The Tack Room, a Post Road East mainstay for 40 years before its closing in 2004, returned today to its 153 Post Road East location where it is part of a group of small retailers known as 153 Market Place. On hand for the ribbon cutting were (l-r)  Linda Tse, owner of the building; Westport First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff; Beth Greenawalt of Fairfield, a customer, and owner Ron Friedson. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Leonards Antique Furniture store, 1026 Post Road East, will move across the street to 1045 Post Road East before year’s end. The new location was previously occupied by Smith & Hawken, a high-end gardening store that has recently gone out of business (see WestportNow July 10, 2009). Leonards opened at its current location in March 2000. A real estate source said its present lease was expiring and better terms were available at the new location. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

LeFarm, a 30-seat restaurant located at 256 Post Road East in Westport’s Colonial Green shopping area, has opened at the site formerly occupied by the Seminara Restaurant. The owner, Westonite Bill Taibe, previously owned Relish Wine and Food at 86 Washington St. in South Norwalk and most recently was the chef at Napa & Co, 75 Broad St., Stamford.  Andrea Dinan, co-manager with Frank Rojas, describes the food as “comfort American cuisine with a European influence.” “Its farm-style’ food is sourced from small farms,” she said. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Saturday for dinner and Wednesday through Friday for lunch. The restaurant is available on Sunday, Monday and Tuesdays for private parties for dinner. Phone is (203)557-3701. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Agabhumi, a retail store that specializes in jewelry and accessories crafted by Bali, Indonesia artisans, celebrated its opening tonight at 165 Post Road East opposite the Westport Post Office. Checking out some of the merchandise were (l-r) JIll Stern, store manager; Mary Young, an employee in Westport’s Planning and Zoning Department, and Regina Kirshbaum, co-owner. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dru Nadler for WestportNow.com

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream store at 14 Post Road East, Westport, has closed its doors. A note on the door said: “This store’s franchise agreement has ended with Ben & Jerry’s. Thus the store has now closed. Thank you for your business.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Agabhumi, a retail store that specializes in jewelry and accessories crafted by Bali, Indonesia artisans, has opened at 165 Post Road East, across from the Westport main post office. Founded in 2002 with its first store in Stamford, its owners Regina and Michael Kirshbaum also opened stores in Barbados in 2004 and Santa Monica in 2008. A grand opening reception with live music, wine and hors d’oeuvres is scheduled for Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m. A portion of the grand opening revenues will be donated to the Stamford-based Bennett Cancer Research Center for breast cancer research. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

When he died suddenly on Wednesday at the age of 61, Bruce Wasserstein was best known for being the legendary Wall Street dealmaker. But according to Westport First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff, his secret passion was journalism.
Bruce Wasserstein (l) and Gordon F. Joseloff: high school journalists. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

“He had the bug early on,” said Joseloff, who went to high school with Wasserstein in the 1960s at the private McBurney School on Manhattan’s West Side.

“Bruce was an assistant editor at The McBurneian, our high school newspaper,” said Joseloff, who was the newspaper’s editor in chief. “He clearly became intrigued with newspapers and journalism at an early age.”

Joseloff, who grew up in Westport but moved to New York when his parents divorced in the sixth grade—while spending summers in Westport with his father—said he did not have much contact with Wasserstein after high school. Except for one time.

Room, a custom furniture and design store, has opened at 10 Sconset Square, off Westport’s Myrtle Avenue. Owners Amy Crain and Shawn Miller have operated their flagship shop at 182 Duane St. in Manhattan’s Tribeca section for 11 years. The couple, along with their 5-year-old son, found a home in Wilton and chose Westport for their business because, Miller said, they “liked the casual vibe of Westport.” Pictured is Alexis Presley, a 2004 Staples High School graduate, who manages the Westport Room. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A Westport man who is a former president and chief financial officer of Greenwich-based United Rentals Inc. pleaded guilty today to conspiring to falsify the company’s records, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
John N. Milne: Westporter also agrees to disgorge $6.25 million. File photo

John N. Milne, 50, a Canadian citizen living on Maple Avenue South, entered the plea before Senior U.S. District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven a day before he was scheduled to go on trial.

He faces a recommended sentence of 27 months in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 11, prosecutors said. He remains free on $1 million bond.

To resolve a separate civil action involving financial fraud charges brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Milne has agreed to disgorge $6.25 million, the commission said.