Sunday, December 31, 2006
String Quartet Entertains at Historical Society
The Annellie String Quartet, all eight and ninth grade students, entertained a full house tonight at the Westport Historical Society as part of the First Night celebration. The group is comprised of Gabrielle and Brianna Fischler (on the ends) twin sisters from Southbury, Rachel Iba (violin) from Lexington, Mass., and Jennie Brent (cello) from New Haven. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
First Night Crossing
Organizer estimated about 5,000 buttons were sold for tonight’s First Night Westport/Weston festivities. Some of the guests crossed Post Road East under the watchful eyes of Westport traffic agents. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Train Watching
A model train show at the Westport Public Library tonight was a big hit with children. It was part of the annual First Night Westport/Weston festivities. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Dancin’ at the Bank
The dance floor wasn’t crowded but there was no lack of enthusiasm at the Commerce Bank on Westport’s Main Street tonight. The “Good Clean Fun Rock ‘n’ Roll Band” and WEBE 108 provided the music and prizes as part of the First Night events. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Toquet Hall Hosts “Battle of the Bands”
Westport’s Toquet Hall hosted a “Battle of the Bands” tonight as part of the First Night Westport/Weston festivities. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Making Music
Suzanne Sheridan and the Original Key Ingredients Dance Band entertained First Night celebrants tonight at Wesport’s Saugatuck Congregational Church. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Mirror Image
A first Night visitor checks out her facepaint tonight as part of First Night Westport/Weston. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Celebrating the New Year
The children’s fireworks at First Night Westport/Weston tonight attracted a large crowd along the Saugatuck River. These spectators watched from the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
First Night Bonfire
Visitors to tonight’s First Night Westport/Weston gathered around a bonfire on Westport’s Jesup Green as they awaited fireworks. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Painted for the New Year
Nicki Brown, 10, of Fairfield has her face painted during tonight’s First Night activities. Events for First Night Westport/Weston continue through midnight. Fireworks take place over the Saugatuck River at 7 p.m. and midnight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Pint-Sized Poet
Among those taking the stage at tonight’s First Night “Poetry and Pizza” event at Westport’s Toquet Hall was Sarah McDonnell, 3, of Old Greenwich. While Mom, Ellen, held the microphone, Sarah recited “Three Little Christmas Trees.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Fantasy World
First Night Westport/Weston visitors to Westport’s Town Hall lobby today were greeted by cartoon characters who seemed to dazzle some youngsters. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Former Police Captain’s Son Recalled With Fondness
Today’s Arizona Star, in a story headlined “People he never met called him buddy and mate, friend and mentor,” tells of the 37-year-old son of a former Westport police captain who died suddenly of a heart attack in July.
“David Barr freely gave away his talents and died too young,” the newspaper said in the Tucson-datelined story.
Barr’s father, Fred, retired from the Westport force and moved with his wife to Arizona two years ago. Their son David accompanied them.
“(David) Barr, a high-school dropout and self-taught auto mechanic, photographer and computer programmer, had a rich online life that parents Fred and Nancy Barr never glimpsed until his death,” the newspaper said.
More "Former Police Captain’s Son Recalled With Fondness"
First Night Westport/Weston Venue Map
A map shows the various venues for today’s First Night Westport/Weston events. A complete schedule ican be found on the First Night Web site. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Graphic by Lighthouse Maps
Winners!
The Westport-Weston co-op ice hockey team won the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) Division 3 Holiday Tournament Saturday, defeating Norwalk/Brien McMahon 4-1 at the Darien Ice Rink. The team is coached by Head Coach Ralph Unker and Assistant Coach Dale Wehmhoff. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jim Hallock for WestportNow.com
Walk On Water
Saturday’s mild weather at Westport’s Compo Beach brought out several people who crossed shallow water onto a patch of dry sand during low tide. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jennifer Connic for WestportNow.com
Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006
3 p.m. - Midnight - Various Downtown Venues - First Night Westport/Weston
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Puppy Protest
A group of Westport concerned citizens stood outside the Puppies of Westport store on Post Road West this afternoon to call attention to what they said are abhorent conditions and treatment of animals in the puppy store industry. The group has started regularly demonstrating each weekend in an attempt to educate consumers about the issue. The group can be contacted at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Getting Some Help
The PAL Ice Skating Rink at Westport’s Longshore Club Park was busy this afternoon as families took advantage of the mild weather. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jennifer Connic for WestportNow.com
Meeting the Deadline
Westporters today were trying to get their donations in to Goodwill Industries before the end of the year. There was a long line of cars at the drop-off point on Post Road East as there has been over the last few days. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Playing Around
The playground at Westport’s Compo Beach was full of children this afternoon as families enjoyed the mild weather with temperatures in the mid-40s. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jennifer Connic for WestportNow.com
Landon: “Childhood Should Not be a Race to be No. 1”
Elliott Landon: “We want students to enjoy their childhood.” Dave Matlow/WN file photoWestport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon, in a holiday message to parents, said the community must balance expectations of students so they can enjoy adolescence and childhood and not be in a race to be No. 1.
