Monday, May 31, 2004
Honoring Westport’s Soldiers
Staples High School senior Kevin Walker (r) plays taps as veterans lay a wreath during today’s Memorial Day ceremony at Westport’s Veterans Green. See more photos below and on COMMUNITY page. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Memorial Day Parade Was Largest Ever
Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell addresses today’s Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Green. It followed a Memorial Day parade under sunny skies that was the largest in Westport’s history. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Spotting a Familiar Face
Spotting a familiar face in today’s Westport Memorial Day parade brought shrieks of delight to these onlookers. WestportNow.com photo
Staples Band Plays On
The Staples High School band was among several bands in today’s Westport Memorial Day parade.(CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Everyone Loves a Parade
Everyone loves a parade, even Westport’s four-legged citizens who lined the parade route of today’s Memorial Day march. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Westport Firefighters Carry Flag Flown in Iraq
The Westport Fire Department Memorial Day parade marchers today carried an American flag flown over Baghdad during the war in Iraq. The flag, behind the larger one carried by the department’s honor guard, was signed by members of a Marine battalion, one of whom has since been killed in action. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Westport Selectpersons Greet Crowd
Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell and Selectman Carl Leaman wave to today’s Memorial Day crowds. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julia Mally for WestportNow.com
World War II Vets Get Big Hand
The World War II vets got a big hand from today’s Memorial Day parade watchers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Westport Police Honor Guard on Parade
The Westport Police Department honor guard was one of the first units in today’s Memorial Day parade. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Laux Roche for WestportNow.com
Salute from the Air
A military jet flies over today’s Westport Memorial Day parade in salute. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Julia Mally for WestportNow.com
Old Fire Engine Always a Favorite
One of Westport’s old fire engines, always a crowd favorite, makes the turn at Myrtle Avenue during today’s Memorial Day Parade. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Martha Stewart Reportedly Seeking Community Service Deal
Westport’s Martha Stewart is reportedly seeking to do community service work teaching poor women to start their own businesses, in exchange for a shorter stint behind bars.
Stewart has offered to perform 1,000 hours of community work with Women’s Venture Fund, a New York-based non-profit organization, Newsweek magazine reported.
Stewart was convicted March 5 on one charge of conspiracy, one charge of obstruction of justice and two charges of making false statements to investigators.
She has a June 17 sentencing hearing and could face 10 to 16 months in prison.
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Westport Fire Memorial Day Parade Unit Carries Flag Flown in Iraq
Firefighters carry flag flown in Iraq in today’s parade. WestportNow.com photo Today’s Westport Memorial Day parade included an American flag of special significance a flag flown over Baghdad during the war in Iraq.
The Westport Fire Department gave the flag an honored place directly behind the department’s honor guard.
Assistant Chief Chris Ackley received the flag from his nephew, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Edward Ackley serving with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines based at Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif.
The flag at the time of delivery was signed by all the members of Ackley’s platoon.
Unfortunately, since the delivery date, one of the members who had signed the flag was killed in the line of duty, Chris Ackley said.
The Marine died in an incident in the city of Fallujah, where insurgent activity has been especially active.
The flag will be placed on public display at fire headquarters to honor all the men and women who have served in both peace and war.
Words from a Vet
Clayton Chalfant, 80, a World War II vet and grand marshall of this year’s Westport Memorial Day parade, delighted the crowd with his formal and informal remarks today at Veteran’s Green. Among those watching were (l to r) Paula Castiglia, Selectman John Izzo and First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Sharing a Laugh
Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell shares a laugh with Memorial Day parade Grand Marshal Clayton Chalfant during today’s parade. With them are Selectman Carl Leaman and former Selectman Betty Lou Cummings. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
A Perfect Day for a Parade
Westport’s Memorial Day parade went off under sunny skies today. This colonial marching band paused before the reviewing stand in front of Town Hall. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Watching the Boats Go By
Sunday’s sunny skies and warm temperature made for a good day to watch the sailboats go by at Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Laux Roche for WestportNow.com
Sunday, May 30, 2004
On Guard
Westport’s award-winning lifeguards get ready for a busy season at Compo Beach. Shown (l to r) are Pippa Ellis, 18, Westport; Brendan Nangle, 18, Westport; Anna Dowdle, 19, Westport; Kristen Kelley, 21, Weston; John Gelini, 20, Westport, and Brendan Kelly, 18, Weston. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com
Monday, May 31, 2004
9 a.m. - Memorial Day Parade steps off from Riverside Ave.
Handcraft Show Numbers Down Due to Nice Weather
Visitors to the 38th annual Westport Handcraft Show at Staples High School today were fewer in number than in past years, artists said, because of the nice weather. Artist Megan Brogden of Weston (c) helps a customer. The two-day show was sponsored by the Westport-Weston Cooperative Nursery School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Westport Firefighters Douse Fire Under Walkway
Westport firefighters quickly doused an early morning fire today under a wooden walkway of a home where garden mulch had recently been applied near wiring for an outdoor lighting fixture.
Assistant Chief Gene Maloney said the homeowner at 11 Bluewater Hill saw smoke coming from the underside of the walkway leading from the driveway to the front entrance and called in the alarm at 4:44 a.m.
Firefighters used a saw to cut away the structure to gain access to burning wood under the walkway.
“The fire appeared to have started on the surface of a wood joist adjacent to outdoor lighting fixture wiring and recently applied garden mulch,” Maloney said.
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Saturday, May 29, 2004
Sunday, May 30, 2004
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Staples High School - Westport Handcraft Show
Sunday NY Times: $1 Million Often Buys a Westport Teardown
To Westporters savvy about housing prices, it’s nothing new, but Sunday’s New York Times cites Westport as among southern Connecticut communities where $1 million often buys a teardown.
