Roundup: Jackie Robinson, Son Little, Little Books …

Posted on February 12, 2026 | 1 comment

Last year’s first-ever Jackie Robinson Essay Contest drew a less-than-sold-out-stadium number of entries.

This year, the sponsors — the Westport Library, Westport Center for Senior Activities, BookTrib and Meryl Moss Media — hope for many more.

Organizers say: “Jackie Robinson didn’t just break baseball’s color barrier. He broke barriers in hearts and minds, paving the way for generations to dream bigger, stand taller, and speak louder. Now, you can honor his legacy.”

This year, the contest asks community members to write — or co-write — “a heartfelt letter addressed to Jackie Robinson. Reflect on how his courage, dignity and perseverance have impacted your lives and your relationship with each other.”

Submissions are “highly encouraged” in teams of 2. Ideally, that’s one senior (60 and up) and one younger person (ages 6–21).

Individual responses, or teams of 2 of any age, are also accepted. “This is more than a writing contest — it’s a chance to build connection across generations, celebrate social progress, and share powerful stories,” organizers say.

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 finishers. Click here to submit your entry, and for more details. The deadline is March 15.

Jackie Robinson

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Yesterday, the Levitt Pavilion announced Big News: Matteo Bocelli has been booked for July 10.

Today, there’s more. Grammy Award winner Son Little has been booked for June 24 — and it’s free!

Tickets for the soul/blues/folk/hip hop/R&B artist become available to the public tomorrow (click here).

More announcements — for 50+ free nights of entertainment, and several ticketed shows — will be coming soon.

Son Little

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Valentine’s Day is Saturday.

If you haven’t already bought a gift — heck, even if you have — here’s a heart-warming idea.

For just $5.50, you can send a 1-minute digital “Singing Gram” — a heartfelt musical message celebrating love, friendship or (sorry, babe) “moving on” — to your partner (or soon-to-be-ex).

They’re courtesy of Staples Orphenians, who will sing — and deliver — your personalized message tomorrow.

Click here to order, and for more information. That’s amore!

Staples’ Orphenians performed at the Holiday Stroll. Now they’ll “perform” at the next holiday: Valentine’s Day. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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Speaking of Staples: Seniors Zander Bauer and Elijah Falkenstein — founders of the first Connecticut chapter of the national non-profit Make Our Schools Safe –were in Washington on Thursday.

They advocated for the passage of Alyssa’s Act, which would set national standards for emergency response systems.

Zander and Elijah participated in a press conference, gave interviews, and met with Congressmen, including Connecticut’s Jim Himes and Jahana Hayes.

Zander Bauer and Elijah Falkenstein, with Congressman Jim Himes.

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Speaking still of Staples: On Monday, STORMAC — the school’s co-op boys hockey team (with Norwalk and Brien McMahon Highs) — hosted “Hockey Fights Cancer Night.”

Players honored family and friends who are currently battling the disease, who fought and survived, or who are remembered and missed.

Each player took the ice holding a sign with the name of someone special, followed by a moment of silence. 

The evening was as a fundraiser. 100% of the proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.

STORMAC invites “06880” readers to join their fundraising. Click here to help them reach their goal.

STORMAC boys ice hockey team.

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For 25 years, Read To Grow has provided books to new mothers, in hospitals and through a Bookmobile.

By promoting language skills and or children from the day they’re born, the non-profit gives an early boost to families that may not be able to afford books.

Read To Grow is partnering with the Westport Rotary Club and Westport Library, in an outreach program.

On Tuesday Suzannah Holsenbeck — Read to Grow’s executive director — spoke to Rotarians.

Suzannah Holsenbeck, Executive Director of Read To Grow, a not-for-profit group based in Branford, addressed the Westport Rotary Club at its Feb 10 luncheon via Zoom.

She described the importance of having books in a home, and of parents reading daily to young children.

Suzannah Holsenbeck addresses the Rotary Club, via Zoom. (Hat tip and photo/Dave Matlow)

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Border Grill has closed.

The small mostly-takeout Mexican restaurant on Post Road East — sandwiched between ASF and the Shell station — posted a sign in the window saying “Sorry.”

But it adds “Hey Taco! Coming soon.”

We assume that means another Mexican spot.

