Westporter Jean Murdoch got a new Lexus today after winning a WCBS Radio “Hit for the Cycle” contest when Yankee player Melky Carbrera performed the rare baseball feat on Aug. 2 in a game against the White Sox. (See WestportNow Aug. 2, 2009) Murdoch, who learned of her win from WestportNow, and husband Dan traveled to Englewood, N.J. for the ceremony at Lexus of Englewood. During the presentation, Murdoch was surprised with a gift of a baseball autographed by Cabrera. In fact, she seemed to prize the baseball more than the car. After the ceremony, she declined the auto in favor of the equivalent cash prize, “valued up to $30,000,” according to the station’s Web site, less taxes and other expenses. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport’s Saugatuck Rowing Club dominated the team competition at the 2009 USRowing Masters National Championships which ended today, winning the overall, women’s and men’s points’ trophies at the Cooper River in Camden, N.J.

The club won the overall team title with 831.50 points. Minneapolis Rowing Club finished second with 399.75 points, followed by Potomac Boat Club with 330.25 points.

Saugatuck won the women’s title with 371 points. Community Rowing, Inc. finished second with 211.75 points, followed by Minneapolis Rowing Club with 153.50 points.

The men’s point trophy went to Saugatuck with 382.25 points. Minneapolis finished second with 235.25 points, with Occoquan International taking third with 228.75 points.

As expected, Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) has been asked to review last month’s approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission of regulations that would clear the way for lights at Staples High School athletic events.

The 36-member RTM, which can only overturn the amendment approval by a two-thirds vote but not modify it, will meet in a special session on Wednesday, Sept. 9 to take up the matter.

Town Clerk Patricia H. Strauss said she had received a petition from at least 20 Westport electors asking the RTM to review the text amendment that would allow lights to be erected on athletic fields on town-owned property subject to numerous conditions.

The RTM Planning and Zoning Committee has scheduled hearings on the request on Wednesday and, if needed, Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall Room 309. It will meet again on Thursday, Sept. 3 to make a recommendation to the full body.

Following up on its successful direct train service to Yankee Stadium, Metro-North Railroad announced today it will provide direct service from Westport and selected other New Haven Line stops to Giants and Jets games in New Jersey.

The railroad said Metro-North customers can purchase one ticket for travel to Giants and Jets Sunday 1 p.m. home games at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, connecting at the Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction station to New Jersey Transit’s new Meadowlands Rail Line. There will be similar direct service back to Connecticut.

Timetables will be published later, the railroad said, advising customers that the service is only for Giants and Jets home games and not any other events at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. It said service to and from Westport should take a little more than two hours.

The railroad said the tickets for New Haven Line riders will cost the usual off-peak fare from its stations plus $7.75. More information is available here.

Many Westporters today took advantage of Metro-North’s direct train service to Yankee Stadium for the third game of the current four-game Yankee-Red Sox series. Among them were four Staples High School students—(l-r) Justin Hawrysh, 17; Lena Siskin, 17; Alex Mullen, 17; Matt Mirrkine, 16—and parent Fred Hawrysh, who said he learned of the direct train service from WestportNow. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Metro-North said today it has scheduled additional service from Westport to and from Yankee Stadium for the four-game series against the Boston Red Sox beginning Thursday night.

The railroad has been running direct service from Westport and other stops to the new stadium on weekends and direct return service on weeknights and weekends since mid-May (See WestportNow May 19, 2009)

On Thursday and Friday, Westporters going to the 7:05 p.m. games will have to change at 125th Street for the five-minute shuttle service to the stadium. The trains leave Westport at 3:31 p.m., 4:08 p.m., 4:31 p.m., 5:02 p.m., 5:28 p.m., and 6:09 p.m.

There is direct return service after all games and a shuttle to 125th Street for connecting service during all games.

Yankees broadcasters John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman tonight sent on-air congratulations to Westporter Jean Murdoch, winner of a 2009 Lexus in the WCBS Radio “Hit for the Cycle” contest.
Suzyn Waldman: “I called Jean to congratulate her.”  Yankees Radio Network photo

“I called Jean yesterday to congratulate her,” said Waldman during a broadcast of the Yankees game from Toronto against the Blue Jays. “She was very excited and is a great Yankee fan.”

Murdoch, a graphics designer who lives on Sniffen Road, was the random winner in the contest that awarded a new car if a Yankees player “hit for the cycle.” The rare feat was accomplished by Melky Cabrera in Sunday’s game against the White Sox.

Murdoch was watching the game on television and only learned she had won the radio contest when informed by WestportNow. (See WestportNow Aug. 2, 2009)s