A thaw in one of the General Assembly's chilliest relationships has produced a sweeping, 11th-hour proposal to overhaul Connecticut's electric regulatory structure and subsidize solar energy.

Setting aside three years of conflict, Sen. John W. Fonfara, D-Hartford, and Rep. Vickie O. Nardello, D-Prospect, are collaborating on what could be the biggest energy bill since deregulation in 1998.

The two co-chairs of the Energy and Technology Committee circulated drafts of their legislation this week, setting off a scramble by industry and environmental groups.

“It’s getting everyone in this building in a frenzy,” said Sen. Kevin D. Witkos, R-Canton, the ranking Republican on the committee. “This is huge, and it never had a public hearing.”

More "Plans for a Sweeping Energy Overhaul Emerge in Hartford"

04/30/10 09:29 AM Comments (0) • Permalink •

By James Lomuscio

They are called fingerlings, trout that are just 3 to 4 inches long.
About 35 Staples High School juniors and seniors released 140 fingerling trout in the Saugatuck River at Keene Park in Weston on Thursday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Christine Lomuscio for WestportNow.com

Still, they caused a huge splash of excitement—and sentiment—for the 35 Staples High School students who released about 140 of them into the Saugatuck River at Keene Park in Weston on Thursday afternoon.

Many of the juniors and seniors who nurtured the trout since they hatched from eggs in November seemed sad to let them go. Farewells of, “Bye fish,” and “Have a nice life,” punctuated the ceremony of students acclimating the fish in cups of water to the river.

“I guess some kids were a bit nostalgic, but they’re teenagers,” said Mike Aitkenhead, Staples environmental science teacher who oversaw the project with Staples’ teacher Heather Morley.

More "Staples Students Learn Hatch and Release"

04/30/10 05:00 AM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Lilacs are in bloom throughout Westport, including these on Old Mill Road. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

04/30/10 12:15 AM Comments (1) • Permalink •

9:30 a.m. - Westport Arts Center - ArtCafé
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Historical Society - “Westport Modern: When Cool Was Hot!”
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “Divine Comedy: Drawings by R. Crumb & Roz Chast”
7 p.m. - Toquet Hall Teen Center - Poetry Night
7:30 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “Crumb” screening
8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “She Loves Me”

See more events:  Celebrate Westport Calendar

04/30/10 12:05 AM Comments Closed • Permalink •

Thursday, April 29, 2010

This tree came down across power lines on Cross Highway near the Fairfield line. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Kelly Gipson for WestportNow.com
UPDATE Winds gusting up to 43 miles per hour downed trees and power lines in Westport today, including a tree that fell on a car on the Merritt Parkway.

Connecticut Light & Power Company said 20 customers were without power as of 11 p.m. As many as 84 were in the dark earlier in the day.

Westport firefighters and EMS units responded to a report of a tree on a car at Exit 42 of the Merritt Parkway in Westport shortly before 4 p.m. The driver managed to escape with only minor injuries, according to fire officials.

At about the same time, a serious two-car accident occurred on Greens Farms Road near Hales Road, injuring two persons and causing closure of the road.

More "Winds Down Trees, Power Lines"

04/29/10 10:00 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

A black lab lends a hand carrying a bag lunch for his owner today on Westport’s Post Road East at Main Street. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

04/29/10 09:39 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Tonight the second in the Spoken Word Series at the Westport Public Library featured Edward Pleasant, an opera and musical theater performing artist, who presented “Sinners, Saints and Sages,” a program of readings and poety Ancient Rome. He explored the works of Sappho, the poet from the Isle of Lesbos, Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor who devoted his life to the study of philosophy and wise governmental leadership, and Catullus, the Roman poet from the first century BC. The next program is on Tuesday—“Art and Architecture of Rome” at 7:30 p.m.—and the last is on Thursday when the Theatre Artists Workshop performs “Metamorphoses” at 7:30 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

04/29/10 09:14 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Crews working on the Saugatuck Center development today cleaned up debris following the demolition of the buildings that housed DeRosa’s Restaurant, Riverside Barber Shop, and the Giunta storage workshop. Next phase will involve demolition of the building formerly occupied by Westport Florist (l) on Riverside Avenue. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

04/29/10 09:09 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Pictured (l-r) are Rachel Treisman, Renee Reiner, and Ally Hirsh with some of the donated books. Contributed photoThree Westport seventh graders on Friday will deliver more than 1,000 donated children’s books to a Bridgeport elementary school.

