In a lightning-quick meeting last night, the Long Lots School Building Committee voted formally to do what it had previously discussed: send to 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker the recommendation to build “Concept C,” an entirely new elementary school next to the present one.
However, the LLSBC added another recommendation: that the Westport Community Gardens (which will be displaced by a new baseball field) be relocated to Baron’s South, the town-owned property between Compo Road South and Imperial Avenue.
Meeting later last night in a long session, the Board of Education agreed 5-1 that plans for the new school follow from the educational specifications they approved last April.
Member Robert Harrington offered an amendment that would keep the Gardens at their present location, just south of the school. That motion failed 4-2, with Dorie Hordon joining Harrington.
The majority said that the gardens’ future is up to other bodies in town. The Board of Ed’s focus, they said, is on the school only, and moving ahead is imperative.
The Long Lots project must still be approved by several town bodies, including the Board of Finance, Conservation Commission and Representative Town Meeting.
The Baron’s South property, recommended by the Long Lots School Building Committee as the new site for the Westport Community Gardens. (Photo/Morley Boyd)
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The third time’s the charm.
That’s what WestportMoms banks on. Their twice-postponed 3rd annual Fall Festival is set for this Sunday (October 22), at the fields across from the Compo Beach playground.
Painters, sports, pumpkin decorating, hair tinsel, a magic show, bracelet making and more are all in store. All kids and families are welcome.
Bring layers, WestportMoms advise. It may be windy.
But get ready — finally — for some fun.
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Town-wide curbside leaf collection begins November 6.
All leaves must be placed in biodegradable paper bags near the curb of a town street by December 4 to guarantee pick-up. Residents on private streets must place their leaves behind the curb of an intersecting town roadway. Leaves placed in plastic bags will not be picked up,
Crews will complete pick-ups as schedules allow. For further information, call the Department of Public Works 203-341-1120), or click here.
Ready for pickup. (Photo/Scott Smith)
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The 180 Bayberry Lane yard waste site (behind the Aspetuck Health District) will extend its Saturday hours, from October 28 through December 4.
The extended Saturday hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Westport residents with proof of residency may dump up to 6 30-gallon bags or containers full of leaves without a fee. Plastic bags are prohibited.
Any van, pickup or tag-along trailer exceeding the 6-bag limit will be charged $40 per load. Any vehicle or trailer larger than a conventional pickup with a 4-foot by 8-foot bed will be charged $90 per ton.
Any vehicles with a 9-foot body, or vehicles changed to significantly enlarge their factory design size, will be charged $90 per ton, estimated at 2 tons without weigh slip ($180).
Dump tickets must be purchased at Town Hall’s Public Works office weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by writing the Department of Public Works, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT 06880.
Yard waste at 180 Bayberry Lane.
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It’s pretty impressive for a high school golfer to shoot a 73.
It’s even more so when 2 do it.
Harrison Browne and Sawyer Dalzell tied for the individual title at yesterday’s FCIAC (Fairfield County Conference) championship, at Tashua Knolls in Trumbull.
Their 1-over-par rounds helped the Wreckers to a 1-stroke team title over Fairfield Warde.
Congratulations to them, teammates Gus Palmer (79), Philip Sullivan (82) and Chris Taylor (83), and coach Pete Caligiure. On to states!
FCIAC champion Staples High School boys golf team. (Hat tip and photo/The Ruden Report)
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Westport Police made 2 custodial arrests between October 11 and 18.
A woman was arrested for shoplifting at HomeGoods. A man was arrested for criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, after a domestic violence incident.
Police also issued these citations:
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 10 citations
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 5
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 4
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 3
- Speeding: 2
- Passing a standing school bus: 1
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 1
- Following too closely: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 1
- Failure to insure a motor vehicle: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
- Improper use of marker plates: 1
- Possession of a vicious/barking dog: 1
- Permitting a dog to roam: 1
- Failure to comply with dog ownership regulations: 1
A Westport woman was charged with 3 dog violations. This is not that dog.
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Speaking of police … a reader writes:
“Commuting seems to have leveled off. Is there consideration to opening up some daily spaces in the railroad parking permit areas? Not to mention the boats parked there!”
