Roundup: Holiday Stroll, State Reps, George Barrett ..

Posted on November 9, 2026 | Leave a comment

HOLIDAY STROLL: NEW ADDITIONS, RETAIL OFFERS

Merchants are already offering special promotions for the Holiday Stroll — and it’s still almost a month away.

The 6th annual event (Saturday, December 5, 4 to 7 p.m.) is bigger and better than ever.

In addition to the traditional favorites — Santa, the Staples Orphenians, face painting, a photo booth, and much more — this year’s Stroll includes:

  • A fire truck
  • Menorah lighting
  • String ensemble and adult choir
  • Pop-Up Bagels’ “welcome to Westport.”

Local business offerings include:

  • Clarendon Fine Art: Hot drinks in the gallery, all day long
  • Gameday Men’s Health: 40% off clinically guided peptide protocols (throughout December)
  • Lux Bond & Green: Prosecco, sweets and live music
  • Savvy + Grace: Drop off letters to Santa; every child gets a personal reply
  • The Oleynick Team|Keller Williams Gold Coast: Westport homeowner receive a complimentary, personalized home valuation; enter for a chance to win a $100 Westport gift card at a business of your choice.
  • The Toy Post: All children receive a small gift.
  • West Out East: 15% off all accessories — home décor, books, kitchen, lighting and more, all day long
  • World’s Greatest Card Shop: Topps Holiday mega boxes.

The Holiday Stroll is sponsored by the Westport Downtown Association and “06880.”

Retailers, restaurants, service providers and others wishing to offer a promotion: Click here.

STATE REPS READY FOR POST-ELECTION forum

The election is over.

So what’s next?

Westport’s 2 state representatives — newly elected Lee Goldstein (District 136) and re-elected Dominique Johnson (District 143) — will offer their ideas, and answer questions, in a special post-election conversation next Monday (November 16, 7 p.m., Toquet Hall).

Moderated by students from Staples High School and Greens Farms Academy, along with “06880”‘s Dan Woog, the forum will explore issues important to the community, and offer insights into their leadership styles.

It’s co-sponsored by the Westport Youth Commission, League of Women Voters Westport, and “06880.”

State Representatives Lee Goldstein and Dominique Johnson. 

GEORGE BARRETT RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS

George Barrett has led quite a life, since graduating from Staples High School in 1973. After performing as a folk and opera singer, teaching and coaching, he spent over 3 decades in business, including CEO of a Fortune 25 company.

Now he’s returned to his roots, as a singer/songwriter. On November 21 (7 p.m.), he’ll be on the Westport Country Playhouse stage. He and his band — including 1971 Staples grad/Emmy and Peabody Award-winning composer/Grammy-winning producer, plus rising indie/folk/country star Sarah Gross — are donating their time to support the Playhouse.

George also returned to his roots, to promote his new release, “You’re Not Alone.” Part of the video below was filmed at Compo Beach.

Click here for tickets, and more information. 

HOLIDAY SHOPPING KICKS OFF WITH CRAFT FAIR

Thousands of shoppers packed the Staples High School fieldhouse this weekend, for the 52nd annual CraftWestport holiday show.

1st Selectman Kevin Christie was there Saturday. He presented the sponsoring Women’s League of Westport — formerly the Westport Young Woman’s League — for 70 years of “fostering friendship, civic engagement, and a strong tradition of volunteerism.”

One of over 165 CraftWestport vendors. They sold jewelry, clothing, accessories, handbags, clay, wood, glass, vases, sculptures, photos, scarves, leather, silk jackets — and more. (Photo/Susan Garment)

blumenthal, lamont laud lambda legal

Governor Lamont, Senator Blumenthal, State Treasurer Erick Russell, State Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, 1st Selectman Kevin Christie joined 300 guests yesterday, at Lambda Legal‘s annual “Connecticut Cares” event.

As they have for more than a dozen years, Mitchells of Westport opened their floor for the celebration.

Since 1973, Lambda Legal has worked to advance and protect the civil rights of the LGBTQ community, and everyone living with HIV.

Speakers hailed Connecticut’s role as a model for LGBTQ legislation and protection. Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings discussed the non-profit’s role moving forward, in the wake of Tuesday’s election.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, at the Lambda Legal event. Among the crowd: State Treasurer Erick Russell (left), and Governor Ned Lamont (4th from left). (Photo/Dan Woog)

“westport … naturally” & song of the day

Retired Westport police officer Dick Alley is now in his 90s.

