In November Westporters will elect 3 selectpersons, plus members of the Board of Education, Board of Finance, Planning & Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Board of Assessment Appeals.
The Westport Democratic Town Committee invites registered Democrats interested in running to attend a Zoom forum on February 6 (7 p.m.). It’s a chance for potential candidates to hear what it’s like to serve on a local board, and learn the fundamentals of campaigning. The Zoom link can be found .
For questions or to RSVP, email info@westportdemocrats.org.

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Speaking of local politics: There are 2 agenda items for the Planning & Zoning Commission’s February 3 meeting (6 p.m., remote).
One is a request for a sewer line extension to Ellery Lane.
The other — more controversial, no doubt — is a request from Public Works and the first selectwoman for a new Parks & Recreation Department building at Longshore.
Full details will be available closer to the meeting.

The current maintenance shed at Longshore.
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Yesterday’s “06880” highlighted the release of the draft of a Westport Safety Action Plan, prepared by consultants as part of our town’s Safe Streets for All program.
Residents can weigh in on the plan by submitting a comment to SS4A@westportct.gov online, and/or attending public meeting scheduled for next Wednesday (January 29, 7 p.m., Town Hall audigorium).
To read the Draft Westport Safety Action Plan, click here. For the Safe Streets for All website, click here.

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Just Salad has just opened.
The 3rd Connecticut outpost of the Northeast-plus-Florida and Illinois chain replaces Salsa Fresca and Qdoba, near the entrnace to Playhouse Square.
Perhaps the quick-casual-but-not-Mexican menu will work.Cick here to learn more about Just Salad.
Spoiler alert: The menu is more than just salad.

A guy with just a salad, from Just Salad.
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Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between January 15 and 22.
A 26-year-od Bridgeport man was charged with identity theft, illegal possessio nof personal ID information, and conspiracy to commit those crimes, followin an investigation into an armed carjacking in Bridgeport in September. In October, a stolen vehicle was recovered after crashing into a Wilton police officer. While processing the recovered stolen vehicle, several checks belonging to residents of Westport and other towns were seized. The man is being held on $75,000 bond.
A 51-year-old Weston woman was charged with interering with an officer/ resisting, and making a false statement, after an incident in august. A complaint was made that the woman — a former girlfirend — broke into the victim’s residence and created a disturbance. The woman made accusations against the complainant that could not be corroborated, and filed for a restraining order using facts that were proved to be false. She was released after posting $30,000 bond, and will appear in Stamford Superior Court.
A 36-year-old woman was charged with breach of peace and assault on an elderly victim, following a disturbance at Sakura. The woman asked a group of allegedly intoxicated diners to stop cursing and being disruptive. When the group left the restaurant, the woman followed them outside. They argued, and the woman grabbed the 62-year-old complainant’s hair, causing her to fall. The woman posted bond of $5,000, and will appear in Stamford Superior court.
A 20-year-old Wilton man was charged with breach of peace, criminal mischief and 2 counts of reckless endangerment, after someone sitting in their car in the McDonald’s parking lot complained they were shot by a paintball. A complaint was made almost immediately, by someone further east on the Post Road that he was shot several times while entering his car. Similar incidents were reported in Fairfield and Darien. Through surveillance footage, the mn and a juvenile were identified as suspects. He posted $70,000 bond, and will appear in Stamford Superior Court.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 12 citations
- Failure to obey stop sign: 4
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 3
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 2
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 2
- Speeding over 70 mph: 1
- Driving while texting: 1
- Failure to renew registration: 1

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Chris Grimm says that for about 2 weeks, this motor home has been parked in the Stop & Shop parking lot:

(Photo/Chris Grimm)
Has someone (or several people) taken up residence there?
Hey — at least they’re parked as far from the store as they can. They take up as few spaces as possible.
And they’re not in the fire lane.
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Betty Ann Jones — a 62-year resident of Westport — died at home, surrounded by her family, on Januaary 18. She was 97.
Betty Ann was a world traveler, avid reader and accomplished golfer. At Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Chhurch, she was a member of the altar guild and served on the vestry.
She was predeceased by her husband Howard, and sons David and Evan. She is survived by her children Howard (Barbara Smythe Jones) and daughter Barbara Jones; 7 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.
The family expresses deep gratitude to Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County, for the exceptional care they provided the last 6 months.
A memorial service is set for February 15 (Christ & Holy Trinity Church, 10 a.m.).
In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty Ann’s memory may be made to The Groden Center, in support of individuals with autism, or Christ & Holy Trinity Church. Click here to leave online condolences.

Betty Ann Jones
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There’s always room for a deer photo in our “Westport … Naturally” feature.
Johanna Keyser Rossi spotted this one, on the way to Burying Hill Beach.
Perhaps there was a snowball fight …

(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
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And finally … in honor of the opening of Just Salad (story above):
(From politics to restaurants, Longshore to Stop & Shop — and for every other bit of news — “06880” is your hyper-local blog. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

The comment connection for the Safety Study appears to require signing into a blog service. If correct, that is something I try to avoid. As to substance, the Report is huge and unwieldy. It needs an executive summary and a listing of the top ten action items, providing reasons and the cost to achieve. The Report also needs to focus on true safety issues, not anecdotal stories or thoughts. Too often people who seek an outcome misuse the possibility of a safety issue to achieve their goal.
Maintenance shed looks like candidate for affordable housing. Amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do.
Indeed. It doesn’t look like it’s been painted since I worked there summers as a college student 1970-74. Otherwise, it looks pretty much the same.
I work in the shopping plaza across the street from Stop and Shop. That RV has been there since last summer! They never seem to bother anyone, but I have been staring at it for months.
I didn’t realize it had been that long! It looks like a very well maintained RV. Just curious what the deal is.