In the wake of the announcement that the Connecticut Department of Transportation plans to build a new maintenance building at the state facility on Post Road East between Walgreens and West Parish Road, renewed attention has come to approximately 1.4 acres of the property, near West Parish.
Yet 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker tells “06880,” “The DOT never offered the town of Westport a portion of that property.
“There were discussions regarding building affordable housing on a portion of the property, in 2020 and 2021. However, the land would have been transferred from DOT to the Department of Housing for that purpose, not the town.
“Neither the state DOT nor DOH has advanced that project.”
State Department of Transportation land. The Sherwood Island Connector is at left, Post Road East at top, West Parish Road on right. The proposed new maintenance facility is outlined in black (behind Walgreens). The land once considered for affordable housing is in red, at right.
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Just days before the Division I basketball tournament (aka March Madness) begins, NCAA president Charlie Baker sat down with Dave Briggs for a long, and very interesting, interview.
Briggs — a Westporter, former NBC Sports and Turner sports broadcaster, and host of a high-energy March Madness show — asked important questions.
What’s the future of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and the transfer portal? Does the NCAA support the Trump decision to ban transgender athletes? How will private equity impact college sports?
It’s a national podcast, but there are 2 Westport connections (besides this being Briggs’ hometown):
- Briggs referenced Marc Lasry. The Beachside Avenue resident and private equity billionaire has indicated an interest in getting into the college sports space.
- NCAA president Baker is married to Lauren Schadt, a Staples High School graduate who grew up in Westport.
Click below to watch the full interview.
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The Clubhouse opened last month, to rave reviews. Now 2 big perfect-for-the-space events are coming up.
From March 14 to 17, the Post Road East hot spot offers Irish-inspired dishes and drinks, and their first-ever brunch specials. They’re open normal hours Friday to Sunday, then noon to 10 p.m. on Monday the 17th.
Starting March 20, March Madness basketball will be live on the massive 22-foot TV wall.
Coming soon: the opening of the roof deck.
The Clubhouse — with the 22-foot TV wall on the right.
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Speaking of St. Paddy’s Day: Club203 celebrates the green the next day.
Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities gathers at the Westport Library on March 18 (6:30 to 8 p.m.) for karaoke, Irish soda bread and sweet buns from Cobs Bread, green bagels from Village Bagels, shamrock cookies from Baked by Belle, crafts with MoCA, and free books from the Westport Book Shop.
Everyone is invited to wear green. Click here for more information.
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Yesterday’s “06880” Unsung Heroes feature honored the Westport Woman’s Club food pantry, for its 50 years of service.
Unfortunately, the link for readers to donate did not work.
There’s always time to help. Click here, for a usable (and greatly appreciated) link.
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Suspense and legal thriller author David Baldacci has sold over 150 million books worldwide. He’s been published in 45 languages.
His new book, “Strangers in Time,” will be released April 15. It’s about a bereaved bookshop owner and 2 teenagers scarred by the World War II in 1944 London, and the healing and hope they find in each other.
At 7 p.m. that day, he launches it with a keynote address and book signing — at the Westport Library.
The Library is including a copy of the book with each ticket ($40). Attendees can get 2 seats and 1 book for $50. Extra copies are $30 each. There is a special opportunity to meet Baldacci one-on-one ($150). Click here to register.
David Baldacci
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Remember the Famous Artists School?
In its heyday in the 1950s and ’60s, the correspondence course company on Wilton Road promised millions of would-be artists that they could draw like a professional.
The school lives on — at least through June 15, at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
An exhibit from the Famous Artists Cartoon Course — launched in 1956 — offers a look at famous cartooning “teachers” like Rube Goldberg, Al Capp and Milton Caniff. Click here for more information. (Hat tip: Carol Waxman)
A Famous Artists School cartoon course cartoon.
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The artist known as Inam unveils his latest collection, “Life in Color,” at Clarendon Fine Art on April 24 (6 p.m.). The reception includes drinks and live music. These works include his signature forest scenes, and striking new seascapes.
Clarendon will cover the sales tax on all purchases made at the event (terms and conditions apply).
“Sailing in the Sun” (Inam)
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Westport Police made 4 custodial arrests between March 5 and 11.
