Yearly Archives: 2017

Pic Of The Day #242

Posted on December 15, 2017 | 7 comments

Compo Beach, in yesterday’s snow (Photo/Dave Dellinger)

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Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day, Weather

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Closing The Barn Door On Aquarion’s Water Tanks

Posted on December 15, 2017 | 30 comments

Back in the day — before Bridgeport Hydraulic built a water storage facility, and Staples High School moved in across the street — North Avenue was farmland.

A couple of decades ago, the Rippe farm and orchard was replaced by Greystone Farm Lane. Developers tossed a bone to the past, designing parts of some of the houses to look like silos.

Which may provide one solution to a controversy now roiling the road.

Aquarion — Bridgeport Hydraulic’s successor — wants to build 2 water tanks at the site it owns. Their 39-foot height concerns neighbors.

Pete Romano has an idea.

The LandTech principal knew that on Wilton Road at Newtown Turnpike, Aquarion used a facade to “hide” some of its equipment.

The Aquarion facility on Wilton Road.

He asked Peter Wormser — an architect at his engineering firm — to design something similar for North Avenue.

The result: 2 “barns.”

LandTech’s rendering of the barn structures for North Avenue. Click on or hover over to enlarge.

“I know Wilton Road is not as big,” Romano says. “And maybe Aquarion needs access on all 4 sides. But it’s an idea. It might get people talking.”

North Avenue will not go back to apple orchards and onion farms.

But perhaps — even with 2 big pumping stations — it can look that way.

 

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Posted in Environment, Local business, People, Places

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Friday Flashback #70

Posted on December 15, 2017 | 17 comments

Last week’s “06880” story about downtown holiday decorations drew plenty of comments. Many readers recalled with fondness the ghosts of Christmases past. Main Street, they remembered, was alive with lights and garlands. It was a bright, magical winter wonderland.

That may have been true. But not in 1975.

On Christmas Day that year, Fred Cantor drove through town. He captured several scenes. The other day — sparked by the nostalgic debate — he unearthed those photos.

Snow had fallen earlier. The plowed, shoveled and congealed streets and sidewalks have that bleak midwinter look.

There’s nary a star, ornament or whimsical Santa on any pole. You don’t see any twinkling lights either.

The only wreaths are on Sport Mart (far left).

But the view of the Mobil station (now Vineyard Vines) brings back fond memories. Every year — a few days before Christmas — owners Gene and Mary Hallowell lowered the hydraulic lifts. They covered them with table cloths. Then they laid out a feast.

The party was supposed to be for loyal customers. But anyone could wander by for food and (of course) drink.

And everyone did.

Further down Main Street, Fred found this:

The Remarkable Book Shop hummed with activity at holiday time. It was the perfect place for gifts — there were toys, puzzles and trinkets, plus a joyfully eclectic collection of books, maps and whatnot — as well as a great spot for curling up in an easy chair to read, relax or just people-watch.

But the Remarkable Book Shop did not go all out with holiday decorations either. In fact, as Fred’s photo shows, in 1975 there were none.

One place did get into the holiday spirit.

And with good reason: The Corner Spirit Shop — on Wilton Road, at the Post Road West intersection — was one of the most visible spots in town.

Plus — then, as now — a liquor store hops at holiday time.

So of course they threw a couple of wreaths on their windows.

That’s what Westport looked like, 42 years ago this holiday season.

The Sport Mart is gone. Remarkable, too. And — as of a few weeks ago — the building that housed the Corner Spirit Shop is only a fond memory.

Just like some of those Christmas decorations of yore.

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Posted in Downtown, Friday Flashback, Local business

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Gauging The River Soon Gets Harder

Posted on December 15, 2017 | 11 comments

In 2014, an odd contraption appeared on the side of the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.

It was a tidal gauge and and storm surge monitor. The US Geological Survey installed it, to help improve the town’s warning, mitigation and prevention capabilities. It was funded entirely by the federal government.