It would be the third on that site. Border Grill replaced “Tacos or What,” owned by the legendary Dodie Perez.

The “We’re closed” sign, next to the front door. (Hat tip and photo/Jennifer Kobetitsch)

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It’s been well over 2 weeks since a snowstorm deposited a foot of snow here.

Since then — with the temperature well below freezing — the beautifully plowed piles have congealed, frozen over, and proved almost impossible to remove.

The result: treacherous going on sidewalks. And, where are forced off of them, dangerous conditions on the road.

Yesterday’s temperature — a tropical 43 — may begin the melting process. (Though when the temperature dips at night, it re-freezes.)

The high today will be 36. Who knows what that will do?

Here are some scenes from Post Road East, on Tuesday. Be careful out there!

In front of Webster Bank, at Colonial Green.

Mobil gas station, across from Playhouse Square …

… and next door, the Mobil station.

M&T bank, at Compo Road North. The manager says this is an issue for the state Department of Transportation. (Photos/Molly Alger)

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Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between February 4 and 10.

A 38-year-old Wilton man was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, failure to drive in the proper lane, operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, and improper use of marker plates, following a single vehicle accident on Riverside Avenue, at 12:25 a.m. Sunday.

Westport Police also issued these citations:

  • Texting while driving: 9 citations
  • Failure to stop at a stop sign: 7
  • Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
  • Failure to renew registration: 3
  • Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
  • Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 2
  • Operating a motor vehicle without tint inspection: 2
  • Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
  • Improper use of markers: 2
  • Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
  • Speeding in a school zone (2nd offense): 1
  • Speeding: 1
  • Distracted driving: 1
  • Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
  • Driving with an obstructed windshield: 1
  • Failure to reinstate license within 60 days: 1
  • Unreadable license plate: 1

It is illegal to drive with an unreadable license plate.

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Andrew Ippolito died peacefully at his Westport home, surrounded by family, on Monday. He was 95.

The Korean War veteran graduated from Georgetown University in international affairs, and earned a master’s in library sciences from Pratt University. He spent most of his career at Newsday, where he led the research and library department, and later founded Library Directory Associates.

Andrew was very involved in politics, and attended the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

His wife Constance died 2020. He is survived by his children Jenette, Paul (Lisa) and Michael (Caroline);  grandchildren Vanessa (Steve), Andraya (Keenan), Andrew, Dimitra, Michael, Sofia, Paul, Christofer and Lucas, and great-granchildren continues through his great-grandchildren Cosette, Charlotte, Daniel, Keenan, Jaxon and Josephine.

A wake will be held at Harding Funeral Home this Sunday (February 15, 2 to 6 p.m.). The funeral service takes place Monday (February 16, 10 a.m., St. Luke Church).

Condolences may be left online at www.hardingfuneral.com. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Andrew Ippolito

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Westporters woke up yesterday to fresh ice. It covered driveways, sidewalks, trees — and this holly bush. Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from Burritts Landing, near Saugatuck Shores.

But it could have been anywhere in town.

(Photo/Nancy Vener)

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And finally … on this date in 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born. Happy 217th, to our 16th president!

(People often wonder how to celebrate Lincoln’s birthday. We always recommending clicking here to donate to “06880” — your hyper-local blog that celebrates all things Westport, and America!)

 

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Posted in Obituaries, Police, Restaurants, Staples HS, Weather

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State DOT Describes Cribari Bid Document, March Meeting

Posted on February 12, 2026 | 2 comments

Yesterday, “06880” posted news from Representative Town Meeting member Matthew Mandell about the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s release of a bid document for the Cribari Bridge.

In response, DOT communications director Josh Morgan says: “CTDOT has made no decision whether to perform a major rehabilitation or full replacement of the Cribari Bridge.

“Given the complexities of performing work on this historic structure, it was important to have firms lined up for either potential option to ensure construction schedules are met.

“As noted numerous times in the Request for Letters-of-Interest, CTDOT was seeking prequalified firms for both major rehabilitation and replacement options of the bridge.

“If design firms were solicitated after the public hearing and after a formal decision was made, there would have been a significant impact to the construction schedule,” he explains.