“Even as we want our students to be the best they can be, we also want them to enjoy their childhood, learn at their own pace, and know that each of them is valued as an individual regardless of whether they get straight A’s or make the honor roll,” he said in a message sent to parents and posted on the Board of Education Web site.
“We believe childhood and adolescence should be a pleasurable journey, not a race to be No. 1.”
Landon said he and other Westport educators recently met with Westport clergy representatives to discuss “pressures on children in our high powered community.”
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Hand-in-Hand for First Night
The First Night Westport Weston leadership team and the 16 entertainment site managers met Friday night at the Westport Weston Family Y to coordinate the activities for Sunday’s 13th annual First Night celebration. The meeting ended with the volunteers joining hand-in-hand in a show of unity of spirit. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Vacation Days
School vacation this week along with milder temperatures mean more children spending playtime at Westport’s Compo Beach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Summer Scenes in December
With temperatures in the 40s on Friday, Westporters headed to Compo Beach for walks and to watch the sunset. Temperatures are expected to stay in the mid-40s through the weekend, but rain is expected on New Year’s Day. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006
1 & 5:30 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “A Christmas Carol”
Friday, December 29, 2006
Child’s Play
Warmer winter weather means more people are heading to Westport’s beaches, including Old Mill Beach, for some fun. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
“Mozart & Friends” Recital Set for Jan. 7
Emily Wong: Playing piano for Mozart concert. Contributed photoA quintet of musicians from the Stamford Symphony will perform a “Mozart & Friends” recital at the Steinway Piano Gallery of Westport on Sunday Jan. 7 at 4 p.m.
Stamford Symphony Orchestra principal pianist Emily Wong will be joined by flutist Susan Rotholz, clarinetist Dean LeBlanc, violinist Robert Zubrycki and violist Rebecca Osborne.
The recital features a broad range of composers, each of whom either influenced Mozart or was influenced by him. The program opens with Trio Sonate, No. 3 by Giovanni Pergolesi.
The Beethoven Serenade, Op. 25 continues Mozart’s tradition of innovation and sets the stage for two more recent works: Rebecca Clarke’s Prelude, Allegro, and Pastorale and Charles Ives Largo. The recital finishes with Charles Duruflé‘s Prelude, Recitatif et Variations.
Tickets for the recital are $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (203) 325-1407 x305.
December Boating
Most of the public marinas are closed and empty with winter here, but some boats are still floating off of private docks, including at Westport’s Owenoke Park, and some take advantage of the mild weather. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
More Fire Department Promotions Planned
Jonathan Gottfried: new deputy chief. Dave Matlow/WN file photoMore promotions are on the way at the Westport Fire Department for the start of the new year, including a new deputy chief.
Assistant Fire Chief Jonathan Gottfried will be promoted to deputy chief during a ceremony on Jan. 5 at Westport Fire Headquarters.
During the same ceremony Lt. Andrew Kingsbury will be promoted to assistant chief/training officer and firefighter Ernest Ruot will become a lieutenant.
As part of the promotions, William Dingee, current assistant chief/training officer, will move back and take a regular shift with the firefighters as an assistant chief, said Fire Chief Christopher Ackley.
More "More Fire Department Promotions Planned"
Westport Property Transfers Dec. 18-22, 2006
Westport property transfers as reported by the Town Clerk’s office for the period Dec. 18-22, 2006:
Fyber Development LLC to Julie A. Reid and Linda L. Wolf, 11 West Branch Road, $3,775,000
Land Group Inc. to Edwin Lugo and Amy Zhang, 19 Evergreen Parkway, $1,700,000
Eric J. and Paige T. Strauss to Steven Lewis, 8 Gorham Ave., $548,100
David Smith and Donna Benson to James L. and Ann Haskel, 13 Sprucewood Lane, $2,500,000
More "Westport Property Transfers Dec. 18-22, 2006"
WestportNow Teardown of the Day: 40 Reichert Circle
Westport officials are currently reviewing an application to demolish the house at 40 Reichert Circle. The 1955 house on .43 acre sold this month for $714,500. An earlier version of this item had an incorrect address and price. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Beach Walk
A visitor to Westport’s Compo Beach took advantage of Thursday’s warm temperatures in the upper 40s to take a walk at dusk. More unseasonably warm weather is forecast for today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Friday, Dec. 29, 2006
2 & 7 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “A Christmas Carol”
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Swinging Time
The playground at Westport’s Compo Beach was crowded today as many families headed there to take advantage of the mild weather while school is on vacation. Temperatures are expected to stay in the mid-40s, but rain is expected to move into the area this weekend. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Laurence Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Realtime NY Metro-area traffic reports from Traffic.com
PROPERTY TRANSFERS
Westport Property Transfers Dec. 18-22, 2006MORE >>
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