But he gets out often. This weekend he was at Sherwood Island State Park. He snapped this autumn photo, for our “Westport … Naturally” series.

(Photo/Dick Alley)

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And finally … on this date in 1967, the first issue of Rolling Stone magazine was published. John Lennon on the cover, and there were stories about David Crosby, The Who and Country Joe McDonald.

(We haven’t been around as long as Rolling Stone. But like they, we are quite happy in our own little niche. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Cribari Bridge Subcommittee Preps For Meetings

Posted on November 9, 2026 | 3 comments

There are many moving parts — figuratively and literally — to the Cribari Bridge.

It’s Melissa Levy’s job to know them all.

She’s not a state official, or an engineer. But as chair of the Representative Town Meeting’s Cribari Bridge Subcommittee, she’s one of Westport’s most important officials in the complex discussions over the future of the 142-year-old span.

Levy and her colleagues have worked hard recently, preparing for 2 key meetings.

Tonight (Monday, 6 p.m., Zoom), her subcommittee, and the full RTM Transit Committee — of which she is also a member — meet. They’ll prepare for Thursday’s public session (November 12, 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium), where the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is expected to present its recommended next steps.

Levy encourages Westporters to attend both meetings.

Cribari Bridge (Photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)

A 2nd-term RTM member and 14-year resident, she notes that transportation decisions involve far more than “how to get between two points.” There are safety, neighborhood, business and quality of life considerations.

Those are especially critical regarding the Cribari Bridge. Beyond what to do with the aging swing span itself — perhaps the oldest of its type in the country — any decision will reverberate throughout Saugatuck, Bridge Street and environs, and out to the Post Road.

“It will affect generations to come,” Levy says.

Her subcommittee recognizes that “while residents have different opinions about whether to renovate the bridge or reconstruct it, everyone wants a safe, reliable bridge that will protect Westport’s character, and protect the town against truck traffic.”

She acknowledges that CTDOT is “probably moving” toward an on-alignment recommendation. That would entail demolition of the existing structure, and construction of a completely new movable bridge that would maintain the existing roadway alignment across the Saugatuck River.

The “on-alignment” plan would involve a new Cribari Bridge, with the same approach as now. (Courtesy of Yulee Aronson)

The subcommittee is studying that plan, while also pursuing how to preserve the span, in light of engineering and federal requirements.

Studying both options “is not mutually exclusive,” Levy says. “We are working to protect the town, regardless of what decisions are made.”

The subcommittee chair speaks frequently with James Barrows, CTDOT’s manager for the Cribari project.

“He is forthright and communicative,” she says. “He gives me even more information than I ask for. I’m very confident in our relationship, and their desire to work with us.”

She notes that Thursday’s CTDOT meeting with residents “is not mandatory. They scheduled it because they think it’s important.”

State Department of Transportation involvement is key. They’re funding the $6o to $100 million project.

They’ll receive approximately 80% of the cost from the federal government.

Understanding national and state standards and regulations — and applying them to what Westport wants and needs — is no easy task.

Residents have certainly made their wishes known. CTDOT received 833 comments following a public session last March.

On Thursday, Levy says, “we hope to hear how those comments were evaluated, and how they’ve influenced the project.”

She looks forward to learning “what decisions have been made, what decisions are still open, and how the town can influence next steps. We have to understand how to to move from wanting something, to implementing it.”

The RTM “does not control this project,” Levy says. “But we do have a responsibility to ask questions, and work with the first selectman’s office, our legislators and CTDOT to see what our options are.”

Her subcommittee is researching ways to encourage town officials to proceed.

Cribari Bridge (Photo/Nancy Lally)

Whatever decision is announced on Thursday, “it takes many months for the federal government to approve what CTDOT proposes,” Levy says.

One of the most important issues surrounding the Cribari Bridge is a “No Through Trucks” designation.

There are 3 interrelated questions. says Levy:

  • Can large trucks be restricted, because of the bridge’s height and weight limitations?
  • Can large trucks be prohibited legally from the bridge, even if a larger bridge could accommodate them?
  • Can Westport enact “no through trucks” legislation on surrounding rounds?

There may be different approval processes for each of those 3 options, Levy notes.

The Board of Selectpersons serve as Westport’s local traffic authority. The Cribari Bridge is part of a state highway (Route 136), so a “no through trucks” designation would be reviewed by the DOT’s Office of State Traffic Administration (OSTA).

They would consider road conditions, traffic patterns, alternate routes, and what happens elsewhere if trucks are prohibited there.

