Namhee Stokvis is a Westport resident, with 2 children in local schools. “Every member of my family cherishes and enjoys everything and everyone that Westport has offered so far,” she says. Namhee writes:
There are many visible expressions of humanism in Westport, in the broadest sense of the word: people caring for one another.
Countless charities and volunteer efforts support vulnerable neighbors, children, and adults. Kindness, generosity, and civic responsibility are woven into the town’s identity, and that deserves real gratitude.
For neighbors who are economically vulnerable, Westport offers a wide network of support: Near and Far Aid, A Better Chance, Pink Aid, Homes with Hope, the Westport Woman’s Club, the Women’s League of Westport, and many programs run by local churches.
Humanism also shows up in programs for residents with physical and
cognitive disabilities. myTeam Triumph, Challenger Baseball, Wakeman Town Farm, and adaptive programs at the YMCA and Westport Parks & Recreation all depend on dedicated volunteers and staff working to expand access.
Challenger Baseball is a popular town program. (Photos/Beth Cody)
And yet, alongside all of this, there is a striking absence.
Once children with complex disabilities reach 11, Westport has almost nowhere for them to go in the summer, while typically developing children face an overflowing menu of camps.
Families look to other towns, such as Wilton and Fairfield, for appropriate and
supportive programs.
The adaptive programs that do exist are run by committed people but they are often stretched thin, with limited staffing and limited training in children’s
specific needs, which can make participation hard or impossible.
Westport offers an abundance of shows, concerts and community events, yet few are designed so that families of children with disabilities can attend and feel safe.
For most residents, Westport offers richness. Our neighbors with disabilities too often encounter scarcity.
Our schools reflect a similar pattern. After-school programs, clubs and classes are plentiful for typically developing students, but families find few that are designed so students with disabilities can participate and learn meaningfully.
Too often, program development centers on cutting-edge opportunities for students without difficulties, and students with disabilities are treated as an afterthought rather than as a constituency with an equal right to enrichment, growth and belonging.
This is where I call for advanced humanism. Humanism asks, “How can we help?”
Advanced humanism asks, “Who is still left out, and what would it take to include them?”
Advanced humanism moves beyond charity toward equity. It pairs generosity with inclusion, service with structural change, and kindness with the courage to confront gaps in how our community is designed.
Humanism is not complete while some neighbors flourish and others are left without access, opportunity, or safety.
In practice, that could mean summer programs for older children with complex
disabilities, regular sensory-friendly performances at town venues, and placing students with disabilities at the center, alongside their typically developing peers, as the Board of Education and the district shape their education plans.
Westport has the heart for advanced humanism. We see it every day in the volunteers, donors and neighbors who show up for one another.
The next step is a commitment to build a town where every neighbor, regardless of ability, can share in the richness we so proudly celebrate.
We can begin by deepening our curiosity, attention and care, so we can better see who is left out and what is needed to welcome them fully.
That commitment belongs to all of us. Town leaders and the schools can consider the needs of people with disabilities and their families from the very beginning of planning.
Program directors can look for ways to involve people of all abilities in shaping their programs.
And each of us, as residents, can pay attention to who is missing from the places we love and help make room for everyone.
CHRISTOPHER LLOYD, STAPLES & THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Nearly a dozen readers alerted me this week to a Wall Street Journal interview with Christopher Lloyd.
After describing his upbringing on the 400-acre Waveny estate in New Canaan — now a beautiful park and recreation area for the town — the Emmy-winning actor (“Back to the Future,” “Taxi,” “Nobody”) mentioned briefly what happened after he transferred to Staples High midway through his junior year. (He’d been bullied at his boarding school.)
“The drama teacher cast me in ‘Charley’s Aunt,'” he said. “I soon got a feel for acting.”
Either the 88-year-old star is downplaying what happened, he misremembered it, or the editors cut out the rest.
Christopher Lloyd was not simply “cast” in the show.
He helped create Staples Players.
As I wrote in “120 Years of A+ Education” — my history of Staples High School — Craig Matheson was an English (not drama) teacher, in the last year at the Riverside Avenue building (now Saugatuck Elementary School).
Principal Stan Lorenzen and some students wanted something more than the “senior class plays” that had been staged for years.
“I found Christopher Lloyd,” Matheson told me when I interviewed him in 2004.