Westport Police are in charge of railroad parking (among many other things). Chief Foti Koskinas notes that while Monday and Friday usage of lots is lower than pre-COVID, they are fairly full Tuesdays through Thursdays.
Deputy Chief Dave Farrell adds:
“The lot that stores the winterized boats is privately owned, and is not managed by the railroad parking division of the PD.
“Meanwhile, we constantly monito our lots and make changes as necessary. At this time, we will not be adding daily spots to permit lots.
“I encourage daily spot users to check out Lot 7 on Franklin Street. It’s a convenient lot that does not fill up, and has direct access to Riverside Avenue.
“Also, Lot 8 will soon be available for our daily spots as the I-95 project will wrap up within a month or so.”
Click on or hover over to enlarge this railroad station parking map.
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Still speaking of driving:
David Meth waited yesterday patiently, with other drivers, in the southbound lane of Compo Road North by Winslow Park. As everyone knows, it can take a while to get to the Post Road.
One person couldn’t wait. This driver attempted to jump the line — with predictable results.
But wait! There’s more!
This very same driver — after finally reaching the Post Road (along with everyone else), and making a right turn — zoomed into Playhouse Square.
And — feeling entitled after waiting all that time — promptly grabbed not one but two parking spots, in the always-crowded lot.
(Photos/David Meth)
“Driving in this town is out of control, supplanted by entitlement, arrogance, rudeness, and unrelenting stupidity,” David observes.
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Then again, we should have some sympathy for drivers.
As this passenger shows, the wait for a light in Saugatuck can be really, really long.
(Photo/Werner Liepolt)
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Elsewhere in Saugatuck, Renato’s Pizza has opened in the space previously occupied by Parker Pizza.
Click here for the menu, and more information.
(Photo/Werner Liepolt)
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Where do you go if your dad writes a new will right before he dies, leaving a sizeable fortune to the dog walker he met 3 months ago?
Where do you go if you want a schizophrenic family member committed to a hospital for treatment, or put under conservatorship to protect him from himself?
The answer to both questions is “Probate Court.” At this week’s lunch meeting, the Westport Rotary Club heard Lisa Wexler, Probate Court judge for Westport and Weston, discuss how she deals with issues like those every day.
Wexler called Probate Court “Family Court without the divorce.” She decides over 3,300 matters a year, many involving family members at each other’s throats. She noted that if her life was made into a TV show, it would be “’Parks and Recreation’ meets ‘Blue Bloods.’”
Probate Court Judge Lisa Wexler, at the Westport Rotary Club. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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More than 6 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s. Next Friday (October 27 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), the Westport Weston Family YMCA hosts a discussion by the Alzheimer’s Association’s Connecticut chapter.
The presentation will speak cover the Association’s resources, ways to get involved. healthy behaviors, Alzheimer’s impact on the workplace, its effects on caregivers, and more.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Questions? Email jsamuels@westporty.org.
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Say She She closed out the 2023 Levitt Pavilion concert season last night.
That’s a wrap: About 60 nights of free entertainment, under the stars.
The stars — well, the air — was a bit chilly last night. But it’s only a few months until the air will be warm again, and music will be back on the banks of the Saugatuck.
Say She She, at the Levitt Pavilion. (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)
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It’s almost the weekend, so … rain.
But the weather this week was pretty good. Tracy Porosoff was in her garden, photographing beautiful sights like this for our “Westport … Naturally” daily feature.
(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
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And finally … as the colors change, and the foliage blazes (though perhaps not this week), it’s time to remember Simon & Garfunkel’s classic tune:
Today, as always, “06880”‘s Roundup delivers a broad array of Westport-specific news and notes. If you rely on this coverage, please support our work. Click here — and thank you!)
The old Westport two-step, where a board/committee passes the buck down the line to the next board/committee. Until it gets to the RTM who will rubber-stamp whatever is put in front of them after much hand wringing and claims that they are powerless to do anything else.
I have no interest in the Commuity Garden. I do want to see a new school built. But I believe what we are seeing is a classic example of Bullying. Those with power bullying a small minority without power. And everyone with power simply ignoring the pleas of the powerless. Profiles in Courage this is not.
