Monthly Archives: March 2009

Announcing A Foolproof Method To Raise All The Revenue Westport Needs

Posted on March 19, 2009 | 4 comments

Assign one cop per shift — 24/7/365 — to ticket anyone seen driving while talking on a cellphone.

No exceptions; no excuses.

We’d be the wealthiest town in the world.

4 Comments

Posted in Westport life

Budget Battles

Posted on March 18, 2009 | 2 comments

Years ago, Board of Education and  Board of Finance budget hearings were political kabuki.  Educators and town boards engaged in elaborate public performances.  Behind the scenes, meanwhile, roles were clearly defined; outcomes were often predetermined.

Over time, that changed. Today’s Board of Ed is well aware of the current economic climate.  They took this year’s charge very seriously, scouring each line to make deep cuts across the board.  It was not easy; major items like salaries were negotiated long ago.

The board also knows that costs must rise.  Our school population will soar next fall, as parents who can no longer afford private education enroll their children in Westport public schools.

They do it knowing their youngsters will receive superb educations here.  The student/teacher ratio may not be as low as in private schools, but by many other measures our local schools equal — or out-perform — their private counterparts.

But more cuts may come.  Tonight at 7:30 at Town Hall, the Board of Finance continues its discussion of the education budget.  Soon the RTM will have its say.

Where will any cuts come from?  Anne Hardy and Lee Saveliff, Staples PTA co-presidents, say they could be in areas like technology, maintenance, extracurricular activities, class size — or anywhere else.  Nothing is off the table.

In years past, Board of Education sessions were polarized political theater.  One side shouted that every penny was wasted; the other, that every penny was precious.

That era is gone.  Everyone recognizes we’re in uncharted waters.  As the budget process moves forward, Westport must decide how many pennies to save today — and what the real cost of those savings will be tomorrow.

2 Comments

Posted in Economy, Education, Local politics

Wearin’ The Green, And Every Other Color

Posted on March 17, 2009 | 2 comments

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Sure, and it’s a grand day to be Irish.

I coach the Staples boys varsity soccer team.  Three years ago we were lucky to land Ross McGibney from Dublin, and a fine lad he is.

We don’t have any Irish players now — more’s the pity — but we do have boys from all over the world.  Of our 68 athletes last fall, 18 had at least one parent born in another country — or were born there themselves.

They came from Belgium, China, Colombia, Denmark, England, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, Turkey and Vietnam.

The stereotype is that everyone in Westport is cut from the same cloth.  If you really think that, you might believe in leprechauns too.

2 Comments

BREAKING NEWS — Chip Stephens Explores 1st Selectman Run

Posted on March 16, 2009 | 3 comments

Hot on the heels of the post below (“The Rumor Mill”) comes word from Chip Stephens that he may run for first selectman.  He announced it in a Comment under the “First Selectman Fun” post of March 12; it’s reprinted here for easy reading.

You heard it first on Dan’s  “06880.”

I, Chip Stephens, Staples 73, am starting an exploratory comittee to decide on running for the First Selectman position.

Have there been any Bedford El, Bedford Jr, Staples graduates in the position? Has there ever been a selectman who would promote changing the charter to allow ballot questions on election days to get a true sense of opinion in town? Our current selectman claims this is not currently allowed.

And has there been any selectman who sent 100% of the property tax bills out every year.  Most who are paying mortgages do not see their taxes unless they pick apart their escrow accounts, bet there would be more noise on taxes. (Thanks to Buck I. for that idea).

Yes, it could be fun even if it is a write-in campaign.

Chip:  I bet that Joe Arcudi is a Bedford El (or Saugatuck), Bedford Junior High and Staples grad.  I’m not sure where Gordon Joseloff went to school.  Maybe some of the guys from 100 years ago too.  But that’s irrelevant — what’s important is that the first selectman season is officially underway.  Welcome to what may be a great race! — Dan Woog

3 Comments

Posted in Local politics

The Rumor Mill

Posted on March 16, 2009 | Comments Off on The Rumor Mill

When you’ve lived in Westport as long as Chip Stephens has, you know people.  You hear things.

Lately, Chip has heard word that a number of long-established Westport establishments are closing.  He wondered if “06880” knew anything more.

“06880” — that is, I — don’t.  Asking businesses rumored to be imperiled if they’re really going under is the blog equivalent of wondering if you’ve stopped beating your wife.  But I called the places Chip mentioned anyway.

Three were definitely closed — for the day.  Neither Conte’s,  Martha’s nor Riverview Restaurant is open Mondays.

Mario’s had the most emphatic answer: “No.  It’s not true.  We’ve been here 42 years.  We’ll be here another 42.”

Tavern on Main gave the longest answer: “No.  No, that’s not true.  We’re the same as every place:  We have good nights and bad nights.  That’s just a rumor.  I work here and I’ve heard it too, but it’s not true.”

A non-restaurant — Geiger’s Garden Center — was the brusquest:   “No.  We’ve been here 40 years.  Business is fine.”  (Click)

Six rumored closings; 6 places that say they’re weathering the storm.  I take them at their word.  I don’t think they’d Curran Cadillac me.

Comments Off on The Rumor Mill

Posted in Economy, Restaurants

A Word Of Caution

Posted on March 16, 2009 | 1 comment

My “Friday the 13th” posting (scroll down to, duh, Friday the 13th) drew this reaction from a long-time Westporter.  He requested anonymity. Does he speak for all?  Many?  Himself?  Click the “comments” link below to respond.

Generally your blog is great, informative and entertaining.  Keep it up.  Of course, there is always a BUT…

…When you so casually refer to loss of services, and then mention Compo Beach and the library, a word of caution:

If the budget requires heavy cuts translated into layoffs, instead of smarter savings from the top there will be fewer people cleaning the beach, and one day a week (Sunday?) with the library closed.