Levy notes, “no through trucks” does not mean “no trucks at all.” Trucks making deliveries in Westport would still be permitted.

And, she adds, “no through trucks” can be challenging to enforce.

In 2019, the Board of Selectpersons considered a “no through trucks” designation for Bridge Street, Greens Farms Road and Compo Road South. The idea was tabled. They were concerned about unintended consequences, such as traffic being redirected to Riverside Avenue and the Post Road.

In 2024 they authorized a similar request for Lyons Plains Road.

Her subcommittee is “trying to understand what is legally possible, what the requirements are for which roads, and if ‘no through trucks’ is enforceable,” Levy says.”

“Maybe OSTA can evaluate the area, and advise us about other roads to include. All that is down the line.”

What happens if CTDOT announces a full replacement plan, even if Westport does not want it?

“That doesn’t mean all decisions have been made,” Levy says. “”We could still influence the design, safety and neighborhood effects.”

She hopes residents will attend tonight’s and Thursday’s meetings.

“A lot of work has been done to identify concerns. Now it’s time to build on that work, clarify our shared concerns, and turn it all into action.

“While we may not be able to control every aspect of the final outcome, we have a responsibility to take every opportunity to understand it, and protect Westport.”

(“06880” has reported on the Cribari Bridge controversy since we started, in 2009. We’ll continue to do so — with readers’ support, of course. To make a donation, please click here. Thank you!)

Melissa Levy, RTM Cribari Bridge Sub-committee chair.

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Posted in Local politics, Politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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Pics Of The Day #3490

Posted on November 8, 2026 | Leave a comment

Red leaves at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church … (Photo/Janine Scotti)

… and yellow ones at Saugatuck Congregational (Photo/Mark Mathias)

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Photo Challenge #619

Posted on November 8, 2026 | 30 comments

Where would you find a wooden sculpture of a court jester, ringed with light bulbs?

On the wall at Little Pub @ Dunville’s, of course.

We’re not sure why he’s there. We can’t remember how long.

But 8 readers knew exactly where they’d find the subject of last week’s Photo Challenge. (Click here to see.)

Congratulations to Dave Eason, Bruce Taylor, Jim McKay, Sal Liccione, Robert Mitchell, Jonathan McClure, Seth Schachter and Rachel Sara Halperin. You know your restaurant décor.

And if anyone knows how or why that guy is hanging at Little Pub: We’d love to hear the back story.

Now on to the next course: this week’s challenge.

It’s got its own back story.

Mark Mathias sent it along for a Roundup item. He was intrigued because there is a button for pedestrians to push to keep the light red on all sides as they cross.

But there is no pedestrian crossing. And it’s in an area where there is no reason for anyone to walk.

Strange. It didn’t work well for the Roundup. But we’ve repurposed it for our Photo Challenge.

If you know where in Westport you’d see it, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Mark Mathias)

(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Mobile ID, Veterans Day, Lachat Holidays …

Posted on November 8, 2026 | 1 comment

mobile id: put driver’s license on your phone

Starting November 18, Connecticut Mobile ID will allow residents to carry a digital version of their driver’s license or state ID on their phones.

Mobile ID complements — but does not replace — physical cards.

It will be accepted by TSA at a number of security checkpoints while flying, for instance, but will not be accepted during interactions with law enforcement or voting as examples.

Businesses will also have the option to accept or not accept Mobile ID. Those that do must adopt verification apps. Click here for more information.

celebrating veterans day at town hall & vfw

A color guard, speakers — including an always-impressive Staples High School senior — and recognition of veterans highlight Westport’s Veterans Day ceremony.

The event is in the Town Hall auditorium on November 11, at — appropriately — 11 a.m.

The public is invited afterward to a free Veterans Day luncheon and open bar at VFW Post 399 (465 Riverside Avenue). There too, our servicemembers will be honored for their service, thanks to Post members and the Women’s Auxiliary.

Donations are sought to defray the cost. PayPal to VFWPost399CT, or send a check to VFW Post 399, 465 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880.

Honoring our veterans, 2024 (Photo copyright Ted Horowitz)

HOLIDAY FUN AT LACHAT TOWN FARM

Lachat Town Farm hosts a host of holiday activities, now through December. They include:

  • Children’s winter program registration (art, cooking, STEM) begins November 10.
  • Kneads Bakery offers pies, cakes, breads, pastries and side dishes for Thanksgiving; a portion of sales benefits Lachat. Ordering deadline: November 21.
  • Thanksgiving Community Feast (November 26, 12 noon)
  • Wreath decorating (December 4, 6:30 p.m.)
  • Block print gift wrap workshop (December 8, 7 p.m.)
  • Winter market (December 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Click here for details, and registration.

