Author Archives: Dan Woog

Roundup: Anti-Racism Protest, Joanne Woodward, Linxweiler House …

Posted on February 27, 2024 | 7 comments

A few dozen protesters stood quietly on North Avenue this morning, protesting reports of racial incidents at Staples High School across the street.

The crowd included students and adults. Some parents joined the crowd after dropping their youngsters off at school.

Many held signs. One summed up the feeling of the protesters: “Racism is unacceptable.”

(Photo/Ruby Kantor for Inklings)

(Photo/Ruby Kantor for Inklings)

(Photo/Kevin McLaughlin)

(Photo/Kevin McLaughlin)

(Photo/Kevin McLaughlin)

(Photo/Lily Rimm)

====================================================

Happy 94th birthday to a Westport icon: Joanne Woodward.

Over 60 years on stage and television she won an Academy Award, 3 Primetime Emmys, and 3 Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She is one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and the oldest living Best Actress Oscar-winner.

Just as importantly, she — and her husband, Paul Newman — contributed mightily to the civic life of Westport.

Whether helping save the Westport Country Playhouse or dishing up popcorn at the Westport Historical Society, Joanne Woodward made our town a better place.

Thank you, Joanne. Have a great day!

The happy couple, near their home.

==================================================

Among the items at the next Planning & Zoning Commission meeting (Monday, March 4, 7 p.m.; Zoom, and Optimum channel 79 and Frontier channel 6020): a request from First Selectwoman Jen Tooker to temporarily amend the lease at 655 Post Road East (the Linxweiler house, between McDonald’s and Fresh Market) to allow Gillespie Center clients to be housed and supported there temporarily, during renovation of the downtown homeless shelter.

Click here for the full agenda, and additional materials.

Linxweiler House, on Post Road East.

=================================================

Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service president Mike Burns gave an in-depth, eye-opening look at the most recent Y’s Women meeting.

Many members were surprised to learn that the 45-year-old non-profit relies entirely on donations. The 75 EMS volunteers — who respond in 7 minutes or less to everything from strokes, seizures and births to accidents on I-95 and the Merritt Parkway (and even incidents on Metro-North) pay for all their own supplies: heart monitors, gurneys ($70,000 each), and ambulances.

WVEMS’ 3 ambulances are 10 years old. The first of 2 new ones will arrive next year — at a cost of $450,000.

All donations are welcome (83% are less than $100); click here.

WVEMS president Mike Burns, at the Y’s Women meeting. (Photo/Jilda Manikas)

=================================================

Westport resident Tom Kretsch spent his career as a teacher in the Norwalk schools.

And for almost 40 years he’s been involved with that city’s partnership with Nagarote, Nicaragua. They’ve created and run a community development project that provides opportunities for young people and families to improve their economic and educational lives.

A benefit cabaret — “Spring Into Song” — is set for Sunday, March 24 (5:30 p.m., Westport Woman’s Club).

Attendees can bring food and drink to share at small tables before the music begins. Nine great vocalists — including Westporters Michelle Pauker, Bill Hall and Emily Hall Stevens, and Charlotte Roth of Weston — are donating their talents. They’ll sing tunes from Broadway shows, original music and other covers.

For more information and tickets ($50), email kretscht@yahoo.com.

Michelle Pauker (Photo/Brynn Owen)

================================================

Trumpeter Andy Gravish plays the music of Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan — 2 iconic musicians of the “hard bop school” — at this Thursday’s Jazz at the Post (February 29; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; $20 music cover charge, $15 for veterans and students).

Gravish performs at top international jazz festival, and has been the featured soloist with the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, Paquito D’Rivera and many others.

Joining Gravish are pianist Michael Cochrane, bassist Essiet Essiet, drummer Steve Johns, and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall.

Reservations are highly recommended: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.

==================================================

It’s been 15 years since the Staples High School Class of 1974 had a reunion.

Now they’re ready for their 50th. And members of adjacent classes — with friends among the ’74 graduates — are invited too.

It’s the weekend of October 18-20. There’s a Friday night social at the VFW, a Saturday night main event with dinner and dancing (and the class’ Mark Santella as DJ) at the Westport Woman’s Club, then Sunday at the Compo Beach Ned Dimes Marina.

Click here for details, and tickets.