Cribari Bridge (Photo/Nancy Lally)

In related news, the state DOT will hold a public hearing on March 19 (6 p.m., Town Hall), on “Rehabilitation/Replacement of the Cribari Memorial Bridge.”

The session will “provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the proposed project, and allow a place to provide feedback concerning the proposed improvements.”

The project involves “a resilient structure that addresses the structural and functional deficiencies of the the existing Cribari Memorial Bridge, which carries Route 136 over the Saugatuck River, while accommodating safe vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian and marine traffic,” the announcement adds.

DOT spokesman Morgan notes that the flyer includes both potential options: rehabilitation and replacement.

Morgan says, “We know there is interest in this project, which is why we created that Save the Date flyer so people could mark their calendars before legal notices ran in the local papers. These public notices will be published over the next several weeks inviting the public to attend the March 19 hearing. We encourage residents, businesses, and those interested in the future of the Cribari Bridge to attend the public hearing, ask questions, and give feedback.”

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Posted in Local politics, Politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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The Revaluation: How It Affects Your Taxes

Posted on February 12, 2026 | 11 comments

After last year’s property revaluation, Westport homeowners received letter with their new figures.

The 2025 Grand List — the sum of the net assessed value of all taxable property (real estate, motor vehicles, and personal property) — was released too. Driven by the revaluation, residential properties soared 60% from 2024.

Some Westporters — assuming their local taxes would rise by a similar amount — freaked out.

Andy Bangser is a lifelong Westporter and 1972 Staples High School graduate, who moved back in 1989.  He is a founder of Foundation Source. More recently he has built AI-powered websites, including The Ledge — a site that decodes Congressional bills into plain English. He offers this help, understanding the revaluation and taxes:

Property revaluation letters landed recently. The natural response is: what happens to my tax bill?

Property revaluation does not mean taxes will rise the same amount.

While I’m not an expert in this area, and do not speak for the town, I can do the math.

The mill rate will drop — but not enough to offset higher values.

Westport’s total property value (the Grand List) jumped 50.6% since Covid. If town spending stayed flat, the mill rate would fall from 18.86 to about 12.52.

But that’s not the end of the story:

  1. Spending won’t stay flat. Each 1% increase in the town budget adds roughly 0.125 to the mill rate. If the 2026-27 budget rises 4% — a reasonable estimate — the mill rate would be about 13.02.
  2. Home values rose 61% while commercial values increased only 16%. That means our homes will shoulder a larger share of the cost of town services. I estimate commercial property taxes will go down more than 20%.

Commercial properties like Bridgewater Associates’ Nyala Farm headquarters did not rise nearly as much as residential ones.

How your tax is calculated:

Mill rate × assessed value ÷ 1,000

(Assessed value is 70% of estimated market value.)

Most homeowners will pay more.

If your home’s assessment rose near the town average (about 61%), your tax bill would increase roughly 11%, even with the lower mill rate. That’s 1.61 times 13.02, divided by 18.86.

Location matters.

These are just averages, but according to town assessor Paul Friia, as reported in Westport Journal:

  • North of I-95, home values rose about 66% on average.
  • South of I-95, values rose 57%.

Your actual increase depends on how much your assessment increased relative to the rest of the town.

Still unknown:

The final town budget is not set. Appeals could also change the Grand List. Those 2 factors will determine where the mill rate ultimately lands — and how much we will pay.

(This may not be the best story to follow with this request, but: If you enjoy “06880”‘s hyper-local coverage — including budgets and taxes — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Economy, Local politics, Real estate

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Pics Of The Day #3220

Posted on February 11, 2026 | Leave a comment

Frozen Sherwood Mill Pond …

… and icy tracks at Compo Beach (Photos/Ferdinand Jahnel)

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Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day, Weather

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Appreciating Wayne Uccellini

Posted on February 11, 2026 | 13 comments

Wayne Uccellini — the longtime owner and chef of the legendary Allen’s Clam & Lobster House — died last month, at 80. (Click here, then scroll down, for his obituary.)

Dave Stalling is one of many Westporters who worked at Allen’s. The Staples High School graduate now lives in Montana. But he has fond memories of his years at the restaurant. Dave writes:

It’s difficult to imagine that anyone who went to Staples High School in the 1970s didn’t, at one time or another, work for Wayne Uccellini at Allen’s Clam & Lobster House.