MOCA, CORA FOUNDATION EXPLORE CONNECTICUT MANUFACTURING

The final community conversation for MoCA\CT’s “Looking for History” explored the past, present and future of Connecticut manufacturing.

From river valley mills to aircraft engines and nuclear submarines, panelists traced the ways manufacturing has shaped — and continues to shape — our state, in ways we often overlook. They also shared their admiration for Borders’s work and its ability to bring this rich but little-known history to light.

Paul SLavoie, Connecticut’s former chief manufacturing officer, said, “Connecticut is the 48th largest state in America, and we have 4,800 manufacturers. Swing a Wiffle ball bat and you’ll hit a manufacturing company. You drive by them every single day and don’t even know it.”

The CORA Foundation sponsored the event. The exhibit closes November 15.

CORA Foundation president Robin Tauck, at the MoCA\CT exhibit.

SIGN OF THE TIMES AT SAUGATUCK CHURCH

Since 1832, Saugatuck Congregational Church has kept track of its pastors on a large sign in the narthex.

Rev. Dr. Steven Savides is the 23rd person to fill that role.

He’ll be the first on a new sign. The original one has no more room.

Saugatuck Church has a long and storied history. In 1835, it’s where the founding fathers of Westport — yes, they were all men — met to form a new town, breaking away from Norwalk, Weston and Fairfield.

They met in the church’s original location, diagonally across the street (where the gas stations are now).

Rev. Savides’ predecessor, Rev. Alison Patton, was the second woman to serve Saugatuck Church. He is the first pastor there to be born in South Africa.

Rev. Steve Savides, with the Saugatuck Church sign. (Hat tip and photo/Mark Mathias)

AARTI, TIFFANY & DIWALI

For 14 years, Aarti Khosla poured her heart into Le Rouge Chocolates.

She’s moved away. But she continues to give back to the world.

The other day, she created chocolates for Tiffany’s Diwali celebration, at New York’s LVMH Tower.

Aarti tells “06880,” “It was one of those moments when you look back at the journey, and realize just how many people helped you get there.

“Westport was such an important part of that journey. The community embraced my creations, trusted me with its celebrations, encouraged my experiments, and gave me the confidence to keep dreaming a little bigger.

“Westport will always feel like home, and I wanted to share this moment with the people who helped make it possible.”

Aarti Khosla, at Tiffany’s Diwali celebration.

OLIVIA JACKSON IS AN ORPHAN

A (new) star is born.

Coleytown Middle School student Olivia Jackson takes the Yorktown Stage stage next Saturday, in “Annie.”

She plays an orphan in the popular musical, alongside a talented cast of professional and local performers. The show runs through November 29.

Click here for tickets, and more information.

“Hometown trivia”: How well do you know westport?

A West Haven company has released free “Hometown Trivia” kits for 131 Connecticut towns. Westport is included.

Each kit contains a few printable large-print pages: multiple-choice questions about the town’s history and famous residents, a “Remember When” page of conversation starters, a word search, and an answer page for the activity leader.

They’re aimed at senior center and assisted living activity directors, public libraries, and families visiting older relatives, but anyone can use them. They are free to download, with no sign-up; click here.

The first trivia question.

“WESTPORT … NATURALLY,” & SONG OF THE DAY

Fall foliage continues to delight us.

But it won’t be around too much longer. That’s why we’re grateful to Claudia Sherwood Servidio, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” image.

A couple of weeks from now, it will remind us of this very special time of year.

Not far from downtown. (Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)

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And finally … although Olivia Jackson doesn’t go on stage until next week (story above), we’re thinking about:

(Don’t wait until tomorrow! Before you leave, please click here to support this hyper-local blog, with a tax-deductible contribution. We thank you today, tomorrow, and forever.)

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Bridge Street Historic District: Homes, School, Span Connected A Community

Posted on November 8, 2026 | 11 comments

Werner Liepolt is a longtime resident of Bridge Street, and a former Westport teacher. He writes:

As Westporters prepare for Thursday’s state Department of Transportation meeting about the Cribari Bridge (November 12, 7 p.m., Town Hall auditorium),
a look at the Bridge Street National Register Historic District can help clarify what’s at stake.

The National Register nomination shows how the bridge, houses, stone walls and a former school tell the story of a neighborhood that grew around the river
crossing.

