport Arts Center presents Lucy Kaplansky and Richard Shindell, two-thirds of the folk group "Cry, Cry, Cry," reuniting for a rare duo performance

A Special Honor

Westport First Selectman Diane G. Farrell reads a proclamation tonight following the Staples Players' performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" honoring Craig Matheson (r), director of the 1966 Players' production of the play. Tonight's director, David Roth, is hidden behind Farrell. Members of the 1966 cast and crew were on hand for the event at Bedford Middle School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

After Four Decades, Staples Players Return

Almost 40 years after they performed "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as Staples Players, cast and crew members of the 1966 production watched tonight as the current Players performed their version. At the end, all gathered on stage to honor 1966 director Craig Matheson. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

Westport's Carriage Hill South Office-Retail Complex Sold for $10 Million

The office-retail complex known as Carriage Hill South at 1200 Post Road East changed hands in a $10 million sale this week. The buyer was 1200 Post Road East LLC and the seller was 1200 Post Road East Associates Limited Partnership. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

Reflections

Reflections on a cloudy day Thursday at Westport's Old Mill Pond. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Friday, April 8, 2005

7 pm. - Coleytown Middle School - Coleytown Company presents "Annie Get Your Gun"
8 p.m. - Bedford Middle School - Staples Players present "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Connecticut Siting Council Approves Power Line That Runs Through Westport

The Connecticut Siting Council by a 9-0 vote tonight approved a controversial 69-mile power line between Middletown and Norwalk. It includes a 5.5 mile underground portion running through Westport, mostly along the Post Road.

The panel found that the line will "improve system reliability by enhancing interconnections between southwest Connecticut (a 54-town area) and the remainder of New England," a statement said.

The Council said its approval would also eliminate generation restrictions, short circuit problems at substations, and almost all violations of national and regional standards regarding thermal overloads.

"This means that the project will significantly improve the reliability of service in the highly-congested load pocket of Fairfield County and its surrounding area," the Council said.

Connecticut Light & Power Co. and United Illuminating Co. sought approval of the line to improve an aging and congested power system, which is responsible for higher consumer rates.

Opponents to the proposal included officials from many of the 18 cities and towns where the line will run through. They expressed concern about possible health risks due to the electric and magnetic fields that will be emitted by the line.

CL&P and United Illuminating have said there is no scientific basis for those claims.

The line was the subject of a number of public hearings, including ones in Westport at which alternate routes from the original were discussed. (See WestportNow Sept. 3, 2003)

The Siting Council had already approved the first phase of the project, a 20-mile line from Bethel to Norwalk. Twelve miles of that cable will be buried underground.

In the new project, the existing 115-kilovolt lines will be replaced with 345-kilovolt wires.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she wishes more of the line could be buried underground, but believes the project is important for Southwest Connecticut.

"That region is an economic powerhouse, the home to the majority of our population and many of our largest corporate citizens," she said.

"Annie Get Your Gun" Debuts at Coleytown Middle Tonight

Coleytown Middle School's Coleytown Company opens its production of "Annie Get Your Gun" tonight at 7 p.m. Additional performances are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. with a matinee Saturday at 1 p.m. This perennial favorite among musicals features some of the most colorful characters of American history, including Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull. Ben Frimmer directs. Contributed photo

Temple Israel Teens Raise Funds to Save Hearts

Touched by the death of a young father at a local gym, teenagers at Westport's Temple Israel are raising funds to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in an effort to create a safer community.

The teens have already raised more than $700 toward their $2100 goal and on Sunday plan a walk-a-thon to support their efforts.

The students thought they might be able to make a difference after hearing the story of a 42-year-old father of four small children who had died after a workout at a local gym.

Learning that his life might have been saved if a defibrillator had been available, the seventh graders decided to dedicate a yearlong tzedahak (charity) campaign to raise funds.

When they were told that a defibrillator might help save a life in any community where people gather, the students decided to purchase a machine for Temple Israel.

Seventh grade teacher Cindy Zuckerbrod has turned her students' fund-raising project into a learning experience. After doing some research, she found a distributor in Norwalk who will provide the defibrillator at cost.

