Month: July 2018

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Granger at the Movies: ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout,’ ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’

By Susan Granger

Special to WestportNow

After 22 years, the sixth installment of the escapist spy fantasy “Mission Impossible: Fallout” continues to deliver sheer fun, thanks to charming, charismatic Tom Cruise.

It begins as IMF Agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) receives an assignment to take out the Apostles, an evil syndicate of international anarchists who are determined to terrorize the world, causing chaos by detonating three nuclear bombs in Jerusalem, Mecca and the Vatican.

At Hunt’s side are his loyal teammates, Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg). They’re joined by IMF boss Alex Hunley (Alec Baldwin), CIA director Erika Sloan (Angela Bassett) and her henchman, August Walker (Henry Cavill).

After capturing radical Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), their challenge is to obtain the plutonium cores from an arms dealer, the White Widow (Vanessa Kirby), and find mysterious John Lark, who wrote the nihilistic manifesto, claiming “the greater the suffering, the greater the peace.”

Real Estate Report: ‘Attractive’ Has Different Meanings

By Judy Szablak

Special to WestportNow

It’s safe to say that most people know that an attractive home in Westport will sell quicker than one that does not have that adjective attached to it.

Featured Home: This home on 11 Caccamo Trail is listed at $1,599,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of Higgins Group Bedford Square

However, the term is broad and carries different meanings, and just to clarify, an “attractive” home in the marketplace also refers to its condition, functionality, immediate area and price, besides its curb appeal.

A home’s overall condition suggests that the major components are in good working order, and it has been maintained properly.

Its functionality refers to the ability of the home’s design to fit with, or easily adapt to ones needs, and have resale ability when that time comes.

Westport Real Estate Price Changes

Westport real estate price changes over the past week:

124 Riverside Ave, Unit 3 $379,900->$359,900
220 Riverside Ave, Unit 7 $694,000->$650,000
6 Todds Way $825,000->$799,000
50 High Point Road $819,900->$815,900
504 Harvest Commons $849,000->$829,000
6 Silent Grove $899,000->$865,000
3 Ivy Knoll $903,000->$870,000
185 Compo Road South $888,000->$885,000
4 Jonathan Lane $995,000->$949,000
40 Cranbury Road $985,000->$955,000
3 Terra Nova Circle $1,150,000->$1,095,000
43 Park Lane $1,175,000->$1,098,000
6 Bayberry Common $1,200,000->$1,099,000
326 Wilton Road $1,149,000->$1,119,000
1 Imperial Landing $1,295,000->$1,150,000
16 White Woods Lane $1,240,000->$1,195,000
26 Gault Park Drive $1,549,000->$1,449,000
47 Bulkley Ave North $1,599,000->$1,549,000
2 Surf Road $3,799,000->$3,699,000

—Judy Szablak

WestportNow Teardown of the Day: 25 Island Way

An application for a permit to demolish the house at Westport’s 25 Island Way, in the Saugatuck Shores section, is in process. Built in 1949, the two-story contemporary has 2,363-square feet, is situated on a .22-acre property and changed ownership last month for $805,000. Because the house was built more than 50 years ago, the application will be reviewed by the Westport Historic District Commission. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westporter Cleared of Securities Fraud Charges

(Editor’s note: This story updates a story first published on Dec. 9, 2016.)

UPDATE A federal grand jury in Hartford has found a former Westport bond trader not guilty on six counts of securities fraud.

David Demos: caught up in fed crackdown. Contributed photo

David Demos, 36, who was employed by Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., was accused in December 2016 of fraudulently pricing residential mortgage-backed securities that federal investigators said cost lenders and other investors millions in losses.

The jury returned the verdict on May 3, 2018.

Outside the court, according to Bloomberg, Demos said: “Today’s verdict by the jury is a complete vindication of everything I’ve fought for, my family has fought for and my lawyers have fought for, for the past three years. Bluffing or lying or puffing about your cost in a negotiation was never a crime, is not a crime and should never be a crime.”

David L. Sanders, 63

David Louis Sanders of Venice, Florida, formerly of Norwalk, died July 25. He was 63.

Born Oct. 13, 1954 in Norwalk, he attended Norwalk schools. While living in the Norwalk area, he worked at the Arrow Restaurant, Mario’s and Nistico’s Red Barn in Westport.

After moving to Venice, he was employed by Tommy Bahama’s and most recently The Westin in Sarasota. His smile, sense of humor and laughter will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl, his children Christopher and John Eustace of Fort Lauderdale, and Kara Eustace Prifti of Apollo Beach, grandchildren Kimberly Eustace and Kyle Prifti, a sister, Roseanne Sanders of Cornelius, North Carolina, paternal uncle Ronald Sanders and his wife, Barbara and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, Lucy (Falbo) Sanders and father Louis “Chick” Sanders.

Sailing Watch

A visitor to Westport’s shoreline at Compo Beach Monday keeps an eye on sailing activity in Long Island Sound. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Mark Molesworth for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Westport Arts Center – “SELECTS 2018”
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Westport Historical Society – “Remembered: The History of African Americans in Westport”
1 p.m. – Toquet Hall Teen Center – Countdown to College Camp
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Westport Library – Drop-in Tech Help
6:30 p.m. – Saugatuck Congregational Church (245 Post Road East) – Financial Plumbing: Plugging Your Profit Drains
7 p.m. – Town Hall Room 201 – RTM Public Works Committee
7 p.m. – Levitt Pavilion – Treehouse Comedy Club II
11 p.m. – 1 a.m. – 182 Bayberry Lane – Westport Astronomical Society Mars Observing (if skies are clear)

See more events: Celebrate Westport Calendar

Monday, July 30th, 2018

Solar-Powered Home Gets Green Building Award

Westport’s Green Task Force presented its first residential Green Building Award to Alfred Popken, owner of a new solar-powered home on North Avenue. In attendance for the ceremonial award, presented by First Selectman Jim Marpe, included (l-r) David Mann and Steve Smith of the Green Task Force, homeowner Alfred Popken, Marpe, architect John Rountree and builder Chris Trolle of Wilton-based BPC Green Builders. According to Smith, the Green Task Force encourages owners of green and energy efficient projects to submit an application for recognition to Westport’s Building Department. For more information, visit http://www.westportct.gov. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Farmers Market to Honor Co-Founder Paul Newman

The Westport Farmers Market said today it would pay tribute to co-founder Paul Newman to mark the 10th anniversary of his death.

Paul Newman and Michel Nischan were co-founders of the Westport Farmers Market. Contributed photo

Newman, also founder of Newman’s Own, which gives away profits to charity, and Michel Nischan, CEO of Wholesome Wave in Bridgeport, began the Westport Farmers Market in June 2006.

“To celebrate the life of Paul Newman, the public is invited to join Newman’s Own Foundation at the Westport Farmers’ Market he so loved on Thursdays, Aug. 2 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to share your memories of Paul Newman on video,” an announcement said.

“Many people in the area have been touched by Paul and his generous spirit. This is an opportunity to tell others how much he meant to you.”

Granger at the Movies: ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout,’ ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’

Real Estate Report: ‘Attractive’ Has Different Meanings

Westport Real Estate Price Changes

WestportNow Teardown of the Day: 25 Island Way

Westporter Cleared of Securities Fraud Charges

David L. Sanders, 63

Sailing Watch

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Solar-Powered Home Gets Green Building Award

Farmers Market to Honor Co-Founder Paul Newman

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