dems win big in state, town
Connecticut voters mirror much of the nation.
Democrats representing Westport won the 3 races for the state General Assembly. As with statewide races, margins were generally 2-to-1.
Weston 1st selectman Sam Nestor will replace retiring 26th District Senator Ceci Maher. With 99% of the votes counted, she leads Westport resident Alma Sarelli 65.4% to 34.6% (28,572 votes to 15,114).
Board of Education chair Lee Goldstein has a substantial lead over resident Doug Ouellette, in her bid to replace retiring 136th District Representative Jonathan Steinberg, 72.9% to 27.1% (7,309 to 2,722, with 99% of the votes in).
The 143rd District includes the westernmost part of Westport. Incumbent Dominique Johnson returns. With 99% of the returns counted, she leads Greg Helms 6,308 to 3,195 (66.4% to 33.6).
Democrats also swept statewide offices. Governor Ned Lamont, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Congressman Ned Himes all return to office. With Democrats taking control of Congress, Himes is in line to become the chair of the House Intelligence Committee.
The blue wave spelled defeat for 2 Westporters on the statewide ballot.
Former Westport 1st selectwoman Jen Tooker lost her bid for comptroller to Sean Scanlon. With 93% of the votes in, the incumbent led 744,608 to 444,399 (62.5% to 37.5%).
Former Planning & Zoning Commission member John Bolton failed to unseat Attorney General William Tong. With 92% of votes counted, the incumbent was ahead 745,403 votes to 442,975 (62,7% to 37.3%).
Probate judge Lisa Wexler ran unopposed. Westporters also elected Michael Durkin and Maria Signore as Democratic and Republican registrars of voters, respectively. Turnout in Westport was over 57%.
Click here for all Connecticut results.
Candidates Sam Nestor (3rd from left) and Lee Goldstein (5th from left) posed yesterday at Coleytown Middle School’s polling place with (from left) Westport Democratic Town Committee chair Michelle Mechanic, retiring State Senator Ceci Maher, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and DTC vice chair Robin Weinberg.
SANTA RUN SIGN-UPS START AT 10 TODAY
The Westport Uniformed Firefighters Charitable Foundation “Santa Run” is one of Westport’s most cherished — and amazing — traditions.
For a $50 donation to the Foundation, Santa arrives by fire truck to drop off a present at a (limited number of) children’s houses.
(Kids, stop reading here! The gift is dropped off at the firehouse previously, by the parents.)
This year, Santa will be in town December 2-5 and December 9-12, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Signups begin today, at 10 a.m. — first come, first served. Click here to register.
Be quick. Santa’s spots go very quickly!
Santa popped out of his fire truck to delight these youngsters (and one oldster).
PARIS LOONEY SAYS THANKS
Last month, “06880” posted a link to a GoFundMe for Paris Looney — the longtime and much-loved vice president and chief operating officer of Homes with Hope — and her family.
Her daughter Tausha had just donated a kidney to her brother Don, suffering from stage 5 kidney disease. The funds would help pay for medical bills, lost income, rent, groceries, utilities and transportion.
The fund raised $19,465. Paris says:
My son’s follow up appointments are going well, as he continues to heal with the new kidney donated by his sister. Some days bring a bit more pain and discomfort, but he continues to work through it.
My daughter is doing well in her recuperation and with your support, can slow life down to focus on recovery. We are extremely grateful that both are on the path to full and complete recovery.
We have a way to go, and I have no doubt we will get there. Your overwhelming support has been invaluable to me and my family, and we are profoundly grateful to you all. Thank you!
Don and Tausha Looney
westport book shop salutes compo
Sure, it’s November. But all year long, Compo Beach is one of Westport’s favorite spots.
“See You at Compo” is this month’s featured Westport Book Shop art exhibit. Jason Pritchard is showing new original oil paintings of Westport’s shoreline.
He works both en plein air and in the studio to capture its light, weather and quiet moments. “See You at Compo” follows his 2024 “Westport Skies” exhibition at The Westport Library.
Pritchard began going to Compo as a child. And one of the paintings in the show, “History through Young Eyes,” started with his son looking up at the cannons on the beach where British troops landed in 1777.
He says, “Born in Britain myself, I was struck by how differently history looks to a child. I hope people feel their own connections in these paintings.”
A reception is set for November 12 (6 p.m.). All artwork on display is available for purchase. To see more of Pritchard’s work, click here.
Jason Pritchard
WHAT’S UP DOWN AT LACHAT FARM
December will be a busy month at Weston’s Lachat Farm.
Among the activities:
- Handcrafted holiday gifts, grades 2-5 (December 1)
- Wreath-making (December 4)
- Holiday block printing (December 8)
- Winter market (December 13)
- Fireside concert with the Gingersnaps (December 18)
- Candy cane hunt (December 19)
bedford community: “between the lines”
Fantasy and reality collide, when Bedford Theater Community kicks off its season next month
“Between the Lines Jr.” is a musical about “finding your voice, discovering where you belong, and having the courage to rewrite your own story.”
It runs December 11-13 at Bedford Middle School. Tickets go on sale November 16 (click here). This is only the second school staging of the show in Connecticut.
Based on the novel by Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha van Leer, the show follows Delilah, a teenager struggling to find her place at a new school
following her parents’ divorce.
Feeling like an outsider, she escapes into the pages of her favorite fairy tale and discovers something extraordinary: Prince Oliver, the story’s handsome hero, can actually speak to her.
“Between the Lines Jr.” resonates with dreamers of all ages — particularly young people navigating friendship, self-discovery, and the challenges of growing up.
Bedford’s young cast gets ready.
medical aesthetics brand comes to town
A national medical aesthetics brand is coming soon to downtown.
JECT — which specializes in “full-face consultations and deeply
individualized treatment plans” — will move into 24 Taylor Place, opposite Green & Tonic.
JECT already operates New York, California, Florida and New Jersey.
Vacancy will soon be filled.
“westport … naturally” & song of the day
Westporters don’t agree on much.
But we pretty much all think this has been one of the most spectacular falls in years.
Today’s beautiful “Westport … Naturally” image comes from Sherwood Island State Park.
(Photo/Karen Kim)
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And finally … the story about Westport firefighters’ Santa Run (above) got us thinking about our first Christmas song of the year.
There’s no “Santa Run” tune — but this comes very close:
(You don’t have to run — or even walk — to support “06880.” Just click here, to help this hyper-local blog keep chugging along. Thank you all!)
Good morning Dan,
You might want to correct the typo in paragraph 6 … it’s “Jim” Himes, NOT “Ned”