Early voting began yesterday. That’s a recent innovation — in Connecticut, anyway.
But there’s something even newer, in this election.
For the first time, local candidates have access to a “Voter CheckList” website. In past elections, it’s been limited to state parties.
The website allows party officials and candidates to see — in real time — the names of everyone who has already voted, either early or by returning an absentee ballot.
Just as crucially, they can see who has not yet voted.
Here are yesterday’s statistics, as of 6 p.m.
- Total votes so far: 237. That includes 175 in-person voters on Day 1, and 62 absentee ballots. That’s 1.25% of all eligible voters.
- Voters so far include 145 Democrats, 32 Republicans and 59 unaffiliated. That total is 1 short of the 237 total — presumably because 1 voter is a member of another party.
- Those who voted yesterday represent 1.82% of the 7,955 eligible Democratic voters, 0.96% of the 3,341 eligible Republican voters, and 0.78% of the 7,583 eligible unaffiliated voters.
Turnout is crucial. In past local elections, Westport’s turnout has been less than 50%.
If you don’t vote, you should not be allowed to complain.
If campaigns use the Voter CheckList tool, they can target their supporters from now through Election Day.
And urge them to vote.
NOTE: Click here for early voting information.
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Two of Westport’s media superstars — Shonda Rhimes and Craig Melvin — were together onstage last night.
StoryFest 2025 wound up with a storied event. The award-winning producer and Shondaland visionary chatted with the NBC “Today” anchor about the 10th anniversary of her best-selling memoir, “Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person.”
Tickets included a 10th-anniversary hardcover edition of “Year of Yes,” with updates and new chapters.
(Photos/Stephanie Mastocciolo)
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It’s autumn.
Which means that Westport’s yard waste site needs extended Saturday hours.
They begin this week (October 25), from 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Regular hours return December 1.
Westport residents with valid proof of residency may dump up to six 30-gallon bags, or similar-sized containers full of leaves, without a fee at the facility (180 Bayberry Lane). Plastic bags are not allowed.
Any van, pickup, or tag-along trailer exceeding the 6-bag limit will be charged $40 per load. Any vehicle or trailer larger than a conventional pickup with a 4-foot-by-8-foot bed will be charged $90 per ton. Any vehicles with a 9-foot body or vehicles modified to significantly enlarge their factory design size will be charged $90 per ton.
Dump tickets may be purchased at Town Hall weekdays, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Yard waste at 180 Bayberry Lane.
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The Staples High School girls basketball program has a long and storied history.
Now you can read about some of the stars.
In preparation for a banner to be hung this winter, honoring all 1,000 point Wrecker scorers — boys and girls — Ben Talbott did a deep dive into the girls’ history. (The boys was much more accessible.)
Now it’s online. Click here to read about notable alumni, including Arianna Greig, Lisa Brummel, Carolyn Center, Stefanie Goettsche, Karen DeFelice, Jessica Gelman, Karem Esteva, Beth Uydess, Courtney Sutherland, Ann Claire Roesch and Jackie O’Connell.
Lisa Brummel was the first girls basketball 1,000-point scorer in Staples history. A 4-sport athlete at Yale from 1977-81, and 3rd team All-American, she is a co-owner of the WNBA Seattle Storm.
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Today’s Westport Astronomical Society free lecture presenter fell victim to the government shutdown.
He’s with NASA, and … well, you know.
But Iman Behbehani stepped in to fill the void.
She earned her master’s in astrophysics investigating massive star, the process that inspired Carl Sagan’s observation, “We are made of star stuff.”
She’ll talk at 8 p.m. on “The Life Cycle of Matter Through Stars.”
Iman Behbehani
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The next Veterans Benefits Luncheon is this Thursday (October 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), VFW Post 399).
It’s open to all veterans as part of an ongoing effort to check in on all veterans’ welfare, and connect them with the benefits and support they earned.
Representatives will answer questions, and provide information on services and assistance available to veterans.
RSVPs are encouraged (but not required). Email vfw399ct@gmail.com, and include the number of attendees, or call (203) 227-6796.
PS: If you’re not a veteran, but know one: Please pass the word!
