WestportNow

CraftWestport Debuts This Weekend

2009-11-20T21:55:00-05:00

Westport’s Staples High School will be the venue this weekend for CraftWestport sponsored by the Westport Young Woman’s League and formerly called the Creative Arts Festival.
Noi Volkov’s “Teapot Cezanne” from the Art History Teapot Collection is among items at CraftWestport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The event’s new identity reflects a new vision which is now being coordinated by Artrider Productions, an art show management team known for creating several of the finest contemporary craft and art shows in America.

No longer a local “arts and crafts fair” CraftWestport is a “fine craft show” featuring some of the nations’ leading contemporary craft artists whose works can be found in museum collections.

In addition, artisans from across the country will be selling a diverse selection of works in all styles and prices. There will be something for everyone from the discerning art collector to the holiday gift shopper.

Monroe Woman Flips Car on Merritt

2009-11-20T20:37:00-05:00

A Monroe woman escaped serious injury today when he car flipped over on the Merritt Parkway in the southbound lane just before Exit 42 in Westport. Caitlin Walsh was wearing a seat belt at the time and this no doubt contributed to her surviving the crash with minimal injury, said Deputy Chief Jonathan Gottfried. She declined medical treatment at the scene. The accident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. and was cleared about a half hour later, but not before southbound traffic came to a standstill, delaying hundreds of drivers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport Property Transfers Nov. 2 - 6, 2009

2009-11-20T19:47:00-05:00

Westport property transfers as reported by the Town Clerk’s office for the period Nov. 2 - 6, 2009:

Gretchen F. Dale to Edward P. and Kimberly and Nancy DiConza, 107 Cross Highway, $1,250,000

Victor J. Chaves to James E. and Lauren Booth, 28 Manitou Road, $3,250,000

Jean M. Boyd Est. to Jonathan and Stephanie Bart, 32 Wright Street, $710,000

Elfi Lechleitner and Mark A. Solsburg to Matthew T. and Melissa T. Ogorman, 5 Fresenius Road, $1,125,000

Rotarians Hear of Need to Protect National Parks

2009-11-20T15:48:00-05:00

Robert F. Callahan, a trustee of the Washington, D.C.-based National Parks Conservation Association, told the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club today that the nation must preserve its national parks. Addressing the weekly meeting at Bobby Q’s restaurant, Callahan stressed the necessity of maintaining the parks in their present form while preserving the balance between human enjoyment and wildlife preservation. The goal of the nonprofit Association, established in 1919, is to protect and enhance the U.S. National Park System for present and future generations. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Meeting the First Selectman

2009-11-20T15:04:01-05:00

Fourth grade WEBELOS from Pack 39 met with Westport First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff Thursday as part of their citizenship badge efforts. The youngsters posed a wide range of questions ranging from what is the town doing to combat the H1N1 flu to how does the town leader spend his day. The WEBELOS Cub Scout program is a two-year transition aimed at gearing members toward doing Boy Scout-type activities and events and to foster their eventual graduation from the Cub Scouting program to the Boy Scout program. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Honoring Our Heritage: 18 Bridge St.

2009-11-20T14:14:00-05:00

Jeffrey and Karla Quinn are honoring Westport’s heritage by displaying a Westport Historical Society plaque identifying their 18 Bridge St. home as the Rufus Wakeman house which was built in 1884. Wakeman was First Selectman of Westport from 1884 to 1891 and served as state representative in 1895. After he died in 1916, the house was left to his son Austin Wakeman, who was also a First Selectman and a probate judge. The Quinns moved to Westport in July 2007, three years after their Italianate house received a Westport Historic District Preservation Award. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Weingarten for WestportNow.com

Waiting Game

2009-11-20T05:15:00-05:00

Gazing intently at the Saugatuck River in hopes of snaring a fish, a blue heron waits on a rock in the water behind Westport’s Parking Harding Plaza on Thursday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Friday, November 20, 2009

2009-11-20T05:05:01-05:00

9:30 a.m. – Center for Senior Services – Commission for Senior Services
10 a.m. - Westport Town Hall Room 201 - Voting audit District 7
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Fridays in November: Internet and Email Training
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “Aggregate: Art and Architecture—a Brutalist Remix”
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Historical Society - “Treasures from the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection”
7 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - Westport Youth Film Festival presents “The Complex” by Fjellberg Swerdlowe
7 p.m. - Toquet Hall Teen Center - Nero w/ Bluebird Handwriting
7:30 p.m. - Staples High School Auditorium - Staples Players present “Guys and Dolls”
7:30 p.m. - Trumbull High School - FCIAC football championship Staples vs Bridgeport Central
8 p.m. - Unitarian Church (10 Lyons Plains Road) - “Proof” by David Auburn

Turkey Handover

2009-11-20T01:39:00-05:00

Westport’s Saugatuck Congregational Church is getting ready for its annual Thanksgiving Day feast. At the church, Mary Ann West (l) and Paula Mikesh loaded turkeys into the refrigerator to be distributed to the many volunteer families who will cook them. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Hey, Rochester: It’s Jack Benny’s Daughter in Westport

2009-11-19T22:30:00-05:00

By Larry Untermeyer

A Westport group took a laughter-filled walk down memory lane today with the daughter of one of the 20th century’s most famous U.S. entertainers—Jack Benny.
Joan Benny of Greenwich regaled the Y’s Men of Westport Weston today with stories about her legendary comedian father, Jack Benny. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Joan Benny of Greenwich regaled the Y’s Men of Westport Weston weekly meeting with story after story about her father and other entertainment world greats.

They included members of Benny’s radio entourage--Rochester, Mary Livingston (Benny’s wife), singer Dennis Day and announcer Don Wilson.

She also told stories about other celebrities including Benny’s legendary rival Fred Allen and comedian Bob Hope.