Motorcycle vs Car Accident Sends One to Hospital

One person went to the hospital today as a result of an accident involving a car and a motorcycle on Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Hundreds Flock to Castles in the Sand at Compo

By James Lomuscio
WestportNow Special Correspondent

At noon today they were merely piles of sand that a bulldozer had strategically dumped by along Compo Beach. But with a little imagination and a lot of toil in the sun, these mounds by 3 p.m. transformed into a sea turtle, a serpent, an octopus, a porcupine -- even a race car, not to mention sand castles.
Porcupine sculpture: named one of the best. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com

Dubbed Castles in the Sand, this fourth annual fundraiser for the Interfaith Housing Association (IHA) drew hundreds of serious sand artists as well as newcomers who wanted reconnect with their inner child, if not sandbox.

It also raised more than $20,000 for the social service organization that provides resources and care for homeless individuals in the Westport area.

Castles in the Sand is the brainchild of Ed Brennan, a member of IHA's board of directors.

"We were looking for a fundraiser, and somebody suggested a walk-a-thon and a bike-a-thon," he recalled. "And I said, 'How about a sandcastle-build-a-thon?'"

At first, it was not an easy draw, he said, since many would-be participants felt intimidated by others' artistic prowess. But each year participation grew, and today all 42 sand piles, which cost $100 to $300 to shape, were sold.
Prize winner: Also winning a prize was this group from Bedford Middle School (l-r): Max Lebow, Jordan Kessler, David Edelman, Dan Goldberg, Nellie Stagg and Ian O'Connell. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Betsey Lebow for WestportNow.com

Participants ranged from organizations such as the YMCA to businesses to groups to families and friends who wanted a fun day at the beach. In addition to buying a sand lot, participants were also expected to solicit donations for the IHA.

Castles in the Sand had a roster of corporate sponsors, too, including Gault, Inc., which donated the sand, and Kowalsky Bros., which set it up in piles.

Westporter Kenny Epstein and his son Matthew joined up with Wes Malowitz and Joe Wiles to tackle two ambitious projects. Their goal: to fashion one mound of sand into a race car and the other into a porcupine. By 3 p.m., Wiles was putting the finishing touches on a highly detailed Formula One racer, and Epstein had all of the porcupine's wooden spines inserted.

"I'm only the manager of the group," quipped Epstein, who with his friends in past years built a Mayan temple and a train. "They look great because I had nothing to do with them."

The event's judges, artist Miggs Burroughs and architect Peter Cadoux, also liked the porcupine and named it one of the day's best. There were three equal winners, no first, second or third places, Burroughs said. Other winning sculptures were an elaborate sand castle crafted by a team from Wild Oats and a sea serpent.

"What we're trying to do with this event is to educate the town about our organization," said Brennan. "What's astounding to me is that so many people in town, when you say Interfaith Housing Association, they have no idea what we do."

On a more positive note, Brennan said he is thrilled at how many sand sculptures are still standing and untouched the day after.

And the Winners Are...

A crowd gathered to hear the announcement of the winners at today's Castle in the Sand event at Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Galen Blumenthal for WestportNow.com

Westport Teacher to NY Times: She's No Fan of No Child Left Behind

A Westport teacher, in a letter to The New York Times, said the newspaper inaccurately reported that the No Child Left Behind Act is causing a hard look at the achievement gap.

"A Westport teacher with urban and suburban experience, I know that urban teachers' efforts are misunderstood by No Child Left Behind, which only exacerbates their challenges, driving them to suburban jobs," wrote Anne Lutz Fernandez-Carol of Norwalk.

The letter appears in the newspaper's Sunday Connecticut section.

"It is as absurd for me to take credit for my suburban students' success on state tests as it would be to take the blame for the underperformance of students, many nonwhite, I taught in the city," she said.

"Westport's socioeconomics provide most of my students with school readiness, tutors, travel and, often, a parent at home during the day. They, and I, have benefit from a huge variety of activities and small classes that create high attendance and motivation.

"The hard look is not being taken at interrelated root causes of educational inequity: de facto segregation, the growing income gap and heavy reliance on local funding. Under No Child Left Behind, teachers, students and parents simply become scapegoats."

