Paul A. Friia: Coming back to Westport. Contributed photoSomeone familiar with Westport has taken the position as Westport’s new assessor.

Paul A. Friia replaces William Gaffney, who resigned earlier this month after serving three years, First Selectman Gordon Joseloff announced today. (See WestportNow May 11, 2007)

Friia served as Westport’s deputy assessor from 1998 to 2002 and has been Weston assessor since 2003.

“I’m very pleased that Paul (Friia) has accepted Westport’s offer of employment,” Joseloff said in a statement. “I’m confident that his vast knowledge and experience in all aspects of assessing real estate in general and particularly Connecticut municipalities will be a real asset for our community.”

The Westport Community Theatre opens Ken Ludwig’s comedy “Lend Me a Tenor” on Friday. The production will be held on Fridays and Saturdays June 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. and Sundays June 3, 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. There will also be a performance on Thursday, June 7 at 8 p.m. There is much chaos in the Tony Award-winning comedy where confusion and mistaken identities tell the story of the Cleveland Grand Opera’s biggest fundraising night in history, where a world famous tenor is scheduled to perform the lead in “Otello.” Before his arrival, things unravel from start to finish, creating an uproarious evening of theater. Tickets are $12 – $16. Contact the Box Office at (203) 226-1983 for reservations or go to www.westportcommunitytheatre.com for directions. The theater is located at Westport Town Hall. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Many spent time relaxing at Westport’s Compo Beach where temperatures hit 80 degrees on Wednesday. Temperatures are again forecast to be in the 80s today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

7 p.m. – Town Hall Room 201/201A – Planning & Zoning Commission Town Plan Work Session
7 p.m. – Town Hall Auditorium – Special Historic District Commission
7 p.m. – Town Hall Room 309 – Sherwood Mill Pond Committee
7:30 p.m. – Staples High School – “The Laramie Project”
8 p.m. – Westport Country Playhouse – “Souvenir”

Westport’s Earthplace will continue its Environmental Film Series on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the facility at 10 Woodside Lane.

The film “Who Killed the Electric Car” will be screened in the auditorium.

For more information, call (203) 227-7253 ext. 109.

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff (l-r), Green Energy Task Force Chairman Carl Leaman and Selectwoman Shelly Kassen cut the ribbon for the town’s first solar panel project at Westport Fire Headquarters today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
By Linda Alvkall

Westport’s top officials gathered at Westport Fire Headquarters today to cut the ribbon on the town’s first solar panel project and celebrate a step forward in saving energy.

Workers from Solar Works recently completed installing 110 panels for the 23.6 kilowatt system on the roof of the building in the project that cost $191,600. Westport received a $100,000 grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund for the project.

The panels, which can be viewed from Post Road East, will provide the building a portion of the electricity it needs.

Mark Pizzi, Westport Solar Consultants principal, said today represented a fine moment for Westport and a unique opportunity.

Some visitors to Westport’s Compo Beach today enjoy the view after the lifeguards went off duty. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com