Class of 1974 member Alix Land in Long Beach Peninsula, Washington. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

================================================

Lost your license plate?

Someone found it, and propped it up against the post office flagpole:

(Photo/Dan Woog)

==================================================

Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo comes from Kevin LaForce.

He writes: “I saw this beauty trot across the top of Hillspoint Road on Sunday. I tracked him/her to the back of Loretta Court. Pretty cool.”

(Photo/Kevin LaForce)

==================================================

And finally … sharing a birthday with Joanne Woodward (story above) is Josh Groban. Happy 43rd birthday, to the platinum-selling singer.

(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. We rely on reader support for all that we do. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

7 Comments

Posted in Entertainment, Local politics, Staples HS

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Safe Travels! Urgent Care Doctor Is On Call.

Posted on February 27, 2024 | 4 comments

As medical director of Westport Urgent Care, Dr. Deborah Mogelof is used to urgent requests from people about to leave on trips.

I need a prescription refill! they urgently tell the emergency physician, a longtime Westport resident.

I’m going to [wherever]. What medications do I need to pack?

Once they’re at their destinations, the questions keep coming.

My kid is sick, and we’re away from home. Help!

Dr. Deborah Mogelof

Help has arrived.

SafeTravelsMed.com went live earlier this month. It’s a site for personalized medical care for travelers (and their families).

Think of it as Westport Urgent Care, around the globe.

Mogelof offers 2 services. A travel kit includes 5 common over-the-counter medications: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Benadryl, triple antibiotic ointment and a topical burn cream (plus Band-Aids). All are labeled, with dosage information.

Optional items include constipation and diarrhea medicines, and (why not?) a hangover kit.

Mogelof plans a “college pack” too, with all of the above items — plus Narcan.

Sure, you could assemble all that yourself.

But when was the last time you did?

The second service is “concierge.” For $300 patients get access to a visit with Dr. Mogelof before they travel. She can fill a prescription, or examine someone who feels ill.

There’s also the option to buy telehealth visits, from the road. The cost is $10 per call if booked 14 days ahead,  $100 if booked less than 14 days.

Due to licensing requirements, concierge patients must be Connecticut residents, or visiting Connecticut at the time of the telehealth visit.

The doctor is also working on a college version of the concierge service. For $500 a year, a student would have access to telemedicine (provided she has contact with them in Connecticut as they start their membership).

Mogelof hopes to expand the telehealth offerings to a network of doctors nationwide.

SafeTravelsMed seems to fill a need in travel medicine.

An urgent need, you might say.

(For more information on SafeTravelsMed, click here.)

(Wherever you travel, take “06880.” It’s a bit of home, on the road. And to support our work, please click here. Thank you!)

4 Comments

Posted in Children, Local business

Tagged , ,

Pic Of The Day #2505

Posted on February 26, 2024 | Comments Off on Pic Of The Day #2505

Cribari Bridge sunset (Photo/Nancy Lally)

 

Comments Off on Pic Of The Day #2505

Posted in Pic of the Day, Saugatuck

Tagged

Skip The Stuff!

Posted on February 26, 2024 | 4 comments

Westporters love our restaurants. They’ve got great food, and offer excellent service.

We get the same great food when we order takeout. We don’t get the dining-in service — but we get lots of “stuff.”

Plastic utensils. Napkins. Straws. Condiment packets.

The kind of stuff that we usually already have at hand, and probably don’t need,

Do you really need all that stuff?

Sustainable Westport, the Town of Westport, Westport Farmers’ Market, Westport Downtown Association and the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce all say: Enough!

They’ve banded together to encourage Westport to #SkipTheStuff. The goal is to reduce unnecessary takeout waste from local restaurants. 

#SkipTheStuff is part of a national campaign to enact legislation requiring restaurants to ask before adding unnecessary “stuff” to orders.

Good news! We’re head of the game. Westport already has an ordinance prohibiting food service establishments from including “stuff” in orders without request.  

 It’s part of the Single-Use Plastics Ordinance, adopted by the Representative Town Meeting in 2019.

Westport’s #SkipTheStuff campaign encourages residents to only ask for the single-use or disposable items you truly need.

At the same time, don’t expect food service establishments to provide you with “extras” or “stuff.” By law, they should be included in your order only if you specifically ask for them.