Two of the three pictures illustrating the newspaper’s Connecticut section cover story show Westport homes, one for sale for $1.1 million and other for $2.3 million.
Ten years ago, $1 million bought a “pretty high-end home, but $1 million now is pretty much entry level,” said Mary Palmieri Gai, a broker at William Raveis of Westport.
“A million buys a tired house on half an acre or less that is waiting to be knocked down,” she said.
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Friday, May 28, 2004
Saturday, May 29, 2004
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Staples High School - Westport Handcraft Show
Deadline June 14 for Westport Arts Centers Members’ Show
As the second anniversary of the Westport Arts Center (WAC) gallery approaches, preparations are underway for the center’s annual members exhibition, “The Big Show 2004,” which opens in mid-July. Deadline for submissions is June 14.
The show is an all-inclusive, multimedia visual arts exhibit held each summer that is open to all artists who are members of the Westport Arts Center.
“The ‘Big Show’ is aptly named for the quantity of work exhibited,” said Miggs Burroughs, a local artist and one of the organizers of the exhibit.
“I’m always impressed by the depth of talent and creativity we have here in our own backyard.
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Westport Country Playhouse Box Office Opens June 8
The Westport Country Playhouse has announced that tickets will be on sale to the general public on Tuesday, June 8, at 10 a.m., for all performances and events in its 2004 summer season.
The sale includes the special event “Trumbo” featuring Gordon MacDonald and Paul Newman.
The Playhouse’s box office is now located at The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies and the Performing Arts, where the majority of this season’s performances will be staged while major renovation is underway at its Westport home.
Two full productions will be presented in partnership with The Ridgefield Playhouse.
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What’s New Inside WN: A 95th Birthday, Etc.
To help readers keep up on what’s new inside WestportNow, we introduce this occasional note to keep you up to date:
On the COMMUNITY page: Marian Harding celebrates her 95th birthday…A Better Chance appoints a new board…the Westport Historical Society prepares for its new “Westport By the Sea” exhibit.
On the ARTS & LEISURE page: The Westport Arts Center readies its Builders Beyond Borders exhibit…the Westport Youth Film Festival names its winners…WestportNow’s new Wine Talk column by Chris Grimm.
On the BUSINESS page: Westport’s Jane Sherman accepts an award from Congressman Christopher Shays for Norwalk-based Alden O. Sherman Co. Inc. joining the CONNSTEP program.
Compo Playtime
The late afternoon Thursday was a good time for playing on Compo Beach. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE) Alex Nitkin for WestportNow.com
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Friday, May 28, 2004
No public meetings scheduled.
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Heartbreak at Staples
In moving remarks to a Staples High School assembly today, Mariann Hudak of Stratford told of the accident that killed her 21-year-old daughter, Laurie. She died in a Fairfield crash on Nov. 25, 2001, when a friend who had been drinking and driving crashed into a utility pole. Husak, a member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), took part in “Grim Reaper Day 2004” aimed at warning of the dangers of drinking and driving. WestportNow.com photo
Welcome to School
Staples High School students found these wrecked cars waiting for them outside school today a reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving. WestportNow.com photo
Ready for Splashdown
The pools at Longshore Club Park are sparkling clean and ready for the first cannonballs of the season when they open Saturday. The Longshore pools will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. all three days of Memorial Day weekend. WestportNow.com photo
RTM Committees Rebuke Parks & Rec Commission on Winslow
By Chris Grimm
WestportNow Community CorrespondentTwo committees of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) have voted overwhelmingly to recommend “passive use” zoning for Winslow Park a direct rebuke to a recommendation by the town’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
The RTM Parks and Recreation Committee voted Tuesday night while the RTM Long Range Planning Committee voted Wednesday night.
At its May 10 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission had voted unanimously to recommend that the Planning and Zoning Commission adopt two Dedicated Open Space and Recreation District (DOSRD) classifications that could be applied to Westport parks and open spaces.
The P&Z will discuss amending zoning regulations to add these two classifications at its June 3 meeting.
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Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Thursday, May 27, 2004
2 p.m. - Town Hll Auditorium - Revaluation Working Group
7 p.m. - Toquet Hall - Youth Commission
7: 30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Planning and Zoning Commission
7:30 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - Builders Beyond Borders art exhibition
opening reception
Board of Selectmen Sends Compo Dog Regs Back to Parks & Rec
The Westport Board of Selectmen decided today to put off action renewing current regulations regarding dogs at Compo Beach pending a meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission that could lead to additional concessions to dog owners.
First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell, saying she was “genuinely conflicted” by the issue, took her cue from Selectman John Izzo who said he wanted to end the controversy by allowing dogs off leash on all sandy areas before 9 a.m. from Oct. 1 to April 1.
The Parks and Recreation Commission had specifically turned down the proposal during recent hearings in which it endorsed current regulations minus a “sunset clause” added by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) that limited the rules to one year.
Selectman Carl Leaman, Farrell’s fellow Democrat on the board, said he favored the Parks and Recreation Commission position that allowing dogs off leash on all sandy areas before 9 a.m. would deny beachgoers a dog-free area to walk in the early morning hours.
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Dodd Makes it Official: He’s for Farrell
Westport Democrats Nominate Joe Mioli for 136th District Seat
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Taking one of Westport’s cabs from here to S. Norwalk…
A friend, and an asset of the community for many…
I concur, Michael. My point is that someone could conceivably…
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So sad. They took great care of that house.
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Note: WestportNow Publisher Gordon F. Joseloff is also First Selectman of Westport