Old Mill Grocery opens soon.
But that’s not the only good news on Hillspoint Road.
The home diagonally across the street — where construction was halted 2 years ago, and which has since been sheathed, half-finished, in blue, due to permit violations — may soon be completed.
As first reported by Westport Journal, last night the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a settlement with the property owners. They can resume work, including removing a chimney and cupola.
The new home will replace a decades-long succession of restaurants, including Positano and Cafe de la Plage. Before that, it was a grocery store.
Construction halted at 233 Hillspoint Road. (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
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Meanwhile, around the corner, 44 Compo Mill Cove — the 1910 home standing closest to Old Mill Beach, and possibly the most photographed house in Westport — has sold.
It and its companion, a newer cottage at #42, were marketed together. The closing price of $5.29 million was the same as the asking price. The new owners are longtime Westporters and Staples High School graduates Lance and Ann Lonergan.
44 Compo Cove (Matt Murray)
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Christian Siriano moved to Westport in 2020, during COVID.
It hasn’t taken him long to feel at home. Or get involved with the community.
Last night, a large crowd turned out for the opening of his new retail concept store. The Collective West is at 940 Post Road East, opposite Earth Animal. It features furniture, accessories and art.
It carries brands the designer curates, including furniture, accessories and art.
Among the brands: Swoon Gallery, Josh Levkoff jewelry, Irene Lummertz, Snif, Franny’s Farmacy, Blossom + Stem, and Bungalow Decor.
Christian Soriano, in The Collective West.
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Westport’s own Melissa Newman highlights tomorrow’s Jazz at the Post (Thursday, July 14, 7 and 8:30 p.m., Joseph J. Clinton VFW Post 399, 465 Riverside Avenue).
Nationally, Melissa sings jingles for companies like AT&T and Chevrolet, Locally, she’s performed at the Blue Lemon, Tengda and Harvest in Westport.
She’s joined by Tony Lmbardozzi, Phil Bowler and Matt Moadel. There’s a $10 cover. Dinner is served from 6:30 p.m., by chef Derek Furino. Reservations are strongly suggested: jazzatthepost@gmail.com.
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Young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities are invited to a STAR dance party. It’s set for this Friday (July 15, 7 to 9 p.m., STAR headquarters, 182 Wolfpit Road, Norwalk).
Snacks and drinks are provided. There is a separate lounge area for parents and caregivers to meet and socialize, if they wish to remain while allowing the young adults to enjoy supervised independence on the dance floor.
The cost is $25 per person. There is complimentary entry for siblings and peer dance buddy volunteers.
Advance registration is required; click here. NOTE: Anyone ages 15-22 can volunteer as a peer buddy, with or without a sibling or past involvement with STAR.
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Just before COVID struck, John Németh highlighted a Supper & Soul concert at the Westport Library. It was one of the best, in the long-running series.
The musician has had some setbacks since then. He writes:
“I have a new album. I recorded it before my jaw amputation. It’s called ‘Maybe The Last Time,’ cause I didn’t know then and I still don’t know now if I will ever sing or play again like I used to. I have to say the magic of this performance is beyond this world and maybe the greatest of my life.
“I am asking for a little help from. Please pre-order this CD or digital download. I am currently not working and have some staggering bills. The legendary blues guitarist and pop icon Elvin Bishop (‘Fooled Around And Fell In Love’) and famed producer Kid Andersen wanted to cut an album for me before my surgery, knowing it could be the last time we ever make music again.
“You will receive immediately upon ordering the first single ‘Maybe The Last Time.’ I will email or mail the full record to you by September 16. This is your order link.
“My surgery has been a success so far. I still do not have feeling in my jaw or lower lip. I hope and pray that someday I will get back to 110 percent. Thank you for enjoying my music and performances.” (Hat tip: Michael Wolfe)
John Nemeth
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Yesterday’s Westport Rotary Club luncheon meeting included an inspiring talk by Vince Santilli.
The CEO of Bridgeport-based Homes for the Brave told members and guests at Greens Farms Congregational Church about the organization’s success sheltering people in need — especially veterans — in Bridgeport and West Haven. HFTB also provides case management, vocational guidance and housing assistance for homeless vets. The non-profit received a Westport Rotary Club Community Grant this year.
Vince Santilli addresses the Westport Rotary Club. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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It’s a tight turn, coming out from the Compo Shopping Center back lot. You squeeze past the Verizon store, stop (maybe), and if you’re going to turn left into the front lot, you face plenty of traffic.
What you, I or anyone else — except this extremely entitled driver — don’t do is to make the sharp turn even sharper, then hog 3 spaces directly in front of one store.
We may think we’ve seen everything, parking-wise. Then this driver reminds us we haven’t.