“He was a marginal student, but he was interested in theater. He came to my small apartment on Turkey Hill Road, and we had a long conversation about theater.
“He helped me get started with our first production later that year. It was at Long Lots, on the stage in the gym. (The old Staples did not have a stage.)
The next year, the school moved to North Avenue. There was a real auditorium (though built primarily for music, not theater).
Matheson became Staples Players’ first director. The rest is history.
An interesting twist in the long-running debate over the fate of the Cribari Bridge has been: Who actually owns it?
It’s on a state road (Route 136), and the Connecticut Department of Transportation has led maintenance and rehabilitation efforts for decades.
But questions have arisen as to whether the town ever gave, sold, or otherwise conveyed it to the state.
In answer to an email from Bridge Street resident and longtime Cribari Bridge observer/activist Werner Liepolt, 1st Selectman Kevin Christie responded last night:
We have looked into the ownership question and, based on what we have reviewed to date, have not found documentation establishing that the Town owns the Cribari Bridge.
I also asked Town Attorney Ira Bloom and his staff to review the available information and applicable statutes. Ira’s initial assessment is that the statutory framework governing state highways and bridges, together with the actions of the Town and State over at least the past sixty years, strongly indicate State ownership.
Cribari Bridge. State workers open it to allow maritime traffic to pass underneath. (Photo/Mark Mathias)
DEBBIE ALLEN: BOOKED FOR A GREAT EVENING
Emmy Award-winning director, choreographer, producer, actress, educator and United States Cultural Ambassador of Dance Debbie Allen has earned 3 Emmys, a Golden Globe, 5 NAACP Image Awards, a Drama Desk honor, the first-ever Astaire Award for Best Dancer, 4 honorary doctorates, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
She has choreographed the Academy Awards 10 times, directed and produced episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “A Different World,” and was the creative force behind Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad.”
Last night she added another honor. She headlined the Westport Library’s annual “Booked for the Evening” gala.
Allen captivated the large crowd, in a conversation with another powerful, talented and creative woman: Shonda Rhimes.
Debbie Allen, at the Westport Library. (Photo/DinkinESH Fotografix)
SPINNAKER OFFERS SAUGATUCK UPDATE
Spinnaker Real Estate Partners — developers of the Saugatuck property bordered by Riverside Avenue, Railroad Place and Charles Street — say:
“We are pleased to have formally submitted our zoning applications for the redevelopment of 606 Riverside. The applications and the plans within them reflect the generous feedback we’ve received from stakeholders, the Architectural Review Board, and the Planning & Zoning Commission through several pre-application meetings, as well as our ongoing dialogue with the community over the past several months.
“We believe the vision for this important property has evolved favorably as a result of that input. The plans are now presented in a more complete and detailed form, which allows the Planning & Zoning Commission and the subject-matter experts across the town’s commissions and departments to fully analyze the technical aspects of the proposal.
“We look forward to continuing the conversation with the Commission and the community throughout the land-use process and beyond. Our goal remains to integrate this significantly underutilized property into the neighborhood in a way that respects its context and reflects Westport’s high standards.”
Spinnaker’s plan — the view from Franklin Street.
senior center invites VETS TO NOVEMBER 11 LUNCH
Plenty of veterans are regulars at the Westport Center for Senior Activities.
Many others have never been. All veterans — of all ages and all branches — are invited to a Veterans Day lunch there.
It’s Tuesday, November 10 (12 noon) menu includes vegetable bisque, beef stew, roasted potatoes, roasted asparagus and (of course) apple pie.
Speaker Jay Dirnberger is a decorated Vietnam War vet. He participated in the Tet offensive, the siege of Khe Sanh and the invasion of the A Shau Valley. He was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 22 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star.
For non-military guests, there is a suggested donation of $6 to $8. All attendees should call 203-341-5097 to register.
Jay Dirnberger
TEDX COMING TO TOWN
Eight speakers take the Town Hall auditorium stage on November 8 (3 p.m.), for a special Westport TEDx event.
Speakers include:
● Kyle Martino: “The Youth Sports Monster: The Alarming Trend of the Commercialization of Youth Sports.”
● Dr. Mahsa Khodabakhsh: “The Biology of Compassion: The Missing Variable in Modern Medicine.”
