Drivers weaving carefully (and not so carefully) through the Post Road East construction zone just west of McDonald’s have mourned the loss of a dozen or so old trees by the Linxweiler house.
They wonder too what will become of the many large rocks that made up a now-dismantled stone wall, near the trees.
Former stone wall in front of the Linxweiler house.
For once, the news is good.
A Planning & Zoning Commission site plan shows that the original stone wall will be replaced with a new one, continuing around the radius into Crescent Road.
The original was drywall. Hopefully, the next will be the same traditional type.
Congratulations are due town officials, who secured the replacement of the wall. (Hat tip: Michael Calise)
Site plans for Linxweiler house stone wall.
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One of the coolest opportunities anywhere is the Westport Police Department’s 8-week Citizens’ Police Academy.
Participants gain a first-hand understanding of what our officers do, how they do it, and how the WPD fits into our community.
At the same time, residents and officers get to know each other much better.
25 community members participate in classes on law enforcement, and get hands-on experience with equipment. They also join a “ride-along” with an officer — and receive CPR/AED certification.
The program runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays from October 5 through November 30 (except before Veterans Day and on Thanksgiving), and Wednesday, December 6.
The academy is open to Westport residents age 21 and older. Applications can also be picked up at police headquarters, and are due by September 18.
Westport’s Citizens Police Academy offers an inside look into every aspect of the department.
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Seen on social media yesterday:
“If you’re like me and all of your mail was stolen from your mailbox on Cross Highway, North Compo or Weston Rd (Friday) night, apparently some of it is floating around near the Willowbrook cemetery.
“With crime the way it’s been around here lately, I guess we should feel lucky our cars weren’t stolen or smashed. It’s just our personal information compromised.”
What a shame — and a hassle. (And for those whose checks are stolen and “whitewashed,” even worse.)
But among the responses was this, which is news to me: “Sign up for ‘USPS Informed Delivery’ free service. You get a daily email, with pictures of every piece of correspondence arriving in your mailbox.”
Not a good idea. It’s an invitation to thieves that there is mail — often a check — inside.
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Yesterday’s Saugatuck Congregational Church service honoring the late Rev. Ted Hoskins was a chance for old friends to remember the longtime senior and youth minister.
It was a chance too for people who never knew him to learn more about one of the founders of Westport’s homeless shelter and food pantry. Today the Gillespie Center for men — and Hoskins Center for women, named for him — and other supportive housing and food projects are run by Homes with Hope.
Rev. Hoskins — who died last month — spent the last couple of decades of his life in Maine. But — as the turnout at his remembrance proved — his mark on Westport is profound, and indelible.
Homes with Hope representatives at Saugatuck Church yesterday (from left): Pete Powell, first president; Rev. Willie Salmond, who initiated the service for Rev. Hoskins; John Walsh, board chair; Helen McAlinden, president; Jeff Wieser, past president.
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If you’re wondering what Dattco is doing, now that they’ve lost the Westport school bus contract …
Yesterday, at Compo Beach. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Last winter, dozens of bagels sat for more than 2 weeks, on High Gate Road of Maple Avenue South.
No one knew where they came from. No one claimed them. No one cleaned them up. (Click here, then scroll down for a Roundup story.)
That was weird.
What’s even weirder is: They’re back.
Chris Grimm — who reported on the first outbreak — sent along this photo:
(Photo/Chris Grimm)
It looks very similar to several months ago.
Except this time, there is a large, unopened bag of bagels too, on the grass.
Very, very weird.
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Dermatologists Dr. Nina Antonov and Dr. Marc Beuttler of Modern Dermatology will provide free full body skin cancer screenings, and/or spot checks, at the Aspetuck Health District (180 Bayberry Lane) on September 26.
Appointments are available between 9 a.m. and noon, and 1-4 p.m. Call 203-227-9571, ext. 235, and ask for Judy. Limited to residents of Westport, Weston and Easton only.
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Speaking of health: Overdose awareness and Narcan training will be held September 26 (7 to 8 p.m., Town Hall Room C201).
It’s sponsored by members of the Westport Prevention Coalition and Westport RTM.
To register and for more information, call 203-227-7644.
It’s never too early to think about beer.
Wakeman Town Farm’s annual family Beer Garden event is Sunday October 15 (noon to 4 p.m.).
The afternoon features live music by Hitch and the Giddy-Up + Rob Morton, lawn games, bubbles, face painting, photos with mini ponies, and pumpkin crafts for the littles — and a surprise craft by LaurelRock.
