Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Getting Ready for Town Hall Student Art Show
Greens Farms Elementary School teacher Lisa Andrews helps hang student art work at Town Hall today in advance of Friday’s opening of a school art show which will run through May 28. WestportNow.com photo
State Senate Passes Reval Postponement Bill, Freedman Opposed
The state Senate has passed a bill that gives Westport and other Connecticut communities the power to postpone implementation of local property revaluations for up to three years or impose a surcharge on commercial property.
Westport’s Republican state senator, Judith G. Freedman, voted against the measure, saying it would hurt businesses and ultimately homeowners.
Westport Democratic First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell, asked about it at her weeky brown bag lunch today, said she, too, had reservations that the measure could adversely affect businesses.
The bill passed on a party-line vote in the Democrat-controlled Senate 20-16.
The measure would allow communities to implement a surcharge of 15 percent on commercial property and business equipment for up to four years.
More "State Senate Passes Reval Postponement Bill, Freedman Opposed"
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
7:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 309/307 - TEAM Westport Committee
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 201 - Beautification Committee
7 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. - Westport Public Library - “Poetry and Pizza” for middle and high school students
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Flood and Erosion Control Board
Westport Representative Town Meeting Approves $135.6 Million Budget
The Westport Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Tuesday night approved a 2004-2005 town budget of $135,616.497, a 4.3 percent increase over the current year.
Legislators Monday night had approved the town side of the budget and considered the Board of Education’s $75,160,605 operating budget Tuesday night.
At attempt by member Helmuth Krause, District 5, to reduce the budget by $800,000 failed when he was the only one to vote for the reduction. The Board of Finance had already reduced the request by $450,000.
First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell had told the RTM Monday night that if the budget passed as recommended by the Board of Finance, she expected taxes to increase by about 3.5 percent.
The Board of Finance will meet May 20 to set the town’s mill rate which will determine the tax rate. The board’s chair, Steve Ezzes, told the RTM Monday night he anticipated increasing the mill rate from 20.1 to 20.8.
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
7:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 309/307 - TEAM Westport Committee
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 201 - Beautification Committee
7 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. - Westport Public LIbrary - “Poertry and Pizza” for middle and high school students
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Flood & Erosion Control Board
Westport Library to Honor Martin Scorsese June 13
Director Martin Scorsese is “booked” for June 13. Contributed photo Film director Martin Scorsese will be honored with the sixth annual Westport Public Library Award at its annual “Booked for the Evening” fundraising gala Sunday, June 13, it was announced today.
The event will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the library’s Great Hall.
Scorsese is known for a wide range of films including “The Age of Innocence,” “Mean Streets,” “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” “After Hours,” “The Last Temptation of Christ,” and his latest, “The Gangs of New York.”
The Westport Public Library Award honors those whose work furthers the goals of the library “to nurture a love of learning and to enhance our understanding of the world.”
More "Westport Library to Honor Martin Scorsese June 13"
Monday, May 03, 2004
RTM Passes Town Budget Without Change, Considers Education Tonight
The Westport Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Monday night approved without change the $47.8 million town portion of Westport’s proposed $135.6 million 2004-2005 budget. It will consider the education portion tonight.
Educators had proposed a $75.6 million operating budget, but the Board of Finance reduced it by $450,000. With debt service and other expenses, the education request totaled $87.8 million.
While the RTM can restore the funds by a 70 percent vote of those present and voting, none of the RTM committees has recommended doing that.
First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell, in remarks to the town’s legislators, said if the RTM completes the budget tonight without change, she anticipates taxes to rise about 3.5 percent as a result.
