Roundup: Hillspoint Road, Old Mill Grocery, Broadway …

Last night, the Zoning Board of Appeals discussed an appeal by 2 residents, contesting the Planning & Zoning Commission’s approval of former Planning & Zoning Department director Mary Young’s decision to sign a liquor permit application for Old Mill Grocery & Deli. The ZBA upheld the P&Z decision, unanimously.

A court case regarding the legality of regulation itself continues.

Alcohol may be added to Old Mill Grocery & Deli’s shelves. The issue is now in court.

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Another Staples High School graduate is making news on Broadway.

“Cult of Love” — written by 1999 alum Leslye Headland — begins previews at the Helen Hayes Theater on November 20. Opening night is December 12.

This is not the 1999 alum’s first rodeo (or writing venture). It’s her final work in a series called “Seven Deadly Plays.” Inspired by the 7 deadly sins, this one is about pride. It was first staged in Los Angeles in 2018.

“Cult of Love” focuses on 4 adult children of one family and their partners, coming home for a contentious holiday gathering.

Headland has earned kudos as a playwright, screenwriter and director, with hits like the play and film “Bachelorette,” the movie “Sleeping With Other People” the Netflix comedy “Russian Doll” and the Disney+ series “The Acolyte.”

Click here for more information, and tickets. (Hat tip: Werner Liepolt)

Leslye Headland

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“Preparing for College with ADHD: Understanding the Importance of Strengthening Executive Function Skills to Prepare for the College Environment” is the topic of a free webinar (December 5, 7 p.m.).

Stephanie Mitchell, who specializes in learning disabilities/ADHD/autism spectrum disorders boarding school and college advising, will explain key differences between high school and college, in terms of structure, expectations, support and accommodations; why executive functions are important to college success; how students can strength those skills, and more.

There is no cost, but registration is required (click here). The event is sponsored by S4 Study Skills.

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The Representative Town Meeting’s Environment and Health & Human Services Committees will meet by Zoom on November 25 (7:30 p.m.).

There is one agenda item: continuing a discussion about “concerns related to a potential artificial turf field being added to Long Lots School property during the new school construction.”

Click here for the meeting link.

Long Lots Elementary School athletic fields are currently all grass.

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Spot On Vet opened recently, in the former Men’s Wearhouse (950 Post Road East). A grand opening is set for November 19 (6 to 8 p.m.).

The husband-and-wife team of Dr. Philip and Becky Putter — he’s a veterinarian; she’s a business expert — saw “a gap in the market for clients seeking top-tier customer service, comprehensive care, transparency, and advanced veterinary medicine for their pets.”

Spot On Vet offers emergency medical care; day care and boarding for sick, injured or recovering animals in “luxury accommodations” (well-lit cubicles with small beds).

Owners can watch their pets via camera. Pets can also listen to their favorite music or TV program.

Spot On Vet also offers dental care, a full pharmacy, facilities for major surgeries including orthopedic procedures, medical testing that often can’t be done in a regular veterinary office, physical therapy, and a valet service to pick up pets from home.

The Putters began in 2015, operating out of their living room with a single house-call van. Westport is their second location in Fairfield County.

And they still do house calls.

2- and 4-legged animals were all smiles at Spot On Vet’s ribbon cutting.

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Mexicue is turning Tuesdays into “All Day Happy Hour & Endless Tacos.’

For $25, guests get unlimited tacos, including:

  • Smoky Chicken with melted cheese, pickled onions, creamy chipotle and chili crisp salsa
  • Pulled Pork with fresh corn salsa, jack cheese, creamy chipotle and puffed quinoa
  • Avocado with black beans, corn salsa, salsa verde and cilantro

The Main Street restaurant also offers $10 house margaritas, $9 wine and $6 beers.

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Black holes are a crazy concept. And how better to learn about them than through an MIT expert?

Assistant professor Erin Kara will host a webinar titled “Black Hole Echoes: How We ‘See’ Curved Spacetime, on November 19 (8 p.m.). It’s part of the Westport Astronomical Society’s free online lecture series.

The session will be interactive — though you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home, or go anywhere near a black hole itself.

Click here for the Zoom link. Click here for the YouTube livestream.

The closest black hole to Earth is just 1,000 light-years away.

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The speaker at last week’s Westport Sunrise Rotary meeting was Mary Ellen Lemay, landowner engagement director for Aspetuck Land Trust.

She discussed the Miyawaki Urban Forest Project which ALT has installed at 7 Bridgeport schools.

A slide from Mary Ellen Lemay’s presentation. (Photo/Dennis Wong)

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Jen Greely sends this gorgeous “Westport … Naturally” photo …

… and writes: “My mood was buoyed last week by a new flush of rose blooms in the garden. Then I realized it is November, the leaves are off the trees, and this beauty is the result of daytime temps in the 80s.”

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And finally … we welcome our newest canine (and more) clinic, Spot On Vet, with this classic:

 (Hey, dawg! If you like these daily Roundups — or anything else on “06880” — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

One response to “Roundup: Hillspoint Road, Old Mill Grocery, Broadway …

  1. Can you imagine that this beautiful Town Of Westport is going to entertain putting in a cancer-causing turf field for its children to play on, but they didn’t want to protect a 20 year old garden for its children to learn from. At the last building committee meeting they talked about the history of the neighborhood, maybe we can put the community garden on a historical placard. That way the kids will be able to realize what the adults did all those years ago.