Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Humane Society Westport Branch Reopens
The Connecticut Humane Society Westport Branch reopened today at 455 Post Road East following extensive renovations. The new improved facility has been expanded to house about 300 homeless animals looking for adoption. CherylAnn Ferandes, district manger, welcomes the latest canine guest. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Take Me Home
CherylAnn Ferandes, district manager for the Connecticut Humane Society Westport branch, gets acquainted with a guest ready for adoption. The newly renovated facility at 455 Post Road East is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Wedmesday, June 30, 2004
10:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - International Hospitality Committee
Noon - Town Hall Room 309/307 - Citizens brown bag lunch
Motorcycle Accident Ties Up Merritt Parkway Traffic in Westport
A motorcyclist suffered a collar injury today in an accident on the Merritt Parkway in Westport, backing up northbound traffic for miles. Westport fire and EMS personnel tended to the victim before he was taken to Norwalk Hospital. View is from the North Avenue overpass. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Conservation Department Cautions Cockenoe Island Fireworks Visitors
Westport’s Conservation Department today cautioned visitors to Cockenoe Island during Friday’s Independence Day fireworks to be alert to threatened and endangered birds nesting there.
Piping plover: Cockenoe resident. USFWS photo
“Many boaters often anchor at Cockenoe Island to gain a spectacular view of the event, but docking on the island, especially the spit to the far west, can pose a danger to the threatened and endangered birds nesting there,” said director Alicia Mozian.
“The eggs are very difficult to see and the parents are very protective.”
Mozian said the endangered birds include piping plovers and roseate terns.
She said her department requests that people pay particular attention to where they walk and to keep their dogs on leash or off the spit of the island altogether.
Monday, June 28, 2004
Clicking at Earthplace
David Mally is enjoying some of the nature photographs on display at Westport’s Earthplace The Nature Discovery Center from the Norwalk Camera Club’s annual photography contest and exhibit. The photos will remain on display until Aug. 20.Julia Mally for WestportNow.com
Wine Talk: Zin for the Fourth
This weekend, many of us will be firing up the grill or the barbecue for traditional Independence Day fare like burgers or ribs. But what should you drink with the festive, bold, and sometimes spicy food? WestportNow Community Correspondent Chris Grimm will be drinking the All-AmericanӔ wine Zinfandel. Details in his latest Wine Talk column on the ARTS & LEISURE page.
Gene Wilder in “Young Frankenstein” Kicks Off Playhouse Film Series
Comic legend Gene Wilder kicks off the Westport Country Playhouse’s Film Series tonight with the classic movie “Young Frankenstein” followed by a discussion led by critic Janet Maslin. 
Due to ticket demand, there will be two showings of the film at 7 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., at the Community Theatre in Fairfield.
Directed by Mel Brooks and filmed in black and white to simulate the monster movie genre of the 1930s, the 1974 comedy features Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, a young neurosurgeon who is the grandson of Dr. Victor von Frankenstein.
After years of living down the family reputation, he inherits his grandfather’s castle where he finds a hunchback called Igor (Marty Feldman), a pretty lab assistant named Inga (Teri Garr) and an old housekeeper, Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman).
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Tuesday, June 29, 2004
10 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Administrative Review Committee
Sunday, June 27, 2004
New Color for Westport’s Center
A new sidewalk enclosure has gone up in Westport’s center at the site of a new Tiffany store to open this fall. The color Tiffany Blue, of course. WestportNow.com photo
Monday, June 28, 2004
9:a.m. - Long Lots School - Long Lots Subcommittee
7 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Conservation Commission
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201/201A - Board of Finance anticipated executive session
8 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201/201A - Special Board of Finance
Changing of the Guard
Outgoing Westport Sunrise Rotary Club president Valery Austyn receives a gift honoring her service from incoming president Leo Cirino today at the club’s party at the Westport Arts Center. Looking on is Rick Benson, Roatary assistant district governor. Contributed photo
Compo Sunday
Even some late afternoon clouds did not deter Westporters from enjoying Compo Beach today. It was a beautiful day with sunny skies, temperatures in the 70s, and low humidity. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Saturday, June 26, 2004
I-95 Accident Causes Westport Traffic Jams
A tractor-trailer accident on I-95 about 1 p.m. Saturday between exits 18 and 19 sent spillover traffic through Westport. This was the scene on Bridge Street. All was back to normal by late afternoon. Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com
Guests in Westport
These visitors were among almost 300 U.N. guests who traveled to Westport today for jUNe Day activities.Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Westport Gets Pinned
First Selectwoman Dianne G. Farrell “pins” Westport on a world map during today’s jUNe Day activities as Michaela MacColl, jUNe Day chairperson, looks on. Saul Haffner for WestportNow.com
Celebrating jUNe Day
Flags of United Nations member countries fly from Westport’s Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge today to welcome U.N. visitors to the town’s annual jUNe Day. See more photos on COMMUNITY page. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Friday, June 25, 2004
Saturday, June 26, 2004
10 a.m. - Saugatuck Elementary School - jUNe Day activities
8 p.m. - Town Hall - Westport Community Theatre presents readings from radio plays, programs
Passing the Gavel
Peter Ferrara (l) thanks attendees at tonights Westport Rotary Club ғpass-the-gavel clambake at Compo Beach as he took over the club presidency from John Fitzgerald. With him is Rick Benson, a club member and Rotary assistant district governor. WestportNow.com photo
Staples: The View from Above
The $74 million Staples High School renovation and expansion project is on schedule with occupation of a portion of the new construction scheduled for sometime in the fall. This aerial view was taken Thursday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Check Your Mailbox
The first of 35,000 tax bills have gone out to Westporters 10,000 real estate bills and 25,000 auto bills, according to Tax Collector George Underhill. Payments are due by July 1 but residents will have until the end of July to pay without penalty. Taxes increased about 2.5 percent over last year. WestportNow.com photo
Connecticut Public Television to Broadcast “A Gathering of Glory!” July 1
Westport takes center stage on Connecticut Public Television next week when it airs “A Gathering of Glory!,” the documentary produced by the Westport Historical Society.
