There will be no referendum on Long Lots Elementary School.
Toni Simonetti had 14 days to collect 2,015 signatures — 10% of all eligible voters in the most recent election. She hoped to slash the proposed $103,190,124 expenditure for a new school to $90 million.
Yesterday was the petition deadline. Only 71 signatures were turned in. The drive was 1,944 signatures short.
Planning will proceed for a new Long Lots, without a referendum.
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Good news!
The most recent bacteria tests for Compo and Burying Hill came back negative yesterday. The beaches have reopened.
Whew!
Everyone back in the water! (Photo/Rowene Weems)
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Tickets are selling well for Wednesday’s fireworks show at Compo Beach — aka Westport’s Best Party of the Year. Only a small number remain.
A few residents have asked about this year’s price increase, the first in several years.
Westport PAL — the longtime co-sponsor, and beneficiary of the fundraiser — explains that costs have risen dramatically for everything: the barge, insurance, and the fireworks themselves.
Melissa and Doug Bernstein generously underwrite part of the costs, as they’ve done for years. Without their help, PAL would net only about $2,000.
Proceeds helps fund PAL programs that serve programs that serve thousands of youngsters each year, plus the Longshore skating rink and college scholarships. Click here to learn more about PAL.
Tickets (cash or check) are available at the Parks & Recreation Commission office at Longshore (near the golf course first tee) during office hours, and any time at the Westport police station on Jesup Road.
Westport’s greatest party returns July 2. (Photo/Elissa Moses)
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Our second “06880” Instagram Live yesterday was certainly lively.
Dave Briggs and Dan Woog explored the “Don’t Kill the Old Mill” campaign, in support of Old Mill Grocery & Deli.
And we did it from the communal table, inside the very popular Hillspoint Road spot.
We were joined by several OMG notables, including owner Graziano Ricco of Romanacci’s; Jim Hood and Ian Warburg of the non-profit Soundview Empowerment Alliance, owner of the 106-year-old building, Matthew Mandell of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, and Chris Tait, an Old Mill neighbor and staunch supporter.
They explained what OMG means to the neighborhood. We took questions from viewers too.
Click here to see the converation. or click below. Too bad you can’t taste the meal we had.
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There is still time to take the Parks & Recreation Department’s master plan survey.
It’s a great opportunity to offer your opinion on the current state, and future needs, of our town’s beaches, parks, athletic fields and more.
Click here to take the survey. It closes next month.
How are things at Compo Beach? And every other Parks & Rec facility in town? Take the master plan survey to weigh in.
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The Levitt Pavilion offers 2 free shows, and 1 other, this weekend.
The Tom Petty Project kicks things off tonight (Friday, 7:30 p.m.). All free tickets have been claimed, but returned tickets will be redistributed at the box office before the show.
A few tickets are still available, at various prices, for tomorrow’s Disco Biscuits cconcert (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.).
Artemis takes the stage Sunday (7 p.m.), for a free show.
Click here for tickets, and more information.
Disco Biscuits
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The “Weston Connections Art Exhibit” at the Weston Public Library opens next month. Over 55 artists will be represented.
A reception, with the artists, is set for July 9 (6 p.m.).
Two drawing/painting classes are scheduled for July: the 12th for adults, the 26th for children. Click here for more details, and to sign up.
Weston Public Library
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Edwin A. Audley — a former Westport Police captain, and founder of the Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service — died last month in Winter Haven, Florida. He was 87.
The Westport native graduated from Staples High School in 1955. He served in the Army from 1955 to 1958, then joined the Army Reserves as a senior aircraft mechanic until 1962.
Ed joined the Westport Police Department in 1961. He was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant, inspector, then captain in 1990. He retired in 1993.
Ed founded the WVEMS in 1979. He became an Emergency Medical Technician instructor in 1987.
In Florida, Ed was president of the Winter Haven Rose Society.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth; brother Harry Audley (Pat), daughters Kimberly, Susan Palmer (Mark) and Victoria; 4 grandchildren, 5 great- grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on July 12 (Assumption Church, 10 a.m.).
Click here to leave online condolences. Donations can be made to the Edwin Audley Scholarship Fund, c/o Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, 50 Jesup Rd. Westport, CT 06880.
Ed Audley
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Former Westporter Priscilla Boyle died last Friday, surrounded by her family. She was 96.