A company representative, who is also an EMT, has already visited the seventh graders and to share information about cardiac arrest and how the defibrillator they are working to purchase may help save a life.

When the fundraising project is complete, company representatives will return to Temple Israel to train staff on its use.

Students will gather with family and friends on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at 5 Marine Ave. in Westport to begin the almost five-mile walk.

The walk is open to the public and community members are encouraged to join students in their effort save a heart. For additional information or to make a contribution, contact Cindy Zuckerbrod at (203)221-8261 or at czuckerbrod@aol.com.

Today's Westport Teardown: 351-361 Post Road West

Today's WestportNow teardown is 351-361 Post Road West. The property, built in the 1950s by the late Westport builder Anthony Conte, includes now-empty retail stores and John's Best Pizza as a stand-alone building. Conte's son, Jim, will oversee reconstruction that will include a Peoples Bank and a new home for John's Best, which has been there since 1966. The site once housed a motel, the White Birch Restaurant (see below), and a Greyhound Bus stop. The demolition application will be considered by the Historic District Commission at its April 12 meeting. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Flashback: Today's Westport Teardown Years Ago

This 1960s postcard view shows the White Birch Restaurant on Post Road West now occupied by John's Best Pizza. The property at 351-361 Post Road West is featured as today's WestportNow teardown of the day. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) File photo

Thursday, April 7, 2005

7 pm. - Coleytown Middle School - Coleytown Company presents "Annie Get Your Gun"
7:30 p.m. - Westport Library McManus Room - Author Prill Boyle speaks about her first book, "Defying Gravity," a collection of 23 stories of "ordinary" women who accomplish extraordinary things late in life
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Planning and Zoning public hearing

Compo Beach Playground "Design Day" Set for April 27

"Design Day," the kickoff event for the rebuilding of Westport's Compo Beach Playground, is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27.

"Design Day" will begin with children from the five Westport elementary schools sharing their “expert advice” and ideas for the new playground with John Dean of Leathers & Associates, Inc.

The New York firm, a leader in the field of community-built playgrounds, was selected for the Compo Beach playground rebuilding.

John Dean will spend the morning with the schoolchildren and then spend the afternoon drawing the initial designs for the site based on their ideas, according to an announcement by the Compo Beach Playground Committee.

All children from the elementary schools will be able to participate in the actual design of the new playground through either in-school or take-home activities executed by the schools.

The schools have agreed to enable each of their student leadership groups or governing councils to meet with Dean during a set time in the morning of the school day on April 27.

Children who do not actually meet with the designer will have their ideas communicated through their student representatives at these meetings.

An unveiling of the playground design will take place at 7 p.m. that evening in the Long Lots Elementary School auditorium in an event open to the public, the committee said.

Abel Bradley House Site May Contain Prehistoric Indian Remains

Preservationists trying to save the Abel Bradley house on the Westport-Fairfield border say there is an "excellent chance" of prehistoric Indian remains on the site. They say parts of a collection at the Fairfield Historical Society came from a site about a mile downstream from the Bradley House and "make it likely" that people who frequented the site also visited the Bradley House site. This link, they say, may be cause for an archeological site investigation under Westport zoning regulations. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Contributed photo

Westport Property Transfers March 28- April 1, 2005

Property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk's office for the period March 28-April 1, 2005:

Jason F. Fensterstock to Michael B. and Elizabeth S. Kessler, 17 Harding Lane, $2,491,500

Leon C. Hirsch to Negreiro and Son Construction LLC, 4/4A Pan Handle Lane, $975,000

Morgan J. Murray to John Thomas and Lisa M. Hoey, 22 Tupelo Road, $890,000

Luigi Casatelli to Patrick A. and Michele Sweeny, 11 Loren Lane, $665,000

Lori Gina Brayton to Nabil Elmazri, 15 Dr Gillette Circle, $490,000

Estate of Mary Ludvinsky to Walter Dobosz, 26 Tamarac Road, $780,000

Adam H. and Jennifer M. Epstein to Carousel Development Inc., 8 Reimer Road, $1,000,000

