A groundbreaking was held at Westport’s Longshore Golf Course today for a new Halfway House to replace one destroyed by fire in 2003. Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff led the dignitaries in the ceremony in which he singled out many community volunteers who led the successful fund-raising effort of more than $200,000. Construction of the 750-square foot farmhouse-style structure is expected to take two to three months with the opening anticipated for June. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

New York Yankees second base star Bobby Richardson, 76, signs a souvenir photograph today for John Agostino, 22, of Greenwhich at Legends of the Game sports memorabilia at 1765 Post Road East as owner Mike Riccio, Sr. looks on.  Richardson played on seven Yankees World Series teams from 1957 to 1964. A resident of South Carolina, his birthplace, he is in the Westport area to be the keynote speaker Wednesday at a St. Vincent’s Hospital Foundation event at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport Parks and Recreation Director Stuart McCarthy announced today that the Longshore Golf Course will open for play for the season on Friday, weather permitting.

Play will be on a walk-up basis, he said, with reserved times available for play beginning March 16. 

On Saturday, the Longshore Men’s Golf Association will host a course clean up day beginning at 9:15 a.m., he said. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a pair of work gloves and a rake.

The clean up day gives the greens crew a great head start on getting the course in tip top conditions, McCarthy said.

Staples forward Nicole Bukovsky is blocked by a Career Magnet player during tonight’s 74-49 Wrecker loss to the Panthers in the second round of the Class LL championship in New Haven. Career, the No. 4 seed and defending Class LL state champion, started off strong, and 20th-seeded Staples did what it could to keep within distance during the first half. In the third quarter, Erica Stein stringed together several three-pointers to get as close as nine points, but in the end Career ran away with the game. It was the final game in a Staples uniform for seniors Jessica Cohelo, Remy Nolan, and injured Syd Houseworth. Coelho scored 23 points and Stein added 11. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Daniel Gelman for WestportNow.com

Westport Parks and Recreation Director Stuart McCarthy announced today that the local volunteer task force, The 9th & ½ Hole Committee, has reached its fund-raising goals for the replacement for the Halfway House at Longshore Club Park and that construction will commence this spring.
An artist’s rendering of the new Halfway House.  Contributed photo

A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 7, at 2 p.m., at Longshore Club Park.

“We thank the many members of the community who stepped forward with cash contributions, pledges and offers of in-kind materials and services,” said Mark Holod, head of the fund-raising effort, which raised $200,000 over the past year.

“We received a tremendous amount of support from the three golf associations active at Longshore. But we couldn’t have gotten this done without the generosity of the private donors who supported this project in honor of Cliff Ross, our friend, fellow golfer and community leader.”

Westport basketball fans and others attracted to the phenomenon of Jeremy Lin’s rapid rise to stardom on the New York Knicks converged on bars such as Westport’s Dunville’s Restaurant, 41 Saugatuck Ave., today to watch the game against the Dallas Mavericks, last year’s NBA champs. The Knicks victory by the score of 104-97 was highlighted by another impressive performance by the 23-year-old Harvard graduate who scored 28 points, while contributing 14 assists, four rebounds and five steals in 46 minutes of play time. In the past two weeks Lin has led the Knicks to eight wins in nine games. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Staples Boys basketball team tonight upset rival Ridgefield 60-34. The Wreckers beat the Tigers on both sides of the ball playing a swarming defense that forced dozens of turnovers.  Staples held Ridgefield to a mere seven points at the halftime outscoring Ridgefield 33-7.  Ridgefield now 12-4, came into the game ranked eighth in the state and tied for second in the FCIAC but had no answer for the Wreckers (8-8) intense defense.  Staples will play their last two regular season games next week when they take on McMahon and Bassick. Pictured: Vasily Tzsolis and Ross Whelan swarm a Ridgefield player. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Elaine Rankowitz for WestportNow.com

Westport Little Leaguers are invited to register now for a two-day indoor baseball clinic on Wednesday, Feb. 29, and Thurdsay, March 1.

Staples Baseball Head Coach Jack McFarland and the Staples High School baseball staff will be on hand for instruction in the fundamentals and skills needed to excel in the game of baseball, an announcement said.

The Wrecker Crew will prepare players in Grades 2 through 8 with a variety of skills and drills in advance of the March 10 Little League evaluations.

The clinic will host those in grades 2 to 5 from 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on both days, and those in grades 6 to 8 from 7:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on both days. Those interested can register with Westport Parks and Rec, http://www.westportct.gov/. Look for online registration for Indoor Baseball. Cost is $55.

Cooper Tirola, 6, of Westport is all smiles in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianpolis tonight after the New York Giants Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Three cheerleaders from Westport’s Staples High School were awarded all-FCIAC titles in the individual competition Saturday at the FCIAC cheerleading competition at Wilton High School.  In addition, the Staples Varsity Cheerleading team walked away with an impressive fifth place trophy.  Pictured are (l-r) Maddy Mann, Olivia Stanley and Jacquelyn Fritz. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo