One of Westport’s favorite restaurants will soon become a different favorite spot.
On August 16, Don Memo will serve its last meal. In early September, it reopens as Massi Co.
Named after owner Massimo Tullio, and backed by the Don Memo oand Whelk team, the new restaurant in the iconic stone building (Westport’s original Town Hall) will feature a “deeply personal Italian-American” concept
It will include Neapolitan brick oven pizzas, house-made pastas and craft cocktails. Chef Zach Hinman is in charge of the kitchen. (Hat tip: Dave Briggs)
Massimo Tullio (Photo courtesy of The Connecticut Edit)
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For as long as the Merritt Parkway has existed — nearly 90 years — Westport has had 2 exits: 41 and 42.
Soon, they’ll be gone.
In their place will be Exits 20 and 21.
The new numbers conform to federal standards, which mandate that exits show the approximate mileage from a starting point. With the Merritt, that’s the New York border.
New signs will be installed on the parkway beginning July 28. There will also be signs noting the “old exit” numbers. They’ll be in place for at least 2 years.
Other state highways have already been renumbered. The “Connecticut Turnpike” (I-95) will follow, either next year or in 2027.
So say goodbye to the Exit 42 cluster****. Soon, it will be the mess at Exit 21.
(For more information, click on this state Department of Transportation page.)
The sign may change. The traffic won’t.
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Summer is in full swing.
And Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department wants to make sure no one misses out on any action. For example:
Beach volleyball: Middle and high schoolers, all levels. Led by Brendan Giolitto, Staples High School coach.
Youth tennis (including peewees): All levels; fundamentals, technique and match play.
Swim lessons: Beginners and advanced; Stroke development, water safety and confidence.
Football skills and drills: Non-contact; focusing on speed, agility and position-specific drills. Led by LST Pro staff.
Baseball: Hitting, fielding, base running and teamwork; led by LST, in partnership with Westport Little League.
Tot N’ Play Camp: A week of sports, crafts, beach time and class camp, for pre-schoolers. Flexible scheduling, with a focus on friendship, teamwork and adventure.
Skyhaws Volleyball: Fundamentals like passing, setting, hitting and serving, in a fun, beginner-friendly environment.
Next Generation Skateboarding: From beginners to advanced: skate and shred safely and confidently.
The Grit Ninja: Obstacle courses challenge youngsters physically and mentally; build strength, agility and grit in an exciting, supportive setting.
Squirt & Parent ‘n’ Me programs: Introduce little ones to soccer, t-ball, lacrosse, track and field and more, with a helping hand. Build confidence and coordination in a playful, comforting environment.
Outdoor Fitness with Andrew Berman: An invigorating bodyweight workout class at Compo Beach. Focus on strength, balance and mobility, in a beautiful setting.
Click here for more information; then click the “Programs & Activities” tab on left. Questions? Call 203-341-5087.
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Jay Schadler is a noted journalist, photographer and artist.
For more than 3 decades he traveled the world as a correspondent and anchor for ABC News, “20/20,” “Nightline,” “Good Morning America,” National Geographic TV and others. His work has been featured too on Bravo and Discovery.
His new gig: podcaster, with Verso Studios at the Westport Library. Through intimate interviews, he tells stories of Westporters’ life transitions.
Many names are familiar. The 5 episodes in Season 1 include living a life with no memory, with Doug and Patti Brill; the grief of loss and the gift of love with Jenny and Anthony Capalbo; a new heart and a new life with Gerardo Lambert; turning tragedy into legacy with Jim Kudzo, and exploring talent and opportunity with Andrew Wilk.
Click here to listen on the Verso Studios podcast page, via the Turning Point webpage, or through podcast distributors like Spotify, Apple and Amazon.
(PS: If you’d like to be a guest in Season 2, fill out this form on this page.
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Two ticketed events, and one free show, highlight this weekend’s Levitt Pavilion schedule.
Umphrey’s McGee (tonight, Friday, 7 p.m.) and Michael Franti & Spearhead, with Cimafunk (Sunday, 5 p.m.) are the paid-ticket events.
Indie folk-rocker Sway Wild take the stage tomorrow (Satruday, 7:30 p.m.), for a free show.
Click here to purchase tickets, and for more information.
Michael Franti
Meanwhile, last night Richiman & Groove Nice brought their “American-style blues” all the way from South Korea to Westport.
Last night at the Levitt. (Photo/DinkinESH Fotografix)
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Sure, Paul and Joanne Woodward will always be associated with their Westport home.
But they also owned a little 1-bedroom place in Manhattan.
Okay, not so little. It was 3,000 square feet — pretty big for a New York apartment.
And it was half of the top floor of a 15-story limestone co-op at 1120 Fifth Avenue.
With several terraces. and sweeping views of Central Park.
The property recently sold — after an intense bidding war — for $14 million. That’s more than 40% over the asking price.
The buyers’ names were not disclosed. They work in finance.
Click here for the full Wall Street Journal story. With photos. (Hat tip: Douglass Davidoff, Mary McGee)
In Westport, Paul Newman’s home overlooked the Aspetuck River. His New York apartment has a view of Central Park’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. (Photo/Evan Joseph Studios, courtesy of the Wall Street Journal)
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Hitch & the Giddyup are heading to Weston. Yee haw!
The country/bluegrass/soulful American band plays at “Music at the Barn” — the Weston History & Culture Center’s outdoor summer series — on July 27 (5:30 p.m.).
Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for non-members; children under 12; click here or purchase there. Bring a lawn chair, food and drinks (no food truck!).
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Francesca “Franny” Cenatiempo died at home, surrounded by her family. She was 33, and hahd battled cancer.
Francesca was born on July 4th, 1992 to Carmine and Sandra. At age 7 she was enrolled in Saint Catherine Academy; then as an adult, at Saint Catherine Center for Special Needs.
She loved school and her program, and was celebrated, cared for and loved by the staff. She was surrounded by friends who reciprocated her unique love. At Saint Catherine Francesca met her longtime caregiver, Sonia Vielot, who became an integral part of her family.
Her obituary says, “Francesca had a gift for deeply touching the lives of everyone she met. She greeted people with open arms, accompanied by the biggest hug and an unforgettable smile. Her laughter echoed everywhere she went, as she saw the beauty and joy in every person and part of this world. She was a pasta lover, a Disney fanatic, and had an eye for all the cute boys. She enjoyed music, dancing, and splashing around at the beach.”
Francesca is survived by her loving parents, Carmine and Sandra Calise Cenatiempo; siblings CJ and Charlotte Cenatiempo; grandparents Michael Calise, Sally Palmer and Barbara Mehle; aunts and uncles Filippo and Pina Cenatiempo, Leonardo Cenatiempo, Alfredo and Rosa Cenatiempo, Stefano Cenatiempo, Giulio and Gabby Cenatiempo, Catherine and Don Lawson, Maria and Jon O’Herron, Bettina and Michael Colleen, and Frank and Robin Calise, and many cousins.
A celebration of her life is set for tomorrow (July 12, 11 a.m., St. Francis of Assisi, Weston). Donations may be made in her name to Saint Catherine Center for Special Needs. Condolences for the family may be left online.
Francesca Cenatiempo
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Frances Mande — a Westporter for nearly 70 years — died Wednesday. She was 103.
Born in Russia in 1922, she came to Brooklyn with her family when she was 7. She and her husband Irving met when she was 17, and married when she was 19.
Fran and Irv moved to Westport in 1956. They raised 3 children in the house where she lived until passing. The couple traveled the world together, until Irv’s death in 2006.
Fran loved attending shows at the Westport Country Playhouse, and taking her children and grandchildren to Compo Beach and Mario’s restaurant. She was a regular at the Senior Center, Westport Library and Levitt Pavilion.
She also enjoyed the Westport Road Runners program. Her photo was in the Westport News after finishing a 10-mile race, in her 70s.
After “06880” wished her a happy birthday last month, she was lifted up by emails from readers.
A funeral is set for Sunday (July 13, 10 a.m., Temple Israel of Westport). Shiva will be held at her home. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Westport Library or Westport Senior Center.
Fran Mande recently, at Compo Beach.
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Like any good mother, this one fed her little one:
Johanna Keyser Rossi — who took today’s spectacular “Westport … Naturally” image near Fresh Market — reports, “She fed him for a long time. So I assume there is only one baby osprey.”
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And finally … in honor of the new Merritt Parkway numbering system: This is the closest I could get.
(Whether you live in the 06880, 25 miles away, or 2,500, if you’re reading this, you’re part of our great online community. Thank you — and thanks too for clicking here, to support our work!)
Changing the signs on the Merritt Parkway after 90 years?
Someone at DOT does not have enough work to do.
They needed a new reason to shut down lanes and back up traffic. 😉
I’m so glad the old exit numbers will remain for two years, for all those who don’t actually know they are going to Westport but rather to a number.
A little historical snippet. My mom, Jane Van Summern, grew up here in the 1930s/40s. A 1950 Staples graduate. My grandfather had a large field. The State of CT approached him to sell earth to help create the on ramp for exit 41. He sold and it created the lovely pond we’ve had ever since. After raising her family in Wilton she’s back living on her Westport property.
I wonder how they will deal with the two ‘phantom’ exits: 43 and 45?
Easy, there will be more “phantom” exits. Exit 44 becomes exit 27. So they will skip 6 number due to it being 6 miles away.
Another waste of our taxpayer dollars. Another insult to the once beautiful Merritt Parkway. NO Common Sense!
Maybe.
can you explain why highways in the US, including the merritt parkway are having exit numbers redone. Why? What is the federal program that is requring this? Pros and Cons?
ChatGPT said:
U.S. highways—including Connecticut’s Merritt Parkway (Route 15)—are undergoing a change in exit numbering due to a federal requirement that mandates mile-based exit numbering (also called “reference location” or “distance-based” numbering), replacing the traditional sequential exit numbering system.
🔹 Why This Is Happening
The change is being driven by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under Section 2E.13 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This regulation requires all states to use mile-based exit numbering on highways that are part of the National Highway System (NHS), which includes most interstates and major routes like the Merritt Parkway.
States had to comply in order to:
Remain eligible for certain categories of federal highway funding.
Align with national standards for consistency and safety.
🔹 The Federal Program Behind It
The requirement stems from updates to the MUTCD, a federal regulation governing traffic signs and road markings. While the MUTCD is not itself a funding program, compliance is tied to eligibility for federal aid administered through:
FHWA’s Federal-aid Highway Program (Title 23, U.S. Code)
Specific funding under the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP)
This is not a one-time grant but a regulatory condition attached to routine highway funding.
🔹 Pros of Mile-Based Exit Numbering
Easier Navigation & Trip Planning
Exit numbers now correspond to mile markers, allowing drivers to calculate distance remaining more easily.
Example: Exit 42 is now at mile 42 instead of just being the 42nd exit.
Emergency Response Efficiency
Mile-based exits aid 911 operators and emergency services in pinpointing locations quickly and accurately.
Consistency Across States
Drivers crossing state lines see a consistent system rather than a confusing mix of sequential and mileage-based exits.
Better Support for GPS & Navigation Apps
Software and mapping tools are optimized for mile-based systems, enabling better routing and alerts.
Easier Future Expansion
Adding new exits doesn’t require renumbering an entire highway (as with sequential systems).
🔹 Cons and Concerns
Public Confusion During Transition
Drivers familiar with the old numbers may be confused or miss exits.
Businesses and local signage may need updates to reflect new exit numbers.
Costs of Implementation
States must pay for new signs, temporary signage, public education, and GPS updates.
Connecticut’s DOT has implemented dual signage (old + new) temporarily, increasing cost.
Impact on Local Directions
Directions that previously relied on sequential exit numbers (e.g., “Take Exit 27 off the Merritt”) may no longer be valid, leading to misinformation if not updated.
Pushback from Residents
In places with strong local identity (like Merritt Parkway communities), there’s cultural attachment to the old numbers.
🔹 Status in Connecticut (Including Merritt Parkway)
Connecticut DOT began converting Route 15 and the Merritt Parkway to mileage-based exit numbers in 2023, with dual signage expected to remain in place for a year or more. Other highways in Connecticut have already been converted, including I-91, I-95, Route 8, etc.
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.
I guess I’ll Still Always think of the ‘old Exit 42’,as I’m sure, others ,hereto:-)-So many 1950’s childhood memories of ,returning back home (from long drives to cousins far away,)to Weston via ‘Exit 42’ ..we all in my dad’s De Soto,sitting in backseat between my brother & sister, remembering my dad’s
then making that gradual slow-down curve exit ,there, and just knowing we then ‘back home’. 🙂