The agenda for tonight’s Board of Education meeting (Thursday, 7 p.m., Staples cafeteria) includes updates from the Long Lots Building Committee, and on the Strategic Plan.
The board will also discuss elementary school redistricting. The current recommendation includes:
- Transitioning approximately 51 Long Lots students to Saugatuck Elementary School for September 2025
- Keeping the Integrated Resource programs at their current locations
- Transitioning approximately 36 Kings Highway students to Coleytown Elementary School when the new Long Lots opens (likely September 2027)
- Maintaining the current Greens Farms Elementary boundaries, but monitoring enrollment trends in 2025 and ’26 before considering transitioning approximately 33 GFS students to Saugatuck.
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Is the pandemic finally over?
Elle Bowen writes: “Not since COVID have I seen the Westport train station parking lot full.
“Wednesdays were starting to fill up, but there was not a spot this week on a Tuesday.
“Looks like ‘back to the office’ may soon be a reality.
(Photo/Elle Bowen)
What’s your work situation? Back to the office? Fully remote? Hybrid? Which would you prefer?
Click “Comments” below, to share your story.
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Tonight’s League of Women Voters debate — featuring candidates for State Senator and State Representative — is set for the Town Hall auditorium (7 p.m.). It will also be livestreamed on the town’s website and Optimum Channel 79.
Kami Evans and Ceci Maher are vying for State Senate District 26. Jonathan Steinberg and John Bolton are running for the State House in the 136th District.
Questions can be submitted to the moderators at lwvwestport@yahoo.com.
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The Westport Library is a very welcoming place for children and teenagers.
But this month, it gets frightening.
It’s all because of Halloween, of course. Among the events:
“STEAM Scene: Storybook Pumpkins”: Transform miniature pumpkins into your favorite book character. October 17, 4:30 to 6 p.m., grades 2-3; click here to register. October 24, 4:30 to 6 p.m., grades 4-6; click here to register.
Zombie Special Effects Makeup (Wednesday, October 23, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; grades 7 and up). Learn special effects makeup techniques to transform yourself into a zombie. Use kits with cotton balls, liquid latex, bruise makeup, fake blood and scar wax to create scars and rotting flesh. After the program, take home a kit. Click here for more information, and to register.
“Pink or Treat with Victoria Kann” (Sunday, October 27, 2 to 3 p.m.). After a reading from “Pinkalicious” author Victoria Kann, youngsters can join a costume parade, and trick or treat for Pinkalicious treats on Jesup Green. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Click here for more information, and to register.
Westport Library zombie!
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The Blondinit — the popular Israeli restaurant on Church Lane that opened in March — has added a brunch menu.
Served on weekends starting at 11:30 a.m., it includes salatim (small dishes with spreads, dips and pickles), salads, and specialty dishes like an omelet, eggs, baklava French toast, puff pastry, waffles topped with schnitzel, shakshuka, avocado toast, schnitzel sandwich and beef burger.
There are specialty cocktails too.
Owners Inda Sale and Solomon Sale also offer catering. The Yom Kippur menu serves 8-10 people, and must be ordered by midnight tonight (Thursday). Call 203-557-3277, or email resy@theblondinit.com.
The Blondinit brunch.
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Westport Police made 1 custodial arrest between October 2 and 9.
A 40-year-old Stratford man was arrested for driving under the influence, and failure to drive in the proper lane, following a 1:37 a.m. incident on Post Road East near Roseville Road. An officer observed a van cross over the double yellow lines and continue into his lane, nearly causing a collision.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 5 citations
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 3
- Following too closely: 2
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 2
- Failure to comply with traffic control signals: 2
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 2
- Breach of peace: 1
- Distracted driving, 2nd offense: 1
- Distracted driving: 1
- Unsafe backing: 1
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian: 1
- Failure to grant right of way at an intersection: 1
- Improper use of markers: 1
- Failure to carry driver’s license: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
- Failure to insure a motor vehicle: 1
- Failure to renew registration: 1
- Operating a motorcycle without license or permits: 1
- Improper number of headlamps: 1
Slow down — and yield to pedestrians!
