Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Howard Munce: “Inclined to Learn”
Westport artist Howard Munce gazes at his painting “Inclined to Learn,” one of almost 50 “Treasures Of The Westport Schools Permanant Art Collection” to be shown at the Westport Historical Society. The exhibit opens with a reception on Sunday from 3 - 5 p.m. and runs through Jan. 2. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ellen Naftalin for WestportNow.com
Staples Principal: Homecoming “Very Negative Experience”
At least five students at Westport’s Staples High School became intoxicated during Saturday’s homecoming celebration, prompting a plea from the school’s principal to parents to help him do something about it.
John Dodig: makes plea to parents. WN file photo
“We can’t ignore…that portions of Homecoming have evolved into something very negative and potentially dangerous to our students,” John Dodig wrote in an e-mail Tuesday to all Staples parents.
“That is the part I cannot ignore or accept. Let’s make something positive out of a very negative experience.”
Officers tended to at least five intoxicated students—all females—in the Staples and adjacent Bedford Middle School parking lots prior to Saturday’s football game against Norwalk High School, according to police.
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Comings and Goings: Fresh Market to Open Oct. 14
The Fresh Market opens its first store in Connecticut on Oct. 14 at 605 Post Road East in the space formerly occupied by Shaw’s. According to an official at the company’s Greensboro, N.C. headquarters, the Westport store will be its 92nd and in its 18th state. Workers today were putting the final touches on the renovation. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
U.S. Postal Service Sets Westport Hearing for Oct. 22
Westport First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff said today that the U.S. Postal Service has notified his office that it will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in the Westport Town Hall auditorium to discuss the move of the Westport Post Office.
“I encourage all interested Westport residents to attend this forum,” said Joseloff.
“This is an opportunity for residents to express their concerns regarding not only the main post office, but also the closure of the Saugatuck station.”
The Postal Service “suspended service” at the Saugatuck station on Sept. 5 and said it was seeking another location.
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Author Kate Walbert Traces Five Generations of Women
Author Kate Walbert discussed her latest book, “A Short History of Women,” at a Westport Public Library appearance today. The novel follows five generations of women from the British suffrage movement through 1970s consciousness-raising to the age of Facebook as they struggle against oppression. “Unlike most authors who research and research and research and write detailed outlines before writing a book, I do not do that,” she said. “When I start I usually don’t have a clue. Instead, I write and write and let my characters emerge.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
State and Town to Honor World War II Vets on Saturday
The State of Connecticut and the Town of Westport will honor Westport World War II veterans Saturday in a ceremony at Bedford Middle School.
The 11 a.m. event in the school auditorium is part of Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz’s Public Service Awards program. It honors vets “for their exemplary service and unwavering courage.”
The state and town compiled the invitation list after researching state and local archives. More than 275 invitations have been sent to individuals, families, relatives, and friends, said First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff.
The Office of the Secretary of the State Public Service Awards Program began in 2001. Since then, the office has honored thousands of Connecticut residents for their commitment to public service.
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Playhouse Sets Community Open House Oct. 24
The Westport Country Playhouse will present a special community open house, “Our Town, Your Playhouse,” on Saturday, Oct. 24, offering activities for children, families, teens and adults.
“Our Town” aired on Showtime and PBS. Contributed photo
The 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. event will include a screening of the Playhouse’s 2002 production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” with Paul Newman in the role of the Stage Manager, at 7 p.m.
All events are free and open to the public. Reservations are necessary for workshops and the “Our Town” film by calling 203-227-4177.
Children’s events, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will feature storytelling with books from the Playhouse’s 2010 Family Festivities series, including “Laura Ingalls Wilder” and “Charlotte’s Web”; bean-bag toss; face-painting; and “Design Your Own Set” coloring table. An artist will draw caricatures from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
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Saturday is Household Hazardous Waste Day
Public Works Director Stephen Edwards today reminded residents that Westport has scheduled a household hazardous waste collection day for Saturday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Westport Weston Health District, 180 Bayberry Lane.
“This is an opportunity for residents to clean out their basements and garages of general household hazardous materials,” said Edwards.
The department issued a list of common items found in households that can be disposed of on Saturday:
Garage: degreasers, gasoline, kerosene, mineral spirits, oil-based paints, paint strippers, paint thinners, solvents, stains, turpentine, varnishes, wood preservatives, etc.
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All Gone: 7 Otter Trail
A workman was on site today following the demolition of 7 Otter Trail off Imperial Avenue. Built in 1951, the one-story ranch had 1,308 square feet and was situated on a one-third-acre lot. The owners plan to rebuild on the site. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Aug. 30, 2008. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Set for October
First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff will proclaim October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Westport on Monday.
A brief ceremony will take place on the front steps of Town Hall at 9:30 a.m. followed by refreshments in the lobby, an announcement said.