● Gilda Bonanno: “The First 30 Seconds: Creating Connection with Someone New.”
● Dr. Amy Arnsten: “How Stress Shuts Down the Rational Brain.”
● Nisheeth Vishnoi: “What Happens to Us When We Let AI Do the Thinking?”
● Adam Moore: “Why We Do What We Do (And How to Stop Doing It)”
● Mark M. Melendez: “Beyond the Mirror: The Rejuvenation Paradox”
Last Sunday was special at Saugatuck Congregational Church.
The 194-year-old congregation installed Rev. Dr. Steven Savides as its 23rd senior minister.
Though he served as pastor for the past year, the United Church of Christ installation tradition is a sacred and joyful occasion. He and the congregation promised mutual support, shared ministry, and commitment to the future of the
church.
Words of welcome were given by 1st Selectman Kevin Christie, and Rev. Dr. Pete
Powell on behalf of the Westport/Weston Clergy Association.
Rev. Dr. Steven Savides
RAVEIS OFFERS GOLD
William Raveis’ “Gold for Good” Event offers attendees to turn unwanted gold and silver jewelry, coins and collectables into cash.
And, at the same time, help fund cancer research.
Attendees can sell their items — from broken chains and earrings to vintage pieces gathering dust. Monetary donations are welcome too. All proceeds benefit the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
It’s November 20 and 21 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m., William Raveis, 47 Riverside Avenue).
SHAKE SHACK AND SAUGATUCK EL
Shake Shack is clear across town from Saugatuck Elementary School.
But on Tuesday, they’re partnering on a fundraiser.
All day — from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. — they’ll donate 25% of your total meal to the SES PTA.
Just mention “Donation Day” at checkout, or type “Donate” on the ShackApp or kiosk.
The PTA urges all Westport families to help. They suggest: “If you’re out of ideas how to occupy the kids on a no-school day, or while running from one sports clinic to another, or heading home after voting, stop in at Shake Shack!”
today’s halloween house
We’re getting near the end of these holiday photos.
This one is not spooky, though. There are no ghosts or goblins, 30-foot skeletons, webs or witches.
Just a nice, handsome home on Hillspoint Road, with a few scarecrows and pumpkins in front.
The family that lives here is probably just as friendly too as the folks in front.
(Photo/Ed Simek)
LANDMARK PRESCHOOL CELEBRATES 30 YEARS
Congratulations to Landmark Preschool!
The early childhood education center is celebrating 30 years in Westport.
For reflections on those 3 decades from director Siobhan Powers, click here.
CLUB 203: MARITIME BOUND
CLUB203 is heading to the Maritime Aquarium.
Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities will enjoy 2 hours of friendship, exploration and Thanksgiving cheer on November 17 (6 to 8 p.m.).
Aquarium staff will lead interactive experiences, including access to exhibits and touch tanks
CLUB203’s creative partner, MoCA\CT, will offer a special Thanksgiving-themed art project. The evening is funded by the Westport Woman’s Club and Westport Rotary Club. For more information, click here.
POLICE REPORTS
Westport Police made 2 custodial arrests between October 21 and 27.
An 81-year-old Westport woman was charge with failure to appear. She was released on a $1,000 bond.
A 30-year-old Queens man was charged with failure to appear. He was released on a promise to appear.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 3 citations
Traveling unreasonably fast: 2
Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 2
Failure to renew registration: 2
School zone violation: 1
Operating a motor vehicle using handheld electronic device: 1
Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
Cruelty to animals: 1
Possession of a vicious/barking dog: 1
Permitting a dog to roam: 1
This is presumably not the vicious dog whose owner was cited.
“westport … naturally” & song of the day
Fall foliage gets plenty of press — deservedly so.
But there’s more to autumn than meets the (leafy) eyes.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo offers this view of Rayfield Road, from Jerry Kuyper’s deck.
And finally … this date in 1929 became known as “Black Tuesday.” The New York Stock Exchange crashed, ending the Great Bull Market of the 1920s. The Great Depression soon followed.
In 1940, Richard Rodgers attended a production of “Green Grow the Lilacs” there. Inspired, he and his lyricist partner Oscar Hammerstein wrote a show incorporating its folk songs and square dance elements. Three years later, “Oklahoma!” premiered on Broadway.
