Friday, March 31, 2006
Staples Girls Lacrosse Teams Win Scrimmages
The girls lacrosse teams at Westport’s Staples High School launched their 2006 season this week with scrimmages against Fairfield and one today at Weston. The Staples varsity and junior varsity both won the informal games, 14-5 and 8-1 respectively at Weston Fields. Photo shows Staples freshman Brooke Donovan charging a Weston player in the junior varsity game. Girls lacrosse is the fastest growing sport at Staples, and, at almost 50 players. is close to being the largest girls athletic program. Only swimming has more. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Hamilton Laux for WestportNow.com
Senior Center Survey to Be Expanded
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After receiving slightly more than 200 responses on a survey about using the Westport Center for Senior Activities, the Senior Center Long-Range Planning Committee plans to change the survey before it is sent to more than 4,000 senior citizens in late April.
The committee reviewed the initial results today of the survey that was distributed to seniors at various community organizations and in a local newspaper.
The committee received 209 responses, of which 115 use the senior center and 85 do not.
Those who responded also generally preferred weekday programming at the center over weekend, and also do not have transportation problems.
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Starting to Dig
Crews dug into the pre-build today for the new playground at Westport’s Compo Beach. They will continue to work throughout the weekend getting site ready for the community build at the end of April. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com
Ladder Training
Westport firefighters had a ladder truck training opportunity today at Veterans Green across from Town Hall. They assisted the Parks and Recreation Department by fixing the flag that had flipped over the top of the flag pole. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jennifer Connic for WestportNow.com
Landon: Don’t Seek Restoration
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Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon is recommending the Board of Education not seek restoration of the $1 million cut from its proposed 2006-07 budget, according to a memo released today.
The board will discuss Landon’s recommendation during its meeting Monday at 8 p.m. in Bedford Middle School.
Last Monday the Board of Finance cut the funds from the proposal saying the cut should be made to the insurance fund. The finance board will hold its restoration hearing on Wednesday.
The changes mean the 2006-07 school budget would be $82 million if the Representative Town Meeting gives its final approval in May. It is a 4.3 percent increase over the current budget of $78.6 million.
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WestportNow Teardown of the Day: 25 Bauer Place Extension
The Westport Building Department is reviewing an application to demolish the house at 25 Bauer Place Extension. The house is located off of Old Road behind Balducci’s. The house recently sold for $530,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Rowers from Westport’s Saugatuck Rowing Club did some training Thursday on the Saugatuck River. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Veteran Aerial Photographer at Y’s Men
Veteran aerial photographer and airplane traffic reporter Morgan Kaolian addressed Thursday’s meeting of the Y’s Men of Westport/Weston. Kaolian recounted some of his flying experiences and showed an aerial photo of Westport’s Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge he is donating to the Westport Historical Society. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Friday, March 31, 2006
10 a.m. - Westport Public Library - Rabbit Hill Festival: Weston Woods tour (registration required)
1:30 p.m. - Center for Senior Activities - Long-Range Planning Committee for the Senior Center
2 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Rabbit Hill Festival: James Daugherty exhibit tour
Thursday, March 30, 2006
U.S. Olympian Addresses Senior Center Audience
Bethany Hart, a member of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team, tonight addressed a meeting at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. The event, sponsored by Friends of the Westport Center for Senior Activities, was part of the center’s “Interesting Issues” series. Hart was a fitness trainer in the center’s fitness room prior to making the Olympics. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Barn Touchup
Today’s warm weather was a good time for a paint touchup of a barn on Westport’s North Avenue. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ron Malone for WestportNow.com
King of the Hill
A giant sand pile left over from preparations for a new playground at Westport’s Compo Beach was a good place for playing today—despite signs warning that the area was off limits to visitors. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Smokey Fire at Transfer Station
Firefighters Wednesday night quickly extinguished a fire in some garbage at the Westport transfer station on Sherwood Island Connector, officials said.
Westport’s tower truck was used to put out Wednesday night’s fire at the Sherwood Island Connector transfer station. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Westport Fire Dept. photo
No one was injured in the 7:30 p.m. blaze that originated in dumped garbage, and was contained to one of the station’s compactor units, according to Assistant Chief Larry Conklin.
On arrival, firefighters found heavy fire in the garbage pit held in check by the building’s deluge sprinkler system, a press release said.
Smoke belched from the building and the initial fire attack crews said there was zero visibility inside the structure, the release said.
