The Long Lots School Building Committee meets tonight (6 p.m., Town Hall Room 201/201A). The agenda includes:
✔ Brief project update
✔ Public Comment
✔ Work Session to review the items listed below. The public may attend, but not participate in these discussions.
- Design session for exterior elevations
- Review of exterior material samples
- Discussion of options for entrance bridge and raingarden area
- Terrace 4: transition, vehicular access, existing stone wall
- Review initial courtyard concepts
- Site plan review.
A very rough plan of a possible new Long Lots Elementary School, presented at this winter’s State of the Town meeting.
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Congratulations to the Staples High School math team!
The “mathletes” finished first among all public schools in this year’s 29-school Fairfield County Math League.
They beat Greenwich — always a joy for Stapleites, whether on the field or in the classroom — and finished second overall, behind private Brunswick School.
That vaults them into the state meet — and the New England Association of Math Leagues competition, May 2 in Canton, Massachusetts.
Sophomore Ayush Rudra earned the highest sophomore score. Last year, he was the top freshman in the league.
The team (and Math Club, both under faculty advisor Mike Forgette) draws students interested in the complexity, problem-solving challenges, and excitement of mathematics.
They say that the qualities needed for success in math competitions include clear communication, quick decision-making, curiosity, passion, and a bit of “light-heartedness.” They don’t get stressed by tough questions; they work collaboratively to solve them. (There is an individual component to math meets, too.)
The math team is like any sports team, they say. The more they practice, the better they get.
Go Wreckers!
Math Club and team advisor Mike Forgette (far left) with Math Club members (from left): Serena Diamond, Sahil Vora, Chloe Wong, Adan Wang, Anit Arvind, Ayush Rudra, Abe Lobsenz, Akil Arvind. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Saturday’s “Hands Off!” mobilization march drew the largest political protest crowd to the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge since the Vietnam War.
It was one of over 1,200 such events across the country. In Connecticut, crowds also gathered in Greenwich, Stamford, New Haven and Hartford.
A 56-second TikTok video — showing snippets of demonstrations from all 50 states — has racked up over 6 million views.
There — alphabetically, so it’s right near the beginning — is the representative rally from Connecticut.
And it’s ours.
Click here or below to see. (Hat tip: Lisa Newman)
@stormy.by.nature HANDS OFF ALL 50 STATES! Way to show up!! #handsoff #50501 #april5th2025 @MeidasTouch @Aaron Parnas
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Book these April events at the Westport Book Shop:
“Savor: Recipes to Celebrate” (April 10, 6 p.m.): Food Network competitor, Staples High culinary teacher, AMG Catering owner and cookbook author Alison Milwe Grace discusses her new book.
“Tuesday’s Mah Jongg Is More Than a Game” (April 16, 6 p.m.) Local author Marsha Temlock discusses her latest novel about friendship and strengthening bonds, as a group of friends support each other through life’s challenges.
Celebrate Poetry Month (April 17, 6 p.m.): Poetry reading and conversation with Ira Joe Fisher ,
Knitting Workshop (April 21, 6 p.m.): Session with avid knitter Linda Franciscovich, for knitters of all levels. Bring needles and yarn, and your knitting project.
Short Story Book Club (April 24, 6 to 7:30 p.m.). “The Elephant Vanishes” by Haruki Murakami, and “Patriotism” by Yukio Mishima.
Local artist Linn Cassetta is exhibitor for the month of April at the Book Shop. A reception is set for April 23 (6 to 7:30 p.m., Westport Book Shop).
Space is limited for the book events. RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org.
. .Linn Cassetta
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The Fortunoff family — Scott, Laurie, and sons Aaron (Staples High sophomore) and Brett (Bedford Middle School 8th grader) — partnered with Staples’ Cereal4All Club and Stop & Shop last weekend.
They collected over 1,000 boxes of cereal, along with cash donations, to provide breakfast food for those who need it. Homes with Hope picked up all the donations.
“Thank you, Westport!” say the Fortunoffs.
Collecting cereal, for all. From left: Aaron Fortunoff, Alex Burtzlaff, Alex Kovics, Lemar Feliciano. (Stop & Shop manager).
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There is always something going on at VFW Post 399.
This Friday (April 11; $20, plus 1 drink minimum), it’s comedy.
Laura High, Joe Portillo, and Matt Vita all take the stage. Doors open at 7 p.m. for food and beverages. The laughs begin at 8. Click here for tickets.
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Speaking of the VFW: Emmy-nominated composer/pianist Steve Sandberg plays Ellington, Monk and Mingus this week at Jazz at the Post (Thursday, April 10, VFW; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7 p.m.; $20 music cover, $15 veterans and students).
“Masterfully blending classical, world music and jazz with the excitement of virtuosic improvisation,” he’ll be joined by bassist Michael O’Brien, drummer Jeff Hirshfield, and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Things are just ducky in today’s “Westport … Naturally” image, from Gray’s Creek:
(Photo/Jamie Walsh)
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And finally … in honor of the “Westport … Naturally” photo above:
(“06880” is your hyper-local source for information, news you can use, and much more. If you appreciate what you read — today and/or any other day — please donate by clicking here. Thank you!)