Wayne and his family owned Allen’s, a once beloved Westport landmark built in 1890 by Captain Walter Allen. When I was growing up, it was a wonderful restaurant and a central part of the town’s character. (The restaurant closed in the late 1990s, was demolished in 2004, and the site is now the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve.)

Exterior and interior views of Allen’s Clam House. Today, it’s the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve.

When I attended Staples High School (Class of 1979), it seemed like almost everyone I knew worked there — washing dishes, bussing tables, prepping food or cooking.

Wayne ran the kitchen. I can still picture him clearly: dressed in his white chef’s uniform, black mustache, always smiling, efficiently moving through the kitchen. He seemed constantly busy, yet never too busy to stop and say hello or, more likely, continuing to work while visiting.

Wayne Uccellini (left) and his brother Ron in Allen’s kitchen, 1978.

We became friends. He took me fishing and grouse hunting. When I was strapped for cash, he paid me to do yard work at his home.

Later, when I came home on leave from the Marine Corps, Wayne was always genuinely happy to see me. He’d invite me into the kitchen, always cooking something up, and say, “Hey Dave, try this.” It might be a bit of scampi, some lobster or a bowl of clam chowder to bring home. He always asked how my mom and dad were doing.

Wayne was kind, generous and compassionate, always eager to help anyone in need.

The Uccellini family.

A lifelong resident of Westport, Wayne was a graduate of Staples High School, Class of 1964, and proudly served in the US Army. He and his wonderful wife Karen raised their 3 children in Westport.

I will always remember Wayne as a cherished friend and mentor — someone who gave countless high school students their very first jobs, and left a lasting, positive influence on the town of Westport.

Wayne Uccellini 

 

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Posted in Looking back, Obituaries, Restaurants

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Suspect Arrested In Coleytown Bomb Threat

Posted on February 11, 2026 | 13 comments

Westport Police have arrested a 29-year-old Southbury man, in connection with a November threat against Coleytown Elementary School. 

On November 3, at 7:34 a.m., the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center received a text to 911, saying, “I’ll blow up Coleytown Elementary School.”

The school day was delayed 2 hours. Buses were rerouted to Coleytown Middle School, and people in the building were evacuated to CMS. Everyone in the middle school was advised to shelter in place.

Westport, Fairfield and Norwalk Police Department explosive detection canine units, along with the Stamford Police Department’s Bomb Squad, conducted a systematic search of the premises.

An extensive search yielded no explosives.

Coleytown Elementary School (foreground); Coleytown Middle School (rear). (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)

The cell phone from where the message originated was traced. It was found on the man, who was located by officers a short distance from the school  while the search was ongoing.

He initially claimed that his phone had been hacked. Further investigation, including a forensic examination of the device, interviews with the suspect and coordination with other agencies investigating similar incidents, tied the allegation to the man.

An arrest warrant was sought and granted. He was charged with threatening, falsely reporting an incident, misuse of 911, computer crime in furtherance of terroristic purposes, and breach of peace.

He was unable to post $100,000 bond, and was arraigned today.

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Posted in Education, Police

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Unsung Hero #421

Posted on February 11, 2026 | 13 comments

Homes with Hope president and CEO Helen McAlinden, and board chair Becky Martin, nominate this week’s Unsung Hero. They write:

This honor perfectly reflects Katharine Murray’s extraordinary contributions to Homes with Hope, and the broader Westport community.

Katharine recently earned a well-deserved promotion to chief of staff. This newly updated title and role formally recognizes the leadership, strategic insight and operational excellence she has long brought to our organization.

Katharine Murray (center), with Homes with Hope president and CEO Helen McAlinden (left), and vice president and chief operating officer Paris Looney. (Photo/Dave Matlow)

As chief of staff Katharine plays a pivotal role in  overseeing key departments, including Development, Marketing, Grant Writing, Community Relations, and the Food Pantry.

She works in close partnership with the leadership team, as well as the entire staff she collaborates with daily. She builds trust, fosters collaboration, and supports teams across the organization.