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All Gone: 19 Evergreen Parkway
The house at 19 Evergreen Parkway came down today. The property, which changed hands earlier this month for $735,000, was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Feb. 7. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Westport Police Cite Three in Tobacco Checks
Three Westport businesses received violation notices in an unannounced tobacco inspection carried out Wednesday by Westport Police and state authorities, police said today.
Cited were CVS Pharmacy, 397 Post Road East, and employee Thelma Latorre, 72; Walgreens, 880 Post Road East, and employee Crystal Smith, 18, and Mobil Self-Serve, 1060 Post Road East, and employee John Roddenberry, 71, a press release said.
The clerks were issued an infraction in the amount of $200 for illegal sale of tobacco to minors under 18. The businesses face additional administrative sanctions from the Department of Revenue Services, the agency that issues cigarette dealer licenses, the release said.
Police said under the direction of investigators, an underage youth entered the business and attempted to purchase tobacco products.
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Compo Playground Pre-Build This Weekend
The pre-build for the new playground at Westport’s Compo Beach will take place this weekend, and volunteers are still needed.
The pre-build will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Crews of volunteers will be setting the posts of the new playground and completing site work to get it ready for the April construction.
Volunteers are most in need for the 5:30-8:30 p.m. shifts.
To volunteer, contact Kristin Ehrlich at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (203) 341-0511.
Final Days for Furry Friends
With warm weather, dog owners are taking advantage of the final days they can bring their dogs to Westport’s Compo Beach this winter. After Friday, dog owners will have to wait until October to visit Compo Beach with their furry friends. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Morning Light
Early morning light as seen along Westport’s Old Hill Road this week. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Miggs Burroughs for WestportNow.com
Thursday, March 30, 2006
5:30 p.m. – Town Hall Room 201 – Emily McLaury House Committee (99 Myrtle Ave.)
7 p.m. – Town Hall Green Room – Board of Assessment Appeals
7 p.m. – Town Hall Room 309 – Sherwood Mill Pond Committee
7:30 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Rabbit Hill Festival: Sharon McQueen
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Community Gets a Glance at Staples
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After almost three years of construction, the community got its first taste of the new Staples High School tonight.
The Westport PTA Council hosted “Staples at a Glance” that allowed the community to get a glimpse of not only the building but the classes that take place inside.
“What makes this school so great is the teachers and students,” said Faith Taylor, PTA Council co-president.
Staples Principal John Dodig said he wanted the crowd of about 100 people—which included a number of elected officials—to leave with a sense that building the new school was worth it.
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Staples Hosts Community Members
The hallways of Westport’s Staples High School were filled with community members tonight as the Westport PTA Council hosted a “Staples at a Glance” night. The event was held to introduce the community to the almost completed school. Visitors toured the school and saw classrooms that featured the latest technology. Principal John Dodig welcomed guests in the auditorium and said the facility was the finest he had seen in his 38 years as an educator. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Compo Playground Time Capsule Unearthed
Workers finally found a time capsule buried when the playground at Westport’s Compo Beach playground was renovated in 1989. A workman opens the capsule, buried within some old tires, with a jackhammer. The capsule, which contained a 1989 Westport newspaper reporting the playground construction and other items, was unearthed in preparation for construction next month of a new playground. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Westport Town Hall Completes Wi-Fi Installation
First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff announced today that Westport Town Hall has completed installation of a Wi-Fi network allowing free wireless high speed Internet access.
“One of my priorities upon taking office was to upgrade the town’s technology infrastructure and introduction of Wi-Fi Internet access in Town Hall is an important component,” Joseloff said.
The technology will enable town employees as well as visitors to access the Internet on computers, personal digital assistants, and Wi-Fi-enabled cell phones, he said.
Wi-Fi transmitters have been installed throughout the building, providing high-speed coverage in the auditorium, conference and meeting rooms, and offices, Joseloff said.
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Olympic Bobsledder to Speak
Bethany Hart to speak on Olympics Contributed photoBethany Hart, member of the US Olympic Bobsled Team, will speak at the Center for Senior Activities in Westport on Thursday.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Center for Senior Activities as part of their “Interesting Issues” series, the event will begin with refreshments at 6:30 p.m. with the talk starting at 7 p.m.
Hart has recently returned from the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. She will speak about what she considers to be an experience of a lifetime and present slides of her experience.
