Thursday, June 30, 2005
Report of Attic Fire Turns Out to Be Smoldering Light
Westport firefighters tonight responded to a report of an attic fire at a home in the Saugatuck Shores area. It turned out to be a smoldering halogen light circuit in the living room ceiling.
Assistant Chief Robert Kepchar said firefighters shut down power to the light and stopped any further damage to the home at 2 Driftwood Point.
Four fire engines, the ladder truck, and shift commander’s vehicle responded to the 9:12 p.m. alarm with a total of 13 firefighters, he said. They left the scene at 9:49 p.m.
The Fire Marshall’s office was investigating the cause of the fire, Kepchar said.
Rell Says 11 Lifeguards to Report to Sherwood Island Friday
Gov. M. Jodi Rell said today that the lifeguard shortage at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport has been successfully addressed just in time for the busy 4th of July weekend.
“Eleven fully-trained lifeguards will report to duty at Sherwood Island on Friday and I couldn’t be happier with the public’s response to my special appeal,” Rell said in a statement.
“I want to publicly thank each of the lifeguards for responding to this call to public service, and I want to publicly thank our staff at the Department of Environmental Protection for their speedy response in solving this problem.”
The governor praised Commissioner Gina McCarthy, saying she “has done a remarkable job under a tight deadline. She has done her agency proud.”
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Rumors of Demise of Westport Italian Festival are False
By James Lomuscio
Rumors that Westport’s 22nd Annual Festival Italiano next week will be the final one due to a dearth of young blood and volunteers are false, according to the festival’s coordinator.
Westport’s Italian Festival: still going strong. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com file photo
“Not at all,” said Roberta Delladonna Troy, for the past six years the coordinator of Festival Italiano, also dubbed the Italian Festival.
“It’s a rumor. The Italians are strong, and we’re going to go for it. It’s certainly not going to be my last festival.”
Scheduled to kick off Thursday evening, July 7, with a parade down Riverside Avenue to Luciano Park off Franklin Street, the festival is set to run through Sunday night, July 10.
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Rell to Mark First Year in Office With Open House Friday
Gov. M. Jodi Rell said today she will mark her first anniversary in office by holding a public open house Friday at the State Capitol.
Rell will greet visitors on the first floor of the Capitol from noon to 2 p.m.
“This is an opportunity for me to say �thank you’ to the people of Connecticut for the confidence and trust they have placed in me,” Rell said in a statement.
“I have had so many wonderful experiences during this past year and I want to personally express my deepest gratitude to the public.
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Richard Foot Resigns as Westport/Weston Y CEO/Exec Director
Dick Foot: will be consultant to Connecticut YMCAs. Contributed photoRichard A. Foot, exercutive director and CEO of the Westport/Weston YMCA since 1996, has submitted his resignation to become a consultant to 25 YMCAs around Connecticut.
“I just felt it was time to look at other opportunities,” Foot, 58, said today. His resignation becomes effective Aug. 15.
Foot, who has been among the Y’s leadership planning a controversial move from its downtown headquarters to its Camp Mahackeno site in northwest Westport, said he would remain for the time being in Westport in the new post.
“I’ll be employed by the national YMCA organization serving as a consultant to 25 YMCAs in Connecticut,” he said. “It is something I am looking forward to.”
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Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Beach Gathering
This week’s unfriendly beach weather did not deter some visitors to the marina area at Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Today’s Westport Teardown: 263 North Ave.
Today’s WestportNow teardown is 263 North Ave. near Coleytown Middle School. The home was built in 1840. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Thursday, June 30, 2005
2 p.m. and 8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “Finian’s Rainbow”
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Planning and Zoning Commission
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - RTM Environment Committee
8 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - The Two Tenors, a program of Italian and Irish classical and romantic favorites
Westport’s Eckerd Drug Store Closing?
There are rumors that Westport’s Eckerd drug store at 1086 Post Road East, next to Barnes & Noble, will close its doors next week. A WestportNow reader said she had been told presciptions have been sent to the Stop & Shop pharmacy. A manager on duty at Eckerd said she was not authorized to comment. A source at Stop & Shop confirmed that the supermarket was getting customer prescriptions from Westport’s Eckerd. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Friday Car Wash to Benefit Homeless
The Rev. Peter Powell hopes those who want their cars clean and sparkling this 4th of July weekend will head to Westport Wash & Wax Friday for the car wash’s fifth annual Good Neighbor event.