That history can help residents assess CTDOT’s presentation, ask specific questions, and submit informed comments by November 27.

The original Bridge Street School. It later became Saugatuck Elementary; it is now The Saugatuck co-op housing.

Westport residents and the Representative Town Meetings’s Cribari Bridge Subcommittee still need clear information from CTDOT and the Federal Highway Administration about how the preferred alternative and other
feasible options could adversely affect the historic district.

The agencies should:

  • Identify the 10 properties and 1 dock that CTDOT indicated last April could be affected by right-of-way acquisition, including possible use of eminent domain.
  • Provide studies assessing potential changes in truck traffic, noise, vibration and diesel pollution.
  • Clarify whether the Area of Potential Effects has been revised to include the entire Bridge Street National Register Historic District.
  • Provide updated visual assessments that show views when trees are bare, and from higher ground.

With this information, residents and consulting parties could propose specific measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate adverse effects.

The Frederick Hotchkiss House dates to 1876.

Bridge Street tells a story larger than the history of its houses. Its winding roadway, low stone walls, former school and iron swing bridge record how Westport grew from separate settlements into a connected community.

Together, these features form a historic landscape whose significance rests on the relationships among its parts.

The Bridge Street Historic District nomination, prepared by architectural historians at the Public Archaeology Laboratory, describes approximately 22.46 acres extending from the western bank of the Saugatuck River east to Compo Road South, with a branch along southern Imperial Avenue.

It identifies 28 contributing buildings and 3 contributing structures, including the bridge. Its period of significance stretches from 1809 through 1945.

The district’s oldest building, the Delancy Allen House at 192 Compo Road South, predates Bridge Street itself. Built in 1809, it recalls a time when much of the land between Compo Road and the river belonged to the Allen family.

Delancy Allen House, Bridge Street

Before a local crossing existed, residents on the east side faced an inconvenient journey to reach Saugatuck’s businesses and railroad station. The
river connected Westport to maritime commerce, while also dividing its neighborhoods.

The nomination traces the neighborhood’s development to the Allen family’s donation of land for Bridge Street in 1869, and the establishment of a river crossing.

Those changes opened land for subdivision and residential construction. The present swing bridge followed in 1884, replacing the earlier crossing.

Bridge and neighborhood consequently developed as parts of the same story: the crossing made the residential district possible, and the district preserves evidence of the community that grew around it.

The Bridge Street Bridge once carried trolleys.

Today’s William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge remains the district’s most recognizable structure.

Its iron trusses frame the river crossing. and mark the transition between Saugatuck and Bridge Street. The nomination explains that substantial rehabilitation in the early 1990s changed the bridge’s structural system, leaving the historic trusses supporting their own weight above a newer platform.

Nevertheless, it identifies the bridge as a contributing resource and an integral
part of the neighborhood’s development. The bridge had already been individually listed in the National Register in 1987.

East of the crossing, the houses reveal successive generations of residential architecture.

The 1884 Rufus Wakeman House. 

Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and other styles give the district variety within a generally consistent domestic scale. Porches, projecting bays, decorative shingles, wood clapboards and traditional windows distinguish individual buildings.

Setbacks, vegetation, fences and retaining walls connect them into a recognizable streetscape.

The inventory also includes more modest 20th century residences.

The Anna E. Dolan House at 12 Bridge Street, built in 1932, contributes to the district alongside its 19-century neighbors. This range matters: the neighborhood records and preserves continuing development across generations.

The Anna Dolan House was built in 1932.

Some of its most significant features stand close to the ground. The nomination identifies the Bridge Street System of Stone Walls as a contributing structure in its own right.

Portions may date to the roadway’s layout around 1869; others reflect later replacement and repair.

Sections appearing original are identified in front of 12 and 20–24 Bridge Street, and along the south side of 192 Compo Road South. These walls help define the roadway’s historic edges. and the relationship between public passage and private property.

The former Saugatuck Elementary School at 35 Bridge Street adds another dimension. Its 1931 building represents the neighborhood’s educational and civic life, while its later conversion to Westport’s affordable housing illustrates continued use of a substantial community landmark.

Former Saugatuck Elementary School, now co-op housing. 

The nomination’s photographs also document the adjoining athletic fields open to the public, placing the school within its broader setting.

The historians found that the district retained integrity of location, design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling and association.

Their assessment recognizes a coherent neighborhood whose historic character survives through both buildings and surroundings.