Katharine joined Homes with Hope as a marketing and development professional in 2022, but her role quickly evolved as her willingness to step in wherever needed became impossible to overlook. Over the years she quietly and effectively took on responsibilities spanning Marketing, Development, Grants, Operations, Events, Agency Data Management, and Pantry Program Oversight.

Her promotion to chief of staff is a formal acknowledgment of the role she has long fulfilled with grace, intelligence, and tireless dedication.

With Katharine’s steadfast partnership and leadership, Homes with Hope has grown into an agency that serves more than 3,000 individuals annually.

Katharine’s impact is evident across every corner of the organization. She assumed full coordination of recent renovations to the Gillespie Center and Susie’s House. She helped source furniture and décor to ensure residents would experience not just shelter, but a beautiful, welcoming and dignified place to call home. Her thoughtful, creative and cost-effective design choices are apparent when entering either facility.

Katharine Murray (far left), with volunteers and Westport Police officers at the Homes with Hope food pantry, following a donation drive.

Her leadership is especially visible at the Gillespie Center Pantry. Last year the pantry recorded 9,150 visits, served 1,199 registered households, and supported more than 3,000 individuals.

Despite increased demand, the environment feels less like a pantry and more like a thoughtfully curated community market providing choice, quality, and dignity.”

Katharine leads by example. She drives the van, picks up food, carries supplies, stocks shelves, checks inventory, places orders, and steps in wherever help is needed. Bilingual. she regularly supports Spanish-speaking pantry participants.

Behind the scenes, she quietly delivers groceries to elderly or ill neighbors.

Katharine has significantly elevated Homes with Hope’s fundraising and community presence, helping lead events like Gather Round the Table and Stand Up Comedy Night.

Katharine Murray, at a Rotary Club/Police Department food drive.

Katharine is a familiar presence at food drives led by Sunrise Rotary, Westport Rotary Club, the Westport Police Department, and countless community organizations, faith groups and schools. Her warmth, approachability, and genuine care for others embody the spirit of Homes with Hope.

Katharine arrives early and stays late. She is present, accessible, and deeply committed to both the mission and the people who carry it forward.

We wish Katharine continued success as she partners with Helen, Paris, Jacque, Katie and the entire Homes with Hope team to move the agency forward—stronger, more resilient, and more impactful than ever.

(“06880” is proud to honor Unsung Heroes — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog.)

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Roundup: Matteo Bocelli, Jake Sussman, David Pogue …

Posted on February 11, 2026 | 1 comment

Thanks to all who have tried our new “06880” AI widget.

We introduced it yesterday. Several hundred readers clicked on the box, to explore 17 years of blog posts.

Missed the story? Click here. And where is the widget? Top right, on the home page. (Sorry, it’s not yet available on the app.)

Some people were excited by the deep-dive results. Some were not.

Remember: Using artificial intelligence is different from clicking on our archive box.

A regular search engine will look for all references to whatever you type in. That’s fine if you want, say, a list of stories that contain, say, “Long Lots Elementary School” or “Kevin Christie.”

Our AI widget does much more. But only if it understands your prompt.

You’re better off saying, “What were the main arguments for and against renovating Long Lots Elementary School?”

Or “What promises did Kevin Christie make during the 2026 first selectman race?”

Think of the AI widget as a conversation partner. You wouldn’t simply ask someone, “Jen Tooker?” would you?

(Unless you thought you were meeting the former 1st selectwoman, but were not sure.)

It takes some getting used to.

And the “06880” widget is getting used to our readers too.

Stick with it. Work with it. Learn from it. The results will be worth it.

PS: The old “archives” box is still there, where it always was: on the right side, halfway down. Just type in general search keywords — “Long Lots Elementary School,” say — and you’ll get all those exact matches.

Here’s where to find our new “06880” widget.

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Sure, the Levitt Pavilion — and everything else here — is covered with snow.

But eventually, we’ll be outdoors, in lawn chairs, listening to …

Matteo Bocelli.

The Italian singer — and son of tenor Andrea Bocelli — will step on the Westport stage July 10. It’s part of his “Falling in Love” world tour.

Member tickets went on sale yesterday. The public sale begins at 10 a.m. Friday (February 13).

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Levitt reminds everyone: Tickets to Bocelli “are certainly romance-infused.”

As for presents: A Pavilion gift card can be used toward any paid ticket shows, as well as membership.