I was ashamed to be an elected representative last night. I feel the same way this morning.
To me it was shocking that the leader of our town, our First Selectwoman, was absent from both public meetings last night. She is hiding behind process, just as the majority of the BOE did.
It was certainly a highlight to see Jim Marpe at the BOE last night – ironically on the topic of “leadership”.
I also fully respect David Floyd, Chair of Parks and Recs, and Elaine Whitney for being present for the whole night. That to me shows true class. I may disagree with their view on this issue – but I will always call out actions like that.
I am very thankful for all the work, time and effort of the LLSBC – including last night. The reality is this project is much more complicated than CMS – and more stakeholders on the property are impacted. I can be both thankful and appreciative of their ongoing efforts and workload, but disappointed in their recommendation. I am excited about everything regarding the new school building, but highly disappointed in the recommendation as it relates to the elements of the plan on the LLS property as a whole.
The BOE started this whole process with our original Ed Specs and the need to build a new school building and bring Stepping Stones Preschool to Long Lots. I am very proud that we did. However, I don’t think any of us thought this would lead to a chain of events that would end with a call for bulldozers to flatten a 20-year garden. Furthermore, I certainly feel a responsibility given the substantial land-use changes that will likely have a material negative impact on home values for Lots Lots residents surrounding the Community Gardens.
Maybe our First Selectwoman will turn up for a photo opportunity when the first bulldozers move in to flatten the gardens?
The reality is – the BOE could have, and should have said something last night.
At the first public meeting last night (LLSBC) it was recommended that the gardens would move to Barons South. At the second public meeting (BOE) the same group presented that the gardens would remain on the Long Lots campus, but in a different location.
I watched my fellow BOE members (with the exception of the excellent Dorie Hordon) do everything they could to justify why they were not going to vote or state any opinion within a motion about anything other than the Education Specs.
The LLSBC made it clear last night you can’t separate the “plan” into the buildings and the other elements (parking lots, fields, baseball diamond and the Community Gardens). Sadly, the majority of the BOE doesn’t have the moral courage to go on the record through a vote about these other elements that are critical parts of the campus. Dorrie Hordon and I did.
We have turned a wonderful part of the Westport Community, the Community Gardeners into a protest group. Documents show that a plan to move the gardens was in the works months before it was ever discussed at a public meeting – between the LLSBC, the Parks and Recs Department and the First Selectwoman – but no one told the public or the gardeners.
We are treating this part of our community like second class citizens. It gives me no pleasure whatsoever to say that I am truly ashamed and embarrassed to be an elected representative on the BOE, and within Westport right now.
I voted against this last night – as you can’t pick and choose. The plan is the plan. I won’t use my name, or vote to destroy a 20-year old community asset.
I couldn’t be more supportive of a new school.
Re “The Long Lots project must still be approved by several town bodies, including the Board of Finance, Conservation Commission and Representative Town Meeting”: does this plan require the approval of P & Z?
I read a lot, I enjoy starting my mornings with 3-4 hrs of searching out the state of the world, which seems to be at an inflection point. Recently reading an article about the declining numbers of attendance at baseball fields in the last twenty years and the other night hearing on the news about record breaking attendance at basketball I felt I was living through a cultural shift in sports. Recently there was another article that caught my attention in the Harvard Gazette how gardening is one of the best forms of exercise as it requires the entire body and mind. I’m all for exercising our children and inculcating team work in our education system to create community and here we are at a cross roads of how those changes over time reveal themselves.
We all learned of the dangers of some sports like football concussions, heart stopping baseball pitches that reach the chest of a batter instead of the bat, etc. Pondering how to create our best efforts to build that valuable asset of teaching our children team work and community… It struck me that this Garden built by the community of adults with their children is clearly the best classroom we have to teach our children (and adults) civics.
Where else can young and old cooperate, spend time together, and learn from each other while exercising? Where else can we show our children where our food comes from and how to care for our earth that provides for us. Where else can we spend time with our children in their formative years and pass on our values so directly. Where else can we cooperate instead of compete. Where else would you spend time with neighbors you don’t otherwise have a chance to meet. Where else would our children be able to work, play, and exercise together, with an entire community working together to keep them safe. These gardens are our best classrooms!
