Patriot National Bank is closing branches throughout Fairfield County. Wilton, Fairfield, Stratford, Old Greenwich — all will be shut by June 30.
A typical day at Patriot National Bank.
Miraculously, the Westport location– which replaced Sam Goody in Compo Acres Shopping Center — will remain open.
Why “miraculously”?
Because no human being has ever been seen entering or exiting that office.
Hard to believe, but those other branches must have had even less business than “none.”
“06880” is a big fan of DJ Sixsmith. The Staples senior is a mega-talented radio and TV sportscaster. He’s got a good shot at becoming the next Bob Ley.
The real Bob Ley knows it too. The other day the ESPN star wandered down from Bristol, and over to the Staples Media Lab. He and DJ chatted about their careers. (Bob’s is longer — he joined ESPN on its 3rd day of existence in 1979, more than a dozen years before DJ was born.)
They also talked about the March 22 fundraiser Bob is hosting at Fairfield University.
Bob Ley (left) and DJ Sixsmith.
The event — which also includes Bob’s colleagues Josh Elliott, Chris McKendry and Justin Kutcher — offers an outside-the-lines, behind-the-scenes look at ESPN, like how the shows get on the air, and all the fun stuff left in the newsroom that viewers never see.
It’s a benefit for FSW, the 161-year-old Bridgeport-based social services agency (formerly Family Services Woodfield). Bob is a board member, and DJ helped promote the event (including a silent auction) on the air.
On Tuesday, Bob Ley will tell tales about his work — everything from announcing World Cup soccer and NCAA Final Fours, to covering an earthquake during the 1989 World Series and assessing the impact of the 9/11 terror attack on sports.
DJ Sixsmith does not have that resume — yet. He’s called some pretty exciting basketball and football games, but the Staples Wreckers are not the Green Bay Packers.
Then again, when Bob Ley was 17, Howard Cosell didn’t wander into his high school station to say hi.
(Tickets for “Outside the Lines & Behind the Scenes at ESPN” are $20 general admission; $50 for a meet-and-greet and auction. Click here to order, or for more information.)
Posted in Entertainment, People, Sports, Staples HS, Teenagers
Tagged Bob Ley, DJ Sixsmith, ESPN, FSW
In the midst of March Madness, maybe you can find a moment’s rest from basketball at church.
Or not.
Tomorrow (Sunday, March 20, 4 p.m. at St. Luke’s), the Interfaith Council of Westport and Weston is sponsoring a lecture called “Full Court Peace.”
It’s more than a gimmicky name.
Michael Evans
Westonite Michael Evans — the 28-year-old founder of Full Court Peace — will talk about how his organization uses basketball as a means of diplomacy in war-torn parts of the world.
Evans knows both hoops and kumbaya.
He played pro basketball in Belfast — about as far from, say, the Utah Jazz as you can get. But despite the violence plaguing that city — or maybe because of it — Evans formed the first half-Catholic, half-Protestant boys high school basketball team there.
The success of the Belfast Blazers — which traveled to, among other places, less-rough Weston — inspired him to explore what sports could accomplish in places like Cuba and Mexico.
Evans has met the Dalai Lama, as well as youth in paramilitary organizations and senior members of the IRA. In Havana he had to elude government officials, while in drug war-torn Ciudad Juarez he traveled in bulletproof cars, with armed guards.
Evans is now studying at Harvard University, in a program involved the Graduate School of Education, Kennedy School of Government and the business school. Life in Cambridge — on and off the court — is less rough than before.
The Interfaith Council encourages parents to bring their children — especially those interested in sports — on Sunday. Refreshments will follow Evans’ talk.
Which, presumably, will be “yo mama”-free.
Posted in Organizations, People, religion, Sports
Tagged Full Court Peace, Interfaiath Council of Westport and Weston, Michael Evans
I filed my state income tax return last week — Friday, March 11.
Today — exactly 1 week later — I received my refund from the Department of Revenue Services.
I filed electronically — but the check came in the mail.
This is not just fast service — it’s warp bureaucratic speed.
I’m pleased, sure. But I can’t help thinking: Shouldn’t the state be holding onto my money for as long as it can?
This morning’s Post Road post propelled an “06880” reader to pass along a personal perspective.
Earlier this winter, the reader contacted an RTM member regarding a school bus stop sign that seemed useless. The RTM rep contacted police chief Al Fiore, who sent an officer to investigate. The conclusion was that the sign ensured safety.
A picture is worth a thousand accidents.
Because the police department seemed interested, the reader followed up with several other safety concerns about the Post Road. The cops referred the reader to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, which oversees US 1. It took a while to find the right bureaucrats.
Once discovered — they’re Joseph P. Ouellette, transportation supervising engineer, Bureau of Engineering and Construction, and Ernest Lajoga (a transportation engineer) — the reader wrote with these concerns:
Motorists turn left onto the Post Road from both Route 136 (Compo Road) approaches despite red lights. Is there enough green time to “move the queue”?
There is not enough time for pedestrians to cross the Post Road between Compo Shopping Center (CVS) and Compo Acres (Trader Joe’s). Could there be an exclusive “walk” time when lights on all 4 sides are red?
Ditto the crosswalks at Taylor Place (Tiffany) and Parker Harding Plaza (Starbucks). Could those have exclusive “walk” phases too?
DOT officials contacted Westport officials: “First Selectman, Public Works, Police Department” in January. Ouellette emailed the “06880” reader this response: “The Town was not in favor of revising the pedestrian treatment at the shopping center signal at this time. Also, the Police Department did not feel that there is a problem with left-turns from Rte 136 onto Rte 1.”
