A “Red Flag” warning is in effect through 6 p.m. tonight. It’s issued during dangerous fire conditions due to strong winds, low humidity and warm temperatures.
Any fire may spread quickly, and possibly out of control.
The Westport Fire Department says that outdoor fires are prohibited; cigarettes should be disposed of responsibility, and the public should call 911 immediately in the case of fire.
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AP has called the Pennsylvania Senate race for David McCormick.
The Republican ousted 3-term incumbent Democrat Bob Casey, after a campaign in which McCormick’s residency was scrutinized.
The former Bridgewater CEO — born and raised near Pittsburgh — owns a home on Beachside Avenue. Critics claimed that is where he spent most of his time, including during the early days of the campaign.
This year’s contest was the second most expensive race in the country.
Senator-elect David McCormick
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Like many Westporters, Carl Addison Swanson has noticed the 16 new signs (with blinking lights) (and other features) on Cross Highway, between North Avenue and Bayberry Lane.
It’s part of the town’s Safety Action Plan.
Carl says, “I can understand some emphasis for kids going over to the Porch sometimes for a burger.
“But North is far more traveled by children than Cross. Why the focus on Cross? That is what a $25,000 study will get you.
And, he adds, “in my opinion there should be traffic lights vice stop signs at key stops around town.”
One of 16 signs in the Cross Highway corridor. (Photo/Jo Ann Miller)
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There are plenty of places to get great Thanksgiving pies.
One of them includes a special treat: Every one you buy helps fight hunger.
Wakeman Town Farms’ “Thanksgiving Pies for Good” — a collaboration with Earth Animal’s Mitten Project — benefits CTFoodShares.
This year’s sale features freshly baked 9-inch pies: apple, apple crumb, blueberry, blueberry crumb, cherry, cherry crumb, and pumpkin. All are from Oronoque Farms.
Want something extra (and an extra helping of goodness for others)? Make your order à la mode, with Madagascar vanilla or bourbon brown sugar from Lindsay’s Handmade Ice Cream.
Pies are $20 each; ice cream is $20 per pint. Click here to order. The deadline is noon on November 22.
Pickup is Monday, November 25, 4 to 7 p.m. only at Wakeman Town Farm. Pies that are not picked up will be donated to local food pantries.
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As for that other all-American food — pizza — Riko’s celebrates their arrival in Westport this Saturday (November 9, 2 to 4 p.m.), with a free festival.
The new restaurant — replacing Mystic Market (and before that, Blu Parrot, Jasmine and the Arrow restaurant) on Charles Street, opposite the railroad station parking lot and Luciano Park — will offer a bouncy house, face painting, temporary tattoos, balloon twisting, a photo booth and more.
Plus, of course, free pizzas.
Almost ready. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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Among the capital projects proposed for Westport: repairing the pedestrian bridge to Compo Cove, and the tidal gates there.
Yesterday, nearly half of the Representative Town Meeting took a field trip to the site, accessible only by a pedestrian bridge.
Department of Public Works director Pete Ratkiewich led the excursion. Last night, the appropriation was discussed at a meeting of the RTM’s Finance, Public Works and Environment Committees.
On Tuesday, the full body is the final vote on the $5.58 million request. It was approved unanimously Wednesday night by the Board of Finance.
RTM members on the Compo Cove pedestrian bridge. Moderator Jeff Wieser is at the far left. (Photo/Matt Murray)
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Speaking of the Mill Pond, Larry Hoy sends this photo:
He writes: “A bucolic scene. But is it me, or has the cute little oyster farm at Old Mill turned into a full-blown industrial operation with 9 workers, generators and heavy equipment on several barges, harvesting and cleaning oysters to be sold to restaurants?
“I’m aware of the King’s Grant for the Mill Pond and parts of Long Island Sound here. But does that allow this level of noisy and questionably clean production to be done in what is essentially a residential neighborhood?
“The quiet walks on the Mill Pond bridge aren’t so peaceful and beautiful.”
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“Martha” — R.J. Cutler’s documentary about the much-admired yet very controversial lifestyle guru/businesswoman/TV personality — is now on Netflix, after a series of film festival screenings.
Dave Briggs watched it, and caught a couple of references to her Westport years.
She calls it “the furthest commuting town from New York.”
As for Turkey Hill — the name she gave her home and garden on the road of the same name — “we had to have (it), to fix it up …. If I hadn’t had Turkey Hill I wouldn’t be me, right now. I would have been somebody else. I just wouldn’t have been Martha Stewart, homemaker.”
She also discusses her husband’s — and her own — infidelities during their marriage here.
So what does Martha think of “Martha”? Click here.
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The sky’s the limit for the Westport Astronomical Society’s 2025 calendar.