The public is invited to attend.
Thieves Hit John’s Best
Some fast-moving thieves broke into John’s Best Pizza & Grille on Westport’s Post Road West early today and made off with a safe containing cash, police said.
John’s Best Pizza & Grille: burglars made off with safe. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) File photo
The burglary at the newly renovated restaurant at 361 Post Road West not far from the Norwalk line was discovered following a similar break-in at a nearby Norwalk restaurant, according to detectives.
Police said Westport officers alerted to the Norwalk burglary on nearby Westport Avenue in Norwalk made an immediate check of Westport businesses in the vicinity and came upon a forced entry at John’s Best at about 5:30 a.m.
They said they had found evidence the burglary had occurred only a short time before. The thieves also took an undetermined amount of cash from a register.
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“If a Child Loves Learning, They Will be Happy”
A team of two entrepreneurial educators, Michele Isenberg (l) and Dawn Matera, who mentor children and adults with learning disabilities, told the Westport Rotary Club Tuesday that “if a child can love to learn, they will be happy the rest of their lives.” The couple stressed that “everyone learns differently and that our society tends to assess children against a more limited traditional measure”—often outside the skill area of those who frequently possess above-average intelligence. Matera and Isenberg, both certified teachers, are the founders of the Westport-based A Way to Learn, LLC, an organization created to meet the growing need for educational support services. The organization’s Web site, www.awaytolearn.net, details its philosophy and programs. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Up, Up, and Away
James Marion of Westport takes to the air while kite surfing off Compo Beach in 20 to 25 mile per hour winds on Tuesday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “Aggregate: Art and Architecture—a Brutalist Remix”
Noon - Westport Public Library - Authors@the Library: Kate Walbert, “A Short History of Women”
8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “The Breath of Life” preview
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Staples Boys Soccer Wins Sixth Straight
Two goals by Greg Gudis, off a pair of Mike White assists, paced the Staples boys soccer team to a 4-0 home win over Fairfield Ludlowe today at Loeffler Field.
Dylan Evans rounds the corner against Fairfield Ludlowe in today’s 4-0 Staples victory. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com
After a close first half, the Wreckers broke open the game with three goals in a 10-minute span. Andrew McNair and Alan Reiter registered the other scores.
“It was a good Fairfield Ludlowe team,” Staples coach Dan Woog said. “It’s a big step forward for us. I wasn’t pleased with the first half, but they stepped up in the second half, which was nice to see.”
The Wreckers move to 6-0-0, while Fairfield Ludlowe (3-1-2) suffered its first loss of the year. Staples travels to Stamford on Thursday for a 4 p.m. match.
Getting Ready for Weekend Sherwood Mill Preserve Planting
Final plans were made today for this weekend’s all-volunteer planting of Westport’s Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve. Geoff Middeleer (l) who helped create the landscape design with Silvia F. Erskine, and Sherry Jagerson, chairman of the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve, discussed the logistics of the planting effort. Volunteers are still needed on Saturday and Sunday. Call Cathy Talmadge at (203)221-0220 or donate funds through the town’s Web site, clicking on the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve link. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Wendy Crowther for WestportNow.com
Hales Road Bridge Project Finally Under Way
The first concrete sign of federal stimulus money has come to Westport. The state Department of Transportation has established a field office for the $4 million in improvements to the Hales Road Bridge over the Metro-North Railroad tracks. According to George Petrus, the project’s chief inspector, the site is now being mobilized with bringing in equipment and ordering of materials. He said actual construction will begin in about a month and take about 18 months. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
A Good Day for Golf
Today started out with clear blue skies after a rainy evening and the warm, sunny weather was perfect for a game of golf at Westport’s Longshore Club Park. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Bench Talk
A couple relaxed at Westport’s Compo Beach on Monday as summer-like temperatures in the 70s and sunshine prevailed most of the day before rain arrived in early evening. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “Aggregate: Art and Architecture—a Brutalist Remix”
Noon - Westport Public Library - Authors@the Library: Marina Marchese, “Honeybee”
1:30 p.m. – Parks & Recreation Conference Room – 191 Hillspoint Road Committee
7:30 p.m. – Town Hall Room 309 – RTM Finance Committee
8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “The Breath of Life” preview
Monday, September 28, 2009
Compo Beach Resident’s Return Makes Headlines
His Compo Beach area neighbors have known about it for some time, but the move back into the Westport neighborhood by former American International Group (A.I.G.) executive Joseph Cassano made headlines today.
Joseph Cassano: back home. File photo
Cassano, who was closely associated with A.I.G.’s collapse, “recently slipped back into the United States” where he faces investigations by the FBI and other agencies, Reuters reported.
The news agency, in a lengthy report on Cassano’s move, did not say when the son of a Brooklyn, N.Y. police officer returned to Westport, where he has been a registered voter since 1995. But neighbors told WestportNow late last month they noticed his return when they saw a moving van outside his home.