She graduated from Lesley College, then taught kindergarten in Watertown, Massachusetts for 9 years before marrying Charles Boyle in 1958. They moved to Westport in 1963, and raised 3 children here.
Priscilla was involved with tennis, the Weston Field Club and bridge.
She was an active member of Assumption Church for over 6 decades. She shared her faith through Eucharistic Ministry, prayer groups, book clubs and as a catechism teacher, with a special dedication to preparing children for their First Communion.
Later, Priscilla became a welcoming presence at the Westport YMCA as a receptionist.
Priscilla was predeceased by her husband and her siblings Mary Alice Connolly, James W. Scanlan, Anne T. “Nancy” Batal and Francis V. Scanlan. al.
She is survived by her children Charles “Chip,” Susan Improta (Paul), and Elizabeth Boyle; grandsons Kenneth and Philip Improta, sister-in-law Alice Scanlan, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of Priscilla’s life will be held at Assumption Church on July 15 (11 a.m.). In lieu of flowers, donations in Priscilla’s memory may be made to Smile Train.
Priscilla Boyle
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June is ending the way it began: with plenty of colors.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” yellow-and-green scene is from Whitney Street.
But it could be many other places in town too.
(Photo/Richard Fogel)
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And finally … Mick Ralphs — the Mott the Hoople and Bad Company guitarist/ songwriter — died. He was 81, and had bedridden after suffering a stroke in 2016. Click here for a full obituary.
(You’re in good company if you support “06880” with a tax-deductible contribute. Please click here. And thank you!)
Regarding the “survey”
Do we think Westport would benefit from more outdoor sports and recreation assets?
First for this to be the only question – I answered it, expecting 10 more questions. But that was it.
Not surprisingly the survey result so far.. 95% said yes but, I am sure expected more questions would follow.
Was that a “trick” question.
Where possible, of course it would be optimal to add recreation and sports facilities, but what ? Where? At what cost? Where are the rest of the questions ?
I’m very happy to see outside of Toni and Grimm, and perhaps a few others, that our townspeople care about our future.
71 though, tremendous effort :-). What’s the next windmill(s) for TS?
Why, thanks for asking, Miss Olivia. Bless your heart.
My Substack is a good source of info on my thinking
https://open.substack.com/pub/tonisimonetti/p/connecting-the-dots?r=1dhpe&utm_medium=ios
And here’s how I responded to others who asked for feedback on the “failed” referendum:
“The referendum process is 14 days to collect original signatures of registered Westport voters, certified by circulators and notorized.
“On June 13 I picked up 70 petitions. On June 18 I was on my way to Michigan.
“I handed out petitions. I got a lot of emails and phone calls on how to sign the petition. Unfortunately, I was not able to organize a proper campaign to make it easy to gather signatures. I knew this going in given the rushed timing of the appropriation decision, as well as my travel schedule. Still, I felt it was important to bring this challenge forward.
“I also know the Long Lots community is desperate for a new school at any cost. This is understandable. But is it fair to all taxpayers? I don’t think so.
“Also, it has been a challenge purely on an emotional basis. I and others have been vilified for not caring about children, not caring about schools, being selfish and mean. Who in their right mind would put up with the kind of vitriol the Long Lots community says and thinks about me?
“I hope my effort brought awareness to the flawed process by which our elected officials forced through a 4% tax increase with scant public scrutiny and a refusal to disclose information.
“I know many more residents support my efforts but were reticent to be visible on this and other issues for fear of retribution, bullying, and the like.
“I am challenging what I believe may be violations of FOIA and Open Meetings through complaints to the Connecticut FOI Commission.
“I also draw attention to the fact that our independent elected bodies take legal counsel on these matters from the applicant’s attorney, and that at least two RTM members and one (or 2) BOF members were conflicted in their votes.
“I will continue to speak out for citizens who believe as I do that property taxes need to be reined in, development needs to be more thoughtful to the quality of life for Westporters, open and green space needs to be preserved now, our natural resources must be protected, and the monied interests don’t continue to erode the interests of those who are struggling to age in place, or just make a basic home for their families on moderate incomes.
“Yes the referendum failed as predicted by many. But the effort was a victory for me and many others on a lot of others levels. That effort will continue indefinitely. “
Make that Miss “Olivia.” 😉😉
I have no idea who this person is (is this a real person?), but I’m glad she acknowledges that she wants to raise everyone’s property taxes by 4%.