It’s filled with great photos from amateur astro-photographers Michael Southam, Jasper Southam, Regina Olshan, Carol Quinn, Franco Fellah, Stuart Stakoff, Kurt Zeppetello, Celia Campbell-Mohn, Dana Weisbrot, Carl Lancaster, Phil Harrington, Louis Tancredi, Dr. Steven Labkoff and
The Westport Astronomical Society’s amateur astrophotographers found the best photons again this year with offerings from WAS members Michael Southam, Jasper Southam, Regina Olshan, Carol Quinn, Franco Fellah, Stuart Stakoff, Kurt Zeppetello, Celia Campbell-Mohn, Dana Weisbrot, Carl Lancaster, Phil Harrington, Louis Tancredi, Dr. Steven Labkoff and WAS president Shannon Calvert — plus daily astronomical data.
The cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Shipping is $5 for 1-2 calendars, $10 for 3-5. Email kathy@was-ct.org; include your mailing address, and number of calendars requested. An invoice will be emailed back to you.
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Speaking of the sky: Everyone has heard of Stonehenge. Many have also heard of Manhattanhenge.
But what about Longshorehenge?
John Richers spotted this on the entrance road yesterday, at 4:10 p.m.:
(Photo/John Richers)
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If you’ve been thinking, “Westport is a pretty great town, but what we really need is another nail spa”: Your prayers have been answered.
The oddly named Monday Nail Spa will move into the vacant space next to the Westport Post Office.
Probably not Monday. But soon.
(Photo/Molly Alger)
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STAR Lighting the Way has a new president: Westporter Doree Levy.
At the recent gala, she shared her vision for the future of the non-profit, which empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families.
Doree — a longtime STAR advocate — pledged to “do everything in my power to ensure that STAR will be there to watch over the young and the old, giving them the care and quality of life they deserve.”
New STAR president Doree Levy and her husband Bob are staunch supporters of the organization. (Photo/Miggs Burroughs)
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image is a gorgeous view of Winslow Park.
Photographer Mark Mathias calls it “a two-fer. First, regardless of one’s political leanings, voting for dogs is fun.
“Second, earlier this week the town mowed the big hill. All we need now is a good dumping of snow. An entire crop of kids with sleds will magically appear.”
(Photo/Mark Mathias)
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And finally … in honor of Westport’s favorite lifestyle guru:
(If you like this “taste” of Westport, please click here to support our work.)
STAR in Norwalk is a fantastic organization! Now let’s head off topic. What affected 80,000,000 people on November 9, 1965? Maybe Dan Woog can do a “Where were you on November 9, 1965?” post tomorrow?
How great would it be if you could consistently stay ON (NOT off) topic.
BLACKOUT
I remember exactly. I was making out with my gal friend and she told me to go home to be with my mother. And like the putz I was, I did so. My father was stuck in NYC with no trains. Good one Jack.
Real glad that the town spent so much money to be told to put up signs that are common sense. There is even a book that tells you what signs to use, where to place them, what they are supposed to say, what they are supposed to look like. It’s the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways. Defined as “MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. The MUTCD is published by the Federal Highway Administration”. The federap government also has many case studies and other tools and guides. Gladly we had to pay a consultant to read the manual instead of the well paid town engineers.
On another note, glad my tax dollars are going to ensure the rich people around the pond can enjoy their view. Let’s not forgot the “industrial” oyster operation that benefits from this project. Why not make them chip in? The mill pond doesn’t help me or 95% of the rest of the town unless you have the money to build there. Don’t forget, those people complain when the rest of the town uses the old mill lot to enjoy old mill Beach. They think the lot is private for the multi million dollar homes. It’s not. It’s public.
How about instead of spending buckets of money on consultants for everything, how about we spend that money to get the work done. Build sidewalks where they make sense. Use the consultant money to build more of them. Eventually there will be sidewalks wherever they are needed for way less money than being spent now.
End rant.
As noted by Professor Woog’s articulate enunciation of my concerns, I live off North Avenue and the speeders dominate the road. And with four (4) of our schools on such avenue, I suggested long ago some traffic lights to slow cars down a bit. The response of the Police Department was “we don’t use traffic lights to control traffic.” WTF? Instead they put up solar speed radar signs which no one obeys. That said, the short 3/4 of a mile of Cross @ North to Cross @ Bayberry now contain 15 signs (now covered with trash bags while construction goes on in front of Christie’s) with flashing red stop signs at the intersection. Not only are they tacky and ugly but probably ineffective? Thank you Fred, for your rant.
Fred, Hmmmm.. you do make some good points, but maybe Westport can hire a Consultant to analyze your opinion!
it’s disturbing to me that so many ultra rich people are running the USA.
how bout a deli owner running ? how bout a teacher running for high office ? The ultra wealthy keep getting into the higher postpone of government and I question their motives
Richard, How about if I move back to Westport and run for First Selectman in two years?
please. I would love to have a nice smart caring person running 06880
Backiel and Fogel on the same ticket.
aka, Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunn.
I would back you Jack. Time for some old Westporters to remind folks what a great town we had here. I am not resistant to change but major transformation? No thank you.
Actually, CT has some publicly funded elections, not sure of the extent but they are attracting attractive candidates from all veins of our society.
The Mill Pond is truly one of Westport’s greatest asset.
Rich people running the country hahaha! Where ya’ been for a century?