The Board of Finance will hold public hearings soon about proposed 2025-26 budgets.
Superintendent of schools Thomas Scarice and Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein present their budget on March 24. 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker offers the town budget on March 25. Both meetings begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Town Hall auditorium.
The sessions will be broadcast on Optimum Channel 79, and/or livestreamed on the town website. (On the website, select “How Do I” heading, then “Watch Town Meetings”.)
Click here to see both budgets.
Budget hearings begin March 24, at Town Hall.
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Last month, Westporters were invited to a presentation about the proposed public safety complex. The new facility would bring the Police and Fire Departments, and Emergency Medical Services, under one roof.
The site most often mentioned is on the Sherwood Island Connector. On April 3 (1 p.m.), residents are invited to the I-95 Exit 18 commuter parking lot, to tour the location, view site maps and provide feedback.
Town officials, project planners and public safety representatives will answer questions and provide details about the project’s goals and benefits to the community.
Questions? Call Fire Chief Nick Marsan at (203) 341-5000, or email nmarsan@westportct.gov.
The meeting place for the April 3 tour of a proposed public safety facility: the I-95 Exit commuter parking lot, on the Sherwood Island Connector. The entrance would be just north of this site.
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The Westport Library was packed yesterday, for the Westport Book Shop’s annual benefit.
Since opening across Jesup Green from the Library 2021, the store has provided over 8,750 hours of paid part-time employment and job training for more than a dozen people with disabilities.
Employees learning and use skills — from retail to computer and photography — that are transferable to other environments, and interact often with customers.
Meanwhile, book sales have also generated more than $200,000 for the Library.
The benefit supported both the Westport Book Shop and the Library. There was entertainment from the Staples Jazz Ensemble, plenty of food and drink, and silent and live auctions.
All the employees were there, proudly helping out.
And every attendee got a book, signed by prolific author Ed McBain.
Westport Book Shop employee Bella Rizzi greeted guests. She sat behind a book that had been made into an artful vase. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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The long-awaited opening of Sushi Jin is near.
A sneak peek at the new Main Street restaurant comes next Friday (March 21, 5:30 p.m.).
Coldwell Banker’s Judy Michaelis is hosting a pre-opening celebration. And as guests enjoy the very intriguing menu, they’ll also be doing something good.
100% of all ticket proceeds go to Westport EMS. For those who don’t know: Our fantastic Emergency Medical Service has to pay for everthing. Ambulances, fly cars, medical equipment, medications, training for the current and next generation of volunteer EMTs serving the community, even Band-Aids — they fund it all. (The price for an ambulance these days is about $400,000, if that helps you plan a donation.)
Click here for tickets, and more information. See you at Sushi Jin!
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
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Just around the corner from Sushi Jin, the Levitt is getting ready for its opening.
It’s been around a lot longer — more than 50 years — and it knows how to put on a show.
Or many shows.
For example:
Early bird pricing ends soon for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and the Infamous Stringdusters with Melt (June 1).
Umphrey’s McGee (July 11). Ticket sales for the eclectic improv-rock band start at 10 a.m. today (Friday).
Tickets are on sale now for I’m With Her, with Ken Pomeroy. The highly regarded folk trio offers a VIP experience: early admission to the show, a stripped-down intimate short performance, and a Q-and-A.
As always, members enjoy discounts and pre-sales on paid-ticket programming — while helping support the 50-plus nights of free shows. Click here for details.
I’m With Her (that’s the name of the trio).
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Six large photos by New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynsey Addario are on display at the Senior Center.
They’re part of the 1991 Staples High School graduate’s series “Veiled Rebellion,” depicting many facets of women’s lives in Afghanistan. Other works from the series hang at the Westport Library, Staples and Town Hall.
On Wednesday, Westport Public Art Collections member Jilda Manikas gave a presentation about the photographer and her photos, at the Senior Center.
Lynsey’s proud mother Camille was there. She answered questions from the audience, including about Lynsey’s recent work in Ukraine.
(Lynsey Addario for the New York Times)
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You’re never too young to help others.
The Greens Farms Elementary School Long Neck Leaders — a leadership group of students in grades 3-5 — recently created a community fundraiser to support Rach’s Hope.
The non-profit honors Rachel Doran, a member of the GFS class of 2008. Her sister Ellie also attended Greens Farms.
Their mother, Lisa Doran, is a GFS literacy coach. The Long Neck Leaders invited her to teach them about the charity, which helps families weather the storm of a child’s critical illness.
The students then promoted an all-school pajama day. (Rachel made and sold PJs in local shops, a project she started during elementary school.)
The PJ Day raised $1,300 — much of it thanks to the personal connections the students felt.
The Dorans look forward to Rach’s Hope’s adult fundraiser. The 2025 PJ Gala is March 29 (FTC, Fairfield). The evening includes live music, great food, and plenty of love and hope. For tickets and more information, click here.
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Chris Dobransky has developed a devoted Instagram following, for his recipes and reviews.
He and his family order regularly from Ed’s Fusion, the Italian-and-Mexican spot across from Stop & Shop. He likes the friendly family feel.
Chris wants “06880” readers to know about a new item: birria.
The Mexican dish dates back to the 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors introduced domesticated livestock, including goats, to Mexico.
Ed’s Fusion’s birria is made with tender beef brisket, Chris says. It’s cooked for over 6 hours on low heat in a broth with a “secret: blend of spices. There are several forms, including tacos, but quesadillas, calzones and pizza.
Each birria item comes with green chile and habanero sauces, and a spiced consomme.
Birria choices, at Ed’s Fusion.
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Last night’s lunar eclipse was one of nature’s rare, but fascinating, events.
Jacqui O’Brien photographed the full “worm room” before it began, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature. “See the halo,” she says.
(Photo/Jacqui O’Brien)
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And finally … Happy Pi Day, to all who celebrate!
(Don’t let the music — or this hyper-local blog — die. Just click here to support “06880.” Thank you!)
Funding for this school district needs to be decreased. The rampant antisemitism is unacceptable and until that is addressed the district should be punished!
Completely agree! Teacher salaries must be cut in half too. The amount of tax dollars that goes to education is ubsurd!
Have you ever gone in the staples library? TRANS books galore!
“go” and “absurd”
However, please don’t cut grammar teachers! English is supposed to be our national language.
Wrong. “Goes” is correct. “Amount” is the subject of the sentence so it gets the singular “goes” as the verb.
I’m so excited for I’m With Her at the Levitt this summer that I had to make my first 06880 comment ever to encourage everyone to check out their music and get tickets! I couldn’t imagine a better match of artist and venue, and I’ve been keeping my fingers crossed that Aoife O’Donovan’s visits over the past couple of seasons would lead to her bandmates joining for a show, as well. I’m so grateful to live in a town where world class music and culture is so readily accessible and celebrated!
We Westporters can send our children to our public schools where they will receive an education equivalent to some of the best private schools in the country. That foundation sets them up for a productive life. Our schools are among the three or four top reasons people move here. Teacher are NOT over paid. In fact, if we ever wanted our teachers to live in our community we’d have to pay them more. Our taxes are low compared to other similar communities. I am happy to pay Westport taxes and I will soon be 81 years old with no children, grandchildren or great grandchildren in the district. Stop complaining. We are fortunate to be able to live here and give our children a leg up on life.