Now, how about less service to the public in every  Town Hall office and department; Senior Center cuts; less snow plowing, maybe even emergency service reductions?  Let’s not be so casual!

The budget must be cut from the top, and not by getting rid of town employees who serve the public face to face every day.  The over-$100,000 town employees maybe have too much?  How about give-backs from the high salaries?

And clearly there are still the Board of Education expenses…

Last but not least, it is said that maybe 20% of the town has been affected by the current financial crisis. What about the 80% that still make big $$$ and pay big taxes.? Do they deserve service cuts?

Let’s keep Westport the great, special place that it is.

1 Comment

Posted in Economy

Dogs Do, People Don’t

Posted on March 16, 2009 | 1 comment

When two people have the same idea, it’s a coincidence.  When three do, it’s a movement.

Today’s movement is dog doo.

“06880” reader Dana Kuyper wrote recently that at Winslow Park, the town provides plastic bags and garbage cans for the removal of droppings.  “For some reason,” she said, “people use the bags for their intended purpose and then leave them around the park.  It’s worse in warm weather, and after the beach closes to dogs.

“The bags are usually on the ground, but sometimes in trees, sometimes on benches or tables.  On any day you can walk through the dog park and see them.  I don’t get it.”

I do:  Some people are lazy.  Selfish.  Rude.

Fellow “06880” fan Judith Crowley had a similar thought.  Walking at Compo, she noticed how many people did not clean up after their dogs (or themselves).  She saw cups, straws, poo, and items even grosser than that.  I saw the same, um, stuff.

“Compo is not a garbage can,” she noted.  “But keep it up, and it will become one.   That’s a shame, because I love taking my little Clover to the beach.”

I assume little Clover is her dog, not her daughter.  Yet whether we’re talking about pets or kids, Winslow or Compo, winter or summer, the idea is the same:  Do the right thing.  Don’t be a pig.   Don’t give us any crap.

1 Comment

Posted in Beach

Tear Down That House!

Posted on March 15, 2009 | Comments Off on Tear Down That House!

It took nearly 3 months, but one of Westport’s most cherished traditions is back.

WestportNow.com, whose editors as recently as last year suffered carpal tunnel syndrome posting photos of house teardowns, was strangely quiet lately.  All across town, bulldozers fell silent.  Earthmovers never moved.  Cape Cods, Colonials, historically significant masterpieces — all remained intact.

For months residents drove past the same streetscapes they always saw.  We forgot the thrill of watching a perfectly fine home be pulverized before noon, memories and mansards vanishing together into the maw of progress.

So imagine my joy yesterday when WestportNow.com showed The First Demolition of a Westport House in 2009.  Bluewater Hill — that exclusive beachside enclave of expensive homes — was the lucky location.  Unfortunately this was not a lovely new construction, nor the dearest piece of property — built in 1954, it was purchased last August for a mere $2,225,000 — but after such a long demolition-less streak, I was elated to see any old house destroyed.

With any luck we’ll soon be back in the pre-meltdown/teardown swing of things — and not a moment too soon.  The last thing Westport needs is a housing destruction crisis.

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Posted in Economy, Real estate

College Choices

Posted on March 14, 2009 | 1 comment

“NCC?!” [Sneer or snicker]

For as long as I can remember, Norwalk Community College has been mocked by Westporters.

From my Staples days on, the strongest motivator students heard — from peers, parents, even teachers — was: “If you don’t do better, you’ll end up at NCC.”

These days, NCC looks pretty good.

A couple of weeks ago, for the first time, I heard a parent say — without regret or embarrassment — that his child will enroll there this fall.  A few days later, a mother called it a good option for her daughter. 

The economy is one reason.  Equally important, NCC has done a great job adding courses and programs — and updating its buildings and brand — to position itself as a viable alternative for Westporters. 

I thought of that recently, when a citizen speaking before a town board offered his Stanford degree as proof that he knew what he was talking about.  Instead, his words sounded pompous and puffy.

A few weeks earlier a California man brought the wrath of the nation — well, the portion of it that watches “Wife Swap” — upon his head when he used his supposed higher education as a cudgel against a woman from rural Missouri.

There is much to be said for NCC.  The economic and social upheavals of today are creating opportunities for new and different tomorrows.  One day soon peers, parents and teachers will say: “You better work hard.  Otherwise you won’t get into NCC.”

1 Comment

Posted in Education

Friday The 13th

Posted on March 13, 2009 | 3 comments

Today is Friday the 13th — and just our luck, it’s the second in a row (thanks, February, with your stupid 28 days).

Westport’s connection to the traditional day fraught with peril is tenuous.  Sean Cunningham — director of the first “Friday the 13th” movie — grew up here; I guess that counts.

Like the rest of the country, we can’t escape bad luck.  We’re losing jobs and money.  Our retirement, vacation and college plans are uncertain.  Our mortgages are due, our property values are plummeting, our  taxes are rising, our services will be cut, our anxieties are real.

And yet…

We still have Compo Beach, beckoning all with its beautiful vistas, magnificent playground and acres of room to roam.  The library‘s shelves groan with books, magazines, videos and music to check out or enjoy overlooking the serene Saugatuck River; check out too the daily programs and activities in the meeting rooms.

The Westport Arts Center’s exhibits and galleries are always free.  So is the action at this weekend’s Westport Soccer Associati0n annual tournament with over 100 teams indoor and out, at Staples and Bedford.

That’s a tiny sampling of the hundreds of things — cultural, recreational, educational, social, spiritual — to do here any day.

Every Friday the 13th is followed by a Saturday the 14th.  The sky brightens; a new day dawns.  And Westport gladly greets it.

3 Comments

Posted in Beach, Library, Places, Westport life