We expected the worst all weekend.
“The slide” — the simultaneously high-tech and low-tech effort to replace the aging I-95 Saugatuck Avenue bridge with a new one, constructed alongside it — began Friday afternoon.
Dire warnings of gridlock aside, traffic flowed smoothly through Westport Friday night. And all day Saturday. And Sunday morning.
Anyone who expected a long journey on the Post Road, or through Saugatuck, zipped right along.
Until yesterday afternoon.
Suddenly, things were as bad as we’ve ever seen. The Post Road was jammed for miles, and drivers were not playing nice. Running red lights, blocking side streets, pulling into oncoming traffic — if there was a way to be a jerk, they found it.
Meanwhile, Waze and similar apps were routing drivers through parts of Westport that seldom see traffic, like Gorham Avenue and Hermit Lane. Hermit Lane!
The bizarre thing is: “The slide” was completed far earlier than expected. By mid-afternoon yesterday, the new bridge was in place.
The state Department of Transportation send out this message:
So yeah, we survived “the slide.”
Now we just have to do it all over again, 2 weeks from now.
The other side of the bridge is not going to move itself. (Hat tip: Susan Iseman)
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Michael Beebe reports from the Westport Community Gardens:
“Despite the soggy weather and the pall cast by the Long Lots School Building Committee recommendation, our final workday of the 2023 gardening season was Saturday,
“24 volunteers cleaned up the garden grounds, and made them ready for winter. We are all hopeful that come spring, we will be readying our plots for planting our seedlings, as we have for 20 years.
Erin and Steve Loranger, getting the Community Garden ready for winter.
“In many ways it was business as usual. But between loads of wood chips, there
was a lot of discussion of the town’s decision to destroy the hard work of this hearty community.
“We even had a couple of visitors: a Long Lots parent and her kindergarten daughter. They wanted to learn more about the garden, in light of the controversy. The mom seemed concerned that the controversy about the garden was holding up construction of the school.
“I pointed out that the actual debate is about sports fields vs the garden. In fact, the LLSBC had an option which left the garden right where it was — proving that the garden itself is not an obstacle to a timely start. They just chose a different option.”
Michael sent photos of “a cheerful crew doing what we have always done: getting fresh air, working together as a community, and keeping the gardens beautiful.”
Volunteering at the Community Gardens work day (from left): Andrew Giangrave, Julie O’Grady, Teresa Roth, Franco Fellah, Patty Duecy, Pipa Ader.
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Just after 4 p.m. yesterday, Westport Police were alerted to a boating incident, with missing people.
Sometime after 9:30 a.m., a small fishing boat anchored on the south side of Cockenoe Island sank, in choppy waters.
There were 5 people on the small vessel; all ended up in Long Island Sound. The Westport Police Marine Unit rescued 3. Assisted by the US Coast Guard Marine and Air Units, Norwalk and Fairfield Police Marine Divisions, and Suffolk County Air Unit, they searched for the other 2.
The 2 missing men are from Spring Valley and Suffern, New York. A significant language barrier hampered ability to identify the missing men. Police are working with translators during the investigation.
Any boaters near Cockenoe Island between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. yesterday are asked to call the Westport Police Department: 203-341-6000.
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This marks the 50th anniversary of the release of “The Exorcist.”
It’s hard to remember now, but reaction to the film was vehement. Much of it centered around Regan, the girl who was possessed (and whose head swiveled completely around, and who spewed green vomit and did unspeakable things with a crucifix).
Come to think of it, maybe that reaction wasn’t so unpredictable.
Regan was played by Linda Blair. A 14-year-old Staples High School student who had been working as a model and actress since she was 6, she was chosen from 600 others for the role.
Blair earned a Golden Globe Award, was nominated for an Oscar — and received death threats for her “blasphemy.” (She also dated Rick Springfield who, age 25, was 10 years older.)
All of that background is because yesterday’s New York Times included a 50-year retrospective of “The Exorcist.” Three critics assess the film’s impact, then and now. Click here to read. (Hat tip: Fred Cantor)
Linda Blair in “The Exorcist.”
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“06880” often celebrates Westport’s rich history. We honor homeowners who preserve the past, while enhancing their neighborhoods by giving new life to old properties.
Which is why our first-ever “Historic Homes of 06880” house tour is so special. On Sunday, November 5 (2 to 5 p.m.), you’ll have a chance to check out 4 of our town’s oldest, most interesting homes.
The go-at-your-own-pace tour includes:
- 29 North Avenue, the fascinating tiny 1700s home that Annette Norton has lovingly restored
- 39 Cross Highway, the handsome remodeled house at the corner of Weston Road that recently won a preservation award
- 190 Cross Highway, the intriguing barn/artists’ studio that the British passed on their way to burn the Danbury arsenal, and
- 6 Old Hill Road, the 1707 home that was lovingly restored after a 2-year renovation project.