In 1952 Alan Jay Lerner saw “Pygmalion” on the Playhouse stage. Four years later, his and Frederick Loewe’s adaptation — “My Fair Lady” — mesmerized the Great White Way.
It’s been the site of world premieres too, including William Inge’s “Come Back, Little Sheba” in 1949; “Butterflies Are Free” (1969), and “Thurgood” (2006, starring James Earl Jones).
Nearing the century mark, the Playhouse has not lost its mojo.
The current show — “Ken Ludwig’s Pride & Prejudice, Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley” — is another world premiere.
And — judging from the laughter, audience buzz and interest from directors across the country — this show might follow in its predecessors’ stage-lit footsteps.
Reg Rogers as Napoleon Bonaparte, Mathias Goldstein as Lieutenant Melville, Carson Elrod as Major Hudson Low. (Photo/Carol Rosegg)
Mounting a production in a regional theater like the Playhouse is no easy task. This one demanded even more — work, money, problem-solving — than most.
The road to Westport began when Ludwig’s agent sent WCP artistic director Mark Shanahan the script. They’ve known each other since Shanahan acted in the world premiere (of course) of Ludwig’s “Treasure Island” in 2007. In the years since, Shanahan directed several of his plays.
Shanahan was captivated by the new comedy — and the chance to stage it.
“Ken is so prolific and successful,” the director says of the Tony, Olivier and Drama Desk Award winner, whose works have been performed in over 30 countries, in 20 languages.
“And he sent it to us for a world premiere!”
Delphi Borich as Elizabeth Darcy and Tony Roach as Fitzwilliam Darcy. (Photo/Carol Rosegg)
Ludwig had never been to the iconic red theater. But he knew it’s not far from New York, so he’d have access to the excellent actors the show needed.
Shanahan, meanwhile, knew he’d have to invest more resources than usual to do it justice. With the help of Playhouse board chair Athena Adamson and her husband Daniel, funds were raised for a week-long workshop in the Theater District.
It was an important step. Ludwig had never heard the words he’d written performed out loud.
“He saw where the jokes landed, and the silent moments,” Shanahan recalls. “Fortunately, most of the laughs came in the right places.”
Ken Ludwig, at the opening night reception. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
Ludwig came to Westport from his Washington home for rehearsals, then sat in the audience — always different seats — for the first performances. Along the way, he consulted with director Emily Mann. (The American Theater Hall of Fame member is a big name in the theater world too; she served for 30 years as artistic director of Princeton’s McCarter Theater.)
The Playhouse found housing for Mann — another expense it cannot always afford. (They take care of their actors and directors as much as possible, including hotels during tech week and vans back to New York after shows.)
Some of Ludwig and Mann’s fine tuning worked. Some changes were discarded.
“Giving birth to a play is a process,” Shanahan explains. “You need time. It’s not like a proven show.”
Lucy Austin as Lydia Wickham, Allison Wick as Anne de Bourgh, and Mathias Goldstein as Lieutenant Melville. (Photo/Carol Rosegg)
Ludwig enjoyed his time in the Playhouse immensely. He admired the posters hanging in the lobby, and reveled in so many famous actors and directors.
“It’s so wonderful to add his name to our history, and our other world premieres,” Shanahan says.
There are not many theaters in the country with 95 years of history. “This one has been through so many twists and turns. You never know what will happen.”
What happened is fortuitous. Ludwig told Shanahan, “It really found a home.”
Now many artistic directors are reaching out to him, hoping to produce “Pride & Prejudice: Part 2.”
“We all need a laugh right now,” he notes.
Mark Shanahan, at the Westport Country Playhouse. (Photo/Dan Woog)
While staging an Equity production in a union theater is expensive, Shanahan and the Playhouse board strive to make their shows affordable.
They offer discounts to seniors, students, school employees, servicemembers and veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and indigenous people.
Organizations like the Y’s Men and Y’s Women, Rotary Clubs and Senior Center often get tickets too.
Next Wednesday (November 4) is a “Pay What You Will” performance, starting at $10.
Audiences have less than 2 weeks to see “Pride & Prejudice: Part 2” — at least, before (fingers crossed) Broadway. It runs here through November 7. (Click here for tickets, and more information. For a special Halloween performance with a pre-show party for just $25, click here.)
