Next up for the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee: a public review and feedback meeting covering additional plans for its “Master Plan for Downtown Parking and Pedestrian Areas: Reconnecting the Riverfront.”
Particular focus will be on the Parker Harding Plaza design.
The session is set for August 22 (7 p.m., Westport Library). All residents and downtown stakeholders are invited to attend.
Information on the project is available on the DPIC website. Feedback is welcome in its comments section.
DPIC also conducts regular public meetings, typically the 2nd Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m.
Screenshot from the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee website.
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Yesterday’s Roundup included several photos of Monday night’s NASA rocket launch, to resupply the International Space Station. It was (very) visible over Westport.
But NASA is not through with Westport.
Yesterday morning, Diane Bosch and her husband Eric chatted with a team from the space agency, at Compo Beach’s Ned Dimes Marina. A NASA boat was docked there.
As best as the Bosches could determine from the visitors, they were monitoring air quality, and satellite launched earlier this year from Elon Musk’s SpaceX group.
“They were a bit secretive when we tried to understand what they were doing,” Diane reports.
“They did say they were in town from the NASA site in Virginia — and they had nothing to do with the rocket launch the night before.”
Monday night’s rocket launch. (Photo/Marjolijn Baxendale)
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Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between July 26 and August 2. A woman was detained for violation of probation.
Police also issued the following citations:
- Failure to register a commercial vehicle: 2 citations
- Speeding: 1
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 1
- Evading responsibility: 1
- Interfering with an officer: 1
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
- Failure to insure a motor vehicle: 1
One arrest was made for violation of probation.
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Speaking of driving issues:
The most recent truck-vs.-Saugatuck Avenue railroad bridge encounter took place Sunday evening.
As usual, the bridge won.
Aftermath of the Saugatuck Avenue railroad bridge strike. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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There are tag sales.
And then there’s the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport tag sale.
That event — one of the best bargain-hunting dates on the calendar — is this Saturday (August 5, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 10 Lyons Plains Road).
Early birds can go at 8 a.m. ($20, at the door).
The indoor event has something for everyone: clothing, dishes, housewares, sheets, towels, pillows, small furniture, rugs, household appliances, artwork, puzzles, toys, electronics and more.
Everything is “priced fairly, to move.”
Questions? Email uuchurch@uuwestport.org, or call 203-227-7205.
A small portion of the big Unitarian tag sale.
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Yesterday’s “Unsung Hero” feature gave a shout-out to Westport’s favorite long distance swimmer and Swim Across the Sound volunteer, Liz Fry.
The annual event involves nearly 200 swimmers. They raise money for underserved cancer patients in the Bridgeport area.
A typical Swim brings in $300,000.
This year’s total — over $455,000, and counting — blew that number out of, um, the water.
Congratulations to all who participated. And of course to Liz Fry, without whom none of that would be possible.
Liz Fry
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Crabbers — with LED headlamps and big nets — were out again yesterday at the Sherwood Mill Pond, starting around 8:20 p.m.
Concerned residents — including environmentalists worried about over-fishing, along with neighbors disturbed by the bright lights — have contacted the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, as well as Westport Police and the Parks & Recreation Department.
Crabbing last night in the Sherwood Mill Pond. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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Guardians caring for children do not have it easy.
But, says Westport-Weston Probate Judge Lisa Wexler, they may be eligible for thousands of dollars in grants to help with housing, food, transportation and enrichment activities.
Guardians can be grandparents or other relatives, or sometimes close family friends with long-standing relationships with a child.
Guardians save Connecticut $72 million a year, by keeping thousands of children out of foster care. However, unlike foster parents, Probate Court-appointed guardians receive no financial support for taking on this important (and often unexpected) responsibility.
State Kinship Fund awards grants of up to $550 a child — or $2,200 a family – a year help pay for necessities like glasses and clothing, or enrichment activities like summer camp, art supplies or creative books. The Respite Fund covers childcare, rent, transportation and food. These grants are capped at $2,200 a year.