 Westporters should invest in reusable “travel utensils” to carry with you, if you won’t be eating your takeout meal at home. 

For more information about #SkipTheStuff, click here.

(“06880” supports a sustainable Westport. And we hope readers will support — and sustain — “06880.” To make a tax-deductible contribution, please click here. Thank you!)

4 Comments

Posted in Environment, Restaurants

Tagged , , , ,

Roundup: The Porch @ The Y, Politics, Seniors’ Health …

Posted on February 26, 2024 | 2 comments

The Westport Weston Family YMCA offers many services, for many people.

But for nearly a year — ever since the previous café operator left — if you’re hungry after a workout or swim, you’re out of luck.

Ditto if you want to hang out  over a meal or coffee with a friend, or while you wait for your kid. Every employee has to bring their lunch, too.

Fortunately, a new operator takes over soon. And not just anyone.

The Porch at Christie’s  will open a Y outpost sometime in mid-March. Items will come from both the popular bakery/deli/community center on Cross Highway, and Sweet P Bakery. Both were founded by Bill and Andrea Pecoriello.

And — true to the Christie’s and Sweet P missions — the Y café will offer training and jobs to adults with disabilities.

“We are very excited for this partnership with the Y, and the expanded impact we’ll have on creating jobs in the community,” the Pecoriellos say.

In related news, The Porch and Sweet P Bakery are now a single non-profit, working together on job training and meaningful employment for adults with disabilities.

The Pecoriellos always welcome volunteer mentors. For more information, email andrea@theporchatchristies.com

The Porch employees.

==================================================

Every Sunday, Westporters join others nationwide in a “Run For Their Lives” march. They carry signs supporting the safe return of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, after the October 7 terrorist attack.

Yesterday’s event included a walk on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.

To be added to the WhatsApp group for notification of upcoming marches, click here.

“Run For Their Lives” marchers yesterday, on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. (Photo/Tracy Porosoff)

==================================================

Also downtown, in political news:

Sal Liccione spotted this sign yesterday, on Elm Street at Church Lane:

(Photo/Sal Liccione)

=================================================

Calling all seniors!

Mozaic Senior Life — formerly Jewish Senior Services, whose board includes Westporters Ellen Berenyi, Nancy Magida, Ed Friedland, Alan Phillips and Ken Wirfel, and which serves many local residents — is hosting a free community-wide “SHARE” event.

The acronym stands for Senior Health And Resource Expo. A variety of senior care organizations will gather April 7 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4200 Park Avenue, Bridgeport).

They’ll provide information, resources and insights into care available for elders throughout lower Fairfield County.

Click here for more information. Questions? Call 203-365-6474, or email mpruzinsky@mozaicsl.org.

==================================================

Westport Museum for History & Culture executive director Ramin Ganeshram is also a cookbook author.

On February 20 — 2 days before George Washington’s birthday — the New York Times’ Cooking blog published a recipe she adapted for hoecakes, a favorite of the first president

It included a background paragraph by Ganeshram, noting the background of the dish, and — with a nod to Washington’s dental issues and his wealth — the quality of cornmeal used. (Hat tip: Werner Liepolt)

Hoecakes (Photo/Matt Taylor-Gross for the New York Times)

================================================

Westporters are used to deer.

We know when one leaps out in front of our car, 2 or 3 more will follow.

Our “Westport … Naturally” feature has included shots of 5 or 6 at a time, in one yard.

But Johanna Keyser Rossi counted more than 20 on Saturday, at Sherwood Island State Park.

I count 16 in this “Westport … Naturally” photo. Though they are very adept at blending in.

(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)

==================================================

And finally … in honor of the new YMCA café (and bakery) operator:

(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. We rely almost entirely on readers’ tax-deductible contributions. Please click here to help. Thank you!)

2 Comments

Posted in Local business, Media, Politics, YMCA

Tagged , , , ,

Eric Freeman: Role Model Steps Up As “A Better Chance” President

Posted on February 26, 2024 | Comments Off on Eric Freeman: Role Model Steps Up As “A Better Chance” President

We all know the saying: “If you want something done, ask a busy person.”

Eric Freeman is a busy man. A partner in a real estate investment firm, he travels frequently. He and his wife are raising young sons, and — as a former viola player — he sits on the board of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra.

But when he was asked several years ago to head up A Better Chance of Westport’s mentor program, he jumped at the chance.

