Last night — barely 24 hours after a mass shooting at an Australian Hanukkah celebration — Westporters gathered for the first night of the Festival of Lights.
A centerpiece was the lighting of a 6-foot “ice menorah” at Chabad.
Rabbi Yehuda Kantor told the crowd: “We must not be pulled down — only up. Light your candles to bring warmth to your home, and light to the world.”
Rabbi Yehuda Kantor, with Chabad’s ice menorah. (Hat tip and photo/Matthew Mandell)
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If you hoped for a resolution of the “Blue House” — aka 233 Hillspoint Road — saga by the end of the year: You’ll have to wait (quite a bit) longer.
This is one wish not even Santa can grant.
Any closing or progress on the completion of the years-long eyesore diagonally opposite Old Mill Deli has been postponed again.
The reason: new litigation.
Unknown to either the seller or buyer at the October auction, the underlying borrower filed 4 liens less than 24 hours before the auction.
Two were against Summit Westport LLC, who owned the property. Two were mechanic’s liens against the property.
The lender — GLP 2206 LLC — initiated foreclosure action on December 2, to clear title. Any Stamford-Norwalk court action will happen in 2026.
The primary defendants are Summit Westport, LLC and James Pendry personally.
233 Hillspoint Road, in July. Not much has changed since then — except the weather.
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation hosts a “consulting meeting” on how its plan for the William F. Cribari Bridge will affect the landmark properties of the National Historic Bridge Street District.
The session is this Thursday (December 18, 6 p.m., Town Hall).
The Cribari Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo/Ferdinand Jahnel)
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Westporters were out in droves yesterday, photographing the very New England holiday season-ish snow.
“06880” posted more than a dozen great photos. This one from downtown came in later — and it’s a bit more whimsical than all those shots of back yards, fences and (of course) the Minute Man:
(Photo/Carrie Kuhn)
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Speaking of yesterday’s snow: It took Mark Mathias a while to clear his driveway.
But he amused himself by filming his work, then speeding it up for a video.
The result — one many homeowners can relate to — is here, and below.
All that’s missing is an appropriate soundtrack. Any suggestions?
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Friday’s first-ever Holiday Craft & Gift Sale at the Westport Senior Center was a hit!. A large crowd enjoyed — and bought — items from local artisans.
Senior Center director Wendy Petty, and her staff and volunteers, organized every detail. It was one more special offering, from a center that continually delivers them, to seniors — and many others too. (Hat tip: Linda Doyle)
The Senior Center welcomes the holidays. (Photo/Ed Simek)
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo is a white-throated sparrow.
(Photo/Lou Weinberg)
Outstanding wildlife photographer Lou Weinberg. explains, “In wintertime they grow 40% more body feathers for insulation. They need it these days!”
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And finally … on this date in 1893, Antonín Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 9” — the “New World Symphony” — premiered at Carnegie Hall.
(From the blue house to the Cribari Bridge — and everywhere in between — “06880” brings you all the Westport news. And we do it 24/7/365. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Thank you to Chabad for this public candle lighting. Amidst all of the darkness going on in the world, we all must be the light. Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate, and Happy Holidays to all.
Thanks, Dan, noting the CTDOT meeting on the impact of the planned Cribari Bridge on the Rt 136 Ct. Scenic Highway and the Bridge St. National Historic District which is listed in the National Register and therefor gets consideration in planning for Federal, federally licensed, and federally assisted project.
The Cribari Bridge is a defining feature of the Nationally Registered Bridge Street Historic District, whose character depends on its intact scale and historic traffic patterns. A plan Introducing tractor-trailers would bring noise, vibration, and visual intrusion into the neighborhood, altering the historic experience of its narrow streets and river crossing. These impacts represent a substantial adverse effect on the district’s historic setting, feeling, and association.
For those interested in details and photographs of the properties contained within the District use the following link to access the full report and photographs of the two dozen properties that should be part of the impact consultation.
https://www.westportct.gov/government/appointed-boards-a-z/historic-district-commission/additional-information/other-historic-resources/final-bridge-street-national-register-nomination-form
Whether the current owners of these properties have been notified by CTDOT of this week’s meeting concerning tthe fate of their properties is unknown to me.
Re the “blue house”, I have written Town officials about this lack of action, e.g. did Rick Benson purchase it, has the Blight Board and/or the P&Z Dept. followed up on legitimate enforcement efforts, and have received only perfunctory responses. I ask First Selectman Christie to have his Second Selectperson look into this and determine, I hope, that the Town could be doing more to resolve the issues, including with fines. I would also like the Selectman’s Office to investigate if the Town and citizens could purchase this structure and site and donate it to the Aspetuck Land Trust as an additional park space.
Mark that was beautiful but what about the NOISE⁉️ Aren’t you guys against NOISE 🤣🤣🤣🇺🇸
Give the blue house to the Fire Department to burn 🔥 🔥with a movie crew to fund the demolition. Westporters would donate generously to get rid of that mess.