Meanwhile, the Westport Country Playhouse is not resting on its 95-year laurels — or the success of the current show.
The next show — “The Pancake Club,” starring Judith Ivey (April 28 to May 8) — is also a world premiere.
Richard Rodgers, Alan Jay Lerner and James Earl Jones would be very proud.
(“06880” reports regularly on the Westport Country Playhouse — and all the rest of Westport’s diverse arts life. If you enjoy stories like these, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Fall is settling in (Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday!).
So on November 5, the Westport Farmers’ Market heads indoors. They’ll settle into their wonderful winter home: the 3 warm greenhouses at Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center.
Running every Thursday, and the first Saturday of every month through March 11 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), the winter market is not a scaled-back version of the summer season. It’s a full experience, with great vendors.
“Fresh, local food doesn’t take a winter break — and neither do we,” says WFM executive director Lori Cochran-Dougall.
“The winter market is one of my favorite things. There is something special about walking into those warm greenhouses on a cold morning, and watching the community gather around good food when the rest of the world has gone quiet.”
tantrums! limits! Tough moments at Home!
Sure, it’s tough to leave your 18-month-old to 5-year-old child.
But tomorrow (Thursday, October 29, 7:30 p.m.), find a sitter (or spouse or sibling).
Child development specialist (and mom of 3 boys) Dr. Chloe Massey offers a workshop called “A Compassionate Approach to Tantrums, Limits, and the Toughest Moments at Home.”
The new head of Redding’s Park & Recreation Department has roots in that town.
And Westport.
Jaime Bairaktaris — president of Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, former Representative Town Meeting member, longtime Earthplace educator and publisher of The Westport Local Press — takes over November 3.
The 2016 Staples High School graduate attended Redding Elementary School (and played youth sports there). He began volunteering with WVEMS as a Staples freshman. (Hat tip: John Karrel)
Jaime Bairaktaris
HOLIDAY DECOR sALE HELPS STAPLES MUSICIANS
It’s not too early to start thinking about holiday wreaths, garlands, planters and more.
And it’s never too early to help the Staples Music Department.
With plenty of projects and trips ahead, the Staples Music Parents Association has launched a fundraiser to help the choral, orchestra and band programs.
Staples High School dance team. (Photo/Jerri Graham)
DOG PADDLE
The water is still (relatively) warm. So why not head out, with your best friend?
I’m sure she was glad to join you!
(Photo/Michael Szeto)
TODAY’S HALLOWEEN HOMES
If you’re thinking of trick or treating in the Compo Beach neighborhood — and who isn’t? — here are a couple of extra-spooky decorations nearby:
(Photo/Michael Szeto)
hey, gym rats: put your phones down!
An “06880” reader asks for anonymity for this piece. But — as an avid Westport Weston Family YMCA Fitness (aka “Wellness”) Center user — I totally agree. He writes:
“After 8 months on the waiting list, I was finally admitted to the Westport Y. After nearly a decade of fitness classes at boutique studios, I looked forward to having access to a full gym.
“What surprised me was how much time people spend on their phones while they’re there.
“I know this isn’t unique to the Y. Walk into almost any large gym these days and you’ll see the same thing. I get it — phones are part of our lives. People use them for music, workout apps, timers and the occasional text.
“But there’s a difference between checking your phone and settling into a piece of equipment for 5 minutes of doom-scrolling while someone is waiting.
“I’m not talking about a reasonable rest between sets. Take your time. Catch your breath. Recover. That’s part of working out.
“But when I’m standing there waiting for a machine and someone is completely absorbed in their phone, I have to ask ‘Are you done?’ more often than I’d like.
“My workout time is limited. After a long, stressful day at the office, getting to the gym is one of the ways I blow off steam. I’d rather spend that time exercising than waiting for someone’s TikTok session to end.
“The Y has signs asking members to be mindful of cellphone use around the equipment. I don’t expect staff to become the phone police, but some gentle enforcement — or simply reminding people that the equipment is shared — would help.
“I’m not asking anyone to surrender their phone at the door. Just remember that you share the gym with other people who are trying to get their workout in, too.
“Rest between sets. Check your phone if you need to. Just don’t let 5 minutes of scrolling become another set.”
Not the Y. But it could be.