He had enjoyed several informal meetings with the scholars at Glendarcy House, the local home for the national program that provides educational opportunities to academically-gifted and highly motivated young men of color.

A Better Chance of Westport mentors and scholars met at a fire pit last fall.

As a person of color himself, he understood the need for the ABC scholars to see people who looked like them, understood them, and were at the same time part of the Westport community that the scholars are now part of too.

When he got the chance to head up ABC’s mentorship program, he agreed. He organized chats around his fire pit, lunch meetings, outings and email conversations.

“They’ve got great resources,” he says of Westport’s embrace of A Better Chance. “This was one more outlet. I wanted to make sure it was meaningful.”

Eric Freeman

Role models come “in many shapes and sizes,” Freeman emphasizes. The scholars “have many. But it’s important for them to see people with similar backgrounds, so they don’t feel alone.”

When the program’s interim president stepped down, no one else immediately stepped up. Despite his busy work and travel schedule, and commitments to his own family. Freeman volunteered.

“This is a worthy cause. I’m proud to be part of it,” he says simply.

His term began last month.

“The directors to a phenomenal job,” Freeman says, of Dale Mauldin and Daniele Dickerson, who live at Glendarcy House. “They create an environment conducive to learning, and growing as young men.”

Freeman’s job is to “provide resources for the success and longevity of the organization.” That includes a long-range financial plan, and a marketing effort so that more Westporters know about A Better Chance of Westport.

“This town has abundant resources,” he notes. “People have worked hard in their careers. There is a certain privilege of living here, too. I hope we can get to them with our message.”

Eric Freeman and his wife Raquel.

Another long-range plan: an ABC House for young women, to augment the one that currently can support 8 young men.

As Freeman prepares for the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year — the “Dream Event” on April 27 at the Westport Library — he has a simple message to Westporters.

“Please support us. These young men are phenomenal. Think about it: You’re a 14-year-old in New York or New Jersey or somewhere else, and suddenly you come to Westport to live with strangers. It takes a lot to do that.

The 2023-24 A Better Chance of Westport scholars.

“So please support us, financially or with your time, or both. We’re always looking for host families, drivers, and people who can inspire our young men. We need everyone.”

(To learn more about A Better Chance of Westport, click here. To learn more about the April 27 Dream Event, and purchase tickets, click here.)

 

Comments Off on Eric Freeman: Role Model Steps Up As “A Better Chance” President

Posted in Education, Staples HS, Westport life

Tagged , ,

Pic Of The Day #2504

Posted on February 25, 2024 | Comments Off on Pic Of The Day #2504

Compo Beach sunset (Photo/Paul Quinsee)

Comments Off on Pic Of The Day #2504

Posted in Beach, Pic of the Day

Tagged

Photo Challenge #478

Posted on February 25, 2024 | 10 comments

There are many reasons to go to the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum.

Concerts, lectures, book talks, VersoFest, StoryFest, the State of the Town meeting, Fashionably Westport, the Parker Harding charrette — whatever the reason, the wide-open, flexible space with the 19-foot state-of-the-art video screen and killer sound system is well- and often-used.

Which is why 16 “06880” readers quickly recognized that last week’s Photo Challenge showed a view of the library’s heart, taken from above on the 2nd floor. The red chairs were framed by one of the distinctive white globe lights (which itself mirrors the Library’s three-dot logo). (Click here to see.)

There were — for once — no wrong guesses.

Congratulations to Jo Kirsch, Dick Lowenstein, Lynn Untermeyer Miller, Ivy Gosseen, Lee Bollert, Janice Strizever, Clark Thiemann, Beth Berkowitz, Suzanne Ford, Debbie Zucker, Andrew Colabella, Roz Siegel, Robert Mitchell, Martin W. Gitlin, Amy  Schneider, Shirlee Gordon and Nancy Everson.

See you at the Library!