More "RTM Passes Town Budget Without Change, Considers Education Tonight"
Tuesday, May 4, 2004
10 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Administrative Review Committee
7 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Shellfish Commission
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - RTM budget meeting (Cable coverage channel 79)
Post Road East Accident Ties up Traffic
An accident involving two trucks and a car at Post Road East and Morningside Drive today tied up traffic for a while but thankfully resulted in no serious injuries. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Thom Burrows for WestportNow.com
Marching to Celebrate Earth Day
A busy first weekend in May in Westport included Saturday’s celebration of Earth Day at Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center. See another photo on COMMUNITY page. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julia Mally for WestportNow.com
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Monday, May 3, 2004
6:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309/307 - Board of Education anticipated special executive session - CANCELED
6:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - RTM Environment Committee
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - RTM annual budget meeting (cable coverage channel 79)
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201/201A - Golf Advisory Committee
Kids Run in “Scampers”
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Before today’s 26th Minute Man Race, some kids got a workout participating in “Scampers” events at Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com
Some Ran, Some Walked
Some ran and some walked in today’s five-kilometer Minute Man Race sponsored by the Westport Young Woman’s League. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Minute Man Race Gets Off to Fast Start
Runners got off to a fast start in today’s 26th annual Minute Man Race. The five-kilometer run/walk began and ended at Compo Beach. Westport’s Tom Harding (2nd r, No. 127), 38, won the race for the sixth time since 1996 with a time of 16:38. Click on FULL RESULTS for complete list of finishers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Sunday, May 2, 2004
8:30 a.m. - Compo Beach—Minute Man Race
11 a.m. -5 p.m. - Bedford Middle School - Garden and antique show
Did You Remember to Get Your Beach Sticker?
The 2004 summer season officially is underway as beach stickers were required beginning today for vehicles seeking to enter town beaches. Stickers will be required until Oct. 1. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
A Good Day for Beach Sitting
Today’s warm temperatures and sunny weather made for a perfect day for sitting on Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Friday, April 30, 2004
General Assembly Passes Budget, Westport Reps Vote No
The General Assembly will send a $14.3 billion budget plan to Gov. John G. Rowland’s desk and leaders insist they have the votes to override a veto.
Westport’s two state representatives and state senator, all Republicans, voted against the budget. Included in the budget is a six-month delay in implementing a 5.5 percent fare increase on Metro-North’s New Haven Line.
The package Friday won broad bipartisan support in both chambers, which are controlled by Democrats. It passed the House of Representatives 113-36 early in the morning, then swept the Senate 25-9 at night.
The Republican governor has said he would veto a Democratic spending plan, though Friday morning he said he’d wait and see what happened.
More "General Assembly Passes Budget, Westport Reps Vote No"
Saturday, May 1, 2004
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center - Earth Day Festival 2004
10 a.m. -5 p.m. - Bedford Middle School - Garden and antique show
Betty Lou Cummings Honored at Library
Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell (r) tonight presents a proclamation to Betty Lou Cummings in honor her being given a Special Friend Award from the Friends of the Westport Library. Cummings has been a tireless fundraiser for the library over the years, heading the brick river walk project as well as the library’s “wall of tiles” project. See another photo on COMMUNITY page. Ann Sheffer for WestportNow.com
New Haven Advisory: Service Normal After Wire Damage Caused Delays
Wire damage in New Rochelle disrupted Metro-North New Haven Line service today but by mid-afternoon the railroad said normal service had been resumed in time for the evening rush hour.
“Normal service has resumed on the New Haven Line,” the railroad said in a 3:23 p.m. advisory.
Earlier, at 12:30 p.m., it had said normal off-peak outbound service from Grand Central to New Haven had been restored with scattered delays.
At 9:22 a.m., Metro-North said the wire damage was causing 15-20 minute delays on trains into Grand Central.
At the same time, it said outbound trains were being combined, making all local stops from Grand Central to New Haven, resulting in delays of about an hour on outbound service.
It’s My Last Day!
Betty Bowes gets a surprise photo taken as she enters the Westport Town Clerk’s office today her last day on the job after almost 20 years. “It’s bittersweet for me,” she said. “I’m going to miss all these people.” (See WestportNow April 27, 2004). Ruth Cavayero for WestportNow.com
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Community Correspondent Report: The Stranger at Your Door
Every year at this time, door-to-door magazine salesmen appear in Westport.
They tell you they are not selling you anything” but want you to give them a chance to ӓhelp them, help themselves. See STORY by WestportNow Community Correspondent Cherie Tripp Lejeune.
Friday, April 30, 2004
4 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Rock the Vote: Connecticut presents a forum on Iraq
5 p.m. - Saugatuck Elementary School—“Museum Night” school art show
Police Chief Expresses Reservations about Revising Noise Ordinance
Westport Police Chief Al Fiore expressed reservations tonight about revising the towns noise ordinance if it takes away his officersҒ prerogatives in the field. He told a Town Hall public hearing that use of noise meters to try to enforce an ordinance would be a complicated issue, no doubt about it.Ӕ The meeting on “noise nuisance” was sparsely attended about 15 people showed up. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE) Thom Burrows for WestportNow.com
Customer Slightly Injured as Car Crashes into Store
A customer at Stile’s Farmers Market on Post Road East suffered a knee injury today when a motorist lost control of her car and it crashed into the store, causing a cabinet to fall on the customer. The motorist was not injured. Here a firefighter backs the car out of the store. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Firefighters Quickly Douse House Fire Linked to Bird’s Nest
Westport firefighters quickly doused a fire at a Compo Parkway home Wednesday night that fire officials said was touched off by a bird’s nest near an outside light fixture.