Applications are at ctprobate.gov under the “Children’s Matters” tab, or by calling the Westport-Weston Probate Court: 203-341-1100.
State grants help guardians pay for enrichment activities.
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Outdoor music continues this weekend on Church Lane.
Accompanying diners and shoppers this evening is Dan Tressler. Tomorrow night: Vinnie Ferrone.
Musicians are sponsored by the Westport Downtown Association.
Outdoor dining on Church Lane.
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It’s the dog days of summer.
And Westport has officially gone to the dogs.
On Monday, Yogi Bear — a 2-year-old Keeshond — was named “Honorary Mayor of Westport” by 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
Yogi (accompanied by his friend Cathy Malkin) was at Town Hall to push his agenda of free cookies for all dogs.
As honorary mayor, he promised to spread love and joy everywhere.
Yogi then headed to Old Mill Grocery & Deli, where he shared a slice of vegan pizza with State Representative Dominique Johnson. It’s bipartisan: She agrees with Tooker that there should be free cookies for all dogs.
Yogi Bear with State Representative Dominique Johnson.
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An alert “06880” reader spotted a new bat house the other day, at Compo Beach.
If it’s yours, email 06880blog@gmail.com. Include where at the beach you may have lost it. I’ll contact the person who found it, and make arrangements for you to pick it up.
Bat house
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We love our butterflies.
But they often fly too fast for us to appreciate them fully.
Today, we’re in luck. David Hyman captured (on camera) this beauty. Enjoy this beautiful addition to our “Westport … Naturally” series:
(Photo/David Hyman)
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And finally … in honor of the bat house found at Compo Beach (story above), here’s a hat tip to our former neighbor, Meat Loaf:
(Right off the bat today, you can help “06880.” Please click here to support this hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
I welcome this public meeting on Parker-Harding. As the meeting has been called a “Charette” in other press reports, I think it is important to highlight what that word means…..Charette is defined as “a meeting in which all stakeholders in a project attempt to resolve conflicts and map solutions.” That sounds great. Let’s do it.
In the spirit of cooperation and transparency, and to make sure everyone who will be attending the meeting has an opportunity to know exactly what the DPIC has seen, said and been told, I would ask that the DPIC post to its website at least 1 week prior to the meeting:
1. All raw data, analysis, memos and emails regarding any and all traffic studies that they have done or contracted others to do on its behallf.
2. Any material they plan to present or discuss during that meeting.
3. Any material they plan on asking for public feedback on.
I trust that this request will not be onerous on the DPIC. Responding positively to it will go a long way in demonstrating a spirit of cooperation and transparency which we all expect and deserve.
Not sure what our First Selectwoman Jen Tooker plans are for our Honorary Mayor……Wish I would have known about the election – was there an election? – as certainly Cappy (https://www.petfinder.com/dog/courtesy-post-for-wasa-cappy-64242561/ct/westport/westport-animal-control-ct184/) would have thrown his hat in the ring. He would have run on the Adopt Don’t Shop and Adopt Local platform. A handsome and quite wonderful blue-eyed dog that was abandoned here in Westport, vetted by WASA (Westport Animal Shelter Advocates) and now guest at Westport Animal Control looking for a home.
That is how to do it…..
This might be a nice feature for 06880, WASA Dog of the Week!
Thanks John for outlining what should be provided for review before the meeting on the 22nd. It will allow the conversation to be far more productive and streamlined. Additionally, it is refreshing that this Charette will be held in the evening when many more people can participate in working towards an amicable decision.
The old Mill residents just don’t want anyone to be on that property.
I fought many times in my 46 years of living in Westport against them for us to enjoy the TOWN PROPERTY.
We crabbed,fished and swam. Some of my favorite times.
Entitlement really has changed Westport. it’s not over fished. We used to go with boats and lights in the 70’s with NO issues.
Go back to NY.