Ruth Steinkraus Cohen river gauge.

Well, it was nice while it lasted.

Extremely alert “06880” reader Thomas Quealy spotted this on USGS website:

Data collection at the following gage [sic] will be discontinued on December 31, 2017 due to funding reductions from partner agencies. Although historic data will remain accessible, no new data will be collected unless one or more new funding partners are found. Users who can contribute funding for the non-Federal share of costs to continue operation of this streamgage [sic] should contact Timothy Sargent at the USGS New England Water Science Center – Connecticut Office (860-291-6754) or email at tcsargen@usgs.gov.

Which “gage” was listed?

You guessed it: “01209510 Saugatuck River at Route 1 at Westport.”

 

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Posted in Downtown, Environment, Organizations

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This Little Piglet…

Posted on December 15, 2017 | 10 comments

Melissa Shapiro and her husband Warren moved to Westport 24 years ago. They’ve got 3 college-aged children, plus many rescued dogs and birds. She is a house call veterinarian, as well as Connecticut representative for the national Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. Melissa writes:

Piglet — a deaf, blind pink dachshund/Chihuahua mix — was rescued last year from a hoarding situation in Georgia. So were his mother and 3 littermates.

But Piglet did not do well in his rescue situation. Last March he was sent to Connecticut.

I planned to foster him until he found his forever home. As things happen, that was my home. My family adopted Piglet in May.

Piglet at Compo Beach.

After months of screaming and severe separation anxiety, Piglet finally got into a routine snuggling in his dad’s arms, playing with his dog pack siblings, taking walks down the street, traveling to house calls with me, and visiting the bank, pet stores, and the animal hospital to see his BFFs,

In October, he was a celebrity guest at a Halloween fundraiser for Wolfgang & Company, a Fairfield company that employs special needs young adults to bake and sell dog treats.

Wherever he goes, he creates smiles on the faces of everyone he meets. (He’s even got his own Facebook page — click here!)

But it’s through his YouTube video that Piglet really reaches people.

A 3rd grade teacher in Massachusetts used Piglet’s video to teach her class how his positive mindset helps overcome challenges. Her students were so inspired, they used him as a role model to grow as people. When problems arise at home, kids ask, “What would Piglet do?”

The students sent hand-drawn cards to our family, with messages to Piglet. We were speechless.

Piglet’s fame has spread to Massachusetts.

That’s inspired me. I’ll make a short personalized Piglet greeting for any class or other group that wants to use this video.

But it’s not just kids who love Piglet. On January 27, he’ll be at the Senior Center. We’ll show his YouTube story, and he’ll meet and greet people who stops by.

Everyone is welcome, to see Westport’s own pink celebrity.

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Posted in Children, Education, Environment, Local business, People

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Pic Of The Day #241

Posted on December 14, 2017 | 5 comments

View from Duck Haven (Kings Highway North) to Gorham Island (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

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Posted in Downtown, Environment, Pic of the Day

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[UPDATE] Banking On Fitness

Posted on December 14, 2017 | 9 comments

[UPDATE] Apparently — based on comments from readers below — this is not an actual Equinox gym. Rather, it’s a sales location, for people interested in signing up for the new Southport site. Thanks for setting us straight!

For years, Westporters have joked about the presence of banks on 3 of the 4 corners at the Post Road/Compo Road intersection. (The only reason it’s not 4 is Winslow Park.)

But Patriot Bank recently moved across the street, near Gold’s.

Moving into its old space — which before the bank was Sam Goody, and long before that, Franklin Simon — is Equinox.

This will be the 4th Connecticut location for the high-end, Manhattan-based gym. The others are in Southport, Darien and Greenwich.

So now that it’s just a few fast steps from SoulCycle, we can make jokes about how many fitness centers there are in Compo Acres Shopping Center.

The new Equinox, in the old Patriot Bank. (Photo and hat tip: Alex Sherman)

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Posted in Local business, Sports

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Feliz Navidad, Santa Baby!