Childhood friends Ally Hirsh, Renee Reiner, and Rachel Treisman lead a two-month book drive that will culminate with delivery of the books to the fifth grade class of the Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle School.

Each of the seventh-graders will be celebrating her Bat Mitzvah in May. The girls got together over dinner on a chilly January evening to brainstorm ideas for a local “mitzvah project” – a volunteer opportunity to give back to the local community. 

They quickly settled on the idea of supporting education and focused on organizing a book drive to collect children’s books for an inner-city school library or classroom.

More "Westporters to Deliver 1,000 Books to Bridgeport School"

04/29/10 08:23 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Today was the official ribbon cutting for the opening of the Thali Indian cuisine restaurant at 376 Post Road East in the Compo Acres shopping center. The location was previously occupied by the Taipan restaurant. It is the fifth Thali location in Connecticut run by Indian chef Prasad Chirnomula (2nd r). Joining him in the ribbon cutting were First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff and Lisa V. Thygerson , executive director of the Westport/Weston Chamber of Commerce. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

04/29/10 06:52 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

UPDATE A two-car head-on crash today on Westport’s Greens Farms Road near Hales Road sent two persons to Norwalk Hospital and caused closure of the road in the area for more than three hours. Police said Greens Farms Road was shut down for the accident investigation from Hillspoint Road to Valley Road. Initial investigation showed that a dog in a westbound Volvo (rear) jumped into the driver’s lap, causing him to swerve into the oncoming lane and collide with an Acura, whose driver, Geoffrey Reynolds, 70, later died. The dog, a Staffordshire terrier, suffered serious injuries and later had to be put down. Greens Farms Road was reopened shortly after 7 p.m. The driver of the Volvo, Brian Taplinger, 22, was later charged with negligent homicide. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

04/29/10 05:16 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Westport police said preliminary investigation showed a dog jumping into a driver’s lap caused him to lose control of his Volvo on Greens Farms Road near Hales Road today and crash head-on into an Acura. The drivers were taken to Norwalk Hospital and the extent of their injuries was not known.  The dog was also injured and taken to a Norwalk veterinary hospital for emergency treatment, according to police. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

04/29/10 05:10 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

The Westport PTA Council Green Committee kicks off an effort in the Westport public schools on Friday aimed at improving recycling efforts. Called “Don’t Trash the Recycling,” the campaign has its own logo created by Westport artist Miggs Burroughs (c). Every elementary school child will get a sticker to take home on Friday to promote recycling and parents will learn about the initiative via a special e-mail announcement. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

04/29/10 05:05 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

A construction worker was struck in the head with a 20-foot long metal drilling pipe (foreground) today at a construction site on Stony Point Road in Westport’s Saugatuck area. Co-workers had discovered the worker lying in mud alongside a geo-thermal well drilling rig, said Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Kingsbury. Firefighters along with police and EMS administered care for transport to Norwalk Hospital. Police and fire officials remained on the scene while OSHA conducted a routine investigation, Kingsbury said. The worker was not identified and his injuries did not appear to be life threatening, fire officials said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

04/29/10 05:05 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Gov. M. Jodi Rell today urged state residents and business owners in Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Windham counties who experienced property damage from the March storms and flooding to report those damages to the state’s free Infoline, 2-1-1.

“We are appealing the federal government’s rejection of financial assistance for individuals and businesses severely affected by last month’s heavy downpours, high winds and flooding. We need residents and businesses to help the state make its case,” Rell said in a statement.

“Part of our appeal to President Obama and FEMA must include damage data in addition to what has already been collected.

