Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Staples Falls to Glastonbury 7-6 Ending Season
Staples Head Coach Marce Petroccio addresses his team tonight after a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to Glastonbury at Glastonbury in the CIAC Class LL quarterfinals. With 1:09 left in the game, Staples scored but failed on a two-point conversion attempt. “We went for it and came up short,” Petroccio said. “That’s football. But that’s the way we wanted to go out. We were going to go out doing it the way we wanted to do it.” Staples ended the season 9-2. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
A Hug From the Coach
Staples senior Tyler Jacobs gets a season-ending hug from Coach Marce Petroccio tonight following the Wrecker 7-6 loss to Glastonbury. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Failed Conversion
Staples senior Tyler Jacobs goes down short of the goal line on a two-point conversion run tonight with 1:09 left to play as Glastonbury held on to defeat Staples 7-6 in the Class LL quarterfinals at Glastonbury. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Scoring for the Wreckers
Staples senior Jason Mawicke scores on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Jack Massie for the only Wrecker touchdown tonight in the 7-6 loss to Glastonbury in the state Class LL playoffs. The Wreckers failed on the two-point conversion attempt with 1:09 left in the game. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Blocked
Staples senior Tyler Jacobs is brought down by a Glastonbury defender in tonight’s 7-6 Wrecker loss to the Tomahawks in the Class LL state playoffs in Glastonbury. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Cheering on the Wreckers
A small but noisy crowd of Staples supporters cheered on the Wreckers tonight at Glastonbury. Rain ended shortly after the game began. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Supporting Staples
The Staples cheerleaders tonight lead the Wrecker crowd in cheers as Staples fell to Glastonbury 7-6 at Glastonbury in the state Class LL playoffs. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
The Inside Scoop on “Win One for the Gipper”
Veteran sportswriter and author Jack Cavanaugh of Wilton told a Westport Public Library audience tonight about the story of George Gipp, a Notre Dame college football player in the 1920s era who was portrayed by Ronald Reagan in the 1940 film, “Knute Rockne, All-American.” In the film, Reagan uttered the legendary line, “Win one for the Gipper.” Cavanaugh said his recently released book, “The Gipper,” has sold well and has just gone into its second printing. Cavanaugh, whose book “Tunney” earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for best biography in 2007, is winding up an extensive speaking tour around the country that has resulted in wide acceptance of “The Gipper,” his fourth book. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Wind Advisory Issued
The National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y. has issued a Wind Advisory for Westport and area which is in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday.
It said southeast winds 20 to 30 mph can be expected with occasional gusts of 40 to 50 mph.
The advisory said scattered tree and limb damage along with scattered power outages are possible.
Journalist Tells Rotary Tale of Wealth, Scandal and Mystery
Veteran journalist Bill Dedman told the Westport Rotary Club today about one of America’s richest women and how her mansions have been vacant for decades. His tale of wealth, scandal and mystery began when he was house hunting in New Canaan. Dedman, who writes for MSNBC.com and who recently moved from Westport to Weston, published his investigation of reclusive Huguette Clark here. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Temporary Rail Station Daily Parking Extended
The Westport Police Department said today the temporary daily parking expansion in Lot 8 at the Westport Metro-North station in Saugatuck has been extended through Friday, Dec. 17.
The permit issue that began on Nov. 8 is ongoing and 150 permit applications were mailed out at that time which required a response by today, a news release said.
A new round of permit applications will be mailed out during the week of Dec. 6 and will continue until the target number of 150 new permits has been issued, it said.
Today is the expiration date for all permits bearing a November 2010 expiration. The expiration date is printed on every permit.
More "Temporary Rail Station Daily Parking Extended"
Holiday Look
Westport’s Main Street has taken on a holiday look. A banner promotes this weekend’s Westport Historical Society Holiday House Tour. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
RTM Committee Rejects Overturning Affordable Housing Regs
By James Lomuscio
A Representative Town Meeting (RTM) committee voted 4 to 3 Monday night against overturning a Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) affordable housing amendment that some property owners say will cause them financial hardship.