Jane C. Bulkley to Hans B. and Sandra P. Gibson, 12 Bayberry Lane, $1,025,000

John B. Place to Jeffery F. and Jennifer C. Putnam, 4 Reimer Road, $1,650,000

Anastasios T. and Christine M. Savvaides to Chana Hecht, 13 Tarone Drive, $620,000

Barbara Shriver to Grace and Christopher Mulliken, 24 Roosevelt Road, $2,270,000

Theodore G. and Venitia G. Schwarz to Primacy Closing Corp., 3 Porters Lane, $1,425,000

Douglas H. and Carol Donohoe to Joshua M. Eudowe and John P. Coykendall, 8 Oak St., $526,000

George N. and Cheryl J. Settos to Eric G. and Michelle J. Lieberson, 15 Clover Lane, $1,060,000

John and Rosalie Fontana Jr. to Maria A Coplit, 10 Reichert Circle, $600,000

Ulla Glassell to Michael J. and Jill C. Pengue, 44 Ostend Ave., $2,600,000

Ruth Gavira to Todd B. Halky, 5 Keenes Road, $735,000

Estate of Sylvia E. Miller to Sterling Building and Restoration LLC, 56 Compo Road North, $1,000,000

Robert and Helaine Altbaum to Alberto and Deborah Mignucci, 14 Arrowhead Road, $1,000,000

R H B Development Corp. of Connecticut to Andrew Drewatolitsch, 25 Tupelo Road, $2,810,000

David Munoz to Thomas and Giancarla Truitt, 35 Washington Ave., $963,000

Harris E. and Sharon K. Milligan to Prudential Residential Services Limited Partner, 26 Silverbrook Road, $1,917,500

Prudential Residential Services Limited Partner to Ravi and Hillary Chachra, 26 Silverbrook Road, $1,917,500

Lois J. Hughes and Aime O. Fraser to Ruth Gavaria and Robert G. Christian Jr., 24 High Point Road, $1,075,000

Westport Officials Take Part in Security Drill

Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell led a team of Westport officials today at an anti-terrorism drill involving 14 Fairfield County towns at the Norwalk Armory.

The "tabletop" exercise, timed to coincide with a large-scale drill in New London and New Jersey, simulated biological and chemical weapons attacks on the area.

Farrell said valuable lessons were learned as police, fire, EMS, health, and political leaders spent about six hours discussing how they would react individually as a town and together as a region to a terrorist attack.

Coming Down: 5 Pritchard Lane

The house at 5 Pritchard Lane, featured as WestportNow's teardown of the day March 10, came down Tuesday. It sold last month for $1,220,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

RTM Approves $2.3 Million Longshore Golf Improvement Plan

Meeting into the early hours of the morning, the Westport Representative Town Meeting (RTM) early today approved a $2.3 million proposal to improve the town's Longshore Club Park golf course.

After more than three hours of reports, public comments and debate, the legislative body, by a 27-3 vote, gave its okay to the plan which some residents and RTM members opposed because it calls for removal of almost 100 trees as part of the upgrade.

Members rejected by a 26-4 vote a last-minute motion to postpone debate until May 2 so more information could be gathered. The body adjourned at 1:06 a.m.

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

Wednesday, April 6, 2005

10:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - International Hospitality Committee
Noon - Town Hall Room 201/201A - Citizens Brown Bag Lunch
4 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Beautification Committee
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - RTM Public Works Study Committee

Two Westport Firefighters in Security Drill; Local Exercise Set for Wednesday

Two Westport firefighters took part today in an anti-terrorism drill that simulated biological and chemical weapons attacks in Connecticut and New Jersey.

Firefighters Brett Kirby and Richard Stone participated in the New London drill as members of Connecticut's elite 128-member urban search and rescue team, according to Westport Fire Chief Denis McCarthy.

"It's a great opportunity for Westport," McCarthy said. "They help raise the level of training of the entire department as they share what they have learned."

The Connecticut drill and one around Union, N.J. – the largest in the nation's history -- came as emergency management officials in Westport and other nearby communities prepared for a separate but related "tabletop" exercise Wednesday at the Norwalk Armory.

"This was an opportunity for those of us in Fairfield County to simulate our response to attacks in nearby areas, just as happened on 9/11," said McCarthy, who takes over May 2 as Norwalk's fire chief.