For Westport residents, that provides a practical way to understand what deserves attention when major infrastructure changes are proposed: the bridge, homes, walls, roadway, and setting belong to an interconnected place.

1886 Orlando Allen House.

Residents can use this nomination and its property inventory to support specific Section 106 comments by November 27, the extended deadline communicated by RTM subcommittee chair Melissa Levy.

In your comment, identify the historic feature, explain how the project could affect it, and request a specific measure to avoid, minimize or mitigate that effect — for example, protecting stone walls, monitoring construction vibration, or evaluating traffic-related changes to the district’s setting.

Ask that agreed protections be incorporated into the project’s Memorandum
of Agreement, with responsibility, timing, and follow-through clearly stated.

Email: James.Barrows@ct.gov; Copy: Mandy.Ranslow@ct.gov
Subject: Project 0158-0214 – Section 106 Mitigation Request – [your address]
Mail: ATTN: James Barrows, Connecticut Department of Transportation
2800 Berlin Turnpike, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT 06131-7546

Project documents and updates: https://portal.ct.gov/Cribari-Bridge

(“06880” has covered the Cribari Bridge controversy since we began in 2009. We’ll continue to do so — with reader support. Please click here to donate to your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)

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Posted in History, Local business, Real estate, Transportation

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Pics Of The Day #3489

Posted on November 7, 2026 | 1 comment

Old Mill, near Compo Cove … 

… and not far away …  (Photos/John Maloney)

… and around the corner (Photo/Matt Murray)

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Remembering Tommy Nistico

Posted on November 7, 2026 | 12 comments

Thomas Nistico, Sr. — known universally as “Tommy,” and a member of the beloved Nistico family who epitomized old Saugatuck as owners of the Arrow restaurant, then served new generations when they revived the famed Red Barn — died yesterday. He was 76

The son of Virginia and Frank Nistico Jr., he grew up in Westport and graduated from Staples High School. He furthered his education at  Staunton Military Academy and Memphis State University, before dedicating the rest of his life to his family’s restaurant businesses.

Tommy was an avid sports fan, from football and golf to boxing and fishing. Especially important to him was his involvement in youth sports, and mentoring young children.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years Joan Domalewski Nistico; sons Thomas Jr. & his fiancée Charissa, and Daryl (Lisa); siblings Frank III, Lou, Pam, Richard, and brother-in-law Ron Domalewski, plus many nieces, nephews and godchildren.

He was predeceased by his younger brother John.

Visitation is set for Monday (November 9, 4 to 7 p.m., Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Avenue, Norwalk). A funeral service will be held Tuesday (November 10, 10 a.m., St. Philip Church, 1 Father Conlon Place, Norwalk)

In lieu of flowers, he requested any donations be made to the The Navy Seals. Checks can be written to the Navy League; in the memo line, write “for the RDAC Program.” Checks can be mailed to Captain Andrew Bisset, 18 Canfield Drive, Stamford, CT. 06902.

Tommy Nistico

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Posted in Obituaries, Restaurants, Saugatuck

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Roundup: Wakeman Lights Lawsuit, Stolen Vehicle Update, Felice Sunday Dinner …

Posted on November 7, 2026 | 8 comments

neighbors file suit to stop wakeman lights

Last month, the Planning & Zoning Commission approved a proposal for permanent lights on the Wakeman and PJ Romano athletic fields.

On Thursday, 4 Whippoorwill Lane neighbors of the Wakeman property filed suit in Bridgeport Superior Court, appealing the decision for that field.

Shelby Keefer, Christopher Mashia, and Dorothy and John Francis allege that the P&Z’s actions were “illegal, unlawful, arbitrary and capricious and in abuse of powers.”

In addition to charging that the application and supporting documents were incomplete, and the decision was “inconsistent with procedural and substantive requirements,” the plaintiffs says that use of Wakeman for evening events will “interfere with the peaceful use and enjoyment of their property.

The case will be heard December 29.

The turf field (center) is proposed for lights.  Whippoorwill Lane runs behind the grass field (top). 

POLICE: STOLEN VEHICLE UPDATE

Westport Police have provided an update on Thursday’s stolen vehicle incident.

The driver of a vehicle stolen in Enfield raced away when he saw a police cruiser on Compo Road South. He later crashed on Greens Farms Road, near Prospect Rpad.

Three suspects were quickly apprehended — one through a canine track, one on the I-95 northbound ramp, and the third walking without shoes in Fairfield.

