Westport’s unemployment rate in March was 6.2 percent, down from 6.5 percent in February, the Connecticut Department of Labor said today.

A year ago, the March 2010 unemployment rate was 6.0. It had been down to 5.7 percent in December.

The slight improvement in March was better than Greenwich’s 6.7 rate, the same as New Canaan’s, but not as good as the 5.8 percent rate in Wilton, Weston, and Darien.

The neighboring urban areas continued with high unemployment rates – 14.5 in Bridgeport, 8.5 in Norwalk, and 7.7 in Stamford.

Belgian waffles were on the demonstration menu today at Williams-Sonoma, the gourmet foods and professional-quality cookware shop at 136 Main St. in Westport’s Brooks Corner shopping complex. The store reopened after being closed since Feb. 6 for renovations that included installation of a cook top in the store’s center and a small kitchen. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Michele’s Pies officially opened its Westport store today at 180 Post Road East. State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg and First Selectman Gordon Joseloff were on hand to help co-owners Michele Albano and Kelly Stuart with the ribbon cutting. Albano is just back from the national pie competition in Florida where she had nine first place finishes. The store is celebrating its opening with free giveaways today and Sunday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Michele Albano—soon to be Michele Stuart when she marries in July—shows off the cover of her new book “Perfect Pies” to be published in the fall. She gave a preview of the book during today’s festivities marking the official opening of Michele’s Pies at 180 Post Road East in Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Michele’s Pies, which had its “soft” opening March 22 at Westport’s 180 Post Road East, announced today it will be closed from April 4–12 so owner Michele Albano can attend the National Pie Championships April 8-10 at the Caribe Royale Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. sponsored by the American Pie Council. Last year, Albano, who expanded to Westport from her Norwalk location, took home top awards for her Twisted Citrus Blackberry Pie and Classic Italian Tiramisu Pie as well as honorable mention for her Caramel Chocolate Pecan Pie. The store will reopen April 13 at 7 a.m. Meanwhile, she will be featured on the April 8 “Today” show during the Willard Scott birthday list at 8:25 a.m. The Westport store will mark its official grand opening on April 16 and 17 with plenty of free samples. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport’s unemployment rate in February was 6.5 percent, up from 6.3 percent in January, the Connecticut Department of Labor said today.

It was the highest Westport unemployment rate since January 2010 when it was 6.6 percent.

The sharp jump in February was mirrored as the month before in some other wealthy Fairfield County towns – 7.2 percent in Greenwich, (6.9 percent in January) 6.4 percent in New Canaan (6.2 in January), and 5.9 percent in Weston (5.5 percent in January).

The department said the number of unemployed in February was 821, up from 805 in January. The February labor force in Westport numbered 12,701, down from 12,713 in January with 11,880 employed, down from 11,908 in January, it said.

Michele’s Pies opened at 7 a.m. today at 180 Post Road East in Westport in space formerly occupied by Baskin Robbins which closed last September after 40 years in the location. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com