Homeowners, members of “06880”‘s board of directors, and our friends from KMS Team at Compass will point out cool aspects of each home. We’ll answer questions. You’ll get a brochure explaining the 4 houses too.
Tickets are $60 each, $100 for 2. Proceeds help fund “06880”‘s work — which, as always, chronicles Westport’s past, present and future.
Click here for tickets. It’s our “Donate” page. Please note “Historic Homes of ‘06880’” with your order.
29 North Avenue
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A large crowd enjoyed Neil Gaiman’s StoryFest lecture on Friday.
It also doubled as the fall 2023 Malloy Lecture in the Arts. The twice-annual event was endowed by Susan Malloy.
But who was she?
Before Gaiman spoke, Ann Sheffer — Malloy’s niece — gave some insights into the woman who devoted her life the arts, libraries, and Westport (and who would have been 100 years this coming February 28):
Ann said:
“Susan was my mother’s younger sister. They, their brother and their parents started coming to Westport in the early 1930s. In 1935 they bought a 1790 house on Cross Highway.
“My parents moved to Westport in the early 1950s, and Susan and family moved here in the early ’60s. They were all deeply enmeshed in the political, educational and cultural life of our community.
“Susan studied at the Art Students League after college. In Westport she a studio in her house, and painted every day – between carpooling, PTA meetings, and working to create the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection and Arts Center, among other Westport institutions. She also created birdhouses for the Project Return auction.
“In our family, a common theme was a love of libraries. My grandfather, an immigrant who dropped out of school after 8th grade, loved books, bought libraries at estate sales and gave them away. He endowed libraries, including this one, through his Tudor Foundation.
“The Malloy Lecture represents the convergence of all of Susan’s interests and talents.”
Susan Malloy
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The Staples High School boys soccer team is enjoying a banner year. They head into this week’s FCIAC playoffs, and next month’s state tournament, as the #2 team in Connecticut.
To keep their program on top — and pay for things like assistant coaches, field maintenance and more — they’re running an online auction.
Items include a ski house, cooking classes, boat trips, Broadway tickets and more.
Click here to see all the items, and bid. The auction ends next Sunday (October 29, 10 p.m.).
The 2023 Staples boys varsity, JV and freshman teams. (Photo/Mark Sikorski)
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image — of last of the fall” dahlias — comes courtesy of Peter J. Swift (and the Westport Community Gardens).
(Photo/Peter J. Swift)
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And finally … as we celebrate “The Exorcist”‘s 50th anniversary (story above):
(Welcome to another week of “06880”: your hyper-local blog. Every week, we rely on reader support. Please click here to help. Thank you!)
Unfortunately this is a common occurrence. Over the past 10 years, this time of year specifically, Cockenoe area specifically, me specifically, I have personally rescued boaters on three separate occasions, all involved sinking/aground/disabled boats, around sunset, no life jackets, no way to communicate, no english, ZERO common sense. Yesterday was very windy and a small craft advisory. Again ZERO common sense. Thankfully the boats did not fully sink those times I was there but in at least one occasion WPD towed the boat quickly to the boat ramp to save it from going completely under. I was the only one out there and happened to stumble across these boats just like Maria Jodice did yesterday. Marine police DO NOT staff boats this time of year. Quickest response time figure 30 minutes once someone calls it in but figure an hour in reality. Coast guard helos are not in CT or NY. they come from MA/RI. CG boats are in Eatons neck across the sound. The water is getting cold. Hypothermia is a real possibility. I was out in Westport harbor a couple hours before this happened, didn’t go out far this time, next time I will take a spin further out. Btw cedar point was out racing I think so if anyone wants witnesses, ask them. This is a horrible situation but happens too often. Major kudos to Maria Jodice and her crew they are heroes!! Also a big thanks to local marine LEO, suffolk, USCG, et al, for their efforts searching.
Re the traffic, WPD was nowhere to be found. Given the advance warning of the bridge work and potential for gridlock (and public safety risks as a result) one would think our police force would have been present, visible and at minimum helping with traffic at all the river crossings. Hopefully they are more prepared in 2 weeks.
I recently watched The Exorcist. I think it was on TCM. I remember in the early 1970s when I brought over students from Spain to spend 6 weeks with Westport families, all they could talk about was “La Exorcista.” They were fascinated by the movie.
Not true that WPD was nowhere to be found. At one of the biggest logjams (Canal St/Main St intersection) yesterday I saw a member of WPD standing around, chatting, and enjoying some (free?) Outpost Pizza while people brazenly ran red lights in front of him.
Miss you Susan, my friend 😘
“Meanwhile, Waze and similar apps were routing drivers through parts of Westport that seldom see traffic, like Gorham Avenue and Hermit Lane. Hermit Lane!”
Both are public roads, anyone is free to use them. All Waze and other apps do is share the knowledge that those roads exist.