WestportNow, respecting his privacy, did not report his return. Cassano until recently had been living in London where he had run A.I.G. Financial Products.
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Nell Newman Promotes New Newman’s Own Organic Coffee
Nell Newman: selling coffee. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) File photo
Nell Newman, a daughter of Paul Newman, went to a McDonald’s in Hartford today to promote the latest product in the Westport-based Newman’s Own Organics line—coffee.
“My father always found the whole McDonald’s business interesting,” said the 50-year-old Newman, casually dressed in slacks and sneakers as she posed for pictures and talked to customers who had stopped in for free food and coffee, reported the Hartford Courant.
“He never took us there because he thought the burgers he cooked on the grill were the best.”
An organic-food lover who became interested in natural foods as a youngster growing up in Westport, Newman has taken over the leadership of the company founded by her father and his friend and partner, A.E. Hotchner.
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With the Wind at His Back
Todd Reichel of Westport catches some wind and waves at Compo Beach today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com
Comings and Goings: Rizzuto’s Open for Business
Rizzuto’s Wood-Fired Trattoria and Bar, at 540 Riverside Ave. in the space formerly occupied by Conte’s Restaurant in Westport’s Saugatuck area, opened for business on Sunday night. The owner, Bill Rizzuto, who also operates similar style eateries in Bethel and West Hartford, said, “We opened the doors and they started coming in.” He said the restaurant staff includes about 45, including a baking staff which comes in at 5 a.m. They bake sourdough bread using wild yeast which Rizzuto has dubbed “Saugatuck Sourdough.” He said the restaurant will be open for dinner only until mid-October and then service will expand to lunch, dinner and “a special late night menu including a raw bar, wood-fired pizza, antipasto and more.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Wires Down
A fallen tree pulled down power lines today at 13 Crooked Mile Road off Newtown Turnpike. The tree fell following recent heavy rains and windy aftermath that swept through Westport Sunday and today. Firefighters closed the road to vehicle and pedestrian traffic until a utility crew restores the scene. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Feeding the Hungry
Congregants of Temple Israel in Westport were given empty grocery bags at Rosh Hashanah and asked to fill them with hearty groceries for those needing some help and return them during Yom Kippur. A temple member hands over a bag before today’s worship service. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
X Marks the Spot
Almost a year after they were featured as WestportNow’s Teardown of the Day (See WestportNow Nov. 12, 2008), demolition is imminent for the Hales Court houses marked with a big, bold circled “X.” The houses will be replaced with new upgraded affordable units consisting of of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units serving families at or below 60 percent of area median income ($70,680) for a family of four. Twenty-five percent of the 78 units will be reserved for senior citizens 62 and older. The project will also include a 2,000-square foot community center. Development costs are anticipated to be $24 million. The existing 40 units were built in 1950. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Rainy Sunday
Westport’s Saugatuck Congregational Church on Post Road East was wet and colorful Sunday as rain splattered falling leaves along its pathways. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com
Monday, September 28, 2009
Westport Public Schools closed in observance of Yom Kippur
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “Aggregate: Art and Architecture—a Brutalist Remix”
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Woman Escapes Serious Injury in Imperial Avenue Crash
A woman lost control of her car on Westport’s Imperial Avenue tonight at Harborview Road, struck a tree, and the vehicle ended up on its side. Westport police helped her get out of the car, and she was taken by Westport EMS to Norwalk Hpispital. Assistant Fire Chief Robert Kepchar said multiple airbags deployed, limiting the seriousness of her injuries. The roadway was wet at the time. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Making Blues Music at the BBQ Fest
James Montgomery (r) joined blues/jazz/rock legend Jay Geils at today’s second day of the second annual Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com
Die-Hard Fans Come Out to BBQ Fest Despite Rain
Despite the rain, die-hard fans came out today for Blues and R & B greats including Cracked Ice, James Montgomery, Jay Geils and Magic Dick at the second annual Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Rain Dampens BBQ Fest Crowd
Rain held down the crowds at today’s second day of the second annual Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival in Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com
Over Easy
Westport firefighters passed a patient over the center median on I-95 today after two multiple-vehicle accidents in the southbound lane of I-95 between Exits 17 and 18. A Westport EMS ambulance stopped in the northbound lane to pick up one of the injured and continued on to Bridgeport Hospital. One accident involved two cars and another nearby involved four. The others in the accidents did not require transport, said Assistant Fire Chief Robert Kepchar. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Winners
Westport’s singer-songwriters The Wiggins Sisters—Mizzy and Casey—received the award for Best Americana Album at the independent music industry’s Just Plain Folks (JPF) Music Awards in Nashville Saturday night. The acoustic folk and roots rock duo’s “Minnesota” album is available here. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Adrian and Ferrel James
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