Summer is here!
Beach parking emblems (oldtimers call them “stickers”) are available for purchase — online and in the Parks & Recreation Department office — for Westport and Weston residents starting this Thursday (March 20), at 9 a.m. There is no limit for Westport and Weston residents. Click here for fees.
Beach parking emblem sales for non-residents begin tomorrow (Wednesday, March 19), at 9 a.m. The fee is $545, plus sales tax. There is a limit of 450 for the season — first come, first served.
If you bought emblems or registered for programs in previous seasons, your online account is already set up. Click here to log in. Then select “Memberships,” and follow the prompts.
If you have not bought emblems or registered for programs previously, click here. Then click the “Purchase Now” icon on the right.
Emblems will be mailed in 14-21 business days. They are not required until May 1.
If you forget your login or password, do not create another account. Select the proper “forget” button on the login page. For further help, email recreation@westportct.gov.
Office hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Beach stickers go on sale this week. (Photo/Mark Marcus)
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The Planning & Zoning Commission’s discussion of The Hamlet at Saugatuck proposal continues next Monday (March 24, 6 p.m., Zoom).
The specific agenda item is for “special permit/coastal site plan approval for a mix of non-residential, hotel and residential uses as part of an integrated site development, for property located in the General Business District/Saugatuck Marina” area.
Click here for details on The Hamlet at Saugatuck’s proposal.
A view of The Hamlet at Saugatuck, from the Saugatuck River.
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Staples High School’s Asian Students Association is raising funds to provide menstrual hygiene products to women who face challenges accessing those basic necessities. The World Bank estimates that number as high as 500 million women.
There is a local need too. The Staples group’s goal is to raise $1,000 for Homes with Hope. The non-profit runs Westport homeless shelter and food pantry (whose shelves include hygiene products).
The club is a part of Dear Asian Youth, a youth-led, global non-profit that promotes solidarity with other marginalized communities, and equality and equity. Click here to donate, and for more information.
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Speaking of Staples: Mark DeRosa’s teaches drawing and animation classes there, along with an after-school comic book course called Graphicus that publishes an annual anthology.
Last weekend they presented their work at Southern Connecticut State University’s Indie Comics Creator Con. It drew over 175 creators from around the country, and included panels and discussions about making and publishing comics.
DeRosa’s students saw first hand the impact their creations have on comic fans of all ages. They were buoyed by guest appearances from 2 principals: Staples’ Stafford Thomas, and Bedford Middle School’s Adam Rosen.
From left: Stafford Thomas Jr., son Stafford Thomas III, Dinuka Periyapperuma, Archie Kobetitsch, Will Hebel.
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Congressman Jim Himes has scheduled in-person town hall meetings for this Saturday in Norwalk (10 a.m.) and Fairfield (1 p.m.), along with a telephone town hall on Monday, March 24 (7:30 p.m.).
Click here for details, and to register.
Congressman Jim Himes
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Westport Country Playhouse artistic director Mark Shanahan is in rehearsal for “Theatre People.” The adaptation of the Hungarian play — set in 1948, in a Newport mansion — opens March 25.
But that’s not Shanahan’s only Hungarian connection. A play he adapted —Agatha Christie’s “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” — is currently on stage there.
“I’m told that even in another country and another language, the audience still gasps at the big reveal,” Shanahan says.
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From blowing bebop with the Charles Mingus Band to improvising with Anthony Braxton, Michael Rabinowitz has changed conceptions of what a bassoon can do.
Local jazz fans can hear him — and bassist Rich Zurkowskir, pianist Roberta Piket, drummer David Alvarez and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall — this Thursday (March 20) at Jazz at the Post (VFW Post 399).
Shows are 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Dinner service starts at 7. The music cover is $20 ($15, veterans and students). Click here for tickets.
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Local experts will share insights on enhancing “lifespan and health span.” The first event (March 26, 6 p.m.) continues a conversation between TAP founder Dr. EJ Zebro and Jennifer Boyd, begun during their sold-out Westport Farmers’ Market session.
A team from Rhone will offer performance-driven gear. Register by email: info@tapstrength.com.
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Longtime Westport resident Malcolm Doak died peacefully at his home in Spring, Texas on January 27, surrounded by family. He was 95.
He joined Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Hackensack (New Jersey) High School).
While studying at Rutgers University, Malcolm was accepted into the USAir Force flight school. In 1952 he received his wings and married Vivian, the love of his life.
During the Korean War he served with distinction. Malcolm then transitioned to civilian aviation, while remaining active in the Air Force Reserves.
He entered corporate aviation as a pilot for IBM. He then served Wayfarer Ketch Corporation as chief pilot and director of flight operations. Owned by the Rockefeller brothers, Wayfarer Ketch allowed multiple companies to own their own aircraft, while pooling the resources of pilots, mechanics,
Malcolm flew Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, and led the first commercial flight into China after President Nixon normalized relations.
He finished his career at American Express as vice president of flight operations. Malcolm served as USAF academy liaison officer for the state of Connecticut, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Malcolm and Vivian moved their 5 children to Westport in 1964. The couple donated time and money to the Westport Public Library, Westport Country Playhouse, Scouting, the Westport Weston Family Y and environmental organizations.
He enjoyed jogging and biking, then sculleld on the Saugatuck River into his 80s.
He is survived by his children Kathi of New York City; Lisa Lyne (James) of Spring, Texas; Ivy (Tim Montler) of Denton, Texas; Robin Neyrey of Spring, and Malcolm (Carole Ann) of Kirby, Vermont; 7 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and 3 great-grand children; 3 half sisters, and 1 step-sister. His wife Vivian Doak died in 2021.