Sand Play

Several hundred people took the sands of Compo Beach today for the fourth annual Castles in the Sand fund-raiser for the Interfaith Housing Association. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com

Staples Students Honored by German Language Teachers

Nine Staples High School students were among those honored Friday night by the American Association of Teachers of German at a dinner at Fairfield University. The event recognized high school students who achieved the highest scores in Connecticut on a nationally administered test. Carol Kochefko, a Staples German language teacher, led the Westport contingent. Shown are: (standing, l-r) Lucas Rose, Emily Abramson, Jordon Cotton, Christopher Miller, Dan Mueller and Carol Kochefko; (seated, l-r): Emma Mersmann, Sophie Mersmann, Katrina Leo and Emma Robson. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Hadley Rose for WestportNow.com

Staples Class of '70 Reunion Set for Aug. 5-7

The Staples High School class of 1970 will hold its 35th reunion in Westport the weekend of Aug. 5-7.

Classmates will be meeting at the Longshore Club Park Patio Bar at 7 p.m. Friday for cocktails. A buffet dinner dance will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Sons of Italy in Norwalk featuring the band Smoke.

Members of Smoke include Staples alumni Mark Smollin, Chuck Boisseau, Steve Wall, Marc Ballin, Peter Mogren, John Leimseider and Denning McCleery. The weekend will culminate with a picnic at Compo Beach beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Organizers ask grads to spread the word to all classmates from 1970 and anyone from the classes of 1969 and 1971 who may wish to join them.

Those interestested are asked to visit www.smollin.com/staples and register for the reunion with an e-mail address to receive the eVite containing the event details Or you can contact Mary Palmieri Gai (203-454-3026 - MaryG74667@aol.com) or Pat Saviano (203-853-2009 – psav@andovermarketing.com).

Early Risers

Early morning activity Friday along the Saugatuck River in Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Making a Visit to Compo

WestportNow contributing photographer Lauren Hampton came across this visitor to Westport's Compo Beach marina and believes it's a black-crowned night heron. Do WN readers agree? (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lauren Hampton for WestportNow.com

Saturday, May 14, 2005

10 a.m. - Community Theater, Fairfield - Westport Youth Film Festival
Noon - Compo Beach - Interfaith Housing Association "Castles in the Sand"
8 p.m. - Quick Center, Fairfield - Westport Arts Center co-sponsors "Jazz in the Grand Manner"

Low Tide at Compo

There were few visitors today to Westport's Compo Beach at low tide (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

W. Michael "Mike" Bliss Dies at 56

W. Michael "Mike" Bliss, a longtime member of the Westport business community and active and dedicated community volunteer, died Wednesday, his family said today. He was 56.
Mike Bliss: longtime community volunteer. WN photo

"Mike will be fondly remembered as a loving husband, a devoted father, and an active and dedicated member of the Westport community where he resided for the last 25 years," a family statement said. "He was a successful and generous businessman, a respected leader and teacher, and a treasured friend to many."

Son of Mrs. Jane Bliss and Dr. William Bliss, Mike Bliss was born in 1949 in Ames, Iowa. He attended Iowa State University on a football scholarship and earned an MBA at Harvard Business School in 1974 after serving in the U.S. Army.

A longtime member of the Westport business community, he was affiliated with the financial planning firm Westport Resources Management, Inc. since 1986, first as an investment advisor agent, and since 1987 as a portfolio manager.

In 1994, he became the firm’s director of managed accounts and in 2001 he assumed part equity ownership along with John Adams Vaccaro, the firm’s president and chief executive officer.

Prior to Westport Resources, Bliss was a grain and commodities trader for the Louis Dreyfus Corp. In 1982 he founded W. Michael Bliss Investment Management. He also researched and wrote for a nationally-published stock newsletter.

Fulfilling his love of teaching, Bliss served as an assistant professor of finance at Western Connecticut State College in Danbury from 1984 to 1990.

Bliss was dedicated to serving his Westport community through his role as treasurer of the Westport Arts Center and former treasurer of the Westport Education Foundation. He was also coach of many of children’s sports team and enjoyed jogging.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl, of 23 years, and his children, Timothy, Lindsay and Erin.

A memorial service and reception will take place on Wednesday, May 18 at 2:30 p.m at the Greens Farms Congregational Church, 71 Hillandale Road, Westport.

Donations may be sent to the William R. Bliss Cancer Center, c/o MGMC Foundation, 1111 Duff Ave., Ames, IA 50010 or Westport Arts Center, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport, CT 06880.

==
From collegesports.com:

Bliss was a standout student athlete at Ames High. At Iowa State, he played for Coach Johnny Majors and was named to the All Big Eight Team and received NCAA Academic All-America honors. He graduated from ISU in 1970 with a degree in distributive studies.

Bliss is also survived by a brother, Dr. David Bliss of San Francisco, Calif., and sister Dr. Carolyn Bliss of Salt Lake City, Utah.

A three-sport letterman at Ames High, Bliss was an honor student and combination quarterback and fullback for head coach Cecil Spatcher.

