The next meeting of the Long Lots School Building Committee is tomorrow (Thursday, August 10, 6 p.m., Town Hall Room 201).
The first 15 minutes are open for public comment and/or questions about the project.
A work session with the design team follows, for project status updates and review. The public may attend the work session, but not participate.
Long Lots Elementary School is 70 years old. It began as a junior high school.
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Westport has one less elm tree.
The large one in front of Stop & Shop — among the last survivors in Westport — was taken down a few days ago.
The removal was part of the Post Road improvement project.
We all know the gorgeous specimen on Long Lots Road. Where else in town can we see a majestic elm? Click “Comments,” with your favorite. (Hat tip: Nate Gibbons)
(Photo/Nate Gibbons)
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Sixteen members of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew left yesterday to fight wildfires in Montana. They flew from Bradley International Airport, on a multi-week deployment.
Among them: 2 former Westport Fire Department chiefs, Michael Kronick and Andrew Kingsbury.
Connecticut firefighters, at Bradley Airport.
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Yesterday’s Westport Rotary meeting highlighted the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants. President/CEO Susan Schnitzer and associate director Deo Byakisaka discussed their 105-year-old organization, which offers services, advocacy, and social, educational and life skills programming for refugees, immigrants, survivors of human trafficking and torture, and unaccompanied minors.
Deo described his own journey as a refugee, and his successful integration into the local community.
He left the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003 because of war, persecution and violence. He and his family spent 11 years in a resettlement camp in Uganda before arriving in Bridgeport in 2014.
CIRI helped him establish a productive life for himself and his children. He now gives back, working in refugee services at CIRI.
Deo Byakisaka, at yesterday’s Westport Rotary Club meeting.
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Fishermen are known for telling tall tales.
If these guys tell you they can walk on water: Don’t believe them.
(Photo/Jim Hood)
They were actually at the end of the Schlaet’s Point jetty, at Hillspoint Road and Soundview Drive, during high tide yesterday.
But it sure is a very cool photo.
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The best weekend on the Earthplace calendar returns soon.
It kicks off Saturday, September 30 (7 to 10 p.m.), with the “Woodside Bash.” There’s an open bar, fire pit, music by Pimpinella, and a mechanical bull. Click here for tickets.
The next day is for families. The Fall Festival (Sunday, October 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) includes a climbing wall, apple slingshot, donut on a string, pumpkin bowling, hayrides, a corn pool and more. Click here for tickets.
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It’s been a while since the Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand play reading series offered a good, old-fashioned romantic comedy.
But that’s next. “Maytag Virgin” takes the stage on August 21 (7 p.m.).
Script in Hand curator Mark Shanahan says, “I know our audience will fall in love with these wonderful characters as Jack and Lizzy meditate on life, love, and joys of folding laundry.”
For more information, including tickets, click here.
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The Abraham Accords, Iran appeasement, food inflation, security concerns, immigration, New York real estate — that’s a lot to cover.
But Avi Kaner did, in a wide-ranging interview with WABC radio’s Suzanne Miller.
Westporters know Avi as a former Board of Finance chair, and 2nd Selectman.
He was on the air though as co-owner of New York’s Morton Williams supermarket chain.
Click here to listen.
Avi Kaner
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An Eastern tiger swallowtail poses handsomely, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature:
(Photo/Daniel Maya)
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And finally … Happy National Polka Day!
(Please click here to “prosím darujte“ — or, as polka fans everywhere know, “please donate” — to “06880.” Thank you!)
That Long Lots picture brings back a lot of memories. I went there from 1959 to 1961. There was Mr. Marshall, Mr. Lord, Mr. Koehler and others. Anyone want to share a Long Lots memory from that time period?
Hello, Jack,
My Long Lots memory concerns my dear friend Lucy Lees – we met during the 6th grade graduation trip to a Yankees-Senators game when Greens Farms Elementary (Lucy) and Bedford Elementary (me) sat next to each other, got together during the summer, and became best friends when we were in the same track at BJHS. When we were in 8th grade, BJHS was on double session and my friends and I would pass notes to Lucy when she arrived, then walk to someone’s house and watch the McCarthy hearings over lunch, and Lucy went to LLJHS the next year.
Double session…. How I remember that! I was in the afternoon session.
Wow, Dan – who knew it was National Polka Day? As a proud descendant of Eastern Europeans, (my 4 grandparents emigrated from Lithuania) dancing & listening to polkas was part of every celebration. In fact, a local radio station had a weekend morning broadcast of polkas and talk with Victor Zembruski & The Polish Eagle Show along with hostess Sophie Zembruski. If you do a web search, her obit is in Legacy. Great memories!
I’m going to Roll Out The Barrels
We’ll have a barrel of fun…
I remember Victor Zembruski. Three of my grandparents came from Poland. Everyone did the Polka in our family.
I remember that song… you’re bringing back memories!
I used to watch the Lawrence Welk Show with my grandmother. A one and a two and a three.
Polka 🎵 video is wild 🎶 ‼️ 🔥🔥
Note that CDOT initially proposed that ALL the trees in front of Stop and Shop be removed for the road improvement project at the Bulkley Avenue / Post Road intersection. The Greens Farms Association convened a meeting that included all local and state officials who then agreed to intervene. The local property owner also wanted to save as many trees as possible. These efforts were successful (although we have to monitor CDOT compliance) in gaining agreement that only a few trees at the intersection would be removed. Ben Sykas, our local tree warden confirmed this agreement and is also monitoring CDOT compliance.
Art Schoeller
President
Greens Farms Association
Hmmm; that school is not 70 years old in the photo…the white convertible photoed is a ’59 Pontiac Bonneville.
Picture of the school not likely from the year it was built.
Francis, One of the cars in the picture of Long Lots has “fins” which were first sold in 1957, so that picture is probably late 1957 or 1958. The school opened in 1954.
1957-1958 or a little later.
Proud and grateful for our brave Connecticut firefighters.