Just in time for the holiday rush, Blu Olive — the restaurant replacing Harvest on Railroad Place — has opened.
The Mediterranean/Italian place features a more open format and decor, with a wide array of dishes.
It’s open 6 days a week for dinner (closed Monday). Lunch will be on the menu too, by the new year.
The Blu Olive bar …
… and a featured dish. (Hat tip and photos/Matthew Mandell)
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Community menorah lightings will help Westport and Weston welcome Hanukkah.
The 18th annual event in the Trader Joe’s/Wells Fargo Bank parking lot (Compo Acres Shopping Center) is set for December 14 (6 p.m.).
The Weston lighting takes place December 16 (6 p.m., Weston Shopping Center). It’s even older than Westport: 21 years.
Both include live music, cookies, gelt, dreidels, and activities for all ages. Both are sponsored by the Schneerson Center for Jewish Life.
The Compo Acres menorah. (Photo/Jo Shields)
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Switching celebrations: The United Methodist Church of Westport & Weston’s holiday gift market is especially sweet this year.
The December 6 event (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) includes a “Cookie Walk.” Members will bake — and sell — their delicious goods. Perfect for additional gifts — or just to munch on as you shop for others.
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Meanwhile, up in Weston Jolantha — everyone’s favorite pig — hopes everyone enjoys their turkeys tomorrow.
But not ham.
(Photo/Hans Wilhelm)
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December 1 is the deadline to order wreaths for Westport veterans.
On December 16 — Wreaths Across America Day — volunteers will decorate the graves of veterans in Assumption Church’s Greens Farms Road cemetery.
December 1 is the deadline to order wreaths for our Westport veterans as part of Wreaths Across America!
Sponsors of wreaths also support VFW Post 399 and American Legion Post 63. Both receive $5 for every wreath ordered by clicking here.
Wreaths, at Assumption Cemetery.
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The Historic District Commission meets December 9 (7 p.m., Zoom).
Among the agenda items: consideration of opposition of demolition permits for these properties, and requiring the full statutory 180-day delay. All are at least 50 years old.
- 11 Beachside Common
- 49 Clinton Avenue
- 21 Old Hill Farms Road
- 33 Burnham Hill
- 7 Buena Vista Drive
- 65 Grove Point Road
- 6 Sunny Acres Lane.
To see the full agenda, click here.
11 Beachside Common
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Last week, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority unanimously rejected the proposed sale of Aquarion by Eversource to the Regional Water Authority.
1st Selectman Kevin Christie responded, “Water is a critical public asset, and maintaining local accountability, transparency, and stability in water management remains a top priority for our community. If the $2.4 billion sale had been approved, PURA would have lost its authority to regulate water rates.
The proposed structure would also have replaced traditional property taxes with payments-in-lieu-of-taxes and granted the Regional Water Authority a controlling majority of seats on the Aquarion Water Authority board of directors.
“Throughout the review process, Westport emphasized the importance of ensuring that any ownership or structural changes to Aquarion would safeguard service reliability, infrastructure investment, rate stability, and long-term watershed protection.”
“We appreciate PURA’s thorough evaluation of the proposed transaction and its commitment to ensuring that decisions about Westport’s water utilities serve the public interest.
“As a result of this favorable ruling, residents and ratepayers can be assured that the Town of Westport will continue to work collaboratively with Aquarion and state regulators to ensure that residents receive high-quality, dependable water service.”
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Speaking of water: Longshore Sailing School is one of 12 organizations in the US selected for National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ honors.
It recognizes “exceptional commitment to promoting paddling safety through education, digital content and responsible on-water practices. Longshore’s outreach encourages safe behaviors such as wearing life jackets, understanding weather conditions, and avoiding high-risk activities on the water.”
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Longtime Westport resident and active community volunteer Richard Seclow died Monday at his Easton home. The former Planning & Zoning Commission member and Westport Library board president was 95.
The Bayonne, New Jersey native graduated from Rutgers University in 1951, where he was part of the Cap & Skull Senior Honor Society. He remained an active alumnus over th eyears.
He worked in the advertising industry as David Ogilvy’s chief of staff, before becoming executive vice president of Carl Ally.
As president of Geer DuBois, he relocated the offices from Madison Avenue to downtown. Many ad agencies followed.
Dick started one of the initial Bonanza Steakhouses in Westport. It later became a national franchise. He retired from advertising in 1986, and opened another Westport restaurant: Time to Eat.
Dick enjoyed fishing, travel, tennis, squash and volunteer work in Westport and nearby communities.
He served on the Westport Planning & Zoning Commission, the Westport Library as president, and the boards of Hall-Brooke Hospital and The Jewish Home (now named Mozaic Senior Services).
He was a member of Y’s Men, taught English as a second language, and became a mentor for immigrants in Bridgeport.
He is survived by Rita, his wife of 71 years, children Theresa (David) and Tom (Ann ), and grandchildren Jonathan (Isabella), Alexandra, Calvin and Julian.
An open house to celebrate Dick’s life is set for Saturday (November 29, 1 to 5 p.m., at their home in Easton). Gifts may be made in his name to Mozaic Services or the Easton EMS.
Dick Seclow
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We’ve posted a number of beautiful autumn leaves photos, in our “Westport … Naturally” series.
Here’s what happens when they “fall.”
(Photo/June Rose Whittaker)
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And finally … a lovely photo needs an equally evocative song:
(Whatever the season, “06880” is here for you. News, events, features, photos — all that and more, 24/7/365. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
Restaurants. I still miss Mario’s.
I miss the Arrow.
Wishing Blue Olive success, of course. However, Harvest, Westport’s best kept secret(unfortunately) was a wonderful eatery with consistently good food and a wonderful staff…Blue Olive will have a tough time being nearly as good.