He was also a guard on coach George Duvall's state tourney basketball team of 1966, a shot-putter and discus thrower for track coach Hi Covey. He was also a summer employee of Bliss Construction Company who sledge-hammered concrete as hard as he nailed defensive linemen later for Iowa State.

When Bliss graduated from Iowa State in May of 1970, he was honored at "Mike Bliss Day" and received the key to the city by then Ames Mayor, Lee Fellinger.

Weeks later, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and bound for Vietnam as a combat infantryman, or so he believed.

Bliss was honored for his all around outstanding college career and for being a stand-up draftee when it wasn't easy or popular to be one.

Bliss was known as a tough, smart starting offensive guard for the Cyclones and a terrific college student with an NCAA Academic All-American scholarship to Harvard Business School.

Small for the Big Eight at the time at just 6-feet and 215 pounds, Bliss had made his mark knocking down defensive linemen 60 pounds heavier throughout his career.

Bliss had already been named to the All Big Eight football team as an offensive guard in addition to the NCAA Academic All-American award.

In his only TV interview after being named to the Big Eight Team in the fall of 1969, WOI-TV sports anchor Frank Schneider pointed out that Bliss wasn't especially big, not that strong and not as fast as other offensive linemen named to the team.

Bliss said that was true. Schneider asked if he was hoping to be drafted by an NFL team in spite of his size. Bliss said he was planning to be drafted, but by the U.S. Army, as soon as he graduated, and he was.

Slated to become a combat infantryman in Vietnam, Bliss completed advanced infantry training and his unit instead was deployed to Alaska for two years. Just below the Arctic Circle, Bliss's company commander discovered that the Harvard-business-bound private could run admin as well as he punched the blocking sled for ISU.

Bliss was the third member of the family to serve in the Army, following after his father Dr. William Bliss, an army surgeon during World War II, and uncle, Capt. Robert Bliss, a forward artillery observer.

So, Bliss served his country with a typewriter instead of his standard-issue M-16 and learned to ski, according to his sister Carolyn Bliss of Salt Lake City, Utah.

After completing his two-year hitch, Bliss enrolled at Harvard in 1972 and completed his MBA. He was drafted again, this time by Louis Dreyfus Company, an international commodities trading company where he worked for eight years.

Bliss left Dreyfus in 1982 to become a registered financial advisor, continuing on that career path until his death.

A memorial service in Ames is being planned for late June or early July.

All Gone: 10 Dexter Road -- With a Champagne Toast

Champagne and cameras were at the ready today as a house at 10 Dexter Road off of Bulkley Avenue North came down. Different members of the same family have lived in the house, built in 1947, since 1970. Current owners are Steve and Heather Simmons. That's Steve with the champagne bottle and Heather next to him. Heather was one year old when she moved into the house. She and Steve moved into the house two years ago. They will reside in New York until their new house on the site is ready. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Oops

Westport police investigate a one-car accident today on Riverside Avenue near Burr Road. No one was injured in the incident. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Staples Coed Water Polo Team Scores First Victory

The Staples coed water polo team Thursday scored its first victory ever. After close losses to Loomis, Choate and Greenwich, the Wreckers defeated Hopkins 12-8. Brandon Arias scored seven goals, Brandon Barone three, and Gar Waterman and Libby DeFeo one each. The photo shows DeFeo scoring her goal. Contributing to the victory were Bryan Stenson who made many great saves in the shallow end and Ricky White who made several in the deep end. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Saugatuck Railroad Station Project Done -- Finally

After more than two years and repeated delays, the $7.8 million renovation and upgrade to make Westport's Saugatuck Railroad station compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act is complete. State officials told Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell in a letter this week that during construction of the new tunnel, additional unexpected rock ledge and boulders were found. They also said additional unanticipated station building repairs were necessary to maintain the structure's integrity. A state inspector was making a final inspection of the new elevators this morning. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

New Railroad Tunnel Open

A new tunnel under Westport's Saugatuck Railroad Station has elevators at both ends to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The $7.8 million project had encountered repeated delays. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Westport Residents Eligible for Saturday's Norwalk Hazardous Waste Day

Norwalk will hold a Household Hazardous Waste Day Saturday and Westport residents are eligible to participate.

The event will be held rain or shine from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Norwalk High School on County Street. Please have a driver’s license or vehicle registration readily available.

Here are some of the materials that will be accepted: gasoline, auto care products, oil-based paints, stains, thinners, spray paints, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, cleaners, polishes, mercury thermometers, pet care products, pool chemicals, and fluorescent bulbs.

Waste oil/antifreeze and batteries only will also be accepted at the Volk Central Fire Station on Connecticut Avenue.