The season runs from late May to mid-October. It includes several paid-ticket events, along with over 50 free shows. (Hat tip: Karen Como)

Matteo Bocelli

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Jake Sussman knows something about smart kids, and learning disabilities.

The Westport native — who struggled mightily with ADHD before graduating from the Forman School, then the University of Hartford — ultimately learned to advocate for himself.

Now, as co-founder (with his brother Max) and president of Superpower Mentors, he connects men and women who have gone on the same journey he did, with people who are just learning how to cope with ADHD, dyslexia, autism and other learning differences.

Jake’s advocacy continues on February 28, at Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities Inc.’s 8th annual Parent Conference

He’ll be part of the daylong conference at Fairfield University). It provides parents and educators with hands-on resources to help children
with learning and attention differences succeed.

The schedule includes round-table sessions, panel discussions, exhibitors, and opportunities to speak with private school administrators, tutors, and businesses that focus on assistance for children with learning difficulties.

For information on the conference and how to register, click here.

Jake Sussman

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David Pogue no longer lives in Westport.

But the “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent, “Nova” host, best-selling author– and so much more — still has many friends here.

They’ll be glad to know that — 12 years after he stopped writing his very informative New York Times tech column — he’s back on that beat.

With Substack.

Pogue’s first piece is headlined “Dammit! Tesla’s Self-Driving Has Gotten Amazing. Just kind of wish the tech came from a better company.”

It’s a great look inside recent advances in this aspect of the auto industry. (Spoiler alert: You’re no longer likely to die.)

Near the end, Pogue poses a series of questions I’ve never seen anywhere else:

What happens to car insurance when people aren’t driving? What happens to driver’s ed and driver’s licenses, when even a 12-year-old can hail a self-driving taxi? What happens to car ownership when it no longer makes economic sense?

When only a fraction as many people own cars, will they convert their garages to living space? What happens to parking lots? Will the layout of cities change?

His Substack is free. There are no ads or paywall — just David Pogue, at his best.

Click here to read the full piece (and subscribe).

David Pogue

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A large crowd enjoyed the Westport Country Playhouse’s February Script in Hand offering on Monday.

The 1-person performance of “The Goldsmith” was all about Sharone Sayegh. The Broadway actor wrote the script, and played various family member roles in the sentimentally humorous show about her Iraqi/Israeli family, who emigrated to Los Angeles.

Actor Sharone Sayegh (front, center) with (from left) director Zachary Prince, Playhouse artistic director Mark Shanahan and stage manager Jinghong Zhu. (Photo/Dave Matlow)

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Speaking of theater: The Y’s Women went “backstage” on Monday.

Kevin Connors — executive artistic director of Music Theater of Connecticut — described the power of lighting and projection to touch an audience, change a mood and impact a play.

“Theater is not just observed” at MTC, he said. “You are right in the middle of it.”

Kevin Connors, at the Y’s Women meeting. (Photo/Vera DeStefano)

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Westport Museum of History & Culture executive director Ramin Ganeshram is also a food writer. Her book The General’s Cook: A Novel is about Hercules Posey, the African-American chef enslaved by George Washington who self-emancipated in 1797.

On Monday the New York Times published her piece about cherry bounce, titled “This George Washington Story Is Actually True.”

The subhead says: “While tales of his copping to chopping a cherry tree were just lore, the nation’s first president did partake of this cherry drink.” Click here to read the story (with a link to the recipe.) (Hat tip: Tom Prince)

(Graphic/Luke Wohlgemuth for the New York Times)

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We’ve featured plenty of fine feathered friends, in our “Westport … Naturally” daily post.

But we may never have seen as close a close-up as this:

(Photo/Celia Campbell-Mohn)

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And finally … in honor of George Washington and his love for cherry drinks:

(It’s Roundup time! Then again, it is every day right around now. “06880” is here for you: 24/7/365. Please click here to help sustain our work. Thank you all …)

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Posted in Education, Entertainment, technology, Transportation, Westport Country Playhouse

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Cribari Bridge Design: Already Out To Bid

Posted on February 11, 2026 | 12 comments

Matthew Mandell is a Representative Town Meeting member from District 1. 

It includes Saugatuck — and the Cribari Bridge.