Matthew Mandell, chair of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Planning and Zoning Committee, addresses Monday night’s meeting. At left is member Diane Cady. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com
In recommending that the RTM not overturn Amendment No. 618—which requires 20 percent affordable housing in all new multi-family housing districts along the Post Road—the RTM Planning and Zoning Committee unanimously agreed that 618 should be rewritten to require affordable units only in General Business Districts (GBDs).
Matthew Mandell, who chairs the committee, said he would initiate action through the committee to draft a revised text amendment to that effect for submission to the P&Z.
At the same time the committee unanimously voted to take no action on Amendment No. 619 since members agreed it placed no burden on property owners in GBDs. In fact, they said, it would give GBD property owners the opportunity to establish multi-family housing, an option not previously available. The full RTM will take up the items at its Dec. 7 meeting.
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Holiday Westport Seal
Among the ornaments on a Christmas tree (inset) that went up Monday in the Westport Town Hall lobby was this one of the town seal contributed in 1979 by longtime Westporter Mollie Donovan. The tree was erected by the Westport Historical Society and includes numerous ornaments depicting Westport scenes and town history crafted by Westporters over the years. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Historical Society - “Putting Westport on the Map” & “Zoom in on Westport”
11 a.m. – Earthplace – Sasco Brook Pollution Abatement Committee
7 p.m. - Westport Town Hall - Westport Community Theatre Auditions “Mauritius”
7:30 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Authors@the Library: Jack Cavanaugh, “The Gipper”
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
Monday, November 29, 2010
David Pogue: Geeky Wit and Humor at the Library
By Caren Calish Gagliano
With much wit and humor, David Pogue tonight delighted an overflow Westport Public Library audience with the latest technology trends for the holidays. The personal technology columnist for The New York Times—and Westport resident—kept the crowd entranced with information and opinions on the best gift giving or buying technology for Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanza. He said the most requested holiday gift this year among 6- to 12-year-olds, according to Nielsen, is the Apple iPad, followed by computers in general, and then Apple’s iPod Touch. Pogue highlighted the Line 2 app which he says turns turns an iPod Touch or iPad into a full mobile phone for $9.95 monthly as long as there is a WiFi connection. Skype can also be used, he said. He also demonstrated an iPhone app called Ocarina which allows an iPhone user to play the phone like a flute-like instrument. The phone becomes sensitive to a user’s breath, touch and movements.
More "David Pogue: Geeky Wit and Humor at the Library" Westport property transfers as reported by the Town Clerk’s office for the period Nov. 8 - 12, 2010: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA to Vadim and Elvira Kovshov, 2 Lyndale Park, $730,000 Donald J. Dykas to Thomas Find, 44 Strathmore Lane, Paid in Norwalk, $350,000 William Steiger to Steiger Family Irrevocable Trust, 10 Round Pond Road, $500,000 Steven Franzel Tr. to Michael T. and Elizabeth D. Janis, 127 Beachside Ave., $1,000,000
More "Westport Property Transfers November 8 - 12, 2010" UPDATE Gov. M. Jodi Rell, with five weeks to go in her term, today sought to put an end to a Thanksgiving eve controversy that made it appear she was suggesting massive cuts to rail commuter service. “I can understand the confusion and questions that people have so let me be quite clear: I do not and will not support cuts to the Metro-North branch lines – Danbury, Waterbury or New Canaan,” she said in a statement. “In fact, no one has made more of a commitment to commuter rail than I have and I will continue to forcefully advocate for rail until I leave office in January.” Rell explained that a list of $38 million in potential cuts prepared by the Office of Policy and Management was issued last week as a menu of options for the legislature to consider as a way to fill a funding hole in the winter home heating assistance program for seniors and low-income families.
