Who you gonna believe: the comments section of “06880,” or your own ears?
With local elections looming, Westport’s League of Women Voters has scheduled 3 important debates. All take place in the Town Hall auditorium.
Planning & Zoning Commission candidates take the stage October 11 (7 p.m.). They’re followed by a double-header October 12: the Board of Education at 7 p.m., Board of Finance at 8:15.
This is your chance to hear — and assess — the men and women vying to lead our town. Come to Town Hall; then make an informed decision.
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Yesterday, with the help of the Waterbury Police Department, Westport detectives took 22-year-old Garrett Gibbs of Waterbury into custody for his involvement in the September 17th carjacking incident.
The arrest followed an intense investigation. Gibbs was charged with the following crimes:
- Home Invasion
- Burglary 1st degree
- Robbery by carjacking
- Assault 3rd degree
- Larceny 1st degree
- Conspiracy to commit larceny 1st degree
- Robbery 1st degree
he is being held at the Westport Police Department on a $500,000.00 bond. He will appear in Stamford Superior Court on October 16.
Westport Police detectives are still working this case, and anticipate additional arrests.
Yesterday was a busy one for the WPD. They also arrested a 17-year-old juvenile from Stratford for an incident on July 11, when shots fired in Saugatuck.
The youth is currently incarcerated at Manson Youth Institute, following a previous arrest by another agency. The arrest came after a lengthy investigation by the Detective Bureau, involving multiple interviews and search warrants.
The teen was charged with:
- Unlawful discharge of a firearm
- Conspiracy to commit unlawful discharge of a firearm
- Reckless endangerment 1st degree
- Conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment 1s degree
- Breach of peace
- Conspiracy to commit breach of peace.
He will appear in Bridgeport Juvenile Court on October 13. Police anticipate additional arrests.
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A twice-postponed Parks & Recreation Commission meeting has been rescheduled to October 18 (Town Hall Room 201, 7:30 p.m.). The agenda includes discussion of the Longshore Capital Improvement Plan.
The first meeting was interrupted due to a medical emergency. The second — this past Thursday — was planned as a virtual session. It never began, due to technical issues.
Among the concerns of attendees: where on the property to place the planned pickleball courts.
Changes will be coming soon to Longshore.
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Gaetano’s Deli is a favorite with Staples students.
So it’s a natural location for the high school radio station’s live broadcasts today.
Award-winning WWPT will set up a tent and remote facility outside the Post Road East spot. Everyone is welcome to stop by, and see these great young radio broadcasters in action.
And if you can’t be there, listen in: 90.3 FM, or online.
Check out the schedule below:
(Graphic by Henry Manning)
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It’s tough: How can parents talk honestly with their children about drug use, without sounding preachy, unrealistic or clueless?
All this month, the Westport Prevention Coalition is offering free streaming access to a 52-minute documentary, “Don’t Wait.”e.
Substances have changed over the years. Cannabis concentrates can deliver 96% pure THC with no CBD or plant matter. Delivery mechanisms like vapes and pouches are relatively new too.
The film updates parents’ knowledge, and helps them answer tough questions from their kids. Click here to stream the video.
As follow-up for parents who want more information, WPC plans 2 Zoom sessions for parents (October 24 and 26). Click here to register.
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PinkLand — the Pink Aid online auction, raising funds to help people with breast cancer — opens Monday. It runs through Thursday.
Over 300 items are available for online bidding. They include:
- Brendan Murphy painting (value: $21,000)
- Yankees Legends seats for 2024 ($3,000)
- 2 tickets to “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen (TBD)
- 4 VIP wristbands for Governor’s Ball Music Festival 2024 ($3,200)
- 3 night Oceanview King stay at Mauna Lani, including buffet breakfast ($5,000)
- Clase Azul Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Reposado tequila ($4,999)
- Keith Urban Guitar ($500)
- Courtside Knicks tickets ($2,500)
- 4 tickets and field passes to Mets-Giants ($150)
- Sholeh Janati painting ($5,800)
Tickets are still available for the October 12th luncheon at Mitchells of Westport (11 a.m.). Click here for more information — and to see all auction items, and bid.
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Westport celebrates UN Day with a special Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Lecture.
Kuwait Ambassador to the UN Tareq Albanai will speak on “Identifying Opportunities for Creative Diplomacy to Solve Global Challenges: A View from the Arabian Gulf” (October 24, 7 p.m., Westport Library). He’ll take audience questions afterward.
Ambassador Albanai has long experience dealing with issues of disarmament. A graduate of George Washington University, he is fluent in Arabic, English and Spanish.
