Monday, December 11, 2023

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Janet Anderson, 76

Janet Allen Anderson of Westport died Sept. 1. She was 76.

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Janet Anderson: Westport Realtor. Contributed photo

She was born Dec. 7, 1941, in Port Washington, New York. She was a highly successful and well known Westport Realtor and enjoyed music, dancing, gardening and many pursuits that celebrated the beauty of the world.

Survivors include three children; Scott and Michael Anderson and Melanie Herrera plus seven grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Dee Conradie, and her former husband, Thomas Anderson.

Services open to all will be held on Friday, Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Compo Beach, west of Cedar Point.

Unusual Sunday BOE Meeting Reviews How to Improve Procedures

By Jarret Liotta

The Westport Board of Education held an unusual Sunday afternoon meeting at Town Hall today to discuss long-term priorities and — simultaneously — recognize it has a lot going on.

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The Board of Education meeting in Sunday session. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

The untelevised 5 p.m. special meeting had an informal flavor that featured minimal public attendance and pizza.

But the seven members and Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer focused on how much was already on their plates and how a litany of issues, ideas and implementations might affect the year ahead.

“The workload on this team is at maximum level,” Palmer said of her staff, in part due to the current relocation of Coleytown Middle School students following a mold and air quality crisis in the building.

Sunny at Last, and Chowdafest Draws Thousands

By James Lomuscio

UPDATE After weeks of on-and-off rain and overcast skies, the heavens seemed to open up on cue with sunny skies for the 11th annual Chowdafest that drew thousands to Sherwood Island State Park today.

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Owner Larry Mellum and staff of Pike Place in Seattle, repeat Chowdafest winner. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com

“We brought the sun from Seattle for you guys,” quipped Michelle Trulson, 15-year general manager of Pike Place, a West Coast restaurant that won first place the past two years, ironically, for its New England clam chowder.

“We love coming here, and we have great weather,” said Pike Place owner Larry Mellum as he served up tiny cups of chowder, hoping for a third time win.

In front of his tent, as with most of the other 36 restaurant contestants, stood attendees scores deep, each one clutching a spoon and a ratings ballot. 

Enjoying Hometown Chowda

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UPDATE Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe and wife Mary Ellen enjoy some chowder today from Westport’s Dunville’s Restaurant at Chowdafest at Sherwood Island State Park. Owner Steve Carpenteri served up the entry, aided by his mother Roz and father Joe. Dunville’s last year won first place in the Rhode Island chowder category. And tonight it was announced that Dunville’s was a winner again. Thousands turned out for the event under sunny skies. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

A Wave From a Classic

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Jessica Walsh, a sixth grade student at Westport’s Pierpoint School, waves from behind the steering wheel of her dad’s 2012 Mercedes SLS-AMG at today’s Concours d’Caffeine fall edition at Railroad Place to benefit the Westport Police Benevolent Association Scholarship Fund. Tim Walsh, Jessica’s father, said the style is one of 1,300 in the country. Several dozens owners and their cars participated in the event. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Historic Replica

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At today’s Concourse d’Caffeine on Railroad Place, Chuck Schoendorf of Rowayton shows John and Kristin McKinney the recently built replica of the original C-4RK, which was built by John McKinney’s maternal grandfather, Briggs Cunningham at his Greens Farms garage. McKinney said his grandfather raced in the LeMans competition with the C-4RK in 1952 and 1954. “My grandfather wanted to compete with an American-made racing car against the great European classics that dominated the racing world at the time,” McKinney said.  He said the original C-4RK is now stored in a museum in Naples, Florida. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com