All of the day’s gross sales will be donated to Powell’s Interfaith Housing Association (IHA) of Westport-Weston, Inc., a nonprofit social service agency that serves the town’s homeless.
“Last year they did $6,030 on the day of the car wash, and they gave the gross amount to Interfaith Housing,” said Powell, IHA’s president and CEO. “Their cost was not taken out at all. It makes a statement on their commitment to the community.”
Scott and Laila Tiefenthaler, owners of Westport Wash & Wax, quietly and without fanfare five years ago approached Powell with the offer after learning about IHA’s mission and services.
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Rell Says Progress Being Made in Sherwood Island Lifeguard Shortage
Gov. M. Jodi Rell:“resources must and will be provided.” File photoGov. M. Jodi Rell said today that progress is being made in addressing the lifeguard shortage at Westport’s Sherwood Island State Park.
In a statement, Rell expressed optimism that lifeguards will be on duty at the park by this 4th of July weekend.
“I am pleased to announce not only that DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) is interviewing seven interested lifeguard candidates for Sherwood Island, but also that we plan to pay the lifeguards who are hired between $9 and $9.50 an hour,” Rell said.
A number of the lifeguards who quit last weekend cited lower pay compared to other area beaches and not receiving promised pay raises.
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Westport Doctor Sentenced to Probation
A Westport pediatrician was sentenced today to three years probation and a $10,000 fine on charges of defrauding the Medicaid program and private health insurance companies as well as on tax evasion charges.
Suvarna Shah, 63, of 5 Pier Way Landing, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford, according to Kevin J. O’Connor, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut.
Shah, who practiced in Norwalk, as a result of her conviction faces likely deportation, O’Connor said. She is a native of India. He said she will also likely be barred from submitting claims to the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs.
The physician had previously entered into a civil settlement agreement in which she agreed to pay $317,925.88 to the federal and state governments, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
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Rell Calls Transportation Bill “Historic Step Forward”
Gov. M. Jodi Rell today called the General Assembly’s approval of her transportation initiative a “historic step forward for Connecticut.”
“This initiative hits the fast lane as soon as the bill hits my desk,” Rell said in a statement.
“This is the boldest transportation proposal in Connecticut in two decades, and these desperately needed improvements are crucial to our economic success.
“I will be working closely with the Department of Transportation and other state agencies to make sure these improvements are felt as soon as humanly possible.”
Talking Transportation: New Trains on Track
By Jim Cameron
Special to WestportNowThere’s finally good news for Metro-North commuters. New trains are on the way!
In special session, the Connecticut Legislature has approved Governor Rell’s bold initiative to spend more than $1 billion on almost 350 new rail cars. But don�t expect to ride these new cars until 2008 or, more likely, 2009.
Consultants are already drawing up the engineering specs for the proposed M8 twin-car sets, one car powered under the wire (in Connecticut) with its sister-car relying on third rail power (in Westchester and into Grand Central Terminal).
Each car will power the other in its respective territory. Mind you, this is just the concept and has yet to be proven on paper or on the tracks.
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Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Hazy Westport
A view looking west across Westport’s Saugatuck River Tuesday. That’s Assumption Church through the haze.The weather forecast called for more patchy fog in the morning today with a chance of showers and thundershowers later in the day. Humid with highs in the mid 80s. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jonathan Thrope for WestportNow.com
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
10:30 a.m. - Town Hall Room 102 - International Hospitality Committee
2 p.m. and 8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “Finian’s Rainbow”
7 p.m. - The Levitt Pavilion - The Hall Family returns for the 14th year
No Lifeguards at Sherwood Island Park Worries Westport Police
By James Lomuscio
Although the Westport Police Department does not patrol Westport’s Sherwood Island State Park, Police Chief Al Fiore said today he is nonetheless concerned about reports that lifeguards have walked off the job there—especially with the busy Fourth of July weekend just days away.
