Monthly Archives: September 2017

Pic Of The Day #166

Posted on September 30, 2017 | 6 comments

The alley by the old Bobby Q’s — now being renovated for Bedford Square. (Photo/JP Vellotti)

6 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Pic of the Day

Tagged Bedford Square, Bobby Q's

What Up Westport? Help Puerto Rico

Posted on September 30, 2017 | 6 comments

As Puerto Rico pleads for help, Westport acts.

Tomorrow, (Sunday, October 1) What Up Westport — the popular Facebook group — has organized a drive to collect much-needed items for the hurricane-battered island.

Hurricane Maria’s floodwaters have receded. But the situation in Puerto Rico remains dire. This is the mayor of San Juan, helping people while wading through sewage-filled water with a bullhorn.

Supplies can be dropped off from 3-5 p.m. at the Westport Library upper lot (near the Levitt Pavilion). They’ll be shipped quickly, through a New York relief organization.

Emergency supplies

Bottled Water
Baby wipes
Hand sanitizer
Diapers
Canned foods
Dry foods
Baby formula
Garbage bags
Towels
Canned milk
Canned and dry pet food
Baby and adult pain relief medicine,
Stomach and diarrhea relief medicine
Mosquito repellent
Blankets
Pillows
First aid kits
Laundry detergents
Dish soap
Cots

Construction supplies

Extension cords
Ground fault protectors
Pop-up canopies
Shovels
Wheelbarrows
Crowbars
Hammers
Utility knives
Work gloves
Wood panels
Electric generators
Electric cables
Tarps
Ropes
Chainsaws
Safety glasses.

NOTE: Please bring only these items. Be sure to check expiration dates.

Come on, Westport. Let’s help our fellow Americans. See you at the library!

6 Comments

Posted in Library, Media, Weather

Tagged Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico relief, What Up Westport

Lee Lives!

Posted on September 30, 2017 | 19 comments

The death of Lee Papageorge more than a year ago left a hole in the heart of downtown.

He’d closed Oscar’s — the deli he owned for more than 40 years — just a week earlier.

The end of Oscar’s meant more than the loss of a place with great pastrami and pickles. There was now no place on Main Street for a meal with friends — a spot where regulars always sat at the same table, and everyone (or at least the counter guys) knew your name.

Rye Ridge — the popular Stamford and Rye Brook kosher-style deli — signed a lease. It’s taken many months to renovate the site. But the good news is: They’re opening in a couple of weeks.

Rye Ridge renovations are nearly done.

The better news is: Some of Oscar’s old employees may be back.

And here’s the ~~icing on the cake~~ lox on the bagel: The owner of the new deli arranged with the Papageorge family to hang the iconic Oscar’s mural in the same spot it had been since 1982.

The Oscar’s mural — back at Rye Ridge Deli. (Photos/David Waldman)

Many regulars depicted on the wall are gone. So of course is Lee — the guy with the beard and red apron, all the way on the left.

Now he’s back, standing proudly with his friends and customers.

Rye Ridge’s reverence for the past is important. Here’s wishing them a run as long and successful as Oscar’s — and Lee’s.

19 Comments

Posted in Downtown, People, Restaurants

Tagged Lee Papageorge, Oscar's Deli, Rye Ridge Deli

Man In Blue Wears Pink

Posted on September 30, 2017 | 4 comments

Foti Koskinas — Westport’s popular police chief — is a firm believer in the importance of community involvement. Under his leadership, the department is involved in a broad array of good causes.

As a leader, he knows the importance of walking the talk.

So it’s no surprise he’s part of Real Men Wear Pink. He’s honoring a friend fighting breast cancer — and advocating for his wife and 2 young daughters.

Foti’s goal is to raise $10,000. As of this morning, he’s nearly 40% there. (Click here to help.)

But he’s not the only cop raising awareness of the disease.

For the next few weeks, a pink Maserati will roll through town.

It’s not there to pull you over.

The eye-popping vehicle — courtesy of Maserati of Westport — reinforces that this October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

You can see it tomorrow at the Saugatuck train station (Sunday, October 1, 8 a.m. to noon). The Concours d’Caffeine is a fundraiser for the Westport Police Benevolent Association Scholarship Fund.

What goes around, comes around.

4 Comments

Posted in Organizations, People, Police, Saugatuck, Transportation

Tagged Concours d'Caffeine, Police Chief Foti Koskinas, Westport Police Benevolent Association

Westporter May Be Next HHS Secretary

Posted on September 30, 2017 | 7 comments

The latest high-profile vacancy in Washington may be filled by a Westporter.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb

The New York Times, MSNBC and other sources have mentioned Scott Gottlieb as a possible replacement for Tom Price. The Health and Human Services secretary resigned under pressure yesterday, after criticism for spending over $400,000 on private jet flights.

In March, President Trump nominated Dr. Gottlieb as director of the Food and Drug Administration. He previously served in that agency, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He was a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a respected health policy analyst.

Gottlieb was also a clinical assistant professor at New York University School of Medicine, and an internist at Tisch Hospital.

At the time of his appointment, there was speculation that his ties to the drug industry and his role at New Enterprise Associates — a large venture capital firm that invests heavily in medical technology and healthcare companies — might hurt his chances. However, he was confirmed easily.

Whether he is named to the cabinet post or not, Gottlieb is already the most powerful Westporter in Washington since James Comey, former head of the FBI.