Not accepted at either location: propane or gas cylinders, ammunition/flares or explosives, latex paint (remove lid, let dry, throw in garbage), medical waste, asbestos, radioactive material, cooking oil, electronics such as computers, TVs, VCRs, copiers, fax, radios, or phones

For questions, call (203) 854-3200 or (203) 854–7847.

Florida Artist Paints WestportNow Picture

Author-artist Dorothy Joan Riley of Brandon, Fla., was so taken with a WestportNow photo of the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge in Westport's center published Sept. 28, 2004 that she decided to do a painting of it. She found the image during an Internet search. In an e-mail message, the disabled, 54-year-old Vietnam-era vet said, "I was struck by the play of lights on the wet concrete and thought it might make a great painting." (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Painting by Dorothy Joan Riley

Friday, May 13, 2005

9 a.m. - Westport Woman's Club - Westport Young Woman's League presents its bi-annual House Tour showcasing five homes; also marketplace and luncheon

Westport Madrigal Singers to Mark 50th Anniversary

The Westport Madrigal Singers will celebrate their 50th anniversary with two concerts May 20 and 21 in Fairfield. Members will present a selection of their favorite pieces including works by Josquin, Lassus, Monteverdi, Dowland, Mendelssohn, Vaughan Williams, Holst, and Poulenc. The group is a cappella ensemble dedicated to the performance of early music and modern pieces that have the flavor of earlier periods. It was founded in 1955 by Jeanne D. Kimball, who will return to conduct Mendelssohn’s Die Nachtigall at the May 21 concert. The May 20 performance will be at the First Presbyterian Church, 2475 Easton Turnpike and the May 21 performance at the Pequot Library, 720 Pequot Ave. Both are at 8 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

All Gone: 19 Bermuda Road

The house at 19 Bermuda Road in the Saugatuck Shores area came down today as the owner and neighbors watched. Built in 1980, the house was the WestportNow teardown of the day April 25, 2005. The owners, who have lived there nine years, will rebuild on the site. It is the third house on Bermuda Road to come down in the last year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport Young Woman's League Sets Open House May 18

The Westport Young Woman’s League will hold its annual open house Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 44 Imperial Ave.

Women, between the ages of 18 and 45 and living in Westport, are encouraged to attend to learn about the group and meet its executive board and members while enjoying a drink and a bite to eat.

"This is a great opportunity to have questions answered and get a feel for the League," an announcement said.

The group's annual membership drive begins June 1 and continues until Sept. 9.

Used Furniture Sale Saturday at Bedford Middle School

Westport's Bedford Middle School is holding a tag sale Saturday.

Miscellaneous used furniture will be available for purchase in the school's parking lot at 88 North Ave. from 8 a.m. to noon. No early birds, according to a school announcement.

Items for sale will be located at the south end of the parking lot and may include student desks, student chairs, teachers' desks, various file cabinets and tables, the announcement said.

All items must be removed from the premises no later than noon.

Compo Playground Design Unveiled

The initial draft of the new Compo Beach Playground design has been released by Leathers & Associates, Inc., the design firm selected for the playground rebuilding. The design was based on feedback the designer, John Dean, received from children in Westport’s five elementary schools on April 27. It features an overall "beach and sea" theme consistent with the playground’s locale. Highlights include: an art area for drawing and crafts, multiple tire swings, a separate area for babies, picnic tables and shady areas, ramps and pathways giving access to disabled children, a rock wall and slide shaped like a pyramid, a bouncing whale and starfish, an octopus slide, a cannon slide and a shark slide, and better line of sight for parents to keep an eye on their kids. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed graphic

Thursday, May 12, 2005

7:30 p.m. - Auditorium - Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing

Broadway on Beachside Cancer Benefit Set for July 17

The American Cancer Society's "Broadway on Beachside" event in Westport celebrates its 10th anniversary on July17. So far, it has raised almost
$3 million that has directly funded the front lines of breast cancer research.

Almost a decade ago, Cissy Hornung, a breast cancer survivor, approached
the American Cancer Society to offer hope and inspiration to those who were
facing the disease. She became the originator of the "Broadway on Beachside" event.

Since then, under the guidance of Staples grad Terry Eldh, a group of Broadway entertainers perform a medley of songs at the event held at a beautiful home on the water in Westport.

Noteworthy guest speakers have included Jack Klugman (a cancer survivor), James Naughton, Jeffrey Zucker (a cancer survivor), Phil Donahue, Maria Bartiromo and Jim Calhoun (also a cancer survivor).

Several researchers have been funded through this event and continue to make progress in their efforts to fight breast cancer.