Also for adults: Eco Evolution, and a massage therapist for the adults.
Lunch options include pizza by Tony Pizza Napolitano, Food Truck Refinery and Oronoque Farms.
Local beer is sponsored by Greens Farms Spirits, with ice cream from Saugatuck Sweets and Landtech. Ccider donuts and refreshments are courtesy of KMS Team at Compass.
Tickets are $10 for adults; kids are free. Click here to purchase, and for more information. Food and beverage purchases are a la carte. Proceeds benefit Wakeman Town Farm educational programs.
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Two butterflies flitted around the Westport Library yesterday.
As great a photographer as Rowene Weems is, she could not get them together in the same shot.
But even one is wonderful enough for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Rowene Weems)
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And finally … Happy Labor Day!
(“06880” does not even take Labor Day off. If you’d like to leave a tip, please click here.)
Let’s hope that reconstructed stone wall is actually dry stacked – and done by people who understand the medium. The last wall DOT rebuilt in Westport, along the edge of Winslow Park/North Compo Road must have been put together by space aliens who really needed the money to fix their rocketship but who had never actually seen a New England stone wall. Suffice to say that weirdly proportioned, incorrectly fabricated wet wall is now, um, shedding stone. I loathe it. Maybe someone from P&Z will make a phone call to clarify some key details. My feeling is that if you can’t do it well, then don’t even bother. Besides, who needs yet another goofy frankenwall around here?
I took the Citizens Police Academy a few years back, all I can say is if you have the opportunity to enroll, do it. To see how our amazing Police Department works behind the bricks of Jesup Road will give one a whole new appreciation for the men and women who protect and serve our community.
The Overdose Awareness & Narcan Training at Town Hall
is on Tuesday the 26th of September not the 27th (the earlier flier that had that typo).
Tuesday, September 26th, 7-8pm at Town Hall, Room 201
RSVP at positivedirections.org/events
Overdose Awareness & Narcan Training
Learn about the evolution of today’s overdose crisis
Get local data
Know how to recognize & respond to an overdose emergency
Learn about state resources
Receive a free Narcan(TM) kit!
The event is to provide overdose awareness and resources to elected officials and the public.
Had USPS informed delivery for well over a year now and I can tell you first hand it’s “worthless “. Don’t count on the photographing your mail or even listing what’s coming. Unfortunately if your worried about the security of your mail get a box at the PO. More money for them if course and inconvenient for you.
Regarding the stone wall: Let’s just hope that they don’t use some ugly prefab stuff. If you’re not familiar with it, take a look at the wall surrounding the Sasco Creek Apts. on the Post Road. It’s ironic that the Town spends so much time on zoning regulations and site plan approvals, etc. and then allows these hideous walls.
Amidst the sometimes bizarre and outlandish commercial and residential implants that increasingly overwhelm our sense of identity it’s easy to miss the significance of the New England dry stacked stone wall which— as Henry David Thoreau says—“suggests an energy and force of which we have no memorials.”
Perhaps it’s legal to shoot a mail thief if seen in action…very few acceptable reasons for using a gun, but that seems like one.
I highly recommend the USPS Delivery Notification service! I already had it when my incoming mail was stolen in February 2020. It was very valuable because I could see what had been stolen, including my mortgage tax document, a check, and credit card statements. I immediately called these companies to inform them, to stop payment on the check and to replace my credit cards. I also notified the post office and they filed a report. A few days later they returned some of the stolen mail (complete with tire marks) which they had recovered on the Sherwood Island Connector!
Ok, sarcasm aside, just in case, It is NOT legal to shoot a mail thief nor a car thief, for that matter. Deadly force is to protect from imminent, reasonable threat of death to oneself or another, when retreat or other mitigation action is impossible and you cannot be found to have instigated or contributed to the situation, but I am NOT an attorney and this is NOT legal advice.
Feeding wild animals is never a good idea. Aside from the fact “people food” is usually unhealthy for them it also prevents the young from learning how to feed themselves. Why not donate the bagels to local food banks or our own Gillespie Center?
I also attended the Westport Citizens Police Academy and my son the under 21 Academy as well. It was extremely enjoyable, informative and worthwhile. I would strongly encourage anyone to attend and I also hope the WPD will hold additional under 21 academy classes as well.
Yeah, all true, Philip. But a phantasy wound to the knee is fun to contemplate.
Sick.
I really hope the city will reconstruct Joanna stone wall correctly. It’s the least they can do after taking her beautiful trees.