Malcolm Doak
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There’s a late winter chill on the Saugatuck River. But — as they do in all weather, all year long, and as today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows — Saugatuck Rowing Club athletes are ready to work.
(Photo/Ed Simek)
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And finally … happy 55th birthday to Queen Latifah!
(If today’s “06880” helps you get your beach sticker — hey, that’s what we’re here for. We’re your hyper-local blog, 24/7/365. Don’t thank us — just click here to support our work! Much appreciated.)
Hamlet: A cluster of small houses in the country.
The drawing looks like another kind of cluster‼️🇺🇸
There is nothing cool about those stickers on the windshield. That obstructs view. Should be ticketed.
Saugatuck Rowing in the chilly waters really needs to do a better job monitoring weather in my opinion. I saw a close call the other week with an incoming storm with strong winds, plenty of advance notice, yet they were out rowing. Playing with fire IMO after what happened with all the MOBs…
Dan, thank you for including a different rendering of The Hamlet then was in your previous story. The rendering you provided highlights the massive nature of what is being proposed..
The Hamlet is going to be a real destination for people. Great for Westport for tax collection and will turn an otherwise underwhelming neighborhood of the town into a true hamlet where people can live and enjoy the river. A town within a town conceptually. But I’m sure the change will be alot for some to absorb since many in Westport resist change.
can you please share the tax generation numbers against expense (e.g., supporting infrastructure / education cost)? if we can see some real numbers/projects on how it will be “great for westport for tax collection” that may helped folks be informed.
The Hamlet plan is too big and too disruptive to a critically important transportation hub.
It’s worth remembering that the 2022 design plan – used to support the massive up-zoning – appears far less dense than what is before the P&Z Commission now. https://06880danwoog.com/2022/06/01/the-hamlet-at-saugatuck-hotel-and-retail-plan-ties-rail-river-together/
I’m curious to know Mark.
Where do you suggest the over 1,000 cars associated with the Hamlet are going to park ? The underground parking they are building is a fraction of what they will need.
At the train station ? The train station is for commuters. Most of the Westport train lots are state owned. But even the town owned lots fall under one umbrella in a contract between state DOT and town of Westport.
Train station parking is for commuters. From not only Westport but any surrounding town.
As we fast go back to pre Covid commuting, and use of our train station by both residents and non residents for that commute, coupled with the loss of the large parking lot where the event space is slated to go ( a lot that used be full pre Covid, I might add).
Who and in what order do you suppose is entitled to park at the train station ?
Who are the primary stakeholders?
Do you think it is appropriate for the hamlet to lease spaces from the railroad parking allotment ? Spaces which are, or will be needed for commuting ?
I’d just like to get an understanding of how a development which will possibly need 1,000-1500 spaces but is building 250, can stand alone without relying on railroad parking.
And most urgently, is the town of Westport going to go on the record and straight up acknowledge the pecking order of railroad parking ?
This same topic was brushed under the carpet 2 plus years ago.
I wonder the following…How “The Hamlet”people are going to monitor the all day use of their parking garage to errant commuters? I gather too many may find it an opportunity to secure covered all day parking in their garage with close proximity to the station for only the valet fee or if unable to find a space with the intended reduction of RR parking? Will the underground lot
have designated spaces for the Franklin Street residences if the insane proposal of making Franklin 2 way actually comes to fruition and thus obliterate their current curbside parking? Will 2 way also cause more dangerous merging onto Saugatuck Avenue that is already an extreme sport? Will they put a traffic light there so Saugatuck Ave doesn’t get even more backed up
as well as Franklin during peak hours. Attempting to take a left turn onto Franklin from Saugatuck Ave will also have its perils and cause further backup there. I know this may sound too pessimistic for some but with the new reality of gridlock traffic coupled with increasingly aggressive drivers who suddenly stopped obeying safe driving protocols I fear the worst.
Their claim that these new traffic patterns will alleviate increased congestion is just not believable. Projections are often not reality and their traffic studies must be highly scrutinized especially with Hiawatha and the new hundred some apartments going up on corner of Post Rd West and Riverside and who knows what else our hungry developers are planning for the future.
I do also worry about the flood mitigation plan
with the underground garage so close to the
river. How can they guarantee it will never flood?
Finally I wonder what the proposed valet fee will be- a de minimus amount or something greater in attempt to recoup some of the tremendous expense to build this garage. Yes might be nice to take your kid for an ice cream with a river view
or pop into one of their proposed luxury shops
or utilize their boat at their marina but I can see many hogging street side free spaces and nearby store and restaurant lots to do so to avoid the valet cost, wait or hassle? I can see this seriously negatively effecting current businesses that are in close proximity. Will the current monitored short term lot and RR Place street parking for Railroad Place Businesses become filled with “ Hamlet” visitors to skirt the paid valet parking making it even more difficult to frequent one of THOSE existing establishments? They deserve consideration despite the current Administration’s lack of legitimate
concern for Downtown merchants and their employees parking issues. Where exactly are “The Hamlet” employees going to park? There’s going to be a lot of them!!
So many natural consequences to this overly dense proposal that need to be aired, evaluated and reevaluated in short before anything is settled.
https://06880danwoog.com/tag/hamlet-at-saugatuck/
December 6 2022. Take a scroll down memory lane.
Our very own Dan Woog wrote an article and there’s an interesting waterside pic of the water/dock side view of what even then caused uproar, but it now looks like an almost dream come true when we see the behemoth latest plan and illustration.
Unrecognizable. What was illustrated in 2022, looks like a cakewalk by comparison.