This thought is nothing new, long time I have pondered how neighbors become communities and how to instill in our children values. How do we join young and old alike and create community. These community garden seem to be the answer in front of our noses.
There is always as many sides to an argument as there are people. I understand those that hold positions in our little town charged with guiding us through the tight rope walk of uncertain times. Keeping everyone safe. Building our infrastructure to accommodate our future needs while fending off our future problems. The easy route is to fall back on what is tried and true and already accepted and familiar. The real leaders evolve our town into the future. The best of them never forgets that it’s not their decision to decide for us but to listen. But they can’t hear you if you don’t have a voice, that’s what elections are for.
Don’t stop reminding them every chance you get. Vote.
well said. well written.
“Sustainable Westport” (or any town) will never be sustainable while fall leaf collection exists. Have your landscaper grind or mulch your leaves and put them in your garden beds. Winter root protection and Nature’s fertilizer…
In “Speaking of Driving”, can’t this bullying driver’s license plate be sent to Westport Police.
If it’s not too late, yes – perhaps Mr. Meth could contact the police with these photos and his account. We have found the police quite responsive to such calls.
Thank you to Robert Harrington for showing the moral courage and honesty in attempting to get your fellow-members of the Board of Education to do the right thing.
The fecklessness of the BOE “leadership” here is appalling. They care about the expediency of their project (a worthy one – building a new school) but are happy to see the twenty-year-old Community Gardens and Preserve be treated as the cost of doing business for getting what they want. (Even though the Long Lots Ballfield Building Committee wants to put a baseball field – in a Town full of them – not the school, on the Gardens site.)
(Ironically, because the process has been so flawed, there will be attempts to block the building project, creating delays that the BOE says they want to avoid – so this isn’t simply about the BOE’s lack of moral courage, but about their lack of common sense in trying to get a new school built.)
Really, last night’s meeting went from bad to worse as members of the public showed how the process was fatally flawed – communications between the Committee and the ballfield brigade began LONG before the general public became aware that the Gardens and Preserve were a target – while BOE members washed their hands of it and said “let the process play out.” What’s the saying about the only thing that it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing? Well, Neil Phillips was carrying the flag for doing nothing. And while I have no doubt that Lee Goldstein is a decent human being… last month when she asked the LLSBC why they had expanded the scope of their project, I have to wonder if she thought for a second, “why didn’t my vice-chair on the BOE, who is a member of the LLSBC, say anything to me?”
Now we’ll get a couple of more weeks of the Democrats on BOE hyperventilating about what Riano and Fitzgerald *might* do if they get elected – well, it can’t be worse than this, can it? Who wants their children learning that this is the way a community should treat its members?
Remember in November.
What can be done to OUR children by Camilo and Jamie would be a LOT worse than what can be done to plants, sorry. I support the gardens, but I vehemently oppose the Moms for Liberty parroting, bigotry, ignorance, hate, division, calling our wonderful superintendent a groomer, and teachers indoctrinators in an attempt to dismantle public education along with social emotional learning by Camilo and Jamie a LOT more dangerous!
Plants can grow back!
Children learn to hate from hateful leaders. Being against social emotinal learning is ludacrist, so is being against diversity, equity, and inclusion!
I am for gardens and our climate! Republicans are notorious for being against “ soft” subjects such as gardening or climate change. Do not make the gardens pro- Republican.. give me a break. They will complain that growing food is indictrination!
At this point, children matter more than plants.
But how can anyone in good conscience support the two Democratic incumbent Community Garden killers who clearly chose to ignore the will of the majority of Westporter’s (at least assuming 06880 commenters are representative of community views)? Clearly, more write-in candidates are needed for both BOE and RTM to vote folks that affirmatively choose to ignore their constituents out of office.
The Dems did not chose to ignore anything . They are in their designated lanes and roles… standing for our children ans schools They are all for gardens. They have the duty of building a school. They have no duty to build a garden which we all support. The gardens should have never been placed on the burden of the school board. That is wrong on so many levels.
I support the garden. Jen Tooker and other town officials dropped the ball on their responsibility.