"On 9/11, we had family members who were lost, residents who were stranded, and a lot of emotional upheaval. So we created our own tabletop scenario based on what is taking place in New Jersey and in the New London area."

McCarthy, along with Police Chief Al Fiore, First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell, Health Director Judy Nelson, and Human Services Director Barbara Butler are among Westport officials expected to participate in Wednesday's all-day exercise.

The New London exercise focused today on recovery and investigation from the simulated attack Monday.

Rescue crews and dogs sorted through the rubble pile, looking for volunteers playing victims and dummies used to represent fatalities.

State officials discussed how to clean up the partially collapsed building without risking additional injuries or contaminating the environment with the simulated mustard gas.

Volunteers posing as grieving family members began arriving at a family center this morning, as FBI and state police investigators worked to determine who planned the attack.

Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford hospitals participated in Monday's drill by receiving simulated victims of the New London incident. McCarthy said Westport fire officials and the Westport-based Mid-Fairfield County Hazardous Materials unit helped Norwalk Hospital prepare for the scenario.

You Better Believe It

George Brunstad of Ridgefield won a place in "Ripley's Believe It or Not" for his English Channel swim last summer at the age of 70. He showed the Ripley's entry to guests at today's Westport Rotary Club luncheon at the Inn at Longshore. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Channel Swimmer Never Doubted He'd Make It

George Brunstad, a a Ridgefield man who at age 70 became the oldest swimmer to cross the English Channel last summer, explained to the Westport Rotary Club weekly luncheon today how he did it. The map next to him shows the zig-zag route of his 15 hour 59 minute, 32-mile swim. He said after a year of training -- including daily cold showers -- he never doubted at any time that he would accomplish the feat. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

Another Martha Stewart Request to Ease House Arrest Conditions

Lawyers for Westport homeowner Martha Stewart have filed another appeal with a federal judge asking to relax the terms of her house arrest. They contend that her confinement is hurting efforts to revive her media company.

Stewart should no longer be required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, according to a letter from her lawyers to U.S. District Judge Miriam Cedarbaum Monday. She also wants permission to be away from her Bedford, N.Y. estate for up to 80 hours a week -- up from the 48 hours a week currently allowed -- and to be able to go on overnight business trips for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.

Her lawyers previously filed a request for terms of her house arrest to be modified, but Monday's letter was a response to federal prosecutors' opposition to that motion. (See WestportNow April 1, 2005)

An appeals court last month ruled that Cedarbaum can modify Stewart's punishment if she chooses. Such orders have become routine in federal cases after a Supreme Court ruling in January that makes sentencing guidelines advisory rather than mandatory.

Cloudy Skies

The overcast skies at Westport's Sherwood Island State Park Monday provided a scenic backdrop. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Today's Westport Teardown: 82 Roseville Road

Today's WestportNow teardown is 82 Roseville Road. An application for a demolition permit for the house, built in 1900, will come under review at a Westport Historic District Commission meeting April 12. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, April 5, 2005

10 a.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Administrative Review Committee
Noon - Toquet Hall - Westport Arts Center presents "Play With Your Food"
12:15 p.m. - Inn at Longshore - 70-year-old English Channel swimmer George Brunstad addresses Westport Rotary Club
7 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Shellfish Commission
8 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Representative Town Meeting (live coverage on cable channel 79)

Long Lots Elementary School Principal Barbara Lasher Retiring

Barbara. Lasher, principal of Westport's Long Lots Elementary School for a dozen years, will retire June 30.

Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon made the announcement at tonight's Board of Education meeting.

Calling it a "bittersweet announcement," he said, "I am happy for Barbara Lasher and sad at the same time."

Landon said Lasher "is definitely one of the finest principals I've ever had the pleasure to work with. She's a wonderful instructional leader. She's compassionate, sensitive, very much concerned with the well-being and the education and welfare of the students in her school and her faculty as well.

"I know that she is going to be missed tremendously by parents and kids and staff as well as all of us in central office and I know the board as well. And we wish her well."

Landon said he knew it was a tough decision for her to make and that she agonized over it for a long time. "I wish her many, many happy and healthy years in retirement," he said.