Interestingly, Comey’s actions during the 2016 election may have been one of the reasons Trump was in a position to hire Price — and now, possibly, Gottlieb — at all.

When he was nominated to head the FDA, Dr. Scott Gottlieb’s profile page proudly displayed a photo of Westport.

7 Comments

Posted in Organizations, People, Politics

Tagged Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Food and Drug Administration, Health and Human Services secretary, Tom Price

Westporters Fight Domestic Violence

Posted on September 30, 2017 | 1 comment

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Westport’s Domestic Violence Task Force wants to make everyone aware of the issue — and what can be done about it.

The group has collected gift certificates from more than a dozen local salons. (One owner donated because her mother was a victim of abuse.) Haircuts and colors help women in shelters start new lives. Some are preparing for job interviews. Others need to change their appearance to avoid abusers.

The salons will be thanked on Saturday, October 14, at the Westport Unitarian Church Voices Cafe. All proceeds from Pierce Pettis’ performance will be donated to the salon drive. (Click here for tickets.)

Meanwhile, this Sunday (October 1), pinwheels will be displayed on Jesup Green. There’s one for every domestic violence call the Police Department received this year.

The chilling reminder that domestic abuse happens in Westport — as it does everywhere — remains on display all month.

Next Tuesday (October 3), volunteers from our police and fire departments will join Domestic Violence Task Force members at the Westport and Greens Farms train stations. They’ll hand out informational palm cards to commuters.

And on Wednesday, October 25 (Unitarian Church, 7 p.m.), Lisa Aronson Fontes — a noted author, therapist, researcher and professor — will discuss coercive control in relationships.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month ends on October 31. Of course, the issue will not go away that day.

But in Westport, concerned citizens are doing all they can to help.

1 Comment

Posted in Organizations, Police, religion

Tagged Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Unitarian Church Voices Cafe, Westport Domestic Violence Task Force, Westport Fire Department, Westport Police Department

Pic Of The Day #165

Posted on September 29, 2017 | 2 comments

Low tide, Old Mill Beach (Photo/Fred Cantor)

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Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day

Tagged Old Mill Beach

Friday Flashback #59

Posted on September 29, 2017 | 11 comments

Last week’s Friday Flashback featured the Tally Ho restaurant. Located near the intersection of the Post Road and Main Street, the popular American restaurant closed shortly after the 1950 photo was taken (click here to see).

In its place came West Lake: Westport’s 1st Chinese restaurant. At the time, that cuisine was considered exotic.

Last week’s photo showed the Saugatuck River lapping against the back of Tally Ho.

A few years later, the river was filled in. Parker Harding Plaza — quickly dubbed the Harder Parking lot — was created.

Here’s the rear entrance to West Lake. The brick building to the right housed the Westport Library (today, it’s Freshii and Starbucks).

As for the 3-story Main Street building whose back we see in this image: It’s still there.

But it’s hidden by new construction.

11 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Friday Flashback, Restaurants

Tagged West Lake Restaurant

Ride + Walk For Cancer: Two Couples’ Tales

Posted on September 29, 2017 | Comments Off

This Sunday (October 1, 8:15 a.m., Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk), the Raveis Ride + Walk kicks off. Since its inception 2 years ago, the 12-, 25- and 50-mile rides, 5K walk and children’s 100-yard dash event — plus food and music — has already raised $1.5 million for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

Every participant has a story. This is one of them.

Though Westporters Jeremy and Johanna Simon have supported the Ride + Walk in the past, earlier this year it became suddenly personal.

In May, Jeremy learned that a close family member had cancer. Quickly, he, his wife and brother-in-law assembled a cycling team of 14. They raised over $16,000. Members will participate in all cycling stages.

Among the riders: Tom Berenberg.

Jeremy and Tom became friends 20 years ago, at Duke University. At the same time Johanna and Alison Stein — later, their wives — were close friends at the University of Pennsylvania. The couples now have 2 young kids each, around the same age.

In 2011 Tom was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He endured 4 years of surgeries, cancer recurrences (including 41 tumors in his liver), brutal high-dose chemotherapy, transfusions, and doubts about survival.

The Simons were intimately involved in Tom’s care. They visited him in the hospital, and at home. They organized a surprise party too.

“Being sick and having everybody rally for you reinforces the importance of relationships,” Tom says.

“But it’s also draining being the one receiving so much attention. Now, as a survivor, helping someone else who’s going through this is amazing. I feel lucky to be here in this position to offer support in whatever way possible.”

There’s more to Tom’s story, though. At 38, he’s the same age his father was when he died. Tom was 5 then. His son Charlie is now almost 4.

Tom and Charlie Berenberg

Tom cherishes the time he’s been given to be with his family.

“To me, that’s the most profound and poignant part of having had cancer,” he says.

“It’s also the scariest part — not the fear of dying, but leaving children without their father. I know from personal experience the void that creates in the life of a young kid.

“Having this happen at a relatively young age allows me to truly appreciate every moment I have with my family, to take joy in even the small moments, to truly work every day to cultivate their personalities and characters in a way that I hope lasts the rest of their lives.”

The Simons and Berenbergs will have a great time at Sunday’s Ride + Walk. Everyone else will too.

Each has his or her own reasons for biking, walking or just enjoying the day.

What’s yours?

(For more information on Sunday’s event, click here.)