More "Rell: I Won’t Cut Rail Funding" By Jim Cameron
UPDATE (updates with Rell’s statement today) Don’t look now, but Congress is about to give motoring commuters a big tax break and take one away from riders of mass transit. Under current federal law, commuters can deduct up to $230 a month from their pre-tax paychecks to pay for the trips to and from work. That deduction can cover bus/rail tickets via programs like TransitChek or pay their parking expenses. But unless Congress acts by the end of the year, the mass transit commuter’s benefit will be cut to $120 per month while the motoring commuter keeps the full benefit. Huh? Cutting this pre-tax benefit would hurt low income workers the most because they often have no car and must rely on bus and train. At a time when we’re trying to reduce highway congestion and improve air quality, penalizing mass transit riders and rewarding users of autos makes no sense.
More "Talking Transportation: Saving Transit Benefits—and Trains" His talk at 7:30 p.m, is entitled “All I Want for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa.” Free and open to the public, it will take place in the library’s McManus Room. In addition to his weekly print column in the Times, Pogue contributes an NYT online column and video as well as a popular daily blog, “Pogue’s Posts.” He is also an Emmy award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News and a best-selling author, with more than three million books in print. More "Gadget Guru David Pogue at Library Tonight" See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
On Wednesday, the first night of Hanukkah, Chabad Lubavitch of Westport will open its doors to a Jewish Community Library. “What better way to light up the night, then with new opportunities for education and connection to one’s heritage,” said Dina Kantor, co-director of the synagogue. The library is located at JSpace, the Chabad Community Center, at 20 Ketchum St., and will host author visits, mother-daughter book clubs, community book reads, and storytelling with activities for children. On its opening day at 4 p.m., the library will feature children’s storybook author, Amalia Hoffman, with a reading of her book, “The Klezmer Bunch.” For more information on the library, or the Hanukkah event, call the Chabad office at 203 226 8584, or visit www.chabadofwestport.com.
Westporter David Pogue addresses an overflow Westport Public Library audience tonight.Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Playing the iPhone Like a Musical Instrument
Westporter David Pogue, New York Times personal technology columnist, demonstrates for an overflow Westport Public Library audience tonight how an iPhone user can play the phone like a musical instrument using an application called Ocarina. The phone becomes sensitive to a user’s breath, touch and movements. In addition, users can hear other players around the world. “If everybody in the world had this app, there would be no more wars,” he said. Pogue reviewed the latest gadgets for holiday gift giving. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.comGoing Down: 10 Godfrey Lane
The house at Westport’s 10 Godfrey Lane, off Bulkley Avenue North, was demolished today. Built in 1956, the two-story colonial had 2,668 square feet, was situated on a 1.02-acre property and changed ownership in August for $853,500. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Aug. 14, 2010. It is the eighth house in Westport that was demolished this month for replacement with new construction, a notable contrast with the weak real estate market in many other parts of the country. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.comWestport Property Transfers November 8 - 12, 2010
Rell: I Won’t Cut Rail Funding
M. Jodi Rell: “I can understand the confusion.” Dave Matlow/WN file photoOne-Car Merritt Crash Sends Driver to Hospital
A morning rush hour accident today in the northbound lane of the Merritt Parkway just north of Exit 41 resulted in the driver going to the hospital. According to Assistant Fire Chief Robert Yost, the driver lost control of her vehicle and smashed into the rail. Damage to the vehicle, which had no passengers other than the driver, required it to be towed from the scene. One lane was closed while firefighters tended to the accident. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.comTalking Transportation: Saving Transit Benefits—and Trains
Gadget Guru David Pogue at Library Tonight
David Pogue addressing Y’s Women in September. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Celie Rosenau for WestportNow.com
Gadget gifting for geeks and non-geeks is the subject of tonight’s talk at the Westport Public Library by Westporter David Pogue, personal technology columnist for The New York TimesOn Sherwood Mill Pond
Thanksgiving weekend provided ample opportunity to enjoy Westport’s beauty spots, including Sherwood Mill Pond. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.comMonday, November 29, 2010
9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Westport/Weston Health District - Wellness Clinic, adults and children
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Westport Historical Society - “Putting Westport on the Map” & “Zoom in on Westport”
