Next Tuesday (July27) is the deadline for requesting storm disaster assistance from FEMA.
No, not last night’s tornado.
This deadline is for the nor’easter last March.
For information, click here or call 800-621-FEMA.
No word yet on disaster relief from yesterday’s weather.
Let’s hope it’s the last one we worry about for a while.
Remember last March?
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Posted in Looking back, Weather, Westport life
Tagged disaster relief, FEMA, March 2010 Westport storm
No one went to Cobb’s Mill for the food.
The ducks, yes.
The waterfall, sure.
The whole New England-in-the-woods experience — that’s what kept people coming.
Wedding receptions, birthday celebrations, retirement lunches — that was Cobb’s Mill’s stock in trade.
Celebrants must search elsewhere now.
The restaurant — called “the longest continuously operated food service established in Connecticut” — closed earlier this month.
Former Weston 1st selectman George Guidera — who bought it with his son-in-law in 2006, and left his longtime law practice to run Cobb’s Mill — put plenty of money into it. He upgraded the building, the service and the food.
But Cobb’s Mill was no match for the current economy. With $130,050 in property taxes past due, foreclosure was inevitable.
Guidera intends to make good on wages owed to former employees.
Despite his improvements, no one went to Cobb’s Mill for the food.
But plenty of people today wish they could eat there one more time.
This tree started out on the hill by the Long Lots School athletic field. It traveled a good 25 yards — without any roots.
Just like 4 months ago, trees pulled down wires on Long Lots Road. And Bayberry. And elsewhere throughout town.
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Posted in Westport life
Last April, Westport native Terry Brannigan shared his memories of growing up near the Mill Pond with “06880” readers.
Today he turns his thoughts to wrestling, friends — and jiu-jitsu.
We live in a town obsessed with three sports: soccer, football and baseball. Others are up and coming, but wrestling seldom makes cocktail party chatter, or sparks debate or drama about tryouts, cuts and travel teams.
I wrestled at Staples, and with Nick Garoffolo coached there for nearly 10 years. In the process I met wonderful kids and parents, and we won our share of titles.
The plaque over the door to any wrestling room could almost be replaced by the inscription at the foot of the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.”
Or maybe: “Give us your short, skinny or heavy kids who did not make the travel team. They’re welcome here!”
Rarely does the athletic superstar choose wrestling. Why would he? It’s misunderstood, the uniforms are funny-looking, and it’s hard.
There's no hiding on the wrestling mat, as Staples' Andrew Nederlof knows.
If the #1 tennis player gets beaten, it’s a tough loss. But his opponent was a better player that day. Imagine the 9th grader — 95 pounds soaking wet — who has to step out onto the mat wearing tights. He faces down the opposing senior captain with his peers, mother and possibly his girlfriend in the stands — only to have his shoulders pinned to the mat for all to see.
Then he stands there watching his opponent’s arm get raised — and walks alone back to the bench. There’s no shade.
However, to those of us who wrestled, it remains the greatest sport on earth. It’s the most honest and sportsmanlike pursuit in high school athletics, and that’s why the lessons we learn on the mat stay with us for life. It is both an exclusive fraternity, and open to all. You are a wrestler for life — and it changes lives.
Nothing makes me happier than bumping into the legions of kids I coached. As a father, I pined for the day when I could introduce my boys to the sport.
Like their dad, they will never be big or tall — you can’t coach height. Luckily, wrestling has weight classes. So 2 years ago I enrolled Terry Jr. (6) and Eamon (4) in the Westport Recreation Department wrestling program.
On the first day, to my wonder and pleasure we were greeted by John Chacho. The same John Chacho who coached crosstown rival Bedford Junior High when I was a kid — the same wonderful man who fed Nick and I wrestlers at Staples for years. There he was, right where he belongs: on the mat, rolling with the kids. There’s no other way to teach the sport. It’s the circle of life.
In a room full of celebrities, hedge fund masters of the universe and beautiful women, 2 wrestlers will find each other and ignore everything else to talk about matches that took place 20plus years ago. It’s in the blood.
Fast forward to the 2009 Staples football season. I was at the fence watching the action when a guy to my left whispered, “You still beating guys up on the mat?” I turned to see the unmistakable smile of Joe Oppedisano. I coached him at Staples. As we reunite, I can’t help but notice the positive changes in the shape of his ears, breadth of his back and girth of his neck. The guy’s been busy.