Posted on December 14, 2017 | 3 comments

The “06880” tagline is “Where Westport meets the world.”

Turns out, 06880 — and 06883 — are where we meet the Christmas music world too.

The other day in Weston, Susan Feliciano was listening to Songcraft. The popular podcast features chats with the creators of America’s most popular music.

The most recent edition covered Christmas songs. Susan’s husband Jose was the first interview.

The best-selling guitarist/vocalist has been on a sold-out tour of the British Isles since October. So even though Susan knew the back story, it was nice to hear Jose’s voice as he talked about writing the joyful, jangly — and spectacularly successful — “Feliz Navidad” one day in July.

She kept listening.

The next interview was with Phil Springer. That’s when Susan learned something she never knew.

Springer is now 91. Way back in 1953 — more than 60 years ago — he was a Brill Building songwriter, writing for stars like Judy Garland.

His boss asked Springer to work with lyricist Joan Javits on a Christmas song for Eartha Kitt.

“She was the sexiest woman in America,” he told Songcraft.

Springer and Javits spent 2 weekends collaborating on the song — at her father’s Westport home. (Springer did not say who Javits’ father was. But her uncle was Jacob Javits, then a US congressman from New York, later a senator, and now the namesake of a large convention center.)

Their collaboration became what Springer calls “the first sexy Christmas song” (with lyrics like “Santa baby, Slip a sable under the tree, for me … Been an awful good girl … Hurry down the chimney tonight”).

Eartha Kitt’s recording became a huge hit in 1953 — but then disappeared. (Coincidentally, in later years she became a Weston neighbor of Jose and Susan Feliciano.)

“Santa Baby” resurfaced in 1987, when Madonna revived it. Since then it’s been featured in “Driving Miss Daisy,” and recorded by many other female singers.

Today, both “Feliz Navidad” and “Santa Baby” can be heard on every Christmas radio station — and just about every other place — in America.

Including — particularly proudly — Westport and Weston, their spiritual homes.

(Click here for the full Songcraft Christmas show podcast.)

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Posted in Entertainment, Looking back, People

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Pic Of The Day #240

Posted on December 13, 2017 | 5 comments

DaPietro’s: A warm welcome on a cold night. (Photo/Katherine Bruan)

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Posted in Pic of the Day, Restaurants

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Unsung Hero #27

Posted on December 13, 2017 | 13 comments

Every school in Westport is filled with Unsung Heroes: its custodians. Dozens of men and women work day and night. They clean floors, empty trash, move equipment and do countless other tasks so that our kids can learn — and our teachers can teach — in the cleanest, nicest and best environments possible.

I could single out many Westport custodians as this week’s Unsung Hero. I’m focusing on Jose Alvarez — but he stands for all of them.

Jose begins work at Staples High School at 5 p.m. His domain is the first floor — including the main office wing. It’s the most visible part of the school, and the pride he takes in making it shine is palpable.

He stayed late one night, because there were scuff marks he was still working to remove. That’s a regular occurrence: He won’t leave until his area is perfect.

He washes coffee mugs on administrators’ desks. They don’t want him to, but he insists.

Jose Alvarez

Jose is Colombian. He learned English by listening to lessons on headphones, as he worked.

One of his proudest moments was the day he became an American citizen. He’d studied hard for the test. Principal John Dodig arranged for a cake, and a small ceremony. Jose beamed with pride.

“He’s grateful for everything,” says current principal James D’Amico. “And we’re grateful for him. People come in, and can’t believe how clean and shiny the building looks.”

Staples head custodian Horace Lewis — an Unsung Hero himself — says Jose “never takes a day off. He’s always here, and always does his job so well.”

When he does have a vacation, Jose travels. He’s been to Israel and Italy. Of course, he returns to Colombia whenever he can.

But then it’s back to Westport. There is a school to take care of, and Jose is proud to do it.

(Hat tip: Karen Romano)

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Posted in Education, People, Staples HS, Unsung Heroes

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