The event is free of charge and open to all members of the community. The Center for Senior Activities is located at 21 Imperial Avenue. For more information, call (203) 341-5099.
Today’s WestportNow Teardown: 49 Owenoke Park
Today’s WestportNow teardown is 49 Owenoke Park in the Compo Beach area. Built in 1948,.the property changed hands in January for $6.1 million. An application for a demolition permit is pending. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Compo Nightfall
The clouds did not mar a pretty nightfall Tuesday at Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
7:30 a.m. –Town Hall Room 309/307 – TEAM Westport Committee
10:30 a.m. – Town Hall Room 102 – International Hospitality Committee
Noon - Westport Arts Center - “Lunch, Look, and Listen: Hypervision Exhibit”
7 p.m. – Town Hall Green Room – Board of Assessment Appeals
7:30 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “English Literature and the Age of Mozart,” Mark Schenker on Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Fore!
A golfer took advantage of today’s sunshine to tee off at Westport’s Longshore Golf Club, despite the ongoing construction and somewhat cool temperatures. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Last Doggie Days at Compo
Some dogs and their owners took advantage of today’s mild termperatures to enjoy Westport’s Compo Beach. Beginning Sunday, dogs will be banned from the town’s beaches until October. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Metro-North Makes Timetable Changes Affecting Westport
Metro-North today announced what it said was its biggest single improvement to train service in 22 years–-expanding early morning and late night service to Westport and other Fairfield and New Haven County communities.
The railroad said the added service of more trains, later trains, and revised train schedules was due to additional revenue. The changes become effective Sunday.
A total of 19 additional weekday and 11 weekend trains (seven Saturday and four Sunday) have been added to the schedule—106 more trains every week.
There is more early service. The railroad said ridership from the 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. time period has increased 23 percent in the last five years. The first trains will now arrive in Grand Central Terminal between 5:40 a.m. and 5:50 a.m.—up to 25 minutes earlier than the current timetable.
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Springtime Turkey Trot
Today’s warm weather brought out a wild turkey in the yard of a Westport home on Compo Road South. The homeowner said she saw five other turkeys walking nearby. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Cynthia Singer for WestportNow.com
Joseloff Reflects on First Four Months in Office
Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff told the Westport Rotary Club today that his first four months in office have been rewarding, challenging and often frustrating. “My frustration comes from not being able to solve as many problems as I would like in a timely manner,” he said. Joseloff said he worries about the town’s preparedness for emergencies such as a pandemic flu and urged all Westporters to educate themselves on how they can prepare at home. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Westport Property Transfers March 20-24, 2006
Westport property transfers as reported by the Town Clerk’s office for the period March 20-24, 2006:
J. Christopher Jaffe to Nina Paris Jaffe, 10 Rowland Place, $150,000
377 Greens Farms LLC to Todd V. and Nadia Middlebrook, 377 Greens Farms Road, $3,850,000
DIV Riverside Ventures LLC to Chari B. Polley, Unit 7B Riverside Green, $835,000
KC Lai LLC to Stornebridge Medical Arts LLC, 32 Imperial Ave., $1,350,000
Norwest Homes LLC to John and Nancy Munley, 10 Sycamore Drive, $2,025,000
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Westport Ad Exec Ken Kaess Dies at 51
Ken Kaess: Westport ad executive was responsible for “Muppet Babies.” File photoDDB worldwide CEO and president Ken Kaess, who spent 30 years at DDB and rose to CEO in 2001, died Monday of cancer at his Westport home, the company said. He was 51.
“Like all of you, I will miss him very much,” wrote Omnicom Group CEO John Wren, in a memo that DDB shared with its employees. “He was the driver behind DDB’s success these last five years and, of course, I will miss him in that role. But I also will miss his friendship and positive spirit.”
Kaess took a medical leave of absence from the company in November.
A former chairman of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, Kaess was determined to diversify the industry and, in 1998, founded the Bill Bernbach Minority Scholarship Fund. In 2004, the New York Urban League honored him with an award in the name of Frederick Douglas for promoting diversity and opportunity.
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WestportNow Teardown of the Day: 39 Danbury Ave.
Town officials are currently reviewing a demolition application for the house at 39 Danbury Ave. The home, which is in the Compo Beach area, was built in 1939 and sold last June for $1,730,000. Because of the home’s age, the Westport Historic District Commission will review the application. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
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PROPERTY TRANSFERS
Westport Property Transfers March 20-24, 2006MORE >>
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