By James Lomuscio

Before you reach for that credit card to pay Westport’s real estate and personal property tax bills that just arrived, Tax Collector Peggy Klein has some words of caution.
Westport residents have been receiving tax bills this week easily spotted by the return address and bold print about its contents. Contributed photo

Credit cards charge 3 percent. If you charge $5,000 for your quarterly real estate taxes for a home with total home tax of $20,000, that translates into an extra $150.

Debit cards work much better, just $2.95 per transaction, or $147.05 saved.

But a new system that went into place Tuesday is even lower, just $1.50 to pay all of your tax bills, home, boat, and multiple cars included, online. It is called ach/echeck.

By James Lomuscio

For the past decade, ever since 9-11, the sight of nearly 100 American flags flapping in the breeze on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge has come to define Westport.
American flags are gone (top) from Westport’s Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge except for holidays (bottom). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow (top) and Helen Klisser During (bottom) for WestportNow.com

The flags, their poles affixed to permanent brackets on the downtown bridge over the Saugatuck River, would wave from late April until Thanksgiving.

The only exception was United Nations Day in October, or jUNe Day, celebrated this past weekend and every third Saturday in June, when the flags of U.N. member states flew.

But now, due to municipal budget cuts and the Department of Public Works need to slash expenses,  the flags will go up on major holidays only and come down shortly afterwards, says Stephen Edwards, public works director. 

Metro-North has announced extra trains on its New Haven Line for the 4th of July weekend, beginning with service outbound on Friday from Grand Central Terminal.

Extra trains stopping at Westport depart Grand Central at:

• 1 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Westport, and all stations between Fairfield and New Haven.

• 2:04 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Westport then all stations between Fairfield and New Haven. 

A cruise along the Saugatuck River in Westport’s center was just the right way to cool off. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Citing the requests from both customers and vendors, the Sunday Westport Farmer’s Market at Saugatuck Congregational Church has been moved to an earlier start time—10 a.m.—and ending earlier at 1 p.m, organizers announced today.

The hours had been 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“This gives everyone an earlier start time to stock up on fresh Connecticut-grown or processed market goods,” said Mary Ann West, a church official, in a news release.

She said the market visitors can choose from a wide variety of produce, gluten-free and vegan cupcakes, fresh eggs, flowers, pies and baked goods, maple syrup, grass-fed organic beef, and bacon and sausage, each from Connecticut vendors.