To the Editor:

The Walter Ethan Allen family is grateful to Jeff Allen for representing us at the momentous occasion of the official opening of the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve.

Jeff and I, along with our siblings, cousins and friends, spent our childhoods playing in and around the Mill Pond, and preservation of a part of it is very meaningful.

A special acknowledgment is due to my mother, Mary Riordan Allen, the last remaining owner of the Allen’s Clam House property, who 11 years ago, in the spirit of Captain Allen’s concern for the Mill Pond and its meadows, turned down high purchase offers from developers in favor of selling the property to the town at a price it could afford. 

With generous matching contributions from like-minded Westporters, (Paul Newman, Harvey Weinstein and Martha Stewart among them) the town of Westport was able to buy the property, and honor my mother’s wishes that it be preserved in its natural state, dedicated to my grandfather, Captain Walter Dewitt Allen. 

Many thanks to past Selectperson Diane Farrell, and all who contributed to making this vision a reality

Bonnie G. Allen, Esq.
Northampton, Mass.

Dear Westport,

As a family, we would like to thank all of Westport, and indeed many in surrounding towns, for the love and support we have received in the days since the death of our son and brother Cameron.

We have benefited from the kind words and kind works of countless people and groups in these last two weeks, and those words and works have been life-sustaining for us. And that support has come from all corners of our town.

We cannot begin to list all the individuals and groups that have stood by our sides and buoyed our spirit in the past two weeks, but we do want especially to thank the members of Saugatuck Congregational Church and the Westport Garden Club, the kind people at Save the Children, and the Westport Police Department.

It is easy to use words like “community” without pausing to reflect on what they really mean. And it can be easy in this modern era to grow cynical, to lose sight of the personal. It is easy to forget what it means and what it should mean to be friends, neighbors, colleagues.

But in the last two weeks, Westport has shown us that it is indeed a community in the best sense of the word. It seemed to us that we lived in a small town, where everyone knows his neighbors, and everyone cares. This has been an immeasurable comfort to us, and has made a vast and deep difference in our lives.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.

Iain, Linda, and Margot Bruce

Westport

To the Editor:

Yesterday while at Trader Joe’s I inadvertently dropped my key ring with my car and house keys somewhere between my car and the store. I only realized this when I was at the cash register.

After an brief search, retracing my steps at the store, I was not able to relocate them. The store personnel were very helpful and took my name and number in case they were turned in later in the evening. 

This morning, the manager from the Saugatuck Rowing club called my home to say that some kind person had found my keys and due to the club’s key fob on my keys, returned them to the club for me.  What a relief.

The person who dropped them off for me did not leave their name. Whoever you are, thank you very much for your kindness.

Rob Morrison
Westport

To the Editor:

In regard to Memorial Day, the Y’s Men of Westport/Weston are pleased to be able to participate in the annual parade. For the Y’s Men participation is quite meaningful, probably due to the age of our members (a majority served in our armed forces).

To us, each year we conceive, design and build a float not to entertain, to win a prize, or promote our club. We feel a sacred obligation to honor our veterans who served our country. 

Many died, and all were changed by their military service. Our float is a gift to the community with the hope that spectators might, for just a brief moment, reflect regarding what a great country we share and the debt we owe to those who served.

Neil Coleman/ Mario Sa’Couto
Y’s Men Presidents
Westport

To the Editor:

The residents of Westport, specifically Greens Farms, have multiple objections to the proposed CL&P substation at 6 New Creek Road. At the Thursday Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) meeting we listened to the Council’s consideration of the project and were eager to hear them discuss our objections submitted to them in writing over the past three weeks.

Instead, what can be heard on the Web audio link is the Council dismissing out of hand our most serious concern about the proximity of a powerful cell phone tower to the proposed site.

Despite our letters stating the location of the cell tower to the proposed site, the Council can be heard debating the location of the tower, deciding that we are referring to a tower much further away at the Westport police station and then dismissing our concern about the tower because in their opinion the tower is too far away to have an impact.

Their casual disinterest in what is arguably a huge environmental incompatibility issue for the proposed site is troubling at best. The CSC, it is my understanding, is responsible for making a determination of public need AND environmental compatibility for the proposed project.

To The Editor:

I just finished seeing “She Loves Me” at our charming Westport Country Playhouse. By chance the readers don’t go further than this sentence, let me shout from the top of Da Pietro’s to all of you: DON’T MISS THIS MUSICAL!!

As the Playhouse celebrates its 80th anniversary, it has kicked off this unbelievable season with a smash hit! This show is a delightful, romantic, funny, charming and nostalgic musical. From the moment the curtain went up until it went down I grinned from ear to ear.