Click here to register for in-person participation or streaming. The event is co-sponsored by the Library, and the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut.
Kuwait Ambassador to the United Nations Tareq Albanai.
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Rachel Rose is a 2014 Staples High School graduate. She now lives in Fairfield.
The former Orphenian, who studied privately with Cynthia Gibb, is now a professional singer. She calls her style achel calls her style “Jewish soul, contemporary soul and R&B.”
She entered a Jimmy Fallon “Battle of the Instant Songwriters” contest a year ago. On Wednesday, a representative called to see if she wanted to appear on the show.
On Thursday, there she was: on national TV. She and a fellow musician were given an hour to write a song, then perform it.
The title she was provided: “I Think This Airbnb is Haunted.”
How did she do? Click below!
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Alert “06880” reader Rita Corridon was checking out the New York Times’ “The Morning” feature today.
One piece began:
My hometown has a gardening store so lavish, so over-the-top curated with weather-stained terra-cotta planters the size of vintners’ casks, crumbling concrete birdbaths rescued from Eden and a jungle’s worth of fronds and boughs and leaves that it is a destination.
Out-of-towners come to gaze at its tableaux of mosses, hand-forged shears and fairy lights, to dine on seasonal produce at its in-house café. I think there might be an actual waterfall back by the table linens.
I love going to this store, wandering its aisles and imagining how different my life would be if I could inhabit its forever-green promise, like Keats gazing on the Grecian urn.
“That must be Terrain!” Rita thought.
She looked up the author, Melissa Kirsch.
Sure enough, the “hometown” she talks about is Westport.
Click here for the full piece.
“Lavish, over-the top” Terrain.
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Another teardown: Tom Lowrie reports: “A week ago, the house at 148 Old Road was demolished.
148 Old Road then … (Photo/courtesy of Google Maps)
“The site was covered with large trees and brush. The following week all but the best trees were cut down. A mountain of wood chips, logs and house materials were carted away.
“Then the CAT machines went to work, digging out stumps and and piling all the topsoil for future leveling of the site.”
Just another day in the world of Westport real estate.
… and now.
(Photos/Tom Lowrie)
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Westporter Howard Matson — a past international president of the Circumnavigators Club — hosted a dinner last nigh at New York’s Union League Club honoring Tony and Maureen Wheeler, writers and publishers of the Lonely Planet guidebook empire. The couple received the club’s highest recognition: the Order of Magellan.
Matson, who now serves on the club’s Board of Governors, has hosted in past years Jacques Cousteau, Walter Cronkite and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Howard Matson (center) with Maureen and Tony Wheeler.
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“Westport … Naturally” features our town’s natural wonders. Horseshoe crabs — which have been around for 440 million years — certainly qualify.
But these guys didn’t climb on the (man-made) Burying Hill Beach pier by themselves.
They needed help from humans. Our species is about 300,000 years old.
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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And finally … speaking of the candidates’ debates next week (story above):
(“06880” is your place for healthy debate — and local journalism. If you appreciate our work, please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here — thank you!)
Rachel got robbed. The VU meter for her applause stayed pinned longer than the other contestant.
On the Kimmel songs… I liked the use of “throuple” in the young guy’s song, but it’s a well-worn coined expression. The lyrics of his “Kelce, Taylor, and Me” were a bit stale. But nicely done. RACHEL, in “This AirBnB is Haunted”, was exceptional in tune, tone, and text — humorous, phantasmic, and fantastic! “felt tricked…door key code said six-six-six” — how do you come up with that in a flash? Great poise. Great voice. Great talent!
Burying Hill vignette? Clearly the Sea Goddess who assisted with the Horseshoe Crab’s memorial service was long returned to the sea by sunrise.
The hardest thing in songwriting is to come up with the initial concept for the lyrical angle. Both contestants did a great job of that in such a short time, and under pressure. The execution of the lyrics themselves, over the course of three verses or so, is also a hurdle. However, I personally felt that the title Rachel was allotted was far harder to write a song around without sounding corny. She did a wonderful job.
Gastonos and staples broadcast equal Ham Radio?
Rachel should have won. She created the better tune, lyrics and story. The public’s obsession with the Swift/Taylor relationship won the contest for the other performer.
>>Among the concerns of attendees: where on the property to place the planned pickleball courts.
1. Where they do NOT take over the tennis courts.
2. Where no one can hear the racket.
Rachel’s song is the clear winner! (The song is just great! My 10 year old loved it too!!) 😊