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Speaking of the VFW: Drummer Tim Horner highlights this week’s Jazz at the Post (Thursday, VFW Post 399; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7).
Known for his work with both small ensembles and large jazz orchestras on several continents, Horner has appeared at the VFW with Ted Rosenthal, David Hazeltine, Joe Magnarelli, Kenny Wessel, and others.
This week he’s joined by guitarist Allan Bezama, pianist Jim Ridl, bassist Noriko Ueda and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Longtime Westport resident Aldean Alice Duffy died Saturday peacefully at home Saturday, surrounded by family, after a long struggle with illness. She was 87.
“Deanie” graduated from Fairfield’s Roger Ludlowe High School in 1956. She married Thomas Duffy in 1958. They lived their 67 years of married life in Greens Farms.
She worked for the Southern Connecticut Telephone Company and in retail before pursuing a career with the Save The Children Foundation, where she spent decades assisting during catastrophes, and managing sponsorships and donations for children around the world.
Deanie enjoyed bowling, reading, playing cards, yard work, gardening, the beach, and time with her family at their cabin in Pea Brook, New York.
Deanie is survived by her husband; children Thomas (Tammy) of Hamilton, Colorado, Kimberly Atterbury of Marysville, Washington, Patrick (Kathrine) of Westport, and Kevin of Colorado Springs; grandchildren Melissa Soucy, Chad Duffy, Brittney Atterbury, Lindsey Atterbury, Austin Duffy, Hunter Duffy, Sadie Duffy and William Duffy-Young, and great-grandchildren Autumn and Mason Soucy.
Aldean was preceded in death by her brothers Vincent and Raymond Maliszewski, and son-in-law, Bruce Atterbury.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held this Friday (October 24, 11 a.m., St. Luke Church). Interment will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society or Save the Children.
Aldean “Deanie” Duffy
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is another John Maloney beauty.
This one was taken at Terra Nova Circle, near the Norwalk line.
(Photo/John Maloney)
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And finally … the item above about tonight’s Westport Astronomical Society lecture — including Carl Sagan’s “we are made of star stuff” quote — made us think of:
(We are stardust. We are golden. And we are a hyper-local blog, dependent on readers for support. So we are asking you to click here to contribute. We are of course grateful for your help.)
So last November, we all passed a referendum to amend the CT constitution to allow excuse-free absentee voting. Did our legislature ever take this up? You still need an “excuse” in 2025.
This voter check list tool sounds overly invasive and creepy to me. Voting is not obligatory, oh it were to get a better turn out, so what business is it of anyone whether I vote or not?
Your comment made me go back and read the piece. I couldn’t agree more.
We just finished our early voting at Town Hall. Well organized. No waiting lines. Everything was going smoothly until I saw no place to vote for Mr Harrington to the Board of Ed on the ballot! He is not printed by name anywhere on the ballot. The Republican’s and Democrat’s candidates are all listed by name. But not Independent Mr Harrington!
I asked for help and was instructed how to write his name in!! This is not self apparent.
Any explanation on why he was left off the ballot?
I believe he is a write-in candidate. There should have been a line for write-ins.
Robert Harrington is a write-in candidate. He was not endorsed for renomination by the Republican Town Committee, so he is waging a write-in campaign.
So there is a place for “write ins”a line. But voter has to fill in that line ?
But if you are voting and do not know? And You do not write them in, they fade into insignificance.
Wow ! If that is correct, I’m shocked.
If that is correct it is effed up.
Ok hang on ! This is insane! What chance has anyone got if they aren’t on the ballot ?
Hi Ciara- that was my point- why isn’t his name on the ballot as a nonparty candidate? Why is Mr Harrington a no name write in candidate.
Someone in town government or one of the political parties should be able to enlighten a puzzled voter.
It is the same situation that Jill Dillon faced when she was running 2 years ago. She was a write-in candidate as an unaffiliated voter — and she won.
Unendorsed candidates can petition to be on the ballot (by gaining a certain number of signatures from electors from their party, as Stephen Shackelford and Jodi Harris) have done. Or, they can run as a write-in candidate, as Robert Harrington has chosen to do.
I don’t know whether that was his decision alone, or whether it was dictated by the timing of his decision to run (for example, after a deadline for being on the printed ballot).