Yesterday, “06880” broke the news about a proposal to build 18 units of 8-30g affordable housing at 96 Compo Road North, near the Town Farm tennis courts and Little League baseball fields.
Within hours, 2 dozen readers commented.
To learn more about the plan, click here, then scroll down to “96 Compo Road South.” You’ll see all materials submitted by Garden Homes Fund to the Planning & Zoning Department.
96 Compo Road North is the white area, in the middle of the pink.
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The Representative Town Meeting meets tonight, as regularly scheduled.
A special meeting has been added for Thursday (October 8, 7:30 p.m., Zoom). They’ll consider an appropriation request of $172,500, for the design cost and permitting of the Jesup Road bridge replacement. Click here for more details of both sessions.
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Meanwhile, for the 10th time in a row, 1st Selectman Kevin Christie has canceled the monthly Downtown Plan Implementation Committee meeting.
The group has not met since last December, and still lacks a director. The link on the town website still leads to an expired site.
Screenshot from the old DPIC website.
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Yesterday — just a few hours before show time — the Westport Country Playhouse announced that Tom Hanks would join Wendie Mali and Tony Shalhoub onstage.
The occasion was the 95-year-old theater’s 100th Script in Hand play reading.
A full, high-energy house enjoyed “Portrait of a Woman in Repose.” The star-studded cast did not disappoint.
Script in Hand events are different from fully staged shows. Last night, just as the play opened, Hanks spilled a bottle of water, largely on Malick. The audience roared.
(Photo/Dave Briggs)
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Speaking of downtown: There’s a new bespoke tailor there.
Well, not exactly new. Welvin Rosario has been open on the 2nd floor at 141 Main Street since March.
Before that, he spent 9 years as Stephen Kempson’s tailor.
Now he’s struck out on his own.
His workspace is bright, with a vaulted ceiling. A balcony overlooks what everyone still calls Brooks Corner.
Welvin welcomes everyone with a smile. The Dominican Republic native says he was “born on a sewing machine.” Hi grandmother, mother and cousins all sewed.
Welvin Rosario at work … (Photo/SirTay Jackson)
He began designing when he was young. After studying the craft at university, Welvin moved to Spain.
Visiting his mother in the Bronx in 2013, he met the woman who soon became his wife. He worked in New York, then was introduced to Kempson by a mutual friend. He earned a reputation for craftsmanship, and diligence.
He earned a great reputation. “Everyone wants to grow, and go out on their own,” he says.
One Sunday after church, Welvin found the Main Street space. He signed a lease the next day.
Welvin offers men’s and women’s bespoke tailoring, made-to-measure, and alterations.
Trousers, shirts, pants, jackets — he does it all.
Customers like his combination of skill, relaxed personality, humility — and quick turnaround time.
… and on his balcony. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Pumpkins, saplings and children’s books come together this Saturday (October 10), at Jesup Green.
From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., kids are invited to a “Painting Pumpkins on the Green” event. There’s that, plus a chance to meet children’s authors, play games, enjoy treats, and meet Earthplace critters. Youngsters are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes.
Parents (and non-parent adults) can pick up free oak saplings.
It’s all sponsored by Westport Book Shop, Earthplace and the Westport Tree Board.
Don’t carve it (yet). Paint it on Saturday!
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Speaking of pumpkins: Check out this (non-orange) display outside The Artist Loft.
Salon owner Bianca Bazante painted and decorated them. Now you’ve got something to enjoy, while waiting (and waiting) at the Post Road West/Riverside Avenue light.
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Absentee ballots are now available for the November 3 election.
Click here for more information.
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VFW Post 399 is always hopping.
This week, there’s even more action that usual.
A free open mic night of laughs is set for Wednesday (October 7; sign-ups at 6:30 p.m., show at 7). Perform yourself, or laugh with the talent. Bar food and drink specials too. For more information, email meganharvist@gmail.com.
On Thursday (October 8) the Dave Kardas Band plays blues, jazz and originals from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Following Dave Kardas, Jazz at the Post features trumpeter Michael Mossman. He’s joined by pianist Oscar Perez, bassist Alex Ayala, drummer David Alvarez III, percussionist Gabriel Globus and saxophonist Greg Wall. Dinner service begins at 6:15 p.m. Shows are 7 and 8:15 p.m. Click here for tickets.
And on Saturday (October 10, 6:30 p.m.), Eliot Lewis — rock star, soul singer, multi-instrumentalist, formerly of Hall & Oates and the Average White Band — takes the stage. Enjoy light bar food, with drink specials. Click here for tickets ($15 in advance; $20 cast at the door).
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Rachel Markus lost her AirPods this weekend. They were pinging a house in Greens Farms, where she had not been.
Turns out someone found them during Westoberfest, and handed them to the emcee.
He was none other than CBS weather personality Lonnie Quinn. He opened the door to his (Greens Farms) home, and handed them to Rachel’s husband.
Her mother wanted to know how Lonnie looked. “Her friends used to have a crush on him,” Rachel reports.
Meanwhile, she thanks whoever found her AirPods and handed them in.
And, of course, Lonnie.
Lonnie Quinn: weatherman and AirPod savior.
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Also last weekend: A thrilling, come-from-behind home win by the Staples High School football team, 14-10 over previously unbeaten Cheshire.
But there was lots of action beyond the gridiron. Click here or below to check out this display by Ryan Inzero, the internationally (at least on social media) famed sign spinner:
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Even more famous: Michael Douglas.
On the podcast “SmartLess,” hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes chatted recently with the longtime movie star (and long-ago Westport resident).
The interview includes his recollections about working at the Mobil gas station on Main Street (now Vineyard Vines). Click here to listen. (Hat tip: Richard Stein)
Michael Douglas, back in the day.
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Members of the LGBTQ community — and all friends and allies — are invited to a Westport Pride happy hour.
It’s tomorrow (Wednesday), from 6 to 8 p.m. at Emmy Squared. Rainbow apparel is optional.
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Staples High School graduate Mary Lou Wokanovicz died on June 17, after a brief illness. She was 90, and lived in Fairfield.
She worked as a secretary at Famous Artists Schools. After marrying Joseph Wokanovicz, who would become Westport’s postmaster, they moved to a house on Sturges Highway. They cherished it for 70 years.
Mary Lou loved gardening, cooking, feeding wild birds, tending her flock of chickens, and the many St. Bernard dogs she raised with her husband.
She also enjoyed the beach, boating with her family, and family holiday celebrations.
An avid follower of current events who read multiple newspapers daily, she was “a proud Democrat who passionately and unselfishly wanted the best for all the world’s people.”
Mary Lou was predeceased by her husband of 63 years. She is survived by her children Anne and Peter, daughter-in-law Nancy, grandsons Nicholas and Benjamin Wokanovicz, sister Patricia O’Connor and her daughter Marleen, many nieces and nephews, and her cats Lucy and Darcy.
Per her wishes there are no services. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to donate to Guiding Eyes For the Blind, Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Habitat For Humanity or Connecticut Audubon Society.
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A handsome Sherwood Island State Park bald eagle holds a place of honor, as today’s “Westport … Naturally” star.
(Photo/Clarence Hayes)
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And finally … Sure, Ryan Inzero is a great sign spinner (story above).
But what about the real Spinners?!
(“06880” will be around — but only with readers’ support. If you like this hyper-local blog, please click here to make a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!)