Two were 22-year-old men from Hartford. One was a 21-year-old from Middletown. One was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and interfering with an officer ($250,000 bond); larceny of a motor vehicle, interfering with an officer and possession of a controlled substance ($75,000 bond), and larceny of a motor vehicle, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, and possession of a controlled substance ($250,000 bond).

An 18-year-old from Hartford was arrested later, after seeking assistance from a Greens Farms Road homeowner. He was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, interfering with an officer and failure to appear, and was held on a $900,000 bond.

The WPD was assisted by Fairfield and Bridgeport Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police.

book it! big library sale continues today

Bad weather was a boon to the Westport Library’s Big Fall Book Sale.

Yesterday’s opening day drew a big crowd. The big — actually, huge — event continues (in better weather) today through Monday. The schedule:

  • Today (Saturday): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Almost everything half-price; $1 fiction and $1 children’s books remain $1)
  • Monday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Shoppers can fill the Library’s logo bag for $10, or their own same-sized bag for $8, or buy individual items at half price).

Browsing for books yesterday. (Photo/Susan Garment)

mangia! felice offers traditional sunday dinner 

Felice — the hot new Main Street restaurant — says, “Somewhere between growing up and getting busy, the Sunday family dinner became a bit of a lost art.”

Now they’ve found it. And brought it back.

Every week they host an “Italian Sunday Table.” The family-style meal includes (of course!) one big table, shared plates, and no rush.

Six dishes are served family style, for $55 per person (4-person minimum; children under 10, $35; under 5, complimentary). Felice wine is $34.

Sunday dinner at Felice.

classic “nutcracker” set for playhouse stage

Sure, you can go to New York to see “The Nutcracker.”

But you can also enjoy Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet much closer to home: at the Westport Country Playhouse.

And at the Norwalk Metropolitan Youth Ballet‘s performances December 5 (1 and 6 p.m.), every role will be danced by a local student.

Including Alissa Zimon. The Greens Farms Elementary School 5th grader has the plum role of Clara.

Tickets are on sale now. Click here to purchase, and for more information.

Alissa Zimon and Marku Lehnerd-Reilly.

SHOP AT “THE mARKET”; HELP REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS

“The Market” — a holiday event featuring “goods and gifts for a greater good” — takes place Saturday, December 5 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Branson Hall at Christ & Holy Trinity Church).

Vendors — including Thistle Farms, Collected Haus antiques and Ajiri Teas, plus jewelry, accessories, ceramics and home decor — join pastry chef Michael Finehirsch, who will serve palmiers, hot chocolate and other treats.

Proceeds benefit the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants.  There is a suggested entry donation of $20 to $50.

Organizer Margaux Caniato says, “We hope to swap holiday hustle for a more meaningful shopping experience. You can support small businesses, help important causes, and choose from special items for everyone on your list.”

The weekend includes music, crafting workshops, pastry making demonstration, a community circle and more.

“hero to hero” benefit (and “blue bunny”) set for tuesday

Dave Briggs lends his substantial MC talents to many causes.

One of the best is Hero to Hero, the non-profit dedicated to transitioning servicemembers.

They, and the team behind the upcoming film “Blue Bunny,” host their 2nd joint fundraiser, “An Evening of Honor and Service,” this Tuesday (November 10, 6:30 p.m., Fairfield Theatre Company).

Guests will enjoy a sneak peek of footage from “Blue Bunny,” personal appearances from stars of the film, and powerful firsthand accounts from veterans whose lives intersect with the mission of Hero to Hero.

The evening also features food, wine, beer, and a specialty Hero cocktail. creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere in support of a meaningful cause.

Click here for tickets. For more information. click here.

WESTON HOLIDAY MARKET HELPS HEAT TOWN

Weston is a small town, with a big heart.

Next Friday and Saturday (November 13–14), the Weston Women’s League hosts “Main Street Weston,” its 14th annual holiday market, at St. Francis of Assisi Church. It features over 30 local makers, brands and boutiques.

Proceeds benefit the Weston Warm-Up Fund, which helps residents pay for heating oil, gas and electricity and covers critical heating repairs, and to Weston Human Services.

Last year the market donated $25,000, split evenly between the two.

BOAT PHOTO EARNS TOP STATE PRIZE

Congratulations to Weston photographer Peter Mendelson!

His “Boat Work” has been selected to represent Connecticut in VSCO’s “The Fifty.”

The nationwide project features 1 photographer from each state. The selected image appears on a billboard in that winner’s home state. The site of the Connecticut billboard will be announced soon.