He said a search for a successor is underway with a May 10 deadline for applications.

Westport's Conservative Synagogue Hosts Civil War Lecture

Jeffrey Mayer, a member of the Westport Board of Finance and Civil War scholar, lectured on "Jews in the Civil War" at Westport's Conservative Synagogue tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) WestportNow.com photo

James K. Woog, Longtime Westporter and Civic Volunteer, Dies at 82

James Katten Woog, longtime Westport resident and volunteer in civic affairs, died today at Norwalk Hospital. He was 82 and worked until his death as a stockbroker.

Born Nov. 11, 1922, in Crestwood, N.Y, he was the son of the late Sidney and Carolyn Katten Woog. After graduating from Roosevelt High School at age 15 he entered Antioch College, where he was elected as the community manager, and served as a student on the board of trustees.

Following graduation from Antioch he joined the Merchant Marines as a radio operator. His service during World War II included several crossings of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He was in Japan just a few weeks after V-J Day.

Following the war, Woog joined the training program for Merrill Lynch, and embarked on a career as a stockbroker. He worked for almost 60 years, first in New York and later from his home in Westport.

He became executive vice president of Propp and Company, and at the time of his death was affiliated with Oppenheimer and Company.

Woog and his wife Josephine moved to Westport in 1956. He was elected to the Representative Town Meeting in 1961 and served for one term. He was treasurer of the Long Lots Junior High School PTA and served on the board of the Nature Center.

His greatest passion, however, was the United Jewish Appeal (UJA). He was an active volunteer throughout his five decades in Westport, including a term as president, and was honored as its Man of the Year.

In addition to his wife of 54 years, Woog is survived by his son, Dan of Westport; two daughters, Susan Woog Wagner of White Plains, N.Y. and Laurie Woog of Westfield, N.J.; their husbands, Stephen Wagner and Jay Goldring; his grandchildren Josh and Ben Wagner, and Abigail and Hannah Goldring; his brother Alan, of Mercer Island, Wash., and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Temple Israel in Westport. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

Memorial contributions can be made to the UJA, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, Westchester Chapter, or a charity or organization of one’s choice.

Papal Memories for Westporters

As the world mourned the death of Pope John Paul II, two Westporters had special memories of him. Former Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Moderator Ralph Sheffer (l) and RTM Member Lois Schine had a chance to greet the Pope some years ago during a visit to Rome. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Contributed photo

Today's Westport Teardown: 18 Burr Farms Road

Today's WestportNow teardown is 18 Burr Farms Road. An application for a demolition permit has been submitted. The home was built in 1954. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Another Sign of Spring

In another sign of spring, today was the first day to get Westport parking emblems, hand passes, and other permits in person at the Parks and Recreation Department office at Longshore Club Park. Up to now, only mailed in applications were being processed. Parking emblems will be required to enter all parking areas at Parks and Recreation facilities and town beaches beginning May 1. Handling the chores behind the counter are (l-r) Elaine Guiliano, Cheryl Smith, and Susan Weiner. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Sound of Music

Twenty Westport students participated over the weekend in the 31st Fairfield County String Festival at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. Eileen Shannon, an orchestra teacher at Coleytown Middle School, served as chair of the Sixth and Seventh Grade Orchestra. The festival is comprised of three orchestras – the Sixth and Seventh Grade Orchestra, Eighth and Ninth Grade Orchestra and the Honors Orchestra. Participating Westport students included: (Sixth and Seventh Grade Orchestra): Beatrice Clark, Naveen Murali, Casey Richardson, Adele Shenoy, Adam Solsburg, Alexandra Wismer, Kelsey Damassa, Josh Tucker, Matthew Brill, and Caroline Yost; (Eighth and Ninth Grade Orchestra): Rose Gradoux-Matt, Ashley Hefnawy, Yunke Liu, Kevin Nowaskey, Vasanth Ramesh, Anna Parmelee, and Ellie DiBerardino; (Honors Orchestra): Jeffrey Cheng, Carlyn Kessler, and Alexa Aron. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Contributed Photo

NY Benefit to Aid Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Camps

A star-studded benefit for Hole in the Wall Camps, founded by Westport's Paul Newman, will be held April 21 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in New York.