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Henry Lehr is coming back to Westport.
Sort of.
A sign announces the arrival soon of American Colors, on Post Road East between Barnes & Noble and Tiffany.
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
The American Colors website says:
American Colors was Henry Lehr’s retirement project when it started as a simple garment dyed collection. He recruited Alex, his son, to sell for him. Alex spent his spring break senior year in Las Vegas with his dad selling. He kept selling after graduation, and found he was good at understanding customers and the business and how to connect the two. …
He worked with his dad for 9 years, before taking over design and resourcing. American Colorscontinuestoevolve, but we continue to be family-owned and domestically produced.
We are known for our wash and uniquely soft hand, as well as specialty fabrications in 100% organic Japanese natural fibers. Our designs have always been focused on classic silhouettes made from high-quality fabrics because Alex has close relationships with retail and wholesale customers he keeps a close eye on what their needs are, and how to build that into his collections.
Henry’s spirit of hard work and passion for business stays at the heart of American Colors, but Alex’s talent for finding and building lasting relationships keeps American Colors strong. His mom, Toni, continues to own and operate the Henry Lehr stores, and enjoys collaborating with Alex on designs from time to time.
There is no indication of when the Westport store will open.
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As today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows, the only good spotted lanternfly is a squashed spotted lanternfly.
This one was at Compo Beach. Here’s to many more.
(Photo/Pam Docters)
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And finally … Cissy Houston, the Grammy Award-winning soul and gospel star who helped her daughter, Whitney Houston, achieve superstardom, died Monday in Newark. She was 91, and suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
Beyond her daughter’s renown — and that of her her nieces Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, and cousin Leontyne Price — she had her own notable career. On her own or with her group the Sweet Inspirations, she was a backup singer for Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Wilson Pickett, David Bowie, Neil Diamond, Jimi Hendrix and hundreds of other stars. Click here for a full obituary.
Click below 3 out of the many songs Cissy Houston sang background on.
(Don’t walk on by! Please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)
The Westport2u bus service is a great alternative to taking the car to busy lot and trying to find a spot. I wish there were more buses in the morning. Sometimes can take up to 40 min to get a bus so you have to plan accordingly.
RTO = STO. Return to office has been shocking the last few weeks with several trains now standing room only and the parking lot at Greens Farms almost entirely full…except of course Fridays.
In 1959, they redistricted everyone south of Cross HIghway and west of North Avenue to Bedford Elementary (Town Hall now) from Coleytown Elementary which included me for my last 6th grade year. It sort of sucked. All new teachers, all new facilities and in many cases, all new kids. Got to be a better way.
Westport Transit offers rides to either of the train stations in Westport during commuting hours from your home via Wheels2U shuttles. If interested, please visit https://www.wheels2u.org/westport
I have been commuting from Milford to Westport for the past 39 years since I worked at Max’s and now Rockwell Fine Custom Framing. In all those years, I have never seen not only the amount of cars on the road as I see now, but the degradation of respect for other drivers. Driving brings a whole new meaning to the term “Defensive Driving” and having “eyes on the back of your head”. One day a week my wife and I also drive to Hawthorne, NY for grandparent duty. What used to take an hour and 15 minutes a couple years ago now is closer to 2 1/2 to 3 hours each way and coming home the line getting off of exit 18 starts roughly 1/4 mile away. When we see our grandson we completely forget about the traffic we sat in and sitting in traffic coming home, we think of all the fun we had during the day.
“Blondinit” is a curious name. Can anyone give me the etymology of it (before I go off the deep end and get the wrong people upset)?
From “06880” last May, before the restaurant opened: “Blondinit means ‘female blonde’ in Hebrew,” owner Solomon Sale explains. “It’s named for my wife.”
Cool. I have a blonde wife. Not Hebrew unfortunately. But I’ll go to work on her. If we start a restaurant in Westport, we’ll find another name.