The feature, directed by Westport resident Martin West, will be telecast Thursday, July 1, at 9 p.m. (See WestportNow Sept. 28, 2003)
Denise Torv, executive director of the Westport Historical Society, said she is excited that the documentary will be seen by a wider audience.
The production of ‘A Gathering of Glory!’ is yet another way in which the Westport Historical Society works to fulfill its mission of celebrating the history of Westport,Ӕ Torv said.
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WN Weather Alert: Slight Risk of Severe Thunderstorms
The Storm Prediction Center has placed the tri-state region in a slight risk for severe thunderstorms for later today, according to the National Weather Service.
The combination of an approaching cold front, a few hours of daytime heating and sufficient low level moisture will provide the ingredients to produce a few strong to severe thunderstorms later today.
The main threat for severe weather would be in the form of hail and strong winds.
Once the front moves into the region late today, the severe weather threat will diminish.
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Thursday, June 24, 2004
Compo Clouds
A recent sunny day produced these pretty cloud patterns over Compo Beach. The weather forecast for today calls for some morning low clouds and patchy fog followed by variable cloudiness with a chance of showers from around midday on with possibly a thunderstorm., highs in the upper 70s. Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com
Friday, June 25, 2004
8 p.m. - Town Hall - Westport Community Theatre presents readings from radio plays, programs.
Bedford Art Restored at YMCA
Members of the Bedford family pose with the restored portrait of Edward Thomas Bedford, the Westport businessman and philanthropist who founded the Westport YMCA in 1923. Family donations made possible restoration of the work, which has been in the YMCA’s Bedford Building for 80 years. Shown are Bern Dibner, great-great-grandson of E. T. Bedford, Mrs. Lynne A. Warren (Lucie Bedford Warren), Bedford’s granddaughter, and Victoria Dibner, Bedfords great-granddaughter. Contributed photo
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Compo Meets Hawaii
These youngsters dressed Hawaiian Wednesday at Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Laux for WestportNow.com
Thursday, June 24, 2004
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Planning & Zoning Commission
Westport Poker Player Wins $98,000
Pete Muller: Wins $98,000. Worldpokertour.
com photo Westporter Peter Muller placed fourth on the Travel Channel’s “World Poker Challenge” broadcast tonight. His winnings were $98,022
The event at the Reno Hilton in Reno, Nev., was taped April 1 for airing on the cable channel.
The 40-year-old Compo Mill Cove resident is an amateur player.
A former Wall Street trader and founder of a hedge fund, he says he uses the poker table as a place to get away from the stresses and demands of work.
Muller is a singer-songwriter as well and will appear at the Levitt Pavilion as “Pete Muller and Friends” Aug. 7.
Selectmen Endorse Dogs-at-the-Beach Rules; RTM Review Likely
The Westport Board of Selectmen tonight voted 2-1 (Izzo opposed) to endorse Parks and Recreation Dept. regulations that delete a “sunset clause” from controversial rules governing dogs at Compo Beach. The issue is now likely to go before the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) which has inserted the clause two years in a row so it could review the regulations governing dogs off leash in the non-summer months. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Uncertainty Still Surrounds Plans for Upgrading Power Lines
Town Attorney Ira Bloom said today uncertainty still exists over how Westport will be impacted by a snag that has developed in plans to upgrade power lines from Middletown to Norwalk.
Bloom spoke after attending a meeting today in New Britain to discuss objections by the operator of New England’s power grid to put some of the lines underground, including the route planned through Westport.
Asked whether Westporters could be confident any lines would be underground here, the town attorney replied, “It’s difficult to say. I’m hopeful they will remain underground, but it’s not clear.”
A top executive for ISO-New England Inc. told the Connecticut Siting Council last week that the grid operator will not support current plans to bury lines from Norwalk to Stratford.
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New Assessor: “My Head is on the Chopping Block Here”
William Gaffney (r), who began work Monday as Westport’s new assessor, meets with members of the Revaluation Working Group today at Town Hall. Gaffney said he hopes to have bid specifications ready Thursday for firms interested in conducting Westport’s physical revaluation. He said he is determined to conduct the best survey possible, adding, “(I know) my head is on the chopping block here.” WestportNow.com photo
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
You Can Get There From Here
The controversial path from Evergreen Avenue to Westport’s Winslow Park is now complete and area residents can make their way on foot to the Westport facility. A sign tells visitors: “Thank you for visiting Winslow Park. This park crosses a wetland property. Please help us to preserve the wetlands. Please leash dogs beyond this point.” WestportNow.com photo
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
10:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - International Hospitality Committee
Noon - Town Hall Room 309/307 - Citizens brown bag lunch
2 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Revaluation Working Group
5:30 p.m. - Staples High School, Room 516 - School Building Committee Staples Subcommittee
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Boating Advisory Committee
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309/307 - Board of Selectmen
Getting Ready for Saturday’s jUNe Day
Preparations are almost complete for Saturday’s annual jUNe Day in Westport. More than 300 guests from the United Nations will come to Westport for a day of swimming, boating, and other leisure activities. The day is sponsored by Westport’s International Hospitality Committee and will include flying U.N. member flags from the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge, seen here in a 2003 photo. WestportNow.com photo
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