I’m wondering if building a new Long Lots school will cost more than originally anticipated because of the tariffs.
Great thoughtful point. Who could answer your question and be accurate ?
Most likely and in all probability, the Long Lots construction will be curtailed for, as in the 1980’s, no young families could afford to live here. With the equity and bond markets struggling, the housing market will fall as we saw in 2007, unemployment and inflation will sky rocket and welp, mass exodus Westport. And that is if we are lucky. http://www.carladdisonswanson.com
Hands off what? Easy government jobs and massive government debt? Free stuff, waste, fraud and the government taking care of you? Monolithic leftist thinking in academia? Open immigration? Or failing criminal justice systems leaving dangerous criminals on the streets? Which ones exactly?
The better way to have done the job cuts would have been to instruct the agency to trim 20% from their existing staff and budget. They know best rather than a South African, with a chainsaw, laughing and dancing on a stage! That image will be replayed thousands of times during the next election!
Oh, but Jack, that would have required an actual evaluation of each employee and, you know, actual thinking. That would been much too cumbersome and time consuming, why not just tear through entire departments with a chainsaw? Even better, just axe the entire department.
Every now and then, Trumpers like to mouth off about “meritocracy”. Turned out, it was just another ruse.
Tom – this is where you come in with your trusty “TDS”. Don’t forget the red exclamation marks. That is so cool.
Ok. So we’ll put you down as declining Medicare and Social Security. You must be independently wealthy. Congrats. ‘Cause you’re going to need those funds once president low voltage dissolves Medicaid. Did you know that the average nursing home costs over $100k per year? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Did you know that Medicaid covers those costs for 60% of Americans in nursing homes? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Please proceed, Governor.
A questionable depiction at best. The 2.3 million federal workers run this country and not our elected officials. Michael Lewis, of “Money Ball” fame, predicts a huge rise in white collar crime for, as you will note, they are firing many of the Inspector Generals who keep your description from happening and also deporting mostly low educated immigrants. Perfect setting for craft and corruption. Exactly what happened after the McKinley Tariff in the 1890’s until the Progressives passed the Income Tax to help/protect the fledgling lower class.
Maybe hands off women and their bodies? Maybe hands off library books and museum collections? Maybe hands off programs that feed hungry kids, treat sick veterans, and provide health care to the poor? If cruelty is the kink, I get it. But there are basements in Manhattan for that.
Maybe answer my question.
Yes Jack. Feel better now?
Yes Jack. I believe in the after life.
Tuesday at 4:25- We’re officially in a Bear Market & in a mild recession! Gas prices will be down in maybe 14 days! That’s good but basically meaningless!
9:14 pm.. Asian market is open and the DOW is down 501 and the S&P down 81 points! 194% tariffs on China starts in less than 3 hours!
Oops 104%…
Have you noticed that local Republican elected officials don’t comment on this stuff at all? I find it fascinating.
On social media (obviously not here – but a public post), Bob Harrington said, “Could you image what this country could actually achieve if Democrat law makers & Democrat voters actually got behind this too?”
Republicans control the House, control the Senate, hold the Presidency, and basically have 6-3 conservative control of the Supreme Court.
Unpopular GOP polices are getting shoved through and have thrown us into a bull market.
But individual Republicans are such wusses that even, with complete control of the federal government, they blame Democrats for their failings and incompetence. Does that represent leadership to anyone?
We learned in the last municipal election how to keep these knuckleheads off of our local Boards. Let’s (effectively) expand the efforts to do that in upcoming elections. In Republican-speak, let’s get rid of DEI set-asides for Republicans on local boards. Elect more independents, instead. Jill Dillon (who I do not know and how has not endorsed this comment!) is proof of concept. (But maybe we get them on the ballot instead of running them as write-ins. It would be easier.)
Republicans wail on and on about how government sucks and then they get elected to prove it. I worked for Treasury Legal for a decade after a similar period with a Fortune 500 corporation. There were far more checks/balances/audits at the government level and the attorneys twice as good.
As a physician I will throw in- Hands off CDC, NOAA, NIH and FDA. (I am sure there is more word salad I am missing.)
Hands off science programs that evaluate and make recommendations for immunization and what antibiotics to use.
Don’t cut programs that keep us healthy, discover new cures, keep horrible lethal viruses out of our country, create new medicines and win Nobel prizes for their work!!
Please take the time to look up Marburg Virus, Zika virus, Ebola, SARS and what the EIS service does. Do this before suggesting that closing these programs is a good thing.
This is meritocracy at its finest being destroyed for no sane reason! Saving this money equals lost lives- old and young!!
Penny wise and dollar foolish!
We live in a fact free country . I find your comments wise and on point. I don’t know how this ends. It reminds me of Pharoah and Passover Plagues. At some point in time when there is enough suffering will Pharoah say enough ?