“While we don’t patrol the state park, we routinely respond there on ambulance calls,” Fiore said, “and often our police officers are called to assist on disturbances and alike.”
“It (the walk off) would have the potential for additional calls for service,” he added. “You don’t want to see any bathing areas not attended by lifeguards.”
Bathers in trouble at the state park, he said, would require assistance from the town’s police Marine Division, Emergency Medical Services and Fire Department.
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Taking a Break
Taking a break today in Sarasota, Fla., are three members (r) of Westport’s Saugatuck Congregational Church Youth Group helping build homes there for Habitat for Humanity. Westporters Lisa Feistel, Rebecca Bub, and Erin Ogilvy smile for the camera while a local volunteer crew leader looks on. They arrived Sunday and return home Saturday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Doreen Birdsell for WestportNow.com
Off to Build in Florida
Members of Westport’s Saugatuck Congregational Church Youth Group, seen here in front of the church Sunday, are in Sarasota, Fla., on their fouth annual mission to help the local Habitat for Humanity build on a 70-home tract of land. The group includes: students Savion Agard, Nicholas Boak, Rebecca Bub, Alex Crosby, Desiree Dabice, Rob Haigh, Sam Hedricks, Emily Laugham, Erin Ogilvy, Stephen Ogilvy, Mike Reasor, Tyler Ross, and chaperones The Rev. John Danner, Lisa Fistel and Doreen Birdsell. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
A Westport Tradition: 4th of July Fireworks Not on 4th of July
By Jonathan Thrope
When Westport holds its 4th of July fireworks celebration Friday, July 1, at Compo Beach, it will be doing what it has always done � celebrating the national holiday on a day other than July 4.
Flashback: Compo fireworks lit up the sky on July 2, 2004. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Laux for WestportNow.com
It is not a matter of having to pay holiday overtime or lack of manpower as many people believe, according to Police Athletic League (PAL) organizers.
It’s simply that they do not want to have to shoo people off the beach at 4 p.m. on a busy 4th of July.
A fireworks event on the 4th of July would make it a “very, very hard job for us to clear the beach and set up for the fundraiser,” said John Anastasia, PAL vice president and former Westport deputy police chief.
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Monday, June 27, 2005
Camp Compo Underway
Monday was the first day at Camp Compo at Westport’s Compo Beach. Youngsters enjoyed a hot game of volleyball. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
10 a.m. - Earthplace - Sasco Brook Pollution Abatement Committee
10 a.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - Planning and Zoning Commission Big House Committee
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309 - Architectural Review Board
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Auditorium - Zoning Board of Appeals
8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “Finian’s Rainbow”
8 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - U.S. Navy Band salutes big bands
Farrell Pays Tribute to Marcia Lieberman, Mother of Sen. Joe Lieberman
Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell today said the death of Marcia Lieberman, mother of Sen. Joe Lieberman, was sad but a celebration of a life well lived.
Marcia Lieberman, who became an iconic figure in the vice presidential and presidential campaigns of her son, died Sunday in Stamford. She was 90.
In a statement, Farrell said: “The passing of Marcia Lieberman is indeed sad, but should be a celebration of a life well lived. I first met Marcia in New Hampshire when she was campaigning for her son Joe in his bid for the presidency.
“On a very cold Sunday morning in Salem, N.H., Marcia Lieberman joined Joe and his family in a very tiny VFW Hall, and in spite of the temperature, beamed with pride during her son’s speech.
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Gov. Rell Issues Appeal for Sherwood Island Lifeguards
Gov. M. Jodi Rell today issued an urgent appeal for people to apply for unfilled lifeguard positions at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.
Rell’s call, in a statement issued by her office, followed a report Sunday in The Advocate of Stamford/Norwalk saying only four out of 10 full-time lifeguard positions as the park have been filled.
“With the busy Fourth of July weekend coming up and with Connecticut in the grips of a heat wave, I am making a special appeal for all interested parties to call our State Parks line at (860) 424-3200 to get more information on how they can work as lifeguards at Sherwood Island,” Rell said.
“If you are looking for a meaningful summer job that will allow you to work in one our most beautiful state parks, this is the job for you.
