Friday, January 01, 2010
2009 In Pictures
Once again, WestportNow presents as a New Year’s gift to our readers a review of the past year through the eyes of Westporters who contributed photos, video and illustrations to WestportNow in 2009.
The year 2009 was unusually busy, and we are pleased to have been your No. 1 source for breaking and ongoing news coverage of Westport for the seventh successive year.
Dozens of persons contributed news stories, photos, and illustrations to WestportNow over the past year. The 2009 review, with video and drawings for the first time, includes almost 350 entries and represents the work of 30 photographers by name and one illustrator.
In 2009, WestportNow continued to record remarkable growth. This last week alone, while unusually busy, WestportNow had more than 90,000 page views and more than 15,000 unique visitors. No other Westport news source, print or online, delivers as many daily or weekly readers to its advertisers.
We urge you to patronize our advertisers and spread the word about WestportNow. We continue to be grateful for the public trust shown in us and look forward to continuing to serve Westport in 2010. Best New Year wishes to all WestportNow readers.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Westport Public Library is closed for a benefit.
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - “SOLOS 2013”
12:30 p.m. - Westport Arts Center - SOLOS 2013 Lunchtime Artist Talk: Nell Bernegger and Joel Werring
4 p.m. – Town Hall Room 201 – Tree Board
7 p.m. - 9 p.m. - Westport Public Library - BOOKED for the evening 2013: Jon Meacham
See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
DTC Committee Recommends Garten for Top Spot
By James Lomuscio
Helen Garten: “very excited” about campaign. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
A search committee of the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) tonight recommended Helen Garten of the Board of Finance as its candidate in November to face Republican Jim Marpe. Two other would-be candidates challenged the endorsement.
Garten said she is confident she will be the fourth woman to hold Westport’s top job as First Selectwoman.
“We can win, and we will win,” said Garten, who previously served on the Representative Town Meeting. “The Republicans want to win because they think it’s their turn. We want to win because we have a record of achievement.”
Garten, 60, who has been on the finance board eight years and who teaches law at Rutgers University, made her comments following a ringing endorsement from the search committee. Current First Selectman Gordon Joseloff, 68, a Democrat, is not seeking a third term.
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Helen Garten: ‘We Can Win and We Will Win’
Helen Garten, a Board of Finance member, addresses the Westport Democratic Town Committee (DTC) at Town Hall tonight fellowing a search committee’s recommendation she be the party’s First Selectman candidate in November. “We can win, and we will win,” she said. No recommendation was made for Second Selectman. Two other Democrats, state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, and Kenneth Wirfel, a former Board of Finance member, challenged the endorsement. The Democratic candidate, to be formally nominated in July, will face Republicans Jim Marpe and Avi Kaner. Current First Selectman Gordon Joeloff, a Democrat, is not seeking a third term. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Bipartisan Support
Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff and Selectman Shelly Kassen, both Democrats, and Jim Marpe, the likely Republican candidate for First Selectman in November, tonight showed bipartisan support for Barbara Butler (c), the town’s Human Services Department chair, who was honored by the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce at its inaugural First Citizens Awards dinner at the Inn at Longshore. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Chamber Honors Present and Future Leaders
The Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce tonight held its inaugural First Citizen Awards Banquet and Salute to outstanding current and future leaders in the Westport and Weston communities at the Inn at Longshore. Lisa Parrelli Gray, Chamber executive director (c), poses with award recipients (l-r) Staples High School student Jacqueline Devine, Weston High School student Matthew Proctor, Westonite Ken Edgar, Staples High School student Corey Werner, Barbara Butler, director of Westport’s Human Services Department, and Weston High School student Claire Cook. The students received Future First Citizen Awards. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Panel Backs Car Tax Repeal—But Not for Several Years
By Keith M. Phaneuf
www.ctmirror.orgA legislative task force has endorsed the repeal of Connecticut’s car tax, but—like another group before them – doesn’t recommend relief for most taxpayers to begin before 2018.
The Municipal Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies Commission (MORE) created by House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, also proposed a common statewide school calendar, new “master” regional planning agencies, and an end to the requirement that communities publish public notices in local newspapers.
Sharkey and other leaders predicted the MORE Commission’s recommendations would provide steady, cost-lowering efficiencies across cities and towns for years to come.
“The problem” with repealing car taxes now, “is towns and cities need some sense of consistency,” Sharkey told reporters during a mid-morning Capitol press conference.
