Stay away from the William F. Cribari Bridge today. The Saugatuck River span is closed through 3 p.m., for inspection. Use alternate routes!
William F. Cribari Bridge — stay away today! (Photo/Sam Levenson)
Registration for Senior Center October-December classes is underway for Westport residents. Non-residents can register beginning Monday (September 21).
The Senior Center also announces upcoming events:
- Parkinson’s Support (Sept. 23, Zoom, 10:15 a.m.)
- New to Medicare (Sept. 24, 5:30 p.m.)
- Summer Concert Series: Harpist Wendy Kerner (Sept. 25, Zoom, 1:30 p.m.)
- Caregiver Support (Sept. 30, Oct. 7 and 21, 10 a.m.)
- Bingo (Oct. 1, with delivered lunch (Pct. 1, Zoom, 1:15 p.m.)
- Just for Women (Oct. 1, 3:30 p.m.)
- Walk to End Alzheimer’s (Oct. 11).
For more information, click here, call 203-341-5099, email seniorcenter@westportct.gov/seniorcenter.
Smoke from the wildfires out west have reached Westport. This was the scene yesterday evening, at Compo Beach:
(Photo/Stephen Raffel)
COVID has canceled many traditional activities. But not Oktoberfest!
Wakeman Town Farm celebrates outdoors on Thursday, October 8 (5:30 p.m.). Chef Alison Milwe Grace cooks up a great German meal (with a veggie option for non-meat eaters). Bring a sweater or jacket and your favorite German beer or adult beverage. Click here for details and tickets.
Teaching has always been stressful. During COVID, it’s exponentially tougher.
To help educators de-stress, Positive Directions has launched a Teacher Support Group. Trained counselors lead discussions Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. via (of course) Zoom. The cost is $40 per session. Email amiceli@positivedirections.org, or call 203-227-7644 for reservations.
With kids back at school — meaning more than half the time, they’re learning at home — parents may need a private office.
Serendipity Labs — the on-demand workspace at 55 Post Road West — offers a complimentary private day office for all new inquiries. It’s available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Serendipity memberships include high-speed WiFi, complimentary coffee, spacious common areas, guest reception and concierge services. For details click here, call 203-979-4084 or email mburns@serendipitylabs.com.
Serendipity Labs, 55 Post Road West
Classic movies continue this Saturday (September 19, 8 p.m.) at the Remarkable Theater. Earthplace co-sponsors “Raiders of the Lost Artk.” Click here for tickets and more information.
Speaking of movies: Ethan Hawke will direct a new movie about the lives and careers of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. The project has the blessing of Woodward — now 90 — and the actors’ family.
The film is expected to focus on their 50-year marriage, including their decision to raise their children in Westport rather than Los Angeles. (Hat tip: Johanna Rossi)
Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.
And finally … today would have been B.B. King’s 95th birthday. He died 5 years ago, but the thrill of his blues guitar will never be gone.
CTDOT’s inspection might raise interest in Westport’s iconic gateway bridge named to memorialize the epitome of great traffic cops.
Here’s a link to a website redolent with information as well as strategies to preserve it and the residential character of the east bank of the Saugatuck River.
https://preservewestport.com/
If we are lucky, the State will condemn the bridge for vehicular use leaving it only for use by pedestrians and bicyclists. What better traffic calming solution could one ask for? 🙂
In all due respect closing the bridge permanently would be a night mare. There needs to be a crossing of the Saugatuck. a replacement would be a monstrosity. Go back and look at the proposals that were suggested before.
Think of what the heavy traffic would do to the area and the impact on the residents and homes and the shore line. I well remember the grief and loss of land that happened when I 95 went through. You do not want the results.
You do want, or those of us old enough to remember want the bridge saved.
Dan, thanks for the, as usual, informative and wide-ranging “Roundup”.
Among other things, it begged the question as to why the closure of the Cribari Bridge was not mentioned as a text alert (888-77) from the police department. I find those alerts very helpful but often notice that Cribari Bridge closings do not seem to make the cut even though they would appear to be items that the WPD would have prior or instant knowledge.
The closings, while normally not presenting a safety concern, certainly can creat significant inconvenience and add to disruptive traffic patterns which could be mitigated by some advance notice such as the text alerts.
I did receive 2 notices, “traffic alerts” via email regarding the closure of the bridge. One yesterday afternoon and another early this morning.
Thank you, Diane.
I do not get email notifications from WPD, so will have to check into it. But, it still seems that the text alerts would be an even timelier alternative.
Dan,
Thanks for letting us know about the upcoming movie about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. From 1970 to 1972 I had a part-time job at Torno Lumber. One busy day Mr. Newman came in and wanted to build stilts for his daughter. I showed him several plans in our plan book, a thick three-ring binder. He selected a plan and we looked at assembly hardware (brass or zinc-plated were the only choices back then; I don’t remember what he chose). I wrote up the ticket, he paid cash, and I asked him to drive his car into the lumber yard where someone would take the ticket and load him up. He said thanks and left.
When I got home my mom got very excited and asked, “were his eyes really that blue?”
They were.
Best regards,
Kevin Hyatt Palm Springs, California Staples Class of ‘72
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Beautiful photo, Steve.
A boat struck the bridge after leaving the Parker mansion for what i assume started as a lovely dinner and boating evening .The interesting part was I had a scheduled opening to get my boat thru and back to the yard, this poor guy who had severe damage to his electronics got lucky and was able to get thru with my passage but he not only damaged his boat he would of been stuck north of the bridge for several hours. My guess is he won’t be returning to patronize the businesses on the river anytime soon. The impact triggered a full inspection , hence the closing .
Actually Robbie you are not correct in the reason you give for the closing yesterday of the Cribari Bridge. Yesterdays closing was entirely due to the regularly scheduled maintenance inspection that happens every two years in September. I went down and spoke with the individuals actually doing the inspection yesterday and they happily assured me that that was the sole purpose behind yesterdays closing. (One recalled having even been out in Sept 2018 for the last inspection.) So there was nothing nefarious or out of the ordinary with yesterday’s closing. Just the required every two year inspection that DOT does for all CT bridges.
John , that might be what they told you but not from the horses mouth on the eve of the bridge strike also still doesn’t address the guys damaged boat nor the inability for boaters to easily access the amenities upriver and the real issue of being stuck with no “reasonable” opening available,….. but I understand your position and hope your well, Looking forward to the release of the EA and the bridge owners preferred option . Going to be interesting to say the least.