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Sunday, June 26, 2005
Summer Morning at Westport’s Old Mill
A summer morning at Westport’s Old Mill Pond. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com
Susan Lloyd Scholarship Fund Honors 23 at Unitarian Church
By Bill Slocum
Twenty-three was the magic number as 23 teenagers and young adults from around Fairfield County who have been diagnosed with cancer were honored at the 23rd annual Susan Lloyd Scholarship Awards Reception Sunday at the Unitarian Church of Westport.
Susan Lloyd Scholarship Award winner Zac Meinero of Westport (c) poses Sunday with Susan Fund director Ann Lloyd (l), mother of the woman after whom the scholarship is named, and Zac’s mother, Teresa. The Westport-based Susan Fund gives scholarships to students like Zac who have had cancer. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bill Slocum for WestportNow.com
“These kids are so amazing,” said Ann Lloyd, a principal organizer of the event at the church on Lyons Plains Road. “Being dealt a life-threatening disease brings out the best in them.”
The awards totaling $57,000 are financed by the Susan Fund, a Westport-based charity named after Ann’s daughter, Susan. Since its inception in 1982, two years after Susan’s death from bone cancer, the fund has given out 434 awards totaling $739,350.
Anyone who resides in Fairfield County, has cancer, and is either in school or a training program is eligible. Though there is no age limit, most tend to be college age.
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June Benefit Horse Show Wraps Up at Hunt Club
Westport’s Fairfield County Hunt Club this weekend wrapped up its June Benefit Horse Show with the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Monday, June 27, 2005
7 p.m. - Levitt Pavilion - Dancing Thru the Decades, YMCA award winners perform tap, ballet, jazz and hip-hop
7:30 p.m. - Town Hall Room 309/307 - Board of Finance
7:45 p.m. - Town Hall Room 201 - RTM Long-Range Planning Committee
Today’s Westport Teardown: 48 Whitney Street
Today’s WestportNow teardown is 48 Whitney St. The house, built in 1948, sold last December for $675,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Telling a Story of Old Westport
Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk has the attention of William Amon, 7, today at the Westport Historical Society. He told stories about the early settlers of Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Report: Sherwood Island State Park Shy of Lifeguards
Westport’s Sherwood Island State Park, one of the largest and busiest area beaches, is shy of lifeguards with only four out of 10 full-time lifeguard positions having been filled, The Advocate of Stamford/Norwalk reported today.
This is the first time in a few years that the state is finding it difficult to hire qualified lifeguards for Sherwood Island, William Mattioli, water safety coordinator for the state Department of Environmental Protection, told the newspaper.
Mattioli said officials are warning bus groups and people with children who enter the park, telling them where they can swim close to a lifeguard, the report said.
But on other parts of the beach, people will have to swim at their own risk.
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Saturday, June 25, 2005
Sunday, June 26, 2005
3 p.m. - Westport Playhouse - “Finian’s Rainbow”
7 p.m. Levitt Pavilion - Opening night: Dynasty’s Caribbean Fiesta
Documentary Filmmakers Visit Westport
As flags from around the world flapped in the breeze on Westport’s Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge today in celebration of jUNe Day, Robert Hotaling, president and CEO of Greybow Productions, and his wife, Luz Perez-Hotaling, came to town from Manchester. Hotaling was here to film for his forthcoming documentary, “Bridging the Saugatuck,” which will choreograph Steinkraus Cohen’s life and involvement with the United Nations. “It will focus on how one woman changed the world through hospitality and diplomacy,” Hotaling said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com
“Welcome to Geezerhood” Party for Staples 60-Year-Olds
Members of the Staples High School Class of 1963, along with spouses, friends, and others, held a Compo Beach party today to celebrate their turning 60 this year. One participant called it a “welcome to geezerhood” party. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Gordon Joseloff/WestportNow.com photo
Party Time
Among Staples Class of 1963 members partying at Compo Beach today to mark their 60th birthdays this year were (l-r) George “Monk” Angell, Don Nathan, and Steve Wurster. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Gordon Joseloff/WestportNow.com photo
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Note: WestportNow Publisher Gordon F. Joseloff is also First Selectman of Westport