After the recent Zoom-bombing of the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting — an attack that included pornography, Nazi symbols and the video of a beheading — the next meeting will be in person.
It should draw a large crowd.
The P&Z agenda for next Monday (April 28, 6 p.m., Town Hall auditorium) is about the proposed Hamlet at Saugatuck retail/residential/hotel/marina development.
The public hearing includes input from residents.
A 65-day extension has been granted for this phase of the regulatory process. The final date for a decision is now June 18.
Aerial rendering of the Hamlet at Saugatuck proposal.
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Another meeting discusses another long-debated project: the new Long Lots Elementary School.
The Building Committee meets tonight (6 p.m., Town Hall Room 201/201A) for a project update. There will be time for public comment.
Three views of a possible new Long Lots Elementary School.
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E-bikes are e-verywhere.
To raise awareness about safety, the Westport Police Department is sponsoring a community forum.
The May 13 event (6:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium) will cover rules and regulations (for riders and motorists), street awareness, and tips and resources for all ages. A Q-and-A session will follow.
The evening will feature law enforcement officials and safety director Charles Foster of SCBC Safe Rides.
Class 3 e-bike.
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Speaking of transportation: The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Transit Committee and Westport Transit District meet jointly tonight (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Westport Library Room 210).
The agenda includes:
A recommendation to the RTM on the 2025-26 budget request for railroad parking, including a discussion of railroad parking permit revenues.
A recommendation to the RTM on the 2025-26 Transit District budget.
A recommendation to the RTM on a supplemental appropriation of $55,000 for transportation services for the elderly, and people with disabilities.
A discussion on expanding Wheels2U service to the Senior Center, Farmers’ Market, and Jesup Green/Westport Library, beginning next month.
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Yesterday’s Roundup gave an incorrect location for the memorial to Max Harper.
It’s at the western end of South Beach, near the trees and benches across from Ned Dimes Marina.
It’s a beautiful spot, for a loving tribute.
The Max Harper memorial stone, on Compo’s South Beach. (Photo/Pam Docters)
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There may be no such thing as a free lunch.
But there are free tree saplings.
the Westport Tree Board will give them away this Friday (April 25, 3 to 5 p.m., Town Hall back parking lot).
The gifts are in honor of Arbor Day. There’s one per family — choose from Virginia pine, river birch, red cedar or lilac.
Tree Board sapling giveaway, in 2022.
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A reminder: One of the most inspiring — and fun — galas of the year is this Saturday.
The A Better Chance of Westport Dream Event raises funds for the non-profit that creates educational opportunities, and changes lives, for exceptional young men from less advantaged communities.
As always, the highlight will be speeches from the graduating seniors, and an ABC alum. This year’s returning grad is Yoel Hooper-Antunez. Click here to read his amazing back story.
The Dream Event also includes excellent food and drinks, a silent auction, and a chance to hang with some of the most accomplished young people in town. Click here for tickets, and more information.
The current A Better Chance of Westport scholars.
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Also at the Library: the return of Andrew Wilk’s Medical Series.
The topic for 2025 is oncology. Longtime local internist Dr. Robert Altbaum moderates each of the 4 sessions, and introduces experts.
Tonight (Tuesday, 7 p.m.), Dr. Richard Frank, chief for clinical and translational cancer research at Nuvance Health, describes recent advances in cancer, including chemotherapy, targeted DNA treatment and immunotherapy, and explores the diagnostic, therapeutic and psychological challenges of treating advanced cancer
Dr. Robert Altbaum
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Dylan Robbin knows hoops.
Last week, the Staples High School freshman was featured on the House of Highlights YouTube channel.
The 90-minute segment included a debate between 10 Gen Z sports podcasters and Jermaine Womack, who runs the popular YouTube channel Chill Town Hoops.
At 14, Dylan was the youngest participant by at least a decade.
A clip of his conversation with Womack about whether Steph Curry is the best point guard of all time went viral on Instagram.
Click below to see the full debate. You can follow Dylan on Instagram and TikTok: @drsportstakes.
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Frank Rosen is probably the 50th reader to send a photo of the bald eagle that perches regally on the communications tower at the Westport police station.
But he’s the first to realize — without me telling him — that the bird is a wooden fake.
(Photo/Dylan Rosen)
“We killed about 30 minutes in the beautiful sunshine, taking in it’s majestic beauty,” Frank says.
“I waited so long for it to fly away — only to realize it’s not real.”
No one else who sent similar images to “06880” over the past month realized — until I told them — that the reason the eagle stood so still for their photo is because it never moves.
Reactions range from laughter to anger. Most common, though, is embarrassment.
To whoever placed America’s national bird atop the tower: well played.
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A new guest has been added to CT Against Gun Violence’s annual spring benefit “Be the Hope” luncheon (May 15, 11:30 a.m., The Inn at Longshore).
The headline speaker is Rob Wilcox, former deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
He’ll join Sandy Hook youth activist Matthew Holden, who will discuss his work. Click here for tickets.
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Tulips bloom around the Minute Man, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Sunil Hirani)
Up next for our town symbol: The 248th anniversary of the Battle of Compo Hill.
This is not some random monument. Our Minute Man commemorates the Battle of Compo Hill — fought 248 years ago, this week.
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And finally … in honor of the wooden eagle behind the police station, which does not fly anywhere:
(If you click here to support “06880,” your hyper-local blog, our heart will soar like a — dove. Thank you!)
It’s very likely that the eagle on the communications tower at the police station is there to discourage osprey and other birds from nesting on the structure. How odd that it should make anybody angry.
Thank you Andrew Colabella for coordinating the bulb planting efforts last fall!!
Hamlet:
Where’s da parking?
There is also a wooden owl to the left and behind the eagle.
Bob Altbaum is the BEST ‼️
I’m Baaaack. Anyone miss me?
There is only one battle that matters, only one Minute Man statue that our country will always honor.
But make sure you keep yourselves important.
I hope the WPD’s forum on e-Bike safety includes warnings on leaving such charging and unattended indoors. At best, it might give the same result as deep-frying a whole frozen turkey in an attached garage. At worst, a nomination for a Darwin award.
I was so excited to see the eagle several months ago when I was at the library with my grand daughter. I took photos and sent to family. My son then told me it was not real, and that there is a similar Eagle in Fairfield. It’s now a running joke between my grand daughter and I, whenever we go to the library.