7 p.m. - Westport Town Hall - Westport Community Theatre Auditions “Mauritius”
7 p.m. – Town Hall Room 309 – RTM Planning & Zoning Committee
7:30 p.m. - Westport Public Library - Trends in Technology: David Pogue, “All I want for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa” Sunday, November 28, 2010
Bedford Students Set for “Pirates of Penzance”
Bedford Middle School’s The Bedford Acting Group is preparing for its weekend performances of Gilbert and Sullivan’s musical theater classic, “Pirates of Penzance.” A cast of more than 100 seventh and eighth graders has been working hard in rehearsals since September for the performances on Friday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Adult tickets are $12, students $10, and children three and under are admitted free. Tickets will be sold at the door. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photoComings and Goings: Henry’s Place Coming to Bridge Square
Henry’s Place, a bistro wine bar, will open at 5 Bridge Square in Westport’s Saugatuck section in the location previously occupied by the Cucina Modo Mio trattoria which closed in October (see WestportNow Oct. 21, 2010). According to owner Felton Weller, the bistro will open on Dec. 7 with grand opening festivities in mid-January. Weller, the father of three, said the business is named after his son Henry, 15. He said that the bistro will have a full bar and will serve sandwiches, “comfort food,” chicken wings, hamburgers, and other favorites as well as daily take out selections which he calls “early bird specials” for $9.99. Weller, who has been a restaurateur in the area for many years, owns Felton’s Fish Market in the same complex. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.comBusy Sunday on Water and Off
Today’s sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 40s brought out visitors to Westport’s Compo Beach and sailors to Long Island Sound. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photoChabad of Westport Launches Jewish Community Library
“Memory” Almost a Memory at Arts Center
There was a rush of visitors this weekend to the Westport Arts Center where its “Memory” exhibit closes today after a two-month run. A late afternoon group of visitors today listens to Dutch art lecturer Jaap Nijstad describe the works of Leo Kok, a Belgian Jewish artist whose concentration camp depictions had never before been seen in the United States. Nijstad’s mother, Kitty de Wiljze, was also in the camp and in 1943 married Kok who died at the age of 22. She survived and now lives in Holland. Kok’s self-portrait can be seen next to that of Nijstad’s mother. Helen Klisser During, the Center’s director of visual arts who curated the exhibit, is at left (pink sweater). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photoTeen Into Fence
A teenage driver was spared injury shortly after noon today when he lost control of his car and slammed into a fence on Ruta Court at the intersection of Long Lots Road behind Bertucci’s Restaurant. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.comCoyote Victim
Westport firefighters help clean up after a one-car accident shortly after 8 a.m. today in the southbound lane of the Merritt Parkway a half mile before Exit 42 in Westport. The woman driver, who was taken to the hospital, said she swerved to avoid a coyote that was in the roadway, according to Assistant Chief William Dingee. He said the vehicle then went off the roadway onto the grass, then back across the road into the guardrail, and then back off the roadway onto the shoulder. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photoMerritt Crash Blamed on Coyote
A woman who said she swerved to avoid a coyote was taken to a hospital today following a crash on the Merritt Parkway southbound near Exit 42 in Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photoOff the Road
UPDATE A car traveling southbound on the Merritt Parkway in Westport today went off the road a half mile before Exit 42. Westport Assistant Fire Chief William Dingee said the driver reported that she swerved to avoid a coyote that was in the roadway causing the vehicle to go off the roadway onto the grass, then back across the road into the guardrail, and then back off the roadway onto the shoulder. She was taken to a hospital by an AMR ambulance, he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photoCommunity Theatre Presents “Angel Street (Gaslight)”
The Westport Community Theatre presents “Angel Street” (also known as “Gaslight”) at 2 p.m. today at Westport Town Hall. Written by Patrick Hamilton, it is one of the all-time great thrillers and the play on which the famous 1940s movie “Gaslight” was based. In this scene, Ann Kinner of Westport is seen as Bella Manningham and Fred Tisch of Stamford as Inspector Rough. Performances continue weekends through Dec. 12. Tickets are $14 – $20. For reservations and information call (203) 226-1983 or visit westportcommunitytheatre.com. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Realtime NY Metro-area traffic reports from Traffic.com
PROPERTY TRANSFERS
Westport Property Transfers November 8 - 12, 2010MORE >>
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