Joe Oppedisano
Joe modestly says that he has been practicing jiu-jitsu. (By “practicing” he means competing at the world championship level). Jiu-jitsu is a remarkable art, filled with the same kind of people you find in a wrestling room. Technique always beats athleticism, and divas need not apply.
The circle of life continues. Joe was opening his own studio on the Post Road in Fairfield. I couldn’t wait to check the place out. I had tried various “martial arts” places around town for the boys. It felt more like daycare wearing a gi. I wrote checks to pay for colored belt ceremonies almost monthly. I’m sure that’s great for some, but it was not what I was looking for.
We checked out East Coast United Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu before it officially opened. I found the room full of participants (male and female). I quickly recognized my lifelong friend Skip Garoffolo, and one of my favorite wrestlers: Andy Lobsenz. Then Jeff Lauzon joined. It’s like moths to the flame. Roll out a wrestling mat and people show up!
Joe is now coaching me — and I have taken over for John Chacho. The circle of life continues.
Terry and Eamon go 2 to 3 times a week. They’ve learned so much in such a short time — and they love it. Joe has an amazing way with the kids. He makes it fun, while teaching the fundamentals of fitness, strength, technique and responsible self-defense.
On Eamon’s birthday he stopped class early and surprised us with a birthday cake.
The place has a great vibe. Anyone who understands anything I’ve written above will fit right in.
You’ll probably come out wearing a gi.
Posted in Children, Local business, People, Sports
Tagged Joe Oppedisano, Terry Brannigan
Last week, “06880” reported that Julie Migliaccio was headed to California, to compete in the uber-grueling International CrossFit Games.
We’re happy to say that Julie’s team — which qualified as runner-up at the New England sectionals — finished 12th.
That’s 12th in the world.
The Westport-based team was on track to finish 5th, but heat exhaustion cost 1 member some time during a run.
Congratulations, Julie! And welcome home to Evolution Fitness, where you make sure that every client is a champion.
(For YouTube videos of the International CrossFit Games, click here and here.)
Have you ever seen so many fit people in your life?
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Tagged Evolution Fitness, International CrossFit Games, Julie Migliaccio
Ah, July. The beach. Barbecues. Back to school.
No buzzkill, but shopping season is right around the corner. And in these tough economic times, Westport is ready to help those who find it tough to help their school-age kids.
Each year, the Department of Human Services provides new backpacks, school supplies and Payless Shoe Store gift cards to kids from 175 low-income families. It’s an important project, in this largely affluent, you-are-what-you-tote-and-wear town. Last year, 216 children participated — a 17 percent increase over 2008.
But DHS can’t do it alone. Family program coordinator Patty Haberstroh needs help. Donations of new school supplies — including backpacks — can be dropped off Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in Room 200 at Town Hall. Even a few pens and pencils is fine.
Monetary donations enable Haberstroh to purchase whatever supplies are most needed. Checks should be made payable to Families in Need Fund (memo: “Backpacks”), and sent to Department of Human Services, 110 Myrtle Ave., Westport, CT 06880.
Donations are accepted through August 14, but Haberstroh says “the sooner the better.”
(Families who think they may be eligible for the program should call Haberstroh at 203-341-1069. For other questions about the program, call Margaret Pinheiro at 203-341-1050, or email humansrv@westportct.gov.)
Posted in Children, Economy, Education, Organizations, People
Tagged back-to-school, Patty Haberstroh, Westport Department of Human Services
5o years ago, Westport bought Longshore.
The entire process — from conception to approval — took 18 days.
It was the right thing to do.
Half a century later the town has the chance to build senior housing at Baron’s South — land we already own.
It will take considerably longer than 18 days — no doubt more than 18 months.
Once again, it’s the right thing to do.
The proposal — presented last week by 1st and 2nd Selectmen Gordon Joseloff and Shelley Kassen at meetings of the P&Z, RTM Long Range Planning Committee and the Senior Services Committee — would involve 66 units of 1- and 2-bedroom rentals. More than half would be available to people earning approximately $50,000.
The proposed Baron's South project. The senior housing and skilled care facilities are in blue, just east of the current Senior Center.
A “mansion” on the property — currently a deteriorating structures used to store library books — would become an 84-bed skilled nursing facility.
Also available: assisted living services, such as meals, housekeeping and hospice care. Shuttle service would be available between the senior housing and the current Senior Center.
The town would find a non-profit partner to assist in the project.
For too long we’ve farmed out our senior citizens — and affordable housing — to other towns and cities. It’s past time to do our share.