I support gardens and learning about science, vardening ect.. especially as a Democrat who cares about Climate change and experiential learning, but, I care about a school being built ASAP and this is NOT a political decision nor the BOE’s responsibility to save a garden.
Lee and Neil have my vote!
Interesting. Mr Harrington apparently didn’t think “doing the right thing” required him to “stay in his lane”. They could easily have voted no whether it met the specs or not and sent it back to the drawing board. Instead they chose to do the wrong thing and here you are excusing them under some lame “lane” theory and dumping all the blame on Tooker.
What would have been the consequence of voting “no”? Jail time? I don’t think so. They could have easily done what Mr Harrington did. You know it, I know it, and everyone in Westport knows it.
The Democrats used twisted logic to attempt to absolve themselves for any responsibility in what is happening here. (And I say this as a Democrat.) The LLSBC did what it wanted and the BOE showed no backbone.
They are taking for granted the votes of the earth-loving Gardeners, while expediting the demise of the Gardens.
And when this goes to BOF, Little League Dad (and Democrat) Lee Caney will lead the support of the plan, and then more folks will say “blame Tooker, not the Democrats.” It could not be more disingenuous.
And as I said in my original comment, this will be fought and the fight will be drawn out and the building project will be slowed because of it. And, yeah, blame someone other than BOE when that happens.
The list of nefarious actions and lack of integrity surrounding the replacement of the Gardens with a ballfield continues to grow. All must convey to the P&Z Commission that the Commission should deny a positive 8-24 Report as to the ballfield. That will eliminate the issue and allow the discussion to focus on the school. It will expedite the school process. First Selectwoman Tooker has yet to submit an 8-24 request. Commission Chair Dobin tells me that she expects such a request any day. I believe it is possible that Jen Tooker will try to delay the 8-24 until the new Commissioners are sworn in towards the end of November. If Jen does this, I think nefarious might be used to characterize that act.
If Westport can stop a nuclear power plant from being built on Cockenoe Island, then surly we can find a way to save a treasured garden. Clearly the LLBC can’t see a path to do that. So maybe at this junction it’s time to reconstitute the committee with new membership, including people with a clearer vision of sustainablity for Westport beyond the footprint of one building.
If I may change the conversation to something a bit less contentious-congratulations to the Staples Boys Golf team!
Finishing first in the regular season and then going out to win the FCIAC championship for the first time in over 30 years is indeed an accomplishment.
As I told my grandson who plays on the team, being a Staples golfer is a kin to the witness protection program-you play in total obscurity-spectators aren’t allowed and you don’t get any press coverage. So thank you Dan for including this in your update.
While spectators are not allowed, I have watched some of the matches from along the roads of Longshore and am awed by the skills they demonstrate and proud of their sportsmanship and demeanor. Kudos to the boys and their coaches (and their parents).
Good luck at the States.
Nice work, Staples golfers! Impressive scores, too!
Thank God for Robert Harrington and Dorie Hordon for courageously speaking up for what is morally right and not allowing their desires to triumph at all cost. As throughout history and last night, we were reminded that courage is indeed a rare but revered behavior.
I personally needed to witness rays of goodness after months of witnessing awful human behavior throughout this entire process: deception, cowardice, cruelty, indifference, greed and selfishness.
Also painful last night – besides the hiding behind the process – was seeing the often gleeful smiles from a couple BOE members while Gardeners felt like we were at the funeral for a truly, deeply, beloved friend. And the flimsy justifications added insult to injury.
One member on both the BOE and LLSBC actually stated, for her, that the Garden next to a school is a security concern. After twenty years of being peaceful neighbors, how does she justify this statement? And yet, at one town hall meeting she stated that the Garden/Preserves were a town jewel.
Aside from Robert Harrington and Dorie Hordon, those at the table were fine with the ugly process as long as they got their goods. The ends justify the means – or maybe they are good at looking away. They don’t care that the LLSBC excluded all stakeholders and won’t offer up a new school without exacting the price of bulldozing our ONE and only 20-year old, national-award winning Garden for a redundant Babe Ruth Baseball field.