“So from now through May 14, we need residents to call 2-1-1 and report their damages. Please do so even if you have reported your damages before. The information you provide can help us change the federal government’s decision.”

More "Rell Urges Residents to Report March Storm Damage"

04/29/10 04:37 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Students in Nancy Giglio’s fourth grade classroom at Westport’s King’s Highway Elementary School today hosted a “Poetry Café” for parents. Each student wrote and recited their own poem. Many children chose an “I am” theme, sharing their achievements, talents, and love of family, but also concerns about parents, grandparents, global warming and even the economy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

04/29/10 04:23 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Today’s temperatures got into the upper 60s and even though there were gusty winds in excess of 40 miles per hour, some visitors to Westport’s Old Mill Beach spent time looking for treasure along the shoreline. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

04/29/10 03:49 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Another sign that summer is around the corner is the opening of the Top This Frozen Yogurt shop in the location of the departed Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at 14 Post Road East in Westport’s center. Top This will be located not far from Sunny Daes on Riverside Avenue and down the street from Baskin-Robbins at 180 Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

04/29/10 10:20 AM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Westport’s Compo Beach was virtually deserted on Wednesday as cool temperatures in the 50s, overcast skies and breezy winds kept most people away. The forecast is for a warming trend by the weekend. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

04/29/10 12:15 AM Comments (0) • Permalink •

10 a.m. – Earthplace – Sasco Brook Pollution Abatement Committee
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Historical Society - “Westport Modern: When Cool Was Hot!”
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “Divine Comedy: Drawings by R. Crumb & Roz Chast”
12:30 p.m. – Health District, 180 Bayberry Lane – Septic Maintenance Public Education Task Force
6:30 p.m. – Town Hall Auditorium – Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing (live coverage cable channel 79 and westportct.gov)
7:30 p.m. - Westport Public Library - SpokenWord—Sinners, Saints, and Sages: “Readings & Poetry from Ancient Rome,” Edward Pleasant
8 p.m. - Westport Country Playhouse - “She Loves Me”

See more events:  Celebrate Westport Calendar

04/29/10 12:05 AM Comments Closed • Permalink •

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Pulitizer Prize-winning cartoonist Matt Davies, a graduate of Westport’s Staples High School, was guest tonight at the first of the Westport Arts Center’s cartoon lab series that also includes lab partners Ina Chadwick and Simon Billig. Davies explained the world of political cartooning, saying that “working against a deadline is an essential part of the creative process.” Behind him is a chalk wall drawn by The New Yorker staff cartoonist Roz Chast whose drawings along with those of R. Crumb are currently on exhibit at the Center. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

04/28/10 09:53 PM Comments (1) • Permalink •

Participants in tonight’s cartoon lab at the Westport Arts Center try their hand at writing words in political cartoons under the tutelage of Pulitizer Prize-winning cartoonist Matt Davies, who grew up in Westport and attended Staples High School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

04/28/10 09:52 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Matt Davies, a Pulitizer Prize-winning political cartoonist for the Gannett and Hearst newspapers, tells a Westport Arts Center audience tonight that it is a cliche for political cartoonists to draw the sinking Titanic or the airship Hindenburg going up in flames. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

04/28/10 09:50 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

There was a large crowd on hand today at the Westport Baskin-Robbins on Post Road East shortly after the 5 p.m. start of the Baskin-Robbins fourth annual 31-cent Scoop Night to honor the nation’s firefighters and their families. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

04/28/10 07:20 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

The young and not so young turned out today at Westport’s Baskin-Robbins on Post Road East for the fourth annual 31-cent Scoop Night to honor the nation’s firefighters.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

04/28/10 07:18 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •

Among those on hand for today’s fourth annual 31-cent Scoop Night at Westport’s Baskin-Robbins to honor the nation’s firefighters were (l-r) Volunteer Deputy Chief Ken Gilbertie, volunteers Max Burns and Paul Spinnatto, Frank Szivos of the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation, and volunteer James Dellicorpini. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

04/28/10 07:16 PM Comments (0) • Permalink •