Dr. Dennis Slamon is recognized for his instrumental contribution in developing the breast cancer drug, Herceptin. Other researchers funded through this event include Dr. Michelle Pflumm, Dr. Michael DiGiovanna and Dr. Graham Colditz.

This year, to expand the research opportunities, “In the spotlight” has been developed as a method for individuals and/or organizations to be involved in the selection process of American Cancer Society-approved researchers.

For a donation of $138,000, a researcher of choice and a grant named for the donor or someone in memoriam, as well as other promotional and event benefits, are available.

Co-chairs of the 10th anniversary event include Cissy and Donald
Hornung and Maggie and Bob Hornung. For more information about Broadway on Beachside, contact Gayle Alswanger at (203) 563-1513 or e-mail gayle.alswanger@cancer.org.

Retired Westport Ad Exec Heads Bridgeport Marketing Effort

Bridgeport Mayor John M. Fabrizi today announced he has appointed Harold Levine of Westport to spearhead the city's marketing efforts.

Levine, 83, a retired advertising executive, will serve as chief marketing officer for $1 a year, an announcement said.

Levine approached Fabrizi with his offer following the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) week-long study of Bridgeport in January, according to the news release.

One of almost 300 individuals interviewed during the study, Levine was on hand as ULI presented its final recommendations, which emphasized the city’s need for creating a city identity and brand through a coordinated marketing campaign.

The announcement came following a meeting Tuesday night with Fabrizi and Bridgeport’s ULI Steering Committee, which the mayor has charged with implementing the panel’s recommendations.

"Harold Levine brings a wealth of expertise and wisdom to the mayor’s office that will help us recast Bridgeport’s tarnished image and communicate all the progress that’s taken place over the last two years,” Fabrizi said.

"Having someone like Harold on our team advising us, developing specific initiatives, and introducing Bridgeport to strategic partners will undoubtedly open doors for us in ways we can’t yet even imagine.”

Levine was a founding partner of Levine, Huntley, Schmidt & Beaver with the late Chet Huntley, the longtime NBC television journalist.

In its successful 20 years, Levine Huntley became one of the country’s outstanding creative ad agencies serving consumer product clients on a national and international scale.

"Although I have never had a municipality as a client, I hope to apply my 50 years of advertising and marketing experience to tell the story of the emerging new Bridgeport to all of its residents as well as the citizens of the many surrounding communities," Levine said.

"Bridgeport is not an isolated city dealing with major urban problems, but rather a member of a larger community in Fairfield County.”

Officially retired from the advertising business in 1991, Levine is still called upon to address business groups throughout the United States and Europe and continues to speak out on critical issues concerning the advertising business, education, and multicultural relations.

Levine has been active in Bridgeport for several years and currently serves as chairman of the Music and Arts Center for Humanity (MACH).

As chairman emeritus of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Levine is responsible for bringing Ailey’s summer youth dance program, Ailey Camp, to MACH and Bridgeport. Bridgeport’s Ailey Camp is one of only six such programs in the country.

He also is a member of the Advisory Board of the Westport Public Library and the Advisory Council of the Westport A Better Chance. He has served on numerous boards including the Fairfield County Community Foundation, New York Advertising Foundation, served 10 years as president of the New York Alliance for the Public Schools, and was elected trustee of the Freeport, N.Y. Board of Education for 11 years, five of which he served as president.

He helped establish the Freeport Arts Council and the Town and Village Synagogue in the Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper community in New York.

From 1985 to 1995 he served as director of the Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies, sponsored by the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

He has conducted national and international seminars for the Association of National Advertisers on "Creative Advertising" and other topics. Levine continues to maintain an active role in the ad agency business, serving on the advisory board of two advertising agencies and as a consultant to a number of major advertisers.

He resides in Westport with his wife, Sue, and has two grown children.

Advisory: Bridge Street Bridge Closed Until 3 p.m. for Maintenance

The Connecticut Department of Transporation has advised town officials that the Bridge Street Bridge will be closed to traffic until 3 p.m. today while maintenance work is underway.

Update: The bridge reopened about 2:40 p.m.

Staples Engineering Team Takes First Place

From robotics to bridge building to designing a safer automobile, Westport's Staples High School Engineering Team took first place in a recent competition of 25 high schools in Rochester, N.Y., according to school officials.

Staples grabbed the top trophy for being the only school to compete and place in three events.

Held at Monroe Community College on April 28, the event matched the engineering wits of 15 Staples team members against several hundred contestants.

For the robotics competition, known as the SumoBot, the Westport team had to design a less than foot-high robot weighing no more than two kilograms but powerful enough to knock another robot off a seven-foot diameter table.