Baron’s South is not Winslow Park, on the other side of Compo Road across US1. The Baron’s terrain is tough — you can’t walk dogs there, or cross country ski. Though the public has had access for years, it’s virtually unused.
Each event celebrating Longshore has had a common theme: Imagine what this town would be like today if our politicians lacked the foresight — and will — to buy the property.
We already own Baron’s South. Now let’s have the foresight — and will — to do something smart, and good, with it.
Posted in Local politics, Longshore, Looking back
Tagged affordable housing, assisted care living, Baron's South, Longshore, Winslow Park
A cool sculpture at the hot Westport Fine Arts Festival? Nah -- a real-life human. I wanted to ask if he was as cool or hot, but he wasn't talking.
This young musician provided great entertainment at this weekend's Downtown Fine Arts Festival. Plus, he had the best spot at the entire show.
A couple of eye-catching works, exhibited right next to each other, at this weekend's Fine Arts Festival.
Sorry to beat a dead horse, but downtown Westport today also featured half a dozen stores with their doors wide open, blasting air conditioning onto the sidewalk. Besides Banana Republic (above), the energy wasters included Janie & Jack, Douglas, BCBG, Blue Mercury and Lululemon.
I didn't get to the Westport Public Library book sale. Then again, I didn't have to. The library was giving books away -- free! -- on the boardwalk outside Joey's, at Compo Beach.
Posted in Arts, Beach, Downtown, Environment, Local business
Tagged Compo Beach, Downtown Westport, Joey's by the Shore, Westport Downtown Arts Festival
The Longshore Womens Golf Association celebrates its 50th anniversary Tuesday (July 20) with a member-guest tournament. Breakfast is at 7:15 a.m.; a shotgun start follows at 8, with lunch after play.
But that’s not the big news.
Beryl Buck will be there.
Buck — these days she’s called Beryl Buck Miller — divides her time between South Carolina and Maine. She’s a retired LPGA master professional.
Back in the day, she formed the LWGA. As an amateur golfer she won more than 20 state and regional titles in Connecticut and Florida.
Her former husband, George Buck, was the Longshore pro for many years.
Golfers remember countless stories about the Bucks
Many will be retold on Tuesday.
Yet as long as the golf tournament itself lasts, odds are the tale-telling will go on far, far longer.
Looking for a website with dorky graphics and dubious statistics that purports to rate “cities” (like Westport) based on demographic data?
Click on AreaVibes.
You’ll learn that our population is 25,749 (as of when?), with a population density of 1,287 people per square mile, and a male/female ratio of 0.9:1.
There is no Benetton in Westport. And our population doesn't look like one of their ads either.
95% of us are white. We’re 2.62% Asian, 0.84% African-American, 0.17% American Indian, 1.01% mixed race, 0.24% “other race,” and exactly 0.00% Native Hawaiian. There is no listing for “Hispanic.” (I know it’s not technically a race, but still…).
Our median household income is $153,436. Per capita income: $94,290.
The cost of living here is 12% higher than the average for the state — and a whopping 43% more than the national average.
Fortunately, our crime index is 51% lower than Connecticut’s average, and 70% below the US as a whole.
70% of us are married, though it’s unclear whether that includes all of Westport or just the adults.
But then things get sketchy.
According to AreaVibes, Westport’s unemployment rate is 3.3%. (According to the Connecticut Department of Labor yesterday, it’s 5.9%.) AreaVibes says the state average is 4.5% — and the national average is 5.9%. President Obama will do cartwheels at that news.
Our student-teacher ratio of 11:1 is lower than the Connecticut (14:1) and national (16:1) averages — but, AreaVibes tells users, there are “2 colleges & universities” in Westport. You learn something new every day.
The median year a home here was built is 1956. Sounds reasonable — but then you read that the median value of a Westport home is $1,729,000 (the state average is $467,885; national, $237,162). Realtors, I’m sure, are frothing at that stat.
One of our 5 train stations.
Our average 1-way commute is 41 minutes. 19% of us take public transportation to work (trains, presumably), while 2 percent of us supposedly walk to work. Eleven percent work from home.
But wait — according to AreaVibes, there are 5 Amtrak stations in town. Perhaps the ones I have never heard of are located on the campuses of our 2 colleges and universities.
It all works out to an AreaVibe score of 73.
Compared to what? 100? 1,000? What’s Fairfield’s score? Greenwich’s? Palm Beach’s?
Who knows? To get another “city” score, you have to search again. There’s no handy chart.
Maybe that’s a project a student at one of our Westport universities can work on.
Posted in Economy, Education, Real estate, Westport life
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