(Photo/Molly Alger)
PS: Yes, that’s a handicap sticker hanging from the rear view mirror. With 3 empty spaces right in front, that does not excuse this parking job.
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Connecticut is offering a child tax rebate of $250 per child, up to a maximum of $750 per household.
Residents must apply for the check. The deadline is July 31. Click here for details. (Hat tip: Melissa Crouch Chang)
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Longtime and much-loved Westport PAL coach Scott Turkel died yesterday. He was 64, and suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
A graduate of American University, Scott spent the early part of his career as an equity trader at Goldman Sachs and Lehman Bros. He then launched his own hedge fund, TCM Partners. Scott spent the latter part of his career working at Turkel Investments, where he made private investments and served as a management consultant to many businesses.
While he enjoyed helping investors and businesses achieve their goals, Scott most loved helping others and serving as a mentor to many in his community. Exceptionally philanthropic, he contributed generously to charities and causes, including the Samara Jan Turkel Clinical Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, created in memory of his late daughter.
He also made lasting impacts as a longtime coach for the Westport PAL football program. Scott kept in touch with his players through the years, and developed close relationships with many of them and their families.
Scott is survived by his sons Max, Bryan and Spencer, and his soulmate of nearly 8 years, Alyssa Rapko.
Scott’s service will be held tomorrow (Thursday, July 14, 11 a.m., Beth Israel Chabad of Norwalk 40 King Street). The family will sit shiva on Thursday (5 p.m.), Friday (4 to 6 p.m.), Saturday (7 to 9 p.m.) and Sunday (4 to 7 p.m.) at 27 White Birch Road, Weston.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association.
Scott Terkel
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Former Westporter Luigi Scaramuzzo died Sunday. He was 87.
Before immigrating from Italy to the United States, Luigi helped build Alps tunnels between Switzerland, France and Italy. Here, he worked for many years at Pepperidge Farm as a shipping clerk. He was an avid gardener and fisherman.
Survivors include his son Nicola of Norwalk, daughter Anna of Norwalk, and brother Pietro of Italy. Luigi was predeceased by his wife Teresa Scirocco-Scaramuzzo, brothers Giuseppe and Michele Scaramuzzo, and sister Giuseppina.
Tomorrow (Thursday, July 14, 10 a.m., Assumption Church) there is a Mass of Christian Burial. Entombment will follow in Willowbrook Cemetery. Condolences may be left online. Contributions in Luigi’s memory may to the National Alliance on Mental Illness,
Luigi Scaramuzzo
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John Prenderville Jr. writes:
“Locals are discussing the number of chicks in the osprey nest at Burying Hill Beach.
“These pictures say 2. I don’t think there are 3, but I thought there was only 1. So what do I know?!”
Here’s what I know: John’s photo is a fantastic addition to our daily “Westport … Naturally” series.
(Photo/John Prenderville Jr.)
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And finally … the story about John Németh (above) sent me scurrying to learn more. He’s the real deal, as this video shows:
Obviously nothing wrong with that entitled parker at Compo Shopping Center- if you look closely at the picture the Verizon store gave that driver’s effort two check marks!!
How retarded do they have to be to take up three spaces like that?
“Retarded” has not been used in 20 years (at least). It’s a serious slur.
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will leave everlasting emotional scars that I will hold onto for eternity.
I like that my picture and Mr. Soriano are in the same blog post. 🙂 Except the sunrise in the pic looks like the nuclear “event” that NYC is now warning about. 🙁
For folks looking into the child tax rebate, you need to pull together your exact 2021 AGI number and kids SSNs. The credits start phasing out based on income levels, and the benefits go towards those who are most in need. Many folks in town can save themselves the time spent filling out the form.
If you were Single or Married Filing Separately, the phase out starts at $100k and cuts off at $110k.
If you were filed as Head of Household,the phase out starts at $160k and cuts off at $170k.
If you were Married Filing Jointly or a Qualifying Widow(er), the phase out starts at $200k and cuts off at $210k.
If I was a single parent trying to live in this town, and I was earning 110-175k, with potentially 4 or 5 children, I’d feel incredibly hard done by to not be getting this rebate. Not that it will go far. But anything is better than nothing.
It’s quite amazing after the money spewed out during Covid like vomit, or like it was growing on a money tree, and still trying to account/understand for most of it. And I am sure we will never get to the bottom of it.
Convenient
Re the recent sale of the (Gorgeous) old house,#44 Compo Mill Cave:
For many years of my youth, whenever I’d see this house, there,I’d then:
‘Linda, Someday,when you write that ‘hit song’, that house will be yours’. 🙂
Congrats to the new owners for ‘writing that hit song’ 🙂
Beautiful,Peaceful Place!