Adding to the challenge, school officials said, the robot had to use only basic Radio Shack motors and less than 4 amps of current. The team’s SumoBot made it through four matches before being eliminated.

The Staples team also had to design and build a 60 cm, 25 g balsa wood bridge to support a maximum kilogram load at mid-span. The Staples team constructed two bridges, taking second and third place for supporting 11.9 and 11.8 kg respectively.

For the final auto safety competition the students had to design a car that would keep two eggs intact when propelled down a 60-inch ramp into a cement block.

The Staples automobile featured a hard wire frame covered in fabric to resemble a stationwagon outfitted with a compressible bumper system. The eggs survived the impact, and though the team placed third in this competition, it won first place overall for placing in three separate competitions.

"Needless to say, the bus ride home for the team members and chaperones, Dr. Harry Rosvally, Mrs. Laura Schwartz and Mr. Martin Fox, was a happy one," said Joyce Losen, spokeswoman for the Westport public schools.

Joanne Klouda is faculty adviser for the 20-member Staples engineering team.

This year’s team members include: team captain Marshall Fox, Alicia Kaestli, Andrew Shenoy, Antonella Lisanti, Daniel Amitay, Everett Tremblay, Gennadiy Gurevich, Geoffrey Jordan, James Kim, Maurizio Martinovic, Nathanial Fox, Scott Infusino, Annette Haugsdal, Nina Lintermans, Sam Andrew, Andrew Tschirhart, Jon Sellon, Andrew Tremblay, Chris Fox and Stanley Park.

Enjoying the Sun

A visitor to Westport's Compo Beach marina Tuesday enjoyed the warm sunshine. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lauren Hampton for WestportNow.com

Dickey Presses Case to Save Abel Bradley House

Eleanor Dickey, head of a group trying to save the Abel Bradley House, Tuesday night presented to the Historic District Commission a proposed amendment to Westport zoning regulations. She wants commission members to support her request that the Historic Overlay District designation apply to the property at 131 Sturges Highway, a move opposed by the home's developer owners. After much debate, the panel deemed that the designation is "worthy of further consideration." Dickey will present her case for the zoning change May 19 to the Planning and Zoning Commission. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Wednesday, May 11. 2005

10:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - International Hospitality Committee
Noon - Town Hall Room 309/307 - Citizens Brown Bag Luncheon
4 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309/307 - Board of Selectmen
5:30 p.m. - Turner Trailers - School Building Committee Staples Subcommittee
7 p.m. - Westport Fire Dept. - Public Site and Building Commission

Roosevelt Road Historic District Application Withdrawn

Planning and Zoning Director Kathy Barnard told the Historic District Commission tonight of the withdrawal of a request by neighbors seeking to designate Roosevelt Road in the Compo Beach area as Westport's second historic district (King's Highway North is the only other). She said the application was withdrawn after months of debate because the applicants did not achieve the two-thirds requirement of homeowners desiring the designation. (See WestportNow April 30, 2005). The commission suggested that in the future an early-in-the-process meeting be held so that applicants thoroughly understand requirements, qualifications and ramifications of such a designation. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Finance Board Approves $3 Million Emergency Radio Request

Westport Police Chief Alfred R. Fiore (l), with Fire Chief Chris Ackley at his side, explains to the Board of Finance tonight a joint police-fire request for $3 million for replacement and upgrading of the town’s emergency services public safety radio communications system. The board approved the request unanimously. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Board of Finance Approves $420,000 Geographic Information System

The Westport Board of Finance tonight approved a $420,000 request by the Department of Public Works for completion of a Web-based Geographical Information System (GIS). As part of the presentation, the board saw a demonstration of the GIS system depiction of the Saugatuck Shores area. Department officials said the system will vastly improve the accuracy of town maps, many of which are in deteriorating condition. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Westport Property Transfers May 2-6, 2005

Property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk's office for the period May 2-6, 2005:

Peter and Julie Halka to Andrea John Zucaro, 17 Roseville Road, $265,000

Sheldon Kahan to Theodore J. and Selena K. Huber, 16 Green Acre Lane, $2,125,000

Estate of Giovanna Zaffina to Francesco and Dianna Zaffina, 1 Marion Road, $300,000

Maria and Juliet Balian to Maria Teresa Zingaro, 56 Hills Lane, $439,000

Estate of Mary Moers Wenig to Krister H. Holm and Marie Brorsson-Holm, 5 Lamplight Lane, $1,600,000

Christopher Cocco to David and Elizabeth Forgash, 8 Long Lots Lane, $1,800,000

Richard W. Vornkahl to Christopher and Valerie Vernay Kaminski, 30 Hale Street, $845.000