Late last night, Mandell sent out a Paul Revere-style email. Referring to the state Department of Transportation (DOT), he wrote:

THE DOT HAS GONE TO BID FOR THE DESIGN OF THE (NEW) BRIDGE

I think this comes as news to all of us. We were waiting for a follow up meeting after the December meeting that left most nonplussed.

Here is the bid, due back March 5.

Cribari Bridge (Drone photo/Alex O’Brien)

The question is: How can the DOT go to bid if the Environmental Study is not complete, as well as the Section 106 Federal Historic Study also being incomplete?

Maybe they can, but it seems out of order. It certainly catches us all by surprise. (For a previous”06880″story on Section 106, click here.)

There is also a DOT meeting set for Westport on March 19. I surely had not heard about this one either, but there it was on the site. Click here to see the flyer.

Here is the whole DOT site to read about all aspects of the bridge and project.

This is a bit befuddling for sure.

Timing is everything. In the last few days, hearing from concerned residents regarding the bridge, RTM Districts 1, 4 and 9, as the closest districts to the bridge, were planning to have a public meeting to discuss the bridge.

We wanted to also hear from the public as well. in a different venue than that of a DOT meeting. There has not be something close to a resident discussion since the PAC in 2018.

While there are different views on what should be done, the idea of large trucks seems to be a common thread. We are working on a date toward the end of the month. It will be via Zoom.

(Other RTM districts, hold tight. I spoke with the moderator. Let’s get this one going and have it not be a meeting of the body. Attend if you want of course, and it can expand if needed as we move forward.)

I always say we need to remain vigilant. Thanks to a diligent ally who went to the site to simply take a look at what might be up.

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Posted in Local politics, Politics, Saugatuck, Transportation

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TEAM Westport Teen Essay Contest Topic: Declaration Of Independence

Posted on February 11, 2026 | 5 comments

This year, America celebrates 250 years of the Declaration of Independence.

It’s a lot older than TEAM Westport. But it’s a perfect topic for the town commission’s 13th Annual Teen Diversity Essay Contest.

This year’s prompt is:

This year, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a document which Abraham Lincoln called “a rebuke and a stumbling-block to tyranny and oppression.”

The Declaration of Independence was a product of its time, drafted to rally the colonists to defy Great Britain, support the creation of an autonomous and independent nation and attract allies to its cause.

Nonetheless, its claims have been universalized and imbued with fresh meaning by people here and around the world who have regarded it as an enduring beacon of hope in their own work to seek equal rights, freedom and self-determination.

The famous words in the Declaration’s preamble proclaiming as a self-evident truth that all men are created equal and have inalienable rights endowed by their Creator, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have been widely employed to assert the inherent dignity and fundamental human rights of each person.

The Declaration of Independence is a foundational document in American political and social life that also inspires TEAM Westport’s mission: to build a community where diversity is welcomed, and inclusion, respect, and belonging are actively extended to all who live, work, attend school, or visit in Westport — regardless of ethnicity, gender identity, race, religion, and sexual orientation.

 In 1,000 words or less please comment on the following:

 1) The relevance and value of the Declaration of Independence in your everyday life and your duties or obligations, if any, to uphold its principles for all people living within our democratic society;

AND…

2) Opportunities, if any, you believe town leaders (including fellow students, school officials, community members, and TEAM Westport) could create to act differently or additionally to reinforce the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

For the past 23 years, TEAM Westport has been a town-appointed committee focused on making Westport a welcoming community with respect to race, ethnicity, religion and LGBTQ+.

“With this contest every year, we seek student input on important topics,” said TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey. “However, at this time and on this subject, nothing could be more relevant for contemplation.”  

The contest is open to all students in grades 9-12 who are Westport residents, or attend a Westport school (public or private).

Up to 3 cash prizes will be awarded. The first prize is $1,000; second prize is $750; third prize is $500.

The deadline is March 16. Winners will be honored in a Westport Library ceremony on April 28.

Click here for essay applications, the prompt, and contest entry rules.

2025 essay winners (from left): then-1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Westport Library director Bill Harmer, Annam Olasewere, Aanya Gandhi, Sienna Tzou, Souleye Kebe, Staples High principal Stafford Thomas, TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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