VFW BENEFITS LUNCHEON TOMORROW
The next Veterans Benefits Luncheon is tomorrow (Thursday, October 29, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), VFW Post 399).
It’s open to all veterans as part of an ongoing effort to check in on all veterans’ welfare, and connect them with the benefits and support they earned.
Representatives will answer questions, and provide information on services and assistance available to veterans.
RSVPs are encouraged (but not required). Email vfw399ct@gmail.com, and include the number of attendees, or call (203) 227-6796.
PS: If you’re not a veteran, but know one: Please pass the word!
“westport … naturally” & song of the day
We’ve had so many great hunter moon-rise photos, we’ll run one more.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes courtesy of Cindy Zuckerbrod.
(Photo/Cindy Zuckerbrod)
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And finally … following up on the workshop about the “Compassionate Approach to Tantrums” workshop (item above):
One topic that interests nearly all Westporters is real estate. Our homes are (often) our biggest investments. We want to know where the market is, and where it’s headed.
Since 2020, it’s been a seller’s world: multiple offers by the weekend, escalation clauses, buyers waiving inspections.
Over the last few months though, we have started to feel that pace ease. Some homes are sitting a little longer. Buyers are taking a breath before they write offers, and there have been more price adjustments. Not every listing draws a crowd on Day One.
To be clear, this isn’t a downturn, and it still isn’t a true buyer’s market.
Westport is a draw and a wonderful place to live, and well-priced homes in good condition continue to sell. What we are seeing may be the very beginning of a healthier, more balanced market, one where both sides have a fair seat at the table.
What do we think is behind the shift? It could be a few things. Mortgage rates have been inching up again, which makes buyers more cautious.
The midterms are around the corner, and there’s a general sense of uncertainty about where the economy is headed. Historically, this kind of uncertainty makes people pause rather than rush. Some buyers are waiting to see how things settle, and some sellers are wondering whether now is the right time to make a move.
New 4-bedroom construction at 16 Westport Avenue by Compo Beach offers eco-conscious design, a rooftop deck and heated spa. It’s listed for $6.495 million.
None of this is cause for alarm. Markets move in cycles, and after such a long stretch of intensity, a little cooling is natural and probably overdue. The statistics will take time to catch up; we should have a clearer picture by mid-2027.
Yet the “wait and see” often backfires. It sounds prudent, but more often it is indecision dressed up as strategy. Many buyers who wait end up wishing they hadn’t.
The crowd comes back all at once. When buyers sit on the sidelines, they tend to return together, bringing more competition, higher prices and less choice.
Things can get better, but they can also get worse. It’s like a shopper who holds out for 40% off sale that is already marked down 25%, only to find her size is gone.
Rates could stay high. If inflation persists, rates likely will too, and a $1 million home today could cost $1,05 milion a year from now. If rates fall, more buyers jump in and prices can rise even faster.
You have to live somewhere. Rents aren’t falling in most areas, and every rent check builds someone else’s equity.
Qualifying matters as much as the rate. Today your income is steady and your credit is strong. Circumstances change. And if rates drop later, you can refinance.
You’re buying for the long haul. Most people stay in a home for 7 to 12 years or more. Over that span, timing the market rarely pays off.
There’s always a way in. Buyers may choose a less expensive, unrenovated home to offset higher rates. When rates come down, they refinance and renovate, building equity the whole time.
This 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom house at 280 Main Street is listed for $1.199 million.
Does a lower rate mean a lower cost? What if prices continue to appreciate? Here’s an $800,000 home with 20% down, comparing buying today with waiting a year for a half-point rate drop while prices rise 5%:
Buy today
Wait a year
Price
$800,000
$840,000
Rate
7.00%
6.50%
Down payment
$160,000
$168,000
Loan amount
$640,000
$672,000
Monthly principal & interest
~$4,258
~$4,247
Even with the lower rate, the buyer who waits brings $8,000 more to closing, borrows $32,000 more, and lands on essentially the same monthly payment, minus a year of equity.
If you’re thinking about buying, this may be the most encouraging window we’ve seen in years. You have more time to decide, more room to negotiate and less competition than you’ve faced since 2020. It’s a good moment to get pre-approved and start looking with a clear head.