They all know the proposal is coming at great cost, outside of the $95-$100MM price tag: death of our only Community Garden/Preserves and ecosystem supporting much diverse life, death to integrating the Garden/Preserves educationally for students at LLES, death of a tight knit 120-family member community, erosion in trust of local government and, significant decline in the property values of Long Lots residents.
Bravo. Well Done. Whatever happened to ‘Love Thy Neighbor?’
Do you have kids in the school?
Dori opposes Social- emotional learning for our kids and caters to extemists like Camilo and Jamie who parrot Moms for Liberty and call our Superintendent a groomer!
This is not the time to congratulate Dori. She is not the savior of gardens or kindness.
The Republican party candidates are a danger to our CHILDREN!
The Democratic Party candidates are, on the other hand, proven Community Garden killers. Appalling. Sounds like what Westport needs is two more write in candidates so none of the official nominees win.
You volunteering? Maybe you and Stephanie could make Westport safe again.
Jill Dolan is my write in!
Woop woop!
Sometimes if you want to get it done right you have to do it yourself. Why live vicariously? You’d have my vote. The MAGA crowd would flee in terror and Westport would be safe again.
Stop the insanity. Stop. Democrat BOARD OF EDUCATION members have a job and duty to schools and students!!!! They are not gardners. I gurantee they love gardens, nature, and our precious climate and it changing ( a hoax the Republicans call it) more than the Republicans.
The role of the board of ed must be understood by all residents! Their role is to support our schools and children.
Calling Neil and Lee garden killers is about as bad as Canillo calling Tom a groomer.
If you care more deeply about a garden than the kids who live here, I feel scared, I really really do.
How about we build gardens for kids to learn about and use for science and math classes?
A garden simply can not take presedence over a school that has got to be built!
I have to respectfully disagree. They are more than apparatchiks checking boxes as told or robots doing as programmed. Or at least they should be. Beyond schools and students, they have a duty to all of Westport.
I can’t fathom why you would choose to defend them under such a flimsy pretense. It’s not like they’d be sitting in jail for supporting the Community Garden. Mr. Harrington certainly isn’t. And certainly the students wouldn’t be any worse off if the BOE killed option C instead of someone else (maybe) doing it later. What would you say then? That whoever saved the garden by stopping option C was throwing the students under the bus?
As I recall, people on earlier posts by Dan wanted the BOE to step up. Five members affirmatively chose not to.
Again, please look up what the role is of fhe Board of Education and its members.
Dori is using these gardners for votes for extremists who will hurt out children.
All my friends who have kids in the schools know what the roles and duties are of the BOE.
Lee and Neil, thank you for doing your JOB!
Correction. Four member affirmatively chose not to. Mr Harrington, of course, voted to do right by the Gardens (and, I suppose, throw the kids under the bus).
You clearly do not understand any single part of this charade. And so you should not voice your opinion until such time as you educate yourself on the FACTS
It’s not about not wanting a NEW SCHOOL !
We can have a new school ! But there is no need to destroy the gardens in order to build that new school… SMH.THE GADENS ARE NOT, I repeat NOT PART OF THE LONG LOTS CAMPUS.
They abut it.
Please try to understand the LAND GRAB going on here. The Twofer, happening… two for one shade, corrupt land grab to try and make this a twofer.
School can be rebuilt or renovated either without losing the gardens.
Don’t be ignorant !
Educate yourself on what is going on if you are going to comment.
We do not need to build the babe Ruth in this spot !
It was never part of the purview !
It’s been snuck in from the start in a corrupt and scurrilous way…
THE NEW SCHOOL WILL HAPPEN !
Congrats to the Staples boys golf team from the co-captain of the 1998 Staples team!
I was at the Save the Gardens event.
I did not see Dori or Robert there.
I suport the gardens, but if the school is needed to be built ASAP and there is no other option for a school and field, this is a last resort. The parents of kids at Long Lots probably would have loved if the gardens had been utilized by science classes. My guess is that some people voted against new ideas in learning and curriculum that seem too lefty or too fluffy and not rigorous enough.
Please do not hijack this BOE election, sacrificing our kids and the possibility of extremists sitting on the board, for a garden. Our kids are not pawns for a garden. They need a school and they need SEL. They need BOE members that do not pander to a divide or extremism. Our kids need BOE members who look out for their best interests, not political BS.