A 49-year-old Westport woman was charged with evading responsibility (hit and run), driving under the influence and failure to drive in the proper lane, following an accident on Imperial Avenue. Officers located the vehicle parked at the driver’s residence, while she was still sitting in it.
A 39-year-old Bridgeport man was charged with possession of a controlled substance, after respondingi to a vehicle facing the wrong direction on Red Coat Road. The driver was slumped over in the driver’s seat, with a baggie and straw in his lap. A field test of that, and additional baggies in the vehicle, were positive for cocaine and fentanyl.
A 54-year-old Bridgeport man was charged with burglary, criminal mischief and larceny following an investigation into the theft of $800 from Little Kitchen, after a rear door was forced oopen. He was unable to post $25,000 bond.
A 33-year-old Philadelphia woman was charged with larceny, payment card theft, identity theft, and conspirace to commit those crimes, after investigation into the the theft of a handbag at Panera in 2020.
Westport Police also issued these citations:
- Failure to renew registration (6 citations)
- Speeding: 5
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 5
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 3
- Simple trespass: 2
- Failure to drive in the proper lane: 2
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 2
- Passing a stopped school bus: 1
- Distracted driving: 1
- Traveling too fast for conditions: 1
- Improper turns: 1
- Failure to obey stop sign: 1
- Failure to obey state traffic commission regulations: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle under suspension: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 1
- Creating a public disturbance: 1
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Longtime Westporter Paulette Weibel died peacefully on March 4. She was 98.
The Geneva, Switzerland native immigrated to the US in 1950, to marry her husband Otto Weibel. They were married for 65 years, until his death in 2015.
Paulette lived in Westport for the past 60 years. She was a proud member of the NY/CT Swiss-American; loved nature, walking, knitting, sewing and volunteering, with Girl Scouts and the Westport Library.
She also worked full time at the library. She helped maintain picture files for over 36 years. Her beautiful handwriting can be seen today on many files.
She is survived by her son, Robert (Silvia) of Switzerland and daughter Joyce Bottone (Joseph) of Westport; grandchildren Jessica, Jonathan (Naima), Leonard (Vanessa), Nolan, Stella, Joseph and Jennifer, and great-grandchildren Shayna, Kiana and Ayana. She was also predeceased by her son Peter and brother Jean Lambert.
The family will receive friends and family at the Harding Funeral Home on March 17 (4 to 7 p.m.). A graveside service is set March 18, 2025 (11 a.m., Willowbrook Cemetery). Click here to leave online condolences.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Homes With Hope or the Domestic Violence Crisis Center,
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Most “Westport … Naturally” photos show gorgeous daytime scenes: birds, bees, trees and the like.
Every once in a while, we mix it up. Here’s a nighttime view of Nyala Farm:
(Photo/Bob Levy)
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And finally … Joey Molland, the last surviving member of Badfinger, died on March 1 in Minnesota. He was 77, and suffered from diabetes. Click here for a full obituary.
(If you want it, please click here to help support “06880” — “where Westport meets the world.” Thank you!)
Westport should leave NO STONE UNTURNED in opportunities to acquire (or lease?) land. State land, fallow land (YMCA’s Red Barn, Post Road West… (where else?). We need it for maintenance sheds, affordable housing, athletic fields, community gardens. Show initiative! Don’t wait for someone else to do something. Act now. Less photo ops and campaign stops and more governing for the people of Westport.
Contrary to what Jennifer Tooker is quoted as saying, the redlined area in the map was going to be given to Westport. The DOT documentation for project 0158-0223 , and dated November 14, 2023, notes the redlined area as being the “proposed property line based on transferring land to town of Westport (+/- 1.4 acres).”
Affordable housing maybe off the table, but 1.4 acres would more than meet our town’s requirements for a new parks and recreation maintenance facility. And with some serious negotiations with the state, perhaps Westport could share functions like refueling, rest rooms, parking, and more.
Let’s add it to the list of possibilities. If done right, it might cost less, answer many of the objections to the currently proposed maintenance site, and be a win for everyone.
Dick Lowenstein
RTM District 5
Let’s hope you’re right Dick‼️
Aside: when I joined the RTM mid term way back when I tried to catch up by reading all the RTM minutes in reverse which gave me a unique perspective. One person was eerily accurate in predictions warnings and suggestions. Dick Lowenstein. HA👍🏼