Westport firefighters battle a blaze on the second floor of a Compo Parkway home Wednesday night. WestportNow.com photo
No one was injured in the blaze which damaged a small portion of the second floor exterior of the two-story home at 5 Compo Parkway.
A father and three children in the house at the time escaped unharmed.
The man told fire officials that he was on the second floor when he smelled smoke after an exterior light was activated.
He went outside to investigate and spotted flames. He then led his children outside and dialed 911.
Arriving firefighters reported flames coming from around a second floor window.
More "Firefighters Quickly Douse House Fire Linked to Bird’s Nest"
Thursday, April 29, 2004
7:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Human Services Workforce Senior Housing Subcommittee
10 a.m. - Earthplace - Sasco Brook Pollution Abatement Committee
7 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Public Meeting on noise nuisance
7 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201/201A - Youth Commission
Westport House Fire Linked to Bird’s Nest
Westport firefighters check for hot spots after quickly extinguishing a house fire tonight on Compo Parkway. The fire damaged a small part of the second floor exterior. A father and three children were home at the time and escaped unharmed. Fire officials said the fire appeared to have started around an outside light fixture that had a bird’s nest on it. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Another Free Ice Cream Promotion Draws Crowds
For the second day in a row, Westporters had a chance for free ice cream. The crowds were out the door tonight as Baskin Robbins on Post Road East and Bay Street offered a free scoop to all comers between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Board of Selectmen Approves $50 Parking Fee Increase
The Westport Board of Selectmen tonight approved a $50 increase to $225 a year to park at Westport’s two railroad stations. The Police Department requested the increase to pay for increased costs of security and maintenance. It goes into effect July 1. (See WestportNow April 20, 2004)
Evergreen Clipper
Crews from Connecticut Light and Power Co. finish bracing a leaning utility pole today at the intersection of Evergreen Avenue and Evergreen Parkway. Someone clipped the pole about half way up and it will have to be replaced in the next few days, according to the workers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Shays Marched for Abortion Rights, Too
Rep. Christopher Shays, Westport’s congressman, marched in Sunday’s abortion rights march in Washington, D.C., too. WestportNow Tuesday carried a picture showing his Democratic rival, Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell, at Sunday’s march and is happy to offer “equal time.” Here he is with wife, Betsi, (l) and another unidentified woman. Shays is a member of The Republican Pro-Choice Coalition. Shaysforcongress.org photo
Fire Damages Vermont Home Owned by Westporters
A seasonal vacation home in Vermont owned by a Westport couple has been severely damaged by fire, according to a local newspaper.
The Caldedonian-Record said the second floor of the Cape-style home in Peacham, Vt., was gutted in Tuesday’s blaze with some damage to the first floor.
The home was unoccupied at the time, the newspaper said. A passerby noticed smoke coming from the attic and turned in the alarm.
The report quoted Peacham Fire Chief Jeff Berwick as saying the cause of the fire is undetermined, but there is no reason to believe it was suspicious.
The newspaper said the residence is a seasonal home owned by David and Mindy Mooney of Westport.
Workers Hit Gas Line on Old Road
Construction workers hit a gas pipeline on Westport’s Old Road today, causing police to evacuate nearby homes and stores and to shut down the road for almost an hour.
Fire units responded to the break in front of 23 Old Road and gas company repair crews were summoned after the 11:40 a.m. incident.
Fire Assistant Chief Christopher Ackley said upon arrival, firefighters found a 1-1/4-inch pipeline releasing high pressure gas into the area directly behind 1375 Post Road East.
“As a precaution, all adjacent businesses and residential structures were evacuated until the gas was shut off,” he said.
Police shut down the roadway at Post Road East where it connects to Old Road and well as the intersection with Maple Avenue North.
Residents were allowed back into the homes and customers and workers into the stores, including Anthropolgie and HayDay, shortly after the line was shut down at 12:30 p.m.
No injuries were reported.
Realtime NY Metro-area traffic reports from Traffic.com
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Note: WestportNow Publisher Gordon F. Joseloff is also First Selectman of Westport