What field ? The regular long lots field are not in question it’s the LAND GRAB. Babe Ruth that the vast majority of the town could care less about… the school is separate ! Get your facts correct !
Hi Stephanie, my girls have long ago graduated from the wonderful Westport schools. I do know that all of us benefit emotionally/mentally from being immersed in nature. Sadly, students, in particular, truly need a release from the constant stress placed on them to excel in all areas of life. Integrating the Garden/Preserve with students educationally and recreationally would enhance social and emotional learning immensely.
As a community, we work together, help each other out and develop friendships. I wish you had a chance to walk through the Garden/Preserves during one of our Pop-Up/Artist events this summer so you could see nature’s miracles and experience the feelings of peace in this cherished oasis.
Karen,
I am an educator. I know how essential outdoor play, learning about science in an experientential way, hands on learning about photosynthesis, growing your own food for nutirition and learning about climate change is!
I walked through the gardens! I was physically at and supporting the save the gardens event!
I love the gardens!
We are in a conundrum as a community! We need a new school ASAP and we have a lovely resource for learning, the garden. BUT, BUT, there is no plan for BOTH!
I do NOT like what some of these gardeners that I have supported have said about sitting school board members and I do NOT like them using our children as pawns making this all political and threatening to support people who are true threats to the education of our children!
I love the gardens. It is sad we have to make a choice.
I applaud Neil and Lee for making a hard decision and DOING THE JOB THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO!
An educator? I fear for my niece and nephew in Westport.
Thank you. Writing comments on a blog is not my job or career. I have no time to write perfectly on a blog. I have a point to make. Our kids can not be used as pawns.
There IS A PLAN FOR BOTH ! Take your head out from under the rock you are living. There IS A PLAN for both.
What are you talking about ?
The was ALT “C”
Perfectly viable !
And by the way the community gardens future should never have been in question..
if you are building a 20×15 pool in your garden and do not want to give up your veranda but to build the pool you need 5 extra feet, do you get to steal it from your neighbors garden ?
NO YOU DO NOT, though the way Westport is conducting itself maybe you might try that.
Just stop making comments you are clearly mis informed/misinforming ppl with.
BOTH CAN CO EXIST !
Oh and please give THANKS to the TAX PAYERS footing the bill for the monstrous new BILL for this school( we all acknowledge we need)
Amongst them are the community gardeners ! Who also have rights !
Karen,
Were we sitting next to each other at the board meeting last night?
We talked about how important social emotional learning is to our students here in Westport.
Well, the Republicans want to take away social emotional learning all together for our kids! They do not care about outdoor play and learning! Hell, they do not care about feelings and emotions of kids.
I love gardens and they are great learning tools!
Do not let these Republicans fool you and give them your vote.. they will destroy SEL!
Why not maintain the Community Gardens and find a new place for the baseball field? Since when does the BOE have the authority regarding baseball fields? Has anyone heard from Parks & Rec? I’m sure the RTM could request an inventory of use of the baseball fields to help determine if there is a real need for a Babe Ruth Field.
Perhaps there is an existing baseball field that could be converted to a Babe Ruth. There are many options out there that need to be explored. Relocating the Community Gardens is not one of them.
People like Stefanie Frankell are what is wrong with this town. They are angry, misinformed, judgmental and just plain mean. Stefanie has done nothing but sow division. Dorie is a mom, an educator, a dedicated volunteer for many years on the PTA and now BoE. She holds different opinions from you, and because of this, you choose to constantly attack her. The lack of civility is really scary. And BTW, her name is spelled Dorie…I would think you would get it correct eventually.
I am mean? I am mean bc I stand for the kids of Westport?
Ok.
Dori attacks the social- emotional well being of our children and panders to Moms for Liberty extremists
She is a volunteer. I commend her for her time and dedication.
Go to the school board meetings as see for yourself who sows division! I am not a school board member, just a parent.
Dori is pandering to the wrong people and Moms for Liberty ideals,
Call me names.
Sticks and stones and SEL.
