There’s one more plan for Long Lots Elementary School.
Sort of.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker began last night’s Long Lots School Building Committee meeting by announcing a new version of the controversial renovation project. The goal was to address objections raised previously by the Planning & Zoning Commission, to a baseball diamond at the location of the current Westport Community Gardens.
A “multipurpose field” would be constructed there instead. The garden would be relocated somewhere else, on the Hyde Lane property.
There was no drawing to accompany the concept.
The LLSBC then held a work session. Microphones were either off or insufficient, making it difficult to hear.
Residents Jennifer Johnson and John Suggs both complained that the meeting was neither livestreamed nor recorded.
The newest plan — with, perhaps, a drawing — may be presented to the P&Z at its January 22 meeting.
Long Lots Elementary School
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For over 90 years, the Westport Country Playhouse has attracted Big Names.
Next up: Audra McDonald.
The singer/actor — winner of a record-breaking 6 Tony Awards (plus 2 Grammys and an Emmy); National Medal of Arts recipient, and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People — takes the stage on Saturday, February 10 (7 p.m.).
Click here for tickets, and more information.
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The Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County is sponsoring a solidarity gathering on Sunday. It marks 100 days of captivity for dozens of hostages taken by Hamas during their October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
Sunday’s event — called “Bring Them Home Now” — is at 1 p.m. Click here to register, and receive location details.
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In her last issue as editor of Westport Lifestyle, Robin Moyer Chung writes about Henry Putnam. The Staples High School student is a non-verbal 18-year-old with cerebral palsy. As with other classmates with disabilities, he participates in an internship that will help him get a job after graduation.
Click here to read the story. It begins on page 42.
Henry Putnam (Photo courtesy of Westport Lifestyle Magazine)
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Fresh off a national championship, Jake Thaw has entered the transfer portal.
The University of Michigan punt return specialist is a senior, after graduating from Staples High School in 2020. However, he has 3 years of eligibility remaining, after walking on for the Wolverines.
The Detroit Free Press writes: “Thaw, 6-1 and 192 pounds played in 15 games on special teams as a senior this season. He may now be most known for his muffed punt near the goal line against Alabama in the final minute of the Rose Bowl, though it should be highlighted he was able to recover the loose ball and avert disaster.
He had 11 fair catches, and returned 16 punts for 111 yards the season.
A muffed punt with less than a minute to play in the semifinal almost cost UM a shot at the national title. Thaw was vilified on social media, but also praised for not giving up a safety.
He wrote: “For those that have kept unwavering support — thank you. And for those that have not, I understand. I made the biggest two mistakes of my life on the biggest stage, and I won’t ever forgive myself. I’ll always love and cherish @UMichFootball and this fanbase. Go Blue.” (Hat tip: Pete Wolgast)
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Westport artists Miggs Burroughs, Darcy Hicks, Dale Najarian and Tammy Winser — all of whom advocate for common sense guns laws — will show their work in a juried exhibit at Metro Art Studios in Bridgeport. “In Our Hands” explores many perspectives of gun culture in the US. All proceeds benefit Sandy Hook Promise and Street Safe Bridgeport.
The opening reception is January 21 (1 to 3 p.m.).
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Matthew Mandell paid a surprise visit yesterday to wish Westporters Dana Noorilly and Julie Mountain good luck with their new Upper West Side Granola Bar location.
Business was brisk, he said, in a beautiful spot.
Mandell is director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce. “We support our members!” he notes.
Dana Noorilly, Matthew Mandell and Julie Mountain, at the New York Granola Bar.
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Neal Radding sends today’s “Westport … Naturally” image from Sherwood Island State Park, plus a George Costanza quote: “The sea was angry that day, my friends.”
(Photo/Neal Radding)
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And finally … on this date in 1969, the New York Jets of the American Football League defeated the NFL’s Baltimore Colts of the National Football League to win Super Bowl III (and the first championship game with that name). The 16-7 victory is one of the greatest upsets in sports history; the Jets were 19 1/2-point underdogs.
(The Jets and Sharks agree on one thing: Supporting “06880” is cool. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Another plan. Cant wait to see it.
Speaking about the 1969 Jets, if you travel on Long Lots past Sturgess Hwy, up the hill into Fairfield, about an 1/8th of a mile further on the left, was a long thin driveway where Joe Nameth lived. I can’t remember exactly what years, but maybe Dan knows?
I do not.
I know it. I provided grout services inside the home. gorgeous property
Hi Dan
I think you meant Jake Thaw gained 11 yards!!
Tough to gain 111 years!
111 yards. It’s been fixed.
“Gained 111 yards- not 111 years”
I’ll get it right so you can get it right!!
Re Long Lots: I would like to know where the Westport Community Gardens will be relocated? I was surprised to read that it was not stated at the Long Lots meeting. The Community Garden represents years of local environmental sustainability and these pockets of biodiversity are important for the health of our community (socially, connection with nature, mental health and stress reduction especially for the elderly) and the planet. I see these gardens as part of a healthy community.
Claudia, having been in attendance at the meeting last night, the new proposed location for the gardens is what will come from this discussion and work session, following the guidance from the First Selctwoman. The architects have the new request from the town and will work to deliver a site design to meet that.