If you’re thinking about selling, demand for Westport is still strong and values remain healthy. The difference is that preparation and pricing matter more than ever.
Homes that are well presented and priced right from the start are still selling well. Homes that reach too high are more likely to sit and often net less in the end. A thoughtful strategy makes all the difference.
The right time to buy or sell is when the home, the numbers and the timing make sense for you.
(“06880” often covers the real estate market, in all its many forms. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
After years of planning — and controversy — a new Long Lots Elementary School is rising on Hyde Lane.
The site is the former baseball field, adjacent to the oldest section of the 70-year-old building.
Construction walls hide much of the activity from students, staff and passersby. But the other day, “06880” photographer Brandon Malin flew his drone over the work.
These bird’s-eye photos show how much progress has already been made. And how close it is to the school that will be demolished this summer.
The new Long Lots Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool are scheduled to open in January 2028.
The Fire Department is on the scene of a propane leak on Morningside Drive South. Workers struck a 500-gallon propane tank.
The propane company and Fairfield County Hazardous Materials Response Team are conducting a flare tower operation to burn off the remaining propane.
Morningside Drive South is closed between Hillandale Road and Center Street. That has snarled traffic around Greens Farms Elementary School, and will impact bus routes and pickups there.
Propane leak at Morningside Drive South (Photo courtesy of Westport Fire Department)
Eleven years later, it was James D’Amico’s turn. Though he did not sing or dance as Dodig — who had a theater background — did, he did a fine job as Harvard’s head of admissions in “Legally Blonde.”
Today — thanks to the editing skills of former media teacher Jim Honeycutt — it’s time to relive directors David Roth and Kerry Long’s production. Click here or below to see.
And here’s what cast members are up to, in the years since they shared the stage with their principal.
Georgia Wright(Elle Woods) is a non-binary, New York-based emerging playwright, actor and director. They have written and staged several independent and festival plays.
Nick Rossi (Emmett Forrest) is a professional singer, actor and musician. He has appeared regionally in “Master Harold … and the Boys,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Pericles,” “La Cage Aux Folles” and “Jersey Boys.”
Daisy Brackett(Paulette Buonofuonte) earned a master’s degree in advanced classical acting training from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Her credits include short films, independent projects, showcases and reels.
Sam Mandelbaum(Warner Huntington III) is an actor and writer working in independent films and creative projects, including “Dinner Date,” “The Awakening of Edwin Lorde” and “Pinky.”
Antonio Antonelli (Professor Callahan) is an actor and crew member. He voiced the character Shane in “Santaman,” an appeared as Wes in “Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow.”
Mia Kobylinski (Brooke Wyndham) is a designer at Snake River Interiors. Her love of travel and photography help her gather design inspiration from all over the world.
Ben Roland (Kyle B. O’Boyle, the UPS man, Grand Master Chad) is an actor (“Man Camp”) and designer.
Kelley Schutte (Kate) is interior designer, artist and performer. She operates an independent design and landscape painting practice in the Westport area.
Sammy Guthartz(Sundeep Padamadan) is an actor and producer. He graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in theatre performance from the University of Michigan. He has roles and production credits in “The Diary of Aaron Stanford” and “The Midnight World.”
Jamie Mann(Carlos) graduated from the University of Michigan’s musical theater program in 2025. He made his Broadway debut in “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.” He appeared previously on the Netflix show “Country Comfort,” and toured nationally as the lead in “Billy Elliot.”
Macey Lavoie (District Attorney Joyce Riley) is a firefighter in Montana. She graduated from James Madison University.
Kristina Ludel(Cashier at Hair Affair) attended the University of Florida – Warrington College of Business. She works in the New York area as a senior strategist in business solutions.
Annabel Kavetas Kiki (Colorist at Hair Affair, Delta Nu Girl) is an entertainment, production and beauty professional who has worked in digital media, audience coordination and television production. She has been involved with “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Chloe Manna (Dana) is a stage and screen actress. Her credits include “Peace, Love and Cupcakes: The Musical” at the New York Musical Festival.
Faven Alemu-Renzulli (Hansen-Harkness, Perfume Girl) attended Liberty University, where she earned a degree in law and policy. She is studying for a JD degree at Regent University School of Law.
Camille Foisie(Elle Woods) graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, with a BFA in drama. She is working professionally as an actor.
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