The 7 p.m. performance will feature appearances by Newman, Paul McCartney, Julia Roberts, Robin Williams, Tony Bennett, Mary J. Blige, the Emerson String Quartet and the acrobatic group AntiGravity.

Tony Award-winner and Weston resident James Naughton will direct the evening, which is titled "Stars in the Sky" and will include a post-performance dinner and auction.

Newman founded the first Hole in the Wall Camp in 1988 in Ashford, Conn. The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps now includes nine camps and will serve over 10,000 children in 2005. For more information visit www.holeinthewallcamps.org.

Tickets for Stars in the Sky are available by calling (212) 462-2900. Tickets range from $250 (performance only) to $50,000 (tickets for 10, prime seating for 10 at a post-performance dinner plus listings on the invitation and in the program).

Candle Starts Westport Fire

An mantel place candle not fully extinguished caused a small fire in a Westport home early today, officials said. A smoke detector alerted residents to the blaze and they escaped unharmed.

Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control.

Robert Kepchar, assistant chief, said the department responded to a 911 call of smoke in the building at 29 Cross Highway .

"Upon arrival, firefighters were told by the occupants, who had evacuated the building, that there was a fire in the dining room," he said.

"Firefighters entered the room and quickly extinguished a fire above the fireplace that had extended into the wall. Crews worked to remove the burning section of the wall and extinguished all remaining fire."

He said the cause of the fire was a candle on the fireplace mantel that was not fully extinguished.

"We take this opportunity to remind residents of the importance of working smoke detectors and to make sure candles are fully extinguished after use and to be aware of their proximity to any combustible material," Kepchar said.

The initial call was received at 3:23 a.m. and the last unit left the scene at 4:21 a.m.

Monday, April 4, 2005

6 p.m. - Staples High School, Room 1027 - Board of Education anticipated executive session
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201/201A - Golf Advisory Committee
8 p.m. - Staples High School Cafeteria - Board of Education

A Super Westport House Sale: More than 200 for the Birds

More than 200 birdhouses will be auctioned off today at Project Return's 10th annual "The Art of the Birdhouse" auction at Westport's Inn at Longshore. Jane Horton (l), co-chair of the auction, confers with auction committee member Totney Benson about placement of the items. Since opening its doors in 1986, Project Return has provided a family-style therapeutic environment for more than 115 troubled adolescent girls. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Getting a Close Up View

A visitor gets a close up look at one of the exhibits at the Westport Arts Center as it debuted its "A Community Collects" exhibit Saturday night. (CLICK TO ENLARGE ) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Did You Change Your Clock? Westport Fire Department Offers Batteries

Did you change your clock at 2 a.m. today? It's daylight savings time and the Westport Fire Department reminds residents to "change your clock, change your batteries."

The department, in conjunction with the Town of Westport, the Westport Firefighters' Golf Tournament, and the Westport Rotary Club, is offering free nine-volt batteries to residents for their smoke detectors.

Bring your old batteries to Westport fire headquarters, 515 Post Road East, and exchange them for new ones -- maximum three batteries per household. If you need assistance changing batteries, call (203) 341-5010 to come to your home -- no fee.

Fire Marshall Fred S. Baker said the Town of Westport is indebted to the Firefighters' Golf Tournament and the Westport Rotary Club for their efforts to make the town a better, safer community.

Sunday, April 3, 2005

2 p.m. - Bedford MIddle School - Staples Players present "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
2 p.m. - Westport Library McManus Room - Emil de Cou, associate conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and conduct of NSO at Wolf Trap, talks about Russian composors and the stories behind their music.
2:30 p.m. - Barnes and Noble - Syndicated family travel columnist Eileen Ogintz signs her newest books "The Kid's Guide: NYC" and "The Kid's Guide: Cruising Alaska"
3 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - "The Collecting Phenomenon," a conversation with Anne Higonnet, professor or art history at Barnard College, followed by an open conversation with featured collectors from the exhibition "A Community Collects."
4:30 p..m - Inn at Longshore - Project Return's 10th Annual Birdhouse Auction