Roundup: Long Lots Meeting, Restaurant Week, I-95 Closures …

The Long Lots School Building Committee meets tomorrow (Thursday, October 5, 6 p.m.). In anticipation of a large crowd — and the expectation of a vote on which recommendation to submit to 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker — the session will be held in the Town Hall auditorium.

The agenda includes:

• Update from committee
• Public comment and/or questions regarding the feasibility study project (15 minutes)
• Committee discussion regarding report and recommendation.

Previous meetings of the Long Lots School Building Committee have been held in a small room. Tomorrow’s is set for the Town Hall auditorium. (Photo/Karen Mather)

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With all that’s going on in town– the Slice of Saugatuck, Earthplace and YMCA fundraisers, the Long Lots/Community Gardens kerfuffle, lanternflies — you’re forgiven for not realizing that Restaurant Week started on Sunday.

But foodies: Fear not. This is Westport. We do things differently.

Our Restaurant Week is actually 2. It runs all the way through October 15.

The annual Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce event is part of its ongoing “Eat Local” campaign, to promote area restaurants.

This year Restaurant Week(s) features 21 places, offering prix fixe meals in a variety of cuisines, and for all price points. They cover all of Westport, from Saugatuck to just over the Southport line.

Each restaurant sets its ow prix fixe price. Some offer just lunch, others dinner only; many provide both.

Here are the participating restaurants, with “Lunch” and/or “Dinner” noted. Click each restaurant to see each menu.

Boathouse (L,D)
Capuli  (L,D)
De Tapas (L,D)
Don Memo (L,D)
Gabriele’s (L,D)
Gray Goose (pending)
Harvest (D)
Kawa Ni (L)
La Plage (L,D)
Lomito (L,D)
Match Burger Lobster (L,D)
Mexicue (D)
Rive Bistro (D)
Rizzutos (D)
Romanacci (L,D)
Spotted Horse Tavern (L,D)
Tarantino (D)
The Whelk (L)
Tutti’s Restaurant (L,D)
Via Sforza (L,D)
Zucca (L,D)

Restaurant Week is again sponsored by Castlekeep Advisors, WEBE 108 and WICC 600.

Tutti’s owners Pasquale and Maria Funicello — and their family — are proud partners in Restaurant Week.

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In addition to the occasional, “15-minute only” closures of I-95 between Exits 17 and 18 through October 27, the state Department of Transportation has just announced lengthier, more involved work.

From 8 p.m. on Friday, October 20 through 6 a.m. Monday, October 23, I-95 northbound will be closed, and “traffic will be detoured on the southbound bride, severely restricting traffic flow.”  Traffic will be detoured onto Saugatuck and Riverside Avenue, the Post Road and Sherwood Island connector.

From Friday, November 3 (8 p.m.) until Monday, November 6 (6 a.m.), I-95 southbound will be closed, and “traffic will be detoured on the I-95 NB bridge thus severely restricting traffic flow.” The Saugatuck Avenue detour will also be in place.

Make plans now to avoid the area.

And much of the rest of town.

For more information, click here.

The I-95 “slide” bridge was half-completed last month. As work continues, detours and delays will mount.

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First it was stuffed bears in the Winslow Park trees.

Now it’s artwork.

Mark Mathias spotted this yesterday.

As always, we’d love to know the back story. Click “Comments” if you’ve got a clue.

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From the size of the container at the transfer station, it looks like Westporters are serious about recycling.

And from the type of glass inside, it looks like this is definitely a Westport collection.

Or maybe all that wine came from just one party?

(Photos/Frank Rosen)

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Sure, it’s October.

But the Levitt Pavilion — known for its 60 or so nights of summer entertainment — is still going strong.

On stage this month:

“Max Weinberg’s Jukebox” (tomorrow: Thursday, October 5, 7:30 p.m.): The longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band brings his own group – and 300 songs that the audience can pick from. Click here for tickets ($35, $75 and $125), and more information.

Caleb Caudle (Friday, October 6, 7:30 p.m.): A full band show featuring Americana and folk from the his “Forsythia” album. Click here for free tickets, and more information.

Say She She (October 19, 7:30 p.m.): The female-led 7-piece outfit from London and Brooklyn brings its disco-pop sound to the shores of the Saugatuck River. Click here for free tickets, and more information.

Max Weinberg

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Sure, yesterday’s weather was more like the 4th of July than Halloween.

But this group of women were busy carving pumpkins. At Compo Beach, sure, but can trick-or-treating be far behind?

(Photo/Cohl Katz)

Cohl Katz — the great hair stylist who was out for a walk in between clients — was so intrigued, she did not ask whether this was an organized group working on a project, or just a random assortment of friends.

Either way: Boo!

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When the Westport Library sponsors a staged reading of “Gentle Hacksaw” — the new drama combining religion, identity and violence (October 21, 8 p.m.; part of Story Fest) — there will be a strong local tie.

Matthew Van Gessel plays one of the lead roles. In Staples Players, the 2011 graduate played some of the most challenging roles seen on a high school stage. (The dentist in “Little Shop of Horrors” was typical.)

Described as “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” meets “God of Carnage,” the psychological thriller follows 2 high-profile gay men in a verbal cat-and-mouse game of utter cruelty when an unpleasant bargain goes awry.

As social graces are discarded and basic human decency is abandoned, both men discover shocking truths about themselves and one another.

A 7 p.m. reception with StoryFest authors precedes the show. A talkback with the playwright and cast, moderated by author Clay Mcleod Chapman, follows it. Click here for tickets.

Matthew Van Gessel

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During World War II, Westporters took turns scanning the skies and waters, looking for Nazi planes and boats.

In the 1950s and ’60s, one Nike site with missiles on North Avenue — and another launch site on Bayberry Lane — were part of the US defense system. The goal was to protect Bridgeport — an important manufacturing city — from a Russian attack

The Norwalk Historical Society on East Avenue has an exhibit on Norden, the Norwalk manufacturer of radar systems and bombsights. The company — located a few yards from the Westport border, and visible from I-95 just before Exit 17 — was later home to Tauck Tours. (Hat tip: Lynn Flint)

A typical Nike site — much like the North Avenue one. Missiles were buried underground.

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Half of the prison population ends up back in jail following release.

In Bridgeport, Homebridge Ventures provides a re-entry program to help break the cycle of recidivism.

Yesterday, the Westport Rotary Club heard from David Stubbs. The co-founder and executive director of the non-profit escribed their programs addressing mental health issues, substance abuse and educational deficiencies, including teaching computer and job skills.

David Stubbs addresses the Westport Rotary Club.

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Art was not the only thing Mark Mathias noticed yesterday on his ramble through Winslow Park (story above).

He also snapped this photo, for our “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Mark Mathias)

It’s a dog’s world. We just share it with them.

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And finally … in honor of both Restaurant Week, and the glass recycling container at the transfer station (stories above):

(For the price of a bottle of wine, you can support “06880.” Any vintage is welcome! Please click here — and “merci.”)