The set was spectacular! ( I can’t believe what the set designers can make on our special Westport stage). The music is uplifting and the lyrics are witty and at times downright hysterical.

The costumes make you remember a more stylish time in our history and the wonderful etiquette depicted representative of an era gone by it motivated me to bring my children to see it. ( I’m even going to a matinee so I can get Pietro out of the kitchen for a relaxing and rejuvenating afternoon).

To prove to all of you, my neighbors, how much I want you to see this show, I will even encourage you further. I will give anyone who brings in to Da Pietro’s a ticket or ticket stub for any performance of “She Loves Me” a free glass of wine or dessert with the purchase of a lunch or dinner entree.

I will see you all at the Playhouse this summer, a season not to miss!

Janine Scotti
Owner Da Pietro’s Restaurant,
Westport

To the Editor:

As Charles Dickens once penned, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

The storm that took most people by surprise resulted in 12,000 Westporters converging at the public library over March 14-16 to find warmth, a sense of security, and connectivity in both definitions of the word.

The same people who say “the library is like my second home” were finding it was their first home for two, three, and even four days.  One person said,
“It was like having a friend’s house to go to.”

The library staff worked tirelessly and with tremendous grace while the library stayed open for longer hours. In addition to their regular responsibilities they ran out for extra power cords and food, set up extra tables, demonstrated how to link into the wireless network, checked phone numbers for you to call on the status of your situation, and looked up information on food spoilage following hours and days of no refrigeration.

To the Editor:

My name is Marc Fischer.  My wife Lori and I are 11 year residents of Westport. We live at 9 Sue Terrace. I’m a 48 year-old father of two elementary school age girls and the COO of a financial services firm. We love our town and our neighborhood, but until recently we’ve not been overtly active in town politics.  That has changed.

The proposal, initiated by IHA, for the development of the Linxweiler property has garnered a lot of press lately…and rightly so. My family and I stand in opposition to the plan. I understand the proposal has been withdrawn, but will likely be submitted again soon, and I’d like to list my points clearly, so they’re unambiguously on the record. The proposal in any form should be rejected because:

The project defies the Linxweiler will.  The will states that Ms. Linxweiler desired the property be left as green space. Defying a will is a reprehensible thing to do, and effectively puts an end to any future bequests to the town.  The town would never be able to un-ring that bell.

A 75-year lease is excessive.  Entering into a 75 year lease is fiscally dangerous and irresponsible.

To the Editor:

Thank you, Westport. It is only because members of the Westport community have caring hearts and warmly embrace Special Olympics and its annual Penguin Plunge event that 475 people enthusiastically plunged into the chilly water at Compo Beach on March 6th to demonstrate support for people with intellectual disabilities and a record-breaking $130,000 was raised to fund Special Olympics’ local, year-round programs.

The Westport Penguin Plunge continues to be the largest plunge in the state for Special Olympics Connecticut and the largest fundraiser for Special Olympics Connecticut, Southwest Region of the year.

Yes, it is an event we depend on to ensure we serve our athletes all year round with programs that change attitudes about people with intellectual disabilities and change the lives of all who are involved. Westport hosting and participating in this event means so much to our organization.

The Westport crew of volunteers that organizes and helps to run this event does a phenomenal job and ensures everyone has a safe, fun experience. Thank you to Chief Chris Ackley, Firefighter Jonathan Gottfried and the Westport Firefighters, Sgt. Dave Farrell and the Westport Police, Mike Falbo and friends with Westport Parks & Recreation Department, the amazing dive team and the members of the medical response team who gave of their time and talents.

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Westport Weston Health District, we extend our sincere thanks to our Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).  The Westport Weston Wilton MRC, and the Westport CERT, comprised of volunteers from our communities, donated over 420 hours of service in response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic.  Our successful efforts were made possible through the service of our MRC and CERT teams.

The Westport Weston Health District has vaccinated over 3,800 individuals.  Our partnership with the MRC, and the support of our CERT team, provided both medical and non-medical volunteers, who provided support in several ways.  Volunteers answered phone calls, scheduled appointments, conducted patient screening, assisted with parking, directed patients inside the clinic, distributed health and emergency preparedness literature, and assisted our nurse vaccinators.

We are extremely grateful to these volunteers.  Again, our success in providing the H1N1 vaccine to those in need is largely attributed to their support and generous donation of their time and skills.  Thank you!

Ken Kellogg, Mark Cooper, and Monica Wheeler
Westport Weston Health District