Mendelso took his photo at a Norwalk marina, in the off-season. He was drawn to the red and blue boat hulls, weathered surfaces and intersecting boat stands.

It’s part of “New England Narratives,” his ongoing exploration of the region’s traditions and sense of place.

Mendelson retired after more than 30 years in law, to pursue fine art photography full time. He is a member of the Artists Collective of Westport, and exhibited at Faherty this past summer.

Click here for more information on the contest. Click here to learn more about Mendelson. 

“Boat Work” (Peter Mendelson)

OBITUARY: FRAN MATIK

Longtime Weston resident and local realtor Francine Matik died Wednesday in Wilton. She was 86.

The Bronx native and Hunter College graduate first worked as a speech therapist in New York schools.

She and her husband Mickey lived in Yonkers, Rochester and Simsbury, before spending 32 years in Weston.

Fran earned a real estate license in 1976. She worked with Carmen’s Country Homes, Edith Davidson Real Estate, Riverside Shavell and Coldwell Banker.

Fran loved collecting antiques and decorating. She especially enjoyws pieces with history and stories to tell. Many clients sought her help decorating their new homes.

Fran was also passionate about dance and tennis.

She found a spiritual home at Temple Israel. She was a member of the first adult bat mitzvah class, proudly learning to read Hebrew after all 4 children had become B’nai Mitzvah on the same bima.

Fran is survived by her children Leslie (Arthur) Hahn, Amy (Michael) Berkin, David (Libia) and Scott; grandchildren Jesse, Sam (Erica), Lily, Drew, James, Nicholas, Peyton, Talia and Cooper; nieces Laurie and Cathy Casriel and Myong
Feiner, and nephews Eric Casriel and Bruce Feiner. She was predeceased by her
husband Mickey, beloved sister Tamara Casriel and Tamara’s husband, Carl Casriel; sister-in-law Marilyn Feiner and Marilyn’s husband Burton Feiner, and nephew Robert Feiner.

Funeral services will be held at Abraham L. Green and Son Funeral Home in Fairfield this Sunday (11 a.m.). Shiva will be observed at the home of Amy and Michael Berkin in Weston on Sunday (2:30 to 7 p.m.) and Monday (noon to 3 p.m., 5 to 7 p.m.). To join a livestream or send a condolence, click here.

Contributions may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association or Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The family extends their gratitude to the nursing staff and care team at Evergreen at The Greens at Cannondale, and RVNA Health & Hospice of Ridgefield.

“westport … naturally” & song of the day

The number of boaters ebbs, as cooler weather settles in.

But don’t tell this guy. He’ll do his thing as long as he can.

Saranda Barisa captured the moment for “Westport … Naturally” — while (of course) out on the water.

(Photo/Saranda Barisa)

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And finally … speaking of “The Nutcracker” (as we were above):

(“06880” is gearing up for the holidays, as seen in this Roundup. Of course, it’s jampacked — 24/7/365 — with lots of other helpful items too. If you rely on us, please support us by clicking here. Thanks!)

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Posted in Arts, Library, Local politics, Obituaries, Police, Restaurants, Sports, Weston, Westport Country Playhouse

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Online Art Gallery #343

Posted on November 7, 2026 | Leave a comment

This year’s fall foliage is spectacular.

And so are some of the colors in the works shown in this week’s online art gallery.

In the photos — and paintings too.

That’s the whole idea of this feature: to showcase the many talents of our “06880” reader/artists.

No matter your age; the style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we want your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, mixed media, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.

Just email a JPG to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in.

“Descending Bear Mountain After a Sunrise Summit” (Maggie Gomez)

“Big Sur” (Claire Bangser)

“Sunrise, Eloise Ray Park” (Michael Chait — Available for purchase; click here)

“The Moon and the Shepaug River” (Patricia McMahon — Available for purchase; click here)

Untitled (June Rose Whittaker — Available for purchase; click here)

“Autumn Leaves Join the Halloween Mask Festivities” (Jerry Kuyper)

“Unmoored Vestiges” (Nancy Breakstone — Available for purchase; click here)

“Greens Farms Train Station” (Eric Bosch)

“Democrat? Republican? Other? Let’s Treat Each Other with Respect!” (Mike Hibbard)

“Sam and the Monarch” — oil on linen, 24 x 20 (Werner Liepolt)

“Let There be Light” — watercolor (Steve Stein)

“A Street in Provence” (Lawrence Weisman)

(Entrance is free to our online art gallery –as it has been for 6 years. But please consider an anniversary donation! Just click here — and thank you!)

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