Joan P. Beauvais to Stuart and Jacqueline Lane, 28 Roseville Road, $625,000

Marx G. and Natasha E. Bowens to Marc A. and Deborah Katz, 5 North Pasture Road, $1,150,000

Michael T. and Julie M. Weller to Aaron T. Pisacane and Sharon Levin, 9 Clinton Ave., $712,500

William P. and Cheryl A. Scott to Berkley Holdings Corp., 22 Terra Nova Circle, $1,347,000

Shirley Gail Knobel to Scott M. Turner and Michelle L. Solberg, 18 Sunrise Road, $769,000

Terrence and Cynthia O’Connell to Hewitt Relocating Services Inc., 3 Little Lane, $2,200,000

Hewitt Relocation Services Incorporated to Marjorie L. and Richard H. Kaplowitz, 3 Little Lane, $2,200,000

Dennis M. and Mary J. Lee to Christopher N. and Ellen D Matteson, 8 Coach Lane, $1,300,000

S and V Marion LLC to Nicole L. Bonn, 27 Marion Road, $1,875,000

Calvary Road Associates LLC to Ernest Perno, 51 Calvary Road, $1,800,000

Teardown Replacement: 8 Guyer Road

A crane swings a portion of a new house into place today at 8 Guyer Road, off of Valley Road. The property was featured as WestportNow's teardown of the day Feb. 27, 2005. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com

Martha Stewart Wanted to Do New Daytime Show in Westport

Martha Stewart wanted to tape her new daytime TV show at her Westport studio but decided to do it in Manhattan to accommodate her live TV audience, she told investors today.

Construction workers are building a large television set that includes two kitchens and a greenhouse for Stewart to use in her new show, she told her company's annual meeting in New York.

Speaking to about 150 investors, Stewart showed an artist's sketch of the 10,000-square-foot set and said it was being designed to give audience members an up-close view of her working.

She said her preference was to tape the show at her studio on Newtown Turnpike on the Westport-Norwalk line but decided that would not be convenient for a live audience.

The new set, located on 26th Street near her company's Chelsea workshop, features a kitchen modeled on one from her Bedford estate and a craft room for various projects.

"We are very excited about it," she said of the daytime show titled "Martha," which will debut Sept. 12. "It will be similar to the content of our former show with a live audience."

Later, Susan Lyne, chief executive of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., said it would soon announce a deal with an undisclosed cable TV channel to rebroadcast the "Martha" show in the evenings after it has aired live on NBC's daytime schedule.

Good Day for Sailing

Today's warm temperatures – mid 60s – and sunny weather made for good sailing weather off Westport's Compo Beach. These boats maneuvered near the Compo marina. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lauren Hampton for WestportNow.com

All Gone: 6 Westway Road

A house at 6 Westway Road off of Greens Farms Road came down today. Built in 1952 and extensively remodeled in 1999, it was featured as WestportNow's teardown of the day Dec. 16, 2004. An attorney representing the new owner told the Historic District Commission his client felt the house was too close to the street on the 3-acre lot and wanted to rebuild in a similar style further back on the property. It sold in December for $1,445,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Documentary Photographer Tells of Bhutan Trip

Local documentary photographer Daryl Hawk addressed today's Westport Rotary Club meeting at the Peppermill Restaurant. The native Westporter and Staples graduate discussed his recent expedition through the kingdom of Bhutan in the Himalayas. A member of the Explorers Club and a fellow of The Royal Geographical Society, Hawk will feature his Bhutan documentary tonight on his weekly public access television program on Cablevision called "The Unconventional Traveler." (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

7 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Historic District Commission
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Architectural Review Board
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Zoning Board of Appeals
7:30 p.m. - Westport Police Dept. Classroom, 50 Jesup Road - Board of Finance meeting

Still Time to Register for "Castles in the Sand" Event

There is still time to register for Saturday's "Castles in the Sand" sandcastle build-a-thon to benefit Westport's Interfaith Housing Association. Parking Fees and restrictions will be waived for the noon to 4 p.m. event. To register, call (203) 226-3426 ext.15. Contributed graphic

Staples Ranked No. 446 in Newsweek Nation's Top 1,000 Schools Survey

Westport's Staples High School placed 446 on a Newsweek survey of the nation's top 1,000 high schools.

The survey, published in the weekly magazine's latest issue, was compiled by Jay Matthews, Washington Post education reporter and author of “What’s Wrong (and Right) With America’s Best Public High Schools."

The magazine said its "Best High Schools List" uses a ratio -- the number of Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests taken by all students at a school in 2004, divided by the number of graduating seniors.