Ouellette continued: “The Department relies on input from town officials because they have more local knowledge of traffic concerns that (sic) we do. I realize that the issues you describe are important to you. I suggest that you contact Public Safety Officer John Parisi (203-341-6000) at the Westport Police Department if you want to pursue further. If the town agrees with your concerns, we will investigate.”
“06880” will keep you “posted.”
“06880” reader Betsy Phillips recently lost her engagement ring. She thinks it was someplace near Compo Beach or Elvira’s.
She knows that in light of recent posts — missing photographers in Libya, deadly disasters in Japan, pedestrians being killed in Westport — this might seem “kind of silly.”
This is not Betsy Phillips' engagement ring. It's gold, however, and I found it using Google images.
But, Betsy adds, “06880” attracts “wonderful, impassioned readers.” She believes in karma, doing good deeds, and the power of positive thinking. And of course the value of an engagement ring — measured in sentiment far more than dollars — is substantial.
The ring is gold, with a gray-greenish center stone diamond. If you find it — or know someone who did — please contact Betsy directly: betsydesigns@hotmail.com.
And let “06880” know too, so we can pass on at least a bit of good news in these difficult days.
The New York Times reported this morning that 4 missing journalists — including Westport photographers Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario — who were captured by Libyan forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi will be released today. The Times said the dictator’s son told Christiane Amanpour the news in an ABC interview.
The Libyan government allowed the journalists to call their families on Thursday evening.
“We’re all, families and friends, overjoyed to know they are safe,” said Bill Keller, the executive editor of the Times. “We are eager to have them free and back home.”
The disappearance of Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario in Libya has focused world-wide attention on the plight — and the photos — of the New York Times photographers, who graduated from Staples 3 years apart.
Tyler Hicks
Working in war zones is nothing new to either of the Pulitzer Prize winners. But last Wednesday — in an interview that is both chilling and insightful — Tyler talked about the special challenges of Libya.
“One unusual thing is the access we have to frontline fighting,” he told the Times “Lens” blog.
“Despite what a lot of people think, when you go to a war zone, there are a lot of formalities and difficulties to reach the fighting. You can get into a country but to get to where the conflict is happening can be very difficult. This is a very rare situation: complete access to a war, from the opposition side.”
Tyler added: “You never are relaxed and you never have a moment to feel at ease when you’re out working.”
And, he said: “I’m constantly moving around. Occasionally, you run into people who speak English. In general, they’re really supportive. Even out in the middle of the fighting, someone will hand you a box of juice or a bottle of water. They might ask your name or where you’re from.
“Some ask who I work for. They’re saying, ‘Get down’ or ‘Move to another place for your own safety.’ So they’re doing what they can to be helpful out there, even under those circumstances. ”
(Click here to read the entire interview.)
Comments Off on Tyler Hicks: In The Thick Of The Fight
Posted in People
Tagged "Lens" blog, Libya, New York Times, Tyler Hicks
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign has analyzed all 105 pedestrian deaths on Connecticut streets from 2007-09.
In Fairfield County over those 3 years, 20 pedestrians were killed by drivers.
The most dangerous road — the deadliest in the entire state, in fact — was the Post Road. It accounted for 6 deaths.
The statewide figures for 2010 are not yet in. But at the end of last year, 2 people were killed in Westport within a month. That makes 3 over the past 2 years.
All were killed on the Post Road.
Last month, another woman was struck on the same road. Luckily, she lived.
The figures are clear. The Post Road is deadly.
We drive too fast, too recklessly, too distractedly. We are not deterred by law enforcement. Our culture reveres cars and discourages walking; our community takes that to an extreme.
That’s the problem.
So what’s the solution?
Recently, the family of Billy Ford — the 1st victim of the recent carnage — donated $7,000 to cover the cost of solar-powered, button-activated pedestrian crosswalk lights. They’re now operational at 1655 Post Road East, the site of Billy’s death.
That’s one answer. There must be more.
“06880” readers have opinions about donut shops, dogs on beaches, and countless other quality of life issues.
Now it’s time to speak up on a matter of — literally — life and death.
Crossing the Post Road can be deadly.
Posted in Downtown, Westport life
Tagged distracted driving, pedestrian deaths, Post Road
New York Magazine posted this photo of missing New York Times photographers Lynsey Addario and Tyler Hicks — both Staples graduates — today:
(Photo: Paul Conroy/Reuters)
Chris Rovzar wrote:
You very rarely see what cameramen, be they video or still, look like in the field. I often wonder what is going on behind the scenes when I look at scary, intensely vivid wartime photographs.
Do the photographers stick out? Are people paying attention to them? How close are they to the action? Is it terrifying?
This photo, by Reuters photographer Paul Conroy, gives you a pretty good idea. It shows New York Times photographers Tyler Hicks (on the right, in the glasses) and Lynsey Addario (almost off-camera, on left) among other journalists in Ras Lanuf, Libya, as they run for cover last Friday from bombs dropped by government planes.
Hicks and Addario are two of the four Times journalists that have been missing since Tuesday. The photo answers some of my questions: Yes, they are incredibly close to the action. Yes, they stick out. And yes, it looks scary as hell.
Lynsey and Tyler’s many fans throughout the world — especially those here in their hometown — pray for their safe return.
Comments Off on Most Recent Photo Of Lynsey Addario And Tyler Hicks
Posted in People, Staples HS
Tagged Lynsey Addario, New York Magazine, Tyler Hicks
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