Roundup: RTM’s Petition, Martin Crouse’s Bench, UConn’s President …

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Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton has certified a petition requesting that the Representative Town Meeting review the Planning & Zoning Commission’s settlement of a lawsuit, permitting Summit Saugatuck to build 157 units of housing on Hiawatha Lane.

The RTM has 30 days to render a decision.

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The saga of Martin Crouse’s memorial bench — first gone from Compo Beach, then located by Westport Police — is over. And the ending could not be better.

Martin’s wife Laurie reports that bench is back at its cherished spot near Ned Dimes Marina, after repair work by the Parks & Recreation Department.

It was delivered there yesterday. A new anchoring system will keep it there.

Laurie asked “06880” to thank Debbie Detmer and Ed Frawley at Parks & Rec, Westport police, and the many Westporters who offered support.

Westport Parks & Recreation staff secure Martin Crouse’s memorial bench.

Laurie Crouse, back at her favorite spot.

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The Remarkable Theater announces its schedule for Memorial Day week:

Thursday, May 27 (8 p.m.): “Private Benjamin” (“I wanna wear my sandals. And I wanna go out to lunch. I wanna be normal again.”)

Friday, May 28 (8 p.m.): “Finding Nemo” (In association with Sped*Net Wilton)

Saturday, May 29 (8:30 p.m.): “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Special Best Costume contest)

Sunday, May 30 (8 p.m.): “Saving Private Ryan” (Special $25 Memorial Day price)

And don’t forget: “Happy Gilmore” tomorrow (Saturday, May 22, 8:30 p.m.).

Click here for tickets and more information.

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There’s a new interim president at the University of Connecticut.

And he’s a Westport resident.

Dr. Andrew Agwunobi and his wife Elizabeth (also a physician) moved here 2 years. He has served as CEO of UConn Health — a position he will continue in. He is the first person of color to be named president in the university’s history.

Click here for the full story.

Dr. Andrew Agwunobi

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Westport firefighters joined their brothers and sisters from across the state yesterday. Over 130 Connecticut fire departments, many first responder agencies, and fire departments from as far as Detroit gathered to pay respects to Firefighter Ricardo “Rico” Torres. He died last week battling a blaze in New Haven.

He leaves behind his wife Erica Martinez, and sons, due to be born in August. Click here for a fundraiser to support his family and unborn sons.

Firefighters at the funeral for Ricardo Torres. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is not just a couple of horseshoe crabs.

They’re a pair that was rescued by MaryLou Roels, after being stranded by low tide. They look as good as ever.

(Photo/MaryLou Roels)

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And finally … on this day in 1927, Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris. It was the world’s first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

Special Westport connection: Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow lived for several years on Long Lots Road, near the Fairfield border.

 

6 responses to “Roundup: RTM’s Petition, Martin Crouse’s Bench, UConn’s President …

  1. Billy Nistico

    SO happy the bench is back Laurie! Sending love from the West Coast.

    • Jeanne V. Reed

      During my elementary, junior high, and early high school years, my mother was a secretary at a company called Dolge’s, and she often had lunch at the Arrow restaurant, or Nistico’s, as she called it.

  2. Jeanne V. Reed

    Thank you for that wonderful song! My mother’s entire elementary school in Manhattan ran outside to wave to Lindbergh as he flew from Long Island to Paris!

    When I visited the French Cable Museum on Cape Cod, I learned that France laid an undersea transatlantic cable to the station in the 1800s, and each message was translated and forwarded to the French Consulate in NYC for dissemination.  In May 1927, the cable station manager became so excited about news of Lindbergh’s flight to Paris that he ran over to the baseball field (where the Cape Cod League still plays), making the good people of Orleans the first Americans to hear the stupendous news!

  3. Jane Nordli Jessep

    Hi, Dan…Lovely story about the bench and as far as Lindbergh, well, what about the dance inspired by his flight across the Atlantic, the Lindy Hop? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahoJReiCaPk

  4. Michael Calise

    Horseshoe crabs (male & female) female probably laying eggs. oops!

  5. Michael Calise

    Just looked at photo again. Female is dug in laying eggs which male would have fertilized and covered with sand. Nature does well left to its own devices. I am sure they found another spot as they do this multiple times during the breeding season. .