Today’s Photo Challenge takes us outdoors. If you know where in Westport you would see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Allan Siegert)

(For 10 years every Sunday, we’ve challenged readers with photos. It’s just one of our many “06880” features. If you enjoy this blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

10 Comments

Posted in Library, Photo Challenge

Tagged

Roundup: Verso University, Beach Day …

Posted on February 25, 2024 | 2 comments

Verso University — the Westport Library’s lifelong learning program — offers an array of spring program. They include:

  • Make Your Video Sound Great: Audio Post-production for Everyone
    (Thursdays, February 29 to March 21, 9:30-10:30 a.m. — click here)
  • The Professional Musician: Taking it to the Next Level with Matt Starr (Tuesdays, March 5 to 19, 6:30-8 p.m. — click here)
  • Topics in Contemporary Graphic Design (Wednesdays, March 6 to 27, 4-5:30 p.m. — click here)
  • Japanese Woodblock Prints: Great Beauties, Great Waves, Great Tales (Every other Wednesday, March 27 to May 8, 10-11:30 a.m. — click here)
  • Learn the Keys to Healthy Living, Healthy Aging, and Longevity (Tuesdays, April 9 to 30, 10-11 a.m. — click here)

Matt Starr has made music with Kiss, Guns n’ Roses, Foreigner, Whitesnake and others.

==================================================

The tiny hint of spring in yesterday’s air brought folks outside.

Ed Simek writes: “A good friend, a good cigar, a sunny day at Compo. Life doesn’t get much better than this.”

(Photo/Ed Simek)

=================================================

Meanwhile, not far away, Bigfoot was spotted at South Beach:

(Photo/Richard Epstein)

==================================================

Pam Docters was struck by the I was stuck by the green moss and blue water at the Westport Library Riverwalk — and enhanced it (a wee bit) for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.

(Photo/Pam Docters)

==================================================

And finally … George Harrison would have been 81 today. “The Quiet Beatle” — whose musical legacy is immense — died on November 29, 2001, of brain cancer.

(“06880” doesn’t take weekends off. We’re here for you, 24/7/365. Please support our work. Just click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

2 Comments

Posted in Beach, Library

Tagged

Assessment 101: What You And Your Property Should Know

Posted on February 25, 2024 | 6 comments

Last month, Weston residents received a “Revaluation Notice of Assessment Changes.”

While their 2024 mill rate has yet to be established, increased values have raised concerns about property taxes. 

Westport will conduct a revaluation next year.

Our friends at KMS Team at Compass provide this information on the revaluation process:

Under Connecticut law, towns must revalue real property every 5 years. A revaluation is revenue neutral. The goal is to fairly value all property to ensure an equitable distribution of the tax burden, the town’s expenditures. Typically, a third-party company is hired to assess all properties in a town.

While assessment appeals are most common in years of town-wide revaluation (every 5 years), each town allows for annual appeals.

The process begins with an assessing officer reviewing your property record card, then viewing your property from the street and/or by interior inspection.

Every homeowner should be familiar with their property record, as inaccuracies can distort valuations. Click here for Westport; click here here for Weston.

The data collected in this phase is then compared to data on homes sold during what is known as the base year.

The base year is 12 months preceding the date of revaluation. The base year for Weston October 1, 2023 revaluation is October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. While sales before or after the end of the base period may be considered, they are often given secondary weight.

This 10,061-square foot home on 0.83 acres, at 2 Hidden Hill Road near Compo Beach, has 7 bedrooms and 8 1/2 bathrooms. It sold this month for $5,750,000. (Drone photo/Laurence Merz)

Using this data, a fair market value is determined. While timing varies, homeowners are typically informed of this value before year-end. This value is just one piece of calculating your property tax. Mill rates are the second. Mill rates are set in accordance with the town’s budget, and are generally released in June. To learn more about mill rates, click here.

Per state statute, property owners have the right to petition the Board of Assessment Appeals for a change in fair market value. Applications are available from February 1 to February 20. This year, all applications must be submitted to the Assessor’s Office no later than February 20, 2024. No faxes, emails or postmarks will be accepted.

Any evidence such as photographs, surveys or appraisals can help the Board of Assessment Appeals reach a fair decision. Don’t focus on increases from prior years (tax or valuation) as all properties have likely increased (though not uniformly).

Don’t assume previously submitted information will be reviewed for this appeal. Resubmit if relevant and important for your current appeal.

All appeals must be supported by market data. You can gather this from the Assessor’s Online Database (click on Sales Search to find sales within the base period that are similar to your property), or from other real estate website searches. Real estate agents can also help.

(“06880” is your full-service, hyper-local blog. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

6 Comments

Posted in Economy, Real estate

Tagged