"Although that doesn't tell the whole story about a school, it's one of the best measures available to compare a wide range of students' readiness for higher-level work, which is more crucial than ever in the postindustrial age," Newsweek said.

The top school on the list was Jefferson County High School in Irondale, Ala. No Connecticut high school was among the top 100. But a number of suburban Westchester County and Long Island high schools were cited in the top 100.

In Connecticut, other high school rankings included Weston, 254; Wilton, 367; Conard in West Hartford, 438; Darien, 517;East Lyme 518; Ridgefield, 537; Fitch High School, Groton 634; New Canaan, 635; Greenwich, 643;Hall in West Hartford, 668; Pomperaug in Southbury, 793; Fairfield Warde, 843; and Joel Barlow in Redding, 960.

Back Home

Westport's Terry Eldh performed both opera and Broadway musical numbers today to the delight of the audience at the Y’s Women meeting held at the Westport Public Library. A Staples grad, Eldh participated with the Orphenians as well as the Staples Players while in school. Proud members of her family were in the audience. Her accompanist was Stephen Sulich, conductor, pianist and musical coach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

The Taxman Cometh

Westport's revaluation of properties is well underway and today John Burgess, a data collector for Vision Appraisal Technology which is conducting the survey for the town, was collecting data for properties in the neighborhood of Cross Highway and Woody Lane. Working in Westport since January, Burgess said he collects data -- exterior measurements and room counts -- on 18-22 houses a day. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Laux for WestportNow.com

Compo Visitors

Westport's Compo Beach basin welcomed some new visitors today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Going Down: 28 Tamarac Road

The house at 28 Tamarac Road, off of Compo Road North, came down today as neighbors watched. The house, built in 1953, was featured as the WestportNow teardown of the day Feb. 10, 2005. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

TEAM Westport to Sponsor Religion Conversation May 24

TEAM Westport -- the town's multicultural diversity committee -- will sponsor "Who's Your Neighbor: A TEAM Westport Conversation on: Religion" on Tuesday, May 24 from 7 p.m .to 9 p.m. in the Westport Town Hall Auditorium.

Admission is free, and refreshments will be served, according to a news release today.

The session is the first in a series of such programs and featured speakers include Dr. Kareem Adeeb, American Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies; The Rev. John Branson of Christ and Holy Trinity Church; and Rabbi Robert J. Orkand of Temple Israel.

Moderating the discussion will be The Rev. Frank Hall of the Unitarian Church in Westport.

The announcement said, "How we see each other can be a reflection of who we are. Panel members will address common assumptions and misperceptions associated with their religions with an emphasis on community life in Westport today."

Other topics in the series now being planned include programs on race, ethnicity and sexual preference.

For the program on religion, panelists have suggested several texts for additional information, including "Christian Basics" by Dorothy and Gabriel Fackre; "Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism" by Reuven Firestone; and "Islam: What Non-Muslims Should Know" by John Kaltner, the announcement said.

The program will be introduced by the First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell. TEAM Westport is the First Selectwoman's committee on multicuituralism and diversity which is focused on making Westport/Weston a welcoming community for people of different backgrounds. TEAM is an acronym for Together Effectively Achieving Multiculturalism.

For more information, visit the committee's Web site at www.teamwestport.org.

Today's Westport Teardown: 10 Meadow Brook Lane

Today's WestportNow teardown is 10 Meadow Brook Lane, off Long Lots Road. The Westport Historic District Commission will consider a demolition application at its Tuesday meeting. The house, built in 1953, is being demolished by the current owners who will rebuild on the site. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Monday, May 9, 2005

7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201/201A - Parks amd Recreation Commission

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Today's Westport Teardown: 260 Hillspoint Road

Today's WestportNow teardown is 260 Hillspoint Road, near Compo Beach. An application for a demolition permit is pending. The property sold last August for $3.4 million. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

"Dancin' in the Woods" at Westport's Earthplace

The 21st annual "Dancin' in the Woods" dinner auction drew a large crowd Saturday night to Westport's Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Stewart Greenfield Honored for Environmental Work

Westporter Stewart Greenfield was honored Saturday night as an "Outstanding Environmental Advocate" at the "Dancin' in the Woods" 21st annual dinner auction at Westport's Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center. Enjoying the dinner with him are Ann Marie Flynn (c) of Westport and Paula Reens of Wilton. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julia Mally for WestportNow.com

Sunday, May 8, 2005

Noon - Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services, 47 Long Lots Road - Friends of Hall-Brooke present the Third Annual Mother's Day Weekend Art Show & Sale