And to all of your good points about the biodiversity and health to the community, both emotionally and physically, it’s important to remember that this is only a temporary measure. Once the construction is completed and the site is no longer needed to manage the project in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner while the existing school continues to operate, it will be rebuilt.
While it’s not ideal, neither is losing keyboutdoor space for the students and the most used soccer field in town during the construction period, but those shared sacrifices are temporary inconveniences in service of the real priority, which is building the new school as quickly as possible.
We have over twenty ball fields in Town that can be used to accommodate private league activities, no? Only a temporary measure while the school is rebuilt.
I already commented (you saw) on what made sense to me re the playing field for the students of LLS.
It seemed odd to me that “move the Gardens” was a mandate, as if it was some sort of goal.
Definitely, though for a variety of reasons – size, location, availability, parking, etc. – this is the field where a large percentage of practices and games are held. Not every one of those 20 fields (using your number; haven’t done the count myself) is appropriate for every use or can accommodate the same numbers, but the important point is that the effected (affected? always get that one wrong…) will adapt as they need to.
To your question about location on the parcel – as much as answering questions in the wrong chain gives me hives! – it certainly has to do with what fits where on the plot But, even if they can find a way to locate it elsewhere on the parcel – while still following all of the guidelines for usage, safety, etc.- that doesn’t change that the entire parcel is needed to support the construction. On all matters of design and construction I am happy to defer to the experts even if I’m personally not short of opinions, but once everything is taken offline I suspect the more relevant question is how can we build the best version of all the things that we want, school, fields and gardens.
The whole town was once a huge community garden! Of course, I wonder how many in government actually know that?
Jack, my family has been here for a 100 plus years. Yes, we remember when it was all farms and fields, and people were much more civilized and respectful of one another.
My mother’s side of the family is half Gilbertie!
I really have a hard time understanding all the nasty comments about my friend, and First Selectwomen Jen Tooker. She is a great leader, transparent, and cares deeply about our town and residents.
I look forward to my opportunity as an RTM member (6 terms) to speak at the appropriate time on these issues come before our body.
I’m sorry we are not Chicago, Bridgeport, or Hartford where one may have some very solid ground to stand on when it comes to “back door deals” and “transparency.”
I never mentioned the First Selectwoman in this post.
I don’t understand the First Selectwoman’s “guidance” to the committee.
Remove the Babe Ruth sized Little League field is straightforward. Tooker should propose a new site if that is a priority. (If it isn’t a priority, why was it shoehorned into a elementary school building project to begin with?)
But proposing to move the Gardens for an athletic field and put the Gardens somewhere else on the general acreage seems spiteful. How about “keep the Gardens where they are and move the athletic field to the different part of the municipal parcel where you would have wanted to move the Garden?” It would be cheaper, because you are only moving one thing, not too. And we wouldn’t be destroying a 20-year-old community asset.
For the life of me, I can’t understand why, if this administration wanted to evict the Gardens after twenty years, they didn’t pick up a phone and say something when all of the plantings were going into the Preserve last Spring. Rather than tell people who were putting in the expense and effort to do something good for Town, they thought it better to operate secretly. Scarice would rather get “his chainsaw” than let someone give citizens a proper heads-up? It is embarrassing behavior.
I also don’t see how this broader guidance addresses P&Z expressed concerns. But that is another matter altogether.
Odd that Jay Keenan waited until crowds of people other than just gardeners showed up to move a LLSBC meeting to an appropriately sized room.
Chris, I know it wasn’t the main thrust of your comment, but I’m not sure I understand the implication of your last point. When more people were expected to show up for the meeting they moved the meeting to a room that accommodated more people. What about that was odd?
When it was predominantly (not exclusively) gardeners, it would create overflow crowds in the meeting room. They would never move the meeting – even though people would suggest it – it always seemed like a passive aggressive move from someone who had no interest in hearing what the gardeners had to say. (Similar to refusing to look at gardeners who commented at the BOE meeting – even when they pointed it out. I mean, some common courtesy would be nice!)
Thanks Chris. Having arrived just as they were putting up the signs I think it was mostly a matter of convenience: the auditorium was free Thursday night – am assuming it wasn’t on Tuesday – and so they took advantage of the opportunity. But, I appreciate the perspective.
James,
By saying “this is a temporary, measure” are you asserting that both the gardens and soccer field will be temporarily relocated during the construction but then both will be relocated back to their original sites once the construction stages permit that to occur?
Thank you for your explanation.
BTW where are you getting this information from?
Jay,
To clarify, by “temporary measure” I mean that both the fields and the gardens will be offline during construction, with both to return once construction is over, location TBD. In the case of the field that won’t be its current location because that’s where the new school will be, and per the latest guidance provided to the committee it would appear the gardens end up in a new location as well.
That’s all based on the latest plans and recommendations so all gleaned from following the progress of the project, with the HUGE caveat that everything is obviously subject to a lot more review and approvals, not to mention refreshed work from the LLSBC per last night’s revised guidance.
Hope that helps, though will note I’m only a parent citizen here, so personally invested but no official role.
Thank you.
I’m so happy for the Long Lots students and parents. It’s a new Westport.
Keep fighting for the children.
Dan – please note that it is Harry Putnam, not Henry.