Click here for more of story
John F. Franklin, 76
John Franklin: life in communications business. Contributed photo
John F. Franklin of Westport died May 19, following what his family said was a long and valiant fight against multiple serious health concerns, including Myelofibrosis and diabetes. He was 76.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, brought up in Detroit, Mich., he has been in the “communications” business for 52 years (47 of them as a Westport resident).
Much of that time was spent with BBDO, JWT and other famous initials in key creative positions. At age 23 he was creative director on Dodge car and truck TV advertising.
At 35, he was president of The Broadcast Organization where his colleagues included Tommy Mottola, the Sony Records executive, and Lee Adams, lyricist of “Bye Bye Birdie.”
John Franklin, Community Volunteer, 76
John F. Franklin, a 47-year Westport resident who served as president of the Westport Arts Center and Westport Sunrise Rotary, died Sunday following a series of illnesses. He was 76. A family obituary said he waged “a long and valiant fight against multiple serious health concerns, including Myelofibrosis and diabetes.” The Westport Sunrise Rotary Club honored Franklin (above with wife Jeanne) in May 2011 for his work for the community. He received a Champion of the Arts Award in 2012 from the Westport Arts Advisory Committee. (See obituary here) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
All Aboard for New Haven
The first New Haven-bound train since Friday’s derailment in Bridgeport departed the Westport station today at 4:13 p.m. Metro-North said there would be limited service to New Haven from Grand Central Terminal during tonight’s rush hour. Full service on the New Haven Line will resume Wednesday, Metro-North said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Westport Police Lift Train Station Traffic Restrictions
With the resumption of limited train service to New Haven today, the Westport Police Department announced it has lifted all traffic restrictions around the Metro-North Westport station in Saugatuck.
A statement said bus service provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for out-of-town riders will end at 4:30 p.m.
As a result, the only buses departing from the Saugatuck train station will be regular Norwalk Transit/Westport Transit service.
Extra traffic personnel will be on hand throughout the afternoon to assist with the expected traffic resulting from this morning’s higher than normal parking usage, the statement said.
Metro-North Resumes Limited Service to New Haven
With one of the two damaged tracks rebuilt and returned to service, Metro-North said it will resume limited service today to New Haven starting at 3 p.m..
A statement said there will be regular train service from Grand Central Terminal (GCT) to South Norwalk station, with limited service to New Haven, representing 50 percent of regular service.
The first train is the 3:07 p.m., train leaving GCT and arriving in New Haven at 5 p.m..
Regular train service from New Haven to GCT will resume wth the the 4:23 p.m. train leaving New Haven and arriving in GCT at 6:17 p.m..
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Public Hearing Set on Clinton Ave. Area Improvements
The Connecticut Department of Transportation will hold a public informational meeting on Thursday, May 30, at 7 p.m. in the Westport Town Hall regarding the intersection improvements of Route 57 (Main Street) and Route 136 (Compo Road North) at Clinton Avenue.
The purpose of this project is to improve the safety and operation of the intersection and will involve widening along the east side of Route 57 for approximately 1,000 feet to provide exclusive left-turn lanes in both directions, said an announcement by First Selectman Gordon Joseloff.
The Compo Road North leg will be widened at the intersection to provide an exclusive left-turn lane while realigning the through-lane with Clinton Avenue. Additional information about the project is available for review at the Town Clerk’s Office.
“Residents, commuters, business owners and other interested individuals are encouraged to attend this public hearing,” said Joseloff.
Real Estate Report: Colonials Are King
By Judy Szablak
Traditional and transitional colonial-style homes reign supreme in Westport, and continue to be the most marketable properties with the best resale value.
This home at 167 Compo Road South is listed at $1,799,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of William Pitt Sotheby’s-Southport/Fairfield
Comprising 63 percent of the 289 available homes for sale, these mostly five-bedroom homes average just over 4,250 square feet, with an average list price of $2,163,117.
In the past year, more than two-thirds of the reported sales through our local MLS were colonial-style homes, and the average sales price of these 273 homes during the last 12 months was $1,634,577.
Although there might seem to be a great disparity in the average pricing of what’s currently on the market as opposed to what has closed in the last year, the significant price increase is due largely in part to the amount of new construction.
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Parking at Premium
The eastbound parking lot at the Metro-North Westport station was full as usual early today, but there was additional traffic on that side as all drop-offs were directed away from Railroad Place. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Note: WestportNow Publisher Gordon F. Joseloff is also First Selectman of Westport