Children are not pawns and they are not robots without feelinfs and emotions
Tony, I couldn’t agree more. These ad nauseam comments show a lack of respect and indicate a complete unwillingness to understand any opinion other than one’s own. That’s not standing up for anyone but yourself. But always needing the last word becomes childish after a point, so let these comments speak for themselves.
Monitoring from the outside. Thank you Tony.
As Florence and the Machine sang 06880, the dog days are over.
It’s not your town anymore.
The 64000 dollar question is why our First Selectman
and majority of current Board of Ed members
are endorsing a new Babe Ruth Field of dubious need
over an established, educational
and popular community garden in the redesign of an Elementary
School without complete transparency to begin with?
Please educate Westporters regarding this logic with Election Day on the near horizon. To date I have heard nothing compelling.
On a final note how can a Board of Ed and Selectman
who vigorously and rightfully champion, and campaign for, diversity and inclusion
exclude such a large group of citizens who are only asking to be
treated fairly after being excluded from the planning process and now not wanting to accept sub par proposals
while Parks and Rec, is at the least, not being asked to explore the same after evidently for some unknown reason included
in the planning process- where did that privilege come from?
Here’s why Parks and Rec hasds been hiding in the weeds: https://open.substack.com/pub/tonisimonetti/p/oopsie?r=1dhpe&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Yes, As this shows, P&R ultimate goal is for a field with lights at Long Lots. Destroying the gardens is just step 1.
Also included in the FOIA release was an email from the WSA to Jen Fava for an $100k interest free loan to P&R. Nice optics.
Toni, I know that it should not be up to the Community Garden supporters, or the building committee for that matter, to look at other options for the ball field. But do we know if anyone is looking at other locations ? Looking at facts like utilization?? We have current Babe Ruth fields – such as the one at SES/KHS. Where does Westport Little League stand on this? I believe some fields are Little Leagues and some are the towns. I wholeheartedly support a real baseball field in Westport – with dugouts, a concession stand, lights and a bathroom. Our current facilities are really lacking when compared to other towns. We don’t have one field in town with a bathroom. The field at Greens Farms has lights but doesn’t have a real outfield or dugouts and its a dust storm. We need a real field in town – but there other places it can go or current fields that can be improved. I can’t for the life of me understand how anyone thinks it makes sense to go at LLS at all – much less in place of a 20 yr old garden.
which other towns? fancy towns or poor towns? are we trying to keep up with the Jones? Norwalk had to also fight to keep their Gardens and they succeeded.
Janine, All towns – seriously. My son has played at Babe Ruth fields in Bridgeports seaside park – there are bathrooms. And in Trumbull parks, local high schools. I’m not saying be fancy for no reason but its crazy to me that for all the money in this town we don’t have one location with real dugouts and bathrooms and lights, oh and maybe a working scoreboard. But the important point here is that there is NO reason that has been made clear that it would ever be placed at an elementary school – much less in a place where the land is tight and there is already something valuable there! I’m pro keeping the gardens but I can’t fathom why it would go there and replace anything! We should improve what we already have for baseball and leave the gardens alone.
amongst the last decisions parks and rec made was HOOK’d
Sal liccione was vehemently against this appointment for amongst other reasons the track record on paper of the operator.
I was also against this appointment as there were other fantastic “local” operators in the running for it.
We were duly ignored and dissed ! But we both predicted an “I told you so” moment and boy have we had it…
We begged… we pleaded !
We knew without doubt we were correct and looking at the hundreds of comments over the past 2 years on this we were 1000000 correct.
What can I say… this is another such moment !
Good for RTM’s such as SAL.. always always have the residents of Westports back !
Toni Simonetti thank you for this explosive link.
The supposed options were a shameful farce. Seems are town
officials deliberately kept Westport residents in the
dark during the planning process. Everyone should take
note of this.
It is more important than ever to know where candidates
whose Boards must approve this plan stand on this
issue before
Election Day and vote accordingly.
Also a Referendum initiative may be in order.
The way this is playing out is egregious
and insulting. Someone is overstepping their
bounds.
Wait. Mr Meth takes a picture of a traffic villian, follows said Volvo to Playhouse Square, and takes another photo? Isn’t Mr Meth the same individual recently whining about negligent parents on Main Street?
Such dramatics from Mr Meth.